Chapter 13: Back to Hogwarts and Classes

The next day they both clothed themselves in their Hogwarts robes and decided to visit the Burrow before making their way back to Hogwarts.  Ginny wanted to tell her parents in person about her engagement.  Ginny put the earrings in her ears, and put the necklace on her neck and bracelet on her wrist again as Harry put all the boxes into the bag, shrunk the entire thing, including the boxes with their Muggle clothes in them, and pocketed the lot.  He then took Ginny's right hand in his and Apparated them both to the Burrow. 

Everyone was surprised to see them.  Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie had all just sat down for breakfast when Harry and Ginny Apparated in, appearing directly in front of the kitchen table.  When Mrs. Weasley asked them why they had come, Ginny held up her left hand in answer, displaying her engagement ring.  At the sight of the ring, everyone's eyes widened, and Mrs. Weasley let out a short shriek, before flying towards her daughter, enveloping her in a huge hug.  All the Weasley men grinned at this, putting Harry at ease.  When pressed as to how this had occurred, Ginny explained.  She left out Avalon, deciding that she did not need to tell her family everything about her time away, but included how Harry had prepared, and how they arrived at the Leaky Cauldron.  She explained the night away with a dreamy expression on her face, ending with Harry on his knee, and her saying yes.  Mrs. Weasley had tears in her eyes, and Mr. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie were all grinning at Harry.

"Harry, you little sneak," said Bill, speaking for the first time.  "You made me think you were going to be getting my sister a present, not anything like THIS."

Harry grinned at him.  "That was the point, wasn't it?" he returned, earning laughs around the table.

"When are you two going back to school?" asked Mr. Weasley, as they finished breakfast.

"As soon as we leave here," answered Harry.  "I need to take Ginny's exams back to Professor Dumbledore by tonight so he can enter them into her file, and pass off on her starting the sixth year with the rest of us."

"When are you planning the wedding," asked Mrs. Weasley, a bit worried.  "Fifteen and Sixteen seems a bit young to be married, regardless of how much you love each other."

"We haven't discussed it yet mum," replied Ginny truthfully.  "At the earliest, it will be this summer, but we really don't know."

Mrs. Weasley was about to say something, but Mr. Weasley stopped her with a hand on her shoulder, and said, "Well whenever you two think you are ready, you have our blessing, just don't go elope somewhere."

Harry smiling at Ginny said, "I wouldn't do that to Ginny or the rest of the Weasley family.  I care too much for all of you to do something like that."  He turned his gaze from Ginny to Mr. Weasley, his face suddenly serious.  "I respect you and Mrs. Weasley more than that sir."

Mr. Weasley gazed into his eyes for a few moments, and then nodded.  "Well, you two better get back to Hogwarts," he said.  "Congratulations are in order, but I believe that you might be missed if you stay here any longer." 

Ginny hugged both her brothers, her mother and her father.  All of the wished Harry and Ginny congratulations, and then Harry took her hand in his and Apparated to their room.

The next day, Harry and Ginny walked into the Great Hall again, arm in arm.  They were taking quietly to each other, and ignored the looks that they were receiving from the rest of the school, knowing that this was the first time the students were seeing them since Friday morning.  They made their way to their friends and family, and Ginny quickly showed off her earrings and ring.  The girls all squealed in delight and pulled Ginny away from Harry, as far away as she could get, still sitting next to him, and demanded to know what had happened.  Harry, too, was telling the boys what happened since they had disappeared on Friday, well everything that he could reveal anyway.  Harry and Ginny had just finished bringing everyone up to speed when Professor Dumbledore stood, calling for quiet.

"I am pleased to inform you that one of our number has gone far and above the call of duty," he said.  "Miss Weasley has apparently finished her fifth year requirement already and opted to test out of the fifth year.  She received full marks on all of her tests, and will therefore be joining the Sixth Years in classes from now on, that is all."

At his pronouncement, all the students looked at Ginny in surprise.  Fairly soon, people were whispering all over the Hall, and Harry could see that Ginny was getting embarrassed.  Seeing Remus and Matilda get up and walk out of the hall, going towards their classrooms, Harry decided to get Ginny out from under the stares of the school.  "Come on Gin," he said, getting up and waving his wand at several platters on the table, which started floating in the air.  "Let's go have breakfast in the Potions classroom with Matilda.  She'll want to hear about everything."

Smiling in thanks, Ginny got up with Harry and began walking with him out of the hall, their breakfast floating along behind them.  They were out of the Hall and on their way to the dungeons when they noticed that Hermione and Ron were walking behind them. 

"What you didn't think you could escape that easily did you?" asked Ron with a grin when Harry spotted them.  Muttering something about redheaded idiots, they entered the Potions classroom and found that Remus was there as well as Matilda.  The two teachers did not seem surprised to see the group of students walk in, even though Remus looked a bit amused at the floating food.

"Decide you didn't like the look of the Great Hall?" he asked.

"Something like that," replied Harry, setting the food on one of the tables, and heaping food onto a plate.  "I thought you guys would like to hear about everything that went on this weekend."

"So," prompted Matilda, her eyebrow raised.  "What happened?"

In answer, Ginny held up her left hand, allowing the adults to see the diamond ring on her finger.  Remus looked dumbstruck, but Matilda shrieked in excitement, and soon all three women were in a group of their own on one side of the classroom chattering away.

"Harry, don't you think you're a bit young to be thinking about marriage?" asked Remus with a frown on his face.  "I mean… you're only sixteen."

"Actually Remus, technically I'm several thousand year's old," Harry informed his guardian cheerfully, then becoming serious, "I love her Remus. There was no point in waiting until later, nothing's going to change."

Remus sighed, "I know, Harry, it was just a bit of a shock is all."  Then, looking curious he asked, "So, how'd you propose?"

So Harry told the story about how the lot of them about how he had secretly made all the arrangements over the past two days, and all about their night together, ending when she said yes.  As he spoke, he noticed Remus getting extremely angry.  When he was finished, the werewolf was positively livid.

"HARRY!  Do you know what you've done?" said Remus, no longer able to contain his anger.  "You've doomed us all!"

"What are you talking about?" asked Ron.  "Seems like Harry did everything perfectly," he added. 

"Think about it Ron," pressed Remus.  "Now the girls are either going to be expecting the same thing from us, or wondering why they didn't get it from them."  He pointed at the group of females chattering away excitedly.

Remus opened his mouth to say something else, and then closed it as he heard one of the girls talking.  "Oh Ginny, that ring must be worth a FORTUNE!" exclaimed Hermione.

"Yeah," added Matilda, "aren't you worried that someone would try to steal it?"

"I took care of that," Harry called out, making all three girls look at the male group.  "The first thing I did when we got back to the Leaky Cauldron was put protection spells on the jewelry."

"Jewelry?" said Matilda, her eyes widening.  "You mean you didn't just buy her the ring?"

"No," answered Ginny, a happy smile on her face.  "Harry also bought me a diamond necklace and bracelet and diamond earrings."

"Oh Harry," breathed Matilda, walking over and hugging the young wizard.  "You're perfect, unlike SOME people here," she added, glancing at Remus, who looked extremely uncomfortable.  "Remus didn't do ANYTHING like that, in fact, he still hasn't bought me an engagement ring.  We were waiting until he had a bit more money, then after your parents died…well… we didn't know when we were going to be able to get back together."

"Yes, well, look at the time, I need…. I need to go… get ready for class," said Remus as he quickly scrambled out of the room.  Hermione was staring at Ginny's ring with a dreamy expression on her face, and Ron was glaring at Harry behind Matilda's back.  Harry, noticing this, started edging closer to his girlfriend. 

Ginny, seeing that Harry was uncomfortable about something but not knowing what exactly, quickly crossed the room and snuggled close to him.  Before anyone else could say anything, the door opened, and the class began to file in.  Harry waved his wand at their breakfast, sending the remains back to the kitchen.

Ron and Hermione sat down in front next to Harry and Ginny, unpacking their things.  The rest of the class sat down and Matilda started talking about the potion they would be making.  Harry and Ginny were both whispering to each other, however, not paying attention.

"I think that the other guys are a bit angry at me," he said softly, so that only Ginny could hear him.

"Why would that be?" she asked just as softly, leaning close to him with a contented sigh.

"They think I over did it last night and think that all the others will expect just as much as what I gave you," he answered.  "They're nervous because they can't afford to do everything that I did."

"Hmm.." she said.  "Well, don't worry about it.  The girls are all just excited about our engagement and-,"

"Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley!" said Matilda, breaking into their conversation.  "Are you two paying attention?"

"Sorry Professor," said Harry and Ginny, although they did not break apart.

Matilda pursed her lips.  Perhaps I shouldn't be too easy on him, even though he's my godson. "Fine Mr. Potter, then since you two think that you don't need to listen, perhaps you could tell me about the Wolf's Bane potion, if you can't I'll be forced to take points from Gryffindor."  At her words, Malfoy grinned at Harry; sure that he would see Gryffindor loose points.

"Of course Professor," said Harry immediately.  "The Wolf's Bane potion is used to combat the Werewolf's Bite.  There are three different forms of the potion, each with its own unique properties.  The most common is the potion that gives a person who has been bitten the ability to control themselves after they have changed.  I believe that Professor Lupin has been taking this."  Harry looked at Matilda, who nodded and motioned Harry to continue.  "The second form of the potion is administered to newly bitten people, before the first full moon when they transform, which cures them of the Bite.  The last and most rare form of the potion is used to give full control of…" at that Harry broke off, his eyes widening.  "…To give full control of... werewolf transformation to existing werewolves, which also gives them control of themselves when they transform," he finished softly.

Matilda was staring at Harry with wide eyes.  "Harry," she asked shakily, forgetting to distance herself from the boy she thought of as her own son.  "Where did you hear about… about that third..."

"I read about it," said Harry, giving her a look that clearly told her to drop the matter until later.

"Well then," said Matilda, understanding and moving on.  "Since you have answered correctly, no points will be deducted."

"That's not fair!" exclaimed Malfoy, before he could stop himself.  "POTTER and WEASLEY over there have not been listening in class, and have been acting INAPPROPRIATELY in a class setting!  OF COURSE he knew about that potion if LUPIN was taking it."

Matilda quickly stepped towards the blond Slytherine boy and glared at him.  "That will be quite enough Mr. Malfoy.  Mr. Potter and Miss Weasley will not be penalized simply because I, Professor Stormcloud, TOLD THEM that they would not be if they could answer correctly.  NOW SIT DOWN."

After that, Harry and Ginny quickly took out their things, and began brewing the potion that Matilda had put up on the board, not paying attention to the instructions that the teacher was calling out.  They quickly finished, then went back to their conversation.  Matilda noticed this, and thought about their behavior thus far, agreeing that she could not show Harry special treatment and that if Harry and Ginny's potion was not perfect, she would be forced to deduct points from Gryffindor.

Harry and Ginny, oblivious to this fact, were still talking when the rest of class had finished.  Matilda walked around the classroom, checking on the potion that she had assigned.  Finally, she got to Harry and Ginny.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, I must say I am disappointed with the two of you," said Matilda, not looking at their potion.  "The whole class you were goofing off, and you haphazardly made your Sleeping Drought."

"The potion was brewed perfectly Professor," said Harry, surprised that his godmother would even think of such a thing.  "If you don't believe me, I'll take it myself."

"Why don't you let Weasley take it Potter," called Malfoy from his seat.  "That way if something goes wrong, you'll be awake to pay for her medical bills."

"That's enough Mr. Malfoy," said Matilda, directing a glare at the boy once more.  "If I hear one more word out of you, you will have your Prefect's status revoked, and be serving detention."  That shut Malfoy up quickly.  "If you are so sure of your abilities Mr. Potter, why don't you let Miss Weasley take the potion?"

Harry shrugged and poured a bit of the amber liquid into the goblet that Matilda conjured up.  He noticed that she was looking a bit nervous.  Ginny, fully trusting Harry's abilities, as well as her own, took the goblet and drank it all.  She was the only person who had actually TRIED the potion; the teacher had just graded the rest of the class on the look of it.  Matilda did notice that Harry and Ginny's potion was the correct color and consistency, but she had decided that she should teach Harry a lesson about taking her class seriously.  As soon as Ginny had taken the potion, she snuggled comfortably against Harry, and drifted off to sleep.

Matilda was astounded.  She had been sure that it was impossible to make the Sleeping Draught in the time that Harry and Ginny had made it.  Making sure that Matilda saw the effects of the potion, Harry pulled out his wand.

"Enervate," he said, pointing his wand at his sleeping fiancé.  Immediately, Ginny opened her eyes and smiled drowsily up at him.

"Well, it seems that we owe the two of you an apology Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley," said Matilda, shaking herself out of the surprised stupor that she had been in.  "I believe ten points to Gryffindor is in order, for that wonderful demonstration of the Sleeping Drought.  I would like to talk to the two of you after class, which is," at that she looked at her watch, "now.  Please stay you two, the rest of you may go, good job today." 

Everyone gathered their things, and quickly left, leaving Harry and Ginny to face the beautiful raven-haired woman.

"Harry," said Matilda.  "How did you make that potion?  You two didn't listen to a thing I said, and Ginny did as much as you did!"

"Well, I kinda taught Ginny a bit more than the fifth year," said Harry, confirming Ginny's growing suspicions.  "I went ahead and taught her the sixth year curriculum as well."

"Fine, that explains that, but what was all that about a third type of Wolf's Bane Potion," asked Matilda, a hopeful, yet fearful expression on her beautiful face.  "I've only heard of two types."

"The third is an extremely old, complex variation," answered Harry, confusing the woman further.

"I thought that Wolf's Bane Potion was fairly new," said Matilda.

"Actually it is the opposite.  It's very OLD," Harry informed the Potion's teacher.  "Circe came up with it for her husband.  Those 'new' versions of it WERE created just recently, but they were derived from the true Wolf's Bane Potion which has only been brewed a handful of times."

"I thought you said Circe didn't act on her love," said Ginny with a frown on her beautiful face.

"She didn't," said Harry.  "That's why Silvermane got bitten.  After he received the bite and started suffering each and every month, Circe knew that she loved him and couldn't bear to be without him, so she created a potion to cure him, well cure him as much as possible.  Silvermane is now an Arch-mage, but don't ask me what his real name is.  After he became a werewolf, he would not go by any other name.  He and Circe are quite happy now," he added, smiling at Matilda who was shaking, tears running down her face.

"Do-Do you think you could m-make a batch of the real potion?" she asked shakily.  "I-Is it possible for R-Remus t-to-,"

"Yes Matty, I can make the potion," said Harry getting up and giving the woman a hug.  "I would have done it sooner if it had occurred to me."

"OH THANK YOU HARRY," she sobbed, hugging him tightly and crying uncontrollably into his shoulder.  "Oh, has anyone ever told you how much of a jewel you are?  Ginny, you better make DAMN sure no one steals him away, or I'll be after you…" she warned.

"Don't worry Matty," said Ginny with a smile as she gathered their things.  "There is no possibility of THAT ever occurring.  And I hope the you're not mad at us.  Classes aren't really a problem for us right now, and Harry had something that he needed to talk about with me.  We didn't mean to cause a disturbance."

"Yes… about that," said Matilda with a pretty frown on her face.  "From now on you two sit at the back of the class, so that you don't get so much attention.  That way, as long as the two of you get your potions done, no one will have to be the wiser."

"Thanks Matilda," said Harry hugging her.  "You're the best godmother in the world!"

Matilda laughed and hugged Harry back.  "You two better go to Defense against the dark arts," she said.  "And if Moony gives you any grief, just send him to US."

Harry and Ginny quickly made their way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and entered quietly.  Ron and Hermione had obviously told the former Marauder why Harry and Ginny had been held up, because the class was sitting and waiting patiently.

"Ah, Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, please come in and take a seat," said Remus pleasantly.  There were two spaces in the front, which Harry and Ginny quickly, sitting close together on the bench.  "Now that everyone is here, we can begin."

"After Mr. Potter's extremely IMPRESSIVE display with Dementors, we have decided to skip those lessons, and move on to curses," said Remus with a grin on his face.

"Now I know that all of you COULD use these spells outside of class, but if wind gets out that someone has done so, then things will be rather… UNPLEASANT for them for the remainder of the year," informed Remus, a serious look on his face.  "The only reason why you are being taught these curses, is so that you will know enough to be able to counteract them should you face them in the future."  With that warning, their first Defense against the Dark Arts lesson began.