Disclaimer: I don't own any of the HP Charecters, ect..

"Well then, my goal becomes clear, the broccoli must die".
~ The family Guy ~

The next morning found Harry at the breakfast table again trying to old in his laughter. It seemed as though Sirius and the other "adults" (yeah right) had had a little bit too much fun the night before, and were adequately hung-over. Sirius had his head on the table, and would have appeared deceased had he not been moaning. Remus had bags under his eyes, and looked as if he had gotten very little sleep the night before. He was acting semi-normal until a disheveled Tonks walked in, at that point he blushed furiously and decided that the table was quite interesting. As the rest of the Order filed into the kitchen, Molly started bustling around in an overly perky manner, causing all of the hung-over members to groan in unison.

"You think they had a bit too much fun last night?" Ginny whispered.

Neville, who was sitting on Harry's right chuckled as he overheard.

"Only a bit," Harry responded sarcastically.

Halfway through breakfast Albus arrived with some interesting news regarding the "young blood", as people had taken to calling them.

"REALLY?!" exclaimed Ron, Neville, and Harry, causing the hung-over adults to groan again. Dumbledore rolled is eyes at them.

"Yes, I think the D.A. was a fabulous idea, and I would like to expand on it. There's no point in having the nine of you in the order if you can't do anything to contribute."

"What kinds of things will we be learning?" asked Luna in a bored tone.

"You'll all start out with a bit of everything, and then we'll narrow it down for each of you. We have a specialist for almost every field of DADA in the Order," answered Dumbledore. "Sirius was a combat specialist when he was an auror, and he was a particularly accomplished swordsman if I remember—when he's not hung-over at least."

The door opened and closed in the hallway and Professor Severus Snape walked into the room carrying a black satchel.

"Thank Merlin, Severus, I was starting to think I'd have to listen to their moaning all day."

Snape simply rolled his eyes and took out several vials filled with a very icky looking green fluid. He walked around the room and passed them out to the people who had had too much to drink the night before. When people were eyeing the liquid trepidly he became annoyed.

"Bloody Hell people it's a hang-over potion, not poison," he proceeded to mumble on for a few moments about untrusting Gryfindors.
After sniffing the potion to make sure it was safe Sirius downed it quickly, the rest followed suit and the conversation was soon back on track.

"Like I was saying you will all be trained in the different aspects of defense, from dueling to stealth," continued Dumbledore.

"When do we start?" asked Hermione looking like she desperately wanted to look up something first.

"You'll start today, and begin with Remus learning basic dueling skills. By the end of the summer I would like to narrow it down to what you'll specialize in," he replied.

The nine had a rather interesting day learning dueling skills from Remus and even Neville was keeping up. By the end of the afternoon everyone who had participated in the lesson was exhausted, including Remus and Sirius.

"I need a cigarette," said Sirius who had acted as a moving target during many of their lessons that day.

"Here," said Rinoa pulling out a packet of clove cigarettes and handing one to Sirius, who looked rather surprised she smoked.

"Thanks," he said tentatively looking around for Molly Weasley to see if she'd yell at him or encouraging smoking. When he saw she was nowhere in sight he pulled out his wand and lit the sweet smelling tobacco.

"Since when do you smoke Rhin?" asked Ginny.

"Since two years ago," she replied.

"I never knew that."

"Not many do."

"Doesn't that cause some kind of lung desease, dancer or something like that?" asked Ron clearly perplexed.

"Cancer Ron," said Hermione as she rolled her eyes.

"Not if you know the lung clearing charm, I learnt it last term in Intro to Mediwizardry," said Rinoa.

"Is that a good class? I was thinking about taking it this term," asked Hermione curiously.

"It's alright, I dropped it. Healing isn't something I want to do, I've come to hate the hospital wing and there's too much blood. I think I'm going to be an auror."

The summer went on and the nine continued their lessons. Monday was spent with Remus learning to duel. Tuesdays were with Snape learning hand to hand combat. Wednesday was a break day to finish holiday homework and have a rest. Thursday Sirius started them out with basic swordsmanship, but promised to graduate them to other weapons soon. And Friday was spent with Snape again, this time learning occlumency.
Harry and Ginny continued to meet at night when they couldn't sleep and formed a rather close friendship over the weeks leading to the end of summer.
Before anyone knew it it was a week before the start of term and a Hogwarts owl delivered their lists during breakfast on Monday morning.

"Oh, good I was wondering when they would come, now you give those to me and I'll get your things when I'm out with Fred and George later today," said Molly Weasley.

The nine students were taking a break from dueling in the large room they used for their lessons when Molly Weasley returned from Diagon Alley.

"All right now, I've sent your things up to your rooms and did the best I could with the issue of dress robes," said Molly Weasley taking a large bag out from behind her back.

"If you don't like them I can get you something different, but I need to know by tomorrow. Hermione, come here dear," she pulled a long baby blue formal robe from her bag and gave it to Hermione. "I thought this color would look nice on you," she said approvingly as she held the fabric up to the girl.

"Oh, Mrs. Weasley it's beautiful!" shouted Hermione as she twirled around the room with her dress.

"Ginny dear, the twins picked this out for you and insisted they paid for yours and Ron's," Molly pulled out a long cream gown with a gold trimming. It was cut similarly to a roman style gown and made of a thin cotton fabric. Ginny squealed something that sounded like 'marvelous' and joined Hermione in twirling around the room.

"Ron, these are yours," Molly continued as she pulled out a set of midnight blue dress robes, "but I can't believe you've already grown out of the last set."

"Thanks mum, they're much better than maroon," Ron said cheerfully while looking them over.

"Harry, Fred and George insisted these were for you," she pulled out a set of blood red robes with a golden trimming that seemed to shimmer constantly.

"Wow, they're amazing," said Harry looking astonished.

"I thought they suited you," said Molly.

"Thank you."

"Neville, Luna I got the robes your parents put on hold for you at Madame Milken's (did I spell that right)," she continued as she handed Neville a green robe and Luna one in dark purple.

"Thank you," Luna said dreamily as she gazed at it.

"Yes, thanks," added Neville.

"Alright now, Rinoa, I would have loved to incorporate some color into your wardrobe, but the twins wouldn't let me get the pink set I saw. However, these looked like you," she said as she pulled out a very Gothic styled gown. It was a very long black garment made of silk with winding silver embroidery covering the bodice and trimming the hem. The back was held together with a thick black ribbon and the dress made a 'swish' noise as Molly handed it to her.

"Are they satisfactory?" asked Mrs. Weasley.

There were courses of 'yes' and 'they're perfect' before Molly left, bag in hand for the kitchen to make dinner.

After a very filling supper and everyone had headed to bed Harry and Ginny met in the kitchen or their now nightly chats.

"Do you think Ron and Hermione will ever get together?" asked Ginny.

"I do, Ron's admitted he fancies her so it's just a matter of time," replied Harry.

"Merlin, it seems like everyone is pairing off these days. Ron and Hermione, Luna and Neville, Remus and Tonks have to have something going on!"

"I heard Remus and Sirius talking the day after the party and apparently they had too much to drink and ended up together," said Harry quietly.

"No!" said an astonished Ginny. "I knew there was something going on but I didn't think it was that serious."

"yeah, but don't tell anyone, I wasn't supposed to know."

"ok," she replied.

The two went quiet for a while until Ginny spoke.

"Why is it that war brings people together like this?"

"I don't know, probably because everyone is so afraid they won't make it that they want to make the most of it," answered Harry.

"That seems logical."

"I don't think so. I mean, what if that person could be used against you? What if the enemy found out and killed the person? Or not even that, what if one of you didn't make it and one survived? Wouldn't it be better to have never gotten together at all, just to spare yourself the pain?" asked Harry heatedly.

"No," said Ginny quietly.

"Why."

"Because I would rather live one day knowing how the other person felt and the rest of my life in mourning, than have to live not knowing what could have been. I would rather be alone with the good memories, than alone with none at all."

They sat like that or a while, in silence. Harry seemed to be mulling over something, Ginny could see the gears moving in his head (not literally). Ginny smiled at him and stood, "Goodnight, Harry."
She slowly waked to his chair, leaned down to his face and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. When she gad retreated up the stairs Harry still sat frozen. She had kissed him. Why? He touched the spot where her lips had been and groaned, this made things a lot more complicated.

Authors Note: ok well, this is the proof read version. My "F" key isn't working properly and I wanted to get this out before I went to work this morning so it went un checked. But now it is. When he gets time my really hot, gothic, English major fiancé is going to proof read all of the chapter and then I'll re-post them all, but I don't know when. Maybe during spring break. Please review it tickles me. Not really. That would be kinda creepy.

Samyjoc-If I have to choose b/n getting a chap. out or waiting and making it longer I'm gunna put it out that's just the way I am. Sorry.

Aalikane-thank you soooo much for the multiple reviews! I love you. Keep letting me know what you think.

Waterstorm99- thank you. I will get another one out next week sometime.

Egastin77- thanks

Fair-Faye-Kahlan- I don't know if I will do that b/c it's not really important. I might get it in there later on in the story though. I'll try just for you.

Swordmaster mage-see authors notes on chapter seven and one.

Shadow of a cat- thank you. I like the OC's as well. We need more.

Echo256-thanks.

SlytherinGurl176-thank you.

Abby123-Snape doesn't have custody of her, but I'm glad you picked up the subtle hints I left about them.

Strider-thank you for you reviews I appreciate it.

Athenakitty- ummmmmm. I don't know what your saying really. But yes there are couples.

Dolphingirl79- thank you. I won't I worked too hard on it.

Hewhomustdefeatdark-cool name. Thank you or the AA+.

Katelupin13-thank you

HPBeatles-I will try to keep this updated regularly.