Chapter Four: Coming of Age

By the thirtieth of July, Ginny could apparate, Hermione could fly a broom almost happily, and they had a plan for what they needed to take with them. But Harry hadn't yet shared his memories... the memories that Dumbledore had given him of Tom Riddle's life, and the story of the Horcruxes. He was hesitating, as though that was somehow a final step, a final commitment. Perhaps it was.

The day before his birthday, he decided that it was time. Arthur Weasley had told him that the following day he was going to take Harry in to the Ministry for his Apparation test, and Harry was relieved that he'd finally be able to do it legally. It was one less worry.

But Ginny wouldn't be seventeen for another year yet. Harry worried about that.

"Relax, Harry," Ron had said the night before as they were leaving Harry's room. The girls had gone ahead, leaving Ron there alone. "I'm as guilty as you are."

"What do you mean?"

Ron flushed. "Come on, Harry. You don't have to say it for me to know what you're thinking. When we go, I'll be as guilty as you... Ginny'll still be a minor. The Ministry would consider it kidnapping, you know."

"I know," Harry said quietly. "But we can't leave her. Not now."

"She wouldn't let us even if we tried."

"Your mum is going to hate me," Harry said. "She is. You know it."

"Yeah, but she's going to hate me, too," Ron shrugged. "Does that mean that we shouldn't do it?"

"It doesn't matter at this point," Harry sighed. "It's got to be done."

"Yep," Ron agreed. "It does. So stop second guessing your decisions and let's get it done, shall we?"

"Right."

As soon as Arthur had left for work, Molly bustled about, and informed them that she was off to the market. Harry gathered the others in his room, and Hermione made sure that the room was secure while Harry got out his pensieve.

"Wow," Ron looked at it carefully, studying the runes along the sides.

"Have you tried it yet, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Not yet."

"Maybe you should...?"

"Before I drag you in, as well?" Harry chuckled. "I was planning to, Hermione."

Hermione flushed.

"What does it do, Harry?" Ginny watched carefully as he prepared the pensieve on his desktop.

"It let's you relive someone elses memory, Gin... or your own."

"How?"

"I'll show you," Harry said, touching his wand to his temple and drawing out the thin silvery thread of a memory. The first one that Dumbledore had shared with him. When it was a silvery puddle in the bottom of the pensieve, Harry smiled. "Watch..."

At which point he immersed himself in the memory and relived it to the end. Surfacing, he smiled at them.

"But... you were barely gone a minute," Hermione looked at him.

"I think time passes differently when you're in there," Harry said quietly. "Ready?"

They spent the rest of the day exploring and discussing the memories that Dumbledore had given him. Hermione and Ginny were fascinated, and Ron was nervous, but they managed to take in all the information that Harry had for them, and sat for ages discussing it afterwards.

"We need to track his movements... from the first memory on," Harry pointed out.

"But Dumbledore has already done that," Hermione pointed out.

"We have to do it again, Hermione," Harry replied.

"It makes sense, Mione..." Ron said. "If we track where he was, and who died around him, we might be able to find the horcruxes. If you have to take a life to create one, then the deaths that he caused will indicate when he created one, and if we know where he was and what was going on around him at the time, we might be able to extrapolate where... and what... they are."

Hermione beamed at him.

"What?" Ron looked at her, uncomfortable.

"You used the word 'extrapolate'."

"Yeah...?"

Hermione didn't respond, she just continued to grin happily. Ron rolled his eyes meaningfully at Harry.

Harry flooed into the Ministry with Arthur the following morning. He was led to the Magical Licencing office and Arthur waited patiently for him.

"Go on, then. I'll just wait here and when you've done you can Apparate home."

Harry smiled. Arthur Weasley had rather a lot of faith in him, it would seem.

In the end, it wasn't unfounded. Harry managed a short distance apparation, then a medium distance apparation, Apparating to the twins shop in Diagon Alley and back, having had Fred sign the paper they'd given him to prove he'd been there.

As he'd done so well, not only was he licenced to apparate, but he was given the opportunity to try for a long-distance licence, as well. Hermione had one of these... and Harry was absolutely certain that, if Ginny had been applying, she'd have managed it, as well. Ron had barely missed it. He'd left a tooth behind when he'd tried.

Harry was told to apparate to Paris and back. He knew he could do it, although he was nervous about apparating across water. Hermione said it felt different, and he wasn't quite sure that he wanted to know how what he'd experienced so far could be different.

When he tried it, however, he found it wasn't any more unpleasant than normal apparition. A brief feeling of being underwater... and then nothing. He was standing in the Ministry office in Paris. The clerk signed his paper and he returned.

Arthur was glowing when Harry emerged from the testing office, the bright yellow licence in his hand.

"Long distance, then? Excellent, Molly will be very proud... why, only Bill and the twins managed long distance on their first try..."

"First try?" Harry looked at him. "You can try again to better your licence?"

"Of course. Not that you'll have to... that's the best there is."

"I was thinking of Ron, actually," Harry said quietly.

"Well, Ron may like to try..." Arthur looked at Harry. "Harry, Ron's problem isn't his ability, it's his confidence in his ability."

"I know. For some reason he always..." Harry stopped, not sure of how to go on.

"He stops just shy of his best, allowing you and Hermione to surpass him, just to have something to gripe about," Arthur said casually. Harry looked up at him. "I know my son rather well, yes?"

"I... I'm not sure that Ron thinks of it that way, Mr Weasley."

"I'm sure he doesn't. But it doesn't change the fact that that is indeed what he does."

"Why?" Harry asked. "We've never understood it, Hermione and I."

"Why does Bill jump in where angels fear to tread? Why do the twins get up to so much mischief? Why does Ginny fight first and ask questions after? Why does Charlie enjoy putting himself in danger needlessly? Why does Percy... well... all of my children are precious to me, Harry... but as their father, I can see their faults. Ron... Ron is typically the youngest boy of a family with many children. He often felt he was last in line... and it's a hard habit to break."

"He's not," Harry said. "It's not like that in your family."

"It's like that in any family, to some degree. Even if it's only perception that makes it that way. Ron will outgrow it... eventually. Probably when he has a family of his own."

"Mr Weasley?" Harry looked at the older man.

"What is it, Harry?" Arthur asked as they reached the apparation point for the Ministry.

"I have to do some things. You know that, right?"

"Yes, Harry," Arthur nodded, glancing around.

"I..."

"I know my children are in this up to their eyeballs, Harry. But I trust you to do what you have to do, without worrying about what others will think."

"I..."

"Don't worry, Molly will forgive you anything."

"Not this," Harry muttered.

"This, too," Arthur smiled sadly. "We'll talk... later. Okay?"

"Yes, sir."

"Off you go then... I'll see you later."

"Thanks, Mr Weasley."

"You're welcome."

Harry couldn't quite decide, as he watched Arthur Weasley turn and head back towards his office, whether or not the older wizard knew what Harry had been talking about or not. He rather hoped he had... but if he hadn't, he soon would. It was nearly time.

When he reached the Burrow, he found that while he'd been gone the others had arisen and prepared a birthday breakfast for him. He grinned at the stack of presents next to his plate, and sat down happily while Ginny poured him a cup of tea.

"So... let's see it then," Ron grinned. Harry pulled out his licence and handed it across the table.

"Long distance? You made long distance?" Ron looked at him. "I didn't make long distance... bloody molar..."

"Ron," Harry looked up. "You're going to try again."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"I've got my licence, Harry."

"And you're going to go back tomorrow and try for your long distance licence."

"I couldn't..."

"You're going to, Ron. You need it," Harry said firmly, levelling the other boy a look across the table.

"I..."

"You really do, Ron. I know you can do it," Hermione leant down and kissed him on the cheek, flushing before she turned away to get the plates from the counter.

Ron flushed.

"I'll try."

"You'll do more than try, Ron," Harry said in a low voice. "You'll go in there and do it. I need to know that you're there... no matter where. Understand?"

Ron stared hard at him for a moment before nodding. "Tomorrow."

Dinner that evening was at Harry's request, a quiet affair. Molly had been prepared to invite half the school for Harry's seventeenth, but Harry had insisted she restrict it to Remus, Tonks, the family and a few members of the Order.

"I should see if Percy..."

"Molly, you will not be inviting Percy," Arthur said quietly. He'd come home for lunch, strange in itself, but having him say something like that to his wife had all four teenagers sitting at the table looking up in astonishment.

"Arthur?"

"Molly, I have been patient about this whole ordeal. But after what Percy did at Christmas, it's going to take rather more than his accepting an invitation to dinner for me to forgive him. The only reason he came at Christmas was because it would get the Minister in here to grill Harry. I was willing to not be bothered about Bill's wedding invitation, but he didn't even bother to owl to decline. No, no more. The next invitation that that young man recieves from this house will be after he's gotten his head out of his backside and apologised, and not before."

"But, Arthur..."

"No more, Molly," he said quietly before going back to his paper.

Harry turned surprised eyes to Ron, who looked back and shook his head. They quickly finished their lunch and made to leave the room.

"Harry, a word?" Arthur put down his paper. They all sat again.

"In private, please," Arthur stood and headed towards the door. Harry followed.

They walked out to the orchard, and then continued around it, Arthur hadn't said anything, and Harry waited patiently.

"Harry, with Dumbledore gone..." Arthur stopped. "Since his death, several things have happened."

"Oh?"

"The Order..."

"What about it?"

"I've been put in charge. With the loss of Dumbledore and Snape..."

"Don't," Harry said quietly.

"Don't what?"

"I don't ever want to hear that name again."

"Harry..."

"I told Dumbledore... I warned him. I knew, and I told him, but he wouldn't listen to me!"

"We all tried, Harry. I'm not sure why Albus trusted him so completely... or Mundungus either, for that matter. Dumbledore liked to see only the good in people. He strongly believed that everyone had good in them. Some of us disagreed... some of us agreed to believe that he knew things we did not... and accept his decisions based on that. We were wrong. He was wrong. It cost us a little faith, Harry, but it cost Albus his life."

"We lost him... he was... he was our hope, Mr Weasley... he was the only one who could tell us what to do..."

"Do you need telling, Harry?"

"What?"

"You know what you need to do."

"How do...?"

"When you started seeing our daughter last year, Harry, Albus saw fit to inform us of the reason for your involvement in the Order."

"Oh..." Harry flushed. So far as he had known, the Weasleys had never known about him and Ginny.

"What happened, Harry?"

"I... when?"

Arthur looked at him for a moment. "Albus told us that you and Ginny were... close. But I see no indication of it now."

"Oh," Harry flushed further. "I... at the funeral... I told Ginny that she... she would be safer if..."

"But she's not. None of us are, Harry."

"I know."

"Don't be afraid to admit a weakness.. or a strength. Don't be afraid to take what little happiness is offered, while you can."

"But..."

"Ginny is a Weasley, Harry. I am now head of the Order. Do you think that Voldemort doesn't know that?"

"How could he?"

"Oh, he knows," Arthur smiled.

Harry turned and began to walk again. Arthur followed.

"I... I know what I have to do."

"Yes."

"I'm not returning to school this year, Mr Weasley."

"I know that too, Harry."

Harry glanced at him, then looked straight ahead again. "Ron and Hermione..."

"I know."

"How?"

"Like they'd let you go alone? Hermione was back here like a shot this summer... she's frightened to let either of you out of her sight. She thinks you'll leave her behind."

"Ginny..."

"Won't let you go without a fight."

"I don't intend to fight her on it, Mr Weasley," Harry said softly. "I can't. I'd lose anyhow, and..."

"And you want her with you."

"I thought she'd be safer if we left her behind, but..."

"But no one is going to be safe here, Harry, once you're gone."

"She thinks she'd be safer with us."

"She will."

"Are you...?"

"Molly would have my hide if I said any such thing, Harry. But know this... I have every confidence in you... and my son... and my daughter. You will do what you have to do. Being head of the Order gives one a rather different perspective."

"Mr Weasley, I can't tell you when... but it might be sudden. You understand this?"

"Yes."

"When we go... there might be no warning."

"I know that, too."

"But the Burrow won't be safe. You're right. As soon as September comes and school doesn't let back in, the first place they'll look is... well, they'll look for the Burrow... and I suppose I don't have the confidence that I should that they won't find it."

"I am aware of that."

"Ron and I have been talking, and I'm not sure that Grimmauld Place will be any safer. Snape had access to it, and even with the fidelius reset... I'm nervous."

"Yes."

"I don't know where else there is."

"Well, it will sort itself out. We've got a few days, anyhow."

"I hope so," Harry said quietly as they headed back to the Burrow. He really, really hoped they had a few days.

Remus and the others were there when Harry and Ron came down for dinner that night. Ginny was helping her mother carry bowls out to the long table they'd set up in the back yard, and Hermione was looking for Crookshanks.

"What she'd do if that ruddy cat wasn't..." Ron stopped. "Harry?"

"What?"

"What are we going to do with Crookshanks? And Pig? And Hedwig?"

"Hedwig and Pig can fly, Ron... Crookshanks will have to stay."

"Hermione's going to pop a string," Ron shook his head, continuing down the stairs.

"We have bigger problems."

"Like?"

"Like, we need to find a place for your parents and the others. Bill and Fleur, the twins..."

"Grimmauld Place?"

"I don't know. It might have to be. It's just..."

Hermione tripped down the stairs behind them, rushing to catch up. Ron caught her.

"What?" she looked up at Harry as she righted herself.

"Ever since we found out about Mundungus... I have a bad feeling about Grimmauld Place."

Ron and Hermione exchanged a concerned look.

"Where else is there, Harry?" Hermione asked softly, aware of people in the next room.

"I don't know. But... well, it will sort itself out. We'll talk later, okay? I need to tell you something, but not now."

"We might have to let someone in on this, you know," Ron said softly.

Harry's eyes strayed to where Arthur had entered the kitchen. He was asking Molly for something.

"Yes... well, we'll worry about that tomorrow, shall we?" Harry proceeded to step into the kitchen and his eyes lit on Ginny.

"You need to relax tonight," Ginny smiled across at him, but she didn't approach. She was always close by, but she never touched him in any way that couldn't be considered accidental or meaningless. Harry had a great urge to take her hand in his.

But he couldn't. What he'd said to her at Dumbledore's funeral was still true. Until Voldemort was dead, anyone he was known to care about would be more of a target than ever. He couldn't lose her, so he had to push her away.

Remus cornered him directly after dinner and asked him to walk with him. Harry was beginning to understand that these "walks" didn't presage anything good, but followed.

"Harry... some things should have fallen to Sirius, as your godfather. But with both your father and Sirius gone..."

"Moony, I know all about the birds and the bees," Harry said dryly.

"I don't doubt it, Harry," Remus laughed. "Tonks told me that the girls were rather... forthright... this year?"

"Some of them," Harry blushed, thinking about Romalda Vane... and her rather frightening determination.

"That's not what I wanted to talk to you about... but if you would like...?"

"No," Harry said hurriedly. "I think I've got that all... under control."

Remus laughed again. "You may think so, Harry. When you want to talk, I'm here. Okay?"

"Okay."

"What I wanted to talk to you about was your inheritance, Harry."

"From Sirius? Grimmauld Place?"

"Amongst... other things, yes."

"What other things?"

"Your family was quite wealthy, Harry. You're now of age. You've come into rather a lot..."

"I've been to my vault, Remus. I know what's there."

"You know what is in your vault, Harry, the vault that belonged to James and Lily. I'm certain you haven't been into the Potter family vault, because you wouldn't have been able to access it before now. I have the key."

With this, Remus took his hand out of his pocket and handed Harry a key with a rather intricately carved head.

"The Potter family vault?"

"As you're the last of the Potters, that is now yours, as well. And I've taken the liberty of having the contents of Sirius' vault moved to your personal vault, as well. The Black family vault, which Sirius left to you, is still in question. Bellatrix is contesting things. However, there is no question about Grimmauld Place... it is yours. As is Potter Manor."

"Potter... what?"

"Potter Manor, Harry. Your family estate... which includes most of the townsite of Godric's Hollow."

Okay, typical of my stories, Potter Manor will play a role. I suppose this is because I'm "bothered" by JKR's lack of detail about Harry's home and ancestors. I think that Godric's Hollow definitely has some bearing in the final book, and it bugs me that we have no knowledge of Harry's ancestral home. After all, would he not have inherited something in terms of property, even if it is only a plot of land?

Anyhow – on with the important bit... my thanks to my amazing reviewers. Thanks everyone!

HarryandGinny4eva: I've checked them out... I'll probably start posting over there soon.

FienX: I rather thought so, too... but I'm dismissing it as "build up" to 7!

Shotgunn: I'll be having you "britpick" for me, my dear...

wsantelm: Ginny is able to do more than Harry was in Privet Drive because the Ministry is aware of magic being used in and around the Burrow. Harry's restrictions were strongly enforced because there was no expectation of anyone doing magic in front of the muggles at that address. Magic being done at the Burrow or in other "magical" places would draw less attention.

Adj: The others already learned... they were given lessons at Hogwarts during their sixth year (HBP).

PCB: No, her bedroom window overlooks where they were sitting outside, and she could hear them through it.

LarnaMandrea: Glad to see you back here... I've missed you!

Kordolin: As much as I would like to give you another 20 chapters by... say, tomorrow... I do have a life, LOL!

Teazer: Hmmm... that easily? I think Harry's rather more obstinate that that, actually. We'll see.

And to everyone else who reviewed, thank you: RyougaZell, harryginnyluv4ever, xxxMyMistakexxx, Sunflower3623, highbrass, kazziedal, Lacyl, AlliBaby, hpz26, Manatheron, demosthenes03, OldCrow, nymphondratonks, Courtney, hpgirl7777, Lady Arwen, KaleenaMason, KaiserMonkey, HeatherGranger13, notwritten, SillyEnglishKnight, VolleyPickle16, Tomanak, FroBoy, Wolfy16, Bulldozer, DarkLadyEvans, Gerie, GiGiFanfic, azntgr01, BrittSchrick, FancyEyes, QuillPixie, Catherine, QueenTigress