"Harry!"

All the ladies in the house scrambled down the stairs. Mrs. Weasley was first to get to him.

"Harry! How have you been? Good?"

"I'm well. Yeah."

Mrs. Weasley let go of him to look him over. "Well… at least you're fed this time. My, Harry, do you ever stop growing?"

"Mum! You're hogging him!" Ginny's voice exclaimed as she pushed her mother aside to jump on Harry.

"Harry! It's been so lonely and quiet without you."

"Hey… if you're implying something…"

"Ginny! You're hogging him!" Hermione's voice laughed as she pushed her girlfriend aside as she leaned in to give him a great hug.

"Harry! You're finally here! It was rather boring around here. Quiet too. As Ginny said."

"Harry! Quite the lady's man, eh?"

"Happy birthday mate! The big 1 7, eh?" The twins entered from nowhere.

"Mum! I think it calls for the celebration!"

"Are you kidding? Tomorrow is Bill and Fleur's wedding! Everyone back to bed! Sorry, Harry. We'll really mention your birthday at the wedding. But right now…"

"Presents! Harry open your presents!" Ginny dragged him to the living room, disregarding anything her mother said.

Surprisingly, they had set up all his presents in a generous pile in the corner of the room.

Harry unwrapped all his gifts, now 20 galleons richer, and with an everlasting supply of the twin's brilliant inventions, and many brains smarter with the books, and endlessly amused with the rest, Harry became a party pooper (Ginny's word) when he declared himself sleepy and fell into a deep sleep.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Early in the morning, he was awakened by a loud screaming of Mrs. Weasley.

"WEDDING DAY!"

Groaning and very sleepy, Harry poked Ron as they both got ready. Harry only had to wear a new simple blue suit, but Ron, being the ring-bearer, had a nicely decorated suit.

"This reminds me a lot of fourth year when I had that girl gown to wear whereas you had a plain green one."

Harry laughed.

"I remember. Good days, that."

"Yeah…"

But why was everything now so different?"

Sighing, he heard commotion outside in the yard. He was shocked to see chairs already set up and balloons already hung.

And then, he remembered that they were wizards.

The ceremony was just 3 hours after Harry and Ron had trudged down to breakfast. Guests had already begun entering, some right when Harry was starting on his eggs.

"Hello, Ali! How are you?"

"As sick as ever. But I can't dare miss the wedding we've all been waiting for."

"Oh, you poor girl. I swear I can help you in just a flick of a wand…"

The girl Ali, who Harry finally remembered as the one who had delivered the letter to Mrs. Figgs, laughed. "Yes, I'm sure you can. But I was raised as a girl with an immunization system and I will stay that way."

Harry finally got his first glance at her. He recognized her from her rather short hair, which was a complete disaster now. It was half tied up but the bottom half had been rebels and now hung loosely and tiredly around her rather frail face. He wasn't sure if she was normally so pale and tired looking, but he blamed whatever sickness she had. She had bags under her eyes and a large coat, yet she held a bright glow from within her that was clearly visible in her sparkly eyes and flushed cheeks.

"Who's she?" Harry mumbled to Ron.

"One of the new members. We saw her in the beginning of the summer. She joined when we started sixth year. Knew Dumbledore personally. She was quite a looker in the beginning of summer… and then she got sick. She's been sick for about a month now."

"What does she have?"

"What everyone these days have. Pneumonia, I think? It's spreading fast. She also has a cold and got food poisoning a few weeks back. And allergies are at its peak right now… Poor girl. She's in such a bad state- haven't seen her since I heard she had pneumonia."

"I can see. She's wearing a coat in middle of summer."

"Tell me about it. But you know, she's actually really pretty when she's all healthy."

"Oh?" Harry asked, briefly terminating on munching his toast.

"And she's really smart. She's about our age. But she knows so much about… everything!"

"Who? Ali?" Hermione had joined them at the table.

"Yeah. Who else?"

"True true. She's really nice too. Too bad she had to get so sick like that."

"Yeah. Why isn't she letting Mrs. Weasley heal her?"

"The same reason she just told mum. 'I have an immunization system and I plan to use it.' Whatever an immunization system is- see I told you she was smart- she won't let mum touch her." Ron mumbled in middle of his eggs.

"Immunization system? Is she from a muggle town?"

"Don't know. Haven't talked to her for a while. We only had dinner together once, a long time back." Ron said, munching on his bacon.

"Huh."

The Ali person was now outside, helping Mrs. Weasley set up. The way she swished her wand when she was bringing up some roses to place all over was professional and mesmerizing.

"She seems smart." Harry mumbled, chugging down the last of his orange juice.

After breakfast, the three headed out to start welcoming guests. By the time it was 11, when the wedding started, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were already down to the bones tired.

Harry and Hermione took a seat as Ron stayed back, getting ready for his role as ring-bearer. It was quite funny, seeing a six foot 17 year old holding a cushion with the rings when it was normally a job for a seven year old, but he was the only choice they had. And according to Fleur, he was 'Just az boyish az a seven year old.'

Ginny and Gabrielle walked down the aisle first. They were both looking dashingly beautiful in their pale gold dresses- because 'pink vud look horribl' vith Ginny's hair'- and they held themselves with such grace. When Gabrielle's eyes found Harry sitting there, she blushed a little and began to speed up her walking. Ginny rolled her eyes slightly and managed a small smile.

The rest of the ceremony was heart wrenching. Not was it the uncontrollable sobbing Mrs. Weasley on the first row, not was it Bill standing there on crutches not paying attention to his wedding ceremony, not was it how the whole Weasley family just broke down when Bill dropped Fleur's ring and couldn't pick it up, not was it when Fleur kissed Bill passionately and told him that no matter how ugly he was, she 'vill alvays and forever love you vith passion,' not was it when Ginny suddenly 'had a bloody bug fly into her eye' and had to run off back into the burrow, or not was it when instead of a happy Bill swooping Fleur up in his arms, Fleur put his arm around her frail shoulders and had to drag him through the aisle.

It was how perfect that couple was amidst all the fury, drama, and deaths that were occurring around them. How in middle of the most ruthless and dangerous war ever, a couple so strong and so bold could stand up… well only Fleur… and swear to spend the rest of their lives together caught everyone almost in tears. Even Harry had an enormous bulge in his throat and Hermione couldn't stop crying beside him during the wedding.

He admired Fleur greatly for her great heart and her ability to look past Bill's demented face and marry him. He admired her for letting what happened to Bill completely ruin her perfect wedding but still be quite charming and enormously happy about it. Once Mrs. Weasley had finally accepted her in the end of their sixth year, Ginny, Hermione, and the rest of them went through the wedding, realized that Fleur wasn't going anywhere and accepted her as well. Ginny in fact gave her the longest hug and most heart warming speech at the table after.

After, all the guests hung around in their backyard, talking and socializing. Harry had been in a heated discussion about the new minister of magic with Percy when he decided that drinking punch would be the best to have to distract himself from actually punching Percy's eyes out.

He was pouring himself a glass of punch when he spotted Ali several yards away, shivering in the 84 degree summer day. He noticed Charlie running up to her, putting an arm around her shoulder. She kindly shrugged it off, smiled and walked away, leaving Charlie there all alone.

"Charlie fancies her."

Harry turned around to see Ginny standing next to him, picking up her juice.

"Everyone does. I even caught Fred and George sneaking gazes at her before she got sick. But Charlie… I've NEVER seen him so love smitten before."

"Really? Does… does she like him too?"

"I don't think so. She's always trying to avoid him."

"Oh…"

"But everyone likes her. Who wouldn't? She has the looks of Fleur, personality of Tonks, sweetness of Mum, humor of Fred and George, and brains of any professional adult wizard. And I heard she's not even 20. Isn't she just so envious?"

"Sure." Harry said, stealing another glance at Ali's tense, but cheerful position as she was laughing at Fred and George's schemes.

"Well, everyone except the men who are taken like her."

"That's…"

"Do you fancy her?"

Harry turned to face Ginny abruptly. If his woman theories were correct… was she hinting…

"Ginny… look. I…"

Ginny turned red. "Don't fret, Harry. I…I w-w-won't m-mind."

Harry just stared. He was flabbergasted. Not knowing what to say, he just stood there his heart turning and brain dying. What was he to do? Surely… she was over him by now, but…

It wasn't until Ginny doubled over laughing and tears of laughter sprung out of her that Harry realized that she had been kidding him.

Laughing too as he helped Ginny up, she gasped for breath. "You-have-got-to-be-the-thickest-boy-ever!"

"Hey! That was a nasty joke you played on me."

Ginny laughed.

"I-can't-believe-you-fell-for-it!"

"You know what!" Harry blushed deeply. "It wasn't fair either! How am I supposed to know if you're playing with me or not?"

Ginny laughed even harder as she waved and walked away to talk with Hermione.

"Ah! Harry, m'boy."

"Hello, Mr. Weasley."

"How are you today? Enjoyed the ceremony?"

"I'm fine, thanks to the wedding. It was really great, Mr. Weasley. They're really a perfect couple."

"Yes, yes. Well, I guess it is. Harry, I'll like to introduce you to a new member of the Order. This is Ali Bishop. I don't think you two have met." Mr. Weasley guided Ali over to let them shake hands.

"Pleasure to meet you, Harry."

Harry nodded. So he was finally being introduced to her.

"Ali is about your age. 18? 19 were you?"

"I'll be 19 in just 2 months, Mr. Weasley. Just two months." Ali said, rubbing her hands together excitedly.

"Hoho! You must be anxious?"

"Of course! I've been waiting for the day for 10 months now."

"Oh, but Harry here just turned 17 two days ago." Mr. Weasley said, clapping him on his back.

"Really? The big 1 7… I remember mine. Hm… I was locked up in my room, eating the usual, oh you know. Mashed potatoes, some eggs… hah, except on that day, I got some bread to go with my meal too. As a birthday treat you know?"

It was a rather depressing story, especially for one of the most important birthdays. However, Ali kept the mood rather cheerful and light.

"But it's okay because I took my apparition test the day after and passed! That was a present enough. Say, Harry, are you ready to take yours now? You'll be taking it soon, I should guess."

"Er… I really haven't given it much thought."

"Oh, you MUST ask someone to bring you take the test. Its loads more convenient. We're lucky because we get our birthdays after school ends. We get more time to practice. They're really strict you know."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Actually, Harry, why don't we take you there tomorrow?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"That… that would be okay. If I'm not busy."

"What in the name of heavens could you be busy with? Come on, and while we're there, maybe we can drop by Diagon Alley? Get new school supplies… your twins, Mr. Weasley, rather energetic animals, have convinced me to check out their store." Ali laughed. "Charming people, they are." She turned around briefly to sneeze. "Excuse me. Oh dear. It's getting rather chilly, isn't it?"

"Chilly? Would you like to go back inside, Ali? You can stay up in Ginny's room. It's the warmest there."

"That would be lovely… but I'm afraid I'll have to get going back. I don't want to kick Ginny out of her room. I know I'll probably fall asleep anyway."

"You'll be leaving then, Ali?" Mr. Weasley asked with a small frown.

"I'm dreadfully sorry I'll have to. But give Bill and Fleur a big hug and kiss for me, please? They're really just so adorable. Fleur really is a sweetie if you get to know her." Ali wrapped the coat more securely around her. "I think I should go now. Good-bye, Mr. Weasley! The wedding was phenomenal." She shook his hand as she waved at Harry. "See you around, Harry." She said as she went over to another group to say her good-byes.

"She's a charming one, her. I introduced you to her because I want to tell you that she'll be teaching at Hogwarts next year."

"Oh. So they're NOT closing down."

"Of course not! We still have Ginny to go through there. Now, Ron as told me that you have decided not to come back for your final year?"

Harry flushed. "Yes…I-"

"A bold, yet unmistakable choice, Harry. I would advise you to at least make your living quarters at Hogwarts but it is all up to you."

"You mean, I can stay at Hogwarts but not attend classes?"

Mr. Weasley nodded unsurely.

"I haven't brought it up with Minerva yet, but I know you need to go out there and… well… strengthen yourself. I know that you and Dumbledore know something none of us do, but I respect that. Although we all would have preferred you stayed at school to do the rest of your learning, you're of age now and I really can't stop you." Mr. Weasley winked. "And you have my permission to take along my son with you on your journey to find whatever you'll be finding."

It finally hit him that nobody besides him, Ron, and Hermione knew about horcruxes and knew that it was why he was going out of school to look for them.

"Th-thank you, Mr. Weasley… you have… no idea."

"Sure thing. I know there are NEWTS coming up and Ron's future to think about but you know… if you're doing something to get rid of he-who-must-not-be-named, I really can't complain. Molly would be hard to convince but she'll be fine. My only request is that you will make Hogwarts your home for the year, however. Dumbledore may not be there to protect it from he-who-must-not-be-named, but that place is probably still safer than anywhere else you may think of. And I doubted you'll want to go the Grimmauld… well, anyway. I hope you the best, Harry. Come with me tomorrow morning; I'll be taking you to take your apparition test tomorrow."

"Okay. Thank you"

"It's nothing, Harry. Just… help us."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The weeks passed by quickly after the wedding. Harry got ready to go to Godrics Hollow when September started. They passed their days playing quidditch, playing chess, talking, eating, and spending their summer like they always did. It hurt Harry to know that it may be the last time he ever played a game of Quidditch or argued with Ron over a game of exploding snaps.

Harry had taken and passed his apparition test, even though Harry had a feeling it was mostly also because of the fact that it was Harry Potter and the testers nearly freaked out when he walked into the door. Harry's fan club, Mr. Weasley, Mrs, Weasley, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, Charlie, Ali, Tonks, and Mad-eye all followed him when Harry had expected to only come with Mr. Weasley. When Harry came out flushed and cheerful, they all gathered around him to create a whole scene at the ministry. They finally left when Mad-eye crossly grunted that everyone was watching them like a group of lunatics.

After, the group had separated. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Mad-eye went back to the burrow whereas Fred and George accompanied Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Charlie, Tonks, and of course, Ali to their shop.

It was almost a Hogwarts reunion there. Harry was very shocked to find that just about half of his class was still going back for their seventh year. Of course, most of them were going contrary to their parent's wishes but they were given permission with the fact that anywhere else was probably still just as dangerous and that they were already too far ahead to go back and change their lifestyles.

Finally, Ali now took up a high fever and quickly rushed herself back home, forcing Charlie to stay behind because of lack of adult supervision.

"I swear, I don't know how she does it. I've never seen Charlie so smitten to someone like that. It's completely un-Charlie!" Ginny muttered cursing, and knocked over a display of canary creams. She just took one look at it, groaned even louder and stomped away.

Harry fixed the mess the Ginny had so angrily just left behind. Since he was now 17, he could use his wand freely.

Remembering their trip to Diagon Alley the year before, Hermione whispered to Ron and Harry. "What do you think happened to Malfoy? You think he'll come back?"

Ron shrugged as Harry shook his head violently.

"I saw him. He followed Snape and the rest of the death eaters. I know he didn't have enough nerve to kill Dumbledore and he could have been so close to just staying with us and not passing over to the death eater side, but now that Dumbledore is… well… well… I just don't think he'll come. I have a hunch he'll stay with Voldemort."

Hermione bit her lip. "The poor thing."

Ron spat. "Poor thing? POOR THING? He deserves it! He deserves every second of the torture that's just waiting around the corner of his bloody hell life! It's too late to change him now!"

"Yeah, but still."

"Yeah, I do sort of feel bad for him. But hey, he could have always gotten out of it, but he didn't so we really can't blame ourselves. What's wrong with Ginny?" Harry changed the subject, peering over the U-No-Poo's to Ginny glaring angrily at the love potion.

"I don't know. It looks like she's mad at the potion. Maybe it didn't work on her or something. Figures…"

"Ron! You know that's not true. Charlie was a close brother of hers. Her favorite, I think. But now he's all goo-goo over Ali…"

"Really, Charlie's become the most air-headed bloke since he met her."

"She doesn't even like him! Doesn't he get the hint already? Look what it's doing to Ginny."

"Yeah well, just because Charlie's obsessed about Ali, doesn't give Ginny the right to go stomping around with that look on her face."

"She's been like this for over a month now! I think it's time fore Charlie to just grow up and take it that Ali will never go out with him."

"That's what love does to you! And why DOESN'T Ali like him anyway? Charlie's one of Weasley's best! He's good looking, smart, athletic, daring… what more does she want?" Ron crossed his arms.

"Maybe it's just the way that he's always hanging over her with his tongue drooling out!"

And then, Hermione and Ron broke out into another of their petty arguments.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Sigh. Second chapter. Hehe. I'm scared that if I don't stop writing, I'll never look at this story again.

Hoped you liked!

Ta ta!