Disclaimer: My plot ferrets say this is all mine. The lawyer's attack ferrets on the other hand, say it's not. So, who ya gonna believe? Well, fine then. Side with them why dontcha... :::grumble grumble grumble:::

Confessions:

Harry had been installed in Percy's old room, as Ron's older brother was still being a prat, and would likely have no use of it for quite a while. This was fine for Harry, as it meant that he was able to practice his meditation for a bit when he awoke, without being disturbed. As he allowed his senses to reconnect themselves, the young wizard took in the sights, sounds, and smells that confirmed that he was back in the Burrow. He saw the pale walls around him, very plain really, due to the previous occupant. Harry couldn't help thinking that it matched the drab, somewhat supercillious personality Percy showed everyone. He could hear, too, the quiet tread of somebody walking past his room, probably Ginny, whose room was next to his. This brought him to the awareness that he was laying on top of his sheets in nothing but a pair of very worn boxers, in a house where everybody had the tendency to knock, then enter. The knock was more of a formality really, around here. At this thought, he got up and put on his robe, getting ready to head to the loo for his shower. Harry looked out the window to see what the weather was like. It looked gorgeous outside, the sun high in the sky, just a few wispy clouds. Just as he turned away, he saw a rainbow shimmer surrounding a form out by the garden. That would be Tonks, still on guard.

Just then, his bladder decided to get his attention, and he thought he'd better take heed. Luckily, the bathroom was unoccupied, and he was able to get his morning ablutions out of the way quickly. As he walked back to his room, still trying to get his untidy mop of hair to behave, he became aware of the delicious smells coming from the kitchen. This spurred him into hurrying back to his room to get dressed, so he could enjoy Molly's cooking all the quicker.

As he made his way down the stairs to the kitchen he heard voices raised in bickering. Of course, before he even entered the room, he knew it had to be Ron and Hermione. This was really getting quite ridiculous. He said his good mornings to everyone, with a kiss on the cheek from Molly, and shot Ginny a questioning look, jerking his head towards the other two. She looked back at him with an expression of sheer frustration, and mouthed to him, "An hour and a half, so far."

He shook his head back at her in sympathy and said, "We'll get together later and see what we can come up with. Otherwise, they're liable to get tossed out of the window in Gryffindor Tower." She giggled in return, and this caught the attention of the arguing pair. They both looked up, obviously surprised that they hadn't even noticed he had joined them.

"Harry! Good mornin, mate! Sleep good?" Ron asked as he shoveled a forkful of eggs into his mouth.

"Not bad at all, thanks. Looks like a beautiful day out there. Wish I could do a little flying around and enjoy it."

"Maybe you could try one of the extra brooms in the shed out there. None of 'em are Firebolts, but it'd be something, anyway."

Harry turned to Hermione now. "Alright there, 'Mione?"

"I'd be a little bit better off, if someone," with a dark look at Ron, "wasn't trying to spend the whole holiday trying to copy my homework. Other than that, it's been great, Harry."

Knowing that he'd better try something to head off the next round of Ron vs Hermione, he asked, "Molly? When do you think we could get that trip to London together?"

Grateful for the diversion, she replied, "I'm not sure, dear. We'd have to talk to a few Order members, to make sure we have some cover. Can't take any risks, with everything that's been going on."

"Well, why don't you start by asking Tonks? She's out by the garden right now."

They all looked at him in surprise. "Tonks? What's she doing here? How in the world do you know that?" was the question from Hermione.

"Well...erm..I heard her crash into something after I got up. As for what she's here for, I suppose the same as she was doing at Privet Drive. Guard duty." It was his turn to start shoveling his breakfast into his mouth, this time to give himself time to think about his gaffe. Bugger, he thought, shouldn't've said anything.

Hermione was giving him a considering look, as if she was trying to work out the details. Knowing her, she probably was, and just might do so. He might have to say something before too long. The young wizard knew that his friends hated being out of the loop as much as he himself did.

Molly stuck her head out the kitchen window and called out, "Tonks! Are you out there, dear?"

They quite clearly heard a muttered, "Bloody hell. How does everybody know where I am all of a sudden? Might as well not even have this damn cloak." As she muttered, they heard her coming up the path to the door. As she got there, she looked around the room and asked, "Alright. Who was it spilled the beans? I know I didn't knock anything over yet this morning. That's why I was by the garden. Nothing to hurt out there but the gnomes."

They all looked at Harry again, who had started to choke on a piece of toast as she spoke. He washed it down with a swallow of pumpkin juice, as he tried to buy himself a little more time. When he looked back up, the expressions he saw on their faces said it was clearly time to start explaining.

"Alright. I seem to have found an ability I didn't know I had. I can see these, erm, outlines I guess, around people. I can see them even if they're hidden. When I looked out the window this morning, I saw the one around Tonks. I always know it's her, even when she has the cloak on. I didn't want to say anything yet, because I wasn't sure about..." He trailed off at this point, unable to think how to finish the sentence.

Hermione asked, with a hurt look in her eyes, "Us? You weren't sure about us? I thought you trusted us Harry." As the others chimed in on this, Harry interrupted them all.

"Hold on. Remember, back in second year, when we found out I could talk to snakes?" Hermione and Ron traded slightly guilty looks. "Yeah, that's it exactly. I didn't know if this was because of the link I have with Voldemort, or what it was. I wanted to talk to Dumbledore, first. I was going to tell you, all of you, but I wanted slightly more information to work with."

At this, Tonks sank into a chair by the table, snatching a piece of toast. "Well that's a relief. Here I was, thinking the cloak was defective. I was going to give Mad-Eye seven kinds of bloody hell about the cloak not working right."

This broke the tension that had started to develop, and everybody chuckled over this. Ron asked, "What do these outlines look like?"

"Well, it's more of a combination of smell or taste, feel, and color. For Tonks here, it's sharp citrus, stone, and rainbow."

"How about Mum?"

Harry looked at Molly, letting his eyes unfocus. "Hmmm...lemon, marble, and green." He looked at Ron the same way, and said, "For you, blueberry, clay, and orange. Hermione, you'd be lilac, paper, and bright blue."

Ron asked, "Well, what about Ginny, then?"

"Cinnamon and sugar, velvet, and ruby." He didn't need to turn to look at the cute redhead to know this, and was just a shade too quick to say it.

Ron was a bit suspicious at the ready answer. "Hang on. How d'you know that already? You didn't even look at her."

Harry buried his head in his hands, knowing he was well and truly caught. "Yeah. About that. Remember last night, when I told you about the meditation I've been doing, and how I had to focus on just one thing, in order to get the rest to drop away?" The others nodded, realizing that a vital detail had been left out of that description. "Well, the only thing I could focus on that would make everything else go away was Ginny's face. I know this sounds a bit strange, but nothing else would work. But, as soon as I focused on her, everything else fell into place." He looked toward the girl in question, and saw a look he couldn't quite fathom. This was something the two of them would have to talk about.

Hermione was looking now through a book she had retrieved, with the title, Meditation, Auras, and other obvious things you need to ask me about. They saw a look of understanding cross her face, then a small smile. She handed the book to Harry and said, "You both might want to read this, as it should explain. It may not be exactly what you expected, but..."

Harry and Ginny looked at each other curiously. After a moment, she broke the silence, saying, "We'd better see what she's on about." Harry nodded in agreement, and they both bent to the passage the bushy-haired girl had indicated.

The most effective means to meditation, especially as an aid to Occlumency, is to focus on the face of the person you love the most. If you choose the one person who means more to you than anyone else in the world, whom you most wish to protect and you wish to have by your side, everything else will be easy.

The book went on to describe the whys and wherefores of it all, but after the passage about who to choose as a focus, the two stopped reading. Harry stayed that way, looking at the book, not taking in any further words, for a few moments. Slowly, he looked to his side, at Ginny. Her mouth had dropped open as she stared, unbelieving, at him.

"Gin, I..."

She cut him off. She had something to ask. "I am the person who matters most to you? You...Y-you...love me?"

"Yes, Ginny, I do. I don't know when it happened, but I do know right when I knew it for sure. When we went to the Ministry, I saw exactly what you were willing to risk for me, on just my word. When you said that you were coming along and I'd better damn well accept it, I knew. It wasn't just that, it was a lot of things, I think."

She punched him hard on the arm. "You knew then? And you didn't say anything? How could you?"

"If you remember right, we were all just a bit busy at that point. Besides, Hermione told me you were over me, and I figured it was just another demonstration of the way my luck works. I thought you'd never feel that way about me again."

"You idiot. I have never stopped loving you. What I told Hermione was that I had given up on trying to win you. I tried to give up how I felt about you, but it never worked."

"You mean..."

"Yes, I still love you, and I always will."

Harry bent toward her to kiss her, but as his lips touched hers, they heard the very distinct sound of three throats being cleared. Both turned red very quickly, as they turned towards the other people they had almost forgotten were there.

Molly tried to maintain a stern look, but couldn't hide the smile she had. It was obvious she was very happy about her daughter finally getting together with the one she'd loved for so long.

Hermione was beaming, so happy was she to see two of her best friends find each other. She also had a faint look of 'I told you so' playing over her animated face.

Tonks was sitting on a chair at the other end of the table, laughing. "What'd I tell you, Ginny?"

Ron was the one Harry dreaded looking at. When he saw his friend, though, Ron was sitting back with a smug look on his face, arms crossed. Harry was most surprised to see this. He'd thought for sure Ron would go into high 'Ginny-protect' mode.

The new couple looked at each other, confused, then turned back to face him. Ginny asked, "Alright, Ron. What's the look for? What are you so smug about?"

Her brother buffed his nails a moment on his shirt, clearly self-satisfied. "I've only been trying to get you two together for a year and a half, now. Merlin Harry, no offense, but you can be thick sometimes."

He lost the smug look when Harry looked back at him with a smile. "I'm the thick one, then? So tell me, have you asked Hermione out yet?"

Ron sat up, gasping like a fish in a net, trying to form words. Hermione had a look of shock, and was making urgent hand motions, trying to get Harry to stop. It didn't work one iota.

"Ron, honestly, all of Gryffindor, if not the rest of the school, has known you two are mental over each other since second year. Fourth year was when you really broadcast it to the whole school though, as well as Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. It's not as if nobody could see the fact that you went from idolizing Viktor Krum to hating his guts, as soon as he started paying attention to 'Mione." He turned to his other best friend. "Mione, tell us the truth. Was there ever really anything between you and Viktor? Besides him chasing you like a love-struck puppy, that is."

She looked over at him and shook her head, replying, "No, there wasn't. He was sweet, in a way, but I never thought about him that way. Sure, he's fit, and does his own homework," she again shot that dark look at the redheaded boy next to her, "There was just never that kind of attraction. No matter how hard he tried, I just couldn't get past the feelings I had for somebody else." She turned a more tender look on Ron this time. "It's always been you, Ron."

Ron tried to force words past his lips. "M-m-me?" he finally squeaked. At her nod, he said, "I never knew, Mione, really. I've been mad about you since I met you. I just never dreamed you felt anything for me besides friendship. Or annoyance for that matter. That's why I always pick fights, start arguments with you. Half the time, that's the only way you let anything slip." He looked down now. "I just always assumed you'd find somebody as smart as you, somebody you could relate to. I never thought it would be me."

Ron and Hermione were the ones now forgetting about the rest, as Ron leaned in toward his new girlfriend for a kiss. Just as he was almost there, he heard, from Harry's direction, "Hem-hem." They both shot straight up in their seats, with a flashback to DADA classes the previous year.

Harry and Ginny were laughing at the looks on the other's faces, confusing Molly and Tonks. Hermione huffily explained that was the way the hag Umbridge had cleared her throat when she wanted attention, and all became clear to the adults. They couldn't resist laughing at the looks on Ron and Hermione's faces.

Molly filed this efective attention-getter away for future reference and proceeded to other matters. "As happy as I am to see all of that settled, there actually was a reason we called Nymphad-excuse me, Tonks in here, besides breakfast and a show. The children would like to make a trip to Diagon Alley soon, and Harry needs to find a place, probably in muggle London, where he can find some new clothes. He really has nothing except cast-offs from his cousin, who is several sizes larger than he is. When do you think we could get a shopping trip together?"

Tonks thought it over, casting her eyes over Harry's clothes. "I see what you mean. He needs some things that fit. Let me check on it, and I'll have an answer tonight. Harry, might I use Hedwig?"

"Sure, Tonks. She'll be glad of something to do. Pretty much everybody I'd be writing to is in this house anyway, so she'll be a bit bored the rest of the summer. She's on the perch in the sitting room."

"Alright then. I'll just get a letter off, then head back outside for my guard duty." She grabbed another piece of toast and some bacon, and went to find the snowy owl, leaving the rest alone.

Molly cast an eye over the two couples before her. "If it were any other four children I was talking to, I'd give the standard speech about behaving yourselves, as well as not rushing into anything you're not ready for." The four teens shifted in their seats, looking a bit uncomfortable at the prospect of 'The Talk.' "However, none of you have exactly rushed into anything, now have you? I also know that you four are very responsible, at least for the most part." They all relaxed a bit, until she said, "One thing I do think we need to go over, though are certain, well, spells, you will all need. I am not condoning, at this point, anyway, more, er, physical behavior, but I do remember what it's like to be young and in love. I want to make sure that, if something does happen, I don't need to worry about any early grandchildren." All four teens reddened at this, and she continued. "Though I do expect to see some farther down the road. It's not as if I expect any out of Fred and George. Those two..." After a moment, she started teaching the teens the proper spells, and made sure they knew them perfectly by lunchtime.

As they sat down for lunch, the fire in the grate flamed green, then Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall stepped from the fireplace.

"Albus, Minerva, would you like some lunch?" Molly greeted them both.

"That sounds very good indeed, Molly." The headmaster seated himself, noting how the teens sat at the table, the two couples obviously resolved now. He looked at Harry, asking, "How has your holiday been, Harry? I don't think we were expecting you to be away from your aunt and uncles already. I presume the present arrangement suits you better?"

Before the young wizard had a chance to reply, Molly jumped in. "Albus, if I have even one word to say about it, Harry will not go back there. Ever!"

Dumbledore's eyebrows rose so high on his forehead, they almost seemed to disappear. "Is there something I need to be aware of, Molly?"

Molly looked to Harry for the moment, and when she recieved a reluctant nod from him, she went on. "Actually, yes there is, Albus. Those people are completely unsuitable for Harry to be around. The way his uncle reacted to myself and the girls was entirely out of order. I have also seen things on Harry in the past that I've wondered whether I should mention. Last summer, and the one before, he had bruises in places that could not have resulted from a fall down the stairs, or simple rough-housing. He's never told me whether it was from his uncle or that great bully of a cousin, but it doesn't matter. If it was from the cousin, the uncle should have stopped it. He obviously doesn't care a fig for Harry. He's also almost totally malnourished, every time we see him after the summer. They barely feed him, Albus." She looked at the older man with a determined expression. "As far as Arthur and I are concerned, he is as good as being our son. As far as Ginny and the boys go, he's another brother to them. Well, maybe not Ginny anymore." This last was added with a wink to her daughter, then she turned back to Dumbledore. "After school ends this coming year, he will be coming back here, or to headquarters, if that's where we end up. Either way, he will be with us!" Having said her piece, she sat down, glaring at the headmaster.

McGonagall spoke up now, more quietly. "Headmaster, you know my opinions on this matter. I expressed them on the very night that Harry was placed there. I know that there were very valid reasons for what was done, but I believe that the time for those arrangements has passed. I believe the Burrow really is the best place for him, now."

Dumbledore removed his glasses, placing them on the table. He closed his eyes, rubbing the bridge of his nose for a moment. Shortly, he replaced his glasses on his face, and looked at Harry. "Molly makes a very good point. I assume that you would prefer this arrangement, Harry?"

When the younger wizard nodded fervently, Dumbledore said, "Very well. I will ensure it. I apologize, Harry. I never had any idea of everything that went on there. It appears that my message to Petunia went unheeded, at least after the initial delivery." He contemplated this for a moment, then continued. "The reason we are here, actually, was originally to deliver some news. Good news, we think. First, I recieved the message from Miss Tonks, earlier today. We will have enough people free to stand a roving guard tomorrow, for your shopping trip. Molly, you are correct. He does need new clothes. Shacklebolt Kingsley and Remus Lupin will be here tomorrow around nine AM, to assist Miss Tonks in guard duty for your trip to Diagon Alley. Once your supplies and books are taken care of, they and a few others will escort you into muggle London, for clothes shopping. Not to worry, though, your guards will be discrete. To avoid any questions, Miss Tonks will simply disguise herself, and accompany you in the open." He turned to McGonagall now. "Minerva, I believe you have some news for Harry?"

She looked over at him and said, "Yes, as a matter of fact. There were some rather sweeping, and if I may say so, extremely stupid changes made last year by the Umbridge woman." She paused, collecting herself. The teens were quite aware of how she felt about Delores Umbridge. "None of the changes she made will stand. Including, Harry, your ban from quidditch. It has been lifted, and you will be back on the team. I want that cup to remain in my office. I will not allow Severus Snape to gloat, as he did before you came along, understood?" Harry nodded, a huge grin on his face. He would get to play again! This was better news than almost anything else he could imagine. She continued with, "I would also like to request that you and Mr Weasley here, serve as co-captains. You will each have a lot to deal with this year, but I believe that, for the two of you, it will not be too much of a burden. Will you accept?" Both young men accepted readily. "Harry, I would also ask you to do something for me. May I see your hand?"

He started to hold out his left, and she indicated that she wanted the other. She peered intently at the scars there, then looked into his eyes. "Harry, I won't ask why you chose to conceal this from me, but be assured, she will be dealt with."

Molly looked at the transfiguration professor and asked, "What have I missed here? Who will be dealt with? For what?"

"Delores Umbridge, while a professor last year, forced Harry, among others, to use a bloodquill to write lines. This young man, due to his perseverence in telling her a truth she didn't wish to hear, served more detentions than any other student. Bloodquills have been outlawed for decades, with good reason. Umbridge will be dealt with as soon, and as thoroughly as possible. Harry, would you be willing to testify if needed?"

"You're kidding. Of course I would. Anything to keep that toad away from any other kids for the rest of her life."

McGonagall nodded and said, "By the way, I have one other piece of news for you. I rather think you'll enjoy it." She brought from behind her back, a sleek dark broom, with a serial number at the top of the handle. "I believe this Firebolt belongs to you?"

He took it eagerly from her. "Thanks, professor! This is great! I can fly again!"

The look on his face was all the thanks she needed.

Dumbledore had one more question. "When Miss Tonks passed along your request, she also mentioned the new abilities you seem to have gained, as well as new techniques. If you don't mind, I would return in a few days, so that we may discuss them in further detail. In the meantime, please don't let this old man keep you from getting reacquainted with your broom. Go along now."

Harry thanked him, and rushed outside, the other teens following.

"I have to say, Molly, that I have never seen Harry as happy as I have today. I doubt that it is all due to having his broom back, though that's obviously part of it. How much of it is due to the prospect of not going back to the Dursleys and how much is due to what he and Ginny now seem to share, do you think?"

As they discussed the developing situation, the teens being discussed were out by the backyard quidditch pitch. Harry mounted his Firebolt and kicked off from the ground. He appeared to rise quickly, until he slid back on the broom and flattened himself along it. He shot into the sky, soaring so high that the others quickly lost sight of him. Almost as quickly, he reappeared, headed almost straight down. Hermione shrieked, burying her face in Ron's chest as Harry plummeted downwards, pulling out of the dive at the very last moment, leveling off just inches over the grass. He shot by them faster than they could even hope to keep track of. Hermione looked at Ginny, saying, "You know, I really hate it when he does that Wonky-Faint thing. I swear, one of these times, it's not going to work."

Ron corrected her absently, watching his friend's joy at just being in the air again. "Wronski Feint, Hermione."

Ginny watched the two, amused. A day ago, if the bushy-haired witch had mispronounced the quidditch move that way, it would have been a full-fledged argument in no time. Well, at least they hadn't had to resort to locking them in somewhere. Though, that might have been more fun. It had been a great day, and tomorrow looked like it would be a good one as well.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait in updating, all. This was, to put it mildly, a very wierd week. We had some issues with, as Arthur Weasley would say, Eckletricity. There was also a slight problem with writer's block. Basically, every time I had an idea to put down, we had no power, every time we had power, no ideas would come. Argh. Oh well. At least the power issue has been resolved, and the writer's block thing seems to have gone away as well. For the time being, anyway. There should be an update on Perspective tomorrow, if all goes well.

Lady of the Dragons2: I know what you mean about dragons. I've always loved them myself. My favorites are the ones who inhabit Pern, courtesy of Anne McCaffrey. As to Molly, she's always been very protective of Harry, and this just seems a progresiion of that.

Lady of Masbolle: Thanks! I'm doing my best.

Phoenix Friend: I'm really glad you like the stories. This one and Perspective are separate stories, but I've been thinking about a prequel to that one. Maybe in the future...

Sibling Creature: Argh! That was something I was going to correct in the edit, but a brain spasm prevented that. Glad you like it.

Dragonclawz54: Thank you for your very kind comments. I just wish it was as easy as it sounds.

Addax: Thank you. The curse on Vernon was something that I thought was sorely needed, and entirely appropriate.