Disclaimer: JKR beats KFC, but I own rights to neither one.

Sweet Sixteen

The sun dropped in the sky while the eight teenagers, chaperoned by Tonks and Mrs. Weasley, returned from Godric's Hollow. Winky had been in her element, playing miniature hostess for Ginny's birthday party. Dobby had popped in before mentioning a need to return to follow a cat. Hermione's cheeks went pink when Harry caught her eye.

"You asked Dobby to tail your cat?" he asked, amused.

"No, no, it's not like that, really," she said defensively. "I think there is something suspicious about this other cat. I know Kneazles are exceptional at sniffing out unsavory characters, so I shouldn't be concerned, but what if it has something to do with that brush of his they stole from my parents' house? What if they used his hair to make a love potion for that girl cat? Poor Crookshanks is lonely, he might get attached to her if she's friendly, and they could lure him out with her."

"Or maybe..." Harry grinned. "It's a Death Eater who has been transfigured into a girl cat. Maybe it's Malfoy."

"Oh Merlin, Harry, that's brilliant!" Ron snorted with laughter. "I've got to learn a spell to do that. From now on, any Death Eaters we run across will be turned into cats."

"Not a good idea," Harry shook his head, "you know how fast cats reproduce. We'd be up to our necks in evil kitties in no time."

Hermione did not look amused.

The Order meeting began promptly at 6:00 p.m. Professor McGonagall asked for progress reports.

Moody began, stating all Riddle and Gaunt graves had been secured.

George reported progress with their soul trap idea. They had heard the superstition some tribes had of cameras stealing a person's soul, and after seeing Ghostbusters, they were convinced they could build something that would combine those ideas to accomplish the feat.

"Imagine Colin in possession of a camera like that," Ron whispered to Harry. "He could be a Dork Lord."

"What is the situation with the dementors?" McGonagall addressed Mr. Weasley.

"Well, the dreary fog has dissipated, which means their breeding season is over." He rubbed the back of his neck agitatedly. "However, we don't know how to destroy them. Any attempt would mean getting too close."

"How about using Muggle methods?" Hermione asked. "There are several long-range weapons we could try."

"What did you have in mind?"

"If they're out in the open, we could use an aeroplane to spray them with something, some kind of potion," Hermione said. "We know the Patronus charm is the only thing that repels them, so we could see what happens if they're doused with Euphoria potion. If that doesn't work, we can always try a Muggle drug, some kind of amphetamine or antidepressant, probably. I've wondered what salt water would do to them as well, since salt is supposed to ward against evil spirits."

"How about nitrous oxide?" Hermione's mother suggested. "We could use solutions of hydroxylamine hydrochloride and sodium nitrite to produce it. If the nitrite is added to the hydroxylamine solution, the gas produced is pure enough for inhalation, and the only remaining byproduct is salt water."

"Laughing gas," exclaimed Hermione, probably the only one in the room besides her father to comprehend. "Perfect! The process of making nitrous oxide leaves salt water as a byproduct. We can dump the two parts on them and see what happens when they combine."

Mr. Weasley looked gleeful at the prospect of using a Muggle aeroplane. He looked to Tonks and Kingsley. "Is this something the Minister needs to organize through the Other Minister?"

"Actually, these are small aeroplanes and pilots that can be leased," Hermione's father informed them. "I have an client who could help."

Arthur's expression had gone rapturous. "I volunteer to ride along to spot the dementors, as Muggles cannot see them."

"Next topic: Severus Snape," McGonagall intoned.

Kingsley sighed. "There has been no sign of him anywhere near Hogwarts, or his home. It is recommended that we take him alive. His Animagus form is rumoured to be a bat. He's unregistered, however, so that is not confirmed. The Fidelius Charm has been redone here at Headquarters, so he would not be allowed admittance; however, it is not wise to underestimate him. Any time you leave this place, be aware of the possibilities. For example, I am not aware of any wards that prohibit him from skulking around Hogwarts grounds." He eyed the teens meaningfully.

Ron scribbled Hermione a note: "Teach Crookshanks to catch bats."

Lupin spoke up quietly. "I used a Pensieve to view Harry's memory of the events…that night." He took a fortifying breath. "Dumbledore said, 'Please, Severus,' just before Snape used the Killing Curse. Dumbledore would never beg for his life, so what was he asking for? I would like to make the same request as Kingsley, that he be taken alive."

In the hush that followed, Tonks gave her report on the new weapons Aurors had been learning to use. "The dart guns are a huge success." She nodded at the twins, who had developed them. "We can immobilize Death Eaters from a far greater distance than we could previously with wands." She looked to Hermione. "Is this laughing gas stuff something we could use on oncoming hordes of giants, vampires and Death Eaters?"

"Yes, I believe so. Werewoves as well. The dosage would be the issue, but since none of them would have an opportunity to sue for malpractice…" She shrugged.

Hermoine's mother spoke up again. "Nitrous oxide can cause euphoria, dizziness, and, in some cases, slight hallucinations and mild aphrodisiac effect. It can also result in nausea or lingering dizziness if too much is inhaled in too short a time. Since nitrous oxide can cause dissociation and temporary loss of motor control, it is unsafe to inhale while standing up. Death can result if it is inhaled in such a way that not enough oxygen is breathed in. It is also teratogenic and foetotoxic."

All eyes swiveled to Hermione for translation. "Nitrous oxide can be deadly if used incorrectly. It also causes severe birth defects and possible fetal death."

"So it should take care of the problem of breeding dementors, besides knocking out anyone who breathes it in, good or bad, and is generally non-lethal," Harry clarified. "So any prisoners or 'friendlies' who might be in the way would be alright. We'd just have to clean up the bad guys before they came to."

"Yes, though we won't know until we try."

McGonagall addressed the twins next. "Any development on a counter to the Cruciatus Curse?"

"We have done some research on Muggle steroids," Fred spoke up. "And they do dull the pain, but do not eliminate it entirely. Shield charms are useless, as are pain relieving potions."

"Too bad long-term use of Muggle steroids is unhealthy," George continued. "Or we could simply use those."

"In the short term," Fred beamed, baring a bicep. "I am now the more muscular twin."

"How about methadone?" Hermione's father asked. "It's a drug that blocks pain, but is not addictive like morphine, and has less side effects than steroids."

"I'll test it," Neville volunteered grimly.

McGonagall frowned, but finally nodded assent.

Harry glanced at his watch. Ginny's hand was pointed at "School." He wondered if she might have gone to visit Crookshanks, and suddenly his and Ron's comments about the stray Kneazle weren't so funny. He furtively sent her a quick message to beware Crookshanks' girlfriend.

Harry only had half his mind on the meeting after that. He kept an anxious eye on his watch. As the meeting dragged on, he idly wondered where he had to be for his hand to point to "Home." "Maybe I should take that blasted trunk to the house and work on it. The location might be important. Yeah, and maybe it has to be opened at the stroke of midnight, naked," he thought. "That's about the only thing I haven't tried." He smiled inwardly, thinking he should ask Ginny what she thought of that idea.

Distractedly, he glanced at his watch again, and his heart skipped a beat when Ginny's hand pointed to "Hospital." He immediately checked his messages. Thankfully there was one from Ginny. She was visiting Madam Pomfrey about the wand experiment. Harry breathed a sigh of relief.

He heard Ron do the same, and noticed McGonagall seemed to be wrapping up the meeting. Mrs. Weasley invited everyone to stay for cake and ice cream to celebrate Ginny's birthday.

"Harry, dear, would you go get her and Luna while we clean up in here?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "Hermione, would you help me get the cake and ice cream from the kitchen?"

Harry looked pointedly at the twins, who waved wildly at a large, wrapped box in the corner, flashing him huge grins and thumbs-up gestures. He grinned back at them and left to find the girls. He could've used his watch to send a message, but he felt like stretching his legs after sitting through the long meeting.

He went through the cabinet and made a beeline for the Hogwarts hospital wing, keeping an eye open for Crookshanks or his companion. He literally ran into Ginny when she came barreling excitedly around a corner, nearly knocking him off his feet as he caught her.

"Harry!" she gasped. "Oh, Harry, watch this!" She handed him her wand, and with a flourish of her hand and a muttered incantation, she produced a small flock of canaries. "It works! It'll take some practice to get used to, but Madam Pomfrey fused it right to the bone in my arm, so I can't lose it if I get hit by Expelliarmus or Accio wand spells. And it seems to make my spells stronger when I use my wand in the same hand."

"Brilliant!" He twirled her. Her arms encircled his neck and she pushed him up against the wall when her feet touched ground again.

"Now I've got you where I want you…" She licked her lips wickedly, opening the door to a broom cupboard conveniently nearby.

Harry raised a brow. "I'm supposed to be bringing you back for your birthday cake and ice cream. I think the Order members, being the observant type, might notice if you look all rumpled and snogged."

"Party pooper," she huffed. "Just wait until we're alone, I'll show you just what I want for my birthday."

"Are you two talking about sex?" Luna asked interestedly, suddenly from around a corner. She smiled dreamily. "Sex is good."

Ginny stopped in her tracks, staring at Luna's unconcerned profile.

"Cake," she took a fortifying breath. "Cake and ice cream," she tugged at Harry's hand. "C'mon, I need to freeze my brain awhile to recover from that."

Ginny was delighted with her new Nintendo 64, once Harry explained what it was. The twins happily demonstrated, playing Super Mario in 3D. They jumped and leaned with the controller in unison, even though only one of them was playing. They hurled encouragement and insults, trying to assist the colorful character on the screen.

"Hey, is that Colin? That guy with the camera in the cloud?" Ginny asked. "And Mario has to go in through a painting? Was the guy who made this a Gryffindor? It's not the Fat Lady, but how else would they know to put a door through a painting?"

"I told you to jump you lazy git!" Fred exclaimed, as Mario fell into a pit.

"Ha! Go! Pick him up and throw him! Ah, get the magic star! YES!" George whooped during his turn. He played a few more minutes before Mario met an untimely demise.

George's shriek was enough to bring the remaining Order members running. Once they realized there was no real emergency, Mr. Weasley was fascinated. Harry offered him a turn, and Mr. Weasley took the controller with a look of reverence. "Bless you, my son."

He played for several minutes before regretfully handing the controller to Ginny, who grinned. "Mum! Here, you try it!"

Mrs. Weasley appeared flustered, but caught on to the controller quickly enough and was soon engaged in a vigorous battle. The teens decided a contest between the Weasley parents was in order. Mrs. Weasley fought dirty, nudging her husband's elbow at crucial moments, causing Mario to lose a life. "Ha!" she said triumphantly, "My turn again!" Her eyes narrowed in concentration and determination as she guided Mario through a series of complicated moves, collecting coins and stars.

"My turn!" Tonks waved her hand.

"Here you are, Princess Peach. Show us what an Auror can do."

Tonks was cool and collected as she directed her Mario farther in the game than anyone before finally losing him off a canyon ledge. She shrugged and buffed her fingernails on her shirt. "Muggle cousins used to take me to the arcade." She winked at Harry and handed the controller to Professor McGonagall.

"You never mentioned you liked Muggle games," Lupin said later when they were alone.

"Morphing is the talent that tends to take precedence."

He huffed in amusement. "I have thought of one thing you could morph for me," he grinned suggestively, pulling his shirt over his head. "Could you make your nails just a little longer and scratch my back?"

Tonks rolled her eyes, smiling as he turned his back to her. She expertly raked her nails down his back, smirking as he involuntarily arched and pulled his shoulders up in a shiver. She continued until his pale skin was criss-crossed with faint red streaks. He made a disappointed noise when she stopped.

"Oh quit complaining, your back looks like you've been attacked by a pack of Kneazles," Tonks said. "Or ravished by a flock of Veela."

Lupin twisted quickly, pinning her to the mattress. "You think that's funny? Being ravished by Veela?"

"Is that another occupational hazard of being a werewolf?" Tonks asked cheekily.

"Definitely," Lupin nodded seriously. "Veela are drawn to werewolves. You don't know how many narrow escapes I've had."

Tonks flipped him over, sitting on his stomach. She morphed her hair long and silvery-blonde, altering her features to look Veela-like. "You only thought you could escape me..." Her voice was low and husky.

"I am fortunate that you were persistent in your pursuit," he agreed, closing his eyes.

"Now what is the point of me looking like a Veela if you shut your eyes?" Tonks scolded.

"You don't need to look like a Veela."

"I've never met a man without a Veela fantasy." She shook her head, morphing back to her natural state. "Not that I've ever offered to fulfill one before," she amended hastily. "That was usually my 'test' of a relationship. If the bloke preferred or requested the Veela look, I knew it wasn't really me he was after."

Lupin frowned. "So I passed your test?"

"I wasn't testing you," she pouted. "I just thought you'd enjoy it. I don't want you to get bored."

He chuckled. "Nymphadora, we could be together the next hundred years, and I'd never get bored. Even if you never morphed again."

"Really? The next hundred years?" she asked wistfully.

Lupin moved her off him and went to his desk. He brought out a tiny velvet box, returning to drop to one knee at the side of the bed. "Nymphadora Tonks, I know you deserve better, but I have got very selfish of late, and can no longer fathom the idea of letting you go. Would you please marry me?"

Tonks' eyes were like saucers. She held her left hand out to him, and he slid the ring on her finger. A brilliant pink flash lit up the room, and gold strands of light encircled their hands.

"Oh Remus..." She sniffed, her arms encircling his neck.

"Is that a 'yes'?"

"Of course it's a yes, you prat! I thought you'd never ask. What changed your mind?"

"You wore me down." He grinned as her lips crashed against his.

She pulled away, eyes dancing with excitement. "Where? When? How are we going to do this? Is it illegal?"

"Harry had an idea. We can simply do it the Muggle way, in your family's church. That also answers the 'where' question, I believe."

"Oh! Brilliant! Dad and Grandmum will love that!"

"As for 'when,' that is entirely up to you."

"How about a week from this Saturday?" she suggested.

"Er… Are we in a rush?"

"I don't want to give you time to get cold feet and change your mind."

Lupin glanced at the calendar and frowned. "That won't work. That's too close to the full moon."

"I know," she said, dousing the lights with her wand. "But I have plans for the honeymoon."

Days passed, and the excitement of a new engagement and wedding plans disrupted the usual routine, except for Hermione, who had become even more frantic trying to devise a foolproof method of defeating Voldemort.

"This is impossible!" Hermione snapped, frustrated. She and the twins had gone to Hogwarts' library for the afternoon. "Cameras capture an imprint of a person's personality, which is linked directly to the soul. What do we need to add to get it to suck the soul out?"

"Essence of dementor?" Fred suggested.

"Cry of Mandrake?" George mused.

Hermione shot them a withering look. "How would you procure either of those things and manage to put it in a camera? A screaming Mandrake would drop everyone within hearing range, and essence of dementor? Is there such a thing?"

"Well, Harry could do that Muffliato spell with a Mandrake. He'd have to wear earplugs though. Probably not the best way to duel Voldemort."

"What else steals souls?" Hermione frowned deeply. "I don't think this camera thing will work. It's not very prudent to be hauling a camera around. They're too breakable. And too dangerous, if we actually made one work."

"Tribes in the jungles of Africa believe a crawling child can absorb a spirit." Fred pointed to a line in a book. "That doesn't seem quite the idea we are going for, though."

"Don't s'pose Harry could just 'Accio dirty soul' into a phial, like a genie." George sighed, thumbing through another book.

"Merlin save the nutter who tries to get three wishes out of that lamp later." Fred made a face.

Hermione gave another venomous look as she flipped a page in her book. "We can't depend on Harry to capture the soul," she said quietly. "It has to be self-activated, or remote operated."

"Whatdya mean?"

"He's going to use an energy dome," Hermione explained. "It'll trap him and Voldemort in together. I've given him some spells that should be effective against Voldemort, but this is Voldemort we're talking about. Harry wanted the dome designed very specifically," Hermione's shoulders drooped. "So that even if something…happens to him, the dome will stay active, and Voldemort will be contained."

"What if he gets badly injured and we can't get in to help him?" Fred asked.

"Well, small spells can get through," Hermione hedged. "There are some gaps, but it catches anything with substantial power. We can send small healing spells through, and he will be carrying phials of first aid potions."

"So we try distract Voldemort with a tickling spell keep him from finishing Harry off?" George was incredulous.

"No." Hermione scowled. "We do everything we can to give Harry a shot at ridding the world of Voldemort, one way or another, with a contingency plan in place."

"Regardless of the cost."

"I didn't agree with it either. But he was determined that he should be the only one to make that sacrifice, if it comes to that. We just have to prepare him to win." She straightened, picking up a book on Native American spells.

"Mum!" Ginny hissed. "We're going to plant flowers on his parents' graves; do you really think we need a chaperon?"

"No, dear, I just don't want you traipsing about the country alone. It's not safe!"

"Well, we might as well make it a party then, and invite everyone to go." Ginny scowled. "So much for allowing him his private grief."

Mrs. Weasley's lips tightened. "You will watch your tone, young lady. A group would be safer, but Neville, Ron and Professor Lupin are working with Hannah, getting her caught up on training and schoolwork. Tonks is at the Ministry today, and Luna is…"

"Luna is off alone with Charlie, I'd wager." Ginny gave her mum an accusing look, then glanced down at her watch. "Mum, come on, Harry has the house, grounds and graveyard under the Fidelius. It's perfectly safe."

"I'm not going to eavesdrop or trail along behind you every step," Mrs. Weasley said irritably. "You can have your privacy. But the fact you're throwing a tantrum tells me you have something planned that I wouldn't approve of."

"Fine, come along. I'm sure Harry won't care."

"I won't care about what?" Harry asked, pausing mid-stride on his way down the hall.

"Mum wants to join us this afternoon."

"Okay." Harry shrugged. "I'm going to get the things from Neville's greenhouse. We can go whenever you're ready." He smiled at Mrs. Weasley and continued on his way.

Ginny stared shrewdly after him. "Mum, there's something going on with him." She glanced back at her mother. "I was hoping he'd talk to me today.

Mrs. Weasley bit her lip. "What if I come with you for just a few minutes," she offered. "Then I'll come back here when I've seen it's safe. How long do you think you'll be gone?"

"As long as it takes for him to tell me what's going on," Ginny said grimly.

"Why do you think something is wrong?"

"I get the feeling he's going to do something dangerous that he knows I wouldn't approve of. He's hiding something from me, and pushing me away." Her eyes narrowed, staring unfocused at the doorway. "I'm going to help him get the things from the greenhouse. We'll meet you at the Floo."

Fred and George paused and glanced up at Hermione's gasp. Her eyes were wide as she turned the book to face them.

"Excellent!" They looked up at her in approval after reading the passage. "Where do we get one of these?"

Crookshanks slipped silently through the castle, playing a rousing game of cat-and-mouse with his sweet little queen, Bombalurina. She brought out the kitten in him; he felt like he'd been rolling in a batch of catnip these days. He paused and sniffed the air. He spared a glance toward the library, where he knew his human was occupied. He wondered if she'd ever caught on to the hints he'd tried to give her. Humans could be deplorably slow sometimes. Then there was her red-haired mate, who had whispered to him to catch any bats he saw. Well, of course he'd catch bats! They were just rats with wings, after all. The boy didn't need to tell him to hunt those.

He'd return to check on his human's progress later. For now, he had a quarry to capture…

Harry and Ginny finished planting flowers, gently casting Aguamenti charms to water the new plants.

They moved to sit companionably under a tree, overlooking the mausoleum.

"Harry, I know you've got to be worried," Ginny began uncertainly. "I'm afraid for you, and me. I'm terrified you're going to do something that'll take you away from me." She looked up into his green eyes that looked so ancient and tired of late. "I feel like you're afraid to get too close to me, and you don't want to risk…things…because you are planning for the worst."

Harry pulled his knees to his chest, resting his chin on the left one, staring aimlessly at the runes on the mausoleum.

"You're probably right," he admitted. "I feel like I can't let you get any more involved with me until I know my life expectancy extends beyond age seventeen." Harry met her gaze miserably. "I can't. I just can't do that. We can't truly be together until Voldemort is gone. I can't live until he's gone."

Ginny nodded and looked at her hands in her lap. When she looked up, her eyes shimmered. "Just remember, you may have to finish Voldemort alone, but I deserve a shot at him too. And all of us reserve the right to take out as many Death Eaters as possible."

"You really want to kill people?"

"If I had to, I could do it." Her chin rose stubbornly.

"I don't want to." Harry squinted at a blade of grass. "I don't even think I can. I can't cast Unforgivables. Hermione created this desiccation spell, but I can't use it, because I know it's a killing spell. I've tried it; even against spiders or bugs, it's completely ineffective."

Ginny froze. "You're giving up," she whispered, shocked. "You're going to trap him in that dome with you and let him kill you while we're stuck on the outside, keeping the dome powered and unable to help you."

"No!" He held his hands out, pleadingly. "No, I'm not giving up. I want to live. But the other possibility is there too, and we have to consider that."

Tears streaked down her cheeks and she buried her face in his hands. Harry hesitatingly reached for her, drawing her into his arms for what little comfort he could offer.

"Well hello my little tiger!" Hermione cooed, affectionately stroking Crookshanks' head and back. "Have you been in the kitchens? You smell like cabbages!"

Crookshanks purred and stood on his hind legs, rubbing his chin against a book on the shelf. Hermione smiled indulgently before turning back to her book. Crookshanks pawed hopefully at the book, glancing up at his mistress impatiently. He meowed plaintively. Fred looked up at him.

"Need a litterbox, mate?"

Crookshanks gave him a glare of offended incredulity.

"He uses the loo." Hermione murmured absently.

"You trained your cat to use the loo?" George raised a brow at her. "Does he flush?"

"He's practically lived at your house during summers, how could you not notice?"

"Does he use the boys' or girls' loo here?" Fred asked interestedly.

"Well," Hermione was irritated now. "Cats are rather fastidious animals by nature, so I suspect he uses whichever is cleaner."

"RRRrrowww!" Crookshanks unsheathed his claws, reaching for the book again.

"No, no, Crookshanks!" Hermione rushed to him. "We don't scratch books. Books are our friends!" She carefully inspected the binding of the book, checking for damage. "The Enigma of Bacchus," she read the title. "Are you thirsty?" she asked the cat. "Bacchus is the god of drink."

"Ah, brilliant! Crookshanks is telling us it's time to break for a Butterbeer."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but stood, scooping up her cat. "We can take a break to take you down to the kitchen for a drink of water." She scratched behind his ears.

Crookshanks gave her a disgruntled glare, but she took no notice.