Disclaimer: I own no part of Harry Potter or its associated canon nor, any other already copyrighted material.

(A/N):

Chapter 13

Calm Before the Storm

Checking his pockets yet again Harry frantically dug through his trunk for the jacket he knew he had brought. It had been just over twenty minutes since the rumbling of his enchanted coin against his dresser had woken him relatively early for a Saturday morning. The rest of the room soon followed suit and each of them smiled at making out the message. Apparently as a surprise the Headmistress had permitted a trip to Hogsmeade. The down side was that she had given students only an hour to get ready. Finally finding the jacket, Harry rapidly put it on and glanced around. All four of them were DA members and had been alerted by the coins…which made him suddenly wonder how Ginny had found out.

Pushing the thought out of his head he noticed only Neville still not ready to go. The boy was frantically digging under his bed looking for something. "Neville, what is it?"

"Can't find my other shoe!" Harry noticed the one socked foot flailing in response to Neville's movements. Struck by sudden inspiration, Harry raised his wand.

"Accio Neville's other shoe!" A second later the piece of foot gear flew out from under Dean's bed and into Harry's hand. Tossing it to Neville he started for the door. "See you at the gates." Racing down the stairs he slid to a halt in front of Ginny who was waiting near the portal. "Morning."

"I was starting to wonder if you got the message."

"Sure did. Now…where did you get it?"

"McGonagall stopped by and told me. Apparently all the Heads told there houses. They wanted it to be on short notice so no one could plan anything. Come on; don't want to miss the carriage." Nodding agreement he followed her as they raced out the portrait hole and down the corridors. Taking the steps two, three and more at a time they reached the front door and nearly crashed into Ron and Hermione. Not sparing what little time they had to chat the quartet made a fast walk across the courtyard to the main gates where a group of students were waiting surrounded by half a dozen Aurors and Professor Keystone, again sporting his sunglasses.

The headmistress stood at the gate and gathered all their attentions with a raised hand as Neville, Dean and Seamus joined the pack. Glancing around Harry noticed the fifty odd students that had arrived consisted of nearly all the DA members and people he knew them to be friends with, though an assortment of other students were mixed in as well. "Good Morning. First I'd like to apologize for the suddenness with which this trip was scheduled. It was my intent to give you more time but for security reasons it has been kept brief. Every student will be required to ride to and from the village. The carriages will leave Hogsmeade at exactly noon. Make sure you're on them. Aurors do not take kindly to having to retrieve errant students." Letting the thought linger for a moment she stepped aside and gestured to the line of carriages waiting just outside. As she did the groups made a mad, if ordered, dash for the rides.

Harry found himself rolling along a few minutes later in a compartment with Ron, Hermione, Ginny (of course), Neville, Luna and a pair of Hufflepuff fourth years he didn't quite recognize. Unable to talk freely with the pair, who clearly looked like they wanted to be somewhere, anywhere, other then with all these sixth and seventh years, they rode in silence. Finally released from the confines of the coach on arriving in town they stretched and scattered to their favorite locales. After receiving the thanks of a number of DA members for her message, Ginny was whisked away by Hermione toward Honeydukes. With the rest of the students already scattered, just Ron and Harry were left to wander the streets of the small town. As they started at a meandering pace down the street Ron spoke.

"Thank Merlin this trip came up. It's Hermione's birthday tomorrow and I still haven't gotten her anything." He was actively looking though the windows trying to find anything that might be appropriate.

"Why didn't you mail order it? That's what I did." Though books were always a safe bet with Hermione he had taken a chance and gotten her something a little different. The Never-ending Crossword puzzle he had ordered was safely tucked away in his trunk, already wrapped.

"Because I don't know what I want yet…and mail order just seemed too impersonal for…whatever the hell we are."

"What are you two anyway?"

"I…I don't know. One minute we're friends, then we're good friends, then more than friends, then bitter enemies…it's bloody confusing." Ron now had a frustrated grimace on his face that held its place as they meandered down the lane looking here and there. Harry merely followed, just happy to be out of the castle for a little while. He could have snuck out at any point courtesy of his cloak and the Map, but the reproving looks from Ginny and Hermione just weren't worth it. "Like back at your place, when she found out she was Head Girl, remember?"

"Not likely to forget it mate. As much as I may want to." Harry added the last under his breath, though considering the focus on Ron's face, it probably wouldn't have mattered.

"Right. Afterward I tried to bring it up a couple times to figure out just what was going on…but she just kept dodging and brushing it off. It's making me a little crazy."

"Have you tried…talking to her about it?"

"Yeah…same thing. She just brushes me off and goes to the library for an hour or two, or she finds you two because she knows I won't ask around you."

"Sounds like you're not the only one who's confused."

"Yeah… Maybe I should just lock the door somehow and not let her go until we've figured this out."

"How? She can break any spell you can cast."

"Dunno. Maybe I could steal…her…wand…" He trailed off as they passed a window near the far end of the street. Glancing at the sign revealed it to a knick knack antique type shop that he had never bothered to visit before. Glancing back and forth between the window display and Ron's slowly widening eyes he worked out that his friend was staring at a necklace sitting on a small display pedestal near the front. He could see why it had caught Ron's attention. A woven gold chain was draped around the neck shaped stand and at the front were three stones set in gold scroll. Each of the deep red rubies set in the intricately wrought gold, the outside ones slightly smaller, seemed to glow with an inner fire.

Ron stared, transfixed, at the necklace for several moments. Harry's eyes darted back and forth wondering if perhaps the red and gold piece of jewelry had bewitched his friend somehow. After waiting a few more moments he heard his friend speak, just above a whisper. "It's…perfect…" He turned to Harry. "Isn't it…?" Harry nodded slowly, not wanting to disagree with his friend in his current mental state. He glanced back to the window and looked over the necklace again. "She'll love it…"

"Yeah…Ron…You sure? I mean…Hermione's not much for jewelry."

"No, no…she'll love it…" His eyes traveled over the pedestal and fell on the price tag. Harry became aware of his friend's whole being seeming to sink. He to found the price. Twenty-five Galleons. No wonder no one had bought it yet. Harry turned and could see Ron's face falling rapidly and hard. "Oh man…there's no way I can afford that…" He turned away from the window and started to walk dejectedly back up the street.

A second later Harry's hand shot out and grabbed his friend, pulling him back toward the store. "Sure you can."

"What? It's twenty-five galleons! Did we win the lottery again and nobody told me?"

"No…" Harry pushed the door open and pulled him in. The dim and slightly dusty interior was a switch from the relatively light street. After crossing the threshold Ron stopped and firmly resisted Harry's tugs on his arm.

"No. Harry, I'm not going to let you buy this for me. I'm not going to spend your money. I don't want to just be the guy who leeches off his friend. I won't do it." Harry's speed again showed it self as he slide stepped closer and grabbed his friend's shoulders.

"Ron…listen very closely. I've never thought of you like that and I never will. You've never asked me for a damn thing. I have more money than I and the next three generations of my family could ever spend and the least I can do is help out a friend in need. And it's not like it's just for you. I think Hermione will like it as well, so I'm killing two birds with one stone." Ron seemed shocked at the little speech as Harry pressed on. "Hey, if it makes you feel better, you can pay it off by helping me beat Voldemort."

Before Ron could respond a little old witch popped out from behind a dusty cauldron. Short and kindly she wore dark blue robes and looked up at the pair of them over half moon spectacles that were oddly reminiscent of Dumbledore's. Her grey hair was pulled up in a tight bun. "Something I can help you with dearies?" Ron began to wave her off but Harry broke in.

"Yes please. We'd like to see that necklace in the window. The gold one." Her eyes seemed to focus a little as she studied them closely, clearly wondering why they were inquiring after such an expensive object. She apparently judged them worthy as she nodded and headed for the window. Climbing a short step stool she reached over the display and retrieved the necklace. The pair followed her over the counter, the back raised to bring her nearly up to their height, as she pulled out a piece of velvet and laid it on the counter to set the necklace on. She gently set it down, chain again in a tight spiral, the rubies seeming to actually glow more now that they were out of direct light.

Staring at it Ron's eyes again became transfixed. Harry looked back and forth for only a moment before pulling out his money bag. "He'll take it."

Despite ample warning it was still a mad dash to the coaches come noon and the girls were as secret and evasive about what they had been doing in town as the boys were. At arriving back in the castle Hermione and Ginny broke off and made a dash for parts unknown. Ron and Harry, realizing brunch was over, headed for the kitchens, intent on finding something resembling a meal.

Rousing the pear from its place in the portrait they pulled open the painting and headed down into the kitchens. The always busy house elves were in the process of breaking down the last of the brunch and taking a moment to eat a bit themselves here and there. Stacks of already clean dishes went flying past them as Harry and Ron plied deeper into the bustling scene, returning the nods of greeting they received from the few elves not totally focused on their task. Making there way to a quiet corner Harry found what he had sought. Winky was sitting in a corner, half drunk bottle of Butterbeer to her side, half heartedly scrubbing a pot to the left, Krecher scrubbed more with fury than determination to the right and Dobby worked double time between them to make up the difference.

"Hey Dobby." The elf's head popped out of the pot and whipped around to find Harry standing behind him. Ron had been drawn off to a plate of sandwiches that had appeared, seemingly of their own volition.

"Mr. Harry! It's so generous of you to visit Dobby here! Dobby has been keeping his eye on Kreacher. Kreacher has been doing nothing but working here."

"Thanks Dobby." Harry conceded that the half formal address was as close as the elf was going to get to using his name. "Say, I was wondering if you could do something for me? Well…not really for me… For Hermione."

"Anything for the kind Mr. Harry Potter!" Kreacher let out a particularly loud grumble at this but Harry held back his desire to tell the elf to shut up.

"Thanks. What I need is a cake. A birthday cake. Just big enough for five or six people." Harry held his hands in a rough circle to indicate the size he was thinking. "Not too fancy, just a simple cake. And I need it tomorrow evening."

"Of course sir! I'll deliver it to the Gryffindor common room myself."

"Actually…could you drop it off in Ron's room? We'd kind of like to surprise her with it there."

"Certainly, sir."

"Thanks Dobby. Now…lunch." Harry turned and also dug into the plate of sandwiches which Ron had already put a sizable dent in. Finishing his third in just a few minutes he glanced up and froze. Standing across the kitchen at a rare normal height range was a man in a white shirt, black pants and who had a sword hanging across his back. Harry raised a hand to point, which also made Ron freeze, and turned to Dobby. "Dobby…that man over there. Is that…"

"Professor Keystone sir. He comes down here several times a week and cooks for an hour or two. He's not as fast as the rest of us but the other elves have a grudging respect for him. And he knows what he's doing. He's even shown us a thing or two."

"Really…?" Harry finished the sandwich in his hand and slowly headed for the Professor, Ron trailing behind, a sandwich still in each hand. As he approached he could see Keystone holding a pair of tongs in one hand and tossing the contents of a frying pan with the other. It appeared to be mix of vegetables with chunks of chicken mixed in. "Professor?" He turned his head for a moment and looked at both of them before returning his attention to the pan and sprinkling in some pepper.

"Mr. Potter. Mr. Weasley. I see you've caught me engaged in one of my guilty pleasures."

"Sir?"

"I find cooking is one of the few things that can relieve my stress effectively."

"You mean…the War?"

"War? No. That's a minor thing really. Either I'll survive that, or I won't. Teaching though…I never fully appreciated just how stressful a job it is. When I get done with this year I'll have to send my old instructors an apology." With a deft flip he sent the contents of the pan airborne to collect in a neat pile on a plate a moment later. Setting the pan aside to cool he picked up a fork and began consuming the collection of vegetables and meat.

Harry was unsure how to continue and Ron even seemed to be at a loss for words, though Harry later realized he had actually been busy with some sweets he had nicked. Before he could think of anything to say the Professor broke into his thoughts, his plate now empty. "I think your pocket's ringing. You might want to get that." Collecting the pan he headed off toward the sink to leave Harry and Ron scrambling for their coins. Pulling them out reveled that the next DA meeting would commence in ten minutes. Waving a hurried good-bye to Dobby they dashed for the exit and the Room of Requirement. Ron took just a moment to stash the necklace and nearly made them late.

Tearing up the stairs they slid to a halt and walked collectedly through the door to find Ginny had been recruiting again. Four new faces greeted them as they stepped in, Hermione already waiting near the back. Doing their best to hide smiles at the surprises they had for her, they strode up and the meeting began.

Hermione carefully wiped a bit of frosting off her chin in direct contrast to Ron who simply cocked his head to the side so his tongue could reach a bit at the corner of his mouth. Dobby's cake had proven to be very tasty indeed and the quartet had quickly finished the whole thing. While that had, Hermione had opened her gifts from them. She was already studying the puzzle Harry had gotten her while picking idly through Ginny's present of an assortment of sweets from Honeydukes. Picking up the new quill Ron had given her she filled in a dozen clues before sitting back, satisfied for now.

Ginny caught Harry's eye across the table and jerked her head minutely toward the door. He responded with a nod and rose. "Well, Hermione…Happy birthday. Now Ginny and I have to get back before an Auror or six come looking for us."

"Okay. Thanks Harry." Ron waved them farewell and Harry followed Ginny out the portrait door into the corridor. As he left the just caught a glimpse of Ron's hand emerging from his pocket with a small square package.

Once a good way away from Ron and Hermione's room, Ginny turned to him, surprise evident in her voice. "A quill? He got her a quill? I assumed that while you were with him you would keep him from getting her anything too impersonal. Besides…I thought you said you were going to help get them together. What?" She questioned the half cockeye grin he now wore.

"Oh…the quill was just to tide her over until we left. Trust me; he got her something much more personal as her real present." Ginny still seemed skeptical and having known her brother for over six years, Harry couldn't really blame her.

"What? What did he get her?"

"Sorry. Can't tell you. I can promise you though, if this doesn't get them together nothing will"

"Harry…what did her get her? Harry…?" He did his best not to look at her as he knew she was wearing one of those looks that would melt his force of will. Instead he focused everywhere else as they approached the common room and she spoke the password without breaking her run of pleas.

"You'll just have to wait and ask her at breakfast tomorrow." She had little choice but to accept this as he headed for his dorm room and left her standing at the stairs.

As it turned out she wasn't able to ask Hermione the next morning as neither of them were at breakfast. Ginny was about to go and check on them but Harry dissuaded her, pointing out they would all be late for class and probably miss each other in the halls. Instead they headed for the doors and expected to see the pair in the group of students who had actually begun to gather early for class. This week everyone was dressed in an approximation of running attire beneath the black robes some had already removed.

As the bell struck eight, Ron and Hermione were still nowhere to be seen. Professor Keystone pushed off his usual position at the wall and turned to address the class. "Good Morning. Today will be similar to last week, only a little harder. You all did well in the stamina drill last week but I expect you to do better this week. I'm sure you all know how you did so I won't bother repeating it now. For everyone who didn't complete all ten laps, I expect you to go at least one lap further this week. I'll expect the same next week and the week after until everyone completes the course. Understood?" The all nodded in response. "Good. Now…everyone…ready…?" He trailed off and looked back toward the main castle doors. The class all turned to see Ron and Hermione dashing across the courtyard to skid to a halt with there classmates. They were both beat red and Harry would bet it was at least equal parts the run and embarrassment. "Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger. Nice of you to join us." He glanced at the main clock on the castle face. "Five minutes late. Twenty points from Gryffindor. Each." Hermione was the first to recover enough to nearly shout, indignant.

"Twenty!"

"Yes Miss Granger. You are the Head Boy and Girl. You are supposed to set and example for the rest of the students and you were late to class. But more than that you were late to a field of battle." Hermione and the rest of the class glanced around, wondering what he meant.

"What I had hoped not to start teaching you for another couple weeks is that this class is as close to a battle as you'll get without actually being in one. As such I expect you to be on time and prepared. If you're late and not ready to fight when the real battle comes, people will die needlessly. This class has a set time and expectations, something a battle never has. Now you're already winded and the lesson hasn't even begun. Yes, twenty point each. Were this an attack it could be the lives of your friends." He allowed that to sink in for several moments before stepping aside and gesturing to the course. "Begin." They didn't need to be told twice and quickly broke into a run around the walls.

It was well into lunch before Ginny could get Hermione alone and find out what her brother had actually gotten as a present. When she found out it took several minutes before she could speak such was her awe. Hermione, as far as Ginny could make out, absolutely loved the necklace though she fell dead silent when Ginny tried to inquire about anything else from the previous night. Giving up in frustration she instead pulled Harry aside in the corridor on the way back to class.

"You bought it for him."

"What?"

"The necklace. No way can my brother afford something like that. You bought it for him."

"Uh…well…I might have helped him a little…" A split second later he was pinned to the wall by a deeply passionate kiss. She pulled away a moment later.

"You're such a good person Harry. Now…let's get to class." He nodded and followed behind, not quite sure how to respond.

The next five weeks became a blur of class work and DA training with another visit to the village thrown in there somewhere. Ginny had added ten members to the DA and also begun incorporating the physical training present in class. As a result the drill success rates of the DA members had steadily risen to the point that they were all making ten laps each week and doing it faster as well. They had also worked out that the professor didn't mind people helping each other and was actually passively encouraging it. As a result they had begun running the laps in groups of five or six and each member took turns shielding the entire group. Keystone seemed to approve of this in his own reserved way.

It was the Sunday before a rare Friday Halloween when Harry and Ginny finally managed to find two minutes of peace alone together. Ron and Hermione had been summoned to a meeting with the Heads of Houses to discuss various issues and had let the pair use their sitting room to collapse in.

Kicking off his shoes, Harry was happy to fall flat on his back on one of the couches, set his glasses aside on the table, close his eyes and just listen to the crackling fire. It was a welcome surprise a minute later when Ginny gingerly landed on top of him, tucking her head under his chin. Wrapping an arm around her he let his body loosen up and all the pressure of class, the Army, the Order and everything still undone melt away, if only for a moment.

"What are you thinking about?" The question came out of nowhere and he answered before really thinking.

"How nice this is." He could feel her smiling against his chest. "I was thinking how nice it will be when I can spend more of my time like this." His mind seemed to drop into a relaxed state it hadn't felt in weeks, the outside world gone for a little while.

"Oh? And am I there to?"

"If you want to be."

"I'll be there if you want me to."

"Of course I do. I love you Ginny." It took several seconds for what he had just admitted to sink into his very relaxed mind and shock his eyes open. His breathing stopped and he was fairly sure his heart had to. His whole body froze, waiting for her response, his mind not daring to hope or doubt. His seized nerves could just make out her hand resting lightly over his heart.

"Good. Because I love you too Harry." She slid up and caught him a deep kiss that again released his body to relax. "And maybe someday I'll get to show you how much." There was none of the heat in her voice that had been present that night at his home, but somehow this was more real than that had been. This time she sounded of promise…and hope. He smiled reflexively. He could feel warmth flooding his body and he suddenly felt happier than any time since…well…ever.

"Well…we'll have some free time over Christmas break…"

"Good to know. We should figure out how to spend that…" She returned to her previous position and wrapped both arms tight around his chest, a move he mimicked. Despite the fact his mind was doing cartwheels, exhaustion caught up to him and he managed to drift off to sleep.

Shouted whispers brought him back to the surface for a moment a couple hours later.

"No Ronald, I forbid you to go anywhere near them!"

"But…that's my sister!"

"Yes. And if you interfere right now you'll be lucky if she doesn't get your mother to disown you!"

"But…!"

"Ronald! You will turn around and march straight into your room and go to sleep."

"Or what?" Harry could somehow tell she had stepped very close to him.

"Or I'll write your mother!"

"You wouldn't!"

"Wouldn't I?" Ron seemed to be at a loss for a response and stormed toward his room. Harry waited a few moments and felt a blanket being laid over them. Doing his best to remain absolutely still he tried to go back to sleep, sudden thoughts of what Mrs. Weasley would think about them shooting through his mind.

(A/N): If you feel it is warranted feel free to review. I welcome any and all opinions.