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

(A/N):

Chapter 25

Plans Within Plans

After reliving the heart pounding battle with the Dementors, during which Hermione confirmed one had kissed the cup, Ginny had asked to see what had happened when they went to the orphanage. This time Hermione volunteered her memory after a moment's instruction by Harry. She had chosen to begin right after they stepped off the bus. Watching from her perspective, he was able to hear the entire conversation between the pair and the matron. Ginny got plenty of amusement from the whole ruse Hermione had cooked up and looked rather intrigued at the pair after the aging spell had taken effect. Harry got a good laugh as well hearing the pair faking marriage, and doing it rather easily, he thought.

Another effect of being in Hermione's memory was that they missed all the searching Harry had to do and the entire conversation with Juliette. It felt odd to Harry to know his invisible self could see the door but he, since it was Hermione's perspective, couldn't. It was awkward trying to cram all seven of them in the room and each of them got walked through at least once. Ginny looked around at the room and similarly commented on how cold and heartless it was as her brother had done.

He noticed Ron suddenly getting apprehensive as their search progressed and they found the cupboard. Of course… He was about to give physical confirmation of what the she had implied earlier. Harry was surprised when Ginny looked more annoyed that he had confessed to not having been with her than at her brother's outright proof. Fortunately, anything she was going to say was washed away when she saw the cavern and the snakes. He slid closer to hold her hand as he could see shades and shadows of the Chamber of Secrets pass her eyes. She had had bad experiences with caves and snakes. Of course, so had he.

The others were able to follow the conversation he had on the island this time as he translated for them. It took a moment of explanation when the snake mentioned Harry had set him free. It only took the time from catching the cup to escaping to tell though. As the memory trio broke for Zonko's to hurry back to school, the quartet fell out of the pensieve and back to their chairs.

Reliving the trip to the orphanage had raised a thought in Harry's mind. Heading over to his desk he pushed the sword carefully aside while pulling out quill and parchment. As he began to mentally compose the letter, he found Ginny standing next to him. Glancing over his shoulder he could see the others leaning close and mumbling about something. Refocusing on the red head directly in front of him, he smiled.

"Hey. Whatcha need?"

"I was thinking…"

"Uh oh…"

"Funny. Anyway, you promised I'd get to try out my birthday present while we were here."

"I did, didn't I?" Her smile was in confirmation, but her eyes promised wicked retribution if he didn't come through. "Okay. Go get your broom. We'll go before dinner." Her eyes lit up as she nodded enthusiastically and hurried from the room. A moment later his glance found the others also heading out. With a nod he turned back to his letter. Just before they left he could just make out Ron's voice.

"Say…Hermione? That thing about not being able to have kids…you just made that up. Right?" His voice sounded rather more concerned than was normal for him.

"Uh…yeah, as far as I know." He actually let out a relieved sigh. "Why?"

"Oh…uh…no reason." The door closed behind them before Harry had to hear anymore. Pushing that from his mind he focused on the letter and quickly scribbled a request to the Headmistress. Stuffing it haphazardly into an envelope he handed it off to Hedwig, who had just woken and had a bite to eat. Feeding her a couple treats he stroked the back of her head for a moment before she took off. Heading out into the cool winter air, she did a couple of swoops to stretch before darting off toward the horizon.

A moment later he spun and drew his wand at a sudden pop in the middle of the room. He found Ginny standing there with her broom over the shoulder of her winter coat, looking rather pleased with herself. Double checking her hat and gloves, she looked up. Harry slowly lowered his wand as she cocked an eyebrow at him. "What are you doing?!"

"Apperating."

"What?!"

"I've been taking lessons you know. Plus all the times I went with you."

"How long have you been able to do that?"

"Uh…my second lesson?" Harry gaped at her. "Uh…surprise?"

"Yeah…"

"Oh, come on. You're about to go for you first free flight in months and you seriously want to be mad about this?" Harry opened his mouth to continue, and then quickly switched what he was going to say.

"Good point." Sticking out his hand, his Firebolt leapt across the room from its place by his bed, followed by his coat. Catching it swiftly and slipping on the coat, he turned and opened the large window so they could take off. Just before he mounted the Firebolt, it occurred to him how ludicrously dangerous what they were about to do was. Ginny seemed to notice his hesitation as she approached, glancing out into the early evening.

"What? You worried about someone seeing us?"

"Well…yeah. It's not that a Death Eater might see us, but what about someone from school or even some muggles?"

"Well then, it's a good thing I learned this." He turned questioningly to her only to receive a sharp tap on the head with her wand, followed by the familiar cool drip of a freshly broken egg. He stood in shock as she repeated the charm on herself and watched with interest as her hands disappeared. Just able to make out the edge of her form and the mostly judging by the movement of the broom, his eyes followed as she twirled around. After a moment he was able to speak.

"Where did you learn a Disillusionment charm?!"

"From Hermione of course." Harry blinked a couple times.

"Oh…" Harry judged she had mounted her broom by the way it moved. It seemed to be jerking a little, anxious to leave, as was its rider.

"Shall we?"

"Oh…yeah!" Making a barely visible flourish with his hand, he waited as she ducked and shot out into the waning day. He followed a moment later, the window closing automatically behind him. The pure joy of flight warmed him and acted as a counter to the cool winter air. His Seeker eyes picked out her broom, already several hundred feet away. Leaning low, he quickly closed the distance.

As he caught up, she leaned in as well and it soon became a race over the roof tops, each trying to outrun the other. Tearing past trees and hills, it was only a couple minutes until they broke out into the open countryside. Having reached truly blinding speeds, they simultaneously began to slow down and laugh like maniacs as they came to a circling hover over a random copse of trees. After months without Quiddich or flight of any kind, they were in a state of euphoria from merely being in the air. Running out of air they panted to a stop, still chuckling and glanced at each other. Despite the charm, they both knew the other had the same idiotically wide grin.

"So…you like your birthday present?"

"Hmmm…I think it needs more testing."

"Well…by all means…" Setting off at a much more leisurely pace this time, they floated over the countryside. For over an hour they were content to cruise here and there, the occasional sprint or swoop thrown in every now and again. As the sun reached the horizon, they made their way back toward the city and a warm meal.

Hovering a few thousand feet over Grimmauld Place and watching the sunset, Harry was smiling. "That felt good." He could sense Ginny smiling to his right.

"Yeah…"

"So…now do you like your birthday present?" She spun slowly around on her broom and floated over, facing him.

"Yeah, I like it." Managing to catch his coat on the first try, she pulled him close for a kiss. "But I love you."

"Good, I love you too." After a kiss that bordered on being obscenely long, they spiraled back down to Harry's house and though the window. Ginny left a moment later before the kiss could push them further than they wanted right now. Left alone, Harry set his broom back at the side of the desk and stripped off his winter gear. A minute later he picked up the sword of Godric Gryffindor.

For the years it had spent in Dumbledore's office and wherever it had been before that, it looked as if it had been made yesterday. Holding it in one hand, he drew the cup of Helga Hufflepuff from the pocket of his jacket and set it on the desk. A moment later he pulled out the Mirror and Locket from the box on the upper shelf and set them next to it. In contrast to the other three, the cup looked worn and cracked. On a whim he set the sword down and moved the cup off to the side. Drawing his wand, he pointed at the artifact.

"Musex Aniimo." Nothing happened. He tried again. "Musex Aniimo." Still nothing. No glowing light, no levitation, it didn't even feel like magic was being cast. Replacing his wand, he put the other three relics in the box and again took up the blade.

Professor Keystone had demonstrated on many occasions the usefulness of swordplay and Harry himself had saved the school with this very blade. He swung it around a few times, vaguely trying to mimic the moves the professor had made. Setting it aside as Hedwig returned for a nap, he headed down to dinner.

Harry rose the next morning with a purpose. The largest Order meeting in history was happening this evening and he had things to do. Grabbing the bag of sickles he had been hoarding, he stepped out of the room and almost immediately entered the workshop they had put together. The smell of another batch of Wolfsbane potion hung in the air as he entered. Lupin's supply was running low and Hermione was again working on more. Ginny was already there sitting on the far side of the main table and paging through the Daily Prophet. She glanced up and folded the paper, which was still running interviews with Ministry staff.

"Morning."

"Morning. You ready to do this?" Harry took a seat opposite her and opened the bag.

"Yeah. How many did you figure we need?" They both drew wands as he pulled out the first sickle.

"I figure thirty. That should spread them out enough to cover the entire Order."

"Okay." Setting the silver coin on the table he pointed his wand and cast a nonverbal spell. The coin seemed to turn into liquid metal for a moment as it flowed into a new form. After a few seconds it coalesced into a small silver feather, highlighted with red enamel that formed a vein like structure within the piece. Though hard to tell immediately, it was a perfect phoenix feather Harry had modeled on the many he had seen of Fawkes. Smiling at his transfiguration, he slid it across the table to Ginny's waiting hand. She held it up for a moment and admired the work and the extremely intricate crafting a silversmith would be pressed to duplicate.

"You know…I've never actually seen this spell being used."

"What? You mean there is a spell the great Harry Potter doesn't know?"

"Oh stop it." Harry rolled his eyes while she giggled a little.

"Okay… Well…you just want these to vibrate when the master is used, right?" Harry nodded in response. "Okay…then I just have to…there." She tapped the feather with her wand. It responded by momentarily turning red and shaking against the table before again going still. She flicked it back over to him. "That's one."

"Very nice. Well, let's get going." Taking out another sickle, he began the transfiguration again.

It took them just over an hour to turn the bag full of coins into a bag full of feathers. The last was the master, which Harry would carry, and was just a little larger than the rest. Finishing the more complicated spell on the last she handed it over as he laid all the slave feathers out in neat rows for testing. "Okay, just touch your wand to the feather for a moment." He did so, and after a few seconds, each of the smaller feathers began to vibrate. Rapidly touching each before it could fall off the table, they gathered them back into the bag, which Harry stuffed into his pocket. He let out a relieved sigh that that part of it was done.

"Thanks."

"Of course." Harry waited for a moment before setting off in a more perilous direction.

"About the meeting tonight…" He drifted off, not really wanting to continue, but knowing he must.

"I can't come, can I?" He nodded slowly. Somehow he knew she knew what he was going to say.

"It's not that I don't want you to, but…"

"I know. Separation, right?" He nodded slowly. "Harry…it's okay. I've got an Army to run. You can deal with the Order."

"On second thought…want to trade?"

"Not in a million years."

"Awww…" A few moments later a dreary Ron stumbled in clutching a large roll of parchment under his arm.

"Morning…" he glanced around, "right?"

"Yeah mate. For another couple hours at least. How do you get to class on time?"

"Hermione mostly. Better than an alarm clock."

"You got the map?" Ron half lifted the roll of parchment under his arm. Harry turned back to Ginny. "Sorry, Order business."

"Yeah, yeah. Later." With a smile for him and a positively icy look for her brother, she headed out, closing the door a little firmly behind her. Ron turned back from watching her go.

"You know, she could have stayed."

"Not really." At Ron's questioning look, he explained. "I can't think straight when she's in the room." Ron chuckled a little as he unrolled the parchment across the table and weighed it down at the corners with ink bottles and a cauldron.

"Yeah, I know the feeling." He glanced down at the parchment and the map of Hogwarts and the surrounding grounds all the way to Hogsmeade. With a bit of help from Hagrid, he had managed to make it almost perfectly accurate. Still staring at the map, Ron continued. "Did you tell Ginny? About me and Hermione?" Harry swallowed hard trying to decide what to say.

"I…I might have mentioned I had some suspicions."

"Really." Ron's voice was strangely flat, something that spooked him quite badly.

"Well, after the orphanage and the way you two act sometimes…"

"Yeah…but you didn't tell her about the orphanage on Halloween, for which I thank you, as does Hermione. However, she also wasn't surprised when she saw it in that memory…so someone must have told her something."

"Maybe she talked to Hermione." Harry also studied the map, not daring to raise his eyes.

"Maybe…" Ron wasn't moving, which was a bad sign. Lately when he looked at a map, he began subconsciously plotting strategies which his hands would sort of draw out in the air. His head popped up and he stared right at Harry. "This is all your fault you know." Harry's head also popped up and he looked around huntedly.

"Wait…what? How am I involved in this at all?"

"You helped me buy that necklace!"

"And…? Didn't she like it?"

"She loved it! Then she decided to show her appreciation. Next time I had a clear thought it was the following morning and we were late for class. I tried to get up only to find my arm pinned under her head. Do you have any idea how awkward that was?!" Harry glanced off to the side, trying to find a way out of this conversation.

"Um…I think I can guess."

"It took us a month to sit down and talk about it and we're still confused."

"Uh…huh…" Harry half pointed down at the map. "Could we maybe…" Ron looked as if he was going to plough on, but eventually gave up in exasperation and refocused on the map. After waiting a moment to make sure he was done, Harry also looked back down.

Harry entered the kitchen flanked by Ron and Hermione to find many Order members gathered, already present and waiting. Many were drinking from a cauldron of punch Mrs. Weasley had made that was sitting in the middle of the table. Every inch of the benches was filled and much of the standing room was also taken by small groups of people talking amongst themselves. In this room stood nearly every member that Lupin, Moody and Tonks had agreed could be trusted. As a side effect of being the Order's secret keeper, he could identify every person after a second of looking at their face. Many of those faces turned to him, surprised at the trio's presence. Many glanced to Moody or Lupin to see there reaction.

After a small nod from both, the trio headed over to camp out in a corner. Seeing this, most of the Order returned to their conversations. When Lupin rose and stood near the door, their attention was collected again. "Members of the Order of the Phoenix, thank you for coming to this meeting. As you know, with the recent attack on the Ministry and the rampant activities of Death Eaters over the last several weeks, the danger presented by Lord Voldemort and his followers is greater than ever. What we're doing isn't working and that's not going to change." A few of them looked annoyed that their actions were being called useless, but many more silently acknowledged the truth of it.

"For all our work we were unable to see the Ministry attack, the Dementor assault on Hogwarts or any of the other murders that have been taking place, coming. So we are going to change tactics. To explain what this means, I'll turn the floor over to the leader of the Order." Most everybody turned to where Moody or McGonagall were sitting. However, they were both looking at Harry as he took Lupin's place at the front of the room.

"Good evening everyone." Many of the members were looking around, possibly waiting for someone to tell them this was a joke. "As you know, I am Harry Potter and I'm the current leader of the Order of the Phoenix." Blank and disbelieving stares greeted this proclamation. More people were now looking around for confirmation this was some bizarre prank. "And I have been since early August. Any of you who are doubtful…which looks to be quite a few, both Mr. Moody and Mr. Lupin can confirm that I have been directing the Order for the last several months." Every head swiveled to the two men who were nodding firmly. Eyes then returned to the lone figure at the front of the room.

"But he's not even out of school!" Several people, notably the Weasleys and professors began to rise to his defense, but he stopped them with a small shake of his head.

"You're right. I'm not. So instead, let's try this… Everyone here who's faced Voldemort and survived…raise your hand." His went up immediately and he waited several moments for a second to join it. None did. "To my knowledge, the only other person who could have said that was Dumbledore. He's dead. I'm alive. If there's anyone here who doesn't think that makes me uniquely qualified to take charge of an organization dedicated to stopping Voldemort, speak now." He again waited for anyone to raise their voice in protest. This time, none did.

"Good. Now that that's dealt with…" He stepped to the side and began pacing a little as he spoke. "Voldemort has managed to attack, and for all intents and purposes shut down, the Ministry of Magic, kidnap the Minister, and strike such fear into the wizarding world that nearly everything has stopped. He's systematically removed every obstacle in his way and spreading terror everywhere. Now, there is only one thing left that he wants." He gestured to the other two. "If you would…?" Hermione stepped forward and drew her wand. With a swish, a large free standing bulletin board appeared. A moment later Ron approached and tacked the map he had been carrying on it.

A gasp came from several of the members as the saw the name emblazoned across the top. "Hogwarts. Voldemort has always had a fascination with the castle and possessing it is his dearest wish. He's going to attack. The only question is, when? We can't predict the time, but we can make some preparations. At this point I'll turn the floor over to the Order's tactical advisor, Ron Weasley. Ron?" Harry stepped to the side as Ron approached and drew a quill.

"Okay…Hogwarts, as it stands, is in a very defensible position. It's backed up to a large body of water and some very severe terrain. The anti-apperation shield is also an excellent asset." A pair of quick strikes with the quill picked out the features on the map. Though Ron was usually hard pressed to talk to a crowd, here he was simply talking tactics and visually illustrating the points as he went. "The major weakness is the close proximity of the Dark Forest here. When Voldemort attacks, the Death Eaters can apperate, but other things like werewolves, giants and inferi will have to walk or run in. That's why the Forest is so critical. He'll want to keep his forces concealed as long as possible.

"Once they come into the open though, that will be our time to fight. His initial assault will be weak. He won't want to expend more man power than he must to win." Many of the people gathered, including the other Weasley's, looked stunned at his analysis of the situation and how he was systematically explaining it. "The Aurors and Order members at the school will be enough to fight off this first wave. Our intention is to engage them here," he drew a circle just outside the apperation shield. That should minimize the chance of anyone appearing behind us. As the battle progresses though, more and more force is going to be required. At some point we'll need the Order to show up, preferably all at once." Harry stepped back to the front.

"That's why we have these." He held up the bag. "Everyone not stationed at Hogwarts, take one." He passed the bag to Lupin who took a feather and handed it on, looking appraisingly at the object. "Phoenix feathers. They are all connected to this one." He pulled the master out of his pocket. "When the time comes I'll activate my feather, which will cause each of these to vibrate, wherever you might be. At that point, immediately grab any nearby Order members and apperate to the school." He again stepped aside and let Ron take over.

"Your targets to apperate into will be here to the east and Hogsmeade. That should allow us to flank both sides of whatever force attacks." With a nod to Harry, Ron stepped back and joined Hermione in the corner. Harry returned to center stage.

"This is our only focus from here on out. Everything else, from recruitment to spying, even the hunt for Severus Snape, is to be put on hold. Take as much time as you can preparing for this fight. It will be the last thing the Order ever has to do; it's what it was created to do. It all comes down…to this." His wand rapped sharply against the map where Ron had drawn the line of battle.

A week later and the Order was still reeling from the double shot of Harry being in charge and the plans he had shown them. It had caused an uproar, followed by quiet hints at mutiny and finally grudging acceptance. Where it had taken the Army only a few minutes to accept Ginny as their new commander, it took the order over a week to accept theirs, and that just barely. Used to people not believing him, Harry took their grudging acceptance as good enough and moved onto the multitude of other problems he had to face. Considering the monumental tasks still left, convincing the Order he was capable of taking over was rather minor.

He and Ron had been spending hours running various attacks and counter strategies that Voldemort might employ when the strike finally came and ending up with few real answers. A potent side effect of this was that the girls were getting a little annoyed as Ron and Harry had taken to locking the door while they worked and staying cooped up for much of the day. Fortunately they had reached a point where they really couldn't plan anymore.

Harry had risen early the day before they were to return to Hogwarts, eager to enjoy his last hours away from school. Unfortunately no one else was up and he was left to his own devices. He was currently leaning back in desk chair, balancing it on the back legs with his foot which was propped against the edge of the writing surface. As he rocked back and forth a little on the chair, he played with the snitch Ron had given him for his birthday. He let it go and caught it a heartbeat later over and over, happy to have this small part of the game despite not having played for months.

A small smile crossed his lips as he recalled his father doing much the same thing when he was Harry's age. Next to him sat the sword which his eyes drifted to occasionally, tracing over the large rubies and the inscription on the blade. They had just finished followed the edge of the blade when a soft knock came from the door. Quickly boxing the snitch he called back, expecting Ginny. "Come in." To his surprise, George popped his head in. Judging by the height, he was crouching. He was also whispering.

"Harry, good, you're awake. Come here, you've got to see this." He glanced back down the hall and motioned with his hand for Harry to follow. Lacking anything else to do and expecting some sort of prank, he dropped his chair back to the floor and rose. Crouching for what appeared to be no reason to match George, he moved silently down the hall to where Fred was crouched next to Ron's door, holding it open a little.

"What did you two do to him?" Harry noticed Fred holding a bag that seemed to be wriggling in his grasp, something trying to fight its way out.

"Nothing," Harry cocked an eyebrow, not believing them for a second. "Oh, we were going to, but we just didn't have the heart. Take a look." Fred nodded toward the opening in the door. Warily, Harry moved around the edge of the trim and glanced inside. A second later he flipped back flat against the wall, eyes pinned shut.

The second he had seen was etched into his mind. Ron was in bed…but not alone. His arm had been wrapped tightly around Hermione, holding her tightly against him under the covers. Fred pulled the door silently shut, laughing maniacally, yet oddly without making a sound.

"Yeah…thanks guys. I really wanted to see that." Harry tried to physically shake the image from his mind as he opened his eyes. The twins were whispering through their laughter. Fred did his best, and spookily accurate, impersonation of Mrs. Weasley.

"Oh, ow little Won-won. He's all gwoed up!"

"Must say I'm a bit disappointed with Hermione though." Harry's head whipped to George. "I mean…Ron? Surely there was someone better available." Fred seemed to consider this for a moment.

"Maybe, but after that airhead Krum, even our little dunderhead Ron probably seemed like a step up. Well, a half step." Harry shook his head again and began walking back down the hall toward him room. "Harry…where you going? You're going to miss the best part."

"To find some one who can cast a decent memory charm."

"Okay, suit yourself. Fred, if you would do the honors?"

"My pleasure." Harry turned at the sound of the door being opened again, his eyes popping open as Fred stepped in and spoke a little loudly. "Time to get up Ron! Mum said- Oh! My eyes! My eyes!" He pretended to stumble back out of the room, clawing at his eyes.

"GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" Ron's rage filled cry nearly drowned out the shriek of surprise from Hermione. A split second later, Fred was dodging multiple rather nasty spells from the room. Before Harry could do any thing else, he was being carried back down the hall by both of them who nearly dove into his room and slammed the door. They glanced around and found no other means of escape. Just before they could apperate, they both turned to find Harry holding tightly to them, still shaking his head in disbelief.

"What? We've got to get out of here! He's going to kill us!"

"Not that you don't deserve it… Listen… I can't stop you from messing with them, go right ahead." The look on his face suddenly became deadly serious. "But if you screw this up for them…I'll kill you." Pulling free, Fred waved off his concern.

"Don't worry. He is our brother after all." He dissapperated as George pulled away.

"You and Ginny on the other hand…" He to dissapperated before Harry could grab him again. A split second later Ron burst through the door, obviously hastily dressed, murder in his eye.

"Where are they!?"

"They just appereated. What's going on?" Instead of answering, Ron grunted in disgust and turned away. Storming back down the hall, he left Harry to chuckle at the madness of the Weasley family.

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