Disclaimer: Haven't done one of these in ages. Well, here we go. Last night, for an early Easter present, JK Rowling signed Harry Potter over to me. I know, it's unbelievable, right? Which is exactly why you should not believe me but definitely believe that I lie on the spur of the moment when it comes to disclaimers. Therefore, I don't own it. (Struggles with self: yes I do! NooOOo I don't! Sorry folks! Bear with me!)

Thanks to:

LadyBlueWolf: Yay! Two chapters! And seeing as technically this one was also written two hours after the last one, even though it is twelve o' clock at night, I'd say it was three! Yay! -glomps-

Ruby-Wonder: Tellietubbies:o Yay! Oh well, lets be Tellietubbies for today. So isn't there something they do… like… 'BIG HUGGG!' :P Thanks for review!

Ron's POV

Oh my god. It's mum. I'd recognise that scream anywhere. She hurries down from her place on the first floor and down the stairs, so fast I'm scared she might topple down them. That's mum. In your face. Completely. I sigh, but I don't have time to get two words out before Harry is sent toppling into me as she rockets into us all, attempting to hug every one of us.

"Oh my gosh! Ron - Hermione - Harry - Ginny! You're here! And a merry hunt you've lead us on and why on earth did you run off like that you could have been killed you complete and utter fools (seeing as Ms Weasley isn't using any commas, I'd advise you to take a breath here before you explode) and Ginny what were you thinking you're only a sixth year and You-Know-Who was there and just because they are your friends doesn't give you a licence for trouble and oh my lord! I'm glad you're safe!"

Okay, mum. Repeat that at a speed we can all hear.

"Hi mum," Says a muffled sounding Ginny. "And for your information, I probably only got out of Voldemort's (mum shudders) attack because I was invited to join these lot. They're not such a bad lot, you know." She nudges me playfully in the side. Playfully? It hurts.

"Ron, you wouldn't have anything to do with this, would you?" Asks mum, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"Er…"

"Well," says Ginny brightly, shooting me an amused look, "Ron was the one who invited me, actually!" She says it innocently, just right; beaming like Fred and George do when they're trying to get someone else into trouble. When I get my hands on her…

"Ron," Mum says furiously through gritted teeth, "I will deal with you later…" But meanwhile, she turns to Harry. Poor guy. "Harry! So nice to see you. Where have you been? You keep running off - anyone would think you didn't wand help, dear! I know, it's a silly notion, isn't it? But why didn't you write? Tell us where you were? Oh, Harry dear… I was so worried!" And then Harry is enveloped in a huge suffocating hug from mum.

And that is how Harry Potter died.

Well, nearly.

I think he may well have gone purple, which isn't a good sign. I can't help laughing at that. Mum greets us all in turn, making a point to blatantly ignore me. Honestly, I'm not particularly bothered. After all, I have no desire to be suffocated; I'm not a guy with a death wish.

It's funny, because as Mum makes such a performance, people begin to spectate. I can see Lupin, Tonks and Moody at least, gathered around the threshold.

"Okay, Mum. Give it a rest." I don't want to hurt her feelings, but I have to blunt. Besides, she's not being nice to me. "We're here for a reason, and we won't be staying long."

"What?" Says mum, shocked. How can she be surprised? "But…"

"Can't say I didn't expect that," Lupin steps forwards. "Hello, Harry."

I guess Harry's paying for the cold shoulder he gave Lupin before. His head is bowed to the ground and he shrugs slightly.

"Hi, Professor."

"You find what you were looking for, Harry?"

"Um. Yeah, I guess I did. Sorry, Professor. Wasn't very happy a few weeks ago."

You can say that again, mate.

But, to my surprise, Lupin's face lights up. "That's quite alright, Harry. After all, the map in question is technically your property and I'm sure your unhappiness was due to a lack of friends…"

"Too right," grins Harry, casting us all a smile.

Good, I was kind of missing those strange smiles. Yesterday was priceless. It was like before the whole Sirius and Dumbledore thing, when Harry still knew the regular exercise of laughing. I'm glad about that. And what's more, is that me and Hermione suddenly appear to be an item. I don't know how that happened, but we kind of… simultaneously arranged it without words. That's Hermione for you. And I guess that's what I like about her. I'd miss our blazing rows so much if I couldn't ever see her again. I think it's been on the cards for a very long time now, and I think everyone else saw it but us. Ironic… huh?

"Well," says Mum stiffly. Typical. "What are you here for, then? Did you drop out of school for any particular reason?"

I wonder if this is what Fred and George got when they left?

"Actually, we've come to ask your permission for something," says Harry suddenly, eyes lighting up. "Because it's a group decision. We need all of the Order together before we can say it."

I hate audiences…

"And why would you need to ask our permission, you?" Tonks approaches the floor, and as always, there's a sparkle in her eyes and a mischievous smile on her face. Her hair is lime green today. Of all the colours, does she have to pick ones that make you have to turn away and cover your eyes? She must see my expression, because she winks and the next minute, it's back to bubblegum pink. The pain! It burns!

"Because even though I have my opinion, it really does depend on whether you lot trust the person in question. Because otherwise he might be untrustworthy."

"What are you talking about, Harry?" Says Lupin, that calm, curious expression written all over his face.

"I'm not saying it till every single member of the Order is here," he says firmly.

But before anyone can object to this, there's a bark from above.

"Potter, Weasley, Granger, Weasley! What might you be doing… truanting, perhaps?" I can recognise the voice of McGonagall a mile off. But we're ready for people like her. After all, technically, we've faced Voldemort. Well… Harry, lots of times.

"Save comments like that for Fred and George, Professor!" I erupt.

"Are you enjoying that cup of tea?" Ginny observes.

"Eek!" Hermione surveys us all with terrified expressions.

"And what would you be doing, Professor? Truanting?" Says Harry cheerily.

Hah!

McGonagall's lips thin till I fear they might very well vanish completely. "Detention, all of you," she says in unimpressed tones.

We can't help it. We all, including Mum, burst into hysterical laughter.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Can you believe it?" I chuckle, stroking Hermione's hair. "A detention in the bag, even though we're out of school…"

She smiled up at me, Hogwarts: A History in her hands. I don't know how many times she's read that book but the pages are yellowed and all have little flick marks in the corner where she's bent the pages. Good old Hermione. She doesn't change.

"I hope they get the picture we're not coming back for good," she says, smile fading slightly. "Your mum will have already tried to get through to my parents; I wouldn't be surprised if the minute I went through that door they came and dragged me home."

"That won't happen." I say firmly. "We're sticking like glue to Harry till this is over."

"That's the spirit, Ron," she says lightly, turning another page. Honestly, I think she reads each page in about ten seconds. That makes me smile.

Before this, when we came back, Lupin smuggled Harry away and started talking about stuff. Probably You-Know-Who related. Ginny was immediately scooped up by mum, and told that seeing as she wouldn't be staying long (mum is still miffed about that) she'd have to do double the work to make up for it. Hermione hovered between Harry and I, looking at a loss of what to say, and avoiding Professor McGonagall completely, as if she was scared she might get another detention. After Harry heard Lupin's words of wisdom, however, he agreed to play a game of wizard's chess with me. He's getting good. It's not fair.

I still beat him with ease, though.

Apparently, the next time all the Order members will be together is conveniently tomorrow. I think Harry's relieved about that; after all, I see what he means. Being here is like being suffocated, being held down. I'd much rather be out there, looking for things. Trying at least to do something rather than just sit around, looking up at the ceiling…

Well, maybe it's not so bad, I think, as Hermione joins me on the sofa.

What do you think of my longer chapters? Think I should keep them? I know they're not completely long, but they're better than being short, right? Please R&R!