Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Chapter Twelve: The Missing Couple

Oliver Wood stretched as he woke up the next morning. His head was killing him from last night. Fred and George must have slipped something into his butterbeer. As he tried to sit up he found someone lying against him. Looking down, he was surprised to see Katie fast asleep beside him. Her head rested on his chest, her arm was lightly wrapped around his waist. He rubbed his head trying to remember how she had ended up in his bed. When he looked around he realized he wasn't in his bed or even his flat. As he continued to look around the room he saw pictures of Katie, Angelina, and Alicia. There were a few of her with Fred and George. A few of all seven of them, with Harry grinning from the middle of them. She had a few pictures of her and him when he was still at school.

Katie stretched out beside him, then moved closer to him. He was afraid to move for fear of waking her up. As he lay there he wondered exactly what he was going to do about his current situation. He could apparate away but he knew her parent's house had apparation wards on them. His other option was just to try and get out of her room before she or her parents woke up. As he tried to move her arm tightened around his waist. With a defeated sigh he lay back down.

Her eyes slowly opened about twenty minutes later. Oliver had fallen back asleep a few minutes ago. She blinked a few times and realized that she was sleeping next to Oliver! Katie sat up and looked around the room and was surprised to see she was in her room of all places. She vaguely remembered helping him back from the Weasley's. Fred and George must have put something in his drink again. So why in the world is he here?

Katie carefully got out of bed and headed out of her room. The house was quiet so she was hoping her parents had already gone to work. She had no idea how they would react if they found that Oliver was asleep in her bed and only in his boxers. As she entered the kitchen she was surprised to see her mother sitting at the kitchen table.

"What are you still doing home?" She asked as she went to the fridge to grab something to drink.

"I don't have to go into work until ten. Is Oliver awake?" Her mother asked in a casual tone.

Katie froze. "He's still sleeping," she said slowly.

"Well don't let him sleep all day. There is some hangover potion on your nightstand. I figured you two might need it seeing as Fred and George tend to do that to you both very often."

"Often? Wait when has this happened before?"
"A few times over the last few years. Oliver is usually the first to wake and is gone before you are up."

Katie groaned at this and shook her head. "Why have I never been told about this?"

"Never asked," her mother said with a slight smile.

"That's not funny mum. It would have been nice to know!"

"Then talk to Oliver about it since he is the one who leaves before you wake up. Did you never wonder why you ended up in one of his shirts every morning? Like now for instance? I am off to work now."

Katie looked down at herself and saw that she was wearing his shirt from the day before. "Bye," she said as she made her way back to her room. Oliver was still fast asleep and had moved so he was lying where she had been earlier. She didn't have much to drink last night so her head wasn't bothering her at all. Harry had sent her a letter a day ago requesting to speak to her about something important. He was supposed to be coming by today around ten. Katie froze, she was about to go change when there was a knock on her bedroom door.

Groaning she moved to open the door to reveal Harry. His hair was just as messy as ever and he looked a little tired. He took one look at her and then Oliver lying on her bed and smirked.

"What's so funny?" She snapped as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"This is the first time you've been awake and he hasn't. Usually he is long gone before you wake up."

Katie groaned. "Why am I figuring out about all of this now? It would have been nice to know this earlier! And how did you get into my house?"

"Oliver asked us not to. He wasn't really sure how you would react to waking up next to him in the morning. Though I can see you don't really mind all that much. I apparated to just outside your door, didn't want to barge in."

She glared at the younger boy. "Why exactly are you here instead of with your girlfriend? How could you my parents have wards up?"

"She's sleeping right now and I needed to talk to you about something. Wards don't stop me."

"Which would be?"

"You and Oliver."

"What do you mean me and Oliver?"

"Oh come on Katie you've liked Oliver for years. Goodness what is with everyone and dancing around their feelings. At least I just kissed Ginny for crying out loud. First Remus and Tonks, now you and Oliver. Be happy that he likes you back and just kiss the boy."

"Since when did you become such an expert. Last time I checked you didn't even ask her out till the end of the second task and you kissed her at the end of the first."

"How did you know that?"

"I live in Gryffindor Tower too you know, you can overhear a lot when you want to. You may have asked her out but you took forever to do it."

It was Harry's turn to glare at his older teammate. "At least I did something instead of waiting all these years."

"Why is it so important any way?"

"Because I need yours and Oliver's help with something. I would love to explain more about it but you will just have to wait for me to explain it in the meeting."

"What meeting?" She said annoyed. Katie hated it when people would dance around a subject instead of just saying it outright.

"The meeting at the end of the summer. Just get on with it already. I have to go before Gin wakes up. Tell Oliver hi for me," he said with a smile before he transformed and flamed away. She glared at the spot he had just left and turned back into her room.

He's right I should just kiss him.

But what if he doesn't like you?

Then it was worth a shot, besides he looks good sleeping. She thought to herself as she watched him in her bed. The blankets had fallen down to his waist, revealing a well-defined chest. She was very glad that he was still playing Quidditch. As much as she loved to play the sport she loved even more to sit in the stands watching him fly. It had become a habit during her years at Hogwarts to go out and watch him fly. She could usually find him on the pitch doing something. Her crush had started when they were children and had steadily grown over the years till she knew she was in love.

Her biggest fear was losing his friendship if things went wrong. He was her closest friend and had always been there when she needed it. She had dated during her stay at Hogwarts and she could always count on Oliver when things went sour. There was a time during her third year when one of her exs had hit her. Oliver had put the boy in the hospital for a week.

Shaking her head of those thoughts she moved to climb back into her bed. Oliver shifted over as she moved into the bed. At first she thought he was moving away when she realized he was turning to lay on his side. His arm wrapped around her waist and he held her close. The feeling of his warm breath against her neck made shivers run down her spine. She closed her eyes enjoying being held by him.

Just as she was drifting off into sleep he woke up. He slowly stretched his body out, slightly moving Katie. She shifted so he could stretch easier which drew his attention back to her.

"Mornin'," he said sleepily as he hid his face against the back of her neck.

"Morning," she said quietly as she enjoyed his warm breath on her neck. "There is a hangover remedy on the nightstand for you."

"That's great," he rolled onto his back for a minute as he downed the potion. He coughed for a second before returning to his previous position. "What time is it?"

"About eleven I believe."

He nodded his head and held her slightly closer. She closed her eyes and leaned back into him. His breathing was hot against her neck and sending chills up and down her spine. She took a deep breath and rotated to face him. Oliver brought his hand up to rest on her cheek, smiling at her.

"Oliver I-"

Oliver cut her off by kissing her softly. She leaned into his kiss and he pulled her closer. When they pulled apart they just gazed at each other. "I love you Katie," he whispered softly.

"I love you too Oliver."

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The summer passed without incident. Things had begun to finally settle down and both Harry and Ginny knew it wasn't going to last very long. They both began training harder than usual and by the end of the day they would just collapse into bed until the next morning. Pansy had become a permanent resident to Harry's house. Draco had been released after a week but was still limited to the amount of things he could actually do. Narcissa was still in bed, her recovery slow.

Lily and Karen were being taught by Molly while Harry and Ginny spent their time training. Dudley had landed a steady paying job that helped keep up his end of the bills, Harry paying the other half. Things between Pansy and Ron had gotten worse. Ron was still unaware about Draco or that the two had gotten back together. Pansy and Draco had moved to train with the others while Ron kept his training with Dumbledore and Snape. Unknowing to the others Ron was also training with another person.

As the days seemed to draw closer Harry and Ginny finally got a letter from the Headmaster, asking them to return to the teaching staff. He had gotten a number of requests from students to have the two teach once more and the two were happy to take up the offer. Dumbledore stopped by once during the summer and things had not gone as well as he had hoped. With school drawing nearer Harry and Ginny finally made a trip to visit Professor McGonagall.

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Harry and Ginny flamed into Hogwarts castle just outside of Professor McGonagall's classroom. They knew she was in there. Ginny knocked on the door. "Come in," she called through the door.

The two entered the room and she looked up startled. "Good evening Professor," Harry said with a smile on his face.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, this is a very unexpected visit. What brings you here?" She said in a curious voice as she offered the two a place to sit.

"Well we have come to inform you about a few things that are going to be happening over this school year."

"So we thought it would be nice to inform you of what is going on," Ginny said as she took her seat beside Harry.

"What have you done now Mr. Potter?" She said in a low voice but her lips twitched.

The two students grinned. "I haven't done anything," he said indigently. "I just happened to point out a few things to the Ministry and the board that oversees the school."
"Harry..."

"Well Professor, it's like this," Ginny cut in. "See we have found out a bit of information that was very disturbing and needed immediate attention."

"Yes it was very disturbing," Harry said with a nod.

"As I was saying. We found that Dumbledore suspended a student after his having attacked another student. Now he was informed that the student had been placed under the Imperious curse and was unable to function as he normally would, making him innocent in his attacks on said student. Instead of listening to Madam Pomfrey he ignored her and suspended the student anyway."

"I have a feeling we are talking about Mr. Malfoy am I correct?"

"You are correct," Harry said. "He was under the influence of the spell when he killed my Aunt. When he first did it I was ready to kill him right there on the spot but Pansy begged me to give him a chance. She said he would never do something like that and that I should at least give him a chance to explain. So I did. We called in Madam Pomfrey to check him over and just as we suspected he had been exposed heavily to both the Imperious and Cruciatus curse."

"So then Harry gave him a chance to explain his actions. Draco allowed Harry into his mind to retrieve the memories from inside his head. Harry saw the extent of the damage done to him by the constant attacks on him. Then he and I went to rescue Narcissa from her house, another thing that will have to be explained I am afraid."

"Then I went to speak with Percy and Penelope about their helping to get Snape put into Azkaban and Dumbledore temporarily removed."

"What?" McGonagall said shocked. "What am I missing here?"

"Snape was the one who was putting Draco under the Imperious curse and forcing him to attack Pansy. Then he obliviated his memory of what happened, leaving him without a clue that he did anything wrong. Dumbledore clearly overstepped his bounds and suspended the student without further questioning. As I entered Draco's mind I found that Dumbledore had in fact been in there as well. So he knew exactly who did it."

McGonagall just sat there staring at the two teens. Her eyes were wide. Never had she been so shocked in her life. This all just seemed to hard too grasp all at once. She blinked a few times then shook her head. "I guess I can see now why the entire Weasley family had resigned from the Order."

"They did what?" Harry and Ginny said together.

"You didn't know?"

"No," they said again.

"Yes well they told Dumbledore that they were resigning. No warning, nothing. They all left. We all sat there looking shocked. No one saw that coming."

"I believe love, that my family is now behind you one hundred percent," she said with a huge grin. Harry turned and smiled at his fiancé.

"I believe they are. Which is good for us then isn't it?"

"Very, oh this could help us along nicely! Fred and George are going to be pleased that Snape is getting sacked!"

"Professor it seems that you will be having a position to fill here soon..." Harry let his sentence hang in the air.

Minerva looked at the two. "You two constantly amaze me you know that? I don't think I've ever seen anything like what you two are doing."

They both grinned wider. "Why thank you," they said together.

"I don't know if your brothers would be interested in teaching. They seemed to enjoy torturing the teachers instead and its rare to appoint students so young."

"We are much younger than they are," Ginny put in. "This will be our second year teaching and I am not even in my sixth year yet!"

"Actually Ginny, we spoke to the board and they agreed to bump you up a year. You two will both continue your training."

"I'm surprised the board even allowed us to teach in the first place."

"Well this was one of the first years that there was so many O's on the OWLs. That wasn't just in Defense Against the Dark Arts either. It seems that you two have made quite an impact in the school here."

"I'm going to be in my sixth year. Oh just wait till Hermione hears this!" Ginny said excitedly.

Harry laughed quietly. "You seem to be taking all of this news very well Professor."

"Well I am still a bit shaken by all of this but I can see where you would do something like this. I will have to speak with the Weasleys about that teaching position. I suppose neither of you will continue to play on the team?"

They looked at each other and shrugged. "I've missed it, I think I could go back to being a seeker."

"I'm all up for the chaser position," Ginny said with a smile. "I could do seeker but I could never be as good as Harry."

"That's true," Harry put in earning a smack on the back of his head by Ginny. The three laughed for a moment.

"It's good to see you two again. I have a feeling that you two have a lot more up your sleeves then you are letting on," McGonagall said slowly.

"That we do Professor. We will be sure to inform you of everything when the time is right." Harry looked down at his watch and sighed. "I am sorry but I have another meeting to attend to."

"Which would be what exactly?" Ginny asked slowly. Harry only smiled at her and apparated straight through the wards around Hogwarts. "He's doing something and not telling me," she whined and slumped in his seat.

"I am sure you will know soon enough what is going on."

Ginny smiled up at her Professor. "Well I can only hope that he tells me. I hate to run but since I have the afternoon free I think I will spend some time with the girls."

"Ah I heard of Harry's adoption of his nieces."

"Beautiful little girls. They love him to death too."

"That's always good."

She sighed heavily. "I just wish we had a bit more free time to ourselves. With all the training, the girls, Harry's meetings it seems we never get a moment together. At night we are too tired to do anything but sleep."

"Well school won't be helping much will it?"

"Nope. I suppose I can live with it. After school we are taking a few years off and going traveling."

McGonagall smiled at the young red head. "Then I hope you continue to write. Be safe Miss Weasley."

"You too Professor." Ginny too apparated out of Hogwarts.

Professor McGonagall shook her head again. They both just apparated through wards that were supposed to keep no one from apparating. The two had power, a lot of it. With a sigh she turned back to the work that was before her.

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Harry appeared in the living room of the Burrow. Mr. Weasley jumped, his wand drawn. "Hello Mr. Weasley," Harry said with a huge smile.

"Hello Harry, I wasn't expecting you so soon."

"That's alright. What have you been up to today?"

"Ginny and I went to speak with Professor McGonagall. We were informing her of what was going to be happening here in a few days. So you all resigned from the Order?"

Arthur laughed. "My sons were bent on withdrawing from there after they heard of what Percy was going to do. So we all decided that it would be for the best to withdraw and help out our other son," he said as he clapped Harry on the shoulder.

Harry smiled at the man. He had been a great friend to Harry, picking up where a father should have been for him. The Weasleys had taken him in and were overjoyed that he and Ginny were together. He had remembered coming to ask their permission to marry her and they hugged him and told him that he would always have their blessing. The clock had touched Harry deeply at seeing his hand up there with the others, Hermione's as well.

"Harry!" Mrs. Weasley said happily as she entered the living room. She gave him a big hug, one of which he returned. "I am glad you are here. Ginny went out with the girls today."

"She hasn't had much time to spend with them so she plans on catching up."

"Harry, you-"

"-are here!" George finished as the two came down the stairs. They both hugged him tightly, almost breaking him in two.

"Nice to see you two as well."

"Of course it would be."

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"Hello Harry," Fleur said as her and Bill entered the living room as well.

"Hello Fleur, Bill."

It wasn't long before the rest had arrived. They all sat in various places in the Weasley's living room. Harry stood by the fire, his mind watching what Ginny was up to. A cough made him pull out of her mind and close his off.

"Well now that everyone is here, Anna and I have a bit of explaining to do."

Anna got to her feet and came to stand by Harry. "Now I am sure you are all wondering why you are here. Well it's a long explanation but I am going to shorten it the best I can. Lily was excellent at charms and that meant she wouldn't let Voldemort win so easily. After all she protected Harry's life. Well she left some clues for me to figure out about the spell she had cast on James, Alice, Frank, and herself."

"Mum preferred Old Magic the best. It was constantly undermined but works a lot better than most of the magic spells we still use today. This part is for Lavender."

Lavender sat up straighter as she looked at Harry.

"See Mum cast a spell over Frank and Alice that would preserve their minds if they were ever attacked heavily with the Cruciatus curse. It was meant to help them. Only problem was she was the only one who knew how long it would last or the counter spell for it that would allow their minds to become free."

"It took me years to find the spell that I needed. Lily was a bit vague but I still managed in the end. Now that I have found it it means that we can free Frank and Alice. The only problem is that it was meant for the 'lover of the son', which would be you Lavender. Your magic is really good but you still need a bit more training before you can use the spell. That is if you want to."

"Of course I do!" Lavender said immediately. "I would do anything to help."

"That's what Harry said you would say."

"Now onto the next part. Mum knew that she had a chance that Voldemort would kill either her and Dad or Frank and Alice. So she placed the spell over all four of them, unknowing to them. The spell was another one she had researched in Old Magic. It was that when the spell was used it had the power to bring them back to life once Voldemort was defeated. As in his sacrifice, his power, would restore them to their bodies. I know it sounds strange but there is more."

"Since Harry is powerful he is going to be used as the bearer of the spell. He'll cast the beginning spell and this is where all of you come in. He needs twenty-two others to help with the spell. So he picked all of you and split you into two separate groups. The first group is Fred, George, Pansy, Charlie, Lavender, Parvati, Alicia, Padma, Angelina, Jamie, and Hannah."

"That covered almost all of those in a relationship, the stronger in that relationship. I know Padma and Hannah are single but you two are very powerful and I would like your help in this."

"The next group was as follows Sirius, myself, Arthur, Molly, Bill, Fleur, Percy, Penelope, Katie, Oliver, and Lee," Anna continued.

"That covered the couples, excluding Lee but I need your help on that side for a reason. See love is powerful apart as it is together. So having those that are together and those that are apart would balance it out with the magic. You all will have to train to be able to do the spell properly and I won't be facing Voldemort till next year. I'm not strong enough just yet."

"Our next point will be that this is going to remain a secret. I know all of you want to tell your other half but it would be better to keep this low. We don't know what could slip or anything like that and if Voldemort knew then Lily's hard work would fail. We only need to practice once a month. Since it won't be another year until Harry takes him on. So what do you all say?"

"We are all for it!" Fred and George said promptly.

"So are we," Angelina, Alicia, Katie, Lee, and Oliver said as well.

"We already agreed," Penelope put in for her and Percy.

"I will help you whenever you need me," Fleur said with a smile.

"If she's in, I'm in," Bill said as he wrapped an arm around Fleur.

"Of course we will be helping," Lavender said as she indicated towards Padma and Parvati.

"It was her idea so I am in," Sirius said as he pointed to his wife.

"Well my parents are in so that means I am as well Harry," Jamie said with a bright smile.

"We are in," Charlie and Hanna said together.

Arthur and Molly exchanged looks. Then they both turned to smile at Harry. "I don't even know why you bothered to ask, of course we will help," Arthur said happily.

"Alright then, this is how it's going to work..."

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Ginny, Lily, and Karen all came stumbling out of the floo. Harry managed to catch Ginny and picked her up. She squeaked loudly, and then started laughing. "My good knight, thank you for saving a poor lady such as myself."

Percy snorted. "A lady? Since when?"

Ginny stuck her tongue out at her brother, before Harry spun her again. The two were laughing so hard they collapsed onto the couch. At which point Ginny tackled Harry and started tickling him. The two wrestled around on the couch, the other always trying to get the upper hand.

"Hey you two are going to ruin the couch," Dudley snapped as he entered the room.

"Dudley!" Jamie said as she came through the fireplace. She practically tackled him. Her arms wrapped around his neck, her legs around his waist. He managed a quick hello before she kissed him.

Harry, Ginny, Percy, Penelope, Lily, and Karen all started laughing. "What's so funny?" Pansy questioned as she came through the floo. "Oh," she said as she noticed Jamie and Dudley still lip locked.

"You two are worst then Potter and Weasley," Draco said lightly from the doorway.

Pansy grinned as she ran over to him, pinning him against the wall before kissing him as well. This sent the rest of the room into a fit of laughter. Ginny grabbed Harry's head and brought it down to her's, where she kissed him.

"Ew! Gross!" Lily and Karen said together.

"Alright, alright, settle down you kids," Percy said in his I'm-better-than-you voice. Everyone pulled apart and took various seats around the room. "Draco, you will be pleased to know that you are now back into Hogwarts."

Pansy cried happily as she hugged her boyfriend tightly. "This is wonderful!"

"Great job Percy," Harry said with a smile.

"Nice job brother," Ginny put in.

"So what do you say you and I make a big statement?" Harry said with a grin at Draco. Draco smiled at the other boy.

"Let's do it."

"Ginny, love, you'll save me a seat won't you?"

"Oh I don't think so mister. I am not letting you out of my sight. You have a tendency to get yourself into trouble and even with the rings I can't always get to you in time."

Harry dropped his head in mock shame. Ginny rolled her eyes. "Yes ma'am." Rolling her eyes again she kissed him.

Quit acting so spoiled.

But I am spoiled. I have the best woman in the world, Harry grinned at her when she pulled away.

Aren't you the charming one.

I try.

She laughed and moved to lean back against him. Lily instantly climbed up to sit beside her, Ginny wrapping an arm around the smaller girl. Karen climbed up to sit on Harry's other side. Just one very small family.

A family none the less love. Besides just wait till we have our own kids.

Ginny looked up at him, eyebrow raised. You do realize we are waiting a few years before we start having kids.

I know, I know. Besides we are going to travel for a bit right?

Of course. Then we can talk about having kids. Harry laughed quietly and kissed her forehead. Ginny smiled and moved closer to him.

"So Harry what did you have in mind?" Draco asked when he realized the two were done with their silent conversation.

"Well..."

A/N: Short note since I am doing a double update, but this is all by accident, I almost posted ch. 13 before ch. 12! That would have thrown you all off but thankfully I managed to catch myself before hand so two chaps tonight and I expect reviewes for BOTH chapters! thanks my lovely readers/reviewers.

Seritha