Chapter 11: OWLs and Waiting

Percy Weasley sat fidgeting at his desk in the Department of Magical Records and Contracts. It was Thursday, almost the appointed time that someone from his family, or extended family now, was supposed to arrive. Anxiety gripped Percy's nerves. He had always believed in following the rules, more than any of his brothers and his sister, but this was something that had to be done to help keep his family safe. To keep his sister and her fiancée safe from a psychopath bent on killing them and conquering the Wizarding World, starting in England. Rules be damned. He was not going to let that happen.

He thought back over the last eleven months of his life. Regret filled his mind as Percy thought back to the evening he had fought with his parents about the Order and whether or not Riddle had come back. He still didn't understand how that was possible, but he knew enough to know Harry Potter was not lying about it as Fudge and the Daily Prophet had been saying since the end of the Triwizard Tournament last June.

Shame gripped Percy's heart as he realized that he should have known Fudge was too scared to believe anything that would threaten his power and position. Percy imagined himself in Fudge's place, and realized at the time he would have made the same mistake. But he would have asked for more evidence, like a memory. After speaking with Harry at the Family dinner over the weekend in Hogsmeade, Percy realized just how much damage could have been done if he had kept putting his selfish ambition ahead of his family. He had already lost Penelope because of it, now Percy was determined not to lose anything else, his siblings and parents, especially.

The door to his office opened. Percy glanced at his watch. It was too early. He would have to make this quick. He stepped around the shelves to the counter. Percy stopped as he looked at a very lovely brunette standing at the counter.

"May I help you?" Percy asked politely.

"Yes, I need a formal contract for a sale of personal Magical items," she answered.

"Yes, here you are, Miss…" Percy smiled.

"Edgewater, Audrey Edgewater," she smiled, a blush coloring her cheeks. "Thank you, Mr.-?"

"Weasley, Percy Weasley," he smiled back. Just then, Harry and Sirius walked in. They looked at Percy with a raised eyebrow. "Is there," his voice cracked. Audrey giggled. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"No, not right now," she smiled. "Have a good day, Percy."

"You too," Percy breathed. She gave a little wave as she left.

"Gin's gonna have a laughing fit," Harry smiled at Percy. He groaned knowing he was in for a lot of teasing from everyone.

"Can we just get on with this, please," Percy pleaded with them.

"Sure, Percy, you big flirt you," Sirius grinned. Percy sighed. Lifting the counter to let them through. "She has to come back to file it," Sirius winked at him.

"Yeah, Perc. Ask her out when she does," Harry commented. Percy looked at Harry, his tone wasn't teasing or joking.

"Really?" Percy asked, sounding nervous as he locked the door before leading them to the very back of the office.

"Listen, Percy," Harry began, looking quite serious. "We all need happiness in this world, especially with the war coming. I have it with your sister. Sirius has Marlene. Your mum has your dad. Bill has Fleur. There is no reason you can't find some happiness too."

"When did you get so wise?" Sirius asked him.

"When I realized it when Gin and I made the choice to have a life together no matter what Riddle might do," Harry answered.

"You're right," Percy nodded. "Thank you, Harry."

"No worries," Harry smiled. "Just helping out my brother-in-law."

Percy paused as they reached the door. He turned, looking at Harry. Percy chuckled with a nod, realizing Harry really was about to be his brother.

Percy led them down a long corridor that was dimly lit with a few scattered torches high on the walls. They walked for almost five minutes before reaching a door that was solid blue with gold trim. The knob was in the center of the door, just like the door on the ninth floor to the Department of Mysteries. Harry shuddered slightly, remembering the dreams from earlier in the year and the snake attack on Mr. Weasley. Sirius placed a concerned hand on his shoulder.

"Just memories of those dreams I told you about," Harry told him quietly. Sirius nodded.

They were soon in the Hall of Prophecy, walking quickly down the aisles. They reached the appropriate cross-section, spotting the two labels easily.

Harry quickly lifted the two glass orbs, handing them to Sirius. Harry then pulled out two identical orbs from his pockets, placing them on the shelf. Percy turned from the head of the cross-section. Harry nodded, Percy cautiously leading them back to his office.

"Seriously, Percy," Harry looked at him. "Ask her out. If you need something, just ask."

"Thank you, Harry," Percy smiled.

"Gin will laugh, but she'll be happy for you too. Let us know," Harry nodded.

"If you need any suggestions about a good place to take her, owl me," Sirius grinned.

"I will. Thank you."

"No, thank you, Percy," Harry patted his pocket. "Oh, here you go."

"I'll get it processed post-haste," Percy waved as Harry and Sirius left.


"Harry! Where have you been?" Hermione almost shrieked as Harry walked into the Common Room. "You're almost late for the study schedule I made!"

"Hermione, calm down," Harry grimaced, trying not to roll his eyes.

"Calm down? Calm down? We have OWLs in six weeks!" she half shouted at him. Harry sighed, rolling his eyes.

Hermione sat Harry and Ron down to explain her schedule for them. Ginny sat down next to Harry, listening to Hermione lecture the boys about their study habits, or lack thereof. She had devised a schedule that had them studying for four and a half hours each night, an hour and a half on three subjects, starting that night.

"Hermione," Ginny broke into her lecture. Hermione looked at her. "You take Ron and help him. I'll take Harry."

"What about your studying?" Hermione asked.

"I do mine during the day, Hermione," Ginny answered. "Besides, I'm top of my class, I already know my subjects. Everything seems like a review to me," she shrugged.

"How long has that been going on?" Harry asked, suspecting he knew when.

"Since after the Chamber," Ginny answered quietly.

"Oh," Hermione cringed.

"Harry and I think it may be part of the bond," Ginny shrugged again.

"Fine," Hermione huffed. "But no snogging!"

"Yes, Mother," Ginny grinned cheekily. Hermione frowned as she grabbed Ron's arm, much to his protests, pulling him to the other side of the Common Room.


Harry and Ginny sat down to breakfast the first morning of OWL exams for the fifth years. Harry looked calm, for some reason. Hermione looked up as they took their seats. She looked frazzled, her hair was more frizzy than normal, and her face had a look of worry like she was going to be led to the gallows at any moment.

"Breathe, Hermione," Harry chuckled. "Yes, OWLs are important, but stressing out like that won't help."

"You know this stuff, Hermione," Ginny soothed. Hermione took a deep breath, nodding at them. "Better?"

"Thanks," Hermione sighed. "Just got to me for a minute."

All too soon, it was time for the fifth years to leave to begin their OWLs. Ginny hugged Harry tightly. She looked up kissing him quickly. "Good luck," she told him with a grin.

"Thanks, love," Harry smiled. "Good luck on your exams, too," Harry added another kiss.

"Thanks. I'll see you at lunch," Ginny nodded as she left with Demzela Robbins for her end of term exams.

The fifth years gathered in the Entrance Hall as they had been instructed. Most of them were talking with their friends trying to relieve the stress they were all under as the most important exams of their Hogwarts careers were about to begin. Soon the doors to the Great Hall opened and they were bade to enter by an old wizard in a bright purple robe. They were told to take the seat with their names on them. OWLs had begun!


Harry sat down tiredly next to Ginny in the Common Room. He had just taken his last OWL exam after two weeks of nonstop testing. Ginny pulled him over to her, resting his head on her chest. She smiled down at his exhausted expression with compassion and understanding. She kissed his forehead then placed a hand on his cheek.

"That was hell," Harry mumbled.

"It's over now, love. You can rest," Ginny told him softly. Harry snuggled closer. Ginny giggled. "Comfy?"

"I would be more so if we were alone, but I'm too tired to move," he chuckled.

"Oi! Do you have to do that here?" Ron frowned as he flopped down across from them.

"Too tired to care what you think, Ron," Harry sneered. "I'm enjoying being close to my fiancée!"

"Ronald, we're all exhausted!" Hermione huffed. "Leave them be."

As Ron and Hermione started to bicker, Harry felt his mirror vibrate. He looked at Ginny with a significant look. She nodded her understanding, helping him to sit up, then stand. "Mirror," Ginny mouthed to Hermione's quizzical look. Hermione stopped Ron with a hand on his knee. Hermione looked at him then at Harry and Ginny as they moved toward the portrait hole. Ron looked anxiously after Harry and Ginny as they climbed out in a hurry.

Harry and Ginny hurried into an empty classroom, locking and warding the door. Harry pulled the mirror out quickly. Sirius' face appeared, looking solemn.

"What is it, Pads?" Harry asked, concerned.

"Riddle is going after the fake Prophecy in the Ministry," Sirius answered.

"We're on our way!" Harry said quickly, about to break the connection.

"No! You stay there!" Sirius warned. "I mean it! The Order will take care of this one. Besides, he knows your connection is gone. I'll call after it's over."

"Fine," Harry huffed. "Be careful."

"Moony has my back," grinned Sirius. "We'll be fine!"


As soon as Sirius broke the connection, Harry and Ginny ran back to the Common Room. They told the twins, Ron, Hermione, and Neville to meet them in the empty classroom in twenty minutes. Harry ran up to his dorm to grab the Map and his Cloak. He checked the Map, before going back down, for Luna. He sent Ron and Neville to escort her to them. After everyone was gathered, Harry and Ginny filled them in on what was going on.

"Riddle and the Death Eaters are attacking the Ministry as we speak," Harry announced.

Everyone stood, making ready to leave the school.

"Stop!" Ginny shouted into the din of conversation that broke out. Everyone looked at her, going silent. "Sirius told us to stay here, or we'd already be on the way."

"We want to let you in on what's going on because some of you will be joining us over the summer for training," Harry told them.

"What exactly is he after, Harry?" Hermione asked as they retook their seats.

"For security reasons, we can't tell you everything, but you will know more than others," Harry started. "Before I was born there was a real Prophecy made that involves Riddle, Gin, and myself."

Hermione gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. Ron and the twins paled. Luna just stared at them with her dreamy eyes. Neville looked confused and uncomfortable as Harry stared at him.

"Nev, I'm sorry, but it was also the reason they went after your parents," Harry told him honestly. Neville turned a shade of green and white as he heard this. It was the twins turn to look confused. "Not my story."

"I…" Neville swallowed. "I don't know…"

"Only if you want to, Nev, it's up to you," Harry gave him a reassuring smile.

"Neville, we won't judge you," Luna stated, placing a hand on his with a soft smile. "Or think less of you. We all have our inner struggles." Luna paused as Neville looked at her, unsure. "I was with my mum when she was killed."

"Neville, if it helps, my mum lost her brothers to two Death Eaters in the first war," Ginny told him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "They were in the bunch that escaped with Bellatrix." Neville nodded. He looked around, seeing nothing but concern and understanding on all the faces around him. Neville took a deep breath, summoning all his Gryffindor courage.

"My parents are in St. Mungo's long-term care ward because of Bellatrix," Neville swallowed. He lowered his head as a few tears escaped his eyes. "They're alive but…"

Neville was lifted off his seat by four hands, then crushed between the twins. When they let him go, he was crushed again by Luna and Hermione, who both were in tears. Ron hugged Neville quickly, but firmly with a nod. Ginny hugged him briefly, stepping out of Harry's way.

"There's something else Sirius told me recently," Harry sighed as he stepped up to Neville. "Our mums were good friends. Your mum named mine your godmother."

Neville's mouth dropped open. Harry nodded sadly before embracing his godbrother. "We are family."

"Thanks," sniffed Neville.

"Sirius and Marlene told me to tell you that you are always welcome at our place," Harry smiled.

"And after Harry and I are married and have a place of our own, the same goes," Ginny added.

"Thank…What?" Neville spluttered.

"Married?" Luna shouted.

Harry and Ginny laughed. Ginny lifted her left hand, showing them her ring. Neville and Luna stared, open-mouthed at them. They wanted to ask a million questions but their brains had frozen.

"Trust me, it's a long story," Ron patted Neville on the shoulder.

"And a bit complicated at times," Ginny shared a smile with Harry.

"We'll tell you two about it after we're home," Harry nodded. "But just know, we consider everyone here as family. You're my godbrother, and I consider Hermione my sister."

"Luna, you and I might as well be sisters for as much time as we spent together when we were younger," Ginny stated as she hugged Luna. "I'm sorry we grow apart for a while."

"You're forgiven, sis," Luna smiled. Ginny beamed at her.

"Now," Harry sighed, "we wait for news about the rest of our family."

The next three hours passed agonizingly slow for everyone. There were light conversations occasionally, but only in hushed tones. Everyone did a fair bit of pacing around the room, none of them wanting to just sit as they waited. At the times that they were seated together, Harry and Ginny cuddled tightly. At some point, Neville had worked up the nerve to hold Luna as she worried about her best friend's family. The twins didn't even make any jokes, each feeling the tension and anxiety in the room. They knew it would not be received well. They paced in a way that defied logic. Fred would walk the length of the room, George the width, both in the middle, but never once did they run into the other.

Finally, Harry's mirror vibrated again. Everyone froze as Harry answered.

"Pads! Is everyone alright? What happened?" Harry rushed out.

"Mostly scrapes and bruises," Sirius answered hoarsely. "Riddle got the fake and got away, but that was the plan."

"Thank Merlin," Harry breathed.

"We did have two losses, though," Marlene's face came into the mirror. "Emmalyne Vance and Ricardo Patil."

"That's Parvati and Padma's cousin," gasped Hermione. They all looked at her. "What? She is one of my roommates. She told us he was in Auror training two years ago."

"He joined the Order with King and Tonks," Sirius told them. "Moony got a concussion, and Tonks broke her ankle. Those were the only serious injuries."

"That must have been some hit to give a werewolf a concussion!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Yeah, it tends to happen when his head meets a metal statue," frowned Sirius. Then he broke into a grin. "But he left a dent in it too."

"Be nice," Marlene scolded him lightly. "Bill and Charlie just got a few scrapes. Percy got a black eye, but other then that, everybody is just tired."

"Did you get any of them?" asked Neville.

"We got Lucius and Dolohov," Sirius answered. "Avery and Rowle are dead though."

"Who got Avery?" asked Ron.

Sirius chuckled. "Believe it or not, those two were fighting your brothers. They fired a Blasting Hex at them, but Bill told your brothers to angle their shields. Shot it right back at them."

"Oh, by the way, Ginny," Marlene broke in. "Lucius is still sporting a crooked nose thanks to my loving husband," she smiled.

"Thanks, Sirius," Ginny smiled at him heartfelt.

"You bet, Red," Sirius grinned. "Least I could do."

"Now, you lot get to bed before McGonagall has a fit," Marlene pointedly looked at Harry and Ginny.

"Alright," Harry nodded. "We'll see you in a few days."

"Oh, one last thing," Sirius added quickly. "Minister Bones saw us in action tonight. She's moving my trial up two weeks. You'll all be home for about a day before it starts."

"That's great news, Pads!" Harry grinned.

"Now, off you go," Sirius smiled before breaking the connection.

"Harry, could we borrow the Map?" Fred asked.

"So Neville and us can escort Luna back to her dorm?" George added.

"You bet," Harry grinned. He turned to Luna, hugging her quickly. "Be safe."

"Night, Luna," Ginny added as she hugged Luna as well.

"I will be. Goodnight, all," Luna waved.

"Don't worry, we'll get our other little sister home safe," George grinned. Luna smiled at him, giving him a one-armed hug. Harry and Ginny smiled at the twins.

"You're clear to get back to the Tower," Fred nodded.

"Thanks," Ginny waved to him.

The tired Gryffindors hurried as best they could back to their Common Room. Hermione hugged Harry and Ginny and waved at Ron before heading up. Ron wished them a goodnight before climbing the stairs as well. Harry and Ginny shared a long goodnight kiss, thankful their family was alright. Harry hugged Ginny one last time before heading their separate ways up to the dorms, each feeling exhausted more than before the mirror call the first time.


A/N: To those who have voted, thank you. For those who haven't, it's on my profile along with the summaries. The poll is really close between two if them. Up next is Birth Bond, with plenty of surprises in store, even with the diary around to cause trouble. Flames is after that, followed by Heart. As always, thank so much for the R/Rs.