A/N: Yes, it's a short chapter. But it plays into the rest of the book. And from popular demand, I added the first section to my notes before I started the chapter. More at the end.
Chapter 13: The Family Meeting
"Sit, Dumbledore!" Minister Bones growled as they entered her office. Dumbledore remained silent as he sat in the chair she had pointed to. He knew Amelia Bones, and he knew when she was upset with someone. He knew her well enough to know that the person at that moment was him. It was not a pleasant place to be, and Dumbledore knew it was largely of his own doing. He gulped as the Minister sat behind her desk, glaring at him as she pulled a folder out of a drawer. This was not good, and would not end well for him.
"Minister, I…"
"I did not give you permission to speak!" Bones spat. "This is my office, not yours. I am no longer one of your students. You will speak when I tell you to!"
Dumbledore gulped again as he nodded.
"Now, I have several questions for you, but they all have the same root," Bones ground out. "Just where do your loyalties lie? Because your actions are very much in question!"
Dumbledore sat in silence reflecting on several conversations he had been in with Sirius and the Weasleys of late. "Conversations" were a kind metaphor, really. He had not been able or permitted to speak much. He felt like he had been chewed thoroughly, swallowed, and regurgitated back several times over.
"It's a simple question," snapped Bones with a glare that could cut steel.
"Amelia…"
"That's Minister Bones to you!" she snapped.
"Minister," Dumbledore tried again. "I have been asking myself that same question repeatedly over the last few weeks."
"So?" Bones looked expectantly at him. "Where?"
"I…" Dumbledore started but stopped as he hung his head.
"Let's try this, then," Bones suggested. "Do they lie with yourself and your 'greater good'? With the old Ministry? With Mr. Potter? Or are they in line with this pureblood nonsense that needs to die? Consider your answer carefully. If they lie with the purebloods, we have a problem!"
"It's not that simple, Minister," Dumbledore sighed.
"Explain," Bones commanded.
"As to the 'greater good', I have made grievous errors," he admitted. "The old Ministry, under Fudge, no. Yours, I shall follow, but there are things at work that are beyond even the Ministry."
"Such as?"
"I cannot say," Dumbledore sighed. He held up his hand quickly to avoid an angry tirade. "Not because I won't. I have been asked not to. As to Mr. Potter, even though I have not always considered his best interests, I have no choice but to do so now, for many reasons. Least of which is Lord Black."
"And most?" Bones raised an eyebrow.
"A certain family of redheads," Dumbledore answered simply. Bones looked at his confused. "A word of advice, should you have dealings with Mr. Potter: Do not make the female Weasley angry with you."
Bones nodded once in understanding. She had heard of Molly Weasley's infamous temper from her niece. Something about a Howler in her second year. "And the last?"
"Never," Dumbledore answered with the most certainty he had shown since entering the office.
"Good. Because you know they have cost me, personally, most of my family. Something Mr. Potter and I have in common," Bones nodded. "But do not think for one second you are absolved of the wrongs you have done in the last fourteen or more years!"
"Of course not, Minister," agreed Dumbledore. "And on the subject of Mr. Potter…"
"Yes?"
"His family has asked for some…special waivers to be given," he answered.
"Such as? And to whom?" Bones asked.
"The waivers are to allow underage Magic over the summer," Dumbledore answered. "And this is a list of whom." He pulled a piece of parchment out, handing across the desk. "They are all very close to Mr. Potter."
"I see," Bones nodded. "I take it this goes along with your previous answer about Mr. Potter?"
"Yes," Dumbledore nodded. "I cannot say more. If Lord Black or Mr. Potter chose to include you, that is up to them."
"You are not in charge?" asked Bones, her eyebrow shooting to her hairline.
"No," he replied. "Hence, my advice on the Weasleys."
"I see," Bones nodded. "May I ask why?"
"Alas, Minister," sighed Dumbledore, "that is up to Blacks and Weasleys. As well as Mr. Potter and Ms. Weasley."
"'Ms.'?" Bones eyebrow shot up again.
"Yes, well," Dumbledore squirmed in his chair. "Uh…"
"Dumbledore," Bones warned harshly.
"After the events of her first year Ginevra and Harry…" he paused, taking a deep breath. "Before I finish, you must keep this in the strictest confidence." Bones nodded. She pointed her wand at the door, sealing it with Privacy Charms. "They are betrothed by their own Magic."
"They…" Bones eyes went wide, her monocle falling to her chest. "That would mean…"
"Yes," he nodded. "And with what they have described to me it is a soul bond, and it growing."
"Merlin!" Bones breathed. She replaced her monocle quickly, looking at the list of names. "All the more reason for this I take it.
"Yes."
"I will get them signed post-haste," Bones nodded.
Harry came out of the floo in the Burrow, landing flat on his face at Ginny's feet. He tried to hide his embarrassment by keeping his head down, but he could still hear the snickers and chuckles from the twins and Ron.
"Harry," Ginny giggled as she helped him up, "I know you love me, but you don't have to worship me."
"Oh, I don't know about that," Harry smiled despite his glowing red cheeks. He added a quick kiss for good measure. The twins fell silent, but Harry heard Ron groan and stomp away.
"Alright, lovebirds," Sirius called from the door to the kitchen, "that's quite enough snogging for now."
"Ginny, I need a hand," Molly waved to her. "Marlene, Hermione, and you start with the vegetables on the table. We have several guests coming."
"Yes, mum," Ginny rolled her eyes at Harry. They exchanged a quick kiss before she disappeared into the kitchen.
"Harry, you can help the boys with setting the tables up outside," Molly nodded.
"Yes, Molly," Harry waved on his way out.
The usual raucous table was only slightly subdued because of the many guests that had come to celebrate Sirius' acquittal. Neville and his grandmother had arrived shortly after the Weasleys. Luna and her father and come shortly before the meal was served followed shortly after by Bill, Fleur, and Charlie. Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt had arrived as the food was being placed on the table. Remus had greeted Tonks with a kiss that had the twins yelling catcalls at them. But the two surprise guests had taken most of them off guard. Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall had arrived just as they sat down. It was only after dessert was finished that Sirius called for attention.
"Arthur, Molly, thank you for hosting," Sirius nodded. "As always, Molly, delicious feast. Now, I'm sure most of you are wondering why you're here, besides celebrating my freedom. With Voldemort back, and gaining power, we need to be more than ready. I can't tell you why, but Harry and Ginny are the only ones who can stop him for good."
There was a collective gasp from around the table. Percy looked at Harry and Ginny with wide eyes. "Is that why…?"
"Yes," Harry cut him off. "Don't say more, Percy."
"I have something to add," Sirius turned a hard look on a very subdued Dumbledore. "We can't fight this war like we did the last one."
"What do you mean?" Dumbledore asked with a confused look.
"Unless you want to keep fighting this same war over and over," Sirius ground out through gritted teeth, "we have to put a stop to them, once and for all! No more second chances."
"I agree with Sirius," Shacklebolt spoke. "They had their chance, and here we are again. The Minister is onboard for extreme measures as well."
"Splendid," Sirius nodded. "If there is any doubt, Albus is no longer in charge of this. As godfather to Harry, it is my responsibility to make sure he lives through this. So, I am taking the lead."
"And I gladly bow to your leadership," Dumbledore nodded. "My conversation with the Minister brought to light some…unsavory traits I tend to have. Oh, speaking of the Minister." Dumbledore handed over several pieces of parchment to Sirius. "All signed and ready, as you asked."
"Excellent!" Sirius nodded. "These are for you six. They are Underage Magic Usage Waivers. Which leads me into what you will be doing this summer.
"Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna, you will each be doing training all summer, starting the day after tomorrow," Sirius continued. "All six of you will be doing the physical and Magical training with Remus, Tonks, King, and myself. All six of you will be taking a crash course in curse-breaking from Bill and Fleur. Harry and Ginny have some specialized training with Albus, during which the rest of you will be studying other specialties." Ron groaned as his head thudded on the table.
"Ron, don't think for a second Voldemort won't use you to get to Harry or Ginny," Marlene scolded him.
"That's right, Ronald," Molly spoke up. "I have come to realize, they have a role to play in this, and so do you. I have been entirely too easy on you. You will buckle down and learn these things, or you might not make it out of this war."
Ron's head shot up as Luna's words from the train ride home echoed in his head. He shared a look with Hermione, then Harry. With a deep breath, he nodded. Hermione patted his back; she was glad he had seen reason so quickly.
"The reason for starting the day after tomorrow is why Professor McGonagall is here," Sirius indicated.
"Miss Lovegood, Ms. Weasley, I am here to inform you that because of you excellent scores on your end-of-term exams, all O's, I might add," she gave them a rare smile, "you will taking your OWLs tomorrow."
"OWLs?" Ginny asked weakly.
"Tomorrow?" asked Luna.
"I have every confidence you are more than capable in pass them," McGonagall nodded.
"Does…does that mean…we get to skip fifth year?" Ginny stammered out.
"If you pass you OWLs, yes, Ms. Weasley," answered Dumbledore. "And I have every confidence in you as well."
"Early OWLs?" crooned Molly. She jumped up rounding the table to crush Ginny in her signature hug. "Oh, I'm so proud of you, sweetheart."
"Thanks, mum," Ginny smiled. As soon as Molly had let her go, Ginny was crushed again by a widely smiling Harry. Ginny giggled at the goofy smile he gave her, only to have her breath taken away by a searing kiss. A large pulse of Magic emitted from them along with a bright golden flash.
"Keep that up, you'll be married before the actual ceremony," Sirius commented as he staggered back from the power of the pulse.
"What do you mean, Pads?" Harry asked as he tried to regain his breath. Ginny just looked at him with glazed eyes a smile like a Kneazle that swallowed the gnome.
"Once your bond is complete," Bill answered, "you'll be considered married, ceremony or not. In your case, the more love you have for the other and show that love, the more the bond completes."
"Oh," Harry uttered.
"Don't worry, mum," Ginny swallowed to regain her composure. "We want a wedding either way."
"Well, at least we can agree on that," Molly nodded.
"Mum," Ginny breathed, "we've been over this. I have my planner up in my room. Harry and I just need to pick one of ten I have."
"Ten?" Harry sputtered. "You said a few."
"Well," Ginny shrugged, "I have been planning this since I was five."
A/N: Don't think Bones or Sirius are done with their complaints of, as one of my readers colorfully called him, "the whiskered wanker". He has much more to answer for. And yes, the tension about the wedding will continue. Two stubborn redheads trying to get what they want, are you kidding me? Will make some great conflict to come! As always, thanks for the R/Rs. Birth Bond is up next.
