Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter/Wizarding World. They were all created by the genius that is J.K. Rowling.

Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who's reading and those who are adding my story to their favorite lists and subscriptions. Hope everyone enjoys this chapter as well. While I plan to keep certain events in this story cannon with the book this is actually where things are going to start to really change as far as how certain events come about. I just hope that nobody gets to too upset with me but there is a reason for everything. For the most part this story has been only Harry and Hermione's points of view but from here on out there will be things with the other characters.

Chapter 24: Secret Meetings and Passing the Torch

After hearing raised voices coming from the sitting room the private meeting between Harry and company with the Minister of Magic was brought to a close. Of course neither man had any desire to see or even speak to the other ever again. Harry's arrogance prickled Scrimgeour temper and to be honest he sort of hoped that the boy would get knocked down a few inches. Harry might not admit it but he was planning something and he was positive the items Dumbledore willed to Harry, Hermione, and Ron were enchanted to help them on whatever task they had laying ahead of them. He knew of Harry's record at Hogwarts and he wondered if he thought that he would be the one to bring He Who Must Not Be Named to justice. "Arrogant child." He grumbled to himself as he made his was from The Burrow.

The rest of Harry's birthday party passed by uneventful and because of the wedding the next day everyone was to retire early. It was close to two in the morning before Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and Lavender were able to sneak into Ron's room where Harry, Ron, Dean, Neville, Fred and George were waiting for them. How they managed making it up the creaky old stairs without waking Mrs. Weasley was still surprising. Only after casting Muffliato, did Harry start to speak. "Ron, Hermione and I won't be returning to Hogwarts this year." He said.

"Because of You Know Who?" Neville asked.

Harry nodded, "Before Dumbledore died he gave the three of us a special mission. I can't give you all the details on it because the fewer that know the better."

"Then why did you call us all here?" Dean asked.

"Now that Dumbledore is gone we think that Voldemort is going to make his play for power. Actually we know he is. We've heard that he's infiltrated the Ministry of Magic. It's the reason a lot of important news has been covered up." Ron said.

"Like the massive breakout at Azkaban?" Neville asked.

"Exactly," he agreed.

"What do you want us to do Harry?" Luna said in her dreamy voice.

"Isn't it obvious?" Ginny said with a smile. "He wants us to reconstitute Dumbledore's Army."

"Why? Dumbledore is gone and we learned how to defend ourselves.' Lavender said.

"Exactly what does that have to do with us mate?" Fred asked.

"We're not in Hogwarts anymore." George added.

"Dumbledore's Army wasn't just about spells." Neville said. "It was about making a difference."

"Exactly, I taught you all everything that I know. I have a bad feeling that this year at Hogwarts is going to make the year with Umbridge in charge look like a holiday by the coast. There will be students that won't be able to protect themselves." He picked the Marauder's Map up off of the table where he'd laid it out and handed it to Neville. "You're in charge now."

Neville blinked, "Me?"

"I never told you what Dumbledore told me about the prophecy." Harry said, in fact he'd never told anyone. He went on to tell them about how Trelawny's prophecy about Voldemort. That it had actually referred to two boys who were born at the end of July and had parents who had defied him three times. That Neville came very close to being The Boy Who Lived. "You see that's the reason you're the one to take over Dumbledore's Army."

Neville nodded and took the map from Harry; over the past four years he'd been privy to see it often. He was honored that Harry had handed this over to him. It instilled more confidence in Neville it was something the boy needed. "Does it make me horrible to say that I'm glad it's you and not me." Neville asked.

Hermione smiled at Neville and patted his arm, "Not at all."

"Ginny, Dean, Luna and Lavender will help you bare the weight of the responsibility. Nobody should have to bare it alone. I know that if it wasn't for Ron and Hermione I never would have made it as far as I did." Harry said squeezing Hermione's hand gently. "And as for you lot, is Zonko's Joke shop still for sale in Hogsmead?" he asked Fred and George.

"It is." George said. "Why?"

"You're still developing the defensive against the dark arts stuff aren't you?" Harry asked.

Fred nodded, "Right now it's our biggest seller."

Harry took out a bag of gold he'd picked up from his Gringotts vault and handed it to them. "I want you to buy the shop and open up there. That should be enough to cover everything. I don't want you to draw attention to yourselves all the defensive things you're selling needs to be under the table."

"What do you have planned mate?" Fred asked.

"I told you I can't tell you everything." Harry said again then looked at Hermione. "Do those coins still work?"

She nodded, "They do."

"Good then that's how we're going to keep in touch. I want to be able to know what's going on inside of Hogwarts, Hogsmead, and Diagon Alley." Harry explained. "Those three places are like our hot spots that's where everything will be going down. The only thing place we won't have covered is The Ministry of Magic. But because Fred and George are also Order members."

"We'll keep you informed." George said.

Harry nodded, "Good."

Ron lay awake in his bed most of the night; it wasn't until then that he realized that this was really happening. He wasn't exactly sure what he expected, maybe that they would go on planning forever, until Voldemort died of old age. For that matter, could Voldemort die of old age? It wasn't so much what they were planning that had his stomach in knots. For once it wasn't because he was hungry, which was surprising, it had been since dinner the night before since he'd ate anything. Usually by now he was ravenous. Last night there were things that he realized, things that were important. Unable to lie there any longer, he climbed out of bed. The rest of the house was already up, taking care of last minute details for the wedding. He could hear the girls in Ginny's room helping Fleur get ready for the ceremony. He knocked on the door and asked for Lavender. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and led her outside so they could be alone. "Won-Won is everything alright?" Lavender asked.

He started to pace, not exactly sure where to being. He raked his hand through his hair and looked over at her. "I don't even know where to start." He said honestly.

"Ron?" she asked with a frown she knew that something was wrong.

"This isn't working out Lavender." He said. "You're a great girl and you deserve something better."

Lavenders bottom lip trembled and tears filled her eyes. "I love you Ron."

"No, you don't, not really." He said looking down and then back up at her. "We don't have anything in common. We don't really speak at all."

"Is this because you're not coming back to Hogwarts?" she asked tears spilling down her cheeks.

"I'd be lying if I said no. I mean it's not fair for you to sit at school wondering if I'm okay or dead. We might all die and it might be selfish of me, but I need my thoughts clear. I have to worry about me and Harry and Hermione."

"Always back to Hermione." Lavender said bitterly wiping her eyes with her fingertips. "Why didn't you man up and ask her out before she was with Harry? Iit would have saved us all this trouble."

Ron sighed, "Lavender, it's not like that at all. I don't feel that way about Hermione, she's like a sister to me. As my sister, I don't want to see her get hurt or worse."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night but I see the way you look at her." She stormed off.