All characters are property of JK Rowling and I do not make a profit from this story.

Beta: Roman's Sundial

Chapter Seven: The Unburnt Friend

Harry Potter - Present Day

October 17, 1999

Harry apparated on to the front step of his house. It was not a large house; it was a small little place just outside of Hogsmeade that he had bought for himself just under a year ago. After the war, he had moved into The Burrow with the Weasley's, as he was always considered part of the family. But after a few months, he found it difficult to live there while dating the only Weasley daughter. Although always respectful, Molly somehow had always found an excuse to ensure that Harry and Ginny were never in a room alone together. Deciding that he needed his own space, and considering he had a small fortune at Gringotts (and it was continuously growing since he was now working at the Ministry), Harry thought it best to get himself a small place that he could call home for the first time in his life. His dream was to return to Godric's Hollow one day (and somehow repair what used to be his parent's home), but for now, considering he was still a student at Hogwarts and therefore spent many nights in Gryffindor Tower, this house suited his needs perfectly. He unlocked his front door and immediately saw movement to his right when he entered.

"Ginny!" he said alarmed, returning his wand to his pocket after realizing that it was her sitting on his couch. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought the purpose of you giving me a key was so that I could come and visit?" she asked him.

"Of course, I'm just-"

"Surprised? Didn't think I would talk to you after our last conversation?" she answered for him. Harry shook his head and Ginny rolled her eyes in response.

"I'm your girlfriend, Harry. Even if you choose to treat me like a child."

"I'm not treating you like a child," Harry responded. "I'm just trying to-"

"Yes, protect me, I've heard it several times."

"Would you stop interrupting me?" Harry asked her, annoyed. Ginny was acting very unlike her usual self.

"Want me to go?" she taunted.

"No, as a matter of fact I was going to message you. I have something to ask."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, McGonagall approached me at Grimmauld Place, and she told me that we need to-"

"Include me in the Order as well?" Ginny said.

"Seriously, Ginny, will you please stop interrupting me! What has gotten into you?"

"Your behavior has changed, Harry, so why can't mine?"

"How has my behavior changed?" Harry yelled.

"Well for one, you're yelling at me," she responded.

"I am not yelling!"

Ginny raised her eyebrows at him. "Treat me like a child, Harry, and I shall act like one!" There was a moments silence between the two. "Induct me into the order," Ginny demanded.

"No," Harry said stubbornly.

"Fine," Ginny got up from off of the couch and grabbed her bag. "I guess there is no need for me to be here."

"Ginny," Harry started, not wanting his girlfriend to leave like this. He needed her to understand that it was for her own good.

"What? Going to apologize?" Ginny asked him.

Harry's temper flared; He did not appreciate this new Ginny. "No, actually I was going to tell you that McGonagall is throwing a Ball and said we must attend, so I'll see you there." Ginny gave him a scolding look and headed outside, slamming the door behind her. Harry shook his head. He walked towards his kitchen to get a glass of water to calm down when he noticed a little owl sitting at the window. Thankful that Ginny had left prior to the owl's arrival, Harry opened the window and grabbed the letter from his leg and began to read:

Harry, Kingsley has informed me that nobody has been able to tail Pius to wherever it is that he is going. I did not mention this to anyone as I think it best that it remains a secret, but I believe it is time to use that wonderful cloak of yours. If we can successfully tail Pius, we will figure out something to tell the others about how we've succeeded. Let me know if you're up for it.

Arthur Weasley

Harry finished reading Mr. Weasley's letter, quickly scribbled on the back no problem, and sent the little owl back to him. It truly was their best plan at the moment and so, partly excited as he was about to find out the truth about Pius and most likely Grindelwald, Harry headed upstairs to his bedroom to get his father's old cloak. He went straight to the shelf across from his bed that contained a small wooden box. To the unknown eye, the box was only big enough to hold a ring or two, but thanks to Hermione's wonderful extendable charms, this box was able to hold all of Harry's prize possessions, including his infamous invisibility cloak. Harry felt around for several minutes but after pushing his broomstick out of the way and pricking himself on a shard of mirror that once belonged to his Godfather, Harry determined that his cloak was not there. He frowned and sat at the edge of his bed. There was no need to look around his house as he knew his cloak would be nowhere else. It became very apparent why Ginny had made a visit to his house today.

Hermione Granger - Present Day

October 18, 1999

Hermione stood outside of the Slytherin common room waiting for Draco. It had been a few days since the hearing, yet Hermione hadn't come to let Draco out of his temporary prison. She of course had food sent to him as well as some homework assignments, but she hadn't had the strength to chaperone him around the school. She did not want to see Draco go to Azkaban, but she had no idea saving him could potentially put her in there. Could she trust Draco to follow the rules? She had placed a barrier spell on the outside of his common room just in case. It was her neck on the line, and she was not about to leave that up to her ex "pure blood" boyfriend to protect.

"Wow, you've let me out of my cage!" Draco said to her, emerging out of the Slytherin common room.

"Did you bring your History of Magic books?" she asked him, ignoring his comment. Draco nodded. "Good," she said. "We'll start with breakfast then, let's go." The pair set off to the Great Hall in silence. Once they arrived, Draco turned and headed towards the Slytherin table. "Where are you going?" Hermione asked him. "You're with me, remember? Gryffindor table." Draco nodded and followed Hermione to where Harry and Ron were sitting. Both boys greeted Hermione and nodded towards Draco, but no conversation commenced.

"So what's after History of Magic?" Draco asked her.

"Well, we have similar classes luckily so anytime there's one together, I'll bring you with me. I'll also bring you to your classes that don't relate to me, just so you can still get your education. When it's my classes only, you'll be in your common room."

"Can I come with you anyway?"

"No."

Draco started to eat his breakfast, but then looked up at Hermione again. "What about the quidditch pitch? Can we go fly sometime?"

"Definitely not," she responded.

"Hogsmeade then?"

"No."

"The library?"

"Draco!" Hermione yelled. "You'll go to your classes, and that's it!"

Draco lowered his voice and leaned into Hermione. "I appreciate what you did, really, but if you were going to keep me as a prisoner, might as well have let me gone to Azkaban." Hermione was infuriated. After everything Draco had done to her, and after her risking her own freedom for him, this is how he acts? She turned to Harry for support but the look on his face showed her that she wasn't going to get any.

"You agree with him?" Hermione asked Harry, exasperated.

"He's innocent; that's why we tried to save him, remember?" Harry told her.

Angrily, Hermione got up from the table. Who was Harry to tell her what to do? His neck wasn't on the line! "Let's go Draco, we have class." History of Magic went by fairly quickly. Hermione and Draco sat side by side in silence, listening to Professor Binns drone on. After class, Hermione escorted Draco to his potions lesson. While Slughorn was teaching Draco about different kinds of poison, Hermione sat in the back working on her research. She couldn't understand why nobody had been able to help George this far. She was currently working on a theory that she hoped would finally help him and she needed all the information she could get to test it. Sighing, she realized that she needed Draco's help to complete her research, but how could she get the information she required without him finding out what was going on? Potions ended and the two of them walked towards the Great Hall for some lunch. Draco made his way over to the Gryffindor table but Hermione put her arm out to stop him.

"You can have your lunch with Crabbe and Goyle," she told him.

"Really?" he questioned. She nodded, and the two walked over to where Draco's friends sat at the Slytherin table.

"What is she doing here?" shrieked Pansy Parkinson.

"You should leave, Pansy," Draco told her, giving her a knowing look. Slamming her fists on the table, Pansy stood up and marched away, enraged. Crabbe and Goyle didn't even take notice to Hermione's presence. Clearly, Draco had explained the situation to them.

"Erm, hello," Hermione said to them. Both boys looked at each other, confused; it wasn't common for Hermione to speak to them, even when she was dating Draco.

"Hi," Goyle responded. Crabbe just nodded.

"Are your studies going well?" she asked them. When neither responded, she continued. "I'm surprised you both returned, I thought you would have stayed with your families."

"Why?" Crabbe suddenly shouted. "You know our fathers are in Azkaban, you saw to that."

"Oh, I didn't mean-"

"How about you stick to interrogating those with the Dark Mark, huh? Goyle and I don't have one, so bugger off."

Hermione looked at Draco and the pair got up and left The Great Hall. "I'm dropping you off at your common room, I have something I need to do," Hermione told Draco.

"Like what?" he asked her.

"Never you mind!"

"What is with you?" Draco yelled. "Look, I know you're mad at me but I didn't ask for this! You and Potter started this-"

"Oh Draco, shut up! It's not always about you!"

"But-"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Of course I'm angry, I didn't want an innocent man going to Azkaban but I also didn't want to play babysitter! But that's not my concern right now. You really want to know what's going on? Fine! Come with me!" Hermione took off up the stairs and Draco followed. She lead him all the way to the seventh floor, past the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. She walked past the solid stone wall three times, where the Room of Requirement used to be.

"Hermione," Draco said slowly. "The room is gone. It was destroyed in the battle by Fiendfyre."

Hermione turned to him and smiled. "You're absolutely right, Draco. Then please explain to me why Vincent Crabbe is walking around, talking and breathing, and not burnt like charcoal, considering you saw him die in the Fiendfyre in this now non-existent room?"

Ron Weasley - Present Day

November 3, 1999

Ron traced a circle on Jessica's bare skin. They were laying together in her bed, after what had been a wonderful hour of passion.

"Do you really have to leave so soon?" she asked him.

"I have to go run my brother's shop for him, I promised."

"Okay." That was one of Ron's favorite things about her, she didn't pry. Sure, she was curious at times, seeing as though she was a muggle, so she would ask questions, but she knew where to draw the line. She was simple, and she was what Ron needed in his life. "Do you only have the one brother?" she asked him.

Ron chuckled. "I have five brothers and one sister."

"Really?" she said, intrigued.

He nodded. "Bill is the oldest. He's married to a witch named Fleur. She's pregnant."

"Aww, a baby!" Jessica said in excitement. "Boy or girl?"

"We won't know until it's born. I know you muggles have ways of knowing earlier but St. Mungo's won't adapt to muggle ways, especially for healing."

"St. Mungo's?" she asked confused.

"Our hospital," Ron answered.

"Oh, so who's after Bill?"

"My brother Charlie. He'll never get married, that one! Loves his job too much."

"What does he do?"

"Works with Dragons."

"Dragons?"

"Yeah," Ron answered. He laughed at her expression, then continued. "So then there's Percy, he's been with his girlfriend forever. There will definitely be a wedding soon." Ron hesitated before continuing. "Next are my twin brothers, Fred and George. They own a joke shop, that's where I'm off to in a moment."

"And both brothers can't manage without you for one more hour?" Jessica asked him, rolling closer into him.

Ron struggled with his response. "Fred, uh... Well Fred is gone, um, he passed away last year," he told her quietly. The look she gave him was genuine sympathy.

"Oh Ron, I'm so sorry."

"Yeah... Yeah, and George is, uh, sick, so he needs my help."

Jessica nodded. "I really am sorry, Ron." He smiled at her, then continued on, trying to get his mind off of the twins.

"And then there's me, and finally my sister Ginny. She's dating my best friend."

"That famous guy?"

"Yeah him."

"Why is he famous again?" Ron kissed Jessica's forehead. Simple. This was the life he needed.

Draco Malfoy - The Past

August 8, 1998

"We can take everything to Borgin and Burkes, Father, there will be no proof, just Potter's words. But even the Wizengamot can't convict someone based only on hearsay!" Draco was frantic. Lucius Malfoy's trial was coming up and he was terrified that he would never see him again. He stood near his father's cell at Azkaban and pleaded with him to let him clear the house of any sign of the Dark Lord.

"It will not matter, Draco, I have the Dark Mark, and that is conviction enough."

"But I have it too, and you said that wasn't enough for them to convict me at my upcoming trial, that's why I'm not here in Azkaban with you!"

"You're a child, Draco, compared to me, anyway. You will get a slap on the wrist, I, on the other hand, am not naive."

"But Father!"

"Enough, Draco! Now listen carefully to everything I am about to say to you." Draco frowned, but nodded. "First, of course, you must take care of your Mother. This will be difficult, and she is not allowed to take another as her husband, so she will be lonely. You will return to Hogwarts- do not argue with me, Draco!" Lucius said, as he saw his son open his mouth to retaliate. "You will return to Hogwarts, but you will apparate home every weekend to be with your Mother. Understand?" Draco nodded curtly. "You will finish your education, that is crucial. Keep your socializing minimal, as right now you are being watched and fraternizing with anyone associated with Death Eaters will be very negative for you." Draco nodded again. "Now, what I am about to tell you is of the utmost importance. If I am given the Dementor's kiss, I need to ensure that this information is passed on." Lucius lowered his voice and Draco leaned in closer. "Now you mustn't tell a soul, nobody else knows except for Vincent Crabbe." Draco frowned at his father; Clearly Azkaban was making him lose his mind.

"Father, Crabbe didn't make it, he died in the Room of Requirement."

Lucius Malfoy lowered his voice even further so that it was barely more than a whisper. "Vincent Crabbe is alive! Listen carefully, Draco, there is a spell..."

Author's Notes: A few people asked me about the made up characters so here's a brief explanation. I needed a character from Beauxbatons and I couldn't use Fleur as she was pregnant, nor could I use her sister Gabrielle as she was too young, so that is the reason I created Essa Delacour. She will have a very minimal role, however. I used Ron to bring her in to the story (and also help to develop his character a little bit) but as you can see, that's already over.

Jessica also was needed for something specific but I cannot say yet; You will know soon enough!