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A/N: Sorry for not posting for a while… I'm in the process of moving out of state, so I've had to deal with all of the "realtor homework"...

Hope you all forgive me!

Also, leave a review!

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Chapter Forty-Seven

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"Now, if the Hufflepuff chasers come up from underneath the rings, you'll already be guarding the bottom rings." Harry explained to Ron as he levitated his quill as a mock example of the Hufflepuff chasers while Ron levitated his own quill to represent himself as keeper in front of levitating rings.

They were sitting in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, waiting for Snape to arrive and for the class to start.

"But if they come from above…" He moved his quill upward slightly by flicking his wand. "You'll be able to see it coming better as you'll have a clearer view of all angles of attack. And not only that, it will be easier for you to shoot upwards to block the quaffle if they aim for the upper hoops."

Ron was nodding eagerly as Harry explained his new strategy for Ron to use during the next game they had against Hufflepuff. "Bloody brilliant, mate!"

Harry grinned at his best mate, before it turned mischievous and he shot his levitated quill forward to attack Ron's.

"Oy!" Ron exclaimed, before he retaliated, shooting his quill to hit with Harry's.

And it wasn't long then before they were having a sword fight with their own quills midair, and they were laughing like children. Splatters of ink shot out from the tips of their quills, and some got on the skin of their hands.

That is, until Hermione came into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and plopped her large pile of books down on the table next to Ron. She looked over to watch what they were doing for a mere second, before she rolled her eyes at the pair of them.

"Boys…" She muttered to herself, but didn't seem to care about the fact that both Harry and Ron could hear her. "Honestly. I wish that Ginny was in our classes with us."

Harry paused with his quill fighting with Ron as he looked over him at Hermione.

"You and me both. But if you were hoping that she would be more on your side of things, I beg to differ." Harry said with a growing grin that tickled the corners of his lips. "Ginny would probably want to join in on things like quill-fighting."

Ron laughed heartily in agreement, slapping Harry on the back in a jovial manner.

Hermione rolled her eyes once again but she also had a little smile gracing her lips, as she looked over at Harry with a knowing gaze. "You seem to be much more confident in your relationship with her now, Harry. As comfortable as Ron and I are together."

As she said this, she went to link one arm with Ron's as she rested her bushy-haired head on his shoulder, though her eyes were still boring into Harry's in a self-satisfied way. As though she had predicted years ago that Harry and Ginny would become a couple.

In fact, as Harry thought on it, she probably did.

Harry opened his mouth to respond, but was cut short by Ron's derivative, half-amused snort. "Don't be daft, Hermione. There's no way Harry and Ginny are as comfortable as we are."

The implication in Ron's words were loud and clear. He was referring to the fact that he and Hermione had been… intimate - Harry still shuddered at the thought - while Harry and Ginny haven't been.

Despite this truth, Harry's face still turned scarlet as he thought of all of the things that Ron didn't know…

Like all of Harry's visits to the fifth-year girl's dormitory, for example.

Or the fact that he and Ginny have slept in the same bed together in more than one occasion.

Then, there was the most recent situation with Ginny feeling Harry's erection through his trousers when she sat on his lap at the Quidditch match. And how she didn't seem at all disgusted by it - a mystery that still plagued and confused Harry.

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed as she shot up in her seat and backhanded the shoulder she had just been resting on.

"Oy!" Ron cried out, looking at his girlfriend in a put-out manner. "What was that for?"

But Hermione hadn't been able to respond, a fact that Harry was mightily grateful for. He didn't much fancy hearing his two best mates bicker over his sex-life… or rather, lack thereof.

Instead, Harry was ironically saved from further embarrassment by Snape - who had burst through the door with his robes billowing behind him, as per usual.

Without saying a single word, Snape flicked his wand at the board and the instructions for the class appeared on the board.

Then, Snape merely sat at his desk, staring at nothing of significance.

Everyone stared at him in alarm. Usually, he would be barking orders by now or taking points from Gryffindor.

Instead he said nothing.

He did nothing.

He merely sat.

Slowly, scattered students from around the classroom started to follow the instructions on the board. Taking out their DADA books, they turned to the page assigned to them and started to read the passage on the theory of the new defensive spell they were about to start learning soon.

The entire class went by in total silence. Save for the ticking of the clock on the wall, the sound of pages turning in books, and everyone's breathing.

Every once in a while everyone would curiously sneak glances up at their sniveling professor, before they would fearfully cast their eyes back downwards to their books. The new behavior that Snape was displaying was having everyone on edge.

But not Harry.

He didn't even bother to pretend to read the text in the book. He had already learned the spell they were set to learn. In fact, he was planning on teaching the very same spell to the D.A. in the next couple of weeks, since Snape never did a good enough job in making sure that everyone knew how to cast and perform the spells he taught.

Instead, he was glaring at Snape with all of his might. Merlin, he couldn't stand the git. After speaking to his father the other night, and how they had spent some time sharing in their bond of how much they hated Snape, Harry honestly couldn't see any redeeming qualities within the man - if he could even be called that.

The man was a bully. To children. For over a decade.

Sure, he may have some qualms with his father, who had also been a bully to Snape when they were children… But that still didn't excuse the fact that his father had grown up and had grown past that. His dad had even gone out on a limb and saved Snape from Moony.

But Snape… Snape seemed to be permanently set in his ways. Forever fixated on what had happened in the past. And used James Potter as a crutch to excuse his miserable behavior towards everyone else. Including innocent first-year students.

Harry honestly didn't even understand why Dumbledore trusted him so much. Enough for him to be kept around. Especially since Snape used to be a Death Eater.

Why exactly hadn't he gone to Azkaban? Sure, Dumbledore had vouched for him, but he had still committed Death Eater crimes!

But it was too late to get into all of that… he had already been cleared of all charges ages ago. Funny how Snape had been allowed to walk free when Sirius hadn't even been given a proper trial. Goes to show how messed up the Wizarding government really was.

Just thinking all of this made Harry hate him even more.

Then, in the next moment, Snape's eyes moved from staring aimlessly at the far wall to looking right at him.

Harry found himself slightly startled at the sudden change of movement from him, before he continued to glare.

But while Snape would normally glare right back and bark at him about lost points from Gryffindor, detentions, or how much Harry was like his 'glory-seeking' father, he merely stared back at him. With nothing but a blank emptiness in his eyes.

It was eerie.

So much so, that Harry felt the he had to look away. So, he looked down and finally focused on the text before him. But for the entirety of the rest of his class, he felt the empty gaze boring into the top of his bowed head.

When the class bell finally rang, Harry actually let out a sigh of relief. Before he quickly went about gathering his things together on the table.

"Mr. Potter," Snape drawled, before Harry even had the chance to stand fully from his seat. Harry looked up, pure loathing in his eyes as he stared at the greasy git. "A word…"

Ron and Hermione had paused beside him, looking between Snape and Harry with concern in their eyes.

Harry simply nodded to them, letting them know that he would be fine and that he would catch up with them later. But their look of concern reminded him that he still hadn't told anyone about his meeting with Dumbledore the night before. And that he needed to find the time to tell them about Voldemort and the horcruxes.

He reasoned that he would find time to tell them later as they walked hesitantly out of the room, looking back at him with worry in their eyes.

Harry watched them go until they were out the door and he could no longer see them. Then, he finally turned his attention to Snape, who had been suspiciously patient throughout the entire silent exchange.

Harry didn't make any move to go forward to stand in front of Snape's desk. He stayed put in the middle aisle between the two rows of desks. He didn't want to get any closer to the greasy git if he could help it.

Snape didn't seem at all bothered by this. In fact, he didn't seem fazed by anything in particular at all. Instead, he merely leaned forward in his seat and folded his pale and bony hands on the desk in front of him.

"Mr. Potter," Snape started in an empty tone of voice. "I had wanted to discuss the detentions that I had assigned to you last night…"

Harry nearly scoffed out loud, snorting internally. Of course it was about the dentitions from last night. Snape was sure to never forget of any opportunity to punish Harry.

"...and I had wanted to inform you of my decision to rescind the assignment of them."

The glare fell from Harry's face as shock replaced it, his jaw dropping.

"W-What? I-"

"You may go." Snape said in a monotone dismissal of him. It was clear that he had no interest in discussing anything further with him and that he very clearly wanted Harry to now leave.

Harry turned, shock still stiffening his body, and walked to the door. He paused at the doorway and turned to look back at Snape…

What he saw was a broken man who had his head bowed over, resting in his hands in what Harry could only describe to be as pure anguish.

He left quickly after.

….

"He was acting really weird, dad," Harry revealed privately to him through the compact mirror. It was well after curfew and Harry was talking exclusively to his father through the mirror as Harry hid behind the silencing charms on his bed curtains. "He was all quiet and sick looking. And he took away my detentions! He would never do that!"

James had listened attentively as Harry recounted everything about his strange encounter with Snape. And Harry couldn't help but see that his father looked confused as well.

But any sort of confusion still wouldn't stop James Potter's humor.

His dad chuckled, a tense, vindictive undertone to the laugh. "Sounds to me like someone had finally put the fear of death into dear, old Snivellus."

Harry finally cracked a smile. "I wish…"

"Try not to let him bother you, Harry. A person like Snape looks for reasons to be miserable and wants everyone around them to be just as miserable as they are. If you give in to that, you are giving them exactly what they want."

Harry pondered this. "I've never thought of it in that way, before."

James grinned cockily, his hazel eyes beaming with self-pride. "See? Your old man knows some things."

Snorting, Harry rolled his eyes. "No one could ever call you old, dad. If we walked down the street in muggle London together, people would think that you were my older brother."

"One of the perks to resurrection, I'd say. How does it feel to have a foxy, young dad?"

Harry started laughing, his free arm going around his abdomen in an effort to hold himself together. "Groovy, dad. Very groovy."

James joined in on his laughter and it took them a moment to settle down from it. When they did, they both let out a satisfied sigh.

"How's mum?" Harry finally asked, breaking in to the brief, content silence.

At the question, his dad's jovial mood plummeted slightly, and he donned a look of worry. "She's been quiet all day, actually. Mostly staring off into the distance and not making any conversation. I think that she may be coming down with something…"

At hearing this, Harry's heart constricted slightly as instantaneous worry overcame him. "Is she going to be alright?"

James, however, waved off his concern immediately "Ah, she'll be alright. She's the strongest person that I know, besides you."

Now, along with his heart, his throat now constricted at the genuine compliment that his father praised him with. His dad really thought that Harry was the strongest person that he knew?

When Harry's eyes started to prick with unshed tears, he attempted to hide it. But his dad noticed. He only chose not to say anything. Just merely smiled at Harry in a prideful manner before he attempted to change the subject.

"I just saw the magazine article about you and Ginny in Witch Weekly…" James commented, in what Harry knew was an attempt to be casual.

At the reminder of that bloody article, Harry's mood soured. "Yeah, Ginny wasn't too happy with what it said about her, not that I can blame her. And I had to go and make it all worse by telling her that it was all probably for the best that people didn't know how much I care about her."

His dad looked visibly surprised before a look of understanding came over his face. "How did she take you saying that?"

Harry shook his head tiredly.

"How do you think? I basically told her that I was alright with smearing her reputation so long as it keeps her safe. She was put out with me for an entire day before she went on acting as though everything was normal." Harry sighed again, sweeping a rough hand through his hair. "I honestly don't deserve her. People have been treating her differently since the article, and she takes it all like a champ. And to make matters worse, Mrs. Weasley seems to think that we are engaged after she saw the picture in the article of Ginny and I snogging…"

James' eyes got very wide and his jaw dropped for a mere moment, before a boisterous laugh escaped him and it wasn't long before he was wheezing for breath.

Harry's face got hot and he was sure it was a Weasley red at this point. "I-It's not funny!"

James continued to laugh, but he still managed to get some words through his gasps for breath. "Of course it is! You're having in-law problems when you don't even have in-laws! That is hilarious!"

His dad continued to laugh before Harry huffed, annoyed, "Are we not going to get back to the problem that I have?"

It took another moment, but finally, James Potter's laughter died down. "Ok, alright. What's this problem you want to discuss?"

Now that he finally had his father's attention, Harry wasn't sure about how to broach the issue that had been plaguing his mind for weeks now. He worried his bottom lip in-between his teeth as he thought of how to best phrase the coming words to his dad.

"You don't think that I should distance myself from Ginny, do you?" Harry said finally. "To make sure that she stays safe?"

James' eyes got very wide with surprise. "Merlin, no! What good would that do? Everyone already knows that you've got a close bond with the Weasleys. They are already regarded as well-known blood-traitors by the Death Eaters."

Harry sighed from either exasperation that no one seemed to get how serious he was about Ginny's safety or relief that his father was talking him out of distancing himself from Ginny.

"There's… There's something else…" This was it. What he was about to discuss was the primary reason he wanted to talk to his dad alone. His mum wouldn't get it, at all, and would probably get quite angry with him. But his dad… he would see reason with what Harry was about to say.

"What is it?" James asked, a slight tinge of alarm colouring his tone.

Harry swallowed, wondering at how he would be able to get this out without giving too much away. "Well, Dumbledore has been telling me about Voldemort's past all year long, so far. And… And we've been brainstorming ideas on how we can defeat him."

James' jaw dropped open in shock, his face going pale. "He's… He's been what?!"

His mother would have been screaming at this point. Cursing Dumbledore for involving Harry in this way.

"You have to see reason, dad!" Harry interjected quickly, before James got worked up over the fact that Dumbledore was involving his sixteen-year old son in plans of defeating the darkest and most powerful wizards of this age. "We both know the prophecy. I will get involved no matter what. Dumbledore is just trying to prepare me for what is to come."

Colour started coming back to his father's cheeks, and much to Harry's relief, his father didn't explode with rage as he had been expecting. Instead, after hearing what Harry had to say, his dad actually looked to be resigned.

James sighed, his shoulders drooping in what looked to be defeat. Harry could only imagine what it felt like to be a father that had to accept that his only son had to fight the most dangerous dark lord in the entire world. "I still don't like it."

His father's voice was quiet, which was completely unlike his normal character.

It just showed Harry how much the prophecy had weighed down on his dad since he had first heard it back when Harry was still a baby.

"To be fair," Harry said in just as quiet of a voice, "I don't much like it either. But I've accepted it as my fate. And I want to be as prepared as possible."

His dad said nothing. Didn't even move for a long moment. Until, finally, he nodded his head in resignation. "I suppose I should be glad that you even have this time to prepare…"

Harry didn't know what to say in return. He merely swallowed the large lump that had formed in his throat as they each fell into their own separate, deep thoughts.

It ended up being a lot more difficult for Harry to talk about this with his dad than he originally thought. But there was still more that he needed his advice on...

"I'm not sure if I want to share any of this with Ginny…" Harry admitted, feeling ashamed in the fact that he was admitting to wanting to keep secrets from the girl that he loved. And also in the fact that he wanted confirmation from his father that this would be the right thing to do. "I know Ginny… anything I tell her about Voldemort would only motivate her. Put her right in the middle of the coming war. She wouldn't hesitate in fighting. And I'm afraid that it will ultimately kill her. And… And I was wondering if that makes me a terrible person who doesn't trust her."

James thought about this. "What makes you think that she would be motivated to fight?"

"Look at the incident at the Department of Mysteries, last year," Harry pointed out. "She didn't hesitate in following me to fight, even when she knew that Voldemort and Death Eaters were involved."

"That's a good point."

That was all that he said and Harry grunted out in frustration, racking a rough hand through his already unruly hair. "Do you think I should tell her?"

James looked to be contemplating this, before his features softened. "We all have secrets, Harry. And this secret will be protecting the one that you love. And besides that point, Ginny wouldn't be much help in the war simply because of her age and the fact that she will have the trace on her for another year and a half now. It's best that she doesn't get motivated and reveal herself in a dire situation."

Harry was silent as he contemplated this. His father's words made sense and made him feel better in his own reasonings.

"Now, besides that point, I think that we should apply the same logic to you as well, Harry."

This caused Harry's attention to snap to his father, and he opened his mouth to protest, "But, dad-"

"No, just listen to me, Harry," His dad said in an abnormally stern voice. "You still have the trace on you for eight more months. Preparing and training with Dumbledore is fine in the meantime, because as much as I don't want you anywhere near Voldemort, I recognize that the bloody prophecy is going to involve you anyways. And I want you to be prepared. But please, if the war happens to break out before your seventeenth birthday, don't get involved. It would just be plain stupid, Harry, same as it would be with Ginny getting involved as well before she turns seventeen."

"But what if the war does break out? You know that Voldemort will be searching for me…"

"You'll go into hiding," James answered simply. "You won't do any magic until your birthday and you'll let the Order hold things off until you are ready to join in on the fight."

"Because going into hiding worked so well the last time for our family…" Harry grumbled, bitterly, before instant regret overcame him for his words.

He peeked up at his dad, and saw that his father actually looked hurt by his words. "We did the best that we could to protect you, Harry…"

"I know," Harry said hurriedly, still feeling the regret from his words. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."

James sighed before he looked back at Harry with a slight smile on his face, and Harry knew that he was instantly forgiven. "It's alright. Besides, we now know better about who we can trust this time around. And we won't be using the fidelius charm this time either…"

Harry's eyebrow quirked in curiosity. "What do you mean?"

James grinned, and there was a bit of pride in his voice as he spoke. "Your mother found a spell to use on Potter Manor. No one can enter the premises without Potter blood. Which means that only you and I can come and go freely from the manor. Not even your mum can. She married into the family, so not even she can enter without Potter blood."

Harry's expression must have looked confused because his father laughed at his expression. "Then how is she in the house right now? And Sirius and Remus too, for that matter?"

"I have to actively bring them through the blood wards, myself. It gets bloody old really quick, being the only one that is able to get people in and out as they please, but it keeps us all safe."

They talked about lighter subjects after that, until it came to the point where Harry could barely keep his eyes open and they bid each other goodnight…

Where Harry slipped into the darkness where nightmares of his loved ones dying met him.

….

The next day, Harry was exhausted. But he was used to the feeling now. And he had managed to adjust his own body to ignore the cry out for the sleep that it needed.

He had gotten pretty good at it.

In fact, he found himself in good spirits.

On the bulletin board, there had been an announcement on the board for a Hogsmeade weekend coming up. And he wanted more than anything to go to Hogsmeade with Ginny.

Which was what he was doing in between class periods. Looking for his ginger firecracker so that he can ask her out on a date.

He had only been looking for a minute or so, but the lack of red hair in his sight was making him more and more antsy.

Until, finally...

"Ginny!" Harry called out as he started down the corridor after her. She stopped at the sound of her name - Colin pausing next to her - and looked back at him with a growing smile.

She waited as Harry caught up to her and as soon as he did, he pulled her into his arms and pulled her to him, lifting her up slightly as he breathed in her flowery scent. Merlin, she smelled just like amortentia to him.

He let her down and pulled back slightly to peer down at her. "Hey, you."

Ginny rolled her eyes at him, mockingly, probably due to the fact at how cheesy he sounded when he said that. Harry didn't let it discourage him, however, as he continued to beam down at her. And before she could form her own greeting to him, Harry continued.

"There's a Hogsmeade day coming up this weekend. I don't know if you saw the announcement on the board in the common room, but I was wondering if you wanted to go. With me. Just us. Alone."

Ginny beamed, her entire face lightening with a newfound wave of excitement. "You mean a date?"

Harry rolled his eyes at her and snarkily replied, "No, just as friends. Of course a date! Our very first, to be exact."

"After that response, I'm tempted to say no." Ginny said dryly as she peeked over at Colin, who was silently laughing at the exchange. "In fact, I wonder if Malfoy would be able to go, instead? Since he looked so dashing in that dress… wouldn't you agree, Harry?"

Harry's smile fell from his face. That was a low blow… and the minx knew it!

"I'd kill him." Harry said forcefully, but not in such a way that it came across that he didn't know that she was kidding.

But Ginny merely laughed as she came forward to peck him sweetly on the cheek, aware that they were in a corridor full of students. "That's just what we need… another claiming deul for my own hand."

Harry found himself melting as he wrapped his arms around her and looked down at her. When she peered up at him, he waggled his eyebrows and smirked at her. "Well, maybe this go around, I'll actually get to be the one that gets to do the claiming. Since you did take my spot against Dean the last time."

Ginny's eyes blazed. "Too right, I did! Now, if you'll excuse me, Colin and I have classes to get to."

Then she walked away, Colin trailing beside her. And Harry watched her go, his eyes following the sashay of her hips go back and forth as she walked… before he suddenly remembered himself.

"So is that a yes or a no?" Harry called after her.

She paused, and looked over her shoulder at him with a saucy smirk. "What do you think, Mr. Potter?"

Then she winked.

The little minx!

Harry watched, dumbfounded, as she started to walk away again.

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