Ginny stood at the mirror in the bathroom of their small flat, holding a pad coated in face cleanser and half-heartedly rubbing it against her face, to take off the makeup that was so essential to her disguise. She'd had a long day. Although driving didn't really need any physical exertion, it was still tiring, but worth it. Every hour that she completed on the course, she could feel herself improving.

Today she had put every bit of herself into the driving, to forget about the stupid argument she and Harry had had that morning, and the stupid comment her mother had made in the magazine. They came home and Harry made her food, as he always did. As usual, it was delicious - a sausage casserole. They hadn't spoken much but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence.

"Hey," Harry said, from behind her. She met eyes with him in the mirror and gave him a soft smile. "You ready for bed?" Ginny nodded. Harry was leaning against the door frame and just looking at her. Ginny didn't take her eyes from him.

"Harry-"

"Stay in my bed again," he blurted and Ginny smiled, nodding her assent. Harry's beam lit her up. He extended his hand to her and she took it happily, feeling hope bloom in her stomach. Maybe she and Harry had a chance. This feeling was the one that she got when he had kissed her in the common room, that night a million years ago.

Harry was wearing a loose t-shirt and boxers, Ginny noticed as they climbed into his bed. He looked so much older than he had before they had been forced to leave Hogwarts. Ginny felt so much older, too. As she tucked herself in, Ginny turned to face Harry and began to trace the lettering on his t-shirt, feeling his chest against her hands.

"I'm sorry about this morning," Harry whispered into the darkness of the room. Some light crept in from behind the curtains, it still being summer, so, despite it being at least ten o clock, outside was still light.

"Me too," Ginny replied. Harry tentatively put his arms around her and pulled her close. Ginny felt a warm feeling burst into his stomach as she snuggled into his chest. "I don't know what I'd do without you," she confessed and Harry looked down at her. She couldn't place the look on his face. It was almost tender.

With that same expression, he leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips. Ginny didn't really know what that meant, but it was comforting, probably for them both. She smiled softly and he returned the look. "Night, Harry," Ginny whispered as he took her into his arms. She rested her head against his chest and slept.

XXX

"And you're sure this isn't an ambush?" Sirius repeated for what must have been the thirtieth time that evening. Zoe turned to look at him and made as incredulous a face as she could muster.

"How many times, Sirius? He seemed genuine, but I can't make any guarantees, can I?"

Sirius nodded. "I've just never met the guy and Harry didn't exactly have nice things to say, you know what I mean?"

Zoe reached across the sofa and squeezed Sirius' hand. "I know why you're nervous, Sirius. I promise you that I will do everything I can to protect you." Sirius' tense face softened. He opened his mouth to speak but, before he could, there was a knock at the door. Zoe scurried away as fast as she could to answer it. Every time Sirius looked as though he wanted to discuss something serious, Zoe had run away, far too scared of risking a relationship when she had Lu to look after and Harry to find.

"It looks like it's just him," Zoe threw over her shoulder, peering out through the spyhole on her door. Unlocking the door, Zoe invited Percy into her flat, before swiftly locking the door behind her. Percy looked nervous, stiff almost. He had a coat folded over one arm and a briefcase in the other. Zoe wondered whether the contents of that suitcase were the reason he had asked to see her.

Percy glanced at Sirius once and looked away. Zoe had to admit that Sirius did not look his most welcoming. "Percy, come and sit down," Zoe summoned and the younger man did. He sat opposite Zoe and Sirius, stiff-backed. "We're eager to know what you want to speak to us about."

Percy pushed his glasses up his nose and opened his mouth to begin, but Sirius cut him off, "To be honest, I'm eager to know why the hell we should trust you. Molly and Arthur are good people and you abandoned them for your career. My godson is an amazing person and you not only slandered him as often as possible, but gave information to the aurors about his invisibility cloak. You screwed that escape route for both Harry and your sister."

Zoe looked up at Percy and saw that he was downcast, to say the least. She glanced over at Sirius and gave him an incredulous look. They had discussed him not scaring Percy, but, clearly, he didn't want to listen to anything she said.

"I know that I have made mistakes - big mistakes," Percy began, a waiver in his voice. "I made some terrible decisions regarding my family. Looking back now, I can offer you no reason or excuse. I am ashamed of myself. My parents brought me up to be brave and strong and my education at Hogwarts, as a Gryffindor, should have taught me the same. I know that I was a coward and I don't deserve to be a Gryffindor, never mind a Weasley, but I hope that my family can learn to forgive me.

"I visited Ron, Fred and George at Hogwarts a few days ago, and Bill just yesterday, in prison. I apologised as sincerely as I was able. I know that you are friends with my brothers and my parents and I hope that, as they can learn to forgive me, so can you."

Percy's speech was impressive, Zoe had to say. It was clear that he was taking accountability for his actions, rather than just trying to brush over them. Zoe side-eyed Sirius, who looked pensive. "For now, Percy, I'll trust you," he said at length, "but the second I get even a whiff of you working for the other side, or working against Harry and Ginny even the slightest bit, I swear that I will kill you, for Harry, and for your brothers, who are far braver and far better men than you."

"Sirius," Zoe hissed in admonishment. Sirius just leaned back on the sofa and shrugged.

Percy nodded, swallowing heavily. "I promise you, Sirius. All I do now is for my family." Sirius inclined his head, before prompting him to tell them why he was here in the first place.

"I am in a good position in the government to find information on Minister Fudge in order to have him replaced by a superior candidate," Percy started, after clearing his throat. "I met with Madam Bones and we discussed the best course of action. I have some evidence of wrongdoing by Fudge, involving bribes from people we know are death eaters, such as Lucius Malfoy."

Zoe and Sirius shared a look. "Don't worry," Percy continued. "I know that that is not enough. Most Wizengamot members would not indict him for something that they all do too." Zoe smirked with a touch of derisiveness. "Madam Bones and I have plans to find more and more evidence of what the bribes have caused Minister Fudge to allow to happen. If we can find harm that has happened to witches and wizards, then the Wizengamot will have to act. Madam Bones and I have named this Operation Caramel."

Sirius snorted. "Nice. Right, well, Amelia Bones has promised me a trial. When I'm freed," he said, glancing sideways at Zoe, "it'll be a hit on Fudge's support."

Percy nodded frantically. "Indeed, it will. Do you have a strong plan?" Again, Zoe and Sirius shared a look.

"We think so."

"Good," Percy said, nodding again. "I'm so glad that you allowed me to meet with you." Zoe smiled at him, seeing the genuine gladness on his face. "I want to do all I can to support my family in their fight against Evil."

"Good." Sirius looked impressed and Zoe was glad, because she felt the same. This was a young man desperate to make amends.

"Do you want to stay for some food, Percy?" Zoe offered, gesturing to the shepherd's pie in her oven. Percy hesitated and then agreed.

"Got nothing waiting for me at home, have I?" he said with a shrug and a smile.

Sirius furrowed his brow at Percy. "Are you living alone?"

Percy nodded. "I have a flat, near Diagon Alley."

Sirius shook his head. "Not anymore. Your brothers, Bill and Charlie, are staying with me in a farmhouse in Cornwall, as well as Remus Lupin, where we are trying to fight Lord Voldemort, day by day. Would you like to join us? You would probably have to share a room with Charlie, or you could stay in the room we're preparing for Harry, I suppose-"

"Charlie's room sounds amazing," Percy interrupted and, for the first time, Zoe saw hope on the young man's face.

"Well, then, Zoe can feed us and then we'll be on our way," Sirius declared, reaching across to shake hands with Percy.

XXX

"Are you sure this will work for you?" Sirius checked. Percy had split the bed in Charlie's room in two and was currently putting his clothes into his wardrobe.

"Sirius, I cannot believe you are allowing me into your house. Anywhere is amazing. And, besides, I never got to share a room at the Burrow, with one of my brothers. As long as Charlie doesn't mind, I won't mind at all," Percy said honestly. Sirius gave him a smile.

"I'll let you unpack. I'm going to grab a butterbeer downstairs. Come join me when you're done here."

Sirius was alone for less than five minutes before Percy came to join him in the living room. Sirius wasn't surprised. Percy did not have many belongings. Wordlessly, Sirius passed Percy a butterbeer, which he took before taking a seat in the chair by the fireplace.

They were silent for a while, drinking their drinks contently. "Before you found out about your parents, had you thought about this at all?"

Percy pushed his glasses up his nose. "You mean coming home?" Sirius inclined his head. "Of course, but it wasn't that simple. I was unhappy at home a lot, lonely a lot when I was little. You've met my siblings. I didn't ever really fit in and I know that they all love me, but it was difficult."

"I understand not fitting in with your family," Sirius shared. "I'm sure you've heard of most of my family, Bellatrix, the Malfoys." Percy nodded. "You probably won't have heard of my little brother, Regulus Black. He was three years younger than me, but we were close as anything when we were young. We'd play quidditch together, play pranks on our mother," Sirius said fondly. "We'd even tell Bella and Cissy how bloody evil they were together. And I- I always took all of Reg's punishments, from our father, always took the blame. Reg was too young to understand what was going on.

"Anyway, I went to Hogwarts and made friends with Harry's father and Remus and left Reg all alone, with only my family's hatred spilling in his ears. When he started at Hogwarts three years later, he was just as prejudiced as the rest of them. He became a death eater when he was seventeen."

"What?" Percy interrupted.

Sirius laughed brokenly. "If you were waiting for a happy ending, there isn't one. He died in Voldemort's service a few years later. Bellatrix told me, once, a few weeks before James and Lily died when I was duelling her at a death eater attack. Zoe had disappeared a few months prior and my best friends were in hiding. I barely saw them. Reg being dead broke me. I didn't think things could get any worse. But then James and Lily died and it was Peter that had betrayed them."

"You felt like you had nothing left."

It was a statement rather than a question but Sirius nodded anyway. "I know what it is, Percy, to have a family that you don't fit in to, but you aren't the black sheep in your family. Sure, you might be different, but you're here now, as brave as any of them, fighting."

Percy looked down at his lap. "I'm no use as a fighter, Sirius. I can try, but I think too much."

Sirius shook his head. "We'll train you, I promise, Percy. You'll have enough knowledge that you can survive. And, anyway, it's not just fighters we need. We need planners, researchers, healers. You'll find your place."

Percy nodded. "I know I will. I'll find my way." Sirius gave the young man an appraising look and clapped him on the back. It was possibly the first time he had been impressed with Percy but Sirius reckoned there might be more times to come.

XXX

"Hey, Remy," Zoe greeted. Remus was looking up at her with a look that Zoe couldn't place. She hadn't seen him in so long. His face was older, wiser, yet happier somehow. Finally, the unplaceable look broke and he smiled. Zoe grinned and grew closer, pressing a kiss to his hair and ruffling it, before taking a seat at the small visitor's table opposite him.

"Zoe," he said fondly. Zoe squeezed his hand. "I'm so happy that you're here."

"I'm happy I'm here too, although my daughter is not," Zoe said with a snort.

Remus gave her a sad look. "Sirius told me what happened, Zo. You should've told us." Zoe smiled at him and nodded.

"I know. I wish I had. Maybe I could've helped James and Lily. Oh Merlin, I've thought about it non stop. Sirius won't talk to me about Harry's childhood," Zoe said and Remus winced. "I know he's just protecting me from the guilt. I should've been here for him. Luisa would've had a brother and Harry wouldn't have been alone."

"It's not your fault. We all have our share of guilt over Harry's upbringing. Petunia banned me from visiting him after three times," Remus said and Zoe looked up sharply. "I haven't told Sirius this. We haven't really talked about me not looking after him. I was so afraid of hurting him. I didn't know where he would be safe, what with my problem, so I asked Petunia to be able to visit him, once a week. After three times, she said I couldn't come back if I wasn't willing to take him with me. I reminded her about Lily and she said there was no use in Harry clinging to the past. I turned up at the house about once a month after that, desperate to see him. Eventually, she threatened to have the police come and arrest me. I never went back after that and I promised myself I'd find him when he went to Hogwarts. Dumbledore offered me the teaching job in his third year and, well, I probably didn't do enough."

Zoe shook her head. "You did all you could, Remus. We have to put the past behind us and focus on Harry now. He's out there somewhere, all alone-"

"He's not alone," Remus said sharply. "He's with Ginny."

Zoe shrugged. "She's what? Fourteen? What use is she to him?"

Remus chuckled. "Ginny Weasley is a force to be reckoned with. Trust me, if I could send anyone to be alone with Harry and keep his head screwed on, it'd be her."

"Sirius said he thinks they might get together."

Remus nodded. "Without a doubt." Zoe smiled. "Speaking of people getting together," Remus said, eyebrows raised suggestively, "you and Sirius seem to be spending a lot of time together."

Zoe rolled her eyes. "Even after all these years, you sound like a broken record."

Remus gave her a playful smirk. "Even after all these years, you and Padfoot haven't figured it out."

Zoe wished she had something to throw at him. He had always said that she and Sirius would be perfect together, but Zoe had always laughed it off. Sirius and she had been too different. He was too immature, too focussed on partying and pranking. "How are you, anyway, Wolfie?"

Remus looked around him. "Well, the environment here isn't fab." Zoe rolled her eyes. "I know, I know. I'm sure we'll be out soon, but it's difficult."

"You look happy," she stated.

"I am happy."

"Are you in a relationship?" Zoe asked inquisitively. Remus rolled his eyes.

"And you say I'm a broken record."

"Well are you?" she demanded.

"Maybe." Zoe pushed for more information and, eventually, it all came out, about Remus and Sirius' cousin, who was young and pretty and an auror. Zoe congratulated him heartily. Was there anything so wonderful as a friend happy after difficult times? The thought left a pang on Zoe's chest. One day, she hoped she'd be just as happy.

"So is she your girlfriend?" Zoe teased and Remus faltered. "Oh, Remus, you idiot, are you just stringing this poor girl along?"

"No! No. Just, you know, it's difficult. I'm older and I have other considerations!"

"You're not even forty and she's an auror. I think she can deal with a werewolf one night a month." Remus looked down at the table. "Remus, you deserve to be happy."

"So do you," he countered and Zoe rolled her eyes. Just as she was about to speak again, the warden called the end of their session. "I guess you should go."

"Yeah, I guess. It's been nice," she told him genuinely. "I've missed you."

"Missed you too, Angevin," Remus said as he stood up. She gave him a quick embrace before stepping away.

"See you soon," she said with a wave, as he was returned to his cell.

XXX

13th June

"Here," an auror said suddenly and the troupe of Order members being led to freedom stopped. They had reached the atrium of the ministry. The auror, a man that Kingsley clearly knew, slapped a newspaper into the arms of the larger auror.

Bill and Charlie craned over the shoulders of Remus and Dedalus to read what the front page said. As they had suspected when they were told they were being freed, Dumbledore and Fudge had come to an agreement. It was what they had feared: Dumbledore had had to agree to never lead a private organisation again in order that the Order would be freed.

Bill heard Remus and Tonks swear softly to each other and suddenly yearned to see Fleur. Of course, he was glad she had been free the past few days but he wanted to be a team like Remus and Tonks.

What would they do now that Dumbledore couldn't lead them? Would he break the agreement he had made? Or would someone else have to lead? Bill thought about Sirius and their war room. Maybe they could make something out of this. Sometimes a change was better than things staying the same.

With a slightly positive outlook on the future, Bill headed out of the ministry and into the arms of his waiting fiancée.

XXX

Percy was at the Burrow when the four of them arrived home, just like he'd said he would be. Charlie was angry before the rest of them. Bill greeted his brother with a handshake and stood by him, hand on his shoulder as he explained to their parents and brother what he had told Bill only a few days before.

"So, here I am. Other than Harry and Ginny, you're the only ones left that I haven't spoken to. I hope- I hope you can accept my apology."

If Percy was faking, he was a good actor. Bill tried to make eye contact with Charlie, but Charlie had always had a bad temper. Bill winced as Charlie laid into Percy. He understood it. He let Charlie do it, let Percy have to defend himself. Percy wouldn't appreciate Bill stepping in. Bill knew his younger brother and he knew that he felt he deserved it.

"What are you going to do now, son?" their dad asked. Bill hated the sight of the tears falling down his parents' cheeks, especially his father's.

Percy's lips were a grim line. "I'm going to fight Evil, with my brothers and sister, with you. I'm going to work with all of you until Evil has been defeated, until I can fall at my sister's feet, at Harry's feet and apologise for everything I've done and hope that I've done enough to make up for it."

Bill nodded and took his hand from his brother's shoulder. Percy was growing into a man who Bill was proud to have as a brother.

They were there for another hour. Their mother fed them all. The atmosphere wasn't easy but all of them appreciated Percy's efforts. One day, they would sit there peacefully together, with Harry and Ginny too.

"Sirius has organised for me to live with you at the farmhouse," Percy told them. He was fidgety. "He set me up a bed in your room, Charlie, but if that's not okay, then I can move back out-"

Charlie nodded and then shook his head. "You're my brother, Perce. We're brothers in blood and in the fight. Come on, let's go home."

Bill smiled and stood, clasping Charlie's shoulder. He was proud of the men he called his brothers.

XXX

In the end, all five Weasleys ended up at the farmhouse. Sirius invited everyone over, to raise a toast to freedom. Zoe watched as her friend embraced each member of this family who had taken Harry in as one of their own. Lu was being entertained by Charlie Weasley and Zoe was sitting on the sofa, a glass of wine in her hand, watching these people that she had become a part of.

"Smile, Zo, they're free," Remus' voice said from beside her. Zoe looked upwards and smiled at the man she had missed for so many years, the man she should have been here to support when his world went to shit. Zoe took his hand and squeezed it. Taking his seat next to her, Remus asked her what was going on.

Zoe smiled sadly. "You might be free, but Sirius isn't, not yet. And what if the plan I've made with Amelia fails? What if he goes back to prison?" Remus nodded.

"It's a risk, Zoe, but it's a risk that he has to take. He wants to help Harry and he can't do that if he's not free."

Zoe nodded and looked down. "I don't think I'll cope if he goes back inside," she whispered and Remus wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I should have been here last time, to fight for him. What if I can't fight this time? What if they give him a dementor's-"

"They won't. Trust, Zoe," Remus said. Zoe nodded, biting her lip. A shadow came over Remus' face. Zoe glanced up and found Sirius there. "I'll- err- just-" Remus didn't finish his sentence before dashing over, leaving his seat free for Sirius to take. Zoe chuckled and Sirius grinned at her.

"I just wanted to tell you," he started, "I'm going to go now." Zoe's stomach did a flip.

"Don't," she blurted and he shook his head.

"You know I have to, Zo," he said, reaching out for her hand and bringing it to his lips. He kissed it and then squeezed it. "I'll be back soon, I promise." Zoe closed her eyes against the tears, felt his hand slip from hers and, when she opened her eyes, he was gone.

XXX

Harry sat, leg shaking on the waiting bench outside. It was a warm day in York and Harry had been sat outside for an hour now, enjoying the sun on his face and his legs. And particularly enjoying the pink licence sat on the bench next to him. It had been an intense week but that had been what Harry had paid for. They wanted to pass their driving tests, so that they didn't have to rely on public transport which was so easy to be caught on.

He just hoped Ginny had passed too. He didn't want to think about how much it would knock her confidence if she hadn't. He had full confidence that she would do it eventually but she had barely been in a car before this week. Even with the long days, surely she wouldn't be able to pass within a week. And, if she was anything like Ron, she wouldn't be able to see past her disappointment to recognise how amazing it was that she was close enough to being able to pass that they had suggested she take her test.

Harry's ruminations on the subject were interrupted by the return of Ginny's car. She was behind the wheel. Despite the sun, Harry could see she was smiling. He hoped she would be in a few more minutes. He couldn't take his eyes off her as she nodded to the driving instructor at whatever he was saying. She'd tied her hair back in a very attractive way today, with no hair marring her beautiful face.

Harry looked away from her at the sound of a car door clicking open. Harry watched her push her way out of the car and adjust the skirt she was wearing at the change in posture. He looked at her with raised eyebrows, expectantly, but her face wasn't giving anything away. She was Fred and George's sister all right. "Come on," Harry shouted at her. "What did he say?"

He stood up and widened his eyes at her. She got close and finally broke her face into a smile. "I passed!" Harry grinned, overwhelmed by the joy and pride which filled him. How had he ever thought she wouldn't? This girl. "Can you believe-"

Harry cut her off with a kiss, pressing their lips together as he had a few nights ago. This time, he put his hands on her waist and pulled her to him. She swung her arms around his shoulders as she responded to his kiss, lips warm and pliant. He had wasted so much time. He never wanted to have her out of his arms again.