Time: Summer before Harry's fifth Year

Location: Grimmauld Place.

In typical Ron fashion, Ronald Weasley was stumping up the stairs while an annoyed Hermione was following him.

'Ron, slow down. Why would Harry know anything?'

'Hermione, nobody has seen Ginny since dinner yesterday and I'm sure Potter has something to do with it!'

Without even bothering on knocking, Ron barges into Harry's room only to come to a dead stop, causing Hermione to run into him.

Lying in the spacious bed is Harry Potter with Ginny lying on top of him, snogging him for al what she is worth.

Pulling himself away from Ginny, Harry looks at Ron, who is slowly turning red.

'Please come in, Ron. No, no, don't bother knocking, just barge right in.'

Completely missing the annoyed tone of voice, Ron explodes.

'WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH MY SISTER!'

Rolling of Harry, stretching while she sits up, revealing that both of them are quite naked, Ginny scowls at her brother.

'Really, Ronald, you have to ask what we are doing? I feel sorry for the girl that catches you. Not that any girl would want you off course.'

Before Ron can explode again, they are interrupted by the arrival of Molly Weasley. Entering the room while giving Ron and Hermione a cold look, she addresses Harry.

'Harry, dear, dinner will be ready in thirty minutes. Will you and Ginny be joining us? Everybody will be there.'

'Yes, thank you, Molly. Ginny and I will just have a quick shower and then we will meet you downstairs.'

'Yes, well, don't take too long you two. The last time you showered together we had to get you after an hour.'

With a smile Molly turns to leave, motioning for Ron and Hermione to leave as well only to be stopped by Ron.

'Mum, aren't you going to say something about them?'

'Say something about what, Ronald?'

'Harry and Ginny. They are lying in bed. Together. Naked.'

'Off course they are, Ronald. That's what married people do.'

And without another word, she leaves making sure that a very confused Ron and a surprised Hermione follow her.

Only forty minutes later, Harry and Ginny enter the kitchen, with Harry taking a seat next to Tonks and with Ginny sitting on his lap, ignoring the disapproving look from her mum.

'So pleased that you could finally join us, Mr Potter. It isn't as if we have anything better to do.'

Ignoring the hated Potions Professor, Harry addresses Arthur.

'Do you have any more news from Percy, Arthur?'

'Not really. Him and Audrey are still looking through all the data they found. It seems that they found enough dirt on Cornelius and his cronies to bury him ten times over. He has also confirmed that it was his Senior Undersecretary, Dolores Umbridge, who sent the dementors to Little Whinging, with his approval. She has also been slated to take over the position of the Defence against the Dark arts professor. Oh, and he wanted me to thank you two for the gift, it was much appreciated.'

'Wait, you are in contact with Percy? But, but he turned his back on our family.'

Harry looks Ron straight in the eyes, with a look of contempt.

'Percy isn't the one who turned his back on his family, Ron.'

Confused, Ron looks at an equally confused Hermione before turning back to Harry.

'How do you mean? Who else has turned his back on our family?'

'As pleasant as this conversation surely is, we are here for a reason. So, if Mr Potter would kindly pay attention and send his little pet away, perhaps we can start.'

'You are walking a very fine line, Snape. I would refrain from insulting Ginny if you know what's good for you.'

'That's Professor Snape, Harry and I'm sure that Severus didn't mean to insult Ms Weasley. However, he is correct, it's time for Ms Weasley to leave the room.'

'First of all, Albus, I'm sure that Snape did intend to insult Ginny and second, Ginny is staying.'

Dumbledore flinches slightly as he hears the venom in Harry's voice, but Snape beats him to any answer he might have given.

'Typical. Precious Potter, the arrogant brat, thinks he can dictate to his betters! You are nothing but a spoiled brat just like your father. Now do as you have been told and send your little strumpet away.'

To late does he realize that he has just made a grave mistake as Ginny as quick as lighting raises her wand and casts Stupefy, Bat-Bogey and Incarcerous non-verbally in quick succession. With the exception of Ron, Hermione and Dumbledore, everyone looks on with mild disinterest as the stunned Potions Professor falls bound to the ground with bats coming out of his nose.

'Well, you did warn him, Harry. Nice wand work, Ginny, quite sexy as well, I might add.'

Tonks wiggles her eyebrows suggestively at Ginny.

'Thanks, Tonks, but I'm afraid to disappoint you. Harry is the only one for me.'

Ginny grins at Tonks, who puts on a fake sad look, and blows her a kiss before kissing Harry soundly, causing him to blush.

Shaking himself out of his stupor, Dumbledore turns towards Ginny, a disapproving frown on his face.

'Ms Weasley, that was out of line. We might not be at school, but Professor Snape is still your teacher. I'm afraid I will have to give you detention with him for the entire next term.'

While Ginny doesn't even deign to answer, Harry does.

'Give it a rest, Albus. We all know that Snape isn't qualified to teach anything and the only reason that he is an above average Potions Master is because he stole my mother's notes and research papers. The only reason you have kept him on for all this time is because you believe that he turned spy for you, because he loved my mother. Well, I got news for you. He didn't love my mother, he hated her. He hated her even more than he did my dad. When he called her a mudblood, that wasn't an accident, that was on purpose. He felt insulted because my mum, a muggleborn, dared to reject his advances and do better than him in class! It was Snape, who suggested to Tom to go after me and it was on Tom's orders that he came running to you with his fake tears of remorse. Like Tonks said, I warned him and like the arrogant Death Eater he is, he ignored my warning. He then insulted Ginny even further and as my wife and Mistress of House Potter, Ginny has every right to retribution.'

Dumbledore and Hermione sit back in shock at his words, while Ron just looks around the table, looking completely lost.

'Harry, that's the second time that Ginny is referred to as your wife.'

'That's a very astute observation, Hermione. I can understand why they call you the smartest witch of our age.'

Completely missing the sarcasm in his voice, she gives him her patented know-it-all look.

'Well, why is she referred to as your wife? After all, you can't be married.'

Finally turning his attention to the bushy haired witch, Harry sighs.

'They refer to her as my wife because that is what she is. I'm her husband and she is my wife.'

While Dumbledore looks a little perturbed at this statement, Hemione just changes her look from know-it-all to pitying.

'Harry, how can she be your wife? You're only fifteen and she is only fourteen. You can't marry at that age. Besides, you don't even know her.'

She conveniently forgets that Ginny has been sitting on his lap the entire time or that they were lying naked in bed together less than an hour ago.

Finally catching up to the conversation, Ron looks from Hermione to Harry.

'Wait, what? Harry is married to my sister? How did that happen?'

'Welcome back, Ron, glad you could join us. I do believe that my husband was about to answer that question.'

'Thank you, Gin.'

'You're welcome, Harry.'

She gives him another kiss and takes the empty seat next to him, surreptitiously pointing her wand at Dumbledore under the table just as Bill, Sirius and Remus also adjust their seats.

Smiling at her, Harry leans back and glances around the table until focussing on Hermione.

'Actually, I can marry, Hermione, and I do know her. I've known her since my first year, but I will tell you about that later. The reason that I can marry is a very simple one. One that I'm surprised that the smartest witch of our age didn't know about. You see, after my second year I learned something that should have been told to me when I turned eleven. I'm the last remaining heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter and funnily enough that also means that I'm the Head of House Potter. As I'm sure you know, being the Head of an Ancient and Noble House automatically grants said Head full majority as well as the right to marry despite my age. As for Ginny, as long as the bride in question is at least twelve years of age and has the consent of both parents, she can marry. And wouldn't you know it, Ginny was thirteen when we married and both Arthur and Molly were quite happy to give their consent.'

The silence that follows is deafening. Ron is looking his confused self; Hermione is staring at him with open mouth and Dumbledore has gone deadly pale. Just as Dumbledore is about to speak, a flurry of spells strike all three of them, disarming them and tying them up. With a smug look at Dumbledore, Ginny once more takes her seat on Harry's lap.

Shaken out of his confusion, Ron turns towards Harry with a scowl on his face.

'Hey, this is not funny! Untie me, Harry!'

'Now, why would I want to do that, Ronald?'

Turning to his parents, Ron freezes as he sees the looks of contempt on the faces of his brothers and parents.

'Eh, mum, dad, what's going on?'

Instead of his parents, its Harry who answers in a cold voice.

'It's story time, Ronald, and tonight's story is one of deceit, betrayal and true love. This story starts on September 1st, 1991. That day found a young orphan standing in the middle of King's Cross Station, looking for platform 9 ¾ and the hope of a better life. Unfortunately, the young boy, let's call him Harry, hadn't been told how to get on the magical platform and little did he know that this was by design. You see, a senile old Headmaster had concocted a plan to completely control the boy's life, luckily for the boy his plan was foiled by the arrival of one Molly Weasley and her children. Hearing the word 'muggle' spoken, the young boy turned and saw two things. The first thing was a Vision of Kindness and the second was a Vision of Beauty. Standing there, holding her mother's hand, was the most beautiful girl, let's call her Ginny, the boy had ever seen, and he knew, he knew without a shadow of a doubt, that she was the One. The One he would spend the rest of his life with. Harry managed to exchange a few words with the girl and was ecstatic to find that the girl felt the same way and they promised each other that they would write.

Harry was happy beyond belief. Not only was he away from his abusive relatives, going to a place where his parents had gone, but he also found a best friend in the form of this beautiful girl. Unfortunately, things didn't turn out as he had hoped for because as soon as he entered the school grounds it was if a door was shut in his mind and he forgot about Ginny. So, his first school year past in the presence of his two new best friends, one of whom was the girl's brother who kept throwing disparaging remarks around about his annoying baby sister. It wasn't until Harry returned to his hated relatives that his mind began to clear. Away from the school, Harry's mind began to clear, and he began to remember the girl who stole his heart. Harry was devastated. How could he have forgotten her? Why had he forgotten her? Lost in his nightmares, Harry began to think that it was all a dream, that the girl had lied to him. Then, salvation came in the form of the girl's twin brothers. The twins rescued him and brought him to a real Home, where he once more met the Vision of Kindness and, more importantly, the Vision of Beauty. Now, as soon as she saw the boy, the Vision of Beauty fled the room, not because she was embarrassed but because she was sad and angry. Determined to find out the truth, Harry found the girl and he explained how he had somehow forgotten who she was when he was at school and wanted to know why she didn't send him any letters. To his surprise, Ginny answered that she send him several letters. Now knowing they indeed loved each other, the began to ponder the mystery. Although they didn't have an answer as to why he forgot her, the two of them came to a disturbing conclusion as to why he didn't receive her letters. Someone had stolen her letters and by process of elimination that someone could only be one person. Harry was at first loath to belief it until he was told that it was Ginny who had pestered her twin brothers to go and get him. It wasn't until the twins decided to go after him that Ginny's youngest brother, and Harry's best mate, who had been trying to dissuade them from going, shoved her aside to take her place in the car. Although happy that they were together again, the two of them were also afraid. They didn't know who they could trust but they pledged their love for the other, hoping that with them both at the school things would work out. Unfortunately, this was not to be for once Harry entered the school once more, he again forgot about Ginny and this time Ginny forgot about Harry as well. What was worse, she was compelled to write in a dairy containing dark magic. A dairy given to her by the Headmaster of the school. Oh, he was smart enough not to give it to her himself, instead he convinced a man he knew to be a Death Eater to give it to her. You see, the Headmaster had a theory and he needed to test that theory. And if a young girl would die to provide proof of his theory, well it was after all for the greater good. Luckily, he underestimated the strength of the girl and she managed to fight the dairy for an entire school year until she finally succumbed to the magic and was taken into the Chamber of Secrets. The Headmaster's plan was to follow her into the Chamber and to simply get his proof, the girl simply being collateral damage, however he made two mistakes. The first mistake was forgetting that Harry was a parseltongue and the second was that he overestimated his abilities for as soon as Harry learned that Ginny was in mortal danger, the memory charms the Headmaster placed on him broke, the power of their love proving stronger then the Headmaster's magical abilities. Harry didn't hesitate to go after Ginny even though Ginny's brother tried to stop him. Once in the Chamber Harry learned that the Headmaster wasn't the only one to overestimate his abilities. You see, Tom Riddle thought that as the Heir of Slytherin he could command the Basilisk. It turns out that just like most creatures, the Basilisk responded better to a request then a command, so when Harry asked the Basilisk to please not attack, the serpent obeyed and just hanged back, even going so far as to supply some venom to destroy the dairy. So, with a little help of the Basilisk, Harry defeated Tom Riddle and saved the girl. When Ginny woke up, she found that not only had she recovered all her memories of Harry but also that Tom Riddle left something behind. Like Harry, she could now speak parseltongue and had knowledge of spells she previously didn't have. Harry and Ginny were very happy to be together once more but were also afraid, knowing that they could lose each other again and this time maybe forever. That's when Fawkes appeared. It turns out that the phoenix was not very happy with Dumbledore and only stayed with him to keep an eye on him. He told Harry and Ginny that it was Dumbledore who modified their memories. That it was Dumbledore who was behind the idea of giving Ginny the dairy. He told them a lot more but the worst thing he needed to show us so that we could learn for ourselves. Using his own magic, he hid us and transported us to where Dumbledore was. To Harry's surprise, the Headmaster was talking to his two best friends and although he already suspected Ginny's brother, what he heard shocked him. He wasn't his friend at all! He got payed, from Harry's own vault, to pretend to be his friend with the additional promise of fame and glory. Furthermore, he was promised 1/3 of all Harry's possessions once he died. It was the same for his other best friend, she too was payed from his own vault as well as receiving some of the valuable books stored in them. She too was promised 1/3 of his possessions once he died. You see, with his theory proven, the Headmaster had decided that Harry had to die, had to sacrifice himself, that was one of the reasons he placed him with his relatives, knowing full well that they would abuse him. Both Harry and Ginny where shocked at the betrayal of their friends and her own brother. The one good thing was that they learned that her brother was the only one of her family involved in the betrayal, so after they had returned to the school, they met with the Ginny's parents in secret and told them everything. The parents were shocked to learn that one of their own children would act in this fashion but promised that they would do everything they could to help. Ginny's father suggested to Harry that he should bond with the house-elf that he freed, which the house-elf was only too happy to do. So, Harry's second year ended but as he said goodbye to Ginny, she gave him one more piece of advice. She told him to go to Gringrotts and talk to the goblins. Although puzzled by this advice, Harry promised Ginny that he would do so.

Once back at his relatives' house, Harry locked himself in his room and called the house-elf and asked him to take him to Gringrotts, while at the same time masking his absence from the house. With a smile the house-elf did as he was asked and brought Harry to Gringrotts and the goblins. Here another surprise awaited Harry, as the goblins told him they had been waiting for him since his eleventh birthday. It was from the goblins that Harry learned that he was the Head of the most Ancient and Noble House of Potter and that as Head of House Potter, he was considered an adult by law and that despite his age, had the right, almost duty, to marry. Harry spend an entire day with the goblins going over what was rightfully his but was kept from him. He even found proof that his Godfather was innocent. Using his house-elf to communicate with his girlfriend and her parents without anyone the wiser, he learned that they had won the lottery. Figuring that this was the Headmaster's way to keep them away from him and seeing that they had a secure way of communicating thanks to the house-elf, they decided to go on holiday so that they could bring in the rest of the family. Meanwhile Harry moved to one of the homes he owned where he was safe form the Headmaster and with help of the goblins sent the proof of his Godfather's innocence to the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement while he tasked his house-elf to find his Godfather, who had already escaped prison, and bring him to Gringotts where he would be safe. With the help of Madam Bones, his godfather's innocence was quickly proven as was the fact that the Headmaster knew full well that he was innocent. The rest of the summer was spent researching, training and finding allies until his girlfriend returned. Knowing that she had turned twelve, Harry didn't hesitate for a moment and went to her parents to ask for her hand in marriage. Knowing what they did and seeing the happiness on their daughter's face, they quickly agreed. The following year went by relatively uneventful, with Harry spending as much time as he could with Ginny under the noses of his two former best friends. The only problem was with a convoluted plot by the Headmaster to get him to meet his godfather (which, of course, they had full knowledge off) which almost went wrong because of the stupidity of one of his former friends who couldn't handle a time-turner. Luckily, Harry, with help from Ginny, managed to salvage the situation. The summer before Harry's fourth year turned out to be the happiest of his young life because on her thirteenth birthday, he and Ginny got married.

Despite the fact that he was forced to participate in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, another of the Headmaster's convoluted plans, leading to the return of Tom Riddle, the worst part of that year was the fact that he couldn't take his beautiful wife to the Yule Ball. And so, we arrive at the end of the story. A story of betrayal. And now it's time for the betrayers to pay the piper. Hermione, Ron, you have fifteen minutes to gather your things and leave before you are forcefully removed from this house. And Ron, I hope you saved some of the blood money you received because you are going to need it to take care of Hermione's baby. You see, it seems that the so-called smartest witch of her age wasn't smart enough to use the contraceptive charm. As for you, Albus, you will be joining Severus in front of the Wizengamot for various crimes including the attempted murder of Ginevra Molly Weasley.'

All three people he addressed look at him quite stunned. Dumbledore is about to say something when Molly addresses Ron, the contempt clearly audible in her voice.

'You are truly a despicable human being, Ronald. To betray your friend, your family, for what? Money and fame? You disgust me. Let it be known that from this day forth you are no longer a Weasley! You are disowned and cast out of this family!'

She points her wand at him, and Ronald is blinded by a flash of light. When he can see again, all the Weasleys have ceremoniously turned their backs on him.

'Mum?'

'I am not your mother, Ronald! I'm disgusted that you share my blood! Oh, and Ginny, dear, how many times do I have to tell you to please not sit on Harry's lap at the dinner table?'

Throwing her former brother a contemptuous look, Ginny smiles at her mother and wiggles in Harry's lap.

'At least one more time, Mum.'

Molly just sighs and shakes her head. Taking the opportunity granted to him, Dumbledore addresses Harry.

'Harry, my dear boy, surely we can work this out? I admit that I may have made some mistakes, but I did what I thought best at the time. Besides, I am still your Headmaster and you need me, dear boy.'

Harry merely snorts and silences him.

'You made some mistakes? That's rich. Your 'mistakes' took my parents from me. Your 'mistakes' nearly took Ginny from me and her family. Your only concern has always been what's good for you. And for the record, you are not my Headmaster. As of this morning, Aunt Minnie has been appointed as Headmistress of Hogwarts while you have been stripped of all titles thanks to Aunt Amelia. As for needing your help.'

Harry reaches for a bag under the table and proceeds to throw five objects on the table.

'We've already taken care of Riddle's horcruxes, including the one that was inside my scar. The only one left is his snake and we have plan for that one. So, as you can see Dumbledore, we don't need you at all.'

Dumbledore can do nothing but stare at the five items on the table, his eyes wide and scared. Hermione tries to talk to Harry or anyone else but everybody just ignores her, then with a loud bang and a flash of light both she and Ron are thrown out of the house, landing on the square in front of Grimmauld Place, the house itself disappearing from their view.

Over the next couple of months things progress nicely for Harry and his new family. The plan to take out Nagini works just as predicted and a month later Tom Riddle is defeated by Harry and Ginny inside the Ministry in a rather anti-climatic battle. Dumbledore and Snape, joined by Fudge and all of his cronies, are sentenced to Azkaban while Madam Bones is elected as the new Minister of Magic.

Harry and Ginny decide to travel for a bit before settling down with both of them taking up teaching positions at Hogwarts, Harry as the DADA teacher and Ginny as the Potion Mistress, with both of them playing Quidditch on the side. Harry eventually becomes the Headmaster of Hogwarts with Ginny as his Deputy Headmistress, both of them not only looked up to by their own children and nephews, nieces and cousins but by all the students as well.

As for Ron and Hermione, they pay the price for their betrayal. Ron, having unwisely spend every last knut he received for his foul deed, dies homeless and forgotten, having managed to also alienate Hermione's parents. Hermione fares a little better. Her parents allow her to live with them for the sake of their grandson. And while her son is well looked after, Harry and Ginny having opened a trust vault for him as they didn't wish to punish the child for the sins of his mother, Hermione spends the rest of her life working the simplest of jobs, her dreams of grand achievements thrown away just like the friendship offered by a poor orphaned boy, blinded as she was by her own ambition.