Disclaimer I don't own Harry Potter. All rights to the characters and universe the story belongs in belong to JK Rowling

Chapter 9 - Revelations and Inquisitions

When Harry started to wake the next morning, he noticed that he didn't seem to be in his bed and there was a warm weight on his chest. Opening his eyes, he straightened his glasses, then looked around. He was still in the sitting room of the Burrow I must've dropped off.

He smiled when he noticed Ginny was lying face down with her head in his chest, her hair lying around messily. Content, Harry wrapped his arms back around her, closing his eyes.

It was another ten minutes when Ginny started to stir. She groaned groggily and started burrowing her head into his chest, then she went still as if she had only just realised he wasn't her normal pillow. She looked up grinning 'Harry, are you awake?' she whispered.

'Morning Gin' he responded quietly.

'Morning, we been here all night?'

'Hm Hm'

She pulled herself up to him, he opened his eyes as she kissed him, letting her hair fall around his face like a curtain. 'I can't wait to wake up every morning like this.' He told her once they broke apart.

She giggled 'I love you.'

'I love you too.'

They grinned at each other and kissed again.

'Did I tell you Ron and Hermione got back yesterday?'

Harry's sleepy state vanished instantly 'No, is everything OK?'

Ginny grimaced 'I don't think Hermione's parents took it very well. They are staying in Australia for another month before returning. They want Hermione to go home when they're back.'

Harry ran his hand through her hair 'I suppose that's understandable. It can't be easy to hear the last year has been a lie. I'm sure they'll be OK once they're back.'

'I hope you're right. Hermione is a bit upset. I think she was looking forward to seeing you but then after we told her what happened she locked herself in Ron's room and hasn't come out since.'

'I'll talk to her.' He promised.

'Thank you' Ginny was genuinely worried about their friend, right now though, she wanted to enjoy her morning. 'Anyway, where were we?' She asked huskily leaning down for another kiss. She purred as he deepened it, they were too lost with themselves to notice the footfall from the stairs.

They didn't realise that Mrs Weasley had just walked in on them. She had her hands on her hips but the trademark glare that would usually accompany the stance had been replaced by a brilliant warm smile.

'I take it this means you two are done sneaking around, or have you just happened to fall on him Ginny?' She barely contained her laughter as the two jumped apart, forgetting their legs were tangled together and fell to the floor in a heap.

They both looked up at her sheepishly 'Morning mom'

'Morning Molly, I suppose the cats out the bag now isn't it.' He was embarrassed to be caught like this, but he still couldn't keep the smile off his face.

Molly laughed 'The cats been out of the bag a bit now.' Ginny threw her a look 'Don't think me and your father didn't notice the two of you sneaking around the last few weeks.' She told her knowingly.

'Come on then how about some breakfast' with that she walked into the kitchen.

Harry and Ginny looked at each other bemused 'I thought I was done for.' He admitted.

'She might still poison your breakfast' Ginny pointed out. Harry laughed as he got up dragging Ginny to her feet with him. They entered the kitchen hand in hand and sat down next to each other, no point hiding now.

'So, mom' said Ginny slowly, glancing quickly at Harry 'You don't mind about us?'

Molly tutted 'Of course not dear' she exasperated 'We just want you both to be happy and you do seem happy when you come back from whatever you've been doing when sneaking around.' She said with a twinkle in her eyes akin to Fred and George's.

Ginny blushed 'Oh yes, dear we know you've been sneaking into each other's bedrooms' Ginny's mouth fell open in shock and Harry paled. Molly laughed again 'The looks on your faces. I was young once too you know. I trust you won't go too far before you are ready.'

It was all true of course, Harry and Ginny had been sneaking into each other's rooms where they would sleep until dawn and then go back to their own room before anyone else was up. They hadn't gone as far as you might be thinking even if it was definitely getting that way.

Then Arthur walked in 'Morning all'

'Morning' they all chorused.

'Ah so you're ready to reveal your, not so secret relationship are you?' He asked noticing the two of them sat together holding each other's hand. They both nodded shyly.

'They weren't being quite so subtle when I caught them snogging on the sofa.' Said Molly wickedly.

'Muuum' moaned Ginny.

Arthur laughed 'As long as you are both happy.'

'We are. Thanks dad.'

'So, how long have you two actually been together?' asked Molly.

'We started dating about a month before Dumbledore died. I ended up breaking it off during the funeral though.' Said Harry sadly.

'Why?' asked Arthur, they seemed so happy he couldn't see what they would have fought over to break up.

'Because he's a noble git.' Muttered Ginny ribbing him.

'I didn't want Voldemort to find out about us. When Dumbledore died, I knew I couldn't go back to Hogwarts and because of the trace Ginny couldn't come with me. It was the only way I thought I could keep her safe.' Said Harry earnestly trying to make them believe that it wasn't his preferred choice. He looked down at the table and added quietly 'It was the hardest thing I'd ever done.'

'Ah, we can't blame you for that son.' Said Arthur, Harry looked up gratefully at him. It meant a lot to him that they understood his reasons.

'So, when did you get back together then?' asked Molly

'Well to be honest mom, I knew this muppet's reasons for breaking up with me so I never really thought of us as broken up. I still cared about him, if anything I cared even more about him.'

'It's true what they say, absence does make the heart grow fonder.' Said Harry with a small smile squeezing Ginny's hand.

Ginny leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder 'It's why I wanted to see him so much after the battle. Sorry I argued with you so much mom.'

'It's Ok dear, why didn't you tell me?'

'I was scared he might not feel the same. I was worried that he had moved on, I know it seems stupid now. When I saw him when he had woken up from the battle we went to the Astronomy tower to talk.'

'When she says talk, what she means is slap me and yell at me for being alive' joked Harry.

She leaned off him and punched him in the arm 'Prat' then settled back on his shoulder. The two elder Weasley's grinned at their interplay. 'I didn't hit and yell at you for being alive,' she said as if it speaking to a five year old 'I did that for making me think you were dead. Once I had calmed down though we spoke about us and well we started again from there.'

'Why haven't you ever said anything?' asked Arthur 'You can't really think we would mind?'

'It's not that, we felt a bit guilty for having something to be happy about so soon after the battle, especially with Fred dying.' Answered Harry quietly.

'It still wouldn't have mattered.' Smiled Molly, then a wicked look crossed her face 'Can you keep this a secret until Sunday Lunch tomorrow?' The two of them looked at her quizzically 'I want to be there when you tell your brothers.' They both groaned as Arthur laughed.

'Well I know where the twins got their wicked streak from.' This caused the three Weasley's to howl with laughter.

'What are you all laughing at?' Asked a grumpy looking Ron who just walked in as he took his seat at the table.

'You'll find out tomorrow.' said Molly with a wink at Harry and Ginny.

Ron was in too much of a bad mood to try and pry the answer out of them. He dug straight into his breakfast helping himself to sausage, bacon and eggs. Thinking he might as well get the bottom of whatever he was walking into with Hermione, Harry broached the subject 'How was Australia Ron?'

Ron looked up at him with pain etched across his face and he sighed 'The first few weeks were great. We were treating it like a mini holiday. We looked for her parents while still managing to have fun and see some of the landmarks. You know like Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Australian Dragon reserve.'

'Australia has a dragon reserve?' asked Harry.

'Yeah in the outback it's amazing. Anyway, after a couple of weeks we finally found her parents.' His mood darkened slightly. 'We arranged for Hermione to get an appointment with them at the end of the day and went to meet them.

'Hermione was a nervous wreck. When she saw them up close, she almost broke down in tears. We managed to get them into the back room of the building and locked the door so we couldn't be interrupted. That's when Hermione lifted the spell.' Ron winced.

'That bad?' asked Harry sympathetically.

'Oh yeah and some. At first they were happy to see Hermione they pulled her into a hug and I honestly thought everything was going to be alright. Then something happened. It was as if getting their old memories back made them temporarily forget the new ones, when they realised what had happened though they got angry.

'They asked Hermione to explain what happened. So, she did. I got to tell you Harry I thought McGonagall had a temper. It was nothing on these two.' Harry scrunched his face up.

'I tried to stick up for her when they started accusing her of bewitching them, then they got angry at me and told me to leave. Hermione said I should go so I went to the hotel. Hermione turned up two hours later crying.

'She told me that they had eventually accepted her reasons, however, they were still angry at her for not talking to them about it first. They felt as if they had the right to make their own minds up on this. They then said that they were staying in Australia for around another month and it would be best if we could leave them to it so they can process everything.

'We had an awkward dinner with them a couple of days after. They were polite but still distant. At one point I used magic to summon my coat, I had almost forgotten it when we were leaving their house, and they flinched. They were terrified of it.

'Hermione has agreed to live with them when they come back home before she goes to Hogwarts. She then told them that we were going home in a few days to set everything up for them. They are coming by plane. It was our plan to travel with them. When they said they wanted some time on their own we thought we would come back and pick it up here.'

Harry let out a long sigh. 'Is Hermione coming down today?'

'I don't know she's still crying upstairs when I left. I honestly don't know how to help.' He looked at Harry pleadingly.

'Do you want me to talk to her?'

'Would you? You have a better time not needling her than me.'

Harry laughed 'Tell me something I don't know. Do you think she'll eat breakfast?'

Ron just gave a non-committal shrug, so Harry just grabbed two cups of tea off the side and made his way up to Ron's room. If she's hungry she can come down or we can go to a cafe.

When he reached the room Harry awkwardly knocked on the door with his elbows spilling some of the tea. Shit that's hot. He was wiping the bit that got on the floor up with his sock when a muffled voice said 'Enter'. He just as awkwardly opened the door spilling even more tea on his hand 'Ah Bollocks' he exclaimed.

'Harry?'

He looked up at his bushy haired friend who had just turned around from looking out of the window. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her hair was (if at all possible) even more frizzy 'Hey, Hermione. Tea?' he asked raising up a mug.

She smiled slightly and nodded. He took it over to her and then sat on the bed where she joined him. They sat in silence for a while drinking their tea then Harry turned to look at her. She had her head bowed and was staring at her cup which she was using to heat both hands. Might as well get right into it.

'So, I hear your parents didn't take it so well?' he asked gently. Hermione just shook her head. 'Do you want to talk about it?' She shook her head again. 'You know if it was me brooding, you'd be banging down the door trying to get me to talk.' She smiled at that, which he took as encouragement to continue. Changing the subject he decided to tell her about the events since she left.

'You know I'm officially an Auror now?'

'You are?' she asked surprised. He nodded 'You must be the youngest Auror in history.'

'You'll have to look it up for me.' She elbowed him and he mockingly rubbed his arm.

'What about your NEWTs or the academy?'

'They're desperate for people.'

'Are you sure this is something to rush though Harry? You're risking your life.'

'What else is new?' She snorted. 'I was meant to take a test yesterday to go straight into the Aurors or the academy – depending on the result – that's been cancelled now and my involvement in the attack yesterday stood as accreditation.'

'Did you catch many Death Eaters?'

'We caught a few of those involved. The thing is though, I don't think they were Death Eaters.'

'Really?' she asked intrigued.

'Yeah it was too organised an attack and no one was killed. It didn't feel right to be Death Eaters. The last time the Death Eaters did anything without Voldemort, all they did was cause destruction at the Quidditch World Cup, there was no plan.'

'That doesn't mean it's not them this time.'

'No but the whole thing was being controlled by Fenir Greyback. Do you really think Death Eaters would have him in charge?'

'No, I don't.' agreed Hermione quietly like she was trying to put the pieces together. 'Remember that mission Remus was on for the order? You don't think that group of werewolves had something to do with this?'

Harry beamed at her 'There's a reason we've gotten on for so long Hermione. Yes I think they are involved and I think they're big players too.'

'How are you going to find out about them?'

'I'm going to ask McGonagall if I can look through Dumbledores old memories to see if he ever recorded Remus' reports. Either that or try and track down that chap from Remus' funeral.'

'Why him?'

'He knew Remus and like I said he had that same scruffy aurar that Remus had. The kind of aurar where he can't hold down a job so has to live on the cheap.'

Understanding dawned on the young witch's face 'You think he's a werewolf.'

'Yeah I do, while I'd rather not bother him if I can, I might have no choice.' He drained his cup and stood up. 'Well I'm going to head back down to my beautiful girlfriend you coming?'

'Yeah I'll be – wait what?' Harry raised his eyebrows at her so she chucked a pillow at him 'You and Ginny are back together?'

'Yeah, to be honest we have been since I woke up after the battle' she chucked another pillow at him.

'Why didn't you tell me?' She demanded.

'We just wanted to keep it between ourselves for a while. It didn't feel like the right time with Fred and all that.'

She rolled her eyes. 'So why are you telling now?'

'We were going to tell everyone anyway when you and Ron showed up, then Molly caught us kissing this morning.' Hermione snorted 'Can you keep this to yourself until tomorrow though? We're telling all her brothers at Lunch.'

She smirked at him 'That'll be fun.' He chucked a pillow back at her.

'So, Harry what happened on Friday?' asked Bill from across the table at Sunday Lunch. Everyone went quiet. Not all of them had heard the full story yet.

'Well I had a test booked in to become an Auror or join the academy if I failed.'

'You had the chance to join the Aurors without going through the academy?' asked Ron

Harry nodded 'They are desperate for people. For the mission on Friday there were only twenty-one people and that includes me.' Ron whistled. 'Anyway I turned up for the test and I knew there was something wrong, there was press everywhere and people running around.

'I got to the Auror office and got chucked straight into a meeting room…' Harry continued to tell the rest of the story. '… So I apparated to St Mungo's and watched over the injured for a couple of hours before they could get their own security in place.'

'I'm surprised the Aurors don't do that kind of thing themselves.' Said Charlie.

'If we had enough people we would, there are so few of us we are having to outsource security. It's not the best, things will get better though.'

'So, when's your test?' Asked Ron.

'Don't need it mate I start tomorrow.' Everyone apart from Ginny and Hermione looked at him in awe (they were the only two who already knew).

'Bloody hell mate, that's great news.'

'Well like I said they're desperate.'

'Nah you'll be great Harry. Let's face it you were born for this.' Encouraged George. Everyone expressed their agreement with that.

'Thanks.'

'Although only you could go for a test which turns into a full-on attack on Hogsmeade.' Smirked George.

'I do keep saying I don't go looking for trouble, it finds me.' Said Harry in mock exasperation.

'Yeah right' said Ginny sarcastically. 'Just make sure you stay safe I don't fancy a trip to St Mungos.'

'Why do you care squirt? Something you would like to tell us?' Teased Bill. There's no way he's ready for this thought Harry.

'Well actually there is.' Bill, Charlie and Percy all froze. The piece of chicken on Charlie's fork was suspended between plate and mouth for so long it dropped back down. George just grinned evilly. It was this that worried Harry, he could handle the curse breaker, dragon handler and former Ministerial clerk. The prankster was something else entirely.

'Me and Harry are together.' She declared happily to the room giving him a kiss on the lips as proof then rested her head on his shoulder smiling brilliantly. Harry had his own goofy smile in place.

'O 'ow wonderful' Exclaimed Fleur dreamily.

'What? When?' spluttered Charlie.

'Since before Dumbledore died.' Responded Ginny.

'And we're only just hearing about this now.' Demanded Bill.

'Well we were split up for a while.' Sighed Ginny frowning.

'What did you do Potter?' Growled Charlie 'And how did you convince her to take you back?'

Ginny started to respond 'I asked him.' Said Charlie pointedly.

Harry rested his hand on the small of Ginny's back to calm her 'I didn't think it was a good idea to have a girlfriend while I was on the run from Voldemort. Especially when that girlfriend would be at Hogwarts where I couldn't be with her.' Harry responded calmly.

Charlie and Bill looked embarrassed at that and looked down at their plates 'Ah yeah, good point.' Admitted Charlie quietly.

'We then got back together after the battle.' Finished Ginny.

Percy hadn't given up yet 'Don't you think you're a bit young for a boyfriend Ginny?'

'Come off it Perce, she's almost of age and to be honest there's no one out there better for her.' said Ron dismissively.

George was still grinning at Harry 'I happen to agree, don't think you're off the hook though Harry, I've got a few pranks in line for you as Ginny's boyfriend.'

Harry cringed 'I thought you would. I'll have to be careful from now on, in case I ask you for the ketchup and it turns me into a toddler.'

George laughed maniacally 'I wouldn't be giving me ideas Potter.'

'Don't you bloody dare George.' growled Ginny.

'If you hurt her Potter you'll still have us all to answer to.' Said Bill warningly, Fleur hit him on the arm which he ignored.

'Bill, if I hurt her – which I never plan to do by the way – do you really think there will be anything left of me to answer once she's through with me?'

The whole table laughed 'Too right Potter.' Confirmed Ginny, as she pulled him into another kiss to a chorus of groans from her brothers.