Though the curtains were closed morning light filtered in to Ron's attic bedroom, bringing to life the true blazing intensity of the orange paint and posters on the wall. Creeping in last night with just a little ball of light to guide his way hadn't done it justice, but when Harry's eyes fluttered open the next morning a content smile crossed his face.

The existential dread of being at the Dursley's was no more. Like a giant tumour surgically removed the weight he carried was gone, and for the first time in weeks he felt at home. He could be comfortable here at the Burrow, not walking on egg shells or waiting until the coast was clear so he could make his daily escape without encountering his relatives.

The blaze of orange welcomed him back, the peacefulness of a morning sleep in leaving him well rested and restored despite sleeping on an old camp bed. But even that was perfect here. Sure it creaked a little when he moved, yet somehow it was twice as comfortable as his bed in Privet Drive.

Harry jolted as something whacked him across the side of the face, but he did not startle. Here at the Burrow he was safe, and there were only few people who would give him such an unceremonious rousing.

'Oi!' came a loud shout, and the same something struck him a second time. 'No one told me you were here!'

With a long sigh Harry rolled onto his back and looked up to find Ron standing over him holding his pillow. 'I was just thinking about how peaceful it was.'

Ron hit him again, square across the face, and then finally retreated back to the comforts of his own bed. 'Seriously, I've been letting rip all night because I didn't think you were here.'

'Yeah, I know,' Harry complained. 'They're bloody toxic too.'

'Onion soup did a number on me. If I'd known you were here I-'

'Wouldn't have done any different.'

'Not true. I would have lifted the blankets and wafted it over to you. What time did you get in?'

'After midnight.'

'Was Dad home?'

'He came back a little after me. Is he always out this late?'

Ron had a strange look in his eyes, and he clambered to the end of his bed and reached out to close the bedroom door. 'Between you, me and the ghoul, something happened last week. Dad's been out late almost every night, working for the order. Doing shifts at something.'

At this Harry pushed himself up onto his elbow. 'Shifts? Last time the Order was doing something involving shifts it was guarding the Department of Mysteries, and look where that got your dad.'

'Got him a dozen holes in his chest,' Ron murmured, equally concerned. He glanced over at Harry, and lingering awkwardly between them was the unanswered question of the prophecy, information Harry was yet to impart. But thankfully Ron continued. 'Something happened last week. Something big,' he emphasised.

'Like what?'

'Not a clue. Ginny and me, we're listening in on every conversation we can but there's so many bloody people round this place we can't get much of an ear on anything. Fred and George aren't helping either,' he complained. 'Now they're officially in the Order they're suddenly all responsible and mature. Even bloody covered up the hole in Bill's cupboard we used to eavesdrop through, you remember the one? Bastards check it all the time too."

'Do we know anything?'

'Diddly. I reckon they're guarding something again, something else You Know Who's after.'

For a second time the uncomfortable notion of the prophecy came up, but Harry quickly continued on something else.

'Your dad could have been guarding me,' he suggested. 'There's been an Order member or an Auror on me since I arrived at Kings Cross.'

Ron shook his head. 'Nah, Dad wouldn't be shady about it if it was you. It's been going on about a week now, and last night too - something definitely happened last night. Patronus came in, Bill and George just walked out in the middle of dinner. Didn't even say goodbye!'

'The middle of dinner?'

'Yeah. Onion soup, and Charlie's first night home - they just walked out. What?' Ron questioned, seeing Harry's face.

'Sirius was meant to pick me up at seven o'clock last night, but he didn't get to the Dursley's for hours. He's never been late getting to me,' Harry stressed. 'Not once.'

'What do you think happened?'

'He wouldn't tell me anything. But there was...he looked dirty. And he was stressed. I got shitty with him for being late, he got shitty with me, and he's not normally like that. Not with me anyway.'

There was a long pause now, the two of them thinking over what they had each just learned.

'Have you been getting any, you know, uh...any frequencies into You Know Who's head?'

Harry shook his head. 'No. Nice change, I have to say.'

'Still, it'd be nice to know what he's up to.'

'Speaking of nice,' Harry began, changing the subject. 'Your mum and Sirius are getting along.'

Ron burst out laughing with such ferocity that Harry actually jumped a little. It seemed to echo around the little room, rousing Hedwig and Pig from their sleep and sending the latter flying around the room, squawking in alarm. Ron was clutching his stomach, his laughter trailing off a moment until he spiralled again, snorting when he tried to breathe in.

'Are you done?'

'Sorry,' he wheezed, tears in his eyes. He did his best to collect himself, wiping his face before stretching his hand into the air to catch Pig. Still chuckling he stroked the owl until he settled down, and then let him perch happily on his shoulder.

'What's so funny?'

'They're not getting along, you idiot. They're worse than ever!'

'Can't be!' Harry exclaimed. 'She gave him soup last night.'

'Mum feeds everyone, you know that. She'd feed the Muggle postman if she was allowed to let him in.'

'But he stayed,' he implored. 'They were talking about your dad's promotion. They were fine.'

'In front of you. When you're not around they're rowing something terrible. Merlin knows what it's all about. Sirius is pretty good with the Silencing charms, but after their last blow up Mum was banging pots and pans all over the kitchen and Dad went off to the shed.'

'Right,' Harry muttered, knowing that this particular behaviour from Mr and Mrs Weasley was a sure sign of anger. 'Sirius never said a thing.'

'He wouldn't. None of them would, not to you.'

'And you don't know a thing they were rowing about?'

'Not a clue. We're assuming it was something to do with you, they don't seem to fight over anything else.'

With a great sigh Harry sank back into his pillow, trying to think. Was it about him coming to the Burrow? Because Sirius had always seemed fine with that plan, right from the get go, happy to let him see the Weasleys before he came to Grimmauld Place. It was likely the only other reason the two of them fought, which was about how much information Harry was entitled to, Mrs Weasley wanting him kept in the dark like a child and Sirius wanting to treat him like an adult.

Footsteps on the stairs sounded a distraction, and a friendly knock on the door was followed by Ron's call of 'Go away, Ginny!'

The door opened anyway, and Ginny came in.

'Oi!' Ron exclaimed. 'What if I was naked in here?'

'Gross,' Ginny said, miming the motion of vomiting.

Harry sat up again, his heart soaring. This summer coming to the Burrow was about more than seeing Ron and the Weasleys, but about seeing Ginny in particular. He had been surprised by how much he had missed her these last three weeks, that he missed her company and her laughter. Her witty banter and even the way she sometimes playfully provoked him. Not to mention certain other things he'd grown accustomed to since they started dating - holding her hand through the corridors, finding a private corner for a brief kiss or a snog...

'Hey, Ginny.'

Ron intervened quickly, practically leaping up from his bed and diving over to Harry's, pushing him back down while Pig was sent fluttering up into the air with another shrill screech.

'What are you doing?'

'You're not even decent!'

'You troll, I'm fine!'

Ginny just sighed, shaking her head. 'Don't worry about it,' she muttered crossly. She folded her arms as she came inside and then leant against the wall, looking rather sour and unhappy. 'Wasn't going to happen anyway.'

Perplexed, Harry looked at her in confusion. He had after all hoped for a nicer reception from his girlfriend, that she would at least be glad to see him - anything other than the sullen look he was getting now. And so he wracked his brains, wondering what he had done, if perhaps Hedwig hadn't delivered his most recent letter. But the footsteps rising up the stairs distracted him, and bursting through the door came the explanation.

A faint silvery glow appeared first, and then a witch of such breathtaking beauty that the room seemed to become strangely airless. To complete this vision of perfection, she was carrying a heavily laden breakfast tray.

''Arry,' she said in a throaty voice. 'Eet 'as been too long!'

'Fleur?'

She swept over the threshold to set the tray across Harry's knees, and she swooped down to kiss him on each cheek. Ginny's sullen expression darkened.

'Fleur,' he repeated dimly, blinking up at her.

The last time he had even glimpsed her was at Cedric's memorial last month, a moment when he had turned away, not wanting to even say hello to the other Triwizard champions. They had certainly not been in the vicinity of cheek kissing. He looked up at her, dumfounded - his brain felt like it was short circuiting.

Fleur Delacour...at the Burrow. It did not make sense. He was surely dreaming. Maybe having a stroke.

''Arry,' she said in delight, her hand lingering on his cheek. 'I weesh you had said 'ello at Cedreec's memorial, or stayed for the reception. I 'ad been longing to see you.'

'Err...'

'Eet would 'ave been so lovely to see you, but Victor and I understand.'

'What...what are you doing here?'

Fleur beamed at him and gave a tinkling laugh. 'Do you not know?'

Her great blue eyes widened and she looked reproachfully at Ginny, who said, 'He literally just got here.'

Fleur turned back to Harry, swinging her silvery sheet of hair so that it whipped Ginny across the face. 'Bill and I are going to be married.'

'Oh,' said Harry blankly. He could not help but notice Ginny rolling her eyes. 'Wow. Er - congratulations!'

She swooped down upon him and kissed him again. 'Enjoy your breakfast 'Arry,' she said warmly, gesturing to the tray on his lap. 'Ve are to have much time to spend togezz'a this summer.'

Still in sheer disbelief Harry watched as she twirled around and swept out of the room, her silvery hair trailing behind her as if moving separately to the rest of her body. She left the three of them behind in absolute silent, and then Ron shook his head like a dog shaking off bath water.

'Don't you get used to her if she's staying in the same house?'

'Well you do,' said Ron. 'But if she jumps out at you unexpectedly, like then...'

'It's pathetic,' Ginny said impatiently, and Harry gained an immediate explanation for her bad mood.

'Bill told mum and dad months ago they were seeing each other,' Ron divulged. 'Reckon they hoped it would fizzle out. Apparently it's pretty serious.'

'Apparently.'

'Mum's going to put a stop to it if she can, I bet you anything.'

'How's she going to manage that?'

'She keeps trying to get Tonks round for dinner,' Ginny answered. 'I think she's hoping Bill will fall for her instead. I hope he does, I'd much rather have her in the family.'

'That's not going to happen,' he commented, knowing that Tonks and Lupin had it bad for one another.

'Yeah, no bloke in his right mind's going to fancy Tonks when Fleur's around,' Ron interjected. 'I mean, Tonks is OK-looking when she isn't doing stupid things to her hair and her nose, but-'

'She's a damn sight nicer than Phlegm.'

'Fleur's alright once you know her,' Harry commented, trying to be diplomatic, and frankly he felt sorry for Fleur being ganged up on like this.

'I suppose you like the way Phlegm says "'Arry" do you?' asked Ginny scornfully.

'No,' said he, wishing he hadn't spoken. 'I'm just saying, Bill wouldn't stand a chance with Tonks.'

'What's that supposed to mean?' she questioned, and realising she looked offended Harry hastened to clarify.

'She's got it bad for someone else. And that's all I'll say,' he insisted, raising his voice insistently when Ron and Ginny's eyes bulged.

'Who?' Ginny demanded. She came forward and shoved Ron aside, forcing herself between him and Harry. She helped herself to a piece of his bacon. 'Tell me.'

Harry just looked at her, unable to help the smile that crossed his face. 'I didn't know you were such a gossip.'

'I'm not. I would never. Now tell me.'

'I can't. I'm not supposed to know.'

'Go on,' Ron added, he too reaching over and taking a piece of bacon. 'Tell us.'

'Tell us,' Ginny repeated. 'Tell your best friend, and your girlfriend.'

'You can't use that against me.'

'I can do whatever I want.'

'I'm not telling you.'

Switching tactic Ron and Ginny turned to one another, ignoring him. 'How would he even know?' Ron pondered.

'He saw Tonks a fair bit at St Mungos, when he was visiting Sirius.'

'Maybe a Healer. Or one of the Aurors!' Ron said excitedly.

'No, stop!' Harry protested.

'But that's not interesting,' Ginny pressed, eyeing Harry critically. 'He'd tell us if it was just some Auror. It's gotta be juicy...someone we know.'

'Seriously, stop - you can't just -'

'Grimmauld Place,' Ron said suddenly. 'Tonks visited while he was at Grimmauld Place.'

'Can't be Sirius, they're cousins.'

'Some families are like that.'

'Gross, it's not Sirius!' Harry protested.

Ron and Ginny stopped, both turning back to Harry and looking at him.

'It's not me either! Quit it, alright. It's not anyone's business. If this got out you'd scare them both off.'

Ginny's expression changed, and when she sat up a little straighter Harry's heart sank. There were few people they knew who might be scared off by this kind of thing becoming public knowledge.

'Ginny. Don't.'

She shook her head, feigning innocence. 'It's alright,' she said quietly. 'I won't breathe a word.'

'Oi!' Ron prodded his sister. 'Who?'

'You can't say anything,' Harry implored. 'It's just a rumour.'

'Must be a pretty solid rumour for you to put any faith in it.'

Ron burst to his feet and seized Harry's plate of breakfast, hurrying away and then wrenching open the curtains on the window. 'Tell me who it is,' he demanded, holding the plate of food out the window. 'Or this goes.'

Sick of dealing with her brother Ginny made to leave.

'Hey,' he said quickly. 'It's nice to see you.'

Getting the hint she turned around, and as Ron threatened again to drop the plate she returned to Harry's side. Not caring that Ron was there she kissed him, and it felt like an old ache in his chest had finally found relief.

'It's nice to see you too,' she murmured, her hand lingering on his shoulder as she kissed him a second time. 'But I'll be wanting a proper snog once you've brushed your teeth.'

'I'll...' he started, trailing off when Ron visibly gagged. 'I'll get on to that.'

Looking pleased she swung her long red hair around in a very good imitation of Fleur and pranced across the room with her arms held aloft like a ballerina. 'Ron, you better come downstairs if you want breakfast.'

Making a show of it she dramatically closed the door behind her, and then her footsteps echoed as she hurried off downstairs.

'Tell me who Tonks fancies.'

'No. Now give me back my breakfast before I snitch on you to your mum.'

Heeding the threat Ron scowled as he brought the plate back inside, returning it to him. 'How come you get breakfast in bed?

'You said it. Your mum thinks the sun shines out of my arse.'

'Mmm, well, let her keep thinking that a little longer,' Ron muttered, perking up a little when Harry gestured for him to take some breakfast. 'Go on then, where's this Auror Investigation thing?'

'In my trunk,' he answered, gesturing to it in invitation.

When Harry gestured to his trunk in invitation he flung it open, riffling through everything until he pulled out the binder and sank back onto Harry's camp bed beside him. Sitting cross legged as Harry ate and he flipped open the binder and began rifling through, eyes wide with interest and fascination, the occasional exclamation as one of the scenes appeared. Ron tried reaching for another piece of bacon, but this time Harry batted his hand away.

'You'll get grease all over my parchment.'

'Go on, I won't.'

'I know you, Ron.'

With a great grumble he set the binder aside and took a piece of bacon, getting up and beginning to dress. Apparently the lure of more breakfast food waiting downstairs was enough to get him moving.

'You figured it out yet?'

'No,' Harry said sourly, glaring at the binder. 'I'm more confused than ever. I'm looking into his bowling team though.'

'What's bowling?'

'It's a Muggle sport. You roll a ball and try to knock down some pins.'

'Sounds stupid.'

'So does Quidditch when you actually explain it.'

'Scrimgeour going to let you in then?'

'I've applied. They still have to accept me.'

'Dragon shit! You're Harry Potter, you don't apply! They get on their hands and knees and beg.'

Harry glanced up. 'I can get you an application form too.'

As he suspected there was more to Ron's enquiry. Still getting dressed Ron tried to be nonchalant about it, shrugging his shoulders and waving him off, but Harry could tell he wanted to apply also.

'Gotta get my OWLs back first,' he worried, slumping back down onto his own bed.

'Speaking of, I met our new Potions teacher last night.'

Ron looked up, his brow furrowed. 'You really do get around with folk,' he teased. 'Who is it then?'

'Slughorn. Sirius brought me to meet him, to convince him to come back.'

'Dad told me about him, reckons he's bit of a knob. You won him over then?'

Harry nodded, briefing explaining what had went on before divulging information that would be a relief to Ron too. 'He'll take an Acceptable grade through to sixth year as long as you'll do Remedial Classes. So we're in with a chance at least.'

'More of a chance than with...' Ron trailed off awkwardly. 'Well, the other one.'

'You can say his name.'

'Sure, but the world's a better place when you pretend that greasy git doesn't exist.' A brief paused followed this before Ron continued. 'Are you really not going to tell me who Tonks fancies?'

'I'm really not.'

'I'm your best mate,' he pleaded. 'I pushed Goyle into a swamp for you.'

'That was for you.'

'The detentions sure as shit weren't for me. Tell me,' he implored. 'Tell your best friend. The Padfoot to your Prongs.'

Harry scoffed. 'Like you're as cool as Sirius?'

'Like you are?'

'He's giving me his motorbike.'

Ron shrugged, not really understanding it. 'You're a rotten friend,' he declared, getting back to his feet and crossing the room to the door. 'I'm starving, see yah later.'

While Ron thundered downstairs Harry stayed where he was. He normally quite enjoyed a rowdy Weasley breakfast, but nor would he say no to breakfast in bed. Sitting quietly he finished up, still mentally coming around to the idea that he was back at the Burrow again. That his unceremonious awakening was from Ron and the arrival of breakfast, not his muggle alarm waking him so he had enough time to get out of the house before his Uncle came down for breakfast.

When he dressed and came downstairs he was met by a rowdy bunch of Weasleys, Ron and Ginny engaged in a heated negotiation for the last sausage, while Fleur and Charlie were talking animatedly about the Welsh Green dragon she had thwarted during the Triwizard Tournament. At his usual place at the table Mr Weasley was reading the newspaper and turning out the noise of his family, while in the far corner of the kitchen was George and Mrs Weasley. Harry stopped in his tracks and looked at them, taken aback by the frantic way George was riffling through a stack of parchment.

'...need to cure for two weeks, or the Doxy Eggs will spoil and we'll lose hundreds!'

'It's alright dear, we'll find it.'

'I know we paid him, Mum! I kno-'

'Yes dear I know too, I saw the-'

'I gave the money orders to Bill, he swore he dropped them off.'

'Yes, he did.'

'Really Mum,' George implored. 'If he doesn't give us this next order then we'll lose hund-'

'Oh George,' she said in exasperation, seizing the stack of parchment and wrenching it out of his hands, ignoring his panicked shout. 'Now you listen here. You tell this fellow he's going to fill your order, or you'll find another supplier.'

'There is no other supplier,' he whispered, on the verge of tears. 'How many idiots out there will milk Acromantulas?'

'Then pay him twice, dear,' she said patiently. 'Pay him again, in cash, and when he receives the first payment consider it an advance for your next order. I know you have enough to cover it.'

George looked at her, astonished. 'Pay him again,' he breathed. 'I can pay him again.'

'Yes dear. Now off to Gringotts, and you be careful carrying around that amount of gold,' Mrs Weasley warned, nudging him towards the back door which he promptly burst out of in a sprint. 'Are you coming home for dinner? George? George - are you coming home for dinner?'

'What's going on there? Harry asked in concern. The last time he'd seen George looking that stressed was the day Ginny got taken into the Chamber.

'Oh, just trouble with an invoice,' Mrs Weasley assured him, taking his empty plate before he could protest. 'Business is booming, they can hardly keep up. How was breakfast, love?'

'It was great, thank you.'

'There's tea,' she said, gesturing to the stove. 'Help yourself.'

'I will, thanks,' he said, trailing off when from the corner of his eye he saw a fork go flying right past Mr Weasley's nose. Finally paying attention to his rowdy children he lowered his newspaper and leant across the table with his own fork, scolding Ron and Ginny who were still arguing.

'Right you two, that's it. This sausage is mine.'

'Wha- no Dad!'

'No, we'll share it!' Ron protested.

With a great motion Mr Weasley jabbed his fork into the sausage and then settled back into his chair, looking at his two youngest with a smug expression. 'That'll teach you to not get along.'

Ron looked up at Harry. 'You got any sausage left?'

Mrs Weasley was taking her seat at the table, beginning to look through the stack of parchment she had seized from George. 'Ronald, if you want more food you know how to turn on the stove.'

Ron was clearly tempted, and he looked at Ginny. 'You want more?'

'Go on.'

He acquiesced, getting up and beginning to cook more food, he and Ginny somehow going from loud arguing to getting along and cooking her breakfast. Sitting opposite her Harry waited until she caught his eye, and checking that neither of her parents were watching he mouthed the words I brushed my teeth.

Ginny grinned, catching his drift. Relaxing back in her chair she gave him a knowing smile. From the corner of his eye he noticed a flutter of movement, an owl arriving at the open kitchen window. But when he looked up he recognised the owl instantly, and his heart sank into the pit of his stomach.

They found him here already?

He lurched to his feet, but closest to the window Ron had beaten him to it, and was already untying the piece of string around the owl's leg.

'It's for you,' he declared loudly, looking the envelope over. He continued before Harry could snatch it away from him, and his voice felt ten times louder when he said, 'It's from the Diggorys.'

Instantly it felt like a spotlight was shone on him, everyone looking up.

'Lovely,' Fleur said warmly, picking up the pot of tea and filling her and Charlie's cups. 'Zey have written to me too. And Victor!'

Trying to look unbothered Harry quickly took the envelope, muttering thanks as he turned away. Feeling like he was holding a live grenade he swiftly left the kitchen and headed for the stairs, but he could feel the eyes of everyone following, and he caught a glimpse of Mr and Mrs Weasley exchanging a loaded glance.

He managed to make it halfway up the stairs to Ron's room before he slowed to a stop. His whole body was visibly trembling, and his stomach heaved as he worked to keep breakfast down. Trying to catch his breath he looked at the envelope.

Mr Harry Potter.

Number 4, Privet Drive

Little Whinging, Surrey.

Merlin...naively he had hoped the letters would stop after he left Surrey, but he should have known the owls would have no trouble finding him once he left. He'd learned long ago you couldn't outrun an owl with a letter.

His hands were shaking so hard he almost couldn't read the return details on the back.

Kindly return to Amos and Deborah Diggory.

It took a minute or so, but panic and guilt receded while anger seeped in to take its place, an emotion far easier to manage. This bullshit was still going on. He hadn't replied to any of their letters, the Diggorys clearly couldn't take a hint.

The sound of ascending footsteps spurred him into action, and he hurried up the remaining stairs to Ron's bedroom where he threw open the lid of his trunk. Rummaging around he unwrapped the bundle of his winter cloak in which his dad's wooden box was safely kept, and he unceremoniously shoved the letter into the very depths of the charmed container, stowing it away with the others.

He slammed the lid of his trunk closed, but it didn't help. Anger continued to swell up within him, telling him to kick something, to scream at the top of his lungs until he was hoarse. To finally write back and tell the Diggorys to leave him the fuck alone, that he never wanted to hear from them again.

Three letters with no reply, so they send a fourth?

The ascending footsteps were still coming, and so he hastily corrected his expression.

'Harry?' he heard Ginny calling. Moments later she was standing in the threshold. 'Are you alright?'

He hated that question. Even from her.

'Yeah,' he said lightly, turning around to face her. 'I'm fine.'

Ginny was not fooled, not that he expected her to be. She appeared to hesitate, likely knowing from her own experience that being pushed was not helpful. 'Fleur said the Diggory's have be-'

'I don't care what they're writing to Fleur.'

His tone of voice was the only hint Ginny needed. She held his gaze, clearly worried about him, but to her credit she left it at that. A small nod was all she gave, for which he was immensely grateful. He did not want to talk about this. Not even with her.

'Should I tell Ron to cook more bacon?'

His head jerked into a nod, a response without thought. Anything to end this. 'Yep.'

Still Ginny lingered, just a moment longer, but then she left.

Grateful that she was gone Harry sank down onto the camp bed, feeling weary and exhausted. This was not how today was meant to go. He glared at his trunk, and seething anger began to return once more.

He wished he had the guts to set those damn letters on fire. He'd almost done it at the Dursley's, had stolen a cigarette lighter from Dudley's room and waited until everyone was asleep before sneaking down to the kitchen, figuring he'd do it over the sink where running water was nearby.

But as he struck the flame he suddenly couldn't bring it nearer to the envelopes, struck by how irreversible it would be to do this. Once he burned those letters he'd never get them back. And so he had returned to his bedroom where he distracted himself for the rest of the night by conjuring the ball of light with wandless magic. Anything to distract himself from the growing desire to know what was in the letters, a desire at conflict with the guilt and remorse that he feared would never leave him.

'Both of us,' Harry said.

'What?'

'We'll take it at the same time. It's still a Hogwarts victory. We'll tie for it...Let's just take it together.'

Determined that the Diggorys were not going to ruin his return to the Burrow Harry got back to his feet. With a deep breath he fixed a perfectly content expression on his face and went back downstairs to join the Weasleys.

A/N Apologies for the delay with this chapter - I'll post chapter 8 shortly to make up for it. Thanks for the reviews, they're very appreciated!