The End of Book 2

Harry and Ginny both sighed in relief when the second book was finished.

"So…do we start book 3?" Bill asked.

"Let's do what we did for this one." Molly said. "That way any lectures can be said and everyone can reflect on what happened."

She had looked pointingly at Sirius and Harry.

"So, dinner, break, and bed?" Ron suggested

"Sounds good." Arthur said.

Molly got up to go cook. Ginny got up to help, but her brothers gained up and pulled her aside to talk.

Harry got up to go see if either Ginny or the brothers needed help.

0000

"Why didn't you tell us?" Charlie asked his sister. "Or allow Mum or Dad to say something?"

"I was trying to put it behind me." Ginny said. "I'm not proud of what happened."

"And why didn't you tell us the teasing was bothering you?" Ron asked.

"You know we only do it…" Fred stated.

"…in good fun." George finished his twin's sentence.

"You've never listened to anyone before." Ginny argued.

"Is everything alright?" Harry asked as he joined them not sure which side to take.

"Just trying to get Ginny to understand that she could ALWAYS come to us rather than a possessed book." Bill said.

"I've already learned my lesson Bill." Ginny told him. "And that experience had helped me grow up a bit. If I need anything from ANY of you, that includes you Harry, I'll ask for it."

"Well, you guys seem to have this conversation under control." Harry said before noticing his godfather had left the room. "I'm going to go find Sirius."

Harry left the room and found Sirius in the room with the tapestry looking out the window.

The teen checked the coast and upon seeing that it was clear, closed the door behind him.

"You okay Padfoot?" Harry asked.

"I just found out you were nearly killed two years in a row before I met you after 12 years" Sirius informed the boy to hint the answer. "Do you have ANY idea how lucky you were that Fawkes was there?"

"I do and I'm EXTREMELY grateful to that phoenix." Harry said before getting a defiant stance. "but if I had to redo that scene, I'd do it all over again. I don't regret killing that monster and saving Ginny."

"You could have been killed." Sirius reminded him.

"I hadn't had much to live for at the time." Harry argued. "I didn't know you or Professor Lupin then. All that had mattered was that the basilisk get killed and find a way to save Ginny. She had a loving family. I didn't at the time."

Sirius sighed and ran a hand through his hair shocking himself at using one of James' habits.

"I should have been there for you" Sirius admitted. "Maybe then you wouldn't have that death wish you seem to have."

"Sirius. I got rid of that subconscious one the minute I told you that I believed you in the shack." Harry said hugging his godfather.

KNOCK KNOCK

The two pulled away.

"Come in" Sirius said.

The Weasley brothers entered.

"We'd like a word with Harry" Bill said.

"Okay. But I'd like a word with your sister." Sirius said.

The two teens were switched out and Harry went out to the hall with the brothers leaving Ginny and the convict alone.

"What's up Sirius?" She asked looking anywhere but him.

"I think you know" Sirius said before smiling. "I don't blame you what happened. "It's as the book said: Voldemort had hoodwinked many older and wiser wizards. Got one of my best friends."

"Thanks Sirius" She said looking relieved.

"Oh…" Sirius said jokingly. "And…if you and Harry wanted to date…you'd have my blessing"

Ginny went bright red.

Meanwhile,

To Harry's horror, the brothers had brought Hermione into the talk as well.

"Harry. I want you to do us all a favor and not to do something like that again." Bill said.

"Save your sister from certain death?" Harry asked.

"He means lie to us about what happened." Ron said.

"I didn't lie!" Harry said.

"Lying through omission is still lying." Hermione said. "You said NOTHING to us about the bite."

"Because I didn't want you to worry." Harry said. "Ron had looked on the verge of a nervous breakdown as it was when he pulled Ginny through that hole. As did Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as well as McGonagall when we entered the office. What was I supposed to say? 'Oh. By the way, I was nearly killed by a basilisk?'"

"We're interested in WHY you didn't…

"…feel the need to…"

"…mention your near sacrifice in…"

"…saving the school from…"

"….more basilisk attacks." The twins swapped mid-sentence making Harry feel like he was watching a tennis match.

"You REALLY want to know?" Harry asked.

All six others nodded.

"Having people caring about me was and is still new to me." Harry explained. "I lived ten years with the Dursleys and thanks to these books, you know what that's like. Then I turn around and everyone's interested in what I do to what I had for breakfast. That type of lifestyle change does not happen overnight and this constant going back and forth doesn't help. Now, maybe if I was able to spend 365 days in the wizarding world, the transition might be easier, but we'll never know because I'm stuck going back to a place filled with people who could care less if I'm dead or alive."

"Like what you said at the end of that year." Ron recalled. "The Dursleys would be furious with you for surviving the number of times you could have died."

"I'm not used to people trying to protect me after spending 10 years fending for myself." Harry concluded. "And when people do show they care, at first it was a bit uncomfortable. That's why I never told anyone."

"What about now?" Hermione asked having never considered the culture shock Harry had suffered every year.

"It's not as uncomfortable, it just depends on who's doing it." Harry said. "Sirius…I'm all for it. He's my godfather so it makes sense. Your parents…I expect it, but it's still a little weird having your best mate's Mum hug you."

"Well, from now on, tell us" Hermione said. "That way, we can beat up anyone who tries to hurt you."

"Do you think I can't take care of that myself?" Harry asked raising his eyebrows at her.

"With as many times as…"

"…you end up in the hospital wing?" the twins asked.

"Touché." Harry admitted.

"He shouldn't need to tell us Hermione." Ron said.

"Thank you Ron" Harry said.

"Because he's not going on another big adventure like that alone ever again" Ron added.

"What?!" Harry gasped. "Guys. No! Diggory was killed because Voldemort only wanted me. He'll kill anyone else who joins me."

"We're with you every step of the way, like it or not." Hermione said putting her index finger on Harry's chest pushing him against the wall. "I've noticed every year that the big confrontation is in June so we spend September through May studying our arses off…"

"Hermione!" Fred and George gasped.

"And then we'll enforce constant vigilance." She continued. "We, unlike Diggory, WON'T be taken by surprise."

"What she said." Ron said agreeing with her.

"And we'll expand the shop to incorporate some items…"

"…that might help you." Fred and George said.

"And we'll do our part in the Order to make sure you lot don't have too much to worry about when it comes to Death Eaters and the Ministry." Charlie said.

"But we need FULL honesty and cooperation." Bill said.

Harry gave him a look that Bill translated as the younger teen calling him a hypocrite.

"I meant in your little group. I guess you guys and Ginny can be like a junior order. That's where you put all the effort in."

"But for the sake of our health, as well as your own, don't ACT without informing us of your plan" Charlie added. "If you do, Mum will have a fit."

"Okay." Harry said. "Deal."

"DINNER!" Molly called from the kitchen.

The Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione headed for the kitchen as Sirius and Ginny joined them to the journey. However, Bill pulled Harry aside.

"What now?" Harry asked with a sigh.

"Should we have a talk about you playing knight-in-shining-armor to my little sister?" Bill asked.

"Bill. Let me assure you that the reason I had gone to save Ginny was due to my friendship with Ron." Harry said.

However, he wasn't quite sure he believed that himself anymore.

End Part II