"Ron! Harry! Get up!" Mr. Weasley called from the kitchen.

They were both already dressed. Ron could not sit still for more than a moment. This was his last chance after the missing eyebrow mistake. He knew the consequences only too well. The rules and dictions of their world were beat into him as a child along with the insecurities and humiliations of the youngest boy. Harry tried to be distracted by him from his current state of worry over Remus.

"You two better hurry up!" Mrs. Weasley yelled.

Harry and Ron trudged down to the kitchen. Anyone would have thought they were on their way to their deaths. Toast was set out on the table as their last meals. It was only Harry, Ron, and Ron's parents sitting around the table sipping tea quietly. Not a word was said about the previous night's events. Harry wanted to ask them where they sent Remus. Once he had passed out, Tonks and McGonagall asked Madame Maxime to send for her carriage so they could return to Hogwarts. Nothing else was known what happened to him.

"Pass me the sugar please," Mr. Weasley said quietly.

Ron passed him the bowl and spread a bit more butter on another piece of toast. A few more cups of tea and a couple more pieces of toast past and it was time to go. Mr. Weasley thought it would be easier to just grab each boy by the elbow and Apparate all of them to the Ministry at once. They both were able to do so, just not legally. They appeared in the small ally that was coldly familiar to them. Mr. Weasley shoved all of them into the telephone booth and dialed 6-2-4-4-2. They followed through all of the security and formalities. The atmosphere was colder than before. Harry could see the fear in everyone's eyes knowing that it was their own Ministry that failed to recognize the threat earlier. Everyone knew that today could be their last and it sickened Harry to think they all relied on him.

"Level 6."

They all walked to the service lift and piled in with several other witches and wizards. There were several paper airplanes looming overhead as they all waited for their respective stops. Mr. Weasley finally maneuvered them all out of the lift and headed down the hall to the Apparition Test Center. Several people looked up and stared as they all walked through the office and past the cubicles. Harry began to get the sensation of being amongst gophers as he walked by with everyone's heads sticking out of the top of their own cubicle. They finally came to a door with "Apparition Test Center" on the front of the door. Mr. Weasley pushed the door open to reveal two old witches bent over their desks going through files almost stacked to the ceiling.

"Good morning," Mr. Weasley said cordially.

"Good morning," they both said in dry, irritable voices.

They scratched away at their papers for another moment. The one on the left with the name plate "Wanda Burnstein" appeared to be in her fifties with graying hair and a small wart forming on her middle knuckle of her left hand. She rubbed her eyes several times and covered her mouth when she yawned. Harry looked beyond their desks and saw there was a second door that led further back into their department.

"Mrs. Blackburn will be with your shortly," Wanda said.

She did not offer them a seat. They had to stand and wait. Luckily, Mrs. Blackburn came out quite quickly. Harry recognized her as one of the witches who came to teach them Apparition at Hogwarts. She appeared pleasant enough and quite courteous to those who did splint a limb.

"Good morning Arthur," she said smiling and shaking his hand.

"Good morning Bonny," he replied. "This is Harry and Ron."

"Yes, I remember Ron. He ended up leaving an eyebrow behind on his last exam. I do say it is hard to find a red eyebrow." Ron made a crooked smile at that. "And I see that you've gotten it fixed, that's wonderful. You must be Harry Potter. I am glad to make your acquaintance. Now, may we get started?"

"I'll be in my office when you two are finished," Mr. Weasley said leaving them behind.

Mrs. Blackburn then pulled two chairs out of her own office and put them to work at filling out some paperwork under the close supervision of the secretaries who were not happy at all to be there. Once they were finished, she took Ron into her office. Harry sat with Wanda while the second secretary, Sanda, went to get more tea. He twiddled his thumbs for sometime before he heard two consecutive POPS from the other side of the door. He watched Wanda and Sanda work through the mountain of files. It appeared to be slow and meticulous work and at the same time useless. Harry did not dwell on their occupation for too long. It was not long until he heard them return with a very pleased Ron walking through the door both eyebrows and all four limbs.

"How did you do?" Harry whispered.

"She had me follow her to the front step of Fred and George's shop. It was really easy since I was determined to wave at them as we left. It was great," he squeaked. "You should have seen their faces. They were so convinced that I wouldn't pass my exam and I would be doomed to a life of the Floo Network."

"Harry," Mrs. Blackburn called to him holding his paperwork.

"Good luck," Ron said.

Harry walked into her office and closed the door behind him. She was sitting at her desk filling in a few lines that were marked "Office Use Only".

"I see you will not be 17 until the end of July," she said.

Harry was surprised she needed to look at his paperwork to know that. It seemed that everyone in their world knew when he was born. He thought it was common knowledge by then. "Yes mem," he answered.

"Oh well," she said. "We license several who are not 17 during the spring. We usually have a set month for this later in the summer. That is why Wanda and Sanda are so backed up right now. They are still trying to get through everyone who passed and failed in the spring along with a few other violations that's happened recently."

"Violations?"

"We have a few people who Apparate without their license and then there are a few other cases of splinting that we have to look into, nothing too serious." She marked a few more boxes on Harry's paper. "Are you ready?"

"I suppose so," Harry answered. He knew that he could Apparate. It was the fact that he didn't entirely enjoy dong it.

"Ok, I am going to Apparate to the front door step of Flourish and Blotts. Do you know where that is?" she asked. Harry nodded. "Once I am gone, I need for you to wait five seconds before you follow me."

"I thought in the spring you have them Apparate from one end of Hogsmeade to another."

"We do but because this is a specially scheduled test we did not have time to prepare for a course like we had in the spring or later in the summer. You'll have to do long distances eventually though. Luckily Diagon Alley is not far from here."

Harry had Apparated from further distances but he did not understand why there would be a change for short notice. He wondered if it was another conspiracy against him by the Ministry but quickly disregarded it. He was being paranoid and he had to stop before it took too much control over him.

"Are you ready?" she asked him. Harry nodded silently once again. "Ok, remember, please wait five seconds."

She was gone in a POP. Harry counted to five. One 1,000, two 1,000, three 1,000, four 1,000 five 1,000 before he thought of the sign to Flourish and Blotts. He thought about the first time he met Lucius Malfoy and when he planted Tom Riddle's diary in Ginny cauldron. . He remembered his meeting with Gilderoy Lockhart who is now locked away in St. Mungo's. His determination grew as he thought about everything in his life. He made it his task and without being licensed he could not…

POP

Harry looked around. People were bustling around him carrying large packages and bags from shop to shop. He looked behind him and saw a sign that read "Flourish and Blotts". He made it. He checked all four limbs, eyebrows, glasses, and even ears. Everything was intact.

"Harry!" Mrs. Blackburn called to him from the doorway of the store. He walked over to where she stood. "If you want to know the truth why I've been having you two Apparate to Diagon Alley is so I could get a few errands done." She gave him a devious smile. "I picked up a gift for my brother at the joke shop and I need to pick up a book here real quick."

"Here's your book Mrs. Blackburn."

"Oh, thank you, that was fast. Ok, with that done, we can be on our way."

"Excuse me," a young woman said bumping into Mrs. Blackburn and Harry as she quickly left the bookstore.

"That's quite alright," Mrs. Blackburn said to her back. "Ok Harry, do you think you can find my office from here?"

"I believe I can," he answered.

POP

Harry took a quick glance around. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. He noticed that Florean's and Ollivander's stores were still boarded up. There was no telling where they were now. He worried about the twins being in Diagon Alley. They were openly allied with Harry and it was even more dangerous since they were secretly manufacturing items for the Ministry. After another moment, Harry Apparated back to the Ministry.

"Congratulations Harry Potter," Mrs. Blackburn said. "You are officially licensed to Apparate. You and Ron can go find Arthur now if you like. I'll finish a few more things with your applications and then I am sure Wanda and Sanda will graciously take the rest from here."

Harry smiled at the thought. He thanked her for her time and exited her office to find Ron sitting quietly with the two secretaries. It was very quiet in the front office. Harry motioned his head to the door and Ron got up and followed him out to not disturb the silence. They found the lift and went to Level 2.

"Where did you end up going?" Ron asked.

"Flourish and Blotts," Harry answered. "She said she was running errands during our tests."

"I know," Ron said. "She ordered a cracker from my brothers and they said they would owl deliver it to her brother."

The doors opened to Level 2. They wove through the Aurors and found Mr. Weasley squeezed into his office. His new office was much larger now that he had a promotion. It seemed just as small since he was squeezed into it with a multitude of files and boxes.

"Is it always this busy on a Sunday?" Harry asked.

"It is on this level," Mr. Weasley answered grabbing his cloak. "Bonny's secretaries are usually here six days a week during the summer to finish up with the spring and summer. They usually end up getting around a month of vacation during the fall and winter though. It's not too bad of a spot to work."

"How exactly did you get us a Sunday test day?" Harry asked. His curiosity had been about to explode all day.

"I had to create a favor from her by pulling a few other people's favors. It's just office politics. Don't worry about it too long. I owe nothing to her and she owes nothing to me now. Come on you two, it's time to get home now. I am sure that your mother's not going to let you two go without one last meal," Mr. Weasley said as they made their way to the lift. "Do you two feel like Apparating back to the Burrow?"

"Sure," they both said.

They went back to the security desk and retrieved their wands. Mr. Weasley made sure everything was in order before he disappeared. Ron followed him next then Harry. Harry ended up turning up at the end of their drive near the broom shed. He could see Ron up towards the house looking for him. Harry thought about trying to Apparate again but decided against it and ran up the path before they thought anything too serious had happened.

"What time is it?" Harry asked.

"It's only about 10:00," Ron said.

"Do you think-"

"Don't even think of it Harry James Potter." Mrs. Weasley was standing in the door with a scowl on her face. It was possibly the first time that she ever looked that displeased with him. "Moody has arranged for you three to have an escort to your relatives' home and then, because you insist, you will be left alone. However, I am not letting you out of this house until tomorrow morning when you can at least have five more round meals."

"Five?" Harry asked Ron quietly.

"Lunch, dunch, dinner, breakfast, and she'll probably pack us a meal to take with us."

"Dunch?"

"She's been planning a send off party for awhile in combination with your birthday. It probably won't be until a lot later tonight. She thinks she won't see you for your birthday and so she's planned your birthday party already. She'll probably fix something else to hold everyone over until the party."

"Is your mum…?"

"Mental?"

"I was going to use the word distraught."

"She's a little of both right now. She's worried about everyone these days. Charlie went back to Romania before we left and Bill and Fleur are honeymooning in Italy. We're leaving tomorrow and then the twins are rarely around anymore and you know how Percy is. That will leave just Ginny here with her. Her family is spreading out and she doesn't know how to deal with it."

Harry stared at Ron for a long time with his mouth slightly opened. Ron did not seem to notice at first. He sat down at the kitchen table and let Pig perch on his shoulder. "What?" Ron asked when Harry had yet to blink in a full minute.

"Did you memorize that or something? Did Hermione say that earlier when I wasn't around or listening and you just happened to remember it word for word? Ron, am I missing something here?"

"Missing what?"

Hermione appeared in the doorway of the kitchen with Crookshanks in her arms. "That you are exemplifying an emotional span larger than a teaspoon," she said in her usual wiser-than-all tone.

"Why thank you little-miss-know-it-all," Ron almost growled. "It is always nice to be reminded of that fact. Now, I believe I have to degnome the garden one last time." He stood up and stormed out of the house.

Harry sat quietly alone at the table. Hermione was leaning against the wall cradling Crookshanks. He debated whether or not to come to Ron's defense. He knew that it would inevitably end in everyone not talking to each other for the rest of the day since Hermione will see it as Harry taking Ron's side and Ron will just not talk.

"I do not understand him," Hermione muttered taking the initiative so Harry wouldn't have to. "I meant it as a compliment."

Harry was so shocked to hear what she said he let his head crash down on the table. He let his head rest there for several seconds until he looked back up at her. She was serious about what she said. Perhaps that was what made Harry have the look of pure disbelief across his face. "That's impossible."

"I did," she insisted.

"Hermione, for once consider that maybe you have the emotional span of a teaspoon, at least for this moment."

"You boys always stick together," she said cooly and stormed away.

"That's why you keep your mouth shut," Harry said to himself. Harry sat at the table for awhile longer thinking of what he should do next. He was not sure if he should go apologize to Hermione or assist Ron in the garden. Ron would probably understand more since it was manual labor that he was performing and Hermione may understand since it was garden work that Harry was assisting Ron in. The politics of friends never bothered him until they decided to go on a life threatening journey with him. They were always protected withing the walls of Hogwarts but now they were going to be exposed to everything around them.

"A horse walked into a bar and the bartender asked, 'Why the long face?'" a voice said behind him.

Harry turned around and saw Charlie standing in the doorway. "I thought you already left."

"I've been placed on a long vacation. I've accumilated too much vacation time, at least that is according to my supervisor. I am home until the holidays."

"You do know no one in your family is good at lying to me."

Charlie smiled weakly. "Everyone knows you three are leaving. Mum is worried sick about everyone now because of the war and so I told Dad that I would stick around to keep her company and to help a bit around the house. Dad is worried too with Mum being home alone a lot of the time now. So, now that I have told you why I am still here, what's wrong with you?"

"Ron and Hermione are at it again. I usually try to stay out of it when they are. It's usually the safest way to handle things."

"That has to be fun. How often do they get into these fights?"

"Enough for me to know to keep my mouth shut. They'll cool down in a bit and everything will be normal. It has almost become a routine."

"Good luck with them then. I have to run to Diagon Alley for a bit. Mum has sent me to pick up a few things for her. I'll be back in an hour or two. Have fun."

"Bye," Harry said. He watched Charlie walk out the door and then disappear. The day would be a long day. He had two feuding friends, an upcoming party, and things to pack. Packing, Harry almost forgot about it. It was the perfect way to stay out of the feud. He headed up to Ron's room and started grabbing socks, cloaks, clothes, and other miscellaneous items into his trunk. Charlie had given all three of them packs that were enchanted like Hagrid's coat pockets. Once Harry found everything, he began to sort through everything in his trunk. He did not want to take everything. School books would have to stay behind except for a couple of defense books. He was sure Hermione would pack a library. The first embarrassing but necessary essentials were thrown in followed by different supplies and a bag full of coins. He kept throwing item after item after item until he felt that he had enough stuff packed.

He then thought about his broom. They were able to Apparate but Harry did nto entirely enjoy the entire sensation of it. He did not know if the bags were enchanted enough to hold brooms. Harry decided that it was worth a try. He pulled his bag over his shoulder and noticed it still felt empty. He made his way out to the broom shed without any interruption. His Firebolt was leaning against a wall. He plopped his bag onto the ground and opened it. It looked full. The broom was then lowered into it. Harry played around with it watching it disappear into the much shorter bag and then reappear. It looked like a cheap magician's trick.

Harry spent the rest of the day helping Ron and Hermione pack their own bags while eating one of the rather large sandwichs that Mrs. Weasley had sent up to them. He actually did more eating than helping. Mrs. Weasley lived up to her word of feeding him before they left. After the sandwich, he had a relatively large number of treats that she sent up to them.

Ron and Hermione had called a silent truce for the time being which was more than enough for Harry. Gradually, they all began to discuss their next steps after they arrived at Privet Drive without the formalities of a peace treaty. Harry knew that his relatives would not be happy to see Ron especially after he and the his family bursted through the Dursley's fireplace. It would be an uphill battle once they appeared but Harry was sure they would not put up much of a fight since it was the last time they would have to put up with him. It was still strange for Harry to think of. He had no truly happy memories from living with them besides when he found out he was a wizard. However, they were still a large part of their lives. Everything that he went through stemmed from that house whether he wanted to admit it or not. He knew that even though they did not want to, they still took him in.

"It's almost time," Hermione said. There were several voices coming up the stairs towards Ron's room.

"Are you ready to face the masses?" Ron asked dryly. Harry watched him throw a few loose ends into his bag. "You have to do it eventually mate."

They heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Ginny opened the door to Ron's room and slipped in. "They're ready for you guys," Ginny said mostly to Ron and Hermione. "Almost everyone is here. Mum is trying to keep the water works down to a minimum but it is too early to tell how well she will do. Just a warning though, she is really touchy right now."

"Noted," Ron said. "Come on, birthday boy first."

"It's not my birthday," Harry grumbled. Ron grabbed him by the arm and literally threw him towards the door. "Rushing me is not going to make it so either."

"We know, just don't say that to Mrs. Weasley," Hermione sighed helping herd Harry down the stairs. "This has to be really hard on her. Her youngest son is leaving along with Harry. You are like another son to her."

"I wish she would adopt a sister instead," Ginny teased. She met Harry's eyes for a split moment and then quickly looked away. Ginny brushed a strand of red hair behind her ears. "Be prepared for a bit of crying though," she said more timidly. "You three are leaving all of us behind and we-I mean Mum and Dad are going to worry about you terribly."

Harry wanted to say "I love you" or "I will think of you every day" to maybe get another glance his way. He give her a hug or at least touch her for just a second. No, instead he was cornered by the twins and they threw a disgusting horned helmet on his head claiming him to be the grand captain of some ship. Ginny was whisked away into the multitude of faces as he was danced around and mocked by the twins. He now knew how Ron felt on a daily basis. The twins meant good humor and fun towards Harry though, unlike they way they treat Ron, however, it was still unsettling. Almost all of the Weasleys were present except for Percy and the newlyweds. He saw Hagrid's head sitting with Tonks and Kingsley. There was no sign of Remus anywhere. Remus had not been discussed since the night before during the wedding cleanup.

"Harry!" he heard everyone yelling at him. He felt like a true king for the night.

When Ron said his mother had planned him a party, he was not kidding. Harry did not think it possible for Ron's family to afford such a party. He then realized that the food tasted oddly familiar from the night before. Mrs. Weasley saved on the party by ordering just a bit extra for the reception. It did not bother Harry at all. He spent his holidays at the Burrow feeling guilty half the time knowing he was eating their food. He sometimes thought they spent more on him than anyone else in the family because how starved he usually was by the time he arrived from his relatives' home. There was one thing on his mind at the moment. He wanted to find out what happened to Remus. He did not see Remus anywhere and assumed that he would not be released yet. It had not even been 24 hours since the incident.

"Happy early birthday!" someone yelled at him in the sea of faces. Harry smiled in the general direction. He ducked and dodged in between people and furniture until he could get to Tonks. Her usually vibrant hair was back to a mousy brown shade. She was smiling and appeared to be having fun but her hair could not hide her true feelings. She was worried sick about him.

"Aye Harry, happy birthday to ya," Hagrid said merrily.

"Thanks Hagrid," Harry smiled. "How are you doing Tonks?"

"I'm fine," she smiled back at him from the other side of Hagrid. "How are you doing? Are you ready to head to your dreadful Muggle relatives' one last time?"

"How does everyone know this is my last time?"

"Word gets around quickly," Kingsley said. "Happy birthday Harry and congratulations on passing your exam, now if you will excuse me, I have a bit of business to take up with Alastor."

Kingsley stood to leave and was quickly followed by Hagrid. This left an umcomfortable chasm between Harry and Tonks. He had not really planned out what he was going to ask her but he kenw what he wanted to know. It was tact that he was missing. The commotion of the house was steadying.

"You're worried about Remus aren't you," Tonks more of less stated than asked.

"He has been on my mind during the day yes," Harry admitted. "I can tell he's on your mind as well."

"It's hard to hide," she confessed. Tonks took in a deep breath. "We took him on to Hogwarts. McGonagall did not want to draw attention to him by taking him to St. Mungo's since he is a werewolf. Madam Pomphrey took a look at him. There was nothing physically wrong with him. She said it was a mental breakdown, perhaps the result of the war. It is too hard to say right now. He slept the rest of the night with the aid of a potion and he's been confined to the hospital for a few days. I was with him earlier today and he seemed fine, just a bit tired and stressed."

"He freaked out when he saw my owl," Harry remembered. "Do you know why?"

"I'm sorry Harry but I have no idea. It could be anything really. Sirius died last year and then there was Dumbledore and Bill." She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts. "Sorry to bring the mood down though," she said trying to force a smile.

"It's ok," Harry said. "I passed my exam at least."

"Yes, I heard, congratulations," she replied.

Mrs. Weasley walked up to them. "Excuse me," she said politely. "Tonks, can you give me a hand with something in here?"

"Sure," Tonks waved to Harry and disappeared into the crowd.

The rest of the night was quite jovial for the predicament that it was held. It was more of a farewell party for the three of them than Harry's birthday party. All three of them received essentials for their trips. Moody was even to round up two invisibility cloaks for Ron and Hermione. By the end of the night they had accumilated a few dark arts instruments, some less than funny supplies from Fred and George, and loads of candy. They must have thought that they would not be fed while they were at the Dursley's. Hermione's parents also sent them some gifts. They gave them CB radios, batteries, and a lot more suitable food for traveling and camping along with a broom for Hermione. Mr. Weasley played with the radios for the rest of the night with the twins. All in all, it was a successful and sad party.

It was strange that they were being showered with gifts to help them along this dangerous path that they had decided to take. Mrs. Weasley muttered that they were sending babies to war a couple of times but no one really paid her any heed. Harry had griped and fought for years about being left in the dark. He was no longer being kept in the shadows. He was getting ready to walk through the darkest tunnel that he had ever known with his two best friends to flank him. Everyone was so weary of war that they were willing to try anything to end it. Harry was their chance. Dumbledore had set him upon a mission that he had only let two people know of. Everyone else knew he was going on out Dumbledore's instructions, but no one knew what he was doing. It was imperative to not tell anyone about it or word may slither to Voldemort's ear.

People filtered out slowly saying their good byes and good lucks with slightly puzzled faces. McGonagall, even after her probing on that fateful night, said her good byes with a small twinkle in her eyes. Harry noticed it. He never told her of what he and Dumbledore were doing the night he was killed and she responded harshly to it. Why did she look so knowing all of a sudden? Harry thought about it all night. He could barely sleep. The anticipation of the next day hounded him every moment. Thoughts of doubt lurched through his mind. It was impossible to put it aside. What would happen if he did fail?

"What happens?" Harry asked himself.

"I don't know but you need to get up."

Harry opened his eyes. The sun was creeping into Ron's room. He could tellRon was already dressed and was throwing a few last minute items into his bag through the blurriness. "When did you get up?" Harry asked slightly surprised.

"I've been up for awhile," Ron answered in a monotone voice. "Mum's already got breakfast on the table."

Harry pushed the covers up and fumbled around for his glasses. He could smell breakfast wofting into the room. He quickly pulled on his clothes and shoved a few last minute items into his bag as well. Hermione tapped on the door and tip toed in with her bag over her shoulder. She looked like she'd been awake for about as long as Harry. She helped them round up the last bits of their odds and ends and then they went and sat for breakfast with Ron's family before the war resumed once more.

Note: Sorry there was action. I'll try to pick it up a bit in the coming chapters.