Wow. So, so sorry about the long, long, long, long, long wait- to anyone who actually cares;). I hope this chappie meats everyone's expectations and hopes.

Here are the review replies, although I replied to most of you with notesy thingies…

Ward: Sorry, once again, that it has taken so long. Also, please don't just wait for the next chapter, keep looking for mistakes!!!!!!!!! I'm glad you like it better now.

Fullmetal Guitarist: Greetings, my dear annoying elder brother. Thanketh thou for your support. I agree that Lord Moldywarts is too OOCC… but unlike you, I wish I had changed it. Thanks again… and also… "speel" check??? And yes, figure it out for yourself… although you already know.

Appacio: Thanks. I do plan to introduce Lily more, although not in this chapter. She doesn't play much of a part until Hogwarts. I am also sure that Harry will interact more with the Weasleys this chapter… and, for that matter, Hermione.

AlisSilly: And… thanks. Ginny is probably hiding in her room at the moment. u

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'Snip'. Another lock of Lily's long, red hair fell to the ground. A few more 'snips', and Narcissa handed her a mirror. Lily peered at herself critically. Her hair, once nearly as long as Narcissa's, was now barely down to her chin- in the front. She had two chin length locks of hair on either side of her face. The rest of the red stuff was jagged, and cut just below her hairline.

"Well? What do you think?" Narcissa asked.

"It's… okay. I liked it long better, but it'll do. I don't see why we had to try and disguise me. It's not like anyone but Lupin has seen me- and I wasn't past one year old then! Not that I am saying that the Dark Lord is mistaken… I just don't understand." It was true that my glasses and the blue eyes beneath them looked better with short hair, but other than that, I didn't like my new hair cut very much. (A/N: yes, I did mean to switch from third to first person… by the way, why isn't there a second person??)

Narcissa nodded; examining the hair she had just spent the last half hour cutting. "I agree; long hair fits you personality better- but remember, you are being Lily Otterp-aye, not Lily Potter. Now, as I am sure the dark lord has informed you, you will be accompanying Draco and I to Diagon Ally in a few moments, so you best eat breakfast.

(A/N; Arghhh!!!! I am so dumb!!! The whole "going to Diagon alley with Draco and Narcissa thing isn't necessary, but it is helpful… but I totally forgot that Draco won't be going to Hogwarts this year… and he's a fairly important part of the plot… I'm going to leave it how it is for now… will you all please give me suggestions of ways to have him stay at Hogwarts in your reviews???

"Harry!!! Ro-" Hermione's shout was cut off and followed by a muffled "oomph" my eyes flickered open. I sat up in bed to see what was going on. As I could see perfectly (apart from the blinding light), I realized I must have fallen asleep last night- well, morning- with my glasses on. I swiveled my head and caught sight of Hermione, wrapped in a giant bear hug from Ron. "Well, Ron, good to see you're enthusiastic about my being here." Hermione said once she could breathe. "I'm surprised you managed to wake up before Harry- you usually only manage that on Christmas" the bushy haired girl sniggered.

"Yeah, well…" Ron said, leaving his sentence hanging.

"I was up ages ago- had to be, really. The order thought it would be best if I left for here really early to ward off any attacks. I got here about an hour ago. I've been helping your mum" she nodded to Ron "with breakfast. Speaking of which, that's why I came up here; to call you down to eat, but your mum says you are allowed to shower first. She made it sound as if you've been lacking good hygiene lately." Hermione said all this very fast. She was still a quick talker, though not as quick as she had been on the day they had first met, on the Hogwarts express. At her last words, Ron blushed, and muttered something about 'showered already this morning, thank you very much'

"Hi, 'Mione." I said, amused at the way she had greeted us.

"Harry! It's good to see you!" she hugged me and pulled back examining me. "Ron's mum is right, Harry. You've not been eating. Are you… all right?" she asked gingerly.

I shrugged. "I'm fine, Hermione, no need to fret." She raised an eyebrow. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to take a shower." I grabbed some clothes and walked out of Ron's room, leaving him to talk with Hermione.

After showering and getting dressed, I headed downstairs, following my nose. The smell of Mrs. Weasley's cooking was good, but somehow not up to her usual standards. I remembered that Hermione had helped with breakfast, and I sniggered. Apparently, though Hermione was good at most everything to do with books, she was not the greatest cook. As I entered the kitchen, I supposed that was why everyone -with the exception of Hermione- was leaving the porridge alone, and stuffing themselves with eggs and bacon instead. I sat down in the only remaining chair and was greeted with a "hallo" from Fred and George,

A "morning" from Mrs. Weasley,

A "uur fumni ugh" from Ron,

A "Ronald means 'you're finally up'" from Hermione,

And a nod from Ginny.

I responded with a "morning all" and Mrs. Weasley began piling food on top of my plate.

"Here you are Harry dear; you look underfed. The muggles were treating you all right, weren't they?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she added bacon to the already towering-with-food plate in front of me.

I nodded, swallowed the bit of eggs in my mouth and said "same as usual. Bit better, really. Apparently they like me better when I don't blow up at them every five seconds. At least, they don't bellow so much anymore." I offered a small smile, which was returned by a few raised eyebrows, and hesitant grins.

The Dursleys had always been an uncomfortable subject with most of the Weasleys. The only person who I had really talked about the Dursleys to was Ginny; Ron wasn't interested much and Hermione always seemed so worried that I had stopped discussing my relatives with her.

The slightly awkward silence was broken by Mrs. Weasley saying "oh look, owl post!" and pointing out the window.

Hermione jumped up, exclaiming, "Oh! I hope it's our Hogwarts letters! They usually come around now!" She ran to the window, hurriedly untying the letter addressed to her. "It is!!"

"Only Hermione" Ron said "could be excited about a shopping list of text books." Ginny snorted into her eggs, and caught my eye, beaming. We looked at each other with grins on our faces for a few moments before looking away embarrassedly. And it wasn't even funny. We were probably laughing more from awkwardness than humor. Lucky Ron; someone laughed at his joke for once.

Why did this have to happen? Why did everyone I ever loved have to die? The answer was extraordinarily simply, yet exceedingly complicated. It was all Voldemort's fault, and that was the simple part. But why me? That was the confusing bit. Obviously, it was because of the prophecy, but why had Trelawney had to go and make the prediction in the first place? So maybe it was all Trelawney's fault. Or maybe I was just over thinking it all and I needed to just accept that things between Ginny and I wouldn't be the same ever again. But maybe the things would be the same if I just went ahead and killed Voldemort. But then I'd be a murderer, and Ginny could never love a murderer. And that was another thing; did I love Ginny? I couldn't imagine what it'd be other than love but……

"Harry? Haaa-rry????" I blinked. Ron was talking to me. I hadn't noticed that. "God, Harry, you were like in a comma or something."

Hermione snorted, as did Ginny. "Ron," said the all-knowing know-it-all, "it's coma! If it were comma Harry would be in a little sign that means 'take a pause here' in some book…" (A/N: wow. I switch POV's a lot lately. Sorry, but that's just how it flows…) Harry grinned, but not at what Hermione had said. He was watching Ginny, thinking about how she always bit her lip when she was nervous. So… why was she biting her lip now? Did his company make her that uneasy?

Once again his train of thought was interrupted by Ron. This time however, Ron was hitting him with an envelope. The sharp corner of an envelope, to be precise. As this was not an especially nice feeling, Harry grabbed the rectangular paper thing and whapped Ron upside the head with it, before ripping the flap away and pulling out the folded parchment inside.

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YAY! Finally, finally I have this chappie done. Yes, I know it's not even very long or anything, but my muse –who, by the way, varies from a houself, a fairy who lives in my journal, music, and, of course, you, Ward. Um, if you would be so kind as to review I might get the next chapter done more quickly…… Does Hinata thing with fingers… even though you probably don't know who Hinata is… and I don't even know who you are… so, uh, pweety pweese??? puppy dog eyes I'll set chibi-Kakshi on you if you don't… and, er he does funky ninja stuff, so you might wanna review…