The next two days were a blur, filled with shopping and packing and all of the things the four of them had been putting off until the last minute

The next two days were a blur, filled with shopping and packing and all of the things the four of them had been putting off until the last minute. Mrs. Weasley was the worst, bustling around the house crying into her apron, mumbling something about an empty nest. "What is she going on about", managed Ron, in between mouthfuls of breakfast on the morning before the day they left. "I thought she wanted us to get the sneezels out of the nests in the garden". "Honestly, Ronald..." sighed Hermione. "She's sad we're all moving to London". "Yeah, but its not like we here here before, we were at school, weren't we? Besides, she's got Ginny to take care of—" "I am not a baby!", Ginny interrupted. "Yeah, but you're still at school", Ron teased. "At least I'm finishing school!" retorted Ginny.

"Oi, you two, knock it off. Can't I finish my last breakfast in peace?" said Harry, winking at Ginny. Ron kicked him under the table. "Ow, what was that for?" "You're supposed to be on my side!" Hermione pulled out her wand, "Oi, you two. Knock it off." "Yes, Hermione…" Harry and Ron answered in unison. They all laughed. Mrs. Weasley returned to the kitchen, seemingly having regained her composure, and shooed them all out of the room. "What are you all standing around for? Go finish your packing and get ready for tonight! There is so much to be done!".

They were having an end of the summer party at the Burrow. Ginny was glad to be able to see all of her friends and family before she got on the train the net morning. As the sun started to set, the sounds of popping came from the front garden, signaling that the guests had started to arrive. "Ooh, it's Andromeda and the baby!" Hermione squealed, rushing to hug Teddy, Harry's godson. "Don't be getting any ideas!" Ron shouted after her, eliciting a quick glare from Ginny. "What?", Ron threw back at her. "Men!" said Ginny. Ron stuck his tongue out at her. Harry, who had been watching, laughed heartily at this, thinking to himself " Yeah, we're really mature enough to move out…"

Ron and Hermione definitely had something going on , although they refused to admit they were officially together. Harry suspected this was because they didn't want Harry to feel left out, but he actually loved seeing his two best friends so happy together, and secretly wished they would just get on about it. He loved Hermione like a sister, and him being an honorary member of the Weasley clan, if she and Ron got married, they really would all be a family.

Harry's thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of the last of the guests. They party was a flurry of laughter, levitating drinks and spinning trays, and the scene was speckled with the glow of enchanted fireflies. He was glad to see George laughing and talking with Angelina. This was one of the first times Harry had seen him truly happy since losing Fred. Angelina had been working in the shop in Diagon Alley, and it was clear that George saw her as more than just an employee. She started working in the shop earlier that summer to help George get back on his feet, but even with Ron coming to work with George everyone had been hoping she would stay on.

Ginny was standing with Hermione by one of the butterbeer fountains, discussing curtains for Hermione's new apartment, when Professor McGonagall approached. "Miss Weasley, might I have a word with you?" "Um, yes of course Professor", said Ginny, unsure of what the new headmistress would ask. When they were alone, standing under a tree in the garden, Ginny saw that McGonagall was holding a white envelope in her hand. "I'm sorry we didn't get this to you sooner, Ginny dear, but things up at the castle have been quite busy and several important decisions haven't been made until just this evening. Not this one, I might add, your name has been down for quite some time", she said, handing Ginny the envelope. Ginny opened it, and read, "Miss Ginevra Weasley, we at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry take the greatest pleasure in appointing you Head Girl for this coming term". "Oooh, thank you!" exclaimed Ginny, throwing her harms around a startled looking professor McGonagall. "But are you sure? I mean, I've never even been a prefect before, and I got in loads of trouble last year". "Miss Weasley, I assure you that this was not a hasty decision. I'm sure you will perform splendidly."

Ginny hugged Professor McGonagall again, who was even more startled this time, and ran off to tell her Mum and Dad the news. McGonagall took a small silver orb out of her pocket, looked at it, and placed it back in her cloak. "You can come out now, Kingsley", she said to the tree. Kingsley Shacklebolt, minister of Magic, came out from under an invisibility cloak where he had been standing next to the tree. "That went well", he remarked to Professor McGonagall. "Yes, of course", she answered, "Everything is going according to plan". Kingsley looked at her. "Well, it is your school". She returned his stare, "Minister, you know as well as I that it will never be my school". Kingsley glanced around at the party guests. "Have you seen him?" He asked her. "Not yet, but we know he is here", she answered. "I'm still not convinced this is the best course of action. He has already given so much", said Kingsley. Professor McGonagall let a weary look fall across her face. "He is no stranger to responsibility, Minister. Once he learns the circumstances, he will not hesitate to act". He looked at her. "Yes, but is that a good reason? Yes, he is extremely gifted, and brave, and noble, and he will surely come to our aide, but is it the right thing to do? Take advantage of someone so giving and so young?" McGonagall sighed. She took the swirling orb out of her cloak and looked at it once more. A thin line of black smoke swirled across its surface. The tired look returned to her face as her eyes fell to the ground, and she answered, barely in a whisper, "I fear we no longer have a choice."