Hope you all had a nice Christmas. Here's my slightly belated gift. May you all have a Happy New Year.

Thanks again to my hard-working beta Dragyn. And sadly, Santa didn't give me ownership of HP for Christmas, so no, I don't own it.

July 1, 1998
The Burrow

Even though Harry had now taken over Potter House, he had decided to finish out the summer at the Burrow. He had two reasons for this: first, he had promised Mrs. Weasley that he'd stay, and, second, he felt that as big as Potter House was it was a bit too much for him to live in with only Kreacher for company. Kreacher had been absolutely pleased that he could now serve Harry properly, and the ancient elf almost fainted when he saw that he had been granted his own private quarters.

There was, of course, a third reason that only Harry and Ginny knew about; she had told him in no uncertain terms that as much as he meant to her, if he dared move out of the Burrow, she would hex him so strongly that bogies would be fluttering around his head for weeks. Harry didn't doubt that Ginny could do it if she put her wand to it.

Things returned to the way they were until the first of July. On that day, four Hogwarts letters arrived at breakfast - one each for Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny. Ginny's was just the standard booklist for seventh years, although this time, instead of Professor McGonagall, it was Professor Flitwick signing as Deputy Headmaster.

The three other letters were a little different. Harry, Ron and Hermione knew that it would be the letters offering them the chance to retake their seventh year. The same offer had been made to everyone else in the seventh year. Thanks to the reign of the Carrows, there had been precious little real education done the previous year.

The letters, however, did have a nasty surprise.

"We're coming back on August first?" Ron asked. "Are they mental? The castle can't have been fixed that quickly."

"It'll take a while for full repairs to be made," Mr. Weasley answered. "There just aren't enough good construction wizards to go around. They've done enough to get all the classes running, but full repairs might take an entire year."

"So why are we coming back so soon, then?" Ginny asked.

"They'll essentially have enough of the repairs done so you can all resume classes." Mr. Weasley replied. "Not all the corridors will be open, and you may not have all your classes in their regular classrooms however, Professor McGonagall is confident that Hogwarts can resume classes by the first of August. According to her, they need the extra time to ensure that everyone can catch up with where they ought to be academically."

The letters also contained another surprise. While Ron and Hermione kept their prefect badges, both Harry and Ginny had each received badges that made them both the Gryffindor Quidditch team captains. Ginny had been captain of the team during the past year, but before she could actually lead the team in any matches Snape had canceled the season.

"It was Hannah Abbott's idea," Ginny said. "First match of the season was Hufflepuff versus Slytherin. Slytherin won, of course - Hufflepuff got flattened, to be honest. Anyway, as the match ended, someone lit off some fireworks that spelled out 'Dumbledore's Army: dealing with Death Eaters since 1995'. The Carrows weren't exactly too happy, and they had the season canceled after that."

According to Hermione, the situation was both unprecedented, but perfectly explainable. "According to Hogwarts, A History, prefects and team captains retain their privileges so long as they're at Hogwarts," she said. "So, Harry's the captain because he had the title in our sixth year, but Ginny has as much right to it because she was captain last year. So McGonagall made you co-captains, something that has never happened before." She shrugged as she ate some more toast. "Then again, there hasn't been a case of anyone dropping out then coming back to Hogwarts, either."

There was no doubt that Harry, Ron and Hermione would all go back to take their seventh year. Harry didn't want to receive any special treatment to join the Auror program, Ron thought some N.E.W.Ts would be useful for coming up with new products for the joke shop, and Hermione was, well, Hermione. One could no more keep her from books than one could stop a herd of rampaging hippogriffs.

It didn't hurt that most of the students in their year were coming back, too. Even those who had been there for the whole school year hadn't learned much that was actually part of the curriculum. The Heads of Houses had all strongly advised their students to return and finish the year properly, though Harry suspected this was a message that most of the Slytherins would ignore.

They all went to Diagon Alley a few days later to pick up their new school things. For Harry, this meant that he had to re-buy everything he had acquired since his first year - right down to his trunk - something that made the shopping trip take far longer than it otherwise would have. The hordes of reporters that followed Harry didn't help either. More than a few times he had to use his Invisibility Cloak to escape all the photographers who wanted a shot of him.

Meanwhile, for the Weasleys, the trip was something of a new experience as it was their first chance to fully utilize their new-found financial clout. Both Ron and Ginny received sets of new books and robes. They also considered getting Ginny a premium racing broom of her own, but Harry gave strong hints that he would take care of that particular need when Ginny became of age. Ginny was curious as to what Harry had in mind, but kept her peace.

Ron and Harry also took the opportunity to finally acquire their Apparition licenses. It was little more than a formality - both Harry and Ron had been Apparating all over the country for the better part of a year, and they had managed reasonably well, after all. They soon had their Apparition licenses, which they promptly used to travel back to the Burrow.

While Ron and Harry were proving their Apparition skills at the Ministry, Hermione and Ginny were getting a new owl. Ginny knew that Harry needed an owl because Hestia sent over papers for him to sign almost every day. However, she also knew that Harry was not quite up buying an owl yet. Instead, she would be buying one supposedly for herself, but in reality would be theirs.

Theirs. The thought made Ginny feel warm inside. She was brought back to reality by Hermione's voice, who was talking to someone behind the counter.

"Ah, yes, I remember that snowy owl very well. Even for a post owl, very intelligent. Now, let me see... I think a have a good candidate here."

The shopkeeper made his way through the maze of cages and came back with a large barn owl. "This one's a pretty smart and fast owl. He's a little... picky about his food, though. Likes all his food fresh - not necessarily raw, mind, but he doesn't like stuff that's been kept cool and just reheated. Other than that, he's as fine a owl as I've ever seen."

The owl hooted affectionately at Ginny, and for a moment there was a hint of naughtiness in his eyes that reminded Ginny of Fred and George. She nodded, and she and Hermione were soon back at the Burrow laden with all their purchases.

Harry was at first surprised to see that Hermione and Ginny had brought an owl with them, but after some thinking he realized their intentions. He could not help but smile - Ginny knew him even better than he knew himself.

"So... what should we call him?" Harry asked.

"I don't know... what about 'Gordon'?" Ginny said.

"'Gordon'? Where did that come from?" Ron chuckled.

Ginny shrugged. "I don't know. He just seems like a Gordon to me."

"Let's ask him, shall we?" Harry said, turning to the owl. "What do you think? Gordon work for you?"

The owl hooted approvingly and extended his wings. "Yeah, I think he likes it," Harry said.

The days passed and it was soon the last day of July. It was Harry's birthday, and Ginny was the first to greet him a happy birthday by kissing him while he was sleeping. This, of course, led to what would have been a good, prolonged snogging session if Ron had not yelled loudly from the other side of the door for the couple to stop right away and come down to breakfast.

Harry's birthday party was a little smaller than the year before, but there was no doubt that this was a happier one. Only the Weasleys, Hermione, and Luna were able to make it. Harry was glad to know that the Lovegood house had already been repaired, and that Xenophilius Lovegood had managed to come out of his trip to Azkaban in good condition and was back working on recreating Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem.

"Now that the original's gone, Daddy thinks it's even more important to recreate the diadem," Luna said in her dreamy voice. Ron barely restrained himself from laughing out loud at the memory of the ludicrous headpiece they had found during their previous visit.

The birthday gifts were as varied as they always were, although they all seemed to be aimed for a new homeowner, as Harry was. The best gift, however, came from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

Harry opened the small package to find a small box made of polished wood. Harry opened it carefully, and gasped loudly at what was inside.

"We wanted to do it last year, dear," Mrs. Weasley said, "but Arthur thought it was too dangerous. I have to admit, he was right."

Inside the box was a small clock hand with Harry's name engraved on it. It matched the others that were on the Weasley family clock. Harry could only stare at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley in shock.

"You're as good as one of ours dear. And that goes for both of you," Mrs. Weasley said, talking to Hermione. She, too, had received the same gift Harry had as an advance birthday present. Harry wrapped his arms around Mrs. Weasley and hugged her as tightly as he could.

Harry, Ron and Ginny spent the rest of the night packing their trunks for their departure the next day. Hermione was already packed and had headed back to her parents after Harry's birthday party. She had, however, passed on some of her organization skills to Ginny who decided to check on the progress of the others.

When she dropped in on Ron, she found her brother messily flinging robes, clothes, and other items into his own trunk. She wasn't surprised by this. When she dropped in on Harry (who had been occupying Percy's old room), however, she found that he was having a tougher time of it. It wasn't because he was any messier than Ron (something Ginny thought was impossible), but because he had a lot more to pack. There was so much, in fact, that Harry had resorted to placing an Extension Charm on his trunk.

"Harry, what's giving you so much trouble - oh," she said, peering into the bottom of the trunk.

Ginny had seen what was giving Harry so much trouble. There was a jumble of heavy wires, boxes, and other items that she recognized as the primitive wireless transmitter that Potterwatch had used.

"Oh, that. It's for my little project," Harry said.

Harry's "little project" was trying to recreate television using magic. Back in Sydney, both Ron and Ginny had been utterly fascinated by the large set in their hotel suite. On the plane ride home, Mr. Granger had noted that wizards didn't have television and wondered why this was so.

"I mean, you've got this sport, Quidditch, is it called? Now, from all that I've been told, it's a fascinating sport," Mr. Granger said, although Mrs. Granger shuddered a little at the last point. "But wouldn't it be so much better if you could actually see things?"

No one had been able to come up with a good answer to that question. Since then, Harry had been trying to invent a Wizarding version of television. Harry knew there were ways to send images from one mirror to another - his father and Sirius's pair of mirrors had been proof of that. However, that was a long way from a full-fledged Wizarding television system.

Harry had been able to make a camera that sent out live and recorded images to a mirror that served as the television screen, thus recreating what Hermione called "home video." However, she had told Harry that it was a long way from commercial television. She, too, had been helping out Harry when she was at the Burrow and not with Ron.

The most important bit that had to be done was figuring out how to send the images to many screens, not just one. They knew it was possible to do it - both the Wizarding Wireless and Potterwatch were proof of that. In an attempt to figure out how it was done, Harry had borrowed the equipment used to broadcast Potterwatch from Lee Jordan and dug out some books from the Potter House library. Everyone else at the Burrow had at least taken a peek at what Harry was doing, although only Hermione, Ginny and Ron had been of any real help.

"Gee, Harry, isn't being the world's richest bachelor enough for you already?" Ginny teased.

Harry laughed. "Well, I wouldn't turn it down, but you know this isn't about the money, Gin. I just want to do something that doesn't have anything with Death Eaters."

"Harry, you do know that's impossible, right? You'll always be the Saviour of the Wizarding World or whatever the Prophet decides to call you."

Harry could only shrug his shoulders in resignation. "I know, but..." Harry stared out of the window, "it's the sort of fame I never wanted."

Ginny went over to Harry's side and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. "I know, Harry. I know."

The pair were content to just stay there, but they were interrupted by loud noises, a hooting owl, and a hail of curse words that could only have come from Ron.

"Let's go help my brother pack," Ginny said, "before Mum tells him off for-"

"RONALD WEASLEY!" the loud voice of Molly Weasley bellowed from the kitchen, without any magical amplification.

"Too late for that," Harry replied.

All things considered, the departure for King's Cross went as smoothly as could be expected - which wasn't saying much, because leaving for Hogwarts from the Burrow was always an exercise in disorder. Miraculously, however, by ten in the morning, everyone was fed, packed, and clothed.

"Hurry now, dears, Arthur will be waiting at the Leaky Cauldron," Mrs. Weasley said as she got Harry, Ron and Ginny lined up in front of the fireplace. "Do be careful."

One by one, they all traveled via Floo to the Leaky Cauldron. Tom the barkeep and Mr. Weasley helped each of them to their feet, and two Ministry guards took care of their trunks.

Harry looked around and saw that the pub was as crowded as he could remember it. Some were obviously the families of Hogwarts students who were heading exactly the same way as Harry, Ron and Ginny. They found Hermione waiting at the bar, along with Neville and Luna. They had spent the past hour talking over mugs of butterbeer. Mr. Weasley agreed to give the two a lift as well, and soon all eight of them - Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna - were all in Ministry cars heading for King's Cross.

It wasn't long before they were making the trip they had all made six times before. Harry took a moment to take in the sights and sounds of Platform Nine and Three Quarters. This might well be the last chance he got to properly enjoy it, he thought. The scarlet train, the disorder of the platform, the animal sounds the pets made, the steam from the train - Harry took it all in as they climbed onto the train in search of a large compartment that would fit all six of them, plus two owls, one cat, one toad and one Pygmy Puff.

Harry could feel the eyes staring at him and the rest from the other compartments. He understood why. None of them had been at the battle, and all they knew since then had been from either the Daily Prophet or the Wizarding Wireless - institutions that Harry didn't exactly hold in the highest esteem. Even when they weren't under the thumb of the Ministry, they were prone to either sensationalism or outright rumor-mongering. Sometimes, Harry had difficulty telling whether a story had been printed by the Daily Prophet or Witch Weekly.

"Is it just me, or is the train not as crowded as usual?" Neville asked.

"No first years. They're not coming until September," Ron explained. "And everyone seems to be running late, too."

Unusually, they were able to find a compartment that was close to the front of the train. The compartments here were just a bit larger than they were used to, and so, everyone was able to pack their trunks and pets relatively quickly. Crookshanks curled into a sleeping position, looking for all the world like a giant ginger seat cushion.

Soon, the clock struck eleven in the morning, and the train slowly started gaining speed with waving students crowding the windows and proud parents waving back as the train started the long journey from London to Hogsmeade.