Harry Potter and the Time of Change

By: Bethy Ann

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter unfortunately.

Summary: Harry discovers that he must train in order to kill Voldemort. During the summer set after the 5th book. New people, new discoveries, and love is shared all around. Ginny/Harry, Hermione/Ron, and a little bit of Remus/Tonks.

Note: This has been typed for a couple days but Fanfiction was having trouble I guess since I was unable to log on and put this up so sorry for the wait and thanks to all your patience!

Chapter 6: Disheveledness

Recap: Harry was staring at his parents. He remembered looking at the photograph of his parents that Hagrid had given him. Now his parents were standing in front of him! They were supposed to be dead but they looked so healthy.

"Harry?" Lilly asked hopefully.

Harry nodded, not able to speak. Lilly cried with relief and hugged Harry. She hugged him as if there was no tomorrow. James stood back on shock and amazement. Harry looked at him before he became sleepy again.

Harry awoke with a start and looked around him. He was back in the Weasley's house in Ron's room again. That dream felt so real though. He got up soundlessly and walked downstairs. The fire illuminated the living room and he saw someone sitting on the couch.

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Ginny was sitting on the couch with a cup of tea in her hand. She had another nightmare about the war. She had seen Bill get killed by a werewolf and Ron get stabbed to death. Everyone was dropping like flies when she saw Harry off in the distant withering in pain by Voldemort's wand. She wanted to run or scream to him but felt immobile. Then she saw Harry fall and noticed that his eyes were open and lifeless. Ginny cried out for him and then realized she saw crying in her sleep.

Ginny had walked downstairs and made a cup of tea. She got black tea to calm her down. The caffeine in it rarely worked on her so she was able to fall back asleep eventually. She sat in front of the fire and thought about Ron and Hermione. They looked so cute together earlier in the evening when they were on the couch. Hermione had told her that they were talking about their summer and how surprised Hermione was about Ron's transformation. Hermione also admitted that she fancied Ron when Ginny had asked. Ginny knew that they would get together before school started.

And Harry…he seemed more confident then she last saw him. He obviously started working out because he was so defined. But to think of what he went through in the beginning of the summer was heart wrenching. Ginny knew it must have been hard for Harry to go through losing someone again. Ginny vowed to make Harry happy and to think positively so he could defeat Tom.

Ginny heard someone coming down the stairs and sipped her tea. She waited to see who was up this late. No one but her woke up at night. Ginny heard the person stop moving and also felt eyes on her. She looked up to see Harry with an odd expression on his face.

"Are you alright Harry?" Ginny asked with a worried look on her face.

"Mm? Oh, um , yeah," Harry said distracted from his thoughts.

"Here, come sit down. I'll get you some tea," Ginny said and made her way to the kitchen.

Harry was standing at the fireplace when Ginny walked in. He looked so lost and alone that Ginny did not know what to do. So, she led him to the coach and handed Harry a mug filled with tea. Ginny gave Harry some time to think before she began to prod.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Ginny asked.

Harry looked up at Ginny and said, "I don't even know what to think. It felt so real but yet it couldn't be true."

Harry was silent for awhile until he continues, "Once I hit dreamland it was all white and I felt as if I was squeezing through a tight spot. When it stopped I woke up in the infirmary and Poppy was acting as if she did not even know me. Then Dumbledore comes in and gives me the truth potion and asks me who I am, where I came from, how I got there, and id I was for the light. Once he was done he looked awed. He left for a bit and brought my parents in. The thing is…it felt so real but I know it can't be true since my parents are dead."

Ginny looked at Harry and said, "You've always wanted to see your parents Harry. So maybe your conscious is trying to tell you something or maybe you should talk to Dumbledore about it."

Harry stayed silent and then said, "Maybe. I still have to think about it."

A silence hung in the air. It wasn't uncomfortable like Ginny thought it would be. Ginny looked at Harry and saw his eyes begin to drop.

"I'm going to bed, are you going to come?" Ginny asked.

"Yea, I feel a bit better. Thanks Ginny, for listening," Harry said and smiled at her.

Ginny felt her knees go weak while she said, "No problem. What are friends for?"

They walked up to Ron's landing and before Ginny knew what she was doing, she kissed Harry on the cheek. Ginny blushed and looked away. She stood there awkwardly with Harry looking at her in a weird way.

"Night Ginny," Harry said and squeezed her hand.

Ginny blushed again and said, "Night Harry."

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Harry woke up to a loud bang. He jumped up with his wand at the ready. First, he looked around his surroundings and saw that Ron was already up. He frowned and looked at the clock which read 10:49 am. Harry had never woken up this late before. He shook his head to get all these thoughts out of his head and to get his mind back on track. He didn't hear any shouting and thought that something was going on.

He slowly descended the stairs with his wand at the ready. Harry made it to the kitchen and saw it deserted. Harry panicked, thinking that the Death Eaters captured the Weasley's. He went outside in the bright sun and heard, "Surprise!" Harry blinked rapidly, trying to get the sun out of his eyes. Harry was surprised since he forgot his birthday. He saw the Weasley's, Hermione, Luna, Neville, Hagrid, Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Kingsley, Tonks, and Remus. Harry couldn't recognize some other faces that were from the order.

Ginny came up to him and hugged him tightly. "Happy birthday Harry," Ginny said, her breath tickling his ear.

The others followed suit and they dug into the food. Everyone was talking and catching up with Harry. Harry truly felt like he belonged and had a family that loved him. He couldn't have asked for better friends also. No one will hurt the Weasley's or my friends, Harry thought.

The afternoon was filled with a Quidditch tournament. There were four teams and the first team to won would play the team who won again. Everyone thought Harry was a gifted seeker and Harry blushed under the praise.

Dinner came and went and the birthday cake came out. Everyone was singing Happy Birthday and Harry was grinning like a Cheshire cat. He couldn't have hoped for a better day. He blew out the candles wishing that someday, Ginny would be just his. Harry looked up and caught Ginny's eye. They held their gaze and Harry winked at her. Dumbledore saw this exchange with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"Presents!" Ron yelled excitedly as people were done eating cake.

"Oh Ronald, well you ever grow up?" Hermione chided him.

"I have grown up," Ron said with a hurt look.

"I didn't mean to snap at you," Hermione said and offered a smile.

"It's alright. I did act like a child, I couldn't help myself! All this excitement gets to me," Ron said and flung an arm around Hermione's shoulders and walked with her to the family room.

Hermione blushed at Ron's actions but didn't object. Once they sat down in the large chair, Ron realized where her arm was and tried to move it away from her. Hermione looked at him but Ron couldn't decipher what the look meant. He tried to move it again but Hermione locked her hand into his and she snuggled closer. Harry and Ginny both saw this exchange and thought, finally.

The presents were opened and were strewn all around Harry. Harry was thanking everyone for his presents and hugged a couple of people who had to leave. The one present he was surprised at was Dumbledore's. Dumbledore had given Harry a pensive. At first Harry was shocked and then looked up at Dumbledore with a big smile. It was a night to remember.

Everyone had left and Harry and Ginny were left. Ron and Hermione had gone upstairs for some privacy to talk and Molly and Arthur were outside. There weren't a lot of comfortable silences between anybody lately so it was a good feeling.

Molly and Arthur came in looking a bit disheveled. Ginny's face was stoic and Harry wondered what she was thinking. To see your parents look like they just made out would scar anyone. They went upstairs with Arthur whispering things to Molly and Molly would respond with a giggle.

Once they were out of hearing range, Harry said, "Err, that was disturbing."

"It was and right before bed too! Oh the horrors!" Ginny exclaimed dramatically.

Harry laughed and said, "Drama queen."

Ginny whacked his arm and ran to the kitchen for safety. Harry got up and ran after her. With his seeker moves, he caught Ginny effortlessly.

"Didn't you remember? I'm the best seeker there ever is," Harry whispered into Ginny's ear.

Ginny shivered with delight, feeling Harry's breath on her skin. Their position was compromising since Harry had Ginny with her back to the wall. Harry realized the position he was in and felt the urge to kiss her. He leaned in, unsure of what to do. Ginny saw his nervousness and pulled him closer by wrapping her arms around his neck. With Ginny guiding him, their lips brushed against each other's lightly. Ginny hungrily kissed him with fervor. Ginny's hands roamed over Harry's new developed abs and then were on his biceps. Whereas, Harry's hands were on her lower back pulling her shirt up slightly so his hands met with her skin. Ginny heard a gasp and pulled away. Harry looked confused and followed Ginny's look of horror. Harry saw Hermione and Ron on the last step.

"Well this is awkward," Ginny exclaimed and pushed Harry away from her.

Harry laughed nervously and said, "Hey 'Mione and Ron."

When…when did-did this happen?" Hermione asked.

Ron snapped out of his state of shock and said, "Yea, what she said!"

"It just happened. I had hit Harry and ran away but he caught me and we kissed. So, that's what happened," Ginny explained. "Now what happened to you two?"

Ron turned three shades of red and Hermione blushed.

"We talked and we, well, we…" Hermione tried to explain but couldn't.

"If you hurt-," Ron began to speak but Harry cut him off.

"I won't hurt Ginny and you won't hurt Hermione. Hermione is like a sister to me so don't hurt her," Harry said.

Hermione squealed and threw her arms around Harry. "Oh Harry! That's so sweet of you! I've thought of you as a brother as well."

"Right well, I'm tired. Are you coming Harry?" Ron asked.

"Yea," Harry said and kissed Ginny's cheek. He didn't see her blush since he walked up to Ron's room.

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In a dark room there were people in black robes and white masks. The only source of light was fire coming from a figure on the floor.

"May you all be taught a lesson! The mission I gave you was not hard. You were supposed to kill the Grangers and bring the mudblood to me," hissed a voice sitting down in a throne-like chair.

"Yes master," the crowd murmured.

"Leave, you pathetic excuse for wizards and witched!" bellowed Voldemort.

AN: Just to let you know the process of my writing way. First I write the chapter down in a notebook then read it over for any mistakes or maybe add a couple things here and there. Sometimes I drop some stuff. Then I type it and I print it out to read better and make changes that way also. So it is a process which makes it longer to post it up. So sorry for the delay! But keep up the reviews! That's what makes me write faster!