Harry was taking first watch. Sitting outside the tent, he felt a sense of déjà vu. He smiled grimly, remembering when they had gone camping nineteen years ago. They had been hunting horcruxes then. Now they were hunting Voldemort. He felt movement behind him. He didn't have to look up to know it was Ginny. She sat down and leaned into him. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
"I can't believe you let me come" she said.
He smiled "There was no point trying to convince you otherwise."
"Try telling Ron that" she muttered. Ron was still trying to convince Ginny to go home. Hermione too for that matter.
Harry shook his head, bemused. "He's lived with you for so long he should know better."
"We wouldn't last long without Hermione either" added Ginny "Or me" she added as an afterthought.
"Are you trying to say that we boys wouldn't be able to survive without you girls?"
"Who would cook for you? And get you out of trouble? If it is Malfoy who is planning this, he won't be alone. Four against Malfoy is better than two."
"So you do believe it's him!"
"Don't tell Hermione." Harry smiled and hugged Ginny tighter. She leaned in and kissed him full on the mouth. It was a slow kiss, full of promise.
"Your distracting me from watching out for danger" he breathed. Ginny only kissed him some more. Harry wished he could stay here forever but at that moment, there came a cough. Harry looked up and felt a twinge of annoyance at Ron.
"It's my turn to take watch" he said gruffly "And Ginny you should probably sleep on Hermione's bunk."
"I'm not a little girl anymore Ron! I'm thirty-seven! With three children!" For some reason Harry had the urge to laugh. Ginny glared at Ron and Ron glared back. Harry cleared his throat.
"Ron just take your watch mate. Don't embarrass yourself any further. Ginny lets go to bed." Ron gave an audible sigh.
"Oh it's not like you don't snog Hermione-" Harry dragged Ginny further into the tent as Ron gave her a murderous glance. Harry met Hermione's eyes. She had been awake. They grinned at each other.

"Got the ingredients, but like I said this potion will take a month to brew, at least" Rose panted, out of breath.
"Where are we going to be brewing this potion?" asked Howard
Moaning Myrtle's bathroom wrote Dana.
"I can't believe she's still there" muttered Albus.
"I did meet Professor Snape" said Rose hesitantly.
"What!?" said Howard and Albus together. Dana's eyes widened.
"Yeah, he's just a portrait though. He didn't say much." Howard looked incredulous and Dana a little shocked. However Albus stared thoughtfully out the window. He wanted to meet Professor Snape, the teacher he was named after. He wanted to see what he was like. His father had said he was brave. Albus had been determined to find his portrait and talk to him but all the events at Hogwarts had driven thoughts of Professor Snape from his mind.
"Shall we go to this bathroom then?" asked Howard. It was decided that only Rose and Dana should go to the bathroom. Even though it was out of order four first years, two of them boys, entering an out of order bathroom was a bit suspicious and even thought they had the map, they didn't have the cloak. James had taken it from them, claiming he needed it. Albus knew that he was just going to go to the kitchens with John, however.
Howard sighed. "Why do the girls get all the fun?" Over the course of that month Rose and Albus took to brewing the potion. Rose was not the only one who was good at it. Albus was very good at potions too. About three weeks after they had started the potion, it was Albus' turn to watch over the potion. He went with Howard after lunch and they sat there, while Albus added some lacewing flies and stirred.
"Do you reckon the looks of pain on their faces is exaggerated?" asked Howard, pointing to some pictures drawn describing the effects of the potion. Albus saw they all had intense looks of pain on their faces. He shrugged. He hoped not.
"How are we getting these hairs by the way? Crabbe and Goyle will be easy, we can just knock them out. But Malfoy? That will be harder."
"Quidditch" responded Albus.
"Quidditch? But neither of you play."
"No but we can dress as Slytherins and sit behind Malfoy. Then in all the confusion of the game we can pull out some of his hairs."
"I'm not dressing in Slytherin colours"
"Do you want Dana to get her voice back? Besides, I'm planning to ask him about what he's up to"
"What if he isn't up to anything?"
"He is up to something." Howard wisely dropped the subject. Albus could go on for hours, insisting Malfoy was up to something. It drove Rose up the wall.
"The potion is almost ready. I'll leave a note for Rose." Rose was coming just before dinner, to check on the potion. The boys made their way to their potion class.
"I swear, I've had enough of potions to last me forever" murmured Rose as she and Dana joined them. She handed Howard and Albus a sandwich. Albus wolfed his down and said to them "I'll meet you in class ok? I have to do something." Before his friends could protest, he turned and sped down the corridor. He arrived at the potion storeroom. He knew Professor Slughorn wouldn't be inside as he was teaching potion, but Albus was careful to check the map twice before entering. He saw the portrait immediately but it was empty. His heart sank.
"Professor Snape?" he whispered. Nothing. No sound or movement was made. Albus turned to leave.
"Potter" he heard a voice breathe. Albus turned and saw Snape realise that he was not Harry.
"Who are you?" Albus noticed the change in his voice immediately. It was harsher.
"I'm Albus Potter" he said
"Just like your father I suppose" he scorned "No regard for the rules, strutting about like you own the place."
Albus blushed. "Well my friend and I are making some polyjuice potion." He had no idea what possessed him to say that and he quickly added "And my father didn't strut."
Snape looked a little shocked. "Polyjuice potion? But you look only eleven"
"I am but I'm pretty good at potions and so is my cousin Rose."
Snape's shock changed to boredom. "Oh yes I'm sure Weasly has a whole gang of children."
"Only two."
Snape rolled his eyes. "What do you want boy? Don't you have class?"
"Yeah I just wanted to meet you."
"And why would you want to meet me?"
"Because my dad named me after you. My name is Albus Severus Potter."
There was quiet for a long time. Albus knew he was dreadfully late for potions and Professor Snape didn't say something soon Albus was leaving.
"Well. Off you go! Your twenty minutes late to class." Albus turned to go.
"Come back anytime you want. I'll tell Professor Slughorn to leave you a key" Albus nodded and raced to his potion class.