Chapter 17 – Angels and Demons -

Standard disclaimer – don't own any of JK Rowling's works, nor am I profiting from them.

A/N: A bit of a lighter chapter concerning our heroes to place some context into this story. I do love writing Luna, her honesty is really quite endearing. A few fun revelations within about my take on Veela, and the next few chapters will give more depth while hopefully not being full of too much exposition. I hate info dump chapters. Thank you for your continued patronage of this story, again big thanks to nesciamema and Awakening5, for their steadfast reviewing and comments.

If you would like a shout out or have some of your ideas incorporated to this story, please review. Or if you want to tell me that this story is garbage, please review! I won't take it personally, well too personally.

"Not good enough, Harry. How does she know?" Charlie almost growled out the question. "You already hurt her once we won't let you hurt her again." He closed the distance and an all too familiar feeling of bullying and intimidation seeped into Harry's skin. Vernon, Dudley, Snape …

Harry bristled at Charlie's insinuation and drew himself up; he was several inches taller than the second oldest Weasley and speared him with his gaze. He wrenched the tanto from the mortar and held it up for Charlie's inspection and contemplation. "I respect you, Charlie, as well as all her other brothers, and I get that you all love her too. But Ginny's the onlyone that gets a say about what happens between us."

Charlie thought about Harry's admission and smiled slightly, backing off, "The big brother speech doesn't work as well when the boyfriend has already killed a Dark Lord and saved the world, I suppose."

Harry's face betrayed the hurt at being a killer only for a brief moment before he tensed at a sound at the bathroom door, he flicked his eyes down and met Charlie's while reaching for his wand. He relaxed as he recognized a familiar floral scent and slight pull on his magic.

"Great idea George, best prank ever." Harry said sardonically and a lopsided smile graced his features as he looked past his surprised partner to Ginny, looking glorious in her messy, fiery hair and deep red flush when she realized what Harry had admitted to her brother.

Ginny knew that Harry loved her; he told her so before he was immolated by the Fiendfyre, but it was the first time, even indirectly, that he had told any of her family. The fact that he was defending her made it that much sweeter. Ginny approached her brother and Harry very slowly, she knew Harry's control was wavering still. She eyed Charlie harshly and he held up his arms in mock surrender. Judging by the small shiner on Harry's face, Charlie got in something before they came to an "understanding".

"I know, I know, Gin. None of my business, but … Luna, I mean you can't just blurt that out, you know?" Charlie thumbed his stinging ear, squeezing it roughly to stop the trickle of blood. He waved off George and Ginny's attempts to help, "It's a reminder not to punch first and ask questions later" and his eyes flicked quickly to Harry.

Ginny flared scarlet again, and sighed, "Don't worry, Luna's days are numbered." She looked irritatedly and apologetically at Harry, whose smile had disappeared under a growing look of hostility.

" Annnd … we'll give you two a moment, but just one moment given the recent revelations." George said dramatically to cut the tension. "Come along Charlie, give the couple some fighting room." As they walked out of the bathroom, Ginny swore she heard George and Charlie compare ear injuries.

Ginny's angry pretense dropped as her brother's exited the loo. "I am so sorry about Dean, I didn't know he was coming …" Her voice dropped off as Harry's pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. A full bloom of panic began to blossom in her mind as Harry's stony face grew more severe. No, no, not after everything they had been through, that prat wouldn't steal this away. "Nothing happened like that with him, ever, he was just drunk and lashing out, trying to push my buttons. He's always been jealous of you. You have to believe …"

"I do Ginny." Harry raked his hands through his longer hair and fought down the urge to rip some of it out by the handful, but he couldn't shake the image of Dean and Ginny settling in his mind.

"Harry? I only want you. No one else will ever be enough. No one." Ginny's soft voice carried unnaturally in the bathroom and she crossed over and cradled his face in her delicate hands and placed a soft kiss on his lips to seal that truth. "But why are you here, you know it's too dangerous?"

He sighed heavily, "I had to see George … he's been working for me on various projects since the Battle. I thought he needed some direction, I know I did after Sirius passed away, but he was just using it to stay numb. I had to get him away from that work and remind him of this, of life happening." Harry's eyes were so distant and forlorn when speaking of Sirius that Ginny gave him another soft kiss. "I guess inviting all of Gryffindor tower was his way of returning the favor for formally hiring Angelina."

"You are a good man, Harry Potter. It's why I love you." Ginny smiled at him and punctuated her praise with yet another sensual kiss and whispered with the faint smell of cinnamon in his ear, "but if you ever leave me with your deer again …"

"Yes, dear." Harry's mocking tone earned him a swat on the arm, but also granted him a genuine smile on her now beautifully swollen lips.

"Good, now take off your shirt." Ginny's sultry voice offered no explanation and no retreat. Harry complied without hesitation. With alcohol fueling his imagination, he was eager to see where this turn of events was leading, but was sorely disappointed and let it be known with a loud groan when Ginny began conjuring strips of medical gauze for his back.

"Don't be a sad panda, Harry. You had your chance this morning." Ginny's reproach would have carried more bite if she hadn't let her hands roam along his sensitive skin while whispering and nibbling on his ear.

"Oi, two minutes. Two bloody minutes and look at this!" George was having a laugh but Charlie was definitely not used to see Harry and Ginny this … intimate.

"Shut it, George. He can't very well carry on like this, now can he?" George, remembering that scene at Grimmauld Place nodded in understanding at his sister, but Charlie was circling like a tiger after its prey, ready to attack, but froze when he glimpsed at the wreckage that was Harry's torso.

"Merlin's beard …" was all Charlie could manage before covering his mouth. Scars were everywhere, blackened, seeping, deep, shallow, Harry harbored all of them. He was used to seeing scars, when working at a dragon camp it was an occupational hazard, but no one ever had this many or this severe and stayed alive for long. When he saw the oldest scourge and whipping scars he frowned in contemplation, but caught Ginny's eye and her stern look told him those weren't up for discussion.

Harry felt his wandering gaze, "From my Uncle Vernon when I was a boy, six years old", he turned slightly and pointed to his chest, "second killing curse from Hogwarts" and rolled his shoulders to slightly open his silvery furrows, "This … this is the illness reported in the Daily Prophet."

Charlie was taken aback by how … frank Harry was. Like the catalogue of scars was just a normal part of childhood, of his being alive. "Harry, I didn't know … I'll give you a pass, tonight, about my sister. But that explanation better be coming soon. She's still our little baby sister. And for Merlin's sake, put on a shirt."

"I'm right here, you prat." Ginny swore at her brother, waving her hands wildly to prove it. "And he doesn't need to tell you anything." Ginny's eyes were glaring daggers at her older brother.

"That's cute, Gin-bug, but it's a man thing." He ruffled her hair slightly.

Harry rolled his eyes, Charlie was being a prat on purpose, riling up Ginny to get her to spill something to shut him up. Ginny was too protective of him and he was using that, but it also meant she was going to be stormy the rest of the evening and that wasn't worth saving his pride over when time with her was so precious.

Whatever creative use of language Ginny was forming, stopped when she felt Harry's calloused hand on her arm, his magic unconsciously releasing into her and she caught her breath as a familiar tingle crept south. "It was after I killed Stevens and Alecto, you remember it in the Prophet? It's where I opened up these newest scars; sometime before I apparated to Number 12 from California. During that night, George brought Ginny over because the healer wanted her close to try and revive me, and I guess I … reacted." His blush toward both George and Charlie explained exactly how he reacted.

"Wait, that's what was going on when I was helping Saito?" George's eyes were wide in disbelief, "I didn't think you had it in you!" Charlie glared at his younger brother to remind him it was their sister who was that someone else, and that it was definitely not a joking matter.

"I didn't. I was in a coma, remember? I was only partially woken up from it to take us to a different safe house." His flat voice betrayed nothing but slight irritation, but his eyes moved to George's shamed face and softened. "It wasn't your fault George, I know you just wanted to let everyone to know I was ok. That's as much as I can say without further endangering everyone and asking for Oaths."

Charlie pinched the bridge of his nose, "Merlin, how are we going to explain this to everyone out there? There is bound to be some rumors flying, even without that arse Dean mucking it up for all of us. I mean it's three blokes and a witch in the loo for the last ten minutes."

At the mention of Dean, Ginny looked down at her feet, but felt Harry's arm circle around her waist reassuringly, "I'll tell them the same story out there, and leave before the Aurors come to check on the melee. They all deserve at least a little explanation."

Charlie and George emerged from the loo first, and addressed the rest of them, noting that Tom and Hannah had already cleared the rest of the pub. "Everything is alright, we just had to make sure that blonde bloke was on the level, turns out we know him." They both moved to the side and smiled as their eyes and mouths all went wide at seeing Harry.

Neville was the first to react, closing the distance quickly and engulfing Harry in a massive embrace. "Harry!" Tears were streaming down his face and Harry reveled in how content and … whole Neville seemed. He clapped Neville on the back. "Thank you for keeping them all safe last year. Frank and Alice will be so proud …" Harry smiled and winked at Neville's confused face, "Every few days, I rode those specialists hard for what I paid them."

He saw Neville blanch at the idea of the cost both in Galleons and time, but Harry would have none of it. "I would spend every Galleon in every vault to bring you your parents. Mum and Dad would've done anything for Frank and Alice, just like I know they would have for me." Neville gave him a watery smile before being forcefully moved by an onrushing Hermione and Ron.

Harry braced himself and caught the brown haired missile. "Missed you too 'Mai." He turned a bit and to kill any jealousy, pulled Ron in to the hug, "Hey mate, it's great to see you both together. Forgiven your girlfriend for stunning you yet, it's like the DA all over again."

Ron's cross stare said no, he hadn't, but his new found maturity kept his temper under wraps, almost. As the couple began bickering, Ginny sidled up to Harry, "Just like old times." Harry snorted hard and pulled Ginny to his side lightly stroking her arm, just like old times.

He felt Ginny stiffen as someone approached and Harry closed his eyes when he heard a voice, "Ginny, you brought Harry here so we could get a look and make up our own minds? That's so … thoughtful." She stared dreamily at Harry and spoke loud enough for the whole pub to hear, "She says you are … what was it … hung like a hippogriff? I believe a Nargle infestation has been with her since." Harry let out a strangled cough and covered his face with his free hand to quiet his laughter.

Luna paused as if considering something on him, "No need to be embarrassed Harry, I am sure Ginny will quite appreciate your help in relieving them." The pub's silence was broken by George's howling laughter and Ginny's shriek at her friend, "That is it, Luna! You are a dead witch!"

Harry ducked out of the chase scene unfolding before him and went quickly to the bar, searching out Tom and Hannah. He motioned them over and before he could speak, Tom cut him off.

"Harry you are safe here, I know what happened in the Alley with the Ministry and how you and Neville helped save my pub. But I can't be sure that someone hasn't gone to report the fight to the Aurors." Harry grimly nodded and pulled out his note from Gringotts to settle the tab.

"Seriously, Harry, you or Neville's money is no good here." Hannah spoke quickly after looking over at Tom, who merely smiled. "Consider it a thank you." But Harry waved off the charity.

"Tom, we drank at least two casks of Ogden's as well as more Butterbeer than I have seen in one place." But the old owner shook his head again.

"Look, Tom, this isn't a negotiation. Either take my money now, or a mysterious investor will donate an even larger sum later." Tom just crossed his arms on his chest and huffed, but Hannah reached over and grabbed the note almost apologetically and began to ring up the tab.

"All of it, Hannah." Her face blushed as her plan went for naught. He slid a small bag of Galleons across the bar after he received his note back. "There was a bit of damage in the loo. Charlie had … a few things to say before we came out." Hannah's confused look made him laugh.

Harry leaned against the bar and watched as Ginny was coming closer and closer to catching Luna. A voice nearby, belonging to Percy, cut through his sister's swearing at Luna and reached his ears. As he turned an awkward silence fell between them.

Percy wouldn't meet Harry's eyes, "Look, Harry, I know you think I am a git … and maybe I am, but I still have friends in the Ministry. They know I was here to meet George, and they gave me a heads up. The DMLE called in some Aurors to check on the disturbance."

His voice was tired and strained and he looked pained to even speak of the Wizarding government. He shook his head as if to clear it, "At least with all my time there, I made a lot of good contacts. You have five minutes at most."

"Thanks, Perce." And before he turned to leave, Harry grabbed his arm, "and for the record you aren't a git … you just acted like one."

Percy's brow furrowed at Harry's serious face but then they both broke out in to sarcastic smiles. "Gee thanks, Harry."

"Any time." A comfortable silence fell between them for a moment, before Harry stood up, "I'm glad you're back." He wouldn't insult Percy's intelligence by saying everything was fine and that things hadn't changed between the normally reserved Weasley and his family, but Harry was truthful, having the Weasleys back together could only help moving forward. Time to leave.

He grabbed Ginny as she was still chasing a surprisingly spry Luna. "Ginevra" he breathed in her ear in a way that sent shivers through her body, her proper name slipped off his tongue in a way that maybe, just maybe, could be much more than fine to use. "The Aurors are coming …" Her returned angry look was mollified by his sincere apologetic one and she kissed him fiercely, her tongue sliding along his before pulling slightly on his lip when she pulled away. Harry's eyes were wide in shock and darkened with desire. A tipsy Ginny was dangerous, indeed.

"I told you, you should have stayed this morning" she said with a saucy wink as the doors to the Leaky opened, and the colored robes of the Aurors made their way into the Leaky Cauldron. When Ginny turned back to tell Harry to go, she spoke only into the whispered hush of still air.

Gabrielle Delacour woke up in a cold sweat for the first time since the TriWizard tournament's second task. Mercifully, it wasn't the nightmare of frigid suffocating darkness. Insetead it was an angry, chaotic disjointed dream. Flashes of Veela, of her own future life with Harry, of her life as a servant of some nameless master, the dream raged until ending in roaring flames amidst a flutter of white feathers.

Disoriented and fearful, she gripped her satin pillow and tried taking deep breaths. She couldn't keep her racing heart under control until she focused on the one piece of the dream that could calm her and she brought it to the forefront. Harry. Her life with Harry was soothing, she couldn't quantify what relationship it was, but he made her feel safe even in her own mind.

Maybe it was exhaustion from the extra lessons she was taking under the Honored Mothers, or the stress of returning to Beauxbatons for her second year. At least this year she wouldn't be terrified for Fleur, who aided the Order of the Phoenix by housing some of the Hogwarts students; she was safe, or as safe as a Veela could be in backwards Britain. All because of Harry. She began to understand what Harry's true power was; it wasn't his magic, which people feared, or his considerable fame, which the Ministry feared and the Mothers coveted.

Harry's greatest gift was he made people believe. Gabrielle knew it was overly simplistic and impossibly naïve, but Harry engendered that faith within people, people like Hermione and Ron who fought against the Dark Lord with him. Or when he made them believe they could be safe, like when he saved Ginny at twelve and her when he was fourteen. It was hardwired into his DNA and though he might hate it, Harry was a unique wizard whom others unconsciously followed; he was a leader.

She lay back down on her bed, trying to let sleep overtake her again, but it was pointless. The extra few hours of troubled sleep would just tire her more, and she needed to be at her best when the Honored Mothers came for her lessons; today was the politics and Houses of Wizarding Britain. It was going to be a long, long day.

The Mothers arrived exactly at ten and as always dressed in the conservative black robes that spoke of their station. Gabrielle waited for them in the study, nervous as she always was, to meet the revered leaders of the Veela. These were the women who had transformed their lot in life to at least one of choice and respectability here in France, emerging from the sex slaves and submissives of centuries past. And she could partially understand her role as well as Harry's in bringing that same change to Britain, which was why she was trying her hardest to remember all the information the elder Veela were imparting.

Finally they relented for a moment, regarding the twelve year old before them. "This is a bit much for your age, young Gabrielle, but you must be ready for when Harry will accept you." Gabrielle bristled at the notion of being thrown at the Potter lord and having him blackmailed if necessary into taking her into his company. Nothing escaped the women and they cast wary glances towards one another at her impertinence.

Mother Superior Arielle shook her disapprovingly, not at Gabrielle but her fellow Mothers. If Albus had taught the wizarding leaders anything, it was that children were not tools to an end, but had to be guided willingly to their destiny, that Harry still went despite the fool's blunders was a testament to his character and honor. "Child, you seem to have questions or concerns, please share them." She released a bit of her allure into her presence to calm the startled girl.

Gabrielle's face drained of color to be so directly addressed by the Mother Superior and paled considerably more when the Mother Superior sat next to her and took her small hand into her own. "Are you worried about Lord Potter, or how he will treat you?" She slipped a bit of contempt into her voice to test her young charge and was not disappointed.

"No, Harry would never treat anyone poorly who did not earn it." Her defiance was palpable and the barely concealed threat settled into the study amidst the purpling faces of the elders.

Arielle smiled inwardly at the girl's fire, but knew this rebelliousness would not be appreciated amongst her tutors nor her sisters if their faces were any indication. My own "brashness" was certainly not. "Nor would he have reason to with us, Lord Potter has gathered the second and ninth largest assets in all of Britain, through inheritance. He surely will be granted the order of Merlin, first class, if those cretins in the Ministry don't foul it up, and by his own merits rid this world of a Dark Lord. We do not seek his ire, especially now with what we have heard from his exploits abroad and in Diagon Alley, we need his help."

Gabrielle stood brusquely, addressing all of the elders, "You don't understand. Harry will help us because it is the right thing to do, not because I am offered as a reward. To do so would insult his honor and mine." Her eyes were flickering with restrained anger.

Another Mother spoke crisply, "And you know this as truth; that Harry will never change, never grow into something less amenable to our goals, or be swayed by his thoughts like all men?" Her disbelief dripped from every word as she challenged the thoughts of the twelve year old.

"Not for Ginny, me, and all those families at Diagon Alley" Gabrielle ticked reasons off her fingers, brandishing them at the Mother as weapons, "He needs no incentive to do the right thing, it isn't a phase. It is who he is." Her enunciation of each word in her sharp rebuke snapped the Mother's head backwards in disbelief at her audacity. "He is not like other men; he is resistant to our allure as well as the Imperious curse, to force him would be a huge mistake. I know him…" The rest of the sentence was as unspoken as it was unnecessary, Gabrielle had proven her point.

"Enough." Arielle's voice was absolute as she saw the storm clouds gathering. "Gabrielle, you will continue your lessons, but we will revisit this later." She studied her fellow elders and acquiesced, "… and perhaps we should consider other options as alternatives." She waved them out of the room, and waited until the black robed witches had left before turning to Gabrielle. With a flourish of her wand, multiple privacy charms and wards sprang into place.

"Must you anger them so? You have no idea what they have sacrificed so that you could have the freedoms you have now."

The youngest Delacour had the good sense to appear ashamed at her disrespect. She nodded and recalled the Mother Superior's previous offer and tentatively spoke to her. "Mother Superior, you asked earlier if I had concerns. I do." She described the chaotic dream and the feeling of Harry's magic pulling at her.

Arielle cleared her throat and knelt down to look Gabrielle in the eyes. "Just as we weren't always subservient to men, we weren't always so removed from our own magic. The transformation of our sisters at the Quidditch World Cup shows how much that divide has cost us. We are not Harpies; we are not destined to be those wretched birds, it is the corruption of our magic that forces that form upon us. We originally held a proud station, beings of fire destined to protect those who were worthy before our purpose was corrupted and our magic, our true magic, was bound by those who enslaved us."

"Angels and Seraphim were what the Muggles called us long ago. Here in France, in secret, we are just beginning to return to our true selves, but it has been such a long time I believe we may have forgotten. And to fully restore our magic, especially in Britain, we must first regain our freedom from those who would continue our servitude …"

"And that is why Harry is so important." Gabrielle finally fully understood, the confluence of wealth, power, fame, and most important the moral compass to push forward legislation to repeal whatever rituals were used to cage them, had never happened all together before, one ingredient was always missing. "We are so close now, we cannot fail … you cannot fail, that is why you must keep up your lessons." Albus was our last attempt and while he had the fame and power, he came from a relatively minor House and could never marshal the votes from Ancient ones like the Blacks, and the allure was wasted on him.

Gabrielle spent much time in the study even after Mother Superior Arielle had left. The crushing weight of responsibility rooted her to the spot as she made sense of Arielle's admission. It was only by chance that this was her role, had she not been at the TriWizard tournament and Harry not saved and befriended her and Fleur; this would be someone else's burden. Some other Veela. That thought bothered her that the Mothers would just present any Veela at him to earn his favor. She walked absently through the study searching for some way of proving her worth to him.

She somehow knew that word, Seraphim, and now she saw how far the Veela had fallen, had their true purpose stolen from them. Seraphim … it was in a muggle parable her mother used to tell her. Her blood ran cold as she remembered what the muggles said of the Seraphim, of all angels, of their purpose. Among those beings, that there was one who served as a herald to bring the divine message to change the course of their world, Gabriel.

Mother Superior Arielle steeled herself before entering the enclave to discuss the latest meeting with Gabrielle. The young Delacour did not garner any favors with her brazenness, but Arielle smiled as she contemplated her. The girl was just like her at that age. A mirror image. Cold water doused that fond memory as she entered the sacred space to a din of furious whispering.

"She is insolent, disobedient, and completely unpredictable. We should replace her with one of the others immediately." The magnitude of the conversation weighed heavily on Arielle as she noted all the nods of assent.

"And which of our replacements know Harry at all? Gabrielle is correct; Harry will barely respond to even her, do you think a perfect stranger could penetrate his circle? Do you believe our contact at Gringotts is wrong when she concurs with her?" Her questions went unanswered because there were none to give, their contact was reliable and well placed and the Mother Superior's next words only confirmed Fleur's now emerging value.

"We know he is already using his wealth to establish his independence from both the Ministry and the Goblins, do you believe us to be far behind, now that he knows our intentions? Our only advantage is his familiarity with the Delacours, and Gabrielle is their only daughter left."

"What if he doesn't find her suitable, she is six years his junior, and hasn't hit her maturity."

Arielle waved her sister off, "She will mature quickly enough …" Her love will compel her, for him. "And she will be plenty beautiful enough; she is, after all, a Veela." She only partially listened to her sisters continuing to debate the child's merits. Millions of permutations were being calculated in her mind; Harry's consolidated voting block, his unusual asset accumulation, but all of those permutations paled in comparison to whatever reason he had for leaving Britain after vanquishing the Dark Lord … without that information; they, along with the rest of the Wizarding world, were in the dark.

Harry slipped quickly past the Aurors, melting into the shadows as he heard the Weasleys relating the story of Dean's asinine behavior. He hoped that this small disturbance wouldn't make it back to Arthur. He knew the new Ministry had a contentious enough restoration on their hands without having to put out fires made by their children, or especially him.

Hopefully, the Aurors' respect for both Arthur and one of their own, Kingsley, would have them swallow the story, or at the very least allow the DMLE to leverage the situation enough to get a bit more funding. Kingsley was just itching for an excuse to help his former department.

He hated it, this forced anonymity after everything he had sacrificed for the betterment of the powers of the world that now shunned him. When he first met with Matheson after the Battle of Hogwarts, he was naïve and really was afraid of what was related about his uncontrolled magic; now, however, he felt that the situation was much more serious. He had better control of his magic, so he wasn't a ticking bomb, but Arthur was right, those were Ministry officials trying to kill him, and so announcing his return without ferreting out the conspirators would be suicidal.

So this is what it must have felt like being of the Arcane centuries ago, hunted by those who would usurp us, and having others seek your fame for their own purposes ...this feels … like all my years at Hogwarts. Honestly, he felt the same soul crushing pressure as he always had, but now the stakes were much higher. While the fate of the Wizarding world was secure from Riddle, his actions could reverberate and cause ripples through out both worlds, Muggle and Wizarding. He had to win, for what he believed in. And more importantly for what he wanted. He glanced back at the Leaky Cauldron, at everything meaningful that made him the man he was. That was what he wanted more than anything, to be with them.

He growled to no one in particular, at having his dream unfolding meters away from him, stolen from him, and that cold anger forged his resolve into action. It was time to take back that which he earned and assume the mantle his father had discovered in saving his only son. Harry Potter was the last Potter, the last Peverell, and the very last of the British Arcane, but the time was coming when the Arcane and the House of Peverell would be heard from again.

The Leaky Cauldron had calmed considerably since the Aurors had left, as the mood became much more contemplative. Harry was there, right there; sitting among them listening to what they thought of him. Their eyes drifted amongst the company, there was George who brought Harry to them, there was Neville, with an incredible debt to Harry, who would never call it in, and there was Ginny, who was put into center stage by Luna.

"Oh … I see I've made everyone uncomfortable. Ginny isn't the only one though, I felt Harry's magic too." Luna's lyrical tone caught everyone aback, but especially Ron who choked savagely on his Butterbeer.

"Merlin, Luna …" Ron hung his head and waved his hand furiously in her direction, "Just stop talking for tonight, alright? Felt his magic? I don't even …."

Luna's confused wide eyes pierced Ron, "What else could it mean, Ronald? He slipped his magic deep inside and touched me with it. I mean, you were right there watching." Ginny had the good sense to let her brother sweat this one out, though it was hard to keep a straight face.

All the Weasley brother's eyes whipped towards Ron's exploding cherry face. "Wait, what? You were doing it right in front of me? Oh Merlin … when the bloody hell was that?" Ron cradled his face in his palms and furiously rubbed his eyes.

"It was right after he did it to Ginny. I am surprised he was strong enough for the both of us. Aren't you?" Her placid eyes turned towards Ginny's brown ones and the slight twitch of her lip told Ginny all she needed to know about how much Luna was enjoying this.

The apoplectic brothers looked ready to gather a mob to lynch Harry, so Ginny looked apologetically at Luna, sad to cut this hilarity short. "In the Wheezes …"

"In the WHEEZES?" Ron shouted over his Butterbeer and George looked completely lost in wondering what he needed to disinfect first.

"In the Wheezes" Ginny repeated, "when you were being treated by Kreacher, do you remember when Harry was kissing me, and I seemed to get better. You were securing the rest of the store." She pointed over towards George with her thumb.

"Must have been before I almost shit my pants seeing that Fiendfyre …" George muttered low under his breath trying to remember, oblivious to the others' grimaces at that scene.

Ron was deep in thought trying to recall the memories of that day in Diagon Alley, it was hard, he had pushed those thoughts deep down and locked them away. Recognition dawned on his face and Luna patted him on the arm, "See Ronald, you were there, it wasn't like we were shagging Harry or anything." Her eyes darted daringly over to Ginny, who had taken to studying her Butterbeer very seriously, but refocused on Ron quickly who looked abashed to think so poorly of his sister.

The misunderstanding also seemed to banish the subject of Harry's manhood, at least for the time being, for which Ginny was extremely grateful. As they all piled out of the booth and prepared to floo home, George waved them all ahead.

"Go on you lot, I'll be home soon, I just want to take a walk and think a bit. I'll be at the Wheezes if you want to check up on me." He started for the doors of the Leaky, when a warm arm looped in his and a rare genuine smile lit up his face when he saw Angelina standing there, sliding in close to him.

"I'll look after him and make sure he gets home safe." She all but declared herself to the Weasleys then and there, and judging by the smile on George's face, she knew that Harry was right to invite her tonight even if it had blindsided him. They had a lot to talk about and there would hopefully be plenty of time for it later, but just for tonight, George needed to remember how to enjoy life. She lost one of her best friends to this war, she wouldn't lose George too.