Chapter 13 - Preparations

"Arthur!" His wife shouted to him in a way that he, from experience, knew meant something drastic had happened. Still, after all their years together, it was hard to determine whether she was happy or angry about it. His guess—or hope—was that whatever it might be was good news. But there was some anger in her voice, too, so all he could do was drop everything and go to her.

"Coming dear," he answered and put away the spark plug he was studying. He was relatively certain it served some kind of function in the motorcycle—or possibly a Muggle toaster—on which he still had some repairs left to finish. He sighed resignedly and headed for the kitchen where Molly stood waiting with a bit of parchment clutched in her hand.

"We must get a new owl! Clearly, Errol is getting senile. Ron sent this letter yesterday and he's only just arrived with it today," she complained, looking disgustedly down at the pile of heaving feathers and bird feet lying on the scrubbed oak table.

"I guess you're right, Molly dear. Errol's been in our family as long as we've been married. He's pretty worn out, isn't he," Arthur answered as he gently gathered up the rugged old owl and stroked his ruffled feathers. The poor bird looked more dead than alive.

"Well, what are you standing there for? Read the letter," Molly demanded, shaking the letter at him.

Arthur took the letter and slid his reading glasses onto his face. He cleared his throat and began to read:

Dear Mum and Dad,

I have some wonderful news. Yesterday, for Valentine's Day, I asked Hermione to marry me. She said yes and we are now engaged. I'm still trying to understand that she, the most talented, wisest and wonderful witch of our age will marry me. We haven't talked to Hermione's parents yet, but will do that as soon as possible. We got permission from Professor McGonagall to leave the school next weekend to see both you and the Grangers.

Love from your son,

Ron

"So he actually did it! Oh Arthur, this is wonderful," she cried. "Both of our babies are getting married! I can't wait to hear all about it," Molly said wiping proud tears from her eyes with her apron.

"This is great news! And Ron chose well when he chose Hermione," Arthur said with pride in his voice. "She's a fine young lady who can keep him in line!" He took his wife in his arms and rested his chin on her head. "Now, there-there, my lovely," he said softly. "We knew this was coming someday. Ron and Ginny'll be very happy with their chosen ones. We have nothing to worry about. Harry'll take good care of Ginny and Hermione'll take good care of Ronnie."

"Our children are all grown up," Molly wept into her husband's chest. "Bill's soon to be a father, Ginny's marrying Harry next summer, and Ron's marrying Hermione. I don't know anything about Charlie or Percy, but George seems serious about Angelina..." Molly sniffed as Arthur handed her his handkerchief.

"Yes, it's all rather a blur, isn't it, Mollywobbles, but with the new grandchild, and Harry and Hermione officially joining the family, the Weasleys may soon take over the world," Arthur joked.

"Arthur, you have such an interesting view of the world," Molly laughed. "That's what made me fall in love with you!"

"Is that all," he smirked, kissing her nose. "Just my views? It wasn't my dynamic personality or my stunning good looks, or..."

"That will do, Mr Weasley," she chided. "You know all the reasons very well—especially that night in the Astronomy tower when we..."

"That will do, Mrs Weasley. I still have a trace of the scars on my wrists," he chuckled, pulling up a sleeve. "But it was worth every minute and if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing."

"Oh Arty," Molly sighed. She raised her face to her husband's and pressed her lips to his in a kiss filled with love and nostalgia for their younger days.

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"Damn! I almost forgot about this," Harry muttered to himself. I can nick up to Professor McGonagall's while Ginny's in the library. He snatched the phial from the table and hurried off to the Headmistress' Office. "Tartan," he said to the gargoyle. It leapt aside and he ascended the stairs to her office and knocked.

"Come," she answered. She brightened when she saw her visitor. "Harry, it's good to see you. How are the DA coming along?"

"Very well, Professor," he replied. "It's hard work, what with all the tough physical training and the—er—advanced magic. But we're learning a lot in quite a short time."

"Very good, Harry. Very good," she said nodding thoughtfully. "So what brings you?"

"Well, Professor," Harry began, "I had a meeting with Draco Malfoy and..."

"Indeed," she said, her eyebrows raised. "You and Mr Malfoy aren't exactly the best of friends..."

"No, we're not, but the meeting had to do with an investigation. He gave me this memory," he told her, holding up the phial.

"So you would like to view it, is that right," she asked.

"If you don't mind, Professor," Harry said respectfully.

"You may use the Pensieve. I trust you know where it is," she said, gesturing toward the cabinet where he'd first found it by accident in his fourth year.

"I do. Thank you," he said as he strode over to the cabinet and carefully removed it to the desk. He poured the memory into it and it shimmered and swirled in the stone vessel. "I'll be just a moment," he assured the headmistress. Harry leaned forward, touching his nose to the surface of the silvery substance lying in the Pensieve, allowing himself to be drawn into Draco Malfoy's memory.

The memory was not very long. Harry found himself at Malfoy manor in what appeared to be a formal dining room because there was a highly-polished mahogany table twice the size of the Weasley's scrubbed oak one. Around the table sat a core group of Death Eaters, many of whom Harry recognised, including Lucius Malfoy, a very nervous Narcissa, and a sullen Draco seated between his parents. With a jolt of anger, Harry also recognised Bellatrix Lestrange, Yaxley, Mulciber, McNair, Crabbe, Goyle, and Nott. Snape was absent from this meeting. At the head of the table Voldemort presided over the dark assembly.

There was a knock on a door and Voldemort arose from the table and opened the door and exchanged silent words with someone who appeared to be a woman. He had a feeling she wasn't elderly, but he wasn't sure. Voldemort closed the door and after that Harry returned to the office.

Harry thought about what he had seen as he collected the memory and returned the Pensieve to its place in the cabinet. "Thanks again, Professor," Harry said as he made to leave.

"You seem concerned, Harry," Professor McGonagall said, stopping him mid-stride.

"Yes, Professor. I am," Harry replied. "The memory revealed a dangerous possibility. But I don't know if I can trust Malfoy or not." Harry turned to Snape's portrait." Professor Snape, can you offer any advice as to Malfoy's trustworthiness?"

"Malfoy is a gifted Occlumens, Potter. I taught him myself. It's likely he might play a role similar to mine. As for his trustworthiness, I don't doubt it, but I honestly don't know about his loyalties," Snape sneered.

"Thank you, Professor." Harry said respectfully, for he truly respected his former Potions Master even though he hadn't ever been on good terms with him over the years. He turned his attention to Dumbledore's portrait. "Professor?"

"All I can say, Harry, is that he obviously wanted you to see this memory, but why? To give you a clue to defeat the enemy or to set a trap? Or to confuse you and focus on non-essential matters?"

Harry carefully considered the two former headmasters' words. Their thoughts might be relevant, but provided no answers; however, he was able to learn a most important fact—Malfoy was indeed a talented Occlumens. That could be a very good thing or a very bad thing, depending on his loyalties. Had he been able to shut me out? Bollocks! He turned to Professor McGonagall again. "Thanks again, Professor, for allowing me to use the Pensieve and talk with Professors Snape and Dumbledore."

"You're more than welcome, Harry. And could you please ask Mr Weasley and Miss Granger to come to my office when you see them?"

"Of course, Professor," Harry replied and exited the office.

On the way back to the quarters he shared with Ginny, Harry continued to turn Draco's evidence over in his mind. Draco must think this might be the mysterious enemy. If he was right, it was a woman. Had Voldemort had any other disciples besides Bellatrix? Was there a reason she was taught things none of the male Death Eaters were? Harry turned all he knew of Voldemort's life over in his mind. He thought it might be possible that men reminded Voldemort of his Muggle father, so he tended to be quicker to anger with them.

Voldemort also had the habit of treating even his most devoted Death Eaters like servants rather than equals, and as far as Harry knew, Voldemort didn't consider Bellatrix an equal either. But perhaps women somehow represented something uniquely special because his mother was a witch. However, Harry could never be certain what Voldemort could be thinking about anything like that because he'd been an evil, self-centred nutter most of his life.

Whatever the case, he knew he needed to talk with Ginny, Ron and Hermione about the little bit he'd found out from Draco's memory. If there could be another Bellatrix roaming about, they needed to know about it. Bellatrix was a powerful and brilliant witch, but evil and completely insane. Another one like her would throw their world into another nightmare and he intended to stop it one way or another. No one will ever threaten my family's safety again.

He continued to wonder who the mysterious woman might be and what she was up to, if anything at all. Harry had a feeling that the rumours about some dark force seeking to take over the Ministry were false. After all, if Voldemort, couldn't stay in power, Harry highly doubted anyone else could. But without proof, it would be pointless to try and make a case out of it because he'd have to convince his superiors first. He would share these concerns as well when he spoke with Ginny, Ron and Hermione.

Still, Harry realised he would need someone outside Hogwarts to keep his eyes and ears open. Could he trust Malfoy? He was, after all, the only one in touch with the enemy and he was willing to talk. But before letting Malfoy in on anything, he had to clear that with Robards. That was it. If his friends couldn't come up with a better idea, he would talk to Gawain about using Malfoy.

If the Death Eaters learned that the Aurors weren't buying into the notion of an attack on the Ministry, they might do something hasty and inadvertently reveal some pertinent information about their leader and her intentions—if in fact their leader was the woman in Draco's memory. On the other hand, if they did plan to attack and were convinced that the Ministry considered it a false alarm, they might also do something hasty. No matter Malfoy's loyalties, he might still serve their purposes. Bloody hell! This cloak and-wand-crap lies in Ron's area of expertise.

Gawain allowed Harry to continue working with Malfoy as he saw fit. Harry sent an owl to Malfoy requesting a meeting with him at the Auror Office the following week. Harry planned to returned Draco's memory to him and discuss the mysterious woman while the Aurors read Malfoy's mind minimizing the risk for deceit. They also needed to decide what Malfoy's next step should be, so they might learn more without putting him in unnecessary danger. Maybe he did know more, but wanted Harry to watch the memory first and talk about it in a more appropriate place than the Three Broomsticks.

The week passed quickly with classes, homework, and for Ginny, Quidditch. Harry and Ron worked with Dennis Creevey and Jessica Spinnet respectively and worked out with the weights when they had the opportunity. Much of the working out was designed not only to get into and stay in shape, but to take Ron's mind off meeting with his parents and future in-laws about his engagement to Hermione. There wasn't any doubt that both sets of parents would be happy for the couple, it was just the enormity of it all that made Ron more and more nervous with each passing day.

"But you know Hermione's parents," Harry encouraged him.

"Yes, but then I was just the boyfriend. Now I'm the future son-in-law. They're going to be stuck with me."

"But I thought they liked you," Ginny asked. Like you should care.

"They liked the boyfriend, but will they accept me as Hermione's husband, the father of their grandchildren... as a part of their family," Ron speculated.

"They know Hermione is happy, that should be enough." Harry calmed him.

"I suppose," Ron said slowly shaking his ginger head and wishing he could believe that.

He had to admit, though, that he had calmed down considerably since his and Hermione's meeting with Professor McGonagall. The headmistress informed them that, as an engaged couple, and with Ron's status with the DA as a sort-of Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor, they would have their own private quarters together. Not even Seamus' remarks about being alone again would detract from that happy development. Friday morning, an owl arrived with a letter for Harry from Percy. Somewhat surprised, Harry opened it.

Harry,

You asked me during the holidays about a discreet way to test for your Apparition license. I assume you have been Apparating without it, and although I don't approve of that I realise it wouldn't look good if it reached the press even if I did. I have procured an appointment with Wilie Twycross for your for tomorrow morning (Saturday) at 9.00 AM.

Sincerely,

Percy Weasley

Harry passed it around to Ginny, Ron and Hermione to read as well. "Well, I guess I'd better get it over with and face Percy's pompous diatribe about illegal Apparition," Harry sighed.

"Oh yeah," Ron snickered and drew himself up to impersonate his stuffy older brother's snooty demeanour, pursed lips and all. "I can see it all now: Harry, the Ministry has very strict regulations concerning Apparition. You really shouldn't be doing that because you could splinch yourself. Accidental Magical Reversal Squads are stretched to their limits every day, blah, blah, blah..."

Even Hermione had to laugh. "That was really good, Ron. I didn't know you were a mimic!"

"I can only do Percy well, Love. And Dad a bit, but Fred and George are...were better at it," Ron said. "You should ask George to put them on sometime. It's hysterical."

The four of them had a good laugh at Percy's and Arthur's unwitting expense. "Well, good luck," Ginny offered, kissing his cheek. "But you'll pass. You've been doing it almost daily for over a year. You'll have no trouble earning your licence."

After classes that Friday, Ron and Hermione headed into Hogsmeade to Apparate to the Burrow. Harry and Ginny watched their friends walk hand in hand towards the gates. "They are so perfect for each other," Ginny said wistfully.

"Who would have known that when she asked us if we had seen Neville's toad on the Hogwarts Express, they'd end up this way," Harry asked rhetorically.

"Or argued about everything," Ginny grinned.

Harry looked lovingly at Ginny. "And who would have thought you and I would ever be where we are now when I first saw you on King's Cross that day?"

Ginny remembered Harry having been lost at the station without knowing how to get to Platform 9¾ on that September morning seven-plus years ago. Of course Ginny had been telling her family she would marry Harry Potter since she was four years old. "Or me messing up everything and losing the ability to speak whenever you were close?"

"It seems like a million years ago and only yesterday at the same time. As I remember, you were a cute little girl. I thought so even then. I just didn't know what to do about it or if I should have back then," Harry said, kissing her hand as they walked. "I remember that morning at the Burrow after Ron and the twins rescued me from the Dursleys. You came down the stairs looking for your jumper..."

"Yes, and the moment I saw you sitting there eating breakfast with my brothers, I froze. I was glad to see you there, but horrified at the same time. I felt so embarrassed. I was still in my pyjamas—I was a mess," Ginny laughed. "But there you were—good-looking even at twelve—and you spoke to me as kindly as..." She broke off because she began to choke up at the fond memory.

"But you've grown into an extraordinarily beautiful young woman and I can't keep my eyes off you. I love you so much, Ginny." Since there were no words to describe his love for her, he sent her a wave of the unspoken thing through their bond to convey it. "And you were not a mess."

Ginny sucked in a deep breath at the magnitude of Harry's emotion, stopped, and stepped into his arms. "Yes, I was. When I first saw you with your wide eyes, baggy clothes and all-around polite nervousness at King's Cross the year before, I fell in love with you," she said, brushing his unruly hair away from his eyes. "I had been enthralled by all the stories about you when I was little, but when I saw you there that day, I truly fell in love with you—with Harry Potter, not the mythical Boy-Who-Lived I'd dreamed about since I was four years old. You were just a skinny kid with the most alluring green eyes and hauntingly tragic smile I had ever seen." She reached up and pulled his head down for a kiss. "But you've grown into my devilishly handsome green-eyed god who earned legendary status for your intense ability to love and be loved."

"You know when I fell in love with you," Harry asked her, tightening his embrace.

"When? In the common room after the game," she asked. "Or when I sent you that god-awful Valentine?"

Harry began to chuckle. "Actually, the Valentine was kind of nice even though I wasn't smart enough to say so. It was the winged dwarf sitting on my chest singing it for all the world to hear that I wanted to kill Lockhart for," he snarled in mock indignation.

"I fell in love with you when I saw you lying on that cold stone floor in the Chamber of Secrets. Your hands were so cold and your sweet face was deathly pale, but you were still the prettiest thing I'd ever seen. I was just too much of a prat to recognise it as the need to rescue the girl I loved rather than Ron's little sister." Harry's eyes, even now, held a look of desperation and fear for her life as he relived those horrible moments.

"Harry, love," Ginny cooed. " All that stuff, horrible as it was, has made us the people we are today. We have each other and our love and our precious bond forged in that love. No one can ever hurt us or drive us apart again. It's all in the past."

"I know, love," Harry agreed, resting his chin on her head, breathing in her intoxicating wildflowers and strawberries scent. "Um...since we're on the subject of the past, how about reading from Mum's diary in front of the fire again tonight? It's been a while and I'm curious to find out what happened after the engagement part."

Ginny gave Harry another kiss and laid her head on his chest. "Mmm...I'd love to." His spicy woodsy scent filled her head as she listened to the comforting sound of his heartbeat. Reluctantly, she broke from his embrace and took his hand. "Come on. Ron and Hermione are probably already in Devon by now."

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Hermione and Ron enjoyed walking together and didn't Apparate to the Burrow until they reached Hogsmeade. "How are you feeling," Hermione asked, before entering the Burrow.

"Well, this is my home and my parents, your future in-laws. It's meeting Mr and Mrs Granger I'm nervous about. Aren't you nervous?"

"Ron, sweetheart, your parents have always been so wonderful to me. I couldn't wish for better in-laws," Hermione said matter-of-factly.

"And I hardly know your parents. No wonder I'm nervous."

"But I know them. And trust me, they like you, Ron," she assured him, touching his face. Hermione hugged him tightly around his waist. She wasn't tiny like Ginny, but Ron stood 6-feet 5-inches tall, so it was a stretch, literally, for Hermione to get her arms around his neck.

Ron wrapped his strong arms around her and kissed the top of her head. In addition, the smell of his mother's cooking wafting through the door certainly improved his mood. "Come on, let's not be late for dinner," he said. I hope you're right, 'Mione.

Hermione couldn't help smiling as they headed for the kitchen. "Ron! Hermione!" Molly greeted them with her signature bone-crushing hugs. "It's so wonderful! Hermione, let me see that ring first and then tell me all about the proposal."

Arthur joined them and hugged his son and surrogate daughter. Hermione told them how Ron proposed to her. Molly beamed at her son's creativity, but still blubbered into her apron.

"Ron, when did you become such a romantic," Molly asked.

"Romantic? Is that what that was? I just didn't want to make an arse of myself with nerves," Ron grinned.

"It was very romantic, love," Hermione said thinking back at the proposal. Merlin, but I love this man.

They had, as usual, stuffed themselves with Molly's excellent cooking, and a little later that evening, George and Angelina dropped by. "I heard you'd be here. Congratulations, my not-so-little brother. Welcome to the family, Hermione," George said, giving her a firm hug.

While their parents chatted with Hermione and Angelina, Ron took George aside. "So, you and Angelina are serious?"

"Yes. She's been here and met Mum and Dad a couple of times. I've met her family, too," George said. Ron was glad to hear that George was truly moving on. Fred's death had been hard on him, but Angelina appeared to be filling the void.

George gave Ron a brotherly hug. "Thanks. I'm glad we came here first. We're going to the Grangers' tomorrow," Ron said with a dubious tone.

"Nervous?"

"Yeah. I mean, I've met them several times, it's just that this time they're stuck with me, I'm not just the boyfriend anymore, but a part of the family, father to their grandchildren..."

"The one most certainly shagging their only baby girl," George added bluntly with his familiar mischievous smirk.

Ron blushed. "That too... I know Mum and Dad were uncharacteristically calm about Harry and Ginny, but they have that bond of theirs, making the idea of them shagging... less disturbing. Mum and Dad have considered him family for years. To the Grangers, I was that bad influence Weasley boy, until I became the boyfriend."

George laughed. "I'm sorry, but this time you are quite the pathetic prat. After New Year, you saved me by helping me write that uniquely crappy letter to Angelina. Let me save you this time."

Ron looked at George with an element of surprise. More than once, George had taken Ron off-guard by offering an occasional pearl of wisdom one would never expect from him. "Hermione chose you, but she didn't choose her parents."

Ron seemed to relax a bit. "I never thought of it like that," Ron admitted.

"The idea was born out of pure survival instinct when Angelina introduced me to her father. The man stands nearly seven feet tall and he's very fit with a low voice—very scary at first. But really, he's a very friendly sort and easy to get on with once I got to know him."

Ron went to bed that night feeling better about meeting with the Grangers the next day. He did like Hermione's parents, he just couldn't help being nervous.

Harry and Ginny decided to forgo the fireplace, opting to cuddle up in their bed to read Lily's diary instead. The last entry they read was about James' proposal and the day after when they told their parents. Because of the intensity of their studies, they hadn't read any more since then, but now it felt right.

28 July 1978

Today James and I met with Professor Dumbledore for the first time after our exams. We are now members of the Order of the Phoenix. Sirius, Remus and Peter have joined too. I see no alternative but to fight. Evil must be defeated. We learned that the situation is far worse than the reports in the Prophet. Professor Dumbledore told us that You-Know-Who has Imperiused people in almost every Department and Office at the Ministry (lovely).

Over the last several years he has slowly and methodically strengthened his grip and more or less controls the Ministry now. The Order has a few members we know and others we only heard of, but it's very encouraging to know that not only is Professor Dumbledore in the fight, but also Aurors Frank and Alice Longbottom. James and Sirius wanted to attack You-Know-Who as soon as possible, but Professor Dumbledore stopped them.

My first mission for the Order is to brew loads of Polyjuice potion. Clearly, Professor Dumbledore is planning something that calls for a complex potion like Polyjuice. James drew patrol duty because of his skill on a broomstick. He is quite a good flyer. Whenever there is suspected Death Eater activity, a group of Order members cover the area from above.

Despite the seriousness of the Order meeting, Professor Dumbledore was his usual self. He congratulated me and James on our engagement. It felt good and right joining the Order. We're at least trying to do something about the Death Eaters. Personally, I'm more motivated than ever before as I'm learning about the power You-Know-Who has been amassing. James and Sirius are quite keen to put him away immediately, which is giving Professor Dumbledore fits. James is so impetuous and Sirius is just plain reckless sometimes (bless him), so Dumbledore's assigned Remus and Peter to keep them grounded. I wish them—Remus and Peter that is—all the luck in the world.

Harry thought seriously about this particular entry because in a way that day led to his parents' deaths. On the other hand they might have died anyway. But Harry could understand his mother's reasoning, feeling good about at least doing something, rather than hiding her head in the sand.

"They knew what they were getting themselves into, just like we did last year," Harry said, thinking about both his and Ginny's last year during the war.

"You did, and both Ron and Hermione knew too."

Harry looked at her, into her eyes. "I meant us, Gin—you and me. I knew I had to face the Horcruxes and finally Tom himself. You knew that Hogwarts would be in the hands of Death Eaters." Harry took Ginny's hand. "You knew it would be hell for you, because the Weasleys were blood traitors in the eyes of the Death Eaters."

"Honestly, Harry, we didn't know what to expect," she said guardedly. "I mean, we had all assumed that Professor McGonagall would be Headmistress, not Snape. We didn't know about Death Eaters having anything to do with Hogwarts until we got here."

Ginny's memories began to surface. Harry felt her emotional battle as her eyes filled with tears. He knew she'd become uncomfortable, but Harry sent a wave of his love and strength and she felt it wash over her. She relaxed a bit but still remained guarded. "Let it out, Gin. You're not a leaky hosepipe. There are things and situations worthy of a good cry."

With that, Ginny's emotional dam broke and she burst into pitiful tears, sobbing and wailing much like Harry had done in her arms in the dorm after the battle. She hated crying, but she had to admit it felt good. "You don't have to tell me, love, if you're not ready, but I'm here for you. I know you went through hell. I can feel it through the bond."

Ginny smiled a little through her tears. "I know you are... I just...I just didn't want to burden you."

"Ginny, you could never be a burden to me, ever," Harry said emphasising his promise in every syllable. "Besides, part of loving someone is sharing their pain as well as their joy."

She began to tremble as she tried to snuggle even closer into the safety of her fiancé's arms. "I...I don't know where to begin..." She just couldn't get close enough to Harry. She lay her head on his muscular chest in order to hear his heartbeat.

Harry rubbed her arm as he held her. "I know it was horrific, Ginny. I know they used the Cruciatus on students... and I suppose both you and Neville got your share of it," Harry said to calm her down.

"How did you know," Ginny asked him, jerking her head up to search his face.

"Neville told me a little bit at the party," Harry admitted. "I didn't ask him or anything. It just came out while we were talking about something else."

Ginny nodded and lay her head back down on his chest. She knew Harry was well aware of how it felt to take the force of a hate-induced Cruciatus. After all, Voldemort himself had thrown it at him.

"Yes, Alecto Carrow and her Slytherin goon squad cast it at me as punishment several times," Ginny sighed. Harry suppressed a surge of anger, instead focusing on sending Ginny all his love instead. Right now she needed him, and his love, not his anger.

"You know, it happened immediately in September. On the train, Neville, Luna, and I could tell already that something was up. The usual activity and chatter were non-existent, Harry. I was like riding in rolling morgue," Ginny recalled, eerily calm. "In our compartment, we talked about resurrecting Dumbledore's Army. When we got here, there was no more need for talk. It had to be done, especially once we found out Snape would be Headmaster with the likes of Amycus and Alecto Carrow teaching the Dark Arts and Muggle Studies."

Ginny shuddered at that recollection while Harry stroked her hair and held her as tightly as he could without crushing the wind out of her. He'd been sending a continuous wave of love and support through their bond as she talked. He loved her so very much.

"We took it upon ourselves to look after the younger students—they were easy targets for the Carrows' and their henchmen," she continued. "We did all we could to keep them safe—to tell them how not to give the Carrows any reason to harm them. I just couldn't let those kids be hurt for even the slightest of infractions."

"What do you mean, love," Harry asked for clarification. "What infractions?"

"You know how first-years are, Harry," she began to explain. "They almost always get lost on their way to class during the first month or so, right?"

Harry remembered how he and Ron had arrived late to Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class and her threat to turn one of them into a pocket watch. "Yeah, especially when those ruddy staircases take a notion to change. Ron and I got lost loads of times."

"Harry, they were punished for that," she cried. "There were horrible detentions..." Ginny began to cry again. "Beaten up and locked in the dungeons without food...chains..."

Harry recalled his life with the Dursleys and how he was often locked in his cupboard and denied meals when he performed uncontrolled magic he couldn't explain or if he breathed too much. A disturbing mental picture of their beloved Munchkins chained to the slimy wall of some filthy dungeon filled his mind and his heart broke. A tear slid down his face as he pulled Ginny into his lap so he could hold her closer.

"Neville, Luna, and I had the first DA meeting amongst ourselves to decide how we were going to call everyone together without alerting the Carrows or the good squad. Luna volunteered to make the rounds by talking to people on the sly. At that point, she was less suspect because of her reputation as...well Loony Lovegood," Ginny said, trying to add levity to her gruesome tale. "She started in her own house with Michael Corner and a few others and then word just spread from there. Soon, Hufflepuff House had been contacted through Ernie MacMillan. I was surprised that so many still had their fake Galleons so we used them. We had our first meeting in a week. Of course, neither of the Creeveys were there..."

"Why not, Gin," Harry asked, confused. "They were two of our most enthusiastic members!"

"Because they were never allowed on the Hogwarts Express, Harry. When we arrived at King's Cross, there were Ministry people checking the students' names against a list. If a student's name wasn't on the list, namely Muggleborns, they were taken away to...who-knows-where. Colin...well, you know Colin. He had an idea something wasn't right, so he and Dennis scarpered off. Neville saw them sneak back through the barrier," Ginny explained.

"Then how did he get to the battle," Harry asked, still confused. "How..."

"Through the Hog's Head. Neville told him through the coin to get to Hogsmeade and come in that way," Ginny said. "We hid him and Dennis the Room of Requirement. The Carrows didn't notice them and Snape...well, you know."

Harry had begun to seethe again and had to fight it back. He hated injustice and intolerance. He recalled the day that he, Ron, and Hermione had broken into the Ministry and watched Umbridge's inquisitorial tactics against Muggleborns, accusing them of "stealing" magic and throwing them in Azkaban for it. He sent another wave of love through their bond to help Ginny go on.

"At first, we did things to drive the Carrows—and Filch—crazy. Nothing of real note other than hiding students at risk and leaving graffiti on the walls. But as time went on, we realised we were going to have to do more. In the Dark Arts class, we were taught the Unforgivables and forced to cast the Cruciatus curse on one another for practice. Some of us refused and paid for it," Ginny began to shake again. "The main targets for retribution were the Gryffindors—namely, Neville and me."

Ginny stole a look up at Harry's face. It appeared to have turned to stone. "Go on, Gin. I'm listening," Harry told her.

"Harry, I swear to you that Neville and I never cast that curse on anyone. We couldn't do it. So one night while we sat in the common room—just he and I—we plotted our next moves. At Luna's suggestion and in your absence, the DA decided that Neville and I should be the leaders...but Neville often acted as though I was in charge since most of the plans for the raids were my idea," she said. "And because none of them bought the story that you and I..."

At that, Harry began to sob. He couldn't hold it anymore. "Oh Gin, baby, I'm so sorry. I broke it off with you to keep you safe, but a fat lot of good that did," he cried "I should have been there..."

"No, my love. You did what you thought was right. You had a job to do. You couldn't have known this would happen," Ginny soothed, stroking his agonised face while they cried together. The just lay there and held one another for a short while. "You all right now, Harry?"

"Never mind me. Are you all right to go on," he asked. "I won't interrupt anymore."

"Yes. I can go on," she took a couple of cleansing breaths and allowed a new wave of Harry's love to wash over her. "It got worse and worse. By Christmas break, people were disappearing left, right, and centre. I went home with a couple of bruises, but nothing too severe. I'd managed to heal the worst of them thanks to Madame Pomfrey's help. I told Mum and Dad that I'd slipped on the stairs leading into the Entrance Hall on the way to supper one night. I could've told them the truth, but I knew the DA needed me and I had to go back.

After Christmas break, the Carrows turned up the heat, so we did too. We found out from a couple of students we had to hide that the ones who were disappearing had been taken to the dungeons and beaten severely. That's how we found out about the firsties," Ginny began to sob. She had been thinking about the Munchkins too. "So that's when we began the raids.

One Muggle Studies class—we all had to take it, you know—Ernie MacMillan and Hannah Abbott argued with Amycus about something he'd said about Muggles being inferior and fit only to serve wizards, or something ridiculous like that. He held them after class and called for his sister. They hit them over and over with the Cruciatus curse until they could barely move. Then they called in Crabbe and Goyle to drag them to the dungeons. They were gone for several days and that's when Neville and I formulated a plan. We had to get them out of there.

We knew we were going to need a team of trustworthy people to pull this off. We were down to only a core group because so many had fled the DA out of fear. We couldn't blame them, really. We were all taking quite a beating, but Neville, Seamus, Michael Corner, Terry Boot, Luna, the Creeveys, and I held fast because we knew you would have. We always considered what you would do, Harry.

We set the Creeveys as lookouts and set to break Ernie and Hannah out of the dungeons. By this time, we had a regular hospital set up in our headquarters in the Room of Requirement. Neville had such a way with that room. It was uncanny the way he could get it to produce whatever we needed with little more than a thought.

Anyway, we sneaked down to the dungeons where Pansy Parkinson and another member of the Slytherin goon squad were guarding the cells. They're so stupid and slow, we were able to stun them without any noise at all. Luna Incarcerused them for good measure and we blew the cell open. Of course, that made noise, so we had to work fast. Neville broke their chains and Michael and Seamus picked them up and carried them out, with Luna and I blasting hexes at the Carrows and Crabbe and Goyle on our heels. We just managed to get away from them into the Room of Requirement, but we had still been caught. The Carrows knew who their chief troublemakers were now.

Seamus and Michael were taken and worked over pretty badly, but they were released. Luna got tortured and released, but Neville and I...well, we ended up like Ernie and Hannah. I couldn't tell you how long we were down there in the dark, but we kept talking to each other between beatings and torture, swearing to Merlin we'd never give up. 'Harry wouldn't give up,' Neville always said. 'Harry would keep on fighting.' Harry, my love for you burned just as strong then as it ever did and I wanted you to be proud of me," she confessed.

Harry's heart broke again. His sweet Ginny had been beaten and tortured and still wouldn't give up her fight because she wanted him to be proud of her. He was more than proud of her—he now worshipped her. His beloved Light Goddess was a true warrior and he loved her more now than he'd ever thought possible. The unspoken thing he sent to her through their bond became holy to him, sacred and pure because blood—each of their blood—had been shed in the forging.

"I could take it," Ginny went on. "I could take it because I knew what I was doing was right. I knew that we were saving lives and that that's what we were all fighting for—what you and Ron and Hermione were fighting for. The miracle in all of this was that no matter how evil the Carrows were or how brutally they beat us, nobody was killed. I know now that it was thanks to Professor Snape. He'd know about us all along and supported us... in his own way..."

Harry held her even tighter and shed a few more tears for her pain and for Severus Snape, the unsung hero in all of this. But he knew there was something else that she held back. "Ginny. I can feel there's something you're holding back, worse than the hardship and the pain." That feeling slammed into him through the bond and she knew she couldn't deny it.

Ginny took a deep breath. "They used the Imperius curse... and forced me to..." Ginny's voice broke. "Oh gods! Harry, I had to torture... Muggle... child..." She broke into new and more pitiful sobs, almost screaming as she cried.

Harry couldn't hide the anger that dwelled inside him. Those inhuman Death Eater monsters! "The Carrows?" He couldn't say anymore for fear he'd break out in a rage and Ginny surely didn't need that..

Ginny nodded. "They all but d-dragged me to a classroom and Amycus was there holding...holding a frightened...Muggle child a Snatcher had t-taken from somewhere," Ginny said with a weak voice. "I...I wasn't prepared when Alecto sneaked up from behind, Imp...Imperiusing me. She had me cast the Cruci...Cruciatus curse at that child for an hour. I...I don't know who that little g-girl was or wh-what happened to her. All I know is that they stunned me and I woke up the next morning in my bed." Ginny cried out her agony and desperation. Her tiny body shook in Harry's arms and he held her tight, sending his love—all his love to her. "That little girl... she wasn't a human being to them...just an object they used to torture me...Harry, I'm so sorry! I let them..."

She continued to sob into his chest as he held her tightly to himself, his own tears coursing down his face as he felt her pain through their bond. She clung to him as if she were clinging to life itself. Harry couldn't seem to hold her close enough. He nuzzled the top of her head with his moist cheeks, drenching her hair. He rubbed her arms and planted kisses everywhere he could reach. "Ginny, you may not want to or be able to believe me, but it wasn't your fault... it wasn't your fault, baby..." Harry meant every word of it, as he finally accepted that he wasn't responsible for all those killed before he was able to defeat Tom Riddle. "It'll take time, love, but you'll make peace with it. It wasn't your fault." I'm going to teach her to throw that damnable Imperius curse off if it's the last bloody thing I do. And that goes for the DA and Hermione too!

"I want to believe that, Harry. I'm even glad I told you," she said between her tears. "I... I want to tell you more, but I don't have the strength right now... exhausted..." Ginny breathed a sleepy sigh and fell asleep in his arms, still taking deep ragged breaths. Harry lay awake, feeling closer to her than ever, consciously hoping to shield her against any nightmare that might plague her rest. He finally fell asleep as Ginny still lay sprawled out between his legs, her beautiful head over his heart.

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Ron woke up feeling surprisingly good about his impending visit with the Grangers. After a hearty breakfast, he and Hermione left the Burrow to Apparate to the Grangers.

"Ready," she asked, squeezing his hand.

"Ready, love," he replied, steeling himself against his own nerves. "Let's do this."

As they entered the house, Ron had to fight back rising panic, but one look at Hermione's parents and he relaxed. He could plainly see that they were happy, very happy indeed. Mrs Granger hugged her daughter and her fiancé warmly, exclaiming her joy at their engagement. Mr Granger beamed and shook Ron's hand firmly.

"Welcome to the family, Ron," he boomed, slapping his future son-in-law on the back. "You've made my baby girl very happy, and if she's happy, I'm happy!"

"Now let's see that ring, Hermione," Mrs Granger said, reaching for her daughter's left hand. "Hermione, it's beautiful! Ron this is just so perfect," she said almost breathlessly. "Look, Daddy. Isn't it lovely?" And to think we accused him of having a bad influence on Hermione. She's beaming.

"Yes, it is," Mr Granger said, turning to Ron. "You've done well, son." This young man truly loves our Hermione.

"Thank you, sir," Ron said, flashing his blue eyes at Hermione and giving her his heart-melting lopsided grin. "It's almost as perfect as she is."

Hermione blushed and mouthed, I love you. She and Ron told her parents about how he proposed to her with the roses, the notes, and the floating quill and parchment.

"Oh how perfectly romantic, Ron," Mrs Granger exclaimed, her eyes glistening with tears. "How ever did you come up with such a sweet idea?"

"Well...erm...I had to come up with something that didn't involve opening my mouth," Ron said with a chuckle. "I tend to stick my foot in it a lot." The Grangers began to laugh. "It's true though. I get a case of the nerves at important moments in my life. Ask Hermione, she'll tell you."

"It's true, Mum. I think it's actually cute, though, considering he doesn't look like someone who'd be nervous about anything," she smiled as she ran her eyes over his gorgeous physique. "I kept the quill and parchment." And I will have this cute one tonight.

"I wondered what happened to them," Ron said, taken aback. "You're going to keep that?"

"Of course, Ronald, and I'm going to put them in a scrapbook to show our children," she replied. "I want to remember that moment for the rest of my days."

Ron blushed scarlet. She's barking, but still my goddess.

"So what's for lunch, dear," Mr Granger said to his wife. "I find myself a big peckish, eh Ron?"

"Uh...yeah. I could do with a nosh," he replied, grinning at his future father-in-law.

"All right then," Mrs Granger said as she rose from the sofa. "Come, Hermione. Let's see what we can find to feed these hungry men of ours." She stepped over and kissed her husband. "We'll have lunch ready in a tick."

Hermione stepped over to Ron and kissed him tenderly, then followed her mother into the kitchen. Within fifteen minutes, lunch was spread on the table and Mrs Granger called the men in to eat. "Lunch, you two!"

Mr Granger and Ron all but leapt out of their chairs and made for the kitchen, where Mrs Granger and Hermione had prepared a lunch of green salad, ham and cheese sandwiches, and potato soup. "This looks wonderful, Mrs Granger," Ron exclaimed, his stomach growling.

"Tuck in," she replied and they began to eat. While they ate, Hermione breached the subject of Harry's proposal.

"Of course opening our own clinic would be a dream come true, Hermione, but I'm not sure how I feel about allowing Harry to subsidise it," Mr Granger said.

"Dad, I think Harry offered you this for two reasons. He feels responsible for you ending up in Australia last year and there's nothing within his power he won't do for his friends. Plus, for him, this is a way of helping Ron and me as well."

Mrs Granger looked questioningly at her daughter. "Why would Harry feel responsible?"

"Harry would say that I was a major target for the Death Eaters because I'm his friend. Also, there have even been rumours for years that Harry and I had a more than friendly relationship, which they might have believed. And because of that, I had to send you away, making it ultimately Harry's fault. At least that's his line of reasoning."

"You know him a lot better than we do. Does he really mean it, about the clinic? Can he afford it," Mr Granger asked.

"Yes, he means it all right. And can he afford it? Harry is a very wealthy wizard, but he doesn't care too much about it. In fact, it makes him kind of uncomfortable to have all that gold, so he wants to use it to help people. That's just how Harry is, Dad."

"He was like that before he even knew he was rich," Ron added. "It's just the way Harry is. When I first met him, he bought a bunch of sweets from the trolley on the Hogwarts Express and shared it all with me. He had only known me for about an hour."

"Should we even consider accepting his offer," Mr Granger continued and Ron opened his mouth.

"He won't stop offering you this until you accept." Ron told them.

Mr Granger nodded. "All right. It does feel strange, but I can't deny that I'm thrilled. Every dentist dreams of opening his or her own practice, so my dream as a dentist is coming true. And at the same time, I learn that my daughter is marrying a fine young man from a fine family. What more could a man ask for?"

Mrs Granger took their hands and looked at them. "Have the two of you talked about your wedding?"

"Not really," Hermione admitted "I guess we're focusing on Harry's and Ginny's wedding first. They've set their date for the twenty-fourth of June."

Mr Granger looked at his wife, who nodded. "We'll accept Harry's offer." he declared. "And we will give you a great wedding."

"Oh, Daddy," Hermione cried. "Harry'll be so happy! This means so much to him!"

Ron shook Mr Granger's hand vigorously. "You won't' regret this, sir. I promise you."

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Harry left the school after breakfast to Floo to Ministry atrium. It stood mostly empty because today was a Saturday and most of the departments and offices were closed. Harry hurried towards the Office for Magical Transportation and found Percy waiting for him. Percy lead him to a room were an Apparition instructor waited for him.

"Harry, this is Wilie Twycross. He's going to test you today," Percy said, introducing him to the merry-looking old wizard.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr Potter," Twycross said merrily, extending his hand.

"A pleasure to meet you too, sir," Harry said, taking Twycross' hand. "And please—call me Harry."

"Well, I must be off. Good luck," Percy said as he left.

"All right, Harry. There's a room on the other side of that wall," Twycross told him. "Please Apparate there."

"Yes, sir," Harry replied. He turned and spun down. He Apparated into the designated room and to his surprise, found Draco Malfoy waiting there for him.

"Potter, I have the honour of presenting you with this," he said with a smirk and handed Harry a wallet-size bit of parchment.

"My Apparition licence," Harry said, staring down on it as if it were his passport to the heavens.

"Yeah. You're supposed to keep it on you at all times," Draco reminded him.

"Thanks," Harry replied tucking it into his wallet. Now, why are you really here, Malfoy? Certainly not for the sole purpose of handing me my Apparition licence."

"You're so smart, Potter. Nothing gets past you, does it," Malfoy said ironically.

Harry couldn't help but chuckle a bit a Draco's attempt at humour. "All right, so what's this all about, Draco," Harry asked again.

"I trust you've checked out the memory," Draco said tentatively, his grey eyes on Harry.

"Yes, and I did. And speaking of that, I thought you might like it back," Harry said, handing Draco the phial.

"Thanks," Draco replied and tucked it into his robes.

"So you think that woman is the enemy, then," Harry asked him point-blank.

"She's the only one I can think of. You see, she's the only Death Eater the Dar...Voldemort never allowed into the room with the rest of us. He kept her secret and there must have been a reason for that because he never did or didn't do anything without a reason."

Harry knew he needed more leads on this and remembered the plan to get them. "Malfoy, I would like a report on everything you can remember about this instant. Can we meet at... King's Cross? You can owl me when you have it ready."

"Sure, if you think it'll help," Malfoy said without any enthusiasm. He didn't ask why he'd want to meet at King's Cross, which surprised Harry. He isn't asking for particulars. That's a good sign that he very well might be trusted after all.

He thought about his plan to use the Muggle surveillance cameras. He hoped that the Death Eaters would follow Malfoy and be caught on camera. With Aurors stationed in the Muggle security office, they might be able to nail one of them and get him or her to talk. "I think it might. You can remember things I didn't notice."

"Of that I'm certain, Potter," Malfoy said flatly.

Appealing to Malfoy's sense superiority seemed to be a good move. He would have to file that tactic for future reference. Harry reached out his hand and Malfoy shook it. Without another word, Harry left, feeling really good about his plan to get more and better leads.

Harry returned to his and Ginny's room at Hogwarts in a good mood. He had his Apparition license, a plan to learn more about the mysterious female Death Eater, and he could feel Ginny's good mood too. They could feel each other most of the time now, and for Harry, that was an amazing feeling. Ginny was already there when he stepped into the room. She ran to him and welcomed him with a deep kiss. She understood from the way Harry felt that he'd earned his Apparition licence.

"Congratulations, Harry," she breathed into his mouth. She caught a hint of wood and spice on his robes, the scent so undeniably Harry that it drove her wild. "We've had a message from Hermione. Her parents have accepted your offer, Harry."

"Our offer, Gin," Harry said smiling.

"Right, I keep forgetting you added me to the vaults...or rather, I try not to think about it... it's so much gold. I'm just not used to..." Ginny said with forced levity.

"I know. That's why we need good jobs, yeah," Harry agreed.

"Anyway. Hermione's parents want to meet us. They want to work out some kind of contract."

"Of course," Harry said.

Harry told Ginny about the Apparition test and meeting Malfoy. Ginny agreed it was a good idea, provided Malfoy would be followed. "He can't be trusted, so it makes sense that the Death Eaters would have him followed. Let's just hope the one who follows him knows anything of value," Ginny said.

"Or ones. Death Eaters generally don't work alone," Harry reminded her. "It'll be the first mission for the DA," Harry said only just realising. I hope we're ready.

"You'll do fine," Ginny assured him. She could feel the trepidation he held for his team mixed with a smidgen of doubt. "Just make sure everyone is straight about their part."

On Sunday evening Ron and Hermione returned to Hogwarts. Harry and Ginny sat together with them to talk about the plan to catch any minor Death Eaters. "So, Malfoy doesn't know," Ron asked.

"No. At this point, his loyalty doesn't matter. We're just hoping he'll be followed, that's all," Harry explained.

"It seems like a good plan," Ron agreed. "I don't think they'll even consider that we might be using the Muggle cameras, the smug bastards."

"We need to talk to Robards tomorrow...and the DA. We'll need people stationed all over the area, covering our every move," Harry said and then turned to Hermione "Can anti-Apparition wards be set up without the Death Eaters noticing it when they arrive at the station?"

"Yes. They wouldn't notice until they try to Disapparate," Hermione explained.

"Great. We'll get Robards and the Aurors to care of that, since we'll need Ministry approval to cast any type of wards around a Muggle-infested public place."

Hermione nodded and was about to launch into a lecture regarding the use of magic in areas where there were lots of Muggles, but Ron noticed and saved everyone a headache by adding ideas to the plan. "We'd better have a back-up plan to protect any Muggles who may get in the way or see something they shouldn't. And of course, we'll want to have our arses covered if there's a fight." Ron pointed out.

Ron, you're a treasure. I'm sure as hell glad you're on my side. Harry realised the risks involved in this operation and the value of an expert tactician. "I want someone ready to get Malfoy out of there if things get dodgy. He won't be prepared for an attack, and even if I don't like him, we have to follow Auror procedure and do our best to keep him safe. Besides, he trusts us and he's likely to get caught in the crossfire if there's a fight," Harry said pointedly.

"You're right, Harry," Ron agreed. "You know, I never thought I'd agree that it's necessary to keep Malfoy safe." They all grinned and snickered at the irony of it all.

The coming week was intense, to say the least. Harry explained the plan to the DA, coordinating with Robards and the Auror Office to finalise the plan. Harry was very clear in pointing out that there were no guarantees that anyone would follow Malfoy and that, it was a guess, because they didn't think the Death Eaters trusted him. All they could do now was continue to train while they waited for a message from their contact. One day Ginny came rushing into a DA meeting, waving a parchment.

"What's that Ginny," Harry asked.

"It's my contract with the Harpies! They're finally signed and complete!"

"Ginny! That's great, love" Harry said hugging her.

The DA offered there congratulations with hugs and exclamations of "well done" and "good one, Ginny!"

"I'm sorry, but I've just had enough time to tell you all the good news. Hermione is expecting me in the library. We have an important essay to write," Ginny said.

"NEWT classes must be pretty demanding," Harry sighed.

"We'll celebrate my contracts tonight in our room," Ginny whispered, touching her fingers to Harry's lips, leaving Harry with his mind on something other than NEWT essays.

"I'll see you all later." She rushed out of the classroom and turned toward the library.

With all the working out with Harry and the gruelling duelling drills with the DA, Ron was back in top form and just as good as the rest of the DA in a duel and his agility. The work on the Unforgivables was paying off, and taking the Cruciatus was getting really painful, except for Harry who continued to counter it through his and Ginny's bond.

Hermione, however, wasn't taking it at all well. She knew when Ron was taking the curse. She knew because he paired with Harry and if Ginny wasn't concentrating on Harry, it must be Ron's turn to take it. During Transfiguration, she broke down. Ginny had just helped Harry throw Ron's assault off and relaxed. She felt Hermione stiffen next to her as she began to shake and cry.

"Miss Granger," Professor Bones said softly. "Is there something wrong?" When Hermione couldn't answer because of her sobs, Professor Bones looked to Ginny for answers.

Ginny knew what was wrong, but didn't feel she should tell Professor Bones and run the risk of being overheard by the rest of the class. "I do know, Professor, but all I can tell you is that it has to do with something Harry and Ron are doing with the DA." Hermione began to sob outwardly. "I'll just take her out, shall I?"

"Of course, Miss Weasley," Professor Bones replied. "Miss Granger, Miss Weasley is going to take you out so you can calm yourself, dear. Collect your things and go with her." Professor Bones continued the class as Ginny and Hermione left the room.

"Hermione," Ginny said, steering her friend toward the room she shared with Harry. "Ron's okay. Harry's not going to let anything bad happen. You know that."

"I...I know," Hermione wailed, "but I know what that feels like and it just kills me that Ron...that Ron..." She couldn't speak anymore. Her knees gave way and she slumped to the floor in a sobbing heap in the middle of the corridor. Ginny let her lie there for a few minutes and then helped her to her feet.

"Up you get, now. We'll go to our room and you can lie down for a while. When this class period is over, Harry and Ron'll come straight here," she assured her. "I'll make sure Harry knows there's something wrong." It was very likely Harry already knew, since Ginny had already sent worry through their bond. Ginny helped Hermione onto the bed and conjured a tea tray. She handed a cup to Hermione, who could barely hold it steady. "Just drink your tea, Hermione. It'll calm your nerves."

"Thanks, Ginny," Hermione sniffed. "You're a good friend." Hermione began to sob again. "I know he's in horrible pain, Ginny! I know how it feels," she cried, handing the cup back to Ginny. "I love him so much, it just kills me to know...to know..." She fell over on the bed to sob into Ginny's pillow.

Ginny climbed up on Harry's side of the bed to hold her friend while she cried. "They'll be all right, Hermione. I promise," Ginny said as a tear slid down her cheek for her brother. She knew what he was feeling too.

On Ron's initiative, the DA had engaged in tactical theory and practice, coming together as a precision team. "You know, in Wizard's Chess, every piece by itself is basically useless, even the powerful Queen. You need cover, diversion, coordinated attacks, and the entire group looking after each other for protection. I know we all understand that, but we need to improve on it and make it second nature." Ron's training regimen included coordinated Apparition, and the casting of a varying series of spells to shield, attack, and stun in order to create cover for any number of battle scenarios.

When Robards got an eyeful of their intense precision training, he stood nothing short of amazed. He took Ron and Harry aside after class. "You know, we do practise some co-ordination in normal Auror training, but by Merlin, this is outstanding!"

Ron blushed. "I used a lot of ideas from Wizard's Chess strategy," he admitted.

"Well, it seems to work very well," Robards said. "And if it goes bonkers at King's Cross, this tactical ability you've instilled in your team will be quite helpful."

"Is everything set up at the Auror Office," Harry asked.

"Yes, we're all set. Harry, you meet Malfoy. The rest of the DA will be covering you in various modes of disguise. The Aurors will be looking after the Muggles and will move in at any sign of trouble. I might add that Kingsley is most eager about this operation, as it is the first time the DA are put into action."

"No pressure, eh, Harry," Ron said nervously, hoping a little levity might calm his friend. But in reality, it was his own nerves he was trying to calm.

"Oh yeah. No pressure, mate," Harry replied, equally unnerved. "If that's all then..."

"That's all I've got," Robards said. "Dismiss the class."

"All right, you lot. Class dismissed," Ron called. "Sorry, Harry. I got carried away."

"It's all right. They listen to you anyway. Let's meet the girls at Transfiguration," Harry said. "They should be letting out about now." Harry and Ron hurried to the Transfiguration classroom where they found Professor Bones waiting for them.

"Mr Potter, Mr Weasley. Miss Weasley took Miss Granger out of the classroom about half an hour ago. She seemed upset about your DA activities," she told them.

"What happened? Is Hermione all right? Where did they go," Ron asked in a panic.

"Probably to our room, mate. And I think we both know why," Harry said, pulling Ron toward the Defence Against the Dark Arts office. "Come on!" They headed to Harry's and Ginny's room at a dead run, skidding to a stop in front of the cabinet. "Lawnmower," Harry shouted, tapping it. The door clicked open and they charged inside to find Ginny holding a sobbing Hermione on the bed.

"'Mione! "Mione, Love, what's wrong," Ron cried as he sped to her side. Ginny let go of her so Ron could take her in his arms. "'Mione, talk to me."

"Ron! Oh gods, Ron," Hermione cried. "You're all right. I was so scared for you, I..."

"Shhh. I'm a little sore, but I'm all right," he whispered. He lifted her up into his lap and held her, pressing light kisses onto her tear-stained face. "Don't cry—it's s all over. We've pretty well mastered it now."

"I couldn't take it, knowing what you were going through. It..I...oh gods, I couldn't bear it!" Hermione buried her face in Ron's neck and held on to him for dear life. His warm scent of spice and chocolate filled her head and comforted her.

Harry and Ginny stood holding one another while Ron calmed Hermione down. Now they were all bound by common ground—they'd all suffered torture under the Cruciatus curse at some point in their lives.

Since preparations for the mission were all in order, there was nothing more to be done but to wait. Harry and Ginny did indeed celebrate her contracts in a most pleasing way on the rug in front of the fire.

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Apart from school work, Harry talked to Hermione about meeting her parents to get started on the dental clinic. First of all, Harry, Ginny, and the Grangers would meet and plan and draw up a proposal. The next step was to have a contract prepared by Gringotts allowing the Grangers whatever resources they would need to start their business. The first meeting was decided to take place over the coming weekend. Hermione and Ron would accompany them and this time, Ron felt relaxed about meeting the Grangers.

Hermione knew she needed to talk to Ginny and Harry before they went to meet her parents. She knew Ginny wasn't pleased about the letter they'd written about her engagement to Ron and the lack of funds to give her a landmark wedding, and she also knew Ginny would have told Harry about it, since they keep no secrets from one another. She needed her friends to understand that her parents loved her, but were very career-minded. Her mind wandered off, back to the summer before she turned twelve years old.

July was one of the best months of the year. Holiday! Her parents worked so much, holidays were the only time Hermione felt they really were there for her. Of course they were there every day, but sometimes Hermione thought that they were more comfortable if she stayed in her room reading her books. Not that Hermione didn't like to read—in fact, she loved to. So much so that her parents always provided her with books. She loved them for that, always concerned about her schooling, encouraging her to study and read.

But still, sometimes they seemed perfectly satisfied if Hermione didn't leave her room at all. Was she a mistake, and the reason she never had a brother or sister that her parents never intended to have a child at all? Hermione shook off the unpleasant thought. Later this day, they would go to the beach. Dad and she would swim together for an hour and then join Mum for lunch. Mum had made her all favourite food. Yes, July was a good month. Hermione was about to return to her book when her dad called to her from downstairs.

"Coming, Dad," Hermione returned, closing her book and placing it carefully on her bedside table.

Hermione entered the living room to join her parents and a very odd-looking guest she never had seen before.

"Hermione, this is Professor Dumbledore. He has asked to see all three of us," her father told her.

Professor Dumbledore looked at her. "Good day, Miss Granger," he said politely.

Miss Granger. Hermione blushed, he sounded friendly. "Good day, sir."

"Please, I'm Professor Dumbledore," he said. "May I get straight to the point?"

Hermione and her parents nodded.

"I am the headmaster of a school called Hogwarts—a school for students with special…gifts."

Both Hermione and her parents were intrigued by his introduction, and he continued talking directly to Hermione. "I am here because of your gifts, Miss Granger."

For a moment Hermione imagined she heard professor Dumbledore's voice in her head. Do you know what gifts I am talking about?

"Sir? I mean Professor Dumbledore," Hermione began.

"Mr and Mrs Granger, your daughter has very special talents."

"She is very gifted and studies hard, but I wasn't aware of..." her father began, but Professor Dumbledore raised his hand.

"Have you ever noticed anything unexplainable happening around Hermione? When she is angry, sad or frightened, perhaps?"

Both the Grangers kept silent. They did know what he was referring to, but those events were accidents, and not any gift... weren't they? Hermione also understood what he was talking about. Strange things had happened every now and then from about the time she turned seven years old. Once she had been so angry with her bushy hair, the mirror in her room shattered. She hadn't done anything to it, it just broke into a thousand pieces. There was a bully at school who had teased her about her teeth. He had somehow been knocked out without her ever having touched him. Fortunately, no one knew about that. Hermione didn't want anyone to think she had hit him, and the bully didn't want anyone to know a girl, a bookworm nonetheless, had knocked him out. There were at least a dozen similar events, all unexplainable.

Professor Dumbledore looked at Hermione again. "Miss Granger. You're a witch. Hogwarts is a school for witchcraft and wizardry." Mr Granger seemed to want to say something, but a single look from the old professor changed his mind. "What you have seen is unintentional magic," Professor Dumbledore continued. "Oh, it's nothing to worry about. All young wizards and witches do that. At Hogwarts a young witch like Miss Granger will learn to perform legitimate magic and control her powers."

Mr and Mrs Granger began to understand that this Professor Dumbledore fellow was quite serious about being headmaster for this school of witchcraft and wizardry. Their daughter was a witch. To Hermione, it all made sense. Once or twice, there could have been a reasonable explanation, but all the times together she, according to the professor, had performed unintentional magic, and had no logical explanation other than the one provided by Professor Dumbledore.

"You see, most wizards and witches are born in families in which at least one parent is magical. But in every year, there are those born without magical parents, children like your Hermione," Professor Dumbledore explained.

"Where is this school, and what would it cost to send Hermione there," Mr Granger asked.

"Typical Dad, always thinking about money." Hermione thought.

"Hogwarts is a boarding school, and there are funds at the Ministry of Magic assisting families like yours. You see Mr Granger, we live in secret and it is only after a child turns eleven years old can he or she start at Hogwarts. Because we haven't prepared you to fund schooling for Hermione at Hogwarts it is also our Ministry's responsibility to assist you. Are there any more questions so far? If not, I shall leave you for a few minutes." Professor Dumbledore strolled through the Granger's garden with his hands clasped behind his back, seemingly fascinated by the lawnmower standing on the lawn.

"What do you think about this," Mr Granger asked his wife.

"It does explain one or two things," she replied thoughtfully.

"What about sending Hermione away to that school?"

Hermione looked at her parents. "Are you interested in my opinion?"

"Sorry dear. Of course we are, it's just... overwhelming," her mother said, stroking her cheek.

"I... I want to go," Hermione said in her typical matter-of-fact way. She knew it meant leaving her school, her class, her friends, and her parents, but what Professor Dumbledore had told her made more sense than anything else.

The Grangers began to make preparations for Hermione to board the Hogwarts Express on the first of September, 1991. A new world had opened to Hermione, but part of felt was sad as she got seated alone on the train, because she felt that her parents were relieved to send her away to a boarding school. She had no idea how her life would change when she decided to help a chubby boy her age search for his missing toad. She had no idea how special she was when she slid open the compartment door and met two boys, one a redhead and the other raven-haired with round glasses.

Hermione knocked on Harry's and Ginny's door. Harry answered. "Hermione. Ron. What's up?"

"Harry, could we have a word with you and Ginny? It's about the letter my parents sent when I told them about our engagement. Ginny didn't like it and…" Hermione stammered.

"I know about the letter. Ginny told me. C'mon in," Harry said as he ushered them in. "Gin, Hermione and Ron would like a word."

"Okay, I'll be right there," Ginny called from the bathroom. She came out with a towel on her head, having just washed her hair. "Tea?"

Harry conjured a tea service with a few biscuits and they all sat down to the table, where Ginny poured out. "Thanks, love. So what's up," Ginny asked.

Hermione decided the best thing to do was to dive right on in. "Ginny, my parents didn't mean any harm when they sent that letter," Hermione tried to explain. "They really love me, it's just that they've been career-oriented most of their lives and they felt bad because of everything that's happened that kept them from building a savings for a wedding for me."

"Well, I suppose. I just didn't like that it upset you so much, that's all," Ginny said shaking her head. "I mean, was that really necessary?"

"Their focus on their careers combined with the Granger matter-of-fact... -ness is sometimes very blunt, even insensitive," Hermione explained. "Tact and diplomacy have never been my parents' long suit. I think they just panicked, that's all."

"Yeah, Gin-Gin. They're really nice people," Ron said in the Grangers' defence. "They're really happy for us."

"Ginny, love, not all families are Weasleys," Harry said with a smirk. "You're just used to people taking everything in stride. Some people struggle with that, am I right, Hermione?"

"Right in one, Harry. To professionals like my parents, money is a really big issue," Hermione said. "It's a status thing for people like them to be able to throw lavish weddings for their daughters."

"Just give them a chance, Ginny," Ron said to his sister. "You'll see. They're really all right."

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"Something strange is going on. I learned of a secret meeting between Mr Malfoy and Potter at the Ministry," he reported.

"So," she asked.

"There was no one else present. We don't know what they talked about."

She considered the significance of this information. Malfoy was the only person she could use to get close to Harry Potter if it need be. But it was unacceptable not knowing what he was doing. There could be no mistakes.

"Have him followed," she ordered.

"Yes, my lady," he bowed. "And if he encounters Potter?"

"Gather information. Take no action for now. Report back to me when you learn something."

He bowed again and left the room.

She thought about Malfoy again. She had visited Malfoy manor a couple of times while the Dark Lord was there. Malfoy couldn't have seen her. If he knew her identity, it would either be in the Prophet if Malfoy was loyal to the Ministry, or he would have used his knowledge to demand a meeting with her. No, Malfoy didn't know about her.

Her plan was slowly coming to fruition and she hoped to have the element of total surprise on her side. But Dumbledore's Army needed to be attacked, coordinated with other attacks, simply to be kept busy. That is, when she would reveal herself to Potter, so that he might know who destroyed his world.