Chapter XXX - Step One: Preparations

As the days flew by, Harry felt as if he was lost, yet strangely found and focused on the final goal ahead. When he had returned from Grimmauld Place, he told Ginny, Ron, and Hermione everything that had happened, leaving them just as worried as he was. His first priority was talking to Horace Slughorn, and the idea of getting closer to the end is what worried Harry the most. He stayed back in his potions class, waiting for everyone to leave the room before he approached Slughorn's desk.

Professor Slughorn looked up at him and smiled. "Harry m'boy, how are you? It's a shame I haven't managed to throw any parties this year, but I've just been, you know, busy busy busy." Professor Slughorn replied in his usual jolly yet very nervous chatter.

"I've been better. Professor, I need you're help with something extremely important."

Slughorn paled considerably as he began to close his books, getting ready for a hasty retreat. "H-h-help?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, help, don't even try to escape, sir, I could stop you in a minute." When Slughorn looked up at him again, Harry smiled. "Good, now that I've got your attention. Sir, do you remember last year when I asked you for that memory of you telling Tom Riddle about the horcruxes?"

Slughorn gulped and nodded slightly at Harry. "I … I didn't know he would be all … evil. How was I supposed to know that such a smart boy would become the darkest wizard in the world? What about it? You don't want to know about horcruxes now do you? Because I don't know anything; nothing at all."

Harry shook his head. "No, but yes at the same time. Professor, in that memory, Riddle asked you if it was possible to make more than one horcrux, you were horrified by this. But then he asked you if it was possible to split his soul seven times, seven being the magical number, am I right?"

Slughorn nodded. "I remember. Seven, the magical number, he thought by doing so they would be more powerful. What about it? I was horrified by it. To create one horcrux you must kill someone therefore to create seven." He shuddered. "What about it?"

"He did it. Riddle somehow managed to create a horcrux, not one, but seven. Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione, and I have been working on finding them and destroying them one by one. But now we've come to a cross road, and we need your expertise." Harry replied as he watched Slughorn's eyes turn from nervousness to curiousity.

"What would you need my help for?" He asked.

Harry smiled. "Destroying them, of course. Listen Professor, Voldemort made seven horcruxes, all but two have been destroyed. One of them is of course in his own body. Now, the problem however, is where we believe the sixth one to be, which is where we need your help. Dumbledore came to the conclusion that the sixth one is in a certain pet snake that Voldemort carries around named Nagini. Voldemort used the snake to nurse him back to life until he could brew the potion with my blood three years ago. How would you destroy a horcrux that was inside of a snake?"

Slughorn looked beyond horrified now, but very taken aback by the entire conversation, and at the same time, he still looked ready to run at any minute. "Inside the snake? No, I don't think so, that would be impossible."

"Why?" Slughorn shrugged. "Because living creatures are very … well, they live, how could you trust a part of your soul inside someone else or something else? Snakes die very easily, they don't have long lives. Why would this one be any different?"

"Yeah, but do snakes have souls?" Harry asked.

"You know, I'm not sure. Are you positive that the Dark Lord would put a horcrux inside of his snake?"

Harry nodded. "Pretty positive. Nagini is … I don't know how to explain it … Look, I can speak Parseltongue and I know when a snake listens to you and understands you, however Nagini seems to almost be a part of Voldemort. And I think it has more to do with the horcrux than anything else. There's a strong connection there. And if you seen the way he talks to it … I think it's a horcrux; it has to be. Also, if Voldemort did put a horcrux inside of the snake it would explain why it is so well taken care of. I don't think Voldemort would let it die."

"How have you been destroying the other ones?"

"I can't really explain it," Harry replied. "I've been studying how to harness my power, and I've become pretty powerful, and I sort of willed it to destroy itself, and so far they've been destroyed this way. This one has got to be different though, I just know it because it's in a living creature."

Slughorn nodded. "What do you want me to do?"

"Professor McGonagall says that you will be able to help me. I want to destroy the horcrux, if the snake dies too, oh well. I don't care about the snake; it's what is inside the snake that matters."

"I think … there might be a way, but I'm not sure. It's a very difficult and ancient potion. It's the only thing that I can think of."

Harry smiled. "At least it's something. So what is it?"

"The potion takes a month to brew and for it to work, you have to … you have to make the snake drink it. Well, at least shove it down the throat."

"That might be tricky."

Slughorn grinned. "I'll make the potion m'boy, you work on getting the snake to drink it and hopefully all is well that ends well."

Harry grinned back. "Yeah sounds good. So let's go over what you have to do, so I know what to expect from all of this."

Slughorn nodded. "Of course, just let me go find the book with the potion in it."

Harry nodded as he watched Slughorn rummage through the books on the shelf. At least he had a starting point.

The starting point didn't seem like much to Harry as Slughorn got started on the potion. He knew what the potion was supposed to do and he knew what he had to do to destroy the horcrux inside of Nagini; but it was beyond the horcrux that made him nervous. It all had to do with what he was supposed to do and how he was going to do it. He knew that he had some important school related things to do, but he couldn't bring himself to do his homework when he felt as if he was facing something so huge in the near and looming future. Everyone around him seemed quite oblivious to what was coming, but Harry knew that they didn't have to worry about carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders, which is exactly what Harry felt like he was doing.

After his discussion with Slughorn, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny began to tell everyone who had been in the previous D.A. and was still attending Hogwarts that there was a meeting in the Room of Requirement. Between the four of them, everyone knew about it by lunchtime. When Harry stepped into the Room of Requirement with Ginny, it was lined to the wall with defence stuff, just like it had been in all of the other times.

Ginny took his hand in hers and squeezed tightly. "It will be fine, Harry."

Harry nodded. "I don't know. I feel like if I ask for their help I'll be leading them into the war."

"Remus asked you to, Harry. He understands that anyone who is willing to help will be needed. This is a war, and we need help to win." Ginny replied as she slipped her arms around his waist and held on, knowing that he needed the warmth of the hug just as much as she did.

"I know that you're right, but … it still feels, guilty. That's what I'm feeling. I feel like none of this would be happening if Voldemort hadn't tried to kill me as a baby. That this war wouldn't be going on … I know better in my heart, but that's what my mind is telling me." Harry replied.

Ginny smiled up at him. "As long as your heart knows what's true, I guess you're okay." She kissed him softly just as the door opened and the first few people began to trickle in. "I guess it's time."

Harry waited for everyone to arrive and within fifteen minutes, everyone was seated and waiting for him. Harry cleared his throat before he spoke. "I'm sure that you're all wondering why I would call together the D.A. again, especially so far into the year; however the idea was actually from one of our previous Defence against the Dark Arts teachers, Professor Remus Lupin. Now I'm sure you all know, but there's a war going on in the wizarding world right now. A war against Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. There is of course the Aurors from the Ministry of Magic to fight, as well as the law enforcers from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; however, it is not enough. We need an army because that is what Voldemort has and that is what we need to stand up against. Voldemort's army consists of Dementors, Death Eaters, possibly some giants and for those of you that helped fight last year in the battle here at Hogwarts you know he has Greyback, the mad werewolf who likes to bite people even when he is not a wolf. There are people, many people prepared to fight in a secret society organized just for fighting Voldemort. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and I all belong to it along with people such as Hagrid, Lupin, McGonagall, and once Dumbledore. Dumbledore was the founder and he understood exactly what was needed to be done to destroy Voldemort once and for all. An army. As I'm sure you all have been reading the papers, I've been dubbed the Chosen One. This is not something to take lightly as there was a prophecy made that said someone alone would be able to vanquish the Dark Lord and it would be Voldemort himself that would mark them as his equal. Lucky me, my not dying when I was a baby is how Voldemort accidentally chose his equal. That's what Dumbledore believed anyway, so that's what I believe and what I know. Voldemort has been trying to kill me ever since. Why? Because he knows that I can defeat him. I am prepared to do so. However, there is one small flaw, we need your help."

A few gasps broke in the crowd and then Neville stood up. "I'd be proud to help you, Harry. There's nothing else that I would like to do, then to help you kill that bastard!"

Harry smiled. "Thanks Neville. That is why you were called here today. Lupin believes that you are very well trained in everything that I taught you, and from what you have learned and that you can be useful in the final battle. This is what I am telling you, there will be a final battle and it will be good versus evil, the magical world versus Voldemort. I know that some of you are not of age yet, however, Ginny is not of age yet either, but she was allowed to fight because she wanted to and she is prepared to. The same goes for all of you. I know that it is a big decision to make, which is why I'm going to leave you. Ron, Ginny, Hermione and I will leave a piece of parchment here tacked on the wall." He pointed to Hermione who was currently tacking it there. "Our four names are already on it. If you want to help fight, sign it and we will begin learning more for the war. Hopefully I'll see you guys later and if you do sign, please go find your coins from last time as the next meeting will be etched on them. You are not obliged to sign it. I do not want you to sign up because you feel like you have to. It is completely your choice, and you will not be condemned for not wanting to fight. Please, I am asking you though, if you think that you could fight by my side, then please help us vanquish Lord Voldemort once and for all. See you."

He gestured to his friends and together they walked out of the room. "That was great, Harry; I think that you may have really gotten through to them." Hermione replied as she looked back at the now fading doorway.

Ron nodded. "Yeah me too, that was a damn good speech."

Harry grinned. "Yeah, well I tried."

Ginny laughed. "I think it was perfect and I hope that every single one of them in there signs their name."

"I don't think that will happen." Hermione said quietly. "Some of them will, but not all of them. This is a really dangerous task and not everyone is capable of doing something like this. It's like muggle history when they ordered conscription during the world wars; the people who weren't cut out for battle died quickly, and those who were ready to fight and ready to defend, even if it was just to save their own lives, fought and fought hard. It's not that different really. I just hope that our war really will be a final battle."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, let's pray it doesn't last too long like muggle wars do. Some of them lasted years."

Ron shrugged. "I don't know anything about those wars except that some of my relatives died in them. Why would they fight in a muggle war to begin with?"

Hermione sighed. "I don't know. Come on, Ron, didn't you or Ginny go to school before Hogwarts and learn things?"

Ginny shook her head. "No, kids don't go to school until Hogwarts. It's up to the parents to teach them the basics like reading and writing and of course math skills."

"Really? You didn't go to school at all before Hogwarts?" Harry asked with a look of surprise on his face.

Hermione sighed. "That should be changed because in a way its making muggleborns a bit more educated then witches and wizards. That would be an interesting project to work on … Harry, after the final battle; do you want to help me?"

"Um, what kind of project, Hermione?"

Hermione grinned. "I think that we should make a school for magical children to attend until Hogwarts. Not a boarding school or anything, but sort of like a public school where you go for the day and come home for dinner. Like what we went to, Harry, before we discovered what we were."

Harry grinned. "That's actually a good idea."

"What would you teach?" Ginny asked, looking very interested in the idea.

Hermione grinned. "Why personally I think the most important part should be allowing the magical community to better understand the muggle community. We could teach muggle studies like the basics of how muggles live, muggle history, how to read and write, and math skills. It could be really fun."

Ginny smiled. "Hermione, once the battle is over, I'd love to help you with your project."

Hermione beamed. "Good, thanks Ginny."

"Same goes, Hermione." Harry said as they stepped into the portrait hole.

Ron spoke up from the back. "You want us to go to school even longer? Mental, all of you."

Harry laughed. "Maybe we are, but I think it's a good plan. Besides, it's not like you'd have to attend, you'll already be done school."

Ron grinned. "Oh yeah … maybe I'll help out too then."

Everyone laughed as Ginny playfully elbowed her brother. "You git, you've got no choice but to help, or Hermione will hex you."

Ron turned to Hermione. "You're not going to hex me, are you, Mione?"

Hermione turned to give him a sweet smile. "I'll consider it."

Ron laughed. "Very funny, ha-ha. Real laugh riot."

Harry took a seat in front of the fire, pulling Ginny down into his arms to hold her close. He whispered in her ear, since Ron and Hermione had started bickering again. "Do you think a lot of people will sign the list?"

Ginny nodded. "Yeah, I think you're pretty safe. Everyone in there is very talented, and more than qualified to fight in the battle, Remus was right about that." She leaned back against him, playing with the beautiful ring on her finger. "I think we'll be as prepared as we can be. You're not stopping me from fighting in the battle."

Harry nodded and kissed her neck. "I know. I knew I wouldn't be able to."

His parents' voices rang in his ear again. His mum's voice first, 'You take care of that girl of yours and when the time comes, let her stand by you, it will make all the difference in the world.'

His dad laughing before responding, 'Well actually, if this Ginny is anything like your mother, if you don't let her stand by you, she'll just hex you and do it anyway.'

"What are you thinking about?"

Harry grinned. "Just what my parents said about you standing beside me. My mum said that I was to take care of you and when the time came for you to stand beside me to let you, because it would make a difference. Then my dad said that if you were anything like my mum then I'd better let you or you would just hex me and be by my side anyway. I think I knew at that moment that I wanted you with me in the final battle. I want you by my side, and I want you to help me defeat him."

Ginny smiled and cuddled back, reaching up to give him a soft kiss. "I will be. I'll always be here for you. I love you."

Harry grinned. "Yeah, I love you too." He brought his lips down to hers just as Ron swore.

"Bloody hell, are you two at it again!"

Harry laughed. "We might be, were you two arguing again?"

Ron shrugged and Harry laughed before reaching down to cover his mouth with Ginny's again.

After about an hour of some very pleasurable and intense snogging, Harry pulled back. "I think we should go check out the sheet in the Room of Requirement."

Ginny nodded. "Alright, come on."

She took his hand and pulled him up to his feet. They walked hand-in-hand back to the room. Just outside of the room, they ran into Michael Corner.

"Ginny, hey, how are you?" He asked, grinning.

Ginny smiled back. He really was quite handsome and she only had fond memories of her first boyfriend. "I'm okay, Michael, how are you?"

He shrugged. "Been better, I just signed that sheet you've got, terrified but I'm more than willing to fight. I believe that you can get rid of You-Know-Who, Harry, if anyone can do it, you can."

Harry grinned. "Thanks, we'll need as many people as we can get."

Michael nodded. "I know, well you've got yourself a pretty decent list so, good luck there."

He turned back to Ginny. "Gin, I just wanted to tell you, I heard those rumours that Dean Thomas had started about you, and I told people off for repeating them. I know you're better than that."

Ginny smiled. "I know you were. Neville and Luna told me that they overheard you tell people off a couple of times. I appreciate it. He was just sour because I wouldn't sleep with him."

Michael grinned. "You didn't sleep with me either, to my everlasting disappointment, but I don't go around blasting bloody rumours about you."

Harry nodded. "Corner, Dean got what he deserved. I punched him, and then Ginny found out and she punched him."

Michael laughed. "Go Ginny!" He took her hand and gave her it a small squeeze. "That's the girl I remember. Congratulations on your engagement by the way, both of you. I hope everything works out in the end."

Ginny smiled. "Thank you."

Michael nodded. "You're welcome. I'll see you guys around." He waved goodbye and left as Harry glared after him.

"I really hate him."

Ginny laughed. "Why? He's very sweet and caring."

"He's a prat! I've hated him from the moment I met him."

Ginny grinned. "You're not jealous of an old ex-boyfriend are you?"

"No!" Harry said. "I just … okay, so he's not so bad, I just thought he was a prat the first time I met him. I'm glad he stood up for you, that was decent of him."

"That's because he's a decent guy. We grew apart and when Gryffindor beat Ravenclaw he got bitter and we got into a fight and he went off to comfort Cho with some intense snogging. But unlike Dean, I saw this coming. We had been drifting for a while and both of us were ready to break it off. I think the match was just an excuse for a fight. He never cheated on me or anything, we just drifted apart and our relationship turned to friendship more than anything else." Ginny explained.

Harry nodded. "I see. I'm glad it turned to friendship because now I've got you." He leaned down to kiss her softly. "Well, I'm glad that we know we at least have one person on the list. Want to go check it out?"

Ginny nodded. "Yeah come on." She pulled him into the Room of Requirement and pulled the list off the wall with a smile. "I'd say you have some support Harry. Listen: Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Ernie Macmillan, Hannah Abbott, Terry Boot, Seamus Finnigan, Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, Padma Patil, Dean Thomas, Colin Creevey, Denis Creevey, Anthony Goldstein, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Zacharias Smith, Demelza Robins, Susan Bones, and the list goes on."

Harry grinned. "Really?"

Ginny smiled and placed the list into his hand. "Yeah really. Come on, let's go show Ron and Hermione the list then we'll work out the first new meeting of the D.A., which by the way should be changed to H.P.A., you know, Harry Potter's Army."

Harry grinned. "I don't think so. Come on, we'll go show Ron and Hermione and then we'll go from there." He leaned down to kiss her softly. "You know, this day is turning out better than I expected."

Ginny grinned. "Most days do when I'm involved." Harry laughed. "Yeah, I love you."

She smiled and kissed him. "Mmm, I love you too."

Harry quickly went about calling a meeting the next evening to get the members of the D.A. organized together. He couldn't help but smile when he found himself surrounded by a large group of people and he realized that the list had not lied, almost everyone who had been in the D.A. was there. Other members, ones who had left Hogwarts, Harry had sent that list out to Lupin. He was going to try to find them and see if they were interested in joining the Order of the Phoenix to fight in the final battle.

Now Harry stood before the crowd, grinning at all of the many faces staring up at him. "Thank you for coming. It means a lot to me that so many of you would come to help me fight a terrible battle. I didn't expect a lot of you to come, and I apologize because I should have known." Harry replied as he looked around at all of the eager faces.

"Now I know that I taught you guys quite a bit during the D.A. and I know that most of you if not all of you earned exceptional grades in Defence Against the Dark Arts because of it. However, it is different when you are actually out there, out there fighting these witches and wizards who are years older than us and more experienced. But there's one thing they don't have; they don't have our faith and our strength. You will be out there facing the three unforgivable curses that the impostor Moody taught us, the Cruciatus, the Imperius, and the Avada Kedavra. I am telling you that you must be careful to dodge these as much as you can, and from experience I can tell you that a favourite of theirs is the Cruciatus."

People looked around at each other nervously.

"I know you guys are scared and frankly if you weren't I'd be worried. We're all scared. The Death Eaters are terrible people and reasons for them agreeing to work for Voldemort probably is because many of them are a lot like him. Another thing is the Death Eaters themselves. They might be people that you know. Don't be alarmed by this, just remember that they are the enemy, they chose the wrong side, and that you are fighting for your life, for your future."

"Who are some of the Death Eaters that we might know?" Michael Corner asked, followed by a couple of people nodding in agreement.

Harry smiled. "Good question. A few of them are people that attended this school and decided not to come back for seventh year. I'm sure most of you know who I'm talking about, but for those who don't, Draco Malfoy, Gregory Goyle, Vincent Crabbe, Pansy Parkinson, and Theodore Nott. Then of course there is Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle's fathers, people like Bellatrix Lestrange, and many other older adults that once belonged in the inner circle before Voldemort's downfall. These people are to be taken seriously. Neville, for your own good, promise me that you won't go after Bellatrix, if she comes at you fine, but promise me you won't go after her."

Neville nodded. "I promise, Harry, but if I find myself fighting her …"

Harry nodded. "Then you show her how powerful a Longbottom can be. I'm sure many of you, like Neville and I, have had Death Eaters or Voldemort himself ruin your families, hurt someone in your families. Do not go after them trying to extract revenge, just fight and defend, your life may depend on it. These are the same people from the first war. Many of them died of course, but most of them if not all have been replaced. Voldemort doesn't care about who dies while serving him, because all they are to him is servants. He figures that he can always find more. We know better, we will not allow him to find more. We will destroy him. Any questions?"

Ernie nodded and stood up. "Yeah, how long do we have to prepare for this final battle?"

"Good question, I believe about a month. That is what we're aiming for. There are things that I need to do, potions needed that can take a month to brew and it will be about a month for any of us to be prepared." Harry explained.

Ginny nodded. "Exactly and Harry is going to teach you how to increase your learning abilities ten times faster than normal so that you will be prepared."

Harry looked at Ginny and grinned, leaning over to kiss her softly. "You are brilliant! I never would have thought of that." He turned back to everyone. "It is very easy to achieve and none of you should have any problems with it. I learned it from some very talented men. I call it the mist. So let's get started, everyone sit down and close your eyes."

Hours later, the whole room had become bigger because Harry had asked it too and mats had been set up all over the place. Within two hours, everyone had managed to bring the mist to their focus so Harry decided to split the group into four. While everyone was focused on this mist, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny began to teach. Harry held one group and he was teaching the basics of marital arts and he was grinning when everyone began to pick up on it very well. Ginny was teaching the second group hexes, good ones to confuse and injure the enemy, including her famous Bat Bogey Hex. Ron was with the third group and was teaching them defensive spells; things like strong shield charms and how to hold them. Hermione was teaching the fourth group the proper way to dodge spells and the best way to confuse them. She suggested the Confundus Charm as a good way to confuse the enemy. After an hour, they would rotate and every group would get a different lesson.

When the clock struck one a.m., Harry figured it would probably be a good time to get everyone back. He told them how to bring themselves out of the mist and told them all to come back tomorrow evening at the same time for another lesson. The large group left the room, chatting pleasantly at the new techniques of the D.A.

"That was wonderful, Harry; you did an excellent job tonight." Ginny replied.

Harry grinned down at her. "Yeah, I suppose I did. Thanks for the great idea; I never would have thought about using the mist. It's perfect because everyone can attain it, and you learn things so much faster. It's exactly what we needed to get them going."

Ginny smiled. "Yeah, it was and now tomorrow you can test them on everything that they learned."

Harry grinned. "Yeah, I do believe I can. Now you guys were a big help tonight, but starting tomorrow, I'm the only teacher until you guys get all of the marital arts skills and everything down packed as well. I want everyone to be prepared."

Ginny nodded. "Of course." She reached up to kiss him softly. "We'll be ready."

Harry stepped into the hall for breakfast that morning, thoughts on the D.A. running through his mind. He planned to get them to show each other everything that they had learned in the mist without being in the mist. Afterwards he was going to teach them more, but he already knew that the D.A. would be ready for a fight. With his head in the clouds, he almost didn't see Hedwig hooting in front of him, until she brushed his face with her tail that is. He muttered an apology and pulled off the note, grinning as he read it:

Wotcher Harry!

Remus was going to write, but I wanted to instead. So we've been trying to find your list of D.A. members who have graduated from Hogwarts for the time to see if they're interested in fighting. All I can say, Harry, is that you must have really been a fantastic teacher, because not one of them has had a bad thing to say about you!

Let's start with the facts: Fred and George Weasley of course are already part of the Order, so we didn't need to bother them; Lee Jordan was more than willing to help out along with Alicia Spinet, Angelina Johnson, Cho Chang, Marietta Edgecombe, and Katie Bell. It turns out that Miss Bell is recently engaged to a handsome professional Quidditch player who I've heard used to be a friend of yours, Oliver Wood. Wood wants to help out in the fight as well. Every one of them is on your side. I thought you might be happy to know this. They will of course be joining the Order and we will be making sure that they are well qualified, so you only have to worry about the D.A. members still in school.

Also, Remus told me that a certain girl by the name of Miss Chang is an ex-girlfriend of yours, no offence, Harry, but I thought you had better taste than that. Sure she's really pretty, but she's kind of a stubborn, spoiled snob, at least I found her to be downright rude. And every time I mentioned Voldemort and the final battle she would start crying, dead annoying I'm telling you. Also, Ginny is so much cooler than Cho Chang, much prettier and nicer and smarter, and can I kill Chang because she's really been pissing me off. Okay, I promise to restrain myself. Tell Ginny I said hey.

Anyway, so the Order now has lots of new recruits as their parents, cousins, siblings, and other friends and relatives were very eager to help out. We've definitely managed to build ourselves up an army. It should be a good fair fight when we kick their arse from here to the moon. Glad you agree there. Also, Remus was going to ask you in person but we weren't sure when a good moment would arrive so I'm writing it in the letter. We haven't planned a wedding date yet or anything, but Remus would be really honoured and super psyched if you would be his best man. He says that with Sirius and James gone, you're the closest thing he's had to a best friend in a long time, and that he would love it if you would stand for him. If you don't want to, hey that's okay, you'll just hurt his heart and then I'll have to come after you and I'm sure that you wouldn't want that, would you? Just kidding, of course.

Wow, so this note is definitely turning into a novel, I hope you don't mind. I only have one more thing to say: Please be careful. We both love you Harry, and I like to look at you as a little brother now that Remus and I are engaged and he's practically you're godfather now.

Also, be prepared, we'll keep you updated on what's going on here and we expect the same from you.

TTFN,

Tonks and Remus

Harry finished reading the letter, grinning, she sure knew how to cheer him up. He took a piece of parchment out from his notebook and quickly scrawled a response:

Hey Tonks and Remus,

I just wanted to say thanks, I am very honoured to be the best man at your wedding, and I promise that I would have accepted even if Tonks wouldn't have given me a death threat. I'm glad that you've managed to get so many people to join in the fight, prepare them well. I'm preparing everyone well and I think we'll do fine; bringing an army up to speed is another story. However, I believe that I can do it and I can make us win. I'll keep you posted on anything new that happens.

Also, yeah Cho was an ex-girlfriend, though it wasn't really a relationship; all she ever did was cry and want to talk about her ex-boyfriend Cedric Diggory, who I saw die when Peter Pettigrew killed him in the graveyard in my fourth year. I don't miss her too much. You're absolutely right, Ginny is way cooler. She's beautiful and sweet and smart and funny and mischievous and a little scary sometimes because she's a bit like Fred and George, but she's amazing and I love her. She's my life. However, I can't allow you to kill Cho at least not until the final battle is over … then I might reconsider. Ha-ha, no, you still can't kill her. I don't think Remus would appreciate his fiancée going to Azkaban.

I care a lot about you too, Tonks, and I look at Remus as a godfather as well, which makes me look to you as a godmother. Name your kid after me, and I'll love you forever.

Talk to you soon.

Harry

P.S. I like novels, you should write to me more often. I don't get mail too much you know. Oh and Ginny says hey.

He finished the note and tied to Hedwig's leg, sending her off to deliver it. Ginny took a seat next to him. "Hey, who are you writing too?"

Harry grinned. "My gorgeous mistress, I need to write her a love letter every so often or she gets cranky."

Ginny laughed. "Idiot, nice one though." She picked up the parchment with the letter on it. "Can I read it?"

Harry nodded. "Go ahead, I just wrote back and I told her you said hey."

Ginny smiled and began to read the note. When she was done she was grinning. "I love Tonks, she is the coolest and I completely agree, I am way better than Cho."

Harry laughed and kissed her softly. "Much better. And I said yes to being best man if you're interested."

"That's great, Harry. I can't believe their getting married; it's nice to see Remus smiling. I think Tonks is the best thing that could have ever happened to him. She's bright and happy and exciting. She's exactly what he's been missing in his life."

Harry nodded. "I couldn't agree more." The day went on pretty much the same; Harry's mood had brightened considerably, until his discussion with Dumbledore that afternoon which had only made him more confused and left him wondering.

Harry stepped into McGonagall's office the next afternoon. "Hello Professor."

McGonagall smiled at him . "Hello Potter, Dumbledore wants to speak with you about the final battle."

Harry nodded and turned toward the portrait on the wall. "Hello, sir."

Dumbledore smiled warmly. "Hello, Harry."

Harry managed a small smile before he took a seat in front of the portrait, watching McGonagall leave the office. "So you want to talk about the final battle?"

Dumbledore nodded. "I do. Tell me, Harry, what is it that you have accomplished thus far in preparation for what's ahead?"

"Oh," Harry said, running his fingers through his hair before he spoke. "Well, I talked to Professor Slughorn and he thinks that he knows of a potion that will help me destroy the horcrux inside of Nagini. We went over the ingredients and he explained what it is supposed to do. I think it's going to work out; it seems a little shaky as I have to make sure Nagini drinks it, but I think I can do it. Then Ron, Hermione, and Ginny helped me get together everyone from the D.A. I asked them to help out in the final battle, after I made somewhat of a speech that actually turned out to be pretty good and we left the room, allowing them to decide what they wanted to do and to sign the list or not. Once we had a list of people I called another meeting and began to teach them new skills, such as physical defence, not only spells and things. It's going really well and everyone is learning really well. There's another meeting tonight and I think it should go okay too. Tonks wrote me today and told me that they've managed to build up quite an army in the Order and that she's managed to get a hold of all the D.A. members that graduated. They all want to help. That's about it really."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at him as he smiled. "Excellent Harry, you are well on track. However, we need to discuss your plans for the final confrontation with Voldemort himself. Your gift is love, Harry; do you have any idea how you're going to defeat him?"

Harry shook his head. "No sir, I don't know. I've been wondering about that for a while. Okay, so I have love, that's my strength and my gift, but how do I use this to my advantage and defeat him?"

Dumbledore smiled. "You're very powerful, Harry, and I'm afraid that I cannot just tell you exactly what you must do, but I can help you. Love is tricky thing, Harry. It can make you deliriously happy, crazy, sad, angry, hateful, and feel wonderful, all at the same time. You found love very young, Harry, a strong love that you plan to keep forever. Before you fell in love with Ginny, you found a different kind of love; parental love from Molly and Arthur; love of friendship from Ron and Hermione; and the love of other parental-like figures such as Remus, Sirius, and Hagrid. Every one of those people, Harry, will play an important role in the end. The love that you have for them and the love that they have for you are very important. The only thing I can tell you, Harry, is this: Love is the power to fight all evil, and a burst of sunlight may brighten a room where evil darkens it. Remember that."

Harry nodded. "I'm not sure I'm following you here, sir, how is knowing this supposed to help me?"

Dumbledore grinned. "It will. Good luck this evening with your next D.A. lesson. Goodbye Harry." He folded his hands into his lap and just smiled at him and Harry knew that look. It was the look telling him that he had been dismissed, and wasn't going to get any more information.

"Yeah, thanks, goodbye, sir." Harry put the chair back and walked out of the office, his mind weighing heavily on what had just been said.

Love is the power to fight all evil, and a burst of sunlight may brighten a room where evil darkens it. What did that mean? Was he supposed to throw sunlight at Voldemort and watch him burn like a muggle's version of a vampire.

He sighed; maybe his friends would better understand the riddle. He walked into the Great Hall, ready for the feast, his mind already on the next D.A. meeting and Dumbledore's words tucked into the back of his brain for future reference. He figured he would talk to Ginny, Ron, and Hermione about it after the D.A. meeting and see what they made out of what Harry now considered a riddle. He sighed and took a seat at the table; he had a lot of work to do.