I've finished another part. Which I hope you will all enjoy. It was quite fun to write. Thank you once again for the reviews. They do keep me writing.
I don't own any of the characters, they belong to the world of JKR.
Meeting Kingsley's sister and niece had been a nice break from all the official stuff going on around them. She had hidden behind her mother's robes sneaking looks up at the three as if she couldn't believe her eyes blushing at the same time. They fell into easy conversation with Kingsley and his sister who seemed to have a great respect for each other. But there was no way that Kingsley's sister was going to let him forget that she was older than him, Minister of Magic or not, much to Harry's amusement.
It was as they were laughing at a story she told of Kingsley in his Hogwarts days that Harry felt a tug on his robes. Looking down he found Kingsley's niece starring up at him her eyes looking even wider. "You're Harry Potter?" She half asked.
Harry couldn't help but smile and bend down to her level. "Why I do believe that is my name." He answered her.
She nodded, and looked shyly in Hermione's direction. "Are you going to marry her?" She asked.
Harry could feel himself turning slightly red, while Kingsley's sister exclaimed. "Oh, I'm so sorry. She's all about hero's and marriage at the moment. I think it's just her age."
Harry just smiled at the little girl in front of him. "No, I don't think so. You see I tend to think of her as more of a sister." Glancing up at Ron and Hermione he half chuckled at the look of slight horror on Ron's face, and Hermione's one of complete amusement and endearment at the child. "Can you keep a secret?" He asked the 3 and the half year old.
She nodded looking very seriously then added. "I just thought that you're always together, so you would get married."
Harry nodded, looking at Hermione and placed a hand over his heart a little like he was disappointed. "Yes, she is one of my best friends. But you see she prefers Ron. He's always with us as well. I just don't stand a chance."
She just nodded looking at him wide eyed. Clearly thinking about what she had just been told. After a moment's pause she offered. "I'll marry you."
Harry tried very hard not to join in with the chuckles he heard from the adults around him. "Why thank you." He answered. "I believe that's the best offer I've had all day. What say you and I think about it for let's say at least the next 15 years or so?" He finished standing up with a smirk on his face.
"Alright then, you have a deal." The three year old finished with one final tug on his robes before dashing back behind her mother's robes to watch Hermione closely again. At the last comment Harry couldn't help but laugh out loud as well.
"She's going to give Ginny a run for her money." Ron laughed along with Harry.
Kingsley nodded his head clearly deeply amused as well. "Right I suppose we should start rounding up the families of those who died in battle for the portrait unveilings." He finished smiling fondly at his niece and patting her on the head.
His sister just wiped her eyes, clearly looking at Harry with an expression of something between mortification and total amusement. "I'm so sorry." She shook her head again at him. "I can't wait to embarrass her later in life about her proposing to you. You were wonderful with her though." She looked down at her daughter fondly. "Thank you."
Hermione just laughed. "Now I'm wondering if she just wanted to be me because she wanted you. I don't know Harry stealing my moment."
"What can I say?" Harry just shrugged his shoulders. It felt good to be so amused. Life still held so much tension at the moment.
Kingsley nodded to the two Auror's who were still close bye and giving his sister a kiss on the cheek directed Ron, Hermione and Harry over to where Molly and Arthur were standing with Charlie, Bill and Fleur.
Ron couldn't help but tell them all as soon as they reached them about Harry's grand offer of marriage which had them all laughing when Ginny joined them a few moments later.
"I guess you guys finally reaching us means we're about to head onto the next part of the day?" She asked.
"Yes, thank you for joining us Miss Weasley." Kingsley answered her. "The other families have been directed to follow you're lead up to the unveiling. Now we just need to find Percy and George. I'll be back in a moment." He said leaving to round up George, Percy and Audrey who were only a few meters away.
"Hey Gin, you've got some competition. Harry's just been proposed too." Charlie tugged her hair slightly, keeping his voice low. "In fact she reminds me a bit of you as well."
Ginny just rolled her eyes at Harry. "Yeah I heard them on the way to the stage, still girls." Then winked at him, making Harry feel better about what he had witnessed with Blaise earlier. This not being around each other for the day was starting to get to him.
"I don't think she was silly, she sounded very serious to me." Ron told Ginny. "You're right Charlie she did remind me of Ginny at that age. Telling us all you were going to marry Harry Potter."
Ginny turned a slight red shade glancing at Harry. "I was probably only playing." She tried to excuse herself.
Bill laughed out loud at that. "I can still remember you drawing a lightning bolt on Ron's forehead and making him pretend to propose to you."
"Poor Ron ran away to his room declaring he hated Harry Potter." Charlie laughed out loud now, drawing a bit of attention to the group.
Harry looked at Ron with raised eyebrows. "You hated me?" Smirking at the same time with a look of clearly mock hurt.
"I was 5 and I didn't want to pretend to be you unless it was to fight evil. Not marry my younger sister." Ron tried to explain looking back at Ginny with a slight shiver. "She would only allow me to play you if I proposed to her at the end of the game."
"There's still so much I don't know about you Ron." Hermione smiled before giving Ron's hand a quick squeeze and letting go again before anyone noticed.
"So who proposed to you this time?" Ginny asked clearly guessing it must be a child.
"Kingsley's niece." Harry answered. "Don't worry about it. I think it was a pity one because I told her Hermione wouldn't have me. We agreed to think about it for the next 15 years. She's only 3 after all." He finished smiling at her. Only to watch her face light up and beam back at him, he felt a little bad about worrying beforehand. Ginny was after all having to put with girls screaming things at him and wanting posters of him on their walls. If he had to put up with the fact a few of her male friends wished it was more than friendship so be it. After all he could hardly blame them, if the shoe was on the other foot he knew he wouldn't stop wanting her.
Harry was pleased that the rest of the afternoon seemed to go in a bit of a blurr. The unveiling of the portraits of those who had died in the battle had just been for the families and a small group of Officials Harry finding himself among them. He had enjoyed holding Teddy and talking to Remus and Tonks who he was thrilled to find out McGonagall had ordered they be placed in a portrait together and that there was another one like Fred's going home with Andromeda so that they could watch over their son.
Fred had been a little short with the family after having to watch the ceremony from a portrait with every other painted figure in Hogwarts.
It wasn't until Harry, Hermione and the rest of the Weasley's were heading back up to Mcgonagall's office to floo home that Harry glanced down the long corridor now lined with paintings and happened to see Alicia talking to Fred. He hadn't even known she was here. But he felt for her. She was once again wiping her eyes while she held a hand up to the portrait.
George must have seen it as well as he positioned himself next to Harry on the stairs up to the office whispering. "Seems strange doesn't it? Mum and Dad not knowing Fred had her in his life."
Harry nodded. He had been thinking that quite a bit himself. "Ron and Hermione offered to tell them before the service yesterday. She wasn't up to it according to Angelina and Katie." He whispered back.
George just nodded. "Kingsley's said someone will floo into Grimald in an hour to take you and I to St Mungo's but….." He lowered his whisper even more. "Do you….well could Kreacher could take me back tonight?"
Harry just nodded, as they finally approached the entrance to McGonagall's office, and Ginny pushed in between them. "I guess I can talk to you now." She breathed out like she was relieved, taking Harry's hand.
"Right, you're all here." Robard's who had gathered them all together to leave stated. Looking around like he was doing a mental count. "I will be glad when the last of the people head out from here this afternoon that's for sure. But over all a good day I think." Turning to the Gargoyle he whispered the password and it leapt aside allowing them all passage.
McGonagall had clearly already returned to her office. Looking up she nodded at all the Weasley's stepping off the stair case and through the large oak doors. "Ah, returning home for the day are we?" She asked.
"Yes, Minerva. Thank you for allowing us to floo in and out of your office. I know you are very busy." Arthur smiled at her.
"Yes, well there is still much work to be done on the castle. What you've seen today is a bit of a magic really. We have fixed up the main entrance, the hall and the corridors we knew would be used. But other than that, I'm not sure we will be able to open on time this year." She sighed looking down at the parchments in front of her. "Not to say after last year I have a lot of parents questioning the school."
"It's not your fault the Carrow's took over and did horrible things to us. You tried at every turn to protect us." Ginny complained.
"Yes, but never the less unforgivable curses were used on the students. It's not something to take lightly in the magical world." McGonagall stood up from her desk. "Mr. Potter have you made a decision on returning to school or not yet?"
Harry shook his head. While Robards answered McGonagall. "I was thinking about starting his training early. Surely he could pass his NEWTS half blindfolded after all he's learnt this year. We need new Auror's and soon."
Harry wasn't' sure he was ready to start Auror training either. He still just really wanted that summer he dreamed of something like before the start of his 6th year hanging at the burrow with Ginny, Ron and Hermione.
"Yes, I can understand that Robards. I really can. But well it seems I'm not going to have very many students at all unless I can promise most of the DA and the wonderful trio returns to the school for the younger student's protection. Parents seem to be putting more stock in my students to keep their kids safe than the staff." She sighed again looking at Harry. "I'm receiving at least 20 owls a day asking if you are returning and if you aren't well then I'm not sure there's much point at this stage opening at all."
"You can't close Hogwarts." Hermione protested. "I'm returning, and Ginny, you are aren't you?" Harry could see Hermione pleading with Ginny.
While conversations broke out around them at just the thought of Hogwarts not opening. "I'm not sure I'll have much of a choice Miss Granger." McGonagall answered looking at Harry again. "We can offer you privacy Mr Potter. Well not total, we do have rules and you will have to be a normal student, but once the awe of you from the younger students dies down. I think you could have almost a peaceful year here. You will have the same dorm members you have always had if Mr. Weasley returns the other three are."
"Ron and Ginny are both returning to finish their education." Molly stated like there was no argument about it.
"Mum." Ron groaned. "I'm not sure I…."
"Don't you argue with me young man I've let you run off with no word for over 9 months, I'm even letting you go to Australia with Hermione tomorrow, but if you think you're not going to finish your education you have another thing coming." She interrupted him. "You heard Minerva, the school needs you here, and well, I need you safe as well." Molly finished with a fresh wave of tears.
"George and Fred never finished." Ron grumbled.
"Yes, well NEWTS aren't quite so important when running a joke shop mate. I think you need a few O's to be an Auror with Harry." George added.
Robards looked at Ron with interest. "Right, I suppose we could set up some training here as well. I was also thinking about asking Mr. Longbottom if he was interested. Maybe I should take a closer a look at all of the DA." He nodded his head. "I think we could work something out don't you think Minerva? After all we will need some Auror's here after last year. They could do some teaching at the same time."
McGonagall nodded like the idea suited her very well. "How does that sound to you Harry?" She asked using his first name, one of the few times Harry had ever heard her use it.
Harry just nodded. "It sounds alright to me." The more the conversation had gone on, the more he had realised that Hogwarts was probably the one place he would be able to move with any freedom. Something he felt like he needed. He didn't like the idea of being protected and holed up somewhere for the next year waiting for things to die down.
Ginny just wrapped her arms around him. "I like that idea as well." She whispered resting her head on his shoulder.
Harry pulled her in. "Okay, looks like we're all returning then." He smiled at Hermione who looked thrilled, and Ron who still looked like he was thinking about the idea seriously and wasn't at all sure he was pleased with the outcome.
Stepping out of the floo at Grimald Place everyone must have made their way out of the kitchen pretty fast so that by the time Harry stepped through just after Ginny and before Hermione and Ron there was only George left in the Kitchen talking to Fred's portrait who must have finished his conversation with Alicia to be here already.
Ginny was still dusting herself off, but held up a finger to her lips to stay quiet to Harry.
"She looks terrible." Fred was complaining.
George just nodded. "I only had a quick word with her today. I know she doesn't look good, but she's been through a lot. We all have."
"Yeah, I…..well." Fred half stuttered.
"I'll talk to Ange, when we get a chance alone again alright. We'll look after her. Lee and Katie too." George promised.
Fred looked a little sheepishly at George, glancing at Ginny and Harry as well. "I'm sorry mate. I really am about not fessing up to how I felt about Alicia. I've kept you and Ange apart."
George snorted. "And Lee and Katie, but I don't think you'll keep them apart now. It sounds like Lee's moving into her flat instead of ours." He finished with a roll of his eyes.
"Like you'll be on your own for long now you and Ange are an item." Fred winked at his brother. But even Harry could tell it was a little more serious. He wondered how much a portrait could feel. Was Fred's painted self going to miss Alicia as much as she missed him?
Hermione stepped out of the fireplace only to have Ron just about land on top of her as he stepped out causing a domino effect on Harry and Ginny.
"Care to tell us what you're all doing standing around not moving?" Hermione asked as she tried to untangle herself from Ron's weight.
Harry groaned as he pulled his leg out from under Hermione. "Trying to not to be a pain. George and Fred were talking. I think you hurt my ankle."
"Yeah well if I don't have a bruise on my bum I'll be amazed." Ginny muttered pulling herself up on one of the kitchen chairs giving her bottom a rub. "How many times Ron has Mum told you to watch your step when climbing out of a fireplace?"
"Well I thought you knew not to stand in front on one when there were people coming through." Ron groaned back standing up and offering Hermione a hand at the same time.
It was then they noticed the wolf whistle's coming from George and Fred's portrait.
"Oh, grow up." Hermione shot back at them still dusting herself off. "Let's go and make sure we've packed everything Ron." She finished marching out of the kitchen.
Ron just followed rolling his eyes at his brothers.
"She's got him whipped." Fred snorted.
George just nodded his head. "Yep, he's got it bad. Poor little Ron. They still fight sometimes though. But they snog now as well." George finished with a finger half down his throat and Fred pretending to gag as well.
"Oh, like you two have never touched a girl." Ginny rolled her eyes. "I might have to agree with Hermione, you need to grow up."
Fred just stopped gagging and looked at Ginny. "Sorry, I'm stuck at this age now. Infact little sister in a few years you'll be older than me."
"Great." She muttered.
"She's just sour because Harry got proposed to today by a three year old." George told Fred.
Fred barked out a laugh. "Remember when she drew that lightning bolt on Ron's head?"
George nodded amused himself.
Ginny just grabbed Harry hand and dragged him out of the room. "Just shut it, or I'll put you in the broom cupboard Fred."
Harry chuckled away at the fact Ginny making Ron act him out in their games was remembered by all the family. Reaching the ground floor and entrance way Ginny looked around her. "I reckon this place has to be almost worse than the burrow for privacy."
Harry nodded. "You do have a large family and it seems to be getting bigger. I reckon Angelina's about to become a permanent member."
Ginny nodded. "Hmm, one more person to dodge. At least at the burrow we were allowed outside."
Harry looked around him and then opened the door to the dining room. "There's no one in here." He told her.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "I suppose it will have to do." She stepped into the room past him.
Harry smiled, followed her and shut the door. Turning around he was surprised when she pretty much attacked him with a full on snog. But soon didn't care about where they were. It wasn't like anyone could walk in with them against the door.
I hope you liked it. Let me know. I'm also wondering just how far to take this Fic. It's probably coming to a close now that I have pretty most things wrapped up, But I'm sure I could add more if you wanted it.
Hopefulled.