Snape's classroom felt like ice to Harry, the windows drawn up shut, shutters closed, and only a singular candle lighting up the room. Harry didn't know why he was there, usually Snape brought him to his rooms. At least it was warm there, a fireplace that the house elves always kept going.

Harry hated thinking of house elves.

"Harrison…"

"Tear off the bandage, will you?" Harry asked, closing his eyes tightly. His hands balled up into tight fists, shoulders squared as if he was preparing for a blow.

"This is a sensitive matter-"

"So is you telling Malfoy I'm your kid!" Harry shot back, voice rising along with his temper. "He's going to tell someone, and everyone will know, and then people will die-"

"Mr Malfoy value's his life, Harrison-"

"Not enough to side with Vold- Him!" Harry's nails dug into his palms, crescent dents forming the longer he held them there. Anything to keep from screaming, he supposed.

Snape's chest tightened at Harry's words, memories of his younger self flashing through his mind before he shut them down. Had he valued his life when he joined the Dark Lord?

No, he had lost Lily. Nothing mattered after that.

"Regardless, he values his mothers life, who, if you must know, has not joined the Dark Lord." Harry said nothing in response, staring at the floor in silent anger. Who cared about the Malfoy's? "Tea?" Snape asked after a moment.

"Just get on with it."

"Dumbledore is dying." Snape said plainly. Harry flinched, looking up from the ground.

"What?"

"Dumbledore is dying and intends for me to kill him." Snape sighed, beconning Harry closer with a wave of his hand. Harry followed, sitting on one of the tables closer to the man as static slowly left his head.

"How is he dying? He can't be that old, can he?"

"For a man born in 1881, he is surprisingly youthful." Snape muttered, shaking his head. "But his age is not the cause of his ailment."

"What is?" Harry demanded. "We can fix it, or at least try to-"

"If Dumbledore cannot get rid of the curse, what makes you think you can, Harrison?" The man snapped, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"He was cursed?"

"By a ring. Dumbledore believes its the same thing that you happened to take care of at the beginning of the year."

"You mean, like the locket?" Like me? Harry added on mentally.

"Indeed. Dumbledore put on the ring, and even though he took it off, a skin-decomposing curse has begun eating it's way through his hands and arms."

"That's why he was wearing gloves, isn't it." Snape just nodded. "And he wants you to kill him?"

"The Dark Lord gave Draco- Mr Malfoy the task of bringing the end of Albus Dumbledore." Harry gasped. "Dumbledore knows of this, yet that old man cannot let a child become a murderer at such a young age. He has tasked me with…delivering the final blow, as he said."

Harry stared down at the floor, eyes welling up with tears as his nose began to stop itself up.

"Bet he said it with a smile, huh?" Severus snorted, actually snorted as a hand covered his eyes.

"Of course he did, crazy old fool."

Neither father nor son said anything for a few moments, their hallowed breathing ringing like alarm bells around the silent classroom. Both allowed their heads to hang in a shared anguish. Their teacher, mentor, and even friend was going to die.

"He wants me to die as well, doesn't he?" Harry asked quietly, voice barely louder than a whisper.

"Yes," Snape told him, turning around. "Yes he does."

Matching tears, clouded with silence and resilience, rolled down their faces. Harry sniffled, rubbing his nose as Snape cleared his throat.

"Horace has also brought something to my attention. He said you were particularly honest with him, can you tell me exactly what happened?" Harry nodded, wiping his face off as he told his father what had happened between him and the new potion's professor.

"Harry, I hope you don't mind if I ask you something more… personal note."

"Of course not, sir."

"Are you here on Dumbledore's orders?"

Harry momentarily froze, before giving a dramatic sigh.

"Nothing gets past you, sir. Yes, he did send me." Harry shrugged his shoulders, looking around. "He says you have a memory he needs, but he won't even tell me what it is."

"I would hope not! I have already given that man everything he needs and I- '' Slughorn shook his head, placed his drink to his lips and took a large chug of it. "Oh nevermind, just know you aren't getting anything out of me, my boy."

"That's what I told him!" Harry lied, shaking his head. He looked to the sides, bowing his head in shame. "You've got to be the best professor I've ever had, sir. I couldn't betray you if I wanted to."

"Harry my boy," Slughorn said, a smile evident in his voice. "What a grand student you are! Yes yes, another drink I say! A toast!"

"And so we toasted, went our separate ways, and I got the party invitation the next day at breakfast." Harry explained to Snape, feet swinging lightly from his spot on the table.

"How very Slytherin." Severu shook his head. Harry resisted a snort. "Why does Dumbledore want this memory?"

"Says it'll bring down Vo- the Dark Lord. Dumbledore thinks Professor Slughorn knows something about the…those….uh, things."

"If anyone knew, it would be Horace." Snape muttered to himself, aimlessly moving papers around on his desk as if he wasn't actively ignoring the awkwardness in the room. After a few moments he looked up. "Regardless, you should be off to bed. The party ended over an hour ago."

"Right." Harry said, hopping off the table with a run of his eyes. They were still a little blurry from earlier. An odd feeling settled on his chest. It was like, for some odd reason, Harry didn't want to go back to his dorm.

"Harrison?" Snape called as Harry neared the door.

"Yeah?"

"Goodnight." Harry paused.

"Night."

"Hermione?" Ginny asked, sitting on the couch with her. "Oh, Ron, hi."

"Hey Gin," Ron raised his hand in greeting. Gin raised an eyebrow. "What's up?"

"You both disappeared during the party, I couldn't find you after. Although now I know why."

Ron and Hermione both flushed pink, Ron quickly removing his arm from her shoulders. It wasn't anything big! They were just much more comfortable with each other, especially after talking about his fifth year treatment of her… and not just his, Harry's and Neville's too. Hermione had explained it in a way that made sense. They had just completely abandoned her! And they hadn't thought anything about it.

"I'm over it now," Hermione swore. "I know why you did it, I just didn't understand why you couldn't have explained it to me."

"What do you want, Ginny?" Ron asked as the two of them separated, Ginny rolling her eyes.

"Just to see where you were, honest. And where Harry was. I couldn't find him either."

"He's probably still with Neville." Hermione told her. "The waiters were on clean up duty, and you know how Harry is with Slughorn."

"Professor Slughorn, 'Mione." Ron teased. The curly haired girl just rolled her eyes.

"Well, I'll let you love birds get back to it, night!" Ginny told them, laughing as she walked away, ignoring Ron's minor shout of distress.

"I should probably get to bed too…" Ron told her awkwardly, standing up from the couch. Hermione stood up as well, looking at her hands.

"Yeah! Me too, uh, I'll see you tomorrow?" She asked him, looking up. Ron stared into her eyes for a moment, realising how warm they looked in the nearby fire light.

"Of course." He told her. They stared for a second, eyes lingering, before Hermione cleared her throat and they went their separate ways. Ron threw himself into his bed with a sigh, groaning into his pillow as he thought about Hermione. She had always been pretty cute, especially as first years (but they were eleven, of course they were cute), but now as the years passed Ron could safely say she was becoming beautiful. No, she was already beautiful. Ron was just finally able to see it now.

And he had hurt her. How could he have done that? How could any of them have done that?

With a sigh, Ron rolled over, closing his bed curtains with a swish of his wand. He needed sleep. It was probably all that partying and drinking that was making him so sleepy.

You know, if you disregarded that he neither partied nor drank anything this evening. Ron closed his eyes and let sleep take him.

And then suddenly he was wide awake, standing in a room of black, white, and pink.

"Ronald!" A booming voice said, cheerful and happy as he rubbed his eyes. Every colour was so bright, even that black! And also, where the bloody hell was he?

"Hello?" He called out, and as he turned he was suddenly face to face with a woman dressed in a white dress. The ends of the floor length gown were the same cherry-blossom colour as the pink furniture around, and faded nicely into the white, loose top she wore.

"Ronald, dearest, there you are!" She grasped him by the shoulders. "Exactly what I was expecting!"

"Who are you?" He asked, flinching away from her touch but feeling comforted at the same time. "How am I here?"

"You're dreaming, Ronald. As for who I am…well, you should be able to figure that out yourself, no?"

Ron just nodded, having already expected the answer before he even asked the question. There was no mistaking who this beauty was.

He was staring at the face of life herself.

"Now, I believe we are overdue for a visit, don't you think?" She asked him. "I mean, my brothers have already met with your own, so it only makes sense for me to see you!"

"This isn't a pity visit, is it?" Ron asked, suddenly defensive. "I don't need to see a God or something to know my worth."

"Oh not at all, Ronald! Here, sit!" A wave of her hand later and a white couch was summoned a few feet away from them. "What I am going to tell you cannot be shared, Ronald Weasley. You must keep it to yourself. Are you prepared to keep a secret from those you hold most dear?"

Ron thought about it for a moment, glancing from his hands to the walls to the newly established couch. With a deep breath he nodded, moving to join Life.

"I am."

"Wonderful!" She purred. "Let me tell you the real story behind the three brothers.

"Harry!" Mrs Weasley called out, giving Harry a big hug as he exited the fireplace. He had gotten much better at floo travel thanks to their summer escapades. "Oh so good to see you dear!"

"Hello, Mrs Weasley." Harry told her, accepting her hug with a large grin. "Oh, we should probably move, Neville's coming through next."

"Right, right, in you get! You know where your bags go. Neville! Welcome dear, so good to see you." Mrs Weasley moved onto the next introduction, likely giving Neville a large hug just as she did with him. It warmed Harry's heart, knowing his best friend was being treated the same as him. Trust the Weasley family to be as welcoming as a summer day.

"Harrikins, good to see you!" One twin said, popping next to his side, startling him. Harry didn't have time to brace for the second one.

"Yes indeed! What has our little beneficiary been up to?"

"School, dying, and failing. What about you?" Harry told them, but the twins were interrupted before they could tell their tales.

"Don't let him fool you, he's at the top of Potions right now. Over Hermione."

"It's because of that book," Hermione sang, sticking her head over the railing. "Hello Harry."

"Hi Hermione, is Ron up there?" A hand stuck its way over Hemrione's head, letting Harry see the jam on his fingers. "Ah, he's eating."

"When is he not?" George joked, rubbing his head with an exaggerated sigh. "Honestly, going to run through all of this house's food on his first day back."

"Shove off, George." Ron said, mouth obviously still stuffed with food. "I'm just hungry."

"When are you not?" Fred said this time, skipping away with "La-La-La"'s as Mrs Weasley rounded the corner, Mr Weasley in toe.

"Harry, Neville! Welcome, welcome!" Mr Wealsey told them, shaking their hands. "So glad you decided to come. What was the day later for though, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Hora- I mean, Professor Slughorn had a Slug Club meeting for those deciding to stay, and with permission from Snape and Professor McGonagall, we got to come here this morning so we wouldn't miss it."

"Ah, becoming one with your studies then?" Harry nodded.

Eventually, all of their belongings were dragged upstairs, separated, and sorted, before they all settled back down in the kitchen, waiting on the food to be finished cooking. Everyone chatted and joked together, seats constantly being swapped around until everyone was comfortable with who they were sitting with for dinner.

"Alright," Molly clapped her hands. "We have big news! Some of the order members will be coming over tomorrow for Dinner and a meeting. That means you," She gave a pointed look to the group of underage kids eating dinner. "Will not be attending until Dinner. And you," She gave a pointed look at the twins. "Will not be telling them anything. And you will be on your best behaviour!"

"We solemnly swear!" They spoke at the same time, sharing matching grins as Molly sighed fondly, floating the plates of food to the table.

"Thank you's" Were shouted as conversations began once more, everyone reaching forward to plate their foods and dig in. Hogwarts cooking was good, but nothing compared to Mrs Weasley's cooking.

"Who's all coming to the order meeting, Mrs Weasley?" Hermione asked.

"Remus, Severus, oh and of course Bill and Fleur. Charlie was going to come but one the dragons ended up pregnant…and of course Percy decided to not come- oh that's right! Fred, George, Bill will be rooming with you tomorrow night, since Remus is coming. And I'm sure Fleur wouldn't mind squeezing with Hermione and Ginny."

"Why can't they share a room?" George asked.

"Yeah, they're engaged aren't they?" Fred continued.

Harry dropped his fork. What?!

"They're engaged?!" He asked, eyes wide in shock. Who would have thought, Fleur the champion and Bill the curse breaker! What a pair.

"Yeah, didn't I tell you?" Ron asked over a mouthful of food. "Happened a few weeks ago."

"Which is much too young to be rooming together."

"Mum, Bill's older than when you had him. I think he'll be fine. If they haven't made a baby yet, they won't do it with the whole house over."

"Ginny!" Molly's eyes widened, appalled. The rest of the table laughed. "That isn't appropriate talk for dinner!"

"Yet it's the truth." George and Fred said together, sharing grins as they dodged Molly's swinging towel. The house just laughed, all settling in nicely with each other as they talked and shared stories.

And if Ron and Hermione held hands underneath the table, no one said anything.