September 1st came, and Harry and Ginny were off to King's Cross. He had instructed Sirius to remain hidden in the house, though his godfather was pouty about it. The other Weasley's came to Grimmauld Place, and they departed together to catch the Hogwarts Express. Despite not having ridden on it in some time, they managed to get on without issue.
Harry and Ginny took a carriage together with Ron and Hermonie.
"It's weird, being able to sit on the train together without perfect duties or Slug Club getting in the way." Ginny pointed out as she put a kiss on Harry's cheek.
"So, once we are at Hogwarts, we are going to start getting Nev and Luna back?" Ron asked eagerly. His wife nodded before laying her head on his shoulder.
"I think we will handle it, Ron. They are our linkers after all. Wil you be alright with Luna?"
"Of course. I am used to Luna now, plus I think I know how to keep from insulting her. I have grown up, you know."
"Could have fooled me." Ginny huffed. "I'm going to go make sure that 'Moody' isn't with us. I was sure he came later, but you never know. If he has, I want to make sure we give him no reasons to modify his plans. Have you all been practicing for the Imperious Curse?"
They all nodded. Harry had learned techniques from the Aurors to fool people trying to use Imperio on him. He had taught these tricks to the others but the mental barriers and what they were going to do to fool him needed practice.
"We got some time at least before he uses it on us. Perhaps we can even arrange it, so he doesn't get to use it on us three." Ron suggested. "I'll ask Fred and George for some ideas."
Ginny's eyes twinkled, "just make sure what you do cannot be linked back to you three. Harry, you need to make sure he believes you trust him."
He kissed his wife. "Don't worry, Gin. I got this. I'm not a dumb child with a martyr complex anymore. I can handle one Death Eater who thinks I'm a dumb child with a martyr complex."
She kissed him back and departed. He thought the hip swish she attempted was a little unneeded, but he appreciated it anyway.
*A-Weasley-Redo*
Fred, George, and Angelina were sitting with Katie and Alicia in their compartment. Fred was just passively watching Katie as the other four discussed Quidditch. He thought it was kind of cruel that over half the Gryffindor team knew there would be no games this year. He sat back, thinking about the coming Tournament. Harry had declined to tell him all the details, so he could experience it fresh for himself. Still, he wondered who would be taking on the tasks alongside Harry.
He saw Malfoy and his cronies sneering in the window before going off to make trouble elsewhere. He felt a hand lay on his shoulder. He looked up to see the concerned face of Katie Bell looking down at him.
"Everything alright, Fred? I tried to ask your opinion on something, and you didn't respond."
He smiled, her touch soothing to his worried mind. "Sorry, was just dozing off there. Someone's snoring kept me up all night."
The walls of the Burrow were thin and even from another room, Fred could hear Angelina's snoring. The quidditch captain gave him a scowl behind Katie's back.
Katie gave him a smile. "Sorry, was it George? I know you two share a room."
Shared, Fred thought. We shared a room and Angelina is in with him now.
"Oh no," George said, thinking fast. "It's Ginny. You can hear her snoring through the walls. Like a Muggle chainsaw, it is."
There was the sound of the compartment door opening and there stood his sister, like an avenging angel. "Oh, I snore, do I, George Fabian Weasley?"
George yelped and tried to move around to hide on the other side of Angelina, but she moved over next to the other girls. "Oh no, you made you've bed. Lay in it."
Ginny grabbed his twin by the ear, Fred noticed it was not the one he had lost to a curse and dragged him away by it.
"Poor Gred." Fred lamented. "Struck down in his youth by an angry sister. You will be remembered."
Angelina gave him a worried look when the other girls weren't looking. He was just trying to make a joke, but he realized making death jokes to someone who lived through several years after his demise. Katie however was giggling and that made Fred's heartbeat even faster. Angelina looked between them and then gave a knowing look. Fred really hoped it was a good knowing look.
*A-Weasley-Redo*
The trained arrived at Hogwarts without too much issue. Honestly, Harry was surprised Malfoy did not come to gloat at him. He and Draco had made up in the last couple of years, so it was weird to see him as a potential issue again. Harry was glad this was one of the years he had no issues getting up to the castle.
The carriage ride was pleasant as he sat with Ginny, Ron, and Hermione. They would divide up once they got to Hogwarts and go back into their usual friend groups.
"Have you decided if we are going to make the fact we are a couple public?" Ginny asked Harry.
"I think no would be best." He gave her hand a squeeze. "Don't want Crouch altering his plans somehow to include dealing with you. Not that you can't handle it, but I prefer he has as little cause as possible to change his plans. We can dance at the Yule Ball together though. Will set the stage for next year if we end up living out the rest of our childhoods again."
Ginny sighed. "I understand. I wish my mind was thirteen again so I could tell you off, but I see the logic. It's a cold logic but it's there. We need Crouch to dance to our beat and not go freestyle."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "You've been watching Muggle telly again with Arthur again, haven't you?"
She stuck her tongue out at him. He chuckled and found their friends rolling their eyes. Harry settled in for a long carriage ride.
*A-Weasley-Redo*
Nothing new happened during the feast. The sorting happened with the same song as the last go-round. The food was amazing as always. Hermoine did not stop eating this time and got into a row with Ron though, which was new but not noteworthy in the grand scheme of things. 'Moody' had arrived and made his grand entrance. Harry had to stop the urge to jynx the imposter into a puddle right then and there. They needed the jerk to make reports to Tom Riddle throughout the year and as weakened as the man was, he could smell lies and tricks for miles.
Harry had to comfort Ginny in the Room of Requirement that night. They had snuck out under the invisibility cloak, and they lay on a large bed the room made for them and just talked.
"I just want to go save Moody now." She sighed. "I wish there was a way to keep the imposter in hair that didn't need the real Moody tied up."
Harry thought of this and then smiled. "Actually, you just gave me an idea. I'll go and talk to Dumbledore tomorrow night. We have that update meeting anyways to attend."
She gave him a look. "Can I get a spoiler?"
He kissed her gently. "I would rather run it by Albus first and make sure its viable before I get anyone excited. But we can bring Moody here if it works and he can stay nice and save in this room until it's time to release him."
Ginny nodded. "Alright, but I might need something to keep me quiet or I might just pester you until you cave."
Harry rolled over, so she was under him. "Oh, I can think of a way to silence you, Mrs. Potter."
She grinned up at him. "Well, not the full treatment anyways. We are still too young right now. But I can go for some making out."
Harry gladly obliged his wife's command.
A/N: We are officially at Hogwarts. I hope you enjoyed the story so far. We will be doing the meeting next week and then jumping to Halloween when the other schools arrive. See you next month! As always, consider checking out my other works on this site or my original works on Royal Road. Links will be below.
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