Chapter 28

Things Get Harry

A few minutes later, the captain of the team was finally able to join the victory celebration. The sight itself was energizing, then in the crowd he still heard the chorus of 'Weasley Is Our Queen! Weasley Is Our Queen!' As he scanned the room he noticed the crowd gawking at pillar with a petrified Romilda Vane. Harry's do-gooder reflexes reached for his wand, but then his reason kicked in. After the last hour, both what had happened to him, and what he deduced happened here... 'Sod that!' he thought. He looked around for Ginny, but as he did the crowd fell quiet as Tonks came into the Common Room, with a stern look. She efficiently scanned the room and focused on Romilda immediately. She quickly threw a counter-spell, then definitively ordered, "Romilda Vane, Come with me please." Then Tonks announced to the crowd, "Nothing to see here, party on." Then the auror led the young witch away.

After a bit more looking he was able to find a butterbeer, or at least a cold one was just put in his possession. More importantly he found the distinctive red hair of Ginny standing with the other chasers. From behind he hugged her, kissed her head and yes, did smell for and found the distinct apple blossom scent. Her hands came up to welcome the embrace. "Can you all forgive me, if I borrow my girlfriend?" Harry had to shout over the din. The others waved goodbye as it was just easier.

Harry took Ginny's hand and led her up to his dorm and into his room, where finally there was peace and quiet. They each had a seat on the bed facing each other with smiles.

"Gin, I saw what happened to Vane downstairs."

"Hmm? Whatever could you mean?" she said, sipping her own butterbeer.

"You hexed her, didn't you?"

"Yep," Ginny said, completely unapologetically. If anything she was amused.

"Because you would be damned if she gets off with just a slap on the wrist?"

"Yep. She'll be fine in less than an hour. But I wanted to scare her. You hexed her last time I hexed her this time. Maybe she'll get a damn clue."

Harry smiled and shook his head. "Sarge already dispelled her and took her out of the tower. I imagine she's having a very uncomfortable conversation right now."

"Good," Ginny smiled.

Harry sighed for a moment. "Gin, I still feel guilty that I kissed her. I'm sor-"

"Harry, you, me, we're fine. It's not like we haven't been in a broom closet a few times." she grinned. She was happy to see Harry grinned in return. "She was wearing my body. I'm actually quite pleased you want to kiss my body." The phrasing registered with Ginny after she had said it. She reflexed to correct it, but then, "You know what, no. I'm going to keep that phrasing. I'm going to let that lay." she smirked.

"Thank you, Gin. And guilty as charged." Harry let his cocky grin show through.

"If anything Harry, you impressed me again."

"How so?"

"She was wearing my body, not just like a glamor, she morphed into me and you still could tell the difference. The attention to detail and commitment is very… comforting."

Harry reached out and took her hand. "Crimson, I won't deny. I appreciate your appearance, but it is the cherry on top. I'm here, and I stick around, for your heart and spirit. No one can copy or fake that. Not with any potion or spell."

Ginny scooted over to actually sit on Harry's lap and graced him with a kiss as she did.

As she settled him he sighed. Ginny could tell a new page in the conversation had to begin.

Harry took a drink and finally began. "After you left and after she captured my memories, Tonks brought up a few more points you and I should talk about." Ginny looked concerned for a moment. "Nothing major, but we should cover it. This may be the first time this sort of thing has happened at Hogwarts, but it's not the first time it's happened."

"Really?" Ginny said with a mix of surprise and disgust.

Harry nodded, "Especially with celebrity targets… which you and I most definitely are." He could see Ginny starting to get mad. "All Tonks suggests is we should likely set up some sort of safe word system. Especially with our fame and our war efforts, if there is any strangeness or problem we can easily check each other out."

Ginny sank deeper into his lap. "Merlin, I hate the fact that it makes sense and is so necessary. Any suggestions?"

"Kinda. She said consider this may be a conversation we have around people we knowingly distrust so keep it something low profile. She said like asking what the other wants for breakfast tomorrow, and the answer is clearly not a breakfast food."

"And if we're in a bad crowd we just play it off." she nodded with understanding. "Treacle Tart."

Harry repeated with a raised eyebrow. "What do you want for breakfast? Treacle Tart?"

"Harry, I hate it seems we need to set this up at all. I don't want to make it any harder."

Harry shrugged. "Hey, I'm fine with that."

Ginny laid her head on his shoulder. Harry affectionately started combing through her hair with his left hand. "Want to go back down to the party?" Harry asked.

"No."

Harry could see the look in her eyes, the real Ginny's eyes. "Want to stay up here with your boyfriend?"

"Yes."

By comparison, there was a relative lull after the Howling. The standing of the aligned houses was an opening of an unexpected door. The Death Eaters seem to slow their raids, unsure how to approach the Houses who continued to work with the Aurors increasing the frequency and manpower of patrols, which Harry encouraged. The local population reported praises of security to complaints of living in a police state. The complaints boggled Harry's mind.

With the entirety of the squad now approved for the Field, Tonks started to add patrols of Hogsmeade to the to-do list. Generally a 3 hour shift just after sunset, one pair each night, with the duty shifting each night.

They all needed distractions. After much frustrating and hilarious practice Neville was able to pronounce 'open' in parseltongue, as verified by his opening the washroom entrance. The lads did a quick exploration, with the ladies on link as backup, and the ice ceiling under the Great Lake still held. Neville took the opportunity to shape the stone for a more permanent ceiling at the bottom of the chute. They still had a front door to the Chamber of Secrets.

Rosmerta had already agreed to assist before the defense of Hogsmeade. The Howling only strengthened her commitment. So Harry placed the first order for Hermione's supplies for the two way letters to be delivered to the Three Broomsticks. When the knunt signaled, Harry led Neville and Susan through the Shrieking Shack tunnel. As they did, Harry used the Point Me spell to find the closest section of the tunnel to the Chamber's statue of Salazar Slytherin. About halfway through the sway of the needle showed they were as close as they were going to get. Neville created an arch and the first five feet of a branch tunnel to mark it. He even double checked it with own casting of the Point Me spell. Once satisfied, Susan conjured a bluebell flame into a bottle and set into a freshly created pocket on the side of the new branch. The three nodded in satisfaction, it looked like they all had the spells to make the shelter tunnel.

With the Chamber Bunker project able to start, and supplies on site, and the November deadlines for the Muggle Studies N.E.W.T.s most of the squad was cramming all their time into study. It was a good distraction for many of them, especially Luna and Ron.

Already having their N.E.W.T.s, Hermione worked on the two way letters. Harry worked with Professor Lupin in making the Turning Room. Comfort was important to both of them. Harry truly wanted to make the situation better for them all than what Remus had gone through in the early years, something more welcoming than the shack. With the Room of Requirement, they had the ability, so Harry was determined to use it.

Saturday, 23 November 1996

They started with a known room and recreated the Gryffindor common room. To avoid any house jokes, they immediately changed the color pallet to a base sunset orange with some brown and red accents. It gave the room a very autumn feeling. They cleared many of the tables away, keeping only two, as they knew this room would never be that busy. Added a few more couches for them to use traditionally as well as catch some sleep through the night. Above the fireplace they set a moon scry clock. With them inside the castle it made sense to have a clock to show what time it was relative to the moon rise and set.

Finally, they got to the necessary part that Harry hated. Along the wall furthest from the door they pushed the walls back further to create three separate ten by ten solid granite, still in autumn colors. Harry's reflex was to at least create a bed for everyone. But Remus reminded him he was the one who largely ruined most of the furniture in the Shrieking Shack. They compromised and added cushioning charms to the stone floor. Harry just wanted his friends to have a decent night's sleep. In a corner closest to the commons they added a one brick high small arch on the floor that they had filled with conjured water. They added a short wall to the commons side, only two feet high. In the center they added a steel pass through slot for clothes to be passed out, and food to be passed in. Only 1 foot wide by and half as high. Remus reviewed to make sure that the gears on steel plated doors ensured one door was always closed at all times. For the remainder of the wall with the common room they place an arcane wall of force, similar to the training grounds, invisible unless contacted. They placed a brass plate to be the deadman switch to control the force barrier, requiring someone on the outside to put the wall down and hold it for anyone to go in or out. Finally, from Remus's experience they added a privacy curtain that could be drawn upwards, so the guests could disrobe before turning. Once they completed the first they duplicated the room twice, one on either side.

At best, Harry felt bittersweet. They have made a nice looking room comfortable for guests on both sides of the forcewalls. But Harry wasn't stupid, he had created holding cells. They were pretty ones, comfortable ones, but holding cells all the same, and shortly he was going to lock up three of his friends in them.

Remus didn't need legilimency to know what he was thinking. The Professor put an arm around his shoulder as he joined Harry leaning against the back of the couch. "You're doing a good thing, Harry."

"By building a jail for three of my friends?"

"This isn't a jail. This is a sanctuary. This is a place for safety for those like and those who care about them. Harry, do you know what the worst part about being a werewolf is?" Harry shook his head and looked to his Professor. "The solitude. I've mentioned most of the wizarding community is not receptive to us even when the sun shines, much less when it sets, regardless of the moonphase. That coupled by the general desire to not accidentally harm the people we care about leads most of us to isolation. This," he gestured to the room, "combats that. We turn in safety, and even comfort, with the support of friends and family. This is a good thing. I thank you."

"I just wish it wasn't necessary."

"Oh, that is natural but a large part of leadership is making the best decisions in the worst of times. This is quite good. The best we can do now is wait for the moon. In the meantime, we can look more into the Howling samples."

They both took seats in couches opposite each other with a cherry coffee table between them. "Professor, is there anyway you know of to turn into a wolf, outside of the full moon."

Remus shook his head, "Before the Howling, I would have said none, impossible."

Harry rose to pace and got the blood flowing to brainstorm. "Okay, let's take a step away from werewolves. Are there any other ways people can transform into animals? Animagus?

Remus shook his head. "Not reasonable to believe they all were. That's a very difficult potion and ritual. And even if they all completed both potion and ritual, you don't choose your animal, you more… discover it. They odds on all of them being wolves… next to impossible." The Professor went along with this thinking with Harry, trying to find an avenue forward. "A botched polyjuice can do the job."

Harry snickered. "Ya I remember, it was one of the few mistakes Hermione ever made. Second year she accidentally grabbed a cat hair and turned into a human cat blend. Ron called her Purr-mione. She hated that."

The talk of polyjuice brought something else to mind. "Professor, earlier this term we stopped a heist of potion ingredients." Harry pulled out the list. "Mione got this list off one of them. She recognized the first ingredients as polyjuice. Do you recognize the others?"

"Well potions aren't really my focus, but eventually every wizard picks up a few things." Remus read through the list. "Polyjuice, yes. Hmm?"

"Hmm, what sir? Harry asked expectantly.

"Who told you these ingredients were mood stabilizers?"

"Professor Slughorn, why?"

Remus looked up. "Well he's not wrong. They are. But these particular ingredients go into my wolfsbane formula."

Harry gained a very suspicious look in his eye. Remus held his hand up in protest. "Harry, Wolfbane is a very eclectic potion used by a small isolated group of people. Regardless of his level of mastery, it is no surprise he didn't recognize it. Don't base any dark agenda on Slughorn for this." he said, shaking the papers.

Relaxing, Harry nodded, but still was deep in thought. "Professor, we have polyjuice and wolfsbane, what would be the remainder? Could it be animagus?"

"I honestly couldn't say, Harry. Remember, I was the one that didn't need it." he smiled. "I saw the effort the Marauders, my Marauders, put in but I was just a witness. Your father was the potioneer in the group. At least until your mum joined our lot."

"Dad!" Harry realized. He grabbed his wizard pack, pulled out his fathers spellbook, and showed it to Remus. "Recognize this?"

"Where… how did you find that?" the Professor said in shock.

"Little over a month ago I went back to Godric's Hollow. With me as Master Potter the cottage opened right up for me. Gin made damn sure anything sentimental was picked up for me. I found their wands and Miracle Mione found both spellbooks."

"Good show, Harry."

Harry was tearing through the book. "I know it's in here. I already gave a once over to both of them…here!" He turned the book around to show the open page for the animagus formula to Remus.

Remus studied the list and the spellbook. "I think this is getting closer. The unaccounted list ingredients are key for animagus, but…" he held up a pointed finger "there are several animagus ingredients missing from the list itself."

"We're close Remus, I can feel it." He could feel it. He could sense the answer was in view but just obscured. "So it's not animagus, it's a fake, or … botched, like polyjuice." The image of Purr-mione came back to his mind. Not in any way against his friend but simply registering that it occurred. "Professor, how did you describe how animagus works?"

Remus shrugged, "Now bear in mind I am remembering as a spectator from years ago, but especially from James and Sirius, the ritual would connect you with more of your unique … spirit animal for lack of a better term. But it's impossible for any wizard to predict what their animal may be, much less select it."

Harry continued to pace deep in thought. He walked back and forth in front of the fireplace, the sound of fire and the ticking of the clock capturing his focus. The mechanic clicking the timepiece captured Harry's attention. The mechanical gears clicking and ticking in time and operations…like a trigger.

"'Impossible for a wizard to choose' that's what you said, 'a wizard?'" Harry repeated.

"Yes." Remus confirmed not quite following the path Harry was walking.

Harry excitedly ran back to the couch and leaned on the back of it. "What if it's not for 'wizards' in general? It's specifically for werewolves. They're not using it to create animagus and have people discover their spirit animal. A werewolf's animal is already known. It's the wolf! This potion doesn't create wolves from scratch, but it is a trigger! That is how they turned outside a full moon! And you didn't!"

The pieces were coming together, Remus was nodding and coming along. "It's possible… it's very possible… The wolf form is alway there beneath the surface. The one hour time frame is analogous to polyjuice. The wolfsbane addition would ensure the wolf has the man's mind during the turn."

That registered the implications to Harry. "Remus, you're a decent bloke so, when you're a wolf you carry that over. But if we have bastards like Greyback, who have the ability to turn whenever they want, and keep their senses…"

"They would have the power of the wolf, but the mind of a man, able to understand and reason…"

"... and plan… Merlin… this has to be it, Remus. How do we prove it?"

Remus took a look at the list. "You've given me the list of ingredients. I took many samples during the Howling. So we have the beginning and then end effects of this potion. I believe with the assistance of Professor Slughorn, we can engineer to the middle and create the potion. And fortunately you have a werewolf you can test it on… and a room to test him."

Realizing what he was saying, Harry fell into regret. "Remus, I'm sorry."

The Professor smiled. "Harry, don't apologize. This is war and," shaking the papers, "this shows how far they are willing to go. One more turn to prove to us what's right, nothing to fret about. Far less than the amount of blood and injury you have already shed."

Tuesday, 25 November 1996 - Full Moon Night

Again melancholy and dread was the emotion of the day as Lupin led Ron and Luna into the Turning Room, the teens carrying empty backpacks with them. Having been through prior turns Tonks stood by Remus relatively relaxed, but still concerned for her two, technically students, but at this point, friends. Hermione had both arms wrapped around Ron's left arm and her head on his shoulder in concern. Harry and Ginny were on either side of Luna, still all smiles and now wonderment at the Turning Room.

"Oh, this is beautiful, Harry. Thank you," the young Ravenclaw said.

"I agree Harry," Tonks nodded in approval. "This is quite lovely for what we need, thank you."

Remus looked to the moon clock. "Twenty minutes to rise. Best we get a move on. I trust you have been keeping on top of the early doses?" Ron and Luna both nodded.

"Respectfully, sir, it tastes terrible." Ron deliberately exaggerated his grimacing face to elicit a chuckle or two from the crowd.

Remus smiled, "That it does, Mr. Weasley." From his suit's breast pocket he pulled out three vials of the wolfsbane potion. "I find my mind clearest if I have a fresh dose in my system before turning." As he passed one to each of the patients.

"Cheers, I 'spose." Ron said, holding the vial out.

Remus smiled, "Indeed."

Luna clinked her vial with theirs. "Ron, nothing is going to happen," she said with utmost confidence. "You are just as cool as you always are."

"Ha-ha, Luna," he repeated dryly, "Saying 'cool' to the ice mage."

Luna simply smiled and bounced in confirmation. They threw it back with the students gagging in revolt. Experienced Remus simply cocked his head to the side. They placed the used vials on the table.

"Tonks, would you please do the honor." Remus asked, gesturing to the center cell's plate.

She hugged and kissed him, and dutifully lowered the force wall. "See you in the morning." she said in a smile that was a little forced. Remus stepped inside and nodded with approval to close the wall.

Harry and Ginny hugged Ron briefly and promptly got out of the way of a very clingy Hermione, forcing herself not to cry.

"I don't 'spose me telling you that none of you have to stay here means anything?" Ron said.

"Not even a little." Harry shook his head.

"When have I ever listened to you?" Ginny replied with a fake smile.

Hermione wrapped around his torso and listened to the beating of heart. "I'm not leaving you," she said with a touch of anger at the situation. She took a breath and regained her composure. She parted and then lowered the force wall on the cell to the right of Remus's. With his head held high and his shoulders back Ron stepped inside.

He turned to look at Hermione and, keeping courage from the summer, told her, "Let it go." Hermions stepped back and the red light flashed briefly as it spawned back into position.

Harry and Ginny fawned over Luna, who still was bubbly, cheery, and smiling as ever. "We are going to be here the whole night, Luna." Ginny said as she squeezed her longest friend and neighbor.

"If you wanted to have a sleepover, you didn't have to do all this Ginny." Luna answered.

Harry was bewildered. Luna's confidence was astounding. She acted as if she knew for a certifiable fact that nothing, not only nothing would happen, but nothing could happen. He squeezed his adopted sister. "You and magical creatures… damn."

"Harry, I keep telling you. Ron and I are fine. Just look at us. Professor Lupin is the only furry one. I'm only staying in because you all insist. And you've made it so nice here." With a smile she turned and hopped into the cell as Harry held the wall open for her.

"Five minutes to moonrise all. Best disrobe any clothes you don't want ruined. The lads waited for their respective keeper to raise the curtain up. Luna on the other hand had no such inhibition and started to unbutton her shirt.

"Merlin, Luna!" Harry balked as he turned around averting his gaze and hurried with the curtain. "Like five seconds, and I'll have your curtain up."

"Am I not pretty?" Luna asked, almost a touch hurt..

"I never said that!" Harry replied and he hurriedly raised the curtain up to her shoulders.

"It's just my body, Harry." she said, continuing to undress, now at least behind the curtain.

"One I have no business seeing!"

Ginny held her stomach from laughing so hard. "Luna, you have to understand. Harry is the world's last true gentleman. So while we both think you're pretty, right Harry?"

"Oh ya… gorgeous, no argument." a frazzled Harry replied after he returned to have a seat on the nearby couch.

"Anyway, Harry only has eyes for me." Ginny continued to laugh with a full smile to her boyfriend.

"Oi!" a shirtless Ron said, as he pounded on his force wall. Little waves of red sprawled outward like on a pond from his contact. "I can still hear you!"

"Have a good night then, Ron." Ginny raised her voice and waived.

Everyone had a snicker and a chuckle. Leave it to Weasleys to raise spirits at a time like this.

"Bloody hell, I'm turning into a damn wolf tonight, my sister spends my last few minutes teasing Harry." He muttered to Hermione as he disrobed behind the curtain and put his clothes into his pack.

"Language," she corrected with her chuckle cutting through her impending sense of dread.

"Sorry, I'm turning into a damn lycanthrope." he grinned, knowing exactly what he was doing.

Hermione shook her head. "Merlin, you really love that joke don't you?"

"Na, but I love the smile it puts on your face."

As the last few moments ticked down, they each put their clothes in the pass through. After retrieving them, Harry stood behind Ginny with arms around the front of her shoulders and they both looked at Luna, who was still smiling and even swaying back and forth waiting.

Hermione, pressed her hand up to the force wall. "I'm not going anywhere," she said firmly, now finally unable to keep the tears at bay.

Ron placed a hand to match hers, and nodded. "I know, and thanks." Finally, he closed his eyes and waited to meet his fate.

Remus nodded to Tonks, who nodded back with understanding and experience of being through this before. The Professor looked at the moonrise clock. "Five seconds everyone… I truly mean this, good luck."

A terrible snarling noise rose. They trembled in pain as their limbs stretched and ripped in inhuman ways. Their torso stretched as hair erupted all over their body. Their face lengthened outward, and their teeth grew sharp and pointed. Their arms and legs snap and crack into new positions and as their hands and feet morph into claws and paws. For three long minutes their snarls elevated to guttural growls then further the howl that echoed into the night to signal the shift was complete.

"Awooo?" Ron tried to howl, only to hear his own voice. He opened one eye to see his own hand on the force wall. Encouraged, he opened both and looked down to see his normal naked body with an elated Hermione standing on the other side of the curtain.

She shook her head, now with tears of happiness. "Nothing, you're fine. Completely normal!"

"Or as close as I get!"

"Now that's a true statement!" Harry sassed pointedly from across the room.

Ginny and he looked at Luna, who's smile never waned. "I told you. All you had to do was look at us silly."

Ginny fell into laughter at her friend.

Only Remus had transformed. All of this was starting to trigger new curiosity in Harry. On nothing more than a whim he tapped his mage sight on. Luna stood there like a radiant angel. Ginny was the goddess of fire. Ron was his normal blue and white mix of water and ice. Hermione, a pink silhouette, with pusles of power coming from her head Tonks was an ever-shifting pool of orange transmutation energy. Remus was a haze of brown arcane glowing fuzz. Harry had to admit though, from a point of view, it could be called furry.

"Congratulations," Tonks greeted with a smile. "Get dressed, and get out of here."

Friday, 29 November, 1996

It was another day that Harry felt like he was only going through the motions. It was N.E.W.T. testing day. At lunch the team was sitting and was at best nibbling due to nerves.

"Well that's something you don't see every day." Ron mentioned as he looked over to the Ravencaw table.

The others turned and looked over what was most noticeable was not the Ravenclaws, but their guest. There, smiling arrogantly was Cormac… chatting up Luna.

Harry growled, "I swear to Merlin, if he starts in on her like us, I will hex him."

"Second." Ron agreed.

"Love the heart boys, but remember Luna's no first year." Ginny reminded them, actually putting a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Let her take care of herself first…. If she stops smiling, then you can race me to your wands."

The Gryffindors watched carefully as Luna and Cormac shared several minutes of conversation. Cormac smiled the entire time, no one cared. More importantly, Luna continued to smile the entire time. Then when Cormac left for class the Ravenclaws all erupted in gossipy cheer around Luna.

"Still smiling." Ron nodded.

"Small blessing." Harry said with a breath of relief. Only to look over and see Ginny now with a look of concern.

The redhead turned Hermione. "Do you think?"

"Yes." she answered, equally as concerned.

"She's her own person." Ginny said nervously.

"He could actually be different in private, maybe?"

Harry listened to the ladies talk. "If I admit to my cluelessness, can I get filled in?"

With a bit of nervousness, Ginny answered, "I think Cormac just asked Luna to the Slug Club Christmas party… and I think she said yes."

"What!?" Ron asked. "Why?"

Harry closed his eyes and swallowed hard. "Because she's a great girl, who is equally attractive. Cormac wants a date. Even if there is nothing else there, Luna will see it as fun."

"Five points Gryffindor," Ginny joked half heartedly.

"Oi, hell no! Harry, you've kind of adopted her. Tell her she can't!" Ron ordered.

Harry shook his head. "Doesn't work that way, Ron. You know this."

"Bloody hell." he said exasperated.

"Language," Hermione corrected. "Besides, none of us have been on a date with him. Maybe he's better to his dates than his quidditch team. And Luna's not a Weasley so hopefully whatever issues he has with you won't color any interactions with Luna."

"Mione is right." Ginny said with some effort. "Having been on the other side, I will defend Luna's choice. Not our place, not our problem."

Harry looked over to Hermione. "You have no idea how much I hope you are right."

"Me too."

On the walk to Magical Creatures Ginny finally had a chance to talk to Luna, without their elder friends around. Putting on her brightest smile she tried to be what was most important, Luna's friend. "So, spill it." she said.

"Spill what?" Luna asked.

"I'm not blind, I saw a certain Gryffindor chat you up at lunch today."

"Oh, it's nothing. Cormac asked if I'd accompany him to the Slug Club Christmas party."

"That's not nothing, that's a date. Congratulations." Ginny forced herself to say.

"Thank you, I truly didn't expect it, but I am looking forward to it." Luna's smile never waivered.

Ginny was nervous about how to handle this conversation but she had a plan to be as respectful as possible but still be helpful. "So may I offer just a few bits of advice?"

"Oh please, I would have brought this talk up if you hadn't." Luna nodded.

"Okay, well a date, especially a first date, and I'm assuming this is a first date? You haven't been sneaking around with Cormac behind all our backs have you?" Ginny needed the joke but Luna smiled as she shook her head.

"No, of course not. I would have told you." the Ravenclaw reassured.

"Okay, especially as a first date. Keep the conversation about the two of you. Get to know each other. See if you even want to have a second date."

Luna nodded.

"Whatever you talk about, best not to mention Ron or I at all."

Confusion came to Luna's face. "Why wouldn't I mention you? You're great and by best friend."

"You think that, I think that. Cormac … has gotten off on the wrong foot with the Weasleys. Right now, he's not too crazy about any of us. More importantly, I don't want that to color your date. I do want you to have a good time. You do deserve it." At least one line she could say honestly.

Ginny could tell the thought seemed strange to Luna, but after a moment, she nodded slowly. "Okay. I am sure there are plenty of other things we can talk about."

"That's what I'm saying." Ginny took a deep breath. "Luna, can I say one thing and you not hate me?""

"Oh, I don't think I could ever hate you."

"Okay, well we're talking about first dates, but this will also be a group event, so I mean this as a 'just in case.' If for whatever reason, from he's boring to … I don't know, he confesses he's a Death Eater or something… come get me? Or Harry? Please? I want you to have a good night, if Cormac doesn't give you one, we damn sure will."

Luna returned to smiling, "Why would I hate you for that?"

"Other people might," Ginny sighed in relief, "But that just shows how awesome you are, Luna." Ginny finished. That was as much as she felt she had any right to say. She painfully remembered what her brothers were like when she started liking boys and certainly wasn't going to subject Luna to that. Her friend had a right to see who she wanted. Just because Cormac had been a jerk to Ron and she, didn't mean he couldn't be a perfect charming gentleman to Luna… but Ginny wouldn't put any money on that bet. So the furthest she felt she could go without crossing a line was to let her friend know she'd be there. Merlin, she hoped her gut was wrong.

Tonks has already advised them the class period would be used for N. .s. The tables and benches were set up down the center line showing the focus of the day. Professors Burbage and McGonagal appeared behind Sergeant Tonks as she addressed the class.

"Squadron, today is the last few steps of a long journey that you all sprinted. I did that intently because being an auror is every bit mentally taxing as it is physically or magically. To our tutors, I thank you for your leadership and that goes especially to our leads on this, Cadets Potter and Granger. All tutors, you are excused now. Cadets, make me proud. Time starts now."

Several of the other tutors ran off to enjoy their well earned free period. Hermione and Harry slowly walked to an empty classroom. "Do you think they'll pull this off?" she asked she asked nervously

Harry smirked, "You know of everything going on. Squad passing is not one I'm worrying about."

She took a seat and shook her head. "How can you be so confident?"

Harry hopped onto the desk diagonally from her. "Because the brightest witch I know came with a plan for this team to aim for 'O's' and if these guy's squeak by with an 'A' we still call it good. There's a good margin to play with. Team will be fine, then we can breathe a bit."

"We'll see about that." Hermione laughed, then Hermione read between the lines. "So if not the N.E.W.T.s, what is on your mind? Romilda?"

"Hell, no." Harry said, shaking his head. "I don't know the full extent, I know she has detention until the end of year and charges pressed. I'll let the legal system take her from there. Only thing I ever cared about there was if she messed things up with Gin, which she hasn't."

"So…?" Hermione rested her chin on her fist waiting for Harry to answer simple questions.

"Truth be known… Luna."

"Oh, I didn't know McLaggen bothered you that much."

"Actually not even that. I mean I think the guy's a jerk, but Gin's right. Luna's no first year. No, what's getting me about her I think is more central to her whole uniqueness."

"I won't deny she's unique, but what do you mean?"

"Take these last couple of weeks since the Howling. Ron was normal, he worried, he planned."

"He put on a brave face." Hermione complained.

"Can you blame him?"

Hermione had to think about it. "I appreciate chivalry, but I do prefer honesty. And I will let you know that I'm rather certain Ginny is the same." she said with a knowing expression.

"Oi, Gin and I have covered a lot of honesty ground. We have and still are helping each other deal with a lot of our crappy baggage, so dial it back."

"Really?" Hermione said with a touch of surprise. "Good for you two."

"Thank you, more importantly, over these last few weeks, Luna never doubted, and I don't just mean she had hope or faith, she knew."

"Harry, you don't think she was involved, do you?"

"No! Not in the slightest. I trust her completely. I think she has… I don't know yet…some deeper sense of magic or something?"

"We're all mages here Harry. All of us feel magic eventually."

"I'm not even sure what it is yet, but for comparison, you know how we as wizards and witches can sense and cast magic more than muggles?"

"Of course," she said, nodding along.

"I think Luna has, I don't know, some sixth sense of magic that is the same relative distance over average mages, that we have over muggles. And I'm not calling that evil, or bad or anything. In fact, I don't even think she knows about it. Whatever it is, I think it is so intrinsic and central to her I don't even think she's aware of it. There's more to her than just her unique point of view. I think this… whatever… is what creates that unique point of view."

Hermione listened along nodding, not disagreeing, but hard to believe. "Harry, I'll give you this all interesting conjecture, but how do you prove that, and more importantly, why?"

"Well I don't know how, but as far as why, she's a friend." Harry shrugged. "Few people seem to understand her. I've been the odd one no one understood before."

Twenty minutes later the doors open. Ginny practically tackled Harry yelling, "I got an O! I have my first N.E.W.T.!" He happily caught her as she leapt in excitement. Luna was smiling when Harry finally let her down.

"An O, thank you very much."

"Happy to help, both of you." Harry nodded.

Hermione leaned against the wall with her arms crossed waiting. Her Weasley soon appeared grinning. "Got an O," he greeted.

She leaned over and pecked his cheek and hugged him tightly. "I knew you could."

As the rest of the squad all traded results, it seemed the lowest any anyone got was and E.