"I'll go ahead," Harry called to his sister as he rushed to the Apparition Point, eager to get to Dumbledore's house. They'd been attending classes there since last week, waiting for the new students to join them.
"Good morning, Gin." Harry greeted enthusiastically, planting a hearty kiss on his girlfriend as he arrived in Dumbledore's garden, where Ginny was already waiting.
"Hi, Harry," Ginny replied, a playful smile on her lips as she pulled away, gasping for air. "Seems you missed me."
"It's been almost twelve hours," Harry pointed out, leaning in for another quick kiss.
They had been practically inseparable since Ron's birthday, spending most of their time with Emily and Ron. The only private moments they'd had were when Harry helped Ginny with her greenhouse duties, like the evening before.
Last week had felt like a turning point for Harry and Ginny, especially after the visit to James Potter's forget-me-not covered grave with both their families.
Lily had knelt by the headstone, brushing away a few stray leaves, her hand lingering as she traced the letters of his name. Harry watched his mum quietly, his face serious, his hand clasped tightly in Ginny's. Emily stood close by, her face pale and lips pressed together. It would have been their father's 36th birthday - a fact that hung heavy in the cool morning air.
Nearby, Molly and Tonks glanced over at the younger ones, as if to make sure they were alright. Bill and Charlie stood quietly, letting the moment belong to the Potters. Ron stood a little behind, looking uncertain, his hands buried in his pockets.
After a long moment of silence, Lily placed a single lily beneath the headstone. She murmured a few words, something quiet and meant only for herself and James. Ginny squeezed Harry's hand, her gaze warm and steady, and he softened just enough to show his gratitude.
After leaving a lily on both Sirius' and Remus' grave as well, they walked quietly back, waiting while Lily lingered a few moments longer, alone.
A few days later, they found themselves in a small meadow near the Burrow, standing before another set of gravestones. Next to the resting places of Ginny's father and brother Percy was a shared headstone for Fred and George, her twin brothers who would have turned eighteen that day. Mrs Weasley's shoulders shook, and Bill reached over and steady her, placing a hand on her shoulder. Ginny stepped forward and set a small bouquet of wildflowers at the bottom of the headstone before returning to Harry, who immediately took her hand again.
"Happy birthday, you two," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Ron managed a small, wobbly smile, and Charlie clapped a reassuring hand on his back. Ginny slipped an arm around Harry's waist, leaning against him as they all took a few quiet minutes to remember.
Afterward, they spent the afternoon talking softly, sharing memories and discussing how they were each handling the losses.
Exchanging small smiles, Harry and Ginny strolled hand in hand to Dumbledore's house, ready to claim a desk together before the new students arrived. They set their school supplies on a table at the back of Dumbledore's library-turned-classroom and stepped outside again, where Ron and Emily were already waiting. Emily glanced at her watch, fidgeting.
"Relax, I'm sure Graham will show up," Ginny teased.
Emily rolled her eyes. "Easy for you to say. You barely leave your boyfriend's lap to sleep."
"How do the new students get here anyway?" asked Harry to change the topic, only now realizing he hadn't thought about it.
"They're using their portkey," Emily replied.
"Their emergency portkey?" asked Harry, surprised, as their mother walked over from the Apparition Point.
"Yep. It brings them straight to Dumbledore's grounds," Emily explained. "Graham's mum will pick him up again in the afternoon."
"What about the Muggles?" Ron asked, sounding doubtful.
Emily shrugged. "No idea. Dora will probably bring them back. Or maybe Mum?" she asked, looking at her mother.
"When I'm teaching, I'll bring them home; otherwise, Dora will. It's just Colin and Hermione. Don't be late," Lily said before disappearing back into the house.
At that moment, Mandy and Hermione stumbled onto the lawn nearby, followed closely by Graham, who spotted Emily immediately and walked over to greet her with a kiss on the cheek. Harry watched with a smirk as his sister blushed slightly.
Harry, Ginny, and Ron turned to greet the others, and Ron's grin nearly split his face as he shook Hermione's hand.
Kevin arrived next, receiving a warm welcome.
As the group moved toward the house, Harry's mother appeared in the doorway, scanning the group. "Colin is still missing," she noted.
Harry frowned, hoping nothing had happened to the boy. Ginny squeezed his hand and gestured behind him. "There he is."
"Sorry," Colin called from the distance, his camera dangling around his neck. "I misplaced my portkey and then forgot how to activate it." He grinned sheepishly. "All this magic stuff is still pretty new to me."
"Come in, everyone, so we can start on time." Lily waved them in.
"Oh, hi, Mrs Potter," called Colin enthusiastically, pulling his wand from his back pocket and holding it out with pride. "I can't wait to learn how to use it. Thanks again for going shopping with me."
Surprised, Harry raised an eyebrow and glanced at Ginny and Emily. "Mum went shopping with Colin?"
Emily nodded with a smug smile. "Last week, when you and Ginny spent the whole evening in the greenhouse."
A brief commotion filled the classroom as everyone found their seats. Harry quickly spotted Emily sitting beside Graham, and Ginny nudged him with a grin, gesturing to the table in front of them where Ron was taken a seat beside Hermione. With his mind mostly on Ginny, Harry had almost forgotten about Ron's obvious interest in her.
A firm 'ahem' silenced the room, and drew Harry's attention to his mum. "We'll only need our wands today," she announced. "I want our new students to get comfortable using their new wands before we dive into theory. And before anyone objects," she added with a smile, "I know this is usually first-year material, but I need an overview of everyone's skills before I can assign individual tasks. Once you're all set, we'll start with Transfiguration."
As excited murmurs spread through the room, she brought out a box of matches and passed them around. "Your task is to turn these matches into needles. If you manage three successful transformations in a row, we'll move on to something a bit more challenging."
Ginny transformed her matches on her first try, while Harry, distracted by her triumphant smile, had to start over after two successful attempts.
Most of the students managed the task easily. Only Colin, who was sitting alone at a nearby desk, grew frustrated, tapping his matches with his wand after a few failed attempts.
"We should help him," Ginny murmured, nodding towards Colin.
Following her gaze, Harry called over, "Colin, come sit with us. We'll move a bit closer and show you."
Colin's face lit up as he moved his chair next to Ginny. "Feels like I'll never get the hang of this," he muttered
"Don't worry, we all started somewhere," Ginny said reassuringly. "It's all about focus. Here, I'll show you."
Focusing on the matchstick on her desk, she muttered the spell, circled her wand over it and tapped it lightly. Instantly, it turned into a needle with a tiny eye.
"Wow, that looks easy," Colin said, amazed, and tried the spell himself, but nothing happened.
"Your wand movement was a bit off," Ginny said, guiding his hand. "Look, just a small circle, and concentrate on the needle."
Colin tried again, exclaiming, "Oh," as his match turned into steel but still looked like a match.
"Brilliant," Ginny cried, almost as enthusiastic as Colin, which made Harry smile. "Try again," Ginny encouraged him. "It's all about practice. Don't worry. You'll get the hang of it."
Harry's mum came over, smiling as she praised Colin for successfully managing the steel match for the third time. "Well done, Colin. With a bit more practice, it'll get easier. If you'd like, I can help you after class, but for now, let's move on."
"Next, we'll try something else, something more challenging." She handed each of them a spoon and a fork. "We'll practise the Switching Spell. Try to transform the spoon into a fork and vice versa," she instructed, smiling. "And no swapping places on the table! You're supposed to perform a true transfiguration, no parlour tricks."
By lunchtime, everyone had completed their task, some even managed a teapot-to-tortoise transformation.
"Colin, you did very well for your first transfiguration lesson," Lily said before ending the lesson. "Of course, you'll still need plenty of practice, but don't worry, it gets easier over time."
Diara, Dumbledore's house-elf, opened the door to the drawing room, where sandwiches, tea, and pumpkin juice were waiting for everyone.
"Can we take a photo first?" Colin called out before anyone could grab a sandwich. "I brought my camera just for this! Let's go outside. It's cold but the sun is shining perfectly."
As Kevin and Mandy looked around uncertainly, Harry exchanged a brief glance with Ginny and nodded excitedly. "Sure, Colin. And maybe a photo of just Ginny and me?"
"Absolutely!" crowed Colin with a broad grin. "Anyone else with special requests?" When no one else answered, he teased, "Don't be shy. I don't bring my camera every day, and today's on the house."
They lined up in front of Dumbledore's house, with Colin directing them until everyone was in place. "Mrs Potter, you have to be in the photo too - my first magical teacher."
"I'll take the photo so you're in it, Colin," Lily offered with a smile. "You should be in the picture with your first magical class."
Diara stepped forward, looking slightly self-conscious. "Diara can be taking the photo… if Master Colin is showing her how."
"Really?" asked Colin enthusiastically. "Then I also want a photo of me with the first house-elf I ever met."
Laughter rippled through the group as Colin eagerly explained to Diara how to handle the camera.
Moments later, Diara took the group photo, and Colin waved Harry and Ginny over. "Do you want a simple photo together, or…something more special? Looking into each other's eyes? Or maybe even a kiss?"
Harry looked to Ginny, uncertain about kissing in front of everyone, but she met his gaze with a daring smile. "But only Harry and I get copies of the kiss photo," she said, giving Colin a mock-serious glance. "Clear?"
Colin grinned. "Absolutely. Photographer's confidentiality."
After half a dozen shots of them, Graham and Emily approached, looking a bit shy but clearly ready for their own photo. Ginny nudged Harry, tilting her head toward Ron, who was talking to Hermione nearby. With a few animated gestures and a bit of coaxing, Ron finally convinced her, and she walked over with him, cheeks tinged pink.
Just as Colin was putting his camera away, Tonks appeared at Apparition Point. Stumbling forward, she clutched her bleeding arm.
"What happened?" someone shouted as Lily rushed to help Tonks.
Tonks collapsed onto a garden bench, wincing, "They spotted me - but I managed to escape."
"Who spotted you?" Lily asked, worried.
"I need to see Albus," Tonks muttered urgently.
"Not until I've tended to your wound," Lily insisted.
"It's just a scratch," Tonks dismissed her, trying to get up.
"Sit," Lily commanded, gently but firmly pushing her back down. Diara appeared beside them, holding a bowl of warm water and a towel. "Tell us what happened while Diara is cleans this up."
"I was at Malfoy Manor, doing a bit of investigating," Tonks began.
"Alone?" Lily asked, frowning.
"Yes, Charlie's at work, and I thought I'd check things out myself. It wasn't my first time there," Tonks explained, flinching as Diara dabbed her wound with a salve and wrapped it up.
"You could've asked my mum," Graham spoke up, stepping forward.
"Your mother?" Lily asked, turning to him with curiosity.
"Yes, she's been there a lot recently," Graham explained, shifting uncomfortably. "She's a seamstress, and the Malfoys ordered some new suits. They're terrible people. We don't like them, but we need the money."
Lily nodded sympathetically. "Your mother's picking you up after class today, right?"
"Yeah," Graham confirmed.
"Thank you, Graham." Lily turning back to Tonks. "When you're ready, we can go to see Albus. Everyone, we may start Potions a little late. Behave yourselves."
As the group settled down to wait, Emily leaned towards Graham. "Have you been to the Malfoys' often?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
"More times than I'd like," Graham admitted, a slight grimace crossing his face. "My mum always brought me along when I was little." After a pause, he added quietly, "My father was a Death Eater. He reported to Malfoy."
Harry, who'd been listening, felt a pang of unease. "Did he… did he die at Hogwarts?" he asked tentatively.
"No," Graham replied, shaking his head. "He died when I was seven. We never found out what exactly happened to him." He sighed. "Mum always hated him being involved with those people."
When Potions finally began, the atmosphere was tense. Only Colin seemed at ease, clearly more comfortable with brewing potions than he'd been with transfiguration.
After class ended, Tonks was already waiting for Lily, looking a little better. When Mandy and Kevin had been picked up by their parents, Graham's mum arrived, pausing when she noticed the looks directed at her.
"Rosalind, do you have a moment? We'd like to speak with you," Lily asked gently.
"Is something wrong?" Rosalind's brow furrowed with worry as she looked at her son. "Graham? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Mum," Graham said with a reassuring smile. "They just want to ask you something about the Malfoys."
"The Malfoys? What about them?" she asked cautiously.
Lily exhaled, studying her carefully. "There's word that something's happening at Malfoy Manor and we're worried. Graham said you might know more."
Rosalind nodded slowly. "I was there last week. They ordered a few suits and a mourning dress."
"Did you notice anything unusual?" asked Tonks.
"It's always strange and unfriendly at Malfoy Manor," replied Rosalind. "They're all pompous and arrogant, except Narcissa. She can be surprisingly kind—seems she doesn't have it easy with her husband." She hesitated briefly. "Last week, she ordered a mourning dress. When I took the measurements, I asked, and she mentioned through tears that her son had died—apparently poisoned by a diary.
"A diary?" Tonks echoed, sceptical.
"I may have misunderstood her. She was speaking so quietly, obviously afraid someone could eavesdrop," Rosalind admitted. "There was a boy around Graham's age, with black hair. They called him 'My Lord', and they feared him, that was pretty obvious. They had me making him robes - the same sort my husband used to wear. Death Eater robes, but made from finer material." She shuddered. "There were other men there too, also in Death Eater robes. I only recognized one of them - Avery. Those awful white masks were lying around as well." She paused, then added quietly, "At one point, Avery called the boy 'Tom'. That's all I know."
"Thank you, Rosalind," Tonks said, looking both relieved and worried.
"Can we go now?" Rosalind asked, visibly feeling unwell.
"Yes, of course," Lily replied.
"Graham, are you coming?" Rosalind glanced at her son.
"In a moment," he said, giving Emily a quick hug and whispering something to her before joining his mother.
"Alright. Hermione, Colin? Ready to head home," Lily asked. "Colin, you're coming with me, and Hermione's going with Dora."
"All set, Mrs Potter," Colin replied with a broad smile, grabbing his camera before following Lily. Just as he reached the door, he turned back. "I'll have the photos for you tomorrow. Promise!"
Hermione exchanged a shy farewell with Ron, a scene that brought an amused look to Tonks's face as she waited to Apparate the girl home.
When they'd gone, Harry glanced at Ginny, "What a day. I could use a good hour on my broom."
"Splendid idea. Could have been mine," Ginny replied, her eyes sparkling. "See you at your place in ten?"
Ten minutes later, Harry and Emily stepped outside in their Quidditch gear to find Ginny and Ron already waiting. Lily had just returned from dropping Colin off, smiled at them as she headed towards the backdoor.
"Lily, is that you?" an unfamiliar voice called suddenly.
Harry's head snapped round to see a man in dark robes with greasy, black, shoulder length hair approaching.
Lily froze, her eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and disgust. "Severus?" she murmured, barely audible.
"Lily, I'm glad to see you're alive," the man said, his gaze lingering on Harry's mum with a slight smile.
"Mum?" Harry said, stepping forward.
"Stay where you are, Harry," his mother called, giving him a warning look. "The rest of you as well."
The stranger apparently hadn't noticed Harry before, but now his expression shifted from surprise to outright hatred. Harry felt a creeping unease.
Slowly, Harry drew his wand, relieved to see the others following his lead. Ginny, her brow furrowed with concern, shot Harry a questioning look before turning her attention back to the intruder.
Harry's gaze flickered from the stranger to his mother. "Who is this man, Mum?"
Without taking her eyes off the man, she said tensely, "Later, Harry." Disgust and a hint of fear sharpened her voice as she asked, "What do you want, Severus?"
"Lily, I'm here to protect you," the man – Severus - said, urgency lacing his voice.
"Protect me?" Lily raised her eyebrows. "If you ask me, I'd say you're more of a threat. Do us all a favour and leave. Stay as far away from my house as possible. And don't even think about laying a finger on my children."
The man shot Harry a disdainful look. "I won't touch your children, Lily. It's... not them I can help. "He turned back to his mother, his voice quieter but more insistent. "Lily, the Dark Lord has returned. He'll come after you. Believe me, I'm the only one who can keep you safe."
"I know that your Lord is back, Severus," Lily said icily. "But what could he possibly want from me? Who even told him I was alive?"
Severus looked at her, astonished. "Dumbledore hasn't told you about the prophecy?" A sneer twisted his mouth. "Of course, that old fool wouldn't bother."
"What prophecy?" Lily asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"The prophecy that was told to Dumbledore himself," Severus replied vaguely.
"And how do you know about it..." Lily began, her sceptical look slowly turning to realisation. "You overheard him..." Lily's gaze hardened. "And then you told your precious Lord... Admit it, Severus."
"I did what I had to do," Severus said evasively. "But I'm here now to help, Lily. To protect you. Believe me - I always wanted to keep you safe, but when you vanished, I thought..."
"Why should I believe you, Severus?" Lily cut him off, shaking her head. "Leave! And never come back."
"You're making a mistake." Severus's face twisted with something between desperation and...hope? "I'm the only one who can protect you. Come with me, Lily. The Dark Lord knows where you live. You can thank your spy for that; she led us right here."
Lily shook her head firmly. "Go, Severus. You are not welcome here."
Harry moved to stand by his mum, with the others following slowly, all their eyes on the stranger.
The man's face contorted, and for a moment, his gaze softened. "I'll come back, Lily," he muttered, his eyes never leaving hers. "And when the Dark Lord arrives, I hope you'll finally listen. Step aside, or you won't survive."