A Year & A Day

Harry Potter woke with a pair of soft lips pressed to his. He smiled sleepily and wrapped his arms around the slim body beside him, pulling her on top of him, and Ginny squeaked indignantly. "Harry! It's time to get up!"

"Hey, I'm in charge of Dumbledore's Army," Harry murmured, trailing kisses across Ginny's cheek towards her ear. "If I say we get to sleep in late, then we do…"

"That's abusing your authority," Ginny accused, but she inhaled sharply when Harry's hand trailed up the inside of her thighs. "Ooh… well, I suppose it couldn't hurt- Oh Merlin!" she exclaimed when Harry's fingers found her opening.

"Miss Ginevra Molly Weasley, have you been thinking naughty thoughts?" Harry teased when he found her already wet.

"H-how could I not?" she countered breathily, running her hand over Harry's already hard cock. "I woke up next to you…"

Harry fumbled on the nightstand for his wand, and quickly cast the Anti-Pregnancy Charm. Ginny didn't even wait for the sparkle to fade from Harry's cock; she took him in with an ease she'd found after a full week of daily practice. Sitting up on her knees, Ginny languidly rolled her hips, causing Harry's eyes to roll back. "Merlin, Ginny, you feel so bloody good…"

Ginny's breath was already becoming short. Her hips rocked faster, and she moaned softly as she squeezed Harry inside her. "Think you'll ever- get bored of this, Harry?" she whispered.

"No chance, Ginn," Harry gasped, his fingers digging into Ginny's hips to encourage her to quicken the pace. "Right now- I can't see- ever not wanting- to do this with you-!"

With that encouragement, Ginny raised her hips and then slammed herself down onto Harry. "Oh, fuck!" Harry gurgled as she did it again, and again; he was lightheaded and still half-asleep but his orgasm was already collecting at the base of his spine. He opened his eyes to see Ginny's fingers working her clit and he came with a soft groan; Ginny ground against him a moment longer before following him over. Looking dazedly up at the girl who sat shuddering atop him, Harry was again struck by how stunning she was; her long, soft red hair trailed over her shoulders so a few tendrils tickled the tips of her small, dark nipples. Her flat stomach was clenching and unclenching, and her face was scrunched up, her mouth frozen open in a silent gasp. "You are so beautiful," he whispered.

Ginny unfroze with a half-cry, half-moan. She fell forward against Harry, panting, and Harry stroked her hair gently, waiting for her to come back. Just as he was about to say something he felt Ginny's lips curl into a smile against his chest, and she contentedly murmured "You're not bad to look at yourself."

Harry smiled. "I didn't think you'd heard me."

"Mm," Ginny mumbled, snuggling closer. "I heard. Oh, this has to be the best way to wake up in the world."

"Much better than an alarm," Harry agreed, and they both chuckled. Then Harry sighed. "But it's not going to last much longer, is it?"

Ginny slid Harry out of her with a shiver and curled up against his side. "Not unless you can think of a way to convince my mum to let me stay here - or rather, with Fred and George," she said dejectedly.

"You've already been here a week," Harry acknowledged. "I still don't get why she doesn't want you working at Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes, though."

"I've done too good a job convincing mum I'm all pure and innocent," Ginny said, making them both laugh. "I think she's still worried Fred and George will be a bad influence."

Harry snorted. "That's a laugh. They're both terrified of you."

"And with good reason," Ginny replied, unrepentant.

"Will your mum let you stay through your birthday tomorrow?"

A wide grin broke across Ginny's face, and she propped up on her elbows. "Harry! I didn't think you knew!"

"I've known for a while," Harry answered, looking pleased with himself. "Think if you tell your mum that Fred and George are throwing you a party she'll let you stay?"

Ginny shook her head. "It's tradition in our family that the birthday boy or girl gets breakfast and presents in bed," she said apologetically. "I'll have to go home for tomorrow morning at least."

"I've got a present for you right here in this bed," Harry pointed out with a leer.

Ginny's eyebrow quirked. "Usually presents are given right in front of the whole family, Harry. You fancy trying this with mum and dad watching?"

"Eurgh, no thanks." Harry grinned as Ginny laughed. "Well, will the party story let you come back later tomorrow?"

"I think so. You're not actually going to throw a party, are you?"

"Sure, why not? Although I think we'll do it here instead of at the shop, it'll probably be safer. Just tell your folks that it's a 'student-only' sort of thing."

Ginny's eyes gleamed. "Harry, you're serious? You're going to throw me a party? What about the D.A., won't it interfere?"

"I think it would be relaxing, actually. Everyone's so tense all the time, it would be good for the Army to take a break and have a bit of fun."

Ginny seized Harry by the head and kissed him deeply. "Thank you, Harry," she said when she finally released him.

"My pleasure, Ginn," Harry replied fondly, brushing a stray wisp of hair behind her ear.

They both started when there was a pounding on the door. "Harry?" Ron's voice called. "You all right in there?"

Harry extracted himself and walked over to the door, pulling on a t-shirt as he went. He opened the door a crack and poked his head around. "Fine, Ron," he said to his best friend. "Sorry, I know we're running late; we'll be down for breakfast in a second."

Ron's face wrinkled in mild disgust. "Harry, just say 'I', okay? Let me continue in my delusion that you're sleeping alone."

"Not a chance," Ginny said, appearing in the door wearing only knickers and a bra, although she was holding a shirt in front of her chest. "It's bad enough I have to know you're not sleeping alone!"

Averting his eyes, Ron croaked "Bloody hell, Ginn, put something on!" and fled.

Breakfast was cheerful that morning. News of the Azkaban breakout earlier that week had finally settled into their minds, and despite the fear of Lucius Malfoy being back at Voldemort's side, they were at least able to look at it as another problem to be solved instead of a total catastrophe.

Fred and George even joined them for breakfast, and the kitchen was incredibly crowded and loud. Harry chatted with Neville, who went on excitedly about his work growing plants for the Army. "Everything's going perfectly," Neville stated. "Well, the Venomous Tentacula tried to eat one of the other plants, but I isolated it."

"That reminds me," Harry interjected, "the Last Rites plant will be here in three days, so day after tomorrow I need to get into your nursery to create the separate room."

Neville nodded soberly. "Your contact does know how dangerous it is, right?"

"It's being delivered in a specially-Charmed box that's designed to protect against everything you warned me about," Harry reassured him.

"Shall we do the room tomorrow, to get it out of the way?" Neville suggested.

"Can't," Harry said with a grin.

"Why not?"

"I'll answer that right now," Harry said, and stood up. The conversation faded as everyone looked at him. "Hey, everyone, tomorrow's a bit of an occasion," he said, noting with amusement (and a bit of apprehension) that Ginny had paled and was glaring at him. "Tomorrow is Ginny's sixteenth birthday."

There were cheers and exclamations of delight. Ron, predictably, looked very guilty for having forgotten. Fred and George looked shocked that Harry knew. Ginny blushed profusely as she was wished a happy birthday over and over again.

Harry waited until the noise died down. "I thought it'd be fun for everyone if we had a party," he said. "We could all use the break, and it's not every day you turn sixteen," he concluded, grinning to himself at the memory of the similar comment Hagrid had made on Harry's eleventh birthday.

"What should we do?" Hermione asked. "Ginny, what sort of party would you like?"

"Oh, no," Harry said, cutting off the rising babble of voices. "It should be a bit of a surprise. I thought I'd take Ginny out birthday shopping and you all can plan without us." He smiled at Ginny's dumbstruck expression. "But don't let Fred and George do the organizing!"

"Oh, you cut us to the quick, Harry," George said, placing a hand over his heart with a hurt look.

"Too true," Fred said. "After all, Ginny is our sister! We wouldn't have caused too much mayhem!"

"When has my being your sister ever stopped you?" Ginny grumbled, still a bit red.

"Never," Fred replied promptly. "But your knowledge of a few extremely uncomfortable curses certainly might."

"Emphasis on 'might'," George added.

After breakfast broke up, most everyone Flooed to the back room of Fred and George's shop, some staying behind if they didn't have work. Some took Portkeys out from Fred and George's so it wouldn't look like they'd been staying there. Harry Flooed to the Leaky Cauldron with Neville; Neville was supposedly still staying with his gran and came in every day, and Harry kept a room at the Leaky Cauldron. Tom was assisting Harry, willingly taking Veritaserum to determine his trustworthiness at Harry's insistence. He knew nothing about the D.A.; just that Harry needed to supposedly be staying there for his own safety.

Harry waved at Tom before he and Neville walked into the back and through the passage to Diagon Alley, chatting as though they'd just run into each other. "So what're you doing today?" Neville asked as they walked between the various shops.

"Well, tomorrow is Ginny's birthday," Harry said. "I thought I'd take her around shopping as a present."

"That's great," Neville said. "Say, I should get her something. What would she like?"

"Hmm. Well she likes lemon sugar quills," Harry suggested.

"Perfect!" Neville exclaimed. "I know where they make some deluxe sugar quills; they're really high quality, and they make lemon ones!"

After saying goodbye to Neville Harry walked into Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. The shop had only opened a few minutes before, but it was already doing a brisk trade. Harry walked over to the counter. "Hey, Fred," he said.

"Harry! How goes it?" Fred said, shoving products haphazardly onto a shelf.

"Good. Is Ginny around? I thought we could spend some time together."

"I don't want to know," Fred said. "Keep your dirty thoughts and hands off my sister!" He chuckled when Harry blushed. "She's coming down in a minute!" he called over the rising noise.

Ginny appeared a moment later, smiling across the room when Harry waved at her. She pushed through the throng of people to his side. "Hi!" she shouted.

Harry pulled her outside so they could hear each other; he tried to ignore the stares as people recognized him. "Ready for some shopping, Ginn?" he said.

"Yeah," Ginny replied, grinning. "Let's go to Madam Malkin's, I need some new robes!"

Harry greatly enjoyed the stop at Madam Malkin's, because Ginny modeled every article of clothing she tried on for him. The proprietor hesitated about letting Ginny try some of her more suggestive clothes, but Alicia Spinnet, who was a member of the D.A., worked there, and insisted that Harry and Ginny were perfectly trustworthy; Madam Malkin relented, but asked them not to mention it to anyone. In a private dressing room, Ginny modeled several slinky nightgowns, happily twirling and posing seductively at Harry's direction. Several times both of them ended up in stitches at Harry's choice comments ("Do women really wear stuff like that?" "What made the designer think that would turn men on?").

At last Harry was left speechless. Ginny was wearing a sleek, clingy silk negligee of a dark red that matched her hair perfectly. It barely reached her thighs, and was cut low in the back to expose her muscles. After twirling a few times, Ginny stopped and stood, smirking at Harry's expression with her hip cocked to the side in an unconscious pose. Harry swallowed. "That's the one, Ginny," he whispered. "Merlin, you are so gorgeous…"

Ginny blushed, making her cheeks almost match the nightgown. Harry couldn't stand it any longer. Slipping out of his chair, he dropped to his knees in front of Ginny. "Harry!" Ginny gasped as Harry pulled her closer and reached for the matching red knickers. "We can't!"

"We can and we will," Harry murmured. "I can't take it, Ginny, I have to taste you…" He pulled Ginny's knickers aside and leaned forward, and Ginny gasped in pleasure as she felt his tongue probing her opening. Her hand instinctively flew to Harry's head and she pulled him closer, urging him to continue; her other hand grasped behind her and clutched the clothes rack for support as her legs threatened to give out on her.

Harry reached up to spread Ginny's folds and delved his tongue inside her, savoring the slightly bitter taste. He wet a finger in his mouth and slid it in, pumping slowly. Ginny tugged at his hair and groaned, and Harry responded by adding a second finger. When he started teasing her clit with his tongue, Ginny sobbed, "Harry- Harry, please!" Harry sucked firmly on Ginny's clit, his hand moving rapidly, and Ginny squealed as she came, trying desperately to keep quiet. Harry didn't let up until Ginny finally stopped shaking and pushed his head away. She sank to her knees and leaned heavily against Harry, panting. "Wow," she gasped.

"You'd better get changed," Harry said, sounding smug. He stood and pulled Ginny to her feet.

"Oh no you don't," Ginny shot back, starting to pull at Harry's robes. "We're not leaving until I return the favor."

But Harry took Ginny's hands to stop her. "We don't have time, Ginn," he said with a smirk. "Madam Malkin's going to wonder what's taking so long."

He pushed Ginny toward the changing room, and she glared at him over her shoulder. "That's not fair!"

"I'm sure you'll get me back when I'm least expecting it," Harry retorted. He was unsettled by the contemplative smirk Ginny flashed at him before she disappeared behind the curtain.

If Madam Malkin noticed that Harry and Ginny were both flushed when they came out of the dressing room, she didn't say; nor did she comment when Ginny handed her the red silk negligee and said shyly "I'll take this one." Alicia, on the other hand, teased them mercilessly as she rung them up at the till, until they were both glowing red with embarrassment.

"Harry," Ginny said seriously as they stepped out of the shop, "does it make you nervous that we're being so open about…us?"

"Of course it does," Harry answered; he'd been garnering a lot of awed looks as they walked around. "I was so worried I broke off with you, remember?"

"I'm not likely to forget," Ginny said acerbically.

"But I'm not going to let it stop me, or hinder us," Harry continued, with an unmistakable edge to his voice. "You know the danger you're in; if you're still willing to make a go at it I'm not going to tell you that you can't." He reached out, entwined his fingers in Ginny's and spun her to face him. "You're great for me, Ginny," he said as he took her head gently in his hands and leaned down to meet her eyes with his.

"I won't let fear split us up again."

And without warning, there in the middle of the street, right in front of Quality Quidditch Supplies, Harry pulled Ginny to him and kissed her deeply. Ginny looked up at Harry in shock when they separated. "You really believe it's worth the risk," she said in wonder, as if she'd just realized he'd meant it.

"Anything's worth it to be this happy," Harry said simply. Before Ginny could get teary-eyed, Harry tugged at her hand. "Come on," he said, gesturing to Quality Quidditch Supplies. "You said your broom's been acting twitchy; let's get you a new one."

"What?" Ginny exclaimed weakly as she allowed Harry to draw her into the shop. "But Harry, that'll cost a fortune!"

"A fortune I've got," Harry said, leading her toward the back.

With a jolt, Ginny realized he was leading her to the Firebolt display. "No, Harry!" she hissed, planting her feet and forcing him to stop. "You cannot spend that kind of money on me!"

Harry sighed, and drew Ginny into a private corner of the store. "What else am I going to spend it on, Ginny?" He asked. "There's no way I could possibly spend the Black fortune in my lifetime. Even without all the cash, the Black estates are worth several dozen lifetimes' worth of fortunes. Some day I'll have to sit down with Hermione and have her explain just how much it is - I suspect I'll need her knowledge of advanced Arithmancy just to understand it." He smiled sadly at her. "I don't think that Sirius would've wanted me to leave all the money sitting in a vault forever. He would've wanted me to enjoy it."

"Yes, but…" Ginny swallowed. "I'm not so sure I'm comfortable with it. I don't want you to think you have to…"

"I don't have to, I want to," Harry said quickly. "All the money and possessions in the world won't make me as happy as you do. If I thought you'd take it I'd give you a key to my vault right now, just because I can. Ginny, do you know just how serious I am about you…about us?" Ginny shook her head mutely. "If you were turning seventeen instead of sixteen, I'd ask you to marry me."

"You- you'd what?"

"I'd propose," Harry insisted.

"Harry, w-we're far too young!"

"I know that, and I don't care. And assuming we're still…you know, all right… a year and a day from now, I'll have a ring ready, and I'll ask you to be my wife."

Ginny searched Harry's expression for any sign he was joking, and found none. Tears brightening her eyes, she threw her arms around Harry, knocking him back into a shelf and causing products to scatter everywhere. "And a year and a day from now," she whispered ecstatically in his ear, "I'll say yes."

They had Ginny measured and placed an order for a custom-made Firebolt, which would be delivered in a few days. Dean Thomas, who was a member of the Army and worked at Quality Quidditch Supplies, joked that Harry should buy the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team Firebolts if the school ever reopened, but Harry felt it was a bit too much like Malfoy buying his way onto the team Second Year. Then they spent the rest of the day going all up and down Diagon Alley. Ginny no longer protested Harry's spending money on her, and they were forced to cast Shrinking and Lightening Charms on all the things Harry bought her.

After a bit Ginny noticed that Harry seemed to be brooding on something. "Harry? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Well, not wrong, exactly…" Harry sighed. "Can we stop at Gringott's for a second?"

"Sure." Ginny grinned. "Draining you of Galleons, am I?"

Harry smiled. "No. Well…" he checked his sack of gold. "Actually, yeah. I guess I should get some more. But I want to ask them about something else."

Ginny got the collywobbles from the goblins, and stuck close to Harry as he headed to a free counter. The goblin peered over the edge of the desk. "Yes?"

"I need to get some cash out of my vault," Harry said, producing a key. "And I wanted to…is there someone I could talk to about making a will?"

Ginny gasped at Harry as the goblin nodded. "There is. I will have you taken to your vault, and when you return someone will walk you through the process of creating your will."

As they rode down to Harry's vault, Ginny leaned into him. "Harry, why didn't you mention a will before?"

"I just thought of it now," Harry admitted.

They arrived at the vault, but Harry and Ginny stayed in the cart as the goblin got out. "All right," Ginny said thoughtfully, "I suppose it makes sense…"

"Not just for me, but for the D.A.," Harry pointed out. "If something happened to me, what's the D.A. going to do for money? I just want to leave everything to you, Ron and Hermione."

"No!" Ginny exclaimed, her voice echoing in the caverns. "Harry, you can't!"

Harry gave her an odd look. "Who else am I going to leave it all to, Ginn? The Dursleys?" He gave a hollow laugh. "I suppose I could leave them something…maybe a Galleon, that should cover every Christmas present they ever gave me." Harry smiled weakly at Ginny. "The Dursleys may be my blood, but they're not my family. I want to leave what I have to my family. My real family."

"Okay," Ginny said in a very small voice.

When they got back to the surface a goblin led Harry off to talk about the will. Harry wanted Ginny to join him, but the goblin insisted that the conversation be completely private. Ginny fidgeted nervously, but Harry returned fairly fast, carrying a sheaf of parchment and looking rather pleased. He smiled at Ginny when he reached her. "Ready to go?"

"Yes," Ginny agreed fervently. She breathed a big sigh of relief when they were outside again. "What's all that?" she asked, indicating the parchments.

"Paperwork for the will," Harry explained. "I couldn't do it just then, I need witnesses who are of age." He smiled apologetically at Ginny. "Anyway, the goblin pointed out it's probably better this way since I'll have time to really think about everything I want to put in there. I realized I should leave something to Lupin and Tonks, and to your parents." He chuckled, surprising Ginny. "And I thought I'd leave a bit to Malfoy, but only if he turns out to be on the side of the Light - his father would definitely disown him, and he'd die without money." They both laughed.

They stopped at a little café for a late lunch, joking and having a wonderful time. Harry, with a great deal of embarrassment, related the events of his ill-fated date with Cho Chang at the coffee shop in Hogsmeade a year and a half ago. "Honestly, Harry, what did you see in her?" Ginny asked once she'd finished laughing.

"At the time it all made perfect sense," Harry insisted, blushing.

Finally it was getting on in the afternoon, and Harry was certain they'd visited every single shop in Diagon Alley. "Is there anything else you'd like, Ginn?" he asked as the sat on a bench to rest a bit.

Ginny seemed deep in thought. "There's one thing I've been thinking of," she said, and Harry noted she sounded very nervous. "Mum and dad would kill me, but...I've wanted it for a while." She flushed. "Ever since I first saw you fly, actually."

Harry frowned. "But you'd seen people fly before me. Hell, you'd flown yourself before you ever met me!"

"Yeah, but…it was you," Ginny pointed out, her face extremely red.

"I get it," Harry said, grinning. "So what's the thing?"

"Well, you remember me telling you that Romilda Vane asked me if you had a tattoo on your chest?"

Harry gaped at her. "Y-yeah. You…you want me to get a tattoo?"

"No, you idiot, I want one!"

"Oh. Um…don't they hurt?"

"I guess." Ginny shrugged. "But I'd still like to…if we can."

Harry thought for a moment. "If you're really sure, I suspect we could find a place. What picture do you want to get? And, um…where?"

"Well I don't know where, we'll have to find somewhere in London, won't we?"

"No, I mean…where on your body?"

"Oh!" Ginny flushed again. "I thought…right here," she said quietly, and surreptitiously indicated just above her quim, slightly to the right.

Harry swallowed. "And what picture?" he croaked.

Ginny was so red she looked like she'd been boiled in water. "A Firebolt," she murmured, "surrounded by clouds."

Harry gaped at her. "Bloody hell, Ginny," he said weakly, "that's really… suggestive."

"Yeah, I know," she said, and even though she was still very red Ginny managed to leer at Harry. "You object or something?"

"Hell, no!" Harry exclaimed. He grabbed Ginny by the hand and pulled her to her feet. "Come on," he said, leading Ginny down towards the Leaky Cauldron. "Tom will know where to go."

Tom, in fact, knew a tattoo shop that was staffed completely with wizards and squibs. Harry was a bit nervous at that, thinking that word might get out Harry Potter went into a tattoo parlor with a girl so she could get a tattoo in a sensitive area, but Tom assured Harry and Ginny that the group were magically bound to secrecy. "I mean," he told them, "no one's ever heard about Fudge's tattoo, have they?"

The actual tattooing was something both Harry and Ginny would have gladly forgotten. Ginny had to be shaved a bit, and then Harry held her hand as she grimaced in pain while the tattoo was being done. The artist, a friendly and talented young woman, made the process as easy as possible, and as soon as she was finished she cast a Healing Charm, banishing the pain to a dull ache. "It also prevents infections," she explained as Ginny pulled her clothes back on. "You don't want an infection in that area, trust me."

"Are you okay?" Harry asked nervously as they walked back toward the Leaky Cauldron.

"Fine," Ginny assured him. "Her Healing Charm was excellent; it barely hurts at all any more. It feels a little weird, I can feel where the skin is a scar, like she said, but it's okay."

Harry noticed the faint reddening in Ginny's cheeks. "What? Are you embarrassed about it now?"

"No. Well, not about the tattoo itself."

Ginny glanced around, and seeing no one was nearby she quickly manhandled Harry into an alley. "Ginny, what're you doing?"

Ginny started tearing Harry's robes off him. "Harry, it was painful, and it was painful right there, and it was such a bloody turn-on!" She freed his cock and stroked it with one hand, pulling at her own robes with the other. "Fuck me, Harry," she demanded.

"Right here?"

"Yes!" Ginny snapped. She sat up on a stone ledge and pulled her robes aside. Harry saw the shiny new Firebolt and his heart skipped. "Now, Harry!" Ginny ordered.
Harry dug out his wand and quickly cast the Anti-Pregnancy Charm. He slid into Ginny with a moan, and she jumped a bit. "By Merlin," she breathed, closing her eyes and clenching around Harry's cock. "It's so- sensitive-" She shook her hips and both of them gasped. "I'm going to c-come already-" Ginny groaned.

Harry grasped Ginny's legs and started slamming into her; true to her word, Ginny came within seconds, howling and thrashing. Harry was still thrusting inside her when she regained her senses. "Touch it, Harry," she growled. Shivering, Harry reached around and trailed his fingers along the length of the Firebolt, and Ginny whimpered. Her hand shot out and pushed at Harry's, forcing him to press hard on the tattoo. Just a few more thrusts and Ginny shook and made delicious little mewling noises, unmistakably coming again.

Ginny shoved Harry away, jumped down off the ledge and pushed Harry up against the opposite wall. She dropped to her knees, and right there in an alley in London Ginny Weasley, one day shy of sixteen, gave Harry Potter the most incredible blowjob of his short but eventful life. Harry clutched at Ginny's hair; as she licked and sucked him, as she played with his balls, he growled, he pleaded, he begged, and when he came in her mouth he howled like a werewolf, with stars flashing in front of his eyes. Ginny swallowed every drop, and teased him until his twitches finally died away. She sat back on her knees and looked up at Harry with a smug grin not unlike Hermione's cat Crookshanks. "This birthday present," she said decisively, tapping the tattoo, "was worth every Galleon."

It was a weak-kneed pair that stumbled through the passage into Diagon Alley at twilight. The streets were mostly deserted, and Harry decided to just Floo back to the House of Black with Ginny from the back room of Fred and George's shop; it was unlikely anyone would notice he hadn't exited the shop before it closed.
Harry and Ginny waved at Fred, George, Susan and Sally-Ann as they walked through the empty store. Fred took one look at them, scrunched up his face in disgust, and made a big show of averting his eyes. Harry and Ginny laughed as Sally-Ann turned to tease Fred; the Ravenclaw used her intellect to great effect when it came to poking fun at her employers.

When they got to the fireplace Ginny took down the pot of Floo powder and offered it to Harry. "Go ahead, I'll be right behind," she said with a smile.

Harry came out of the fireplace in the House of Black with a bit more control than he'd exhibited in the past. He thought for a moment he'd done something wrong, because there were loud voices shouting in his ear, but then he realized the voices were quite real.

Ron and Hermione were in the kitchen having a monumental fight. It reminded Harry of the row they'd had after the Yule Ball Fourth year. They were so wrapped up in their fight they hadn't even noticed Harry Floo in. "Stop being so insecure, Ron!" Hermione shouted.

"I'm being insecure?" Ron shot back. "You're the one who decided to automatically assume I was lying! Why the hell don't you believe me?"

"Because it's absurd!" Hermione all but shrieked. "If you'd stop being scared for one moment you'd see-"

"This has nothing to do with being scared!" Ron bellowed, his cheeks reddening.

Harry stood staring at his two best friends. They hadn't fought like that in ages; they hadn't fought once since they'd gotten together, just had their usual bickering, and even that had been toned down. He was so surprised that he forgot about Ginny until she skidded out of the fireplace. "Harry?" she said, coughing a bit. "What's wrong?"
Harry helped Ginny to her feet. When she'd spoken Ron and Hermione had finally noticed they were there, and had lapsed into silence. Ginny glanced from one of them to the other. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Hermione said sharply, shooting Ron an ugly look. "We're through here." She walked to the door of the basement, where she worked on potions for the Army.
"You really don't believe me?' Ron called, his voice plaintive.

"Of course not, Ron!" Hermione snapped before slamming the door behind her.

"Ron?" Harry started. "What's-?" But Ron had turned and stormed up the stairs. A moment later Harry and Ginny heard his door slam. Ginny looked at Harry, who shrugged. "They were at it when I got here," he told her. "No idea what they were fighting about though."

Ginny sighed. "Shall we try to talk to them?"

"Yeah, I suppose," Harry agreed sadly. He'd been enjoying his day with Ginny. "Do you want to try Ron, or Hermione?"

"Ron," Ginny said, surprising Harry. "He's my brother, I learned how to handle him ages ago. And Hermione…well, she's new to relationships. I don't know how she'd take another girl trying to tell her what to do."

"I'm not sure I'll be any better, but okay," Harry said. He kissed Ginny and headed for the basement. "See you back here for dinner," he said, and Ginny smiled in agreement as she headed upstairs.

When Harry entered the basement Hermione was viciously grinding an ingredient for a potion. Harry watched her angrily handle the mortar and pestle for a minute; Hermione was so angry she was spilling the contents. Finally Harry walked over. When she noticed him, Hermione scowled. "I don't want to talk about it," she growled before Harry could open his mouth.

"Well fine, because I only came down to ask about the Glamour Potion, you said you'd have it done by tomorrow."

"Oh," Hermione said, having the good graces to look ashamed. "I'm sorry, Harry."

"It's okay, I'm kidding; I really did come down to talk. So what was that about?"

Hermione glared at Harry for tricking her. "It's none of your business," she said pointedly, pouring the contents of the mortar into a simmering cauldron.

"But-"

"Not that I expect you to mind your own business where Ron is concerned," she snapped, picking up another ingredient and breaking it into smaller and smaller pieces.

"I think that-"

"And of course, I'm sure you'll tell me I'm in the wrong, as well," she continued, reaching for the cauldron.

"Hermione!" Harry shouted, grabbing her hand.

Hermione looked up in exasperation at Harry. "What?"

"Hermione, I may not be as good at potions as you, but even I know you don't put fillary and extract of wormwood into a potion together!"

Hermione looked down at her hand, which contained a small portion of fillary. "Oh!" she snarled. She stormed over to the shelves of ingredients and began slamming them around with far more force than necessary. "He is so impossible!" she muttered disgustedly.

"What did Ron do?"

"Harry, I said it's none of your business!"

"Come on, Hermione, you know I'm not going to go away until you tell me," said Harry reasonably.

Hermione's stare could have frightened a Venomous Tentacula into molting. "Fine! Fine!" she burst out. "You really want to know? That- that prat said that he loved me!"

Harry's heart skipped a beat. So it had finally happened. He'd known for ages, of course, but he wasn't sure Ron would figure it out, or admit it if he did… "But…I would have thought you'd be happy," he said carefully. "I mean, I know you care for Ron, so if he said he loved you-"

"Oh, Harry!" Hermione threw her hands up in disgust. "We've haven't even been together for two months! Ron doesn't mean it; he's only saying it because he's scared we're in danger, and he might as well say it because it might not even matter later, don't you see that?"

Harry, who couldn't see anything of the sort, asked "What did you say to him when he said it?"

"I told him not to be ridiculous, that he couldn't possibly mean it," Hermione stated flatly. Harry winced, and Hermione frowned at him. "What?"

"No offence, Hermione," Harry said, "but I don't think you could have said anything more hurtful if you'd tried."

"Oh, don't be absurd, Harry, it's not like Ron's going to go sob in his room. Sulk is more likely."

"Hermione, I don't know where you got the idea that Ron suddenly doesn't have feelings, but if Ginny had told me she didn't believe I loved her, I'd be ready to cast the Killing Curse on myself."

A flicker of doubt crossed Hermione's face, but she shunted it aside. "I knew you'd tell me I was in the wrong," she said acidly. "When it's Ron, of course I must be wrong and he's always right…"

"Stop it, Hermione!" Harry shouted, causing Hermione to jump in shock. Harry grabbed Hermione's arm and shook slightly. "Get it through your head that I'm as much your friend as I am Ron's! I'm sick of you always accusing us of ganging up on you! And as for Ron, he'll probably end up apologizing! For telling you he loves you! You're supposed to be the smart one, tell me how that makes sense!"

Uncertain he could keep his temper any longer, Harry released Hermione's arm, and ignoring her shocked (and slightly stricken) look he stomped to the stairs. He reached the kitchen and took several deep breaths to calm himself. "Dobby?" he called when he thought he could keep from snapping.

Dobby and Winky appeared with a crack. "Yes, Harry Potter?"

"Could I have some supper, please? And I guess you'd better make sure that there's enough for everyone, they'll probably start coming back soon."

Harry stared at nothing as Dobby and Winky bustled about preparing supper. He shook off his reverie when Ginny appeared and smiled at her. She sat next to him and kissed his nose. "How did it go?" he asked.

Ginny smirked sardonically. "Actually I did all the talking, since Ron sealed his door and didn't answer when I knocked," she said. "It's unusual for him, he usually forgets to seal the door." She shrugged. "How'd you do?"

"A bit better…I think," Harry answered, and related his conversation with Hermione.

By the time Harry was through, supper was on the table in front of them and Ginny's mouth was hanging open. "Wow," she said softly. "I never really thought I'd feel sorry for Ron, but… I can't believe Hermione! How could she do that?"

"She's insecure," Harry said, piling chicken on his plate. "I feel really bad about that. I mean, I know it wasn't all our fault, but Ron and I were really mean to Hermione our first year, before the troll of course. I think she'd been alone before Hogwarts, and she thought she'd find kindred spirits in the Wizarding world. Then to spend the next few months being friendless and ostracized… I think she hasn't really gotten over it."

"I suppose, but…that's still no excuse for being so cruel to Ron," Ginny said, stabbing violently at her potatoes.

"No, it's not. But at least she's not being cruel on purpose," Harry replied. "Forget it. They'll talk and sort it out."

"I guess." Ginny glanced around, looking confused. "Where is everyone, anyway?" she asked. "The house seems so quiet…"

"A lot of them are still at work," Harry pointed out. "But I bet the rest are collecting things for your party."

Ginny grinned, and tucked into her food. "I better start stocking up, I'll need my strength," she mumbled with a full mouth.

Harry laughed. "You will, especially if I get another chance to play Quidditch with you tonight."

Ginny looked blank for a second, and then blushed furiously. "Harry, promise me you won't tell anyone, please?"

"Of course I won't," Harry assured her. "I kind of like the idea of being the only one who knows anyway."

"Our dirty little secret?" Ginny suggested with a leer. Harry chuckled.

After a bit longer, both Harry and Ginny were full and feeling drowsy. "Shall we go to bed for a bit?" Ginny suggested. "We can come back down when everyone's here, to take care of D.A. business."

"Sounds like fun," Harry said, pinching Ginny's bum.

"To sleep, you prat!" Ginny snapped, but she was smirking. She went to retaliate, but noticed that Harry wasn't paying attention to her any longer. Following his gaze, she saw that Ron had appeared at the foot of the stairs. "Er. Hi, Ron," she muttered, blushing.

"Hey," Ron said dully. "Do you know where Hermione is?"

"She's still in the basement," Harry said. Ron just nodded, and started walking around the table to the basement door. "Ron…"

Ron paused with his hand on the doorknob. "What."

Harry and Ginny exchanged a look. "Don't apologize for saying what you feel," Ginny blurted out.

Ron looked at her in mild surprise. "Didn't think you'd be on my side."

"Ron, what Hermione said to you was mean," Ginny told him. "You said what was in your heart and she slapped you in the face with it!"

"She doesn't believe me," Ron muttered wretchedly. "It's my fault; I shouldn't have said it now. I know what she's like, being insecure all the time. She's not ready to hear it, so I'll tell her she was right." Harry looked disgusted, but Ron just shrugged helplessly. "I don't want Hermione to be unhappy."

"That's not fair, Ron!" Harry said sharply. "Do you really think Hermione is unhappy that you love her?"

"It doesn't matter," Ron said. "If she's not ready to believe me, I'm not going to try to force her to. Maybe after we've been together a while longer she'll start to come around."

"That's- that's horrible!" Ginny exclaimed. "How can you be okay with that?"

Ron just shrugged again. "What's my alternative?" He laughed hollowly. "Giving her up?"

There was nothing that Harry or Ginny could say to that. If Hermione couldn't see what was right in front of her, there was nothing they could do. Harry sighed. "All right, Ron," he said in defeat. "But look…Hermione, she'll come around eventually."

"Or we'll knock her in the head with a You-Know-Whoopee until she sees sense," Ginny added.

Ron smiled weakly. "Thanks, Ginn. Thanks, Harry." He gritted his teeth and turned back to the door.

Harry and Ginny moved to the bottom of the stairs, but the fireplace flared and made them hesitate; someone was coming through the Floo. They started to turn and look when two figures flew out of the fireplace, wands out, and unmistakable black robes billowing ominously. Harry's heart froze at Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy appeared in the kitchen of the House of Black.

Harry's wand appeared in his hand in an instant, and Ginny's was half a second behind him. The moment Snape saw them he shouted a Curse, but Harry and Ginny were simultaneously yelling "Protego!" The combined force of their Deflection Charms flung the Curse back at Snape, who had to dodge to avoid it, and when he turned back they had disappeared up the stairs.

Snape turned to Malfoy, who'd violently rearranged the kitchen with his spellcasting. "Lucius!"

"Did you see that, Severus?" Malfoy asked casually, gesturing with his wand. "An interesting use of the Memorius Charm on one of Arthur Weasley's brats-"

"Lucius," Snape said warningly, "Potter just headed up the stairs. Our first priority-"

"Yes, yes," Malfoy said, joining Snape at the stairs. "Let's deal with Potter then."

"You should be a bit less cavalier, Lucius," Snape said as they climbed the stairs. "The Dark Lord would not appreciate your flippancy."

Malfoy scowled at Snape. "Severus, just because you are the Dark Lord's newest bright star does not mean you command me."

"I merely remind you of our orders," Snape said smoothly. "It is simple to be distracted with thoughts of revenge."

The two reached the second floor; at the far end of a hallway were stairs leading to the next floor, and there were three doors on the right side and one on the left. Snape checked all the doors on the right, finding nothing but some enlarged rooms obviously meant for practicing dueling. Shutting the doors without a word, he turned to find Malfoy still gazing through the door on the left. "Lucius!" he called down the hall. "What is it?"

Malfoy laughed. "Plants, Severus! They have a whole greenhouse! Some quite illicit choices, too! Do you think the children were preparing to make war?"

Snape ignored the question. "Lucius," he began, when there was a crack behind him on the stairs, and another behind Malfoy on the stairs down. Turning quickly, Snape saw a house-elf he vaguely recognized. "Who the devil-"

"You shall not harm Harry Potter!" the house-elf squeaked. It fired a blast of magic from its hands which Snape barely managed to deflect. A similar interaction was happening to Malfoy at the other end of the hall. Snape raised his wand, prepared to retaliate…

"-UPIFY!" Two voices shouted; Harry and Ginny burst out of the hidden room, their Stunning Spells already flying out of their wands in opposite directions. The distraction Dobby and Winky had provided gave Harry and Ginny the split second they needed; Snape and Malfoy were both struck full-on by the Spells. Snape collapsed where he was, and Malfoy toppled backward down the stairs and out of sight. "Check and make sure you got him!" Harry shouted, sprinting toward Snape. Ginny bolted the length of the hall and disappeared down the stairs. Harry pointed his wand again and quickly shouted "Expelliarmus!" and Snape's wand flew into his hand. He then began casting Binding Charms, one after another, everything he could think of, until Snape literally glowed with the magic binding him. As an extra precaution, Harry conjured ropes that bound Snape head to foot, and gagged him as well.

"Harry!" Ginny's voice shouted from downstairs. "Harry, come quick!"

Harry ran down the hall, his heart thudding in his chest. How the hell had Snape and Malfoy managed to get into The House of Black? The Fidelius Charm should have prevented it! Had someone said something they shouldn't? But that was impossible; Harry was the only one who could tell anyone about the house…

Harry leapt down the stairs three at a time, but when he neared the bottom he pulled up short. Ginny was kneeling at the bottom in a pool of blood with Malfoy's crumpled body beside her. She turned panicked eyes on Harry. "He hit his head!" she cried. "I think I've stopped the bleeding but I don't know what to do!"

Heedless of the blood, Harry fell to his knees beside Ginny and carefully turned to look. Ginny had managed to stem the flow of blood with clean dishtowels, but Malfoy's face looked even paler than normal, and his breathing seemed shallow. There was so much blood, Harry didn't know how much you could lose before you'd die. "We have to get him to St. Mungo's," he said quickly.

"They have an emergency Floo," Ginny said. "Come on-"

"Hello?" Harry's and Ginny's heads snapped around. The table had been shoved in front of the door to the basement, and Hermione's voice was calling from the other side. "What's going on out there? The door won't open…"

"Hermione!" Harry leapt to his feet and pointed his wand. "Locomotor table!" he said.

The table was heavy and Harry barely managed to move it, but it was enough for Hermione to slip through the door. "What on earth-?" she started, but stopped when her eyes fell on Ginny. "What- is that Lucius Malfoy?"

"He and Snape got through the Floo somehow," Harry blurted out.

"Snape?"

"I got him, he's tied up and Stupified upstairs," Harry said quickly, and Hermione glanced around in shock at the scene. "Malfoy hit his head, we need to take him to St. Mungo's-"

"RON!" Hermione shrieked.

Harry leaped over the table to where Hermione had run. There on the ground where he and Ginny hadn't seen him was Ron, lying on his back unconscious. But what was most horrifying was the silvery wisp that was pooled at his forehead like half a soap bubble. As Harry watched, it drifted up and off of Ron, so that it floated above him for a moment. Hermione whimpered. "Wh-what's wrong with him?' she squeaked.

The silvery bubble dissolved until it was gone, but not before Harry thought he saw figures no bigger than a Galleon inside it, and his throat caught as he realized what it was. "Memories," he whispered, and Hermione and Ginny both stared at him. "He's losing his memories!" Sure enough, another bubble was beginning to form slowly out of Ron's forehead. Hermione gasped, and with a desperate cry started to clutch at the memory with her hands, trying to push it back into Ron's head, but her hands just passed through the silver mist. "Stop it, stop it!" Hermione begged, her movements growing more and more panicked. She looked at Harry, her cheeks bright with tears. "Harry, make it stop!"

Harry leapt back over the table and ran to the cupboards; he began tearing through them, tossing the useless implements on the floor. "A basin!" he shouted to no one in particular. "I need a basin!"

"Harry Potter, will this do?"

Harry turned to see Dobby standing there holding a large silver punch bowl about a foot and a half across. Harry snatched it out of Dobby's hands and flew back to Ron's side. Another memory was about to detach from Ron's forehead, and Hermione was weeping hysterically. Praying he remembered the incantation correctly from when he'd gotten curious about Dumbledore's Pensieve, Harry set the bowl down beside Ron's head and held out his wand. "Memorius Estor Permens," he chanted, and a faint silver glow covered the bowl before fading into it. Harry reached out with his wand and touched the tip of it to the memory, and just as it detached from Ron's forehead Harry said "Memorius Capere!"

The memory stopped in midair. Instead of dissipating, it moved, slowly, following the tip of Harry's wand, until he placed the tip into the bowl. Then the memory faded into the bowl, filling the bottom with swirling mist. Harry let out a huge gasp of tension, and looked up at Hermione's and Ginny's shocked faces. "I read how to create a Penseive to store memories," he said quickly. "I can keep doing this, but you have to figure out what happened and how to stop it! I can't put the memories back until you do!"

Sure enough, another memory was already starting to show. Hermione whimpered, apparently at a loss for what to do. "Hermione!" Harry snapped, and Hermione looked up at him. "I can't save him by myself!" Harry said, trying to keep his eyes clear as tears stung them. "I need your help! Stay together, please! Help me help Ron!"
Hermione choked back a sob and nodded, and got shakily to her feet. "I-I'll need to c-check my books," she blurted, and headed to the stairs at a dead run.
"Go with her," Harry said to Ginny. "I can do this, but find what we need, fast! And here, reach in my pocket," he said, turning slightly. "I don't dare look away. Memorius Capere!" he said, and caught another memory.

Ginny searched in Harry's pocket and came up with a silver disk the size of her palm; the disc Hermione had cast a Protean Charm on, so Harry could contact the D.A. instantly. "Call the D.A.," Harry said. "Get them all to help. Go!" he shouted when Ginny looked torn. "Go now!"

Ginny ran for the stairs to follow Hermione, already muttering the activation Charm on the disk as she disappeared from Harry's sight.

Within one minute, Susan Bones came out of the Floo. "Ron!" she shouted when she looked around. "Harry, what happened?"

Harry was about to warn her not to talk to him when Cho Chang came out of the Floo. "What's going on?" she gasped.

"Cho, help Malfoy there!" Harry shouted, making both girls jump. "He's lost a lot of blood! Susan, when the rest come send them to help Hermione and Ginny! Don't ask questions now, just do it! Memorius Capere!"

It was by far the worst forty minutes of Harry's life. Every time the Floo fired up he would panic, both from fear that other Death Eaters would follow the first two, and that his distraction would cause him to lose another of Ron's precious memories. He thought that only one or two had been lost, but every one meant that another piece of what made Ron Ron was gone forever. The rest of the D.A. ran about at Hermione's and Ginny's frantic direction, researching, except for Dean, Lee and Alicia, who watched the Floo with wands drawn, and Cho and Neville, who patched Malfoy up enough to move him and Flooed him out to St. Mungo's. Harry heard them speak quickly to Ginny and Hermione about what to use as a cover story for what had happened, but he didn't care; all that mattered was that his best friend was dying by inches in front of him.
Finally Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George appeared and kneeled around Harry and Ron. "We think we have it, Harry," Hermione said quickly. "Right after this one we're going to try to stop it. Catch it, and then back away and give us room."

Harry nodded distractedly, his attention on the memory that was about to loose from Ron. The moment it did Harry shot out his wand and blurted "Memorius Capere," and the little wisp trailed after his wand into the bowl. He scampered back on all fours as Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George closed in on Ron, their wands all meeting above his head. Harry closed his eyes, too weary to follow what they were doing, but Hermione's short directions clearly had them all working together. Harry wasn't sure how much time passed, but a rise in the four voices made him open his eyes in time to see a brilliant flash of light encompass Ron, and the four friends almost collapse.

Harry darted forward as the rest of the D.A. came to help support them. "Did it work?" he asked frantically.

"It worked," Hermione confirmed, almost beside herself with relief. "We have to take him to St. Mungo's, quickly!"

"Wait!' Harry cried as hands made to lift up Ron. He indicated the bowl. "I have to put them back!"

It didn't take as long to replace the memories, since Harry didn't have to wait for them to form, but drew them out of the bowl. In about fifteen minutes he was finished. "All right, take him," he said, slurring his words with exhaustion. Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George wasted no time in lifting Ron and carrying him over to the fireplace. Harry glanced around and saw with a start that Snape had been brought downstairs and dumped in a corner, where Parvati and Lavender were watching him carefully with wands drawn. From the bruised look of Snape's face it looked like they hadn't been very careful when bringing him down the stairs.

Harry pulled himself to his feet and staggered over to them. "There's a room in the basement that's warded against everything," he said. "Stick Snape in there for now. And don't bother to make him comfortable." Parvati and Lavender nodded grimly, and used a Levitation Charm to float Snape down the stairs. "Everyone," Harry said, raising his voice, and the D.A. all looked up at him. "Thank you. You all rose to this challenge incredibly. But I have to do something that's going to make things a bit more difficult around here before I go to St. Mungo's."

Harry walked over to the fireplace. "Somehow, Snape and Malfoy got into the House of Black through the Floo," he told them. "I can't leave the chance open that more Death Eaters will use the same trick to get around the Fidelius Charm. I have to get rid of the fireplace."

"But- but how will we get around?" Lavender stammered.

Harry dug in his pocket and produced a number of Galleons, which he quickly turned into Portkeys. "You all know the drill with Portkeys," he said, handing them out. "These ones will bring you back here from wherever. But they're tonight only. Tomorrow, I'm going to meet with each of you in private and make you a personalized Portkey that will only activate for you. That way they won't be usable by anyone who steals them. Now if anyone wants to Floo out before I do this, do it now. You won't be able to leave for the rest of the night otherwise."

Many of the D.A. had to return to their work. After they'd left, the rest watched as Harry pointing his wand, and muttered "Finite Communus," and the fireplace flared for a moment, disconnecting from the Floo network. Then Harry chanted a few more lines, and everyone backed away in surprise as the fireplace filled itself in with concrete, until it was just another section of wall.

Harry fished out another Galleon and created another Portkey for himself. "I'll let you all know how Ron is doing," he said dully. "Portus."

Harry appeared in the lobby of St. Mungo's. He staggered slightly but recovered, and glanced around. It was very late and there was almost no one there; Harry rushed over to the medi-witch behind the counter, all remnants of his confident leader front gone. "Where's Ron Weasley?" he asked quickly.

The witch looked up and he saw the pity on her face. "Through there in the Emergency Magical Trauma center," she said, pointing, "but they won't let you in, they're working on him!" she called after Harry as he ran off.

Harry rounded a corner and came face to face with Fred, George and Ginny. Ginny took one look at Harry and threw her arms around him, crying. Harry held her tightly, fighting back his own tears. "Is- is there any news?"

"The Healers don't know what to make of it," Fred said in a dead voice. "They're going to have experts come in tomorrow, see if they can make heads or tails of what happened, or what to do."

Harry's mouth went dry. Somehow, he'd just expected the Healers to figure out what was wrong right away. If he could luck into shoving a bezoar in Ron's mouth to save his life, couldn't trained Healers do better? But before he could voice anything, George looked up and his face twisted. "It's mum and dad," he muttered.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were hurrying down the hall toward them; they were both wearing coats over their nightclothes. "What is it? Where's Ron?" Mrs. Weasley blurted out as soon as they got close enough. "Is he-"

"Ron's unconscious, mum," Fred said. "The Healers are calling in experts to try to figure it out."

"Oh!' Mrs. Weasley started sobbing, turning into Mr. Weasley's chest. Mr. Weasley hugged her close and cast his distressed gaze over the four of them. "What happened?" he asked.

Harry and Ginny related their story - the cover story, the version that had them being attacked by Lucius Malfoy, only Lucius Malfoy, in the streets of Diagon Alley. Malfoy had hexed Ron, aiming for Harry, and Harry had managed to get through with a Stunning Spell. Malfoy had hit his head on a rock when he'd fallen. Then Harry had conjured a bowl for Ron's memories, and Hermione and Ginny by themselves had figured out how to stop the rest of Ron's memories from leaking away. When they'd finished, Mrs. Weasley turned to Harry and smiled tremulously. "That's four times you've saved the life of a Weasley," she said. "Thank you so much, Harry…"
"I didn't save him," Harry said miserably. "I wasn't fast enough. If I had been then-"

"Stop, Harry," Mr. Weasley said. "This is Lucius Malfoy we're talking about. He's a Death Eater, he escaped from Azkaban. Most wizards with thirty years experience wouldn't have done as well as you did. I have confidence the Healers will figure out what's wrong with Ron and bring him back. You saved him, and undoubtedly Ginny and Hermione as well."

Hermione…Harry glanced around. "Wh-where's Hermione?"

"She's in there with him," Ginny told them softly. "The Healers couldn't stop her, and they said it wouldn't do any harm."

Mrs. Weasley looked shocked. "Hermione is in there with Ron all alone?"

"Harry," Mr. Weasley said, "Why don't you go in and be with Hermione?"

"Wh-what? But- but don't you want to see Ron?" Harry asked.

"We can't do anything for Ron right now," Mrs. Weasley replied in what Harry thought was much too calm a tone. "I think maybe Hermione could use a friend right now, if half what I suspect about her and Ron is true."

Harry gaped at Mrs. Weasley for a moment. He turned to look at Ginny, who nodded. "She needs you, Harry," Ginny said. "Go on."

When Harry stepped inside he found Hermione seated by Ron's bedside. His heart sank when he saw the slack, empty look Ron wore. Harry walked around the bed, and was shocked to find Hermione hunched over a book, reading feverishly by the dim light on the bedside table. "Hermione?" Hermione didn't look up; her eye twitched, but her attention remained focused on the book. "Hermione, what are you doing?" Harry asked, sitting in the chair beside her.

"Figuring out what's wrong, of course," Hermione said tightly. "Ron won't wake, and the Healers are just useless, so I'm figuring it out."

"Hermione, they're bringing in Healers from all over, experts on this sort of thing. What could you learn tonight that they won't know?"

"Many great breakthroughs have happened by people working outside their field," Hermione said sharply.

"Yeah, but-"

"Harry," Hermione interrupted, finally looking up. "I have to do something, don't you see? I have to- I have to bring him back. I have to find- I have to know what he forgot, what those memories were that you couldn't save!" She squeezed her eyes closed tightly. "I don't think I could bear it if he doesn't remember me," she whispered in anguish.

"Hermione, he only lost at most two or three memories. He'll remember you."

"But what if he d-doesn't remember when we first met?" Hermione asked plaintively, fat tears drenching her cheeks. "What if he wakes up, and doesn't remember the first time we kissed? What if he wakes and doesn't remember that we're together?"

"Hermione, he'll remember! He lost maybe two memories out of tens of thousands, what are the odds they were those? He will remember!"

Hermione's expression was pure misery. "H-Harry," she wailed, "wh-what if he d-doesn't wake up?" With a heartrending howl she threw her arms around Harry and clutched at him desperately. "What if h-he never w-wakes," she sobbed, "a-and the l-last thing I s-said to him was that I d-didn't believe he l-loved me?" And there was nothing Harry could give for an answer.

When Harry stepped out of Ron's room, red-eyed and numb, he stared blankly at the Weasleys for a second. "You should go in now," he said eventually.

"Is Hermione all right?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"No," Harry answered. "I think she could use some more company though." He sat down on the bench next to Ginny, leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. "And you should see Ron," he finished.

"Are you sure you'll be all right by yourself?" Mr. Weasley asked.

Harry lifted his head and was about to say yes when Ginny said "I'll stay with Harry."

Mrs. Weasley gave Ginny a sharp look which Ginny met steadily. "Fine," Mrs. Weasley said eventually. "We'll be back soon. Ginny, don't go anywhere."

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Fred and George went through Ron's door. Harry looked at Ginny. "What was that look your mum gave you for?"

"She ordered me to go back home," Ginny told Harry with resignation. "To stay. Said it was too dangerous to be out and about. And I told her I didn't care, that I was going to stay with you and help you. She got furious and asked what was so important about staying with you, since you're just one of my friends."

"And you told her about us," Harry said with resigned certainty.

"No details, but yeah, I told her we're dating," Ginny confirmed. "And mum went ballistic, said I'm way too young and that you should know better than to take advantage of me since I'm younger."

Harry nodded. He couldn't say he was surprised. "So what did you say?"

"I said I didn't care what she thought, that I was going to stay with you and if I'm old enough to kill in self-defense then I'm old enough to bloody well choose who I'll be with as well."

Harry's mouth went dry. "Kill? Wh-what do you mean, kill?"

"Lucius Malfoy died shortly after they got him here," Ginny whispered.

"And you told your mum and dad that you were the one who'd cast the Charm that knocked him out." It was a statement, not a question; Harry could tell from the way Mrs. Weasley had looked. Ginny nodded. "Why the hell did you do that, Ginny?"

"Because I killed him, Harry!" Ginny burst out, angry tears filling her eyes. "I didn't mean to, but I killed him! He might have killed Ron and he would have killed all of us, and I hated him and wished he was dead and now he is! I killed him, and his blood's all over my robes and now it won't ever come off because I'm a murderer!"
"No!" Harry shouted, grabbing Ginny and forcing her to look at him. "Ginny, it was self-defense! You know that! He was trying to kill us! It's not murder if you didn't mean for him to die!"

Ginny leaned into Harry's chest, sobbing. "B-But I wished he was dead," Harry heard her gasp out.

"But you didn't mean it," Harry reminded her. "Hell, you even tried to save him! Don't do it, Ginny; don't blame yourself for an accident. If we hadn't done what we did, we might not have gotten to Ron before…" He swallowed to try to clear the lump in his throat. "Don't tell yourself you were wrong for doing what you had to to save Ron's life."
"Harry," Ginny asked quietly once she'd stopped crying, "do you think- that there's a chance Ron will wake up?"

"I d-don't know, Ginny," Harry muttered miserably. "Knowing Malfoy, he probably picked something specifically to hurt all of us; something that would force us to lose Ron a bit at a time. You and Hermione and the twins stopped it early, but who knows what the permanent effects are."

"We m-might have lost Ron for good," Ginny stated flatly. Unable to answer, Harry just nodded. They both sat for a long while, clutching each other and not speaking. "Harry," Ginny said eventually, "a year and a day is never going to come for us…is it?"

Harry gazed bleakly at the floor, avoiding Ginny's expression. "Of course it isn't," he muttered desolately. "How could it?"

Both of them started when the clock began chiming. The tones were long and deep, and Harry and Ginny both stared at the clock as though mesmerized until the twelfth tone had faded completely away. Harry swallowed as he turned to meet Ginny's eyes. "Midnight," he whispered. "Happy birthday, Ginny."

FIN

Part Five of the Harry's Seventh Year series: http://hp.adult-fanfiction.org/story.php?no=544207049