MetaFic

"It's seeing the Muggles through the mist that bothers me the most. I'm still not clear on why we can see them, but they can't see us." Ron Weasley stood on one of the castle's walls, watching a group of muggle tourists pass by.

"I've explained this at least fifteen times Ronald. The castle exists in two places at the same point in time, just slightly one step away from each other in space. So to the Muggles, it's a ruined hulk they can tour, but we see the castle in its true splendor." Hermione Granger looked at her boyfriend in both an exasperated and yet loving way.

Harry chuckled and walked away from his friends. The castle had been a wonderful retreat. He still was not sure which Order member actually owned the castle, though he suspected it was Dumbledore.

One thing the adults had impressed on the children right away was that they needed to be careful of using magic, and they should always be prepared to flee by any means possible. The two castles existing together was its defensive weakness. They could hide from wizards and witches using the Fidelius charm, at least in the magical world, but the charm did not extend to the mundane ruins. Should an enterprising wizard think to have a Muggle lead them into the ruins, it would be easy enough to find the magical castle. The thing, Tonks pointed out, was that Voldemort's followers were so set in their Pureblood, anti-Muggle ways, they would probably never think to stoop to asking a Muggle for aid. Harry quickly pointed out the flaw in that logic, noting that the Death Eaters had obviously made contact with his Muggle relatives, but Tonks and Lupin assured him that was a special case.

The biggest surprise had come when Harry, Ron, and Neville had been shown to their rooms. There were several changes of clothes setting on Ron's bed, as well as many pieces of Chuddly Cannon's memorabilia, his Cleansweep Seven Quidditch Broom, and several other items of a personal nature. Most of the stuff smelled of smoke, but Bill had happily informed Ron that there had been some items salvageable from the Burrow. The excited shriek from across the hall proved that the Weasleys had also managed to save some of Ginny's items.

But the bright part of the day for Harry was discovering the small pile of items stacked on his bed. There were two sets of school robes, some various Muggle clothing, and his Gringott's key. Bill had held up the remains of Harry's invisibility cloak, explaining that he and Fleur had worked to save what they could of it, though now it was more of an invisibility towel. But most important of all was the photo album. It was scorched, charred around the edges, and some of the pictures had suffered heat damage, but it was mostly intact. Harry had sat on the bed and cried softly, holding it close.

Harry allowed himself a small smile. It had been bittersweet, having the album back. It was precious to him, but it could also, with its pictures of his parents, Sirius, and Hedwig, be painful to look at.

Harry pushed those melancholy thoughts away and continued his search for Mrs. Weasley. His birthday was only five days off and he needed to speak with her about an urgent matter. He found her, not surpassingly, in the kitchen.

"Ah, Harry, would you like some tea? A little something to eat perhaps?"

"No, thank you, Mrs. Weasley. I wanted to ask you for a favor."

"Of course, Harry."

"I thought it would be nice if perhaps we had a party after the OWL results come in. Hermione will score high, and I'm sure Ron and Neville will do well also. Plus, I know both Neville's and Ginny's birthdays are coming--"

Mrs. Weasley smiled at him. "As is someone else's, if memory serves."

"Yes, well," Harry continued, "I just thought it would be nice to have one big celebration for everyone."

Molly Weasley gave the young man in front of her a knowing look. She would never say it aloud, but she knew Harry understood that after the attacks, things were going to be difficult for everyone. Molly understood that Harry knew the Weasley's had done what they could to make the important days in Harry's life as happy as possible in the past. Now here he was, trying to make sure that everyone could have a celebration, but by having only one, they could save their precious resources.

"Of course, Harry. We could use a good party after everything that's gone on."

Harry smiled and nodded. "Do you think it would be possible to make a trip to Diagon Alley?"

"I think a trip to Diagon Alley would be a grand idea," the voice of Albus Dumbledore spoke from the kitchen door.

Molly Weasley did not look as sure. "Is that safe, Professor?"

"We'll make it safe. The students need a trip out, I dare say."

Harry Potter had started trying to make himself think like the headmaster, so he knew that Dumbledore must have another reason for agreeing to what – on the surface – seemed like a risky idea. Harry turned to the Headmaster. "And a high profile public appearance by the very people the Death Eaters targeted will send a message to Voldemort, and bolster confidence in the magical community."

Dumbledore's eyebrows rose. "Very astute, Harry."

"I'm learning from the best," Harry chuckled and walked out of the kitchen, leaving two stunned adults behind.

He wandered down the hallway toward the castle library in search of Ginny. Earlier in the day, Ginny, Luna, and Hermione had disappeared into the cavernous room of old tomes, telling the boys they needed someplace to start doing some early OWL revisions for Ginny and Luna. When Harry offered to help, Ginny had laughed and patted him on the cheek, telling him that when they started Defense Against the Dark Arts revisions, they would call him, and when they reached Herbology they would find Neville, but otherwise, Hermione was probably all they needed for the moment. Harry had been slightly annoyed with his almost girlfriend, but decided it wasn't worth arguing over. Since Harry had seen Ron and Hermione together, that must mean they were either done for the day, or taking a break. Either way, he wanted to spend some time with Ginny. He had not seen her in hours.

"So it hurts?" he heard Luna's voice asking.

"Mostly the change back to human form, but even those are getting easier. The nausea has mostly stopped, and the pain's becoming almost bearable," Ginny's voice had a clinical edge that reminded Harry of Hermione.

"It must be rather comforting knowing that you've–" Whatever Luna was about to say went unspoken as the two young women noticed Harry standing with a stunned look on his face in the doorway.

"Harry," Ginny said, concerned, "are you all right?"

Luna Lovegood smiled a serene smile and drifted out of the room, stopping only long enough to reach up and close Harry's mouth for him as she passed by.

"Harry?" Ginny repeated.

Harry Potter's brain was not responding to stimulus. His body seemed to have suffered a temporary shut down, and his motor skills were refusing to function.

This may have been due to the fact that he had never seen quite so much of Ginny Weasley. The sleeveless top and shorts she was currently sporting showed more of Ginny's skin than Harry thought possible. The fact that a fair bit of it was covered in formula marks didn't faze him in the least.

Finally, a circuit tripped somewhere in Harry's brain and a bioelectric signal got through to its target.

"Um, ah, yeah, I'm fine," Harry mumbled.

Ginny put her hands on her hips and stalked toward him. "What is the matter with you, Potter? Is Voldemort standing behind me? Am I covered in warts and boils?" She stopped a few inches in front of Harry and glared at him.

"You look–you look–"

"What? Drawn on? Pale? Covered in freckles? Short? Skinny? Repugnantly scarred for life?"

"Brilliant."

"Oh."

Harry Potter felt his face flush and wondered why it was suddenly so hot in the library. He looked down to find Ginny looking up at him, her brown eyes searching his green ones. He reached out with one hand and gently traced the markings on her upper arms and shoulder with one finger. Ginny shivered slightly at the touch and bit her lower lip. Harry leaned toward her, his eyes never leaving Ginny's. She closed her eyes and stood on her tiptoes. Harry turned his head slightly and leaned farther in.

"Hey guys, OWL results and school letters have arrived. Mrs. Weasley – oh my."

Harry and Ginny sprang apart as Neville looked back and forth between them. He cleared his throat nervously, his face turning a bright red. "Um, yes, letters and all in the kitchen. Carry on." With surprising speed, Neville vanished.

"I suppose we should–" Harry began.

"Yes, before mum sends someone else to–" Ginny looked at the ground.

"So why don't I just–" Harry mumbled.

"Right. I should change before–" Ginny started toward the door.

Harry reached out and grabbed Ginny by the arm as she went past him.

"Harry, I–"

Harry Potter screwed up his Gryffindor courage and dropped a kiss on Ginny Weasley.

As far as kisses went, it wasn't perfect. Their teeth clicked together and it was a bit wet, though not the tear-filled kind of wet. They took a moment to get the mechanics of the situation down, but once they did the kiss went as well as a first kiss between two rather inexperienced teenagers could.

Harry pulled back and took a breath. "Right," Harry said, slightly dazed. "Right then. So I should go stall your mum while you put some clothes on."

Ginny, who was now blushing furiously, giggled. "It's not like I'm naked or something."

Harry swallowed, trying very hard not to think about Ginny Weasley naked. "So how did you end up so..." he waved at her outfit. "You were in jeans and a tee this morning."

Ginny pulled Harry into the hallway. They would both be going the same way for a few feet. "Hermione and Luna wanted to see the markings, and Hermione wanted to look some of them up."

"And?"

"And she went to the room to get a book and never came back. I assumed she got distracted by something."

"Ron," Harry informed her.

She giggled again. "Thought as much. Okay, I'll change, you stall."

Harry nodded and started for the kitchen while Ginny dashed toward the room the three girls shared.

Harry entered the kitchen to find not only Ron, Neville, Hermione, Luna, and Mrs. Weasley, but also Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall, as well as Charlie Weasley. Neville looked nervously from Charlie, who was smiling like a dragon who had just captured a princess, to Harry, who was trying to look innocent and failing miserably.

"Harry, dear," Mrs. Weasley said, "where's Ginny? Neville said she was with you in the library."

"She had to stop and, ah, use the loo," Harry mumbled.

Charlie's eyes locked on to Harry's and he started drumming his fingers on the table in what appeared to be a menacing way. Harry swallowed, suddenly feeling like everyone in the room knew that he had just kissed Ginny.

"Sorry, I'm late," Ginny skidded into the room breathlessly. She halted beside Harry. "What? Do I have something on my nose?"

"Well," McGonagall cleared her throat. "Now that you are all here. I'd like to pass out your letters. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville, you will be given your OWL results also."

McGonagall passed out the letters, then sat down sipping her tea.

"Well?" Mrs. Weasley said. "Let's have it."

Ron looked up and smiled. "Nine. I got nine OWLS! Including an "O" in potions." His smile vanished, "Oh no, two more years of Snape."

"Professor Snape, Mr. Weasley. And you might open your Hogwarts letter," Professor McGonagall said.

Ron opened the letter, and a shiny badge fell into his hands. "But I'm already a prefect."

"Look at the badge a bit closer, Mr. Weasley," McGonagall told him.

"Quidditch Captain?" Ron looked up, his mouth hanging open. "But what about Katie or Harry. They've both been on the team longer than I have."

McGonagall glanced at him. "If you don't feel you're up to the task..."

Ron blanched. "I'm right honored, Professor. I'll make sure the cup stays with Gryffindor."

"See that you do, Mr. Weasley."

"What about you, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Fourteen, though I feel the "E" on the Astronomy Practical is unfair. There were extenuating circumstances and a terrible distraction. I suppose I could write the examination board and protest the score."

"Hermione," Ron said quietly.

"Yes?"

"I just want you to know how much I love you right this very second."

Hermione blushed and stopped talking. Harry turned to Neville.

"Ten," Neville said simply. "You?"

Harry finally opened his letter. "Ten."

McGonagall cleared her throat. "And in potions?"

Harry smiled slightly. "An "E" in both practical and written."

McGonagall straightened in her chair. "Well, I'll speak to Professor Snape on your–"

"That won't be necessary, ma'am. I don't plan on taking NEWT-level potions."

McGonagall gave Harry a hard look. "Without a NEWT score in potions, you will not qualify to become an Auror."

Harry sighed. "I think, professor, that after this war is over, I'll have had enough of fighting dark wizards."

"An admirable sentiment," Dumbledore spoke up for the first time.

A metal clink stopped the conversation.

"Oh, Luna!" Hermione said, "You've made prefect!"

Luna picked up the badge and gave it in an almost disinterested look. "Why yes, so I have."

Mrs. Weasley hovered over her daughter, waiting for Ginny to open her Hogwarts letter. Ginny opened the letter and gave her mother a rueful smile.

"Sorry, mum," Ginny said. "I know you're disappointed I didn't make prefect. I'm a little too much like the wrong brothers, I suppose."

Charlie laughed. "And we all know which brothers those would be."

Molly Weasley gave her second oldest a sharp look before turning back to her youngest child. "Well, a mother can hope. Just promise you'll study hard for your OWLs, dear."

Ginny turned and hugged her mother. "Of course I will."

"I would not be too hard on your daughter, Molly," Albus Dumbledore said. "She will have her hands quite full this year with OWLs, Quidditch, and her Animagus training. And as for you, Harry, I will be teaching you Occlumency, and then there is the matter of your illegal Defense Club."

Harry looked at the Headmaster. "I wasn't planning on reviving Dumbledore's Army this year. Unless, of course, you've hired another Defense professor like the last one."

Dumbledore chuckled. "Actually, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor requested that you keep the club going, as a sort of extra-study group. You would have official standing as a school club, but, you will also be required to accept students from all houses, third year and up. Can you do this, Harry?"

"I'm not sure I could lead the group if someone like Malfoy should show up."

"There will be a faculty member assigned to supervise," Dumbledore pointed out.

"Not Professor Snape," Harry said.

Dumbledore shook his head no. "Not Professor Snape."

"Okay then, I'll do it. But I reserve the right to change my mind and dissolve the club at anytime."

Dumbledore nodded his agreement. "Of course, Harry. One more thing. Just for the school records, who named the club?"

Five fingers pointed at Ginny, who laughed delightedly.

"Very well," Dumbledore said, standing up. "Tomorrow you six will go to Diagon Alley to purchase your school supplies. While you will be under heavy guard by the Order, that guard should remain largely invisible. I would ask you to do two things tomorrow. Be constantly on your guard, and make yourselves as visible as possible. Harry can explain why this needs to be." Dumbledore smiled at them. "Have a nice day," he said, then stepped out of the kitchen, Professor McGonagall following behind. Mrs. Weasley and Charlie rose and told the teens they would be in the castle courtyard if they needed them.

Five pairs of eyes turned toward Harry for an explanation.