MetaFic

The large party went off without too many hitches, mostly through the diligence of Remus Lupin, who was trying to recover from being severely tongue lashed by Molly Weasley.

The Weasley brothers pooled their resources and bought Ginny a new broom for her birthday. Her eyes had gleamed with delight as she unwrapped the brand new Nimbus 2004. Harry, after looking the broom over carefully, decided to order one to replace his lost Firebolt and have it delivered to Hogwarts. The Weasley family bought Harry a new trunk, as well as several small items he would need at school, such as parchment and quills. Neville received from his grandmother a cloak that would deflect most common jinxes and hexes. It had, the note said, belonged to his father, and Neville's grandmother felt confidant he would put it to good use.

Several smaller gifts were exchanged, such as boxes of sweets, and colored inks. Harry quietly slipped Ginny a package at the same time as she tried to casually push her gift for him in his direction. Ginny opened her present to be greeted with a Gryffindor cloak pin, engraved with her initials, while Harry had smiled fondly at Ginny, who had gifted him a new album for his photos to replace the damaged one.

But it was Fred and George who had supplied the largest surprise of the evening. Molly had been fuming that the twins were not at the party, and was promising all kinds of punishments and retribution for their missing such an important group event. So it came as a surprise when they Apparated into the dining room, loaded down with three trunks and several articles of clothing, giving them the appearance of being coat racks from all the cloaks and such on their bodies.

"Hello, all," Fred said.

"Are we too late for cake?" George asked.

"Where have you two been, and what is all this–-oh, my, oh you two didn't?" Molly Weasley said.

"Terrible security they have at Grimmauld Place," Fred said sadly.

George shook his head. "Pathetic really."

"It was a simple matter to break in and gather up our possessions," Fred nodded solemnly. "Though the residents seemed upset to find us there."

"Truly," George continued, "we had to stun Narcissa Malfoy."

"Twice," Fred said.

"Just to be sure, you see," George added.

Fred looked at George. "I hope we didn't overdue the Obliviate spell."

"Better if she forgets her whole miserable life if you ask me," George pointed out.

"You two! How could you do something so–so–so–stupid," their mother cried.

"Mum," Bill laughed, "that's one of the silliest questions you've ever asked."

"Anyway," George said, "besides all of our stuff, we raided Sirius' study."

"That's when we ran into the Ice Queen," Fred supplied.

"She was trying to break into this box, which was cursing at her," George dug the medium size box out of the pile.

"It was cursing in Sirius' voice," Fred noted.

George's eyebrows rose in respect. "He had quite the vocabulary."

"Truly a gifted orator," Fred intoned.

"Anyway, we thought Harry might want it, whatever it is," George passed it to Harry, who took it carefully, as if it we spun glass.

"Thanks," Harry said.

"Well go on, open it," Ron nudged his friend.

"Ron, Harry might want to go through the contents in private," Hermione pointed out.

"No, it's okay, except I'm not sure how to open it." Harry pointed out.

Remus Lupin leaned over and looked at the box. "I believe I might be of assistance." He drew his wand and looked at Harry, who nodded for him to go ahead. "Now let's see, which password. Ah, yes, I think it might be — 'Bella sleeps with Hinkypunks.'"

The lock clicked open in Harry's hand, and everyone leaned over the table.

Harry carefully pulled the contents of the box out and placed them on the table. They were several photos of the Marauders in a smaller box. A stack of what appeared to be personal papers, which Harry set aside to investigate later, an emerald set into a choker, and a small wooden box that held a little stone cup filled with the greyish liquid Harry knew was in Pensieves. Harry looked up at Lupin, who shrugged. Harry drew his wand and, with a deep breath, tapped the stone.

"Reveal."

Slowly an image of Sirius Black swirled up from the grey liquid. He rotated for several seconds, and then stopped. The tiny Sirius smiled up at them.

"Well, if you are listening to this, then obviously this old dog's luck finally ran out. I've left a few instructions behind as to the final disposition of my worldly possessions. You will find the full Last Will and Testament of Sirius Black with my legal representatives. Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has been given charge of my affairs, and may settle them in a manner and time of his choosing. I do this to allow him to protect my final wishes from those gold-digging, money-grubbing, blood-bigot relatives I leave behind, in case my name has not yet been cleared. There, now you know how to find my final wishes. Well? What are you waiting for? Go on, the lot of you, find the Will."

Harry sat very quietly for several minutes after the image vanished. Finally he licked his lips and looked up at Professor Lupin. "I'm going to work under the assumption that Dumbledore has a reason for not telling anyone about Sirius' will."

Arthur Weasley cleared his throat and explained to Harry the conversation he had been part of with Dumbledore and Moody concerning just this matter. Harry nodded, satisfied up to a point.

"So, since Pettigrew is in custody, and Fudge is gone, why are we waiting?"

Arthur Weasley licked his lips. "I'm sure he has a reason."

Harry stood and started for the fireplace. "Well, let's just ask him, shall we?" He grabbed some Floo powder. "Albus Dumbledore!"

The Headmaster appeared in the flames. "Harry, you are aware that the Floo is not secure for communications?"

"Yes, sir. I was only wondering. My old dog, where did he bury all his bones?"

"Ah, yes," Dumbledore said. "I'm terribly sorry. I should have brought this up after the mousetrap incident."

"Well, if you could let me know something," Harry said.

"Of course, perhaps on opening night?" The headmaster asked.

"Thank you, sir, that would be fine," Harry said and shut down the Floo.

Hermione looked at Harry. "So you'll hear Sirius's will after we get to Hogwarts?"

Harry nodded. "I suppose he wants to do this in his office. It's about the most secure place in the world." Harry smiled brightly at the others. "Well, let's finish that cake."

The rest of August passed in a blur. Ginny made peace with her three older brothers after a tear filled private conversation between her and Bill. Charlie never did seem to completely get over the confrontation, and would still cast Harry dark looks when he thought no one would notice.

The six teenagers continued to explore their new relationships, much to the amusement and occasional chagrin of the adults. Ginny periodically changed into Ginger and slipped in to Harry's room at night, though she usually managed to quietly leave before morning. Fred complained loudly that his eyes were permanently damaged after finding Neville and Luna in the wine cellar, but Ron whooped and shouted good on them until Molly threatened to make him clear out the spiders in one of the castle towers. Ron and Hermione, it seemed, were subtler, because though they would sometimes vanish for long stretches, no one, no matter how hard they tried, could find them.

Ginny and Luna continued OWL revisions under the tutelage of the older students, and Harry asked his friends to help him draw up a lesson plan for the Dumbledore's Army meetings. It was decided that there would be a few sessions of review, then they would work again on the Patronus Charm, since the Dementor's were still on the loose. Harry failed to beat Ron at chess all summer. Nor did he manage a win against Ginny, though their games were closer. Playing Neville was more fun, as the two boys were closely matched.

On the morning they had to catch the Hogwarts express, tempers were running high. Measures to protect the train included setting up spells and wards to foil Apparation and portkey travel onto Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. The only way to reach the train was through the barrier at King's Cross. The Ministry had stationed several of its best Aurors on both sides of the barrier, Aurors who would be riding the train with the students. The idea of portkeying to Diagon Alley, then working their way to the train was discarded. Moody pointed out that the press would be watching for Harry and his friends in Diagon Alley, and that the Death Eaters would almost certainly be there with an ambush planned. The Ministry cars Arthur had been promised somehow managed to get themselves lost before they reached the pick up point. Finally, under heavy guard, the group started for King's Cross.

The lead and tail cars held four hit wizards each, courtesy of the Ministry of Magic, and the Department Arthur Weasley oversaw. Ron and Hermione would ride in a car with Charlie and Bill. Kingsley Shacklebolt, who had finally recovered from his injuries, and Alastor Moody were protecting Neville and Luna. Lupin and Tonks would protect Harry and Ginny. The senior Weasley's would portkey to Fred and George's shop, then meet the children at the station.

They were an hour into the drive when the lead car screeched to halt as a figure in battered wizard robes stood in the road, his hands held up. Two of the wizards in the lead car stepped out, wands at the ready. Harry and Ginny tried to look over the car in front of them to see what was happening.

"That's Fletcher," Lupin said.

Harry saw Mad-Eye Moody lean out of the window of the vehicle he road in and shout at the lead car to keep moving, but it was too late.

Three jets of green smashed into the lead vehicle, blasting the side apart and flipping it.

The Ministry driver of Harry's car cut the wheel sharply and turned, trying to retreat in the other direction.

A giant, incredibly tall and wielding a huge wooden club, attacked the tail car from behind, smashing the boot and collapsing the rear tires. The road was effectively blocked. Remus Lupin rolled down his window and started shouting curses toward a raised embankment. The Ministry driver tried to get off the road, but a curse took out a front tire, and the car flipped on its side.

Harry managed to push open his door. He looked out to find a lopsided battle taking place.

All five vehicles were disabled, leaving their occupants with no transportation. As Harry watched, a curse struck the lead car again, hitting the petrol tank squarely. The car exploded.

Harry clambered over the side of the car and reached in for Ginny, who was slightly stunned. Tonks had pushed her way past the unconscious driver, and was trying to give the other occupants cover as they scrambled out of the damaged vehicle. Harry pulled Ginny free and the two teens dropped to the ground, seeking cover. Tonks dived back into the car and pulled free the unconscious Remus Lupin, who was bleeding from a head injury, and whose wand arm hung at an odd angle from having the car roll over on it. She motioned for Harry and Ginny to help, and they worked their way to a small ditch.

Tonks looked at Harry as the sounds of battle raged. "Can you help me get Johnson? He's out cold."

Harry nodded.

Tonks looked at Ginny. "Guard Remus for me, and give us some cover."

Ginny nodded grimly.

Tonks and Harry started toward the car, but the giant stepped up and with an overhand swing, smashed the car, with Johnson still in it.

Harry gave Tonks a push as a jet of blue flashed her direction. Harry turned and pointed his wand at the giant as four voices cried out "Stupefy!" The creature shrugged off the spells and turned toward their source. Hermione, Ron, Neville and Bill scattered as the giant lashed out with his club. Harry saw one of the hit wizards take a killing curse in the back. He turned to the raised embankment and cast a Reductor. He was rewarded with a satisfying scream as it hit, flinging earth high in the air.

"Harry, we need to get to cover!" Tonks yelled. They started for the ditch.

They had almost made it when a chilling cold passed over them. Harry turned to find a dozen Dementors gliding down the embankment toward the other wizard's who were still fighting. He raised his wand and joined several voices in a cry of Expecto Patronum. Harry watched with satisfaction as the Dementors were driven away, until the giant took his club and, with a mighty sweep, sent Mad-Eye Moody flying though the air toward him. Harry ducked, and the old Auror hit the ground with a sickening crunch. A jet of red hit Harry in the arm, spinning him around.

"Harry!" He heard Ginny scream, then she started flinging spells in all directions as she charged to his side. Harry sat up and pointed his wand at one of the ruined Ministry cars. With a flick he tossed the car at the giant's head. It connected solidly, sending the creature reeling. Ginny caught on, and sent a rain of debris toward the giant, but just as she started making headway, a Dementor glided up behind them.

Ginny turned and stuttered the Patronus Charm, but was unable to manage anything more than mist. The creature grabbed Ginny's robes, pulling her toward its awful face. Harry shoved his wand into the creature's hood and shouted the Patronus Charm. The Dementor disintegrated as Ginny collapsed into a shocked heap.

The remaining Dementors, seeing their compatriot vanish in a blast of silver light, fled back toward the embankment. Harry turned back to the fight, standing guard over Ginny. He saw Bill Weasley cast a spell at the giant and the creature grabbed its face. Ron and Neville were dueling with three Death Eaters.

"Harry, look out!" Ginny screamed.

He felt himself being pushed away as the cold voice of Lucius Malfoy cast a curse unfamiliar to Harry. The purple flash of light struck Ginny squarely in the chest. She flipped over and lay very still, mouth open in shock, eyes staring blankly, blood tricking from her nose.

"Now, Potter, you can–"

No one will ever know what Lucius Malfoy wanted Harry Potter to do. As he pointed his wand at the teenager, Harry aimed his own wand and, channeling all of his fear, anger, and despair, yelled, "Incendio!"

The spell exploded from Harry's wand and engulfed both Lucius Malfoy and Antonin Dolohov, who was standing next to him. Both men burst into flames and Dolohov ran screaming, until finally the very air from his lungs caught fire. He collapsed and screamed no more. Lucius Malfoy dropped to the ground and started to roll.

Harry gritted his teeth and cast the most powerful bludgeoning curse he knew. It struck Malfoy with a crunch, and he lay still.

Tonks ran up and put the flaming Malfoy out, then turned to Harry.

Harry Potter knelt in the dirt and held the limp body of Ginny Weasley to his chest. He cried and rocked her back and forth.

"Harry," the gentle voice of Tonks spoke into his ear, "Harry, we have to find cover, if they come back--"

"Let them," Harry hissed. "Let them come."

Nymphadora Tonks swallowed. She had no idea how she was going to get Harry moving. She was afraid of a second Death Eater attack, but she had just seen Harry destroy a Dementor, something thought impossible, then he defeated two of the most powerful Death Eaters with almost casual ease. She didn't think she could make him move if he didn't want to.

"Harry, we have to go," she said again.

"No, I won't leave her," Harry held Ginny close.

"Harry, Ginny wouldn't want you to throw away your life."

"It's mine to throw away if I want."

Ginny Weasley took a sudden deep breath and coughed a wracking, horrible cough. She blinked several times, then looked up at Harry. "Did we win?" she rasped out.

A shocked Harry Potter smiled at her through the tears, "Yeah, we won," he said, as Aurors and Ministry officials started to Apparate to the scene.

Ginny smiled. "Good," she croaked, then closed her eyes and lost consciousness.