Like A Star

"Ginny, breakfast!" Molly Weasley shouted to her only daughter. Hermione, Harry, Ron, the twins, and Bill were all crowded around the table already. Percy and Mr. Weasley had already left for work, and Charlie was still asleep.

"I'm not hungry!" Ginny called back. She sounded either extremely mad or extremely sad, but Mrs. Weasley wasn't sure which.

"I wonder what has gotten into that girl. She's been like this since you all got back from Hermione's a week ago!" Mrs. Weasley muttered to herself. Ron and Harry both began coughing, but their coughing sounded suspiciously like "Braeden, she likes Braeden." The twins and Bill laughed, and Hermione just rolled her eyes.

"Guys, this is serious," she said.

"Who is Braeden?" Bill asked.

"Braeden is my older cousin," Hermione replied.

"Oh?" asked Mrs. Weasley.

"Yeah, he and Ginny got quite close while she was visiting my house, as he and his brothers are there until they go back to school," Hermione explained.

"Oh, that's so sweet!" Mrs. Weasley gushed.

"So sweet," echoed Bill.

"Ginny's got a boyfriend!" Fred squealed. Bill laughed at his younger brother.

"Don't laugh Bill, you've got an Arabella," George said.

"I've also got a wand," Bill replied.

"So do we," Fred and George exclaimed at the same time.

"I can use mine outside of Hogwarts!" Bill said. The twins instantly shut up and looked towards their breakfast.

"Ginny, are you sure you don't want something to eat?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"I told you mum, I'm not hungry!" Ginny cried.

"She's got it bad," Ron muttered, shaking his head at his breakfast.

"I wonder how Braeden is doing," Harry said.

"Good question. I'm sure he misses her," Hermione said.

"Yeah, I'd say he does!" Ron exclaimed. The day they left, Ron had stumbled into Ginny's room to help her move her trunk downstairs. He had accidentally walked in on a bit of a snogging session between Ginny and Braeden. Needless to say, he wasn't a very happy camper.

"You know what he told her the night they went out to dinner?" Hermione asked.

"What?" Harry asked. Ron didn't look as though he really wanted to know.

"Well, it was in French, but loosely translated, it means 'I have nothing to say because there is nothing I can say that would describe how I feel as perfectly as you deserve it'," Hermione squealed.

"That is so sweet!" gushed Molly. Fred, George, and Bill all exchanged mischievous glances. Harry and Ron just rolled their eyes.

"I know. I didn't think my cousin had it in him," Hermione laughed.

"So tell us about this boy," Bill prompted.

"He's 16," Hermione began.

"That's a little old," Fred and George said. This time their exchanged glance was more worried than mischievous.

"She's fourteen, you guys need to come to terms with that!" Ron exclaimed. Fred, George, Bill and Mrs. Weasley all turned to look at Ron.

"Who is he and what have you guys done with our real Ron?" Bill asked incredulously.

"He's the real Ron, alright," Harry replied.

"You guys should meet Braeden, he's a really nice guy," Hermione added.

"HEY!" Ron exclaimed. Every one turned to look at Ron. "I know what would be a great surprise for Ginny!"

"What?" Fred and George asked suspiciously.

"Braeden is still at your house, right Hermione?" Ron asked.

"Yeah," said Hermione. She and Harry had half figured out where Ron was going with his line of questioning.

"What's saying he can't come here?" Ron asked, looking hopefully at his mother.

"Our house is connected to the floo network now," Hermione said.

"They're probably eating breakfast right now," Harry added, glancing at his watch.

"What's one more?" Mrs. Weasley asked, "but we're going to Diagon Alley today."

"So Braeden and Ginny can shop together," Ron said.

"I want to meet this guy," Bill said, automatically taking his role as the very over protective older brother.

"Alright," Mrs. Weasley agreed.

"Keep Ginny in her room, this is going to be an awesome surprise!" Ron exclaimed.

"Again, who are you and what happened to the real Ron?" Fred asked.

"Braeden is a good guy and Ginny is obviously upset over him. It will be great for her to get to see him," Ron rationalized. Mrs. Weasley returned with the infamous flowerpot and handed it to her youngest son. Ron walked over to the fireplace and threw some powder in. He stepped in and shouted "Jo's House, England!" and in a minute, had disappeared.

"Who is there?" Jo exclaimed, running into the den when she heard Ron fly out of the fireplace and hit the furniture.

"Hey Jo, it's just me," Ron said, standing up and brushing himself off. He had left in such a hurry that no one had bothered to put an anti soot charm on his robes.

"What's wrong with Hermione?" Jo asked instantly.

"Oh, nothing," Ron replied, "it's actually Ginny."

"Ginny?" Jo asked.

"How is Braeden?" Ron asked.

"He's been out of the basement about once a day since Ginny left, no more than that. Ben can't stand him, so Ben has actually been being social," Jo admitted.

"How big of a problem would it be for him to come to the Burrow for the day to spend some time with Ginny before they both have to go back to school?" Ron asked.

"He would LOVE that!" Jo gushed. Before Ron could say anything else, she had turned and gone back into the kitchen. She returned a moment later pulling a very disgruntled looking Braeden by his left elbow.

"Hey Braeden!" Ron exclaimed.

"What's happened to Ginny?" Braeden asked.

"Nothing! Boy you people are a positive bunch!" Ron exclaimed.

"Why are you here?" Braeden asked.

"Would you like to go back to the Burrow and meet the rest of our family and then go to Diagon Alley with us?" Ron asked. Braeden's face immediately brightened at the prospect.

"YES!" He cried.

"Well come on, let's go! We need to get back into the kitchen before they manage to get Ginny down for breakfast," Ron said. He reached into his pocket for some more floo powder.

"Wait, I need to go get some stuff!" Braeden said. He ran from the room and returned a moment later wearing a black robe and holding his wand.

"Alright, I'm ready to go!" Braeden exclaimed. Ron handed him a little of the floo powder and they both threw it into the fireplace. They stepped in and yelled "THE BURROW!"

A moment later, Ron and Braeden flew out of the fireplace at the Burrow. They fell right at the feet of a semi circle of people. Ron looked up into the faces of four of his older brothers. Bill and the twins had dragged Charlie out of bed while Ron was gone, so only Percy was missing. All four older boys were scowling down at Braeden.

"And this is the welcome committee," Ron laughed nervously.

"Uh, hi guys, I'm Braeden Granger," Braeden said. He jumped up and extended his hand to Bill who was standing on his left. Bill shook his hand lightly.

"That's Bill, Charlie, Fred and George," Ron said, pointing at each of his brothers as he said his name.

"Percy's at work," supplied Hermione.

"So you're the boy our sister is so taken with?" Bill asked.

"Yes sir," replied Braeden. Bill's face broke into a broad grin.

"You'll do I suppose. Anyone that will call me sir!"

"Honestly, I think you've given him a big head!" Charlie laughed. Fred and George both smiled mischievously at him.

"Hello dear, I'm Molly Weasley!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, pushing past her sons and over to Braeden.

"How do you do, Mrs. Weasley?" Braeden asked, shaking Molly's hand warmly.

"Where'd you get the robes?" George asked.

"Didn't anyone tell you? I'm a wizard, too. I go to Beauxbatons," Braeden explained. Bill and Charlie exchanged an excited glance. George and Fred looked a little less nervous about their sister's man.

"Right then, I'll go get Gin," Molly said. She bustled out of the kitchen.

"Well Braeden, if you so much as," began Bill.

"Ron's already threatened to force feed me my own eyeballs with a spork," Braeden supplied.

"He also threatened castration too," but you were already out of the room for that part," Harry laughed.

"HARRY!" Braeden cried.

"Hey man!" Harry replied.

"Braeden!" Hermione whispered. She ran over and enveloped her cousin in a tight hug.

"Did he really threaten to feed you your eyeballs?" George asked.

"Yes," replied Braeden.

"That's our ickle Ronniekins!" Fred laughed.

"GINNY! YOU MUST COME DOWN AND EAT BREAKFAST NOW! WE'RE LEAVING FOR DIAGON ALLEY SOON!" Mrs. Weasley shouted.

"I won't go!" Ginny called back. Hermione ran out of the room to aide Molly.

"Gin, you need to come down! I can't go shop all day with just the guys!" Hermione cried.

"Only for you, Hermione," Ginny replied, and they heard footsteps on the stairs.

"Hide him!" Bill hissed.

"Get back to your breakfasts!" Ron insisted.

"Put this on!" Charlie whispered. He shoved a hat down on Braeden's head.

"Here, sit in Percy's seat. She won't know that he's already left for work," George said, shoving Braeden into a seat on the bench. Everyone else scrambled back into their seats just as Ginny entered the kitchen with Molly and Hermione close behind her. Ginny walked over to the table and threw herself down in her seat on the far end of the bench.

"Good morning Ginny," Bill said.

"Morning Bill," she mumbled. Molly filled Ginny's plate with scrambled eggs.

"Percy, shouldn't you be at work by now?" Ginny asked, looking down the table at the person sitting in Percy's seat.

"Uh," came Braeden's highly intelligent response. Ginny looked closer at the person.

"Bloody hell! Fred, George, you've really surpassed yourselves at the pranks this time," Ginny cried. Tears formed in her eyes and she pushed back from the table. "Suddenly I think I've lost my appetite."

"Ginny! It's me!" Braeden exclaimed. He jumped up from his spot and ran around the table towards Ginny. Ginny turned to look at him.

"Bill, hand me your wand," she insisted. Bill pulled his wand out of his pocket and tossed it to Ginny. She deftly caught it and pointed it at Braeden.

"Finite Incantatem," she exclaimed. When he didn't change into anything, she tossed the wand back to Bill.

"Braeden!" she squealed, and dived into his arms. He caught her and spun her around several times.

"Why didn't you think it was me?" Braeden asked. He sounded slightly hurt.

"You don't know the twins," came the unanimous reply from everyone in the kitchen besides Fred and George. They just smiled mischievously.

"I've missed you so much," Ginny said.

"I've missed you too," Braeden said. They enveloped each other in another hug and then backed off and held the other at arms length, just looking into the others eyes.

"Goodness guys, you've only been apart for a week," Ron mumbled into his plate of eggs.

"So which of you two was responsible for this?" Ginny asked, turning to Hermione and Harry.

"Actually, I was," Ron sheepishly admitted.

"Very funny Ron," Ginny said, still looking expectantly at Hermione and Harry for an answer.

"It was Ron," Hermione insisted.

"Really Ginny, Ron showed up in the kitchen in Hermione's house just a few minutes ago and brought me back here," Braeden added.

"And before he even went, it was his idea," Harry's comment finally convinced Ginny.

"Ron, you're the GREATEST big brother EVER!" Ginny cried. She ran over to Ron and flung her arms around him.

"Hey wait, what about us?" Bill asked. He sounded only slightly hurt by Ginny's comment.

"Did you go to Hermione's house to rescue Braeden?" Ginny countered.

"No, but I lent you my wand to make sure Braeden was really Braeden," Bill said, and smiled hopefully at Ginny.

"So you're the second greatest big brother ever," Ginny replied.

"That's reasonable," Bill agreed.

"Is everyone done with breakfast?" Mrs. Weasley asked. After a pretty much unanimous yes, Mrs. Weasley sent the dishes towards the sink with a flick of her wand. Then she pulled out the flowerpot and held it out to each of the children in turn. Bill and Charlie went through first, followed by the twins, then Ginny and Braeden, then Harry and Ron and lastly Hermione and Mrs. Weasley.

"Alright children. You have until 1 o'clock. At one, meet me at Madame Malkin's to buy your new robes," Mrs. Weasley said once they had all assembled in the Leaky Cauldron.

"New Robes? We're getting new robes this year?" Ron asked as he, Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Braeden wandered away from the group in the direction of Diagon Alley.

"Evidently Bill donated some money to our cause," Ginny said, "he got some sort of massive bonus for breaking a curse wizards had been working on for years."

"Why does no one ever tell me these things?" Ron asked. Harry and Hermione laughed at him. Hermione threw her arm around his waist and pulled him closer to her.

"It's okay Ronnie, we know you're still loveable," she laughed.

"Don't call me that! You've been hanging around the twins too long!" Ron cried.

"You're right, we have Ickle Ronniekins," Harry laughed.

"HARRY!" Ron exclaimed.

"Ickle Ronniekins? Is that what they call you now?" a familiar drawl issued from just behind the five friends. Harry, Hermione and Ron turned around instantly to face Draco Malfoy. Braeden and Ginny went and stood behind the three friends.

"Fuck off, Malfoy," came Ron's highly intelligent reply.

"Spending all summer with Potty and the mudblood hasn't improved your vocabulary, I see," Draco said. Crabbe and Goyle flanked him on both sides, as usual.

"WHAT did you just call her?" Braeden asked. His voice held fierceness that no one assumed he was capable of.

"Who are you?" Draco asked.

"He's my friend," Ginny replied, before Hermione or Braeden could tell of their relationship.

"By his own will, or is he riding Potter's fame too?" Draco asked.

"You never answered my question," Braeden spat. He stepped around in front of Hermione and Harry.

"I called her 'mudblood'," Draco replied calmly. He glanced at Crabbe and Goyle who took the hint and scowled at Braeden.

"Why?" Braeden asked calmly.

"Well in case anyone hasn't informed you, Granger's parents are of the muggle variety," Draco said.

"I happen to know that better than most," Braeden replied.

"How?" Draco asked, "You didn't date the mudblood did you?"

"Actually, no. I didn't date her. But that would be because she's my cousin! And, unlike pure bloods, I don't pick girlfriends off the family tree," Braeden replied. Harry and Ron looked at each other and smiled. Draco took a step towards Braeden.

"We didn't become superior by inbreeding!" Draco spat.

"Then how did you remain pure blooded?" Braeden asked. Goyle and Crabbe stepped up to each of Draco's elbows.

"You know, if you're Granger's cousin, then you're nothing but a mudblood either," Draco replied. Braeden was evidently sick of listening to Draco talk. His right fist connected with Draco's jaw with a sickening crack.

"Do you have anything else smart to say?" Braeden asked.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do," Draco mumbled, although his jaw looked broken. "Get him, boys." Crabbe and Goyle stepped towards Braeden, but before either of them could do anything, Ron landed a kick meant to keep Crabbe from reproducing. Crabbe howled with pain and fell over.

"Get up you big goon!" Draco mumbled. His jaw really wasn't working the way anyone's jaw should. Ron stepped on Crabbe's stomach on his way to aide Braeden and Harry with controlling Goyle. Goyle had pushed Harry down and was swinging wildly at Braeden. Harry stood up and crept around behind Goyle. Braeden had managed to duck most of Goyle's advances, as Goyle couldn't hit anything unless Crabbe held the target still. With Crabbe out of commission, Goyle wasn't having much luck. Harry jumped up on Goyle's back and caught his hands around the larger boys neck. Goyle instantly forgot about Braeden and became more concerned with making Harry quit choking him. Braeden punched Goyle squarely in his nose. Goyle fell over on Harry. Harry screamed.

"Stupefy, Stupefy, Stupefy, Stupefy, Stupefy, Stupefy." A voice called. All six boys instantly went rigid and still, and those who weren't on the ground already joined those who were.

"Now what happened here?" another voice demanded. Ginny and Hermione turned to find Bill and Charlie Weasley and Lucius Malfoy standing behind them.

"Well, we were all walking along and Malfoy and his two goons came up behind us and Malfoy called Hermione and Braeden mudbloods," Ginny gave the very recapped version of what had happened.

"So Braeden punched Malfoy and Crabbe and Goyle attacked Braeden. Harry and Ron jumped in when it seemed that Braeden wouldn't be able to handle Crabbe and Goyle alone," Hermione finished Ginny's explanation.

"Sounds reasonable enough," Bill and Charlie agreed.

"My son would never call anyone a mudblood. I've raised him better," Lucius Malfoy insisted. He pointed his wand at Draco "enervate." Draco sat up and clasped both hands to his broken jaw.

"Did you call Miss Granger and Braeden mudbloods?" Lucius asked. Draco nodded dumbly

"DRACO CULLEN MALFOY!" Lucius roared. He grabbed Draco's arm and dragged him down Diagon Alley away from the Weasleys and Crabbe and Goyle. Draco stumbled along behind him with his other hand on his broken jaw.

"Cullen?" Hermione asked, looking at Ginny. Bill and Charlie began reviving Harry, Braeden, and Ron.

"I like it. Too bad it's Malfoy's middle name," Ginny said.

"It means 'handsome one'," Hermione laughed.

"Someone's parents were a bit cocky," Ginny replied.

"Did they hurt any of you three?" the girls heard Bill asked. They turned to see that Ron, Harry, and Braeden were all sitting side by side on the ground staring up at the two oldest Weasley brothers.

"No, but I think Braeden hurt Malfoy," Harry said.

"Not as much as his father probably will," Bill said grimly more to Charlie than to the teenagers.

"Do you have to wake them up?" Ron asked, indicating to Crabbe and Goyle, who were still lying behind him, stunned.

"Yes, Ron, we do, but if you five would like to disappear before we do," began Charlie.

"That would probably be the best idea," Bill finished. Charlie nodded in agreement. The boys didn't need any more encouragement. They all three jumped to their feet and ran over to the girls. Braeden laced his fingers through Ginny's and Harry and Ron took their characteristic positions on each side of Hermione.

"You know, I'm quite glad my goons are smarter and cuter than Malfoy's," Hermione laughed. Ron and Harry both turned to look at her.

"What?" she asked, "With the way you two are walking now, it seems sorta like you're my body guards!"

"You're not funny, Hermione!" Ron exclaimed, but the tone in his voice said that he thought otherwise.

"So where are we going first?" Hermione asked.

"Quality Quidditch supplies!" Ron and Harry exclaimed.

"Fortescue's!" Ginny cried.

"What about Flourish and Blotts?" Hermione asked.

"The Quidditch place sounds good!" Braeden laughed.

"You play Quidditch?" Harry asked.

"Yes, I'm the keeper for my house team at school," Braeden replied, "and you're Hogwarts youngest player in a century."

"Yeah," Harry replied.

"What about you?" Braeden asked Ron. The two younger boys steered the girls and Braeden towards the Quidditch store.

"I'm trying out for the Gryffindor team this year," Ron said.

"What kind of brooms do you have?" Braeden asked. Hermione and Ginny were silently amazed that the three boys had managed to go this long without talking about Quidditch.

"I need a new one," came Ron's only answer, "what about you?"

"I've got a Nimbus 2000," Braeden replied "Harry?"

"I've got a Firebolt," Harry replied.

"REALLY?" Braeden asked.

"Yes," admitted Harry. Ginny and Hermione rolled their eyes.

"I heard they're coming out with a Firebolt 2 sometime next year," Braeden said.

"How can this stupid sport consume all of their time an conversation?" Hermione asked Ginny when it became definite that the boys would be interested in nothing besides Quidditch for quite some time.

"Actually it's not that stupid," Ginny replied.

"Oh NO! Not YOU too!" Hermione cried.

"Hermione, I have six older brothers, of course I like Quidditch," Ginny replied.

"Are you a Cannon's fan too?" Hermione asked.

"Actually no, I'm a big fan of the Holyhead Harpies. They're the only all-witch team in the league," Ginny explained.

"An all-witch team?" Hermione asked, "That could be interesting."

"They're better than the Cannons," Ginny laughed.

"Don't say that too loudly, Ron might go off," Hermione warned.

"Oh we've had several heated battles about it," Ginny replied.

"So why haven't you said anything about liking Quidditch before?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know. It's just never come up. And I like Quidditch, and absolutely love to play it, but I'm just not as enthusiastic about talking about it as the boys are," Ginny replied.

"You play Quidditch too?" Hermione asked.

"Of course! When we play in the orchard near our house, it's always me, Ron and Bill against Fred, George and Charlie. Percy refs," Ginny explained.

"Which position do you play?" Hermione asked.

"Well, we play Weasley style Quidditch," Ginny admitted. "Charlie and Bill both play seeker and keeper and the twins, Ron and I all play kind of a combination of chaser and beater."

"That sounds like it could be interesting," Hermione said.

"Oh, it can be. At one point, Fred and George decided they were tired of playing both chaser and beater so they took Charlie's wand and bewitched their bat's to work on their own free will. Evidently the bat's didn't like Fred and George's attitudes, so the game was called off because the bat's wouldn't leave the twins alone," Ginny laughed.

"Do you think you'll try out for the house team next year?" Hermione asked.

"I'm not sure. I've almost got enough money saved up to buy a Nimbus 2000, which isn't necessarily the best broom, but it will do for a chaser," Ginny said.

"You want to be a chaser?" Hermione asked.

"Yes," Ginny said. "Ron wants to try out for Keeper this year."

"I heard Neville wants to try out for keeper too," Hermione replied.

"Will his grandmother let him?" Ginny asked.

"That's questionable," Hermione laughed.

"If you make the team, whom will I watch the games with?" Hermione asked.

"Neville?" Ginny suggested. Hermione had to laugh at her friend.

"Who do you think the captain will be this year?" Hermione asked.

"Harry. Everyone else is graduating. And even if that has no affect on the choice, Alicia is head girl, I just don't see Katie or Angelina wanting to be captain, and well that leaves Fred and George. As much as I love my brothers, neither of them could handle the responsibility of being Quidditch captain," Ginny laughed.

"But Harry is young," Hermione countered.

"That's exactly why he'll get captain. They'll choose someone who will be with the team more than a year," Ginny explained.

"Makes sense," reasoned Hermione.

"I don't believe it!" Ron exclaimed.

"Tell me I'm dreaming!" Harry added. Both boys were staring at Hermione and Ginny with expressions of awe on their faces.

"Hermione Granger is engaging in a conversation about Quidditch!" Ron finished.

"Shove it Weasley," Hermione spat playfully at Ron. Harry opened the door to the Quidditch store and bounced inside. Braeden and Ron followed them almost as excitedly.

"They look like little children at Christmas," Hermione laughed to Ginny. Braeden had dropped Ginny's hand to join Harry and Ron in ogling the racing brooms, despite the fact that Harry owned the best one made.

"They're boys in a Quidditch shop, that's either just as bad or worse," Ginny explained. Hermione laughed at her.

"Actually, I think Ron is buying his broom today. He's been saving birthday and Christmas money since he was about eight, and I think he's finally got enough for a Nimbus 2001," Ginny said.

"Really?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, he reckons that he should have a new broom if he's going to try out for the school team," Ginny said.

"Interesting. What kind of broom do you want, when you get one?" Hermione asked.

"A Firebolt would be preferable, but I'd have to convince mum and dad to sell the house to pay for one of those, so probably a Nimbus 2000 or 2001," Ginny explained.

"How long do you think it will be before Lucius Malfoy buys Firebolts for the entire Slytherin team?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know if even Malfoy has enough money for that," Ginny laughed. Hermione laughed with her, and then they both stopped talking to watch Ron pay for his very own racing broom.

"Oh great we're going to have to play Quidditch every day from now until school starts!" Ginny cried.

"And you'll care?" Ron asked, waving his new broomstick in her face.

"I won't," Ginny replied, "now get the broom out of my face." Ron became content with admiring his new broomstick. Braeden threw his arm around Ginny's shoulders and she slipped her arm around his waist.

"So we're the only single ones in the group, I suppose," Harry laughed to Hermione as they headed towards the ice cream parlor.

"I suppose," Hermione laughed, and they surveyed the two couples.

*****

Ten ice cream sundaes (Ron had two), 24 new school robes, 1 set of dress robes, six sets of schoolbooks, quite a few rolls of parchment, quills, ink, 4 containers of owl treats, 1 bag of cat food, 1 container of Sleekeasy's Hair Potion, six boxes of fireworks and 2 racing brooms (Ginny got hers too) later, the Weasley children and their friends found themselves sitting at the kitchen table at the Burrow.

"Who's up for Quidditch?" Ron asked, looking expectantly at his siblings, his best friend, and Braeden.

"Want to try out the broom?" Fred queried.

"Of course!" Ron exclaimed.

"ME TOO!" cried Ginny.

"Count us in," said George.

"Bill, Charlie, Harry, Braeden?" Ron asked.

"Braeden can have my position," Bill volunteered looking expectantly at Charlie.

"Charlie, go ahead and play, I've got something I want to talk to Bill about," Harry said.

"Are you sure?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah," Harry replied, "And Braeden, you can borrow my Firebolt if you'd like. Its upstairs in my trunk." Bill did a summoning spell and quickly enough the Firebolt was in Braeden's hand. The two teams and Hermione headed out towards the makeshift Quidditch pitch in the orchard. Bill took a seat at the table across from Harry.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Bill asked.

"My parents," Harry admitted.

"Ah, my parents and Dumbledore were warning me that this would be coming," Bill almost laughed.

"Really?"

"Yes. They predicted that as soon as you realized I went to school with your parents, you'd have to ask me about them," Bill said.

"Did you know them well?" Harry asked.

"As well as could be expected under the circumstances," Bill replied.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, when I was a first year, James, Sirius, Remus, and Lily were all fifth years and Arabella was a fourth year. James and Lily were prefects, so of course I knew them because of their positions of power," Bill explained.

"But Arabella said you had pranked with the Marauders," Harry said.

"And that would be the other side of your parents I knew. The Marauders didn't particularly like outside help with their pranks. If they did need it, they asked me, Lily, or Arabella," Bill said.

"What all did you help them with?" Harry asked.

"More stuff than I care to remember. Where I was younger than them, it was easy for me to be a lookout or play a very minor but important role in their pranks. People could see me and no one would ever suspect I was in on what had happened, was happening, or was about to happen," Bill explained. Harry leaned his elbows on the table and propped his chin in his face. "The one where Snape almost died? Have you heard about that one?"

"Who hasn't?" Harry asked.

"I didn't realize it was that famous," Bill laughed, "At any rate, Snape has always had a bit of a gift with animals. He was out walking around the lake and a loveable stray black dog led him into the tunnel under the Whomping Willow. The Marauders had stationed me in the entrance hall with the map to make sure no one went outside that night. I wasn't sure exactly what was going on or anything, but then I noticed dots labeled Snape and Sirius headed off of the edge of the paper right towards the Forbidden Forest. It was a full moon and I had heard the rumors about the werewolves, so I sort of freaked out because they were headed right into the forest. I figured Snape had done something to Sirius so I freaked out and got James. He evidently saved them both. I didn't understand why Sirius got detention for that until much later."

"So you're really the one who saved Snape's life," Harry said.

"Not hardly," Bill replied, "it was all James. I just had the sense to get his attention."

"Why him and not a professor?"

"That's the way the Marauders were. If one was in trouble, they preferred to have the other Marauders alerted over the professors. Less trouble for everyone that way," Bill explained.

"How did Fred and George learn to work map?" Harry asked.

"When the Marauders graduated, they passed the map down to me and Arabella, telling us to pass it on to the most promising pranksters in a younger year when we, mainly I, graduated. The most promising prankster after the two of us was Gus Fletcher, so we passed the map to him. Before he could pass it on, he lost it to Filch in a good prank gone awry. Fred and George stole the map back in their first year. They showed it to me and I recognized it so I told them when they pulled their first prank on Snape, I would tell them how to work it."

"Way to carry on the Marauders tradition," Harry laughed.

"I thought so. At any rate. Fred and George played a very risky prank in their second year so I taught them how to work the map," Bill replied.

"What did they do?" Harry asked eagerly.

"They created a hair washing potion that they weren't sure would work and caused enough of a disturbance in the great hall to slip it into Snape's drink at dinner time. The potion only worked if ingested, so when Snape drank the potion, his hair was automatically clean," Bill explained.

"I wonder what Snape looked like with clean hair! Harry exclaimed.

"Evidently the twins potion worked rather well and Snape's hair was automatically clean. And there is also a good reason for Snape to have greasy hair."

"What's that?" Harry asked.

"His hair is naturally curly and quite bushy, so it sticks out everywhere," Bill explained, "and the twins potion actually worked well enough so as to give him an afro." Harry almost fell out of his chair at the thought of Snape with an afro. He doubled over with laughter, putting his head between his knees under the table.

"Of course, everyone was pretty sure who did it, so the twins had several weeks worth of detentions, but I'm sure it was amusing all the same," Bill said.

"I'm sure," Harry gasped. "So what about my mother?"

"Lily Evans was gorgeous, to say the least," Bill said.

"You fancied my mum?" Harry asked. His jaw dropped and he looked at Bill wide-eyed.

"No, not really, but it was general opinion that she was gorgeous. I fancied Arabella," Bill admitted.

"Obviously," Harry laughed.

"But your mum was gorgeous. And she was very intelligent too. As I'm sure you've heard, she was a fantastic charms student. In fact, if she had lived, she would probably have been Flitwick's replacement when he retires."

"Really?"

"More than likely. Her best friends were Remus and Arabella."

"Remus?"

"Yes, Remus. Sirius and James were inseparable, and Remus was very close to them too, but Remus sort of alternated between hanging out with the guys and the girls," Bill explained.

"Who did she date before my father?"

"Um actually, she and James were pretty much inseparable from about their fifth year on," Bill explained, "a lot of our success as a team could be credited to them."

"A team?"

"Your mother was a fantastic Quidditch player," Bill said.

"My mum played Quidditch?"

"Yes, she was a beater. Arabella was the other beater, James, Sirius and Remus were the chasers and Wormtail was the keeper."

"Who played seeker?" Harry asked.

"Oh, that was me," Bill smiled.

"Were you all good as a team?"

"We were fantastic. The guys knew each other's moves perfectly and flew seamlessly. Then Lily and James had some sort of odd connection going on where Lily always knew where to place a bludger to block for James. And the chasers usually ran the score up so high that I didn't even really need to catch the snitch, although I usually did."

"What about the keeper?"

"His skills at keeping goals were comparable to his skills at keeping secrets," Bill said ruefully. "But because the rest of our team was so good, he could suck arse."

"Oh," Harry said, looking at the table.

"I'm sorry, Harry, I shouldn't have said that," Bill apologized.

"No, it's okay," Harry said.

"Wormtail had an inferiority complex from the time I knew him. He was always trying SO hard to prove himself to the Marauders," Bill said. Harry nodded mutely. "I don't know what Dumbledore was thinking when he let your parents change their secret keeper. I would have been a better secret keeper than that," and Bill let loose a string of expletives, half of which Harry had never heard.

"So my mum was a beater, eh?" Harry asked to get the subject away from what was so obviously upsetting Bill.

"Yeah. She was fabulous," Bill laughed. Harry could just picture his petite mother flying around the Quidditch pitch a la the Weasley twins.

"Better or worse than Fred and George?" Harry asked.

"As a single player, better, but Fred and George are better as a pair than she and Arabella were. I think that has something to do with them being twins though. I swear, the two of them are telepathic," Bill laughed.

"I'd believe it. Some of the stuff they do on the field is simply amazing," Harry said.

"As it is their seventh year, I'm going to try to make it to more of their games," Bill said.

"Won't you be in Egypt?" Harry asked.

"No, I got transferred back here to work on some very special projects concerning a possible discovery of the Isle of Avalon," Bill explained, "After breaking that last curse, they decided they would be better served to have me working here."

"And because," Harry hesitated a moment before continuing his sentence.

"Yes, 'and because' Harry. Leave it at that," Bill instructed. Harry nodded again.

"Boys, go out to the pitch and get everyone else, its almost time for dinner," Mrs. Weasley instructed as she bustled into the kitchen. Bill and Harry jumped up from their seats and headed out towards the orchard.

"Bill?" Harry asked.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks," Harry said.

"No problem," Bill said. He clapped Harry on his back in a very 'way-to-go-you-just-won-the-Quidditch-match' way rather than the 'I-just-spilled-my-guts-about-your-dead-parents' way the situation deserved.

"HEY GUYS!" a voice from closer to the orchard called. Harry and Bill looked over and saw the four younger Weasley brothers and Hermione walking towards them.

"Mum says it's dinner time!" Bill called back.

"Yeah. Gin and Braeden should be here in a few minutes. They in the orchard having a discussion," Charlie cried.

"That can't be good!" Bill exclaimed.

"They'll be fine!" Ron said.

%%%%%

"Ginny, what are we going to do?" Braeden asked.

"About what?" Ginny played dumb. Braeden laced his arm around her waist as they sat on the makeshift Quidditch pitch.

"About us," Braeden said.

"You've got to go back to Jo's soon," Ginny said.

"Even more than that, Gin, I've got to go back to France soon, and you're going back to school." Ginny looked down at her shoes and tried to ignore the tears forming in her eyes.

"Ginny, I meant what I said the other night about you meaning the world to me," Braeden continued in a shaky voice.

"And I meant what I said to you too," Ginny replied. A couple of tears slipped down her cheeks.

"But Gin, as you do mean the world to me, I can't stand to see you sad," Braeden said. He reached over and brushed the tears away.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Ginny asked.

"Ginny, if we were together and had to be apart, it would make you sad. I don't want that. I'm saying that we shouldn't officially be boyfriend and girlfriend. I mean, remember how we were this past week?" Ginny nodded dumbly. "I don't want you to go through a year like that."

"Braeden, I'm going to miss you SO much!"

"I'll miss you too Gin. We've got to keep in touch, but I don't want to put you through having a long distance relationship," Braeden said.

"But I don't want any other guys!" Ginny cried.

"And I don't want any other girls, but still, we're going to be in separate countries, feelings might change," Braeden said.

"Agreed," Ginny said. Tears still poured silently down her face.

"I'll miss you," Braeden said. He pulled Ginny backwards so that they were both lying on their backs, entangled in each other's arms, staring at the stars.

"I'll miss you too."