A Mother's Love

Chapter 2: The First Part of Summer.

Parts of the next two weeks were rather hectic. Harry and the others were having a tolerable time at Grimmauld Place. Dumbledore had shown up that first night after dinner and talked to all of them. He had been working for most of that day on finding solutions to Harry's problems about his Muggle guardianship. He had managed to get the Weasleys appointed as his Muggle guardians. It also turned out that Aunt Marge had been at the Dursleys' so there was nobody left on his uncle Vernon's side of the family. Harry attended the combined funeral ceremony for his relatives. Remus had obtained some Muggle dress clothes for Harry that Dobby had altered to fit.

The Muggle inquest was very quick. It was obvious that the Dursleys had been murdered in a senseless, random attack. It was also obvious that it wasn't Harry who had been responsible. He had no real motive or opportunity as he had been away at school. The Muggle police didn't seem to have a clue who had done it. The Aurors weren't certain either. There were simply no clues.

Harry also learned that with the coming of his seventeenth birthday, he was going to have to go see a lawyer at Diagon Alley about his inheritance from the Potter and Black Estates. Since he was coming of age in the Wizarding World, he would have to start taking some charge over his affairs. Up to this point Albus and Remus had overseen them.

The students had only been home from school for two days when the first attacks began in the wizarding world. The Daily Prophet seemed to have news of a fresh attack almost every day. The Ministry was still telling people that everything was okay. They claimed that they were taking the appropriate actions. However, it was apparent that the wizarding community was becoming more frustrated with Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudges' apparent ineptitude in dealing with the attacks. The only positive item that Harry had seen was the repeal of the underage restriction of magic use. At least students could defend themselves if attacked without having to worry about breaking the law. Of course the secrecy laws still existed but everybody followed those anyway. Calls to seek a new minister were becoming more noticeable but with no apparent candidate available. It seemed the replacement of Fudge was not going to happen soon.

Harry was afraid that he, along with his friends, might be bored this summer. It appeared they would be cooped up at Grimmauld Place all summer which meant no flying and no Quidditch. However, after the first week, Dumbledore showed up with a solution. He informed Harry that if he wished, a summer school of sorts could be started for him at Grimmauld Place to help him prepare for the future. Harry thought it was a good idea as long as his friends could participate as well if they wanted. Starting the next day, a different member of the Order would show up, each day, training with Harry and the others. The summer school sessions covered various subjects. Dumbledore taught them Occlumency. Combat training was with Moody, Tonks, Shacklebolt, Remus or whoever was available. They also studied advanced charms and other various advanced defense spells. Hermione even began to research older, lesser known but powerful spells from old books in the library or obtained from the Headmaster. They all knew that these spells and the practice they were getting, along with the other skills, would increase their chances in surviving the coming war. Harry was particularly interested in making sure Ginny could more than adequately defend herself, often times spending extra time working with her.

By the end of June, Harry was feeling that the advanced training they were getting was starting to pay off. They had all learned a great deal more in these last several weeks. His Occlumency was so good even Dumbledore felt he could teach him nothing further. He did warn him though to continue to practice, as it was required to keep his mind sharp. Harry knew he still had a long way to go, but he felt that they had all made a good start.

Harry had also been thinking more about Ginny. He knew what he felt now was certain. He also knew how she felt about him. He wanted to talk to Mr. Weasley about this before he acted though. He went down to breakfast one morning, early in July, to try to catch Mr. Weasley before he left for work. He hoped that everyone else would still be asleep. When he entered the kitchen, he saw that Mr. Weasley was the only one there. Harry was relieved as he walked towards the table.

"Good morning, Harry," Mr. Weasley said as he got up from the table and placed his dishes into the sink. "I was just getting ready to go to work."

"Mr. Weasley, could I have a few moments of your time please?"

"Certainly Harry. Let's go into the parlor so we won't disturb anybody else when they come down for breakfast." Harry followed Arthur Weasley down the hall into the parlor. As he sat down, he noticed Mr. Weasley closing the door and then throwing up soundproofing charms. He then turned to Harry and sat down opposite him in another chair. "I figured you might wish some privacy for our talk, Harry, since you obviously got up early to see me."

"Yes, sir," Harry said. He noticed how dry his mouth had gotten all of a sudden. 'I can do this.' Harry thought. "I want to talk to you about Ginny. I want you to know that I love her and I want to ask her to marry me. I would like your permission to do so."

"What if I don't give you my permission, Harry?"

"Then I am sorry to say I will have to do it without your blessing anyway. I love her very much. I know she is my future, if I have one. I want her to know how much I love her, in case I don't survive killing Riddle."

"Harry, Molly and I know how much you love our daughter. We have admired the restraint you have shown and the fact that you have taken things slowly, even if you both might want to go faster. I do feel that Ginny should have the opportunity to finish her seventh year at Hogwarts. She is a year behind you. We trust you both to do what's best and to be careful in your choices. We also understand the times we live in and how important your love is. Of course, you have both of our blessings. You have always been like a son to us. This will just make it official."

"Thank you, sir. I know how important your daughter is to you. Please understand that she is just as important to me. I figured we could wait until Ginny graduated before getting married."

"When are you going to ask her, Harry?"

"Well, I need to go shopping for a ring. I also need some other items. Could you arrange with Professor Dumbledore for me to go out shopping sometime before my birthday? I also need an excuse to have to go alone. That way I can get the ring without raising too much suspicion."

"Leave it to me, Harry. I'll talk to Dumbledore later about it."

"Thank you sir."

...

Harry trained hard that day with both Tonks and Remus. Sometimes they doubled up on Harry in order to push him to his limits. Death Eaters often fought unfairly and Harry had to be ready for any type of attack. After the training session, he went and grabbed a quick shower before he would join the others in their summer studies course. Today was potions and even though Mrs. Weasley was showing them a new simpler Healing potion, he wasn't in a big hurry. He was still trying to sort out a lot of feelings. He was a little anxious about Ginny. He knew that once he asked her to marry him, she would probably increase her attempts to get Harry into bed. He wanted into her bed but he wasn't sure it was right. He was just so confused as to what was right or wrong in relationships. School should hold classes in this kind of stuff but who would teach it. He laughed out loud as he had a mental image of Snape teaching this.

"Class, there will be no wand waving in this class and I don't mean your sticks! Weasley, Granger, 50 points from Gryffindor for being horny!" The image just went on from there. He started to really laugh a bit and had to sit a moment on his bed.

"I could use to hear something funny, Harry. What's got you so happy?" Remus looked at Harry with a grin on his face.

"Hi, Remus. I was just thinking and having some weird daydreams." Harry went on to explain his image of Snape attempting to teach sex-ed class. Soon, both of them were laughing again as Remus came up with a few ideas of his own as to how Snape would act. He then looked at Harry.

"I understand you need to do some shopping tomorrow. Albus spoke to me a moment ago. It is all arranged. We will go out tomorrow. Tell the others that Dumbledore wants no crowd to attract attention. That should be enough to mollify them. He also suggested that you tell them that it is a dull meeting with Muggles over the Dursley Estate and then clothes shopping."

"Thanks, Remus, I'll do that. So you are taking me?"

"Yes Harry, I am. You better get going now. You don't want to keep Molly waiting too long."

Harry said his good-byes as he left the room and went down to the kitchen. Remus sat in Sirius's old room for a moment and thought of his old friend. Then, he got up and headed out to see if Tonks was still here and maybe wanted some Butterbeer. It seemed to taste better when shared with her.