Aftermath

     It had been six months since the devastating final battle in Diagon Alley against the forces of the Dark Lord. Many a good witch and wizard fell in this battle, and many a Death Eater had been sent to his assigned seat in Hell. Voldemort's plan was flawless; a surprise attack at the heart of the wizarding world was pure genius. Little did he know that his faithful servant Lucius Malfoy was overheard while finalizing plans for the attack and that this compromised information had been rushed to Albus Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix. Percy Weasley would forever be hailed as the hero of The Battle of Diagon Alley for his timely warning, and the wizarding world would be eternally grateful for the quick reflexes that Percy exhibited as he prevented the death of the world's most famous young wizard, Harry Potter.

     Harry Potter and his two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, had just begun their sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry when the Dark Lord had unleashed his plan. The three wizarding schools Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons had all been closed after the battle, for dozens of students had joined the battle against Voldemort, and many had perished. Thanks to Dumbledore's Army of students and the Order of the Phoenix, Voldemort was no more.

     Slowly, ever so slowly, the magical world was rebuilding itself in an attempt to regain some small sense of normalcy. The wizards of the world were resilient; many of the ruined shops had been rebuilt in Diagon Alley, and there was even a rumor that a new restaurant, called The Crucible, was going to open soon. Recently, Dumbledore and representatives of the other schools had been spotted carrying on whispered conversations while walking around Hogsmeade, the village nearest Dumbledore's own school. This action on the headmaster‘s part lent credence to the most exciting rumor of the many that were flying around: The schools would soon reopen!

     There was much to be done in the way of rebuilding and healing, for, despite efforts made by those opposed to Voldemort, the war had spilled over into the muggle world, and Harry Potter‘s only blood relatives had been cursed and brutally murdered by Draco Malfoy and his minions, Crabbe and Goyle; these three had escaped capture and were now in hiding. In spite of their theories that these three, along with other surviving Death Eaters, were plotting to wage war on Lord Voldemort‘s enemies, the magical people rejoiced that Voldemort was dead and that there was finally a chance for peace. This newfound peace felt good to a certain green-eyed, black-haired teenage boy. . . .

*****

He loved the sounds and smells of the early morning at the Burrow. The birds were awakening, and their excited calls filled the air. From the pond he could hear the croaking of the bullfrogs as they prepared for another day of bug catching. The breeze blew gently through the nearby forest and brought a gentle rustling of leaves to his ears. From Mrs. Weasley’s kitchen came the smell of breakfast cooking; sausages, eggs, hot cereal. She always fixed his favorite things for breakfast. Today was also laundry day; Mrs. Weasley must have started her laundry early. He could hear the bed sheets flapping in the breeze as they hung from the clothesline; the laundry soap that she used gave off the cleanest, freshest scent one could imagine. He couldn’t think of any place else he would rather be at this time in his life. He loved the Weasleys; they treated him like a member of the family, and they loved him. They loved him even though their devotion to him was partly to blame for the deaths of three of the Weasley children.

“Harry?” said a soft, familiar voice from behind him. He knew that voice so well. It belonged to Ginny Weasley, youngest member of the family and the only girl among seven children. She had become his confidant and had assumed the role of nurse and protector since Voldemort‘s attack.

"Hi, Gin!" replied Harry, while stretching his arms and filling his lungs with the brisk morning air. After making room for her on the bench, Harry spoke again. "Sit next to me for a bit, Gin, until your Mum calls us for breakfast."

“Did you sleep at all last night, Harry?” asked the young girl anxiously; she knew that, since the final battle, Harry had trouble falling asleep at night, and when he did, it was due to an extreme exhaustion that contradicted his tranquil surroundings.

“Yes, I did sleep a little,” he lied, hoping that she wouldn’t notice, but certain that she would. Feeling, more that sensing, her pointed look, Harry elaborated. "I still dream about the boys a lot, and I can’t help but think that they would still be here if it wasn’t for me.“

“Oh, Harry, please don’t say that!” she said, drawing him to her and holding him close. “Harry, you know that we were all together in that fight; there was absolutely nothing you could have done differently.

At this encouragement, Harry sat up and searched for her face with his hands, and she leaned forward so that he could gently trace his fingers over her cheeks and lips. Minor intimacies such as this had taken place often since the day a deflected Avada Kedavra curse had robbed him of his eyesight.

“Harry, Ginny, time for breakfast!” Mrs. Weasley called from the kitchen. The merriment from Molly Weasley’s voice was long gone and would probably never return. Her sons Bill, Percy, and George had been dead these six months, and their passing had left a hole in her heart that could never be filled. Her boys had died gallantly, giving their lives in the fight against Voldemort. If it hadn’t been for her Percy throwing himself in front of Harry just as Draco Malfoy had uttered the killing curse, the boy who lived would have lived no longer. Molly knew that Harry blamed himself for the deaths of her boys, so she tried to make him understand that no one held him at fault, but her words failed to comfort Harry, and she could see him sinking further into despair. If it weren‘t for Harry‘s one bright spot, Ginny, who adored him, surely Harry would be beyond their reach. There was a time when Molly wouldn’t have encouraged a relationship like this between the two of them, but now she could see that it was the best thing for both of them. They gave each other strength, forming a bond that none could break.

Ginny led Harry to his seat at the kitchen table. Although he was getting pretty good at finding his way about the Burrow without any help, he certainly didn‘t mind having an excuse to hold Ginny’s hand.

“Morning, Harry,” said Molly, giving him a hug and a peck on the cheek. “Have a seat dear, and I’ll fix your plate.” Just as the words left her mouth, however, she caught a harsh glance from Ginny, and she quickly changed her mind. “Oh, wait a minute, I’ve forgotten to put the biscuits on. Ginny, will you please take care of Harry while I tend to things?”

Ginny’s glare quickly turned to a smile as she said, “Of course, Mummy, glad to.”

“Morning, Weasleys!” said Arthur, patriarch of the clan. “How’s my family today?” Harry felt warm inside upon hearing this simple gesture because he knew that when Arthur Weasley talked about his family, he was including Harry as well.

A loud clomping down the stairs signaled the entrance of the remaining Weasley children who now lived at the Burrow: Fred and Ron. Ron was Harry’s best male friend and, as Harry had discovered that day in Diagon Alley, a fierce warrior.

Mr. Weasley tapped his juice glass with his spoon in order to get everyone’s attention. “A toast,” he said, “to those no longer with us.” The group somberly drank their juice and then took their seats. This memorial to their friends and family had become somewhat of a custom among many of the wizarding families during the last six months.

“All right there, mate?“ asked Ron as he gave Harry a pat on the back. “Notice you‘ve been holding hands with my little sister again.” At this, Ginny turned beet red, and Harry moved slightly away from her on the bench they shared.

“Hush now, Ron,” chided Molly, “and don’t antagonize your sister.”

“Sorry, Mum, just was wondering how much a new set of dress robes for a wizard wedding would cost me,” smirked Ron. This comment was too much for Ginny, and she bounced a biscuit, complete with butter and jam, off the top of her brother’s head.

“All right!” yelled Molly as only she could. “That’s enough from both of you!” Harry thought he could detect just a hint of a smile in her voice as she tried to give her children her sternest look. Perhaps this was why Harry no longer took offense when Ron teased him about Ginny; it might be a sign that some day, however unlikely it might seem at the moment, some of the joy that used to be a part of the Weasley family would return. Besides, Harry could no longer be one hundred percent certain of his true feelings about Ginny, and he rarely felt uncomfortable at the mention of the two of them together.

Breakfast was concluded without further hostilities. As Ginny helped her mother clear the table, Harry felt a strong hand on his shoulder. “Harry, I’ve cleared it with Ginny to have a chat with you out by the pond," said Fred. “That is, of course, if you don’t mind?” Ginny just shook her head and rolled her eyes.

“Ah, sure,“ Harry replied, somewhat warily, ”er-- what’s on your mind, Fred?”

“Don’t worry,” grinned Fred. “I’m not going to give you the third degree about your intentions towards my baby sister.” The launch of biscuit number two was aborted as Molly grabbed her enraged daughter in a bear hug and shooed the boys outside.

It had been a long time since Harry had heard anybody in the Weasley family laugh as hard as Fred was

laughing now. “I tell you, Harry, we have a little Molly Weasley on our hands! Whoever ends up with her should receive either a medal or a psychological evaluation!”

Harry couldn’t help but smile as Fred led him down to the pond. When they arrived at the spot where he and Ginny had sat together that morning, Fred made sure that Harry was comfortable before sitting down himself. “So what’s on your mind, Fred?” Harry tackled the problem quickly.

“It’s about the joke shop,” replied Fred. “Now that George is gone, I don’t know if I can carry on by myself. I don’t know if I want to carry on by myself.” Feeling Fred shift to put his head in his hands, Harry felt the loss of George keenly. He couldn’t begin to imagine what Fred, who was George’s identical twin, was going through.

Before the war, the twins were inseparable. The pair went everywhere and did everything together; they were both beaters on the Gryffindor House team together, and they were even thrown out of Hogwarts together. Technically, they weren’t really thrown out of Hogwarts; they quit. The twins had both known, though, that their days at the school were numbered. The boys just had better, more imaginative things to do, things like opening a very successful joke shop. Harry had given the twins his winnings from the Tri-wizard Tournament, 1000 Galleons, and they had opened Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes. The shop had become a success far beyond their dreams, and since he had funded their business start-up, the twins had made Harry a full partner. Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes was now even exporting its mayhem to villages near Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, the other two wizarding schools, at a very nice profit. This month alone, Harry’s share of the profits had been 500 Galleons, and Fred had only reopened the shop three months ago. He remembered the row he had with Fred about accepting a share of the profits. Harry hadn’t wanted to accept anything, but Fred was adamant about it, and, in the end, Harry had relented. Besides, a plan was already forming in his mind, a plan to save his share and use it to do something wonderful for the witches and wizards who had suffered so greatly at the hands of Voldemort.

“So much of what we did together was just plain fun,” said Fred. “Sure, it’s great to make money on what we invented, but I miss the adventure of seeing what kinds of stunts we could pull off next and taking turns testing our wheezes. It‘s not as much fun when you have to do it alone. They are going to reopen Hogwarts in a few months. I was thinking of applying for reinstatement, you know, to please Mum--goodness knows she needs some cheering, “ he contemplated wistfully. “You are a full partner, Harry. Tell me what you think I should do.“

Harry could feel tears welling up in his sightless eyes as he thought about George. After a minute, he answered carefully. “All I know is, some of the happiest memories that I have of Hogwarts have to do with you and George and those awful jokes that you two used to play. Don’t you think that now, more than ever, people need your special talents and inventions?” Harry paused to let it sink in a little before continuing, “You have a special gift, Fred, you can make people laugh, and more laughter is what this world needs now.“ Reaching out, Harry touched Fred’s shoulder. “I think you can go back to Hogwarts and run the business at the same time, Fred,“ he said encouragingly. “With Ron spending most of his free time at St. Mungo's with Hermione, I don’t know how much he could help out with the store, but I would be glad to help any way I can. I think I might even be able to get Ginny to help out if you stop teasing her about the two of us.”

Fred laughed and grasped Harry’s hand firmly. “You’re right, of course, Harry. George wasn’t a quitter, and he wouldn’t want me to quit either. Besides, I think you, Gin, and I could get into a fair share of trouble between the three of us, and it makes it a lot easier to test things when you have all of those unsuspecting first-years wandering around the school. Thanks, Harry,” said Fred, standing up to go back to the house. “Do you want to go back up now?”

“No,” said Harry a little sheepishly, “I think Gin is coming down after bit to chat for a while.” Harry couldn’t see the grin on Fred’s face, but he knew it was there.

Ginny and Ron had been given the task of cleaning the breakfast dishes-- without magic--and they had barely spoken a word to each other when Fred strolled into the kitchen with a suspicious half-smile on his face. “What’s up?” Ginny asked him.

“Nothing,” said Fred. “I just think Harry prefers for you to escort him back up to the house.” Searching in vain for a biscuit, Ginny just knew that Fred was all set to give her another verbal poke, but he surprised her by walking by and patting her on the head. She was still trying to figure Fred out when she started for the door, but, before she could get there, Ron called her name.

“What do you want?” she asked gruffly.

Ron approached her with a serious look on his face. “Gin, I’ve never said this to you before--Merlin knows I should have….”

“What?” she asked curiously.

“Harry is my best mate,“ he began. “His friendship is one of the most important things in the world to me, and I don‘t know what I would do if I should lose him. I appreciate the way you take care of him and look out for him,“ he continued. “I just wanted you to know that I feel lucky to have you as a sister, and I love you very much.”

Ginny could detect no trace of a smirk either on his face or in his voice, so she put her arms around her brother and held him tightly, almost unable to believe what she had just heard. She knew that her brothers loved her; they just weren’t the type to get all gushy. “You’re a pretty special person yourself, Ron,” she said. “The way you have stuck by Hermione all these months, talking to her even though she can’t hear you and holding her hand even though she doesn’t know it. You have been there for her, just like I have been here for Harry. I couldn’t ask for a better brother, Ron-- I love you, too.

Harry was beginning to think that Ginny had forgotten him when he heard her footsteps approaching. She sat down and immediately put her arms around him and began to cry. “What’s the matter, Gin?” Harry asked, concern in his voice.

“Oh Ha-rry, it’s Ron-n,” she bawled, unable to control her emotions.

“What did he do to you now?” Harry asked, alarmed.

“He didn’t do anything, Harry; he’s just so wonderful, and I’m so lucky to have him as a brother.”

“I’m sorry, I thought we were talking about Ronald Weasley-- you know--your brother,” joked Harry in an attempt to cheer her. His attempt worked, and she finally managed to tell Harry what Ron had said to her. He couldn’t suppress his smile; he had always known that Ron wasn’t as shallow as Hermione sometimes

portrayed him to be. Harry’s thoughts now strayed to his other best friend. She had been in a coma since the battle in Diagon Alley, where she had been hit by an unknown curse that none of the medical wizards seemed to be able to cure. He remembered Ron screaming and charging full tilt into the two Death Eaters who had struck Hermione down. Crabbe and Goyle never knew what hit them. Ron had rendered Crabbe unconscious with his first assault and had managed to disarm Goyle at the same time. When Harry had asked Ron if he needed help, Ron had worn a grim face as he had shaken his head no. Later, the bodies of these two men, the fathers of two of Harry’s worst enemies, were found dead, their bodies horribly misshapen and in unnatural postures. Harry never asked Ron what had happened.

After a few minutes of restful contemplation, Ginny spoke. “It’s such a beautiful day, Harry; let’s promise not to be sad any more today….I know what would make us both feel better.“ At Harry’s grin, Ginny knew how he had interpreted her words. “Harry Potter!” she giggled. “Are you sitting there, having rude thoughts about me?”

“Oh no, Ginny, he stammered, I would never think of things like that about you!” Harry couldn’t see her look of disappointment at this news, but she knew he was just being Harry Potter, the boy who was always trying to do and say the right thing so that the people around him would be at ease.

“My dear Mr. Potter, what I had in mind was flying!“

Flying! It had been months since he had been on a broomstick. He wasn’t even sure that he could still fly. How would he manage it? Would Ginny have to tie a rope to him like a pet calf? Despite his fears, Harry spoke up eagerly. “Knowing you as I do, Gin, I’m assuming you already have a plan worked out….”

“Well, I was going to save it for a surprise, but I think now is as good a time as any,” she said, jumping up and pulling Harry with her.

“Where are we going?” he asked as she dragged him back towards the Burrow.

“To the shed; I’ve got to show you what daddy and I have been working on,” she said excitedly. By the time they reached Mr. Weasley’s work shed, both of them out of breath. “Stand here, Harry,” she ordered. “I‘m going to bring you out a surprise present. ”We’ve been working on it at night after everyone’s gone to bed.”

Harry smiled at the excitement in her voice and waited anxiously for her return. “Hold out your hands,” he heard her say. He reached out and took the object from her. As he ran his hands up and down the wooden object, his fingers painting a picture for his mind to see, he knew what it was immediately. It was his Firebolt broomstick, a professional quality broomstick and one of the finest ever made. He knew this broomstick backwards and forwards, but, this time, there was something more to it; it seemed heavier and kind of lopsided. As his hands moved down the long, sleek handle of the Firebolt, they encountered a metal bracket that was attached to a crossbar. Moving further down the broomstick, he found another bracket and crossbar. Sliding his hands across the topmost crossbar, he came to another bracket attached to another broom.

“Gin, just what have you given me here?” he asked curiously.

“Oh, Harry, please don’t be mad,” she said. "It was an idea that I came up with, and Daddy helped me put it together. What you have is your Firebolt joined to my Comet two-sixty.”

“This is how it will work, Harry,” she said, “The brooms are stoutly joined at the crossbars, and we will be riding together, each on our own broom. Since your Firebolt is so much faster than my Comet, we will have to be careful when we push off from the ground,” she continued, becoming more animated all the time. “I will control with my broom until we get some height and practice a bit, then you can take over. I‘ll be your eyes--” She broke off, unsure of his expression. “Please, Harry, tell me what you honestly think-- I know I shouldn’t have touched your Firebolt without permission, but I--” Seeing that he had raised his hand to cut her off, she stopped rambling, and Harry reached out to take her hands in his and draw her into a warm embrace.

As he stood there gently holding her, he whispered softly, “Ginny, I can’t think of any better present that you could have given me.” Upon speaking these words, he bent his head down and kissed her slowly, fully on the lips. Ginny, reacting in a way she would never have imagined, fainted in his arms. “Ginny, oh, Ginny, please wake up!“ he said franticly, gently laying her on the ground. “I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have done that . Please wake up, please--please don’t tell your Mum what I did! Oh, Ginny, I’m so sorry.” He took her hand and could feel her beginning to stir. He raised her to a sitting position, and, once again, he placed his arms around her. As he held her, he could feel her shaking. How am I going to get her to stop crying? Just as he thought this, Ginny leaned back, and Harry realized she wasn’t crying-- she was laughing almost uncontrollably.

“Oh, Harry, you silly git!” she giggled. “Only you, the gentlest, kindest wizard boy I have ever known would have the power to render a girl unconscious with a kiss and then feel the need to apologize for it.” Her voice becoming softer now, she continued, “I’ve wanted you to do that for ever so long, Harry.” The two embraced for several minutes longer before Ginny spoke again. “I expect that we have quite a bit to talk about. Perhaps tonight-- after supper. For now, though, let’s try out your present,” she said, pulling him to his feet.

They picked up the combination broom and headed for the meadow where the Weasleys practiced Quidditch so that there would be no obstacles to hinder their takeoff. Ginny made sure that Harry was seated properly on his broom before picking up her Comet and mounting. “Okay, Harry, we will push off on my count of three. Remember to take it slowly with that rocket you’re riding,” she instructed him. Harry gripped his broomstick tightly and heard her count, “one, two, THREE!” On three, they both pushed off gently from the ground with Ginny controlling the direction of their flight. He was surprised at how well the two brooms maneuvered together. It wasn’t like flying his Firebolt by himself, of course, but it actually flew quite well and seemed to respond quickly to Ginny’s control. Ginny took them through some slow turns and shallow dives to get Harry used to things. She now leaned back and pointed the combination broom skyward to gain some altitude.

Upon leveling off, Ginny asked Harry if he was ready to try a bit more speed. He nodded grimly and gripped his broomstick even tighter. Ginny’s idea of a bit more speed was actually a lot more speed! Harry could feel the wind rushing past his face, and his mind flashed back to the first time he had ever ridden a broomstick. He was back in his favorite element, and he owed it all to his little Ginny and her father. Once again, Harry thought, the Weasley family has worked their magic to lift my spirits.

“Okay, Harry, it’s your turn to be flight commander,” Ginny laughed. “I’ve taken us high enough, so we shouldn’t be running into anything.”

“All right, Gin, here we go, ” he said, trying to sound calm. He pointed the broomsticks upwards and accelerated quickly. Not knowing for sure how well the Comet part of the pair would hold up at higher speeds, he checked with Ginny as to how she thought her broom was doing.

“Everything looks fine, Harry, these old Comets were made to take a lot of punishment. Open her up!” she called to him. That was all of the encouragement he needed as he began to urge the brooms on, going faster and faster until it was almost traveling at the fastest speed of a normal Firebolt. Ginny yelled to him that everything was okay.

“I’m going to dive her, Ginny,” he yelled. “Keep a sharp eye, and make sure you give me plenty of time to pull up”

“Okay, when I yell ‘now,’ Harry, you be sure and pull up right away.”

He nodded in agreement and started his dive. This dive was something he used quite often in his position as seeker on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. The Firebolt could drop like a rock; time and again he had used this to his advantage to beat a rival seeker to the Golden Snitch. Because of the extra weight, they dropped even faster than normal, and Harry had begun to worry about being too low to pull out of the dive when he heard Ginny give the signal. He pulled back hard and could feel Ginny helping him on her Comet. Once again, the combination broomstick surprised him, as it easily pulled out of the dive with plenty of room to spare-- at least Ginny told him there was plenty of room to spare.

They spent the next two hours flying and enjoying themselves. They took turns controlling the brooms, and, by the end of the session, both were quite skilled in handling it. After they landed, they walked slowly-- hand in hand--back to the work shed to store the broomsticks. As Ginny closed the door and took Harry’s hand to lead him back to the house, he put his arms around her and held her tight. “Thank you so much Gin,” he said. “Thank you for the broom--for allowing me to fly again--for everything.”

This time it was her turn--she reached up and kissed him, holding him tightly. “I suppose we better be going back to the house now,” she said. “This will be as good as time as any to tell Mummy about what Daddy and I have done with your broomstick and that you have been flying again.”

“What?” Harry asked. “Your Mum didn’t know about this? Gin, there is going to be hell to pay!”

“I know; I know,” said Ginny, “but we were both so sad and needed cheering up, and this combination broomstick was the perfect answer. Besides, if I tell her now, it will give her a little time to wind down before Daddy comes home this evening,” she explained. “Perhaps by then she will be in more of a mood to take it easier on Daddy--after she’s realized that no harm’s been done."

Warily they walked back to the house and into the back porch where Mrs. Weasley was folding some of her family’s freshly washed clothes. “Here, Mummy, sit down, and have a rest, let me help you with that,” she volunteered.

“Oh, thank you, dear,” said Molly. “You two been for a long walk, have you?”

“No,” Harry spoke up. He was going to try to take some of the heat off of Ginny. “We were trying out something that Ginny and Mr. Weasley put together for me out in the shop.”

“What’s that, dear?” she asked.

Screwing up his courage, Harry spoke again. “It’s a combination broom. My Firebolt attached to Ginny’s Comet two-sixty, so she can be my eyes and give me direction when we are flying,” he said, getting bolder by the second. “We have been flying for the past two hours, and it was perfectly safe, and--”

”You’ve been doing what?” Mrs. Weasley said, rising to her full five feet four inches and knocking over a pile of recently folded laundry in the process. “Ginny, how could you--Harry, what were you thinking?” she began to wail. “Do you two realize what--?” she stopped in mid-rant and looked at the two young people before her. Ginny was hanging her head, and Harry looked as if he had just seen Voldemort again. The moment was ripe for a patented Molly Weasley tirade in which she would point out such things as safety, lack of good judgment, and the foolish risk to Harry when so many people had been working day and night to protect him from danger. Instead of continuing on with her finger-shaking, volume-enhanced lecture, however, Molly just sighed and sat back down. She knew that she could be a bit of a shrew at times, and she also knew that what these young people needed right now was understanding and encouragement. “Sit down, you two, and tell me about this--this thing that Ginny and her father have invented,” she ordered.

Just then, the side door swung open, and Fred and Ron, who had been to the village to pick up a few things for the family, strolled in. “What’s this, a family meeting--and we weren’t invited?” questioned Fred.

“Your sister and Harry were just about to explain something to me,” said Molly, “something that she and your father invented.”

“Wow, Gin, what is it?" asked Ron.

“Let’s go down to the shed, and I’ll show you--that will be the easiest way,” she replied.

Off they marched back to the shed with Ginny and Harry in the lead. Ginny retrieved her invention and presented it for inspection. “Bloody hell, Gin, what is it?“ asked Ron, who received a hard look from Molly at his choice of words. Ginny then explained the purpose of the combination broom as a training and help aid for people like Harry and those who wanted a safer way to learn to fly. “Gin, it’s bloody brilliant,” said Ron approvingly.

“I think we can make some good money with this!” chimed in Fred. “It can be a Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes exclusive,” he said, already counting the galleons. “What’ll we call it though? Hmmm. If we paint it blue, we could call it the Co-bolt…“

“No,” inserted Harry. “What about The Combination Broom? Besides, if we paint it, it’ll throw it off balance.”

“Wait a minute,” said Ron. "You’re both missing something. Think about how much a Firebolt costs. Very few common witches and wizards are able to afford a Firebolt, let alone this combination broom. What you need to think about selling is the kit that allows you to put two brooms together. That way you could connect any two brooms, and more people would be able to buy it. You could call it a Combo kit.”

“You know, Ron, I believe you have hit on something,” said Fred approvingly.

“Hold on, kids,” said Molly. “I don’t know about this thing...”

“Watch, Mummy, I’ll take Fred for a ride, and you can see how it works,” said Ginny.

“What about me?” asked Ron. “I want to try it out, too.”

“You can go next; just be patient,” Ginny replied. She had Fred sit on the Comet part while she climbed onto the Firebolt. On the count of three, they kicked off and sped into the air. They spent the next fifteen minutes or so zooming and diving, looping and circling, and alternating who controlled the brooms until they finally landed next to an impatient Ron. Almost before Fred had dismounted, Ron was on the Comet and ready to go. The previous aerobatics were repeated with Ron yelling in excitement and waving his arms wildly when they returned to level flight.

Upon landing, Ginny approached her Mum, and Molly was beaming with pride. “Oh, Ginny, what a wonderful thing you and your father have done,” Molly said as the tears started to flow.

“Not now, Mummy, please don’t cry, not now,” Ginny begged, hugging her Mum tightly and patting her back gently. Molly smiled and just shook her head, amazed at what her young daughter had accomplished. “Do you agree that the combination broom is safe, Mummy?” asked Ginny with a strange glint in her eye.

“Yes I do,“ replied Molly, “And I will support you in any way I can, dear.”

“In any way, Mummy?” asked Ginny coyly. “Yes, any way,” answered Molly, now becoming a little nervous.

“Well, in that case, I would like for you to ride the broom with me!”

“Oh no, no, no, I couldn’t do that, Ginny. It’s been years since I’ve been on a broom, and I was never much

of a flier,“ she protested.

“So you don’t really have that much faith in my invention, then, do you, Mummy? Just think of all that hard work that Daddy and I put into it, and my own mother doesn‘t think it safe to ride,” said Ginny, sticking the guilt needle in a little deeper.

“Of course I do, Ginny, it’s just--just--that I would feel so foolish. A dumpy old lady like me flittering around on a broom. What would people think?”

“People would think that you were an adventurous woman who realized that life is short and you have to take advantage of an exciting opportunity when it presents itself,” said Ginny, not backing down.

By now, Fred and Ron had moved to either side of Harry, and, after a whispered conversation, they began a chant that slowly got louder and louder. “Mol-ly, Mol-ly, Mol-ly, Mol-ly.” The boys were now whistling and cheering her on. Molly looked at her daughter, who was beaming with pride and holding her wonderful invention. With the boys still chanting in the background, Molly thought back to all of the turmoil and pain that had so dominated their lives over the previous months. It really is time to try to bring some joy

back into the world, she thought to herself. If riding that broom will make my daughter and my boys happy, then I am bloody well going to ride it.

And that was how it came to be that Molly Weasley, respected matriarch of the Weasley family, spent a warm, sunny afternoon racing through the clouds with her daughter at her side and feeling better and more alive than she had in many a day.

They were all tired but happy as they put the brooms away and then returned to the house. “You youngsters must be starved,” said Molly. “We haven’t eaten since breakfast; I completely forgot about lunch and I haven’t given a thought to dinner. I’m glad your father made plans to eat at work today; I’ve neglected you all,” she said worriedly.

Just as the boys and Ginny were telling her not to worry about fixing anything, a flapping of wings announced the arrival of an owl, an owl with a distinctive red band on its right leg--an owl from the Ministry of Magic.

Molly took the message from the owl and gave the beautiful bird a treat, which it eagerly accepted. She smiled as she looked at the worried faces of her family. “Not to worry, dears, it’s from your father,” she reassured them. Molly read the note out loud to the now curious group:

Dear Family,

This note is to tell you not to bother with dinner tonight, Molly. I will be home around 6:00 p.m. to pick you all up; we’ll be going out to dinner at The Crucible--you know, that new place just off Diagon Alley. Professor Dumbledore came to my office today and invited us all to dinner as his guests. I hear it’s a rather fancy place, so you will all need to dress your best, and, Ron, we need to be on our best manners, too. See you all at six.

     Love,

     Dad

P.s. Everyone also needs to pack an overnight bag. We will be staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight, and we'll be doing some visiting tomorrow.??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

They looked at each other in surprise.

“What does he mean by that?“ complained Ron. “I have manners.”

“I think what he means is, try not to act like you are at Hogwarts during the sorting feast,” chuckled Harry.

“Shut up, Harry,” laughed Ron good naturedly.

“Mum, why do you suppose Professor Dumbledore would be taking us all out to dinner? And why are we staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight? And who are we going to visit?” asked Fred.

“I don’t know, dear, but I’m sure he has a good reason. And besides, this family could use a good night out; it should be a lot of fun,” said Molly.

“Mummy, you’ve got to help me figure out what to wear,” begged Ginny, always practical.

Arthur Weasley arrived home promptly at six that evening to somewhat of a surprise. Fred, Ron, and Harry greeted him at the door and they were all wearing Muggle clothes!

“What do you think, Dad?” asked Ron. “It was Mum’s idea, thought it might add a bit of fun to the evening.” Arthur inspected the boys who were dressed in blazers that matched the scarlet color of the house of Gryffindor, complete with the house crest on the left breast pocket. With their scarlet and gold striped ties, black slacks and shiny black shoes, the boys looked quite dashing.

“Muggle clothes! Your mother is amazing,” said Arthur proudly. “I’ve seen her create some wonderful outfits, usually for others for special occasions, but she has outdone herself this time.”

“Mum just thought it might be fun,” said Fred.

“And I agree,” said Arthur.

Mr. Weasley already had some muggle suits, which he was required to wear whenever he had to deal with muggles, usually as a result of some magical accident. “Well, suppose I’d better go change. Anything interesting happen here today, boys?” asked Arthur.

“Mum knows about the combination broom,“ volunteered Ron.

“Oh my, how did she find out?” sighed Arthur, collapsing into the nearest chair.

Ron explained what had taken place that day. How Ginny had given Harry his present early and how they had all been flying the combination broom. “You should have seen Mum; she was great!” boasted Ron.

“Mum wasn’t mad at all, Dad, but she said that you two would be having a talk about it later!” snickered Fred.

Arthur just shook his head and rose to go change for the evening.

After a time, Mr. Weasley returned, looking quite dapper in a dark blue pinstriped suit. The boys all complimented him on how good he looked and how he could pass for a muggle easily.

“Now, where are those females? It’s almost time to go,” said Arthur.

Almost as if on queue, the Weasley women descended the stairs together. They were met by a chorus of wolf whistles and applause.

“What is it? What am I missing?” asked Harry.

Ginny walked over and took Harry’s arm in hers. “I’ll describe what Mummy is wearing, Harry,” she said happily. “It’s a long, flowing, emerald green evening dress, slit to just above the knee on the left side, with full, long sleeves and a darker green boarder on the hem; she looks beautiful,” Ginny said with pride. “And I am wearing a light blue, straight dress that comes to just above my knees. It has thin shoulder straps and a matching jacket and shoes,” she continued.

“And Ginny looks beautiful, too,” said her father with a twinge to his voice. Arthur hadn’t realized that Ginny was growing up so fast.

“I hadn’t used magic to create clothes in a very long time, especially muggle clothes, but I think everything turned out alright,” said Molly.

“Yes, Molly, you have done a wonderful job. The boys look so handsome, and you and Ginny look so lovely,” said Arthur, kissing her on the cheek. “But now we must be off,” he added.

They trooped outside, each carrying an overnight bag as instructed, and found a large, black limousine waiting for them. Arthur explained that the Ministry of Magic had provided the vehicle for both this night and the next day. Excitedly, they piled in the limo and settled in for the drive. They chatted happily as they rode along, and, in no time at all, it seemed, they were pulling up in front of the restaurant.

The Crucible was indeed an upscale place. A valet parked the car, and an impressive looking doorman held the door for them as they entered. Once inside, they were approached by a head waiter, complete with a French accent, who seemed prepared to be snooty to them until he found out they were the Dumbledore party. Once he heard this information, he was falling all over himself to be nice to them, being oh so polite, and seeing to it that they were properly escorted to the private dining room that Dumbledore had reserved. As they entered the room, they saw Professor Dumbledore coming to greet them.

“Hello, hello! So wonderful to see you all again,” Dumbledore called to them. “You all look so nice, I’m so glad you are here! Molly, you do look so lovely,” he said, kissing her hand, “and, Ginny, you look like a little angel who has come down to pay us a visit.“

Ginny stepped forward and accepted a hug from Dumbledore, making a mental note that the kindly old wizard always smelled like peppermint and chocolate.

“Please sit down. I have taken the liberty of ordering a round of butterbeer for us all to get the festivities started," chimed Dumbledore.

“Excuse me, Professor, but just exactly why are we having these festivities?” queried Harry.

“Good question, Harry. We are here to have dinner with the head of The Ministry of Magic,” Dumbledore explained.

The spirits of the group were instantly dampened. Cornelius Fudge was the head of The Ministry of Magic, and he was much despised by the Weasley family, and especially by Harry. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he looked at the now somber faces of his guests.

“Pardon me, I should have said, we are here to have dinner with the new head of the Ministry of Magic, should he agree to accept the position-- Mr. Arthur Weasley.” explained Dumbledore.

“Bloody hell,” cried Ron while receiving a cuff to the back of his head from his mother for his choice of words.

Everyone was talking excitedly as Dumbledore raised his hands to try to restore quiet.

“Albus, what are you saying?” asked Arthur, rising from his chair.

“What I am saying is that the board of directors has completely surprised me,“ said the old wizard. “They have terminated Mr. Fudge for his many obvious shortcomings and have authorized me to offer the position to you, Arthur. They have decided to offer the position to someone with integrity, someone who knows about honor and loyalty, someone who would be totally dedicated to the job, someone who is a good person,” explained Dumbledore.

Arthur stood there staring blankly at those around him and still holding on to his butterbeer. So many times he had thought about the things he would do differently if he was in charge of the ministry. Now he was being handed the opportunity, but he wasn’t sure of what to do.

“Molly, what do you think?” asked Arthur.

“I think the Ministry has finally done something right. They couldn’t have picked a finer man. I just know you will do a wonderful job, Arthur,” she said proudly.

“You might also like to know that your salary will be one hundred twenty-five thousand galleons per year, and you will have the use of the car that brought you here tonight”, added Dumbledore.

“Bloody he--” started Ron, but he stopped in mid sentence as Molly glowered at him.

Looking again at the hopeful smiles on the faces of his family, Arthur knew that he had but one choice.

“Albus, tell the ministry that I am honored to accept the position,” said Arthur humbly.

The cheering now broke out, and Harry realized why Dumbledore had gotten a private room. This was going to be a noisy night! Arthur was being hugged and patted on the back so much, he was in danger of being knocked out of his chair.

Dumbledore now asked for everyone’s attention. “I have taken the liberty of pre ordering this evening’s meal. It is now ready to be served, and I hope you like it,“ he said.

Dumbledore asked everyone to remain standing and join him in the memorial toast.

“To those no longer with us,” they all repeated.

There were several courses to the meal, which featured a nice Cornish hen and petit beef fillet, and it seemed that with every course, someone would order another round of butterbeer. By the time dessert was served, everyone was making merry and having a wonderful time.

“What’s that?” asked Ron suspiciously, as his dessert was set in front of him.

“It’s called Baked Alaska, and it’s really quite good, Ronald,” said Dumbledore.

Ron knew that Dumbledore was famous for his sweet tooth, so if he recommended the dessert, it must be okay. As Ron was preparing to take a bite, the waiter brought out a bottle of fine old brandy, and a glass was placed in front of each adult and then properly filled.

Rising from his chair, Dumbledore now spoke. “Another toast, to the new head of the Ministry of Magic!“

They all rose and cheered even louder than before, the butterbeer seeming to have had an effect. After the cheering had died down, everyone returned to his seat, except for Dumbledore, who remained standing.

“You have all heard of the rumors about Hogwarts possibly reopening soon. I am pleased to announce this evening that the rumors are true. Hogwarts will be reopening in two months!” said Dumbledore to even more cheering. “All of the students will be receiving a letter giving complete details of what is happening and what will be expected of them.”

This latest news came as a bit of a shock to Harry. He had, of course, often thought about Hogwarts reopening, but he wasn’t sure what that really meant as far as he was concerned. He didn’t know how he could go back to school without being able to see. The thought of all of his friends going back to school and him being left behind made Harry feel terribly depressed.

“A galleon for your thoughts, Mr. Potter,” said Ginny, taking his hand.

He told her what he had been thinking about, and she responded with silence.

“What do you think, Gin? What will I do?” he asked.

“I’m not sure, Harry. I only know that you won’t be left alone. I don’t have to go back to school, no matter what Mummy and Daddy might have to say about it. I’ll always be there for you,” she said.

“I could never ask that of you, Gin, and I won’t. I will be able to figure something out, I’m sure,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze. “For now, let’s just enjoy the evening and each other's company,” he said, smiling.

They hugged, not paying any attention to those around them.

“Listen, Harry. They are piping music into the room,” said Ginny with a touch of excitement in her voice. “Will you please dance with me, Harry? Please?” she begged.

“I don’t know, Gin. I’m not much of a dancer; I--” he tried to say, but Ginny wasn’t about to take no for an answer.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him to a unoccupied area near the fireplace.

“We don’t have to move around a lot; just hold me, and we’ll sway to the music. And while we are dancing, we can have that talk we were supposed to have after dinner. Remember?” she asked.

Harry did remember. He was somehow supposed to tell her his motives behind his kiss of earlier in the day. It felt wonderful to dance with Ginny, as she laid her head on his shoulder. Finally, after a few minutes, he knew what he had to say.

“The only excuse I have for kissing you, Ginny, is that I love you, and I always want to be with you.” confessed Harry.

“Oh, Harry, I love you too, I had hoped that you felt the same way about me,” she whispered.

The others in the room were now watching the young couple. Arthur especially was keeping an eye on them.

“Molly, how long has this been going on?” questioned Arthur.

“Are you daft? Ginny has adored Harry for the longest time, and as they have spent more and more time together, and as Harry has become dependant on her, it’s only natural that they would become closer,” Molly explained to her suspicious husband.

“But--But do you think this is a good thing?” asked Arthur.

“Yes, I think it‘s the very best thing,” she replied.

Arthur sighed and took Molly’s hand in his.

“Well, old girl, let’s at least show them that they aren’t the only ones who are in love and the only ones who know how to dance,” Arthur laughed.

Arthur and Molly joined the young couple near the fireplace and began to dance.

As the others in the party watched the dancers, Ron thought back to what this day had brought. His father’s new job, the new car they now had access to, the combination broom, and Harry and Ginny seemingly ready to let all the world know that they were in love. As Ron stood there deep in thought, Professor Dumbledore moved over to stand next to him.

“Well, Professor, it’s been a day of surprises for the Weasley family,” said Ron.

“More than you know, Ronald, more than you know,” replied the old wizard with that strange twinkle again in his eyes.