Harry Potter: Love's Second Chance

Harry and Hermione continued to discuss possible honeymoon spots for when the time came but the one thing they silently agreed on about their future honeymoon, there would be no camping or tents involved.

Harry was the first one in the common room later. As he sat in a chair lost in thought, a rancid smell touched his nose and he looked up to see Ginny trying to sneak through the room without being seen. Harry could see various spots where a white cream had been applied to her skin. He noticed that she had seen him look up. With a groan she quickly darted out through the portrait hole.

"Ginny just came through the common room and she smelled horrible," Harry thought to Hermione. "Any idea why?"

"Rumor is she has to put some kind of horrible smelling cream on herself because of a rash," Hermione replied. "That's why we haven't seen her. She's been hiding in her dorm."

"Couldn't have happened to a better person," Harry chuckled.

The day was too full to get much done. They had breakfast with Neville and Luna. Ron seemed to have taken the warning seriously and sat as far away as he could. Hermione noticed also that between shoveling forkfuls of food into his mouth he occasionally looked over at Lavender.

"I really can't wait for Won-Won," She thought to her husband.

"It almost seems cruel," Harry replied.

"Yes it does doesn't it," Hermione replied cheerfully.

"Now all we have to do is worry about Ginny."

"One wrong move on her part and she is toast," Hermione thought, the iciness she felt toward the youngest Weasley coming through. "I know she's going to eventually try something but will she go for the jealousy potion this time or something else?"

"We'll just have to be careful until she shows her hand. Miranda says we are safe from potions but I don't trust Ginny to not to attack you magically if they fail."

"She'll regret it if she does," Hermione replied. "I don't want to hurt her, but I will if I have to."

"I know you will," Harry replied. "I just wished she wasn't so set on me. I don't like to be the reason for her doing what's she's doing."

"You aren't the reason," Hermione argued. "You have done nothing to encourage her."

"Thanks. I love you Mrs. Potter," Harry replied.

"And I you."

After eating, Hermione left for Arithmancy while Harry copied more memories for Neville to see. Later the two of them, along with Neville had their final transfiguration class of the year. McGonagall praised Harry and Hermione for the perfect work and assured them they should have no trouble with the OWLs. She requested Ron to stay behind after class for a word. Later Harry heard from Seamus that Ron had to spend the next couple of days reviewing for the OWLs personally with McGonagall.

Double Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures took up the afternoon.

Time slowed to a crawl at dinner. Harry and Hermione knew the Order meeting would be starting soon and they kept wondering how the meeting between Dumbledore and Sirius would go. Once Astronomy started, Harry had a hard time following the review as he kept his hand on the communication mirror the entire time waiting for it to heat up. It was after the class ended and they were walking back to the tower that the mirror started to heat. Harry pulled Hermione into a broom closet where she quickly put up a locking charm and the muffliato charm.

Harry pulled out the mirror and saw his godfather looking at him. The first words he said set the tone of the conversation.

"That old goat," Sirius snarled.

"That good of a meeting?" Harry asked lightly.

"Meeting was boring enough but afterwards when I told Dumbledore Kreacher's story of Regulus and showed him the locket he didn't even blink an eye. He told me it was probably nothing but he took the locket to give it as he said 'a closer examination just in case'."

"It's what we expected," Hermione said.

"We'll just have to see if he comes to me now," Harry said. "We'll bring the pensieve and memories of the Department of Mysteries tomorrow in the early afternoon. We have our last class of the year tomorrow morning. Potions of course. Then we are going to make a quick trip to Diagon Alley."

"Diagon Alley?" Sirius said. "What are you going there for?"

"A friend of ours needs a new wand and we want to warn Ollivander."

"What are you going to tell him?"

"Just enough that should make him want to leave," Harry replied.

"Be careful. Don't get caught."

"Oh Sirius," Hermione said, "We have told two students about the future and they are willing to help with whatever we do at the Ministry. It's Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood. They were with us the last time."

"Will talk about that tomorrow after I see those memories."

"See you tomorrow then," Harry said and put away the mirror.