The Potter Twins and the Order of the Phoenix

Chapter 7. Ghost

I wake up to someone gently shaking my shoulder, and roll onto my back with a heavy sigh.

"Morning, princess," Dad whispers. "If you want to say goodbye to Harry then you need to get up now."

"What time is it?"

"Quarter to six."

"Bloody hell."

Hermione, Ginny, and Tay are all still fast asleep when we leave, and the house seems even darker than usual. The kitchen is unexpectedly busy when we enter; Harry is sitting at the table nervously eating some toast, and Mr and Mrs. Weasley, Sirius, Lupin, and Tonks are all gathered around him, all fully dressed (save for Mrs. Weasley, who is wearing a purple dressing gown.)

"Morning, dear," Mrs. Weasley says, smiling at me across the room as I sit down beside Harry, giving him a nudge.

"M-morning, Olivia," Tonks says, yawning, her hair now blonde and curly.

"Do you want anything, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asks, me. "Porridge? Muffins? Kippers? Bacon and eggs? Toast? Or will you be heading back to bed soon?"

"No, thank you," I say through a yawn. "I'm just here to see Harry off. How are you feeling?"

He shrugs.

"It will all be over soon," Dad says bracingly, rubbing his back. "In a few hours' time, you'll be cleared."

Again, Harry says nothing.

"The hearing's on my floor, in Amelia Bone's office. She's Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and the one who'll be questioning you."

"Amelia Bones is okay, Harry," Tonks says earnestly. "She's fair, she'll hear you out."

Harry nods, still unable to think of anything to say.

"Don't lose your temper," Sirius says abruptly. "Be polite and stick to the facts."

He nods again.

"The law's on your side," Lupin adds quietly. "Even underage wizards are allowed to use magic in life-threatening situations."

Harry jumps slightly as Mrs. Weasley begins attacking his hair with a wet comb, pressing hard against his head.

"Does it ever lie flat?" she says desperately.

"No," Dad says instantly, ruffling his own messy hair. He then jabs at my own hair, which I've thrown up into a ponytail in a desperate attempt to keep it neat. "It's a blessing and a curse. But mostly it's just a curse."

"D'you want this?" Harry asks quietly, pushing his toast towards me. The first thing he's said all morning.

Mr Weasley checks his watch and looks at Harry and Dad.

"I think we'll go," he says. "We're a bit early, but I think you'll be better off at the Ministry than hanging around here."

"Okay," Harry says, standing up instantly.

"You'll be all right, Harry," Tonks says, patting his arm.

"Good luck," Lupin adds, "I'm sure it will be fine."

"And if it's not," Sirius says grimly, "I'll see to Amelia Bones for you..."

Harry smiles weakly as Mrs. Weasley hugs him.

"We've all got our fingers crossed," she says.

Finally, I stand up and pull Harry into a tight hug. He seems to melt into my arms, hugging me back so tightly it feels as if he'll never let go.

"You're gonna be fine, all right?" I whisper, pulling away. "They won't expel you, they can't."

He gives me a weak smile, and turns to Mr Weasley, pale faced. Dad gives me a quick hug, and then they all disappear upstairs, eventually stepping out into the grey dawn. I stare after them in silence for a few moments, a dreadful feeling forming in the pit of my stomach.

I should be there with him. He was protecting me that day, all because I was too scared to fight back...

Sirius stands and walks to me, resting his hand on my shoulder comfortably. "He's going to be fine, Olivia," he whispers.

"I should be there with him," I say quietly.

"We both should," he says solemnly. He gives me a hug, and then sends me off back to bed, claiming that staying up and waiting for Harry wouldn't do me any favors. Careful not to wake up Mrs. Black, I creep back upstairs.

I'm tired, of course, but there's no way I could fall asleep everybody else wakes up. However, as I climb up the stairs, I find Riley sitting on the ground by my bedroom door, huge purple bags under his eyes.

"Olivia," he says groggily, smiling at me. "Is Harry gone, then?"

"Yeah. Are you all right?" 

He chuckled. "Are you?"

I make a face, and lower myself down beside him, leaning against the wall. "No."

"Stupid question. Obvious answer," he says sheepishly.

"Yeah. Riley, what's wrong? I know we're not that close, but you can tell me."

"I suppose you of all people would understand," he says. "It's Tessa. I haven't heard from her almost all summer.

"Did you have a fight?" I ask hesitantly.

"No," he says. "I wrote her at the very beginning of the holidays, telling her that I was transferring to Hogwarts -"

"You're coming to Hogwarts?" I ask incredulously. "God, no one tells me anything..."

"Slipped my mind," he says quietly. "I'm moving so that my parents can stay with the Order, you know. Well, Tessa replied saying that she is also transferring to Hogwarts; which is great, right? We can all be together."

I nod, but say nothing. There's something he's not telling me...

"Her parents are Death Eaters," he says finally, sounding pained.

"I had an inkling," I say, sighing heavily.

"I lover her, I really do," Riley continues. "But I'm worried about what this could mean for us, you know."

I nod; I do, of course, know exactly how he feels. "Draco's father was at the graveyard," I say quietly. "And I haven't heard from him all summer, either."

His eyes widen. "Jesus, I'm sorry..."

"And we had a big fight at the end of term," I continue. "Looks like we're more or less so in the same boat."

"Hm, Tay told me that you and I would get along."

"Yes, it seems we both have tangled, exhaustible love lives," I say sarcastically. "I'm sure we'll be the best of friends."

He chuckles again. "Do you really think there's a war coming?"

"Yeah," I say darkly, "I think there is. I mean, dead men are coming back to life, surely that means something."

"Looks like we'll be fighting on opposite sides to Draco and Tessa," he says gloomily.

"Perhaps. But regardless, we need to try to make things work."

"Yeah, you're right."

"It's been known to happen occasionally."

Author's Note: Hey sorry for the small chapter, hope you liked it though. :)