It wasn't until around midday the next day when Harry and Ginny finally woke up. Harry couldn't feel his right arm until Ginny shifted to let him move it free from beneath her. She didn't move away though, and just readjusted and nuzzled her nose back into his chest.

Hi there, Ginny thought, her mind still foggy with sleep.

Hmm, Gin, Harry returned, tightening his grip around her now he could feel his arm again.

They lay there silently for a while, just enjoying the feel of each other alive and well. Eventually, Ginny pushed herself upright slightly, just enough to make eye contact.

We're never going on missions alone again. Clear?

Harry blinked up at her, Clear. We got overconfident with our foreknowledge.

Time to rest up a bit, make sure we're both recovered sufficiently. The wards at Hogwarts are stronger now, so we've bought ourselves some time, Ginny replied.

We might need that time to escape from our mums again. I doubt they'll be that happy with us.

Ginny groaned, and let her head slump back onto Harry's chest. Can I just hide here, while you go face them alone?

Nope, I need you to help me walk downstairs at least.

Then I can come back here?

Good luck escaping them.

Ergh, fine.

Ginny blearily rolled off of Harry and swung her legs over the side of the bed before looking back at him over her shoulder as he sat up. Harry pushed himself stiffly over besides her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. With her own arm around his waist, Ginny stood, helping to pull him upright again as his legs trembled beneath him.

I feel as weak as a kitten, Harry grumbled.

You're not cute enough to be a kitten.

Harry snorted. Thanks for that, love.

Slowly, Ginny stepped away from Harry leaving him to stretch as his muscles complained with cramp, ready to catch him if he wobbled too much.

"Will you be alright?" she asked.

Harry smiled, "I'm just stiff and tired. I'll be fine after a warm shower."

We could have one before breakfast, if you can wait? Ginny suggested.

Harry considered it seriously, before his stomach sent a pang of hunger through him. Breakfast first, then shower.

They made their way downstairs, Harry clinging with one hand to Ginny's shoulder, and the stair rail with his other. They had just entered the living room on the way to the kitchen when they found Lily, James, Remus and Sirius.

"Harry!" Sirius said, being the first to spot them. "Finally decided to get up, did you?"

"Felt like a lie in," Harry croaked, his throat still very dry, as he moved slowly towards the table.

"Oh, Harry," Lily said, hurrying over to engulf both Harry and Ginny in a hug. "I'm glad you're better. Both of you."

"Got any breakfast?" Harry mumbled into her shoulder.

"Hah, just nearly died and all he can say is 'where's the food?'", James said, grinning at him.

"He hasn't eaten in days, James, give him a break!" Lily snapped as she guided Harry into a chair and starting heaping sandwiches in front of him.

"'s fine," Harry muttered after a long swig of pumpkin juice.

"What's been happening?" he asked before biting into a sandwich.

"Not much," Ginny started.

"Unless you count nearly killing yourself recharging some of the strongest wards in Briton," Remus said.

Ginny shot him a glare as Harry jerked upright and started rifling through Ginny's recent memories.

And you say I've got a hero complex?

Clearly, you're rubbing off on me, so it's still your fault.

Harry rolled his eyes.

"Your logic is astounding," he said dryly. "Err, not you Remus."

"You should try to keep your conversations aloud for the rest of us," Lily reprimanded, as understanding overtook confusion on Remus' face.

"Sorry, mum. Go on Remus?" Ginny said quickly, answering for Harry as he ate.

"There isn't much to report actually," Remus said. "Given the sudden increase in the wards, Voldemort seems to know something has changed. The attacks against them have stopped for now. We suspected he was out of the country before, but it's likely he will return now to see for himself."

"So its all quiet for now?" Ginny asked.

"It won't last," Remus said. "He knows Dumbledore couldn't strengthen them like that, so he knows there is a new player on the field."

"Which means you and Harry need to be even more careful now," James said. "We thought he was looking for you before, Ginny. If he still thinks he could control you, he may make that a priority now."

"Let him try," Harry scoffed around a mouthful of his second sandwich.

"No, let's not let him try!" Lily snapped. "You've been reckless enough!"

"Lils," James said, cutting her off, before turning back to Harry and Ginny.

"Your mother's right, and we do need to have that conversation, once you've finished eating," James added, uncharacteristically serious.

Harry glanced over at Sirius in the hope of support, only to get a slight shrug in response.

"After we've eaten and showered," Ginny muttered, echoing Harry's thoughts aloud.

"I'll floo Molly then," Lily said firmly. "I believe she had a few things she wanted to say too."

Ginny just groaned.

An hour or so later, now in clean clothes and feeling much more awake, Harry and Ginny sat down in the living room, feeling very much like they were on trial. Arrayed on the other chairs around them were Lily, James, Molly and Sirius, all of them wearing grave expressions. Remus had returned to headquarters to ensure there was still a member of the Order to contact.

"Perhaps we should start with asking what on earth you thought you were doing going away on a dangerous mission, not just without Dumbledore, but while Ginny was unwell too?" Lily asked Harry in a no-nonsense voice that reminded him eerily of Professor McGonagall.

"Sirius was with me," Harry pointed out.

"I know that, and believe me, he knows not to allow that again!" Lily snapped.

"We had our reasons for not wanting Dumbledore anywhere near that shack," Ginny said.

"It made sense then to do it while he wasn't watching us. If he thought we were waiting for Ginny to recover, it was the best time to go," Harry finished.

"What reasons?" Molly interjected. "Why wouldn't you want Albus, of all people, to go?

Harry sighed, and rubbed his hands over his eyes.

"In my world, he went to the shack and found something that affected him very personally. He dropped his guard and tripped a slow-acting fatal curse. Ginny and I knew the risks, and always planned to keep Dumbledore away from that shack," he said.

"That still doesn't explain why you didn't take someone other than just Sirius with you," James said quietly. "The more people that went –"

"The higher likelihood someone would've triggered some other trap," Ginny interrupted. "Not to mention a large group of wizards skulking around Tom Riddle's old family home might drawn unwanted attention."

There was a pause, before Lily, after a nudge from Molly narrowed her eyes at Harry and Ginny.

"Molly and I, along with James and Arthur, have decided you should both stay here, at least until you can prove you're both recovered. No more missions or even meetings. Albus has agreed to this, so don't think you can overrule us on this," Lily said.

"We're both of age!" Ginny said hotly.

"And you've both nearly got yourselves killed within the last two weeks!" Molly said, her voice rising to match. "And let's not mention the fact you ran straight into an unknown situation when evacuating the Burrow! Thank goodness Harry here wasn't a Death Eater, given the recklessness you showed!"

"The point being," James said loudly, cutting off the argument Ginny was preparing, "you've both acted very rashly of late."

He leant forward, and continued in a much calmer tone, "We want this war over as much as you two, but, as your parents, we want to see you both alive at the end of it. Can you promise us that you'll plan a bit before rushing into anything from now on? And I mean plan aloud, with other, more experienced members of the Order, not just between yourselves."

Ginny glanced over at Harry, They don't say we have to plan with them. We can still keep them safely out of this.

I wonder if Hermione was onto something when she accused me of having a 'saving people thing', Harry replied dully. Are we just making things worse by finding loopholes?

We've lived through a war where they all died, once, Harry! We can't do that again, not when we've got a chance to save them. I'd rather they were furious with us, than dead, any day!

So, we agree to the promise then? Find a work-around later?

I think it's best.

"We promise," Harry and Ginny said together.

The adults around the room sighed with relief, and one-by-one stood to hug the two teens.

"Thank you," James said. "We needed to know you'd both be safe."

"Mind you come visit your old mum sometimes, now that Harry is awake again," Molly said, as she hugged Ginny. "Your brothers have been missing you, as has Hermione and Rose."

"I may come visit tomorrow, mum," Ginny said. "If Harry is feeling up to the trip."

"I'll be there," he said, ignoring the dizziness he felt as he stood to return the hugs.

After Molly flooed back to headquarters, Lily retreated to the kitchen to mind some various healing potions she was preparing, while James and Sirius moved to James' study.

Harry and Ginny returned to their room, where Harry sat down heavily on the edge of the bed, while Ginny stood warily by him, watching carefully.

You're still quite weak, she commented.

Yeah, I figured that. Staying here for a bit is probably a good idea anyway.

So, what is our next move?

Harry leant against the bedpost, and looked idly at the floor, thinking. If we want to keep mum and dad safe, then we can't let them be involved.

But they've also stopped Dumbledore visiting, apparently. And I doubt this is the kind of thing to put in a letter.

We need the cup, which means we need to get into Bellatrix's vault.

Ginny's eyes went wide, Would Sirius have any access there? He is family, technically.

I doubt it, Harry replied gloomily. I can't see the purebloods making it easy for each other to access their vaults. I'd honestly be surprised if her own husband has access.

But still, Sirius is less likely to try and stop us fighting. Maybe we should talk to him? At the very least we can ask him to talk to Dumbledore, Ginny suggested.

Worth a shot, I suppose. We just need to catch him alone, without dad.

We've nothing else to do.

It was a couple of hours before Harry heard footsteps coming along the hall outside the door. He closed his eyes and concentrated, reaching out to try and feel the aura of the person in the corridor.

Here he comes, he warned.

As Sirius walked past the bedroom door, Ginny darted out and yanked him in by the arm, pushing the door shut behind her. Harry threw a locking charm at the door for good measure.

"What the hell?" Sirius said, disorientated.

"We need some help," Ginny said.

Sirius looked from the expectant look on her face, to the determined look on Harry's.

"Oh no. Nope. Don't even think about it!" Sirius said sharply. "I've already been hexed by James and shouted at by Lily for taking you on a mission once!"

"This is different," Harry started, only to be interrupted immediately.

"Is it?" Sirius demanded. "It had better be different, because right now it looks like you're trying to go behind your parents' backs again!"

"We're trying to come up with a plan, and we think you might be able to help," Ginny said.

"We meant it when we agreed to stay here and recover first," Harry added. "But we need to start planning the next step, and we'd rather keep mum and dad out of it."

"Why?" Sirius asked, eyes narrowed.

"Because we don't want to see them die," Harry said bluntly.

"But dying yourselves is just fine, is it?"

"We have no intention of dying, Sirius," Ginny snapped. "But we also want to try and get this over with quickly."

Sirius glared between the two for a few moments.

"What are you trying to plan?" he said, guardedly.

Harry shrugged, "We need to break into Bellatrix Lestrange's vault at Gringotts."

Sirius stared.

"Polyjuice potion can work, but we'd need to capture Bellatrix to do that," Ginny added.

Sirius continued to stare.

"You want to do what?!" he growled.

"Break into Gringotts, yes," Harry said. "I've done it once before, with Polyjuice, but I'm not above suggesting the Imperius curse either. Ginny and I just have a lot of trouble casting it."

"What, and you think I'd be good at it?" Sirius asked, incredulously.

"We think Polyjuice would be better," Ginny said, "But, ultimately, yes, you'd be better than either of us if it does come to that."

"And how do you expect to capture Bellatrix of all people?" Sirius asked. "It isn't as if we haven't tried!"

"That's why we need a good plan," Harry said promptly.

"We were thinking you could talk to Dumbledore, and see if he has any good ideas," Ginny said.

Sirius groaned, and scrubbed his hands over his face, "Fine, I'll try and see what I can do. But if Lily and James get wind of it, I'm not hiding it from them. I'm not sure I see any good reason to keep them out of this, they're some of the best fighters the Order has."

"Thank you, Sirius," Harry said. "I'm sorry to ask, but I know you won't stop Ginny and I being involved. And right now, I'm not so sure mum would do the same."

"My mum would definitely try to keep us out of this," Ginny muttered.

"But I'm not going to discuss what we've come up with, or our plans, or anything until you're both back to full health," Sirius said. "No more going on missions without being able to watch each other's backs. I might not like you being in this war, but I'm not stupid enough to miss that you work well together."

"Deal," Harry said.

"We'll let you know when we're better," Ginny said.

"I'm be confirming that with Lily," Sirius warned, as he walked back over to the door, which unlocked as he reached for it.

Harry just rolled his eyes and Sirius left the room, a slight frown across his face.

Well? Ginny asked.

Now we wait.

A/N: Welcome back. It has been quite some time, hasn't it? Along with final year uni keeping me very busy last year, I was a bit stumped a lot with this chapter, hence why it is a bit shorter. Sorry it took quite so long. With any luck, I may even finish this story this year.

I know James seems to be very serious here, but I think he'd have learnt to act as the more reasonable counter to Lily's fiery temper over the years.

As always, let me know what you think, and I hope you enjoy. :)