CHAPTER ONE: Summer holidays.
I sighed and shifted uncomfortably at my desk. In just over a week I'd be catching the Hogwarts Express for my second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and I'd only just opened my books to get started on some of the homework I was meant to do over the summer holidays. I could imagine only too well Jenny's disapproving look had she been there then.
There was a knock at my door and my father's head poked into the room. "Are you busy Sam?"
I closed my potions book and shook my head. "Not really, why?"
"I just thought you might fancy some Quidditch practice out in the country?" Dad asked.
He didn't need to ask me twice. I jumped up and grabbed my broom- a Harold's special edition which outstripped the latest Nimbus by yards! It was a gift from my parents for completing my first year with reasonably good marks. I also think Dad though perhaps I'd have a better chance of making the house team with a broom like this one. An injury had ended his own international career, and he'd always hoped I'd follow in his footsteps one day. Little did he know I'd followed in his footsteps closer than he'd ever expected. At the end of the last school year I'd been confronted by the ghost of Merlin who wanted to kill myself and my two friends. Lord Voldemort, the evilest wizard to have ever lived, had gone back in time to ask a young Merlin to kill me since he knew that my Dad would defeat him once and for all in his last year at Hogwarts. It was only some quick thinking by Jenny which had saved all our lives. Once again Voldemort had been thwarted in his plans!
As we drove along the motorway Dad was strangely quiet. Having lived in the muggle world for eleven years before finding out he was a wizard Dad was used to muggle things, and therefore we lived a fairly ordinary life in London.
"So Sam, when were you planning on telling me about what happened at the end of the year?" Dad asked suddenly.
I gulped. "You knew?"
"Jenny told her parents, and then Ron told me. Sam why didn't you tell me?" Dad asked, and I thought there was a slightly hurt tone in his voice.
"There were a few reasons." I admitted. "Firstly I thought you'd be worried if you realised that even though Voldemort could never technically return again he could still find ways of harming the Potters. Secondly I guess after what happened to you and all- you know being the boy who lived and that- I guessed you wouldn't think much of it. I mean, you defeated him on a few occasions and..." I trailed off, not really sure how to explain what I meant. How could you put into words your own admiration for your father? Not many 12 year old boys would think like that!
Maybe Dad understood what I was trying to say, maybe he didn't, but he nodded. "Well in future Sam don't be afraid to tell your mother and I things." He said, and that was the final word on the subject.
I breathed a sigh of relied, and leant against the window to watch the passing scenery. We didn't get out of London often, and I loved it when we did. If there was a better place to live than "The burrows" were the Weasley clan lived I'd yet to find it. There was the main house where Mr. and Mrs. Weasley lived, and where Bill, Charlie and their families stayed when they were in the country. Across the yard was another house where Uncle Ron, Aunt Hermione, and Jenny lived (not really my relatives, but Dad's two best friends). Further along were two other houses belonging to Uncle Ron's other brothers, the twins Fred, and George, and their families respectively. Fred had a daughter Francine who was going to be in her fifth year at Hogwarts this year, as was George's son Greg, and his daughter Georgia was beginning her schooling there this year as well. That left Uncle Ron's other brother Percy, and his sister Ginny. Percy lived in London and was the current Minister of Magic, which meant his son, Paul, had something to brag about. Ginny and her husband currently lived in Wales, and had a daughter who was only six or seven. That's the Weasley clan- my second family since my Dad has no real family to speak of. His parents were both killed by Voldemort when he was a child, and he had spent many years living with his muggle relatives who treated him like dirt. As a consequence we didn't see them at all, and the Weasley's had practically adopted Dad from when he was 12 or so.
"Ah, here is a perfect spot to practice," Dad said, stopping my reverie. "No muggles will be able to see us."
*****
"How was practice dear?" Mum asked later that night when Dad and I arrived home tiredly. I think Dad's knee was playing up, but he wasn't complaining.
"Great!" I enthused. "Dad taught me some brilliant moves!"
Mum smiled. "I hope you didn't overdo yourself Harry, you know your knee still gives you trouble!"
Dad slipped into his seat at the table. "It's fine Cho." He assured her. "And a little pain is nothing compared to seeing my son become the greatest Seeker ever!"
Mum smiled slightly as she put our meals in front of her. She too had been on a Quidditch team, however she had been in Ravenclaw, and Dad in Gryffindoor. "As long as he doesn't neglect his lessons." She said, and then she took a piece of parchment from her pocket. "Which reminds me; you had an owl from Jenny this afternoon." And she handed me the letter.
I unrolled it and read out loud:
"Dear Sam,
How are you? I hope you're doing your homework- especially that horrid essay for Snape! I wonder who will be the new Charms teacher? I hope it's someone who will actually teach us something worthwhile. I can't wait to get back and learn some more spells! Dad's been teaching me some more flying tips this summer so I'm over my fear about flying, and if I do say so I'm quite good. Maybe you'll have some competition for the seekers job this year? Ha, ha. In other Weasley news Paul has been made head boy this year. We've only seen him a few times this summer, thank god, and he's been unbearable. Greg and Georgia have some grand plans for him though, so it could be interesting. Of course Grandmother is so happy about having another head boy in the family it's really quite embarrassing seeing her simpering over Paul, and him lapping it up! UGH! Anyway, I best go, and I'll see you on platform nine and three-quarters.
Fondly, Jenny."
Dad was laughing but Mum looked puzzled. "That didn't sound like the old Jenny to me- making fun of Paul. I would have thought it would have been her personal ambition to be head girl in a few years." She said.
"I think it is." I replied. "But don't worry Mum- I'm sure Jenny's still a nerd! She's probably just trying to be a little cooler!"
Mum glared at me. "So it's uncool to be a nerd? And even uncooler to be a nerd with the top marks in the year?" She asked. And then she smiled too. "I'm sure you're right, I'm sure Jenny's just the same as she always was."
*****
Over the next few days I got stuck into my holiday homework, and when it was time to get the train I was all done. I smiled to myself remembering that this time last year I'd been worried about going off to school! This year I couldn't wait to get back! I hadn't seen my best friend Martin all summer since his parents had taken him overseas on a holiday, and I'd only received the occasional owl from him. I had trouble sleeping the night before we were to catch the train; it was going to be great to be back at Hogwarts!
I sighed and shifted uncomfortably at my desk. In just over a week I'd be catching the Hogwarts Express for my second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and I'd only just opened my books to get started on some of the homework I was meant to do over the summer holidays. I could imagine only too well Jenny's disapproving look had she been there then.
There was a knock at my door and my father's head poked into the room. "Are you busy Sam?"
I closed my potions book and shook my head. "Not really, why?"
"I just thought you might fancy some Quidditch practice out in the country?" Dad asked.
He didn't need to ask me twice. I jumped up and grabbed my broom- a Harold's special edition which outstripped the latest Nimbus by yards! It was a gift from my parents for completing my first year with reasonably good marks. I also think Dad though perhaps I'd have a better chance of making the house team with a broom like this one. An injury had ended his own international career, and he'd always hoped I'd follow in his footsteps one day. Little did he know I'd followed in his footsteps closer than he'd ever expected. At the end of the last school year I'd been confronted by the ghost of Merlin who wanted to kill myself and my two friends. Lord Voldemort, the evilest wizard to have ever lived, had gone back in time to ask a young Merlin to kill me since he knew that my Dad would defeat him once and for all in his last year at Hogwarts. It was only some quick thinking by Jenny which had saved all our lives. Once again Voldemort had been thwarted in his plans!
As we drove along the motorway Dad was strangely quiet. Having lived in the muggle world for eleven years before finding out he was a wizard Dad was used to muggle things, and therefore we lived a fairly ordinary life in London.
"So Sam, when were you planning on telling me about what happened at the end of the year?" Dad asked suddenly.
I gulped. "You knew?"
"Jenny told her parents, and then Ron told me. Sam why didn't you tell me?" Dad asked, and I thought there was a slightly hurt tone in his voice.
"There were a few reasons." I admitted. "Firstly I thought you'd be worried if you realised that even though Voldemort could never technically return again he could still find ways of harming the Potters. Secondly I guess after what happened to you and all- you know being the boy who lived and that- I guessed you wouldn't think much of it. I mean, you defeated him on a few occasions and..." I trailed off, not really sure how to explain what I meant. How could you put into words your own admiration for your father? Not many 12 year old boys would think like that!
Maybe Dad understood what I was trying to say, maybe he didn't, but he nodded. "Well in future Sam don't be afraid to tell your mother and I things." He said, and that was the final word on the subject.
I breathed a sigh of relied, and leant against the window to watch the passing scenery. We didn't get out of London often, and I loved it when we did. If there was a better place to live than "The burrows" were the Weasley clan lived I'd yet to find it. There was the main house where Mr. and Mrs. Weasley lived, and where Bill, Charlie and their families stayed when they were in the country. Across the yard was another house where Uncle Ron, Aunt Hermione, and Jenny lived (not really my relatives, but Dad's two best friends). Further along were two other houses belonging to Uncle Ron's other brothers, the twins Fred, and George, and their families respectively. Fred had a daughter Francine who was going to be in her fifth year at Hogwarts this year, as was George's son Greg, and his daughter Georgia was beginning her schooling there this year as well. That left Uncle Ron's other brother Percy, and his sister Ginny. Percy lived in London and was the current Minister of Magic, which meant his son, Paul, had something to brag about. Ginny and her husband currently lived in Wales, and had a daughter who was only six or seven. That's the Weasley clan- my second family since my Dad has no real family to speak of. His parents were both killed by Voldemort when he was a child, and he had spent many years living with his muggle relatives who treated him like dirt. As a consequence we didn't see them at all, and the Weasley's had practically adopted Dad from when he was 12 or so.
"Ah, here is a perfect spot to practice," Dad said, stopping my reverie. "No muggles will be able to see us."
*****
"How was practice dear?" Mum asked later that night when Dad and I arrived home tiredly. I think Dad's knee was playing up, but he wasn't complaining.
"Great!" I enthused. "Dad taught me some brilliant moves!"
Mum smiled. "I hope you didn't overdo yourself Harry, you know your knee still gives you trouble!"
Dad slipped into his seat at the table. "It's fine Cho." He assured her. "And a little pain is nothing compared to seeing my son become the greatest Seeker ever!"
Mum smiled slightly as she put our meals in front of her. She too had been on a Quidditch team, however she had been in Ravenclaw, and Dad in Gryffindoor. "As long as he doesn't neglect his lessons." She said, and then she took a piece of parchment from her pocket. "Which reminds me; you had an owl from Jenny this afternoon." And she handed me the letter.
I unrolled it and read out loud:
"Dear Sam,
How are you? I hope you're doing your homework- especially that horrid essay for Snape! I wonder who will be the new Charms teacher? I hope it's someone who will actually teach us something worthwhile. I can't wait to get back and learn some more spells! Dad's been teaching me some more flying tips this summer so I'm over my fear about flying, and if I do say so I'm quite good. Maybe you'll have some competition for the seekers job this year? Ha, ha. In other Weasley news Paul has been made head boy this year. We've only seen him a few times this summer, thank god, and he's been unbearable. Greg and Georgia have some grand plans for him though, so it could be interesting. Of course Grandmother is so happy about having another head boy in the family it's really quite embarrassing seeing her simpering over Paul, and him lapping it up! UGH! Anyway, I best go, and I'll see you on platform nine and three-quarters.
Fondly, Jenny."
Dad was laughing but Mum looked puzzled. "That didn't sound like the old Jenny to me- making fun of Paul. I would have thought it would have been her personal ambition to be head girl in a few years." She said.
"I think it is." I replied. "But don't worry Mum- I'm sure Jenny's still a nerd! She's probably just trying to be a little cooler!"
Mum glared at me. "So it's uncool to be a nerd? And even uncooler to be a nerd with the top marks in the year?" She asked. And then she smiled too. "I'm sure you're right, I'm sure Jenny's just the same as she always was."
*****
Over the next few days I got stuck into my holiday homework, and when it was time to get the train I was all done. I smiled to myself remembering that this time last year I'd been worried about going off to school! This year I couldn't wait to get back! I hadn't seen my best friend Martin all summer since his parents had taken him overseas on a holiday, and I'd only received the occasional owl from him. I had trouble sleeping the night before we were to catch the train; it was going to be great to be back at Hogwarts!
