Chapter 1- Hold On
As soon as Harry met up with his Uncle Vernon his mood completely from the happy go lucky boy on the train to the depressed slave he was made when with his Aunt and Uncle.
Harry didn't have a normal family, for his parents were killed when he was a year old, in fact Harry had been attempted to be killed but had miraculously lived. So Harry was taken to His only living relatives, his Aunt and Uncle and their son Dudley. Harry didn't have a normal life either. He spent his time at the Dursley's cleaning, being beaten up by Dudley and pretending not to exist. This life had existed until the summer Harry turned 11. Harry had received a letter that invited him to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry when he learned that he himself was a wizard and that his parents were a witch and wizard. At Hogwarts Harry learned lots, especially the price of fame. You see Harry was famous because the dark lord Voldemort had tried to kill him and somehow Harry had survived and weakened Voldemort to the furthest extent. Since then Harry had battled Voldemort three more times, the most recent being a few weeks ago where a fellow student had died. Harry was now returning to the Dursley's, for the summer holiday, after his forth year at Hogwarts, and was looking forward to it even less this year. He could not leave the Dursley's to go to his friends house's for safety precautions since Lord Voldemort was now gaining power again.
* * *
"Heard you almost died...again. Too bad you didn't die also...you probably should have....you did get that boy killed..."
Harry didn't hear the rest of Uncle Vernon's greeting because he was too shocked by what he had already heard. Sure his Uncle was nasty and mean, he knew first hand, but still. "Oh what am I thinking?" Harry asked himself. "This is exactly what Uncle Vernon does, he's done it since I was 3, I should be used to it, but I guess this just hurts more. And to think this is the first day of the summer holiday." Harry thought to himself bitterly, he really did hate his Uncle Vernon.
Harry spent the next four weeks of his summer vacation in a shocked and guilty daze. Uncle Vernon's words effected him more then he wanted them to. Those harsh nasty words caused harry to relive his encounter with Voldemort and Cedric's death and how he, Harry, could have prevented it. Harry did his chores and took orders without really hearing or noticing that he did anything. His responses were automatic because his mind was elsewhere. Dudley even stopped beating Harry up because he didn't respond The Dursley's didn't mind Harry's strange behavior, nor did they notice it, but Harry's best friends Ron and Hermione did. Although Ron and Hermione couldn't hear Harry's voice or see his face they could tell by his letters that something was wrong with him.
They were worried about Harry but couldn't really do anything, so they did the next best thing, they wrote to Sirius and Dumbledor. Sirius Black was Harry's Godfather who was on the run after escaping Azkaban, the wizard prison. Sirius was wrongfully imprisoned but the only people who knew or believed this were Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledor, and their old Defense against the Dark Arts professor Remus Lupin. Professor Dumbledor, the headmaster of Hogwarts, worried about Harry and was the only one who could allow him to leave the Dursley's.
* * *
After receiving the letter from Ron and Hermione, Sirius himself wrote Harry a letter. When Harry received the letter he read it without really reading it and responded without really thinking. When Sirius saw Hedwig, Harry's snowy owl, flying toward him with Harry's response he cheered up hoping that his godson's response would be normal. But his hopes were soon shattered as he read Harry's letter.
Sirius,
Summer's been fun with doing chores. Had no time fore homework though with chores and thinking about Cedric's death. I shouldn't have made him go with me, should've gone alone. Uncle Vernon's called me a good for nothing killer' again but it ok because he's right, So anyway Ron sorry I can't come to the Borrow this summer but maybe it's for the better. Have a good holiday. See you September 1st.
Harry
"But I didn't even ask him about his summer," Thought Sirius. "And what does he mean by Dursley calling him a 'good for nothing killer'...again! Harry's never killed anyone." Sirius read the letter over one more time taking in every emotion, and found only guilt, pain, and distress. "This isn't good. I've got to talk to Dumbledor!" Sirius declared to the air before disappearing with a loud 'pop'.
* * *
Two night's later Harry sat on his bed that was in a room slightly bigger then a closet that was his bedroom. He was re-reading his latest letter from Hermione, he could tell that she was worried about him but he couldn't tell her everything and he didn't know why. There was a loud 'pop' that went off in the corner of Harry's room that made him jump but it was nothing compared to how he jumped when he saw who was in his room.
"Sirius!?...What are you doing here? You should be on a mission for Dumbledor...not here...you could get caught!" Harry rambled on as he paced back and forth in worry.
"Harry...HARRY!" Sirius had to yell to get Harry's attention but even then he could tell Harry wasn't fully listening. "Harry, Dumbledor sent me to check up on you because we're all worried about you. Now, how are you?...really?"
"Me?...I-I'm f-fine...I..."
"Where is that good for nothing killer?...BOY!"
Uncle Vernon's voice bellowed up the stairs bringing a distant look into Harry's now dull green eyes. Harry turned to Sirius and mouthed 'hide' as heavy footsteps began to pound up the stairs. Sirius slipped into the closet as Uncle Vernon burst through the door.
"Boy I've been looking for you...You weren't doing any magic were you?" Uncle Vernon accused, practically spitting out the word 'magic' with hate.
"No Uncle Vernon...I was going to clean up my room." Harry responded, his voice sounding dead and automatic.
"Not so fast you have to finish cleaning the kitchen you good for nothing killer."
With that Uncle Vernon turned sharply on his bloated heel and left Harry standing and looking even more distant then before. Sirius began to emerge from the closet to say something to Harry when Uncle Vernon's bellowing voice was heard again. "NOW BOY!" Harry suddenly kicked in motion and left without a backward glance at Sirius. Sirius noticed this and was slightly hurt but soon realized that Harry wasn't himself. With a 'pop' Sirius disappeared to beg Dumbledor to let Harry leave the Dursley's.
* * *
After much begging from Sirius and Mrs. Weasley and confessions of Harry's behavior by Hermione and Ron, Dumbledor agreed to let Harry secretly spend the rest of the summer at the Burrow. Since they needed a secret keeper the Weasley's and Sirius decided on Arabella Figg since no one would suspect her and she was trustworthy.
Once everything was settled Sirius traveled by Floo powder to Arabella Figg's house to have her perform the secret keeper spell and then walked to number four Privet drive.
Harry lay in his bed staring at a picture of his parents, in the picture book Hagrid gave him, when he heard pounding on the front door. "Who could that be?" Harry thought. "The Dursley's didn't mention that people were coming over." Harry was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Uncle Vernon yelling.
"Ahh...you're...you're that murder that's on the loose!"
Sirius just looked at Vernon, very confused, until he realized what had happened. "Forgot they alerted muggles." Sirius muttered.
"Did...did you just say m-muggles?" Uncle Vernon stuttered
"Yes...now where's Harry?" Sirius inquired
" You're one of them....Petunia hide....with Dudley...it's one of THEM!:"
"Dursley shut up and let me in to see Harry!" Sirius demanded getting angrier and angrier with Vernon.
"Oh so that good for nothing killer thought he could have his murderer friends over. Well not in my house..."
"Don't you dare call my godson a murder ever again! He's never killed anyone and neither have I but I might have to break that record if you don't shut up and tell me where Harry is!"
Sirius couldn't help that anger had gotten the better of him but hearing Vernon call Harry a murderer again sent him over the edge. He could tell his outburst not only shut Vernon up but had also terrified him. Sirius took this moment of hesitation from Vernon and pushed past him into house and went straight up to Harry's room. Sirius' mood cheered up a bit upon seeing his godson and Harry's mood did the same until he remembered that Sirius was still on the run and shouldn't be here.
"Sirius the Dursley's know who you are..."
"Don't start with the 'you shouldn't be here' speech Harry. I am aware that the Dursley's know who I am but they're too terrified right now to do anything about it. Now where's you trunk?"
Harry looked at his godfather in shock not because he yelled at him, because he didn't, but because he realized Sirius was risking a lot to save him from the Dursley's. It was shocking for Harry that someone cared so much about him.
"Harry?" Sirius asked a little worried.
"Oh sorry...I...I zoned out a bit."
"It's ok...but I need to know where your trunk is."
"Locked up in the closet under the stairs." Harry meekly responded looking down at his shoes.
"All of it?!"
"Yea Uncle Vernon took my trunk from me when we got here and locked it up. I haven't gotten a chance to sneak down and get some of my books out to do homework like I normally do."
Sirius sighed and Harry followed suit. There was a silent pause that hung in the room like a heavy weight until Sirius walked out of the room muttering "wait here." Harry heard Sirius and Uncle Vernon bicker some more but didn't pay attention because he was to busy thinking of other things. Harry didn't even hear Sirius come back in until he dropped Harry's trunk on the floor with a thud.
"Anything you need to throw in here?" Sirius asked sounding a bit tired.
"Just these letters." Harry answered as he opened his trunk.
When the trunk was closed again two 'pops' sounded in Harry's room. When Harry looked up he saw Mr. Weasley and Bill, Ron's eldest brother, standing in his room.
"You alright there Harry?" Mr. Weasley asked
"Yeah."
"Good. Well Bill grab the other side, we don't have much time."
"C-ya back at the Burrow Harry." Bill stated
Then with another 'pop' Mr. Weasley, Bill, and Harry's trunk disappeared.
"Come on Harry we should get going."
Harry nodded in agreement in response to Sirius and walked over to Hedwig's cage. He decided to let her fly to the Burrow.
"Go on girl I'll meet you at Ron's." With that Hedwig took off through the open window and flew through the blanket of black sky. Harry then picked up Hedwig's cage and followed Sirius downstairs. When they reached the front door Sirius stopped and turned to Harry.
"I'm gonna transform into snuffles just to be safe alright?"
Harry nodded once again and watched as his godfather transformed into a big black shaggy dog that was his animagi form. At the end of the transformation Harry swore that he heard a gasp come from the kitchen door but he didn't bother to look back. Harry opened the front door, picked up Hedwig's cage and walked out following snuffles down the street to Mrs. Figg's house. When they got to Mrs. Figg's door Harry was more then a little confused but he knocked anyway, but when the door opened he was even more confused. There stood Mrs. Figg in witch robes of a deep maroon and looking about thirty years younger.
"Sirius...Harry. Good I was starting to get worried. Well come on in."
Harry and Sirius moved into the house and Sirius transformed back into himself.
"Thanks so much Ara....for all your help." Sirius exclaimed
"No problem Sirius. I'm just glad that you all trust in me enough to be the secret keeper."
"Ara how could we not!"
"Excuse me," Harry interrupted. "But what's going on?"
"Well Harry Dumbledor's only request after agreeing to let you stay at the Burrow was that we find a secret keeper for your location so that Voldemort can't find you. If you hadn't noticed Arabella's a witch. She's been living here since you were about two to help watch over you, disguised as an old woman. So since most people believe her to be an old woman we decided to make her the secret keeper for the summer. She'll stay here disguised as an old woman so that it'll be harder to find you and her." Sirius explained in a very rushed attitude.
"Oh...ok." Was all Harry really had time to say before Sirius cut him off.
"Well we'd best be off don't want Molly worrying to much. Thanks again Ara."
"Bye...and good luck." Arabella wished them as Sirius transformed back into snuffles and Harry followed with Hedwig's cage to the fireplace. Harry took some floo powder, threw it into the fireplace both Harry and Sirius entered the fireplace then Harry shouted "The Burrow". They sped past numerous fireplaces until finally stumbling out into the Weasley's living room.
"Harry...I'm so glad to see you!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed as she gathered him up in a suffocating hug. "I was getting worried about you."
"I'm alright Mrs. Weasley." Harry stated matter of factually.
"I know dear, I know."
After Mrs. Weasley let Harry go Hermione and Ginny attacked him each giving him a hug and telling him they were glad to see him well. Fred and George then attacked Harry ready to lighten the mood.
"Oh Harry!" Fred exclaimed in a high voice.
"We were so worried that you wouldn't be able to try some of our new jokes on Malfoy!" George added in the same high voice.
"Yea we can't trust Ron...alone."
"He'd mess it up...somehow!"
"I would not!" Ron practically shouted in defense.
At this the whole house broke into good-natured laughter, even Percy. After they settled down a bit they all sat down to a wonderful diner. Harry's mood changed noticeably for the better as diner went on, he was finally with people who generally cared for him. His good mood was only dampened when Sirius explained that he had to leave because he head to finish stuff for Dumbledor then left. Harry then went to sit on the porch with Ron and Hermione.
So Harry what was wrong before?" Ron inquired receiving nasty glances from Hermione.
"Nothing was wrong I was just dazed out a bit."
"A bit?...Harry you called Sirius, Ron and you told me about Cedric's death when I wrote you about Sirius!" Hermione pointed out cornering Harry with her words.
"I...I'm sorry guys.... I....I guess that Dursley's caused me to dwell on the third task a little to much. I slipped into a trance."
"It's ok Harry...but you do know that Cedric's death isn't you fault.don't you?"
"Yea Harry...what she said." Ron added after receiving another nasty glance from Hermione.
"I...I know..."
"There you are. Well I hate to break up this little reunion but Harry's had a long day, just like the rest of us, and I believe you could all use some sleep." Mrs. Weasley stated. "So off to bed."
Harry, thankful to get out of the conversation with Ron and Hermione, marched right up to Ron's room and curled up in his bed and slipped into a dreamless sleep.
As soon as Harry met up with his Uncle Vernon his mood completely from the happy go lucky boy on the train to the depressed slave he was made when with his Aunt and Uncle.
Harry didn't have a normal family, for his parents were killed when he was a year old, in fact Harry had been attempted to be killed but had miraculously lived. So Harry was taken to His only living relatives, his Aunt and Uncle and their son Dudley. Harry didn't have a normal life either. He spent his time at the Dursley's cleaning, being beaten up by Dudley and pretending not to exist. This life had existed until the summer Harry turned 11. Harry had received a letter that invited him to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry when he learned that he himself was a wizard and that his parents were a witch and wizard. At Hogwarts Harry learned lots, especially the price of fame. You see Harry was famous because the dark lord Voldemort had tried to kill him and somehow Harry had survived and weakened Voldemort to the furthest extent. Since then Harry had battled Voldemort three more times, the most recent being a few weeks ago where a fellow student had died. Harry was now returning to the Dursley's, for the summer holiday, after his forth year at Hogwarts, and was looking forward to it even less this year. He could not leave the Dursley's to go to his friends house's for safety precautions since Lord Voldemort was now gaining power again.
* * *
"Heard you almost died...again. Too bad you didn't die also...you probably should have....you did get that boy killed..."
Harry didn't hear the rest of Uncle Vernon's greeting because he was too shocked by what he had already heard. Sure his Uncle was nasty and mean, he knew first hand, but still. "Oh what am I thinking?" Harry asked himself. "This is exactly what Uncle Vernon does, he's done it since I was 3, I should be used to it, but I guess this just hurts more. And to think this is the first day of the summer holiday." Harry thought to himself bitterly, he really did hate his Uncle Vernon.
Harry spent the next four weeks of his summer vacation in a shocked and guilty daze. Uncle Vernon's words effected him more then he wanted them to. Those harsh nasty words caused harry to relive his encounter with Voldemort and Cedric's death and how he, Harry, could have prevented it. Harry did his chores and took orders without really hearing or noticing that he did anything. His responses were automatic because his mind was elsewhere. Dudley even stopped beating Harry up because he didn't respond The Dursley's didn't mind Harry's strange behavior, nor did they notice it, but Harry's best friends Ron and Hermione did. Although Ron and Hermione couldn't hear Harry's voice or see his face they could tell by his letters that something was wrong with him.
They were worried about Harry but couldn't really do anything, so they did the next best thing, they wrote to Sirius and Dumbledor. Sirius Black was Harry's Godfather who was on the run after escaping Azkaban, the wizard prison. Sirius was wrongfully imprisoned but the only people who knew or believed this were Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledor, and their old Defense against the Dark Arts professor Remus Lupin. Professor Dumbledor, the headmaster of Hogwarts, worried about Harry and was the only one who could allow him to leave the Dursley's.
* * *
After receiving the letter from Ron and Hermione, Sirius himself wrote Harry a letter. When Harry received the letter he read it without really reading it and responded without really thinking. When Sirius saw Hedwig, Harry's snowy owl, flying toward him with Harry's response he cheered up hoping that his godson's response would be normal. But his hopes were soon shattered as he read Harry's letter.
Sirius,
Summer's been fun with doing chores. Had no time fore homework though with chores and thinking about Cedric's death. I shouldn't have made him go with me, should've gone alone. Uncle Vernon's called me a good for nothing killer' again but it ok because he's right, So anyway Ron sorry I can't come to the Borrow this summer but maybe it's for the better. Have a good holiday. See you September 1st.
Harry
"But I didn't even ask him about his summer," Thought Sirius. "And what does he mean by Dursley calling him a 'good for nothing killer'...again! Harry's never killed anyone." Sirius read the letter over one more time taking in every emotion, and found only guilt, pain, and distress. "This isn't good. I've got to talk to Dumbledor!" Sirius declared to the air before disappearing with a loud 'pop'.
* * *
Two night's later Harry sat on his bed that was in a room slightly bigger then a closet that was his bedroom. He was re-reading his latest letter from Hermione, he could tell that she was worried about him but he couldn't tell her everything and he didn't know why. There was a loud 'pop' that went off in the corner of Harry's room that made him jump but it was nothing compared to how he jumped when he saw who was in his room.
"Sirius!?...What are you doing here? You should be on a mission for Dumbledor...not here...you could get caught!" Harry rambled on as he paced back and forth in worry.
"Harry...HARRY!" Sirius had to yell to get Harry's attention but even then he could tell Harry wasn't fully listening. "Harry, Dumbledor sent me to check up on you because we're all worried about you. Now, how are you?...really?"
"Me?...I-I'm f-fine...I..."
"Where is that good for nothing killer?...BOY!"
Uncle Vernon's voice bellowed up the stairs bringing a distant look into Harry's now dull green eyes. Harry turned to Sirius and mouthed 'hide' as heavy footsteps began to pound up the stairs. Sirius slipped into the closet as Uncle Vernon burst through the door.
"Boy I've been looking for you...You weren't doing any magic were you?" Uncle Vernon accused, practically spitting out the word 'magic' with hate.
"No Uncle Vernon...I was going to clean up my room." Harry responded, his voice sounding dead and automatic.
"Not so fast you have to finish cleaning the kitchen you good for nothing killer."
With that Uncle Vernon turned sharply on his bloated heel and left Harry standing and looking even more distant then before. Sirius began to emerge from the closet to say something to Harry when Uncle Vernon's bellowing voice was heard again. "NOW BOY!" Harry suddenly kicked in motion and left without a backward glance at Sirius. Sirius noticed this and was slightly hurt but soon realized that Harry wasn't himself. With a 'pop' Sirius disappeared to beg Dumbledor to let Harry leave the Dursley's.
* * *
After much begging from Sirius and Mrs. Weasley and confessions of Harry's behavior by Hermione and Ron, Dumbledor agreed to let Harry secretly spend the rest of the summer at the Burrow. Since they needed a secret keeper the Weasley's and Sirius decided on Arabella Figg since no one would suspect her and she was trustworthy.
Once everything was settled Sirius traveled by Floo powder to Arabella Figg's house to have her perform the secret keeper spell and then walked to number four Privet drive.
Harry lay in his bed staring at a picture of his parents, in the picture book Hagrid gave him, when he heard pounding on the front door. "Who could that be?" Harry thought. "The Dursley's didn't mention that people were coming over." Harry was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Uncle Vernon yelling.
"Ahh...you're...you're that murder that's on the loose!"
Sirius just looked at Vernon, very confused, until he realized what had happened. "Forgot they alerted muggles." Sirius muttered.
"Did...did you just say m-muggles?" Uncle Vernon stuttered
"Yes...now where's Harry?" Sirius inquired
" You're one of them....Petunia hide....with Dudley...it's one of THEM!:"
"Dursley shut up and let me in to see Harry!" Sirius demanded getting angrier and angrier with Vernon.
"Oh so that good for nothing killer thought he could have his murderer friends over. Well not in my house..."
"Don't you dare call my godson a murder ever again! He's never killed anyone and neither have I but I might have to break that record if you don't shut up and tell me where Harry is!"
Sirius couldn't help that anger had gotten the better of him but hearing Vernon call Harry a murderer again sent him over the edge. He could tell his outburst not only shut Vernon up but had also terrified him. Sirius took this moment of hesitation from Vernon and pushed past him into house and went straight up to Harry's room. Sirius' mood cheered up a bit upon seeing his godson and Harry's mood did the same until he remembered that Sirius was still on the run and shouldn't be here.
"Sirius the Dursley's know who you are..."
"Don't start with the 'you shouldn't be here' speech Harry. I am aware that the Dursley's know who I am but they're too terrified right now to do anything about it. Now where's you trunk?"
Harry looked at his godfather in shock not because he yelled at him, because he didn't, but because he realized Sirius was risking a lot to save him from the Dursley's. It was shocking for Harry that someone cared so much about him.
"Harry?" Sirius asked a little worried.
"Oh sorry...I...I zoned out a bit."
"It's ok...but I need to know where your trunk is."
"Locked up in the closet under the stairs." Harry meekly responded looking down at his shoes.
"All of it?!"
"Yea Uncle Vernon took my trunk from me when we got here and locked it up. I haven't gotten a chance to sneak down and get some of my books out to do homework like I normally do."
Sirius sighed and Harry followed suit. There was a silent pause that hung in the room like a heavy weight until Sirius walked out of the room muttering "wait here." Harry heard Sirius and Uncle Vernon bicker some more but didn't pay attention because he was to busy thinking of other things. Harry didn't even hear Sirius come back in until he dropped Harry's trunk on the floor with a thud.
"Anything you need to throw in here?" Sirius asked sounding a bit tired.
"Just these letters." Harry answered as he opened his trunk.
When the trunk was closed again two 'pops' sounded in Harry's room. When Harry looked up he saw Mr. Weasley and Bill, Ron's eldest brother, standing in his room.
"You alright there Harry?" Mr. Weasley asked
"Yeah."
"Good. Well Bill grab the other side, we don't have much time."
"C-ya back at the Burrow Harry." Bill stated
Then with another 'pop' Mr. Weasley, Bill, and Harry's trunk disappeared.
"Come on Harry we should get going."
Harry nodded in agreement in response to Sirius and walked over to Hedwig's cage. He decided to let her fly to the Burrow.
"Go on girl I'll meet you at Ron's." With that Hedwig took off through the open window and flew through the blanket of black sky. Harry then picked up Hedwig's cage and followed Sirius downstairs. When they reached the front door Sirius stopped and turned to Harry.
"I'm gonna transform into snuffles just to be safe alright?"
Harry nodded once again and watched as his godfather transformed into a big black shaggy dog that was his animagi form. At the end of the transformation Harry swore that he heard a gasp come from the kitchen door but he didn't bother to look back. Harry opened the front door, picked up Hedwig's cage and walked out following snuffles down the street to Mrs. Figg's house. When they got to Mrs. Figg's door Harry was more then a little confused but he knocked anyway, but when the door opened he was even more confused. There stood Mrs. Figg in witch robes of a deep maroon and looking about thirty years younger.
"Sirius...Harry. Good I was starting to get worried. Well come on in."
Harry and Sirius moved into the house and Sirius transformed back into himself.
"Thanks so much Ara....for all your help." Sirius exclaimed
"No problem Sirius. I'm just glad that you all trust in me enough to be the secret keeper."
"Ara how could we not!"
"Excuse me," Harry interrupted. "But what's going on?"
"Well Harry Dumbledor's only request after agreeing to let you stay at the Burrow was that we find a secret keeper for your location so that Voldemort can't find you. If you hadn't noticed Arabella's a witch. She's been living here since you were about two to help watch over you, disguised as an old woman. So since most people believe her to be an old woman we decided to make her the secret keeper for the summer. She'll stay here disguised as an old woman so that it'll be harder to find you and her." Sirius explained in a very rushed attitude.
"Oh...ok." Was all Harry really had time to say before Sirius cut him off.
"Well we'd best be off don't want Molly worrying to much. Thanks again Ara."
"Bye...and good luck." Arabella wished them as Sirius transformed back into snuffles and Harry followed with Hedwig's cage to the fireplace. Harry took some floo powder, threw it into the fireplace both Harry and Sirius entered the fireplace then Harry shouted "The Burrow". They sped past numerous fireplaces until finally stumbling out into the Weasley's living room.
"Harry...I'm so glad to see you!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed as she gathered him up in a suffocating hug. "I was getting worried about you."
"I'm alright Mrs. Weasley." Harry stated matter of factually.
"I know dear, I know."
After Mrs. Weasley let Harry go Hermione and Ginny attacked him each giving him a hug and telling him they were glad to see him well. Fred and George then attacked Harry ready to lighten the mood.
"Oh Harry!" Fred exclaimed in a high voice.
"We were so worried that you wouldn't be able to try some of our new jokes on Malfoy!" George added in the same high voice.
"Yea we can't trust Ron...alone."
"He'd mess it up...somehow!"
"I would not!" Ron practically shouted in defense.
At this the whole house broke into good-natured laughter, even Percy. After they settled down a bit they all sat down to a wonderful diner. Harry's mood changed noticeably for the better as diner went on, he was finally with people who generally cared for him. His good mood was only dampened when Sirius explained that he had to leave because he head to finish stuff for Dumbledor then left. Harry then went to sit on the porch with Ron and Hermione.
So Harry what was wrong before?" Ron inquired receiving nasty glances from Hermione.
"Nothing was wrong I was just dazed out a bit."
"A bit?...Harry you called Sirius, Ron and you told me about Cedric's death when I wrote you about Sirius!" Hermione pointed out cornering Harry with her words.
"I...I'm sorry guys.... I....I guess that Dursley's caused me to dwell on the third task a little to much. I slipped into a trance."
"It's ok Harry...but you do know that Cedric's death isn't you fault.don't you?"
"Yea Harry...what she said." Ron added after receiving another nasty glance from Hermione.
"I...I know..."
"There you are. Well I hate to break up this little reunion but Harry's had a long day, just like the rest of us, and I believe you could all use some sleep." Mrs. Weasley stated. "So off to bed."
Harry, thankful to get out of the conversation with Ron and Hermione, marched right up to Ron's room and curled up in his bed and slipped into a dreamless sleep.