Author's note: This story is a joint effort by The Company, namely: Viper, Soccer Girl, and Harold.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HARRY POTTER AND THE ANCIENT PSALTER
Chapter 1: An Early Departure
*************
Summer with the Durleys was, again, an unpleasant experience for Harry. He had to put up with the same, old attitude they acted towards him and he's already sick of it. During each summer, while school is out, Harry stays in the Muggle world with his uncle, aunt, and their despicable son, Dudley. The Durleys weren't happy with magic, heck, they don't even like hearing the word because they were afraid of it. In order to prevent Harry from doing magic, Uncle Vernon locks his wand, books and other materials associated with it on the cupboard under the stairs. Their treatment to him became worse when Harry lost his temper and blew up his Aunt Marge before his third year. But this was all helped unintentionally but effectively at the end of his school year because during that time, Harry's godfather, Sirius Black, escaped out of Azkaban, the most secured prison in the wizarding world.
So far, Black was the only one who escaped, but he was innocent. He was accused of killing several people which he was framed for. Harry forgot to tell the Durleys that he was innocent, so whenever he mentions his name in front of them, they flinch and a frightened expression arouses on each of their faces which, by the way, pleases Harry very much.
Harry laid on his bed staring at the ceiling of his small bedroom. 'At least they're not that insolent anymore,' he thought. ' I wonder when Ron's reply would come. I wish there's something I could do in here besides lay on the bed all day.'
As if by cue, his thoughts were cut up by a loud tapping noise on his window. Looking curiously, he saw a tiny owl, which he recognized as Pig, carrying a package that was the same as it's size. Sure enough, it was from Ron. He immediately opened the window and Pig flew down on to his bed looking extremely tired as well as pleased for having the job done. Harry dashed to the bed, untied the coils around it's legs, took off the package, and carried Pig to Hedwig's cage so it could drink some water and rest. In excitement, Harry ripped the top of the package and found a cupcake, that surely Mrs. Weasley made, with an enclosed parchment from Ron. He decided that he was going to eat the cupcake after dinner, so he got the letter and placed the box underneath a loose cupboard under his bed where he kept the other pastries his friends sent him. Harry sat back on his bed while opening the parchment.
Harry,
Hey! I hope the pastries we sent to you would last enough. Mum
insisted on sending you a cupcake saying that you must taste it
if it's good or not, so that when you come here she'll be able to
serve you with the food you like to eat. Anyway, I hope you're
doing fine there and not as bored as me.
Harry smirked and thought, 'yeah right!'
You know what? I've got this weird idea that I am so
excited for you to know about. It's about Hermione. Well, you
and Hermione have met my parents and I just thought that we
haven't met her parents yet and that this is a good enough time
to meet them. I already asked mum and dad for permission.
At first, they hesitated, but they eventually gave up and said that
we're old enough for this. They said that they're going to let us go
visit Hermione for over a week or so as long as we bring Ginny
with us and ask for Hermione's parents' permission. So, what
do you say, Harry? Do you want to go? I'm pretty sure that
you're okay with it since you hate being there. I haven't owled
Hermione yet because I'm waiting for your reply.
Send me an answer as soon as possible.
Harry was so happy about this that he wanted to send the answer right
away, too. But a better idea (or so he thought) popped into his head.
He quickly pulled out a piece of parchment and his quill to scribble his
response.
Dear Ron,
Tell Mrs. Weasley thank you for the cupcake. I liked it from
the looks of it, although, I haven't eaten it yet because I am saving
for dessert after dinner. Did you just tell me that you were bored
over there? I don't believe it. There are a lot of fun things to do
there and also a lot of people too. And you're telling me that you
wish that you're in my case; locked up in my room all day, only to
go downstairs to eat or do household chores, and with no one to
talk to. Ha!
Anyway, I liked the idea and I would certainly want to meet
Hermione's parents. But I think I've got a better one. How about
if we surprise Hermione? We can just ask her parents if we could
stay there and tell them to just keep it quiet from her. I mean,
that would be fun, right? You say we have to bring Ginny? Well,
the more, the merrier! If you agree with this one, just send me a
reply and I'll call Mrs. Granger myself. Then I'll just tell you
whether it's okay or not. By the way, when can we do this? I don't
know what to tell Mrs. Granger when she asks the date and time
we would come. I'll call her right after I receive your message.
Bye!
Harry sealed the letter ready for delivery. Then, he took Pig from the cage, fastened the parchment onto it's legs, and sent him off back to the burrow.
'Wow! I finally would get out of here earlier than I thought.'
He heard a knock on the door, and there came the voice of aunt Petunia.
"Hey, you, lazy boy! Come on down, dinner will be ready in five minutes!"
"I'm coming!" he said as he stood up quickly, excitement still fresh in his mind.
He went down to the kitchen with a grin on his face which was immediately caught sight by Dudley.
"Why are you smiling?" Dudley asked Harry annoyingly.
Harry sat back on his chair looking as if he had a scheme planted on his brain. "Why, does it hurt you to see me smile?"
"What is it that you want, boy?!" Uncle Vernon looked at Harry disgustedly.
"I'll tell you later after dinner."
Uncle Vernon seemed satisfied with what Harry said but Dudley wasn't.
"Tell me, now!" He shouted at Harry.
Uncle Vernon shot a glare towards him but he still kept shouting.
Finally Aunt Petunia came to the table and laid four plates in front of them. On each of the plate, there were broccoli, lettuce, and fruits. This made Dudley halt of shouting and his eyes came popping out of its sockets.
Dudley's school recommended a daily food chart for the Durleys so that they could stay healthy and fit, since Dudley needed to lose weight because the school uniform became too small for his waists. They have had fruits and vegetable for dinner, but certainly never a platter like tonight's.
Harry could only hold the laughter waiting to burst inside of him. Even though Harry had to eat them too, at least he was to have a delicious meal after this.
"Oh, come on now, muffin. This is good for you. You need to eat them."
Dudley looked back and forth from the plates to aunt Petunia. Then he faced Uncle Vernon with a pleading expression.
Uncle Vernon looked at aunt Petunia and asked, "Are you sure this is on the chart?"
"Yes, I'm sure. It's right here." She turned around and clasped the note hanging on the refrigerator. "See here?" She pointed at box under the word "dinner."
"Very well then. If it's on the chart, then eat, we shall."
He grabbed a plate and placed it in front of Dudley to eat.
Dudley looked at it as if it was dung and made a face. He picked up a fork and started to munch the food. He looked like he was going to puke.
'Nothing like a good, clean fun before dinner,' Harry thought while trying to suppress his laughter.
*************
After dinner, Harry washed the dishes and proceeded to the living room to talk to uncle Vernon. He and Dudley were watching a sports game when he approached them. When uncle Vernon saw Harry coming, he lowered the television's volume and faced him. Harry stood in front of him looking him straight in the eye.
"Well, what is it, boy?!" He asked impatiently.
"My friend, Ron is going to pick me up so I could stay with them again at the burrow."
"This is too early than last year's."
"I was under the impression that all those years I was here, the only thing you wanted was for me to go and stay out of your life."
"Well, this is different."
"How? I'm older now and I can do anything I want?" Harry asked not breaking eye contact with Uncle Vernon. He paused and continued, "Here's the deal, let me go and I'll stay there until the end of the summer."
Dudley stopped what he was doing and looked over to them with a sudden interest. "You're not gonna let Harry go, are you?"
It doesn't seem, but this is a hard decision for uncle Vernon. He spent most of his time making Harry's life miserable, like what Dudley does, but if this was going to get rid of him for the rest of the summer to the next, then his problems would vanish with his departure.
"Okay, you can go."
A smile played on Harry's lips, while a crooked line on Dudley's.
"What?!" exclaimed Dudley. "What about his birthday?!"
"What about my birthday?" asked Harry. But Dudley hurried on and ignored him.
"He's gonna be happy on his birthday!!!! You can't do that!"
"Dudley!" Uncle Vernon yelled at him trying to stop him from saying that.
Then he saw anger rising from Harry's eyes and heard him say, "What?! You've been preventing me from having happy birthdays?! You knew all along when my birthday is and you still ignored it?!"
The next thing he knows, a loud shattering noise came from the window.
One by one, the figurines on the desks around them exploded into pieces.
In confusion, all of them ducked behind the sofa except for Harry. They could hear the raucous sound from the explosions of glass and aunt Petunia's shrill cries.
**************
When Harry came to, he was at a strange place and he was lying on a soft
bed. He blinked his eyes seemingly recognizing the man beside of him. It was Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of
Magic.
"Where am I?" Harry asked him.
Fudge wore an expression similar to Professor Dumbledore's and answered,
"You're in an infirmary here at the ministry. Do you know what your name is?"
"Yes, I'm Harry Potter. "
"Good, you remember."
"What am I doing here?"
"Well, apparently, for some reason, while you were at your uncle's house, you blew off all the glasses in the house."
"What happened?"
"Nobody got hurt, if that's what you're asking, except you."
"Wha--,"
"A stroke of glass came flying to your head and arm, so you were cut. Good thing it didn't stab you."
"How--," Harry was again cut off by Fudge.
"We detected magic in the area, and when we got there, every window and other breakable objects were blown and you were lying on the floor unconscious. We brought you down here at the ministry immediately, so your wound could get mended and......" He trailed off at the sight of Harry gaping.
"And what?" Harry asked while looking at him intently.
Fudge looked back at him, "To ask you some questions. Harry, first time you blew off your aunt, that was fine. But now, maybe you--"
"I didn't do it on purpose. Yes, I got angry at them, but I didn't even know that I did that, or was capable of doing it."
"Harry, what happened?" He asked softly.
"I don't know. And besides, isn't this such a small thing to be given attention of?"
"Yes, but you used magic. You're an underage wizard, remember?"
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that."
"Did you have any knowledge or attempt of using magic against your relatives, to perhaps, punish them?"
Harry stared to nothingness for a minute and Fudge still sat there waiting for an answer. Harry sighed, "I admit that I've been wanting to punish them for what they did to me all those years, but I just couldn't because as much as I want to, they still gave me shelter and food." He looked up at the minister to see if there's a reaction.
"I think you're being too much sincere about this, you're overdoing it."
Both of them grinned a bit at this, and the minister continued, "Very well then. I think I'll let go of it again, but I don't think that your family will welcome you to their house back this time."
"But--"
"Don't worry, we gathered your belongings already." He pointed across the room where Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage rested.
"What about my wand? Or my books? They're not on my trunk."
"We also gathered those and placed it inside with the rest of your stuff."
He stood up and pushed the chair he had been sitting on back against the wall. "I guess I'll be going now. You need your rest. Now, just owl one of your friends to pick you up when you're ready to go, ok?"
"Yes."
Fudge was walking to the door when Harry called him back.
"Minister?"
"Yes?"
"Um...Did you, by any chance, see the food under my bed?"
"No. That reminds me, when you get hungry just tap the table with your wand after you mention what you want to eat. It'll be delivered to you instantly. Goodnight, Mr. Potter."
"You too." And with that, Fudge proceeded to his office leaving Harry with his thoughts.
**************
It was late in the morning when Harry woke up at the infirmary. When he opened his eyes, he almost jumped because of the people standing around him. They were all red-heads and Harry recognized them as Ron's family, the Weasleys. His bestfriend himself was beside the door, staring at the clock immensely.
"He's awake!" It was Ginny, Ron's sister, notifying everyone else in the room. He then saw a man walking towards him, unmistakenly Arthur Weasley, their father. Through the years of friendship with Ron, Harry had considered Mr. Weasley as his own father; the father he never had. In fact, he considered the whole family as his own and cared for them deeply, and them likewise.
"Harry, are you okay?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded and replied with a question. "How did you know I was here?"
"Harry, don't you remember that Dad works here at the ministry?"said Ron.
"Oh, sorry. I forgot. Hey, all of you!"
"Huh?" They all responsed together.
"I mean, 'Hello! Nice seeing you lot here.'"
"Oh, hello to you, too!" They all regarded him following Ginny's.
"Oh, did you know how I ended up here?"
"Yes, we know. The Minister owled me just last night and told me
that you were here, and that you needed a place to stay for the rest of the summer."
"Somehow I don't think you're surprised."Remarked Harry.
"Of course, we're not surprised! You know that you're going to stay with us whether you like it or not."
"Holding me against my will?"
"Is it?"
"Nah, I like being with you lot, and it would be a crime not to."
"I guess we better get a move on. I mean, you're up already. Maybe you should, um, eat your breakfast first before we go to the Burrow. And, uh, change your clothes?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"I will."
"I'll be down at my office. Just call me after you've finished. And I guess I'll take Ginny with me."
"Why?" Ginna asked, "Why do I need to go with you? Can't I stay here?"
"Ginny," George said, "Haven't you noticed that we're all guys here? And not mentioning that Harry's gonna change clothes."
She blushed, looking down at the floor, and muttering, "Harry can change in the bathroom, can't he?"
"Ginny, honey, I think the guys need some quality time."
"Yeah, and you might snog Harry to death while he's changing," added Fred.
"I'm not going to do that!"
"But you do like him, don't you?"
"I remember the saying, 'Once you touch him, you'll never get your hands off of him' !"
Mr. Weasley and Ron could only smile and laugh at these comments, but Harry's turn was to blush.
"That is so perverted! Honestly! Dad, I'm coming with you. Hmph!"
The twins started to insult her with a "Ginny likes Harry" mockery as she turned away and followed her father to his office, and she closed the door furiously with a loud BANG!
"Stop it, you guys!" Harry finally found his voice
"Harry, we were to get her out of here, and besides, aren't all we said true?"
"Don't mind them, Harry. Now get, so we could execute the plan as soon as we get back to the Burrow." Said Ron as he helped Harry stand up from the bed.
"What plan?"
"Didn't Ron tell you the plan?"
"Oh, yeah. You're going to Hermione's right?"
"Yeah and we're going to surprise her."
*************
The trip to the burrow was fast for they had used Floo powder. When they got to the living room, Harry was welcomed by Mrs. Weasley's hugs. It was noon already, so at that time, the delicious aroma of Mrs. Weasley's cooking could be perceived.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, Harry, Ron, and Ginny were in the living room discussing the plans.
"So, how are we going to do this again?" Ginny asked while eyeing both Harry and Ron.
"We're going to surprise Hermione by showing up at her door."
"And what if she's not there?"
"What have we got to lose? Even if she's not there, then we'll just wait for her in the house."
"What if she's in a very far place?"
"I've called up her mum already and she told me that she's not someplace else," answered Harry. "So when can we go?"
"We could go on the next day after tomorrow. Mum and dad aren't busy by then, and they could just drop us off near Hermione's house." Ron took out a piece of paper where Hermione's address seem to be written.
"I'm so excited!" Ginny vehemently said as she clasped the paper from Ron's hand.
"Okay, I'll call Mrs. Granger right now to tell her about the plan." Harry reached out to the lecter beside him where the telephone resides. "Give me the number."
"912-356-3279"
"Hold on." It was ringing and, much to their displeasure, Hermione answered with a joyous voice.
"Hello!" Hermione greeted.
Harry mouthed "Hermione" quietly to Ron and Ginny.
"Um," Harry adopted a voice that was deep, "May I speak with Mrs. Granger please?"
"Oh, certainly," Hermione answered.
Harry could hear in the back ground that she was calling for her mum.
"Here she is."
"Hello!" The voice came from Hermione's mum.
"Mrs. Granger, it's Harry!"
"Uh, hold on," she said, "Hermione, dear, would you be a darling and carry the trash out for me?"
"Okay, mum!" Hermione shouted back.
"Okay, she's gone."
"Mrs. Granger, we have the plan now. On Tuesday, we'll be there, say, one-thirty? Okay...................."
And Harry divulged to her the plan's body.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HARRY POTTER AND THE ANCIENT PSALTER
Chapter 1: An Early Departure
*************
Summer with the Durleys was, again, an unpleasant experience for Harry. He had to put up with the same, old attitude they acted towards him and he's already sick of it. During each summer, while school is out, Harry stays in the Muggle world with his uncle, aunt, and their despicable son, Dudley. The Durleys weren't happy with magic, heck, they don't even like hearing the word because they were afraid of it. In order to prevent Harry from doing magic, Uncle Vernon locks his wand, books and other materials associated with it on the cupboard under the stairs. Their treatment to him became worse when Harry lost his temper and blew up his Aunt Marge before his third year. But this was all helped unintentionally but effectively at the end of his school year because during that time, Harry's godfather, Sirius Black, escaped out of Azkaban, the most secured prison in the wizarding world.
So far, Black was the only one who escaped, but he was innocent. He was accused of killing several people which he was framed for. Harry forgot to tell the Durleys that he was innocent, so whenever he mentions his name in front of them, they flinch and a frightened expression arouses on each of their faces which, by the way, pleases Harry very much.
Harry laid on his bed staring at the ceiling of his small bedroom. 'At least they're not that insolent anymore,' he thought. ' I wonder when Ron's reply would come. I wish there's something I could do in here besides lay on the bed all day.'
As if by cue, his thoughts were cut up by a loud tapping noise on his window. Looking curiously, he saw a tiny owl, which he recognized as Pig, carrying a package that was the same as it's size. Sure enough, it was from Ron. He immediately opened the window and Pig flew down on to his bed looking extremely tired as well as pleased for having the job done. Harry dashed to the bed, untied the coils around it's legs, took off the package, and carried Pig to Hedwig's cage so it could drink some water and rest. In excitement, Harry ripped the top of the package and found a cupcake, that surely Mrs. Weasley made, with an enclosed parchment from Ron. He decided that he was going to eat the cupcake after dinner, so he got the letter and placed the box underneath a loose cupboard under his bed where he kept the other pastries his friends sent him. Harry sat back on his bed while opening the parchment.
Harry,
Hey! I hope the pastries we sent to you would last enough. Mum
insisted on sending you a cupcake saying that you must taste it
if it's good or not, so that when you come here she'll be able to
serve you with the food you like to eat. Anyway, I hope you're
doing fine there and not as bored as me.
Harry smirked and thought, 'yeah right!'
You know what? I've got this weird idea that I am so
excited for you to know about. It's about Hermione. Well, you
and Hermione have met my parents and I just thought that we
haven't met her parents yet and that this is a good enough time
to meet them. I already asked mum and dad for permission.
At first, they hesitated, but they eventually gave up and said that
we're old enough for this. They said that they're going to let us go
visit Hermione for over a week or so as long as we bring Ginny
with us and ask for Hermione's parents' permission. So, what
do you say, Harry? Do you want to go? I'm pretty sure that
you're okay with it since you hate being there. I haven't owled
Hermione yet because I'm waiting for your reply.
Send me an answer as soon as possible.
Yours truly,
Harry was so happy about this that he wanted to send the answer right
away, too. But a better idea (or so he thought) popped into his head.
He quickly pulled out a piece of parchment and his quill to scribble his
response.
Dear Ron,
Tell Mrs. Weasley thank you for the cupcake. I liked it from
the looks of it, although, I haven't eaten it yet because I am saving
for dessert after dinner. Did you just tell me that you were bored
over there? I don't believe it. There are a lot of fun things to do
there and also a lot of people too. And you're telling me that you
wish that you're in my case; locked up in my room all day, only to
go downstairs to eat or do household chores, and with no one to
talk to. Ha!
Anyway, I liked the idea and I would certainly want to meet
Hermione's parents. But I think I've got a better one. How about
if we surprise Hermione? We can just ask her parents if we could
stay there and tell them to just keep it quiet from her. I mean,
that would be fun, right? You say we have to bring Ginny? Well,
the more, the merrier! If you agree with this one, just send me a
reply and I'll call Mrs. Granger myself. Then I'll just tell you
whether it's okay or not. By the way, when can we do this? I don't
know what to tell Mrs. Granger when she asks the date and time
we would come. I'll call her right after I receive your message.
Bye!
Sincerely,
Harry sealed the letter ready for delivery. Then, he took Pig from the cage, fastened the parchment onto it's legs, and sent him off back to the burrow.
'Wow! I finally would get out of here earlier than I thought.'
He heard a knock on the door, and there came the voice of aunt Petunia.
"Hey, you, lazy boy! Come on down, dinner will be ready in five minutes!"
"I'm coming!" he said as he stood up quickly, excitement still fresh in his mind.
He went down to the kitchen with a grin on his face which was immediately caught sight by Dudley.
"Why are you smiling?" Dudley asked Harry annoyingly.
Harry sat back on his chair looking as if he had a scheme planted on his brain. "Why, does it hurt you to see me smile?"
"What is it that you want, boy?!" Uncle Vernon looked at Harry disgustedly.
"I'll tell you later after dinner."
Uncle Vernon seemed satisfied with what Harry said but Dudley wasn't.
"Tell me, now!" He shouted at Harry.
Uncle Vernon shot a glare towards him but he still kept shouting.
Finally Aunt Petunia came to the table and laid four plates in front of them. On each of the plate, there were broccoli, lettuce, and fruits. This made Dudley halt of shouting and his eyes came popping out of its sockets.
Dudley's school recommended a daily food chart for the Durleys so that they could stay healthy and fit, since Dudley needed to lose weight because the school uniform became too small for his waists. They have had fruits and vegetable for dinner, but certainly never a platter like tonight's.
Harry could only hold the laughter waiting to burst inside of him. Even though Harry had to eat them too, at least he was to have a delicious meal after this.
"Oh, come on now, muffin. This is good for you. You need to eat them."
Dudley looked back and forth from the plates to aunt Petunia. Then he faced Uncle Vernon with a pleading expression.
Uncle Vernon looked at aunt Petunia and asked, "Are you sure this is on the chart?"
"Yes, I'm sure. It's right here." She turned around and clasped the note hanging on the refrigerator. "See here?" She pointed at box under the word "dinner."
"Very well then. If it's on the chart, then eat, we shall."
He grabbed a plate and placed it in front of Dudley to eat.
Dudley looked at it as if it was dung and made a face. He picked up a fork and started to munch the food. He looked like he was going to puke.
'Nothing like a good, clean fun before dinner,' Harry thought while trying to suppress his laughter.
*************
After dinner, Harry washed the dishes and proceeded to the living room to talk to uncle Vernon. He and Dudley were watching a sports game when he approached them. When uncle Vernon saw Harry coming, he lowered the television's volume and faced him. Harry stood in front of him looking him straight in the eye.
"Well, what is it, boy?!" He asked impatiently.
"My friend, Ron is going to pick me up so I could stay with them again at the burrow."
"This is too early than last year's."
"I was under the impression that all those years I was here, the only thing you wanted was for me to go and stay out of your life."
"Well, this is different."
"How? I'm older now and I can do anything I want?" Harry asked not breaking eye contact with Uncle Vernon. He paused and continued, "Here's the deal, let me go and I'll stay there until the end of the summer."
Dudley stopped what he was doing and looked over to them with a sudden interest. "You're not gonna let Harry go, are you?"
It doesn't seem, but this is a hard decision for uncle Vernon. He spent most of his time making Harry's life miserable, like what Dudley does, but if this was going to get rid of him for the rest of the summer to the next, then his problems would vanish with his departure.
"Okay, you can go."
A smile played on Harry's lips, while a crooked line on Dudley's.
"What?!" exclaimed Dudley. "What about his birthday?!"
"What about my birthday?" asked Harry. But Dudley hurried on and ignored him.
"He's gonna be happy on his birthday!!!! You can't do that!"
"Dudley!" Uncle Vernon yelled at him trying to stop him from saying that.
Then he saw anger rising from Harry's eyes and heard him say, "What?! You've been preventing me from having happy birthdays?! You knew all along when my birthday is and you still ignored it?!"
The next thing he knows, a loud shattering noise came from the window.
One by one, the figurines on the desks around them exploded into pieces.
In confusion, all of them ducked behind the sofa except for Harry. They could hear the raucous sound from the explosions of glass and aunt Petunia's shrill cries.
**************
When Harry came to, he was at a strange place and he was lying on a soft
bed. He blinked his eyes seemingly recognizing the man beside of him. It was Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of
Magic.
"Where am I?" Harry asked him.
Fudge wore an expression similar to Professor Dumbledore's and answered,
"You're in an infirmary here at the ministry. Do you know what your name is?"
"Yes, I'm Harry Potter. "
"Good, you remember."
"What am I doing here?"
"Well, apparently, for some reason, while you were at your uncle's house, you blew off all the glasses in the house."
"What happened?"
"Nobody got hurt, if that's what you're asking, except you."
"Wha--,"
"A stroke of glass came flying to your head and arm, so you were cut. Good thing it didn't stab you."
"How--," Harry was again cut off by Fudge.
"We detected magic in the area, and when we got there, every window and other breakable objects were blown and you were lying on the floor unconscious. We brought you down here at the ministry immediately, so your wound could get mended and......" He trailed off at the sight of Harry gaping.
"And what?" Harry asked while looking at him intently.
Fudge looked back at him, "To ask you some questions. Harry, first time you blew off your aunt, that was fine. But now, maybe you--"
"I didn't do it on purpose. Yes, I got angry at them, but I didn't even know that I did that, or was capable of doing it."
"Harry, what happened?" He asked softly.
"I don't know. And besides, isn't this such a small thing to be given attention of?"
"Yes, but you used magic. You're an underage wizard, remember?"
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that."
"Did you have any knowledge or attempt of using magic against your relatives, to perhaps, punish them?"
Harry stared to nothingness for a minute and Fudge still sat there waiting for an answer. Harry sighed, "I admit that I've been wanting to punish them for what they did to me all those years, but I just couldn't because as much as I want to, they still gave me shelter and food." He looked up at the minister to see if there's a reaction.
"I think you're being too much sincere about this, you're overdoing it."
Both of them grinned a bit at this, and the minister continued, "Very well then. I think I'll let go of it again, but I don't think that your family will welcome you to their house back this time."
"But--"
"Don't worry, we gathered your belongings already." He pointed across the room where Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage rested.
"What about my wand? Or my books? They're not on my trunk."
"We also gathered those and placed it inside with the rest of your stuff."
He stood up and pushed the chair he had been sitting on back against the wall. "I guess I'll be going now. You need your rest. Now, just owl one of your friends to pick you up when you're ready to go, ok?"
"Yes."
Fudge was walking to the door when Harry called him back.
"Minister?"
"Yes?"
"Um...Did you, by any chance, see the food under my bed?"
"No. That reminds me, when you get hungry just tap the table with your wand after you mention what you want to eat. It'll be delivered to you instantly. Goodnight, Mr. Potter."
"You too." And with that, Fudge proceeded to his office leaving Harry with his thoughts.
**************
It was late in the morning when Harry woke up at the infirmary. When he opened his eyes, he almost jumped because of the people standing around him. They were all red-heads and Harry recognized them as Ron's family, the Weasleys. His bestfriend himself was beside the door, staring at the clock immensely.
"He's awake!" It was Ginny, Ron's sister, notifying everyone else in the room. He then saw a man walking towards him, unmistakenly Arthur Weasley, their father. Through the years of friendship with Ron, Harry had considered Mr. Weasley as his own father; the father he never had. In fact, he considered the whole family as his own and cared for them deeply, and them likewise.
"Harry, are you okay?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded and replied with a question. "How did you know I was here?"
"Harry, don't you remember that Dad works here at the ministry?"said Ron.
"Oh, sorry. I forgot. Hey, all of you!"
"Huh?" They all responsed together.
"I mean, 'Hello! Nice seeing you lot here.'"
"Oh, hello to you, too!" They all regarded him following Ginny's.
"Oh, did you know how I ended up here?"
"Yes, we know. The Minister owled me just last night and told me
that you were here, and that you needed a place to stay for the rest of the summer."
"Somehow I don't think you're surprised."Remarked Harry.
"Of course, we're not surprised! You know that you're going to stay with us whether you like it or not."
"Holding me against my will?"
"Is it?"
"Nah, I like being with you lot, and it would be a crime not to."
"I guess we better get a move on. I mean, you're up already. Maybe you should, um, eat your breakfast first before we go to the Burrow. And, uh, change your clothes?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"I will."
"I'll be down at my office. Just call me after you've finished. And I guess I'll take Ginny with me."
"Why?" Ginna asked, "Why do I need to go with you? Can't I stay here?"
"Ginny," George said, "Haven't you noticed that we're all guys here? And not mentioning that Harry's gonna change clothes."
She blushed, looking down at the floor, and muttering, "Harry can change in the bathroom, can't he?"
"Ginny, honey, I think the guys need some quality time."
"Yeah, and you might snog Harry to death while he's changing," added Fred.
"I'm not going to do that!"
"But you do like him, don't you?"
"I remember the saying, 'Once you touch him, you'll never get your hands off of him' !"
Mr. Weasley and Ron could only smile and laugh at these comments, but Harry's turn was to blush.
"That is so perverted! Honestly! Dad, I'm coming with you. Hmph!"
The twins started to insult her with a "Ginny likes Harry" mockery as she turned away and followed her father to his office, and she closed the door furiously with a loud BANG!
"Stop it, you guys!" Harry finally found his voice
"Harry, we were to get her out of here, and besides, aren't all we said true?"
"Don't mind them, Harry. Now get, so we could execute the plan as soon as we get back to the Burrow." Said Ron as he helped Harry stand up from the bed.
"What plan?"
"Didn't Ron tell you the plan?"
"Oh, yeah. You're going to Hermione's right?"
"Yeah and we're going to surprise her."
*************
The trip to the burrow was fast for they had used Floo powder. When they got to the living room, Harry was welcomed by Mrs. Weasley's hugs. It was noon already, so at that time, the delicious aroma of Mrs. Weasley's cooking could be perceived.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, Harry, Ron, and Ginny were in the living room discussing the plans.
"So, how are we going to do this again?" Ginny asked while eyeing both Harry and Ron.
"We're going to surprise Hermione by showing up at her door."
"And what if she's not there?"
"What have we got to lose? Even if she's not there, then we'll just wait for her in the house."
"What if she's in a very far place?"
"I've called up her mum already and she told me that she's not someplace else," answered Harry. "So when can we go?"
"We could go on the next day after tomorrow. Mum and dad aren't busy by then, and they could just drop us off near Hermione's house." Ron took out a piece of paper where Hermione's address seem to be written.
"I'm so excited!" Ginny vehemently said as she clasped the paper from Ron's hand.
"Okay, I'll call Mrs. Granger right now to tell her about the plan." Harry reached out to the lecter beside him where the telephone resides. "Give me the number."
"912-356-3279"
"Hold on." It was ringing and, much to their displeasure, Hermione answered with a joyous voice.
"Hello!" Hermione greeted.
Harry mouthed "Hermione" quietly to Ron and Ginny.
"Um," Harry adopted a voice that was deep, "May I speak with Mrs. Granger please?"
"Oh, certainly," Hermione answered.
Harry could hear in the back ground that she was calling for her mum.
"Here she is."
"Hello!" The voice came from Hermione's mum.
"Mrs. Granger, it's Harry!"
"Uh, hold on," she said, "Hermione, dear, would you be a darling and carry the trash out for me?"
"Okay, mum!" Hermione shouted back.
"Okay, she's gone."
"Mrs. Granger, we have the plan now. On Tuesday, we'll be there, say, one-thirty? Okay...................."
And Harry divulged to her the plan's body.