Note: This chapter just reintroduces the chars so it might drag a bit til
the end. But the next chapter prepare to be introduced to some new
additions AND old friends. Some of these chars are borrowed from friends
(aka Cedric Didgery) but others are property of me, and I would love to let
you use them, but only upon permission. Feel free to review me, this is my
first posted fanfic so don't be too harsh))
Leaky Cauldron was its usual self it seemed, tiny and grubby looking on the outside, and dark and shabby on the inside. The warmth from the brick fireplace towards the other side of the room greeted Harry as he stepped in from the cool London morning. His black hair, had been blown over his green eyes was the only thing that hinted he had been outside, for the rest of him looked as though it had been in a corner long forgotten. His khaki tan pants were actually new, which was a nice contrast since he was usually always stuck in Dudley's old clothing. But things had changed a bit, even Harry could tell, and he figured it was because even the Dursleys (no matter how strange it seemed) felt sorry for him and his departed god father. But Harry didn't doubt they had received quite a few threats from a certain group of wizards and a witch, who had appointed themselves Harry's newest guardians.
Harry tugged at his green sweater sleeve, which in the confines of the Cauldron was extremely warm and was causing him to perspire a bit. His glasses fogging up a bit with his hot breath, he removed them from his nose and rubbed them with the edge of his sweater, cleaning them. He had remembered the Leaky Cauldron being a bit more "abuzz" the last time he had come, and despite the fact he was still recovering from mourning, he still wished for it. But then again, he was just glad to be back, no matter how strange it would have sounded. He had spent the entire summer mourning in his small room, really Dudley's old one, lying in bed looking to the ceiling, often blinded by his own memories and the fact that his glasses were not on his head. He hadn't received any calls, any post, nothing from his friends, he had lost all hope... until a week ago, when the Dursleys had received a letter from a certain, multi-colored hair, friend.
And after that week he was here, dropped off in London by a Mr. Dursley who seemed quick to rid himself of the skinny boy, nearly shoving him from the car and leaving him to wander London alone. Luckily he remembered, from his first year, where the Leaky Cauldron was, and was quite relieved the "anti-muggle spell" had not worn off, for it was easy to spot, and he could walk into it without any suspicion.
Returning his glasses with their black rims to his face, he quietly glanced around the inn, which had gone silent upon his entrance. There were the usual old women seated in the dusty corner, drinking glasses of a red liquid. Every so often their cold, yet wise, glances would move to Harry, but then resume to staring at one another, as if silently trading words. Harry could only guess what it could be about, though he assumed it was once again about how Voldemort had returned, and Sirius dead, or something along those lines. Harry was relieved to spot a bald man, who resembled a toothless walnut, appear from behind the bar, two glasses in hand.
"Well, the infamous Harry Potter returns... bless my stars!" The bartended greeted, giving Harry a mostly toothless grin.
Harry, glad someone was actually speaking to him and not treating him like an animal in the zoo, slowly walked over to the bartender, rolling up his sleeves. "Glad to see you again too sir..." He greeted, giving the bartender a nod.
"Tom," the bartender corrected, reaching under the bar and sliding a glass of apple cider over to Harry.
"Tom," Harry corrected himself, reaching into his pocket to pay the man, who immediately rose his hand refusing.
"It's on the house Mister Potter," He kindly smiled, though he did not have much to smile with, watching Harry as he lifted the glass of cider to his lips with a slightly tilted head. "It's been what? Four years?"
"Five now," Harry responded, licking his lips free of the cider that remained behind.
"Yes, I remember clearly now," Tom nodded, reaching behind the bar and returning with a cloth and began wiping it across the bar to busy himself. "You've grown up a bit Mister Potter, a fine lad you are... so I've read."
"Don't believe everything you read," Harry spoke lowly, his green eyes moving to the bar as he quietly set the glass on the countertop, with a soft clink.
His eyes remained on the glass, as did his hand, he gently swirled the left over cider around, watching the ripples form. Tom had returned to his work and serving people, who had now begun to speak again, as the ice had been broken. It wasn't until Harry heard a familiar voice a bit further more down the bar that he even looked up.
"Honestly Gin, I don't know why you go around with that Dean Thomas! He isn't even your year..." muttered a familiar voice belonging to a familiar red haired boy.
"Oh get off it Ron!" retaliated a female voice belonging to the red haired boy's sister. "He was one of your good friends, now all of a sudden you don't like him? Ronald Weasley, you are the weirdest brother I have ever had!"
Harry smiled and leaving his glass on the table, took a few steps down the bar to see his best friend and sister, sharing a bowl of what looked like popcorn, as they sat at the bar on stools. Ginny sat straight up, her red hair falling to her shoulders as she was in a purple robe, while her brother sat rigid in his magenta one, shoveling piece by piece of popcorn angrily into his mouth. Hearing Ginny's last comment, Ron sat upright and sputtered, bits of popcorn coming from his mouth.
"I am not! You got lots of others to choose from. I happen to come from a long line of weirdo's..." Ron noted nodding, using his robe sleeve to wipe his chin.
"Ron!" Ginny cried with disapproval. "You are impossible," she huffed, as Ron returned to shoving popcorn into his mouth, she turned on her stool crossing her arms stubbornly across her chest. Her eyes however lit up once they spotted Harry standing there. "Harry!" she cried happily, a smile on her freckled face as she hopped off the stool and raced over, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug.
Harry couldn't remember the last time Ginny Weasley hugged him. In fact he doubted there ever was a time, since she was usually either frightened of him, or wanted nothing to do with him, whatever the time required. But right now, for one reason or other, she was, and Harry turned a bit red in the cheeks. Pulling away Harry's green eyes slowly looked to Ginny, who had grown quite a bit, in some areas more than others. Her freckles were still on her cheeks and her usual flaming hair seemed dimmed a bit, a darker shade. It was cut shoulder length and neatly brushed as it fell to her shoulders, better taken care of than her brothers'.
"Harry," she panted after her rush of excitement, her palms resting on the sides of Harry's arms. "It's so good to see you." She said in a softer tone, Harry's eyes lowered to see there was a knee brace around one of Ginny's purple and white striped stockings, probably from the previous school year 'happenings'.
Harry brought his glance back up and reaching out shakily, he fingered the end of one of Ginny's strand of hair. "You uh..." He frowned, wondering how he even ended up in this position in the first place.
Ginny noticeably blushed and pulled away from Harry's touch, now fingering her strand of hair herself. "Dyed it, the muggle way... I figured it was about time for a change."
"Nah! She just did that in order to hide her inner Weasley! Everyone knows it Gin so stop making excuses!" accused Ron's voice in between bites of popcorn.
Harry nodded quietly, smiling a bit at his friends 'outwardness' in response, turning to him who had risen from his stool, the bowl of popcorn in his left arm, grinning sheepishly. "Hiya 'arry," Ron greeted with what Harry could tell was false smile, obviously trying to start over and forget last years events. But how could Harry just forget!
"I didn't get any post," was all Harry said, skipping the usual greeting, amazingly already in an angry mood. "From anyone," he finished accusingly; he would have at least liked a single letter over the summer.
Ginny frowned, bringing her freckled hand through her new darker hair. "Well, we wanted to, but then we figured you were going to be having a rough summer, and the last thing you needed was us making it worse..."
"You figured?" Harry spoke flatly, his green eyes now narrowing at Ginny.
"Well more the ministry ordered us not to," Ron spoke up quickly, trying to stop Harry from scaring his sister to death. "But we did want to Harry," he added, coming beside his friend, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Honest."
Harry sighed and nodded, that had to be the truth, it had to be. His own friend wasn't going to do that to him, Ron couldn't be taken down without a fight, and obviously something was said to him, for he didn't make an attempt.
"Mum was worried sick though," Ron added in a hopeful attempt to make his friend feel better. "The only time she felt any better was at the Quidditch Cup, but once it was over she was a mess again..."
Harry frowned, turning his head suddenly to Ron. Ginny, sensing this tension smacked her palm to her forehead, knowing the attempt had been ruined. Mumbling into her palm, she knew it could only get worse from here on out.
"You went to the Cup?" Harry questioned somewhat flatly, his eyes searching Ron's freckled face for answers.
"Yeah, dad got tickets again," Ron added cheerily, not catching on, causing Ginny to mutter a bit louder into her palm. "It was bloody brilliant Harry. US versus Bulgaria. US team bloody brilliant Harry. The best match of the century it was! Best! Hermione even enjoyed it!"
Harry's eyes narrowed on Ron, freezing. "Hermione...?" he questioned slowly with a lowered brow.
"Yeah," Ron spoke nervously, realizing his error, slowly pulling his hand away from Harry's shoulder. "Well, dad had an extra ticket see? And I wanted to invite you but, but you were in mourning so I invited Hermione instead?" Ron's face looked as though he was going to be sick.
Harry could feel his fists clench. His own best friend! His own best friend had basically disowned him! Had left him out to dry and forgotten him. Harry's cheeks turned a bit red as his body tensed all over. He could feel the rage and anger that had been building up over the summer swell within him, just waiting to come out.
"You invited Hermione?!" Harry hissed through his teeth, he could feel his blood boil.
"Yes," Ron spoke uneasily, his hand beginning to clasp together out of nervousness. "Well we assumed you would..."
Harry couldn't take it anymore; he blew, right in front of everyone. "Well you assume too much Ronald Weasley! It looks to me as though you are still recovering from that blow you received at the ministry! So will you do me a favor and not assume anything anymore?!" he growled.
Everyone was staring as Harry's shoulders heaved up and down with emotion that had been building up within him through summer months, since that day at the Ministry. He didn't even look to the old women and Tom who had begun to stare. His angry glance was focused on Ron's reddening red ears. Ron looked shocked at his friend's accusation, and gaped at him for a moment. But soon a glare appeared in his own eyes, and he looked ready to fight back with a rude comment if it hadn't been for Hermione breaking between the two boys at that moment as Ginny watched with wide eyes. The bounce of Hermione's bushy brown hair caused Harry to flinch, and retract away a bit. Taking some time in his mind to register who had so boldly stepped in the way.
"Harry," Hermione spoke short of breath, as if she had spotted them from the window and dashed inside at full speed. "Ron, look..." she exhaled, trying not to fall over. "It's Harry..."
"I see that..." Ron responded softly, breaking his glance away from Harry. "I just came to say hi," Ron shrugged, calming down a bit.
Harry broke his glare away from Ron as well, letting out a deep sigh in humiliation at what he had just done to his friend. "I'm sorry Ron," Harry muttered. "I didn't mean anything by it," Harry looked up apologetically.
Ron seemed to take a serious moment or two considering this when a cheesy forgiving grin spread across his own face and he stuck his hand out, taking Harry's, shaking it. "No harm done Harry, I would have done the same."
Hermione exchanged relieved glances with Ginny, who slowly walked toward her side, smiling at the two boys. "Well then Ron, why don't you show Harry what you saved for him at the game?" Hermione hinted a bit flatly.
Ron hearing this widened his eyes and nodded in agreement, giving off another cheesy smile. "Oh! Right!" And he hurried back to the bar, tossing the empty popcorn bowl onto the counter and dug under the stool, fishing out a pair of his old Omnioculars (Harry noticed Hermione roll her eyes) and handed them off to Harry.
Harry slowly lowered his head as his green eyes searched over the familiar object that he had bought for Ron when he had last went to the Quidditch Cup. He could remember it like it was yesterday, and was still very upset he hadn't been taken but he knew, even with Quidditch he probably would have been miserable. Ron had been right and Harry knew it, no matter how much he resented it. Harry's dirty thumb ran over the replay button as he sighed in memory, it wasn't until he heard Ron's voice in the distance call out: "Give it a try Harry..." That he raised them to his eyes, and pressed down on the button.
Blurs of scarlet flashed by the lens, obviously the Bulgarian team, but they were not chased by blurs of green, of the Irish, but of red, white and blue. A round brown object which Harry easily distinguished as the Quaffle sailed in the air, and one of the red, white, and blue figures stopped. It was a boy with black hair, spiked in the front, his forehead somewhat smudged with dirt, a serious expression to his face. Harry, freezing the frame, lowered his eyes to see a yellow patch with the letter "C" on it.
"Justin Silvestri..." Ron narrated as if knowing exactly what frame of the picture Harry was on just by the expression on his face. "Youngest chaser in the league present, at 17, and he isn't even the youngest on the team!" Ron later added with a voice that sounded of pure glee and somewhat dreamy. "And he isn't even the youngest on the team..." Harry saw Hermione roll her eyes again.
"All of them but the seeker were younger than Silvestri Ronald..." Ginny critiqued, shaking her head as if she had heard this all summer. Looking back to Harry with a somewhat dull sigh. "He's been on about their keeper all summer..."
Harry chuckled when Ron retaliated, turning to his sister and Hermione, throwing his arms in the air. "And why shouldn't I be?! At 15, she's our age basically, and a thumping good keeper. Bloody brilliant! Did you see those saves?!"
"Little Ronnykins still on about his second Quidditch match?" One of the twins' voices intruded as Fred entered the scene, accompanied by George. Both were in pinstripe robes, neon ties flashing a bit, causing Harry to pull away from the Omnioculars for a bit.
"Like these Harry?" George asked, posing side by side with Fred, both smiling devilishly. "We enchanted them."
"Best business men in Diagon Alley need to look sharp," Fred chorused with a wink, his arms folding across his chest.
"Interesting," was all Harry could say, though he was struggling with his face to hold back a laugh.
"Mum didn't favor them too much," Ginny rolled her eyes, though a small smile was on her lips.
"Well Mum isn't the one running a big business," Fred snorted, upturning his nose jokingly.
"You get the keeper you guys?" Ron interrupted suddenly, obviously not caring for Fred and George's business talk. Turning to Harry's confused face he softened his tone. "About halfway through I gave them the Omnioculars, they had a better view." His tone hardened once again as he faced the twins, "Well did you?" he demanded.
George broke away from Fred and slowly strolled over to Ron, wrapping his arm around his younger brother's shoulder, pulling him close a bit too hard. "Now, now, my impatient little brother, can't you trust your own brothers? We are blood... would we ever let you down?" Ron shot a bit of a glare to George and after thinking a moment George nodded in agreement. "Oh yeah, I forgot about that time."
Hermione, growing impatient snorted and took the Omnioculars from Harry's hands and brought them to her eyes, pressing play, and fell silent as the group of boys and Ginny continued speaking. Harry smiled a bit, watching the brothers argue, Hermione taking control once more, it seemed once again things were returning to normal.
"It was that good then?" Harry questioned, a weak smile plastered on his face, still trying to hide his subtle jealousy.
"Bloody brilliant!" Ron echoed once more, freeing himself once more from one of the twin's grasps. "US won! Their seeker, this Spanish fellow, Ruben, beat Krum to the snitch!"
"I noticed Hermione didn't seem that upset," George smiled a bit cunningly, his eyes wandering over to Hermione.
"Yeah, she was too busy watching Ruben, than her own boyfriend!" Fred added.
"Um... boys?.." Hermione interrupted softly, her eyes glued on the Omnioculars, causing everyone to face her.
Fred and George began to fuss with their neon glowing ties, often fixing each others'. Once in a while they would reach over and ruffle Ron's hair as Ron swatted at their arms. Ginny stayed between Harry and Hermione, trying her best to pay attention to Hermione with all of the "distractions" going on.
"What Hermione?" Ron grunted between a particularly rough noogie.
"This is a freeze frame of the Keeper of the US team's butt," Hermione spoke flatly, lowering the Omnioculars and eying Fred and George peculiarly.
Ron shot a glare at his two brothers, who both feigned innocence, until Fred fessed up with a careless shrug. "It was almost as good as the game..."
Leaky Cauldron was its usual self it seemed, tiny and grubby looking on the outside, and dark and shabby on the inside. The warmth from the brick fireplace towards the other side of the room greeted Harry as he stepped in from the cool London morning. His black hair, had been blown over his green eyes was the only thing that hinted he had been outside, for the rest of him looked as though it had been in a corner long forgotten. His khaki tan pants were actually new, which was a nice contrast since he was usually always stuck in Dudley's old clothing. But things had changed a bit, even Harry could tell, and he figured it was because even the Dursleys (no matter how strange it seemed) felt sorry for him and his departed god father. But Harry didn't doubt they had received quite a few threats from a certain group of wizards and a witch, who had appointed themselves Harry's newest guardians.
Harry tugged at his green sweater sleeve, which in the confines of the Cauldron was extremely warm and was causing him to perspire a bit. His glasses fogging up a bit with his hot breath, he removed them from his nose and rubbed them with the edge of his sweater, cleaning them. He had remembered the Leaky Cauldron being a bit more "abuzz" the last time he had come, and despite the fact he was still recovering from mourning, he still wished for it. But then again, he was just glad to be back, no matter how strange it would have sounded. He had spent the entire summer mourning in his small room, really Dudley's old one, lying in bed looking to the ceiling, often blinded by his own memories and the fact that his glasses were not on his head. He hadn't received any calls, any post, nothing from his friends, he had lost all hope... until a week ago, when the Dursleys had received a letter from a certain, multi-colored hair, friend.
And after that week he was here, dropped off in London by a Mr. Dursley who seemed quick to rid himself of the skinny boy, nearly shoving him from the car and leaving him to wander London alone. Luckily he remembered, from his first year, where the Leaky Cauldron was, and was quite relieved the "anti-muggle spell" had not worn off, for it was easy to spot, and he could walk into it without any suspicion.
Returning his glasses with their black rims to his face, he quietly glanced around the inn, which had gone silent upon his entrance. There were the usual old women seated in the dusty corner, drinking glasses of a red liquid. Every so often their cold, yet wise, glances would move to Harry, but then resume to staring at one another, as if silently trading words. Harry could only guess what it could be about, though he assumed it was once again about how Voldemort had returned, and Sirius dead, or something along those lines. Harry was relieved to spot a bald man, who resembled a toothless walnut, appear from behind the bar, two glasses in hand.
"Well, the infamous Harry Potter returns... bless my stars!" The bartended greeted, giving Harry a mostly toothless grin.
Harry, glad someone was actually speaking to him and not treating him like an animal in the zoo, slowly walked over to the bartender, rolling up his sleeves. "Glad to see you again too sir..." He greeted, giving the bartender a nod.
"Tom," the bartender corrected, reaching under the bar and sliding a glass of apple cider over to Harry.
"Tom," Harry corrected himself, reaching into his pocket to pay the man, who immediately rose his hand refusing.
"It's on the house Mister Potter," He kindly smiled, though he did not have much to smile with, watching Harry as he lifted the glass of cider to his lips with a slightly tilted head. "It's been what? Four years?"
"Five now," Harry responded, licking his lips free of the cider that remained behind.
"Yes, I remember clearly now," Tom nodded, reaching behind the bar and returning with a cloth and began wiping it across the bar to busy himself. "You've grown up a bit Mister Potter, a fine lad you are... so I've read."
"Don't believe everything you read," Harry spoke lowly, his green eyes moving to the bar as he quietly set the glass on the countertop, with a soft clink.
His eyes remained on the glass, as did his hand, he gently swirled the left over cider around, watching the ripples form. Tom had returned to his work and serving people, who had now begun to speak again, as the ice had been broken. It wasn't until Harry heard a familiar voice a bit further more down the bar that he even looked up.
"Honestly Gin, I don't know why you go around with that Dean Thomas! He isn't even your year..." muttered a familiar voice belonging to a familiar red haired boy.
"Oh get off it Ron!" retaliated a female voice belonging to the red haired boy's sister. "He was one of your good friends, now all of a sudden you don't like him? Ronald Weasley, you are the weirdest brother I have ever had!"
Harry smiled and leaving his glass on the table, took a few steps down the bar to see his best friend and sister, sharing a bowl of what looked like popcorn, as they sat at the bar on stools. Ginny sat straight up, her red hair falling to her shoulders as she was in a purple robe, while her brother sat rigid in his magenta one, shoveling piece by piece of popcorn angrily into his mouth. Hearing Ginny's last comment, Ron sat upright and sputtered, bits of popcorn coming from his mouth.
"I am not! You got lots of others to choose from. I happen to come from a long line of weirdo's..." Ron noted nodding, using his robe sleeve to wipe his chin.
"Ron!" Ginny cried with disapproval. "You are impossible," she huffed, as Ron returned to shoving popcorn into his mouth, she turned on her stool crossing her arms stubbornly across her chest. Her eyes however lit up once they spotted Harry standing there. "Harry!" she cried happily, a smile on her freckled face as she hopped off the stool and raced over, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug.
Harry couldn't remember the last time Ginny Weasley hugged him. In fact he doubted there ever was a time, since she was usually either frightened of him, or wanted nothing to do with him, whatever the time required. But right now, for one reason or other, she was, and Harry turned a bit red in the cheeks. Pulling away Harry's green eyes slowly looked to Ginny, who had grown quite a bit, in some areas more than others. Her freckles were still on her cheeks and her usual flaming hair seemed dimmed a bit, a darker shade. It was cut shoulder length and neatly brushed as it fell to her shoulders, better taken care of than her brothers'.
"Harry," she panted after her rush of excitement, her palms resting on the sides of Harry's arms. "It's so good to see you." She said in a softer tone, Harry's eyes lowered to see there was a knee brace around one of Ginny's purple and white striped stockings, probably from the previous school year 'happenings'.
Harry brought his glance back up and reaching out shakily, he fingered the end of one of Ginny's strand of hair. "You uh..." He frowned, wondering how he even ended up in this position in the first place.
Ginny noticeably blushed and pulled away from Harry's touch, now fingering her strand of hair herself. "Dyed it, the muggle way... I figured it was about time for a change."
"Nah! She just did that in order to hide her inner Weasley! Everyone knows it Gin so stop making excuses!" accused Ron's voice in between bites of popcorn.
Harry nodded quietly, smiling a bit at his friends 'outwardness' in response, turning to him who had risen from his stool, the bowl of popcorn in his left arm, grinning sheepishly. "Hiya 'arry," Ron greeted with what Harry could tell was false smile, obviously trying to start over and forget last years events. But how could Harry just forget!
"I didn't get any post," was all Harry said, skipping the usual greeting, amazingly already in an angry mood. "From anyone," he finished accusingly; he would have at least liked a single letter over the summer.
Ginny frowned, bringing her freckled hand through her new darker hair. "Well, we wanted to, but then we figured you were going to be having a rough summer, and the last thing you needed was us making it worse..."
"You figured?" Harry spoke flatly, his green eyes now narrowing at Ginny.
"Well more the ministry ordered us not to," Ron spoke up quickly, trying to stop Harry from scaring his sister to death. "But we did want to Harry," he added, coming beside his friend, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Honest."
Harry sighed and nodded, that had to be the truth, it had to be. His own friend wasn't going to do that to him, Ron couldn't be taken down without a fight, and obviously something was said to him, for he didn't make an attempt.
"Mum was worried sick though," Ron added in a hopeful attempt to make his friend feel better. "The only time she felt any better was at the Quidditch Cup, but once it was over she was a mess again..."
Harry frowned, turning his head suddenly to Ron. Ginny, sensing this tension smacked her palm to her forehead, knowing the attempt had been ruined. Mumbling into her palm, she knew it could only get worse from here on out.
"You went to the Cup?" Harry questioned somewhat flatly, his eyes searching Ron's freckled face for answers.
"Yeah, dad got tickets again," Ron added cheerily, not catching on, causing Ginny to mutter a bit louder into her palm. "It was bloody brilliant Harry. US versus Bulgaria. US team bloody brilliant Harry. The best match of the century it was! Best! Hermione even enjoyed it!"
Harry's eyes narrowed on Ron, freezing. "Hermione...?" he questioned slowly with a lowered brow.
"Yeah," Ron spoke nervously, realizing his error, slowly pulling his hand away from Harry's shoulder. "Well, dad had an extra ticket see? And I wanted to invite you but, but you were in mourning so I invited Hermione instead?" Ron's face looked as though he was going to be sick.
Harry could feel his fists clench. His own best friend! His own best friend had basically disowned him! Had left him out to dry and forgotten him. Harry's cheeks turned a bit red as his body tensed all over. He could feel the rage and anger that had been building up over the summer swell within him, just waiting to come out.
"You invited Hermione?!" Harry hissed through his teeth, he could feel his blood boil.
"Yes," Ron spoke uneasily, his hand beginning to clasp together out of nervousness. "Well we assumed you would..."
Harry couldn't take it anymore; he blew, right in front of everyone. "Well you assume too much Ronald Weasley! It looks to me as though you are still recovering from that blow you received at the ministry! So will you do me a favor and not assume anything anymore?!" he growled.
Everyone was staring as Harry's shoulders heaved up and down with emotion that had been building up within him through summer months, since that day at the Ministry. He didn't even look to the old women and Tom who had begun to stare. His angry glance was focused on Ron's reddening red ears. Ron looked shocked at his friend's accusation, and gaped at him for a moment. But soon a glare appeared in his own eyes, and he looked ready to fight back with a rude comment if it hadn't been for Hermione breaking between the two boys at that moment as Ginny watched with wide eyes. The bounce of Hermione's bushy brown hair caused Harry to flinch, and retract away a bit. Taking some time in his mind to register who had so boldly stepped in the way.
"Harry," Hermione spoke short of breath, as if she had spotted them from the window and dashed inside at full speed. "Ron, look..." she exhaled, trying not to fall over. "It's Harry..."
"I see that..." Ron responded softly, breaking his glance away from Harry. "I just came to say hi," Ron shrugged, calming down a bit.
Harry broke his glare away from Ron as well, letting out a deep sigh in humiliation at what he had just done to his friend. "I'm sorry Ron," Harry muttered. "I didn't mean anything by it," Harry looked up apologetically.
Ron seemed to take a serious moment or two considering this when a cheesy forgiving grin spread across his own face and he stuck his hand out, taking Harry's, shaking it. "No harm done Harry, I would have done the same."
Hermione exchanged relieved glances with Ginny, who slowly walked toward her side, smiling at the two boys. "Well then Ron, why don't you show Harry what you saved for him at the game?" Hermione hinted a bit flatly.
Ron hearing this widened his eyes and nodded in agreement, giving off another cheesy smile. "Oh! Right!" And he hurried back to the bar, tossing the empty popcorn bowl onto the counter and dug under the stool, fishing out a pair of his old Omnioculars (Harry noticed Hermione roll her eyes) and handed them off to Harry.
Harry slowly lowered his head as his green eyes searched over the familiar object that he had bought for Ron when he had last went to the Quidditch Cup. He could remember it like it was yesterday, and was still very upset he hadn't been taken but he knew, even with Quidditch he probably would have been miserable. Ron had been right and Harry knew it, no matter how much he resented it. Harry's dirty thumb ran over the replay button as he sighed in memory, it wasn't until he heard Ron's voice in the distance call out: "Give it a try Harry..." That he raised them to his eyes, and pressed down on the button.
Blurs of scarlet flashed by the lens, obviously the Bulgarian team, but they were not chased by blurs of green, of the Irish, but of red, white and blue. A round brown object which Harry easily distinguished as the Quaffle sailed in the air, and one of the red, white, and blue figures stopped. It was a boy with black hair, spiked in the front, his forehead somewhat smudged with dirt, a serious expression to his face. Harry, freezing the frame, lowered his eyes to see a yellow patch with the letter "C" on it.
"Justin Silvestri..." Ron narrated as if knowing exactly what frame of the picture Harry was on just by the expression on his face. "Youngest chaser in the league present, at 17, and he isn't even the youngest on the team!" Ron later added with a voice that sounded of pure glee and somewhat dreamy. "And he isn't even the youngest on the team..." Harry saw Hermione roll her eyes again.
"All of them but the seeker were younger than Silvestri Ronald..." Ginny critiqued, shaking her head as if she had heard this all summer. Looking back to Harry with a somewhat dull sigh. "He's been on about their keeper all summer..."
Harry chuckled when Ron retaliated, turning to his sister and Hermione, throwing his arms in the air. "And why shouldn't I be?! At 15, she's our age basically, and a thumping good keeper. Bloody brilliant! Did you see those saves?!"
"Little Ronnykins still on about his second Quidditch match?" One of the twins' voices intruded as Fred entered the scene, accompanied by George. Both were in pinstripe robes, neon ties flashing a bit, causing Harry to pull away from the Omnioculars for a bit.
"Like these Harry?" George asked, posing side by side with Fred, both smiling devilishly. "We enchanted them."
"Best business men in Diagon Alley need to look sharp," Fred chorused with a wink, his arms folding across his chest.
"Interesting," was all Harry could say, though he was struggling with his face to hold back a laugh.
"Mum didn't favor them too much," Ginny rolled her eyes, though a small smile was on her lips.
"Well Mum isn't the one running a big business," Fred snorted, upturning his nose jokingly.
"You get the keeper you guys?" Ron interrupted suddenly, obviously not caring for Fred and George's business talk. Turning to Harry's confused face he softened his tone. "About halfway through I gave them the Omnioculars, they had a better view." His tone hardened once again as he faced the twins, "Well did you?" he demanded.
George broke away from Fred and slowly strolled over to Ron, wrapping his arm around his younger brother's shoulder, pulling him close a bit too hard. "Now, now, my impatient little brother, can't you trust your own brothers? We are blood... would we ever let you down?" Ron shot a bit of a glare to George and after thinking a moment George nodded in agreement. "Oh yeah, I forgot about that time."
Hermione, growing impatient snorted and took the Omnioculars from Harry's hands and brought them to her eyes, pressing play, and fell silent as the group of boys and Ginny continued speaking. Harry smiled a bit, watching the brothers argue, Hermione taking control once more, it seemed once again things were returning to normal.
"It was that good then?" Harry questioned, a weak smile plastered on his face, still trying to hide his subtle jealousy.
"Bloody brilliant!" Ron echoed once more, freeing himself once more from one of the twin's grasps. "US won! Their seeker, this Spanish fellow, Ruben, beat Krum to the snitch!"
"I noticed Hermione didn't seem that upset," George smiled a bit cunningly, his eyes wandering over to Hermione.
"Yeah, she was too busy watching Ruben, than her own boyfriend!" Fred added.
"Um... boys?.." Hermione interrupted softly, her eyes glued on the Omnioculars, causing everyone to face her.
Fred and George began to fuss with their neon glowing ties, often fixing each others'. Once in a while they would reach over and ruffle Ron's hair as Ron swatted at their arms. Ginny stayed between Harry and Hermione, trying her best to pay attention to Hermione with all of the "distractions" going on.
"What Hermione?" Ron grunted between a particularly rough noogie.
"This is a freeze frame of the Keeper of the US team's butt," Hermione spoke flatly, lowering the Omnioculars and eying Fred and George peculiarly.
Ron shot a glare at his two brothers, who both feigned innocence, until Fred fessed up with a careless shrug. "It was almost as good as the game..."