Harry Potter: More to Life
By, FaithfullyTeamEdward1
Chapter 1: Departure
Harry's summer at the Dursleys' was going by slower than ever this year. Not a day went by when he didn't think about Sirius' death. This event had torn at his heart like a dagger. No amount of comfort from his friends, though they tried through letters, could ease the pain of losing his Godfather. Sirius had been the closest thing to a father that Harry had ever had. Vernon Dursley hardly counted as a fatherly figure to him.
Though Hermione, Ron and Ginny kept owling him, to tell Harry that it wasn't his fault, or that he needed to focus on what he still had, nothing had helped. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Harry received an owl from Dumbledore. His letter said:
Dear Harry,
Arthur and Molly have insisted that you go to stay with them. I believe that since you returned to the your aunt and uncle's, even for the short time you were there, that the requirement has been met. I will be coming to get you this Friday night, July 13th at 7 O'clock. I will be taking you to where you, Miss Granger and the Weasely's will be staying. When we arrive there, I will be going over some very important business with all of you. See you on Friday.
Yours truly,
Albus Dumbledore
As soon as Harry received the letter, he brightened, if only a little, and started packing. Friday was only a day away and he wanted to make sure he got everything ready before Dumbledore arrived. He had made sure that he stayed out of sight of his aunt, uncle, and cousin, because he knew that they would only have snide remarks for him. He especially didn't want them to know that he no longer had a Godfather to bluff about.
One hour before Dumbledore's arrival on Friday, Harry told Hedwig to go on ahead. This would make traveling a little easier for himself. The snowy white owl happily obliged. And so, before she flew out Harry's open window, she softly nipped him on his fingers as her goodbye. Harry sat down and was lost in his thoughts, and before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.
An hour later, yelling from down-stairs woke him up.
"Who the ruddy hell are you!" Uncle Vernon was yelling.
"I am Albus Dumbledore, Head Master of Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I suppose Harry forgot to inform you that I was coming." Dumbledore replied calmly.
At this, Harry could have kicked himself. Of course, the Dursley didn't know someone was coming for me! Harry thought to himself.
He, Harry, hadn't talked to them for the past month, so he hadn't told them he was leaving. Harry was just getting up off his bed to grab his school things, when Uncle Vernon started yelling up the stairs.
"Get down here boy! You have some explaining to do! NOW!"
Harry quickly dropped his trunk at the severity in his uncles voice, though he'd never really been afraid of the man, and ran down the stairs two at a time. This was to ensure that he got out of Privet Drive alive.
"Good evening, Harry," Dumbledore said as he stepped past Uncle Vernon to get into the house. Harry quickly searched his headmasters face for any sign of aggravation or anger, but only found the usual twinkle in the old man's eyes.
"Good evening, sir," Harry replied with a nervous glance at Vernon's rapidly purpling face. He looked as if he would explode any minute if he didn't get an explanation for way someone from "Harry's lot" was standing in his home. Aunt Petunia and Dudley were watching from the kitchen door.
"I am here to take Harry to stay with the Weasely's. He will be staying there for the remainder of the summer." Dumbledore explained, breaking the unnerving silence in the entry hall, "So why don't you go gather your things, Harry, and we will leave your family to their peace."
Harry didn't need any plainer of an invitation to leave the room. He turned and raced up the stairs faster than he had come down them. As soon as he entered his room he heard his uncle speak again.
"We will not take him back until next summer. We refuse to have him here until then." Vernon told Dumbledore.
What's different? I never come back until the summer anyways. Harry thought as he gathered his trunk and Hedwig's cage. I don't even like coming back during the summer.
"That's fine, he will choose another place to stay during his winter and spring holiday's." Albus replied.
Harry finished gathering his things and was back down the stairs within five minutes. He couldn't wait to leave and get to the Burrow. Then maybe he could get his mind off of Sirius' death. He knew that Mrs. Weasley always had something for everyone to do, so he and everyone else would be very busy.
"Are you ready to go?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, sir. I'm all ready." Harry said, avoiding the glares from his "family".
"Then we shall be off. Say goodbye to everyone and we'll no longer invade on their … hospitality."
Reluctantly, Harry obeyed his headmaster and turned to face the Dursley's.
"Goodbye," he mumbled.
"Bye," the three Dursley replied, stiffly.
With that, Harry and Professor Dumbledore walked out the door into the cool night air. The sun had not yet completely set, so there was a crimson glow to the surroundings.
"How are we going to travel?" Harry asked curiously. He looked around for some brooms or an out of place car, but saw nothing new or unusual about Privet Drive.
"By portkey, I should think," Dumbledore, replied as he looked around, "Awe, here it is."
He had picked up an old soda can from the gutter.
"Grab on to it Harry. It is set to leave in thirty seconds." Harry grabbed on just as the can began to glow. Harry could feel the familiar pulling at his navel as he and Dumbledore swirled through a whirlwind of mixed colors. After about a minute, Harry found himself on his back. When he got up, and his sight refocused, Harry noticed that he was not in the kitchen at the Burrow, but in the kitchen of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place.
He had only been standing for a couple of seconds when he was knocked back to the stone floor by his best friends hug.
"Her-mi-nee, I can't breath," Harry said from underneath Hermione's weight.
"Oh, sorry Harry. I'm just glad that you're here." She apologized as she got up and helped Harry back to his feet.
"I'm glad you finally decided to drop in mate," Ron said putting extra emphasis on the word drop, as he clapped Harry on the back.
"Oh Harry dear! You're here!" Mrs. Weasley said as she pulled him into one of her usual bear hugs.
"Mum, he just got here, let him breathe, " Ron said, coming to Harry's rescue.
"Right, why don't you help him with his things, and show him to his room."
"Alright." Ron picked up one end of Harry's trunk and Harry got the other side. They walked up the many flights of stairs in silence. When they got to the room that he and Ron had share last summer, Harry made to turn, but Ron kept walking.
Harry continued to follow in silent confusion. They walked up two more flights of stairs before Ron came to a stop outside a scarlet colored door. Then he opened the door and pulled Harry into a huge scarlet and gold room.
"This is your room now." Ron said.
"It's fantastic, but wasn't this… you know…" Harry couldn't bring himself to say his Godfather's name, "his room?"
"Yeah, it was his room, but Mum thought that since he was your Godfather, that you should have the huge room, now Sirius is…" Ron stopped before he finished because he could see the pain that Sirius' name had cause his best friend.
"Sorry mate, I didn't mean… anyway, I'll help you unpack," Ron stammered as he pulled Harry's trunk into the oversized walk-in closet on the right of a king sized four post bed.
The whole unpacking part didn't take very long, because Harry didn't have very many Muggle clothes, and he only had five pair of school robes and one pair of dress robes. Harry also only had one pair of shoes for the shoe rack, so even with his trunk tilted up in the corner; the huge closet seemed very empty and lonely.
When they were finished, Harry went to just stand in the middle of the room. He noticed that there was a bathroom on the left side of the bed. His bed. Harry didn't realize that he was crying until he looked into the mirror above the oak dresser on one of the walls, next to a matching desk.
"You alright Harry?" Ron asked, coming up behind him and putting his hand on Harry's shoulder.
Harry shook his head and asked, "He's really gone. Sir-Sirius is really gone isn't he?" He began to wipe away the tears that were now rapidly sliding down his cheeks.
"I'm afraid so mate. As hard as it is for everyone, it must have really been a shot to the heart for you huh?"
All Harry did was answer with a nod, when Hermione and another girl walked in. Who's she? That girl is absolutely gorgeous. Harry could only stare at the girl behind him through the mirror.
"Are you okay Harry?" Hermione asked as she made Harry turn around and look at her. After he was turned around, Hermione gave her best friend another hug. This one wasn't a crushing one though, it was gentle and comforting. He returned the hug. When Harry stopped crying, Hermione let go and moved aside so that the other girl could come closer.
"Hi Harry. How are you?" Ginny Weasley's voice said. That was who she was. Harry didn't recognize her at first. She had become so gorgeous over the last month. Or maybe she had always been this beautiful.
Harry! She's Ron's sister! He would kill you if you start to like her! Get her out of your mind… No, I can like her if I want to. She's so pretty. Harry thought as he looked at his best friend's little sister.
When Harry found his voice, all he could say was, "Hi Ginny. I'm fine."
"I'm glad, you're okay." She said. Then she walked over to him and gave him an even more comforting hug then even Hermione's.
Her hair smells so good. I wish we could stay like this forever. When did she grow up so much? He thought as he returned this hug too.
"Thanks, I needed those," Harry admitted after Ginny had pulled away as well.
He so honest about his feelings! He liked the hug, but maybe I shouldn't have done that. Was that too much? I mean he just got here. Note to self: keep your distance. He has friends and he doesn't need you suffocating him with sympathy. He's just so cute! Ginny couldn't stop all the thoughts that were running through her head. I can't help it if I am actually in love with Harry this time. It isn't just a childish crush. I have every right to like him. Just as much a right as the next girl. Maybe more.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Mrs. Weasley called for everyone to come to dinner.
"Everyone wash up! Some Order members are here for dinner and so is Professor Dumbledore. He has important business to discuss with everyone here, so hurry." Molly Weasley called from two flights down.
Not wanting to upset Mrs. Weasley and just out of curiosity, the four teenagers raced to the different bathrooms to clean up and raced down to dinner.
