Pools of Surprises

Only good friends could sit sunbathing on a deck in complete silence and love every second. So they did just that. Harry, Ron, and Hermione lounged on the deck of a London hotel occasionally spitting out a sentence that had no particular conversational value, but made rather good use for space filler.

Their new location was due to their acute need to appear invisible. Gathering clues and trying to find the Dark Wizard who had made their return to Hogwarts impossible was proving to be a difficult task. Their contact with the Order was preserved through Apparition, and although it was the form of traveling Harry hated most, the Floo Networks had come under attack. Nothing was safe anymore. The secret of Number Twelve Grimwauld Street was unleashed at the moment of Dumbledore's death and overrun almost before the Order had a chance to seal their secrets. But Harry knew his contact with the Order was essential. While he was well aware that it was he who must face Voldemort, he needed the help of friends and mentors to dissolve the clues and puzzles penetrating his mind every night. Friends who swore they'd be with him until the end.

"Ron, for the thousandth time, put on sun cream. You'll burn if you don't and then you'll regret it," Hermione pursed.

"Leave me alone. I will not." He glanced up from the Muggle chess set in front of him. "Harry, mate, how do they do this? The pieces don't clobber each other or anything!"

"They're used to it, Ron. Hermione's right. Put the sun cream on. You're looking a little red already."

Ron grumbled and looked at his already burnt and severely freckled body. He slowly applied a thin layer and sat back down. Hermione sighed and tried to continue with her book. Unlike Ron, she was slightly tan, and was wearing sun lotion. Ron resented her for the former, but refused to wear the lotion, no matter how many times Hermione pleaded with him too. "Ron! You need more than that! Harry's right! You're burnt already."

"Oh shut up you little..." he flopped the book out of her hands and leaned in to kiss her.

Harry stood up and walked over to the pool. He hated that Ron and Hermione could act like they did together. He didn't mind that they were together, but he hated that they could keep going while he felt like he was dying inside. Voldemort had achieved his goal of destroying every mentor and safeguard Harry had. His parents, Sirius, and Dumbledore…all had been lost to a wrath of greed and power that threatened every person Harry loved.

Around his neck Harry wore a necklace that had no meaning to him aside from the man who held it last before him. And in a stroke of chance, before the Order vacated the house on Grimwauld Street he managed to recover Sirius' two-way mirror. It was in the hands of the Order's newest member, the one he trusted and loved most, but swore never to show true feelings for.

Harry was trying infinitely to enjoy the small amount of time for relaxation he had, but the thoughts clouding his mind rarely allowed such rest. He turned around and fell into the pool backwards. A second later he felt someone push him up. And gasp for air at the surface. He opened his eyes to see who it was. A familiar red-head was pushing wet hair out of her face and struggling to get to the edge. "Sorry Gin," he mumbled, aghast, pulling her to the side and then out of the pool.

"It's okay, don't worry." She glanced over at Ron and Hermione. Hermione would open her book, get to read a few words, and Ron would shut it and kiss her. "Pathetic, isn't it?" she mumbled, not reacting to Harry's surprise at her having apparated into a pool.

"Just a little," Harry managed to say back. He didn't want to talk about the couple and their teasing habits.

Ginny groaned and said, "Want to go back to the room and play video games? I'm not very good, but it'll be better than watching that," she shrugged towards Ron and Hermione.

"You're on. Let's go." Harry grabbed a towel for her and they walked into the hotel dripping.

Standing in the elevator, and not glancing at Ginny, Harry began, "A little careless of you to apparate into a Muggle pool, don't you think?"

"I would say yes, but I know better," she commented in the same dry, uninterested tone.

"Whadda mean?"

Ginny avoided the question as the elevator stopped and opened. She looked down the hallway in front of her and shuddered, "I don't like this corridor," she commented. The hall was slightly dark and lined on both sides by mirrors between the doors that seemed to race on endlessly1. The dim lighting and repeated figures gave Harry the feeling anyone could be following them. They reached the door and Harry unlocked it, both the Muggle way and with wordless magic and a stroke over the doorknob, as he had seen an elf do in Gringotts. No chances could be taken. He opened the door and crossed the threshold into the two bed room.

Ginny gasped and grabbed Harry's arm. Harry's eyes widened and his mouth dropped opened. He stood in front of Ginny and slowly backed out of the room, shutting and locking the door.

He looked down at Ginny, and they ran.

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(zenithxtina)