Harry Potter and the Talisman of Prongs

Chapter 1

Summer At The Weasleys

The summer holiday went by faster than usual that year. There was an amounting excitement flitting around the Weasley household as September 1st quickly approached. Harry and Hermione had been guests there since two weeks ago, as they had been doing for the past few years.

It seemed to become an unofficial tradition to spend the last few days or weeks of summer vacation with the family (which seemed quite smaller these days now that about half of the children had moved out.) Before Harry's second year at Hogwarts, Ron, George, and Fred had borrowed their father's flying car to rescue him from the Dursleys house, where they had put bars on his window. Before their third year, they all spent a few days staying at The Leaky Cauldron. And they'd all gone to the Quidditch World Cup before their fourth year at Hogwarts.

What Harry liked most about this, besides that he got to be with his friends, was that he no longer had to dread going back to the Dursleys house. He now lived with his godfather Sirius Black. A man who used to be a prisoner in Azkaban prison, framed for killing Peter Pettigrew and a bunch of muggles. But recently it was discovered by the Ministry of Magic (Harry had known for a while), that Peter was alive and was the one who framed Sirius. So now Harry was free to live with him, since the Ministry and Azkaban dementors were no longer seeking him. Sirius still lived in the house in Hogsmeade known as the Shrieking Shack, having stayed there when hiding from the Ministry. But now everyone knew he was there, and the house was fixed up a little bit. And Harry loved the idea of being so close to Hogwarts, a place he'd always considered to be his real home.

He could go to Zonkos whenever he wanted to get jokes—which he usually ended up sending to Ron—or Honeydukes for candy and such. He'd seen Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, a few times and they'd had a butterbeer together at the Three Broomsticks. He would smile to himself every time he'd see a product in Zonkos with a Weasleys Wizards Wheezes brandname on it. George and Fred Weasley had created the line of products when Harry was only in his fourth year.

His fourth year seemed so long ago now that he was about to enter his seventh, and final, year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry was a bit sad to be saying goodbye after all these years. He'd made so many friends there. Hermione was excited about taking her N.E.W.T.s (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests) and had practically been studying since they had arrived at the Weasleys. While she did this, however, Harry and Ron were most likely out in the yard playing Quidditch. They didn't exactly have all the right equipment, or enough players, but they played anyway. Harry figured he'd have to keep up on practicing since he was now the Gryffindor team captain.

Ron and Harry had played a short game one night after dinner, and came in since it was getting dark. This usually didn't stop them but it looked as if it were going to rain. As the two entered the kitchen and approached the livingroom, Hermione put the book that she'd had her nose in all afternoon on the couch and looked up.

"Still studying, Hermione?" Ron inquired, mocking only slightly.

She turned up her nose a little in annoyance, having been asked this question several times over the past weeks. "For your information, yes. And you would be wise to do the same."

"Oh, Hermione," Harry interrupted, then smiled and joked. "Ron's not wise." Ron laughed.

She gave a small smile. "I only want to be ready for my N.E.W.T.s."

The two boys sat next to her on the couch. Ron's little sister Ginny, who was going to be starting her sixth year this September, was sitting on a comfy chair next to the couch. "Please. You know everything! You'll probably get a perfect score, and then extra because you'll find a mistake on the test or something." Said Ron.

Hermione sighed a little and they all stared at the fireplace in silence, where a warm fire had been built after dinner. The weather had been chilly for the end of August, and they had built quite a few fires already. Thunder rumbled low outside as the sky proceeded to become darker.

Harry glanced out the window, slightly worried. "I hope Hedwig's alright. I'm supposed to hear from Sirius soon."

"How is Sirius?" Hermione asked, closing her book and setting it aside, having visibly decided she was done for the day.

"He's okay. He still doesn't leave the house that often. Doesn't much care for the looks he gets."

"People still give him looks?" asked Ron, taking his attention off of the fire. "I thought they'd all be over it by now."

"Well Ron, people thought he was a murderer for over a decade. It has to take some getting used to. Besides, they've only just found out. We've known for a few years." Hermione replied. "I know it took me a bit longer than you two to stop thinking of him as a murderer, even after I saw all of the evidence for myself."

"Of course," said Ron.

Hermione looked as if she didn't know if she should be offended or not. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Just saying you're different than most of us."

Harry knew that this was going to be bad. Ron shouldn't have said anything. He still smiled, though. His two best friends had been quarreling a lot lately, and he knew what it meant even if they didn't. Ginny got up and left, not being able to concentrate on her book over all the noise. He watched, amused, as they argued for a few more minutes until thunder interrupted them. This was his chance. "Alright, you two." He stretched his arms. "I'm going to bed. Getting late."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right." Hermione agreed. "I think we're going to Diagon Alley tomorrow." She paused to pick up a small stack of books from beside the couch, then faced them. "Night, Harry. Ron."

"Hermi." Said Ron in reply, knowing that she didn't particularly care for the abbreviated nickname he'd given her. She narrowed her eyes at him for a split second, then turned on her heel and went upstairs.

Harry and Ron made their way through the kitchen to pick up their brooms (which they'd left against the counter after their quidditch game.) Then headed up the stairs to Ron's room. Harry shared the room with him when he stayed over. Hermione shared Ginny's room. When they opened the door, they found Hedwig sitting on Harry's bed with wet ruffled feathers. She looked like she'd just gotten in, and a letter sat about a foot away from her.

Harry picked it up as Ron collapsed onto his own bed and closed his eyes. "Ron," Harry waved the letter slightly even though his friends eyes were closed.

"Yeah, tell me what it says." Was his reply.

Ripping it open, he pulled out the letter and started to read to himself.

Harry—

Glad to hear that you're having fun at Ron's. Not much

happening here. Had an idea, though. While you're there,

why don't you ask if Ron can spend Christmas

vacation with us? Hermione, too. It'll be fun. I've done a

lot of work, the house is looking great. Well at least better

anyway. Just thought I'd suggest it. Have fun. I'll see

you when you get back to Hogwarts in a couple of days.

Sirius

Harry smiled and folded the letter back up. It was a great idea to have Ron and Hermione spend Christmas down in Hogsmeade with him. It would be his first Christmas away from Hogwarts. He looked up to tell the exciting news to Ron, but found him lying on his stomach with his head resting in his arms. His red hair was messy and a small muffled snoring noise was coming from him. Asleep already.

Harry just shook his head, set his glasses on the small night table next to his bed, and turned out the lights. He'd tell him in the morning.