Disclaimer: This story is in no way affiliated with the Harry Potter series or written by/for JK Rowling. This is merely fan fiction and in shall no way sell or make any money yadda, yadda, yadda.
Waiting For Harry
"What should we do about Harry?" Ron inquired looking at Hermione with a blank expression "I feel like an outcast around him, anymore."
Hermione just shrugged "I don't know but we have to try, we are all he has" she glanced up from her book "Us and Ginny."
"Damn it! Hermione, Harry broke it off with her, why would you bring her into this?"
"Because, she is a crucial part of this, all this Ron." Her tone stern and unflinching, "Harry chose to keep her out of this war in order to keep her safe. The fact still remains she is more than just a little part of everything Harry needs right now."
Ron just stood there biting his lip not wanting to start another row with Hermione he knew she was right though.
"What is all the fussing about? I heard my name," Ginny asked wiping her hands on her shirt as she walked out of the kitchen.
"Nothing!" Ron said as he turned back to Hermione
"We were talking about Harry, Ginny," Hermione said knowing that would change the conversation with Ginny.
"Mom told me to come and get the two of you, supper is ready," Ginny said as she turned on her heel and quickly slipped back into the kitchen of the burrow.
Ron followed Hermione to the large wooden table in the kitchen, well used and worn smooth. The large table once was a place of laughter and joy for the large Weasley family but with Percy being a prat, Bill and Charlie out on their own and Fred and George usually working late at their shop "Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes" there wasn't much life in the burrow any more. This was saddening to one witch, Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley enjoyed mothering everyone she encountered; that was just the way she was. "Alright everyone lets eat," she said as several bowls and platters of food suddenly filled the table. As everyone sat there eating in silence cutlery lightly clanking plates, Mr. Weasley was the first to break the un-verbal silence "Spoke with Tonks today"
"Oh yeah, How is she making on?" Mrs. Weasley asked interestedly
"She looks rather under the weather having to stand watch at Azkaban," he said shaking his head, taking a bite of his potatoes, "just dreadful"
"Poor Tonks" Hermione chimed
"Have
any of you heard from Harry?" Mrs. Weasley asked looking at the
teens.
"Harry had to go back to those bloody muggles one last
time like he promised Dumbledore before he ..." Ron paused "well
like he promised"
"Language Ron!" Mrs. Weasley snapped at him
"When will he be coming here?" Mr. Weasley asked, "I sure hope it is soon, he needs to be with those who will give him support right now. I know all he will get is grief with the Dursley's, and that is the last thing he needs."
"Tomorrow" Ron said with a mouthful of food
"I agree" said Hermione as she sat her glass of pumpkin juice back down "Harry is strong and bull headed but he really need's us, after all he has been through."
"All he has been through?" Ginny said in a rather upset tone, "We all lost someone close to us when Snape murdered Dumbledore. And I lost Harry!" tears started to well up in her eyes.
"It's ok Ginny," her mom said grabbing her hand while Hermione put her arm around Ginny's shoulders. "We all know you're upset with Harry, but he thought he was making the right choice to keep you safe"
"Well he's not!" she muttered, "I am old enough to take care of myself and he needs to see that."
Mrs. Weasley patted her hand "He will Ginny, he will come around just give him time."
- - - --
As Harry got closer to number four Privet Drive, he thought about the look on his Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia's faces as he returned a week early. "I promised I would return but this is going to be a short stay," he thought to himself. The sun was setting and the air was scented with the smell of fresh grass clippings and sweet floral aromas from everyone's well-manicured lawns and flower gardens. The ticking of a sprinkler could be heard and a bird or two were chirping other than that Privet Drive was boring as usual. Even more pressing in his mind was explaining that his weird friends would be here tomorrow to pick him up. Harry was not old enough to apparate on his own yet so Hermione and Ron were picking him up on the morrow.
As Harry walked up to the Dursley's front door he paused and looked around with a slight relief, this is the last time he would have to see this place ever again. As Harry knocked on the door he heard Uncle Vernon protesting, "Who could that be it's middle of supper?"
"I will get it Vernon" Aunt Petunia said, "Just you finish eating." Petunia gently swung open the door "Yes" but as she caught sight of Harry, her false smile turned to a frown on her long horse-like face. "Potter! What in blazes, are you doing here? You are a week early".
"Hello Aunt Petunia" Harry half smiled at her.
"Did you get kicked out of that so called school of yours? Oh Vernon is going to be furious"
"No classes just ended early this year," Harry defiantly said
"Hum, can't even keep decent schedules can they" she barked turning up her nose.
"I just need to spend the night and make sure I have all my belongings. Tomorrow I will out of your hair and we will never have to see one another ever again"
"Wait here Potter I need to tell Vernon, and don't track anything inside I just cleaned" she turned and marched back into the dining area.
Harry thought he could hear Uncle Vernon turn purple as he shouted "What? Out early?"
"So you want us to extend ourselves for an extra week this summer huh?" Vernon piped marching to where Harry was standing.
"Oh no just for tonight I will be off tomorrow and shall never return" Harry spat "I just need to get all my belongings sorted and make sure I don't leave anything here to burden you.
"Just tonight you say?" Vernon said scratching his chin "what about you inheritance you know we gave you food clothes and shelter all these years out of the goodness of our hearts. Will we get any repayment? Poor Dudley has had to do some going without because of you boy, it's only fair to him."
"Harry, that would be the right thing to do, for Dudders that is" Petunia said
"Sure, whatever I will have some wiz…uh some of our type of money converted over and will send it to you with an owl." Harry clenched his teeth
"Don't send one of those blasted creatures just bring it yourself and slip it into the post slot" Vernon said gruffly "now I believe you know where your room is and please be quiet I am rather tired and want to finish my supper."
Harry got up to his old room and tossed his rucksack onto the bed. Ron had taken his chest back to the burrow so Harry wouldn't have to drag it to the Dursley's. He peered around the room looking for anything he might have left when he packed to leave for Hogwarts last time he was in Surrey. "Last time" he thought to himself with out Dumbledore at Hogwarts Harry felt no reason to finish his last year there. What was the point he planned on finishing what he had promised Professor Dumbledore before he was murdered by that two timing Snape. Harry knew
he had a long, difficult road ahead finding and destroying the remaining horcruxes. Harry let out a small sigh as he looked out the window watching the sun slowly hide behind the trees off in the distance. It had almost become dark now and the streetlights began to glow over what natural light remained.
Harry awoke with the lights from the new day shining through the window at number four Privet Drive. "Time to go" he thought to himself gathering up his little bit of stuff shoving it haphazardly into his rucksack. He would shower when he got to the burrow, hoping to avoid Ginny when he got there. He knew he wanted to be with Ginny but Voldemort took everyone that he had ever gotten close to from him.
Harry threw his sack over his shoulder and quietly snuck down stairs hoping not to wake anyone. He knew his uncle Vernon was still asleep by the ungodly snoring that was emitting from the room down the hall. As Harry rounded the corner at the foot of the stairs, his Aunt Petunia called out to him "Harry a word before you go!"
"Yes Aunt Petunia" Harry said wishing she had been asleep as well.
"Harry I am not going to sit here and dispense pleasantries, however I would like to give you something that belonged to you mother"
"What is it" I felt rather excited
"Now hold on a tick" she snapped "I want you to understand something first, you can't tell Vernon about this or he will be upset with me since he never knew I had this." She stretched out her bony fingers holding a small oval locket without a neck chain "Open this later and away from this home. Now go Potter!" she hissed
Harry clutched the locket in his hand and then slipped it into his pocket. "Thanks" he said, then turned and slipped out the front door. He knew that was either his aunt's way of saying goodbye or maybe that is why Dumbledore made him promise to return one more time. Either way he had not cared, he was Dursley free from now on.
He was walking rather quickly away from the Dursley's knowing he was going to be late for the meeting with Ron and Hermione, at their agreed spot. I wondered what was in that locket. Oh well he shrugged he would have to look later at the burrow.
As he briskly walked across the playground getting nearer the woods he started to feel upset about Dumbledore again and a knot had tied up in his stomach. What was he going to do now? To whom was he going to go to with his problems that only Dumbledore could answer? "I guess I will have to figure things out on my own," he said to himself.
Harry waved at Hermione and Ron who were standing just at the edge of the trees waiting for Harry.
