Ch. II: Pool Party Prank
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Mr. Weasley grinned at his son and Harry as he walked into the kitchen.
"Hello boys!" Mr. Weasley greeted.
"Hey Dad," Ron said. "Hello, Mr. Weasley." Harry echoed.
"Give me a hand with this, will you?" Mr. Weasley asked.
Harry put his heavily calloused hands on the large magical trunk containing the swimming pool along with Ron.
"Oi, what's that on your hand, Harry?" Ron asked curiously.
Mr. Weasley turned to Harry surprised, hoping he hadn't hurt himself.
Harry showed them his palms.
"What are those?" Ron asked, crinkling his brow.
"Calluses?" Harry said, shrugging. "They're what you get when you do a lot of chores."
"Chores don't leave calluses." Ron said with a sniff.
"Yes they do." Harry countered.
Mr. Weasley chuckled. "Ron, that's because we mostly use magic." Turning to Harry, he frowned slightly. What sort of chores do Muggles do by hand that would induce such large calluses? Especially on a boy so small?
If there was one thing in the world Harry detested, it was drawing attention to himself. He hoisted the large trunk with Ron and exited toward a shady spot in the Weasley backyard.
Mr. Weasley tapped the large magical trunk with his wand. "Stand back, boys." He said. The boys went behind him.
"Engorgio!" Mr. Weasley said. The magical trunk expanded under Mr. Weasley's watchful eye and wand. It became 15 feet wide and 12 feet deep.
Mrs. Weasley walked outside and Mr. Weasley stopped.
"Move it under the tree, Arthur." She said.
"Wingardium leviosa," Mr. Weasley commanded the magical trunk. It had beveled edges and a redheaded mermaid mosaic encircling a 'W' on the floor. Harry grinned.
"Yeah, Mum said to make it pretty for her and Ginny." Ron explained.
"It's brilliant," Harry breathed.
"I'm glad you think so dear," Mrs. Weasley said approvingly. "Ready Arthur?"
The Weasley parents aimed their wards inside the trunk.
"Aquamenti maximus!" They shouted. Sprouts of water shot from their wands filled the whole pool within a few minutes. Harry laughed in delight. I love magic! He noticed there were several places to sit and lounge inside the pool. There was even a fountain at the far edge.
Mrs. Weasley smiled. She remembered when her own children were delighted at a young age by magic before it became commonplace. Harry's emerald eyes were sparkling and his wide grin had her grinning along.
That boy is going to be a charmer when he grows up! Mrs. Weasley remarked to herself.
"Now then," Mrs. Weasley said. "Go get-"
"Yahoo!" the Twins shouted, rushing forward with Ginny, Hermione and Percy in tow.
Ginny had an emerald green with white polka dots one-piece while Hermione had a navy blue one with pink bows.
The boys had solids and Quidditch inspired swim trunks. Harry had chosen a black with green stripes; while Ron sported his neon orange Chudley Cannons.
"Boys!" Mrs. Weasley queried. "Don't run!"
Harry walked at a leisurely pace with Hermione and Ginny. Ginny glanced back and then joined her brothers in a rush.
Harry and Hermione avoided looking at each other but they eyed each other surreptitiously.
"Oi! Come on!" Ron yelled. "The water's great!"
Harry gulped but schooled his features. Get a grip, Potter. He thought, frustrated. It's not the same!
"Harry?" Hermione asked gently.
"We're coming!" Harry called. "Let's go," he muttered to Hermione.
The two friends carefully stepped into the magical trunk pool and Harry smiled.
The water does feel nice. Harry admitted.
Ron beamed and the immediately splashed them.
"Ronald!" Hermione shrieked. Harry gave a choked laugh through the water in his mouth and it became an all-out splash war with Ginny, Harry, and Hermione on one team and Ron, the Twins and Percy on another.
"Wait!" Harry yelled. "My glasses!" Hermione dove under water and grabbed them. "Thanks," Harry said relieved. The two teams continued splashing. After a few minutes, they called a truce. The Weasley children swam toward the deep end.
"Let's go over there-," Ron jerked his thumb toward his siblings where the Weasley mermaid was. "I'm sure Hermione wants to go see her."
Hermione looked worried. Hermione did want to see the mermaid but the mermaid was in the deep end. She promised she would stay with Harry in the shallow end.
Fortunately, Harry saved them both. "You lot go on ahead." Harry said as he got out of the pool. "My glasses are bothering me. I'll go ask your Mum if she'd charm them for me."
"What? Waterproof them?" Ron gave Harry a cheeky grin. "Or stick them to your face?"
Harry made a face while Ron and Hermione grinned and headed towards the deep end.
Mrs. Weasley was hanging laundry when Harry approached her.
"Oh Harry dear," she said surprised and then eyed Harry, concern in her eyes. "Is something the matter?"
"My glasses," Harry answered. "Is there any way you could waterproof them?"
"Let me see, dear." Mrs. Weasley said, satisfied Harry wasn't hurt and she brandished her wand waterproofing them for Harry.
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley." Harry grinned as he ran towards his friends.
"No running!" Mrs. Weasley called.
Harry slowed down. He was just going to walk to the side of the pool and-
"Ack!" Harry cried realizing Fred and George lifting him. "Gotcha!" They teased. Harry gasped as they pushed Harry in the deep end.
"Harry!" Hermione gasped. She wished she could hex the Twins.
Harry sank without a chance to gasp for breath. He saw the beautiful mermaid and her flowing red hair billowing toward him. She turned and to Harry's surprise, reached toward him with her hand. Her brilliant hazel eyes sparkling at him.
***Harry's Flashback***
"Let's get the bloody Lily-Killer!" shouted a seven-year-old Piers Polkiss.
Harry, age six, ran but tripped over his too-large pants and banged his knees.
Piers and Shane Johnson hoisted Harry up. "Bloody orphan freak!" Shane sneered as the boys shoved Harry in the pool.
"Why did you have to bother my family when you could have stayed with yours?" Dudley added petulantly. He wasn't fast like his henchmen. But, he was just as stupid and frankly meaner.
They tried to drown Harry but a schoolteacher stopped them. The parents were notified and Harry not Dudley was punished. He didn't have a square meal for two days and stayed in the cupboard for a week for 'upsetting Dudley.'
***End Flashback***
Harry felt a curious sensation all over his body. His skin felt like it flash boiled and flash froze in a second. He looked up the water was a strange, dark color. Is that ink? Harry thought bemused. The redheaded mermaid looked horrified and she tried to 'push him upwards.' Her hands moving frantically to go to the surface.
Harry thought he heard screaming. He rubbed his head. The ink was coming from Harry's pores. He looked at his skin on his arms and down where his skin was visible fascinated by the dark ink.
Slowly, seeing the mermaid's continued alarm he rose. His vision clouding through the ink.
Harry's hands broke through the surface and were immediately grabbed by several pairs.
Harry blinked. His glasses were underwater and all he could see were red blobs of varying shapes and sizes.
"Harry!" Mr. and Mrs. Weasley cried. They had run towards to pool after hearing frightened screams only to see disturbing amounts of blood in the water. Mr. Weasley was about to dive in along with his sons when Harry's hands appeared.
"Accio Harry's glasses!" Mr. Weasley commanded as Harry tried to focus. Mr. Weasley placed his glasses gently on his face.
The red blobs became stricken faces. "Harry?" Ron and Hermione asked tentatively while Mrs. Weasley knelt to Harry.
"Harry dear," Mrs. Weasley said struggling for calm as she caressed Harry's face. He leaned into her palm intuitively seeking warmth and comfort. A sweet expression on his face.
"What happened?" she asked quietly. Harry frowned. "Why's everyone so scared, Red's Lily?" Harry asked instead.
"Harry, who hurt you?" a livid Mr. Weasley demanded.
"No one, Red's James." Harry answered slowly. "The Laughing Twins pranked me, is all."
Harry's voice sounded young, thin and small even to his own ears.
Mr. Weasley rounded on his sons. He was very perturbed by what Harry had called Molly and himself. Clearly the child's in shock. Mr. Weasley thought alarmed.
"We didn't hurt Harry, Dad." Fred protested fiercely while George stared at Harry.
"Harry dear," Mrs. Weasley said slowly. "Let's go inside, shall we?" Harry stumbled and everyone gave a shocked scream, gasp, or stared at Harry's back and body.
"What's going on?" Harry tried to sound demanding, but only came out small.
"Who…who carved those words in your skin, Harry?" Hermione asked nervously.
"What's on your…you heart, Harry?" Ginny asked in squeak and a blush.
Harry frowned looking down.
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked. "I look normal to me."
Whoo! I have quite a few FanFics to work on but here is this chapter. Not sure how long this FanFic will last since I have a spoof for how Harry lived through his wounds. Thanks for your patience!
-JHS.