Title: FB
Disclaimer: see chap
Chapter 2: The Calm Before the Storm
Thanks to everyone who reviewed! E.C.R, I can't promise, but I'll try not too make it too sad! It won't be as sad as Heaven On Earth, but it won't be any birthday cake either. J
The ride back to the Burrow had been too quiet for Harry. Ron kept his eyes locked in front of him, he really didn't know what to say, and Hermione was shaking with anger.
She kept muttering words under her breath like "the nerve…" and "so inconsiderate…"
Harry kept his own thoughts to himself, staring out the window as they glided through the night, leaving Privet Drive behind for good. He kept thinking about his father. What was wrong with him that made the Dursleys hate him so much? Probably because he too walked around with his hair disheveled. They always hated that.
The Burrow came into view and Harry gave a small smile. When he was with the Weasleys, especially Ron, most of his problems seemed less important. Ron could always do that. Ron pulled into the garage, and the three of them stepped out.
"Glad we weren't stopped or anything," Hermione mumbled, closing her door with a soft click. "Driving without a license…"
Harry groaned. The last thing he wanted right now was to be in trouble. "Ron," he said. "Your mum and dad do know you've taken the car?"
Ron grinned and nodded. "Yeah. I've been driving all summer practically. And it's… you know, a bit easier up there." He pointed upward.
The trio entered the house. Mrs. Weasley had Ginny standing on a stool, pointing her wand at a tape measurer that kept measuring different parts of Ginny's body. She grinned at Harry and blushed heavily.
"What's going on, mum?" Ron asked.
"Oh, well, your school letters just arrived and Ginny needs new dress robes. We're really tight this year, so I'm making hers myself." She blushed a little too, then turned her back to them.
Harry looked down at the floor. Last year, he had offered Mr. and Mrs. Weasley half of the money in his vault. They thanked him kindly for the offering, but declined.
"Well, Harry let's go take your stuff up to my room," Ron said after a few minutes of watching his mum measure Ginny. "Fred and George aren't here to do it."
"Oh?" Harry asked, following Ron up the stairs.
"Well, you know, they graduated. They're working in Zonko's until they have enough money to buy the place." Ron said. "Dad is thrilled, mum isn't too happy."
"So, it's just you and Ginny?" Hermione asked.
"Hopefully just Ginny after this year. Making our own robes, things must be really bad…"
Hermione and Harry exchanged sympathetic looks.
"Just put your stuff anywhere," Ron said flopping down on his bed. "You know the drill."
Harry picked a corner of the room that wasn't littered with pictures and magazines of the Chudley Cannons, Ron's favorite Quidditch team. He dragged his trunk over and put Hedwig's empty cage on top of it.
"I think we're having another ball!" Hermione said, reading her Hogwarts letter.
Ron groaned and covered his face with his pillow.
Harry snorted at Ron and turned to Hermione. "Why's that?"
She smiled at him. "Well, it says we need new dress robes too, and… one would think…"
"I really hope it isn't another ball," Ron snapped. "There's no way I'm wearing that prissy, frilly MAROON eighteenth century NIGHTMARE!"
Hermione couldn't help but giggle. "It wasn't that bad, Ron,"
"Oh yeah?" he shouted, tearing the pillow away from his face. "YOU weren't wearing it!!! It had more lace on it than yours!"
Hermione blushed.
"It could have been worse," Harry said.
"How?!" Ron cried. "No, no no! No ball for me! I'll say I'm ill! And if Madam Pomfrey doesn't believe me, I'll take a heeping teaspoon of Bat Liver Juice and MAKE myself ill!"
"Even if Lavender asks you?" Hermione said in a sing-song voice. Harry laughed out loud. Ron blushed.
"Oh, Ron!" Harry said in a high voice, throwing the back of his hand to his forehead. "Take me to the ball! Take me!"
Hermione giggled. Ron grinned and tossed his pillow at Harry. It hit him in the face and then flopped to the floor. Harry grinned, picked up the pillow, walked to Ron and beamed him in the head. Ron jumped up, seized the pillow off of Harry's bed and an all out war ensued.
"Boys," Hermione rolled her eyes and sat down on Harry's trunk with Hogwarts: A History.
There was a sudden pause, and whispering. Hermione looked up, and found Harry and Ron in front of her, grins on their faces, pillows in hand.
"And what do you think you're doing?"
She wasn't sure who yelled it, but there was a sudden "Get her!" and she was bombarded with getting smacked with pillows on either side of her. She squealed.
"HERM!" someone threw her a pillow. It landed on her head and fell in back of her.
She scooped it up and jumped to her feet. "You can't kill a killer," she said, a grin playing over her lips. She took a glance at the threshold and saw Ginny standing there, a pillow in her hand. "Thanks, Ginny." She went and stood beside her.
"Oh what?" Ron asked, looking at the two girls. "You think you can take us on?"
Harry grinned. "I think they do, Ron."
"We don't think, we KNOW it," Hermione spat. Ginny nodded.
"Ooooo, I'm shaking in my little space boots," Ron replied. Those were the last words he muttered before Hermione lunged at him, swinging her pillow over her head.
An hour later, exhausted, they collapsed onto the beds.
"I'm really sorry, Harry," Hermione moaned.
Their game had come to an abrupt stop when Hermione swung her pillow at Harry, knocking the glasses off his face. They fell to the floor and she accidentally stepped on them.
Harry squinted at what he thought was her, but it ended up being Hedwig's cage. "Don't worry about it," he squinted harder. "Are you gaining weight?"
The other three laughed.
"Nothing a little magic can't fix, right, Herm?" Ron asked her.
"Yeah, but I can't until we're on the train," Hermione said. "I would right now, but the Ministry would know," she hung her head.
"It's only two days. The day after tomorrow you'll have your glasses back," Ginny piped up. "You like nice without them," she blushed.
Harry blushed too.
"Now that's a Kodak moment," Ron said.
Harry turned away from Ginny. He didn't have the heart to tell her that he wasn't interested in her. He loved her too much like a little sister. He picked up both halves of his glasses. The lens on the left side was shattered, but the right side only had a small scratch. He held it up to his eye. "See, I can do this," he said, turning to them.
Ron nearly fell off the bed laughing.
"At least I can SEE you laughing," Harry said.
This made Ron laugh even more.
"Well, from now until I can fix your glasses, I'll be your eyes," Hermione said, looping her arm through Harry's. He turned to her, looking at her with his one good eye. She couldn't help but chuckle.
Ron snorted. "Ah great," he said. "Blind Harry and a book with bushy hair that walks and talks. What a pair you'll be."
"Help me, Harry!!!"
Harry ran through the forest, flames leaping up all around him. Where was he? Who was calling to him? He ran farther and farther.
"PLEASE HELP ME!"
The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't remember who it was. Farther and farther he ran. "Where are you?" he called out.
"HARRY!"
"Tell me where you are!!!!" he shouted.
And then, he heard terrible screaming… of someone being tortured. And a voice, a familiar voice… laughing.
Harry woke up with a start. His scar was burning so much that he gave a small cry of pain. He squinted around the room. He saw a blurry lump that he assumed was Ron snoring peacefully in the other bed. He decided he would take a trip to the bathroomand get a damp cloth for his forehead. Seizing the good half of his glasses, holding it up to his eye and his other hand to his forehead, he went out of the room toward the bathroom. He stopped when he heard someone crying softly. It was coming from Ginny's room. He walked up the door and knocked. "Ginny?"
He heard a small gasp and she whispered. "Just a minute!" she pulled open the door a crack, putting a finger to her lips. "Hermione's asleep." In the moonlight, he could see her puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yes," she said quickly. Then, "no."
"Anything I can help with?"
"It's just… I know my mum and dad are poor," she said. "And I know my mum meant well, but the dress robe she made me is a wreck. I'm going to be laughed at."
"I'm sure it's not that bad…" Harry started.
"No?" Ginny reached inside and pulled out the pale orange dress robe. Harry examined it with his good eye. One of the sleeves was shorter than the other, the neck was crooked and the seam at the bottom wasn't stitched properly. Half of it just hung there.
"Oh," he moaned.
"See?" Ginny sobbed, starting to cry again.
"Don't cry, Ginny," Harry said. "Tomorrow when we go to Diagon Alley to get our school supplies, I'll buy you new dress robes. Ron too, if he wants."
Ginny looked at him. "Really?"
Harry nodded.
"Thank you, Harry!" Ginny cried, throwing her arms around her neck. Harry wished she didn't, his scar was still pounding, but he gave her a small hug anyway.
Then they wished each other goodnight and went their separate ways.
"What do you think?" Hermione asked Harry, leading him around Diagon Alley. "Flourish and Blotts next?" they had just been to Gringotts- Harry to get money out of his vault, and Hermione to have money exchanged. Ron and Ginny nervously waited outside, counting the small coins Mrs. Weasley had given them.
Harry didn't answer. He was too busy drinking in the fact that Hermione was this close to him. She hadn't been that shy either, holding his hand, winking and smiling at him as if she were trying to communicate something through body language. Harry gasped, something amazing had caught his good eye, and he started running over to it, dragging Hermione along. Ron seemed to know where he was headed as he followed him.
"Harry, what…?" Hermione stopped short when Harry pressed his good eye and nose up to the window of Quality Quidditch Supplies. Ron mimicked his movement.
Ginny and Hermione looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
"Did you ever see anything so beautiful?" Ron drooled.
Actually, Harry had, in the form of Hermione, but broom-wise, no way. "Never," he answered.
Floating in the store window was a sleek red oak broom with Windracer embolized on the handle.
The Windracer
Brother broom of The Firebolt, the Windracer gives the rider maximum control with the slightest ease. Made from rare red oaks and hand polished by house elves in France. The Windracer out races every other broom in its class, its speed setting it apart from The Firebolt. Price: acquire within.
"Think I'm in love," Ron said.
"Oh, for goodness sake," Hermione replied. She wanted Harry to hold her hand again, and be close to her. She secretly wished she could break his glasses everyday, he was being so sweet to her. She pulled on the hem of his shirt. "Harry…"
"Yeah, in a minute," he said, not turning around.
Hermione turned to Ron and poked him. "Ron,"
"Leave me!" he cried.
Hermione sighed and turned to Ginny. "Well, would you like to finish shopping? It's nearly evening and we haven't got our books yet."
"Yes," Ginny said.
The salesman stepped out of Quality Quidditch Supplies and turned to the two of them. "She's a beaut, eh?"
Ron turned to the man, tears in his eyes. "I'd sell my right arm just to hold it,"
The man laughed. "School shopping?"
They nodded.
"Hogwarts?"
They nodded again.
"Graduated from there myself… hey, aren't you Harry Potter?" he asked Harry.
Harry tore his eyes away from the window and put his good eye on the salesman. "Oh that guy. Yeah, I'm him." He nodded over his shoulder. "That's Ron. And those two are Hermione and Ginny."
The salesman smiled. "Charmed. Hey, would you like a go on it?"
Harry's eyes bugged. "Really?"
The salesman smiled. "Anything for Harry Potter."
"Can Ron too?" Harry asked.
"Sure, a friend of Harry's is a friend of mine," he stepped inside the shop.
Harry and Ron looked at each other and dashed toward the store door.
Hermione blocked their way.
"Move before I knock you down!" Ron cried.
She rolled her eyes. "We have to finish shopping."
Harry thought a moment, dug in his pockets and thrust all of his gold into her hands. "Buy whatever you need for all of us. And I told Ginny I'd buy her dress robes. Do you want new ones, Ron?"
He shook his head. He hated Harry buying him anything unless it was Christmas or his birthday or something.
"Alright then," Harry said quickly. "We'll meet you in the Leaky Cauldron as soon as we're done." He and Ron ran inside without another word.
"Well!" Hermione snapped. "As if we're their personal shoppers!"
Ginny blushed. "I'd do anything for Harry,"
Hermione blushed too. So would she.
"Your new robes are absolutely gorgeous," Hermione gushed as she and Ginny waited for Harry and Ron in the Leaky Cauldron.
Ginny smiled. "Thanks. You like the color?"
Hermione nodded. "That wine color brightens you up a bit,"
"I like yours too," Ginny said. "I'm glad you didn't go with blue again, though your blue one is pretty,"
"The green just caught my eye," Hermione said, speaking about more than just the robes.
Harry and Ron walked into the Leaky Cauldron, goofy grins on their faces.
"About time," Hermione said, glad to see Harry again. "Shall we?" she asked, offering her arm.
Harry took her arm. Hermione handed him a big bag she was towing with her. "Get everything?" he asked.
She nodded. She dug in her pockets and handed him a fair amount of coins. "Your change,"
"Alright then, let's go," Harry said, finding the door with his good eye. The four of them walked out.
"What about fixing Harry's glasses?" Ginny asked.
They were halfway to Hogwarts when she blurted it out. Hermione and Harry were having too much fun together to remember. They were sitting side by side in the compartment, Hermione pointing at clouds and Harry telling her what they looked like through his good eye, and then his bad eye. Ron had gone in search of the lunch lady.
"Oh," Hermione said. "Right,"
Harry blushed and handed her the two pieces. Now he had two bad eyes again. He remembered the Muggle doctor telling him he was legally blind without his glasses. Unfortunately, Dudley had heard it too, and wasted no time in snapping them in two. The Dursleys refused to buy him a new pair, so he started taping them.
Hermione took out her wand, said a few words, and the glasses cemented themselves back together, the lens reforming and the scratch disappearing. She handed them back to him. "Good as new,"
"Thanks," Harry put them back on his face. It was like he was reborn: everything was clear once again. He leaned his head back against the seat, watching the rolling countryside go by, hoping this year would be quiet and calm, and he'd for once have a normal year in school.
End of chapter 2!!!! reviewwww