A Summer to Remember

By Mistyrious

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. Any similarities to copyrighted characters/material, or individuals living or dead, are purely coincidental. J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury Books, Warner Brothers, or any of the other entities holding copyright or license to the Harry Potter books or films has not endorsed this story. No connection is implied or should be inferred and no galleons, sickles and knuts are being made from this story. (Or dollars).

A/N: I would have updated sooner, but I went away for the Easter break. I hope everyone else had a safe and happy holiday too. Thanks to PsychoHaired, Anonymous '-------------------', Manhattngal43, DisturbedKittenWritter and Enchanted Princess Gal for reviewing. This chapter goes out to you!

Chapter Two

Pre-Arrival Chaos

His hands were shaking uncontrollably as he tried desperately to tighten the grip on his wand and to hold the golden connection. He forced the beam to move forward until it hit the tip of Voldemort's wand and the spells began regurgitating in reverse order… Finally, it would happen tonight… finally, he would be able to see his parents again…

'Harry! Harry! Wake up, Harry, wake up!'

Harry returned to consciousness but he did not open his eyes. To look at Ron again and then to apologize all over for yelling in his nightmares, was much more than he could take just then.

But even so he hadn't expected Ron to take his hand…

'Ginny! Oh Ginny! I thought you were Ron – you scared me out of my wits just then!'

'Well! You too may be close but I can guarantee Madam Rosmerta will kiss Ron before he takes your hand!' She laughed, 'Well c'mon then! It's time to get ready!'

'Ready?'

'For camp of course!'

'Oh!' said Harry remembering the conversation Mrs. Weasley had had with them yesterday.

Ginny began to head for the door, now that she had Harry awake, but she felt she couldn't leave; she could not help noticing how sad Harry seemed. 'Harry?' she asked quietly, 'Are you okay? You look a bit – peaky.'

At first Harry didn't answer. Ginny continued to stand on the spot hoping with all her might that she hadn't done anything to make him feel as uncomfortable as she was at the moment. 'You know you don't have to talk to me about it if you don't want to, it's just that you can. But only if you wanted to. I mean you have the opportunity but - '

'Ginny -' Harry said uncertainly, his voice barely a whisper, 'Was I not yelling? Is that not why you woke me up?'

He didn't want to make her feel troubled but she seemed that she genuinely cared and he really needed that right now. She came back to his side and once again took his hand into hers.

'I may have woken you from a nightmare,' she said softly, 'but no Harry, you were not yelling this time.' She paused as the upsetting feeling of not wanting to upset him rose again. 'Harry, maybe you should take potions for dreamless sleep.'

'Maybe,' he answered even more softly then Ginny, 'but maybe I want the nightmares… to see and hear - my parents…'

Ginny didn't know what to say. Her mother often told her that actions spoke louder than words and that sometimes, they were even more appropriate. She lent forward and gave Harry a comforting hug.

------

When he and Ginny joined Ron and Hermione that morning, they discovered that the two of them were still not talking. Ron was glowering because Hermione had approved of the pillow bashing and Hermione was glowering because Ron expected her not to. They therefore were not on speaking terms and Harry was all right to assume that any talk between them would probably end in another blazing row, not that he was not used to half of them by now.

'Does anyone know how we're getting to Wizard Camp?' Ginny asked to cease the silence as the four friends waited for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley in the living room. They had packed and were all ready to go.

'Suppose it's just like Platform Nine and Three Quarters, I expect.' Hermione answered.

Ron rolled his eyes, 'There's a reason they call it the Hogwarts Express Hermione. You see, it's an express train to Hogwarts…'

Hermione looked like she was using every bit of herself to restrain from a retort. But as Harry expected she gave in.

'Wait to go mentioning the obvious Ron! I wasn't talking about the train. I was talking about the platform. I read about it in the History of King's Cross Station as a medium for wizarding transport. There isn't only one train in existence for our kind! Besides we probably won't even get through to that platform only because it's reserved as operational on the first of September each year. I guess they'll direct us onto Platform Two and Six Sevenths…'

'I know what you're talking about now! But you mean Platform Six and Two Sevenths!"

'No I mean Platform Two and Sixth Sevenths!

'Ha! You're wrong! It's Six and Two!'

'I'm not wrong. It's Two and Six!'

'Six and Two!'

'TWO and SIX!'

'SIX AND TWO!'

"Don't look at me!" said Ginny as they rounded on her, 'It just so happens that I actually don't have any interest in reading the history of King's Cross…'

'And don't expect me to know;' added Harry, 'I'm still trying to get over Platform Nine and Three Quarters!'

'What's this all about now?' asked Mrs. Weasley in a flurry as she came to check on the kids.

'Mrs. Weasley!' said Hermione beating Ron to his own mother, 'It's Platform Two and Six Sevenths isn't it?'

'No Mom!' interrupted Ron, 'It's Platform Six and Two Sevenths, right?'

Mrs. Weasley looked from Ron to Hermione and then back from Hermione to Ron. Clearly, she was utterly confused, 'I'm sorry dears I don't know what you're talking about!'

'Oh!' smiled Hermione as though she had made the mistake very simply, 'The other platform that wizards use Mrs. Weasley. Is it called Platform Two and Six Sevenths or' (her eyebrows narrowed here) 'Six and Two Sevenths?'

Harry could tell that Mrs. Weasley suddenly knew what all the fuss about. But he also knew that she didn't want to be in the position to prove who was wrong out of Hermione and Ron.

'Well what does it matter?' she answered cleverly, 'We're going there by car anyway! Arthur's got a lovely new one from the ministry! A Ford Taurus I believe it's called!'

Then she ushered Ron and Hermione out of the room so that they could not interrupt her with questions and demand to know who was right. When they were out of sight, Mrs. Weasley turned to Harry and Ginny. 'Just for the record,' she whispered, 'in case either of them brings it up… it's Platform Seven and Two Sixths.'

----

Once again without the knowledge of Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley had bewitched his Ford to make it more suitable for them. It was even roomier and a lot classier than the Anglia and a deep wine color.

They set off without any problems. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny fit comfortably into the backseat and were having some time together. Neither Ron nor Hermione were talking directly to each other, but they were managing to share in group discussion with Harry and Ginny there.

Halfway through the journey however, Hermione was beginning to look a little green.

'Hermione –' said Ginny tentatively, 'Are you feeling okay? You're looking a bit out of it…'

'No…' said Hermione slowly, 'I'm not feeling okay at all. I'm feeling rather sick.'

'Oh! Um… Well… Let's open up the car window for a bit in case you need to throw up.'

Ron started laughing. Harry looked at him uncertainly – what could be so funny about Hermione being sick? Or was he purposely trying to aggravate an already tender situation?

'I just thought of something,' said Ron still giggling, 'We could stop the car if you feel like vomiting and get the grass to join spew! Hahaha! Get it?'

'Here's an idea!' Hermione said, clutching her stomach, now looking so sickly, Harry wondered how anything so deliciously cooked by Mrs. Weasley could do something like that to someone, 'Why don't I get your lap to join spew?'

And before any of them could doubt what was to happen next, Hermione leaned forward in front of Ron and vomited right over his lap.

-------------

They reached Wizard Camp a bit later than they expected because of the spew involving incident. Even though Hermione had then been able to clean up Ron so well that no one could have been able to guess what had occurred they had had to stop the car for a good fifteen minutes before so that Ron could get over his horror of disgust.

'Here we are kids!' said Mrs. Weasley cheerily, 'Welcome to Wizard Camp!' It was down by the infamous wizard gathering Evergreen Lake, a beautiful place surrounded by trees and plenty of open land ideal for lots of sport and gaming activities.

Neither of them had ever been to any sort of camp in either of their lives so nor did Harry, Hermione, Ginny or Ron know what to expect. Hermione of the four probably knew the most but that was only through her habit of reading. She kept quiet though as she knew Ron would use the excuse to remind her of what a know-it-all she was.

They soon bade Ron's parents good-bye and even though Molly knew it was her idea, and that it was all for the best, she was teary eyed as she and Arthur headed away.

They had left the four children in the accompaniment of a rather strange looking adult. He was a wizard no doubt what with his wand clearly visible in his right hand, but he was dressed rather oddly with striped yellow and blue bathers and a plastic rubber ring round his belly, matching polka-dotted duck head and all. He reminded them highly of an informal type of Dumbledore…

'Hello! Hogwarts lot are you?' he asked. 'Then again – most of you are! My name is Aberforth but you can call me Aberforth!'

Harry and Ron exchanged a smile – now they understood why this man reminded them of Dumbledore – he was his brother. However, because of his informality, Aberforth seemed every bit opposite to their Headmaster. He was even wearing a pair of trendy sunglasses complete with the backwards cap. Looks in this case were deceiving, for had Aberforth and Albus not looked alike the comparison would have been unjustified

'I'd allow you to call me Dumbledore,' he continued as they all started walking ahead to a cabin, 'but you youngsters might get confused. I am in charge here as the new owner of Camp Wizard at Evergreen Lake, and anyone not enjoying themselves should immediately report to me! Any questions?'

The four of them had none and Aberforth left almost immediately to greet a new lot of young wizards who had arrived. Ron stared at the wooden cabin in wonder. 'Well let's check it out,' he said.

'Er –' disagreed Hermione, 'We better not. Ginny and I at least. There are only two cabins here and I'm sure we're divided into boys and girls, so we might as well head off to the next one.'

'No Hermione,' thought Ginny aloud, 'I'm quite sure that us four have to shar- Ohhhhh!' To Harry and Ron's confused minds Ginny changed hers and walked behind Hermione, 'Okay scratch that – forget I said it. Hermione's right, we should be off.'

They had barely turned their backs when Ron called out, 'Hang on! There's something fishy here. You can share with us… but… maybe – you just don't want to! Afraid you may catch the coogees!'

Hermione snorted, 'Catch the what?'

'Coogees! You know – boy germs! It's what you muggle girls call 'em!'

'Ron!' Hermione said giggling as Ginny tried hard to stop herself from laughing hysterically, 'They're called cooties! And that's sooooooooooo pre-secondary. Anyway – I don't have a problem sharing with you and Harry. I'd just rather be somewhere where you're not.'

And before Ron could figure out what she meant Hermione had taken Ginny's hand and disappeared with her.