Characters and anything else you recognize belong to J.K. Rowling!
Beginnings
"FRED! GEORGE! COME HERE THIS INSTANT!"
At the shout, Harry's head shot up from where he staring at the chess board sitting between himself and Ron. Harry was, as usual, losing spectacularly.
"Oi, what have those two done this time," Ron said while rolling his eyes. "I swear if they keep this up Mum is gonna actually throttle 'em!"
"How're they worse than any other summer; I mean don't the always get into trouble with your Mum?" Harry was quite curious about this phenomena. However, if he was honest with himself he hoped that the twins kept making more and more mischief, and perhaps even including him in some. Although, he thought, it might be more fun to prank them rather than prank with them!
"I don't now how, but they actually have managed to be worse! They're starting to make some real plans for a store now too...What are you thinking Harry?" Ron knew that look that was currently residing on Harry's face, it meant invisibility cloaks and rule breaking!
"Your brothers may be the infamous 'Weasley Twins', but even they admit they've got nothing on the Marauders..."
"And they don't realize that they're living under the same roof as Moony and Padfoot..."
"Prank War," the boys chorused in unison.
"Hey Sirius, Remus, could you both come here for a minute," Harry called out into the corridor.
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While Harry, Ron, Remus, and Sirius were planning various pranks to pull on Fred and George, said twins were hiding in one of the unused wing of the manor. They were in what was at one time an old sitting room with various couches and love seats.
"So you think she's calmed down yet, Forge?"
"I don't know, I mean we did make Charlie's hair turn blue, Bill's purple, and Ginny's pink"
"With no way to fix it until it wears off in a week. Yeah, she's definitely still mad."
"But at least we know that the extra long lasting color conjuration gum drops work."
"So true, so very true brother dear."
"Now, who shall we get next? Harry and little Ronniekins perhaps?" Fred was getting back into planning mode. He would not rest until everyone in the manor had been sufficiently pranked!
"I'm all for getting our lovely little brother, but maybe we should leave our silent partner alone?" For reasons that George didn't care to analyze, he had no desire to pull any embarrassing pranks on Harry. Also, the mere mention of the Boy-Who-Lived was more than enough to cause the famous 'Weasley Blush' to take up residence on his face and neck.
"My dearest George, is there something you wish to share with your infinitely better half?"
George, being the mature adult that he was, reacted by throwing a pillow at his brother's head and sticking his tongue out. This, of course, started an all out pillow war between the two for the next hour or so.
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Lunch on Harry's first full day at the manor was a rather interesting affair. Mrs. Weasley was alternating between scolding and ignoring the twins; the twins were planning their upcoming prank on Ron, although George kept stealing glances at Harry with Fred teasing him every time he did; Sirius, Ron, Remus, and Harry were planning the prank war that they would be declaring soon, but at the same time Harry found it to be rather difficult to concentrate on what was going on with George so close by; and finally, Bill, Charlie, and Ginny were all thinking about how unfortunate it was that getting revenge on the twins would only cause them to be pranked again.
All this being said, Albus Dumbledore found the scene he had just walked into to be highly amusing. "Well, I see everyone is settling in quite nicely. I'm just going to steal Mr. Potter for a little bit. Oh, and Miss Granger will be arriving tomorrow."
"she didn't go to Bulgaria?" Ron turned bright red when he realized that he had actually said that out-loud.
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Leading Harry out onto the lawns of the expansive property, the headmaster question: "Now, how are you really my boy?"
"I'm okay. I mean, I still don't really know how to deal with everything that happened, and every time i think about Ced...But being with everyone is helping. And no one could be depressed in such a beautiful Manor." To emphasis this last point, Harry gestured back towards the house where they could see the huge bay windows that allowed sunlight to flood the rooms inside, and the intricate stone work that was covered with ivy that made up the outside of the old manor.
"Well, if you ever need to talk about things, I'm sure that anyone in the manor would lend an ear. I am of course including myself in that."
"Thank you, sir," Harry responded quietly. "Um, is there a specific reason you brought me out here?"
"Ah, and so we get to the heart of the matter. As much as I wish I could give you a nice relaxing summer, we must face the truth that Voldemort is back and will most assuredly continue to target you my boy." As Dumbledore began his explanation, the notorious twinkle was absent from his eyes. "And since this is unfortunately the case, I feel that it is my duty to give you every possible advantage."
Harry stared out over the magnificent gardens and rolling hills that made up the Soleil Estate while he contemplated the effects that the headmaster's words would have on his life and the lives of those closest to him. Harry walked over to the fountain in the middle of the garden that they were currently wandering through, the fountain was circular with a statue of single rose with water dripping off the petals. As he took a seat on the edge of the fountain he queried: "So what exactly do you mean by giving me 'every possible advantage,' Professor; and will Ron and Hermione be included in this, too?"
"Generally speaking, I am talking about training you. Your friends, the four youngest Weasleys and Miss Granger will be included up to a certain extent."
"And specifically, sir?"
"You shall be trained in various for forms of advanced magic by myself, and Sirius will teach how to properly wield the blade that came into your belonging during your second year." Here the wise old man paused to give Harry a significant look.
"The Sword of Griffindor is mine, sir?"
"Indeed. I believe your godfather will be able to explain those circumstances to you. Continuing on, all six of you will work with Professor Snape to learn to recognize various potions or poisons in food or drink and learn to brew the antidotes. All of you will learn about defensive strategy from an Auror name Alastor Moody, and finally Remus shall be instructing the lot of you in hand-to-hand combat."
"This is going to be a very busy summer isn't, Professor?"
"It will be, but I'm sure you are all up to the task. And please Harry, call me Albus." At this Dumbledore gestured that they should return to the house.
"Of course, Pro...Albus," Harry commented with a smile and a small shake of the head as he stood up.