Disclaimers…
The Harry Potter world is not mine. J.K.R. planted this garden, I am just adding a few weeds of my own. Any similarities to any real people alive or dead, is either a total accident, or was with their consent. Any likeness to Real Magic is either an accident, or not… you decide.
Chapter 3
Before he left the Dursley's for the Burrow, Harry had stayed busy. The required chores and Dudley's Harry Hunting had continued to Harry's last day there. He made two more trips to "Magical Collectables" to thin out the collection of potentially dangerous magical artifacts. On his last trip of the summer, Harry was surprised to see two new people behind the sales counter with Gary Stone. Gary explained to Harry that the shops, he owned quite a few in America, were a hobby and an investment for retirement. Gary was starting a new consulting contract, and would be setting up a new shop near the client. This would give Gary the chance to continue his hobby and work without excessive conflict.
Harry also sent Hedwig on multiple deliveries to people he wanted to ask for favors before the school year started. All free time at the Dursley's was spent reading. Harry alternated between the books he had bought from "Magical Collectables" and his Auror's manual. Mr. Weasley had sent Harry a piece of rope and a letter of instructions. The rope was a Portkey that Harry was to tie around his trunk then hold onto. The Portkey would activate at 8am on August 24th.
Harry was sitting at his desk studying Arma Adoro. Harry was almost half way through the book. When switching between this and Animus Accedo Addictio, Harry found common threads that tied them together. This made studying the books clearer and the ideas easier to understand. Harry was working through a section about Transfiguration methods, applications, and classifications. The page in front of Harry's eyes had a diagram that deserved careful study. One hand was depicted three times. The first and third were holding a rod of some kind. The middle illustration of the diagram showed the hand empty, but with a ring on the index finger. The ring looked like a coil of thick wire. With a sense of understanding, Harry made the mental connections that would unlock what he had been reading.
With a sense of excitement, Harry reread the instructions around the diagram. Harry held his wand loosely in his right hand. Fighting to control the excitement he felt, Harry held out his wand hand. He took a calming breath and focused his mind. With his eyes on the ring Harry spoke a single word.
"CHANGE." With a sense of motion that was too fast to see his wand was transformed. Harry now had a ring on his index finger that looked like a single coil of carved wood. With a feeling of amazement, Harry repeated the process a few more times. Finally, with the ring back around his finger, Harry bent his head back to the book. Pointing his index finger at the book, he spoke.
"Lumos." As if his finger was a wand itself, a beam of light shown from its end. With a sense of wonder Harry tried a few more simple charms. With a smile he left his wand as a ring and bent his head back over the book. It wasn't until when he finally went to bed that Harry realized that he had just done magic out of school. And the Ministry had not sent an owl.
Harry was still questioning the lack of a reprimand the next morning. The two likeliest explanations were that he had ether performed a type of magic the ministry didn't detect, or his status as an Apprentice Auror granted him some freedom from the normal rules. It took an hour of reading his Auror manual to find the answer. Because of his appointment, Harry was allowed to perform magic out of school under the restrictions that he did not draw any muggle attention to himself unless it was a matter of extreme emergency or self defense. Any and all magic performed out of school would be subject to review at the department's discretion. Armed with this information Harry made his last minute preparations to depart for the burrow. He sent told Hedwig off his travel plans then sent her off with a letter to Sirius to let his godfather know also.
Harry made sure he had remembered everything. With his trunk packed he tied the Portkey rope around it, and at 7:55 Harry gestured to Hedwig's cage.
"CHANGE." At his order, the cage shrunk to a size where Harry was able to put it in his pocket. Next was Sever. Harry picked up the knife. "Ready for a trip?" Harry asked in the hissing language of serpents.
'Where you go, I go.'
"CHANGE." Harry gave the word of command. The knife now resembled a ornamental lapel pin whish Harry tucked away under his shirt color. With a last check of the time Harry sat on his trunk and grabbed the rope. At 8am the world disappeared in a rush of wind and color.
With a thump, Harry arrived at the Burrow. It was, Harry reflected, the least eventful trip to the Weasley's that he had ever made. The Portkey had landed Harry half way between the front garden and the front door. Out of that door boiled the Weasley family, with Ron in the lead. Harry stood up beside his trunk in time to be welcomed.
"Harry," Ron shouted. "You made it."
"Harry, dear," Molly Weasley exclaimed as she pulled Harry into a motherly hug. "We are so glad you could make it." She stood back a bit to give Harry a good once over. Harry noticed that tucked into the belt of her robe was the Holly and Ivy wand. "Goodness, you've grown," Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. Come in and have breakfast. Fred, George, you and Ron help Harry with his trunk." With a smile, Harry let himself be herded in to the kitchen.
After a filling breakfast, Harry passed the day catching up with the Weasley's. Ron was predictably preoccupied with Quidditch, and complaining about Hermione and 'Vicky'. Ginny tried to play the polite hostess, but kept blushing and falling silent around Harry. The twins were careful to keep to safe topics of small talk, but Harry suspected it was a cover. Over lunch, Harry was informed that the whole family would be together for dinner.
The afternoon was used to practice Quidditch. Fred and George would alternate playing. One or the other was always busy with something else. The teams were Ron and Ginny against Harry and whichever twin was available at the moment. Nobody was really interested in keeping score, and everybody had fun. At half past four, the voice of Mrs. Weasley summoned everybody back to the house.
"Everyone clean up," Mrs. Weasley instructed. "Company will be here soon."
Harry was feeling good after his quick shower. While the magic of the Burrow made sure there was always plenty of hot water everybody had to be courteous with so many people in close quarters. Harry was glad to be back in the Wizarding world and to be surrounded by friends. As he and Ron were getting dressed Harry was entertaining his friend by sharing some of the 'fan mail.' Harry almost had to wrestle the pictures our of Ron's hands. Once again, Mrs. Weasley's voice summoned everybody.
Hermione and Crookshanks had just arrived by Portkey. Harry, Ron, and the rest of the Weasleys welcomed her. As soon as Hermione set him down, Crookshanks was off. Bottle brush tail held high as he shot into the garden. In a flurry of leaves and twigs, garden gnomes fled screaming in every direction. In short order Hermione was settled into Ginny's room. Then the Gryffindor Trio along with the twins and Ginny gathered in the front room for some catching up when the others started to arrive.
Hermione was telling the others about how here parents had refused to let her go to Bulgaria over the summer. This put a small smile on Ron's face.
"My parents said I was too young to be serious about a boy. Honestly," She exclaimed. "We are just friends." Ron smiled wider. "They let me come here. What would have been so wrong about Bulgaria?"
Further conversation was cut off when First Charley, then Bill Apparated into the room. There was a round of welcomes, back slapping, handshakes, and well wishing. Mrs. Weasley immediately had the newcomers put to work. It was a quarter after 6 when the tables in the garden were set up and Mrs. Weasley was just setting out the feast she had prepared when Mr. Weasley and Percy arrived.
"Good evening everyone," Arthur called out before pulling his wife into an embrace and, with some good natured cheering from the assembled family and guests, kissed her. When he let go, Molly was visibly flustered and Arthur was smiling proudly.
"I hope everyone is well," Percy said almost formally, looking just as proud.
Everybody was soon seated around the tables. Everybody had a plate full of Mrs. Weasley's excellent cooking in front of them and was about to dig in, when Mr. Weasley stood up and cleared his throat.
"If I can have your attention please," He smiled as everybody watched him patiently. "I have some announcements to make." Arthur Weasley paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. "After the unfortunate events at the end of the last school year, it is important that we all take time to remember the blessings we are able to enjoy. With troubles ahead, we can never forget to live the lives we are given. Only by being the best we can be, can we overcome the problems a corrupt few will create out of their selfish desires. With that said, I would like to share some good news with everybody."
"Today, I have accepted the position as head of the Department for International Magical Cooperation…" He had to pause as everybody cheered at the good new. After everybody calmed down, he continued. "I have also to announce Percy has been appointed as my replacement as head of the Department for the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts." There was more cheering and Percy puffed out his chest with pride. Out of his robes, Mr. Weasley pulled out a scroll and passed it to his son, Charley.
"What's this?" Charley asked as he unrolled the scroll.
"It is your appointment to the Department of Magical Games and Sports. After the Ministry investigated Ludo Bagman's gambling problems, there were a lot of openings in his department. An under-clerk named Mathew Matics is acting as department head until they find someone else."
"Thank you," Charley said slowly. "I'll have to think about it."
"I know you will miss your dragons, son. But try to think of what else you may be capable of." Mr. Weasley reached into his robes again. "Don't think to long."
"I will have an answer in a few days. I just want to be sure."
"Good thinking." Arthur nodded his accent to Charley. He then pulled out a small parcel and passed it down to Ron. "Ronald, this is for you. Someone has been a good friend and pulled some strings." Ron looked at the wax seal for a moment before breaking it. The parcel had a letter and, to Harry's eyes, a familiar looking wallet. Ron read the letter carefully, looked up at his father, then read it again. "It is a lot of responsibility, Ronald. Apparently some people think you are ready for it."
Ron passed the letter to Hermione and sat looking at the wallet, thinking. Hermione read the letter quickly and let out a gasp. She passed the letter on to Harry, who immediately passed it on to Bill. Bill read the letter, with Charley reading over his shoulder. The letter was then passed to Molly Weasley. During all of this, Ron held the wallet with an intense look. Occasionally, muscles in his face would twitch as different thoughts ran through his head. Finally, an almost malicious smile grew across Ron's face just as his mother finished reading the letter.
"Oh, Ron," Mrs. Weasley beamed at the same moment that Ron opened the wallet. There was a popping sound and a brief flash of light, then Ron was looking at his badge and identification. Hermione Grabbed Ron in a tight hug. Harry could tell that Ron was no longer thinking about the wallet. Ron's smile had changed and he was slowly turning very pink.
It took the growling of an embarrassed Harry's stomach to remind everybody of the tables loaded with food. Everybody was suddenly hungry, and dinner was attacked with a vengeance. It was and excited and happy Weasley family at dinner that night. Harry was smiling until he went to bed. Until the dream.
Once again, Harry was on the spare bed set up in Ron's room. He had gone to bed with a contented smile. He was glad that the Weasleys, a family of some of the best people Harry had ever known, had had an evening of such good news. Mr. Weasley and Percy had started reviewing and debating all of the ministry codes about muggle artifacts as soon as dinner was over. Charley was talking to his brothers about Quidditch. Ron had buried his nose in his Auror's Manual the moment the dishes were cleared away. Ron only put the manual down when Hermione and Ginny burst out in giggles over his sudden fascination with a book that wasn't about Quidditch. Harry was feeling light hearted as he drifted off to sleep.
Flickering light from the fireplace and a quartet of stand lamp made the old dinning room seem almost comforting. The stylish dinning table glowed from years of diligent care. Under the table a huge snake waited for her master's bidding. Trapped in her shifting coils was the broken body of a young woman that was moaning in fear and pain. On top of the table was a middle aged man with his arms and pulled tight against the ropes held him tied spread eagle. On each side of the table, a figure in dark robes and a mask stood. They had their wands pointed at the man on the table. From their wands came a sulfurous yellow light that covered the man. The room was almost quiet.
The fireplace crackled. The woman moaned and whimpered in the embrace of the snake. The table and ropes creaked. The man, with a look of horror and madness in his eyes, strained against his bonds as his chest heaved in ragged breathes. At the head of the table, holding what looked like a basket woven of black cables around a red crystal was a pleased looking Voldemort. Almost negligently, the dark lord passed the artifact to a crouching figure at his left. The figure darted forward to take hold of the thing as it dropped from his master's grip into his own silver hand.
"Come," Voldemort hissed to Nagini. The snake released the young woman and moved to coil herself around her master's legs. "Release him." At the command from their lord, the Death Eaters ended their curse and banished the ropes. The man relaxed only slightly but was otherwise unchanged. The torture would continue in his mind for the rest of his life. "I thank you Master Eathens for the Serpent's Heart. As I promised, you and your daughter may live." Voldemort looked up as three more Death Eaters entered the room, herding a pair of servants.
The elderly cook screamed when she saw the crumpled form under the table and rushed forward. The maid just collapse where she stood.
"Kill them," Voldemort commanded. A chorus of voices rose in obedience of the order.
"Avada Kedavra!" In a flash of green light, the servants' lives were ended. With a self-satisfied smirk on his face, the Dark Lord disappeared.
"…ry!... Harry!" through a sea of murky red agony, a voice called out to him. "Harry!" Ron shouted his name again. Harry managed a groan in reply. "Harry, what happened? Harry managed to open his eyes. It took an eternity for Harry to realize what was going on.
"Voldemort," Harry gasped. Ron flinched at the name. Harry realized he was laying face down on Ron's bedroom floor, with his hands clutched to his scar. With every muscle giving painful protests, Harry struggled to his feet. "Have to write Dumbledore." Harry looked around taking in more information. The lights were all on in the room, and the complete population of the Burrow was crowded around Ron's door. "Ron, I'll need Pig. Hedwig isn't here yet." Harry moved in clumsy lurches as he found parchment and quill. With is glasses crooked on his face, in a hasty scrawl Harry wrote down the details of his vision. When Harry sealed the letter Ron took it and fastened it to Pig.
"Go strait to Dumbledore, Pig." Ron instructed the miniature owl with an urgent voice. "Hurry!" Ron opened his hand and Pig was off like a shot. Seeing the letter was on its way, Harry sagged with relief.
"Harry?" Mr. Weasley spoke up. "Harry, what happened?" In a tired voice, Harry told the Weasley's of the dream.
Harry had trouble sleeping after that. When the rest of the house had gone back to their rooms, Harry had flopped back on the bed and closed his eyes. Ron had watched them for a few minutes before turning off the lights and going to bed. In almost no time, Harry was left laying in the dark listening to Ron's breathing. Careful not to disturb anybody, Harry slipped out of the room.
"Lumos," Harry whispered. From the end of his finger a beam of soft light illuminated the stairs. Harry made his was to the living room. Once he was situated on the couch, Harry extinguished his light. Sitting in the darkness, Harry tried to wrestle with is thoughts. Fear and guilt surged through him. It wasn't until the first hints of morning touched the sky that Harry drifted of to sleep.
As was her custom, Molly Weasley woke early to fix the family's breakfast. She was startled to see Harry in his pajamas and glasses sleeping on the couch. Careful not to wake him, Molly conjured a warm blanket and covered the sleeping boy. It was almost an hour latter when Arthur Weasley poked his head into the kitchen.
"Molly," He whispered. "Come and have a look." Curious, Molly followed. She found Arthur standing in the living room with an amused expression. Harry was still sleeping quietly on the couch. Cuddled up next to him with an impish grin, was a sleeping Ginny. Arthur and Molly shared a smile and a hug before returning to the kitchen.
It was one of the quietest mornings at the Burrow. Percy had passed the sight in the living room, pausing only for a moment, on his way to breakfast. Hermione saw the pair and smiled wistfully. Fred and George nearly exploded with laughter at their discovery. With identical, mischievous grins, the twins recognized an opportunity too good to miss. Harry and Ginny slept, oblivious to the flashes of a camera. It was Molly Weasley that finally intruded on the sleeping pair.
"Ginny," Gently called Molly as she shook Ginny's shoulder. "Ginny it is time to get up." When Ginny's eyes opened she was startled to see her mother standing over her. "Get dressed Ginny. We have a busy day ahead." Slowly, Ginny sat up. When she saw Fred, George, and Hermione smiling at her, Ginny squeaked and blushed scarlet to her scalp and fled to her room. It was her abrupt departure that woke Harry. As he sat up, he saw that everybody in the room was looking at him with an assortment of grins.
"What?"
Harry was still feeling bewildered two hours latter. Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys had just arrived by Floo Powder at Diagon Alley. After a stop at Gringotts, the group split up. The twins disappeared as soon as their mother turned around. Mrs. Weasley, armed with a shopping list, set off after instructing Ron to look after Ginny. Ginny, who had not said a word all morning tagged along behind the trio.
The infamous trio approached their shopping in their traditional manner. They started by getting all the books on their school lists. Harry and Ron had to drag Hermione out of the book store. Next was a quick trip to the apothecary. It was soon apparent to Ron and Harry that Hermione was trying to get Ginny actively involved with the group. Hermione especially needed her help to drag the boys from the window of "Quality Quidditch Supplies." While the boys did understand the need to visit "Madam Malkins" for new school robes, neither could understand why the girls insisted on taking so long, how they thought it was fun, or why they had to giggle so much. With that behind them, the group went in quest for ice cream.
"Harry!" a voice cut through the crowd of shoppers. The group was just sitting down to Sundaes at the ice cream parlor. Harry froze with a full spoon halfway to his mouth. "Harry, how are you?" Coming over from two tables away was Terrie Shire of Hufflepuff. Harry almost dropped his spoon. Terrie Shire was dressed in a pair of baggy jeans and a tee shirt that had to be three sizes too small. Unbidden, the image of her in nothing but the black night dress she had sent on his birthday came to his mind. Blushing crimson, Harry waived at her shyly.
"Hello, Terrie," Harry said in a struggle to be polite. "How are you doing?" Harry had never seen Terrie Shire in anything but school robes before. He had to admit to himself that while she had plenty of curves, his previous idea of 'a little plump' was never accurate.
"I'm good," Terri answered before bending over where Harry sat to give him a warm hug and a peck on the cheek. "Shopping for school?"
"Er… Yeah," Harry was uncomfortably aware of Terrie's ample bosom pressed against him. "Terrie, you know my friends Hermione and Ron, and this is Ginny." Ginny, who had been scowling at her Sundae, looked up with a smile at being introduced as one of Harry's friends. "We were just taking a break, together, after shopping."
"Pleased to meet you," Terrie said socially. "I just wanted to say hello. I am here with my mum. I'll see you at school." She gave Harry another squeeze and kiss on the cheek before finally letting go of him. "See you, Harry." She waved to the others as she skipped back to her table.
"Mate," Ron said as he watched Terrie's bouncy departure. "You've been holding out on me." He was still looking at where Terrie had sat down next to an attractive, statuesque woman of middle years.
"She seemed friendly," Hermione said coolly as she looked at Ron with an expression filled with frustration. She turned back to Harry and looked him in the face. Harry was still blushing mildly. "I didn't know you knew her that well."
"She wrote to me last summer. She wanted to congratulate me on winning the tournament." Harry fell silent, suddenly preoccupied with his Sundae. After pushing the ice cream around for a minute, he spoke again. "I got a lot of owls last year after school…" Harry carefully gave an edited account of the fan/hate mail that he had received. Hermione and Ginny didn't need Ron's grins to tell them that Harry was holding back. Harry's Sundae was a multi-colored mess before he was allowed to stop answering the girls questions long enough to eat it. He knew that there would be more questions later.
When the group was done with their ice cream, they headed for "The Leaky Cauldron." Mrs. Weasley had told everybody to meet back there when they were done shopping. Just before they made it the pub, the twins materialized.
"Harry, glad we caught you," started Fred.
"We have to talk," continued George.
"There is some business about our Quidditch team we need you to help settle." The Twins started to steer Harry away from the others.
"Sorry Ron, Gryffindor players only." Soon, Harry found himself in front of "Quality Quidditch Supplies" again. The twins ushered Harry past the shop and around some corners. Harry thought it was a little funny that Diagon Alley had a back alley.
"Harry, my brother and I," Started Fred again.
"Before we talk business…"
"…Would like to thank you…"
"…For your generosity that made this possible." The twins lead Harry down the alley as the spoke.
"We know you don't want a lot of attention…"
"So we have made you a silent partner…"
"…of "Weasley Wizard Wheezes." The twins finally came to a stop in front of an ordinary looking door set into a shabby looking two-story building. "Harry,…"
"…Welcome to our future." The twins said together as they pulled Harry into the building.
The old warehouse was slice of utter chaos. Ancient crates and barrels were stacked in the corners, most covered with decades of dust. Some of the ancient crates had been pressed into duty as shelves. In the middle of the floor, six caldrons bubbled happily. To Harry's right was a set of stairs leading to the upper story. Under them was a perch with fourteen owls. A hap-hazard pile of junk was surrounded by battered barrels of Ton-Tongue Taffy, Canary Creams, and other edible W.W.W. products. Harry saw stacks of fake wands, bundles of brooms, and piles of cloaks. Through the semi-organized madness an old wizard worked with a smile on his face.
"How?" Harry Stammered.
"All this is thanks to you," Said Fred with a wide grin.
"Fred and I had been working on the plans for years," Explained George.
"When you gave us your tournament winnings…"
"…It was just the start-up capitol we needed."
"Actually we are about two years ahead of schedule…"
"…But we don't mind that a bit. Over here," George gestured to the right. "We have our own delivery owls…"
"…looks like four are out making drops. Up stairs is the office. Lee Jordan is up there now.
"Murray is on the payroll. He helps with the production work."
"George and I do product production, quality control, research and development…"
"And manage the business. Once we graduate this year…"
"We are opening a store. For now we are doing business by owl post.
"Budget is a little tight, but we expect an upswing in sales when the school year starts."
"We know you are going to be busy, Harry…"
"But we would like you to be involved in the business too."
"Help come up with ideas, product testing…"
"Whatever you have time for." Harry looked at the twins with a new level of respect. Their accomplishments were impressive. Slowly a grin spread across Harry's face.
"I look forward to doing business with your Misters Weasley and Weasley."
On the way back to "The Leaky Caldron" the three of them did discuss the Gryffindor house Quidditch team. There was a keeper slot to fill this year. They all expected Ron to try out for the team. While they would be happy to have him on the team, the try-outs would be open to everybody second year and above. An impatient gathering met them at the pub. Once all heads were accounted for, and the shopping lists double checked, everybody returned to the Burrow by Floo.