I just want to say thank you to my followers and reviewers so far; especially JuliSt for your encouraging reviews. So here goes, chapter four...

Chapter Four
Packing and Wild Parties

It was an unusually grey August day as a barn owl fought through the thick cloud that swallowed the sky. It's huge wings flapped furiously forcing him to fly against the wind. The bird tilted forwards and flew down to the ground at an alarming speed before pulling itself up to fly straight and glided the rest of the way to its destination.

Hermione picked at a half of a corned beef sandwich, not hungry from the humongous breakfast she had eaten just two hours ago, and watched the owl as it flew closer and closer to The Burrow.

The regal owl landed gracefully on the window ledge and pecked at the glass twice.

It was the fifth one today. Hermione looked over at Ron who gave a sly smile as he flushed. He didn't dare ask again; he had already been told off for being nosey four times now, Mrs Weasley had threatened to take his broomstick away if he asked once more.

Mrs Weasley uncurled the scroll which she had just detached from the owl's leg and scanned its contents.

"Hmmm," she murmured to herself before taking a seat where her quill and ink were already set up from the letters before. She rushed her reply and with clumsy hands attached it to the waiting owl's leg before sending him on his way.

Mrs Weasley returned to the washing that had been folding itself into piles at the other end of the table.

"Ginny," she said trying to catch her daughter's attention as she attempted to hand her a stack of clothes.

"This is the second lot you've given me. Why hasn't Ron had to do anything?" Ginny glared at Ron as she threw down her card for their game of exploding snap and tugged the clothes from her mother.

"Because Harry is asleep," Mrs Weasley snapped. "And be quiet as you go upstairs."

Ginny stomped off but did as her mother said and crept up the stairs.

"Do you think we should wake him up?" Ron asked looking deep in thought.

"We'll leave him a bit longer," Mrs Weasley smiled. "He's had a rough night. It's good that he is resting."

Harry had been in bed since they had got back from Diagon Alley yesterday afternoon. Hermione had barely slept, sick with worry for him. He had been in such a mood while they were shopping, but it was not like last year; he seemed withdrawn now, almost as if he didn't care anymore.

Hermione wished she had bought the copy of Psychology Today magazine which had articles about grief in and made a mental note to send an owl to her parents for it.

"Hermione, dear. Are you sure you don't have any more washing?" Mrs Weasley asked as she passed Hermione as a small pile of her freshly laundered clothes.

Hermione smiled."Yeah, I'm sure." she said with a nod.

"And you're nearly packed?" she questioned affectionately.

"Yeah, I've just got to pack these,"

"You'll have to do it this afternoon, Ron," Mrs Weasley said, her tone becoming a little firmer. "And make sure you do. There won't be time to run around in the morning looking for missing socks and what-not."

"I'll do it when Harry is up," He groaned as he rolled his eyes, making sure she didn't catch him.

"Poor lamb, I bet he hasn't eaten since breakfast yesterday, and there is no telling what that family gave him. Perhaps we should wake him up soon. I'll make him a tray first though."

Hermione crept up the creaking staircase to Ginny's room so she could deposit her laundry in her school trunk. Chaos hit her as soon as stepped through the door. All of Ginny's belongings had been piled high on her bed, her friend stood beside, her face the colour of her hair.

Hermione chuckled. "You do know we go back to school tomorrow, don't you?" she ribbed.

"Not helpful," Ginny stropped. "How does all of this fit in there," she pointed from her mound of possessions to the little wooden trunk becoming more and more flustered.

"It'd help if you folded the clothes, they take up more room when they are screwed up into a ball," Hermione giggled.

Ginny huffed nut calmed a little and began organising. Hermione quickly packed her things and left Ginny as she began sorting her stuff into piles.

"Good luck," she said.

Ginny laughed and threw an odd sock at the door as Hermione closed it.

Ron almost came crashing into her as she turned off from the bottom step, his arms were full with a tray laden with a variety of breakfast foods despite it being well past noon.

"Mum said to take this up to Harry. Do you want to come?" he asked trying to steady the tray as the mug of tea swished about threatening to spill.

Hermione knocked on the door to Ron's room; Harry gave no reply. She knocked again and then opened the door.

The daylight had been blocked out by thick orange curtains causing the room to be bathed in a twilight-esque hum. Harry lay still in his bed.

"Harry," Hermione approached gently.

"Mum's made some breakfast for you here, mate," Ron added following Hermione into his room and closing the door with his foot behind him.

Harry remained still, the only sign of life was his chest as it slightly rose and fell.

Ron looked at Hermione quizzically. "What shall we do?" He whispered.

"Harry," Hermione nudged his shoulder gently.

"Uh," Harry moaned as he turned over and instinctively reached out for his glasses.

Hermione suspected that Harry had been pretending to be asleep but did not call him on.

"Mum made you some food," Ron said encouragingly as he approached Harry's bed and lay the tray on top of the bedside cabinet.

"Thanks," Harry murmured as he sat up against the pillows. He reached out for the plate and gobbled down the food with a gusto which would make Ron proud.

Hermione stood looking down at him as he shovelled down bacon, eggs and toast, waiting for a chance to talk.

Harry looked up from his plate to find his two friends gazing at him expectantly. He sighed quietly and returned to his food and ate at a much slower pace than before.

"Are you okay, Harry?" Hermione asked warily.

"'M fine," Harry grunted, avoiding her gaze.

Hermione stepped back and looked around the room. Ron shifted uncomfortably as he eyed the exit.

Gaining courage, Hermione continued. "You're not though, are you?"

"Leave it, Hermione," Ron mumbled not wanting to provoke his temperamental friend.

Hermione spun around on the spot to glare at Ron. "No I won't leave it, Ronald," she barked.

Harry played with the food on his plate, moving it around with his fork, occasionally spearing a scrap of bacon or big of scrambled egg and putting it in his mouth. He stabbed his fork increasingly harder as Ron and Hermione continued with their whispered bickering match.

"Just stop it," Harry shouted almost knocking the tray from off of his knees. "I'm not an object to talk about, and I don't want your pity." he sniped.

"It's not pity, Harry," Hermione coughed. "We're your friends; we want to help you,"

"You can help me by not talking to me like you are approaching an injured puppy every time you see me. I'm fine." Harry protested.

"We don't," Hermione scoffed. "And you are obviously not fine. That nightmare you had last night proves that."

Harry threw back the covers in frustration and spun his legs out to sit on the side of the bed. He glared at Hermione with a look of such disgust that it caused her to recoil a little.

"They're not nightmares," he spat.

Hermione gazed at her friend as he glared at her, his eyes full of venom.

"What are they then?" she pleaded. "Something is wrong, Harry. I know there is. Let me… Let us help you."

Tears gently rolled down Hermione's cheeks as the room choked in edged closer to the door as Harry fidgeted slightly on the bed.

"I can't explain what they are," Harry muttered almost inaudibly.

Ron, gaining confidence, moved over to them and stood next to Hermione who crouched down slightly to better hear Harry.

"Is it… you-know-who?" Hermione whispered nervously.

Harry nodded but seemed unable to look up at them.

"Your scar," Ron questioned pointing hesitantly at Harry's forehead.

Harry nodded slowly and after a minute or so said, "but it's different."

Hermione stood not daring to draw a breath as she waited for Harry to elaborate. A thousand different scenarios flashed through her mind; the silence in the room was driving her crazy.

"Different, how?" she urged unable to stand the wait anymore.

"I see him as usual. He is always angry…" Harry began but stopped to draw breath. Hermione noticed his head twitch ever so slightly as he was momentarily lost in his thoughts. "I feel his spells," Harry choked unable to continue.

Hermione turned to Ron who looked as confused as she was.

"What do you mean?" Ron spluttered.

Hermione gave him a reproachful look urging him not to push too far.

"I see through Voldemort's eyes," Harry looked up with a blank stare.

Ron and Hermione winced at the name, but Harry continued as if he hadn't noticed.

"I see his victims. I say his spells with him as he...as I stare down at them… and when the curse hits them, it hits me too."

"How is that even possible?" Hermione gasped, staring down at Harry with a look of utter disbelief.

"I don't know, Hermione," Harry spat. "But it is what is happening."

"How though?" Hermione questioned becoming more and more flustered as she failed to understand the logic behind Harry's statement.

Harry looked up at her, his eyes deadly serious. "How do I see him at all, Hermione?"

Hermione drew herself up to her full height and said with all of the reason she could muster. "Your mind might be tied with you know who's but nobody else's. How could you be feeling somebody else's pain?"

Harry's eyes flashed at Hermione's dismissal of his thoughts. "I don't know; maybe because he is getting stronger...and what's being done about it?" Harry's voice grew louder and louder. Ron and Hermione looked at each other as Harry threatened to explode.

"Nothing," he spat.

"I'm sure plenty is being done, behind the scenes, Harry," Hermione tried to calm him down.

"There isn't. I know there isn't! I don't understand the complacency," Harry raged.

"Fred and George have been making loads of contacts for the order, and I know Dad has been working for them every hour he can spare from the ministry." Ron offered uncomfortably as Harry stood up and began pacing the opposite side of the bed to where Hermione stood with a timid looking Ron.

"Contacts," Harry scoffed. "How is that going to help. We need to kill Voldemort not make new friends."

"Dumbledore will have a plan," Hermione began to cry unable to hold back the tears any longer. She hated to see her friend like this; she could only hope that venting his feelings on them would help, even just a little.

Harry drew a deep breath and let out a deep sigh as he stopped pacing and locked eyes with Hermione.

"Dumbledore told me his plan last year." Harry sighed deeply. "I've got to kill him," He admitted.

Ron spluttered as Hermione gasped, though she had long suspected this outcome.

"Why?" Ron spat.

"It's the prophecy...The one that was smashed at the ministry last year,"

Ron listened with rapt attention as Hermione cocked her head as she regarded her friend.

"That was destroyed before anyone could hear it," she said questioningly.

"Dumbledore had a copy. The prophecy was made to him...by Trelawney,"

Hermione sniggered and let out a deep breath that she had not realised she had been holding. "That old fraud?"

"Dumbledore showed me. It's real," he assured her.

"What did it say?" Ron asked with a tone of awe.

"That I have got to be the one to kill him. Well it says "neither shall live while the other survives,"

Hermione gazed down at the floor before gaining the courage to question her friend. "That doesn't exactly mean you have to be the one to kill him,"

"It does, Hermione," He said staring at her expressionlessly.

Not wanting to argue, Hermione took a step back and gazed around the room. Ron looked as if he was going to say something but coughed away his words.

Harry slowly returned to his usually pale colour, and his breathing calmed as he retook his seat on the bed. He rolled over to reach out of for a piece of cold toast.

"I'm not sure there is much point in going back to school," he mused after taking a few unwanted nibbles of the stale toast.

"What?" Hermione fumed, unable to control herself. "There is every point. You are fifteen. You can't drop out of school!"

Ron rubbed at his neck but gained the confidence to pipe up. "I've gotta agree with Hermione, mate. Mum'll kill you before you get the chance at you know who if you don't go back. Plus Dumbledore is at Hogwarts, wouldn't it be better to go after you know who with his help."

Harry turned to Ron and nodded with an expression of resignation. "Mmm, maybe."

Hermione nervously took a couple of steps and sat next to Harry on the bed. She reached out and affectionately touched the crook of his elbow. His muscles tensed momentarily before he reached over with his other arm and gently patted her hand as he turned and gave her a watery smile.

"If you are going to come back to school," Hermione broached carefully. "Do you think you should take a look at your results?...You'll need to know for your classes."

Harry rolled his eyes and huffed but not in an unfriendly manner, "Fine," he whined, playing. Harry got up off the bed and went to search through his trunk. The envelope had been stuffed, unceremoniously, into a jacket pocket; Harry had to iron flat with his hand before returning to his seat next to Hermione.

She hovered over his shoulder, silently urging him to hurry up.

Harry ripped into the envelope and tossed the first three pages aside.

Ordinary Wizarding Level Results

Harry James Potter
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Astronomy- Acceptable
Care of Magical Creatures- Outstanding
Charms- Exceeds Expectations
Defence Against The Dark Arts- Outstanding
Divination- Acceptable
Herbology- Exceeds Expectations
History of Magic- Dreadful
Potions- Exceeds Expectations
Transfiguration- Exceeds Expectations

"Well done, Harry," Hermione congratulated him as she read the results faster than he did.

"They're not the greatest, Hermione," Harry admitted.

"They are mostly very good. Don't diminish your achievements," she nudged him with her elbow gently.

Ron hovered over the bed shuffling closer and closer to the pair. "How did you do?" he asked.

Harry handed over the parchment. "Have a look... I never asked how you two did," he looked between Ron and Hermione apologetically.

Ron answered. "Well done, mate. These are good scores. I did alright; Hermione got all outstandings."

Harry turned to Hermione and pulled her into a rare hug. "That's excellent, Hermione. Well done."

Hermione pulled away from the embrace flustered and slightly embarrassed. "Thank you," she muttered.

Ron jumped around in shock as his bedroom door burst open. He thrust the parchment back into Harry's hands as if it were contraband that his mother was about to catch him with.

Ginny burst into the room and slammed the door shut behind her.

"Have you finished?" Hermione turned to her with a smile.

"Almost, I just need you to sit on my trunk so I can close it," Ginny replied seriously.

Hermione shook her head but chuckled at her. "We'll do it in a bit."

"No rush," Ginny said with a wave of her hand. "So what are we all doing in here,"

"Talking," Ron huffed.

"You weren't so moody with me when I was the only company you had," Ginny retorted with her hands on her hips, giving Ron a very Mrs Weasley-ish glare.

"So what are we talking about?" Ginny ignored Ron's huffing and puffing and threw herself onto his bed.

"O.W.L results," Hermione said as she turned to lie on her stomach so she could face the other girl.

"Did you do well, Harry," Ginny asked.

"Yeah, not bad," he nodded.

Ron stood shooting her sister dark looks as she lay back on his bed, her shoes still on her feet.

Footsteps creaked up a dozen or so stairs outside the room. "Ginny," Mrs Weasley shouted.

"What does she want now?" Ginny moaned quietly as she flopped off Ron's bed and stomped to the door. "What," she shouted back.

"I need your help," Mrs Weasley barked again upstairs.

"Why can't someone else do it," Ginny moaned, still shouting.

Mrs Weasley appeared outside Ron's door. "Because I've asked you to do it," she replied matter-of-factly before she turned to Harry. "Are you okay, Harry dear? Did you eat your breakfast?" she smiled affectionately.

"Yes thank you. It was delicious," Harry said gratefully.

"No problem, dear. I'll take the tray." Mrs Weasley bustled over to the bedside cabinet, but before taking the tray, she reached for her wand from her apron pocket and pointed them at the curtains, which sprang open flooding the room with daylight.

Hermione's eyes struggled to adapt for a second; she saw flashes of blue dance about before finally regaining focus.

"Come on," Mrs Weasley ordered Ginny, who followed her mother out of the room still stomping her feet in protest.

"Harry, you missed a letter," Hermione noticed three pieces of parchment tossed onto the bed and his results in his lap. She reached over him and scanned through them.

"Wow," Hermione gasped as she thrust the extra letter into Harry's hands.

"What?" Ron gawped.

Harry read the page through a few times before replying. "I'm the new Gryffindor Quidditch Captain."

"Way to go, mate," Ron cheered. "You deserve it."

Harry continued to scan the page over and over with the first genuine smile Hermione had seen on his face since before they had finished school for the summer. She smiled at him; happy to even just a shadow of her friend.

"We'll have to talk strategy," Ron mused as Harry agreed.

Eager to steer the conversation away from Quidditch Hermione turned to Ron. "Do you think we should go and help your Mum?" Hermione said turning to Ron.

"Nah, she asked Ginny too." Ron waved his hand as he went to take a seat on his bed.

Hermione rolled her eyes at her friend's lack of compassion. "Maybe she was just being polite." she nudged.

"We'll go down in a minute," Harry reached out to touch her knee. "I should get dressed anyway."

Hermione pushed herself off the bed, "I should probably leave the room for that," she laughed nervously.

In the short time that Ron and Hermione had been upstairs, Mrs Weasley had completely transformed the garden. The patchy grass had been covered with a royal blue carpet, on which a fully dressed table for ten was sat. Candles hovered just below the ceiling to a worn but fully functional marquee, that would cover them from the elements.

"Ohh, I was trying to keep it a surprise. It's so hard with the three of in the house," Mrs Weasley said as she carried a huge bouquet of flowers out from the kitchen. "I thought we could have a little celebration for your O.W.L results tonight before you go off back to school." she smiled at a shocked looking Hermione.

Emotion for this wonderful woman washed over her. "Thank you, Mrs Weasley," she choked as a lone tear rolled down her cheek.

Mrs Weasley placed the bouquet of lilies down in the centre of the table before coming to Hermione and resting an affectionate hand on her arm. "It's my pleasure, dear."

"So, what can I do to help?" Hermione asked brightly.

"Nothing, dear. Everything is almost done," Mrs Weasley assured.

"Please, I'd like to help,"

Mrs Weasley fussed about with knife and fork positions on the table. She stopped momentarily to turn back to Hermione. "You could help Ginny with the banner," she suggested.

"Banner?" Hermione muttered to herself before smiling at Mrs Weasley and going back into the house to find Ginny.

Ginny was in the Weasley's living room struggling to fold a gigantic piece of cloth; it would easily fill one entire side of the gazebo.

"Oh, thank god," Ginny muttered when she noticed Hermione. "Grab that end."

The two girls fought the cloth and managed to fold it, so it was easier to carry out into the garden.

If folding it was a struggle it was nothing compared to trying to hang the thing. Hermione and Ginny struggled to hold the cloth up as the other attempted to secure for over twenty minutes before Ron and Harry came to help.

The four of them struggled to attach one corner of the banner before Mrs Weasley came out and finished the job with one point of her wand.

"That looks good," Ron said with a sense of unearned accomplishment.

It was beautiful, a gold banner with "Congratulations, Ron, Harry and Hermione on your O.W.L. Results" stitched on in a pale blue, elegant scrawl.

Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny were the only ones sat at the table as Mrs Weasley busied herself with the evening's meal preparation.

"Do you think Dad will come back early?" Ron asked doubtfully as he looked at Ginny who was sat across the table from him.

"I don't know. He has promised Mum. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes if he breaks it."

The candles shone out against the day as it faded into night.

Mrs Weasley was growing increasingly frantic, running in and out from the kitchen to the garden to check if anyone had arrived.

A faint pop, shortly followed by another had her running to the back gate.

"Fred, George," she greeted them flustered but with an affectionate smile.

"This is fancy," George whistled as he walked over to the elaborately decorated table and took a seat.

"Yeah," Fred agreed. "We didn't get the royal treatment for our O.W.L.'s," he said turning to his Mother.

"We didn't even get a well done," George added with a chuckle.

"Oh, you," Mrs Weasley swatted at Fred gently before a distinct ping rang from the kitchen causing her to run back to her food.

"Alright?" Fred asked as he looked around the table to everyone in greeting.

"Mmm, you?" Ron muttered not looking up from the napkin he was trying to fold into anything but a square.

"Yeah," Fred nodded.

Hermione twirled her hair in her fingers as she looked down at the pattern on the table mat.

"Well this is a wild party," George sighed.

"Yeah, I'm glad we closed the shop early for this," Fred rolled his eyes.

Ron looked up from his napkin which was now screwed into a ball. "You closed the shop early?" he blurted.

George nodded and quickly glanced towards the back door. "Yeah, Mum made us," he whispered.

Ron snorted as he took a drink causing him to spit it out all over himself. Fred, George and Ginny howled with laughter, but Harry and Hermione managed to contain themselves for their friend's sake. Ron wiped himself down with the sleeve of his jumper as another pop from behind the fence announced Bill's arrival.

"Well, I don't know where your father is. The food won't wait forever," Mrs Weasley moaned as she brought over a basket of bread.

Ron lunged at it before it had even reached the table. "Good," he moaned his mouth full of bread. "I'm starving,"

"Ronald, don't talk with your mouth full and you can wait a little bit longer," She clipped.

Mrs Weasley waited for her husband until the sky had been completely engulfed by darkness.

"We can't wait anymore," she moaned as she brought out masses of food. Steak and kidney pie, roast chicken, sausages, boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes, roast potatoes and every variety of vegetable that you could imagine.

Everyone eagerly dug in except for Mrs Weasley who glared at the garden gate darkly not touching a single bite of food. Her mood did not lighten until she served dessert, when one final pop came from beyond the garden's boundaries, finally announcing Mr Weasley's arrival.

"I'm sorry I'm so late dear," he apologised as he took off his hat and leant in to kiss his wife.

Mrs Weasley shrugged away from him and remained silent.

"I'll explain later," he promised, gazing pleadingly into his wife's blazing eyes.

"There is some dinner in the kitchen," she spat at him and returned for more puddings.

Hermione could not help indulging when the table was laid with apple pie, treacle tart and ice cream; she felt as if she had gained two dress sizes already but ate a few more bites of apple pie before giving up utterly defeated.

"Could you pass me that, please Ron," Hermione asked reaching out for the jug of pumpkin juice that Ron was filling his glass with.

Ron went to pass it over but stuttered. "Erm...It's empty."

Hermione took the empty jug and scraped back her chair.

As she entered the house, she heard whispered voices and stopped in her tracks.

"I'm sorry Molly," Mr Weasley begged. "I was trying to stop Scrimgeour from inviting himself to dinner."

"Scrimgeour?" Molly spluttered.

"Yes he's been sniffing around me all week now, but today he has been particularly persistent. Asking about Ron and his friendship with Harry. Asking if Harry had ever visited us here. Well, I had to fend him off,"

"Of course you did," Molly agreed gravely.

"So do you forgive me," Arthur murmured.

Hermione decided to retreat to the table empty handed not wanting to interrupt the couple's moment.

"Can I have some when you're done?" Ginny pointed to the jug as she shouted across the hum of the chatter at the table.

"It's empty," Hermione mouthed. Ginny rolled her eyes.

Mr and Mrs Weasley joined the group with Arthur taking a seat next to Hermione. She had always got along very well with the Weasley patriarch, his fascination with all things muggle amused her, and she didn't mind explaining things to him.

Hermione spent most of the evening describing different dental procedures to Mr Weasley who gasped and grimaced regularly.

"And the drills go right the way into the tooth, do they? Surely that is very painful? How do they stand it?" he commented which started the new topic of injections.

Fred and George had brought along a crate full of Weasleys Wet Start No-Heat Fireworks which they set off as everyone enjoyed a cup of tea or firewhiskey for those of age.

The colours danced in the sky forming the most wonderful scene. A sparkling, gold dragon flew breathing out a display of red, orange and yellow. It swooped down on them before exploding into a thousand fireworks that whizzed about. The sky was lit up by blasts of every colour conceivable to man at the climax.

The family, Harry and Hermione cheered and clapped at the Twins who bowed and lavished in the applause.

"Right I think it is time for bed," Mrs Weasley announced as final dregs of drinks were downed, and plates were cleared from the table. "We've got an early started in the morning."

Hermione yawned at the mere suggestion and soon excused herself to bed, excited to return to Hogwarts in the morning.