Chapter 10 – Reviewing July and a Surprise Visitor

Ginny was lying on her bed in her room. She couldn't believe that Harry had only a few days remaining in his "detention" with the Dursleys. The rest of July had just flown by and Ginny was reading her diary again to make sure she had put down all the tiny little details that occurred to Harry and them in the last three weeks:

- Harry had just remembered the middle "payment" to his Uncle Vernon that was due; he had used his money pouch to get the money and told his uncle that Mrs. Wainwright had sent it with Hedwig.

- The Minister of Magic had replied in The Prophet to the many public inquiries as a result of The Secret Keeper letter from Harry's parents. Cornelius Fudge said that he would be "investigating the whole matter of Black's imprisonment and that he had ordered the withdrawal of the Order of Merlin, fifth degree from Peter Pettigrew". Harry was happy about the latter fact but was still waiting on the minister to decide something about his godfather.

- Hermione and I went on a shopping trip into muggle London with our mothers. Mum was a little nervous about all the traffic once she got in the Granger's car but she calmed down as we went along. She seemed to get into the swing of things once we got to the mall but Hermione and I still had to talk her into letting us get some of the more "comfortable" clothes and nightwear we found. It was only the fact that we were spending Malfoy money that Mum gave herself permission to get some muggle clothing of her own. We also got a few surprises for Harry when neither our mums were looking.

- Remus Lupin had responded to the copy of the letter that Harry had owled him by a visit. Harry's Aunt Petunia wasn't too happy to see him at her doorstep but she let him talk to Harry for a bit. Harry closed his connection down with us and we both respected his and Professor Lupin's privacy. It had to be a very emotional time for both of them and Harry wouldn't discuss the conversation with anybody.

- Which led to a few days of depression for our boyfriend. We couldn't get him to talk about what specifically what was bothering him but we pulled rank again. We insisted and each took some extended individual cuddle time while the other of his fiancée's took the lookout duty. It seemed to help Harry's attitude a bunch but he kept on apologizing for being difficult.

- The twins asked me to ask Harry if he wanted a utility belt like Batman(?) for the marbles they were making for him. Harry rolled on the floor laughing when I asked who Mr. Batman was but he and Hermione eventually explained the muggle comic book hero. I kicked Fred for that when I got back home.

- It was sheer luck that Harry discovered who had been following and looking at him. A glazier had his truck parked on a street near Mrs. Figg and Harry had caught a quick reflection in a glass window on it. It was a house elf! Harry described him as having a real thin nose, larger than usual eyes and ears and seemed to be wearing a towel or pillowcase. Harry had no idea why a house elf had been spying on him but the elf hadn't done anything aggressive. Harry just chalked it up to another of his curiosities but began to take notice of the elf's magical aura when he was outside. Harry was still looking for an opportunity to talk with elf but Hermione and I warned him to be careful.

- Ron had finally served out his grounding and flooed in by himself to spend an afternoon with Harry. He had been taken down to meet Harry's aunt for the explanation of the rules. I guess Ron stared a bit at Dudley initially but Harry had calmed down my brother and explained the new attitudes in the house. I guess they had a nice afternoon playing chess and just talking. Harry and Ron I mean. Ron, Harry and Dudley had gone out for an evening stroll after the Dursley supper. It seemed like a boy thing to do somehow. Merlin knows what the three of them had to talk about but it seemed to make Harry feel a little better about being around Dudley. Ron even said he eventually liked Dudley after their walk.

- Harry received a formal notification from Gringotts that the reading of his parents Last Will and Testament would be August 1st, just a few days after he got here to The Burrow. Harry wrote back to Griphook, his account manager, and asked permission for a few other people to come with him for the reading. The answer came back quickly and along with Dumbledore (of course), Hermione and her dad, me and my dad would be attending the reading with Harry. Our fiancé couldn't quite explain why he didn't want our mums along but he said it seemed that it was the right decision for the day. He assured Hermione and me that our mums could come and visit his family's vault later if they wanted.

Ginny read the latest entry she had written from the day before.

July 27, 1992

Harry was stuck over at Mrs. Figgs today doing yard work. The Dursleys have gone off on a shopping trip as well as a quick visit to Dudley's Aunt Marge. (Harry and Dudley both have told me that she kind of looks like Vernon Dursley but without the mustache.) Anyway they're gone for the day and Hermione is spending the afternoon keeping Harry company. I think she's also spending time with Mrs. Figg and her pets. We found out that some of those many cats she has are actually kneazles. Hermione is really fascinated by their magical abilities and she wants to ask her parents if she can have get one to bring back to Hogwarts with her. I can just imagine what Ron's going to think about that as Scabbers occasionally rides around in his pocket at school.

Harry got another of the floating notes from Gringotts this morning before he left the Dursleys. This one was from Wrotkill, the goblin that gave Harry the magical staff that was broken in the fight with Quirrell. The goblin sorcerer would like a meeting with Harry after the reading of the will. Harry is a little worried that Wrotkill will be angry or punish him for breaking that staff. Hermione and I think he worries too much but we'll help explain the circumstances. Defeating "You-know- Who" again(!) should count for something.

Hermione and I picked on Harry today a bit about some of the new outfits we had bought. He's soo easy to embarrass; just the mention of lace or knickers is enough to get Harry blushing! We threatened him with another fashion show that our mothers wouldn't approve of and it got Harry all flustered. Hermione laughed but did give Harry a proper hug before she flooed home from Mrs. Figgs.

The redhead closed up her diary as she looked at the clock. It was time for lunch and Ginny hoped she could take some of her mum's newest batch of brownies to Harry as a treat.

Xxxx xxxx

Ginny flooed into Harry's room and saw through his window that he was still mowing the front yard. She put the saucer of brownies on his desk and then settled down on his bed and waited for him to finish his chores. Some days she just followed him around inside or in the back yard as he did all his jobs. Hopefully he was almost finished for the day and could spend the rest of the time with her.

She got bored after a few minutes and went downstairs to let his Aunt Petunia know she was visiting. She walked back up to Harry's room and opened up Hedwig's cage to let the owl stretch her wings a bit. Harry hadn't sent any letters out to anybody in a few days and Hedwig might be feeling a little cage bound. Hermione had went out one evening under Harry's invisibility cloak and verified that she couldn't see Hedwig going out of Harry's upstairs window. Evidently another of those old spells just worked fine for what Harry wanted.

Ginny was feeding Hedwig a treat when she heard a pop behind her. A very scrawny house elf suddenly appeared sitting on Harry's bed. The door opened to reveal Harry as Fawkes suddenly flamed into the room at the same moment. Everyone was staring at each other dumbfounded but Harry recovered first and asked the question.

"So who wants to go first?"

The house elf seemed overwhelmed at the sight of Fawkes. "Harry Potter has a phoenix? We know Harry Potter was a great wizard but we didn't know he actually has such a creature of Light?"

Harry smiled at the statement but went and took a letter from Fawkes beak. He ruffled the feathers on the phoenix's head and whispered that he would return a reply later. Fawkes spread his wings, gave a small trill of laughter and flamed out of the room. The house elf's jaw dropped ever so slightly as he watched the magical exit.

Handing the letter to Ginny to hold, Harry turned back to the bed but knelt down so that he was looking at the house elf more or less eye to eye. "I wish I had a phoenix of my own but Fawkes is only a friend to me. He properly belongs to or is bonded to Professor Dumbledore at Hogwarts."

The house elf stared at where Harry was and then looked around in a panic. He then did something totally unexpected; he started crying! "Dobby has never had a wizard or a witch… kneel to him. Dobby is totally unworthy of such a measure of respect."

Dobby moved over next to the wall and started hitting his head against it. Ginny and Harry looked at each other totally confused. "Dobby?" There was no change in Dobby's behavior.

Harry raised his voice a little louder "Dobby!"

Ginny went over and touched the elf on the shoulder. He jumped and looked up very scared. Harry recognized that reaction of fear. He gestured for Ginny to come back and sit on the floor by him. Knowing he had the elf's attention now, Harry spoke softly. "Dobby, if that's your name, nobody here will hurt you. I'm glad you came to visit me."

"The great Harry Potter is happy to see me? A poor lowly house elf. It is such an honor to meet your great wizardness."

Ginny was grinning next to Harry and he almost wanted to poke her because she was thinking Harry had another devoted fan show up. This time it was just a shorter one.

Harry tried a small smile. "I like it when I get visitors. Any visitors at all; I wished you had stopped and talked to me sooner. Dobby, can you tell me why you've been following me around most of the summer? Wait, before you answer that. I want you to meet somebody. Dobby, this is Ginny Weasley – she's one of my very best friends."

Harry got a mental nudge from Ginny. 'One of ..?'

'I'm going slowly, in case you didn't notice, I don't want to scare him off. He's very nervous.'

Dobby glanced at Ginny and then his eyes got real wide. "Miss Wheezy is Harry Potter's bondmate? Harry Potter must be a great wizard indeed to have a bond mate at such a young age."

Ginny tried controlling her giggles. "Actually Dobby, Harry has two bond mates. And yes he is a great wizard."

Harry shook his head and watched as Dobby eyes bugged out even more. "Two? Harry Potter must be a very powerful wizard."

"Dobby, can you tell me why you have been following me all summer?"

"Harry Potter must not go back to Hogwarts this year."

"And why is that Dobby?" Harry was trying to be patient but the little elf wasn't giving him a straight answer. He wished he knew what to ask.

"Harry Potter is in grave danger. His Miss Wheezy is too."

"Is it something you know is going to happen Dobby?" Ginny asked quietly. She had a suspicion but wanted to see if Dobby would say any more.

"I heard…" Dobby stopped and started beating his head against the wall again. Harry reached for Ginny's hand and he used a little bit of the bond magic to quickly move one of his pillows so it acted as a cushion for Dobby's head. Dobby stopped his self-punishment in surprise. "His wizardness did not use a wand. I must tell the other elves back at…" Dobby started crying again and sat back down on the edge of Harry's bed.

Hermione had been listening in the background at her house but didn't know what to relay to Harry to help him out. Luckily, Ginny and Harry had a quick mental conversation about a suspicion she had.

"Dobby, can you tell me if you are you bonded to a family or an individual wizard or witch."

"A family Harry Potter sir."

"Dobby please call me Harry. Because you're bonded to this family, you can't tell me who they are, can you? It would betray the bond somehow."

Dobby agreed sadly. "Yes, Harry Potter is a very smart wizard indeed. But you must not return to Hogwarts."

Ginny put her hand on Harry's arm. She had felt him get upset once Dobby had told him she would be in danger. She cocked her head a little bit and Harry nodded to let her know she could continue to ask questions.

"Dobby I don't want to know who they are but would I be right that it's a dark family that wants to hurt us?"

The hung head of the little elf nodded silently. Harry took in a long breath. "Here we go again' he thought.

"Are you going to get in trouble Dobby for either talking to us or warning us?" Harry thought maybe the house elf's nervousness came from Dobby being abused by the family he was with. Harry certainly had some experience with that and felt some sympathy for Dobby.

"The master will not expect me to be so forward as to come here and see the great Harry Potter. If he does not ask me directly, I have no reason to tell him."

"Thank you Dobby for your concern but I have to go back to Hogwarts. My friends are there and I need to learn more magic for myself and to protect Ginny and Hermione."

"But you are a great wizard sir. You don't need to learn more magic. You have defeated "You-Know-Who" as an infant and just again a few weeks ago."

"How do you know that Dobby?" Harry really wanted to know if he heard it from his 'family' or otherwise.

"House elves talk to house elves sometimes. The elves at Hogwarts were very happy about the way Harry Potter defeated the Dark Lord."

"Harry, maybe Dobby ought to get back to his family before somebody misses him."

"You're probably right Ginny. Dobby, thank you for your warning about our safety. But you need to take care of yourself also. Why don't you go to your home and visit me when you can?"

"Harry Potter must not go back to Hogwarts. He will be placed in mortal danger for a third time."

"A third time?" Harry had a scary thought. "Are you saying whatever is going to happen at Hogwarts involves Voldemort?"

Dobby covered his ears with his hands as quickly as Ginny had when Harry had first spoken the forbidden name. "Now I have to go back to Hogwarts; Voldemort is cautious of Dumbledore Dobby. He'll protect me."

"There are many dark things that even Dumbledorres does not know of. I'm trying to protect you. Dobby will stop Harry Potter from getting back to Hogwarts. You must be saved from the evilness that is coming."

Dobby straightened up, snapped his fingers and silently disappeared.

Harry moved to sit on the bed and almost started crying himself. 'Why can't I be left alone?' he thought. Harry didn't know if he was just angry with what he learned from Dobby or the fact that he was very frustrated that things were sliding out of his control again. Ginny came over sat down next to him and started rubbing his back to try and comfort him a bit.

The sound of the floo activating startled the pair on the bed and they looked up to see Hermione exiting the closet as the last of the green flames dissipated. Hermione came over to kneel before Harry and Ginny and just leaned in to give them a joint hug. "I waited until Dobby left. Another person showing up here might have just scared him totally away. At least you know that something is going to happen now."

"Something that involves a very persistent Dark Lord" Harry said glumly.

"Maybe we should let Headmaster Dumbledore know about your visitor today" Hermione said.

"And tell him that an unknown house elf told us about a plot that might be dangerous to me? For all we know, it was just a bad prank by a Deatheater family to scare me away from attending Hogwarts. Something to drive me crazy by making me stay here. This all is giving me a headache."

"Maybe you should lay down Harry" Ginny looked down to where Hermione was still kneeling and gave her a wink before she continued. "You know - relax. Take it easy. Loosen up your clothing. We could even start a shower or a bath for you. Tell you what, we'll go run a bath for you and you just strip down and we'll come back for you."

Harry had actually stood up and started taking off his shirt before he realized that both girls hadn't moved a muscle and were just smiling at him as he had started getting undressed! Harry smiled and the girls both started giggling. "That was good Naughty, but almost got me that time."

Harry reached down and pulled Hermione up to her feet. He spun her around and put his head next to her ear from behind. "It seems such a shame to waste all the water on just one person. Do you want to join me in a bath Hermione?" Harry started tugging near the buttons on the back of her blouse and just smirked as Hermione whirled away suddenly with her mouth open.

"That…that was Ginny's idea – not mine. If you're going to undress anybody, it ought to be her!"

Harry was going to turn and move toward Ginny but she had already rushed by him to try and get Hermione. Harry saw she was laughing and knew Ginny wasn't really mad at Hermione.

Settling back on the bed, Harry watched the two girls try to evade each other in his room. He really loved being around them; they seemed to know exactly what to do when he was upset.

Harry saw the envelope that Ginny had left on the bed and reached for it. "Anybody want to know what Fawkes just delivered before we started having our talk with Dobby?"

Both girls came back to the bed and bracketed Harry as he opened up the envelope. Harry smiled at the contents. Dumbledore had written that Harry could leave for The Burrow the morning of July 30th. The wards would be charged up for another year at Privet Drive. Both girls leaned into Harry's shoulders to share his happiness. He'd be at The Burrow for his birthday!