Harry Potter and the Year of Searching
Chapter Thirteen: Grimmauld Place
The last few days until the holidays rolled past, and for once Harry didn't have to sign McGonagal's list of students who would remain at the castle. The last day of term finally arrived, and after the classes in which no one really paid attention, the group retired to the common room to relax. After dinner, the four went back to the common room to finish the last of their homework and play chess and exploding snap. After Harry's hair had been singed three times, he decided to call it a night, followed by Ron who had actually lost to Ginny. The boys kissed their girls goodnight and headed to their dorm to pack. The next morning arrived and after a quick breakfast, the students who were going home boarded the Hogwarts Express and took a ride back to Platform 9 3/4. Upon going through the barrier, Harry was surprised to see Mad-Eye Moody, Nymphadora Tonks, the elder Weasleys, and Remus Lupin waiting for them. Mrs. Weasley gave Harry a big hug before moving on to her own children. Harry raised an eyebrow at Lupin who explained, "You didn't think we'd let you go to Grimmauld Place without an escort, did you?" Harry grinned back as he was enveloped into a fatherly hug. "Wother, Harry!" Tonks was currently sporting spiky, bright green hair and waving to him. "Got your trunk?" she asked. "Okay, you lot, come on, let's go!" They followed Tonks along the streets to an empty alleyway. "All right," she explained, "we're going by Portkey. Hold on to this," she produced a paperback book from her jacket that Harry recognized as Quidditch Through the Ages, "and keep a good grip on your trunks. All ready?" she tapped the book with her wand and they took off. A moment later they landed in what Harry recognized as the kitchen of Sirius's old house. Ron ended up on the floor with Hermione on top of him, and Harry caught Ginny before she fell. All the others were still standing. "Come on, you two," Harry said to Ron and Hermione, "this isn't the time or place for that!" Hermione and Ron blushed and got up unwillingly. Ginny giggled and her father and Tonks grinned, while Moody remained still and silent and Mrs. Weasley frowned. "Why don't you all put your things away? You're in the same rooms as before. I'll make supper." As Mrs. Weasley bustled about, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny carried their trunks up the stairs and to their seperate rooms. After Harry and Ron settled themselves in their room they went to see what the girls were doing. However, as Ron tried to open the door he was blasted back. Ginny's face suddenly appeared in the doorway, giggling. She arched an eyebrow at Harry who asked, "What's that all about?" "Well," she explained, "mum seemed to think you boys were untrustworthy so she but a ward on this room. You can't come in, but we can go into your room." "So it's sort of like at Hogwarts. No one trusts us, do they?" Harry asked. "I guess with good reason, too," he added, grinning. "Yeah," said Hermione, appearing behind Ginny, "why were you two trying to get in here anyway?" "We just wanted to come see what you were up to!" Ron exclaimed, standing up and banging the side of his head with the palm of his hand. "We'll have to visit your room for that," Ginny said, exiting her room. At that moment they heard Mrs. Weasley's voice calling to them, telling them it was time to eat. After an enjoyable meal the teens retired to the boys' room. Ron and Hermione sat on Ron's bed, a little too close together, while Ginny laid on Harry's bed and he sat next to her, holding her hand. They talked about school, about Quidditch, and about Christmas, and Harry noticed they specifically seemed to be avoiding the subject of the house in which they sat, and especially that of its previous owner, Sirius Black. Harry didn't mind this in the least, since it wasn't a topic he was completely comfortable discussing yet either. Finally Mrs. Weasley came up and told them all to go to bed. After she left, Ron and Hermione starting kissing goodnight and Ginny led Harry into the hall outside the room. Harry simply leaned over and caught her mouth with his, feeling her arms around his neck and wrapping his around her waist. He deepened the kiss for a moment, then broke off, placing his forhead against hers, rubbing her nose with his. "Goodnight, love," he whispered, staring into her warm, glowing eyes. "'Night, Harry," she whispered back. They heard the door open and they broke apart. Hermione raised an eyebrow when she saw them standing so close together, then she winked at Harry and went back to her own room, followed by Ginny. Harry went into his room, grinning, and shut the door behind him. Ron was changing for bed and Harry did the same. Then they climbed into their beds, said goodnight, and turn out the lamps. Harry laid awake for a while thinking about Ginny. He wondered what he should get her for Christmas, as he had procrastinated doing that while he was at Hogwarts. He wasn't sure how she would take something romantic, like jewelry, so he thought something practical might do well. Maybe a broomstick, she definitely needed one of those. Not a Firebolt, of course, she'd never accept it, but maybe a new Cleansweep or a Nimbus. These thoughts were in his head as he drifted off and dreamt about broomsticks and a pretty red-haired girl.
AN: Well, what'd'you think? Please tell me all about it! I want to know what you think about my writing, the content, if you spotted any errors, etc. Please review! Here's my reply to a review: jessjica: I think the word you're searching for is "fluffy" ;-D. Of course I'm not going to discontinue it! It's my Pride and Joy, so to speak. At least right now, until I start on the next one. I love it too, so I'm going to do the whole thing, and possibly a sequel as well. Thanks for the review.
Chapter Thirteen: Grimmauld Place
The last few days until the holidays rolled past, and for once Harry didn't have to sign McGonagal's list of students who would remain at the castle. The last day of term finally arrived, and after the classes in which no one really paid attention, the group retired to the common room to relax. After dinner, the four went back to the common room to finish the last of their homework and play chess and exploding snap. After Harry's hair had been singed three times, he decided to call it a night, followed by Ron who had actually lost to Ginny. The boys kissed their girls goodnight and headed to their dorm to pack. The next morning arrived and after a quick breakfast, the students who were going home boarded the Hogwarts Express and took a ride back to Platform 9 3/4. Upon going through the barrier, Harry was surprised to see Mad-Eye Moody, Nymphadora Tonks, the elder Weasleys, and Remus Lupin waiting for them. Mrs. Weasley gave Harry a big hug before moving on to her own children. Harry raised an eyebrow at Lupin who explained, "You didn't think we'd let you go to Grimmauld Place without an escort, did you?" Harry grinned back as he was enveloped into a fatherly hug. "Wother, Harry!" Tonks was currently sporting spiky, bright green hair and waving to him. "Got your trunk?" she asked. "Okay, you lot, come on, let's go!" They followed Tonks along the streets to an empty alleyway. "All right," she explained, "we're going by Portkey. Hold on to this," she produced a paperback book from her jacket that Harry recognized as Quidditch Through the Ages, "and keep a good grip on your trunks. All ready?" she tapped the book with her wand and they took off. A moment later they landed in what Harry recognized as the kitchen of Sirius's old house. Ron ended up on the floor with Hermione on top of him, and Harry caught Ginny before she fell. All the others were still standing. "Come on, you two," Harry said to Ron and Hermione, "this isn't the time or place for that!" Hermione and Ron blushed and got up unwillingly. Ginny giggled and her father and Tonks grinned, while Moody remained still and silent and Mrs. Weasley frowned. "Why don't you all put your things away? You're in the same rooms as before. I'll make supper." As Mrs. Weasley bustled about, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny carried their trunks up the stairs and to their seperate rooms. After Harry and Ron settled themselves in their room they went to see what the girls were doing. However, as Ron tried to open the door he was blasted back. Ginny's face suddenly appeared in the doorway, giggling. She arched an eyebrow at Harry who asked, "What's that all about?" "Well," she explained, "mum seemed to think you boys were untrustworthy so she but a ward on this room. You can't come in, but we can go into your room." "So it's sort of like at Hogwarts. No one trusts us, do they?" Harry asked. "I guess with good reason, too," he added, grinning. "Yeah," said Hermione, appearing behind Ginny, "why were you two trying to get in here anyway?" "We just wanted to come see what you were up to!" Ron exclaimed, standing up and banging the side of his head with the palm of his hand. "We'll have to visit your room for that," Ginny said, exiting her room. At that moment they heard Mrs. Weasley's voice calling to them, telling them it was time to eat. After an enjoyable meal the teens retired to the boys' room. Ron and Hermione sat on Ron's bed, a little too close together, while Ginny laid on Harry's bed and he sat next to her, holding her hand. They talked about school, about Quidditch, and about Christmas, and Harry noticed they specifically seemed to be avoiding the subject of the house in which they sat, and especially that of its previous owner, Sirius Black. Harry didn't mind this in the least, since it wasn't a topic he was completely comfortable discussing yet either. Finally Mrs. Weasley came up and told them all to go to bed. After she left, Ron and Hermione starting kissing goodnight and Ginny led Harry into the hall outside the room. Harry simply leaned over and caught her mouth with his, feeling her arms around his neck and wrapping his around her waist. He deepened the kiss for a moment, then broke off, placing his forhead against hers, rubbing her nose with his. "Goodnight, love," he whispered, staring into her warm, glowing eyes. "'Night, Harry," she whispered back. They heard the door open and they broke apart. Hermione raised an eyebrow when she saw them standing so close together, then she winked at Harry and went back to her own room, followed by Ginny. Harry went into his room, grinning, and shut the door behind him. Ron was changing for bed and Harry did the same. Then they climbed into their beds, said goodnight, and turn out the lamps. Harry laid awake for a while thinking about Ginny. He wondered what he should get her for Christmas, as he had procrastinated doing that while he was at Hogwarts. He wasn't sure how she would take something romantic, like jewelry, so he thought something practical might do well. Maybe a broomstick, she definitely needed one of those. Not a Firebolt, of course, she'd never accept it, but maybe a new Cleansweep or a Nimbus. These thoughts were in his head as he drifted off and dreamt about broomsticks and a pretty red-haired girl.
AN: Well, what'd'you think? Please tell me all about it! I want to know what you think about my writing, the content, if you spotted any errors, etc. Please review! Here's my reply to a review: jessjica: I think the word you're searching for is "fluffy" ;-D. Of course I'm not going to discontinue it! It's my Pride and Joy, so to speak. At least right now, until I start on the next one. I love it too, so I'm going to do the whole thing, and possibly a sequel as well. Thanks for the review.