Disclaimer: I am at a loss. I am at a loss to think of a witty or original disclaimer. sigh ah well…it's hers, not mine. No money is entering my negative balanced bank account as a result of it, so don't sue me.
Chap 13: Secrets Revealed
Harry woke up the next morning with a rather nasty head ache. He wasn't sure if it was because Voldemort was trying to get in and he had been subconsciously been practicing occlumency all night, or if it was because the rather large bottle of Ogdens Old Firewhiskey that he, the twins and Ron had consumed.
The singing toilet had been a good ending to the party the night before, according to most of the guests, as they had started making their way home shortly after that. With most of the guests gone, Mrs. Weasley then shooed all the kids up stairs to bed. Ron told him, as they were changing into their night wear, that he'd get his gift from him and Ginny the next day when they were all together again. He and Ron were sharing a much larger room now and they were about to go to sleep when in popped Fred and George.
Fred was carrying a rolled up piece of parchment that looked official, and George was carrying what Harry now thought of as the bane of his existence: the firewhiskey.
The parchment was an official document stating that Harry owned one third of 'Weasley Wizarding Wheezes'. He had tried to refuse, saying that the money was a gift, but the twins insisted. Ron hadn't been as bothered about it as Harry had feared. Ron was too relieved to find out that the twins' initial capital had come from a legitimate source to be jealous of their success. The firewhiskey, of course, had been to celebrate.
"Ohhhh…" moaned Harry as he made his way to the loo, "I'm never gonna drink again." he vowed emptily to whoever might be listening.
"Amen to that, brother." agreed Ron as he lifted his head, groggily from the toilet. Harry hadn't noticed him there. Of course, Harry hadn't noticed much of anything yet except the extreme ringing in his ears and pounding in his head.
Realizing that the on suite facilities were occupied, Harry decided to walk the short distance to Sirius' room and use the washroom in Potter Mansion.
Upon entering, Harry was greeted by an overly chipper, and overly loud Stewy. "Good morning Harry." he smiled enthusiastically. "What can Stewy do for Harry this morning?" he asked with evident anticipation in his voice.
"First off," grunted Harry, holding his hand against his continually throbbing head, "You can whisper. Second; is there anything here that can help with the after affects of a night of extreme alcoholic consumption?" inquired Harry
"Yes Harry!" yelled Stewy excitedly before remembering to whisper, causing Harry to grab his own head with both hands, "Sorry Harry," he apologized in a whisper noticing his masters discomfort, "Stewy is having a hang-over cure in the kitchen, Harry. Stewy will go and get it for Harry."
Harry watched as Stewy vanished with a quiet pop, thankful that house elves are don't make much noise when they apparate, and then sunk down onto the marble floor and put his head against the cold surface. It brought him temporary relief as he awaited Stewy's return.
Stewy returned shortly with a rotten smelling, pastel green, bubbling concoction that reminded him very much of the stuff Ron had been producing only seconds earlier in the on suite washroom.
"Here Harry, drink this. Stewy is promising that it will make you feel better." the bright eyed house elf whispered, having remembered finally not to yell.
Harry eyed the potion suspiciously, but drank it, all be it reluctantly, none the less. What happened next was surprising to him. It felt as though the inside of his body had taken a refreshing cold shower and washed away all the grogginess and sickness, leaving him re-energized and surprisingly cheerful.
"Wow Stewy, what is this stuff?"
"It is being a secret recipe that Master Petrius is teaching Stewy. It is like pepper-up potion, but also 'ri-hy-daraytes' drinker's body after losing lots of water too alcohol and 'el-il-imates' all alcohol in the body." replied a smiling Stewy, obviously proud at having remembered the portrait's explanation.
"Could you make me up another one?" asked Harry with his best friend in mind.
"Yes Sir, Harry. Stewy will be right back." And with a small pop, he was gone.
Harry took this time run up to his room to shower and get dressed. Having slipped back in last night before bed to safely store his cloak, he put it on again this morning and with a pair of black velvety material pants and a flowing white silk shirt, much like you see those guys wearing on the covers of romance novels. Noticing his apparel, he turned to the mirror, broadened his facial features, straightened and then turned his hair blond then smiled in a sexy manner.
"Hi, I'm Fabio." he said seductively in a low husky voice, wearing his best Lockhart smile. Then laughing to himself, he turned his appearance back to normal, he put on a pair of black dragon hide boots he had found in his closet and made for the front door.
'Man, I've been gone for an hour. They're all gonna be wondering where I went' he thought to himself as he raced down the stairs.
Stewy was waiting by the door when Harry arrived and handed his master the potion.
"Thanks Stewy. I have a friend right now making a call on the porcelain telephone whose gonna be very thankful for this." said Harry as he chuckled to himself.
Stewy just smiled and nodded. He was completely lost at his master's obscure statement, but thought it best not to question him, since he of course found it rather amusing.
Harry ran to his and Ron's room to find Ron slowly emerging from the water-closet.
"What happened to you?" inquired Ron with his sickly green face, "did ya fall in? You were gone for a good fifteen minutes!" Then, taking a closer look at his friend, Ron added, "Wow! Nice threads. Where all did you go shopping at Diagon alley that day anyway?"
'Shoot, I guess I should take that spell off the mansion or I could really screw up my sleep schedule' thought Harry.
"These aren't from the Alley" corrected Harry, "I'll be filling you guys in today about everything. You just have to be patient." explained Harry in a chipper, if not a little loud voice.
"Harry please!" pleaded Ron while clutching his head "Have some pity on the hung-one"
"Here," said Harry while handing Ron Stewy's brew "drink this, you'll feel tons better." Promised Harry.
With the same hesitation that Harry had shown earlier, Ron took the potion and drank it and just like Harry, looked totally refreshed in under a minute.
"Bloody Hell!" exclaimed Ron in disbelief, "I didn't much care for the taste, but the effects are brilliant! What is this stuff?"
"That I can't tell you until you guys hear my explanation...do you see a pattern developing here?" inquired Harry with one raised eyebrow, a small smirk and a twinkle in his eye."
"Ok, ok...I get the picture. I know Ginny and I are dying to hear all about it. And I can't wait to hear where you got that blasted twinkle from...it's like having a much younger, mini Dumbledore around." Ron said with a smirk of his own.
Harry responded with a slight jab to the shoulder and told him to get dressed.
'That potion must have some cheering qualities, Ron's never this happy in this soon after getting up.' thought Harry.
You're telling me! Said that distinctly female voice that he hadn't heard from since the beginning of the summer.
Not only that, but now that he had more occlumency training he could tell that the voices source was NOT coming from his own head!
'Ah, my conscience I haven't heard form you in a while.'
You haven't really needed me. She explained, though rather hesitantly
'You see, miss. Since I've been gone, I've become quite adept at occlumency. I can now tell that this voice is NOT coming from any part of me. Since you have only helped me in the past, I had not thought to block you out; however, I want you to be aware that I will be treating everything you say as the words of another from now on. Now, would you care to introduce yourself properly?' thought Harry projecting his thoughts to whoever this person might be.
Harry was sure this person, or being, or whatever it was didn't mean him harm, after all, his kneazle sense would be going wild just like when the death eater was talking to him in Diagon Alley. So he decided to let her visit from time to time in hopes of finding out who it was, knowing full well that unless she told him, he probably wouldn't be able to figure out who she was.
No, I don't think I will. It is much more fun this way. Besides, if you found out, you would probably block me out more often then if you didn't. Responded the voice mysteriously.
Blocking off the voice, he thought tom himself. 'Well...this is obviously someone I know. And someone who figures I wouldn't be that open with them. Could it be McGonagall?' Harry shuddered at the thought of his head of house in his head. 'No, it couldn't be. She would have stopped us from doing all those things behind the teachers' backs. Then who? Molly, she might not have been able to reach me mentally so far away at Hogwarts. Maybe Tonks, or Hermione, or Ginny, or Luna, or Hestia, or...heck, it could be anybody! Scratch that, any female. Ah well. Guess I could just play along for now until a better opportunity arises.'
Reopening his mind, he responded 'well..I guess I can accept that for the moment. Without your help I never would have made it earlier this summer. The guilt was getting to me and it was you who helped, so for that, I will always be grateful to you. But don't think I'm not going to try to figure out who you are!" he replied playfully.
It's a deal.
"...Harry...earth to Harry..." said Ron waving his hand in front of Harry's face "I've been trying to get your attention for a couple of minutes now, mate. Where have you been?"
"Right here in body, just deep in thought." he responded while smiling slyly.
"Let me guess 'You'll find out more about it when I get a chance to explain everything' right?" inquired Ron with is best Harry imitation.
Harry just laughed and nodded. Noticing that Ron was dressed, he motioned for him to follow down to the kitchen. It was grub time.
"Man, Harry. Remind me never to do that again. I don't remember anything after my second drink." confessed Ron.
"Well," started Harry with a sly smile, "if you want a recap, it went something like this: 'Hermione this and Hermione that. Man she's so pretty. Gorgeous, etcetera, etcetera.' End recap."
Ron had turned a very pale shade of white. "I...I didn't!" He stated with a shocked air of disbelief and worry.
"I'm afraid you did mate." nodded Harry. "It wasn't a great surprise to me. However Fred and George found it particularly interesting, not to mention hilarious."
Harry had not thought it possible, but Ron's face had found a way to turn even whiter...it was almost translucent. You could practically see the blood leaving his face, only to be replaced by an ever deepening expression of dread. One would think he was looking at Voldemort himself. "Bugger me!" he was able to squeak out.
"You know Ron. There's a way you can diffuse this situation and possibly even turn into something beneficial for you." stated Harry
"Stop it mate, use smaller words. You're starting to sound like Hermione." said Ron trying to follow.
"Should I be worried about your reaction if I don't?" asked Harry cheekily.
After a second or two, Ron got the joke and punch Harry in the arm. "You know what I mean."
"I do. But what I was trying to say was that there's a way you can make this good for you." explained Harry in simpler English.
"And that would be…?" inquired Ron.
"Simple. Tell her yourself." Harry said matter-of-factly.
"You've GOT to be kidding me? Tell her? Out loud? To her face?" sputtered Ron practically his knees buckling at the mere thought of coming clean with his emotions.
"That's what I like to see. True Gryffindor Courage!" Harry said as he rolled his eyes. Of course, he too knew how hard it was after trying and failing last year with Cho, so he decided to let it drop as they approached the door to the kitchen. As he neared, he heard excited voices from the other side.
"They just passed out." he heard through the door. Stopping in their tracks, Harry and Ron decided to listen for a while longer to find out how they wanted to play this.
"Yeah, Fred and I pretended to drink it too, but we just dumped ours back in when they weren't looking."
"Finished a whole bottle of themselves they did" added Fred
"Can't wait to see them this morning." said George anxiously
"Walking dead I bet." explained Fred.
Ron and Harry just grinned at each other and opened the door wide. With a big smile, and an over exaggerated joy, Ron spoke first.
"A bright and cheerful morning to everyone. Man, did I sleep brilliantly last night."
"Me too," interjected Harry "Most refreshed I've felt in ages!" Harry smiled at noticing the twins' slack jawed expressions.
Remus, Ginny, Hermione and even Mad-eye were laughing quietly at the reaction Fred and George were giving after being so confident only second before that the other two would be incapacitated.
Molly came over with a pan of food for Harry and Ron, "There you are dears." Then turning to Fred and George, "I knew you'd been putting us on. Harry and Ron would never indulge in that kind of drinking binge. They're both good boys, unlike you two!" She stated forcefully while pointing a finger at them "since I had been thinking up a punishment for the heavy drinking you had said they were doing last night, it seems only fair that you two fulfill it since it's obvious you were only trying to get them in trouble!"
"But mom!" started Fred
"It's true, we were there" continued George
"There's no way they could be this chipper" stated Fred
"...when we didn't have a drop ourselves" finished George.
"Well then, it would seem I should be getting you in trouble for willfully providing Fire whiskey to a minor! Either way, you WILL clean the attic out, dust it, mop it and wax the wood floor. And before you go, you'll apologize to both Ron and Harry for this very ill planned prank. Frankly boys, I've come to expect a lot more from you two."
The twins weren't sure if she was talking about their behaviour or the detail they usually put into their pranks. Either way, they grudgingly got up, muttered an apology to Harry and Ron before glaring daggers at them, and left the room bound for the attic.
Ron and Harry just smiled to themselves before loading their plates up with food.
Hermione was the first to start conversation after the activity returned to normal. Speaking only loud enough for Ron to hear, and Harry to eavesdrop in on, she asked, "Does that mean that you didn't say all the things they said you did last night?"
"What things?" asked Ron a little too quickly, but recovering from the initial surprise of her question rather well.
"Things about...well, they said you talked about...about some girls you liked." she tried to explain stuttering a bit and looking kind of embarrassed.
Harry noticed that Ginny was trying hard to suppress a chuckle at this line of questioning.
"What? No, no of course not." said Ron, he too a little embarrassed. "Why would we talk about y...I mean that kind of thing?"
"Oh, no reason. Just wondering. It did sound a little far fetched." said Hermione in an attempt to recover, but looking more and more disappointed by the second.
Ron was too relieved that this conversation was nearing a close to notice the change in Hermione's mood.
"Anyways," started Harry in a hushed tone, "I thought that after breakfast, we could all meet up in Sirius' room and I start to explain what's going on with me. If you all have no objections." They all shook their heads and agreed to meet with him after breakfast.
Much to Mrs. Weasley's delight, Ron, Hermione and Ginny offered to help clean up after the meal.
Harry then approached Molly and asked, "Mrs. Weasley, I was wondering if it would be alright if the four of us cleaned up Sirius' old room today." He said with a somber expression. "I know it's something I should do, but I would like the support of my friends as I do it, without interruptions if that's ok." Harry looked at her with a pleading look in his eyes.
Molly's expression was soft and understanding, "Of course Harry dear. You four take as much time as you need. I won't bother you for lunch either. Whenever you get hungry, just come down and help yourselves. I'll still be calling you for dinner though at about six tonight and Charlie and Bill will be here for it too."
"Ok Mrs. Weasley. Thanks." he added with what he hoped was a genuine smile. His years of manipulating Uncle Vernon were starting to pay off. Not that he had lied to Mrs. Weasley, but he hadn't told her the whole truth either. This way they could talk without interruption, and not arouse suspicion. As for cleaning Sirius' room, he'd just ask Stewy to do it later...when Hermione wasn't around.
After dishes were done, they moved the party up to Sirius' room. Once there, Harry closed and locked the door. He then, wandlessly and wordlessly, cast an imperturbable charm on the door so that none of what he was about to confess to his friends could be overheard.
Hermione looked like she was ready to burst with questions already. She had noticed the spells he had jsut cast. But he stopped her and motinoed them all to sit.
They all took a seat and anxiously awaited Harry's explanation.
"First off, I know I told each of you in the letters I sent that I was grateful that you've stuck by me for so long even though I have a tendency to act like a total prat on occasion."
"On occasion?" inquired Ron jokingly, causing him to receive a quick elbow from Hermione who had seated herself beside him. Harry smiled at the exchange and continued and shook his head.
"I just wanted to let you know that it has meant a lot to me. In those letters, I also told you that I had something to talk to you about. Well, now I'm gonna tell you, and try our friendship, yet again." They all looked at each other with worried expressions. Harry raised his hand to stem any comments that may arise from this comment and continued.
"I'm going to tell you the following for several reasons. First: Had I been told this information sooner, it might have save Sirius' life. Second: You have the right to know just how much trouble you'll be getting into if you chose to stay with me. And third: and most importantly to me, you are my friends and I refuse to have secrets form you anymore." And then turning his gaze to Ginny specifically "any of you." He noticed her shift a little uncomfortably and look away when he told her this, but he just chalked it up to not knowing what he was going to reveal.
"I'll be talking to Neville and Luna about this too before school starts to see where they stand as well." added Harry, addressing the group as a whole again.
"Now, before I tell you anything, I just want to let you know, again, how much I appreciate the support that each of you have given me in the past years, and to let you know that whatever you decide after hearing this, I'll never think les of you. The reason I'm doing this is that I have to give you a chance to walk away from this , if I don't, then I'm being as unmerciful as the fates have been to me." He noticed their confused expressions and continued.
"Ok, here is it. You all remember the prophecy that Voldemort wanted to recover that night." Harry was pleased to note that not one of them flinched at the sound of Tom's fictitious name. "Apparently, it was not lost after all. Dumbledore was the one who'd heard it initially and recovered it. The night we returned from the ministry he brought me back to his office, took out his pensive and showed me the prophecy being told the first time. It said:
'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he must have a power the Dark Lord knows not…and either will die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…' (1)
"Who did he hear it from?" asked Hermione after a couple of seconds of silence.
"Professor Trelawney, at her interview with Dumbledore. That's the reason she got the job actually." said Harry with a little bit of amusement in his voice.
"That wacko? And he believed her?" asked Ron skeptically.
"You've never seen or heard her make a real prediction Ron. Remember in third year when I told you she made hat prediction about the dark lord's return? Well, this was exactly like it. Plus Dumbledore himself told me back then that he had only heard of her ever making two real predictions. The one that I had heard and another that he wouldn't tell me about: This one. It's real." stated Harry in a defeated tone.
"So that means it'll come down to you or him. You or Tom." realized Ginny aloud.
"Yes Gin. Me or Tom. That's why I have to give you guys the chance to leave now. Things are only going to get worse around me before they get better, if they get better, and I refuse to lead you into this with your eyes closed as to the possible outcome. I had to give you the truth, and now I have to let you decide for yourselves." said Harry sadly, almost to himself, as he turned his back to his friends to face the closet. "If you choose to leave now, I won't think any less of you. To be honest, I almost hope you do leave, that way at least you'll be safer then hanging around me."
"HARRY JAMES POTTER!" started Hermione as she grabbed him by the shoulder and swung him back around. "You should know by now that we will NEVER leave you." she said as she engulfed him in a hug and he could see small tears forming in her eyes.
"Well, mate, it's not really news to me. I kinda figured that much out for myself. I mean really, who else would survive that often against the most evil dark wizard in history if not for the one who's supposed to take him down? You've just confirmed my suspicions is all. Besides, what are friends for? You're stuck with us mate!" said Ron.
"I'm starting to figure that out" confessed Harry as a small smile now began to appear on his face.
"Besides," added Ginny as she went and joined Hermione in hugging Harry, "If I left now, I'd never get to hear the reason you were here two weeks ago and told me not to tell anyone." she concluded with a grin.
"You were here? And didn't even say hi to me?" asked Ron in disbelief "I have more of a mind to walk out now then I did a couple of minutes ago. To think, you picked visiting with my sister over me! I'm hurt!" added Ron mockingly.
Separating himself from the girls, Harry retorted "Ron, that's not how it was, and if you would just sit down again, all of you," looking at the girls, "I can finish telling you what's happened with me this summer. If you still have questions after I'm done I'll answer them. Just let me finish before you interrupt." he finished with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. They all nodded in agreement and sat down.
Harry proceeded to tell them everything. From his time with mike, to his colorful encounter with Tonks, the rubix cube, the portraits, the time difference and his training. He told them everything. He had never shared this much with anyone before, and he felt a sense of relief, like he had finally exhaled a long breathe he didn't know he had been holding.
They all sat dumbfounded. Similar expressions of shock played upon each of their faces. Harry couldn't help but smile. He never thought he'd see the day where Hermione would be speechless.
"Well?" asked Harry after several seconds of awkward silence.
Apparently that was all the prompting they needed as they each launched into their own set of question:
"When are you gonna take us there?" "Can I see your animagus forms?" "How many books did you say you had?" "When can I meet Godric Gryffindor's portrait?" "Can we train with you too?" "WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THE SCRAWNY LITTLE BOY I SAT WITH ON THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS?" Ron's rather loud question silenced the others, and caused Harry to begin laughing again at his best friends.
Looking down at his watch, he said "We can go now if you'd like, and since I haven't finished the spell yet, we can stay the night and have plenty of time tomorrow before we have to be back here for dinner tonight." The three of them looked at him in confusion. "Ok, if you REALLY want to know what I meant, ask Godric, he'd love to explain it to you. But for now, please," he said as he motioned towards the door behind him. "Follow me" he concluded with a large smile as the group followed him into the closet.
---------- Hermione's POV
"Welcome to Potter Mansion, guests of the master." said a short little house elf that Hermione found very smartly dressed.
"Really Harry! Owning a house elf. I would have thought better of you. Haven't you been listening to a word I've been saying these last few years?" she asked him skeptically.
'You'd think being from a muggle background he'd know more about slavery and how wrong it is.' she thought adamantly.
"Hermione, you just don't understand." he started "and I don't have the time to explain to you what a house elf feels like when he had a master who cares for him. Besides," he said now turning his attention to the house-elf there "How many times have a told you to call me Harry, Stewy? These are my friends, like you are. Besides, even if they weren't, I still want you to call me Harry. OK?" he concluded with a smile.
"Yes Harry, Stewy will call you Harry from now on, but please forgive Stewy when he forgets. It is hard to change Stewy's way of thinking over night." said the house elf in an ashamed manner.
"Stewy," said Harry, "of course I'll forgive you. I've told you before that you are allowed to make mistakes. Heck, I do all the time. And if you ask these people behind," Motioning to his other two friends still starring in awe at the surrounding, "I'm sure they could tell you about many instances where I have."
Hermione noticed that Harry's kind words seemed to sooth Stewy and he was now smiling. Hermione continued to watch as Harry introduced everyone
"Stewy, this is Hermione, Ron and Ginny. They are my friends from Hogwarts. They'll be staying here over night. Would you please set 3 more table settings and prepare some rooms for them as well?"
"Most definitely Harry, it would be an honour." He bowed to the new comers and with a small pop, disappeared form the entry hall.
---------- Ginny's POV
"Welcome to Potter Mansion, guests of the master." she heard from the small house elf in front of her. But she heard nothing much more after that as Hermione went off on one of her SPEW kicks.
She looked around, gaping at the lavish decorations. He eyes were drawn to the man decorations, the suits of armour, the ornate shield, the large coat of arms hanging above them, the many weapons lining the walls.
'Hang on...what's that?' As her attention was being drawn to one of the swords on the wall.
She looked back to her friends for a second and watched as the elf, 'Stewy was it?' vanished and then turned back to the sword that seemed to be pulling at her senses.
She approached the wall were if hung and reached for it. She stopped herself, remembering where she was and turned her attention to Harry,
"Harry? Do you mind?" she asked while pointing to the sword on the wall.
"Not at all." he replied with a smile, as he continued to tell Ron about something or other and Hermione seemed to be looking over the family crest.
She reached out and touched the handle. She could feel a faint vibration coming from it at her touch. She grasped it firmly and pulled it off the wall. As she grabbed it the sword seemed to glow faintly and then settle back to normal. The blade was magnificent. Properly weighted, expertly crafted with a very ornate hand guard upon which was displayed the Potter coat of arms.
She swung it a couple of times, and then reached out and grabbed a dirk that was a little further down along the wall. She then began to swing them in a very intricate weave. It was one of the defensive patterns she had read about but had never been able to perform with her practice blades. These blades, however, seemed to be doing it themselves from memory with very little prompting from her.
She kept it going for a good 30 seconds before her concentration was blown.
"Wow!" exclaimed Ron "I never knew you had actually finished working on that one. It looked awesome Gin!"
Ginny turned to see a proud brother and two slack jawed friends staring at her. "I haven't. These are just excellent blades." she said smiling sheepishly as she shyly re-hung them back on the wall.
---------- Ron's POV
"Welcome to Potter Mansion, guests of the master." said a well dressed little house-elf before him.
Ron decided to slap on a distracted expression as he took in all the details in this room.
'Wow. It's incredible. There only seems to be one entrance that would need defending, and 5 quick escape routes. Plenty of room to defend yourself in a melee battle, but not much cover for a spell fight. The weapons lining the room seem to be in excellent condition as well. It looks like Harry didn't need our sword after all.' he thought to himself.
He took in every word of Hermione's chastising of Harry, and the entire interaction between Harry and Stewy.
'She's cute when she's angry.' he thought to himself. With a mental kick, he tried to focus on something else.
'It's a good idea to befriend the House-elves. They'll be great allies in the war, not to mention the network of spies they could be for us. They're everywhere and no one ever pays them any attention. I'll have to talk to Harry about that later. Or maybe go straight to Dobby.'
He nodded to Stewy as Harry introduced him and watched as he vanished.
"Harry," started Ron.
Harry turned his attention to his Ron, "I wanted to tell you what Ginny and I got you for your birthday. I'd give it to you now, but it's in our room. You see, Ginny and I have been practicing and training all summer too. But since we're underage, and don't have a cool mansion in another dimension" he added wryly "we're been focusing on sword work."
At this time Ginny interrupted to ask Harry if she could take a closer look at one of the swords. Ron had noticed that rapier in his initial sweep of the room, and was wondering how long it would take her to find it.
He smiled and continued. "We decided that for your birthday we'd go in together and get you a practice blade and also teach you how to use it."
"Really?" said a surprised and happy Harry, "that'd be great!"
"I'm glad you like it." said Ron honestly. "Again, I had figured that you'd be most comfortable with a sword type you already used before, and after seeing what Dumbledore got you lat night I'm glad I did. The practice blade we got you is the same style as the blade of Gryffindor. Ginny remembered what type it was from...you know...the chamber, so we got you one like that."
"That's brilliant!" confessed Harry
"I'm impressed Ron. You've been surprising me a lot lately with your insights. What happened to you?" asked Hermione
"Ouch! Mione, for the smart one of the bunch, you sure do have a knack for sticking your foot in your mouth don't you?" asked Ron a little hurt at her comment.
Turning a deep shade of red, she sputtered "Sorry Ron, that's not what I meant, it's just that..." but her voice trailed off as she noticed Ron's attention was no longer on her, but on his sister who was swinging her swords in a complicated pattern.
"Wow!" exclaimed Ron "I never knew you had actually finished working on that one. It looked awesome Gin!"
Ron's pride was evident in not only his tone of voice, but also the expression on his face.
"I haven't. These are just excellent blades." she said slightly embarrassed as she turned and put the blades back up on the wall.
"Anyways," said Harry "Shall I show you the rest of the house? Or are we planning on camping out in the Entrance?"
At their gracious host's invitation, the group of friends followed Harry on a grand tour of the premises.
(1) J.K.Rowling, "Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix" chapter 37
AN: Thanks to all my reviewers as well. Keep them comin.
Farfumsane