Chapter 14 – Explorations and discoveries

As Harry mounted the stairs, he wondered which of the Weasleys' could end up going walking with him. He had no idea of what the daily schedule was at the Burrow and it was the summer still.

Harry knocked at the first door he came to, which was Ginny's room. Ginny pulled the door open and when she saw it was Harry began to blush. Again. Harry joined her looking at the floor. He would never be able to figure girls out.

"I was wondering if you had time to take a walk with me.", Harry stumbled through his explanation.

"You want… me.. to go walking ..with you?" Ginny was shocked that Harry would pick her of all people to ask for a walk. She had wanted to know Harry Potter for the longest time and now her wish had been granted.

When Harry explained that her mother had wanted him to take up walking to help him physically, the girl felt a huge disappointment. Harry wasn't really interested in her, he just needed an escort.

"I can't go now Harry, I've got homework to do for Mum. She's gone all bonkers with getting me some 'feminine talents', this summer especially. Maybe this afternoon?"

"How come you have homework? Its summer, isn't it?" Harry was a little confused.

Ginny sighed and looked up at Harry. "It's just the way things are. Magical families are responsible for educating their children until they can attend Hogwarts. Families that are… better off than us can hire tutors, but we don't have that luxury. Dad has taught us about the Ministry of Magic and a lot of beginning magical theory and history. Mum does her bit with reading and writing and such. Mum also thinks I need to begin to learn potions by mixing cake and biscuit recipes for her. She's been especially pressing me for penmanship and manners; the boys don't have to do that junk. My mornings are taken up some of the time Harry. I'm sorry; I'd really like to get out of my room now and go with you."

"Me too; I have a lot of questions I thought you might know the answers to. If I ask your mum nice, do you think I can spring you out of there?"

"Maybe after today, Harry", Ginny answered. "Mum's got me practicing thank you letters so I won't look bad writing back to people if I get some presents tomorrow."

"That's right, tomorrow is the big day. Double digit birthday. You must be looking forward to all those presents."

"Not so much the presents; I know my family can't afford a lot of nice things. I think it's just nice that my family can get together and celebrate; maybe my brothers can come for a short visit. That's something that I look forward to."

Harry thought Ginny's attitude towards birthdays was absolutely great, compared to his cousin Dudley's selfishness. He also felt bad at the same time. "Ginny, I'm sorry but I didn't get you anything for your birthday."

"Harry", she replied as her face turned pink, "just you being here for my birthday is better than anything I ever asked for."

Harry and Ginny just kind of stared silently at their shoes wondering what to say next to each other. Harry finally excused himself to let Ginny 'get back to her penmanship" and headed up the stairs with a small feeling of disappointment.

The twins answered Harry's knock on their door by opening the door and hanging a sign on the outside. 'Important Experiments in Progress. Do not interrupt! (Unless it's you mum!)'. Harry made a face at the odor that wafted around the door and kept climbing.

Percy answered the knock on his door. Harry apologized for the problem with Percy's sweater but Percy just waved it off. "It's way too small for me now anyway, I'm glad someone can get some use out of it." Too embarrassed to impose any further on Percy by way of a walk, Harry asked him if there were any spare quills, ink and parchment in the house. Percy told Harry that there were usually spare supplies in the kitchen or family room.

Harry walked back down to the kitchen to watch Mrs. Weasley putting some laundry in a basket. "Guess, I'll have to wait until later for that walk, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said. "Everybody is busy studying and doing other things at the moment. Do you suppose I could borrow a quill and some parchment? I've never written with anything but a pen or pencil before."

"I've got to hang up some laundry, Harry. If you promise to stick to the lane, you can just walk up to the road and back. By the time you get back, Ron may have finished de-gnoming the garden. The rest of the day is your own, unless you want to go for another walk. Then I'm sure I can find one of my children to go with you. The quills and parchment are over there in the desk."

"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley, a little walk does sound nice. I'll just take a look around while I'm walking for now. I'd like to do a little exploring later maybe. I didn't get a chance to go many places while I was at the Dursleys."

Mrs. Weasley just nodded sadly and went to pick up the basket of clothes. Harry hurried to hold the door open for her as she headed outside. She thanked him again and Harry gave a wave to Ron who was holding something struggling in one hand. Ron gave the little grayish object a heave toward the orchard and bent back to the garden.

Harry walked away from the Burrow wondering at the difference that his world had suddenly turned into. Wizards(he was one!), witches, Hogwarts, magic, and over all, the Weasleys! An honest to goodness real affectionate family and people that were becoming actual friends with him! Two weeks ago, Harry had thought he might rather die than have to endure much more of the Dursleys 'care'. Now he had an entire new future.

Harry had reached the end of the lane where it joined the main road. To his left was the small village of Ottery St. Catchpole and around it was a scattering of other homes and small farms; hedges and patches of forests completed Harry's view of the English countryside. Harry just reveled in the freedom he was enjoying.

Turning around from the small rise, Harry got his first complete view of the Burrow; it was a haphazard affair with rooms joined at odd angles and built up seemingly at random. Harry thought it was the best place he had ever seen. He realized he had never laughed or enjoyed himself as much as he had since coming to that little house.

By the time Harry had walked back to the Burrow, Ron had finished in the garden and the boys shared a small pitcher of chilled pumpkin juice before heading back up to their room. Ron stopped and knocked softly on his sisters' door but there was no answer.

Harry went up to Ron's room and started reading his book on magical creatures again. Ron had his nose buried in a Quidditch book but asked Harry if he could read the book Harry had on stadiums. Harry said yes and the two boys just sat in their beds reading until Mrs. Weasley called for lunch.

There was a small platter of sandwiches, a couple of bags of crisps and a pot of tea waiting on the table when Harry got down to the table. Harry added two sandwiches to his plate and then watched in awe as Ron piled most of the rest of the sandwiches on his plate.

After a quick 'ahem' from Mrs. Weasley, Ron put most of his sandwiches back on the platter. The twins and Ginny joined them after another minute. Ron fixed up a plate for his sister and poured her a glass of juice. When he handed it to her, she gave a small nod but never said a word. Ron sank back into his chair. Harry saw Ginny give a wink in the twins directions and settled back for the show that he suspected was about to happen.

"Fred?" Ginny started.

"Yes, my favorite sister?" both twins responded.

"Would you ask my least favorite brother to pass the salt?" Ginny said with a straight face. Ron just groaned again.

"Ron, someone wants to know if you'll pass the salt to her?" Fred asked.

Ron held the salt out to Ginny. "Here you go Gin. Am I forgiven?"

"Harry," Ginny said turning her attention to him, "would you take that and pass it to me?"

Harry gave a quick nod, not trusting himself to speak without laughing. He carefully took the salt out of Ron's hand and handed it across the table to Ginny.

"Thank you, Harry." Ron placed his head down on the table.

"You're welcome, Ginny", Harry said. Ron started slowly banging his head on the table.

"Children, enough!" Mrs. Weasleys' tone was one not to be fooled with.

Ron looked at his mother and then over to his sister. "I'm really sorry about what I did, Ginny."

"You're forgiven Ron, but don't ever say anything like that again. Got it, brother dearest?"

"Yes, Ginny. I hate it when you're mad at me." Ron started smiling again.

"I know, but you've got to realize when you are being a prat. I'm not going to be there when you screw up at Hogwarts, am I?"

"No Ginny, but you are still the best sister a guy could have." Ron was smiling openly now as he turned back to his lunch.

"Oh, and Ron?" Ginny said sweetly.

"Yes?" Ron said around a mouthful of sandwich.

"Gotcha!" The twins and Harry just about fell out of their chairs laughing at the expression on Ron's face. Even Mrs. Weasley was chuckling a little in the background. Harry wasn't sure but he suspected there would be a little revenge on Ron's mind when he returned to his room. He heard about the pranks from Mrs. Weasley before but he didn't suspect that Ginny would be as good at it as the twins were supposed to be.

After lunch, Harry and Ron played a couple of games of exploding snap with Ginny keeping score of who had the worst scorched and dirty face. When Ron asked Harry if he knew how to play chess, Ginny sighed softly and went up to her room. She came down a couple of minutes later carrying a small bag and Harry heard her tell Mrs. Weasley that she would be out by the pond.

Harry was entranced by the way the magical chess pieces talked back to him and Ron. And the way that pieces were eliminated; it was just great. Even watching the pieces pull themselves back together after being broken was entertaining. Harry realized that he wasn't a good player even after just a few games, but he enjoyed the one on one time just talking to Ron.

Ron, to his favor, didn't gloat as Harry found many and various ways to lose over the next hour or two. He made some suggestions from time to time when Harry was unsure of a move and let Harry know that there were a few chess strategy books in the living room and his room if 'he needed a little brushing up'.

The chess pieces themselves were the ones who halted their pastime. When Harry's pieces staged a mutiny and refused to get 'trounced needlessly again', the boys both had a good laugh.

Mrs. Weasley called out for Harry from the kitchen. When both boys headed into the room, Mrs. Weasley asked Harry to fetch Ginny to help her get supper ready. Ron bravely went up and voluntarily asked his mother what he needed to do to help. Harry saw Mrs. Weasley pull Ron into another hug while he was exiting the door.

Harry found Ginny leaning back into the trunk of an old oak tree next to the pond. She was working intently on something on her lap so she didn't hear Harry come up behind her. Harry peaked over her shoulder and saw her making a sketch of a very realistic looking unicorn. When Harry cleared his throat a little self-consciously, Ginny jumped up in alarm and dropped her pad.

"Don't sneak up on me Harry," Ginny said, "you're going to scare somebody to death someday doing that."

"I'm sorry Ginny; it seems to be my day to catch you unawares. I'm really sorry I startled you but you were concentrating on your sketch. It looked very good to me from what I saw of it, not that I've ever seen a real unicorn mind you."

"You really think so? You're not making fun of me are you?"

"No Ginny, I've been the butt of enough jokes that I try not to hurt other peoples feelings by lying. It's a good picture."

"My brother Charlie sent me some pictures from when he was first working overseas. One of them had a herd of unicorns out in a field of daisies. I thought I would try to make one of my own."

"It looks really nice Ginny; you've got a nice talent there. I can't even draw a straight line properly. Maybe you could show me some of your other drawings in that pad after dinner? Whoops, that's what I came out here for - your Mum wants you to help her and Ron to get supper ready."

"Ron?"

"I'm sure your mum's got him doing something."

Harry and Ginny walked back to the Burrow talking about all the punishments that her Mom had doled out over the years for all the boys when they had misbehaved in one manner or another.

When the two entered the kitchen, they found Ron sitting over a small tub and peeling some potatoes. Harry silently grabbed another knife and pulled a chair up next to Ron. The two boys silently peeled potatoes together while Mrs. Weasley just smiled at the two as she prepared supper.

Supper was a relatively quieter affair than the evening before. Harry sat between Ron and Ginny and only got into a very short food fight with the twins when their parents were away from the table for a moment. Harry did try to slow Ron's rapid-fire eating down but Ginny was the one stealing from Ron's plate tonight so there wasn't any progress there. After a dessert of treacle tarts, that Harry decided were the best things ever made, everyone went back to the family room, minus Percy and the twins. Ron started a game of chess with his father while Mrs. Weasley sat in the rocking chair and continued her knitting.

Harry talked Ginny into showing him her sketch pad and the two just sat close together on a couch while Harry looked at her pictures. The picture of her older brother Bill gave Harry a shiver as the Bill she drew was a little roguish-looking with the ponytail and earrings. There were a few pages that Ginny didn't want to show Harry but he respected her privacy and didn't press her on the hidden pages.

When they got to a picture of a hippogriff, Ginny told Harry that she drew it from a description she found in a book. Harry pointed out a few flaws he saw. When realized that he had seen one in the book he had got from Professor McGonagall, he offered to let her borrow it to get a good look at the hippogriff and any other creature she wanted to draw.

Mrs. Weasley spoke up at that moment and told the children that it was time for bed. Ron and his dad suspended their game of chess for another time and the three went up to Ron's room. Harry handed the book on magical creatures to Ginny and just told her to take care of it and not to hurry about returning it. She said thanks and gave Ron a shot on his shoulder. Ron smiled back at her but grabbed her around the waist and really messed her hair up. They both laughed a bit and then Ginny said 'Goodnight' to them both.

Harry and Ron had changed into pajamas and were sitting on their beds just talking about fifteen minutes later when the door to their room was suddenly thrust open.

Fred and George charged into the room and pushed Harry down on the bed. Ron couldn't understand what was happening, but suddenly George yelled out.

"Potter, what did you do to our sister? She's downstairs bawling her eyes out and all she can say is 'it's… Harry!'"