Schools Out for Summer
Saturday evening at Grimmauld Place was spent in conversation about the afternoon's quidditch match and the revelation Harry had uncovered in his mother's journal. Dudley had finally succeeded in getting Harry to relate the tale of his adventure with the Hungarian Horntail when Ron once again voiced his doubts that Sirius Black's flirting with Petunia Evens was the main reason she and Lilly had drifted apart. Harry and Dudley conceded there very well could be further explanations for the estrangement, but stood by their theory that this was the central event around which it was based. This discussion was repeated with Hermione the following evening at the Burrow. She leaned towards agreeing with the cousins but still had doubts. It was finally agreed they would return to Potter Cottage and conduct a more thorough search once Ginny had returned home from school. Dudley also volunteered, once again, to try and get his mom to discuss her childhood.
Monday was a quiet day. The weather, seemingly unable to decide if it was spring or summer, drifted from sunny to overcast and back leaving the night sky star filled and clear. Very early Tuesday morning the good residents of Windward Close were jolted from their slumber by the sound of fireworks. Large sparkling letters, spelling Happy Birthday Dudley, drifted in the dark predawn sky. How they got there remained a mystery, although one local man was held on suspicion of public intoxication after swearing to the police that he saw two people flying brooms just before the fireworks appeared.
That afternoon Kedric delivered a letter to Harry in which Dudley expressed his delight with the gift, calling it his best present ever. He also described Uncle Vernon's reaction and included news about Aunt Petunia. Vernon had been unable to return to bed, instead spending the rest of the morning sputtering on about what would the neighbors think and muttering it's got to be Potter until he had to leave for Tapperbits. Once he had left for work Petunia called Dudley into the kitchen. She informed him she was fully aware he and Harry were spending time together and that he was keeping an owl in his room. Continuing on she stated that he was an adult now and she wouldn't try to stop him from doing these things, but did express her concern that he was becoming involved in a world where he didn't belong. Her mood seemed so calm and relaxed that Dudley had taken advantage of the moment to ask her what had really happened between her and Aunt Lilly, and did it concern Sirius Black. The question only succeeded in returning her to tight lipped silence and he had let the conversation drop.
Harry was both delighted and concerned by these reports. He didn't really like causing problems for Uncle Vernon, but he couldn't deny finding humor in his frustration. He found hope in Aunt Petunia's initial calm demeanor, but frustration in her refusal to discuss the past. Given what he already knew, the more he thought about it the less he could blame her. Still he tried to remain hopeful that the future would lead to a more open discussion, even wondering if the time might soon arrive when he should try to talk with her himself.
As the week progressed, each passing day pushed these thoughts farther towards the back of Harry's mind. On Friday Hogwarts would be dismissing for the summer and Ginny's pending return home was making it difficult for him to think of anything else. By Friday morning he was a complete mess, finding himself unable to sit long enough to eat or read the Daily Prophet, he decided a good long walk would calm his nerves and departed for Diagon Alley. The walk didn't really succeed in calming him down, but the trip did take until lunch time. Hungry and thirsty he picked one of the cafes and managed to sit long enough to finish a nice meal before spending a great deal of time walking up and down the alley. He had decided to purchase Ginny a gift but nothing in any of the shops seemed to catch his fancy. Concluding he may have more luck in the muggle world he departed Diagon Alley and wandered the streets of central London. Once again he wasn't able to find anything that really seemed right, until he happened upon a lingerie boutique. Standing on the walk, looking at the display window Harry started having a conversation with himself.
"Look mate you know you'll like it, but will she? There's your real question. Of course she'll like it, what woman wouldn't like looking and feeling sexy? But is this what they think looking and feeling sexy is about, or do they just put up with it for us blokes? Even if she does like it, I can't give it to her in front of her family, but I could give it to her when we're alone and get something else to give her in front of her family. That's the ticket; I'll get her this for when we're alone and get something else to give her in front of the rest of the Weasleys. Now all I have to do is figure out what size she wears and work up the courage to walk into the shop." After several more minutes internal debate Harry entered the shop and with the help of a pleasant young woman about the same size as Ginny, who seemed to totally understand his mild embarrassment, was able to select a nice little silk and lace number he was sure Ginny would love.
Exiting the boutique with his gift wrapped purchase, Harry continued down the street looking through various shops without having much luck until he entered an antiques store. There he found a simple gold bracelet adorn with a ruby inlaid rose. It reminded him of the rose and letter he had sent Ginny just a few weeks earlier, when they had met for a day in Hogsmeade, and of the ring he found in the Potter family vault. Deciding it would be perfect he purchased the bracelet, but declined to have it gift wrapped. Realizing he had spent more then intended Harry left the shop and returned to Diagon Alley. Stopping at Gringotts he made a small withdrawal from his vault, pausing to compare the ring and the bracelet, before returning to the main hall and exchanging some galleons for pounds. Satisfied he now had enough cash to pay for tomorrow's date with Ginny; he traveled home via the underground before continuing on to King's Cross Station.
Entering the station Harry found it odd he had never before noticed it wasn't nearly as busy in the evening as it was on the mornings he had departed for Hogwarts. Then again he had always arrived at a very crowed platform nine and three quarters and had been much more concerned with saying his goodbyes and finding the Dursleys then paying attention to his surroundings. Finding himself startled by this revelation, he paused to consider how much things had changed in the past year. It was now a habit for him to take note of what or who was in a place the moment he arrived and to remain continually vigilant. With out having to look he knew that at this very moment an old couple was pushing a trolley laden with a green and a blue suitcase towards platform seven, the blond behind the information desk was picking her teeth with her left pinky nail, and six people were looking over various items at the newsstand. This didn't even start to include the many uniformed porters and security personnel, or the other travels and their well wisher. As he wondered if this habit would be with him for a lifetime Harry glanced at the column between platforms nine and ten just in time to see a middle aged couple take each others hand glance around, walk into it, and disappear from view. Walking in their direction Harry also glanced around, to insure he was unseen, and stepped into the column.
Emerging onto platform nine and three quarters Harry looked over the crowd and saw no sign of the Weasleys but did notice the unmistakable green robes and stuffed vulture topped hat of Augusta Longbottom. Making his way in her direction he stopped to say hello.
"Good evening Mrs. Longbottom, I take it you're here to welcome Neville home."
Augusta turned her head to look at Harry and replied in her typical unsentimental style, "Of course Mr. Potter, what other reason would I have for being here?"
"None I can think of. Ma'am, if you don't mind, I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you I think it's was brilliant the way you handled Dawlish and to tell you personally how proud I am to have Neville as a friend."
Gram Longbottom nodded in Harry's direction. Assuming their conversation to be complete he was surprised when she added, "I am very proud of him you know, as I am of my son and daughter-in-law. I love them all very much."
Harry saw just the hint of a tear in her eye and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Ma'am I don't believe there could ever be any doubt of that."
Augusta turned and looked at Harry; there was just the faintest trace of a smile on her face as she placed her hand over his, "Thank you."
Harry remained by her side, his hand on her shoulder, until Mr. and Mrs. Weasley arrived accompanied by Ron and Hermione. Ron spotted him immediately and led the others in his direction. "Hiya mate figured you'd be here early."
"Hi Ron, Hermione, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, you all know Neville's gram, right?"
"Of course we do," said Arthur stepping forward. "Good to see you again Augusta."
Augusta looked over the new arrivals, "As it is you, Arthur. It would appear you're missing a few children this evening."
"Well it is just the arrival of the Express. We'll have the whole family together this Sunday," Mr. Weasley replied. The six of them continued to make polite conversation until the Hogwarts Express entered the station.
It was the first time Harry had been on the platform when the Express arrived and he found the sight to be very impressive. Three ear shattering blasts from the steam whistle announced the train's arrival just as the yellow light from the headlamp became visible. As the light drew nearer the scarlet engine, belching smoke and steam, came into view followed by the coaches. The sound of steel wheels sliding on metal rails permeated the air as the train slowed. Finally an all concealing cloud of steam engulfed the platform as pressure was released from the massive pistons that had been pushing the drive arms. As the air cleared the Hogwarts Express became visible in its full glory, many of the coach doors already opened with returning students exiting the train and looking for their families.
Harry scanned the windows and doors for Ginny. His eyes had made their way up and down the full length of the train twice when he spotted her. He started to raise his arm to wave when she turned her head in his direction and their eyes met.
"Look there she is!" Molly shouted above the noise now filling the platform.
Harry didn't hear her, his whole being was focused on just one thing as he watched a smiling Ginny bolt from the coach and charge towards him. She ignored her family and leapt straight into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck as his arms locked around her back. Had they been aware of anything except the kiss they were exchanging they would have noticed a smiling Molly and Arthur politely looking away, while Hermione grabbed Ron by the shoulder and pulled him into the crowd before he could say or do anything to interrupt the moment. When at long last their lips parted and Ginny's feet returned to the platform, Harry removed the bracelet from his pocket and took her hand.
"Once more I offer you one rose for the one heart I have to devote to you."
She helped him slide the bangle over her wrist and looked at the ruby rose before throwing her arms back around his neck and kissing him again. The others, who thought they would finally have a chance to say hello, once more drifted into the background. After what seemed a fleeting moment to Harry and Ginny, but a small eternity to the other four, Arthur cleared his throat.
"Excuse me you two, but I do believe some others would like the opportunity to welcome Ginny home."
Harry and Ginny broke their embrace and smiled sheepishly at the others. As Ginny hugged her parents Harry looked at Ron and Hermione. She was smiling at him approvingly, and something in her eyes told him she had figured out more then she had been told. Ron was giving him a look that didn't so much say, 'That's my sister mate,' but rather, 'You're making the rest of us blokes look bad again.'
Once Ginny had hugged her brother Harry pulled Ron to the side. "Come on, let's go gather up her trunk." Out of ear shot of the others he added, "What was that look for then?"
"Come off it Harry, you know what that look was for. You're my best mate, she's my sister. I've accepted you're in love and I'll have to put up with witnessing you snog in public once in awhile, but, well its bad enough you keep sending her magic flowers and stuff, but now you're giving her jewelry. I can't afford to do things like that for Hermione, even now that I'm working with George until school starts."
"Please Ron, you don't have to buy things for Hermione. She knows you love her; all she wants is for you to be yourself. A hand picked bouquet or a homemade bracelet would mean just as much to her."
They stopped walking in front of the mountain of trunks that had been placed outside the baggage car. Ron looked at Harry for a moment as he considered their conversation, "I guess you're right. Why don't you try to sort out Ginny's trunk from this lot and I'll get us a trolley."
As Ron was retrieving a trolley Harry removed his wand from his pocket and pointed it at the massed trunks. "Accio Ginny's trunk," from somewhere deep in the pile the trunk began to shake and finally succeeded in working its way free causing the pile to collapse and sending several people standing near by scrambling to safety.
"Oi, watcha up to then!" chided the porter who had just spent a great deal of time carefully stacking the luggage.
An embarrassed Harry quickly magicked the scattered trunks back into place. "Sorry about that folks."
"Absolutely aces mate," Ron laughed as he picked up Ginny's trunk and placed it on the trolley.
With order restored Ron and Harry went to join Hermione and the rest of the Weasleys in the queue waiting for the guard wizard to let them through the exit. Finally reaching the front they passed from platform nine and three quarters into the main terminal. Harry and Ginny walked beside each other pushing the trolley, her right hand resting on his left, as they exited the station. Arthur lead the way to the car park were a Ministry car and driver, a perk of his new position, waited to transport them back to the Burrow.