After the Second Rise
By: Red
Disclaimer: I do not own rights to the story or characters of Harry Potter.
Oh These Hallowed Halls
Ron marveled as he woke up at the peaceful silence of his mind. He couldn't recall a night where he hadn't dreamt in ages. He wondered belatedly if it had something to do with the fact that he'd had too little sleep in the last two days or if perhaps it had to do with the two warm bodies next to him. In either case he didn't want to move and he fought the thoughts that were slowly drifting into his mind…a sure sign of wakefulness. As the thoughts in his mind became more lucid and faster moving he cracked a single eye open in surrender.
High dusty windows cast cut-out lights on the grey walls and bookshelves in the Grimmuald study. A cherry wood desk loomed upward from the ground on the other side of Hermione's head. The girl in question was sleeping soundly with her mouth dropped open like a fish and her bushy hair fluffed all around her. Ron smirked a little realizing a bit of drool was gathered at the edge of her mouth where a white drool trail fell down her jaw.
Harry wasn't much better off Ron noted. His hair was a matted mess some of it matted to his forehead from sweat. But where Hermione had drool Harry had a silly grin plastered on his face in his sleep and he twitched. Ron put a hand to his mouth to hide the snicker that was threatening to come out. It would be sooo easy to use this moment as an opportunity for blackmail.
Ron sat up and immediately wished he hadn't. His whole back down to his arms and up his neck was dreadfully sore from sleeping on the hard wooden ground. Sure there was an ancient rug beneath him but it had very little width to it and seemed so matted with dust that it may as well have been stone. He went about sitting up the rest of the way stretching slowly to push past the sharp pain in his muscles.
He felt Harry beside him tense. Ron looked away from him remembering yesterday seeing for the first time the suffering he held behind walls of jokes and sarcasm. Harry had always been so strong to Ron. It had shaken Ron to see him so emotionally weak.
"When did you join the floor mites?" Harry asked hoarsely from the floor smiling at Ron quietly.
"A while after you fell asleep," Ron lied.
Harry frowned, "You saw me then." He said quietly, "And before you lie again know that I don't really think…I guess I don't…well,"
"I know Harry," Ron said quietly, "Truth is, I always thought it strange, the way you acted as though nothing was ever wrong even though even after the shit you went through."
"I envy you," Harry said quietly startling Ron into jumping and staring at Harry with his mouth agape.
"You what?" Ron asked, "Why?"
Harry rolled back over opting not to look at Ron as he spoke about something so personal. He buried his head against Hermione's side and she unconsciously moved her arm so he could do so.
"You're so lucky," He said quietly, "You have an amazing family, even with Percy being a prick. You can be upset by things; you can show anger and hatred freely. You may not be happy now but you're strong. You have no one expecting you to smile and act calm when things get bad. And your still, well, you don't carry blood on your hands do you."
Ron was silent, it was strange hearing Harry say he envied Ron when Ron had envied Harry for so long. He looked at his bandaged arm and then at Harry. Slowly he unwound the bandages and let the white cloth fall to the ground silently. He placed his hand on Harry's shoulder and Harry looked at the hand startled then looked again. He turned quickly grabbing Ron's hand then his arm and pulling it down to him to stare at it closely.
"Ron," He said hoarsely, "Is this what--? 'I shall not' what?" He hissed.
"The fact is Harry," Ron said quietly, "I do have blood on my hands, my own blood. I've killed Umbridge in my head in so many different ways its sick. When really I was just slowly killing myself." Ron looked away from Harry as Harry slowly let Ron's arm drop, "The fact is that you make me strong. You know what pain is but you don't let it cripple you like I do. You fight the pain whereas I—I almost like it." He whispered that last bit fearfully as if saying it out loud would make it true, "And you, you're my brother. You have a family Harry," He looked at Harry again, "It's my family. You're a Weasley even if your name is 'Potter'."
Harry, unable to say anything grabbed Ron's hand again clasping it in his own, "You and Hermione give me strength too." He said quietly.
"Good," Ron said, "Then we do our jobs as friends."
Harry shook his head, "As brothers." He said resolutely.
Ron grinned, "Yeah."
"I hope I'm not categorized as a 'brother'." Hermione stated groggily, "That would be quite the blow to my femininity."
"Femininity?" Ron grinned over at her, "What femininity?"
"If you weren't so far away," She warned, "I'd hit you."
"So does this mean I have to dye my hair a bright Weasley red?" Harry asked as he slowly stretched.
"I don't actually think there's a dye out there that could give you that color," Hermione said rolling over on her side to face the two boys.
Ron shook his head, "And even if there were," He grinned, "Who the bloody hell would want it?"
"Besides Harry," Hermione grinned wickedly, "Your black hair defines your Emo personality. We wouldn't want you any other way."
Harry stuck his tongue out at Hermione playfully. Hermione laughed and ruffled his hopeless hair. Harry slowly sat up and winced rubbing his back.
"First I sleep on a cushionless chair, then the floor," Harry sighed, "There was a time this wouldn't bother me. I must be going soft."
"Or your getting old," Ron grinned, "There's that too Mate."
Harry rolled his eyes, "Fifteen going on fifty. Brilliant."
It was Hermione's turn to stretch and sit up, "Well," Hermione grinned, "I feel fine. I'm going to go see who else is up and if there's anything to eat. I'm starving."
She stood up and strode out of the room with Harry and Ron staring after her.
"That's a rare sight," Harry commented.
"Yeah," Ron nodded, "She hasn't had a shower yet. Where the bloody hell is all of that energy coming from? And why the hell is it Hermione that's the energetic one?"
"It's a useless question to ask." Harry shrugged, "Only the fates would be able to answer it."
Harry called his cane to him and slowly went about the task of trying to stand. Ron watched him struggle with his legs until he fell back with a huff and a sigh.
"Ron," Harry said with an embarrassed flush of the cheeks, "Would you mind--?"
Ron forced a smile, "Yeah," he said quietly and stood giving Harry his hand.
He pulled Harry up to a standing position and steadied him as the boy wobbled. When he was sure Harry had control of his balance he backed off allowing Harry to stretch his legs slowly.
"Uh—thanks," Harry said grinning sheepishly.
Ron rolled his eyes, "No thanks are necessary. We're brothers, idiot."
The next few days were spent with sporadic shifts in the hospital with Mr. Weasley. Helping the Grangers decorate the house for Christmas, and cleaning some more of the Grimmauld Mansions old rooms making them habitable once again. Harry met Sirius's house elf and was nearly 'banished' from the premises until Sirius bellowed at Kreacher that Harry was indeed a human and not some Phantom bent on haunting his precious 'mistresses' home; a fact which the twins took great amusement in exploiting.
The day when Mr. Weasley got to come home had all of the children preparing the house for his arrival. Grimmauld Manor was hardly recognizable by the time all of the Christmas decorations were finally in place. Harry sat between Sirius and Remus sharing a pint of butterbeer with them. Tonks was in the Kitchen helping Mrs. Granger cook the welcome back feast they had planned for Mr. Weasley. Harry and Sirius repeatedly found themselves roaring with laughter every time Tonks made a beautiful mess of things with her clumsiness. It became even funnier when Remus jumped in to help her only to make the messes larger.
Commotion at the front door alerted those in the Kitchen that Mrs. Weasley had returned with Mr. Weasley. The rest of the evening was spent in laughter as Mr. Weasley told them about what he went through with the healers and his little "stitches" experiment.
"Now it may work wonderfully for you Muggles," He told the Grangers, "But as far as magical snakes are concerned I really was better off without it. In the end they gave me Lover's Tears in order to get the wounds to close properly."
"Lover's Tears?" Harry asked looking up quickly from the mind game he and Ron were playing with their utensils, "The potion?"
"Yes," Mr. Weasley smiled, "I didn't think you'd know it. They aren't supposed to teach students at your level about it yet."
"They didn't," Harry shook his head suddenly interested, "Madam Sinistra was teaching it to me as a way to understand what happens when you make a mistake. She said there were few who could brew it properly."
"There are," Mr. Weasley nodded, "St. Mungos gets it imported from a Potions Master in Scotland. They have a limited supply so they only use it on the people they believe to be the most positive minded. They don't want to waste it on someone who might not wish to be cured."
"What do you mean by that?" Hermione asked interest piqued as well.
"It's all about intent," Arthur explained, "Both by the person brewing the potion and the person taking the potion. In order to be brewed properly both the brewer and the patient have to really want to be cured. Otherwise it's a failure."
"And if brewed perfectly by someone who wants with all their being for the patient to be cured then if the patient wants with all their being to be cured," Harry continued his eyes alight, "It's said it doesn't matter the ailment, the patient can be brought back from the brink of death."
Hermione's eyebrows rose, "They used something so potent on you?"
"That last bit is a myth," Mr. Weasley smiled, "It's just a potion that works better when both sides are believers in positive thinking. It's not nearly so powerful."
"Hmm," Jane Granger said thoughtfully, "I wonder. Most Myths are based in truth. So where did the Myth about the potion come from."
"A story," Mrs. Weasley smiled.
"Oh it's that potion!" Ginny said, "The Lover's Tears is a story Mum used to tell me!" She grinned, "It's about a witch who had a Muggle lover. She wanted to tell him about the fact she was a witch but the muggle lover was drafted into a war. She pined after him fearing and waiting desperately for the day he would come home to her and so when she got the letter that said he was on his way she was both frightened and elated."
"But she waited weeks and weeks and no sign of him came to her," Mrs. Weasley nodded to her daughter with a smile, "So she decided she would find him herself. Not knowing what awaited her when she found him she packed very few belongings and set off for a journey that took months. When she did find him he was buried beneath leaves under a tree and she feared he was dead."
Harry Hermione and the Grangers listened to the story with rapt attention while the rest of the table moved on and continued their previous conversations. Most in the room had all ready heard of it and so had no reason to listen to it again.
"He wasn't dead," Mrs. Weasley continued amidst the din of conversation, "He was holding onto life by the edge of a thread. Fearing she had little time the witch scoured the forest and found five ingredients. Four of which could be a poison if used correctly. She despaired she'd be unable to brew anything with the unlikely ingredients to help her save her lover. Her fear for his life over-rode her common sense and she tried to brew a potion that would save him anyway.
The first try met with a complete lack of any improvement, though there was nothing more wrong. The second day she tried again cutting and placing the ingredients in a different order. Now this was a time when witches were prosecuted by the Church and all Muggles hated and feared Witches and Wizards so she had been afraid of losing lover which is why she had waited to tell him what she was. That fear of rejection went into the potion. Because of this the second brew had the opposite effect; he immediately broke out in fever.
Her desperation for him to live heightened and became so powerful that she brewed the potion a third time this time mixing her tears and love and need for him to live. It is said the tears added with moonlight made the potion light up the field in and ethereal glow and when she administered the potion she was so exhausted by putting all of her being into the brew that she collapsed beside him.
She awoke the next morning to the kiss of her healed lover. So healed was he that not even a scratch existed upon his skin. When she asked how he lived he explained he had known without a doubt that he needed to live so that he could be with her again. When she cried and told him she was a witch and that she'd saved his life with magic he embraced her and prayed to his god in thanks that she had been given to him. The potion was later written down by her to be used by other people and has been called 'Lover's Tears'." Mrs. Weasley finished, "We're not certain that the story and the potion used in clinics is the same but that's where the name comes from any ways."
"It's a lovely story," Mrs. Granger smiled.
"It's a sappy story that's what it is," Ron grinned winking at Ginny who scowled and elbowed him.
"Do all Wizard potions have stories like that?" Harry nodded.
"Certainly not," Mr. Weasley laughed, "But some do. They are tools taught to children so that they understand at an early age that with potions not everything can be done correctly the first time and if it's done incorrectly it can have disastrous effects."
"That was what Madam Sinistra was trying to do when she showed me that one different ingredient could create a poison." Harry said.
"Or one wrong intent," Mr. Weasley nodded, "It's a good lesson to learn. Fortunately for me, I have a rather positive disposition and a lot to live for. So I benefitted from the potion. The healers worried my wound would never close without it."
"It's why we love you," Mrs. Weasley said fondly placing her hands on his shoulder.
Mr. Weasley smiled and grasped her hands with his own. Harry looked away embarrassed while the table erupted in obnoxious groans and cat calls. Sirius and Remus laughed along with Mr. and Mrs. Granger and the rest of the meal was light and loud.
When they all filed up to their respective beds the children parting according to sex Harry thought he sort of finally understood what Madam Sinistra and Madam Pomfrey had been trying to tell him without accusing him of doing it. He had been right, he didn't feel he deserved to be cured. But he did feel he deserved to protect himself and to protect those he loved. Was that enough reason to live for?
"Hey Ron," Harry nudged the semi-sleeping boy's back from across the beds with his cane.
"What?" Ron grunted, "I'm trying to sleep."
"What do you live for?" Harry asked curious.
Ron didn't answer instead he rolled over on his other side so he could face and look at Harry, "I live for life," He answered after a while spent roving his eyes over Harry's face inquisitively.
"Huh," Harry said stumped by his answer.
"Well?" Ron asked, "I shared, what about you?"
"I—I'm not sure," Harry said, "There're a lot of things but I'm not sure which one I live for, you know?"
Ron shook his head, "Tell you what," He said, "When you figure out your answer…Let me know. All right?"
Harry nodded, "All right."
"Good," Ron said, "Now go to sleep." He turned back around his back facing Harry and settled down to sleep.
Harry grinned a little. It was so like Ron to pick the most simple yet most complicated answer to his question. It was funny in a way and comforting to know that after all Ron had gone through he'd still choose such a reason to go on. Harry placed his hands behind his head watching the ceiling. Slowly he drifted off to sleep feeling that maybe he should strive to simplify his answer too.
***
Hermione awoke with someone grabbing her shoulder and shaking. Her brown eyes snapped open and she turned grabbing her wand from beneath her pillow. Light illuminated the end of her wand at a silent suggestion and Ronald Weasley flinched back away from her light shielding his eyes.
"Hermione!" He hissed, "It's just me! Bloody hell."
"Ron," Hermione's wand winked out and she looked over at Ginny's sleeping form, "What are you doing here?" She hissed, "It's the middle of the night!"
"I know," Ron hissed, "Just, well…come here." He beckoned that she follow him.
Hermione frowned and rolled out of bed following Ron out of the room she softly shut the door behind her, "Well?" She whispered.
"I've been thinking," Ron said quietly, "There are a few things I can't get out of my head. That story Mum was telling being one of them."
"Does this have a point?" Hermione asked, "Because I'm not very responsive when I'm half asleep."
"I know," Ron said rubbing his temples, "You're downright nasty until you've got your shower. Will you just listen for a minute?"
Hermione crossed her arms and leaned back on the door waving her hand and nodding in a "go on" motion. Ron sighed and leaned back against the railing looking over his shoulder to the down stairs entryway.
"He said he doesn't believe he should be cured but I don't know if that's really the case," Ron said, "I think he just wants to feel guilty now but that he'll change his mind one day."
"Ron," Hermione deadpanned, "This is Harry. He takes everything wrong with the world personally. That is never going to change."
"He asked me a question," Ron said, "And then went to sleep while I stayed up thinking about it, the little bleater," The corner of Hermione's moth twitched, "But that isn't the point. The point is I think we need to learn how to brew that potion. Properly. There are no two people on this planet that want Harry to be healthy more then you and I."
"But Ron," Hermione said, "He needs to want to heal. Even if we did brew the potion, perfectly even! Which at our current levels I sincerely doubt we could…How can we guarantee it will work?"
"Surely if our intent is that great it wouldn't matter," Ron said his eyes pleading with Hermione to agree with him.
Hermione sighed her eyes growing sad, "That's not how the potion works Ron. I was reading about it before bed." She looked at him and smiled softly, "Probably having the same thoughts as you, but there have been cases, awful ones where people have nearly given their magic to save a person only to have the person die because their will to live wasn't strong enough. The story is pretty one, but it's a Myth."
Ron turned from her resting his palms on the railing and leaning his weight on it while he bowed his head, "I just wish there was something I could do," He said.
The image of yesterday, the moment Harry was at his weakest played again and again in Ron's mind. Hermione looked away from Ron remembering Harry's words as well. She pushed off the door and walked up to Ron placing a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head to look at her the sad smile she wore in the blue light of the darkened house looked gaunt.
"It seems cruel that we love him sometimes doesn't it?" Hermione asked.
"Hey I don't! It's not like that--!" Ron began.
"I know Ron," Hermione smiled a little larger and shook her head, "Must you always jump to conclusions? What I meant to say was its cruel that all we can do is sit by and watch isn't it?"
Ron nodded relaxing against the banister, "Yeah," Ron said.
"With all this magic you'd think there'd be something else we could do," Hermione sighed, "But it seems even Magic has its limits."
"We still…could you know," Ron said, "Just in case. And in the mean time help Harry heal the old fashioned way."
Hermione smiled glancing at Ron out of the corner of her eye, "Now that, Ron, that's a brilliant idea."
Ron grinned, "I have my moments."
Hermione smiled more brightly looking at the wall, "Didn't your Mum say we were going into town tomorrow?" She asked after a long bout of silence.
"Yeah," Ron nodded, "We're splitting up to go Christmas shopping."
"Then I'm going back to bed." Hermione declared, "We can talk about this later."
Ron nodded, "Good night then."
"Good night," Hermione waved and quietly stole back into her room.
Ron watched the tail end of her robe disappear into the dark room. He tilted his head back feeling better even if he knew that his plan may never work. After a few moments of silence spent in contemplation, he too went back to bed glancing once at Harry who was sleeping in the throes of a nightmare his face contorted in fear and his arms wrapped around himself in a fetal position. No noise was escaping his lips this night, a rarity, but sweat was still matted to his forehead and he still shivered as though cold even though Ron new if he touched him his skin would be scalding hot.
Ron went to bed feeling that he could indeed be useful and with that thought fell into a pleasant sleep.
***
Diagon Alley was as busy as it ever was four days before Christmas. Witches and Wizards of all stations, sizes and appearances covered the cobbled stone streets in search of special gifts for each of their loved ones. Robes existed everywhere one looked and Ronald Weasley watched them all with only a slight amount of confusion. He knew these streets well being born into a Wizarding family he'd traveled the Alley more than once in his life which is precisely why he was guiding two Muggles, a shaggy haired brown mutt, his best friend, and a boy that looked far too much like her for either of their tastes'.
Ron grinned at the boy and he scowled back tense and on edge. His dull brown eyes darted around at the multitude of people around them. The hands in his pockets were clenched tight creating two awkward bulges out of the side of his jeans. Hermione watched him worriedly while Ron was more bemused.
"Henry," He grinned, "Relax, no one could possibly recognize you."
The boy 'Henry' grunted unamused, "Too crowded," He muttered.
The dog beside him gave him a low whine that earned a raised eyebrow from the nervous boy.
"Even Snuffles thinks your over-reacting," Ron prodded, "It's Diagon Alley, no one would try anything here."
Slowly 'Henry' leveled Ron with a long dark look, his right eye gleaming a little brighter than his left with a golden edge peaking out behind the dull brown.
"When it's crowded like this no one will hear a scream," 'Henry' replied, "No one will notice a quiet struggle by a wall or doorway. People in mass are oblivious to their surroundings Ron." His voice chilled the four people he walked with.
Ed and Jane Granger exchanged a careful look, "I think you're over-reacting," Ed said, "You're with two adults, Muggles we may be but we are dressed enough like Wizards to look like them. In a street this crowded no one will notice us for what we are and wouldn't dare touch a few kids with their 'Wizard' parents."
"It will be ok Henry," Jane smiled, "We'll get our shopping done quickly then leave as soon as possible."
'Henry' nodded, "I'm just nervous," He admitted with a sigh, "The last time I was in a place with so many people wasn't a good experience. I guess I'm just a bit jumpy."
"A bit?" Ron asked incredulously, "Check yourself in the next window Mate. 'Jumpy' doesn't even begin to cover it." It was more like he looked ready to murder anyone that came within four feet of his person but Ron didn't tell him that, "Come on," Ron grinned, "Let's go get ourselves a Butterbeer while the adults finish up in here."
"Oh yes Ron," 'Henry' rolled his eyes, "Let's leave the adults that are supposedly the sole reason for our protection. That'll make me feel loads better."
"He gets testy when he's nervous," Ron grinned at Hermione, "Have you noticed that?"
"Cranky is more like it," Hermione nodded, "He's just upset because we didn't let him have his beauty sleep this morning. A Butterbeer will help I think." She laced an arm around the crook of 'Henry's' arm and began to lead him away from her parents.
"I'm not cranky," 'Henry' protested feebly as he let Hermione propel him forward awkwardly, "And I don't want a drink."
"Oh but you need one," Ron said with a grin, "A drink would do you wonders. Maybe we could change your glamour so you'd look seventeen."
"Why would I want to look seventeen?" 'Henry asked with a sigh after realizing he wouldn't be getting out of going to the nearest pub.
"Firewhisky mate," Ron grinned, "Why else?"
The scraggly brown haired dog that followed them gave the most un-dog-like chuckle causing Ron's grin to widen.
"Looks like 'Snuffles' agrees with me." Ron said smugly.
"Ok," Henry drawled, "Yes, let's give firewhisky to the boy who's combustible. Sounds brilliant."
"Oi," Ron said his voice filled with 'hurt', "Why do you have to be so mean when all we're doing is trying to help you relax?"
'Henry' snorted in disbelief, "More like you want to see what happens if I get smashed."
Hermione and Ron grinned at each other completely without guilt at being caught.
"Don't you think maybe the Pub has ways of knowing whether or not its patrons are of drinking age despite Glamour charms?" 'Henry' asked as Devil's Advocate.
"I all ready have that covered," Hermione smiled innocently.
'Henry' groaned.
They entered a pub on the other side of the street. Filled to the brim with Witches and Wizards out having a 'merry moment' before plunging back into the stressful hunt for the perfect present made finding a place to sit difficult. Eventually the trio opted to sit outside at one of the small round tables on the deck much to 'Henry's' relief. Ron soon disappeared into the crowded din of the pub to get their drinks as Hermione, 'Henry' and 'Snuffles' sat outside to watch the passerby bustling along their way.
"All right," Hermione said with a smile, "Out with it then, what is it that's got you all knotted up?"
"I told you," 'Henry' muttered, "I don't like crowds."
"Is that all?" Hermione asked in a way that told Henry she didn't believe it, "Not to be rude but every time someone bumped in to you today you seemed ready to curse them. Mum and Dad were worried you might, which would blow any cover you might have about being my 'Muggle cousin'. You need to calm down."
"How should I calm down when every instinct in me is telling me to flee?" 'Henry' muttered.
Hermione sighed exasperated as Ron appeared with a grin placing three large pints of Butterbeer down on the table. He gave Hermione and 'Henry' their change and grabbed one of the pints before sitting himself.
"It's a madhouse in there," Ron said with a grin, "A bloody insane asylum. Apparently you're not the only one in a foul mood Mate," He toasted Harry with his pint before sloshing some of the sweet liquid down.
A clack went unheard as 'Henry' moved his hand by the side of the table as though he were leaning something against it before he grabbed a pint himself. Upon bringing the Butter beer to his lips the young man was amazed at how good it tasted to him despite his current stress. Ron and Hermione watched with amusement as 'Henry' slowly chugged the pint of Butterbeer ignoring the world in favor of the slightly alcoholic, highly sweet beverage. When he was done he dropped the cup to the table opened his arms with a grin then leaned back in his seat almost relaxed.
"Who said he didn't want to come to the pub?" Ron asked 'Snuffles'.
The scraggly dog snickered and 'Henry' rolled his eyes.
"You two need to hurry it up so we can get out of here quickly," He said tapping his index finger on his bare wrist.
"Oh like we really believe you chugged that whole thing just to hurry us along," Hermione said with a grin, "You'd still have to wait for us to finish regardless." She smirked leaning back lazily in her seat nursing her mug in her hands and blowing slowly on the top of the hot beverage mockingly.
"Relax Mate," Ron grinned, "We have to wait till everyone else is done with their shopping. I doubt you're done with getting everyone's presents."
"Actually," 'Henry' grinned, "I am."
"Liar," Ron grinned, "We've been with you all day. There's no way you could have gotten our presents without one of us seeing."
'Henry' raised a pair of brown eyebrows and gazed levelly at Ron his eyes shining in mirth, "There isn't?" He asked, "Are we not Wizards Mr. Weasley?"
Ron's mouth dropped open for a minute then closed and he glared at the brown haired boy in front of him, "You're bluffing," He looked at Hermione, "He's bluffing, he has to be."
Hermione gave Ron a confused look, "You mean you're not done?" She asked innocently, "I finished my shopping an hour ago."
The dog lying beside Harry's feet barked out a laugh at Ron's flabbergasted face. 'Henry' and Hermione's lips twitched as they tried not to laugh at their friend.
"Loony, the both of you," Ron muttered staring into his mug, "There's no way you could have, but then they could have…" He continued muttering to his Butterbeer as 'Henry' and Hermione continued laughing at him, "Oi, all right!" Ron snapped slamming his mug on the table sloshing warm Butterbeer onto his fingers, "I'm not done yet so what? Oi, stop laughing you two!"
'Henry' leaned his head on his arms as he continued to laugh his shoulders bouncing the table. Hermione hugged her mug to her chest her head thrown back over the chair's back and her legs drawn up as she squealed her amusement. Ron looked angrily from one friend to the next clutching his mug on the table before their infectious laughter broke through his annoyance and he slowly smiled.
"So glad to know I entertain you two," He said with a grin and a roll of the eyes, "So if you two are done shopping you won't mind if I run off to finish my bit will you?"
'Henry' and Hermione grinned at him as they calmed down, "No," Hermione smiled then giggled, "Though it's no mystery who you're shopping for is it?"
Ron rolled his eyes, "Obviously."
'Henry' and Hermione laughed again at this and Ron put down his Butterbeer with a sigh.
"I'll be right back," He hopped over the low fence that separated the pub from the street and disappeared into the crowd.
'Henry shook his head with a grin, "How long does he expect us to wait here?" He asked.
Hermione shrugged, "With Ron?" She grinned and the two shared a knowing chuckle.
She leaned back again her knees resting against the table comfortably. She watched the passerby in their multitude of colorful robes and strange pointed hats. A small smile played on her pink lips and 'Henry' wondered what she thought as she watched the Witches and Wizards bustling along. She held her mug balanced on her knees her frizzy hair was pulled back in a low pony tail but long strands fell about her face like zigzag wisps of brown spider web.
"There really isn't any place like this," She said with a fond smile, "Five years have passed since I found out I was a Witch, and I still can't believe I belong to this world."
'Henry' smiled, "Yeah," He said his eyes turning to watch the crowd with a different feeling, "I need to start wearing sunglasses whenever I come here," He sighed.
"Huh?" Hermione asked intelligently tearing her gaze from the sights to look at her friend, "Why?"
'Henry' pointed at his right eye and the brown flashed gold for a second, "Some of the things in the shop windows," He began ticking his list with his fingers, "Then the charms surrounding the shops and the magic on the streets and the auras of the people…I can't even look at Gringots head on. It's ridiculous." He said rolling his eyes skyward with a dramatic sigh.
Hermione shook her head with a smile, "I can only imagine," She said with a grin, "Tell you what when we get back to headquarters we'll work on how we can dim the intensity a little. It'll be tricky, you can see spells and I doubt that's what you want directly in front of your eyes…hmmm…" She sipped her Butterbeer in thought the wheels in her head turning the problem over and over.
'Henry' smiled fondly recognizing her 'problem solving' look and knowing she'd open a book the minute she got back to Grimmauld place. He shook his head bemused and glanced down at the dog resting at his feet. The mutt's ears were twitching listening to the various sounds even as his eyes were closed and his snout rested on his paws. 'Henry' stretched lazily as his best friend thought about his plight and his 'dog' rested.
He looked around the pub watching the witches and Wizards inside converse, argue, and laugh together. He recognized a few of his classmates in the din. Most of them were with family only conversing when they could pull away from their relatives.
A splash of white blond caught his eye and he narrowed his eyes as he recognized Draco Malfoy standing bored in a corner while his mother clad from head to toe in garments of mourning sat and conversed with a few other upstanding looking witches. The boy kept one eye on his mother another on his surroundings. He didn't seem to notice the 'brown haired muggle boy' outside the door watching him. 'Henry' winced and turned his gaze away from the widowed mother feeling a twinge of guilt twisting his stomach.
Movement to 'Henry's' right alerted him to his red head friend vaulting back over the fence a small silver bag no larger than his palm clutched in his hand and a large grin planted over his lips.
"Told you I'd be back soon," He said grinning and plopping into his chair, "I'm done," He smirked proudly.
'Henry' leaned an elbow on the table resting his chin in his hand, "Congratulations," He drawled.
Ron punched his shoulder and 'Henry' grinned taking the light-hearted smack with good nature.
"What's got you all concentrated?" Ron asked Hermione noticing the fact she hadn't noticed his entrance.
"Thinking," Hermione said absently, "And you do know that bag is from the Broom store don't you?"
Ron looked startled and shoved the little bag into his pant pocket, "It is not," He said with a pout.
Hermione looked heavenward as she brought her Butterbeer up to her lips, "Of course not," She said agreeably sipping her drink, "Wherever would I get such an idea?"
Ron frowned, "It's not for you anyways." He said then quickly glared at 'Henry', "It's not for you either," He said quickly.
'Henry' held up his hands and shook his head in a pacifying gesture, "I didn't say it was," He grinned, "Might of thought it though. So what did you get me?"
"Like I'm telling you idiot," Ron said rolling his eyes, "What were you two up to while I was away?"
"Because you were 'away' for sooo long," Hermione lamented dramatically.
"Shut it," Ron grinned.
She stuck her tongue out at him causing 'Henry' to chuckle at their childish antics.
"Just enjoying the view," He said answering Ron's question glancing back at the pub where Draco and his mother no longer were.
He shook his head feeling disorientated with all of the magic and people surrounding them. It was a wonder he was able to pinpoint his two best friends out of the mess at all.
"What view?" Ron asked incredulously, "All I see are people, everywhere."
'Henry' rolled his eyes and looked at Hermione, "It's a Muggle-born thing ok?"
Ron shrugged, "I'll take your word for it, hey," He said changing the topic, "I saw Ginny and told her where we were. She said she'd spread the word so that the others will meet us here." He nodded at Hermione, "Your parents are with her meeting up with my parents to do a bit of last minute stuff before they come get us so…I was wondering if there was anything else we wanted to do before leaving?"
"Sweet shop?" Hermione asked as a way of killing time.
'Henry' winced as he looked at the crowded streets, "Another Butterbeer?" He asked.
Ron and Hermione looked at each other and nodded slowly, "I could do with another Butterbeer," Hermione said slowly.
"So could I," Ron nodded, "This one's grown cold."
"Brilliant," 'Henry' grinned fishing out money.
He stood seeming to clutch air as he wobbled a bit steadying himself with the table.
"Uh-uh," Hermione shook her head, "You are not getting our drinks. You'd only spill them. Sit back down. I'll go this time."
'Henry' frowned disappointed but sat down handing her his money. He watched her disappear into the pub to order.
Ron watched his eyes follow her, "So what'd you get her?" He asked.
"A couple books I know she wanted," He said, "You?"
"A couple books?" Ron asked, "That's it?" He shook his head, "After everything she does for you that's all you could think of?"
"Oi, I'd like to see you do better," Henry said defensively.
"I did," Ron said with a smug grin, "Ginny helped me get it."
'Henry' nodded, "Ah," He said, "So you didn't just 'run into' her."
Ron shrugged, "Does it matter?" He asked.
"Not really," 'Henry' smirked, "Just making sure I was right."
Hermione came back distributing change and cups as she sat down, "What were you right about?" She asked.
"Snuffles has flees," 'Henry' grinned at "Snuffles' indignant snort of disbelief.
"Molly won't like hearing that," Hermione frowned, "We'll have to get some treatment before we get back to Headquarters."
Snuffles leapt up with a yelp in protest. 'Henry' burst out laughing at the thought of his Godfather having to take a flea bath. Said dog growled at 'Henry' as the boy laughed at his seriously taken joke.
Ron grinned at Hermione's confused look, "He doesn't have flees 'Mione," He smirked, "But maybe we should get some flea treatment just in case."
Snuffles had had enough, he leapt onto Ron's lap barking as the boy yelped and tried to push him off. Hermione and 'Henry' laughed hard at Ron's discomfort. Passing Witches and Wizards shook their heads in disapproval as they passed by and the hostess of the pub came out to tell them off for keeping the rowdy dog un-leashed. All too soon the rest of the Weasleys and Grangers gathered around the trio. They too indulged in some drinks and merriment before deciding it was time to bid goodbye to Diagon Alley and head back to Grimmuald place. By then the sun was beginning to set and the streets were emptying. The large group called the night bus to go to a few streets away from their destination and walked home feeling relieved and happy that their shopping for the holiday was over with.