A WIZARD IN STARS HOLLOW

CHAPTER SEVEN: WHEN RORY GETS HIT BY A DEER

Harry, Rory and Lorelai were walking across the street in town to go shopping for school supplies. Lorelai was teasing Rory while they walked. "Shopping for school supplies..." she said with in fake excitement, "...party!"

"Nobody demanded you come." Rory said. "Harry and I could have done this ourselves."

"Yeah," said Harry. "I'm rather used to it. I had to go do all of my school shopping on my own for four years." Lorelai sighed.

"Are you two kidding?" she said. "How many times out of ten do you get to do things like this? I thought that while we're going crazy, we should get some toilet paper and a plunger, too."

Rory rolled her eyes and said, "We'll just do this later."

"No, I'm teasing," said Lorelai. "Come on. Get out your list."

"Okay." Rory said and Harry got his list out, too. "I need legal pads." Lorelai nodded. "I also need tons of pens, some number two pencils, three highlighters, an eraser, a staple remover and a folder."

Lorelai blinked. "Three highlighters?" Rory nodded. "That's a very random number."

"It is not a random number!" Rory argued making Harry chuckle.

"No, but...I mean, how did you get three?"

"One dries up, one gets lost and I have one left." Rory said as if the answer was right in her mother's face.

"Wow!" Harry said impressed. "You really have this worked out, don't you?" Rory nodded with a smile. They walke through the shop and Harry listened to the Gilmore girls bicker for the next five minutes until he got tired of it. "Oh, legal pads!"

"No." Rory said shaking her head. "Those are purple."

"Yes." Lorelai said with a grin. "Purple is festive and it's on sale!"

"I'm going to a serious school now." Rory reminded her. "I need serious paper."

"Paper's paper." Lorelai argued.

"Not at Chilton!" Rory argued back.

"Not at Hogwarts, either." Harry muttered to the girls. "We had to use parchment and feather quills instead of normal pens. I still use them at home." Rory was both impressed and astonished at the same time. "I know it's medieval, but I like it."

Lorelai looked a little surprised. "Do you have electricity in the house you bought?" she asked.

"Yes, I have a television and a phone." Harry said. "Just because I'm a wizard, doesn't mean I can't be a Muggle, too. I am a half-blood." The rest of the shopping trip consisted of Harry having to listen to Lorelai embarrass Rory by imagining the writing utensils are are having mental issues. Rory finally gave up and they walked off to go home.

The next morning, Harry looked in his mirror at his reflection. He was wearing his Chilton uniform which felt very strange without the long black robes that Hogwarts students wore. He tried as hard as he could to comb his hair but, as always, he failed and it was left as messy as always. He slung his school bag over his shoulder, went to his front lawn and Apparated. Harry appeared behind a tree near the school and saw Rory going into the bus she rode three times before walking toward the front doors. "Hey," he said. "That's a lot of stuff."

"I know. Come on. Let's get to Mr. Medina's class. I hope I got a good grade on my paper." Harry was also worried about his grade. He liked Mr. Medina's class and was very interested in learning about Shakespeare. They found their seats and waited.

Mr. Medina strode down the aisles handing out papers. "A descent effort by most," he said as he walked, "a good effort by some, and exceptional effort by three. Miss Geller, Miss Grant, Miss Graham and Miss Gilmore." He handed Rory her paper and she looked down at it sadly. "Take these home and learn from your mistakes. That means you, too, Mr. Potter." Harry looked at his paper and sighed. A 'D'. "Look at the large red circles in various parts of your paper as a friendly reminder that to err is human." Medina said. "And that, here at Chilton, we try to beat that humanity right outta ya!" He chuckled and then became serious again. "Okay. Next up, the test. The dreaded test. Shakespeare! The man we've been droning on about for the past three weeks, finally comes back to haunt us on Friday. This is a big one, my friends. Multiple choice with an essay section that will count for twenty percent of your grade for this semester. Don't be fooled by my kind face and charming personality. This test will be hard and there will be no make-ups." The bell rang and everyone got up to head to their next class. "Refer to the study materials I gave you at the beginning of the month and those extensive notes I know you've been taking!" he called as the class left.

Harry and Rory hurried through the hallway to their lockers. As they walked, they heard Paris and her friends talking about their grades. "Hard paper." Paris said.

"Killer." Louise agreed. Paris asked how she did. "'A' as always. You?"

"Me too!" Paris said happily. "What did you get, Madeline?"

"You know I got a 'B'." Madeline said.

"A 'B's not bad." Paris said. "It's respectable, even. Now, if you got a 'D' like two people I know...that's just worthy of working at McDonald's."

"Would you like fries with that?" Madeline said giggling. She shut up when Harry stopped walking. "What's wrong, Potter?"

"Yeah!" Paris said. "Just because you got a bad grade, doesn't mean you can't be nice."

Harry turned around and said, "Does that apply to you as well?" Paris tensed up. "You have been such a prat since we got to Chilton. What is your problem with me or Rory?" Paris said nothing. "Is she too smart for you? Or are you just bloody jealous that she's just as smart as you or better?"

"Shut up!" Paris growled angrily. "Just keep walking, Potter."

Harry glared at her and then kept up with Rory. "It's been a fun day, right?" he said sarcastically to her making her smile.

"Hey, Mary," said Tristan.

"And it gets better." Rory muttered giving Harry a look. Harry gave a quick nod and slid the wand out of his holster in case he needed it.

"You look sad." Tristan said. Rory said she was fine and Harry did the same. "I wasn't talking to you." Harry stayed silent. "Bad grade?"

"I have to go." Rory said trying to move away from him.

Tristan didn't budge and Harry got ready. "You know what, Mary? See, I can't figure out why we're not friends. I think it's because I make you nervous."

"It's because you can't learn my name." Rory snarled. "Now get out of my way."

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Tristan asked.

"Yes." Rory said. "He's standing right there." Tristan looked at Harry and laughed.

"That scrawny geek is your boyfriend?" he said laughing. "Wow! You really have low standards." Harry gripped his wand tighter, trying not to curse the American version of Malfoy into oblivion. "You see, I think you like me and don't know how to say it."

Rory rolled her eyes. "Oh, boy," she said.

"What?" Tristan said in a very decent impression of Malfoy. "You gotta be back in the convent by five?"

"Leave me alone." Rory said.

"Confundo!" Harry whispered and watched as Tristan looked momentarily confused. "Hey, Tristan!" Harry said and Tristan turned back to him. "She said leave her alone."

"Well, since you said please..." He stepped aside and let her and Harry pass him. "Later, Mary."

Harry and Rory hurried farther through the corridor until they reached the front doors. "Do you want me to Apparate you home?" he asked her.

"No!" she said angrily. "Can you please leave me alone?"

"Yeah," he said. "I'll see you later, then." Harry walked away and Apparated home.

A few days later, Harry met Rory on her way to her friend Lane's house. "I like Lane." Harry said as they walked. "She came in to get coffee and a bagel."

"Yeah, she's great," said Rory. "She's been my best friend for a long time."

"I have a couple of friends like that." Harry said with a small smile. "I mss them."

"I saw your photo album on your coffee table at your house." Rory said blushing. "They look like really nice people."

"Well, Ron can be a bit of an idiot at times, but Hermione's always there to help when we needed it." Harry said. "Blimey, just last year when I had to compete in the Triwizard Tournament...Hermione helped me so much with picking out the right spells and stuff for the tasks. Everyone I knew thought that she and I would get together at some point."

"But?" Rory said knowing that the word would come up.

"But I only look at her as my best friend and a sister." Harry finished. "You, on the other hand...well, that's a different story." They walked into Lane's home which was also a furniture store. "Blimey, that's a lot of stuff."

"Yeah," said Rory as she made her way through the maze of tables and other furniture, "it's a bit of a hassle, but it's always fun." She raised her voice and yelled, "Lane?"

"Rory?" came another voice.

"Right or left?" Rory yelled back.

"Left!" Lane called. Rory moved left and met a dead end. "Sorry, my left, your right.

"Ugh!" Rory groaned and she and Harry changed directions. "Marco!"

"Polo!" Lane called and Harry laughed. "Who's that?"

"My boyfriend." Rory called back. The three finally met up. "Hey, Marco."

"Hey, Polo." Lane said. "You're late." She looked at Harry and said, "Hi. I'm Lane."

Harry shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Harry." Lane smiled and Harry looked down at what she was holding. "That's twelve calories," she said with a sad sigh.

"Here." Rory said handing her a Snickers bar. "Have this." Happily, Lane thanked her and took a bite and Rory took out a big binder from her bag. Lane asked what it was. "My notes." Lane gave her a surprised look. "I don't think Shakespeare knows himself this well." They could hear Mrs. Kim trying to negotiate a price for a table and finally sold the table they were using. "I really miss Stars Hollow High." Rory said sadly.

"Really?" Lane asked. "You're kidding, right?"

"Chilton's...hard." Rory said.

"I don't know how." Lane said and looked at Harry when she spoke again. "What do you care, anyway? You were always Miss-Everything's-So-Easy at school before you went to Chilton." Lane and Rory went to put their books down on the table but Mrs. Kim stopped them.

"Sold!" she said. "Move!" She looked at the Snickers bar and said, "What's that?"

"It's mine." Rory said picking it up. "Sorry."

"That is chocolate covered death." Mrs. Kim said glaring at the chocolate bar.

"With a creamy caramel surprise," said Rory laughing and they moved again. "So, what else is going on?'

Lane smiled, though not as happily as earlier when they came in. "Well, I know this is kind of redundant since you have a boyfriend, but there was this guy looking for you earlier." Rory asked who he was. "Not sure. He's a new kid. Tall and perfect."

"What did he want to know?" Harry asked rather protectively.

"He just asked where Rory is," said Lane with a shrug. "I told him you went to a school for brainy kids." Rory smiled and asked how he reacted. "He seemed to really like that. Guess he's into brainy chicks."

"Well, whenever I see him, I'll let him know I'm happily taken." Rory said pecking Harry on the cheek. She went to put her books down on another table but Mrs. Kim told them it was sold. "Where do you want us to study?"

"Library." Mrs. Kim said simply.

"I hate sales!" Lane whined making Harry laugh.

Later that day, Harry walked into Luke's Diner looking for Rory. He saw her at a table in the diner trying to write. Her pencil broke and she threw it in frustration. With a sigh, he sat down across from her. "You okay?"

"No." Rory growled. "I'm trying to study and write and my pencil breaks and..." she stopped her rant when Luke came up with a plate of pie. "What's this for?"

"Well, frustrated pencil throwing usually calls for pie, so here." Luke said placing her plate in front of her.

"What if I threw a pen?" Rory asked.

"Well, then I would have brought you a trout." Luke said making Harry and Rory look at him strangely. "I don't make the rules, I just carry them out." Just then Lorelai walked in.

"Hey, Backwards Baseball Hat. New look for you." She looked over and saw Rory eating pie. "She's eating pie? Did she even have dinner?"

"You raised her." Luke said with a shrug. "I just serve."

Lorelai joined Harry and Rory. "Hello, Bookworms."

:"Finally!" Rory said rolling her eyes. "Where were you."

"I was in Hartford." Lorelai said trying to ignore the questioning looks. "I was there for the..."

"Parent/teacher meeting!" Rory groaned. "I forgot!"

"It went very well." Lorelai said. "I was extremely charming. I won the whole crowd over and they made me queen." Rory asked if she talked to Mr. Medina. "Mmm-hmm," she said nodding. "Why did you let me whine about ice cream and shoe sales when you had something major going on?"

"I know!" Rory said looking at the table. For the next fifteen minutes, Harry listened to the two Gilmore girls bicker. "You couldn't tell me? You tell me everything!"

"It was too humiliating." Rory admitted. "I nearly just ran out of there when I saw Harry give me a look and...I'm so embarrassed."

Lorelai sighed. "You once told me that you loved 'Saved By the Bell'. What's more humiliating than that?"

"I couldn't form the words." Rory said. "I couldn't even say it or comprehend it. I got a D! I've never got a D before." She groaned. "A D! I suck!"

"No, you don't." Harry said. "Trust me, one D is not the end of the world. I told you earlier about my friend Hermione. Well, her biggest fear is failing everything." Rory looked at him. "She gets picked on for being super smart but does that stop her? No! Hermione keeps going because that's what she does. Does she get a bad grade every once in a while? Yes. It's not a big deal."

"Thanks." Rory said. "Mom?"

"Listen," said Lorelai. "Harry's right. A D is bad, but all this talk about 'I can't do this' and 'I suck'...that's worse." Harry nodded in agreement. "That's not you. You didn't feel sorry for yourself when it took you three months to ride a bike, and you won't now." Harry nodded in agreement.

"Four months." Rory said. Lorelai asked what she was talking about. "It took me four months to learn, not three."

"Really?" Lorelai said surprised. "Four months?"

"Yeah." Rory said rather hotly. "You wanna belabor the conversation?"

"Okay," said Lorelai, "forget about the bike. Listen, a D is one grade. It's not the end of the world. You'll catch up. You'll do better. You are of hardy, stubborn stock, my dear. If there's one thing I give you, it's my stubborness."

"I'm not stubborn." Rory said. Harry snickered and she glared at him. "Shut up!"

"Sorry," he said, "but you're wrong on that. You are very stubborn." She glared at him harder which made him laugh harder. She argued that she wasn't and the argument went on for a few minutes until he gave up. "Fine. You're not."

"Thank you." Rory said stubbornly.

"You're welcome." Lorelai said. "You can do this. Harry and I will help you. We will get you through this, so put that D behind you. Now, what's next?"

"We have a test on Friday." Rory said.

"Ooh!" Lorelai said happily. "A test! Great!

"It's on Shakespeare." Harry said.

"The Bard with a Beard. Love it." Lorelai said with a smile."

"It's worth twenty percent of our grade." Harry said.

"Just makes life interesting." Lorelai said with the same smile. "Now, what do we have to do to get you an A on that test?"

Rory blinked. "You two really think I can do this?" Harry nodded.

"I bet you one dollar." Lorelai said.

Rory lowered her eyes to her knees and said, "That's it? That's all my future's worth - one dollar."

Harry put a hand on her shoulder and said, "No, you're future is worth more than that, love. You're worth about thirty thousand Galleons." Rory cocked her head in confusion and he sighed. "I keep forgetting you're a Muggle. Galleons are wizard currency." He took out a Galleon from his money pouch and showed her. Rory's jaw dropped when she saw the large gold coin. "This is a Galleon. Trust me, I have a lot more where that came from. As a matter of fact, I changed most of my Galleons to American Muggle currency not long after I got here. That's how I got my house and everything."

"Ah," said Rory with a nod. "I see. So, I'm worth thirty thousand Galleons?" Harry nodded. "Okay, that makes me feel better." Harry laughed and accepted the peck on the cheek and then winced as his scar burned. "You okay?"

"Yeah," he said. "Just a headache."

"It's more than that," she said. "Your scar?" He nodded. "What's up?"

"Voldemort." Harry grumbled. "He's angry. Something didn't go right." He felt the anger surge through him. "I think I'm going to have to find these Horcruxes as soon as possible."

"You're leaving?" Rory said sadly. "How will I contact you?"

"I bought a couple of these while in Diagon Alley before I took a Portkey here." Harry said going through his bag. He pulled out a mirror. "These are mirrors to communicate. I had one like it. My godfather gave me one, but he was killed during a duel. I got angry and broke it. All you have to do is say my name and I'll be able to talk to you." He handed her the mirror. "Try it out."

"Harry Potter!" she said and she gasped when she saw Harry's face in the mirror she was holding. "This is so cool!"

"I'm not leaving yet, but soon." Harry said. "I really need to find these Horcruxes as soon as possible and destroy them." Before the Gilmores could say anything, a silver ball of light flew through the wall and turned into an otter. "That's Hermione's Patronus."

"Harry!" said Hermione's voice from the Patronus. "Mad-Eye requests your presence at your aunt and uncle's house in Surrey immediately."

Harry sighed and looked at Rory. "Do you think you could take a trip with me?"

"Mom?" she said looking at her mother. "Please?"

"I'll let you go on one condition." Lorelai said with a sigh. "Both of you are to go to school for the rest of the week and take the test on Friday." Harry and Rory both agreed to her terms. "I'll talk to the headmaster and let him know you and Harry are leaving for England Saturday and won't return for a while. I'll just say that Harry had a death in the family and there's a funeral and that you had to take a flight."

"Thank you so much." Rory said hugging her mom. "Should I pack anything?"

"Just some clothes and whatever you need. No electronic items like your cell phone. Magic and technology don't work together." Harry explained. Rory sighed. "I did buy a third mirror just in case you came with me." He handed the third mirror to Lorelai. "You can contact either one of us. "Maybe I can try to use the talking Patronus thing." He pulled out his wand and smiled. "You haven't seen my Patronus." He raised his wand and said, "Expecto Patronum!" A silver stag erupted from the tip of his wand and stood in the living room. "Hermione Granger." The stag opened its mouth and he spoke. "Hermione, I am on my way this Saturday. I have a couple of things to do. I'm also bringing someone with me. She's a Muggle, but I trust her with the secret of the Wizarding World. See you soon." He flicked his wand and the Patronus vanished. "There. That should help."

Meanwhile...

Hermione Granger was sitting in Fred and George's old bedroom packing some books for the Horcux hunt that she and Ron were joining Harry on when a silver stag appeared.

"Hermione, I am on my way this Saturday. I have a couple of things to do before I get there. I'm also bringing someone with me. She's a Muggle, but I trust her with the secret of the Wizarding World. See you soon." Harry's voice said from the stag.

"Merlin's pants!" she groaned. "Why is he bringing a Muggle girl here? What an idiot!" She walked down the stairs and saw Mrs. Weasley in the laundry room. "Mrs. Weasley, we have a problem."

"What is it, dear?" said Mrs. Weasley. "I'm sure it can't be that bad."

"Harry will be coming on Saturday but...he's bringing someone with him from where he's staying." Hermione said. "She's a Muggle." Mrs. Weasley frowned. "Yes, I know, I was thinking the same thing. Harry's lost his marbles."

"No, I wasn't thinking that, although you are right." Mrs. Weasley said. "I can talk to Arthur and see if we can't cancel the Muggle Repelling Charm until after they get here."

Hermione looked at Mrs. Weasley taken aback. "You're letting Harry do this? Are you sure this is a good idea? Harry is breaking the Statute of Secrecy by telling a Muggle about the Wizarding World! He could be arrested!"

"Hermione, please understand that You-Know-Who has infiltrated the Ministry already. I don't think it would matter if he did or not." Mrs. Weasley said. "I'll have Arthur contact Minister Scrimgeour. I understand that he has something to talk to you three about." Hermione sighed. "On a more serious note, Ron tells me that you three are leaving Hogwarts this year."

"Yes," said Hermione. "Professor Dumbledore left us a job to do...well, it's more Harry's job than ours, but we agreed to help him."

"I don't see why you three have to abandon your education." Mrs. Weasley said. "I know things are rough right now, but what could possibly be more important than your education?"

"The fate of the Wizarding World, that's what." Ron said grimly. "Mum, you need to understand that what we're doing will save everyone in the end. Trust me, okay?" Mrs. Weasley sighed and finished the laundry. "Come on, Hermione. Let's go."

Stars Hollow - A few days later...

Harry and Rory had gone two days with a lot of studying and Rory was very confident that she could ace the test. She went to sleep Thursday night but didn't get much sleep. She woke up ath te kitchen table and looked at the clock. "No!" she yelled. "Oh, no!" She ran into her room and grabbed her uniform. "Mom, get up!" she yelled.

"Oh, geez," said Lorelai rubbing her neck. "That's a bad sleeping position."

"I'm late!" Rory yelled as she ran back into the kitchen. Lorelai looked at her strangely and asked what she was talking about. "I'm late for the test!"

"Rory, honey, calm down." she said.

"I can't calm down! I missed my bus!" Rory said while buttoning her shirt. "Get up!"

"Honey, I can't get up right now. I was sleeping at a right angle all night." Lorelai said.

Rory came back to the living room with her uniform over her T-shirt and jogging pants while putting her shoes on. "I'm going to miss the test!"

"No you're not." Lorelai said standing up. She shoved a binder into Rory's school bag and grabbed her keys. "I'll drive you." She grabbed her purse and stopped. "Oh! I can't take you!"

"You have to!" Rory whined.

"I have a meeting at the inn at eight." Lorelai said. Rory whined again. "Okay, wait. Okay, think...You drive." She handed Rory the keys to her car. "I'll get a ride with Sookie."

"What? Are you serious?"

"Go, go, go!" Lorelai said ushering her out the door.

Rory didn't waste any time. She ran out the door and into the car.

On the way to school, Rory stopped at the stop sign and tried calling Harry's cell. "Damn!" she groaned. "He's probably already at school!" She called Lane, who answered immediately. "Lane, did I leave a set of notes at your place?"

"Where are you?" Lane asked over the phone.

"I'm driving to school." Rory said hurriedly. "I need to check somethng and I can't find some of my notes."

"I'll check." Lane said and there was silence on the phone for a minute. "No. I don't see them."

"What did I do with them?" Rory groaned.

"Maybe they're downstairs in the store?" Lane said.

"Yeah, maybe. I..." Rory screamed as the car moved with a loud bang. Lane asked what happened. "Oh my God!"

"What happened?" Lane asked.

"I got hit by a deer!" Rory said in stunned disbelief."

"You hit a deer?" Lane asked in a worried voice.

"No, the deer hit me!" Rory said. Lane asked a bunch of questions while Rory went to looki for the deer. "What time is it?" Lane told her it was 7:40. "No!" She ran to the car with one pant leg on.

A little while later, Rory was running down the hallway at Chilton pulling her socks up, tucking in her shirt and taking out her ponytail. She snuck into the classroom. "I'm sorry!" she said to Mr. Medina."

Mr. Medina looked at the rest of the class who had looked up at Rory. "Everyone back to your tests. Rory, I'm afraid you'll have to wait in the library."

"What about the test?" Rory asked.

"I'm afraid you missed it," he said. Rory said no and he answered, "We start class promptly at 8:05." Rory begged him to let her take the test. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Harry trying to focus on his test, but his eyes were on her and he looked worried. "I'm sorry, but it's the rules."

"But, you don't understand. I was up all night studying, and then I woke up late and had to drive here..."

"Rory..." said Mr. Medina, but she rambled on. "Let's discuss this outside."

"So, I was driving down the road and I stop and I get hit by a deer," she said and Harry raised her eyebrows.

Mr. Medina looke worried. "You hit a deer?"

"No, it hit me." Rory said. "You don't believe me? Look at the front of my mom's car!"

"Rory, come on." Mr. Medina said.

Rory was stubborn. "No! I have to take this test. I know everything there is to know about Shakespeare!" Mr. Medina tried to calm her down, but it wasn't working. "I know his birthday and his mother's name and everything!"

"Loser." Paris whispered and smirked.

Harry was surprised when she lost it. She turned around and said, "And what's your problem, huh? You already have everything. The grades and the status. What the hell is wrong with you that you have the constant need to be the biggest jerk in the world?!"

"Come on." Mr. Medina said. "Out. Now."

Rory followed him to the door and saw Tristan smirking. "And for the last time, my name is RORY!" she shouted and stormed out.

She was in the headmaster's office with Lorelai, who looked concerned. "What happened?"

"I got hit by a deer." Rory said rather lamely. Lorelai asked what she meant and was confused. "You don't believe me, do you?"

"I think you should let Harry take you home today." Lorelai said. "I know he's pretty good at getting home quicker than driving."

"We're going to England tomorow, remember?" she said. "Harry's got that Horcrux thing to do which means that I'm going to be stuck at his friends' house for a while."

"Only until he's done with his hunt." Lorelai corrected her daughter. "You're worried about him."

"Yes," said Rory. "I always worry about him. What if he gets hurt or killed?"

"Don't think like that," said Lorelai sternly. "You need to stay positive. He said he'd contact you through that enchanted mirror when he can."

Rory nodded. "Let's get home so I can pack." They got in the car and drove home. "See what I mean about the deer?" Lorelai was surprised to see antler marks on the side. Rory went to her room and started packing her stuff when she heard Lorelai's voice at the front door. She ran to the living room and saw Harry. He looked rather upset. "What's wrong?"

"Change of plans." Harry said hurriedly. "Better finish packing. We're leaving now." Rory gasped and asked why. "Hermione sent me a letter saying that I need to be at the Burrow immediately. The Minister of Magic has something he wants to talk to me about." Rory went back to her room and threw stuff into her suitcase and returned moments later. Harry grabbed an old coffee can from the kitchen counter and pointed his wand at it. "Portus!" he muttered and the can glowed blue for a few seconds before returning to normal. "We have exactly thirty seconds before we take off. Better say goodbye." Rory hugged her mom and promised everything would be fine. She touched the can with a finger like Harry was doing and felt a jerk behind her navel pulling her foward. They disappeared into a whirl of color and sound and landed in a field. "Here we are."

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"To my aunt and uncle's house." Harry said grimly. "I have to meet a few people there because the ancient spell that's protecting that house is about to break in the next week. My birthday is coming up, and Voldemort thinks I'll be moved the night before that, but what he doesn't know is I'm being moved today tomorrow."

"Okay." She hugged him tightly and held his face in both of her hands. "Don't get killed." Harry gave a nod and kissed her. He led her to the tall and crooked house and went to the front door. He knocked and a plump woman with fiery red hair answered it. "Hi."

"Ah, you must be Harry's companion," she said sweetly. "I'm Molly. Please, come in and make yourself at home." Rory followed her inside and the lady turned to Harry. "You better get going, dear." Harry nodded and Disapparated from the yard leaving Rory alone. "Are you hungry, dear?"

"No, thanks, I just ate before Harry and I came here." Rory said sitting down at the kitchen table. "But I could go for a cup of coffee if you have some." Molly smiled and flicked her wand. A pot of coffee and a cup floated from the counter to the table. She gave her wand a second flick and the pot poured its contents into her cup. Rory fixed up her coffee with milk and sugar and sipped it. "Mmm!" she said happily. "I definitely needed that."

"So, I've been getting letters from Harry the past few weeks." Molly said with a smile. "He says he got into a Muggle school?"

"It's called Chilton." Rory explained. "It's a private school and he's doing great." She blushed and looked embarrassed. "Not me, though. I got a bad grade on my essay and I woke up too late to take the test on Shakespeare."

"Oh, no!" Molly said in concern. "That's terrible. Why did you wake up late?" Before Rory could answer, a girl with bushy brown hair came down the stairs followed by a redhead girl and a boy with red hair as well. "This is Hermione, one of Harry's friends, and my daughter and son Ginny and Ron."

"Hi," said Hermione shaking Rory's hand. "Harry's told us all about you in his letters."

"Is it true you're his girlfriend?" Ginny said in a somewhat accusing tone. Rory nodded. "He moves pretty fast, doesn't he?"

"What do you mean?" Rory said glaring at her. "Did you date him?"

"For a couple of months at school last year." Ginny said smugly. "I've had a crush on him since I was eleven."

"Oh, it must be so hard for you knowing that the boy you like found someone else." Rory said hotly. "I don't care who you are, Ginny. Do not meddle in our relationship or there will be hell to pay."

"Yeah?" Ginny hissed. "What's a Muggle going to do? I have a wand."

"So?" Rory said.

"Okay, girls, that's enough." Molly said trying desperately to break up the argument. "Ginny, please go help your father in the shed. He's been busy with stuff lately and needs some help." Ginny gave Rory a final glare and stormed off. "I'm sorry about her. She's normally very sweet, but since Harry broke up with her, she's been very sensative."

"Yeah, I see that." Rory said. "Well, she doesn't have to use me as a verbal punching bag."

Ron snorted and Rory looked at him. "You obviously haven't been on the receiving end of her Bat-Bogey Hexes. Not that I suggest you do so." He smiled and added, "From what Harry said in his letters, you're pretty much the American version of Hermione. Always studying hard and big brain."

"Well, yeah," she said. "I want to be a journalist when I get out of school." She gave a serious look and said, "I want you all to know that I won't blab about wizards being real. I'm not that type of person. Even my own best friend Lane doesn't know about Harry being a wizard." Ron nodded, though he didn't look convinced.

The day went by and Rory got to meet a lot of Harry's friends. She liked most of them but Ginny was always trying to get at her. She wasn't sure what made the redhead girl so hostile toward her until she talked to Hermione. "Ginny's jealous that Harry found someone instead of her." Hermione explained. "She's angry that he did and quite upset about it, too. She always thought that she and Harry would spend the rest of their lives together with children."

"Yeah, well, that didn't work out, did it?" Rory said with a smirk. "By the way, I really like talking to you. What do you want to do after school?"

"I want to work in the Ministry," said Hermione. "I've been trying to free some house-elves but that hasn't been working. I started a small society called S.P.E.W. which stands for the Society for the Protection of Elfish Welfare. I was trying to raise funds so we could at least take our claims to the Ministry to at least get house-elves wages and time off from working so hard, but it wasn't working."

"Maybe when you work at the Ministry, you can write up some laws for that." Rory suggested. "I'm sure your Minister won't be too discouraged about them." Hermione grinned. She stood up. "You're leaving?"

"Ron and I have to go meet up with Harry at his aunt and uncle's." Hermione said. "We're part of his guard in case Death Eaters show up to try and take him."

"Right." Rory said. "Well, good luck and keep him safe for me. I love him."

"I know," she said, "and I know that Harry loves you, too." She smiled and walked out the door. "If you have any problems with Ginny, tell her mother. She'll take care of it." Rory laughed and laid back on the bed she sat in and relaxed. She was worried about Harry, but she knew he'd be safe with a bunch of people that could protect him.