untitled

A/N: This is not a very long chapter, but it seems to need to be away from the rest of the chapters. It seemed unfair not to let the gang have fun, since I'm having so much.

I had no beta reader this time, due to vacations, so be kind, please.


CHAPTER FIVE - A Small Slice of Fun

Several days had passed since Chris and Ivy had left the Burrow, and things had settled into a sort of routine. Harry still didn't feel Damien was a person who'd ever be a close friend, but he had tried to keep those feelings to himself. As Hermione had mentioned, they didn't need to start the year with bad feelings, when the teachers surely planned, more than ever, to work them into shadows of themselves.

Besides, they had been having too much fun, and those warning feelings had sort of faded....maybe he had just been acting like a younger version of Mad Eye Moody, with all that constant vigilance stuff. Not that he wasn't watching, but this was a last chance for some fun before summer ended.

Today promised to be especially fun, since they planned to go to the river not far from the Weasleys and swim and picnic. Mr. Weasley planned to take the day off from the Ministry, and for once, Mrs. Weasley had been persuaded to leave her kitchen behind. She had been in a flurry of sailing pots, rolling pins and other kitchen items the day before but the picnic baskets were packed, and Harry thought he recognized some of the camping equipment they had taken to the World Cup the year before. He wondered whether Mr. Weasley would have the same trouble with matches.

Harry and Ron came down the back stairs early that morning, to hear Percy's voice, and he sounded even more lofty and demanding than ever. As they came into the kitchen, he was saying, in a voice that sounded as if he were speaking to a small, not very bright child, "The Clearwaters are out of the country now, in Africa for some meeting. I told them we would manage to have everything ready."

"You told them what?" shrieked Mrs. Weasley, sinking down in a kitchen chair and looking pale. "Percy, we've never had a wedding here! And Penny won't care to have a thrown together wedding!"

"I've told you Mother, the Ministry has positions for a married couple in Italy, and the job won't wait. It could put us years further in our careers, if we're able to go."

"We can manage a small celebration, Percy, but today is your mother's day out of the house, I'm not working and we're spending the day with your brothers and sister, before they go back to school. " Harry had rarely seen Mr. Weasley look so determined, but perhaps they were all thinking of storing good memories for the possible dark days ahead.

"You go ahead and owl Penny to come here," Mr. Weasley continued. "We can talk about this more while we're at the river."

Percy looked as if he was about to protest, but thought better of it. He disapparated, and Ron snickered. "Still has to show off, apparating upstairs, he's been doing it for a year! " He turned to his parents and said, " You'd better ask Percy who he expects to pay for this. He probably plans the most expensive everything, to go with their new, important positions. And the bride is supposed to pay."

"They'll have to be satisfied with what we can do," Molly said firmly. "Now, let's get everyone up, so we can start our day."

"Has she finally wised up about him?" Ron asked, as they went back upstairs to wake the others.

**********

By noon, they were all wet and exhausted, but Harry thought he had rarely had that much fun inhis life. Fred and George had tied ropes into the trees that hung over the river, and Mr. Weasley had enchanted the ropes to swing in fast spirals to drop them far out into the water. He and Hermione had gone on the ropes together, and they had screamed until they were hoarse, but he had enjoyed holding her as they soared through the air, and plunged into the deep water. Hermione's hair had curled into tiny ringlets with the water and he thought he had never seen her look so cute, as she shook the water from her eyes and hair. Her swimsuit was not exactly as he pictured in the dream, but he thought it might be even better. It was a dark blue, with tiny flowers of all shades of turquoise and blue, and was cut high on her legs, making them look even longer than he'd thought possible. He saw she had a tiny silver and turquoise dot at her belly button, and the top was cut straight across with tiny straps on her shoulders. When he had seen her from the back, for a moment it looked as if the suit had no top, since all that showed from the back were thin straps across her back that were almost invisble. He hadn't been sure which way to run at first, but when she turned around, he was amazed that she looked covered enough even to suit Mrs. Weasley. He guessed his imagination was getting too strong for his (and her) good. But how had Hermione, their best friend turned into this pretty witch with curves in all the right places? He was glad Danielle was meeting them in Diagon Alley in a few days, because he could see Ron was thinking the same thing about Hermione, though he was attempting to hide it.

Over on the banks of the river, Harry could see Mr. Weasley with Damien beside him. They were working on starting a fire, but Damien seemed to be showing Mr. Weasley something that he hadn't seen before, since he seemed to be shaking his head in astonishment.

"Let's go over and see what Mr.Weasley is so surprised by," he told Hermione as they climbed out of the water for the tenth time. She looked disappointed, but he hugged her, and added, "Not for long, we can go right back." Then he lowered his voice and whispered, "I'm not finished holding you in the air and kissing under water is,um, interesting."

Hermione brightened up immediately, and said, "You go ahead, I'm going to put on some shorts."

He nodded and went on, feeling glad, but kind of like a jerk for feeling that way, since Hermione was going to look more covered when they were with Damien.

"So, what're you two doing?" he asked, squatting beside them. He saw several of the sticks had a charred look, but he saw no fire.

"Damien has been showing me a spell he learned in America," Mr. Weasley answered excitedly. "He can make that eckeltricity muggles use, without any plugs."

Damien, Harry noticed, didn't look especially pleased that he'd shown an interest, though he saw what he couldn't help thinking of as the other boy's "mask" slide over his face. "Oh, it's not so much," he said. "And it doesn't always work, but I've attempted it a few times."

"Interesting that it happened to work well when you showed it to Mr. Weasley," Hermione said, standing behind him, and leaning over to examine the charred sticks. "I'm rather good at fires, myself, but I'd never considered electricity. I'm part muggle you know, grew up thinking I was completely muggle born, but it turns out my mom is a witch as well."

'Why was Hermione being so friendly', Harry wondered, and was not reassured with Damien's reply.

"I know," the American wizard said, casually. "I've heard of your mom. If you like I can show you how to do this...sometime."

"You've heard of MY mom?" Hermione asked, Harry was sure he hadn't imagined the trace of discomfort in her voice. "That seems impossible. She only re- entered the magical world this summer. And.."

As she was about to continue, Harry leaned back and not so gently pinched Hermione's leg. Fortunately, being the smartest witch in her year, she caught on quickly, and instead said. "Maybe, sometime, sure."

"I live in New York City, news travels faster there than anyplace in the world. We don't even use the Wizard's Wireless, it's completely WizNet there." Damien replied, looking smug. Harry wanted to say, "So what?", but seeing the look of excitement on Mr. Weasley's face, he thought, perhaps he, Ron and Hermione should find out more about the WizNet. And break up this little session.

"I think Mrs. Weasley might need us," Harry said, standing up and taking Hermione's hand. "She's starting to unpack, let's go help her, Hermione."

"Heavens, I've left her over there alone with Percy and Penny!" Mr. Weasley said with a guilty look. "Thanks, Harry.Yes, let's help her."

As the three of them walked over to the picnic and Mrs. Weasley, Penny and Percy, Harry saw Damien disappear into the woods. He didn't know what bothered him more, that the guy seemed to be sneaking off or that he seemed to think he was above helping. Fortunately, his mind was soon distracted by Hermione telling Mrs. Weasley that she and Harry would go up to the spring they had passed on the way, and get some fresh water. Ah, alone with her at last! As nice as it had been, visiting Ron's family, there hadn't been much time alone for them

***********

Disclaimer: All characters except Damien, and Danielle who was only mentioned, belong to JK Rowling. I've been told that Damien seems like not too bad a guy but I assure you, he is not, I repeat, NOT a nice guy. You'll see.

Coming up: Percy & Penny tie the knot!(?), and there's the trip to Diagon Alley. Draco may get to see Adrian ( with Ginny, OMG, a WEASLEY!!) before term begins, and Ron and Danielle are....reunited.