Disclaimer: All of these wonderful characters belong to the great J K
Rowling. I'm just borrowing them for a while (this includes the first
chapter even though I omitted it)
A/N Thanks to all the people that have reviewed, your compliments have been appreciated.
The next couple of days went smoothly for Harry, mainly because he just stayed in his room and studied, not even going down to eat (he had enough sweets from his birthday to keep him alive.) As usual he was excited about going to the Burrow, mainly he wanted to talk to Ginny about these dreams of hers. Harry didn't know how it had happened, but he had this strange desire to get to know Ginny well, he wasn't sure if it was the fact that she was somehow getting dreams about the things that he had done, or if it was the fact that she had had a crush on him since she had first seen him, al he knew was that it had happened and he now cared for her in a way he hadn't for anyone before.
Harry, Ron and Hermione had been using the link a bit since they had taken the potion and to Harry it seemed that it was making life better for all of them. However, except for the small talk after they had taken their potions, they had not talked about letting anyone else join in on the link. Harry hadn't yet heard back from Sirius. However the subject was brought up about ten o'clock the night before Harry was due to go to the Burrow. It was Hermione that was the first to broach the subject; the exchange went something like this- (Hey guys)
(Yeah)
(Well we still haven't decided about whom else we want to join this link.)
(Well in your letter you were suggesting Dumbledore, but what would he say about our playing around with potions?) Harry replied
(Really Harry, I don't think that he would have a problem with our doing this if we explain to him that we were doing it for your safety.)
(Yeah I suppose. A question comes to my mind though.)
(What's that?)
(Well I was wondering if this potion has any other pluses of minuses other than telepathy?)
(Yeah, I'm interested in that too) Ron added
(Well, as I was trying to tell Ron when I first had the idea, there is a thing called power-sharing, although that's only if the friendship between the people in the link is strong enough, we can also, to an extent, read each others minds, there could be another few thing, it's just that this potion hasn't been used too much during the years)
(First question, to what extent can we read minds. Second question, power sharing, if that's what I think it is then do we really want Dumbledore in the link?) Was Harry's reply.
(Well personally it wouldn't be the power-sharing part I'd be worrying about with the Headmaster in the link, I'd be more worried about the mind reading bit!) Ron quipped
(Seriously Ron, you don't have to worry about anyone reading your mind without your permission, here I'll show you, I'll try to read your mind)
Suddenly Harry saw three dots in his mind's eye which he assumed resembled Ron, Hermione and himself, a string of gold was moving towards Ron's dot from Hermione's, however about halfway between the dots it stopped, and he heard a sort of weird voice in his mind say 'Sorry access denied'
(See Ron, we can't access anything on your mind without your permission) came Hermione's voice
(Okay, okay. Harry, why wouldn't you want access to Dumbledore's powers?)
(Well if we are as powerful as he is, or even more if we take power from each member in the link, we are more of a target for Voldemort, and well, I seem to be a target without any extra reasons for Voldemort to go after me!)
(Harry, don't say that, it may be the truth. But please don't say that)
(Yeah sorry, anyway do you two want to know what happened after the third task?)
(Yeah, if you want to tell us, that is)
(Why would I tell you if I could show you? That is if you want to see.)
(Yeah alright) was Ron's response,
Hermione's only reaction to what Harry proposed was to bring up the three dots and send the gold line towards Harry's dot, as she did this the weird voice asked 'Hermione is asking permission to read your mind, do you give your permission?' Harry answered in the affirmative, a couple of seconds later he gave Ron permission to view his mind as well.
After about a half an hour Hermione came back up on the link (Oh my god Harry! I can't believe that happened to you! I mean if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, and in some parts felt it, my god no wonder you didn't want to talk about it when you got back.}
(What do you mean "and in some parts felt it?" What did you feel?)
(Mainly the Crucio curses put on you, don't know if they hurt you more though. I've never had one put on me to compare it with!) Ron joked feebly.
Harry looked at his watch and saw that the time was 12:30 am, and since he was going to the Burrow the next day he decided that they should try to get some sleep so he sent
(Hey, did you guys realize what the time is, we had better get some sleep. Or I'll be too tired to do much at your house tomorrow Ron.)
(Yeah I'll see you there as well, Ron has invited me too)
(Yeah, I wonder why!) Harry said sarcastically
(Harry Potter what is that supposed to mean!)
(Yeah Potter, what do you mean by that?)
(Nothing. It's just, Hermione, do you want me to give the two of you some privacy?)
(Harry I have no idea what you're talking about.)
(Well I just thought that you two would like to have some privacy so that you could act like the old married couple you usually behave like. Confess your feeling for each other would you for Christ's sake!)
And with that he cut the telepathic link so that he couldn't hear the voices of outrage from his two possibly ex-best friends.
Just before he went to sleep that night Harry felt another one of the surges of power he had been felling lately. He made up his mind to owl either Professor Dumbledore of Sirius the next day to attempt to find an answer as to why this was happening.
Harry awoke around midday the next day even after his late night chatting. He was almost scared of opening the link and receiving all of his friend's comments. 'Oh well' he eventually sighed to himself, 'here goes nothing' as he re-opened the link to the others (I'm back, did you miss me?) he sent
(Oh so you finally decided to rejoin us after your cheeky comment last night have you?)
(Yep) was his simple reply
(Can I ask you one question though?)
(You just did, but sure, ask away)
(Really Harry, are we that obvious!!!)
(Well, I've noticed, Ginny's noticed that Ron seemed to be sending a lot of letters to you, and also said that she wondered when you two would come to your senses and get together. So yes a few people have found out.)
(Harry, would you mind if we, err.. went out? I mean that's the only reason that we haven't already, we were worried that you would mind.]
(Mind! No I wouldn't mind, actually I would be happy for you. As long as Ron doesn't mind if we let Ginny join the link?) Harry sent, seeing a possible way to blackmail Ron into allowing Ginny to join, he didn't fully understand why he wanted her in the link so much, he just put it down to a want to protect her for now.
( Harry. Why would you want my sister to join the link? If I didn't know better I would say that you were falling for her.)
'He might be right, why hadn't I thought about that before?' Harry thought to himself before answering
(You know Ron? I just might be. But until I decide if I am or not, I'd just like to do something that might add a bit more protection to her.)
(Well in that case. Of course I have no problems with her linking with us. Herm, do you have a couple of potions ready made?)
(Yes, I'll bring a few with me when I come today. How are we going to explain to Ginny about Sirius though?)
(We'll just have to show her the truth, I guess. If she sees what happened in the Shrieking shack during third year from all of us them she will believe that Sirius is innocent)
(Yeah I suppose that would work. Anyway I had better go, see both of you at the Burrow)
(Just a minute Hermione, I think that when we are around other people, we should try not to use the link too much. I think that if we were to use the link all the time, it would arouse suspicion, and if any of the darling mini-death eaters were to tell Old' Voldie about this, you would become his targets as well)
(Agreed)
(Agreed)
All 'Ok Bye'
With that they all disconnected their links for the time being. That did not mean however that they were completely cut off from one another though, Because Hermione had found out a little about the links while playing around after they had first connected. For situations like this, the link had a sort of pager device that would sound like a ding inside the heads of the other linkers when another wanted to talk to them.
Harry realized suddenly that he was to be picked up in matter of hours. He also realized that he still hadn't packed properly. So the next hour was spent rushing around making sure that he had every quill, spell book, and piece of parchment that he would need with him.
While he was waiting for the ministry car to arrive he sent a letter of to Professor Dumbledore explaining about the surges he was getting and asked if they were normal. He hoped that they weren't anything to worry about but due to his not growing up in the wizarding world he didn't know.
That done he dragged his trunk downstairs so that when the ministry car came, he could leave quickly. His Aunt, Uncle were all looking a bit worried about the fact that a few adult wizards would be arriving within the hour. Dudley, on the other hand, was looking downright scared at the fact. No doubt he could remember the last couple of encounters with wizards. He was probably wondering what part of his body might start growing this time.
However the ministry cars arrived without a hitch, and even though not a lot was said, Harry's departure went of without a hitch. Harry smiled to himself about the fact that within a few minutes he would be back at the Burrow, and face to face with the two best friends he could ever have. Although he could talk to them at any time with the link, he would prefer to see them face-to-face.
Then there were Ron's twin brothers Fred and George, who were always good for a laugh, Mrs. Weasley who always seem to look after him, Bill and Charlie, when they were there, were always good for a game of quiditch, and for the first time Harry might be able to have a proper conversation with Ginny.
A/N Thanks to all the people that have reviewed, your compliments have been appreciated.
The next couple of days went smoothly for Harry, mainly because he just stayed in his room and studied, not even going down to eat (he had enough sweets from his birthday to keep him alive.) As usual he was excited about going to the Burrow, mainly he wanted to talk to Ginny about these dreams of hers. Harry didn't know how it had happened, but he had this strange desire to get to know Ginny well, he wasn't sure if it was the fact that she was somehow getting dreams about the things that he had done, or if it was the fact that she had had a crush on him since she had first seen him, al he knew was that it had happened and he now cared for her in a way he hadn't for anyone before.
Harry, Ron and Hermione had been using the link a bit since they had taken the potion and to Harry it seemed that it was making life better for all of them. However, except for the small talk after they had taken their potions, they had not talked about letting anyone else join in on the link. Harry hadn't yet heard back from Sirius. However the subject was brought up about ten o'clock the night before Harry was due to go to the Burrow. It was Hermione that was the first to broach the subject; the exchange went something like this- (Hey guys)
(Yeah)
(Well we still haven't decided about whom else we want to join this link.)
(Well in your letter you were suggesting Dumbledore, but what would he say about our playing around with potions?) Harry replied
(Really Harry, I don't think that he would have a problem with our doing this if we explain to him that we were doing it for your safety.)
(Yeah I suppose. A question comes to my mind though.)
(What's that?)
(Well I was wondering if this potion has any other pluses of minuses other than telepathy?)
(Yeah, I'm interested in that too) Ron added
(Well, as I was trying to tell Ron when I first had the idea, there is a thing called power-sharing, although that's only if the friendship between the people in the link is strong enough, we can also, to an extent, read each others minds, there could be another few thing, it's just that this potion hasn't been used too much during the years)
(First question, to what extent can we read minds. Second question, power sharing, if that's what I think it is then do we really want Dumbledore in the link?) Was Harry's reply.
(Well personally it wouldn't be the power-sharing part I'd be worrying about with the Headmaster in the link, I'd be more worried about the mind reading bit!) Ron quipped
(Seriously Ron, you don't have to worry about anyone reading your mind without your permission, here I'll show you, I'll try to read your mind)
Suddenly Harry saw three dots in his mind's eye which he assumed resembled Ron, Hermione and himself, a string of gold was moving towards Ron's dot from Hermione's, however about halfway between the dots it stopped, and he heard a sort of weird voice in his mind say 'Sorry access denied'
(See Ron, we can't access anything on your mind without your permission) came Hermione's voice
(Okay, okay. Harry, why wouldn't you want access to Dumbledore's powers?)
(Well if we are as powerful as he is, or even more if we take power from each member in the link, we are more of a target for Voldemort, and well, I seem to be a target without any extra reasons for Voldemort to go after me!)
(Harry, don't say that, it may be the truth. But please don't say that)
(Yeah sorry, anyway do you two want to know what happened after the third task?)
(Yeah, if you want to tell us, that is)
(Why would I tell you if I could show you? That is if you want to see.)
(Yeah alright) was Ron's response,
Hermione's only reaction to what Harry proposed was to bring up the three dots and send the gold line towards Harry's dot, as she did this the weird voice asked 'Hermione is asking permission to read your mind, do you give your permission?' Harry answered in the affirmative, a couple of seconds later he gave Ron permission to view his mind as well.
After about a half an hour Hermione came back up on the link (Oh my god Harry! I can't believe that happened to you! I mean if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, and in some parts felt it, my god no wonder you didn't want to talk about it when you got back.}
(What do you mean "and in some parts felt it?" What did you feel?)
(Mainly the Crucio curses put on you, don't know if they hurt you more though. I've never had one put on me to compare it with!) Ron joked feebly.
Harry looked at his watch and saw that the time was 12:30 am, and since he was going to the Burrow the next day he decided that they should try to get some sleep so he sent
(Hey, did you guys realize what the time is, we had better get some sleep. Or I'll be too tired to do much at your house tomorrow Ron.)
(Yeah I'll see you there as well, Ron has invited me too)
(Yeah, I wonder why!) Harry said sarcastically
(Harry Potter what is that supposed to mean!)
(Yeah Potter, what do you mean by that?)
(Nothing. It's just, Hermione, do you want me to give the two of you some privacy?)
(Harry I have no idea what you're talking about.)
(Well I just thought that you two would like to have some privacy so that you could act like the old married couple you usually behave like. Confess your feeling for each other would you for Christ's sake!)
And with that he cut the telepathic link so that he couldn't hear the voices of outrage from his two possibly ex-best friends.
Just before he went to sleep that night Harry felt another one of the surges of power he had been felling lately. He made up his mind to owl either Professor Dumbledore of Sirius the next day to attempt to find an answer as to why this was happening.
Harry awoke around midday the next day even after his late night chatting. He was almost scared of opening the link and receiving all of his friend's comments. 'Oh well' he eventually sighed to himself, 'here goes nothing' as he re-opened the link to the others (I'm back, did you miss me?) he sent
(Oh so you finally decided to rejoin us after your cheeky comment last night have you?)
(Yep) was his simple reply
(Can I ask you one question though?)
(You just did, but sure, ask away)
(Really Harry, are we that obvious!!!)
(Well, I've noticed, Ginny's noticed that Ron seemed to be sending a lot of letters to you, and also said that she wondered when you two would come to your senses and get together. So yes a few people have found out.)
(Harry, would you mind if we, err.. went out? I mean that's the only reason that we haven't already, we were worried that you would mind.]
(Mind! No I wouldn't mind, actually I would be happy for you. As long as Ron doesn't mind if we let Ginny join the link?) Harry sent, seeing a possible way to blackmail Ron into allowing Ginny to join, he didn't fully understand why he wanted her in the link so much, he just put it down to a want to protect her for now.
( Harry. Why would you want my sister to join the link? If I didn't know better I would say that you were falling for her.)
'He might be right, why hadn't I thought about that before?' Harry thought to himself before answering
(You know Ron? I just might be. But until I decide if I am or not, I'd just like to do something that might add a bit more protection to her.)
(Well in that case. Of course I have no problems with her linking with us. Herm, do you have a couple of potions ready made?)
(Yes, I'll bring a few with me when I come today. How are we going to explain to Ginny about Sirius though?)
(We'll just have to show her the truth, I guess. If she sees what happened in the Shrieking shack during third year from all of us them she will believe that Sirius is innocent)
(Yeah I suppose that would work. Anyway I had better go, see both of you at the Burrow)
(Just a minute Hermione, I think that when we are around other people, we should try not to use the link too much. I think that if we were to use the link all the time, it would arouse suspicion, and if any of the darling mini-death eaters were to tell Old' Voldie about this, you would become his targets as well)
(Agreed)
(Agreed)
All 'Ok Bye'
With that they all disconnected their links for the time being. That did not mean however that they were completely cut off from one another though, Because Hermione had found out a little about the links while playing around after they had first connected. For situations like this, the link had a sort of pager device that would sound like a ding inside the heads of the other linkers when another wanted to talk to them.
Harry realized suddenly that he was to be picked up in matter of hours. He also realized that he still hadn't packed properly. So the next hour was spent rushing around making sure that he had every quill, spell book, and piece of parchment that he would need with him.
While he was waiting for the ministry car to arrive he sent a letter of to Professor Dumbledore explaining about the surges he was getting and asked if they were normal. He hoped that they weren't anything to worry about but due to his not growing up in the wizarding world he didn't know.
That done he dragged his trunk downstairs so that when the ministry car came, he could leave quickly. His Aunt, Uncle were all looking a bit worried about the fact that a few adult wizards would be arriving within the hour. Dudley, on the other hand, was looking downright scared at the fact. No doubt he could remember the last couple of encounters with wizards. He was probably wondering what part of his body might start growing this time.
However the ministry cars arrived without a hitch, and even though not a lot was said, Harry's departure went of without a hitch. Harry smiled to himself about the fact that within a few minutes he would be back at the Burrow, and face to face with the two best friends he could ever have. Although he could talk to them at any time with the link, he would prefer to see them face-to-face.
Then there were Ron's twin brothers Fred and George, who were always good for a laugh, Mrs. Weasley who always seem to look after him, Bill and Charlie, when they were there, were always good for a game of quiditch, and for the first time Harry might be able to have a proper conversation with Ginny.