Chapter 3
The Visit
Harry woke to his alarm before it was light out, waking Sally and Hedwig. Dressing quickly he grabbed his broom and invisibility cloak, then took both of his 'pets' downstairs. When they got downstairs Sally spoke.
"Judging by the broom in your hand and the cloak we're going flying."
"Not just flying but flying to Ron's house."
"Oh wow! Isss hisss little sssister going to be there?" she inquired.
"I think so, why?"
"No reassson."
Harry followed Hedwig in the air on his broomstick with the cloak wrapped around him. "Thisss isss ssso amazing!" Sally said poking her head out of the cloak pocket and looking down.
"Be careful, don't fall."
"Yesss Mummy."
"I mean it."
"All right!"
"Hedwig fly above the clouds!" Harry called.
After hooting a reply she flew up-wards. Once safely in the shelter of fluffy clouds, Harry pulled the cloak down off his head. It was fun watching the sunrise above the clouds. After about an hour and a half, Hedwig flew down through the clouds. Harry pulled the cloak back up and followed.
Below Harry could see the familiar house, the burrow. Hedwig landed in a tree while Harry flew over to Ron's window and peered inside. Ron was sitting on his bed, talking to someone, Harry craned his neck; it was Hermione.
Harry started tapping on the glass; Ron came over to investigate the noise. Ron appeared at the window looking confused. Harry realized Ron couldn't see him and pulled the cloak down off his head.
Seeing his best friend's head appear floating in thin air 13 feet above the ground gave Ron a fright. Recovering quickly, he jerked the window open. "Harry, you could have used the door!"
"Hello to you too. Listen, I don't want anybody to find out about the cloak. Keep it up here." Harry took it off and handed it to him then flew down to the ground. Harry rang the doorbell. "Get in my pocket," he whispered to Sally. Obediently she slipped in to his shirt pocket. Mrs. Weasley through the door open and flung her arms around Harry.
"Harry! Everybody's missed you!" Harry returned the hug, but let go quickly as Sal was in his pocket.
"Hello Mrs. Weasley,"
"Breakfast is in a few minutes, but Ron is upstairs."
"Thanks," Harry called dashing up the steps. When he reached the top floor, he knocked and Ron opened the door.
"Harry!" Hermione cried and through her arms around his neck.
"Careful Hermione," Harry said pulling away, worried about Sally. "I've only been gone a week and a half." He set his broom against the wall. "Why are you here?"
"It's mum and dads 20th anniversary, they went on a month long cruse. So I asked if I could stay here, and they said yes. I'm going to spend the summer."
"And you're staying in Ron's room?" Harry asked raising his eyebrows.
"Yes, well, I've been helping him with his homework," she said turning red.
"Yeah," added Ron, who was also very red in the face. "So who was it you wanted us to meet Harry?"
"This is Sally," he said lifting her out of his pocket. "Sal, that's Ron and Hermione."
"A-a snake Harry?" Hermione asked looking at Sally like she was a bit scared of her.
"They don't like me," Sally said sadly.
"Sure they do. Maybe not now, but they will when they get to know you. They don't really have a choice, do they?"
"I sssuppossse ssso, but I don't want them to touch me until they like me."
"Sal sometimes you act just like a child."
"But MUMMY!" she wined. "I'M THE BABY! You have to love THE BABY!" Harry started laughing.
"What's so funny?" asked Ron.
"Sal just, oh nevermind."
"Harry, what's that?" Hermione indicated the ring around his neck.
"Nothing," he said quickly stuffing it under his shirt.
"Harry, why do you have a ring? Your a guy, remember?" Ron said slowly, at though Harry were stupid.
"It's nothing, okay?" They both just looked at him. Harry sighed, then swallowing the lump forming in his throat, told them as quickly as he could. "It's my mother's wedding ring. Sally found it in the cloak pocket. I put it on a piece of leather and I don't want to talk about it. Your mom is calling us,"
Once they reached the kitchen they found Mr. Weasley, Fred, George, Percy, and Ginny were already seated. "Everyone meet Harry's little friend." Everybody looked up and his or her eyes widened at the sight of Sally. That is everybody but Ginny, a strange look came across her when she and Sal made eye contact.
Sally responded oddly to it. She had wanted nothing to do with Ron or Hermione, but she slid off Harry's neck and on to the table. Sally slid up Ginny's arm on to her neck, and then surprising Harry at the least, licked Ginny's cheek.
Ginny didn't look at all frightened by this strange snake suddenly licking her face, she was more surprised, but still happy. "That's funny, she didn't want anything to do with Ron or Hermione. I guess she likes you." Harry said sitting next to her.
"I-I'm sorry," Ginny stuttered blushing scarlet.
"Sorry, why? I'm glad, she doesn't like Ron and Herm, and that sorta worries me. So it's kinda a relief."
"S-so what's her name?" Ginny took great care not to look at Harry.
"Sally." Mrs. Weasley was now putting plates of food on the table.
"Harry," hissed Sally, "tell her she can count on it."
"Count on it? Count on what?"
"Jussst tell her," Most of the Weasley's were looking at Harry rather oddly. Few of them had ever heard Harry speak parseltounge, those who had only a few words.
"She said to tell you that you can count on it. What does that mean?"
Ginny looked at Sally, who responded by licking her face again. Ginny laughed, which was something she had never done before in front of Harry. Harry noticed she had a nice laugh, and wished she would laugh more often. Sally suddenly turned her attention to Harry, peering at him intently.
Then she made a noise that could only be described as one thing; a snort. This was followed by some small giggles, and then she burst in to hysterical laughter. "What? Sally are you all right?" Harry was worried about his 'pet'.
"It'sss jussst-" laughter. "She-" laughter, "her-" laughter, "but you-" laughter, "I shouldn't sssay."
Harry looked at Sally oddly, then shrugged it off as something to do with the emotions thing.