Pride, Presents, and Trouble Brewing
Harry sat up all night, waiting for Hedgewig to return. He couldn't wait to learn when he would be allowed to leave this hell-hole. Glad that the moon was out because of the light that it provided, Harry glanced around eagerly, looking for the silhouette of his faithful owl. He was startled when he heard sounds that suggested a car was coming, but Harry couldn't see any headlights coming up the road. While he was searching for the car, he didn't see the one headed right for his window until it was right in front of him.
"Hey Harry, are you ready to leave?"
"Fred, where did you get the car?"
"It's George, and it was a present from the Ministry to makeup for all the bad press Dad got the other year," George scowled.
"Oh. He made it fly again? Never mind, you can tell me later. Where's Ron? Where's Hedgewig? I was kinda expecting her to return with your reply..."
"Right then, Hedgewig's right here," said George, laughing," and Ron was stuck at home, Mum wouldn't let him come. Fred had to take care of some of our business deals in Switzerland, but he's due back tomorrow."
"Oh," Harry said, smiling."If you'll excuse me, I have to throw some things into my trunk, and write a note for the aunt and uncle, and then we can go."
"Here, I'll help."
Harry threw some muggle clothes into a trunk, which already had most of his stuff in it, put his old books back in, and ran downstairs to get some paper and a pencil. He quickly scribbled a note that said," I'm leaving now. Have a good year, and see you next summer! ~Harry" Then George magicked Harry's trunk into the back of the car, and he and Harry jumped in. As they flew back to the Weasley's house, George explained how Mr. Weasley had managed to make their new car fly again. Apparently, Mrs. Weasley had left for a week to visit her sister or mother or someone, no one really remembered who, and while she was gone for a week, Mr. Weasley had magicked the car again.
"Mum still doesn't know, and the only reason I was allowed to come get you by myself was because 'at least he can't make the darn car fly'". George said, laughing.
"Excellent!" Harry agreed laughing, stroking Hedgewig (who had been in the car). (A/N: i dunno what kinda car it is, make it whatever u like, it doesn't matter)
"Just so you know, Hermione's supposed to come tomorrow and stay for a while, too."
"Great," Harry exclaimed. Maybe this year wouldn't be so bad after all...
**********************************************
"Thank you for listening to me, Dumbledore. I'm fine now. I also have to leave, I'm to be expected." the Auror stood up to leave, with no traces on it's face that it had ever been upset.
"Harry?"
"Yes, sir. You know where." With that, the Auror took some Floo Powder, stepped into the flames, muttered some incomprehensible words (A/N: i used a big word yay!), and vanished.
"Good luck," Dumbledore said to the fireplace. He was glad that that had been the one to be picked to be Harry's closest protector. The Auror had never truly left Harry, not even in 1st year when he had battled Quirrel. Oh, had Fudge been mad! But, as the Auror had said, "My job is to protect Harry from Voldemort, not fight his battles for him. He won that battle, as he should have, Voldemort being as weak as he was. And I was the one who finally killed Quirrel, while Dumbledore took care of the rest. Don't tell me how to do my job, Fudge, unless you think you can do it better. I did what I believed was right for Harry at the time. He is still alive, and he will recover. I see no problem." Dumbledore smiled, as he remembered and admired the Auror's inner strength. Even last year, when Fudge gad been livid, the Auror had simply said, "It was written the Voldemort would rise again, only to be totally destroyed at his greatest moment of strength. Had I saved Harry then, Voldemort would never truly be able to be destroyed. You will see one day, Fudge. Have faith."
"I wish you well," Dumbledore said, completing his small prayer.
***************************************
"All goes well, sir. The student has been chosen, the potion is ready, and I know the student as well as anybody."
"Very well, you may begin your mission. Do not report back until it is done!"
"Yes, sire. As you wish," said the Death Eater, bowing low and backing away.
***************************************
Harry smiled as he looked at the Weasley's house. He liked it's uniqueness, because it definitely looked as though (and probably was) it was held up by magic. They had reached the house before dawn, and as George had fun taking Harry's trunk up to Ron's room (after promising to leave the trunk and all it's contents intact, and as they had been originally), Ron came out to greet him, saying, "Harry, how're they treating you this summer?"
"Not too bad, as things normally go. How's your summer been lately?"
They kept talking, catching up with each other, and Harry managed to find out that Ron had been doing nothing, really, except play around with some Weasley Wizard Wheezes stuff (Fred and George do have their own business), and talk to Hermione and Harry a couple of times. Before they knew it, they were talking about Hogwarts.
"Who do you think will be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? I hope its not Snape", Ron began, but before Harry could answer, they heard a yell, and turned around to see Hermione sprinting at them.
"Harry! Ron! How have you guys been? I haven't seen you in ages...", Hermione said happily, talking fast enough to make her tongue fly off (A/N: i should make Fred and George do that sometime.decisions, decisions...), and gave them each a hug. "Oh, Harry, I know your birthday's not until tomorrow, but I have to give you this now, you'll love it!"
Harry stared at the package in Hermione's hand for a second, then took and began ripping the paper off. "Wow", Harry whispered while Ron clamored about saying, "Show me! Show me!" Harry found himself staring at a miniature Quidditch board, just like the one Wood had had, complete with tiny players and everything. "Wow", Ron agreed, as they stared at it together.
"The players change according to the team and the year, so you can have whatever teams you want playing each other. Do you like it?" Hermione looked anxious.
"Of course I like it! This is great! Thanks a lot, Hermione!" Harry quickly gave her a thank you hug. Before he could ask her about his present anymore, the rest of the Weasley family came out. Everyone was there, Percy, Ginny, Fred, George, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Charlie, and Bill. The next half hour or so was consumed in welcomes, hellos, catching up with each other, and other stuff.
Mrs. Weasley proposed that they have Harry's birthday dinner tonight, since everyone was here (for once). Then she whisked off to the kitchens, to start cooking. Ron, Harry, Fred, and George went off to play some Quidditch before breakfast, and Hermione and Ginny went up to Ginny's room to unpack Hermione's stuff, and talk (A/N: whatever, they just weren't with the guys, ok?).
When the guys were play Quidditch, they had to stay behind the trees, so they wouldn't be seen, but they were having fun. They were just tossing balls around, when Harry's broom started acting funny, bucking around like his old broom had done during 1st year. Luckily, Harry wasn't very high off the ground, and so he fell only about 6 feet. His broom was fine when he got back on, but Harry felt uneasy. He laughed with everyone else, and continued to play, but Harry was sure he saw someone in the shadows, someone who wished him ill. The only problem was that the person wasn't big enough to have been an adult.
Strange, thought Harry.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully, and Harry had a great time that evening. The Weasley's had pitched together to buy Harry tickets to see the Chudley Cannons play, which he would obviously share with Ron and Hermione, and he got an owl from Snuffles, which turned out to be a lot of candy, and some advice. The small note said only this:
Watch your step, and be careful. Trouble is brewing as the Darkness grows.
Harry quickly stuffed the note in his pocket, glancing to see that no one had seen, and missed the smile on the Auror's face. At least Sirius was doing his part well. And it was true, trouble was brewing...
A/N: i know, a cliffhanger, it'll get better i promise! please review, and tell me whether the Auror should be Ron or Hermione, and who the Death Eater should be. thanx!
Harry sat up all night, waiting for Hedgewig to return. He couldn't wait to learn when he would be allowed to leave this hell-hole. Glad that the moon was out because of the light that it provided, Harry glanced around eagerly, looking for the silhouette of his faithful owl. He was startled when he heard sounds that suggested a car was coming, but Harry couldn't see any headlights coming up the road. While he was searching for the car, he didn't see the one headed right for his window until it was right in front of him.
"Hey Harry, are you ready to leave?"
"Fred, where did you get the car?"
"It's George, and it was a present from the Ministry to makeup for all the bad press Dad got the other year," George scowled.
"Oh. He made it fly again? Never mind, you can tell me later. Where's Ron? Where's Hedgewig? I was kinda expecting her to return with your reply..."
"Right then, Hedgewig's right here," said George, laughing," and Ron was stuck at home, Mum wouldn't let him come. Fred had to take care of some of our business deals in Switzerland, but he's due back tomorrow."
"Oh," Harry said, smiling."If you'll excuse me, I have to throw some things into my trunk, and write a note for the aunt and uncle, and then we can go."
"Here, I'll help."
Harry threw some muggle clothes into a trunk, which already had most of his stuff in it, put his old books back in, and ran downstairs to get some paper and a pencil. He quickly scribbled a note that said," I'm leaving now. Have a good year, and see you next summer! ~Harry" Then George magicked Harry's trunk into the back of the car, and he and Harry jumped in. As they flew back to the Weasley's house, George explained how Mr. Weasley had managed to make their new car fly again. Apparently, Mrs. Weasley had left for a week to visit her sister or mother or someone, no one really remembered who, and while she was gone for a week, Mr. Weasley had magicked the car again.
"Mum still doesn't know, and the only reason I was allowed to come get you by myself was because 'at least he can't make the darn car fly'". George said, laughing.
"Excellent!" Harry agreed laughing, stroking Hedgewig (who had been in the car). (A/N: i dunno what kinda car it is, make it whatever u like, it doesn't matter)
"Just so you know, Hermione's supposed to come tomorrow and stay for a while, too."
"Great," Harry exclaimed. Maybe this year wouldn't be so bad after all...
**********************************************
"Thank you for listening to me, Dumbledore. I'm fine now. I also have to leave, I'm to be expected." the Auror stood up to leave, with no traces on it's face that it had ever been upset.
"Harry?"
"Yes, sir. You know where." With that, the Auror took some Floo Powder, stepped into the flames, muttered some incomprehensible words (A/N: i used a big word yay!), and vanished.
"Good luck," Dumbledore said to the fireplace. He was glad that that had been the one to be picked to be Harry's closest protector. The Auror had never truly left Harry, not even in 1st year when he had battled Quirrel. Oh, had Fudge been mad! But, as the Auror had said, "My job is to protect Harry from Voldemort, not fight his battles for him. He won that battle, as he should have, Voldemort being as weak as he was. And I was the one who finally killed Quirrel, while Dumbledore took care of the rest. Don't tell me how to do my job, Fudge, unless you think you can do it better. I did what I believed was right for Harry at the time. He is still alive, and he will recover. I see no problem." Dumbledore smiled, as he remembered and admired the Auror's inner strength. Even last year, when Fudge gad been livid, the Auror had simply said, "It was written the Voldemort would rise again, only to be totally destroyed at his greatest moment of strength. Had I saved Harry then, Voldemort would never truly be able to be destroyed. You will see one day, Fudge. Have faith."
"I wish you well," Dumbledore said, completing his small prayer.
***************************************
"All goes well, sir. The student has been chosen, the potion is ready, and I know the student as well as anybody."
"Very well, you may begin your mission. Do not report back until it is done!"
"Yes, sire. As you wish," said the Death Eater, bowing low and backing away.
***************************************
Harry smiled as he looked at the Weasley's house. He liked it's uniqueness, because it definitely looked as though (and probably was) it was held up by magic. They had reached the house before dawn, and as George had fun taking Harry's trunk up to Ron's room (after promising to leave the trunk and all it's contents intact, and as they had been originally), Ron came out to greet him, saying, "Harry, how're they treating you this summer?"
"Not too bad, as things normally go. How's your summer been lately?"
They kept talking, catching up with each other, and Harry managed to find out that Ron had been doing nothing, really, except play around with some Weasley Wizard Wheezes stuff (Fred and George do have their own business), and talk to Hermione and Harry a couple of times. Before they knew it, they were talking about Hogwarts.
"Who do you think will be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? I hope its not Snape", Ron began, but before Harry could answer, they heard a yell, and turned around to see Hermione sprinting at them.
"Harry! Ron! How have you guys been? I haven't seen you in ages...", Hermione said happily, talking fast enough to make her tongue fly off (A/N: i should make Fred and George do that sometime.decisions, decisions...), and gave them each a hug. "Oh, Harry, I know your birthday's not until tomorrow, but I have to give you this now, you'll love it!"
Harry stared at the package in Hermione's hand for a second, then took and began ripping the paper off. "Wow", Harry whispered while Ron clamored about saying, "Show me! Show me!" Harry found himself staring at a miniature Quidditch board, just like the one Wood had had, complete with tiny players and everything. "Wow", Ron agreed, as they stared at it together.
"The players change according to the team and the year, so you can have whatever teams you want playing each other. Do you like it?" Hermione looked anxious.
"Of course I like it! This is great! Thanks a lot, Hermione!" Harry quickly gave her a thank you hug. Before he could ask her about his present anymore, the rest of the Weasley family came out. Everyone was there, Percy, Ginny, Fred, George, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Charlie, and Bill. The next half hour or so was consumed in welcomes, hellos, catching up with each other, and other stuff.
Mrs. Weasley proposed that they have Harry's birthday dinner tonight, since everyone was here (for once). Then she whisked off to the kitchens, to start cooking. Ron, Harry, Fred, and George went off to play some Quidditch before breakfast, and Hermione and Ginny went up to Ginny's room to unpack Hermione's stuff, and talk (A/N: whatever, they just weren't with the guys, ok?).
When the guys were play Quidditch, they had to stay behind the trees, so they wouldn't be seen, but they were having fun. They were just tossing balls around, when Harry's broom started acting funny, bucking around like his old broom had done during 1st year. Luckily, Harry wasn't very high off the ground, and so he fell only about 6 feet. His broom was fine when he got back on, but Harry felt uneasy. He laughed with everyone else, and continued to play, but Harry was sure he saw someone in the shadows, someone who wished him ill. The only problem was that the person wasn't big enough to have been an adult.
Strange, thought Harry.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully, and Harry had a great time that evening. The Weasley's had pitched together to buy Harry tickets to see the Chudley Cannons play, which he would obviously share with Ron and Hermione, and he got an owl from Snuffles, which turned out to be a lot of candy, and some advice. The small note said only this:
Watch your step, and be careful. Trouble is brewing as the Darkness grows.
Harry quickly stuffed the note in his pocket, glancing to see that no one had seen, and missed the smile on the Auror's face. At least Sirius was doing his part well. And it was true, trouble was brewing...
A/N: i know, a cliffhanger, it'll get better i promise! please review, and tell me whether the Auror should be Ron or Hermione, and who the Death Eater should be. thanx!