Disclaimer: Again, I don't own anything but the plot; I don't make money
from it either.
Chapter 2
Back to the Burrow
Harry and Hermione practically jumped out of the car leaving Mr. and Mrs. Granger trailing behind. Before they even got up to the house, Ron swung the door open with a crash. Fred and George were right behind him, and not exactly expecting him to stop so suddenly, crashed into Ron from behind, leaving the three of them sprawled out in a dog pile on the Weasley's front step. Ron quickly climbed out from under the twins and ran down to meet his friends.
"You're here!" Ron shouted as the three of them met in a huge group hug. Then, as if they suddenly realized how old they were, all three pulled back, blushing at a bewildered Mr. and Mrs. Granger and a snickering Fred and George.
"Well, . . . alright then. Let's go inside, Mum's made supper."
Harry paused. "You knew I was coming?"
"Of course I did. You think Hermione would just pull something off like that without letting me in on it?"
Harry looked quizzically from one of his best friends to the other and then grinned. The thought of spending one extra week at the Burrow instead of at 4 Privet Drive was good enough that he would let them slide on not telling him. Besides, this way, he could spend his birthday with his real family. The three friends headed in toward the house, meeting Fred and George on the way in. The twins busied themselves falling all over Harry, mimicking Ron's earlier actions. Ron muttered something that sounded like, "And they're supposed to be adults."
Molly Weasley ushered everybody into the house before greeting all her guests, including Hermione's parents. Soon, the rest of the Weasley family joined them. Mr. Weasley and Percy arrived home from work, Ginny came down from her room still reading a book and even Bill who was visiting joined the family at the table.
"Well," Mrs. Weasley said smiling, "it's been quite awhile since we had twelve people at the table. It gets so lonely during the year with everyone away at school and everything."
"We'll be here this year Mum, don't worry!" said George with a sly smile on his face. The twins, who had graduated from Hogwarts the year before, had their new store set up in Hgsmeade, but they were going to stay at home until they gained enough profit to move out.
"Hmph. And I better not see anymore of your inventions lying about or being mixed in the sink either. I thought that's why you got a workroom! Just this morning, the entire kitchen sink was covered with some green slime. I though I had gotten it all cleaned up, but I think it's still sticky," Mrs. Weasley glared meaningfully at the twins.
"That's great Mum! That means it worked."
"Not in my kitchen!"
"Alright, but that's still great."
Mrs. Weasley sighed as she turned her attention to the Grangers and the conversation they were already having with Mr. Weasley. As the adults chatted away, Harry glanced around the table to take it all in. Even though it had only been a couple of months, he felt like he had been away from the wizarding world forever. It was strange, as his eyes swept over the people at the table he noticed that those two months really had made a difference. Ron had gotten even taller than Harry, taller than Fred and George, although he still had a very boyish look about him. Hermione had long since tamed her hair, but she now had a glow and charm about her that didn't really show during the school year while she was pouring over books and notes. Ginny had cut her hair short, leaving the red curls falling flirtatiously around her face and shoulders. Ginny had gained a level of confidence that was a far cry from the little girl who had stuck her elbow in the butter. Harry wondered to himself when she had gotten so pretty, and why he had never noticed. Shocked at his own thoughts, he snapped out of it and continued looking around the table. Percy, for one, had not changed in the slightest, the only change was in what he chose to brag about. From prefect, to head boy, to his job at the ministry, to last year's promotion, it was always the same thing; Percy talked and whoever he was talking to pretended to listen. This year he was talking about his recent engagement to Penelope Clearwater. Fred and George were still bubbling over with new ideas for jokes and their store, but even they had a new "grown-up" look about them. Harry chuckled to himself; maybe the responsibility would be good for them.
Harry asked Fred why they hadn't taken the empty shop for sale in Diagon Ally instead of the one in Hogsmeade, Diagon Ally certainly got more traffic. Fred laughed and answered, "We thought about that, but more students come to Hogsmeade. For some reason, I get the feeling that we'll actually get more business in Hogsmeade. Besides, we still have to look out for our little sister."
Ginny rolled her eyes and said, "I heard that."
Yes, it was good to be back in the wizarding world Harry thought as things floated across the long table. It's especially good to be back with the Weasleys. Harry relaxed as he enjoyed his meal and thought about his birthday that was only two days away. Harry smiled to himself as he listened to the conversation at the other end of the table. Mr. Granger was explaining different types of dental equipment to a fascinated Mr. Weasley. Mr. Weasley seemed especially interested in the X-ray machine that could show the inside of the teeth and was commenting on how it would be a great project for the Ministry to investigate muggle technology. In turn, Mrs. Granger looked bewildered as Mrs. Weasley tried to have a casual conversation about garden knomes. Harry almost burst out laughing when Mrs. Weasley asked, "Well, what do you do when they bury themselves? If you dig them out, they've already moved!" Mrs. Granger tried to keep her composure answering, "Well, I don't believe I've ever had that problem."
After dinner, Harry and Hermione unloaded the car and moved their stuff into Ron and Ginny's rooms. As Hermione said goodbye to her parents, promising to owl them at least every week until she got to school and reassuring them that they had given her enough money to buy all her school materials and start her own personal library, Ron and Harry started planning Harry's birthday party. Ginny lingered in their area, but left after a few minutes of not being acknowledged. When Hermione returned to the living room, she hardly gave a glance to Ginny's lingering glances. The three friends spent the rest of the evening planning Harry's birthday and the rest of their summer. Ron wanted to have weekly Quidditch matches in order to warm up for the season. Harry grimaced at the thought of the new Quidditch season. There were three open spots on the team as Fred, George and Angelina had all graduated the past year. It had been hard enough the year before to replace Oliver and Alicia, but replacing half the team was much more difficult. Ron had taken Alicia's position as chaser and Dennis Creevy had shocked them all making almost as good a keeper as Oliver had been. Of course, this year, the reserves were more prepared, since the year before there had been no Quidditch practices to train them, but still, it was quite different than having a team that's been playing together a couple of years. However, Harry was glad to have the opportunity to practice early; he was going to have to adjust to his new height.
Finally, Mrs. Weasley came in and sent the three of them to bed. Hermione quickly agreed and headed up to Ginny's room. Quidditch was not her favorite topic, but she didn't mind it so much either. Harry and Ron trudged up the stairs, tired but happy. After all, they were all together and still had eventful month ahead of them.
A/N: I don't know if anyone is even reading this, but I will continue to post as long as I can. However, it would make me feel much much MUCH better if you would all send me a review, just so I know someone besides me cares about this story. Oh, and after this, the action should be moving a lot quicker. I just had to get them all together first.
Chapter 2
Back to the Burrow
Harry and Hermione practically jumped out of the car leaving Mr. and Mrs. Granger trailing behind. Before they even got up to the house, Ron swung the door open with a crash. Fred and George were right behind him, and not exactly expecting him to stop so suddenly, crashed into Ron from behind, leaving the three of them sprawled out in a dog pile on the Weasley's front step. Ron quickly climbed out from under the twins and ran down to meet his friends.
"You're here!" Ron shouted as the three of them met in a huge group hug. Then, as if they suddenly realized how old they were, all three pulled back, blushing at a bewildered Mr. and Mrs. Granger and a snickering Fred and George.
"Well, . . . alright then. Let's go inside, Mum's made supper."
Harry paused. "You knew I was coming?"
"Of course I did. You think Hermione would just pull something off like that without letting me in on it?"
Harry looked quizzically from one of his best friends to the other and then grinned. The thought of spending one extra week at the Burrow instead of at 4 Privet Drive was good enough that he would let them slide on not telling him. Besides, this way, he could spend his birthday with his real family. The three friends headed in toward the house, meeting Fred and George on the way in. The twins busied themselves falling all over Harry, mimicking Ron's earlier actions. Ron muttered something that sounded like, "And they're supposed to be adults."
Molly Weasley ushered everybody into the house before greeting all her guests, including Hermione's parents. Soon, the rest of the Weasley family joined them. Mr. Weasley and Percy arrived home from work, Ginny came down from her room still reading a book and even Bill who was visiting joined the family at the table.
"Well," Mrs. Weasley said smiling, "it's been quite awhile since we had twelve people at the table. It gets so lonely during the year with everyone away at school and everything."
"We'll be here this year Mum, don't worry!" said George with a sly smile on his face. The twins, who had graduated from Hogwarts the year before, had their new store set up in Hgsmeade, but they were going to stay at home until they gained enough profit to move out.
"Hmph. And I better not see anymore of your inventions lying about or being mixed in the sink either. I thought that's why you got a workroom! Just this morning, the entire kitchen sink was covered with some green slime. I though I had gotten it all cleaned up, but I think it's still sticky," Mrs. Weasley glared meaningfully at the twins.
"That's great Mum! That means it worked."
"Not in my kitchen!"
"Alright, but that's still great."
Mrs. Weasley sighed as she turned her attention to the Grangers and the conversation they were already having with Mr. Weasley. As the adults chatted away, Harry glanced around the table to take it all in. Even though it had only been a couple of months, he felt like he had been away from the wizarding world forever. It was strange, as his eyes swept over the people at the table he noticed that those two months really had made a difference. Ron had gotten even taller than Harry, taller than Fred and George, although he still had a very boyish look about him. Hermione had long since tamed her hair, but she now had a glow and charm about her that didn't really show during the school year while she was pouring over books and notes. Ginny had cut her hair short, leaving the red curls falling flirtatiously around her face and shoulders. Ginny had gained a level of confidence that was a far cry from the little girl who had stuck her elbow in the butter. Harry wondered to himself when she had gotten so pretty, and why he had never noticed. Shocked at his own thoughts, he snapped out of it and continued looking around the table. Percy, for one, had not changed in the slightest, the only change was in what he chose to brag about. From prefect, to head boy, to his job at the ministry, to last year's promotion, it was always the same thing; Percy talked and whoever he was talking to pretended to listen. This year he was talking about his recent engagement to Penelope Clearwater. Fred and George were still bubbling over with new ideas for jokes and their store, but even they had a new "grown-up" look about them. Harry chuckled to himself; maybe the responsibility would be good for them.
Harry asked Fred why they hadn't taken the empty shop for sale in Diagon Ally instead of the one in Hogsmeade, Diagon Ally certainly got more traffic. Fred laughed and answered, "We thought about that, but more students come to Hogsmeade. For some reason, I get the feeling that we'll actually get more business in Hogsmeade. Besides, we still have to look out for our little sister."
Ginny rolled her eyes and said, "I heard that."
Yes, it was good to be back in the wizarding world Harry thought as things floated across the long table. It's especially good to be back with the Weasleys. Harry relaxed as he enjoyed his meal and thought about his birthday that was only two days away. Harry smiled to himself as he listened to the conversation at the other end of the table. Mr. Granger was explaining different types of dental equipment to a fascinated Mr. Weasley. Mr. Weasley seemed especially interested in the X-ray machine that could show the inside of the teeth and was commenting on how it would be a great project for the Ministry to investigate muggle technology. In turn, Mrs. Granger looked bewildered as Mrs. Weasley tried to have a casual conversation about garden knomes. Harry almost burst out laughing when Mrs. Weasley asked, "Well, what do you do when they bury themselves? If you dig them out, they've already moved!" Mrs. Granger tried to keep her composure answering, "Well, I don't believe I've ever had that problem."
After dinner, Harry and Hermione unloaded the car and moved their stuff into Ron and Ginny's rooms. As Hermione said goodbye to her parents, promising to owl them at least every week until she got to school and reassuring them that they had given her enough money to buy all her school materials and start her own personal library, Ron and Harry started planning Harry's birthday party. Ginny lingered in their area, but left after a few minutes of not being acknowledged. When Hermione returned to the living room, she hardly gave a glance to Ginny's lingering glances. The three friends spent the rest of the evening planning Harry's birthday and the rest of their summer. Ron wanted to have weekly Quidditch matches in order to warm up for the season. Harry grimaced at the thought of the new Quidditch season. There were three open spots on the team as Fred, George and Angelina had all graduated the past year. It had been hard enough the year before to replace Oliver and Alicia, but replacing half the team was much more difficult. Ron had taken Alicia's position as chaser and Dennis Creevy had shocked them all making almost as good a keeper as Oliver had been. Of course, this year, the reserves were more prepared, since the year before there had been no Quidditch practices to train them, but still, it was quite different than having a team that's been playing together a couple of years. However, Harry was glad to have the opportunity to practice early; he was going to have to adjust to his new height.
Finally, Mrs. Weasley came in and sent the three of them to bed. Hermione quickly agreed and headed up to Ginny's room. Quidditch was not her favorite topic, but she didn't mind it so much either. Harry and Ron trudged up the stairs, tired but happy. After all, they were all together and still had eventful month ahead of them.
A/N: I don't know if anyone is even reading this, but I will continue to post as long as I can. However, it would make me feel much much MUCH better if you would all send me a review, just so I know someone besides me cares about this story. Oh, and after this, the action should be moving a lot quicker. I just had to get them all together first.