Chapter Three:
Beginnings
August, 1997
"You're joking!"
Harry froze, staring at Ron in amazement as the gnome in his hand struggled to escape.
"You CAN'T!"
"I can, you know," was all Ron said. The expression he wore was so calmly serious that Harry thought for a moment that he was looking at Percy.
"Leave Hogwarts? But -- OW!"
Harry shook his throbbing hand as he stared at the marks made by the forgotten gnome's needle-sharp teeth.
Furious, Harry used his undamaged hand to fling the gnome over the back hedge and out of sight.
"Bravo, Harry!" Ron exclaimed as he watched the gnome disappear. "And one-handed, too! Bet I can beat it! Let me -- "
"BUGGER THE SODDING GNOMES!" Harry shouted. "YOU CAN'T LEAVE HOGWARTS!"
"I already have," Ron said with quiet finality. "Fixed it with Dumbledore yesterday."
"But -- why? Why now? You've only got a year to go!"
"Exactly," Ron said, catching a gnome and giving it a mighty heave. He nodded with satisfaction as the tiny creature vanished from view. He turned slowly and faced Harry.
"I've been at Hogwarts six years now, and I don't have any more idea what I want to do with my life than I did they day we first met at King's Cross.
"So I'm taking what's known as a matriculating sabbatical. I'm going to Romania to work with Charlie, and I'll get credits that will count when I go back for Seventh Year. I'll need them -- I'm not exactly the best student, you'll admit."
Harry looked stunned. He'd known something was up when Ron suggested they go out after lunch and de-gnome the garden -- it was one of his least favorite chores. It had obviously been a ruse to get them out of the house so Ron could talk to him privately. Harry had noticed Ron looking apprehensive for days, so he knew it must be something serious.
But THIS?
Thinking quickly, Harry dug into his mind for counter-arguments, snatching at least a dozen from his thoughts like so many Golden Snitches.
But he made no attempt to use them.
He looked at Ron, his best friend for the last six years, the closest thing to a brother he would ever have. And it was as if he was seeing him for the first time.
Gone was the skinny eleven-year-old with the silly grin and eyes twinkling mischievously at the prospect of some deviltry or grand adventure. In his place stood a tall seventeen-year-old; the red hair and freckles remained, but the still-boyish face was serene, the mouth strong and set, the blue eyes clear.
"So," was all Harry could say, "you'll be graduating with Ginny, then?"
"Yeah. I think that's one reason Mum and Dad agreed. They still worry about her -- only girl, youngest, you know. And after her first year, well..."
Harry would never forget Ginny's first year at Hogwarts, his and Ron's second. The Chamber of Secrets, Tom Riddle -- Ginny had nearly died.
"So," Ron continued, "this way, you and Hermione can look after her while I'm gone, then I'll be there for her when you're gone. Perfect."
"Speaking of Hermione," Harry said, studying Ron carefully, "you'll be back for the wedding, right?"
"If a dragon doesn't roast me," Ron grinned weakly.
"I'm serious," Harry said sternly. "You're Best Man. You've got to be there. Promise me! Promise, or by Merlin, I'll stuff you down a gnome hole and hold you there until they bite your ears off!"
"I promise!" Ron said, throwing up his hands as the shadow of a smile flickered across his face.
"Right, then." Harry relaxed.
"Hagrid's coming with me," Ron added, almost as an afterthought. "You know he's been traveling the continent the last two Summers, looking for his people. Well, I thought he might try Romania this year, and Dumbledore agreed. Charlie's looking forward to it. He and Hagrid are great mates. Who do you think got him on this dragon kick in the first place? And as for Hagrid, it's like a second Christmas for him. Told him we might even find Norbert."
"He'd love that," Harry said, smiling in spite of himself.
"So, you want to finish the de-gnoming?"
"Nah," Ron said. "I hate de-gnoming!"
And the two friends exchanged knowing smiles.
To Be Continued...
*~*
Note from Fae Princess: Mwahaha...I've had the lucky privelege of reading the whole story already...so I already know what's going to happen, I know the ending, I even know what colour Harry's underpants are in the story! *ahem* My apologies to Stoneheart for not posting when I said I would...I already explained to him what happened, and I feel so bad. But I'm posting now...so at least it's getting done, right? Which means you must leave a review for him! He really deserves it, you know.
Have fun, soaking in the sun! *smooches* ~Fae
Beginnings
August, 1997
"You're joking!"
Harry froze, staring at Ron in amazement as the gnome in his hand struggled to escape.
"You CAN'T!"
"I can, you know," was all Ron said. The expression he wore was so calmly serious that Harry thought for a moment that he was looking at Percy.
"Leave Hogwarts? But -- OW!"
Harry shook his throbbing hand as he stared at the marks made by the forgotten gnome's needle-sharp teeth.
Furious, Harry used his undamaged hand to fling the gnome over the back hedge and out of sight.
"Bravo, Harry!" Ron exclaimed as he watched the gnome disappear. "And one-handed, too! Bet I can beat it! Let me -- "
"BUGGER THE SODDING GNOMES!" Harry shouted. "YOU CAN'T LEAVE HOGWARTS!"
"I already have," Ron said with quiet finality. "Fixed it with Dumbledore yesterday."
"But -- why? Why now? You've only got a year to go!"
"Exactly," Ron said, catching a gnome and giving it a mighty heave. He nodded with satisfaction as the tiny creature vanished from view. He turned slowly and faced Harry.
"I've been at Hogwarts six years now, and I don't have any more idea what I want to do with my life than I did they day we first met at King's Cross.
"So I'm taking what's known as a matriculating sabbatical. I'm going to Romania to work with Charlie, and I'll get credits that will count when I go back for Seventh Year. I'll need them -- I'm not exactly the best student, you'll admit."
Harry looked stunned. He'd known something was up when Ron suggested they go out after lunch and de-gnome the garden -- it was one of his least favorite chores. It had obviously been a ruse to get them out of the house so Ron could talk to him privately. Harry had noticed Ron looking apprehensive for days, so he knew it must be something serious.
But THIS?
Thinking quickly, Harry dug into his mind for counter-arguments, snatching at least a dozen from his thoughts like so many Golden Snitches.
But he made no attempt to use them.
He looked at Ron, his best friend for the last six years, the closest thing to a brother he would ever have. And it was as if he was seeing him for the first time.
Gone was the skinny eleven-year-old with the silly grin and eyes twinkling mischievously at the prospect of some deviltry or grand adventure. In his place stood a tall seventeen-year-old; the red hair and freckles remained, but the still-boyish face was serene, the mouth strong and set, the blue eyes clear.
"So," was all Harry could say, "you'll be graduating with Ginny, then?"
"Yeah. I think that's one reason Mum and Dad agreed. They still worry about her -- only girl, youngest, you know. And after her first year, well..."
Harry would never forget Ginny's first year at Hogwarts, his and Ron's second. The Chamber of Secrets, Tom Riddle -- Ginny had nearly died.
"So," Ron continued, "this way, you and Hermione can look after her while I'm gone, then I'll be there for her when you're gone. Perfect."
"Speaking of Hermione," Harry said, studying Ron carefully, "you'll be back for the wedding, right?"
"If a dragon doesn't roast me," Ron grinned weakly.
"I'm serious," Harry said sternly. "You're Best Man. You've got to be there. Promise me! Promise, or by Merlin, I'll stuff you down a gnome hole and hold you there until they bite your ears off!"
"I promise!" Ron said, throwing up his hands as the shadow of a smile flickered across his face.
"Right, then." Harry relaxed.
"Hagrid's coming with me," Ron added, almost as an afterthought. "You know he's been traveling the continent the last two Summers, looking for his people. Well, I thought he might try Romania this year, and Dumbledore agreed. Charlie's looking forward to it. He and Hagrid are great mates. Who do you think got him on this dragon kick in the first place? And as for Hagrid, it's like a second Christmas for him. Told him we might even find Norbert."
"He'd love that," Harry said, smiling in spite of himself.
"So, you want to finish the de-gnoming?"
"Nah," Ron said. "I hate de-gnoming!"
And the two friends exchanged knowing smiles.
To Be Continued...
Note from Fae Princess: Mwahaha...I've had the lucky privelege of reading the whole story already...so I already know what's going to happen, I know the ending, I even know what colour Harry's underpants are in the story! *ahem* My apologies to Stoneheart for not posting when I said I would...I already explained to him what happened, and I feel so bad. But I'm posting now...so at least it's getting done, right? Which means you must leave a review for him! He really deserves it, you know.
Have fun, soaking in the sun! *smooches* ~Fae