Chapter Four
The Forest, Reflections and Discoveries
"Hey Ron, look at this," said Harry as he beckoned him over.
Ron joined him and looked at the parchment.
Together they read the note:
"'Dearest esteemed guest:
"'If you have any questions or should recall any needs, be pleased to write them on this page. We will answer your questions and fulfil your desires to the utmost of our abilities.
" 'Your ever faithful,
" 'The Management of the Sorcerer's Retreat House."
"There's your chance," said Ron. "Let's ask them about the woods."
So Harry dipped the quill in the ink and began to write.
"May we explore the woods? Are there any dangers in the forest? Is the lake safe to swim in?" Ron shifted a little as Harry wrote the last question. Obviously he was still a bit embarrassed about not packing the swim trunks and perhaps thought that Hermione might arrive and surprise them.
They waited for a moment and slowly the ink on the page vanished. A moment longer and words began to appear on the page. Ron read them out loud.
"'Dearest Guest:
"'Of course you may explore the woods. We have seen to every detail in ensuring that they are safe, pleasant, and protected from the appearance of foul or bothersome beasts of every kind. Several trails are available for your pleasure and relaxation. Charms are in place to assure that you will not wander away from the Retreat House complex and yet may explore to your heart's content.
"'The lake is at your disposal for swimming. We have arranged that the temperature will remain constant to your liking, and enchantments prevent any possibility of drowning.
"'We pride ourselves on making the Sorcerer's Retreat House the perfect location to allow you to obtain your every wish and need in a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere.
"'Yours ever faithfully....'"
Ron stopped reading.
"I'll give ole Dumbledore this much," he said with smile, "he really knows how to set up a place."
"Yeah," Harry replied watching the ink on the parchment vanish now that it had been read.
"So what do you say to a hike then?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded and they went outside crossing the meadow to examine the edge of the forest. It stretched from the path that led from the portkey-landing around to the right. The meadow was fairly large and it took them about twenty minutes to survey the forest edge around to the lakeshore. Here and there openings indicated trails into the woods. Some were a bit more obvious than others but each looked inviting. A light breeze was rustling through the leaves.
"Fancy a game of hide and seek or just want to explore?" Ron said with a grin.
"Well, we didn't ask if the forest prevented you from hiding," Harry replied, "but we can have a go."
"Right!" Ron said as he bolted through the trees. "Give us a minute. Bet you'll never even get a glimpse of me!"
He watched as Ron disappeared into the forest. The image of Ron lying in bed earlier flashed through his mind and Harry smiled at the thought of his getting a 'glimpse' of him. If he only knew, Harry thought as he counted the time down before dashing into the forest.
The path Ron had chosen was a good one for the game. After a few minutes strolling along it Harry came to a three-way fork going off in different directions. He surveyed the possible options and decided to take the path to the right. The daylight peeped through the trees, the shadows shifting casually in the gentle wind. The leaf-strewn path was pliant yet even and Harry was making good progress as he strolled along.
This is almost too easy, Harry thought, but within a few yards it seemed the path had suddenly grown a bit more difficult to follow and the ground had become a bit more uneven. He wondered if the charms over the forest possibly could detect thoughts.
As he made his way, now occasionally tripping on the uneven path, Harry kept looking for signs of Ron hiding behind some oak or crouched behind a large stone near the path. After a few minutes his mind began to drift. He was remembering the Enchanted Forest and how afraid he and Ron had been when they encountered all those giant spiders.
Ron…
How lucky he had been all these years to have such close friend as Ron. He was not only the first real friend Harry had ever had, he was also the most faithful and likeable. Even during that time in their fourth year when they weren't speaking to each other, he had been acutely aware that he loved Ron and needed his friendship. He smiled at the memories of Ron and Hermione sparing over dating at the Yule Ball, and he remembered walking together with Ron under the stars. He also thought about the battles against Voldemort and how Harry had once thought Ron was dead, and how grieved and empty he had felt. He also remembered how happy he had been when he found out he was still alive. No, Harry knew Ron was truly the best friend a guy could ever have, and suddenly he felt a strong surge of love for him that took him quite by surprise.
"Hey you," Harry heard Ron's voice behind him.
"If you're going to walk right past us and not even notice, I don't know if I want to play this game anymore." Ron was grinning at him with his hands on his hips and his arms akimbo.
Harry stared at him with an expression at once surprised at having missed him, and mixed with a sort of indefinable affection that was beginning to confuse him. He gave a smile that was both genuine and yet somehow felt awkward.
Ron must have sensed something in Harry's demeanour. He walked over to him and playfully placed his arm around him.
"Ah don't worry, mate. Hiding behind that bush I could have been stark naked and humming the National Anthem, and I doubt you'd have been able to find me." It was an offhand remark. Harry felt again that odd awareness of his body that he experienced earlier in the morning. He felt himself go pink. His eyes were drawn to Ron's.
"Come on, let's explore a bit more and go back for lunch," Ron said seeming not to notice Harry's odd expression.
They wandered about for another half an hour. Harry somewhat got over his strange feelings, although every now and then the path narrowed and forced them to brush hands together. Whenever this happened the awareness of his body became a bit more intense. Harry began to wonder if somehow he was willing these narrow stretches to happen, although he couldn't guess why he would.
Eventually they emerged from the forest actually quite near where they had entered. Taking in the warm early afternoon air, they strolled to the Retreat House and went inside. As they could have guessed, once again the house elves had tidied up and the table was set for lunch. Their belongs were nowhere in sight and they assumed, correctly, that the elves had put them away during their absence. Everything was perfectly arranged, including Ron's wizard chess set, laid out on a table between two chairs near the fireplace.
In fact the only thing that seemed even mildly out of place was the presence of a post owl watching them from a perch near the window.
The Forest, Reflections and Discoveries
"Hey Ron, look at this," said Harry as he beckoned him over.
Ron joined him and looked at the parchment.
Together they read the note:
"'Dearest esteemed guest:
"'If you have any questions or should recall any needs, be pleased to write them on this page. We will answer your questions and fulfil your desires to the utmost of our abilities.
" 'Your ever faithful,
" 'The Management of the Sorcerer's Retreat House."
"There's your chance," said Ron. "Let's ask them about the woods."
So Harry dipped the quill in the ink and began to write.
"May we explore the woods? Are there any dangers in the forest? Is the lake safe to swim in?" Ron shifted a little as Harry wrote the last question. Obviously he was still a bit embarrassed about not packing the swim trunks and perhaps thought that Hermione might arrive and surprise them.
They waited for a moment and slowly the ink on the page vanished. A moment longer and words began to appear on the page. Ron read them out loud.
"'Dearest Guest:
"'Of course you may explore the woods. We have seen to every detail in ensuring that they are safe, pleasant, and protected from the appearance of foul or bothersome beasts of every kind. Several trails are available for your pleasure and relaxation. Charms are in place to assure that you will not wander away from the Retreat House complex and yet may explore to your heart's content.
"'The lake is at your disposal for swimming. We have arranged that the temperature will remain constant to your liking, and enchantments prevent any possibility of drowning.
"'We pride ourselves on making the Sorcerer's Retreat House the perfect location to allow you to obtain your every wish and need in a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere.
"'Yours ever faithfully....'"
Ron stopped reading.
"I'll give ole Dumbledore this much," he said with smile, "he really knows how to set up a place."
"Yeah," Harry replied watching the ink on the parchment vanish now that it had been read.
"So what do you say to a hike then?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded and they went outside crossing the meadow to examine the edge of the forest. It stretched from the path that led from the portkey-landing around to the right. The meadow was fairly large and it took them about twenty minutes to survey the forest edge around to the lakeshore. Here and there openings indicated trails into the woods. Some were a bit more obvious than others but each looked inviting. A light breeze was rustling through the leaves.
"Fancy a game of hide and seek or just want to explore?" Ron said with a grin.
"Well, we didn't ask if the forest prevented you from hiding," Harry replied, "but we can have a go."
"Right!" Ron said as he bolted through the trees. "Give us a minute. Bet you'll never even get a glimpse of me!"
He watched as Ron disappeared into the forest. The image of Ron lying in bed earlier flashed through his mind and Harry smiled at the thought of his getting a 'glimpse' of him. If he only knew, Harry thought as he counted the time down before dashing into the forest.
The path Ron had chosen was a good one for the game. After a few minutes strolling along it Harry came to a three-way fork going off in different directions. He surveyed the possible options and decided to take the path to the right. The daylight peeped through the trees, the shadows shifting casually in the gentle wind. The leaf-strewn path was pliant yet even and Harry was making good progress as he strolled along.
This is almost too easy, Harry thought, but within a few yards it seemed the path had suddenly grown a bit more difficult to follow and the ground had become a bit more uneven. He wondered if the charms over the forest possibly could detect thoughts.
As he made his way, now occasionally tripping on the uneven path, Harry kept looking for signs of Ron hiding behind some oak or crouched behind a large stone near the path. After a few minutes his mind began to drift. He was remembering the Enchanted Forest and how afraid he and Ron had been when they encountered all those giant spiders.
Ron…
How lucky he had been all these years to have such close friend as Ron. He was not only the first real friend Harry had ever had, he was also the most faithful and likeable. Even during that time in their fourth year when they weren't speaking to each other, he had been acutely aware that he loved Ron and needed his friendship. He smiled at the memories of Ron and Hermione sparing over dating at the Yule Ball, and he remembered walking together with Ron under the stars. He also thought about the battles against Voldemort and how Harry had once thought Ron was dead, and how grieved and empty he had felt. He also remembered how happy he had been when he found out he was still alive. No, Harry knew Ron was truly the best friend a guy could ever have, and suddenly he felt a strong surge of love for him that took him quite by surprise.
"Hey you," Harry heard Ron's voice behind him.
"If you're going to walk right past us and not even notice, I don't know if I want to play this game anymore." Ron was grinning at him with his hands on his hips and his arms akimbo.
Harry stared at him with an expression at once surprised at having missed him, and mixed with a sort of indefinable affection that was beginning to confuse him. He gave a smile that was both genuine and yet somehow felt awkward.
Ron must have sensed something in Harry's demeanour. He walked over to him and playfully placed his arm around him.
"Ah don't worry, mate. Hiding behind that bush I could have been stark naked and humming the National Anthem, and I doubt you'd have been able to find me." It was an offhand remark. Harry felt again that odd awareness of his body that he experienced earlier in the morning. He felt himself go pink. His eyes were drawn to Ron's.
"Come on, let's explore a bit more and go back for lunch," Ron said seeming not to notice Harry's odd expression.
They wandered about for another half an hour. Harry somewhat got over his strange feelings, although every now and then the path narrowed and forced them to brush hands together. Whenever this happened the awareness of his body became a bit more intense. Harry began to wonder if somehow he was willing these narrow stretches to happen, although he couldn't guess why he would.
Eventually they emerged from the forest actually quite near where they had entered. Taking in the warm early afternoon air, they strolled to the Retreat House and went inside. As they could have guessed, once again the house elves had tidied up and the table was set for lunch. Their belongs were nowhere in sight and they assumed, correctly, that the elves had put them away during their absence. Everything was perfectly arranged, including Ron's wizard chess set, laid out on a table between two chairs near the fireplace.
In fact the only thing that seemed even mildly out of place was the presence of a post owl watching them from a perch near the window.