Harry Potter and the Test of Time
Chapter two – Summer Astonishment
With a flourish Harry finished the last sentence of his potions essay. Afterward he quickly read over it and smiled at his work. Of course he knew that Snape wouldn't have quite the same reaction to his essay but at the moment he didn't really care. Once he was done reading his essay he stored it along with his other materials under the loose floorboard under his bed. He didn't dare try and open his trunk now to put it all away for fear of waking the Dursley's.
When everything was put away Harry turned to his calendar and marked off another day as he looked at the date he realized that his birthday was in a week and a half. This fact had somewhat dampened Harry's mood. Harry hadn't gotten a letter from Ron for about three weeks and he wasn't so sure if he wanted to hear from him. He was pretty sure that if Dumbledore still hadn't said yes to Harry going to the Burrow then he would surely stay that way for the rest of the summer. Harry really wanted to get away from the Dursley's and see his friends again. With this wish in his mind Harry slowly drifted into a fitful sleep.
* * *
"He still doesn't know who he really is does he?"
"No he's
just as clueless as before."
"I thought it was the old
man's job to tell him?"
"It was but he didn't do it so now I guess it's up to us."
"Why do we always have to finish everything he started?"
"I don't
know I guess it's just his style."
"Well let's get to work we
have a lot to do."
"I know"
* * *
The sun lazily drifted up higher into the sky casting a warm glowing light on the towns and cities below it. Harry was awoken when a few stray rays of sunlight pierced through his blinds and landed gracefully on his face. Harry looked around his room confused as to why Aunt Petunia wasn't pounding down his door, but his confusion cleared as he realized that today was Saturday and the Dursley's usually slept in a bit on Saturday's. Harry took his time getting up and ready for the day relishing in the silence that rarely saw the house that Harry considered his personal hell.
All too soon Harry heard the familiar sounds of the Dursley's arousing from their naïve dreamlands. Hedwig gave a soft hoot attracting Harry's attention causing him to come over and softly stroke her feathers.
"Morning Hedwig." Harry greeted his pet "Have a good night hunting?"
Hedwig hooted in response as Aunt Petunia rapped in impatience on the door.
"Boy get up! Up now! Breakfast needs to be made!"
"I'm up Aunt Petunia." Harry yelled through the door in response making it seem like he had just gotten up.
"You'd better be downstairs in ten minutes!"
With that Aunt Petunia retreated back to her bedroom and Harry turned back to Hedwig.
As Harry was about to leave his room he noticed an owl flying toward him and decided to wait and see whom it was from before going down to make breakfast. Harry was surprised and overjoyed to see that it was Pig flying toward him. Once Pig was in his room Harry quickly untied the letter and ripped it open eager to hear from his best friend.
Harry I hope Pig gets this to you before we get there. We're coming to pick you up this morning though I'm not sure how soon that is to you since I don't know when and if you'll get this before we get there. So whatever chores you have to do ignore them and pack your stuff up quick. If there's time I guess you can let the muggles know but don't worry we're not coming through the fireplace…we're walking. See you soon.
RON
Harry had to read the letter twice to make sure that he had read it right. Once he was convinced of what it said he quickly set to work gathering all of his school things and throwing them into his trunk. When everything was packed Harry sent Pig and Hedwig off to the Burrow. Harry double checked to make sure that he had everything before casually heading down to the kitchen to start making breakfast for the Dursley's.
"What took you so long boy?" Aunt Petunia screeched.
"Sorry Aunt Petunia I couldn't find my glasses." Harry lied easily
"Clumsy boy" Uncle Vernon muttered under his breath as he turned the page of the newspaper.
"Well hurry up! You've got lots to do today and we're hungry." Aunt Petunia demanded.
Harry turned back to the frying bacon and sausage with a small smile tugging at his lips. Depending on when the Weasley's got there he wouldn't have to do anything except cook breakfast. And whatever small shred of Harry's conscience he wanted to warn the Dursley's of the Weasley's arrival was obliterated with his aunt's screeching voice.
Harry had just finished cooking breakfast when there was a rapid knocking at the front door.
"I wonder who could be calling so early Vernon?" Aunt Petunia voiced.
"Well get the door boy!" Uncle Vernon barked.
Harry happily walked to the front door and threw it open only to have his eyes attacked by a sea of red.
"Harry dear how are you?" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed as she gathered Harry into one of her bone crushing hugs.
"Where's your trunk Harry?" Fred and George asked simultaneously eager to enter the house and get another glance of Harry's whale of a cousin.
"BOY! Who's at the door?" Uncle Vernon bellowed from the kitchen.
"My trunks upstairs in my room right by the door along with Hedwig's cage. I sent her along already with Pig. And don't worry Mrs. Weasley I'm fine." Harry responded to his barrage of questions forgetting of course his uncle's question.
The twins took off to his room to gather his trunk and possibly leave behind some trouble for Dudley. Harry went on to greet Ginny and Ron while they waited for the twins to come back. As the twins came down the stairs with Harry's stuff Uncle Vernon came out to see who was at the door.
"Boy what do you think you're doing allowing your kind into our house again?" Uncle Vernon roared dangerously
"I didn't invite them in Uncle Vernon they're simply assisting me in moving my stuff out." Harry simply replied.
Harry then turned to follow Fred and George out of the house.
"What do you mean moving your stuff out? You're not going anywhere?"
"Any why not?" Harry shot back
"Because I said so!"
"I don't care what you say I'm leaving!"
Uncle Vernon made a move to grab Harry but stopped mid stride as he found three wands pointed directly at him.
"You'll let Harry come with us if you know what's good for you." Mrs. Weasley practically snarled in Uncle Vernon's face.
White with fear Uncle Vernon backed up and was resigned to watch Harry walk down the street with the Weasley's.
Once they were down the street some Fred and George went behind dome trees to apperate back to the Burrow with Harry's stuff. Ginny, Ron, Harry, and Mrs. Weasley continued to walk down the street to Mrs. Figg's house so that they could floo back to the burrow.
"Where's Mr. Weasley?" Harry inquired as they walked down the street.
"I'm afraid he was a little to busy at work to come with us to fetch you Harry." Mrs. Weasley answered
"Is everything alright?"
"Oh yes everything is fine it's just that it's a busy time of year what with all of you home from school."
Soon they arrived at Mrs. Figg's and the three kids went through to the Burrow while Mrs. Weasley stayed behind to have a cup of tea with Mrs. Figg. As soon as Harry got to the Burrow he had his Firebolt thrown at him.
"We figured you could do with a little playing." Fred stated to help Harry understand why his broom was thrown at him.
"So what do you say Harry? You up for it?" George inquired
"Of course! I've been dying to play!"
The next week and a half was spent playing Quidditch, relaxing and just generally having a good time. Two days before Harry's birthday Hermione arrived at the Burrow and made the boys do some work. Harry was shown all the new products the twins had thought up over the summer, and they promised to send him some more of their stuff over the Christmas holidays since they would no longer attend Hogwarts.
July 31st dawned bright, sunny and quite humid but this all was unknown to Harry Potter. Like every other year Harry sat up the night before unable to break his habit and was now sleeping in because of being up so late. No one seemed to mind that Harry wasn't up yet even though it was approaching ten thirty, because it gave everyone more time to set up things for Harry's surprise party that night. Today was Harry's 16th birthday and the Weasley's decided that he needed a proper party for his birthday.
Mrs. Weasley was reading the newspaper and Ron was battling Hermione at wizards' chess when Harry came stumbling down the steps.
"Well it's about time you got up." Hermione remarked catching sight of Harry.
"Sorry." Harry sheepishly replied
"Oh don't worry about it Harry dear today's your day." Mrs. Weasley replied putting the paper aside and fixing Harry a huge plate of eggs, sausage, and bacon. "By the way Happy Birthday dear."
"Thank you."
Once Harry was a little more awake Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Fred and George were in charge of keeping him out of the house all day, a what better way then Quidditch. At first they spent time training in their positions for the up coming year and then they played a few games. Each game they played they played a new position to make it more interesting for everyone.
Meanwhile Mrs. Weasley was bustling around the house transforming it into the scene for one of the greatest parties of the century.
A half hour before they were to head back to the house Fred suggested that they relax a bit before heading back to the house to get a snack before dinner since they missed lunch. When it was time to go Fred and George raced each other home while Hermione and Ginny walked ahead a bit talking about the male population of Hogwarts. Harry and Ron brought up the rear walking at a leisurely pace talking about the Quidditch odds for the upcoming year.
When they neared the house Harry noticed that it was all dark and all was eerily quite around the normally bustling house. He couldn't even hear the ghoul in the attic that always made noise when the house was quite.
"Ron"
"Yea Harry?"
"Why's your house so dark and quite?"
"I dunno maybe Fred and George are trying to play a joke on us."
"Oh…ok"
Harry wasn't satisfied with the answer really but he didn't want to worry Ron even though something inside him was telling him that he should be walking away from the house not towards it.
When Harry entered the house though it was to find something that he certainly didn't expect. Harry had slowly and cautiously opened the door only to be assaulted by fourteen people screaming Happy Birthday. Once the initial shock was over Harry looked around the room to see all the Weasley's present even Bill and Charlie. Hagrid, Hermione, Dumbledore was even there but there were two people who surprised him by being there Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.
"Sirius!" Harry yelled when he spotted his beloved godfather. Ignoring the other people in the room momentarily he ran to Sirius and engulfed him in a loving hug.
"Professor Lupin it's good to see you as well." Harry stated as he separated from Sirius.
"Please Harry call me Remus when we're not in school."
The party went along with everyone having a great time. The radio was playing the latest in the wizarding worlds music and they all enjoyed a great feast provided be Mrs. Weasley. When they were done with dinner they all moved to the living room where Harry opened all of his presents, which were all sorts of various shapes, and uses. Hermione had gotten Harry a book of useful defense spells for Dueling. Fred and George had given Harry some of their new products to test out during the school year. Ginny got Harry a book of Quidditch tactics, and Ron got him his own wizards' chess set. Dumbledore and Hagrid had given Harry a scrapbook of the trio's years at Hogwarts so far and told him that if he returned it to one of them every so often they would update it for him. Remus and Sirius gave him a few more of his parent's things and what looked like a house key. Harry wanted to ask what the key was for but decided that he would ask them later on.
After the presents were all opened and they had all had some desert Dumbledore and Hagrid both bid the party goodnight and returned to Hogwarts. Soon after Percy retired to his room to finish up some work for the ministry. So on it went until it was just Harry, Ron, Hermione, Sirius, and Remus left. Harry choose this time to get some questions out of the way.
"Sirius."
"Yea Harry?"
"What's the key for?"
"You mean you don't know?"
"We didn't tell him we thought that you should be the one to tell him." Hermione stated matter of factly.
"Tell me what?" Harry impatiently demanded.
"They've elected a new minister Harry after the public realized just how incompetent Fudge was." Sirius began.
"So?"
"Well this minister is a much better candidate and has agreed to give me a fair trial. Dumbledore's sure that I'll be pardoned since we have solid evidence and numerous witnesses to the real story."
"That's great Sirius but it still doesn't explain the key." Harry pointed out
"I was getting to it. You see when they went into the forest after Olivia and Constanza they found a few death eaters still milling around and Wormtail happened to be one of them. So since I'll be free you'll be able to come and visit me. That's a key to the house Remus and I share in Hogsmead right now. You can stay there whenever you wish it's quite big and needs some more occupants.
Harry sat in shock for a few seconds digesting all of the information before his face split into a huge grin. His godfather was going to be freed, and he would never have to see the Dursley's again, yes this was defiantly the best birthday he'd ever had so far. But just as he was slipping into euphoria of happiness he thought of the causalities Sirius had mentioned and was quickly brought back to reality.
"Has there been anymore news about them? Olivia and Constanza that is?" Harry inquired cautiously
"Sadly no there has been no…lead as to where they are." Remus answered in just barely above a whisper.
This shocked the three students for they had no idea of his relation to the girls so they had no idea why it had upset him so much. They quickly changed topics and talked until late into the night were they were all falling asleep on the couches. Remus had to drag Sirius to the fireplace so that they could get some sleep while Hermione had to drag Harry and Ron up to bed. When Harry finally curled up under the sheets he lay there entering dreamland with a smile upon his young, fresh face.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ha Chapter 2 is done! So how do you all like it so far? A little slow so far I know but do not fret I promise the good stuff is coming! So now the question is who didn't tell Harry what? And who has to tell him it now? (Confusing questions I know) Ponder them why don't you because I know the answers. ENJOY!
~Autumn