Disclaimer: I do not own any of this. This all belongs to J.K. Rowling. She is a genius and I hope that she doesn't sue for writing this little fan fic. Harry Potter belongs to her, the movie company, her book company and any other. I am just their mere servant and to write this is for fun. No money is being made from this.
B.L.Potter, sew2100-Thanx. I shall.
MadAnt-Yes, the wizarding classifications will be explained in a later chapter. Patience is a virtue =]-
BigDaddy753-Thanx
CastusAlbusCar, ranger-Thanx.
Thanx for all my reviews. Everyone means something.
Now on with the show.
Harry Potter And The Staff Of Power
Chapter 9: Weasleys and Grangers
Harry simply drank the dreamless sleep potion and felt his eyelids close.
~AT THE SAME TIME~
A short fat man wearing a black cloak walked up to a tall, thin man with blood red eyes.
"My..Lord…It is almost ready…" said the man studdering after almost every word.
"Excellent, Wormtail. Once we get the polyjuice potion on Black we should be ready to get the boy from his home." Voldemort laughed at the last word. "Do you still have Black's hair?" Demanded Voldemort.
"Yes..Master…I took it…from him….when I escaped….to return to you…" squeaked the pathetic piece of life. (A/N Sorry, I had to add that. THAT FILTHY RAT)
Voldemort looked somewhat pleased. "And the other potion?" question the Dark Lord.
"It will be…ready in…one weeks…time…my Lord."
"Good. We shall have the boy the then and my plan shall be in motion. Just to remind you Wormtail, if you fail me, I may not be as forgiving as I have been." Said Voldemort pointing his wand toward the knelt man before him.
The man shivered with his master's last words. "Yes…my Lord…I will not…fail you."
"I should hope not. Now you know what to do."
Wormtail nodded and left his master. As Wormtail left, Voldemort was laughing.
Ginny was sitting reading on a chair. She was getting irritated because her brother was pacing back in forth in front of their fireplace. Ginny seemed to have lost her nerve.
"DAMNIT RON. STOP PACING. HERMIONE WILL GET HERE WHEN SHE GETS HERE.!" Ginny yelled. Ron just looked at her and continued to pace around the fireplace. They both new that Hermione would be coming back from Bulgaria today. She would Floo over to The Burrow's fireplace. Her parents were meeting her there. Ginny looked out in the patio to see her parents talking to the Grangers. Her dad was probably irritating the hell of our Mr. Granger trying to learn everything he can about their muggle life. Everyone knew that Mr. Weasley was obsessed with muggles.
Ginny then put her attention to her book. She looked back up to hear and pop and her brother appear in front of her.
"BILL!" Ginny screamed. She ran over to give him a hug. "What are you doing here? I thought that you were coming in later?"
Bill laughed and then pointed to Ron. "What is he doing?"
Ginny laughed with Bill. "He's waiting for Hermione to come here. She is Flooing here from Bulgaria."
Bill sighed and nodded. "So has he told here that he is madly in love with her yet?" Bill asked his little sister.
Ginny smiled. "No. He never will. He just so damn thick."
Bill laughed. "Anyway, yes I was going to come later in the week." Bill looked around. "But I thought it would be more fun this way." Bill chuckled. "Oh by the way Ginny, I would move if I were you?"
Ginny looked at him confused. "Why?" Ginny asked. She got her answer about two seconds after she asked. Suddenly a form of another brother landed straight on her. Ginny fell to the ground with the much heavier form landing of here.
"Ah." Was all that Ginny was able to muster. The person got up off of her and helped her up.
"Sorry about that. I would have thought that my dear brother Bill would have told you that I was coming right after him." Laughed Charlie.
Ginny looked at Bill with a death glare while he fell to the floor holding his sides from laughing so hard. "Yes, you would think that he would have told me." Now Charlie and Bill were both rolling of the floor laughing.
"Sorry Ginny, I thought that would be funny too. I guess I was right." Both men were still on the ground laughing.
Mrs. Weasley came into the house to see what everybody was laughing about. She caught sight of her two oldest boys. "BILL! CHARILE! Well come over here and give your mother a hug."
Both men walked over to their mother who had her arms open. They did not wait and gave their mother a hug. Ron still pacing around the fireplace came over to see what all the commotion was.
"Bill? Charlie? I thought that you two were coming here later this week?" Asked their little brother.
"So did I?" If I knew you were coming today, I would have been prepared with some more food." Said Mrs. Weasley.
Charlie laughed. "Honestly mum, you make enough food to feed ten Horntails." Everyone but Mrs. Weasley laughed as they heard someone arrive threw their fireplace. They all ran to it to see that Hermione was dusting soot off of her robes.
Ron was the first person who reached her. "Hermione…Can I help with your bags?" Ron spat out as her brothers, sister and mother were watching him. He turned around and gave them a dirty look. His family just laughed as Mrs. Weasley went outside to alert the Grangers that their daughter had arrived.
"How was Bulgaria?" Ron asked hoping that she had a terrible time.
Hermione looked him in the face. "Absolutely wonderful." At her words Ron's heart felt like it was being ripped out and being thrown to the ground.
"Oh." He said while looking down.
Hermione had a worried look on her face. "Ron, are you alright?"
"Ya." Ron lied. "Why do you ask?" Meeting her glare.
"You looked kind of down." Ron just brushed it off. "Anyway, I had a great time. I went to a lot of magical establishments around Bulgaria. I couldn't believe that there were so many. The Bulgarian Ministry National Library was wonderful as well. There library rivals the one in Hogwarts. I never thought I would see a library as big as Hogwarts."
It was just like Hermione to think about a library. "So…he didn't try anything did he?" Ron asked why still looking at the floor.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "God Ron. How many times do I have to tell you that we are just friends. Why do you care so much? Hermione asked with a stern tone.
"Because he…because he…" Ron tried to say.
"YES?" Hermione asked with her arms folded across her chest.
"Because he…"
"HERMIONE DEAR!" yelled Mrs. Granger.
Hermione looked at Ron then ran to her mother.
"Because he stole you from me.." Ron said as a tear rolled down his cheek and landed in the floor. Ron then quickly ran to the loo. Ron didn't now, but he wasn't the only person to hear it. He walked to the loo just as Mr. Granger walked out. They exchanged glances and Mr. Granger went to see his daughter.
"How are you dear?" asked Mrs. Granger.
"Great mum. I had a wonderful time. The Bulgarian National Ministry Library was great. It had so many interesting books. I brought some home too." She said as she pointed to a bag full of books. Mrs. Granger walked toward the books and tried to lift them.
"Uf! How did you lift these dear. Well, Victor helped me carry them to the fireplace and bring them here." The Weasley family just said 'oh' and looked another direction.
"NOW NOW! Let's start lunch. Meet outside." Said Mrs. Weasley as she pointed out toward the garden.
The Weasleys and Grangers both made their way outside to eat lunch. Mrs. Weasley came back with a tray full of food. She set the food on the table and looked around. "George where is your brother?" George looked around the table.
"Ie Dun No Mu'." Said George with a mouthful of food.
Ron came running out of the house. "I'm here Mum. Just had to go to the loo. To..er..wash up." Said Ron sitting down next to Hermione. Ron again didn't notice that Mr. Granger noticed Ron's red and puffy face.
They were all ready to eat the wonderful lunch that Mrs. Weasley prepared.
"Bill what are you going to do being so early? I don't suppose that Gringotts will allow you to start early?"
Bill looked at his mother and laughed. "God no. Those goblins would never allow me to do that. Actually I am going to go visit Fleur up in Hogsmeade. Then we will probably go around Hogwarts for a while. She has to get used to Hogwarts if she ever wants to survive this year."
"That's lovely dear. You seem to really like her." Said Mrs. Weasley.
"I do. She saw me at the tournament last year and talked to me. I must say, that I was surprised that she came up to me. I didn't find out later that she is half veela."
Ron got wind of the conversation. "You mean you are dating Fleur Delacour?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?" Asked Bill raising an eyebrow to Ron.
"Well ya. How do you know that she isn't using her veela charm to lure you in?"
"Why-." Bill started before being stopped by Hermione.
"Ron, you are so thick. The veela charm is worthless for a veela that feels an attraction to a person. Meaning that if the veela truly likes a person, her charm doesn't affect them. I thought you knew that?" said Hermione.
Ron stammered from embarrassment. "Well…maybe I don't…read as much as you do."
"Obliviously." Replied Hermione.
Ron was about to reply when there was a knocking from the house. Everybody turned around to see who it was.
"I'm sorry if I disturbed you. I knocked but nobody answered. Ah, I see that you are having lunch. Do you mind if I join you?" Asked the Headmaster.
"Not at all Albus." Said Mr. Weasley. He then pulled out his wand and conjured up a chair for the man. "What brings you here Albus?" asked Mr. Weasley.
"Ah, I hope you don't mind if we wait for that until after lunch?" said Dumbledore looking through his half moon spectacles.
"Not at all." Replied Mr. Weasley.
The Weasleys, the Grangers and the headmaster all had a wonderful lunch. They finished the lunch and the headmaster continued his story.
"First off, I would like to thank you for this wonderful lunch." Said the headmaster as he looked toward a blushing Molly Weasley.
"Oh, it was nothing." She replied as she put all the dishes into the kitchen.
"Now, I have come here to explain something quite serious." Dumbledore took his wand and pointed it toward the sky. He muttered 'Silencio.' They were now perfectly safe from anyone hearing them. "I wish for you not to stop me until I am finished. Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger, you have been named Prefects for your house along with Mr. Potter because you are the students with the most experience with dealing with Voldemort." The Weasleys all flinched at the name.
Hermione and Ron both looked at Dumbledore wondering if that was the only reason that they were named prefects.
"Now, that was not the only reason you were named prefects. You are both extremely powerful wizards for your age. I didn't mean to imply that the only reason you made prefect was because of you experience with Voldemort. Now then, I told Mr. Potter and Mr. Black some news last night that I wish to share with you. Mr…Harry considers you his family. And after some thinking, I have decided that I should share news with his family.
Everyone at the table was wondering what the headmaster was getting at.
Ginny looked toward her headmaster. "Is there something wrong with Harry?"
Ron looked toward his sister. "He told us not to interrupt." Said Ron.
"Well sorry. I was just wondering." Ginny and Ron both looked at the headmaster and said 'sorry.'
Dumbledore laughed. "To answer your question Miss Weasley, there is something wrong with Harry." Ginny put her hands to her mouth.
Dumbledore looked over the people at the table. "Harry once asked me why he is a target of Voldemort. I told him that I would tell him when he got older." The old man took a breath. "Due to circumstances, the truth came out a little earlier than I hoped."
Dumbledore went into his explanation of what happened to the Dursleys and the prophecy and Harry's powers. By the end of the story; Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, Hermione and Mrs. Granger were all crying.
Ron put an arm around Hermione. "It's alright Hermione. Harry is very strong. Stronger than both you and me. He will be okay." Hermione then turned and buried her face into Ron's robes. Ron put his hand on Hermione's head trying to calm her.
Mr. Granger comforted Mrs. Granger and Mrs. Weasley hugged Ginny.
Professor Dumbledore looked at the lot in front of him. "Now I did not come here to make everyone cry." He said with a sarcastic smile on his face. This seemed to stop everybody from crying. "Now if Harry's muggle relatives were attacked, I think that they would make anyone else associated with Harry targets as well." Dumbledore was startled by Mrs. Weasleys jump. "DO NOT WORRY." Said the headmaster in a forceful tone. "Your homes have twice as many protective charms as Hogwarts on them. Believe me when I tell you that you are all safe. Now then, I think it would be a good idea if you all came to see Harry. He has not taken this news well. I think that if he saw all of you, he would brighten up. How would you all like to come to Hogwarts tonight?" Dumbledore began to leave, but he turned around. "Oh, I forgot. The charms of your homes will not let you apparate or portkey. The only way to get to your homes is floo. I have put a charm on your chimney to only allow a certain number of people to come. If someone was to try to either apparate, use a portkey or floo to your homes, they will be sent straight to the ministry holding cell. That being said, I bid you ado." Everyone nodded and Dumbledore disapparated.
"Great. I haven't seen Hogwarts in a long time." Said Charlie.
"Ya, Fleur and I will come for dinner. I just hope that she hasn't got any plans. Anyway, I will get her to come. I have to go. See you at dinner." Bill said goodbye to everyone and kissed his mother.
"Now then, do you two have homework to finish?" Asked Mrs. Weasley.
Ron and Ginny nodded. "Good. Then I suggest that you do it before we leave tonight for dinner." The two youngest Weasleys groaned. "Oh come on, the sooner you finish, the sooner you will be done. Now go." Ron and Ginny both rolled their eyes and went into the house.
"Well, I'll go with you. I already finished mine." Said Hermione.
"Well that doesn't surprise me." Hermione gave Ron a McGonagall glare. Ron laughed. "Then do you want to help me with mine?" Asked Ron.
"You know I can't do that. But I will point you in the right directions." Ron smiled went up to his room to get his books.
"Okay, I'll meet you in the living room."
"Okay, let me get some of my books. I'll be back in a minute." Hermione went toward the room her parents were in. She was about to open the door, but she heard voices.
"When I was walking from the lavatory I heard Hermione talking to Ron. He was asking her about her visit to Bulgaria. They were arguing about Victor. She asked him why he cared so much. Then you called Hermione to come to see you. Then after she left he said that Victor 'stole Hermione from me.' I think that Ron likes Hermione…"
That was all that Hermione could hear. She ran back to the living room and sat on a chair. Her mind was blowing ten million thoughts a second. She didn't even hear a voice calling to her.
"H.E.R.M.I.O.N.E.? Are you alive?" Ron was pulling at Hermione's shoulder. "You alright, you looked like you were in a daze or something."
"Yes…I'm fine." Ron smiled. Could he like her? Why hadn't he told her this before? How long has he liked her? "Um, I left my book at home, sorry."
Ron looked back at her. "That's okay, want to play a game of chess instead?" asked Ron.
"You have to do your homework. Your mother said that you have to."
Ron shrugged. "Mum's always making threats like that. Besides, I always finish it before school starts. So, want to play that game of chess?" Asked Ron looking at Hermione.
Hermione looked toward the ground. "Um, maybe later." Hermione's attention went from the ground to Ginny. "Ginny, can I talk to you?"
Ginny looked up to Hermione and nodded. "Sure. Want to go to my room?" Hermione nodded and they both went up to Ginny's room. Ginny opened the door as they both walked in. Hermione walked toward and sat on Ginny's bed. Ginny walked over and sat beside her. Ginny had a confused look on her face. She had never seen Hermione acting like the way she was acting before. She wondered what was wrong.
"Ginny…does Ron like…I mean…does he like me?" Asked Hermione finially getting the words out.
"Sure he likes you. I mean we all like you." Hermione shook her head which her hands were holding. She looked more deeply at Ginny.
"I mean does he like me?" Asked Hermione again. This time hoping Ginny would get her point.
"Oh, well I don't know. You will have to ask Ron about that." Said Ginny trying not to look Hermione in the face. Ginny was never good at lying.
Hermione knew that Ginny was lying. She could see it in her. "Come on Ginny please. I never told anyone how you really felt about Harry. Please tell me." Replied Hermione trying to get an answer out of Ginny.
"That's different, Harry's not your brother."
"He might as well be; he considers us all his family. I didn't want to go this low, but if you don't tell me… I will tell Harry about how you feel about him." Hermione saw the hurt feeling on Ginny's face. "I didn't want to do that, but you left me no choice."
Ginny turned her back to Hermione. "Look Hermione, you should already know the answer to your question." Hermione had a blank face. She had no idea what she was talking about. "I can't believe you haven't seen it. Who has tried to protect you all these years? Who tried to curse Malfoy when he called you a mud-blood? Who always wants to look out for you? Who went mad with jealousy when someone went to the Yule Ball with Victor Krum?" Hermione looked straight at Ginny with tears brewing in her eyes.
"Ron?" whispered Hermione.
"Yes, my dear old brother. He hasn't hid his feeling too well. Everyone in my family knows. But I guess he's scared to share them."
"Why would he be scared?"
"I have no idea, maybe you should ask him." Said Ginny as she giggled.
Hermione looked at Ginny. "How is this funny?" Said Hermione with a stern tone.
Ginny looked surprised with Hermione's outburst. "I'm sorry Hermione, it's just that I never thought you would be able to see Ron like that."
Hermione had this instinctive feeling to protect Ron. "And why is that?"
Ginny was confused. "Why are you defending him? Do you like him back?"
"I don't know, maybe. I don't know." Replied Hermione with her face in her hands.
Ginny sat besides Hermione and put an arm over her back. "I think you do know. Now it's up to you to find out for sure. Go talk to Ron, what's the worst that could happen?"
Hermione brought her face out of her hands to look back to Ginny. "When did you start to be so smart about all this?" Asked Hermione.
Ginny laughed and got up from the bed. She then threw Hermione a book. Hermione caught it and looked at the cover.
"Ten Thousand Ways Boys Think About Love. Where did you find this?" Asked Hermione.
Ginny laughed again. "I found it among Mum's stuff this summer. She doesn't know that I have it. So I would like to hide it again if you wouldn't mind?"
"Of course." Hermione threw the book back to Ginny as she put it back into its hiding place. "I guess that I should go talk to Ron. I don't know what to say. What do you think he will say?"
"He probably won't be able to get any words out." Ginny talking while trying to imitate Ron. "He will probably just stare at you and try to speak, but all that will come out will be gibberish. It would be great to see, but I would think that you wouldn't let me."
"You are damn right I wouldn't let you." Hermione cracked a smile. "But that would be something Ron would do wouldn't it?" They both nodded and laughed. "I can't believe that I never saw this before. How could I have been so blind?"
"It's okay Hermione. Harry does the same thing. I still don't know why he hasn't noticed me. I guess he still sees me as Ron's little sister." Said Ginny as tears started to fall down her cheek. Hermione put her arm around her for comfort.
"It's alright Gin. He will come around. After all, it looks like I came around." Hermione said while moving her head down to look Ginny in the face. Ginny nodded and stood up.
"Now go, I believe that you have something to talk to my brother about." Hermione nodded and left the room. She couldn't even begin to think what to say to Ron. How would she possibly start out another conversation with him again? 'Hey Ron..so..how long have you liked me?' I can't do this, Hermione thought. It is too hard.
She made her way down the stairs to see Ron sitting on a chair.
"Hey Hermione, what did you want to talk to Ginny about."
Hermione tried to think about something to say. "Um..just girl stuff."
"Oh." Was all Ron's response.
"Hey, do you want to go for a walk? It's a beautiful day." Asked Hermione, trying to hide her expressions.
Ron looked at her for a moment and nodded. "Okay, let's go out the back."
They both walked along the trees for a couple of minutes in silence. They both decided to break the silence at the same time.
"Her-."
"Ron-."
Ron laughed. "Go ahead, ladies first." Hermione blused and stopped to sit down on the grass underneath a tree. Ron stopped and sat down next to her.
"What's wrong." Asked Ron with a concerned look on his face.
Hermione didn't know what to say. "Um…earlier today, when we argued about Victor." Ron had a hateful look on his face. "You tried to say something, but my Mum pulled me away. Do you remember?"
Ron looked at the ground and nodded. She could tell that he was blushing.
"Well, my dad heard what you said."
"WHAT!" Ron noticed his outburst. He lightened his tone. "I mean, did he tell you?"
Hermione looked at him. "Well no, I was going toward the room to get my homework that I was going to help you with and I overheard my parents talking. My dad told my mum what you said." Ron was looking like he wanted to transfigure himself into an ant and hide in the dirt. "Is it true?"
"Is what true?" Ron asked.
"Come on Ron. Is what you said true? Did you think that Victor was trying to steal me from you?"
Ron looked up from the ground with tears running down his cheeks. "I..I.." Ron couldn't say the words. He just nodded.
"So what does this mean? Do you like me?" Hermione asked.
Ron spoke with such confidence that it almost started Hermione. "I remember that day in our third year. When you slapped Malfoy. That was the first time that I actually noticed you. Since then, I tried to get to know you better. I…"
Hermione had tears in her eyes. "Then why does it seem that you always make fun of me and mocked me?"
Ron looked down and was fidgeting with his fingers. "I don't know; it was the only thing I could think of at the time. I'm really sorry. I would never do anything to hurt you." Ron said as he reached for her hand. Hermione extended it and took his.
"I know. I know you wouldn't."
There was a moment of silence. Neither of them talked.
"Um, Hermione…Do you feel the same way about me?" Ron said while his tone decreased to that of a whisper at the end. Hermione didn't answer. She was thinking about what he said. Did she like him the way he liked her? She didn't notice the hurt way he was looking at her.
"I guess not. Fine, I'm leaving." Ron said as he was standing up. Hermione didn't even notice what he said until he let go of her hand and started to get up.
"I do." Said Hermione.
"What?" Ron turned around.
"I feel the same way. Said Hermione as she got to her feet. She walked right next to Ron and grabbed both his hands. She looked him straight into his eyes. He returned her glaze. They both slowly began to move closer to each other. They didn't close their eyes until their lips met. They both felt a warm feeling that they never felt before. A feeling like what they were doing just felt right. Ron broke apart and looked down at Hermione who had her eyes closed. A smile broke on his face.
"Hermione, are you okay?" He said with a teasing tone.
Hermione opened her eyes with a smile across her face. "Yes. I am fine now."
They both had equally huge grins on their faces.
Ron looked at Hermione. "I never thought kissing you would ever feel that good." Hermione giggled.
"Me neither."
Ron stammered. "So…what..do..we..do..now? Are you my..g..gi..girlfriend?"
Ron noticed a smile on Hermione face. She punched him on the arm. "Yes, you big stupid. Now let's go back. I believe we have a chess game to play." Hermione grabbed Ron's hand and they went back to The Burrow.
(A/N: I was going to end it here, but I will add a little more)
Harry woke up to see a certain godfather sitting on his bed watching him. He yawned and stretched to wake himself up. "Hey Sirius. How long was I out?"
"A while. It's around five in the evening. Dinner will be soon."
"Well, I don't feel too hungry."
"Oh, Albus came back and said that we have guests for dinner tonight."
"Really? Who?" Harry asked with curiosity on his face.
His godfather looked over him. "Well, a certain red haired girl will be coming with her family." Sirius said as he noticed Harry's face perk up and blush a deep red. He laughed. "Hermione's family is coming as well."
Harry was feeling a lot better since his family was now coming to dinner.
"Really. Now get ready they will be here in around an hour." Said Sirius as he patted Harry's bed and walked out of the dorm room.
A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. Sorry about the delay. I haven't been feeling too good. Sorry, you don't care about the way I feel. Anyway, next chapter should be posted either later tonight or Thursday.