Harry lay on his bed trying beyond all humanly effort to push the image of Lucius Malfoy coughing up blood, while squealing like an injured animal out of his head. 'At least it replaces Cedric.' He thought blandly, before Cedric's cold wide-eyed face appeared. 'Perhaps not.' Desperate to get his mind on something else. Last night had been horrendous. He had four separate attacks in the very early morning, all taking place during the siege on Azkaban. It was a very frightful event. The majority of the Dementors mutinied when Voldemort showed up, but a strong counter offensive was unleashed by Dumbledore and some unfamiliar and familiar faces, such as Bill and Charlie Weasley, and Amos Diggory. The many Patroni lit up the battle plain as the forces were very evenly matched. It was the type of battle muggle cinematographers wished they could produce, and lucky, lucky Harry got a front row seat. Finally, when the tide distinctly and helplessly turned in favor of the Death Eaters, the few loyal Dementors were ordered to apply their kiss to any and all of the prisoners. The Lestranges amongst many other legendary dark wizards and witches had their souls sucked from their bodies by the retreating Light Army.

                Amazingly, no one died, on the light side or dark, but that was insignificant. Voldemort's rapidly increasing power was clear as day, and it was scary. Voldemort was there, of course. However, he was too strong for such trivial matters, and he needed to save himself for his siege on Hogwarts, the real challenge. Hence he did not cast one spell, but watched calmly from the watchtower. Harry had seen in his fourth vision, that many of the light side were injured. Why not ask Dumbledore who was hurt and what exactly happened? Because at some points during the siege he received from Voldemort, the picture became fuzzy. Maybe good ole Voldie got liquored up before the battle. Not such a bad idea.

                Harry touched his finger, and didn't even bat an eyebrow. It was a little sore, but the sharp pains had left, thankfully, and life went on as usual. Harry had made breakfast after washing the caked blood from his forehead, and watching that he didn't touch the throbbing scar.

                "Professor, are you there?"

                Why yes Harry, wonderful to hear from you, as I am currently unconscious and it is boring without thoughts or people.

                "Why are you unconscious? You were fine when you left the battle, I thought."

                I was fine. I gather you watched with Voldemort.

                "Yes sir"

                I had received my share of hexes. To take them all off at the same time would be disastrous, therefore I am in a magically induced stasis so Madame Pomfrey can safely remove any unsolicited effects.

                "So you're okay. Good. Was anyone else seriously hurt?"

                Any injury can be serious, Harry. But no one is in mortal danger, so far as we know. At least the prisoners cannot rejoin Voldemort. It was one of the hardest decisions I have ever needed to make Harry, but it was necessary. Cruel and inhumane, but necessary. I am greatly saddened by it. On a brighter note, Hermione asked if it would be safe for you to visit today. I said yes, but she had no way to reach you. You have the option of spending the night there, if you desire. It seems Mr. And Mrs. Granger are eager to meet you.

                "Really, I can go? When, How?"

                By floo Harry. They are expecting you at eleven o'clock. Their address is Floss Hut, on the network. Do try not to get lost. We have enough trouble right now. Fudge still denies the rise of Voldemort, but acknowledges now, that there is a "Dark Movement in the undercurrents of our society." His words. He lost his nose to Mr. Avery, though he did not know who it was. Moody may visit you while you stay with the Grangers, do not be alarmed, and if anything happens, feel free to contact me.

                "Absolutely. Thank you sir."

                Just stay alert. Have fun. Good bye.

                "Good bye professor." Harry tapped his fingernail and listened to the connection die. This could really be convenient in times of need. Harry dressed into the worst shorts and t-shirt he owned and crept quietly down the stairs and outside, where he jogged faster than the previous days. It was uneventful, unless you call retying your shoe an event. He returned to the Dursleys, showered quickly, and rushed in making breakfast. He thought about bringing his potions essay, Hermione would love to read it. He packed his rucksack with a change of clothes, some parchment, a quill and ink, and a few books. He didn't know what else he would be able to do there. He did the concealment charm once on his scar, just so it didn't look quite as red and hideous as it now did. Opening four times in one night is a lot for that small area of skin and scab, and he didn't blame it if it wanted some privacy.  He didn't know why, but he felt he should attempt to look good for her parents. I mean, parents do have the largest influence on their kids (cough, cough). At ten fifteen, Harry was ready to go. He found a seat in the living room, and opened up his Standard Book of Spells: Grade 4 to review. After staring at the first word for ten minutes, he figured it would be a good time to turn the page.

                What was he so nervous about? He would be meeting his best friend and her parents. Big deal. It wasn't like he was meeting the parents of his girlfriend or crush. I said, it wasn't like he was meeting the parents of his girlfriend or crush. 'that's not true...I mean that's right. No pressure.' He groaned as time slowly ticked away. More like disturbingly lethargic was the description of the style in which the time passed, or lack there of. Finally, after decades of glancing at the clock after every tick, it struck eleven, and Harry threw the floo powder into the fire…place.

                "Shit" he moaned. He took out his wand, and in a flash a warm blaze crackled softly in the silent quiet house. The Dursleys were out late last night, and decided unanimously to sleep in. Hoping the flames had consumed the tossed powder, Harry carefully stepped in, and shouted  "Floss Hut." The was the familiar tug and disorienting spinning that never failed to induce nausea. Harry fell out of the fire and on to a very thick and soft carpet. He stood up and looked around.

                Nice, was the only word that came to mind. Every piece of furniture, carpet, and the foreign artifacts hanging and being displayed everywhere appeared expensive, but not conceitedly so. It was a very homely room, with white leather sofas, a few large velvet reclining armchairs. It made the Dursleys look poor, and the Weasleys' even worse.

                "Hello" he smirked as it echoed through the vast rooms and halls. There was a light patter of feet, and Hermione, wearing a very attractive green sundress and nothing on her feet stood in the door way, or garage sized opening, whichever you prefer.

"Harry!" she shrieked and she ran into him, throwing her arms around him in a tight embrace.

"I missed you" he whispered into her ear before he could stop himself. As a friend he shouldn't be saying that, should he? Nah. The damage was done, though, and Hermione was blushing faintly as she pulled away. Two adults walked into the room, and smiled warmly at Harry.

"Oh. How rude of me! Harry, these are my parents, Ivy and Richard, but we all call him Rick." These two new people brought on an internal dilemma for Harry. The BIG question. How do you greet your best friends parents? Girlfriends are easy, you shake their father's hand, and the same to the mother. Polite yet formal. Friendships were informal, so with the father you shake hands…

"Hello Mr. Granger, nice to meet you."

"Rick, please." Okay, that was easy, now the mother. How are you supposed to greet her? A handshake is too formal, as is a kiss on the hand. That could go down the wrong way, bad idea. Kiss on the cheek, just as bad if not worse. A hug could work. Can be informal yet intimately polite. That's good…I think.

"Mrs. Granger, or Ivy. It's a pleasure." He quickly wrapped his arms around her for a second before pulling back. She was very surprised by his instant affection, but recovered wonderfully.

"Ivy, and the pleasure is all ours. How was your trip, dear?"

"Dizzy, very dizzy. If there was any other way I would have taken it" he smiled, they seemed to like him enough. So he hadn't failed horribly, yet. He noticed as they discussed some minor points of Harry's life, Mr. Granger kept shooting him sly looks. 'Oh god' Harry thought 'what's wrong? What have I done?'

"…show him to his room, sweety." Finished Ivy, flashing Harry her perfect teeth. Hermione nudged him into the hallway and up the stairs. She was grinning and was very jumpy. He took note of this.

"What is making you so hyper? Snuck some sugar into the house?" he laughed as she playfully slapped him.

"Just because my parents are oral hygienists doesn't mean that I don't get my share of sweets."

"As long as they're lacking in sugar." He smirked

"God, if only you knew what torture it is" she smiled "but you made it. I was worried, I haven't heard from you. Thought maybe you weren't coming. Your in here." She pointed.

"What, not come and visit you? You think I'd rather stay with the Dursleys?" He looked around the room. It was just as comfortable as any room he had ever see. A large four poster bed, two elegant chairs that reminded him of the armchairs in the Gryffindore Common Room, a dresser and a large mirror which were very well detailed, and polished to a shine.

"Well, I didn't know what to think." She finished quietly. He sat in one of the chairs as a tapping on the window announced the arrival of an owl. Hermione ran over and unlatched the pane, letting a snowy owl entry. The owl to both of their surprise went straight to Harry. It carried a note and newspaper.

"Hello Hedwig. Thank you" He said after removing the bundle.

Hey Harry,

Get this, some stranger heard of Fred and George's plans for a joke shop and gave them one thousand Galleons to help them start. Mum is furious, and demands to know who it is, but get this. They even stood up to her death stare and downright refused. She looked like she was going to cry.

I sent you this paper to try to cheer you up. Some group of people turned Malfoy into a ferret, set him on fire, and threw the vermin into Gringotts, all in one blow. Front page. It was done without a wand, so it will take six weeks for him to change back. He'll miss most of the summer. Isn't life grand. He is no longer Draco Malfoy; The Amazing Bouncing Ferret, but has been promoted to Draco Malfoy; The Amazing Bouncing, Flying, Flaming Ferret. Has a nice ring to it. Fred and George already started on a candy to have the same effect, and name them Funny Ferrets.

Oh. This is supposed to be a real big secret. Bill and Charlie just showed up at like four this morning. Everyone was sent to bed. I snuck down and guess what? Azkaban was attacked. They didn't expect for any light people to be fighting, so it got pretty bad. Nobody died, thank god. I couldn't hear much, but I think You-Know-Who himself was there, but didn't do anything. It seems a bit odd, but oh well, what're you going to do. Dumbledore told us that we can only send you mail by Hedwig, so be sure to send her around every so often.

See you soon,

                Ron

P.S. Were still trying to get you to stay here with us this summer, but no luck so far. I'll update you when something happens.

"God no." Harry groaned. Hermione read the letter over his shoulder and sighed.

"I know, they went after Azkaban. It's going to get bad."

"It's not that. It's Malfoy. I know his father is going to come after me now. I can't believe this. Six bloody weeks until he's human again. I cannot believe I did that."

"You, you made him turn into a ferret?"

"And set him on fire, and threw him into Gringotts setting off the alarm."

"How, were not that well trained yet in transfiguration, and how did you do all three, they're different spells."

"I did it without a wand, or any incantations. It was all straight magic. He actually told Crabbe and Goyle to kill me. Can you believe someone our age trying to murder someone else? It made me angry and disgusted. I took it out on Malfoy. Dumbledore knows it was me. One of the security guards, George. He laughed at me, when I told him it was me. I got angry again and something must have happened, 'cause he got really scared and ran. Also, the only reason the light was at Azkaban to hold off the attack  was because I saw Voldemort torture Lucius Malfoy for not being ready yesterday. And to top it all I'm the ones who gave Fred and George the thousand Galleons to start Weasley Wizard Wheezes. Why me god? Why do I have to be in the middle of everything? It always has to be me." He whined. Hermione looked at him skeptically.

"Let's go downstairs and do something before lunch. It'll be so much more fun with you here." He took a deep breath and clasped her hand as she led him from the room.