About time I finally got this out, huh? Tell me about it. Well, without
further adieu, here is the tory up to the end of the term. Enjoy.
Harry awoke shortly after Colin and Neville had left the room. With a huge yawn and an even larger stretch he rolled over to find Colin in the mass of bed sheets. His roaming hand felt nothing but a faint warm spot and he rolled back over and reached on his night stand for his glasses. After he managed to find them and slip them on he glanced at the clock and realized why there was no one else in the room with him. It was almost breakfast time, but his stomach told him that before the clock did.
He strode over to the window and looked out on the lawns of the castle, taking a deep breath of the clean air. This was going to be a beautiful day, he decided and sat on the ledge for a few minutes, letting the morning sun warm him. When his stomach finally started screaming at him he got up from the ledge and started for the Great Hall, happening to barely notice the letter laying on his stand. "Hello, what's this?" He asked no one and picked the letter up.
He didn't recognize the writing on the outside at all so he carefully opened the letter. "Dear Harry," the letter started, "Colin has informed us of the horrible way that your relatives treat you and I would like to let you know that you are more than welcome to stay with us over the summer." The letter went on but Harry quit reading it for the time being. He didn't have to spend the summer with the Dursleys!! It was all he could do not to scream out loud and tap dance. For one of the first times since Ron left (Harry still couldn't bring himself to believe that Ron was truly dead) he was truly happy. He nearly skipped his way to the Great Hall.
He arrived in the middle of a raucous breakfast, with all the children talking loudly about their last days of finals and what they were going to do after they were over. Harry made his way to his group's usual spot at the table to find all of his circle pounding down bacon and the like.
"Morning, sunshine," Colin said to him, scooting over slightly to make a little more room for him.
"Good morning Colin, Hermione, and the rest of you." Harry received many replies, most of them not perfectly clear due to mouthfuls of food. Seamus made some sound quite like that of a cow's moo, causing Harry to laugh.
"Colin, your mum sent me a letter, did you know that?" Harry asked his beau.
"Did she? What's it say, Harry?" Harry handed the letter over to Colin and let him read it. "You can stay with us over the summer? Wicked! That will be wonderful." He looked over at Harry, who suddenly seemed far away. "Harry? What's wrong?"
All conversation in their little group died off as they all turned to look at Harry. "I'm fine," he said as he tried to hold back a tear or two. "I was just thinking about how I spent last summer with the Weasleys and Ron, and..."
"Oh, Harry. I didn't mean to make you upset. I just--" Colin started.
"No, you're fine, Colin. The feeling just hit me all of a sudden."
"So you do want to come, right?" Colin asked, a bit pale.
"Of course I do, Colin. I can't think of any place I'd rather spend my summer than with you and your family." Harry threw an arm around his boyfriend and pulled him close.
"Cover your eyes, Dennis," Draco told Colin's little brother. "You're too young to see what is going to happen next."
"Oh please. As if I've not accidentally seen it a million times by now." Colin threw a light-hearted punch at his brother and went back to reading the letter.
"Well, Dennis, with Harry staying with you, I bet you'll see it a lot more," Draco told Dennis. Dennis could only shrug his shoulders and grin.
"Actually Draco, you might get to see it as well," Colin said as he looked up from the parchment. "My mum's made the offer to you as well, since she isn't sure you'd really want to go back to your house after all that has happened.
Draco had really not given much thought as to what he'd do once the term was over and the look on his face showed it. It was quite true though, wherever Draco went it surely wouldn't be back to the Manor. In fact he wondered if he could even get back inside his home or if he'd even want to. Lucius wasn't one to let a betrayal of this magnitude go easily. The Manor was very likely hexed and trapped from floor to ceiling.
"Tell your mum that I may very well take her up on that offer, Colin," Draco said as he quickly pondered his future over a mouthful of eggs.
"You'll probably have to share a room with Dennis if you do, Draco," Colin told him with a big grin. "He does snore quite loud sometimes."
"Oh I do not!" Dennis said and threw a light punch of his own at his brother.
Breakfast was finished and the Gryffindors headed back up to their tower to get a last bit of studying in before they had to go off to their classes. Colin was sitting in the middle of a bunch of his classmates, all of whom except for him were studying for McGonagall's Transfiguration final. Colin was busily scratching out a letter to his mum, telling her that they'd have at least one more child this summer, and most likely two. He hopped out of his chair and headed for the door.
"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" Harry asked him from behind his Herbology notes.
"I'm going to go send this home with Thierry right now. I'm so excited Harry!" Colin smiled at him and dashed out of the door. Harry wondered if Colin might set a new speed record to the Owlery before he dove back into his studies.
Colin arrived in the Owlery quite out of breath and had to rest a second before he went over and tied the note to his owl's leg. "Alright, Thierry, take this home to Mum." Colin watched as Thierry took wing and headed out the large window until she was out of sight. That done, he walked slowly back to the common room to do a bit of last minute cramming.
After his Herbology final Harry took a little time to send a letter home to the Dursleys. Had Hermione not pushed him to do it, he'd just have left the whole situation alone. She convinced him to write and explain that he wasn't coming home even though he knew that the Dursleys could care less. He considered telling them exactly what he thought about them and all that they'd put him through over the years but he didn't. Harry didn't want to even waste the time or ink doing it. His letter was short and sweet, consisting of less than a dozen words. "I'm not coming back, hopefully ever. Have a nice life."
He sent the letter off with Hedwig, telling her to feel free to leave it as well as anything else that might happen to come out, like a few pieces of field mice, in the mailbox. The owl soared away and Harry was as happy as he'd ever been.
The next few days passed in a blur as the students took test after test. Harry thought that he would possibly pass out from exhaustion after his Potions final. Even the constantly cool Hermione seemed just a little frazzled. Grades were passed out and Harry and the rest of the gang passed their classes, even Potions, although Harry did so barely.
The End of the Year Feast came and went with a bit of both joy and sadness. The next morning the students piled onto the Hogwarts Express and started the long trip back to London. Harry and company sat in their car and talked over the various events of the past year, trying to talk about anything except what had happened with Ron. He was still with them in spirit, it seemed, as there was an empty spot in the car. No one commented on it but everyone knew what it was. They might have been nearly sitting in each other's laps (except for Neville, who was sitting in Seamus' lap) and were a bit cramped, but the space was left empty in remembrance.
Harry hugged Hermione, Seamus, and Neville goodbye as they gathered on the platform.
"We'll have to see each other over the summer, of course," Hermione told the five of them as she readjusted her bag on her shoulder.
"We will, Hermione, we will," Seamus told her and the others agreed.
"Especially you, Harry," Hermione told him. "You aren't living with your aunt and uncle this year, so I'll be expecting plenty of owl post.
"Don't worry, Hermione, I'll be sure to keep Hedwig busy," Harry told her as the group started to break up.
"Draco, a quick word if you please," Hermione said to Draco as he prepared to part with Harry and the Creeveys. He raised an eye and stepped away.
"I'll catch up in a moment. You guys go on ahead," he told them as he and Hermione walked a few paces away. "What is it, Hermione?"
"Draco, promise me you'll keep a close eye on Harry. I'm sure that Dumbledore has put some sort of ward or another on the Creevey's house, but with You-Know-Who out there, I don't think we can be too careful right now."
"I'll keep him near me, don't worry. I won't shower with him, but I'll watch out for him. I promise." Hermione smiled at him kissed him quickly on the cheek.
"Thanks, Draco. I appreciate it." The two of them parted ways, with Draco jogging off to catch up with the others and Hermione watching them all meet the Creeveys.
Okay, I've got this story down now. I was incredibly stuck on a plot hole I left myself and it suddenly occurred to me a few days ago how to easily fix it. Now, I can begin writing this in earnest. Hopefully I'll get a chapter of both this story and my SW/HP crossover out every week. Now, to get busy.
energy
Harry awoke shortly after Colin and Neville had left the room. With a huge yawn and an even larger stretch he rolled over to find Colin in the mass of bed sheets. His roaming hand felt nothing but a faint warm spot and he rolled back over and reached on his night stand for his glasses. After he managed to find them and slip them on he glanced at the clock and realized why there was no one else in the room with him. It was almost breakfast time, but his stomach told him that before the clock did.
He strode over to the window and looked out on the lawns of the castle, taking a deep breath of the clean air. This was going to be a beautiful day, he decided and sat on the ledge for a few minutes, letting the morning sun warm him. When his stomach finally started screaming at him he got up from the ledge and started for the Great Hall, happening to barely notice the letter laying on his stand. "Hello, what's this?" He asked no one and picked the letter up.
He didn't recognize the writing on the outside at all so he carefully opened the letter. "Dear Harry," the letter started, "Colin has informed us of the horrible way that your relatives treat you and I would like to let you know that you are more than welcome to stay with us over the summer." The letter went on but Harry quit reading it for the time being. He didn't have to spend the summer with the Dursleys!! It was all he could do not to scream out loud and tap dance. For one of the first times since Ron left (Harry still couldn't bring himself to believe that Ron was truly dead) he was truly happy. He nearly skipped his way to the Great Hall.
He arrived in the middle of a raucous breakfast, with all the children talking loudly about their last days of finals and what they were going to do after they were over. Harry made his way to his group's usual spot at the table to find all of his circle pounding down bacon and the like.
"Morning, sunshine," Colin said to him, scooting over slightly to make a little more room for him.
"Good morning Colin, Hermione, and the rest of you." Harry received many replies, most of them not perfectly clear due to mouthfuls of food. Seamus made some sound quite like that of a cow's moo, causing Harry to laugh.
"Colin, your mum sent me a letter, did you know that?" Harry asked his beau.
"Did she? What's it say, Harry?" Harry handed the letter over to Colin and let him read it. "You can stay with us over the summer? Wicked! That will be wonderful." He looked over at Harry, who suddenly seemed far away. "Harry? What's wrong?"
All conversation in their little group died off as they all turned to look at Harry. "I'm fine," he said as he tried to hold back a tear or two. "I was just thinking about how I spent last summer with the Weasleys and Ron, and..."
"Oh, Harry. I didn't mean to make you upset. I just--" Colin started.
"No, you're fine, Colin. The feeling just hit me all of a sudden."
"So you do want to come, right?" Colin asked, a bit pale.
"Of course I do, Colin. I can't think of any place I'd rather spend my summer than with you and your family." Harry threw an arm around his boyfriend and pulled him close.
"Cover your eyes, Dennis," Draco told Colin's little brother. "You're too young to see what is going to happen next."
"Oh please. As if I've not accidentally seen it a million times by now." Colin threw a light-hearted punch at his brother and went back to reading the letter.
"Well, Dennis, with Harry staying with you, I bet you'll see it a lot more," Draco told Dennis. Dennis could only shrug his shoulders and grin.
"Actually Draco, you might get to see it as well," Colin said as he looked up from the parchment. "My mum's made the offer to you as well, since she isn't sure you'd really want to go back to your house after all that has happened.
Draco had really not given much thought as to what he'd do once the term was over and the look on his face showed it. It was quite true though, wherever Draco went it surely wouldn't be back to the Manor. In fact he wondered if he could even get back inside his home or if he'd even want to. Lucius wasn't one to let a betrayal of this magnitude go easily. The Manor was very likely hexed and trapped from floor to ceiling.
"Tell your mum that I may very well take her up on that offer, Colin," Draco said as he quickly pondered his future over a mouthful of eggs.
"You'll probably have to share a room with Dennis if you do, Draco," Colin told him with a big grin. "He does snore quite loud sometimes."
"Oh I do not!" Dennis said and threw a light punch of his own at his brother.
Breakfast was finished and the Gryffindors headed back up to their tower to get a last bit of studying in before they had to go off to their classes. Colin was sitting in the middle of a bunch of his classmates, all of whom except for him were studying for McGonagall's Transfiguration final. Colin was busily scratching out a letter to his mum, telling her that they'd have at least one more child this summer, and most likely two. He hopped out of his chair and headed for the door.
"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" Harry asked him from behind his Herbology notes.
"I'm going to go send this home with Thierry right now. I'm so excited Harry!" Colin smiled at him and dashed out of the door. Harry wondered if Colin might set a new speed record to the Owlery before he dove back into his studies.
Colin arrived in the Owlery quite out of breath and had to rest a second before he went over and tied the note to his owl's leg. "Alright, Thierry, take this home to Mum." Colin watched as Thierry took wing and headed out the large window until she was out of sight. That done, he walked slowly back to the common room to do a bit of last minute cramming.
After his Herbology final Harry took a little time to send a letter home to the Dursleys. Had Hermione not pushed him to do it, he'd just have left the whole situation alone. She convinced him to write and explain that he wasn't coming home even though he knew that the Dursleys could care less. He considered telling them exactly what he thought about them and all that they'd put him through over the years but he didn't. Harry didn't want to even waste the time or ink doing it. His letter was short and sweet, consisting of less than a dozen words. "I'm not coming back, hopefully ever. Have a nice life."
He sent the letter off with Hedwig, telling her to feel free to leave it as well as anything else that might happen to come out, like a few pieces of field mice, in the mailbox. The owl soared away and Harry was as happy as he'd ever been.
The next few days passed in a blur as the students took test after test. Harry thought that he would possibly pass out from exhaustion after his Potions final. Even the constantly cool Hermione seemed just a little frazzled. Grades were passed out and Harry and the rest of the gang passed their classes, even Potions, although Harry did so barely.
The End of the Year Feast came and went with a bit of both joy and sadness. The next morning the students piled onto the Hogwarts Express and started the long trip back to London. Harry and company sat in their car and talked over the various events of the past year, trying to talk about anything except what had happened with Ron. He was still with them in spirit, it seemed, as there was an empty spot in the car. No one commented on it but everyone knew what it was. They might have been nearly sitting in each other's laps (except for Neville, who was sitting in Seamus' lap) and were a bit cramped, but the space was left empty in remembrance.
Harry hugged Hermione, Seamus, and Neville goodbye as they gathered on the platform.
"We'll have to see each other over the summer, of course," Hermione told the five of them as she readjusted her bag on her shoulder.
"We will, Hermione, we will," Seamus told her and the others agreed.
"Especially you, Harry," Hermione told him. "You aren't living with your aunt and uncle this year, so I'll be expecting plenty of owl post.
"Don't worry, Hermione, I'll be sure to keep Hedwig busy," Harry told her as the group started to break up.
"Draco, a quick word if you please," Hermione said to Draco as he prepared to part with Harry and the Creeveys. He raised an eye and stepped away.
"I'll catch up in a moment. You guys go on ahead," he told them as he and Hermione walked a few paces away. "What is it, Hermione?"
"Draco, promise me you'll keep a close eye on Harry. I'm sure that Dumbledore has put some sort of ward or another on the Creevey's house, but with You-Know-Who out there, I don't think we can be too careful right now."
"I'll keep him near me, don't worry. I won't shower with him, but I'll watch out for him. I promise." Hermione smiled at him kissed him quickly on the cheek.
"Thanks, Draco. I appreciate it." The two of them parted ways, with Draco jogging off to catch up with the others and Hermione watching them all meet the Creeveys.
Okay, I've got this story down now. I was incredibly stuck on a plot hole I left myself and it suddenly occurred to me a few days ago how to easily fix it. Now, I can begin writing this in earnest. Hopefully I'll get a chapter of both this story and my SW/HP crossover out every week. Now, to get busy.
energy