This was my first attempt at FanFiction, and was completed well before Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was published. There are some similarities, but I swear they are purely coincidental. I'm re-uploading because there were problems with several chapters.
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters, things, or places you recognize from the Potter-verse.
CHAPTER SIX: Summer at the Burrow
When Mrs. Weasley had gone from the room Ron and Harry began to get dressed. When Harry was putting his shoes on he heard a thud from the ceiling dropped the shoe he was holding. He had forgotten for a moment the ghoul in the attic who dropped pipes or screamed whenever things were a bit too quiet. Harry shook his head and finished. About five minutes later he and Ron were downstairs in the kitchen where Mrs. Weasley was making breakfast. The table seemed to have a lack of people around it this morning. Fred George, and Bill were there in their pajamas, Fred and George looking more than a bit bleary-eyed; Percy sat eating in his slacks and a neatly buttoned shirt with a sweater-vest over it; Mr. Weasley had already left for work; Charlie was still upstairs because he wanted five more minutes of sleep; Ginny and Hermione were also missing.
The table had toast and eggs and bacon. There was a jug of orange juice. Mrs. Weasley was urging Harry to eat more when Hermione and Ginny came down the stairs. There was something different about Hermione today. What was it? There was nothing different about the way she dressed. And she wasn't wearing make-up. Harry nudged Ron and nodded at Hermione.
"Hermione, did you do something to you're hair this morning?" Ron asked, after looking at her for a couple of minutes.
It seemed to Harry that Hermione blushed slightly, but she responded coolly enough. "I just put it back in a braid so my hair would be out of my face when we played Quidditch later." Harry thought he saw her glance up at Mrs. Weasley with a smile on her face, but he wasn't sure. After breakfast, which Charlie did eventually come down to join, those who were still in pajamas got dressed and everyone who had one got out their broom. As the Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry went outside with their brooms George grabbed a couple of oranges for them to play with. They couldn't use real Quidditch balls because it would be awfully hard to explain to the Muggles in the town below if they got away. They all marched up to the hill.
When they all reached the top Harry went in the air first and Charlie followed him right away, with Fred and George trailing behind. Ron came into the air on s his old Shooting Star. Not long after, Percy came up a little unsteadily on Bill's broom. Percy circled around the hill with Fred and George constantly crossing in front of him, over him, and under him. Harry and Charlie dove in and out of spirals and dives until they were both breathless. "I have to hand it to you, Harry. You are a great flyer. I should have remember from last year, but I wanted to make sure."
"Wood wasn't exaggerating when he talked about you, Charlie."
Next, Bill took his broom from Percy, Ginny and Hermione each got on one of the twins' brooms and they were off. Ron climbed on Charlie's broom and went back in the air. They threw things to catch and they dodged each other. Hermione and Ginny were a little uneasy on the brooms because they didn't really fly much. Harry and Ron were much better flyers.
The rest of the day all of them took turns on all the brooms, particularly Harry's. Charlie was definitely impressed with the way it handled. It was nearly sundown before they headed back inside. They had all spent a good day laughing and joking; even Percy had enjoyed himself. Harry hung back to talk with Ron and Hermione after the others had gone. While Harry was taking one more lap around the hillock he spotted some red and gold a little a ways, the shape moved on toward a shadowy figure. Harry motioned for Ron and Hermione to come up, both still had brooms in their hands and rose to join him immediately. "Look!" He whispered. They too, saw the red and gold bird (or whatever it was) and the figure that slipped behind a tree just after he came into their vision. When he couldn't see the figure or bird any more Harry glided downward to the ground.
"What was that?" Ron asked when he too had reached the ground.
"I don't know. I've seen the red and gold thing three times now, but never the shadow."
"I think you should tell someone about."
"Hermione, it was probably nothing. Harry, where else have you seen the bird or creature or...you know what I mean?"
"I saw it when we were coming out Ollivanders and outside the window our last day at the Leaky Cauldron."
"Are you sure you don't what that is or who might have sent it."
Harry sighed. "I think it might have been Dumbledore. Phoenix's are about that color. Dumbledore must have sent him. Sirius didn't like the idea of my being anywhere that wasn't home or school. I guess its been following me. Lets go."
As they all tramped back to the house Harry began to think about the meeting and just about everything else that had concerned him and magic that summer. Nobody trusts me not to kill myself or get killed! Things can't be that dangerous. If they are, why aren't all the other kids at school being warned? Unless, it means I'm the one in the most danger. Then I'll probably be kept under lock and key to be kept safe. Anyway he looked at it, his situation wasn't good. Ron and Hermione both walked beside him in silence, knowing he was deep in thought. Finally, Harry looked up and stopped. Ron and Hermione were a few paces ahead when he spoke and they realized that he had stopped. "I'm not going to mention the bird to anyone yet. I might I ask Dumbledore if he sent Fawkes to check up on me, but only if I see the bird again." Then he continued his silent stride.
It was almost dinnertime when they got back to the house. They put away the brooms and went back downstairs. Dinner passed that night much as it had the night before with only a few exceptions. Instead of speaking in hushed tones with Ginny, Hermione was looking at Ron with uneasy expressions as they both glanced at Harry from time to time.
Harry, for the most part, was silent. He knew that Ron and Hermione knew that he felt something was wrong. He didn't care. The three of them kept up a mild chirp, though none were actually attending to it. Harry's mind was busy trying to figure out who the shadowy figure was and whether or not what he had seen earlier was actually Fawkes. Dumbledore knew something that everyone else didn't, and Harry was determined to find out what it was. He had to find out.
"Harry?"
"Harry?"
"Harry!" Ron nudged Harry in the ribs with his elbow, finally jarring him back to his senses. Nearly everyone at the table was looking at him by now.
"Harry, are you okay, dear? You didn't look well."
"I'm fine, Mrs. Weasley. I just got lost in my thoughts." They were still all looking at him and they wanted a further explanation. "Really, I'm okay." He tried to smile, and managed a weak one.
The rest of the meal seemed to end rather quickly and passed in an uneasy silence. When they all rose to go indoors Harry tried to move fast enough to escape from any questions, without seeming rude. He failed. Hermione and Ron both caught up with him.
"Harry, what was that about? You can't fool us. Was your scar hurting?"
"No, Hermione. I feel perfectly fine."
"What is wrong with you tonight?"
"Nothing, Ron." He marched up the stairs ahead before either of them could say anything else to him. While the both of them stood dumbstruck, Charlie, who had been quietly listening from a few steps behind them Apperated up to Ron's room to wait for Harry. Harry continued to race up the stairs. He reached the door and once inside he sighed with relief.
"Feeling better, Harry?"
Harry looked up and saw Charlie staring at him from across the room. "What—"
"Spill it, Harry. You know more than you're letting on. You don't think you actually fooled anyone. Right?"
Harry sat down and sat on the camping bed beside Charlie. "Its really nothing," he mumbled, looking at the floor. He could feel Charlie staring at him and so he added, "I saw something today after most of you left and I was still trying to figure out what it was I saw." After a few deep breaths Harry continued. "I saw a shadowy figure and what was quite possibly a Phoenix. It wasn't the first time I've seen the Phoenix this summer. It was the third. Dumbledore is probably just sending Fawkes to check-up on me. It was nothing."
"You don't mean that. If you did you wouldn't be so worried. And trust me, you're worried. Honestly, in your place I think I would be too. You don't think Dumbledore sent the bird, do you?"
"Not really."
"But you haven't told this to Ron and Hermione."
"No, I didn't want anyone worried."
"And adopting that glazed look during dinner didn't worry them?"
"I guess it did. Why hasn't Ron come in?"
"I made the door lock behind you. I figured you weren't quite up to talking to him just now."
"Thanks, Charlie. You won't tell anyone yet? Ron and Hermione and I are going to speak to Dumbledore on the first day back at Hogwarts. He's calling us in. I'm planning on telling him then. I'm done, you can let Ron in now." Harry appreciated what Charlie did; sometimes, though he was embarrassed to admit it to himself, he needed an older brother type person to talk to instead of a best friend; it felt good and Harry had never had an older brother, only a malevolent cousin. Parents weren't the only family Harry lacked.
Charlie pointed to the door with his wand and Ron came bursting in. "What did you do that for? Harry, what's the matter?"
Harry pretended to yawn as he lay down. "Well, Hermione's been acting weird. I think you were right when you said she's been acting more like a girl, but its something else, too. She seems to be spending a lot of time with Ginny. But I guess its good for her. Goodnight."
"That's true, but it's not what I meant!" grumbled Ron.
Harry guessed that Charlie had something to do with the fact that Ron said nothing more and he suddenly felt sleepy.
In the morning, when Mrs. Weasley came in to wake Harry and Ron, they noticed that Charlie was gone. When Harry inquired about this Mrs. Weasley simply replied, "He flew off early this morning. Bill left just afterwards." Harry had the feeling she was hiding something. When she left, Harry and Ron began to get dressed.
"You know, Harry, I bet he left so he wouldn't be in trouble if I told that he locked me out or that I think he used a spell to put me to sleep last night. I wouldn't have ratted him out anyway. Are you gonna tell me what happened last night?"
Harry hesitated. "Not yet."
"Let's go downstairs and eat then. But it's hard to be your friend when you won't talk to me." Together they set off down the stairs. After that rocky start things went smoothly the rest of the summer at the Burrow. The days slipped by. They spent the remaining days flying, or playing games, or talking. One day the last week of the summer holidays, an owl arrived. That morning while Mrs. Weasley was giving Harry another stack of pancakes, she remembered the letter.
"Oh, a letter came this morning that I'm sure you'll all be quite interested in. Renata and her mother will be coming to visit the day before term starts. Then we can all go to the station together. Won't it be nice? Renata said she's bringing her broom she wants to fly with all of you. Here it is if any of you would like to read it." She handed the letter to Hermione, who after reading it passed it to the others.
After that the remaining days were uneventful until the day the Delanos actually arrived. Harry and Ron had just finished breakfast. So had Ginny and Hermione. Then, both Delanos, one after the other arrived in the fireplace. The professor had a suitcase with her and Renata had a purple trunk beside her, with a broom over her shoulder. She smiled broadly looking at all of them.
"Who's ready to fly?"
"Me," replied Harry.
"Me, too. Just let us go get our brooms," Ron added. Harry and Ron ran upstairs and knocked on the twins' door; before it was opened they heard a small explosion. "Fred, I need to borrow your broom."
"Use yours," came Fred's muffled voice.
"Renata is here and we're going flying. George, I need yours too, Ginny wants to fly."
Fred opened the door a crack and handed out both of the brooms. Ron left the twins' brooms leaning outside the door. Harry and Ron went to go get their own from Ron's room. When they had retrieved them they picked up the brooms leaning by the twins' door. "Come on, let's go."
Meanwhile Ginny and Renata had been putting away the large purple trunk and were waiting. After saying goodbye and promising to be home before dark Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Renata went out and up to the hill. Ron handed George's broom to Ginny and his old Shooting Star to Hermione. On the way, they passed Crookshanks chasing some of the garden gnomes. When they reached the hill Renata turned to Harry. "Let's see what you're made of." And she was off into the air, with Harry and Ron close behind. They all raced and chased flying and spiraling as Hermione and Ginny cheered from the ground. Then, Hermione and Ginny took to the air on the brooms that Ron had brought out to them.
After hours of whirling and flying they began to feel a bit worn out. But that faded when Fred and George came out and joined them everyone flew with renewed energy. Although, that may have partially been because now they were all taking turns and they got chances to rest. It was almost four by the time they decided to call it a day. Harry and Renata were the last to come down.
"I must say, I am impressed Harry." She told him as she wiped the sweat off her face with her sleeve and grinned.
"I'd have to say the same to you, Renata. Wicked broomstick, too. What model is it?"
"Its no Firebolt, but it isn't bad. Its a Phoenix-Flyer 340."
"Lets go in, the others are getting ahead of us."
"Okay. You all seem to be good enough flyers. I won't go after your positions. I'll try for Keeper, if I end up in Gryffindor; if it's any other house, well, those kids will just have to watch out for their positions. Come on." They ran a bit to catch up to the others. "Want to play Gobstones when we get inside?"
"What about the others?"
"Well it looks like Ginny is hanging out with the twins. And, from what I've overheard, Ron and Hermione will be playing Chess."
"Okay. It is good for Hermione to play Chess; it seems to be the only thing she loses at. I'll go tell Ron the plan." He jogged a bit more to gett to Ron. "Since you're playing Chess with Hermione, Renata and I are going to play a couple of rounds of Gobstones. Okay?"
"Sure, we'll all stay in my room until dinner." Just after Ron said that they reached the house. They all moved on upstairs. Ginny stayed with the twins, Hermione grabbed her set of Chessmen, and they all went to Ron's room at the very top of the stairs. Ron and Hermione set up the board near the window and the Gobstones game was set-up on the floor nearby. Gobstones was a lot like a Muggle marble game, but when you lose a point the balls squirt a nasty green liquid at you. The games lasted awhile. Long enough until dinner was ready anyway.
When Mrs. Weasley called them down Hermione and Ron had been through three matches and Harry and Renata had been through two. Dinner was great. They ate outside again since there were eleven people. Everyone seemed in good spirits. Professor Delano even performed a little charm to make the fireflies do some formation flying. After-which, Mrs. Weasley suggested that all the children go to bed since they would need to be up early the next day. Off they went. Percy, although he didn't have any school he insisted he had to go in early for work. The twins went to their room. Renata joined Hermione and Ginny. Ron and Harry went back to Ron's room. Professor Delano had been offered Percy's room, and Percy would bunk with the twins, but she declined and stayed with the girls.
Harry and Ron stayed up talking for a while. "I wonder what Dumbledore will say tomorrow."
"I'm not sure, he's probably just going to tell us to be careful this year."
"But he's calling in Renata, too. As far as I know she doesn't have any reputation for trouble."
"How far do you know, Harry? Did she say anything about herself?"
"Not really. She asked about Hogwarts mostly and wanted to know about the library and what the classes were like."
"Sounds like we've got another Hermione on our hands."
"I still wish I knew whatever Dumbledore knows. He's got something he's not telling us. He doesn't seem to have told anyone, and I want to know what it is."
"Doesn't he always? Maybe we'll find out tomorrow. Go to sleep."
Mrs. Weasley came in early the next morning to wake the boys, up. "You've got to get up now. There are bacon sandwiches downstairs. Come down soon, dears. Both of you have your trunks packed?"
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley."
"No, Mum."
"Ron, you know that when we leave for Hogwarts we are pressed for time! The train leaves at eleven! It doesn't wait for anyone! Get up and finish packing." The change was astonishing, despite the fact that Ron was taller than his mother, he cowered and seemed to shrink inside himself. Mrs. Weasley had the capabilities to seem as ferocious as a saber-tooth tiger.
As she left, Ron began to finish throwing things in his trunk. Harry got dressed and helped Ron finish packing the freshly cleaned socks and Hogwarts robes Mrs. Weasley had brought in the night before. As soon as he was packed Ron hurriedly got dressed. Then, with Harry following behind he rushed downstairs. They gulped down some sandwiches and juice. Then they were just ready to go upstairs and make sure they hadn't forgotten anything when Ginny, Renata, and Hermione came downstairs. Once again there was something different. Harry realized this time it wasn't just Hermione, it was all three of them. Hermione had her bushy, brown hair braided with a scarlet ribbon running through the center of it. Ginny and Renata looked different, too; Harry and Ron just couldn't figure out what it was. Harry took a wild guess and said in the general direction of the girls, but not to anyone of them in particular. "Is it just me, or do you look really nice?"
"Yeah, your hair looks great," Ron, said as he looked up.
The girls all gave slight smiles. "Thank you."
As Harry got up to leave and Ginny sat down–-in the seat he had just vacated and was still holding on to. A bit confused though he was, Harry followed Ron back upstairs. Neither of them noticed that Hermione sat in the chair that Ron left. The boys raced back up the stairs and passed Fred and George, who were on their way downstairs. When they reached the top and were at Ron's room facing the peeling sign on the door that said RONALD'S ROOM, Harry spoke. "There was something weird with them, today,"
"Yeah, I mean Hermione never does anything with her hair, at least, not really. And Ginny jumped into your chair almost before you were out of it."
"Renata seemed to know something that we didn't. That smile seemed like a smirk if you ask me." Together they carried down first Harry's trunk, with Hedwig's empty cage perched on top of it; then Ron's trunk with Pig in his cage on top. Hedwig had been sent out two days before with a note letting Sirius know that everything was fine. Mrs. Weasley had gone down to the Muggle post office in the village to use the phone and called three cabs to come get them. By the time she got back everyone was waiting downstairs with his or her trunks, and in some cases animals. Percy had said farewell earlier before he and Mr. Weasley had left for work. Mr. Weasley had said good-bye and wished them all a good term before leaving. The taxis arrived about 15 minutes after Mrs. Weasley got back. The nine of them got into the cabs and all except Mrs. Weasley had large trunks. In addition to this there were three owls and a cat.
The ride to Kings Cross was uneventful. The drivers did give them odd looks about the animals, though. When they entered the station at half past ten, they all got trolleys to put their trunks on and headed for the platform. Most people in the station didn't know that Platform Nine and Three-Quarters even existed. To get on it you walked straight into the wall dividing Platforms Nine and Ten. Ron went through first with Harry; the others followed in twos and threes. As Harry emerged on the opposite side of the wall he was facing the familiar scarlet steam engine bearing the name The Hogwarts Express. Harry, Hermione, the Delanos, and the Weasleys all loaded their trunks onto the train.
Renata hugged her mom and they both climbed on board the train. Mrs. Weasley gave Harry, Hermione, and her children all hugs and wished them a good term. "Be careful and stay out of trouble! I don't want any of you hurt this year."
"You can trust us."
"When have we ever failed you?" Fred and George had acquired their wicked grins, which they usually reserved for when planning mischief.
"No looking for trouble, no pranks, no nothing. The trains getting ready to leave, go on now."
They all turned to go. "I guess she means, no fun." They climbed on the train and stuck their arms out to wave farewell as the train moved away. Fred and George went off in search of their friend Lee Jordan. Ginny headed off to find Renata. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were left to find a compartment for themselves.