Disclaimer: They aren't mine and never will be.
A/N: Ch 3 is finally here! Yay! A word of advice: Don't ever avoid homework. It piles until you have no free time.
Harry didn't have to wait for long. He had only been there about 10 minutes, when the doors burst open.
"Harry!" He suddenly found himself squashed against Mrs. Weasley in a tight bear hug.
"Ehwoh, Mishis Easwy," Harry managed to mumble. Mrs. Weasley released him from the hug and looked him over. She gave a nod of approval, so she must've decided the professors were taking good care of him.
The others came over, and everyone exchanged greetings. Then the kids went upstairs to Gryffindor tower.
After settling in, Fred, George, and Ginny went downstairs, leaving Ron and Harry in the common room. Hermione was still upstairs.
"Have you written to Sirius, Harry?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded. "After the Dursleys were killed, and after I knew you and Hermione would be coming. But I try not to contact him too much. Now that he's staying with Lupin, there's a bigger risk of getting caught."
"Speaking of Hermione, why hasn't she finished unpacking?"
"I dunno..."
Ron grinned. "Maybe she can't find places for all of her books."
"Well, once she gets down here, maybe she can help me with my History of Magic essay."
"Not if she's helping me with mine."
"Or I could just not help either of you." Hermione had just entered the common room.
Ron opened his mouth to protest, but Hermione cut him off. "We'll discuss it later. If we don't hurry, we'll be late for dinner."
They left the common room and headed toward the Great Hall, still bantering about the essays. Harry was relieved that Ron didn't seem upset with Harry over last night's events. He'd known Hermione wouldn't blame him, but Ron had a quick temper.
But Ron was a little upset. He just didn't let Harry see it. Why make him feel worse? Ron finally understood that being Harry Potter was a sometimes a burden. He didn't even blame Harry for the attack. Danger was part of the territory when it came to being Harry's best friend.
Just before they entered the Great Hall, Hermione turned to Harry.
"I forgot to ask, but-"
"Hermione forget something? The world really is coming to an end."
Hermione glared at Ron, then continued. "Have you contacted Sirius lately?"
Harry grinned. "Ron asked me that earlier. I do, but not very often."
Later that night, Harry and Ron played wizard's chess while Hermione watched. Ron groaned when he lost. Harry grinned at his friend's shock.
"I've been playing against Dumbledore since I came back," he explained.
"What else have you been doing, Harry?" Hermione wanted to know.
"Well, I used the Marauder's Map to get around Hogwarts..."
The three of them talked well into the night, just catching up.
"Damn." Voldemort turned away from Robert Goyle, his eyes glittering angrily. One of his best Death Eaters had been caught. And the man's mission had failed. This was not good. He had to eliminate Harry Potter's friends, and that old fool, Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore and the Mudblood girl especially, or they would be able to help Harry before his plan would be entirely complete. If they learned his plan, Harry would know what to do to protect himself. All would be lost, for mistakes could not be made.
Then he smiled in the darkness. "Of course," he whispered. He didn't have to eliminate them now. Potter's friends would meet the same fate as the boy himself.