Chapter 2
As it turned out Harry was leaving the Dursley's after only a week. An owl arrived he opened the letter.
Harry,
It is time for you to leave the Dursley's once and for all. Make sure you leave nothing behind. Not even so much as a quill or scrap of parchment. It must appear as if you have never been there.
Albus Dumbledore
P.S. You will find enclosed is a portkey that will take you to the Weasleys. Stay with them until you are sent for. You have twelve hours from when you grab the coin the first time until it activates. Molly and Arthur are expecting you.
Harry grasped the small coin in his hand and smiled. He was going home forever. He set his watch alarm for twelve hours, and watched the time begin to count down. Apparently Dudley had received a watch for Christmas, and had unceremoniously dumped it in Harry's room. He didn't care, it worked, and his old one did not. He began to clean his room completely of anything even remotely wizardling.
Four hours later he began to pace his small room like one of the tigers that had been in the zoo he had visited just before his first year at Hogwarts. He smiled at the memory, and suddenly had a small pang of regret.
Dudley stood with his nose pressed against the glass, staring at the glistening brown coils. "Make it move," he whined at his father. Uncle Vernon tapped on the glass, but the snake didn't budge. "Do it again," Dudley ordered. Uncle Vernon rapped the glass smartly with his knuckles, but the snake just snoozed on.
"This is boring," Dudley moaned. He shuffled away.
Harry moved in front of the tank and looked intently at the snake. He wouldn't have been surprised if it had died of boredom itself – no company except stupid people drumming their fingers on the glass trying to disturb it all day long. It was worse than having a cupboard as a bedroom, where the only visitor was Aunt Petunia hammering on the door to wake you up; at least he got to visit the rest of the house.
The snake suddenly opened its beady eyes. Slowly, very slowly, it raised its head until its eyes were on a level with Harry's.
It winked.
Harry stared. Then he looked quickly around to see if anyone was watching. They weren't. He looked back at the snake and winked, too.
The snake jerked its head toward Uncle Vernon and Dudley, then raised its eyes to the ceiling. It gave Harry a look that said quite plainly:
"I get that all the time.
"I know," Harry murmured through the glass, though he wasn't sure the snake could hear him. "It must be really annoying."
The snake nodded vigorously.
"Where do you come from, anyway?" Harry asked.
The snake jabbed its tail at a little sign next to the glass. Harry peered at it.
Boa Constrictor, Brazil.
"Was it nice there?"
The boa constrictor jabbed its tail at the sign again and Harry read on: This specimen was bred in the zoo. "Oh, I see -- so you've never been to
Brazil?"
As the snake shook its head, a deafening shout behind Harry made both of them jump.
"DUDLEY! MR. DURSLEY! COME AND LOOK AT THIS SNAKE! YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT IT'S DOING!"
Dudley came waddling toward them as fast as he could.
"Out of the way, you," he said, punching Harry in the ribs. Caught by surprise, Harry fell hard on the concrete floor. What came next happened so fast no one saw how it happened -- one second, Piers and Dudley were leaning right up close to the glass, the next, they had leapt back with howls of horror.
Harry sat up and gasped; the glass front of the boa constrictor's tank had vanished. The great snake was uncoiling itself rapidly, slithering out onto the floor. People throughout the reptile house screamed and started running for the exits.
As the snake slid swiftly past him, Harry could have sworn a low, hissing voice said, "Brazil, here I come.... Thanksss, amigo."
He crossed to his door, and opened it heading down stairs where Dudley, Aunt Petunia, and Uncle Vernon were watching something on Television.
"I'm leaving in a few hours." He stated simply.
Vernon turned on him. "What?"
"I'm leaving in a few hours." He repeated, adding "for good this time. I don't reckon I'll return after this." He wasn't sure what he expected, but it wasn't what happened.
Vernon stood up, and nodded to Petunia. "I'll get the box then." He headed for the basement, and after a few minutes returned with a cardboard box. Old, and showing it's age. It was sealed with what could only have been spell-o-tape Harry surmised. "This would be yours then."
Petunia stood and looked at him like she normally did, disdainful at his very existence. "Good by then."
Vernon reached out with his hand, and dropped it on Harry's shoulder heavily, his small eyes glaring at Harry. "Who is picking you up then?" he shifted his gaze to the chimney.
"No one; I have a p - another way. I'll simply be gone in…" Harry glanced at his watch. "Three hours and forty five minutes."
"Make sure you take everything then." Dudley piped up. "I don't want your strange junk lying about in my room anymore."
Harry smiled to himself don't worry, I'm not leaving anything. He thought to himself.
He left them to their lives, and entered his room for the last time. He opened the window, fed Hedwig a treat and told her to meet him in the Burrow. He wasn't sure what was in the box, but he thought it best to deal with that later on. For now, he was content to sit in the room watching his watch tick away the minutes.
He wasn't sure what caused it, but he was nodding off when he heard a faint beeping that woke him. His eyes snapped open, and seconds later he felt a tug behind his bellybutton, and Privet Drive vanished.
He blinked, and the Burrow swam into focus. He was sitting in the living room on his trunk, his box and Hedwig's cage balanced on his lap. As he looked around taking in everything, the kitchen door opened, and Molly Weasley opened the door, saw him and bustled to him enveloping Harry in a welcome and warm hug. "Welcome home Harry dear."
Harry broke down and cried on Molly's shoulder. It took him several minutes to recover himself, and when he did, he realized that she had been crying too. "Mrs. Weasley, what's wrong?"
"Nothing Harry, I'm just so glad you are here. We were worried about you, and how long you'd have to stay there." Her eyes were still bright with emotion.
"We got you a welcome home present you know." She led him to the clock, and he saw a hand engraved "Harry" on it. It was pointing to "Home". Tears threatened to well up again, but he fought them back.
"Oh, and Arthur has added a room for you Harry, we didn't think you'd want to continue sharing a room with Ron. Is this all you have?" She was looking over his meager belongings.
"Yeah, it's all I own." He felt embarrassed. He had plenty of money, but in fifteen years time, he had collected only enough to barely fill his trunk, not counting the box and Hedwig's cage.
"We were planning on doing some shopping tomorrow in Diagon Alley; did you want to come along Harry?" Molly was asking him, but she saw his eyes rivet on something behind her. Her smile increased as she felt a presence behind her.
"Harry?" Ginny said disbelieving it was him. "You, you're here?"
"Yeah Ginny, I'm home." The warmth in his eyes and emotions in his tone spoke volumes to Molly Weasley, and even had she not had the talks with Ginny over the years, she would have known then just by seeing them.
"Well then, shall I show you to your room then, Mr. Potter?" Ginny asked, smiling.
"Certainly, Ms. Weasley." Harry said simply. His eyes never leaving Ginny's "I'll be right back Mrs. Weasley."
"Don't hurry on my account dear, but wash up, dinner will be ready soon, and those darned muggles never feed you."
A half hour later, Molly heard Harry and Ginny coming downstairs. They looked no worse for the wear, but both had obviously been crying. Ron and the twins came into the kitchen from outside just as the two of them came in from the living room.
"Harry!" they said almost in unison.
The appearance of Percy, and Arthur only added to the joyous atmosphere. Yes, Harry thought to himself, watching the mayhem that was after dinner time in the Burrow I am home.
Fred and George gave Harry a small box. With great caution, Harry opened the box, to find it empty, curious Harry looked over the edge of the box, peering into it looking for the gift, when with a "poof" the box itself exploded. Harry looked up at the twins, and everyone at the table roared with laughter. Harry looked in a mirror, and saw himself with red hair.
"Well Harry, if you're going to stay, you should look like one of us." Fred chuckled.
Harry retained his red hair for only fifteen minutes, and it slowly faded back to black. Ginny leaned over to him. "I think I like it better black Harry." She whispered in his ear. "Messy and red don't go together." Harry smiled at her, and gave her hand a slight squeeze.
The evening was comfortable, and all too soon Harry's bed was calling to him. He went upstairs to his room, dressed in his pajamas, and slid into his new bed. He'd have to talk to Molly and Arthur tomorrow and discuss his paying them back for all this.
His dreams were all pleasant that night. He awoke the next morning as if new life had been granted to him. The smell of breakfast was welcome, and quite a change from his normal routine. He dressed and headed downstairs finding Molly and Ginny sharing tea and talking. They stopped when he entered the room, Ginny looking a bit embarrassed, and Molly positively beaming.
After breakfast, Harry, Ron, Ginny and Molly headed for Diagon Alley. Fred and George were heading to Hogsmeade to 'scout for a prime location' they claimed. Harry went to Gringots and pulled out several hundred galleons, to ensure he had enough money for not only school supplies, but things for his room.
As the group prepared to head home after the day shopping, they stopped by the Ministry offices. Harry and Molly went to see Arthur, as he was still underage; they needed to sign some documents making Arthur and Molly his legal guardian. It took no time, and during the process, Harry managed to talk the Weasleys into letting him help out with his food and the cost of his room. To his relief, they graciously accepted his terms.
The weeks slid by. Soon it would be time to start school again, and for the first time, Harry was facing the trip to Hogwarts with trepidation. At night he heard all that was going on in the world on the WWN, Arthur would fill in the blanks, but for the most part, they went on ahead.
Harry and Ginny grew closer by the day. Ron had convinced Hermione's parents to let her stay the last month of holidays at the Burrow, and they too it seemed had decided to act on their feelings.
It was soon just three days until they headed for school. The four of them were in the kitchen looking at the Marauder's Map. "So we can see who is where at any time in Hogwarts then?" asked Ginny.
"Yeah, it's brilliant." Ron stated.
They watched the dots scurrying about in the halls and rooms for a while.
"And the Marauder's were Harry's father, Sirius Black, Professor Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew?" Ginny asked. She noticed the wince from Harry at Peter's name.
"Yeah, that's right." Harry replied.
"Your mum wasn't a Marauder then?" Ginny asked.
"No. Not, um, 'officially', but from what Remus and Sirius say, she was involved in their mischief enough to have been." Harry said.
They sat around planning the next year's activities, when the kitchen door swung open. Standing there was Albus Dumbledore. "I trust I find you all in good health and spirits?" he started making his way to the table.
The four of them looked shocked at the headmaster's rather abrupt appearance, and mild panic crossed their faces.
He smiled benevolently at them. "I am not the bearer of ill news today. Rather, I have come to make some rather pleasant news. Hermione is to be made Head Girl this year." With that he presented her with her badge. "Ginny is to be Prefect." Again a badge was passed out. "Ron is also a Prefect." A third badge was handed over to Ron. "Finally, Harry is to be Head Boy."
The four looked at their badges and then at Dumbledore. "But why did you bring them to us? Why not just owl them?" Harry asked.
"Because I needed to talk to the four of you in person." He continued. "The badges were just an excuse."
He went into a fairly broad explanation of the attacks over the summer, and the war that Voldemort was waging on the wizardling world. Fudge was still denying everything, however Dumbledore had solid contact with the people Arthur had recruited in the Ministry. Word was getting out, but few people wanted to hear bad news, they wanted to believe Voldemort was gone for good.
More plans were made, and finally after three hours of discussion, Dumbledore left. The four of them sat there staring at one another, and the badges Dumbledore had presented to them.
They helped Molly prepare dinner that night, never straying out of one another's eyesight until sleep forced them into separate rooms.
For the first night since moving into the Burrow, Harry had a rough night. After trying to sleep until two in the morning, he got up, and eased his way into the hallway, down the stairs and into the kitchen. Ginny was already there with two cups of hot cocoa.
"Took you long enough." She smiled at him as he sat next to her.
"I was trying to sleep, really." He grinned back.
They held hands, and drank the chocolate in silence. Fifteen minutes later found them in the living room curled up on the couch, asleep.
Its how Molly found them the next morning. Harry stretched out on the couch, and Ginny laying on top of him both deep asleep. She looked them over with a glint in her eye, and went to the kitchen to make breakfast.
The smell of cooking bacon roused Harry, who was pleasantly weighted down by the presence of Ginny. He woke her up, and made a beeline for the bathroom, determined to be the first one there before the mad rush.
Ginny walked into the kitchen, dropped into a chair, and laid her head on the table. "Morning Mum." She mumbled out.
Molly laughed softly. "Good morning dear, was your mattress comfortable last night?"
Ginny's head shot up, and her face turned red. "We - we were up late, and Harry and I could not sleep. We drank chocolate, and must have fallen asleep on the couch."
"So you did." Molly agreed smiling at Ginny. "However, you didn't answer my question."
Ginny grinned back "Yeah - yeah it was." The color was still there when Harry came down from showering and changing.
Harry helped out in the kitchen pouring juice, and setting places that morning, it was going to be a great day he thought. The four were going to do nothing today, and spend all day figuring out how to pull it off. They had planned it last night.
(This is one of the best memories I have. There are others that are far more poignant as the story progresses, but for now, know that I was completely at peace with the world and myself. I would not realize the gift I had until months later. But for the moment I was completely free of everything, and we wanted to capture that feeling for the entire day. – Harry)
Following breakfast, the four packed a picnic lunch, and headed out to the stream. Bathing suits under jeans and t-shirts, they splashed in the warm water, read and ate in the shade, and spent time with each other. No one pressured into doing or saying anything. Hours were spent chatting, or silently holding hands.
They made it to the house as the sun began to set, and dinner was prepared. A going-away party and all the children were home. Noise and confusion was the rule, and Harry drank it all in. His family was there to share everything now, and he was at peace with the world.
The next morning was spent rechecking all the supplies and books purchased in Diagon Alley weeks before. Trunks were packed, and stacked by the door. Cars from the ministry would be by the next morning to take them to King's Cross.
Dinner was enjoyable; Bill and Charlie had decided to stay until the end of the week to ease the sense of loses Molly felt when her children had left for school. Arthur had taken time off work, and only Percy had insisted on maintaining his schedule.
The trip to King's Cross was uneventful, as was the loading and departure of the train from the station. During the ride Draco Malfoy invariably ended up coming to their cabin.
"Malfoy, I would have thought you would have learned by now." Ron stated simply. "We don't like you, and to be blunt, this will only result in you getting some nasty new growth on your face or something."
The blonde boy had merely opened the door, and Ron had made his comment as Draco's mouth had opened.
"Draco," Harry said "Unless you are here to discuss something in a civilized manner, please leave." With that he turned to Ginny, and kissed her.
Draco looked at the scene, and a positively evil grin spread. "So, Potter has a whore."
Harry's face twisted in a rage that shocked his three friends. Fury pulsed through him. "Malfoy, you have a very limited lease on your life at this moment in time." Harry said hatred dripping from every word; his eyes had turned to a cold ice green. Malfoy took a step back fear registering in his blue eyes. "Because, to be honest, I don't know if I am going to stop from killing you."
Harry stood then, and faced Draco fully. "Go on Potter, you think the world should bend over and kiss your ass. Or is it just the Weasels? How much does he pay you to kiss his ass Weasel?"
Crabbe and Goyle looked at one another stupidly, and then at Draco. "I think.."
"You don't think." Malfoy said coldly. "I think for you."
Harry blinked. The fury fled from him leaving cold, emptiness. "Leave Malfoy. Just go." He placed his hand on Draco's chest and pushed him out into the hall. "Don't come back to this cabin." Harry's voice had an unreal tinge to it. The hatred was gone, but something was there, the words sounded powerful.
Malfoy turned, and left, Crabbe and Goyle following him. Harry turned to his friends, opened his mouth to speak and passed out.
The three scrambled to lift him onto the seat, Ginny, held his hand.