Harry spent less than two weeks at the Dursleys' before he joined the Weasleys to get school suplies at Diagon Alley. His time at home was uneventful: he stayed quietly in his room and the Dursley's were quite content to leave him there. Dudley didn't seem too keen on playing with the new, bigger, stronger Harry Potter.
Harry was rather surprised when Fred and George apparated in the middle of his room. They grinned at him--a little madly he thought. They were probably up to something. Then it occured to him that they were always up to something. He probably didn't have anything to worry about... well, no more than usual. He smiled tentatively.
"Harry, get your stuff together," one of the twins said.
"It's already packed... um... George?"
"By Golly, he got it right!" the other twin exclaimed.
"Well, he did have a fifity fifty chance" George replied. "Hand Fred your bag-"
"Lazy bugger-" Fred interrupted.
"Shush, Fred. I'll take his broom and Hedwig. You-" he looked at Harry "-take this." Harry stared dumbly at the small rock in his hand. "Portkey. It's focused on one that Ron's carrying so it will take you straight to him and Hermione."
"Dumbledore not being here and all they thought this would be a safer way for you to travel. Say 'Bottom Pop' when you're ready to go," Fred added.
"Bottom? You mean like rear end?" Harry asked.
"No!" Fred laughed.
"One of our new products. That's why we spent the summer at home rather than at the shop--inventing you know," George explained.
"And the food."
"Yes, and the food. Anyway, Hermione was showing Ginny this muggle book-"
"The author had the stangest name--something about brandishing a pike? Was that it? Rather violent, wasn't it?"
"It was a spear, I think."
"You don't mean Shakespeare, do you?" Harry asked.
"That's the one!" Fred exclaimed. "Anyway, there was this bloke that had his head transfigured into a donkey's-"
"Bottom-"
"George, stop interrupting! Where was I? Oh yes, we were inspired!"
"Think ickle Duddykins is stupid enough to fall for the same trick twice?" George asked with a wink.
Harry grinned, glad that their mischief didn't seem to be directed at him. "Definitely--but make it seem hidden. Don't make it too hard though, we've got to remember he's about as smart as Snape is lovable."
Fred and George consulted as Harry grabbed the rock and said (quite clearly and carefully) "Bottom Pop."
---
"Ron, how could you have dropped- oh, hello Harry!" Hermione said as Harry appeared right on top of Ron.
Ron lifted up the stone in his right hand. "I think this might be it." He grinned.
Hermione shook her head, smiled, and gave Harry a hug (the last of which Ron didn't look too pleased about). "Our daft friend over here," she pointed at Ron, "dropped the rock that the portkey was focused on." Ron--particularly his ears--turned a cheerful shade of red.
Harry looked around. "Where's Ginny?"
"With mum and dad, of course."
"Oh, yeah. Of course. But... don't you usually all shop together?"
Hermione and Ron looked at eachother uncomfortably. After a moment Ron spoke up: "Um... mum and dad thought... well, really we thought--Hermione and I that is--we thought maybe you might want some... time. You know. With just us."
Harry was becoming quite familiar with long, awkward pauses.
Hemione broke the silence. "Harry, we thought you should know that nobody will be informed of... you know... at school. Not even the teachers."
"Especially not Snape," Ron added. "Mum and dad wanted to tell all the teachers but we said absolutely not and Dumbledore agreed." Ron smiled proudly, but the grin faded as the three friends fell into yet another uncomfortable pause.
"Let's go get our books," Harry said.
---
On the train to Hogwarts Ron and Hermione tried to get out of going in the prefects' car but Harry refused to hear it.
"Honestly you two, just drop it. Shoo! Away! I'll go with Ginny again." Harry turned to her. "Er... if that's all right. Is it?"
"Of course, Harry."
"What about Dean?" Ron scowled.
"Ron. You're my brother and I love you dearly, but you are a bloody moron. That was a joke."
Harry smiled and walked off to find a compartment with Ginny.
Hermione looked at Ron. "He doesn't smile very much anymore. You don't think he and Ginny-"
"No way! She's my little sister!"
---
Harry and Ginny found an empty compartment but were soon joined by Luna. She sat down and stared at Harry dreamily. "My father was thinking about writing another article about you: 'The Secret Life of Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived.'" Ginny could see Harry's Adam's apple bob up and down as he gulped nervously.
She giggled and said "why don't you two talk business later?"
"Fine. Will you be playing your little flying game this year?"
"Quidditch?" Harry asked. Luna nodded. "I... I don't know. Umbridge-"
"That stupid goat's rules can't stand! Harry, you've got to play!" Ginny pleaded.
"I like watching you fly." Luna smiled dreamily again. Harry gulped again.
"Um..." Harry said, blushing like mad. Ginny desperately attempted to suppress her giggles. Harry tried again. "Um... um... oh! Where's Neville?"
"With his-" Ginny's giggles burst out "-girlfriend!"
"Neville has a girlfriend?"
Ginny nodded. Luna just smiled serenely.
"Neville?!" Harry asked incredulously.
"A hufflepuff. In our year. She-" Luna abruptly stopped as a fourth person entered the compartment.
"Cho... um... hi..." Harry stuttered.
"Can I sit with you all?"
"Um..." Harry looked at Ginny and Luna. "Um... yes?" He blushed. Cho smiled. Luna pulled out the latest edition of 'The Quibbler' and Ginny fought the urge to scowl. Cho sat down to Harry--very close to Harry. That scowl was getting harder to hide.
"Look, Harry, about last year, Hogsmeade and all--I forgive you." Harry blinked. "I know it's hard for you to talk about your feelings. I got mad at you when you couldn't--couldn't-" and Cho burst into tears.
Harry patted her shoulder awkwardly and said "Um... I guess I'm sorry. I was sort of an idiot about the whole Hermione thing, I suppose."
"Oh Harry!"
He stared at her. A lot of water was coming out of her eyes. He wondered if a person could get dehydrated from crying all the time. Well, if anyone could, it would be Cho.
Ginny suddenly spoke. "Let's go get some food, Luna."
"I'm not hungry," Luna replied stubbornly. Ginny grabbed her arm and dragged her off.
"You look good, Harry."
"Um... um... how's Michael?" Harry squeeked.
"I broke up with him."
"Oh."
Cho smiled at him, but something happened that surprised Harry to no end. Or, to be more precise, something didn't happen. He didn't blush. He didn't feel weak. He didn't even want to kiss her. Cho smiled at him and he didn't care? What was going on?
"Harry, I understand you don't want to talk about... things... but I thought we might try dating again. I promise you won't have to bare your soul unless you want to. I like you, Harry."
Bare his soul? Was she joking? She didn't look like it. "I... I don't know." What was he saying? "I don't think I can." A year ago he would have jumped at the chance to go out with Cho. In fact, he had. But that was a year ago. "I'm sorry."
"That's ok Harry. I'll wait until you're ready to open up. I understand."
'I don't think you do' Harry thought as Ginny and Luna re-entered the compartment. Harry smiled in relief. Ginny grinned. "I got some of everything," she said.
Harry was astonished. Whithout thinking, he said "how'd you pay for all this?" He flinched when he realized what he had just asked.
"Don't worry Harry, I'm not sensitive about money like Ron is. I've been working for a pair of insane redheads with a well-funded partner." She stared at Harry. He fidgeted and turned his head to look out the window.
"Oh, well if it isn't the Potter fan club," Malfoy drawled from the hallway.
"You know, you're a tad predictable," Ginny commented.
"Shut up Weasley."
"I don't take orders from you."
"Only from you darling Potter, eh?"
And then Ginny laughed. She couldn't stop. Malfoy looked very confused, actually, they all did. Finally, Cho asked "are you ok, Ginny?"
Ginny pushed down the giggles until she could spit out "He--he tries so hard to be mean--who *tries* to be mean? And he--he just sounds so-" the giggles interrupted again "-ridiculous!" she started laughing uncontrollably again. By that point Harry was chuckling too. Luna smiled. Cho still looked confused.
Malfoy looked muderous. He yelled "you stupid little brat!" and stalked toward Ginny. Harry stopped laughing abruptly and stood up, inches away from the other boy. Crabbe and Goyle watched from the doorway. Harry glared down at Malfoy, suddenly immensely glad that he had grown so much over the summer. Harry didn't speak; he just glared. Malfoy stared back for a moment then snorted and headed out, muttering "brat's not worth anything anyway."
"What's that Malfoy?" Harry asked.
"Nothing."
"Thought so."
Ginny suddenly yelled "stupid prat!" and threw a box of candy at Malfoy, which he caught deftly.
"Thanks for the gift, Miss Weasley," he added and then stomped off, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.
Ginny grinned. Harry looked at her, then the door, then back at Ginny again. "Those weren't..."
"Oh yes they were!"
Harry and Ginny fell victim to fits of laughter when they heard something braying in the hallway.
---
"You should have seen it!" Ginny said to Ron and Hermione as they all walked to Gryffindor tower after the sorting ceremony.
"Honestly, I thought the new look was an improvement" Harry said with a completely straight face. He looked at Ginny and cracked a grin to match hers.
"What I really want to see is Harry trapped in a compartment with three girls who fancy him!" Ron exclaimed with a laugh.
"What? I thought Luna fancied you," Harry said.
"Perhaps she's traded up," Ginny added. Ron gave her a glare for good measure. "Anyway, I told Ron I was over that stupid little crush!" Ginny wailed.
"Little?" Harry asked, eliciting an enormous blush from Ginny.
Harry was rather surprised when Fred and George apparated in the middle of his room. They grinned at him--a little madly he thought. They were probably up to something. Then it occured to him that they were always up to something. He probably didn't have anything to worry about... well, no more than usual. He smiled tentatively.
"Harry, get your stuff together," one of the twins said.
"It's already packed... um... George?"
"By Golly, he got it right!" the other twin exclaimed.
"Well, he did have a fifity fifty chance" George replied. "Hand Fred your bag-"
"Lazy bugger-" Fred interrupted.
"Shush, Fred. I'll take his broom and Hedwig. You-" he looked at Harry "-take this." Harry stared dumbly at the small rock in his hand. "Portkey. It's focused on one that Ron's carrying so it will take you straight to him and Hermione."
"Dumbledore not being here and all they thought this would be a safer way for you to travel. Say 'Bottom Pop' when you're ready to go," Fred added.
"Bottom? You mean like rear end?" Harry asked.
"No!" Fred laughed.
"One of our new products. That's why we spent the summer at home rather than at the shop--inventing you know," George explained.
"And the food."
"Yes, and the food. Anyway, Hermione was showing Ginny this muggle book-"
"The author had the stangest name--something about brandishing a pike? Was that it? Rather violent, wasn't it?"
"It was a spear, I think."
"You don't mean Shakespeare, do you?" Harry asked.
"That's the one!" Fred exclaimed. "Anyway, there was this bloke that had his head transfigured into a donkey's-"
"Bottom-"
"George, stop interrupting! Where was I? Oh yes, we were inspired!"
"Think ickle Duddykins is stupid enough to fall for the same trick twice?" George asked with a wink.
Harry grinned, glad that their mischief didn't seem to be directed at him. "Definitely--but make it seem hidden. Don't make it too hard though, we've got to remember he's about as smart as Snape is lovable."
Fred and George consulted as Harry grabbed the rock and said (quite clearly and carefully) "Bottom Pop."
---
"Ron, how could you have dropped- oh, hello Harry!" Hermione said as Harry appeared right on top of Ron.
Ron lifted up the stone in his right hand. "I think this might be it." He grinned.
Hermione shook her head, smiled, and gave Harry a hug (the last of which Ron didn't look too pleased about). "Our daft friend over here," she pointed at Ron, "dropped the rock that the portkey was focused on." Ron--particularly his ears--turned a cheerful shade of red.
Harry looked around. "Where's Ginny?"
"With mum and dad, of course."
"Oh, yeah. Of course. But... don't you usually all shop together?"
Hermione and Ron looked at eachother uncomfortably. After a moment Ron spoke up: "Um... mum and dad thought... well, really we thought--Hermione and I that is--we thought maybe you might want some... time. You know. With just us."
Harry was becoming quite familiar with long, awkward pauses.
Hemione broke the silence. "Harry, we thought you should know that nobody will be informed of... you know... at school. Not even the teachers."
"Especially not Snape," Ron added. "Mum and dad wanted to tell all the teachers but we said absolutely not and Dumbledore agreed." Ron smiled proudly, but the grin faded as the three friends fell into yet another uncomfortable pause.
"Let's go get our books," Harry said.
---
On the train to Hogwarts Ron and Hermione tried to get out of going in the prefects' car but Harry refused to hear it.
"Honestly you two, just drop it. Shoo! Away! I'll go with Ginny again." Harry turned to her. "Er... if that's all right. Is it?"
"Of course, Harry."
"What about Dean?" Ron scowled.
"Ron. You're my brother and I love you dearly, but you are a bloody moron. That was a joke."
Harry smiled and walked off to find a compartment with Ginny.
Hermione looked at Ron. "He doesn't smile very much anymore. You don't think he and Ginny-"
"No way! She's my little sister!"
---
Harry and Ginny found an empty compartment but were soon joined by Luna. She sat down and stared at Harry dreamily. "My father was thinking about writing another article about you: 'The Secret Life of Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived.'" Ginny could see Harry's Adam's apple bob up and down as he gulped nervously.
She giggled and said "why don't you two talk business later?"
"Fine. Will you be playing your little flying game this year?"
"Quidditch?" Harry asked. Luna nodded. "I... I don't know. Umbridge-"
"That stupid goat's rules can't stand! Harry, you've got to play!" Ginny pleaded.
"I like watching you fly." Luna smiled dreamily again. Harry gulped again.
"Um..." Harry said, blushing like mad. Ginny desperately attempted to suppress her giggles. Harry tried again. "Um... um... oh! Where's Neville?"
"With his-" Ginny's giggles burst out "-girlfriend!"
"Neville has a girlfriend?"
Ginny nodded. Luna just smiled serenely.
"Neville?!" Harry asked incredulously.
"A hufflepuff. In our year. She-" Luna abruptly stopped as a fourth person entered the compartment.
"Cho... um... hi..." Harry stuttered.
"Can I sit with you all?"
"Um..." Harry looked at Ginny and Luna. "Um... yes?" He blushed. Cho smiled. Luna pulled out the latest edition of 'The Quibbler' and Ginny fought the urge to scowl. Cho sat down to Harry--very close to Harry. That scowl was getting harder to hide.
"Look, Harry, about last year, Hogsmeade and all--I forgive you." Harry blinked. "I know it's hard for you to talk about your feelings. I got mad at you when you couldn't--couldn't-" and Cho burst into tears.
Harry patted her shoulder awkwardly and said "Um... I guess I'm sorry. I was sort of an idiot about the whole Hermione thing, I suppose."
"Oh Harry!"
He stared at her. A lot of water was coming out of her eyes. He wondered if a person could get dehydrated from crying all the time. Well, if anyone could, it would be Cho.
Ginny suddenly spoke. "Let's go get some food, Luna."
"I'm not hungry," Luna replied stubbornly. Ginny grabbed her arm and dragged her off.
"You look good, Harry."
"Um... um... how's Michael?" Harry squeeked.
"I broke up with him."
"Oh."
Cho smiled at him, but something happened that surprised Harry to no end. Or, to be more precise, something didn't happen. He didn't blush. He didn't feel weak. He didn't even want to kiss her. Cho smiled at him and he didn't care? What was going on?
"Harry, I understand you don't want to talk about... things... but I thought we might try dating again. I promise you won't have to bare your soul unless you want to. I like you, Harry."
Bare his soul? Was she joking? She didn't look like it. "I... I don't know." What was he saying? "I don't think I can." A year ago he would have jumped at the chance to go out with Cho. In fact, he had. But that was a year ago. "I'm sorry."
"That's ok Harry. I'll wait until you're ready to open up. I understand."
'I don't think you do' Harry thought as Ginny and Luna re-entered the compartment. Harry smiled in relief. Ginny grinned. "I got some of everything," she said.
Harry was astonished. Whithout thinking, he said "how'd you pay for all this?" He flinched when he realized what he had just asked.
"Don't worry Harry, I'm not sensitive about money like Ron is. I've been working for a pair of insane redheads with a well-funded partner." She stared at Harry. He fidgeted and turned his head to look out the window.
"Oh, well if it isn't the Potter fan club," Malfoy drawled from the hallway.
"You know, you're a tad predictable," Ginny commented.
"Shut up Weasley."
"I don't take orders from you."
"Only from you darling Potter, eh?"
And then Ginny laughed. She couldn't stop. Malfoy looked very confused, actually, they all did. Finally, Cho asked "are you ok, Ginny?"
Ginny pushed down the giggles until she could spit out "He--he tries so hard to be mean--who *tries* to be mean? And he--he just sounds so-" the giggles interrupted again "-ridiculous!" she started laughing uncontrollably again. By that point Harry was chuckling too. Luna smiled. Cho still looked confused.
Malfoy looked muderous. He yelled "you stupid little brat!" and stalked toward Ginny. Harry stopped laughing abruptly and stood up, inches away from the other boy. Crabbe and Goyle watched from the doorway. Harry glared down at Malfoy, suddenly immensely glad that he had grown so much over the summer. Harry didn't speak; he just glared. Malfoy stared back for a moment then snorted and headed out, muttering "brat's not worth anything anyway."
"What's that Malfoy?" Harry asked.
"Nothing."
"Thought so."
Ginny suddenly yelled "stupid prat!" and threw a box of candy at Malfoy, which he caught deftly.
"Thanks for the gift, Miss Weasley," he added and then stomped off, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.
Ginny grinned. Harry looked at her, then the door, then back at Ginny again. "Those weren't..."
"Oh yes they were!"
Harry and Ginny fell victim to fits of laughter when they heard something braying in the hallway.
---
"You should have seen it!" Ginny said to Ron and Hermione as they all walked to Gryffindor tower after the sorting ceremony.
"Honestly, I thought the new look was an improvement" Harry said with a completely straight face. He looked at Ginny and cracked a grin to match hers.
"What I really want to see is Harry trapped in a compartment with three girls who fancy him!" Ron exclaimed with a laugh.
"What? I thought Luna fancied you," Harry said.
"Perhaps she's traded up," Ginny added. Ron gave her a glare for good measure. "Anyway, I told Ron I was over that stupid little crush!" Ginny wailed.
"Little?" Harry asked, eliciting an enormous blush from Ginny.