A/N: I know that no-one has reviewed yet, but please, please do! Maybe no-
one is reading this, ah well, I will continue to post, and I will update at
least once a week, hopefully more, and all depending on how my inspiration
is. I really like this story so far, but my lack of writing skills do it no
justice, I hope you will enjoy it all the same!
Chapter 2: Plans and Surprises
Harry opened his eyes with a start and looked around at his surroundings, to find himself outside the familiar home from home, The Burrow. Fred, George and Ron were already climbing out of the car and Harry hastened to follow them. Fred and George were carrying his trunk up to the house under their mother, Molly Weasley's instructions.
"Hi Harry, it's good to see you again, how are you?" Molly enquired her concerned eyes searching him, making her own assessment of how he was. "I must say you look better than usual."
"I'm fine thanks, Mrs Weasley, the Dursleys have actually been feeding me this summer" replied Harry "thanks for inviting me to stay."
"Nonsense" said Molly ushering them all inside "you know quite well that you are always welcome here, now are we going to stand out here all day or are we going in for some dinner?"
"Hey Harry" called Ginny from the sofa by the fireplace "how's you're summer been?"
"Hi" he replied a smile forming on his face, he did love being at the Burrow, with all these people that like him, it still took some getting used to "it's looking better since I got here."
Harry took a good look around, taking in all the familiar aspects of the Burrow, the magical clock that told you where members of the family were, the old dining table and chairs, which were beginning to groan under the weight of the feast Molly had cooked. The fireplace he had travelled through using Floo Powder several times, and the mirror above it that was always on hand to comment. Every time Harry arrived at the Burrow he was overwhelmed with the same sense of longing, the desire to have a home like this, a place where he could be comfortable, a place where he was loved and cared for, a family to call his own. Any chance he had of that was gone now, that chance had died along with Sirius in the Department of Mysteries a month or two ago. Harry couldn't believe that was all the time that had passed, it seemed like a lifetime.
"No I won't ruin this day" Harry thought to himself "I won't think of Sirius."
Just then Ron appeared behind Harry, seemingly out of nowhere, though in reality Harry had simply been too absorbed in his own thoughts to notice.
"Harry, you alright?" Ron enquired, sounding worried
"yeah, I'm fine" Harry reassured him "honesty, just got a bit carried away with my thoughts"
"oh, okay, well, as I was saying, do you want to get something to eat?" Ron continued the concern for the most part leaving his face, though not completely.
"Sounds great!" Harry said enthusiastically "I'm famished"
"Looks like actually being fed for once has given you an appetite" Ron said with the slightest hint of teasing as he eased into a seat at the table.
"I guess it must've" said Harry thoughtfully "Where are Fred and George? It's not like them to miss the start of a meal."
" I don't know for certain" started Ron looking pointedly towards the garden "but I'd say it was safe to assume they're hanging out of their bedroom window perving over the new neighbour, it's where they've spent most of the last few weeks anyway."
"It's pathetic, honestly" huffed Ginny, between mouthfuls of mashed potato
"I do see their point though, I have to admit" said Ron as a pinkish tinge coloured his features
"Really?" asked Harry, trying unsuccessfully to hide his interest
"yeah, I guess she is quite nice looking, but I dunno." he trailed off
"Well, I'd say it's pretty obvious why Ron isn't there too" teased Ginny "he only has eyes for one girl, isn't that right Ronniekins?"
"NO!" exclaimed Ron whose pink tinge was now a full blown scarlet
"Oh come off it Ron, you mean to tell me you still can't admit that you like Hermione?" Harry said exasperatedly
"I have no idea what you're talking about" said Ron with an air of finality and a look towards Harry that said simply shut up or I will have to kill you. Harry wisely decided to drop the subject, for the time being anyway. At which point Fred and George appeared at the bottom of the stairs and headed over to the table.
"What've we missed?" asked George as he helped himself to the food.
"Nothing" replied Ron a little too quickly
"Hmm" said Fred thoughtfully, with a mischievous glint in his eye "seems like they're not telling us something."
"Can't we just be civil for one meal?" asked Molly pleadingly
"Okay, okay" replied George "So Harry what did you get for your O.W.L.'s?"
"Well I got a P for Divination and History of Magic, an A for Astronomy, an E for Care Of Magical Creatures, Charms, Herbology, Potions, and Transfiguration, and an O for Defence Against the Dark Arts. What about you Ron?" said Harry turning to face him.
"Wow, that's really good Harry!" said Fred whilst George, Ginny, Bill, Mr and Mrs Weasley were murmuring their agreement.
"Yeah it is" Agreed Ron "I got mostly the same actually, except I got an A in charms, and an E in Astronomy"
"Well done Ron" Harry said sincerely "I wonder how Hermione did?"
"If she got less than an O in anything I'll be amazed" Ron chuckled
*
After dinner Harry, Ron, Fred, George, Bill (who was around due to order business) and Ginny went outside for a game of Quidditch, Harry, Fred and Ginny played against Ron, George and Bill. Harry's team won, 120 to 90, so Harry was in a good mood as they traipsed upstairs to bed. Harry was, as usual, sleeping in Ron's room, and when they got there Harry slumped onto his bed and turned to face Ron.
"So, tell me about this next-door neighbour then."
"Not much to tell really, better to wait and see, no doubt she'll be out and about tomorrow. You're definitely over Cho then?" Ron asked hesitantly
"Definitely" Harry replied "In fact I'm beginning to wonder what I saw there in the first place." That was mostly true, Harry knew what he saw, a pretty face. It had taken their few disastrous meetings last year to learn that there were other equally important qualities to look for in a girl. "Speaking of being over people, I see you are most defiantly not over Hermione."
"I was never under her in the first place, mate" said Ron looking decidedly flushed.
"Maybe that's been you're problem" said Harry, a grin spreading across his face
"what?" asked Ron confused "Oh, wait a minute, no! That's not what I meant at all."
"It's still true though isn't it?" Harry continued with an annoying, I know something you don't, look on his face "Ron it's obvious to everyone but you."
"Is it?" said Ron, panic rising in his voice "I mean, I don't know what you're talking about!" his face fell, knowing it was too late, that he had been found out.
"Aha!" declared Harry "So I was right! You do like Hermione. I don't know why you couldn't just tell me."
"I.I, oh I don't know!" Ron gave up. "I was never any good at talking about things like this."
"So." continued Harry "the question is, are you going to tell Hermione?"
"What?!" Ron exclaimed "No bloody way! Are you insane?"
"No, I'm not insane." Said Harry calmly "don't you think it's a bit stupid that you and Hermione obviously fancy each other but neither of you has the guts to tell the other?"
"Well, for one thing Hermione does not fancy me, and for another what the bloody hell would I say to her?" Ron asked, his eyes fierce, as if daring Harry to say he was wrong.
"Hermione does like you Ron." Harry said simply
"How the hell would you know?" demanded Ron
"Well, I knew you liked her didn't I?" Harry argued "Oh plus the fact that she told Ginny."
"Ginny knows about this?" said Ron dumbfounded
"Of course, Ginny was the one that pointed it out to me in the first place. And the one that told me to tell you to ask Hermione out before she got bored and moved onto someone else." Harry teased
"What.but..why.." Ron tried to find the words he wanted but couldn't "oh forget it! I'm going to sleep, night Harry" he said as he pulled his pyjamas on.
"night Ron" relied Harry "one question though, if you weren't planning on impressing Hermione, why have you been working out?" asked Harry as his gaze settling upon some weights in the corner of the room.
"I, well, umm, I'm going to sleep, goodnight" Ron replied, then after a few minutes he began to fake snores in order to avoid further questioning, while in reality his thoughts were wandering to the only place they seemed to go recently. Hermione. "Damn, I want her." Ron thought to himself as he drifted off to sleep.
Harry lay awake listening to Ron's feigned snores, until he was sure they had become real. Then he got up, walked over to his trunk and got some parchment and a quill. He was going to write to Hermione. Ginny was right, somebody had to sort these two out, and as their best friend he thought it had best be him.
Dear Hermione,
Thank you for the birthday present. It's very nice,
unusual but nice. I'm wearing it now, I haven't experienced any
feelings of extraordinary good health or luck, but it hasn't had
much time to take effect yet. I'm at The Burrow just now and am
having a good time. It would be better if you were here though. Or
maybe not, after all that could result in you and Ron finally
getting over your own stupidity and telling each other how you feel.
As much as I'd love to see you two happy, I can't help but feel I
would be a bit of a third wheel. Oh well, not to worry seeing as you
can't make it. I was talking to Ron tonight and he TOLD me that he
likes you. Please don't tell him I told you though, and please will
you make the first move and owl him to say you like him too. You
don't have to fear rejection trust me. Anyway, I know you will be
dying to raise the subject so I will ask you first, what did you get
for your O.W.L.'s? I got Astronomy: A, Care of Magical Creatures: E,
Charms: E, Defence Against the Dark Arts: O (can you believe it?? Me
an O?), Divination: P (I know, I know, but who really cares?)
Herbology: E, History of Magic: P (I did have a vision of
Voldemort), Potions: E (I still can't believe it!), and
Transfiguration: E (a little surprised at that too.) If only I
could've got an O in potions! Oh well, at least this means I won't
have to take it anymore. I would tell you what Ron got, but you two
will want the excuse to talk, and I will gladly give it. Hope you're
having a good time in South America and I hope to hear from you
soon. Though if you have to choose between writing to me or Ron,
then I never want to hear from you again. Just talk to him, okay?
Love, Harry
He got up again, put the quill and remaining parchment back into his trunk and made his way to Hedwigs cage. Opened the door, and gave her the parchment.
"Take this to Hermione please, and don't leave until she gives you a reply." Harry said softly so not to wake Ron. Hedwig acknowledged him with an affectionate peck to his finger and flew off through the window Harry had opened for her.
*
A week had passed at The Burrow and there was still no sign of a reply from Hermione. Everyone was still asleep, though Harry's was rather fitful, he was dreaming again. He was there again, at the Department of Mysteries, Sirius was falling, but this time, he wasn't silent like he had been in real life, he was calling to Harry, calling for help and Harry wanted to go to him, to stop him from falling into the veil, but he couldn't lift his legs, they felt as though they were made of lead. Sirius' face contorted in pain, though more emotional than physical as he called to Harry "Why won't you help me?" Sirius looked confused and hurt "I need you Harry, please help me". Harry still couldn't move. "Sirius, No!" Harry yelled, throwing his body forward with all his strength, he didn't move. And then Sirius vanished and woke up. Sobbing. He tried to stop the tears. He couldn't bear for Ron to find him like this. But he couldn't, so he got up and went downstairs glad to see no-one else was up. Seeing as he was alone, he let it all out. All the emotion that had been building up in him since that day. The anger, the guilt, the overwhelming desire for vengeance. Harry wished he had a punch bag. Better yet, Bellatrix Lestrange. It was all her fault. She had caused so many innocent people so much pain. It made Harry's stomach retch to think of what she did. And what she said "You need to mean them, Potter. You need to really want to cause pain - to enjoy it". She had enjoyed it, she had enjoyed killing Sirius. Harry wished he could see her again. He would show her wanting to inflict pain. He would show her how to enjoy it. It was then he realised that he would enjoy it. And he felt disgusted with himself. He was no better than her. No better than Voldemort, the one that had taken everything from him. No he wouldn't do it. He wouldn't be like them. "I won't!" Harry yelled before he even realised it. Then he heard a voice from behind him.
"Harry?" It was Ginny "Are you okay Harry?"
Harry wiped his face. She couldn't know he had been crying. No-one could. "I'm fine, just couldn't sleep." He replied with an obviously fake cheeriness. "How come you're up so early anyway?"
"You're not the only one that has nightmares Harry." Ginny grimaced. "Sirius dying affected us all."
"At least it wasn't your fault" Harry said bitterly
Ginny walked over to the couch and sat down next to him. "Harry you don't blame yourself?" she said disbelievingly
"Why shouldn't I?" Harry countered "If I hadn't dragged us all there Sirius would be alive!"
"Maybe." Replied Ginny "But if it wasn't for you, he would have died two years ago. Worse in fact. You saved him from a fate worse than death, the Dementor's kiss."
"It doesn't change what happened in the Department of Mysteries though does it?"
"No Harry it doesn't. It just goes to show maybe we can't control fate. Maybe he was meant to die. Maybe he wasn't. But Harry, was it your wand that killed him? Was it your mouth that spoke the fatal curse? No. You didn't kill him, Bellatrix Lestrange did. Don't hate yourself for this."
"It's not like I want to hate myself. I just can't deny that it was me that went there. Me that made him feel like he had to go. Me."
"No it wasn't. Voldemort tricked you Harry."
"I still went though. Hermione told me it was a trick. She told me! But I went anyway."
"Remember in my first year? When Voldemort possessed me? I petrified people. I did that. Well technically a basilisk did, under Voldemort's control. But it was my body. I understand how you feel."
"It's not the same Ginny! You didn't have a choice. You didn't consciously decide to do any of that"
"I did decide not to tell anyone. I thought I was hurting people and I was too scared for myself to do anything about it. Do you think it didn't torture me afterwards to think that maybe if I had told Dumbledore, he would have figured it out? If I had shown him the diary he would have known it was Voldemort. I could've killed someone, and no-one would have known why because I was too scared!" Ginny was weeping.
"It wasn't you're fault." Harry was shocked, he didn't know Ginny felt that way, and now she was crying, he didn't know what to do. He wanted to make her feel better. Tentatively he reached over to her and put his arm around her, pulling her into a hug. "Ginny, look at me, it wasn't your fault."
"I know" She sniffed "I'm sorry I didn't mean to cry all over you. I just had to make you see, it's not your fault either. It took me so long to recognise that about me. I know you can't get rid of the guilt. Just, Harry, it's not your fault. Like what happened in the Chamber of Secrets isn't mine." She looked right into his eyes and he finally saw what she meant. "I know the guilt isn't going to leave anytime soon, but just remember that it's not your fault."
"I will, thanks Ginny, I really needed to talk to someone about this" said Harry suddenly realising that it was true, he pulled her closer to him, hugging her again and then got up. "I suppose I should go and get dressed" he said walking over to the stairs "thanks again."
"Don't worry about it" said Ginny
*
Harry was lying outside in The Burrow's garden, with Ron and Ginny, soaking up the sun, when an owl swooped into view. It was Hedwig. He flew up to Harry, and Harry reluctantly reached out to take the letter. This must be a reply from Hermione, but she wasn't meant to write to him, she was meant to tell Ron. He opened the letter.
Dear Harry,
How can you expect me to tell Ron something that isn't
true? I don't fancy him. Now moving on, Well Done on your O.W.L.'s!
That's really good. How did Ron do? I got all O's except for
Astronomy, when I got an E, but then again I was distracted by
Hagrid being attacked! I'm glad you like you're present, and I did
tell you it was probably just superstition. Glad to hear you're
having a good time, tell Ron and Ginny I hope they are too. Now I
have to go, Mum and Dad are taking me to a local History Museum and
we're about to leave. Hope to hear from you soon, not if you're
going to keep talking about Ron though.
Love Hermione
Ron and Ginny were both looking at Harry expectedly when he finished reading. He looked up at them. "It's from Hermione." He said
"What was she saying?" asked Ron, raising an eyebrow in an accusing manor.
"Nothing much" replied Harry "Just telling me about her owl results, I thought I'd ask her, because I knew she'd be dying to tell us, but not want to be the one to bring it up. She got all O's, except."
"Except what?" gasped Ron in surprise
"Astronomy. To quote, except for Astronomy when I got an E, but then again I was distracted by Hagrid being attacked." Harry grinned "Trust Hermione to have an excuse."
At that they all rolled around the ground laughing, causing a head to lean over the fence. It was the "hot" next door neighbour.
"Hey there" she called "what's so funny?"
"Just an owl from a friend." Ginny replied. She had become quite good friends with the girl who was the same age as her.
"Oh" the girl replied. "Do you want to come over for a while Ginny?"
"You could come over here if you like, Ali." replied Ginny with a pointed look in Harry's direction, which caused him to blush ever so slightly.
"Umm, yeah ok, thanks" Ali's head vanished behind the fence. "Be right there!"
"I need a drink" said Ron climbing to his feet.
"Ooh, get me one" said Ginny
"Me too?" asked Harry
"I guess I should get one for Ali too then?" Ron grumbled half-heartedly as he walked off to the kitchen.
"I'm glad we're alone for a minute Ginny" said Harry turning to her
"Why?" Ginny asked confused
"Because I told Hermione to tell Ron how she feels, and she replied by saying that she doesn't fancy him. Did you make it up?"
"No!" said Ginny indignantly. "She told me she does. Well, I guess we need to prove that you know. Do you have some spare parchment?" "Yeah" Harry replied "I'll just get it."
When Harry was leaving the kitchen after getting the parchment he realised that Ron was distracted by Molly. "Good" he thought, "We need to get this sorted." When he got to Ginny he noticed that Ali was already there.
"Hi Ali" he said, fighting to keep the red off of his face
"Hi, Harry" she replied cheerily
"Umm, Ginny?" Harry asked, unsure if they could continue.
"Oh, it's alright" replied Ginny "I just told Ali what's going on."
"Oh good" said Harry "Now what should we write?"
Harry looked over the now finished letter.
Dear Hermione,
We know you like Ron, and that he likes you, and if you both continue to deny this then we will simply send Ron and owl telling him, pretending to be you, now surely you would prefer to be the judge of what Ron should be told? Or maybe not? If you haven't written to him by this time next week, we will. Hope you're having a nice time, and we'll see you not long after in Diagon Alley, no matter who sends the letter. Hope you're still having fun.
Love Harry and Ginny
P.S. I didn't want to resort to such desperate measures, but Ginny insisted they are necessary. Harry.
"Harry!" hissed Ginny, and he looked up to see Ron heading out from the kitchen, with a tray full of drinks. He quickly attached the parchment to Hedwig, and she flew off before Ron sat down.
"Mmm, lemonade" said Ginny reaching for a glass.
Soon all the lemonade was drunk and it was Ali who suggested what they do next.
"Anyone fancy a game of quidditch? Just with the quaffle?"
"Yeah!" said Ron enthusiastically "who wants to go on my team?"
"Let's play me and Ali against the Weasley's?" suggested Harry timidly, he liked Ali, she was nice enough, and good fun, and best of all she was cheerful. Not like Cho. "Damn why am I thinking of Cho?" he said to himself, it was Ali's voice that brought him out of his daydream.
"Oh, good Idea!" exclaimed Ali, and Harry blushed.
Ron gave Harry a knowing glance, but eagerly accepted the challenge. "You're on!"
*
It was the night before Hermione's time was up. Harry and Ginny were in the corner of the living room, planning what to write, as they were definitely worried that Hermione would not reply, when they saw Ron head over to them.
"What's going on here?" Ron demanded. "You two have been spending a lot of time alone together this past week." He continued with his eyebrow arched in what was definitely an accusing manner.
"Ron, you don't think? No!" spluttered Harry
"No?" said Ron coolly "then what is going on?"
"I, uh," Harry couldn't tell Ron, not when they were so close, damn, what could he say?
"Ron" started Ginny "Harry here wanted to talk to me because he wanted a girls advice on something. Ali." Ginny didn't even blush.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief, Ron hadn't found out. Then he realised what Ginny had said. "I, uh, "Harry stammered pathetically. There was nothing he could say to make this better. He looked at Ginny desperately
"And" she continued, looking like she might regret it "Harry was giving me an idea of what to get dean for his birthday."
"Oh" was all Ron could muster. "Well, um, ok then, but why couldn't you ask me?"
"I never said anything because well, you're not a girl" said Harry, with a smirk
"Obviously" Ron started, blushing "Ginny?"
"Well, you're my brother, and well, you're never exactly keen on my boyfriends are you?"
"Ok, ok, fine, I'll just go over here shall I?" asked Ron huffily
Just then, Arthur apparated into the front room. "Where's your mother? Fred and George? Bill?"
"Fred and George are in their room, and mum and Bill are in the kitchen." Ginny replied. "Why? What's going on, is everyone ok?"
"Just get the twins and your stuff; we're going to headquarters for a while."
"Why? What's going on? "Demanded Ginny angrily
"Just do it, this is better explained when we get there." Arthur said, and rushed into the kitchen to tell Molly and Bill.
*
"Right everyone; gather round the portkey, everyone touching?" Arthur said, looking round. "Right, here we go."
Harry felt that familiar jerk, and stumbled forward opening his eyes. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. He rubbed his eyes again, as if to make sure that it was real and glancing round at the Weasley's he could see he wasn't imagining it.
"Hello Harry."
A/N: I know this is an evil place to leave the story, but I will need a whole chapter to explain who it is and why, and I thought I shouldn't start when I didn't mean to finish.
Chapter 2: Plans and Surprises
Harry opened his eyes with a start and looked around at his surroundings, to find himself outside the familiar home from home, The Burrow. Fred, George and Ron were already climbing out of the car and Harry hastened to follow them. Fred and George were carrying his trunk up to the house under their mother, Molly Weasley's instructions.
"Hi Harry, it's good to see you again, how are you?" Molly enquired her concerned eyes searching him, making her own assessment of how he was. "I must say you look better than usual."
"I'm fine thanks, Mrs Weasley, the Dursleys have actually been feeding me this summer" replied Harry "thanks for inviting me to stay."
"Nonsense" said Molly ushering them all inside "you know quite well that you are always welcome here, now are we going to stand out here all day or are we going in for some dinner?"
"Hey Harry" called Ginny from the sofa by the fireplace "how's you're summer been?"
"Hi" he replied a smile forming on his face, he did love being at the Burrow, with all these people that like him, it still took some getting used to "it's looking better since I got here."
Harry took a good look around, taking in all the familiar aspects of the Burrow, the magical clock that told you where members of the family were, the old dining table and chairs, which were beginning to groan under the weight of the feast Molly had cooked. The fireplace he had travelled through using Floo Powder several times, and the mirror above it that was always on hand to comment. Every time Harry arrived at the Burrow he was overwhelmed with the same sense of longing, the desire to have a home like this, a place where he could be comfortable, a place where he was loved and cared for, a family to call his own. Any chance he had of that was gone now, that chance had died along with Sirius in the Department of Mysteries a month or two ago. Harry couldn't believe that was all the time that had passed, it seemed like a lifetime.
"No I won't ruin this day" Harry thought to himself "I won't think of Sirius."
Just then Ron appeared behind Harry, seemingly out of nowhere, though in reality Harry had simply been too absorbed in his own thoughts to notice.
"Harry, you alright?" Ron enquired, sounding worried
"yeah, I'm fine" Harry reassured him "honesty, just got a bit carried away with my thoughts"
"oh, okay, well, as I was saying, do you want to get something to eat?" Ron continued the concern for the most part leaving his face, though not completely.
"Sounds great!" Harry said enthusiastically "I'm famished"
"Looks like actually being fed for once has given you an appetite" Ron said with the slightest hint of teasing as he eased into a seat at the table.
"I guess it must've" said Harry thoughtfully "Where are Fred and George? It's not like them to miss the start of a meal."
" I don't know for certain" started Ron looking pointedly towards the garden "but I'd say it was safe to assume they're hanging out of their bedroom window perving over the new neighbour, it's where they've spent most of the last few weeks anyway."
"It's pathetic, honestly" huffed Ginny, between mouthfuls of mashed potato
"I do see their point though, I have to admit" said Ron as a pinkish tinge coloured his features
"Really?" asked Harry, trying unsuccessfully to hide his interest
"yeah, I guess she is quite nice looking, but I dunno." he trailed off
"Well, I'd say it's pretty obvious why Ron isn't there too" teased Ginny "he only has eyes for one girl, isn't that right Ronniekins?"
"NO!" exclaimed Ron whose pink tinge was now a full blown scarlet
"Oh come off it Ron, you mean to tell me you still can't admit that you like Hermione?" Harry said exasperatedly
"I have no idea what you're talking about" said Ron with an air of finality and a look towards Harry that said simply shut up or I will have to kill you. Harry wisely decided to drop the subject, for the time being anyway. At which point Fred and George appeared at the bottom of the stairs and headed over to the table.
"What've we missed?" asked George as he helped himself to the food.
"Nothing" replied Ron a little too quickly
"Hmm" said Fred thoughtfully, with a mischievous glint in his eye "seems like they're not telling us something."
"Can't we just be civil for one meal?" asked Molly pleadingly
"Okay, okay" replied George "So Harry what did you get for your O.W.L.'s?"
"Well I got a P for Divination and History of Magic, an A for Astronomy, an E for Care Of Magical Creatures, Charms, Herbology, Potions, and Transfiguration, and an O for Defence Against the Dark Arts. What about you Ron?" said Harry turning to face him.
"Wow, that's really good Harry!" said Fred whilst George, Ginny, Bill, Mr and Mrs Weasley were murmuring their agreement.
"Yeah it is" Agreed Ron "I got mostly the same actually, except I got an A in charms, and an E in Astronomy"
"Well done Ron" Harry said sincerely "I wonder how Hermione did?"
"If she got less than an O in anything I'll be amazed" Ron chuckled
*
After dinner Harry, Ron, Fred, George, Bill (who was around due to order business) and Ginny went outside for a game of Quidditch, Harry, Fred and Ginny played against Ron, George and Bill. Harry's team won, 120 to 90, so Harry was in a good mood as they traipsed upstairs to bed. Harry was, as usual, sleeping in Ron's room, and when they got there Harry slumped onto his bed and turned to face Ron.
"So, tell me about this next-door neighbour then."
"Not much to tell really, better to wait and see, no doubt she'll be out and about tomorrow. You're definitely over Cho then?" Ron asked hesitantly
"Definitely" Harry replied "In fact I'm beginning to wonder what I saw there in the first place." That was mostly true, Harry knew what he saw, a pretty face. It had taken their few disastrous meetings last year to learn that there were other equally important qualities to look for in a girl. "Speaking of being over people, I see you are most defiantly not over Hermione."
"I was never under her in the first place, mate" said Ron looking decidedly flushed.
"Maybe that's been you're problem" said Harry, a grin spreading across his face
"what?" asked Ron confused "Oh, wait a minute, no! That's not what I meant at all."
"It's still true though isn't it?" Harry continued with an annoying, I know something you don't, look on his face "Ron it's obvious to everyone but you."
"Is it?" said Ron, panic rising in his voice "I mean, I don't know what you're talking about!" his face fell, knowing it was too late, that he had been found out.
"Aha!" declared Harry "So I was right! You do like Hermione. I don't know why you couldn't just tell me."
"I.I, oh I don't know!" Ron gave up. "I was never any good at talking about things like this."
"So." continued Harry "the question is, are you going to tell Hermione?"
"What?!" Ron exclaimed "No bloody way! Are you insane?"
"No, I'm not insane." Said Harry calmly "don't you think it's a bit stupid that you and Hermione obviously fancy each other but neither of you has the guts to tell the other?"
"Well, for one thing Hermione does not fancy me, and for another what the bloody hell would I say to her?" Ron asked, his eyes fierce, as if daring Harry to say he was wrong.
"Hermione does like you Ron." Harry said simply
"How the hell would you know?" demanded Ron
"Well, I knew you liked her didn't I?" Harry argued "Oh plus the fact that she told Ginny."
"Ginny knows about this?" said Ron dumbfounded
"Of course, Ginny was the one that pointed it out to me in the first place. And the one that told me to tell you to ask Hermione out before she got bored and moved onto someone else." Harry teased
"What.but..why.." Ron tried to find the words he wanted but couldn't "oh forget it! I'm going to sleep, night Harry" he said as he pulled his pyjamas on.
"night Ron" relied Harry "one question though, if you weren't planning on impressing Hermione, why have you been working out?" asked Harry as his gaze settling upon some weights in the corner of the room.
"I, well, umm, I'm going to sleep, goodnight" Ron replied, then after a few minutes he began to fake snores in order to avoid further questioning, while in reality his thoughts were wandering to the only place they seemed to go recently. Hermione. "Damn, I want her." Ron thought to himself as he drifted off to sleep.
Harry lay awake listening to Ron's feigned snores, until he was sure they had become real. Then he got up, walked over to his trunk and got some parchment and a quill. He was going to write to Hermione. Ginny was right, somebody had to sort these two out, and as their best friend he thought it had best be him.
Dear Hermione,
Thank you for the birthday present. It's very nice,
unusual but nice. I'm wearing it now, I haven't experienced any
feelings of extraordinary good health or luck, but it hasn't had
much time to take effect yet. I'm at The Burrow just now and am
having a good time. It would be better if you were here though. Or
maybe not, after all that could result in you and Ron finally
getting over your own stupidity and telling each other how you feel.
As much as I'd love to see you two happy, I can't help but feel I
would be a bit of a third wheel. Oh well, not to worry seeing as you
can't make it. I was talking to Ron tonight and he TOLD me that he
likes you. Please don't tell him I told you though, and please will
you make the first move and owl him to say you like him too. You
don't have to fear rejection trust me. Anyway, I know you will be
dying to raise the subject so I will ask you first, what did you get
for your O.W.L.'s? I got Astronomy: A, Care of Magical Creatures: E,
Charms: E, Defence Against the Dark Arts: O (can you believe it?? Me
an O?), Divination: P (I know, I know, but who really cares?)
Herbology: E, History of Magic: P (I did have a vision of
Voldemort), Potions: E (I still can't believe it!), and
Transfiguration: E (a little surprised at that too.) If only I
could've got an O in potions! Oh well, at least this means I won't
have to take it anymore. I would tell you what Ron got, but you two
will want the excuse to talk, and I will gladly give it. Hope you're
having a good time in South America and I hope to hear from you
soon. Though if you have to choose between writing to me or Ron,
then I never want to hear from you again. Just talk to him, okay?
Love, Harry
He got up again, put the quill and remaining parchment back into his trunk and made his way to Hedwigs cage. Opened the door, and gave her the parchment.
"Take this to Hermione please, and don't leave until she gives you a reply." Harry said softly so not to wake Ron. Hedwig acknowledged him with an affectionate peck to his finger and flew off through the window Harry had opened for her.
*
A week had passed at The Burrow and there was still no sign of a reply from Hermione. Everyone was still asleep, though Harry's was rather fitful, he was dreaming again. He was there again, at the Department of Mysteries, Sirius was falling, but this time, he wasn't silent like he had been in real life, he was calling to Harry, calling for help and Harry wanted to go to him, to stop him from falling into the veil, but he couldn't lift his legs, they felt as though they were made of lead. Sirius' face contorted in pain, though more emotional than physical as he called to Harry "Why won't you help me?" Sirius looked confused and hurt "I need you Harry, please help me". Harry still couldn't move. "Sirius, No!" Harry yelled, throwing his body forward with all his strength, he didn't move. And then Sirius vanished and woke up. Sobbing. He tried to stop the tears. He couldn't bear for Ron to find him like this. But he couldn't, so he got up and went downstairs glad to see no-one else was up. Seeing as he was alone, he let it all out. All the emotion that had been building up in him since that day. The anger, the guilt, the overwhelming desire for vengeance. Harry wished he had a punch bag. Better yet, Bellatrix Lestrange. It was all her fault. She had caused so many innocent people so much pain. It made Harry's stomach retch to think of what she did. And what she said "You need to mean them, Potter. You need to really want to cause pain - to enjoy it". She had enjoyed it, she had enjoyed killing Sirius. Harry wished he could see her again. He would show her wanting to inflict pain. He would show her how to enjoy it. It was then he realised that he would enjoy it. And he felt disgusted with himself. He was no better than her. No better than Voldemort, the one that had taken everything from him. No he wouldn't do it. He wouldn't be like them. "I won't!" Harry yelled before he even realised it. Then he heard a voice from behind him.
"Harry?" It was Ginny "Are you okay Harry?"
Harry wiped his face. She couldn't know he had been crying. No-one could. "I'm fine, just couldn't sleep." He replied with an obviously fake cheeriness. "How come you're up so early anyway?"
"You're not the only one that has nightmares Harry." Ginny grimaced. "Sirius dying affected us all."
"At least it wasn't your fault" Harry said bitterly
Ginny walked over to the couch and sat down next to him. "Harry you don't blame yourself?" she said disbelievingly
"Why shouldn't I?" Harry countered "If I hadn't dragged us all there Sirius would be alive!"
"Maybe." Replied Ginny "But if it wasn't for you, he would have died two years ago. Worse in fact. You saved him from a fate worse than death, the Dementor's kiss."
"It doesn't change what happened in the Department of Mysteries though does it?"
"No Harry it doesn't. It just goes to show maybe we can't control fate. Maybe he was meant to die. Maybe he wasn't. But Harry, was it your wand that killed him? Was it your mouth that spoke the fatal curse? No. You didn't kill him, Bellatrix Lestrange did. Don't hate yourself for this."
"It's not like I want to hate myself. I just can't deny that it was me that went there. Me that made him feel like he had to go. Me."
"No it wasn't. Voldemort tricked you Harry."
"I still went though. Hermione told me it was a trick. She told me! But I went anyway."
"Remember in my first year? When Voldemort possessed me? I petrified people. I did that. Well technically a basilisk did, under Voldemort's control. But it was my body. I understand how you feel."
"It's not the same Ginny! You didn't have a choice. You didn't consciously decide to do any of that"
"I did decide not to tell anyone. I thought I was hurting people and I was too scared for myself to do anything about it. Do you think it didn't torture me afterwards to think that maybe if I had told Dumbledore, he would have figured it out? If I had shown him the diary he would have known it was Voldemort. I could've killed someone, and no-one would have known why because I was too scared!" Ginny was weeping.
"It wasn't you're fault." Harry was shocked, he didn't know Ginny felt that way, and now she was crying, he didn't know what to do. He wanted to make her feel better. Tentatively he reached over to her and put his arm around her, pulling her into a hug. "Ginny, look at me, it wasn't your fault."
"I know" She sniffed "I'm sorry I didn't mean to cry all over you. I just had to make you see, it's not your fault either. It took me so long to recognise that about me. I know you can't get rid of the guilt. Just, Harry, it's not your fault. Like what happened in the Chamber of Secrets isn't mine." She looked right into his eyes and he finally saw what she meant. "I know the guilt isn't going to leave anytime soon, but just remember that it's not your fault."
"I will, thanks Ginny, I really needed to talk to someone about this" said Harry suddenly realising that it was true, he pulled her closer to him, hugging her again and then got up. "I suppose I should go and get dressed" he said walking over to the stairs "thanks again."
"Don't worry about it" said Ginny
*
Harry was lying outside in The Burrow's garden, with Ron and Ginny, soaking up the sun, when an owl swooped into view. It was Hedwig. He flew up to Harry, and Harry reluctantly reached out to take the letter. This must be a reply from Hermione, but she wasn't meant to write to him, she was meant to tell Ron. He opened the letter.
Dear Harry,
How can you expect me to tell Ron something that isn't
true? I don't fancy him. Now moving on, Well Done on your O.W.L.'s!
That's really good. How did Ron do? I got all O's except for
Astronomy, when I got an E, but then again I was distracted by
Hagrid being attacked! I'm glad you like you're present, and I did
tell you it was probably just superstition. Glad to hear you're
having a good time, tell Ron and Ginny I hope they are too. Now I
have to go, Mum and Dad are taking me to a local History Museum and
we're about to leave. Hope to hear from you soon, not if you're
going to keep talking about Ron though.
Love Hermione
Ron and Ginny were both looking at Harry expectedly when he finished reading. He looked up at them. "It's from Hermione." He said
"What was she saying?" asked Ron, raising an eyebrow in an accusing manor.
"Nothing much" replied Harry "Just telling me about her owl results, I thought I'd ask her, because I knew she'd be dying to tell us, but not want to be the one to bring it up. She got all O's, except."
"Except what?" gasped Ron in surprise
"Astronomy. To quote, except for Astronomy when I got an E, but then again I was distracted by Hagrid being attacked." Harry grinned "Trust Hermione to have an excuse."
At that they all rolled around the ground laughing, causing a head to lean over the fence. It was the "hot" next door neighbour.
"Hey there" she called "what's so funny?"
"Just an owl from a friend." Ginny replied. She had become quite good friends with the girl who was the same age as her.
"Oh" the girl replied. "Do you want to come over for a while Ginny?"
"You could come over here if you like, Ali." replied Ginny with a pointed look in Harry's direction, which caused him to blush ever so slightly.
"Umm, yeah ok, thanks" Ali's head vanished behind the fence. "Be right there!"
"I need a drink" said Ron climbing to his feet.
"Ooh, get me one" said Ginny
"Me too?" asked Harry
"I guess I should get one for Ali too then?" Ron grumbled half-heartedly as he walked off to the kitchen.
"I'm glad we're alone for a minute Ginny" said Harry turning to her
"Why?" Ginny asked confused
"Because I told Hermione to tell Ron how she feels, and she replied by saying that she doesn't fancy him. Did you make it up?"
"No!" said Ginny indignantly. "She told me she does. Well, I guess we need to prove that you know. Do you have some spare parchment?" "Yeah" Harry replied "I'll just get it."
When Harry was leaving the kitchen after getting the parchment he realised that Ron was distracted by Molly. "Good" he thought, "We need to get this sorted." When he got to Ginny he noticed that Ali was already there.
"Hi Ali" he said, fighting to keep the red off of his face
"Hi, Harry" she replied cheerily
"Umm, Ginny?" Harry asked, unsure if they could continue.
"Oh, it's alright" replied Ginny "I just told Ali what's going on."
"Oh good" said Harry "Now what should we write?"
Harry looked over the now finished letter.
Dear Hermione,
We know you like Ron, and that he likes you, and if you both continue to deny this then we will simply send Ron and owl telling him, pretending to be you, now surely you would prefer to be the judge of what Ron should be told? Or maybe not? If you haven't written to him by this time next week, we will. Hope you're having a nice time, and we'll see you not long after in Diagon Alley, no matter who sends the letter. Hope you're still having fun.
Love Harry and Ginny
P.S. I didn't want to resort to such desperate measures, but Ginny insisted they are necessary. Harry.
"Harry!" hissed Ginny, and he looked up to see Ron heading out from the kitchen, with a tray full of drinks. He quickly attached the parchment to Hedwig, and she flew off before Ron sat down.
"Mmm, lemonade" said Ginny reaching for a glass.
Soon all the lemonade was drunk and it was Ali who suggested what they do next.
"Anyone fancy a game of quidditch? Just with the quaffle?"
"Yeah!" said Ron enthusiastically "who wants to go on my team?"
"Let's play me and Ali against the Weasley's?" suggested Harry timidly, he liked Ali, she was nice enough, and good fun, and best of all she was cheerful. Not like Cho. "Damn why am I thinking of Cho?" he said to himself, it was Ali's voice that brought him out of his daydream.
"Oh, good Idea!" exclaimed Ali, and Harry blushed.
Ron gave Harry a knowing glance, but eagerly accepted the challenge. "You're on!"
*
It was the night before Hermione's time was up. Harry and Ginny were in the corner of the living room, planning what to write, as they were definitely worried that Hermione would not reply, when they saw Ron head over to them.
"What's going on here?" Ron demanded. "You two have been spending a lot of time alone together this past week." He continued with his eyebrow arched in what was definitely an accusing manner.
"Ron, you don't think? No!" spluttered Harry
"No?" said Ron coolly "then what is going on?"
"I, uh," Harry couldn't tell Ron, not when they were so close, damn, what could he say?
"Ron" started Ginny "Harry here wanted to talk to me because he wanted a girls advice on something. Ali." Ginny didn't even blush.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief, Ron hadn't found out. Then he realised what Ginny had said. "I, uh, "Harry stammered pathetically. There was nothing he could say to make this better. He looked at Ginny desperately
"And" she continued, looking like she might regret it "Harry was giving me an idea of what to get dean for his birthday."
"Oh" was all Ron could muster. "Well, um, ok then, but why couldn't you ask me?"
"I never said anything because well, you're not a girl" said Harry, with a smirk
"Obviously" Ron started, blushing "Ginny?"
"Well, you're my brother, and well, you're never exactly keen on my boyfriends are you?"
"Ok, ok, fine, I'll just go over here shall I?" asked Ron huffily
Just then, Arthur apparated into the front room. "Where's your mother? Fred and George? Bill?"
"Fred and George are in their room, and mum and Bill are in the kitchen." Ginny replied. "Why? What's going on, is everyone ok?"
"Just get the twins and your stuff; we're going to headquarters for a while."
"Why? What's going on? "Demanded Ginny angrily
"Just do it, this is better explained when we get there." Arthur said, and rushed into the kitchen to tell Molly and Bill.
*
"Right everyone; gather round the portkey, everyone touching?" Arthur said, looking round. "Right, here we go."
Harry felt that familiar jerk, and stumbled forward opening his eyes. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. He rubbed his eyes again, as if to make sure that it was real and glancing round at the Weasley's he could see he wasn't imagining it.
"Hello Harry."
A/N: I know this is an evil place to leave the story, but I will need a whole chapter to explain who it is and why, and I thought I shouldn't start when I didn't mean to finish.
