Chapter 14- Letters and Cake
Ginny, Ron, and Hermione all listened raptly as Harry read the letter from Prof. Dumbledore.
Dear Harry,
I am sure that by now you are anxious to hear who your new guardians will be. I believe I have the perfect solution. In the future your home will be with the Karsen family. Mr. and Mrs. Karsen both have plenty of training and experience to handle protection. They also have a son your age and a daughter a year younger, both adopted. Both of the Karsens were students of mine at Hogwarts and I can't think of anyone better suited for this purpose. A meeting will be arranged some time by the end of the summer. Further information will be sent by owl.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
"That's great," said Hermione, "You know they've got to be wonderful if Dumbledore chose them."
"Yeah," replied Harry with a grin, though inside he was also extremely nervous. His friends continued to congratulate him without noticing.
Soon they all headed up to their respective beds, exhausted after a long day. Harry and Ron both lay in silence in the highest room of the Burrow.
"Harry," asked Ron, "Are you alright."
Harry kept his eyes closed and feigned sleep. It wasn't a serious problem really. More likely a laughable one. He knew better than to be getting this nervous when he hadn't even met these people yet.
"You can't fool me you know," said Ron. "After sharing a dormitory with you for so long I can tell when you're really asleep."
Harry gave up and rolled over to face his friend.
"It's nothing Ron," he replied, "Just thinking."
"Look Harry," said Ron, "I know this is more Hermione or Ginny's department, the talking thing, y'know. But I just wanted you to know that you're part of this family too Harry. And that we'll always be there for you."
Harry was shocked for a moment but then he just smiled and relaxed.
"Thank you Ron. You've got no idea how much that means to me."
The next morning everyone was up and about making preparations for Ginny's birthday. Sometime around noon everyone was gathered in the kitchen as Mrs. Weasley brought out the cake. They all stuffed themselves with the delicious cake after singing to Ginny and when they were finished Mrs. Weasley announced that it was time to open gifts. Harry discreetly ran up the stairs where he charmed a blue bow onto the kitten and place it in the traditional box with holes. He re-entered the kitchen as Ginny opened a gift from Hermione. Soon she had opened all the remaining gifts and he handed her the box. She untied the box and opened it and squeals of delight were emitted from both her and Hermione.
"Oh Harry, She's perfect," Ginny exclaimed as she lifted the kitten out of the box.
"What are you going to call her?" asked Hermione.
"Hmm," said Ginny.
"You really should have named her beforehand," Ron said to Harry. He earned himself a kick from Ginny. "You saw what she did to poor Pig."
"It's not funny Ron; I picked a good name," she glared. "Besides I'm going to call her Caera."
"I like it," said Harry. The cat nodded as if in approval and then leapt to perch on Ginny's shoulder.
Everyone sat around talking and enjoying themselves. They were just about to head out to the orchard to play quidditch when Fred and George arrived.
"These two louts," said Fred.
"Were planning on working all day today," continued Fred.
"Couldn't even take off the time"
"To see their dear baby sister"
"But we knew better"
"And dragged them along."
"Bill, Charlie!" squealed Ginny, hugging her soot covered brothers who'd emerged out of the fireplace while the twins were talking. Then she turned and thanked Fred and George.
"I thought you too were working with Dumbledore's group," said Ginny curiously. "I'm surprised they let you go."
"We were," said Charlie, "But when Fred and George told Dumbledore it was Ginny's birthday he sent us here immediately."
"Of course old Mad-Eye wasn't happy," said Bill. "He looked like somebody shoved a stick up his-" Then he caught Mrs. Weasley's glare, "Sorry Mum."
"Well," said Charlie. "Being that you're so excited to see us, I don't think you'd mind if we didn't give you your gift."
Ginny's eyes flashed dangerously, "You'd better."
"Now now, Charlie," said Bill, "You know how dangerous it is to taunt her."
"Anyway," said Charlie, "This gift is from both Bill and I."
"Here you go Snapdragon," said Bill holding out a long package. Ginny began to blush at the nickname but quickly took the proffered package.
"Bill! Charlie! You shouldn't have!" she exclaimed, "Thank You Thank You Thank You."
Everyone looked at the broom with the gold lettering, Nimbus 2003. Ron looked at the broom in awe but not without a hint of jealousy. He lost it immediately when he was thumped upside the head with an identical broom.
"We won't be here for your birthday so you should have this now," said Bill.
The brooms were quickly put to use in a game of Quidditch that included almost all of the family. Mrs. Weasley came out periodically to warn them not to hurt themselves.
They finally broke away from the game when Mrs. Weasley called them to dinner. Because of the pleasant weather she enlisted them to help her set up tables outside. Everyone seated themselves and Harry found himself next to Ginny and across from Ron and Hermione. Ginny tapped Harry and he looked in the direction she indicated with a nod of her head. He smiled at the sight of Hermione leaning against Ron's shoulder, their hands intertwined. Soon they found the table covered with an assortment of food that could almost rival a Hogwarts feast.
"Mum loves to cook for so many people," said Ginny, "We always say that's why she had so many kids."
Dinner was interrupted briefly when Hermione received an owl. She dismissed it as a reply from her parents and everyone returned to their previous conversations. Harry didn't fail to notice the worried look on her face. He made a note to himself to find out more later. Eventually everyone finished dinner and Harry noticed Hermione disappear rather quickly up the stairs. He wondered what had gotten into her and headed upstairs after Ron. Perhaps he knew, after all he'd been sitting by her.
"So what's wrong with Hermione?" he asked.
"Wrong?" said Ron unconvincingly. "Nothing's wrong with her."
"I know you know something, Ron. You saw the letter didn't you?"
"She didn't want to tell you yet," said Ron fiddling with his comforter.
"Tell me what?"
"She's not staying here until the end of the summer because her parents heard about You-Know-Who and they don't think she's safe, especially since they heard that well.."
"Well what?"
"That he's determined to kill you," Ron said without meeting his eyes. "They asked if she really had to spend so much time around you."
"Oh God," Harry wheezed his head clutched in his hands.
"Harry it's not your fault! You know that by now," said Ron.
"No; it's not that," said Harry, still clutching his head. "It's my scar."
Ron watched in dismay as his friend's eyes rolled back and he slumped twitching onto the bed.