This was not going to stop future greatest pranksters the wizarding world has ever seen to stop them. By hook or by crook they were going to get Harry to the party.
Molly was up at the crack of dawn to make breakfast for the family. It was smaller that it was for a while but now three of the family had grown up and moved out. She missed having them packed around the table elbow to elbow. She smiled to herself and stared at the table to hear and almost see the all her children playing and arguing over the last piece of toast. She shook her head as she chocked back a laugh and a tear, "I told Arthur to give each of them an anti aging spell when they were eight.
Molly's demeanor completely changed as she heard whispering coming from the stairs. Her eyes darkened and turned to the sound, "You boys had better get what ever scheme to pull on me this morning I am not in the mood.
The twins immediately jump from the stair and their feet thundered on the floor as it shook the kitchen (another reason for the children do to stay eight molly thought.) The two boys rushed across the small room in excitement. Molly did not actually look them in the face she just kept making breakfast.
"Yes?" Molly Drawled while watching the two boys standing in anticipation, "is there something you boys need?
"Well it's just thatÉ" Fred started.
"Well you seeÉ"George interrupted.
"Boys," Molly stopped then in their stammering, "if this is about the joke shop again, I told you boys could start it after you get out of school. I was not going to condone this type of investment.
"No!" The boys said in unison not wanting to start into that again.
"We wanted to do something for HarryÉ" George started nervously.
"On his birthdayÉ" Fred finished in the same shaky voice.
Molly set down the mixing bowl with pancake batter and looked out or the kitchen window. She slowly pivoted and eyed the boys in turn. "Boys this is not the time to start playing tricks on Harry," she started crossing her arms across her chest and stared at the two with darkening eyes, "any trick you have would really hurt him.
"No." George said.
"This is Harry's 15th birthday." Fred continued the boys speaking each sentence between each other.
"We want to make it special.
"Harry is almost grown up.
"We feel really bad for taking advantage of him at first
"And just want to take him out for a guys night outÉ" Fred continued.
Molly interrupted, "What exactly entails a guys night out? I want to hear from one of you. Please one of you speak to me it gets me dizzy to try and keep my attention on the both of you.
Molly enjoyed the connection her two boys had between them. She watched as they had a quiet debate on who was going to finish the conversation. Each boy in turn giving slight grimacing looks to the other and finally George raised his eyebrows in defeat. Molly truly enjoyed this part. Fred placed his hand on Georges shoulder and looked her in the eyes. Fred looked like he was from one instance to another was focusing and un-focusing one her. She knew they were ready. She looked to George as he stared to speak.
"A Guy's night out is just as it sounds." George started to reason, "A bunch of guys getting together, relaxing, watching sports on the television, and eating unhealthy food till you think you will explode.
"Why are you asking for that?" Molly started confused.
"We were wanting to take him into Birmingham for his birthday. There is a restaurant there just perfect for him.
"What kind of restaurant? Molly said suspiciously.
"It's an owl restaurant." George said as both boys beamed at her.
"An owl restaurant? Molly said thinking she had never heard of such a place in Birmingham. "What is an owl restaurant?
The devious duo looks down sheepishly and with small grins on their faces looked up as George said, "WellÉ yeah
Molly studied them intently, with her arms still crossed drumming her left hand fingers on the crook of her left elbow, trying to see if this was all an elaborate hoax to get Harry in trouble. The looks on their faces were sincere. Maybe they were just trying to be better bothers to their new younger sibling. Rolling her eyes she breathed like in defeat, "Very well, just remember to take Ron with you.
"Us too!!" two young voice spoke up from the table.
They all three looked to see Hermione and Ginny sitting at the table. Hermione stood and excitedly said, "We would not miss this for the world!"
"No!" the boys yell at the excited two, "This is not a girl's and guy's night out!" Fred continued as his hand dropped from George's shoulder.
"This is a guy's night out!" George roared, as the twins stood shoulder to shoulder with their arms crossed. This was giving the look of an impenetrable wall.
Hermione jumped from her chair and stood toe to toe with this newly formed wall. "I don't know how it was before Ginny came along, but according to the muggle calendar this is the 90's. Harry is my best friend, where he goes you had bloody better believe I am going to be there." Hermione's face flushed as she took a wary glance at Molly. "I'm sorry Mrs. Weasley, I am just really mad at your
"Don't call them my boys." Molly corrected, "I don't want to be known as the mother of two prats. She watched as the two boys hung their heads in defeat. She knew this statement just told the troublesome duo there was no way they were taking Harry to Birmingham. She also realized these boys were trying to get one up on Harry.
Molly loved their pranks from a far. She would be laughing to herself right after punishing them. She was still checking her wand for a fake one that turned into a chicken. She felt Harry really would feel part of the family if he were the butt of a truly great prank. There was no way she was going to tip her hand to the modern day Harpo and Chico of the wizarding world. Hermione and Ginny both know well and good these two are up to no such thing. They can watch themselves.
"The only way you two are taking Harry anywhere isÉ"The twins faces brightened as she started, "if you take these two adorable young ladies with you.
Molly loved the way she could control a room. There were two distinct reactions from the opposite sexes. The ladies had the look of elation and triumph. The young twins the look of desolation and defeat.
"Very well mum." Fred started as the duo skulked out of the room.
"We'll take these two horrid little brats with us. George stated as now started running into the living room.
The moment Hermione and Ginny heard the insult the enraged ladies were on them like the proverbial monkey one the back. Right there in the middle of the living room and battle royal of the sexes was on. Molly walked in to the living room to a not unusual site for this home. In the middle of the living room was a mass of arms and legs nail and teeth. All she could discern was scratching, biting, and tickling from all involved.
"IF YOU FOUR," She yelled over the dull roar as they froze, "have the energy to wreck my home then you will have the energy to de-gnome the garden before breakfast.
All four youth slowly untangled themselves and trudged toward the front door. "Just be glad you four are dressed or you would be doing this in your night clothes." Molly knew that was an empty threat but it sounded good.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The green light blazed through Harry's eyelids. He heard a heavy thud as the laid there on the ground. Harry opened his eyes to see Cedric's body laying spread eagle on the ground. He was not sick, he was not sleeping. Cedric was dead. Harry immediately closed his eyes again to try and stop seeing the gruesome image.
Harry's eyes opened immediately from his sleep. Harry was startled and disoriented. The room he was in was dark. He felt a round him. No longer as it the cool wet grass of the cemetery but a warm bed. Harry's eyes finally adjusted to the darkness and the room became familiar. His friend Ron's breathing was the only sound he could hear at first. The slowly the sound or the quiet home came to him. The small creeks and moans from a home of magic could be heard. The crickets in the forest, and Harry swore he could hear the gnomes scurrying around in the garden below the window. This cold odd lightness was in the pit of his stomach. Harry carefully relaxed his body convincing himself this was reality.
Harry closed his eyes and the images flooded back to him from the dream. His hands flew to his eyes trying to block the images from his mind's eye from the out side. Harry realized, from the warm liquid that started to make his palms wet, he was starting to cry. The last couple of weeks he had not thought about Cedric's death and now it hurt just like if not more than before.
Harry noticed it was before sunrise. There was no way he wanted to wake his friend just because of his recurring nightmare, he thought to himself. He painstakingly slid out of the bed onto the floor. Making certain even the rustling of the clothes was less than a whisper. Why you ask? Ron could sleep through a Norwegian Ridgeback roaring in is bedroom.
It was not Ron he was worried about. It was the radar ears of his foster mother, Molly Weasley. He swore she could hear a pixy thinking of beating its wings at 3 kilometers away. The true obstacle course would be the going out of the house. Harry has tried much a possible to memorize every creaking board and odd crack in the wood from his bedroom to the front door. In the corner of his room was his trusty broom.
Harry carefully cupped his hand as he slid it between the wall ant the broom. Not to touch either the wall or manhandle the broom and have one of the twigs scrape the floor. He wrapped his finger around the smooth handle and tilted forward just a half inch. From here lifted it straight up and placed the broom over his shoulder.
The boy that lived smiled to himself as he flew through the night air. Not only was he the boy that lived but also the boy that could not get caught. Not only did he not come near one of the many creaky boards in the floor, that old rusty hinge in the front door did not make a sound. If you lifted just right the door opened without a sound. Why wasn't he been the boy that saved them? First his parent when he was a child. Everyone knew he was an all-powerful wizard even then. Why couldn't his power have somehow protected his parents? Why did he just lay there like a scared child while Wormtail put the killing curse in Cedric? Each question washed over him with pain and guilt like hot oil burning him both inside and out.
Fortunately while his conscious mind was racked with guilt, his sub-conscious led him right to the secluded place Molly had brought him to the first week he stayed with his new family. The entire opening was enclosed by a multitude of ancient trees of many kinds reaching high into the sky. Many of the redwood trees looked like they were just budding saplings when Merlin took his first breathe of life.
A small path just wide enough not to touch the flora on each side wound through like a mountain pass road. The flora was rich in many different ferns and creeping ivy. There was so mush lush and green that not a weed could find purchase in this wild garden. The ivy rose over a stonewall that wound in either direction of the forest as far as the eye could see. Harry, when he first saw this structure, could not fathom just how long ago this was farmland. None of this crossed his mind now. The same questions still were on his mind. Why couldn't his power have somehow protected his parents? Why did he just lay there like a scared child?
The path wound through an opening in the stonewall. On the other side of the wall was a clearing about 10 Meters Square. In the middle of the clearing there was a small clear natural pool. Bordering the water was more ferns and ivy and of course the ancient trees, like a wall of security around this natural fortress. A small babbling brook slowly cascaded over smooth stones and pebbles polished by years of water that fed the pool. The dew hung heavy in the night. The silvery water reflected the moonlight that washed through the opening in the forest. This moonlight gave a mystical glow to the glen as it sparkled off the moistened leaves.
The path forked and led in one direction to the small pool. Harry looked warily at this calm body of water. He was surprised how simple he could just slip under the surface of the water and his soul would slide into oblivion. The other trail led to a small patch of soft grass just big enough for Harry to stretch out on, if Mrs. Weasley was not sitting on one side "MRS. WEASLY!" Harry's voice cracked and screeched out, he cleared his throat and started again in a manly voice, "what are you doing here?
Mrs. Weasley sat with her knees pulled up to her chest. Harry could have sworn he saw Mr. Weasley wearing that same Gryffindor plaid PJ's just a week before. She had a pink terry cloth housecoat and matching fussy house slippers. Her right hand reached out and patted the empty grass next to her. "We need to talk." She said firmly but without anger.
"I know Mrs. Weasley," Harry started to move next to her with his chin against his chest as he sat, "I should have not snuck out in the middle of the nightÉ I'm sorry.
Mrs. Weasley turned and looked at Harry with a thin smile. "I am not worried about you sneaking out to get some time to your self. In a house full of nosey teens, how else would this happen. Your 14 almost 15 your big enough to take care of yourself out here.
"Yeah," Harry grumbled, "I can take care of myself. It's just the people around me need to fend for themselves. With this Harry picked up a stone from the brook and angrily chucked the stone into the calm pool. The splash rippled across the body of water making the light falter like the anger on Harry's face. The light would pass crossed his face looking like anger and then sadness with each passing light.
"Why can't I just be Harry Potter? His voice filled with frustration and pain, "a young boy who lives with is parent and is just a face in the hall at Hogwarts? Why couldn't my power have somehow protected my parents? Why did I just lay there frozen like a scared child while Wormtail put the killing curse in Cedric?
Molly stretched out her legs and laid Harry's head and shoulders across her lap. She looked into his eyes and smile warmly making Harry feel safe. She ran her finger in small circles in his hair. She sighed and said, "In our home are you not just Harry Potter? For a long time before you were legally our responsibility you have been a part of our family. Not because you we The-Boy-That-Lived, but because of who you are. You are a humble caring person. This boy is loved and cherished by your family.
"That's all well and good," Harry grumbled with his eyes closed, "but why could I not save the family I love when they needed me? I could not even stop Cedric's death.
"Your guilt is clouding your memory of the third task. Anytime you are in the area of Voldemort, the scare he gave you starts to burn. Even though you are one of the most powerful wizards of our time. All this power is locked in a small frail young man. Who does not have the resistance and knowledge that come only with time.
"I am tuff.
"Yes, you are Harry. You were also going against a person with the knowledge of how to use his power. This is why even the best of wizard are falling to his power.
"That still does not tell me why I could not save my parents.
Molly sat silent for a moment. "When wizard children are born it takes time for their power to manifest. The earlier the power manifests the more powerful the wizard, or witch. Molly chuckled, "I wish I could have seen the look of the Medi-witch's face the moment you were born and stupefied her.
Harry sighed in frustration. "I am glad you told me this, but it still hurts.
"Harry," Mrs. Weasley started soothingly, "This just means you care. Just because you care doesn't make it your fault.
Harry smiled and closed his eyes.
"By the way Harry. Who am I? Harry furrowed his brow and pondered this for a moment. "You're Mrs. Weasley?" he said with apprehension and confusion.
"Mrs. Weasley is my Arthur's mom. Harry snickered at her levity while she stared with a smirk, "I am Mol-ly. OK?
"OK Mrs., I mean M-M-Molly," Harry quickly righted himself.
"Well are we going to lay here all day, or am I going to make a birthday breakfast for a certain birthday boy?
The two stood and Molly grabbed Harry's Firebolt. "Wait Molly you apparated here. How am I going to get home?
Molly turned and with no expression, "You are riding backseat.
"B-b-but MollÉ" Harry stared to whine.
"Who was it that snuck out of the house without telling anyone?
Harry got red in the face and stammered incoherently.
"You had better hurry up and get on. Ginny and Hermione will be up soon do you really want those two see you riding backseat to me?
Harry shot his look at Molly like a dear in headlights. He quickly bolted and grabbed onto molly around the waist. "Now I am going to show you what this broom can do, son.
Harry smiled to himself and wrapped his arms around her waist and closed his eyes. Lucky for him he did. Right at that moment Molly kicked off the ground and the broom took off like a shot. Harry's eyes flew open and saw the large forest disappearing below them. For the next half hour Molly gave Harry the flight of his life. Even the American Blue Angels flying team had nothing on Molly for flips and hairpin turns.
Harry thought he saw the Borrow far below in the distance. Molly suddenly up ended the broom and took the broom into a crash dive. The wind was screaming by their faces making it hard for Harry to keep his eyes open. The Burrow was getting larger and large in front of them. Harry opened his mouth about to yell in terror of the inevitable crash into the Weasley's home. Suddenly the broom can to an immediate halt in just moment from splintering both the broom and the riders on the front porch. Harry got off the broom with wobbly legs. The speed they were traveling at was mind blowing even for Harry.
Molly started through the door to start breakfast. As an after thought she turned and tossed Harry his broom. "Better be careful for the Quidditch team next year I taught Ginny how to fly the same way. Oh, Lucky it's you birthday or you would be de-gnoming the garden right now.
Harry looked confused for a moment. With a look of shock thought I had better brush up on being seeker this year. Harry was starting to get tired and decided to go get a little shuteye before breakfast.