Author's Note:

b I am ever so sorry for not having been updating frequently! I distinctly remember promising myself that not-updating would not exceed a two week time frame. Unfortunately I have been HORRIBLE at updating all of my current stories... but if you check ... I have all my stories now updated! :D...

If you have the time... and do [actually] like my writing... Read my short one chapter [finished] fan fiction called u 'If Only Tears Can Bring You Back' /u It's sort of a tear-jerker... I warn you!

Well here it FINALLY is... Part II, Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. LOTS of Thanks to those who have been reviewing! Lots of love and i Nothing but Happiness, Health, and Especially Care Em /i /b

Part II – Number Twelve Grimmauld Place

Harry gave a disconcerted look towards the infallible silhouette of the deep purple triple-decker. 'Was it possibly here for him?' He inquiringly wondered inwardly. Of course it would be, what other wizard, (not including squibs evidently) has a wand in Little Winging? Harry paused for a brief moment ... 'but I didn't summon it.' And with certainty Harry dawned on that for only a mere second. The towering vehicles' doors opened.

A stout balding red headed man strolled out, coming towards Number 4 privet drive. Harry began to panic... the Dursley's were definitely going to have a hell of a row if they were awoken at this time of night... especially by his lot. Harry immediately looked at his slightly tattered wrist watch and realized that the hands read 1:34 a.m.

He did the first thing that came to his thick mind, sneak out of the house to greet Mr. Weasley himself. He cautiously opened the beaten door knob only to be greeted with complete darkness. There was no time to squander as he was immediately enveloped in pure darkness of the home hoping that Mr. Weasley would not reach the door bell before Harry could.

His pursuit to reach the entrance of number 4 privet drive caused Harry to discard all of the vital things that would have been necessary. b CREAK /b screeched the third step from the bottom. Harry closed his eyes as he realized that the disturbance could have definitely arisen one of the Dursleys; but brushed the thought quickly aside as a door bell could do much worse.

Harry opened the door at last. A brief look of alarm confirmed Mr.Wealseys' shock but it returned almost instantaneously to its standard old state.

"Harry?" he inquired squinting his eyes to see if it really was the boy with glasses. "I was just about to-"

"Hello Mr. Weasley," Harry said after taking a breath. His diminutive quandary had caused him to produce quite a sweat. He wiped the beads that were slowly forming at the crown of his forehead. "What brings you here?"

"Harry," he said in a hushed tone. "Something has happened at the ministry tonight and it was my orders to bring you back to Twelve Grimmauld Place. We have to keep a very good eye on you. The members of the order are on a search tonight and that's why I'm the only one here."

"But what-"

"Harry, it's not time for questions... I will answer them when we get back to the headquarters. We have to take your things... and we must leave your guardians a note."

Harry nodded and immediately headed into the house to search for his belongings. What happened at the ministry that night and why was Harry leaving the Dursleys' so soon? He was ecstatic but also curious, something wasn't right.

Ten past three read his wristwatch as he gave the Dursleys' house one last glance before departing for almost an entire year. Harry's eyes glittered with delight and a grin was visible in the dim light provided by the flickering street lamp. He approached the Knight Bus.

An abhorrent expression fell upon his face immediately. He evoked the reminiscence of the time he rode the particular bus. Oh yes, he recalled it vaguely, but mostly the unease and plunging he unwelcomingly received. Harry gulped before advancing towards the narrow entrance.

"Hiya Harry" beamed a very enthusiastic Stan Shunpike who had seemed to not have changed a bit since their last meeting. The pimples had lessoned but his large protruding ears still remained unchanged. Harry smiled weakly before waving and proceeding.

He was not enjoying the anxiety that did lie in the pit of his stomach. It'll only be a matter of minutes before another deafening BANG would trigger the speed of the Knight Bus, flattening him out on the brass bed stand. The doors slid shut as Mr. Weasley clumsily scurried forward. He too looked fretted.

"Taker 'er away Ern." said Stan. And with these words a tremendous BANG broke all that was quiet and sped off.

:::::::::::::

By the time they arrived the radiant sunlight was slowly peaking up.

"Er- Eight Happy Place wos' it?" Harry noticed this wasn't the exact address but Mr. Weasley abruptly cut in.

"Yes," he retorted nervously. Harry clearly noted the quiver in his voice. It had an undeniable purpose.

It minutes abrupt... the tripled Decker bus screeched it's way in front of a very dandy-looking muggle home. One that horribly reminded Harry of number i Four Private Drive. /i

Harry gulped.

"Thirty sickles was it?" Mr.Weasley muttered quite anxiously. He rummaged around his purse and withdrew only a few silver coins from the already small quantity. Stan grinned. He receive the change with much gratitude and helped Mr. Weasley lower Harry's trunk onto the pavement.

"Thank you very much Stan. This was a very important i mission /i ." concluded the Mr. Weasley.

Stan arched his unkept eyebrows.

"T'is wos' a mission? Okay... If Oo say so. See Oo' later 'Arry" He said deliriously. He waved a languid goodbye and with yet another BANG departed.

Mr.Wealsey sighed in relief. Harry's blank expression signified Mr.Wealsey's clarification of things.

"Harry," he started. "We are heading back to Twelve Grimmald place, where Hermione and Ron are. We can't tell any other people our location. So... we should head up four blocks... and we should be around our there."

Harry nodded and at once they headed up the four very lengthy blocks. The sun was already peeking its radiant rays towards the sky, soaring as high as the sky looked like it could go. And finally, they arrived.

Harry gave Mr. Weasley a very displeasing look. His complexion had gone wan and it certainly wasn't from all the sharp turns made. They were in the front of 12 Grimmald place. Sirus's house.

"Harry, I can't even imagine how you are feeling at this particular moment... and I truly am sorry."

Harry simply nodded.

"Wait, Harry," called Mr. Weasley. "Remember this?"

He handed Harry a very familiar piece of parchment that they had given him last year.

i The headquarters of the Order of the Pheonix may be found at number tweleve, Grimmald Place, London. /i

Harry nodded and memorized it... he needed it not. He thought about those words and a door edged its way in between numbers eleven and thirteen.

Mr. Weasley took it abruptly and ridded of it. He did exactly what was done the year previous, he burned it. Harry neared his way up towards the grimy door. It creaked open only to reveal dinginess, and a stink that smelled of storage.

To greet them was Mrs. Weasley with the usual apron and nightgown underneath. It was almost as if she knew they would be arriving at that same exact time.

"Harry dear!" she squealed at the sight of him, pulling him into a tight hug "You're okay..."

"Err- Hello Mrs. Wealsey." Harry said awkwardly.

"Ron and Hermione have been expecting you, they should be upstairs. I don't think they slept very well though, so don't mind Ron if he's cranky. We weren't exactly sure what time you'd be coming.... Arthur, I'm sure, will bring you things up to your room."

Harry smiled guiltily and almost immediately trudged up those stairs. After what seemed like years, even though it was mere weeks, he would see Ron and i Hermione /i .

i sigh /i

The bronze door stood before him awaiting it's unlocking. The eerie tranquility of the house stood for good purposes, evident noises were coming from inside. He opened the door expectant to see them but stopped abruptly at their ruffled sight. The smile that was on Harry's face was almost immediately wiped off as he stood there stunned.

It was plainly obvious that they were all over each other and now were separated at Harry's sudden arrival.

"Hi Harry!" called out Ron with unusually red lips smeared with nothing other than [soft] cherry-colored lipstick.

"Harry!" Yelped out Hermione whose lips were only half colored with the lipstick; the rest of it was on Ron.

"Hello." Harry said through clenched teeth.

Ron and Hermione immediately started to straiten their shirts.

"Did I catch you in a wrong i time /i ?" Harry inquired willingly.

"Oh no," Ron started looking towards Hermione.

"Not at all," she finished for him.

"Yea, we were actually expecting you mate..."

Harry nodded disbelievingly. He should have known! This was going to happen eventually, I mean, it's practically destiny! i Ron and Hermione... Ron and Hermione... not Harry and Hermione... Ron and Hermione... /i Oh he hated this.

Harry reluctantly protruded a ghastly thought. Figures played the parts of Ron and Hermione, personifying the thought very well. Hermione and Ron flushing embraced each other and fell into the arms of one another, her head Harry noticed fit perfectly on the broad shoulder of Ron's. They swayed back and forth stealing greedy glances at each other until they both gained enough courage to finally lean forward to share their first intimate kiss. Harry shook the horrible image willingly out of his head.

"Uhh, Harry... You okay? What's the matter?" Ron questioned perplexed. Harry had a dazed look on his face.

"Yeah, I'm okay," Harry said, completely veiling what was true. "Nothing's the matter.... Nothing..."

b Well? What did Yall think? It's off to a rather slow start but it will get there.... I PROMISE! The ministry thing is going to be pretty big in this fan fiction! IF YOU WANT You could Yell at me for not updating! Instant message me at i InnocenceM2 (aol) or send me a email ! /i I LOVE to make new friends so... you know... OH YES! PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks! i Nothing but Health, Happiness, and Esp. Care Em /i /b