Author's notes: Guess what? I saw Harry Potter 3 today. And I must say, it is a big improvement on the last two! So, seeing as I've had half term, I have actually got round to writing a bit more. Hopefully, when my year 10 exams are over, I might be able to really get on with this. Don't worry, we are going to get to Hogwarts soon, and then the real action begins. For once I actually have an idea of where this story is going! Go me. Thanks to all you who have reviewed. It's much appreciated.

"Speech" 

(My notes)

Letters

/thoughts/

Chapter 4

The sun was poking through a gap in the curtains and had the great idea of shining right in Ron's face. He grunted and rolled over into the shade, but even then he could still feel its heat. It was going to be another boiling hot day. He opened his eyes and could just about make out the mound that was Harry in the bed opposite.

He whispered across the room in the direction of the mound,

"Harry…are you awake?"

The mound moved and a muffled "Yes" came from under the pile of sheets.

He rolled onto his back again, enjoying the sun now he was properly awake. He stretched and sat up with his legs dangling over the side and dragged a shirt from the trunk by the side of his bed. Harry had sat up and was blinking at him trying to distinguish him from the blurry world that appeared when he took of his glasses.

Giggling could be faintly heard through the wall, so it meant that the girls were awake, and then someone squealed and something light, probably a pillow, flumped against the wall. Ron stared at the wall oddly, as Harry searched for his glasses.

"Shall we go visit the girls?"

"Yeah…is the door still locked?" Ron got up and gently turned the door handle. It clicked and the door swung open.

"Cool, it can only be opened from the inside."

Harry got up and stood next to him in boxers and an old baggy tee shirt.

"I was under the impression that we would be stuck in here until someone came to get us out. A definite improvement on the Dursley's."

Ron looked at him, but his face was blanc.

"Fair point."

They walked along the landing and knocked on the girl's door. There was the sound of movement from inside and someone spoke to them,

"Who is it?"

"Me and Harry."

"That isn't good enough, what if you're trying to trick you're way in? Hum?"

Ron rolled his eyes, they were taking the piss. Harry was beginning to bob up and down on the cold landing,

"Don't be stupid, let us in!"

The door opened a fraction and Ginny squinted at them evilly.

"Hum…they look like them, but still…"

Ron took the opportunity and barged in past Ginny, while Harry followed in his wake.

Ginny and Ron began to argue, so Harry ignored them and walked over to where Hermiony was sitting, surrounded by covers.

"Good morning."

Hermiony smiled at him as the two siblings battled away in the background.

"Morning."

There was a pause,

"Did you sleep well?"

Harry feigned interest in the rug on the floor,

"Better then usual, but I still…dream a lot…it makes it hard to sleep."

Hermiony reached out and squeezed his hand.

"Don't worry, if you ever need anything, talk to us. Don't bottle it up. It'll just makes things worse."

Harry didn't answer but sat on the end of her bed, eyes still on the floor. Their hands broke apart. Hermiony shook her head, there was no use talking to him, but she knew people who could help. Ron came over and through himself down on his back next to Harry, in a bad temper.

"Good morning Ron, you seem in a good mood." Said Hermiony cheerfully.

"I was until she spoilt it!"

Ginny stuck her tongue out at him from her bed. Hermiony giggled,

"You two are so predictable!"

Ron was indignant.

"We are not, you are obviously misguided."

"Yes you are, don't argue with me Ronald!"

She hit on the arm playfully.

"Ow…that hurt!" 

Ron pulled an overly sad face, rolled over and tried to crawl behind Harry, who was ignoring them.

"Help me Harry, she's being nasty!"

Hermiony started laughing, but stopped abruptly as Ginny muttered in a voice that carried across the room,

"Flirts!"

Both went bright red and glared at her. Harry sighed, thankful that she had got them to stop. He wasn't in the right mood to get involved in their silly arguments. Ginny smiled sweetly.

"You can stop glairing now, I was only stating facts! I mean, I would have thought that you would have been happy Hermiony, after what you told me this morn…Ouch!"

Hermiony was kneeling up with yet another pillow in her hand.

"Oh…I get it. I'm sorry Hermy, not another word."

She looked so smug that Harry had a hard time trying not to grin, however horrible he felt, it was always amusing to see his friend's squirm. But luckily for the embarrassed duo, something began to tap against the window. Ginny was closest so she stood up and peered through the glass carefully.

"What is it?" Harry went to stand by her. She sighed in relief.

"I think it's an owl, shall I open the window?"

Ron, in a final attempt of looking at anything apart from Hermiony, nodded.

"There's four of us with wands, what can it do?"

Ginny opened the window carefully and moved away.

There were a few tense moments where they waited to see what it was, in fact, Ginny was about to close the window again, when an owl flew in and perched on the top of the wardrobe. Ginny slammed the window closed.

There was a pause where they registered what had just happened.

"Oh my God! Hindi!"

Hermiony leapt up from her bed and ran over to the owl. She stretched out her arm for the screech owl to land on. She stroked the owl's head and turned to face the others.

"I take it that you know who's that owl is?"

Harry raised his eyebrow. Hermiony nodded happily.

"Her name is Hindi and she belongs to a good friend of mine." She undid the string that tied a thick roll of parchment to her leg, and then let the owl go back to the top of the wardrobe.

She walked back over to her bed and sat in her original position. Harry and Ginny joined Ron at the end of her bed. Hermiony unrolled the parchment and stretched it out on her lap while Ginny tried to peep over the edge,

"Can we read it?"

"Hang on, I want to read it first, then I might let you."

Several minuets passed, all three of them watching her as she read it, finally, she coughed.

"I'll read it to you, so I can miss out bits that I don't want you to here…" Ginny made an indignant sound in the back of her throat.

"Umm…Dear Hermiony, having fun? I'm not, gotta go and work…again! Nick and Chrissie are refusing to buy me anything, as usual! We're all missing you. But we'll see you soon anyway. Thought I'd let you know, Dom is back from Jamaica, and is in London, I was talking to him last night and apparently it was amazing. Have still got a hangover but thankfully it's beginning to subside; I don't know how you do it. Keep energetic after drinking all night. James's mum went mad after finding his secret stash of illegal substances; you know which one's those are. I'm getting the photos developed today, before we have to go to school to…blah, blah…see you soon. Love from Jen and the crew, who all say hi by the way!"

Hermiony looked up, "She's a bit crazy."

The door opened and Mrs Weasley entered.

"Oh," She looked at Ron and Harry, "Good, you're all in one room. We are going to go and get your books, do you want to come?" Everyone nodded except Harry.

"Well, we're going in, in half an hour, so get dressed." She gave them a small smile then left.

Ron looked at Harry then at Hermiony, who was looking worried.

"Well, we're going to leave you girls to change."

He grabbed Harry's arm and they left.

As soon as they were back in their room, Ron began to grab clothes from his trunk. Harry just stood in the center of the room, doing nothing. Ron had a vague plan in mind.

He dragged some clothes on and turned to Harry, who was staring at the gap in the curtains.

"Are you coming or what, we've got about twenty minuets!"

Harry shook his head,

"Don't be stupid Ron, I haven't been out since I got here and I'm not about to start now."

"What are you on about? What could possibly happen to you in Diagon Ally?" Harry turned on him,

"A lot, look at what happened in the ministry! I dragged you all there, right into a trap. Do you really think that because we're in 'Diagon Ally' we'll be safe?"

"Harry, calm down! You didn't drag us there at all, we offered to go! It wasn't your fault…" Harry snorted, "So stop blaming yourself. The ministry was a trap, but do you really think my mum is trying to get you killed by inviting you to go with us to buy books?" Harry looked at the floor, "you need to get out Harry, there will be people watching us, keeping everything safe. Relax, we won't be able to do stuff like this when we're at school."

Harry nodded,

"Fine. Go down and have breakfast, I'll get dressed then come down."

Ron hesitated, then turned and left.

Harry waited a few seconds, and then sank down on his bed, his head in his hands. Ron was wrong, it was his fault. He didn't know the half of it.

The courtyard was cast in shadow, which was a relief, as the day was growing very hot. Ron couldn't help but stare at Hermiony, her hair was now in controlled curls down her back and she was wearing a short white skirt with black and pink flowers, a bright pink strappy top and black-heeled sandals. Since when had she ever worn things like that? Was she doing it on purpose? She really did look amazing. He wasn't sure that he entirely liked this change, why couldn't she just stay the same?

His mother was opened the archway and they entered into the narrow Ally, lined with shops. They spent a fairly enjoyable afternoon collection books and window-shopping.

There was still a cloud hanging over them though, there was a lot less people out then usual and those who were brave enough to step out of their houses stared at Harry as if he was a walking freak show. They were also being followed; everyone could sense their presence. Ron felt safe, but the look on Harry's face whenever they spotted one of their bodyguards was murderous. He was glad to get back to the Leaky Cauldron and eat.

Mrs Weasley sent them off to bed early so they could pack their stuff for tomorrow.

Not an amazing ending, but I want to get on to the main story now, so keep a look out for the next chapter! Remember to R&R people!