Chapter 2 - Summer at Grimmauld
"Sorry we can't stay longer, mate, but don't worry. Mum's sending the task force to get you tomorrow, at 8." Ron said, as Mrs. Figg shoved some Floo powder into his hand. "The Burrow." He bellowed, walking into the fireplace.
"See you tomorrow, Harry!" Hermione called, following Ron.
"Are you guys back at the Burrow?" Harry asked, lightly grabbing Ginny's arm to stop her.
"No, we're still at Grimmauld, but mum doesn't want anyone to know that. We'll probably portkey there." She replied.
"Oh, I get it. I guess I'll see you tomorrow." He let go of her arm. "Oh, and Ginny, thanks again, you know, for the other night." Mrs. Figg gave him a strange look as she ushered some powder into Ginny's hand.
"No big, I'll always be there for you." She smiled, and stepped into the fire.
"What was that about?" Mrs. Figg asked, still giving him that weird look.
"What?" he replied, baffled.
"'Thanks again for the other night'? Explain."
"Oh, we just talked. Honestly." He blushed.
"Better, because she's too young, and you ought to know better, young man." Mrs. Figg scolded. She turned into the kitchen and let Harry see himself out.
"Honestly." He muttered under his breath as he left her house.
The following morning, Harry woke with a jolt. Glancing at the clock, which read 7:45, he swore loudly and ran into the shower. Promptly six minutes later, Harry was dragging his trunk downstairs, much to Vernon and Petunia's dismay. As Harry was grabbing a piece of toast, Vernon took his chance.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"I'm leaving." Harry replied, glancing at the clock. One more minute, he thought.
"No, you are not bloody leaving! I'd lock you in the ruddy cupboard before I'd let you out into our world." Vernon raged; the grandfather clock behind him striking 8.
"I do believe you have no say in the matter, sir." Mad-eye Moody was saying as the others apparated into the dining room. Petunia fainted at the sight of her living room filling with unwanted people. Tonks, Moody, Mrs. Weasley, and Lupin stood in the room grinning at Harry's smiling face.
"Wotcher, Harry!" Tonks said enthusiastically. She pulled out her wand and floated Hedwig's cage down from Harry's bedroom.
"Hey, Tonks!" Harry returned her greeting.
Lupin made his way over to Harry, bracing a frail hand on Harry's shoulder. "You ready to go?" he asked the black haired boy.
"Anytime, anytime." Harry replied.
"Now, Harry, you are going to be using a Portkey, as will Lupin and Tonks. Alaster and I will apparate there and inform the others of your arrival. Try not to cause a racket," she said, looking over at Tonks.
"Yes, ma'am."
"On the count of three then?" Lupin asked. Mrs. Weasley set an old book on the table and backed away. "One, two, three!" Lupin said, as he, Harry, and Tonks grabbed hold of the book. Harry once again felt the familiar tug at his navel and in minutes he was standing in the foyer of Sirius's house.
"Harry! Good to see you mate." George exclaimed, clasping Harry's right shoulder. Over George's shoulder stood Ginny, Fred, Ron, and Hermione.
"Hello, Harry." Fred said, as he and George collected Harry's trunk.
"Hey Gred. How's the shop going you two?" he inquired, winking at them.
"Business is booming." George replied, grinning.
"You should see their newest creation, Disappearing Delights." Ron told Harry.
"Ron, isn't that an oxymoron? Seeing something that is disappearing?" Hermione said as she hugged Harry. "Welcome back." she whispered.
Ginny greeted him, and then, she went to explaining some dream that Ron had had the previous night.
"And so then, I walked in, and there was Ron, asleep like a log mumbling about how Malfoy was in a ferret costume." she giggled. Ron's face turned red as Hermione and Harry laughed. How he had missed laughing.
"So, Harry, what did you do over the summer?" Fred asked, breaking the laughter.
"Nothing much. I tormented Dudley a little, when I wouldn't let him beat up little Mark Evans. Poor kid's only eleven for crying out loud. Other then that, last week, and coming here, it's been rather boring." he said.
"Evans? You said, Mark Evans?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, why Hermione?"
"Your mother, Lily, her maiden name was Evans. Do you know what this means?" she said excitedly.
"No?" Harry guessed. Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but Ginny beat her to the punch.
"Harry, if you are related to this Mark kid, you could leave the Dursley's. His parents would have to be related, therefore suitable guardians." Ginny explained as Hermione pouted slightly. "Oh, Hermione, I'll let you tell him next time, I promise."
"Next time? Am I that daft?" Harry asked, causing Ron to laugh.
"Yes." Hermione retorted, joining Ron in his laughter.
"Fine, I lose." Harry said, laughing too. Soon, everyone was laughing.
Harry spent the following weeks working at Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, the most popular spot in Diagon Alley. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were working there too, surrendering what was left of their summer to the twins. Harry and Ron were working the stock rooms, while Hermione and Ginny worked the books, keeping track of the twins' funds. For Harry, it was the only thing he wanted to be doing. Hanging out with his friends, and earning some money too.
"Ay, Harry, we're gonna take a break now, you two want to join us? Fred and George already said it was all right." Ginny called from the display room. Ron dropped his box with a grin and instantly headed for the exit.
"We'll be right up." Harry replied to Ginny. To Ron, he said, "Hey mate, get yourself cleaned up a bit. You wouldn't want to frighten the ladies, now would you?"
Ron threw a towel at him, but nevertheless cleaned himself up. As soon as they were ready, all of two minutes, the boys entered the showroom. "Hello ladies, fancy meeting you here." Ron said, jokingly.
"You ready for that break?" Hermione asked.
"You bet!" he exclaimed, heading for the door. They laughed and followed him as he led the way to the ice cream shop next to Madam Malkin's robe store. They bought their lunch and were finishing up when Hermione's face lit up.
"Say, isn't that Neville?" she asked, pointing at a much taller, less rounded version of their friend. "My, has he grown" she giggled. Ron's face turned pink with anger, but he turned to look at Neville to shield his face from the others.
"Did you see that girl he was with?" Ginny murmured. "She's gorgeous!"
"Must be a family friend." Ron laughed.
Hermione shot him a dirty glare, and said, "Well, let's just go find out, shall we?" She and Ginny headed straight for the robe shop, with Harry right behind them.
"Sorry mate." Harry said, looking over his shoulder at Ron. His friend nodded at him, and joined up with them at the entrance to Madam Malkin's store.
"Hey Neville." Harry called, waving.
"Hi, Harry." he said back.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, well I'm just waiting for someone." he replied, nervously.
"Your Gran?" was Ginny's question.
"Oh, no, Gran didn't come with me today."
"Neville, hun, could you tell me what you think of this dress robe?" a very feminine voice called from behind a curtain.
"Coming, Alexia." Neville called to her. He returned moments later, with a short blonde, wearing a Ravenclaw headband. "Guys, this is Alexia Suite. Alexia, these are my friends from school. You probably know most of them. Ron and Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter."
"Pleased to meet you all. I've heard so much about you Hermione. Neville's told me how so very kind you've been to him." Alexia gushed. "Well, Neville, you like this one?" he nodded and she went back to change.
"Lexi is a Ravenclaw, your year Ginny. I met her at the end of the year banquet. She's so kind, like you Hermione." he said, blushing.
"I think this is great for you, Neville." Hermione said, touching his shoulder.
"Yeah," the rest chorused.
"Ready to go, Neville? I believe your Gran wanted something from Flourish and Blotts." Alexia took his arm and they walked out together, Neville shouting a simple goodbye over his shoulder.
"Well, that's a change." Ron said, after a while.
"I think its about time Neville found love, you know?" Ginny said quietly.
"Yeah, I think everybody needs a little love." Harry voiced, as they headed back to the twin's building.
"Harry!" Ginny shouted. "Not Harry, please Tom, not Harry!"
"Ginny," Hermione said, shaking her awake. "It's fin now, he can't get you or Harry, I promise!"
"Hermione?" Ginny called out softly.
"Shh, it's ok now. Tom's gone." Hermione whispered, cradling the tearing girl's head against her chest.
"Oh, Hermione." Ginny sobbed, crying harder.
"It's alright now." Hermione replied, rocking the blubbering redhead until she fell asleep.
"Happy birthday Harry!" Mrs. Weasley cheered as Harry and Ron walked into the dining room the following morning. "This year, you're going to get a proper birthday." She sat them at the table and started filling their plates.
"Now you know why we always grow so much," whispered Ron, leaning over the table to joke. Harry smiled and gladly accepted the full plate in front of him.
"Good morning girls." Mrs. Weasley said, calling Harry's attention away from the plate and towards Hermione and Ginny. They returned the greeting happily, but Harry could tell they were hiding something. They sat down next to Ron, as the twins joined the table. Soon, everyone was eating happily, and Harry forgot about his strange feeling about Hermione and Ginny.
"Morning family." Mr. Weasley called, taking his coffee cup from his wife, kissing her on the cheek as he did so. He smiled at the echoing reply of, "Good morning dad."
"Ah-hem." Mrs. Weasley coughed, winking at the table. Everyone except Harry stopped eating. "That's better. Now, sing." Harry gave her a confused look, as the Weasley family, and his best friends sang him a chorus of Happy Birthday.
"Gee, I don't know what to say. I've never been sung to before." Harry blushed.
"That's too bad, because you aren't allowed to speak." Ginny grinned mischievously. Harry gave her a puzzled look and glanced around the table. Mrs. Weasley was smiling at him while she summoned the presents.
"What?" Harry started, but a gift hit him in the back of the head as the boxes made a pyramid in front of him.
"Well, open them!" Ron cried, excited enough for both of them. Harry took the top box from the pile.
"To Harry, love the twins. I think I'll open that one later." He said, eyeing the box cautiously. He put it aside and opened the next one, which was a Chudley's poster from Ron. He thanked his friend and opened the book Hermione gave him, which was about famous witches in history.
"It has the detailed writings of Jack the Ripper, which I thought might interest you, seeing as it might frighten your aunt and uncle even more to find out you know old Jack's tricks of the trade." She winked, small evil grin on her face.
"Thanks!" He turned and opened the presents from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, (a couple books and a mince pie), and then he unwrapped the twins gift. Two silver boots were lying in the box. "What?" he asked.
"Silencing boots," George whispered, when his mother's back was turned. "Nobody will ever hear you unless you speak or sneeze. Perfect for those late night walks around the castle."
"I see." Harry said, grinning like mad. Out loud, he said to the family, "Thank you all so much. This has by far been the best birthday ever." Tears overcame Mrs. Weasley as she hugged Harry and rushed out the door, followed by her husband. "Did I..."
"No mate, that's just her way of saying, welcome to the family." Ron interrupted.
"Yep, you aren't part of the family until mum has burst into tears over you." George grinned. He and Fred were helping themselves to another round of hotcakes as Ron and Hermione were picking up presents to cart up to Harry's room.
"You coming?" Ron called over his shoulder.
"I'll be right up." Harry replied. Harry grabbed the remaining boxes and hurried up the stairs. Behind him, he heard the door open, and he whipped around when he heard Ginny's astonished gasp.
"Hello, Ginny." Percy Weasley said, taking her in his arms in an embrace.
"Percy! What are you doing here?" she exclaimed, drawing Fred and George into the room.
"Perce!?" Fred bellowed, touching the taller redhead's arm, as if not believing their older brother was standing in front of him. "Mum, dad, Percy's home!"
"George, knock some sense into your brother. He needn't try to raise my hopes any." Mrs. Weasley called from the upstairs.
"Mum," Percy yelled. "Fred is telling the truth, I've come back." All of a sudden, it was like the whole family was sitting in the living room with Percy and his wife Penelope. Ron and Hermione appeared next to Harry as Percy begged his forgiveness.
"Mum, when I heard about Ron and Ginny, I was so afraid. They were so close, and could have died, because Fudge didn't want a mark on his record. And dad, I'm sorry I wasn't there when you were attacked. We were off in France, doing some accounting for the Minister. I regret everything I've said against Dumbledore, or the Order." Percy confessed, holding Penelope's hand in his.
"Percy, I don't know about how your mother feels about this, but I'm willing to forgive you, because over everything, you're still my son." Mr. Weasley said, clasping his son's shoulder.
"Mum? Are we welcome in your home?" Percy asked hopeful.
Mrs. Weasley paced around the room for a minute until her eyes landed on the clock. Her eyes watched the dial with Percy on it go from 'Lost' to 'Home'. With tears in her eyes, she ran over to him and hugged him with joy. "Welcome home, my son." She cried.
"Wait a minute, mum. I think Percy should apologize to Ron and Harry." George said, his eyes angrily on his brother.
"Excuse me?" she demanded.
"He insulted Harry countless times, and insisted that Ron abandon his friendship with Harry like it was a game. He's no brother of mine unless he can admit he was wrong about them."
Percy's eyes faltered to the ground as he said to Ron, "Ron, I had no right to ask you to take Harry out of your life. I was just afraid he would get you in danger, get Ginny in danger. But I see that you can take care of yourself, mainly because of Harry's training, I'm sure. So I ask you to forgive me, for caring."
Ron's face was that of shock, as he hugged his brother. "Percy, I know you thought you were doing best, so no hard feelings."
Percy smiled at his youngest brother, and turned to Harry. "Harry, you are the best friend I never had, and I'm sorry that I ever doubted you."
"Let's just put that behind us." Harry smiled.
"So, Percy, when did you and Penelope tie the knot?"
Ginny lay awake that night, thoughts spinning through her mind. They wandered from Percy, to Harry, and finally on the unwrapped gift under her pillow. She tossed and turned as she pondered the ways she could give Harry the present. After several hours of failed sleep, she decided to sneak into Harry and Ron's room and slip it under his pillow with a note. She stood up and grabbed the pocket-size package, and opened her door, smacking into the dark figure that was also opening her door.
"Shh." The manly voice hissed, holding his hand over her mouth as he slid her body in front of his. Ginny began to shake with fear, but she let the shadowed man drag her into the fire lit den, where he promptly released her.
"Who the bloody hell do you think you are?" she trembled with anger. She was facing her captor, but the fire light was keeping him in darkness. He reached for her arm, and she reacted by dodging his outstretched hand and turning her back to the fire. Her fist was quicker then her eyes, because no sooner did she connect with his jaw, did she realize her 'captor' was Harry.
Harry's eyes widened as his hand flew to his face. Chuckling, he stared at her astonished face and said, "Well, I'll never have to worry about your hand to hand fighting." He strolled off into the kitchen to get some ice.
"Harry, I'm so sorry!" Ginny cried. Harry looked at her with twinkling eyes. "What were you doing anyway, attacking me like that?"
"I was just coming downstairs to get some milk, and I didn't attack you, I just didn't want you to wake up your family." He said, holding up the milk bottle for her to see.
"Oh..." she answered, walking into the kitchen. "Here, let me help you with that."
"I think you've helped enough?" Harry asked her jokingly.
"Please don't be mad, I thought you were kidnapping me!" she exclaimed, as she poured his milk.
"Thank you." He said, holding the glass up to her and downing it. Sighing refreshingly as he set his cup down, he muttered, "If I were going to kidnap you, I certainly wouldn't bring you to the living room, now would I?"
"Well, er, no. I guess not."
"Right, so why did you hit me?" he asked.
"You were trying to grab my arm!" she defended herself.
"I was going after that book in you hands." He gestured towards the emerald book, still clasped in her right hand.
"Oh, so you weren't attacking me?" she laughed.
"Of course not." Harry grinned. "So, what is that, anyway?"
"It's your birthday present. I was going to put it under your pillow." Ginny replied, blushing slightly. "Here." She handed him the meadow colored hardback.
"It's blank." Harry noted, flipping through the pages.
"Yeah, it's a communication book. I have one too. If you write in the book, it automatically copies the text into my own book. It's like owling, without the owls. Plus, it even works at Hogwarts. Hermione and I tested it."
"Wicked!"
"Yeah, so if you ever need to talk, you know how to reach me." She smiled at him. Then, glancing at the clock, she headed for the stairs. "Happy birthday, Harry," she whispered.
"Man, Harry, what happened to your face?" Ron shouted the following morning, as Harry made his way to the breakfast table.
"What happened to yours?" Harry retorted, rubbing his sleepy eyes. Mrs. Weasley turned around to see what the commotion was, and gasped at the sight of Harry. Ginny, on the other hand, was staring at her breakfast, content on not looking at the damage she'd caused to Harry's lower jaw.
"Harry! You look like you broke a long fall with your face!" Fred joked, shoving some bacon in his mouth.
"Yeah, you look like you punched someone's wall with your jaw, mate." Percy laughed, joining in on the fun.
"Hrm?" Harry muttered, before looking in the nearest mirror. He opened his eyes to find a large purple bulge on his jaw. "Whoa!"
"So, what happened?" Mrs. Weasley asked, casting on him a spell that would reduce the swelling.
"Er, I uh, must have run into something last night." He fibbed, glancing at Ginny and winking. She smiled, wrinkling her nose with blush before returning to her eggs. Harry ruffled his hair in thought, as everyone began asking him questions.
A/N: I love how Ginny is the strong character in this chapter. You can definately tell she has brothers. I also felt that it was time Percy came home, and what better way, with his wife, and maybe a little something extra? We shall see!