Tonight's For Fighting

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by the lovely JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Couldn't have said it better myself, props go to schnoogle.com for coming up with that lovely disclaimer, so I didn't have to... I'm only going to add that the plot belongs to me.

Summaries:
Story: Everyone breaks in the end... how long it takes depends only on how strong you are.
Chapter: Harry returns to 12 Grimmauld Place, only to have painful memories resurfaced.

Rating: PG-13. May change to ARRRRR in the later chapters, for what, I have no idea because I have no idea what I'm gunna do with this story. That is why I need all you lovely reviewers to help me, and give me any advice you have! Although flames will be used to toast marshmallows.

Mesdames et Messieurs, je presente le deuxieme partie de le fanfiction Tonight's For Fighting – Good to Be Home

Harry peered out of the curtain for what seemed like the one hundredth time that night. Well, considering how anxious he was, he wouldn't have been surprised if it was in fact the one hundredth time. There was no one there, but it was pointless to think that they would come any other way than apparating, it would be even more dangerous than normal. It was one in the morning, and Harry had been waiting in the front room with his bags for the past seven hours, bored out of his mind, the only thing that kept him awake was his apprehension at going back to 12 Grimmauld Place.

Hedwig hooted softly and he let her out of her cage, she flew up and landed on his arm. He stroked her back absent-mindedly and then he heard it, the distinct popping noise of many people appearing out of thin air. He walked to the kitchen to see if they were there because that was where they had apparated the previous time. The loud crash of a plate confirmed his suspicions, and also told him that Tonks was among guard that had just arrived.

He flicked on the light and was greeted by a hiss and a whisper of "Shut it off, boy" so he turned the light back off. His eyes took a moment to adjust to the light before he could see properly who was standing in front of him. Lupin, Moody, Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Mr. Weasly had come to escort him to the headquarters. They saw that he already had his trunk packed and he was clutching his Firebolt and a cloak, so they motioned for him to step outside with them. Harry threw on his cloak as Tonks strapped his trunk to her broom, and then they sat in quiet for a few minutes until the first signal appeared in the sky. Lupin told everyone to mount their brooms, and the second signal was given. They took off and once again, Harry felt the sensation that only flying could give him as they soared into the lightening skyline of London.

Harry dismounted his broom as 12 Grimmauld Place began to appear out of the ground. He turned away from the others and furiously blinked back the tears that were forming. He didn't want their pity, which he was sure that he would receive had they saw him crying.

Lupin unlocked the door and they all tiptoed in silently. He whispered as Harry passed "Welcome home." Technically it was the truth, even though it didn't seem it. Sirius had left Harry everything in his will, including the Black family fortune and the house. Harry, not in need of a house while he was still at school had promptly donated it to the Order to use as permanent headquarters.

He looked around, the place had been fixed up spectacularly since he had last seen it last Christmas. They had been able to remove most of the portraits and installed an electric system. The new arrivals began to head upstairs to the bedrooms and Tonks, forgetting that she still had Harrys trunk enchanted, created a huge racket as she started up the stairs, and the trunk attempted to follow, promptly crashing into the bottom stair. Harry winced and braced himself for a huge racket, but instead the house remained quiet. Someone had obviously put a spell on the remaining portraits, preventing them from howling and screaming like they used to.

He almost wished that they hadn't been silenced, because then if he made enough noise and woke them up, maybe just maybe Sirius would once again come rushing out of a nearby room and stop all the noise. He would then greet Harry as he always did. Harry of course would be mad at him for his evil prank, but would get over it and be glad that he once again had his stepfather back. Of course that would never happen, the truth hurts doesn't it?

Assuming that he was in the same room as last time, Harry dragged his trunk up the stairs until he got to the door. He opened it, expecting to see Ron's sleeping form in the other bed, instead he was greet with the smiling faces of Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George. Hermione jumped up and engulfed him in one of her infamous bear hugs, constricting his breath until Ron pried her off and clapped him on the shoulder. Harry being in a weakened state due to lack of breathing for the past minute, almost fell to the ground. Fred and George dragged his trunk in the door and closed it as he fell back on the bed. Ah yes... it was good to be home.

Harry woke up the next morning to the sound of Ron shouting in his ear. "HARRY! WAKE UP!" He blinked slowly, getting his bearings as Ron's blurry face appeared in front of his. Harry grabbed his glasses and put them on.

"No need to shout," he said as he sat up.

"Yes there is," said Ron smugly, sitting down next to him. "You were sleeping like you were in a coma. I never thought that was possible coming from you, you used to be a light sleeper."

"Yeah I guess I'm just tired."

"Yeah? Well mum told me to tell you that breakfast is ready, and to come down to the kitchen when you feel like it." Harry thanked Ron and he left, leaving Harry to get dressed.
Harry entered the kitchen and sat down next to Ginny and across from Ron and Hermione. He was presented with an enormous platter of breakfast, including anything and everything he could possibly want to eat. He suddenly found that he was starving and began shoveling the food into his mouth. He slowed down upon seeing the astonished faces of Ron, Hermione, and Ginny watch him eat at a record speed. Breakfast progressed and the topic of conversation slowly turned to OWL's.

"How many did you two get?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione.

"Well I got 8 and Ron got 5." Hermione said.

"Which ones did you miss?" Harry asked Ron.

Ron swallowed a mouthful of food and replied. "Divination, History of Magic, and Potions." Harry could see the sadness in his eyes; he knew how much Ron had wanted to be a Auror also. "I guess I should be thankful that I don't have to Potions anymore, besides I think that Snape would have found a way to kick me out of his class anyway." Ron continued with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Well," Hermione said, quickly changing the subject, "what do you think we should do today?"

"We could go into Diagon Alley?" Ginny said, contributing to the conversation for the first time.

"Yes, lets do that." Said Harry, vying for a reason to get out of the house. The returned their plates to the sink, and Ron went to tell his mother of their plans for the day. He came back with a list of things Mrs. Weasley had wanted them to get while they were there.
A half hour later, the four of them were back in the kitchen and Ron was holding the pot of floo powder out for Harry to take some. Harry quickly took off his glasses and put them in his bag, not wanting them to break as he traveled through the Floo Network. He took a pinch of the powder and threw it into the flame, he stepped into the fireplace and shouted "DIAGON ALLEY!"

He was spinning extremely quickly, too quickly for his liking until suddenly he was falling out of the warm fire. He put his hands out to break his fall as he landed in a darkened room.

"Ah, Mr. Potter. We've been waiting for you."