Disclaimer: I own non of the characters and thankfully do not have the pressure of writing the Potter books.

Author's note: This Chapter is dedicated to my friend, Nora, and is a desperate attempt for her to read the Harry Potter books. There are Ootp spoilers in this fan fic but that should not matter to all of you because you should have read the fifth book by now, and if you haven't… shame on you! There is a topic in this chapter which I don't usually write so it might not end up very good…I don't really know, so give me your opinions at the end of the chapter by reviewing…please!

Chapter 3

For most of the time Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were on business for the order so the Burrow was usually very quiet, or as quiet as it possibly could be when Fred and George are around. They frequently dropt in at the burrow as they now lived in Diagon Alley, Harry often wondered why they bought the flat on top of the shop seeing as they were found in the burrow on almost everyday.

Considering how quiet and peaceful it was at the Burrow, Harry seemed to be feeling different, uncomfortable, he couldn't quite place it but he thought that the only option was Sirius's death. He was still quiet on the subject but though that he was still depressed and untamingly grumpy, Harry thought that his anger had subsided a little, maybe it was because he was in residence of the magical world, surrounded by his friends.

Perhaps it wasn't Sirius's death which was making him uncomfortable, maybe it was something else, on second thought it had to be something else, it definitely was something else.

'Hey' spoke a cheerful voice, interrupting Harry's thoughts, it was Ginny and she took a seat at the head of the table, making her look somewhat superior to everyone else.

'Hi Ginny' replied one of her brothers, Harry didn't notice who it was that replied, he was too busy staring at her hair which she had left out, the morning gentle light hit it and her wonderful head movements made the light reflect her beautiful hair at different angles. Harry was completely drawn and mesmerized by it.

He noticed for the first time how there was so many shades of brilliant red in her hair, her hair was blazing, just like fire, just like a burning fire, fire is dangerous, this was dangerous! Harry looked quickly back down to his untouched porridge. What did he think he was doing? What on bloody earth was he doing?

'What am I doing?' he said audibly.

'Uh… Harry, what did you just say?' asked a puzzled looking Ron and Harry noticed Hermione very slightly smirk to herself. She caught him goggling at Ginny!

'Erm… nothing Ron, just er… thinking aloud' said Harry awkwardly, not knowing quiet how Ron would react which unnerved him a bit. Ron just looked from Harry to Ginny suspiciously then busied himself with finishing his breakfast.

There was an increasingly loud silence and Harry was increasingly reddening, Hermione seemed to be merciful that day because she tried to break the agonizing silence. At least that was what he thought.

'Harry, Ron would you like to have a walk, it seems like such a lovely day' said Hermione genially. Harry looked outside and sure enough the weather was more or less the complete opposite of Hermione's comment. The sky was covered in dark depressed clouds, the air was bitter with the harshness of the wind and anyone would have guessed that the seasons had swapped for a day.

'Uh… Hermione I don't know weather you noticed but the so called 'lovely day' is actually a - ' pointed out Ron.

'Looks like the old married couple is back' interrupted George, muttering to Fred who nodded gravely his agreement.

' Oh please, at least it's not raining!' she said to Ron authoritatively as though daring him to argue back.

'If its not raining now it doesn't mean that its not going to rain later…' and they continued bickering exactly like the old married couple which George described to Fred about. But Harry wasn't listening to them he was far more worried about what he had just done and what Ginny would think of him if she knew, could she know? Does she already know?

Almost like a reflex Harry looked up from his stone cold porridge and glanced at the head of the table. To Harry's relief Ginny was acting normally and was joking and talking nonchalantly with the twins.

'Fine Ron if you don't want a walk than I'll go with Harry, right Harry' said a very agitated Hermione, being caught half way through Harry's thoughts and not wanting to be caught again staring at Ginny, Harry replied in the affirmative.

'Sorry to interrupt the ever so appealing discussion but we have to leave we've got a business to run!' announced Fred.

'Then why aren't you ever in your shop?' said Hermione exasperatedly.

''Cause we're not bothered' replied George and with a small pop they dissaperated.

'You lot do what you want I'm going to my room if you ever need me' said Ginny, and Harry looked down, afraid if he was going to start staring again. But Ginny was forced to stay as an owl swooped into the kitchen through the broken window.

'Hogwarts owl!' yelled Ron happily. He tossed each person their letter and when Harry received his, gloom fell over his face; the envelope was much heavier and thicker than usual. It was not only his book list but also his O.W.L results.

'Oh no' murmured Harry to himself.

'Yes!' squealed Hermione 'it's the O.W.L results' 

Harry realised that Ron was wearing an identical expression to what he was feeling at that precise moment. He put on a brave face and with shaking hands opened his envelope and read.

Dear Mr. Potter

I am sorry to inform you that you won't receive your OWL results due to technicalities you will be receiving them at the start of the new term.

Professor .M. McGonagoll      

'Thank god' sighed Ron, Harry just put the piece of paper back in with his other letter in the envelope while Hermione looked like she was going to cry.

'Look Hermione, its not the end of the world' consoled Ron.

'I know, but I was really looking forward to them' said Hermione shakily

'Never mind' he replied.

'It's not like we'll never know what the results are' supplied Harry, Hermione's eyes were beginning to go shiny and they were slightly reddening around the perimeter.

'Harry lets go then, before it rains' said Hermione impatiently.

'Uh what?' said Harry, his mind blank.

'The walk!' Hermione said exasperatedly.

'Oh yeah, sorry' and they exited the tiny Kitchen into the almost stormy exterior of the Burrow.

Harry was feeling increasingly anxious, what was Hermione going to talk about? Her eyes seemed to have returned back to normal so she wouldn't talk about the O.W.L results or was she going to confront him point blank?

'Sad thing isn't it… the results?' started Hermione. Harry swallowed, he didn't remember being this nervous from Hermione before.

'Ye...yeah' he stammered. Then it him too quickly.

'Were you goggling at Ginny?' she asked directly.

'No' said Harry as though the subject was ridiculous.

'Don't deny it Harry I saw you staring at her for a full sixty seconds, I even counted!' They had stopped walking now and were out of sight from the house.

'I did not' said Harry hopelessly.

'Oh yes you did' she said interrogatingly knowing that she now had the upper hand, it was then Harry knew that she would never stop and so he had to tell her if he didn't want to die of starvation.

'Okay, okay, okay. I was…. er… uh…um…. staring at Ginny, now get off my case' said Harry shyly trying to sound agitated.

'Aha!' she said triumphantly, then she looked him straight in the eye and said very softly and tantalizingly, 'Why were you staring at Ginny, Harry?'

Harry was stuck, why was he staring at Ginny? He couldn't fancy her, no, no, that was not an option he knew nothing of the girl. So he told the truth.

'I don't know Hermione' he said quietly to the floor. Hermione said nothing for a few minutes, she was just looking at him then she nodded in too much of an irritating manner to Harry, it was too far knowing the look she gave him. Then a tapping of rain fell down and soon the rain was heavy enough to beat Harry to the ground.

'Come on Harry, we have to get back to the house' shouted Hermione and the next moment they were running towards the house as though running for their lives.

The next two hours passed by boringly enough and Harry was mercifully out of the presence of Ginny. Ron and Hermione were being unusually polite to each other. Towards the end of the duration of the dragging two hours the dark and murky clouds were clearing up and the blue graceful sky was growing increasingly move visible with every passing minute.

Out of the blue Mrs. Weasley suddenly apparated at Ron's side that afternoon, causing him to topple over and land flat on his back on the floor. Mrs. Weasley was all out of breath and red in the face as though she had run a mile. When the giggling had stopped Mrs. Weasley made an announcement.

'Alright dears I have four and a half hours to take you shopping in Diagon Alley for your school things, so everyone get up and get ready because I have a mount load of things to do.' And just when everyone stood up and stopped what they were doing she shouted annoyed.

'Hurry up, hurry up I don't have much time' and every one ran to the staircase.

Half an hour later Harry was covered from head to foot in soot from the effects of flooing into the Leaky Cauldron's fireplace. He was busy dusting himself when Ginny came right after him.

'Come on Harry help me up, don't just stand there' He hesitated a moment then helped her up.

'God I don't believe how sooty that damn fireplace is, couldn't someone just simply clean it? It would make everyone's life a hell of a lot easier.'

'Yeah but most people just apparate to Diagon alley they don't usually need to floo Ginny, they apparate' reasoned Harry.

'Oh shut up Harry' said Ginny irritated and Harry, not wanting to get on the wrong side of her as he remembered what happened to Malfoy with the bat-bogey spell, shut his mouth immediately. Shortly after that Mrs. Weasley was accompanied by not only a mouth full of soot, but Ron and Hermione as well.

'Okay I have to keep a watch on you so don't go wandering around, do you all have your book lists?' and everyone nodded vehemently.

'Good, good, all right, Flourish and Blotts first then' she directed bossily and everyone followed her command. Nothing much happened in the shops but everyone was very busy buying their school things and for some reason Mrs. Weasley was very anxious to get out of Diagon alley, probably to get back to the Order.

At the end of their shopping trip every one was battered and tired even energetic Mrs. Weasley.

'Please mum, lets stop at the Leaky Cauldron and eat something before going home' pleaded Ginny.

'We'll be at home in just a few minutes' said Mrs. Weasley directly.

'Mum if I don't eat something now I think that I'll die in the grate!' persisted Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley seemed to have given up so she gave in.

'Alright, go and find seats and I'll come with some pasties' she said helplessly.

'Works every time' murmured Ginny to Hermione and she giggled in return. Soon enough Harry found himself eavesdropping in on their conversation.

'…the trick is to keep nagging and seal your efforts with a good death scare' Harry then was interrupted from listening when a sharp jab in his ribs met him, he turned to his left slightly annoyed when he realized it was Ron, suddenly Harry felt like he was caught again doing something he shouldn't have, but Ron was smiling and so Harry eased a bit.

'Harry look over there to your right a bit, a bit more, yeah, who do you think that person is?' asked Ron eagerly, It was a mid twenties looking woman, she had very long brunette hair probably about three feet long and very dark eyes probably black or very dark brown, she had clear skin and long dangly earring. She wore baggy jeans and a white T-shirt.

'How am I supposed to know?' replied Harry.

'Oh nothing' murmured Ron, more to himself than to Harry.

'What are you talking about?' said Hermione which made the two boys jump in their seats.

'Oh… uh nothing Hermione' said Ron hesitantly. Hermione narrowed her eyes but said nothing and moved away.    

'Phew, we're lucky to still have our heads innit?' breathed Ron.

'Yeah, how did you notice that woman any way, I usually don't pay any attention to any stranger when I'm in a public place' asked Harry quietly, lowering his voice to a low whisper so that Hermione would not come over and interrogate them. But Ron started stammering and blushing, so Harry decided to be a mate and not torture him even though he had the tools in which to do so. Mrs. Weasley arrived with the pasties at that moment for which Ron was very grateful for and so was Ginny, evidently she shared Ron's talent for stuffing food energetically into her mouth and making everyone wince, Harry was grateful for that because it was a very good reason not to start goggling at her. This was what Harry was in fear of doing for the whole day.

'Right, has everyone finished?' asked Mrs. Weasley kindly; she seemed a bit more relaxed after she ate. Harry Ron and Hermione nodded and Ginny seemed too content to move her head, the food had also relaxed her.

'Right then, Ron you floo home first then Harry then Hermione and if the young lady can walk, Ginny' said Mrs. Weasley and just like the beginning of the trip everyone followed her command.

'By the way what is the time?' asked Ginny.

'Six o'clock' said Harry and Mrs. Weasley kind eyes slightly widened with worry, and she was more anxious than ever that day to get to the burrow.

In the next few minutes Harry was tucking in his elbows and closing his eyes shut trying to not think of the motion of his pasties were taking inside his stomach, maybe it wasn't such a great idea to eat before flooing, but thankfully Harry ended up on the wooded kitchen floor of the Burrow with his pasties in the right place. There was not much light in the kitchen despite the fire in the grate and there was no one around, the shutters of the windows were shut and there was a strange smell of burnt paper, Harry looked up and a greenish smoke was lingering on the ceiling. Ron was already there and he looked just as worried as Harry, something was not right here, shortly after Harry's arrival Hermione and Ginny came out of the fireplace and Mrs. Weasley had apparated, she didn't seem flustered about the change of mood which took place in the house.

'Oh I am so sorry dears, I forgot to tell you, I take extra precautions when leaving the house' said Mrs. Weasley and with a few flicks of her wand the house was back to normal again.

'Now go and do something I have to cook dinner before your father and brothers arrive' She said while taking out a dozen pots and pans.

Within the next hour Mr. Weasley, Fred, George, Bill and Charlie were comfortably seated in the living room and there was no regret for not inviting Percy for dinner, once again Mrs. Weasley ordered for the dinner to be eaten outside like the summer after Harry's third year. It was calm, peaceful and tranquil, which was why Harry longed to stay over at the burrow every year. When Harry got up from the humble family there was one last surprise waiting for him. A big bang and purple lights appeared in front of Harry's eyes.

Authors Note: I have been delighted with the reviews that I have received so I will write my own notes to my reviewers.

Miraboo: Thank you very much, reading your reviews were the highlight of my day.

Sassy winner: I respect your opinions and thank you for your review.

My eyes r dieing: Thank you for your review, I respect your opinions as well and am not crying over being thought that my fan fic is boring but erm... you didn't actually read it… try reading it the could you please review it.

Thanks to my sister for helping me proof read this chapter, I owe her a lot!

My last comment to all of you is to please review!