Blind Granny

Lupin was at the doorway, and smiled at Harry, "I thought I heard you up." He sat down in the armchair opposite him and said softly "I need to talk to you."

"About what?" Harry asked even though he had already guessed

"Sirius," Lupin said grimly

"Well I don't want to," Harry replied cooly

There was an awkward silence and Harry couldn't find the courage to look Lupin in the eyes. He knew that Lupin was watching him, because Harry could practically feel his stare.

"Perhaps another time," Lupin said breaking the silence," when you're ready," he added before he left the room.

The next morning Harry woke up earlier that everyone else, and headed towards the kitchen. When he passed the washroom, he heard the wooden door creak open.

Harry could hardly believe his eyes. Snape hadn't left the bathroom the whole night, and he looked paler than usual if that was even possible. He had huge bags drooping from his bloodshot eyes, with his greasy hair flat against his head.

"Potter," he said angrily

"Sir..?"

Suddenly, Snape put on an expression that looked as though he was in pain, and abruptly ran back into the washroom.

Serves him right, Harry thought, git..

Harry went into the kitchen and walked in on Moody who had taken his eye out and was shaking it a glass of water.

"The damn thing keeps on getting stuck," he informed Harry, who felt sick and considered joining Snape in the bathroom.

BANG

Fred and George Apparated on each side of Harry with their arms casually leaning on his shoulder. They were both dressed in matching vibrant, yellow jackets, which Harry guessed that they had decided to 'treat' themselves again.

"Oh, hello Harry," said George who pretended that he had just noticed him," didn't see you there."

"We've got a little present for you," Fred said teasingly. Suddenly, he realized that Moody was in the room and look at George who grimaced and nodded.

"Oi Moody! There's a boggart in Mum's room that she needs help sorting out," Fred said in a serious tone.

After hearing this, Moody quickly jogged upstairs towards Mrs. Weasley's room.

"Anyways, Harry we've got something for you," George said as he handed Harry a tin of peppermints.

"Gee guys, thanks," Harry said sarcastically, "I didn't know my breath was that bad."

"It's not for your breath you git," Fred laughed, "though you could certainly use some," he added as he waved his hand jokingly in front of his nose.

"All jokes aside, this is our latest creation," said George as his eyes shone with excitement.

"It's only disguised as that tin," Fred added

"We want you to use this on the Slytherins. Just because we're not there this year, doesn't mean they are going to get off easy," George said with a smirk

"All you have to do is put it in their drinks. We promise you'll like what you see," Fred snickered

"We'll you might not – like – what you see because it's not going to be pretty," George said as he winked at Harry

"AHH"

Mrs. Weasley came running out of her room with curlers in her hair and a facial mask on. Dashing out from behind her, Moody came yelling "Riddikulus!"

"I'm not a boggart," she screamed as she ran down the stairs at top speed

"Tell it to the wand," Moody grunted

Mrs. Weasley hid behind Fred, and cried, "You two! This is your doing!" Moody viciously grabbed her arm as she struggled to free herself.

"D'you reckon we ought to tell him?" Fred asked

"Nah"

Mrs. Weasley had finally broke out of Moody's grip and opened the washroom door to run inside. Within seconds, she came screaming out, followed by Snape who was swearing.

"What's that horrible smell? Shut that door!" George yelled as he pinched his nose to stop himself from smelling the stench.

"Moody she's not a boggart," Harry said firmly

"S-she's not?" Moody said uncertainly

"Why would I be afraid of myself?" Mrs. Weasley asked

"Unless.." George butted in

"Moody is afraid of Mum!" Fred and George said together

Mrs. Weasley raised an inquiring eyebrow and Moody who gave her a quivering look.

"MOODY'S AFRAID OF MUM! MOODY'S AFRAID OF MUM!" they chanted all the way upstairs.

Harry distinctly heard Fred said in a low voice, "This gives me an idea."

"I'm going to need some help with this carpet," Mrs. Weasley shouted, "It seems to be infested with Spinsters."

"What the bloody hell are those?" Ron asked lifting up the carpet

"Oh, honestly Ron, don't you pay attention in class?" Hermione criticized, "Hagrid told as last year that 'Spinsters' are a type of venomous spider that-" Before she could finish Ron had already ran out of the room screaming.

"Oh really he's never going to learn," Hermione muttered before she left with Harry to get dinner.

Harry laughed as he turned around the corner to come face to face with Mrs. Weasley. Only, it wasn't really her, instead it was a huge tapestry with her face on it. She was shouting things like, "I'm going to eat you!" and "Moody come out come out wherever you are!"

"Brilliant isn't it?" Fred asked with a satisfied grin on his face, "Moody hasn't been able to come downstairs, he's hiding out in his bedroom. George and I reckon he's trying to poke out his other eye so he won't have to look at it."

"That's not funny Fred," Hermione said strictly

"That's your opinion," Fred said, "And it doesn't matter much to me." Hermione glared at him before entering the kitchen.

"Attention everyone," Mrs. Weasley said loudly, "Since this is our last night I have prepared a special feast, and I promise that there is nothing wrong with any of the food what so ever," she said glaring at Fred and George

"I ask you all to raise a toast to our prefects this year, Ron and Hermione," Mr. Weasley said proudly

Everyone at the table raised their glasses and yelled "Hear, hear," except for Snape, who was still recovering from the Skiving Snackbox.

"Congratulations Ickle Ronnykins," George teased Ron, "Are we a pwefect this year again?"

"Oh shut up"

Mr. Weasley stood up and clear his throat ('hem hem'), which reminded Harry of Umbridge. When everyone had quieted down to listen, he said in a very serious voice, "These are the instructions for the guard to King's Cross for tomorrow."

"Moody and I shall accompany Harry, while Tonks and Lupin go along with Ginny, Ron, and Hermione. Is that clear?"

"Yes! Yes it's clear!" Fred shouted, "No can we get to the grub?"

After dinner, Harry and Ron had a couple games of wizard chess, all of which Harry lost. Hermione had been sitting in the corner, hiding behind a stack of books.

"I wonder who is going to be our Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher this year," Harry said

"You mean you don't know? It's going to be Moody. Dumbledore reckons that we need another member from the order at Hogwarts," Ron said hardly louder than a whisper, "other than Snape."

"Dumbledore also thought it wasn't fair," Hermione butted in, "Because last time Moody didn't get to teach at all," she said before returning to her reading.

"Honestly, she's mental," Ron whispered as Hermione had just finished reading an extremely large book, "mental."

"I heard that Ron," Hermione said sourly, "And for your information I'm just checking a few of the guidelines for prefects." Ron mouthed the words 'a few?' to Harry.

"I think I'm going to bed," Harry said, "See you in the morning."

"Harry wake up! Wake up!"

"Just five more minutes, Aunt Petunia," Harry said into the pillow

"What? Harry c'mon we have to get a move on we're leaving in five minutes," Ron said nervously

Harry automatically rose as he searched around his bed for his glasses.

Damn, he thought, where can they be?

CRACK

"Hey, Harry you just stepped on your glasses," Ron fought down a laugh

"I know Ron," Harry said irritably

"Well, Hermione can fix them after- here-" Ron shoved a piece of toast into Harry's mouth like he was a slot machine.

"Ah! Ron – don't!" Harry yelled as he spat out the toast

Harry felt blind as Ron guided his down the stairs. "We're almost there Harry" Ron said confidently

"Great"

BANG

"What are you two doing?" George asked, "playing 'Blind Granny?"

"What the bloody hell is that?" Ron asked bewildered

"It's a muggle game, Ickle Ronnykins, it's what the big boys play," Fred smirked, as he caught Harry who had almost tripped over his own feet.

"Here we'll show you how to play," George grinned, "First you find an old, blind bat."

"Er – Harry that can be you," Fred laughed, "Then you run away from her –er- I mean him, and say 'blind granny' until she –sorry- he catches you. Understand?"

Ron nodded as Harry said, "I don't think this game sounds very safe."

"Don't worry Harry," George said, "we'll be fine."

"I meant for me," Harry muttered

"Blind Granny," Fred said from somewhere behind Harry

This is so stupid, Harry thought, Was that even Fred or was it George?

Harry started to attempt to walk up the stairs, which was nearly impossible. He even considered crawling up the stairs, but realized that he didn't need Fred and George to give him the nickname "Baby Hawwy," which was by far worse then "Ronnykins."

"HARRY!" Tonks yelled, "Harry be careful!"

It was too late, Harry had spotted a blurred vision or the three Weasley brothers, and darted towards them. He was within an inch, when someone had crashed right into him, causing him to fall, along with Ron, Fred and George who went down like dominos.

"Ow that was my foot!" Ron yelled as he struggled underneath the weight of everyone else.

"Oh, Harry I'm so sorry," Tonks said, helping him up, "I was only trying to help."

"That's okay"

"What is going on here?" Mrs. Weasley asked impatiently, "We're supposed to be getting ready for the train."

"Oh Harry, there you are, I was just looking for you," Mr. Weasley said, "Moody is waiting outside, so we better get going. Oh what happened to your glasses?"

Harry and Mr. Weasley went outside and joined Moody, who appeared to be holding a rotten apple. Moody held out the apple for Harry to take it.

"Erm..no thanks," Harry said, giving Moody a disgusted look, "I already ate."

"That's a good one boy," growled Moody, "But this isn't for eating, it's a portkey."

"Grab hold," Mr. Weasley ordered, as the three of them held on to the piece of fruit and began spinning in the air.

The portkey had transported Harry, Mr. Wealsey, and Moody to the barrier between platform nine and ten.

"Oi Harry!" Ron panted as he, Ginny, and Hermione came running towards him.

"Urgh, what's that horrible smell?" Harry asked

"That would be Ronald," Hermione said cheekily, as Ron's ears turned red, "You tell him."

"Well, you see our portkey was an empty cigarette package," Ron began," And I thought it was garbage, so I chucked it into the dumpster. Then, Lupin said that it was the only way we could get onto the platform in time, and made me get in and look around for it."

"I think you need a shower," Harry said as he held his nose

"It's not that bad!" Ron said defensively

"Ron," Hermione said as she picked a banana peel out of his hood, "It's that bad."

"Well, well, well," said a cold voice from behind them, "If it isn't Potty and the Weasel."

"Beat it Malfoy," Ron snarled

"Manners Weasley," Malfoy said, as his eyes glinted with trouble. "What are you looking at, you filthy little Mudblood?"

"Stop calling me that, or else," Hermione threatened

"What are you going to do, hex me?" Malfoy tried to reply cooly, though Harry could hear a note of panic in his voice.

"I can't believe I actually thought you'd be better this year," Hermione said fiercely

"Please Granger, the day I'm nice to you, is the day Weasley is rich," Malfoy smirked, "And what's that smell?" he added before he disappeared into the barrier.

"Why would you think that he would be better this year?" Ron asked

"Well," Hermione replied slowly," With his father in Azkaban, I assumed that he would have changed."

"Fat chance."

Harry looked at his watch to see that it was five minutes to twelve o'clock. "We better get going."