Chapter Four

Percy's Past

Harry woke up the next morning in a particularly good mood. He got up, dressed, and skipped downstairs. He saw Hermione at the table, eating breakfast. She gave him a quizzical look.

"Did you get up, make breakfast, then go back to sleep?" she asked suspiciously. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Kreacher nod.

"Yeah," Harry replied, "I couldn't sleep very well last night, so I came down here to make breakfast, but then I got kind of tired, so I went back to bed." Hermione seemed satisfied with this.

"Why don't you eat something quickly, then I was thinking maybe we could talk a walk around before I leave." Before I leave...those last three words stung at Harry heart. Not wanting to waste any time with her, Harry decided to skip breakfast.

"Actually, I'm not all that hungry. Do you wanna go now?"

"Okay"

Harry and Hermione walked out of the house and headed in the direction of Magnolia Crescent. Just as they reached the corner of Privet Drive, Hermione pulled Harry off into the bushes,

"Harry, I'm really sorry about this."

"Hermione! What are you d –"

"Caecus Maxima"

"Ah! I can't see! Hermione, what have you done!?"

"Just trust me," she said simply as she helped him off the ground.

"How can I trust you when you just hexed me!?" Harry yelled.

"Harry!" said Hermione sternly, "Just shut up and walk with me. You just have to trust me on this one. I've never let you down before, have I?"

He thought about this for a moment. He didn't trust her one bit at the present time, but seeing as he was completely blinded and would not be able to make it back to number, he agreed. He took her hand (much to both Harry's delight and dismay) and she led him down the sidewalk. After walking for about ten minutes, they stopped. Suddenly he heard a loud screeching sound and then the voice of the twenty-some year old, pimple faced Stan Shunpike beginning to talk.

"Welcome to the Knight bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike and I will be your conductor this morning. Where would you like to go?"

"The Leaky Cauldron, in London" Hermione said promptly.

Stan dropped his professional manner.

"Fer the both of 'choo, that'll be twenty-two sickle, but fer a galleon, 'choo get 'ot chocolate and fer a galleon and six sickles, 'choo get a copy of the Daily Prophet."

"All we need is the ride, thanks," she said coolly.

"Allrighty, 'op up. Do 'choo 'ave a floor preference?"

"Is there anyone on the second floor?" she inquired.

"Nope." Stan replied.

"We'll just go there then"

"Suit 'cherself."

Hermione began walking up the steps onto the Knight Bus, leaving Harry stranded at the curb. He stood there for a moment, and then took a step in the direction he thought the bus was in. He underestimated the height of the curb and fell flat on his face. Hermione turned around and gasped.

"Oh, Harry," she stammered, "I'm so sorry. I completely forgot!" Hermione got off the Knight bus , helped him off the cold, hard cement, and led him onto the bus.

"Wassa matter, Neville, I mean, 'Arry? 'Choo gone blind?" Stan asked. Harry quickly turned to him and mouthed "Ask her.", then jerked him head in Hermione's direction.

Hermione took hold of Harry's hand again and lead him down the aisle to the back of the bus where the staircase was. Unfortunately, she was not being especially careful Harry. He kept stubbing his toes on a chair, or banging into the poles. After what felt like an eternity, they reached the stairs.

"Oh, no!" Hermione groaned, "This staircase isn't wide enough for the both of us. I'll go up first. You can follow me."

She placed his hand on the banister and began to walk up. Halfway up she said "Watch your h – ouch! Are you ok?"

"It might have been nice if you had warned me before my head hit the metal bar"

"Sorry"

They reached the second floor, Hermione led them to a set of armchairs, and they were about to sit down when the bus screeched to a halt. She grabbed onto one of the armchairs, but Harry, unable to see, was trust backwards down the stairs (hitting his head once again) and onto the floor of the first story.

Stan's voice came over the loud speaker.

"All passengers for The Leaky Cauldron may now exit the Knight Bus. We 'ope you 'ad a pleasant ride and come again"

Hermione came rushing down the stairs and grabbed Harry.

"Ohmigosh, I am so incredibly sorry Harry. Are you alright?"

"Yeah" he muttered "Just great"

The pair then walked into the Leaky Cauldron. Tom, the innkeeper, yelled over the noise "Everything's a go, Miss Granger"

"Thanks Tom!"

Hermione lead Harry back into what he guessed where he had tea with Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, after he had blown up his Aunt Marge, just before his third year.

As soon as they entered the room, Harry felt that something was amiss. It was far too quiet. Not even the fire that was always burning, even in summer, could be heard crackling. Hermione turned towards Harry and said "Atlasum Etius". Harry didn't even have to adjust to being able to see again when a loud "HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY" greeted him!

Harry looked around to see all of his friends there; Rom, Hermione, Ginny, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Hagrid, Lupin, Mad-Eye Moody, Fred, George, Bill, Charlie and, to his great surprise, Percy. The two girls quickly pulled him into a tight hug and he kissed them both on the cheek. Ginny looked at him with hurt in her eyes, but she smiled again when Harry winked at her. Hermione and Ginny were then thrown aside and Hagrid greeted him with a hug and a present. Harry looked at it nervously. His heart sank when he saw it quiver. He opened it to reveal a small cat.

"I figured you'd need a friend after losing Sirius," Hagrid began, "This here's Roxie. Madame Rosmerta found her behind the Three Broomsticks. I figured that she'd need a new home and you'd need a friend that you can talk to that don't talk back. Plus, cats are real affectionate. Ye can't get love like that from Hedwig."

"Uh, thanks Hagrid. She's great." Harry replied.

The next hour was filled with Harry opening gifts; the newly completed Skiving Snackbox from Fred and George (which now included new candies, such as Twitching Tasties, Space-Out Sweets, and Laughing Liqueurs), along with a note telling them to meet them after the party, a new two-way mirror from Lupin (Harry made a mental note to himself not to bury this in the bottom of his trunk, or to smash it), and Pensieve from Moody (I could really use this), a refill of polish for his broom servicing kit from the Weasleys, "Aurors through the Ages" by Kenilworthy Whisp from Hermione, and his own set of wizard chess from Ron and Ginny. They then ate a delicious chocolate cake, made by Mrs. Weasley, and sat around talking. When Hermione and Ron were busy breaking in Harry's new chess set, Fred and George pulled him inside.

"Harry," Fred began in a very serious and business-like tone "since you were our financial backing for our joke shop, we've decided we ought to repay you."

"Ron's probably told you how successful Weasley's Wizard Wheezes has been," George cut in"

"Yeah," Harry stammered "but you don't need t--" Fred cut him off.

"We know we don't need to. We want to."

"So we got you this" George patted an object in a brown paper bag.

"What is it?" Harry inquired.

"Well, you'll see. Don't open it here, wait until you get home. You've used one before, but this one is slightly different. Here are the instructions," said Fred.

"They work the same way as the Marauder's Map" added George. In unison the twins whispered "Mischief managed". They handed it over top Harry, who dropped it as Mrs. Weasley stormed toward them.

"You two!" she yelled, "What are you doing, dragging Harry away form his party. He hasn't seen his friends in weeks. He needs to socialize. You two should be out here as well. Your brother is finally speaking to us again and we have to make him feel as if this stupid argument never even happened." With that, she led the three boys away. The paper, now blank, lay on the floor forgotten.

Harry quickly forgot about the unknown present that was tucked safely in his pocket as he rejoined the festivities.

From time to time, someone would drop in to wish him birthday greetings on their way to Diagon Alley, which at times was odd, as most of these droppers-by he had never spoken to before.

Dumbledore made a point to see Harry as well, promising to stay for only a moment, but quickly changing his mind after sampling what little was left of Harry's cake. He gave Harry the key to Sirius' house, along with a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and a note.

"Do not tell anyone about this, and send me your reply as soon as possible." Dumbledore whispered as he turned to go. Then, just as he walked out the door, he said "By 'anyone', I mean no one outside of Ron and Hermione." Then, with a wink, he disappereated.

After many more hours, the party slowed down, and his guests began to leave. Soon, only the Weasley's (minus Percy), Moody, Lupin and Hermione were left.

"Well, we've got to get going." Said Moody in his usual gruff voice, "there's lots to be done for the Order."

"Speaking of which, what's new? Do you know what Voldemort's new plan is?" Harry, now suddenly alive at the late hour of the night, asked, "Have we got a location on his? Anything?"

Lupin chuckled. "Not even your first really birthday party can distract you, eh Harry? Well, we'll tell you as much as we can know later. I expect you'll be seeing us quite a bit, know that you own the headquarters. Maybe, I daresay a bit more than you'd care for."

"Alright" Harry sighed "Drop by as soon as you can! See you!"

"Goodbye Harry and happy birthday." With that, Lupin and Moody disapperated.

"Finally, we're alone" said Mrs. Weasley, sitting down in the nearest armchair. Harry, Dumbledore's already told that you own Grimmauld Place and we would like to tell you that we will all stay with you to help you, you know, tidy up a bit, if you want. After that, you are of course, welcome to stay the rest of the summer at the Burrow."

"That'd be great Mrs. Weasley. Thanks."

"You're quite welcome, Harry dear. You're like family to us. It's no problem at all." She turned to the rest of the group. "Now, if you don't mind, Arthur and I are going to get some rest. You'll be sharing a room with Ron, Harry. You can all stay up and talk for a while, but be in bed by 3:00. If you aren't, I'll know. Goodnight!"

They all muttered their goodnights and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley retreated upstairs. Just as he reached the top step, Mr. Weasley called down the steps. "We figured you'd say yes Harry, so we took the liberty of having your trunk and Hedwig delivered to Sirius' house."

"Okay Mr. Weasley. Thank you. Good night."

Harry, Ron and Hermione all sat down around a small table, leaving Ginny standing.

"Go to bed, Ginny" Ron said.

"Fine," she said. "Are you coming Harry?"

Harry gave her a look that he hope said quite plainly I thought we wanted to keep this quiet! Ron gave him a look of confusion and shock.

"Let her stay, Ron. Why shouldn't she?" Harry said quickly, hoping Ron didn't see the same look Ginny did.

"Well, I dunno. I guess you can stay," Ron grumpily.

Ginny smiled gratefully. "So I guess you want to know what's going on." Harry met her gaze, blushed, and then looked away. "Is that a no, then?" she inquired.

"Huh?" Harry stared at her.

"I asked if you wanted to know what's going on, do you or don't you?" said Ginny exasperatedly.

"Oh, yeah, yeah, sorry." There was a few minutes silence, as Harry waited for her to begin. When she did not, he asked "What's the deal with Percy?"

"Ugh, him" Ron rolled his eyes. "Supposedly he realized that he was wrong--"

"Which Percy would never admit" added Ginny

"--and he came back to us. He told us that he's engaged to his girlfriend--"

"That Clearwater girl who got Petrified in my first year"

"—and didn't want to get married without us there."

"Percy's engaged?" Harry said in shock, "But isn't he only, like nineteen"

"No!" Ron snorted "His birthday's next week. He's turning twenty-one. He'll be almost twenty-two by the time they get married."

"But your supposed to be seventeen when you graduate Hogwarts, and this is only his third year out, right?"

"Well, yeah, except in Percy's first year, he kind of, well," Ron broke off and grinned mischievously and then continued "he slacked off and failed every exam except Defense Against the Dark Arts, so he got held back." Ron and Ginny snickered. Harry couldn't help but to laugh as well. Hermione, however, looked as though she had gone into shock. Harry supposed that she would have never even dreamed that a former Head Boy had failed a year a Hogwarts, but in turn, she laughed as well.

"So I guess that's the reason he's such a stick in the mud" Harry replied, trying to catch his breath.

"Yeah," said Ginny jovially, but then she got very serious.

"But when you fail a year, you have to be re-sorted" Ron stopped smiling as well.

"His second-first year he was sorted into Gryffindor, but his original first year, he was in Slytherin." Ginny said morosely.

Harry choked on his butterbeer. "What!?"

"I know" said Ron, "That's why we're not sure whether we believe him. Percy's kind of similar to You-Know-Who. He was Head Boy; he was in Slytherin, sort of. He's always been very power hungry. That's the reason he works at the Ministry of Magic, so he can work his way to the top. He's been acting oddly too. He's too nice, not so much a, what did you call him Harry? A stick in the mud? It's all very strange. Everyone but Mum is suspicious. After all the stress this argument caused her, we're worried that she's choosing not to see it and I don't fancy bringing it up to her. She'll..."

Ron's voice was interrupted by Mrs. Weasley's voice.

"It is 3:45 am" she said sleepily, "Now go to bed!"

"We were just about to come up Mum!" Ginny replied quickly. "We we're just saying goodnight."

"Fine, fine. See you in the morning."

"Well, I guess we should be going to bed now" said Hermione.

"Yeah, you're right" said Ron, "'Night Ginny, 'Night Harry"

"G'night Ron" they replied. They began walking up the stairs when Ron declared that he had forgotten Pig's food downstairs.

"We're in room 212, Harry" he mumbled, avoiding eye contact.

"Okay"

"you know, I've forgotten something too" said Hermione, blushing, "See you both in the morning."

Harry and Ginny walked up the stairs. Harry walked her down to her room, hugged her and gently kissed her on the cheek.

"See you tomorrow" he said.

"I'll see you in my dreams" Ginny said, smiling.

Harry walked to his room as though walking on clouds. All of his romantic thoughts toward Hermione disappeared. Harry knew he wouldn't be able to fall asleep, but would have to pretend to be before Ron came back upstairs. However, almost as soon as his head hit the pillow, he sunk into a deep sleep.