Chapter 2: Grimmuald Place

"Here we are, Harry." said Fudge as they stepped out of the car onto the steps of Grimmuald Place. "I am sure the Weasleys will be arriving soon. They were so worried about you when they heard the news. Now just run along inside. I have to go back to ministry business. You know how it is oh so busy being minister these days." And with those last words, Fudge slid back into the car.

"Great," said Harry to himself. "now he left me here at my dead godfather's house all by myself. This is just where I want to be right now."

Harry slowly opened the door and walked into the house wondering if anyone was there. As he walked into the family room he was greeted by Lupin.

"Hello, Harry, I was wondering if Fudge would finally get you here. You can never trust that minister with anything important these days. Has too much on his mind, seems to end up forgetting a lot." said Lupin with a grin.

"Yeah, I guess he did seem a little distracted. He really wouldn't tell me much either. Said I would learn most of it in time." replied Harry with a questioning look at Lupin. "Well have anything you would like to tell me or will I have to find out for myself like usual?"

"Hmm. Harry, you do have me there. I guess I might as well tell you all I know since you would probably find out from Ron anyways. Dumbledore is ill, Harry."

"Yeah I kinda figured that much out from what Mrs. Figg had said earlier. Well can't someone just cure him? It really can't be that hard. We do have all those healers trained to work and stuff."

"True, Harry, but whatever is wrong with Dumbledore almost seems to be untreatable. This illness could turn out to be fatal in the end."

"There must be something we can do to help. What will Hogwarts do without him?"

"Hogwarts is begin taken over by Professor McGonagall for the time being and as for Dumbledore's illness they are already doing all they can. Trust me, Harry; they are determined to save him."

"I need to lay down." said Harry, simply implying the conversation was over. He didn't want to think any longer about Dumbledore being ill. He needed to be alone to sort out his thoughts.

"Sure, you have had a long day already. Whenever you are ready just come downstairs and I will make us something to eat. You can stay in the same bedroom you did last year if you would like."

"Yeah, ok, thanks." With that Harry headed upstairs.

Harry decided to stay in the same room as he did last year. After making sure Kreacher wasn't in the room, he shut there door and fell asleep as soon as he laid down.

Harry awoke to the voices of his friends.

"Shh, Ginny, you are going to wake him up. Really you don't have to talk so loud."

"Me, talking loud, Ron, you are practically screaming in his ear."

Harry smiled to himself and opened his eyes. It was good to hear his friends again.

"Oh look! Harry is up." said Ginny.

"Yeah, probably cause you woke him up with your LOUD voice."

"No, Ron, I really think it's the fact that you are sitting on my arm that woke me up." retorted Harry.

"Oh, sorry mate. I didn't know."

"Well I hope you didn't know or else you were purposely inflicting pain on me." laughed Harry.

At that moment Mrs. Weasley's voice was heard from downstairs. "Kids, time for dinner."

The three of them took off running down the stairs.

"I just realized how hungry I am." said Harry.

"Yeh, well I'm pretty sure mom is cooking you a huge meal, so you better be really hungry. She was so glad that she was going to see you this summer. Not that she was happy about the Death Eaters coming after you or anything." replied Ron.

When the three entered the kitchen they saw Fred and George sitting there with Mrs. Wealsey and Lupin. It seemed as if Fred and George were arguing about something with their mom. The only part of the fight Ron, Harry, and Ginny picked up was, "You're not allowed. You're too young. What if something happened to you?"

"They're at it again." muttered Ron. "They really have been arguing about this all summer."

"Arguing about what?" asked Harry.

"It's along story. We'll tell you about it later." responded Ginny before she walked over to the stove to help her mother.

"Harry, my friend, it is really good to see you again." exclaimed George from across the kitchen.

"Yes, Harry it truly is." remarked Fred. "How about you come and sit…"

"Here!" finished George patting the seat next to him.

Harry walked over to where Fred and George were waiting and was about to sit down when Ginny walked over and pulled something off of the chair.

"Really you guys, don't you think someone might realize that your trying to play your sticking bottoms prank after you have already done it ten times this summer." said Ginny. "Honestly Harry you must be more careful these days. The twins take their job of being pranksters and developing new items for their store very seriously."

"I guess they do." responded Harry. "Now really guys what does sticking bottom prank do?" he asked turning to the twins.

"Well it really is one of our greatest inventions yet. It's amazing how well it works. You can barely see is there and once you sit on it, it doesn't come off for about an hour. So until it wears off the person is stuck to the chair. It's great for making someone really late for class. Would you like to buy some?" remarked George.

Before Harry could respond, Mrs. Weasley walked over to the table with the food. "No boys, Harry would not like to by any of your projects. He truly is a good young man."

Harry felt a little twinge of guilt at this statement since he actually gave the money to the twins so they would be able to start their joke shop. But Harry believed that although Mrs. Weasley wouldn't admit it, she had to be proud of her sons and how well they did starting their own business.

After they all finished their dinner, they were excused to do whatever they wanted for the rest of the night. Fred and George left saying they had business they had to attend to and Harry, Ron, and Ginny went upstairs to the room the boys would be staying in to talk. Harry quickly explained all that had happened to him that morning then asked for information on what the twins had been arguing about earlier.

"Well you see, Harry, ever since Dumbledore took ill there have been more and more attacks by Death Eaters in both the magical and muggle worlds. The Order has constantly been trying to recruit more and more fighters for their cause. Fred and George both want to help and join the order, but obviously mom won't let them so they have been fighting with her about it all summer." explained Ron.

"Yes but although mom said no we believe the twins have been sneaking off to

secretly to help the order. We have asked them but they won't even give us a hint about what they are doing." added Ginny.

"Why doesn't your mom let them join? They really are capable of taking care of their selves by now and anyways aren't they old enough to do what they want without your mom interfering?"

"Yes they are old enough to make their own decisions on what they want to do without mom stopping them, but only if they don't want a place to get free food. Mom would seriously disown them if they joined. She just is afraid that they will get hurt or killed and she could never bear that." answered Ginny.

"Anyways, Harry, did you see the new broomsticks that came out? They are awesome. I wonder if mom would ever let me get one. Maybe I would be a better keeper if I had one." announced Ron changing the topic.

"Na, I haven't seen them yet. Remember Ron this is my first day back in the magical world." answered Harry.

"Ok I will go get my broomstick magazine. I'll be right back."

Harry looked closely at Ginny for the first time since they got to Grimmuald place. She seemed different. More mature somehow. He really didn't know what to say to her except… "So Ginny are you going out with anyone?"

"No, I thought about it and I guess I never really liked Dean Thomas that much. He just really wasn't my type."

"Oh." Harry had just realized how stupid that question sounded. Why had he ever said that?

"Well then are you still going out with Cho? You seemed very close last year."

"No, we actually broke up before the end of the year. It was pretty hard to go out with someone who cried every time you hung out."

"Oh, I'm sorry for asking."

"Don't be sorry. I really have gotten over her."

"Yeh, that's kewl."

When Ron walked in the room a second later, Harry mentally thanked him for coming back so soon. He really couldn't think of anything else to say to Ginny. For some reason he was almost nervous around her this summer. He had no idea why though.

Ron, Harry, and Ginny sat in the bedroom and talked about Quidditch until Mrs. Weasley came upstairs to tell them to go to bed. After Ginny left the room, the boys changed and laid down, quickly falling asleep. Harry's first day back in the magical world had ended.