Chapter 2

A Beautiful Stranger

"Potter!" Rang about the whole house. Uncle Vernon stood before two clocked figures; both having red hair and wearing bright smiles.

Aunt Petunia and Dudley ran out to the entrance to see the reason for Uncle Vernon's hysterical screaming. The moment their eyes met with the vibrantly colored wizards, they froze. Harry rushed to the door, but his oversized jeans slowed him down on the way.

"Potter, you get here this instance!"

"Coming Uncle Vernon!" Finally Harry's face appeared from the corner of the staircase. He ran up to the company nervously running his hand through his messy hair.

"What is the meaning of this, boy?!" Uncle Vernon spat. His small eyes were almost lost within his chubby cheeks. His face became mauve, and he shook all over.

"How dare you bring them people into my house?"

"Well, he did not know we were coming. We just think that it would be better for you if we take him to our place for the remainder of the summer." Mr. Weasley gave out a great smile.

"We didn't use the fireplace this time." Ron quietly brought out to the Dursleys. Uncle Vernon gave him an irritated look.

"You were that crazy boy that screamed into my ear. You lot better learn how to use the phone if you're calling normal people! I never want to see you two in my house at the broad day light! Did I make myself clear?"

"You certainly have."

"Very well, Potter pack your things!" Uncle Vernon's mood seemed to improve. Harry decided to not waist a minute or the decision could change.

"We'll go help," Mr. Weasley said, "excuse us." Ron and himself followed Harry.

"What a bunch!" Mr. Weasley remarked as soon as Harry's door was shut. There was not much to pack, as Harry was ready to leave a week ago. He only gathered his books and began assembling them into the trunk.

"I begged dad to get you as soon as I finished your letter." Ron said vividly. His father walked around the room extremely fascinated by lamps, an old radio, bullpens, and other things.

"Hey, what's this?" Ron picked up a letter and moved it towards his eye reach.
Is this from Cho?" He asked raising his eyebrows. Harry walked up to him and snatched the parchment out of his hands.

"Not here." He whispered through clenched teeth. His eyes nervously moved towards Mr. Weasley.

"Ok, ok, sorry." Harry folded the parchment and placed it into the pocket of his pants that he had to change to from his oversized jeans.

"I'm ready!" He finally shouted joyfully.

"I could apparate you both, but that will take too much time. Do you wish to walk or maybe we can use your uncle's fireplace?" Mr. Weasley asked hopefully. Harry thought it over for a moment and sadly glared at them both.

"My uncle would never allow us to sit on his front porch, I don't think he'll let us use his fireplace."

"Can't we use someone else's fireplace?"

"Great idea Ron! Lets use some muggle's hearth to get where we need to go! Sometimes you're so irrational." Harry's temper slowly rose. He could feel annoyance building in him.

"What about that lady with cats?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Remember the old lady that was sent here to watch over you; the one that gave her testimony for you at court. What's her name?"

"Of course! Ron you're a genius! Mrs. Figg's house is perfect. She lives just across the street. Come on!" Harry raised the trunk by one of the handles, as Ron held it by the other. Mr. Weasley carried Hedwig and Harry's broom.

They quickly dissented down the stairs and rushed to the door.

"Bye Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, Dudley! I'll see you next summer!" Harry shouted and disappeared from their sight. The three figures rushed across the street, and Mr. Weasley loudly knocked on the old wooden door.

"Coming, coming!" They heard from within accompanied by the scratching of slippers on the floor. A thin woman opened it. Her silvery hair was raised, tightly curled into a bun. She was holding a ginger cat greatly resembling Crookshanks. A black cat curled her thin leg and meowed loudly at its visitors.

"Arthur! What a surprise! I didn't expect you to come and accompanied by such a fine company. How can I be of service?"

"Well, we need your fireplace to get out of here."

"Certainly! Come in you three! Come in!" She motioned them inside. The door closed on its own as soon as Ron stepped inside the dimly lit hallway. She led them into the living room where two candles illuminated the old couch on which a dozen of cats rested. Her bony hands reached for a bag from which she took out the silvery powder.

"Here you go. Where are you three heading?" She asked curiously.

"Black Manor."

"What?" Harry shouted. "Thought we were going to the Burrow. Why do we have to go to Black Manor?"

"I know you're upset, but the Order is in motion, and they need my help and Molly's. I can't let them be and neither can she."

"Don't worry Harry. The place is much brighter, and we'll have so much to do and talk about that there wouldn't be a spare moment to thinks of anything."

"Ya I guess so. Let's just go." Harry said bitterly. He grabbed a handful of the floo powder and walked into the empty fireplace. "

"Black Manor!" He shouted throwing the contents of his hand to his feet that flashed into green flames. Momentarily he was swirling in green flashes. He was feeling giddy and the nauseating feeling slowly began to fill him in. Finally he fell into the kitchen of his dear godfather. Acrimonious memories passed before his eyes, but Ron sent them away.

"Dad had to go somewhere. He apparated your things to our room and left for work. Mum is about the house. Fred and George are at their shop. They are really great in it. I guess they didn't need school after all. Ginny was asking about you all summer. She must be around here, but I'm not sure where." Ron walked up to the cookie jar and retrieved one out of it.

"Want one?"

"No thanks."

"Suit yourself." He shrugged his shoulders and walked up to the kitchen table. Harry followed him, and gloomily sat opposite of his friend.

"What's the deal with Percy?"

"I'll tell you later. Better tell me about the letter in your room. Who wrote it? It must have been a girl. The writing was amazing! How come I never receive letters with such a lovely writing?"

"I wish that I never got it. Here, read it." Harry took the letter out of his pocket and handed it to Ron. Ron's eyes rushed down the parchment. With each passing line, his eyes grew larger, and his face became more elongated. Finally he glanced back at Harry that patiently waited for commentaries.

"What a girl! I bet she'll be placed in Griffindor. It takes allot of guts to write such a letter to the person you never met. Can you imagine that you have a cousine? Why do you wish you never got this?" He waived the parchment before Harry's eyes.

"Because some Death Eater could have written it. Who knows where from the letter came?"

"Well let's think about it. She wrote..."

"It can be a he for all that matters."

"Lets stick with a she, so as I was saying she wrote that she'll see you at the platform. I don't think a Death Eater will be running at eleven in the morning in such a crowded place, better of kill you. When you see her ask something that only she could know. Better ask Professor Lupin about it! She said you could ask him"

"I don't want anyone to know. I'll just wait."

"Are you crazy?" Ron began eating his seventh cookie, emptying the jar with extreme agility. "We have almost two weeks until the train!"

"I can wait!" Harry protested.

"I know you can, but I want to know now! Curiosity will eat me alive!"

"Let's drop the subject!"

"Ok! Ok! You don't have to shout!"

"Harry!" Ginny screamed. She ran up to them glowing with happiness. Her red hair smoothly lay upon her back. Her brown eyes glittered as the warmth from the fire embraced them. To Harry's amazement he found her very attractive and beautiful. The color of his cheeks slightly reddened.

"I missed you so much!" We couldn't wait till you get here. Mum was against it, but Ron and I overruled her. You should have seen us!" She giggled.

"How's your ankle?"

"Oh it's fine! I had to go to the Hospital, but they cleared everything right away. You know, the Bone Restoring Potion. They took care of Ron in no time, too. Mum kept me home and didn't allow me to go back to school. She said it was pointless."

"Stop talking so fast! We can hardly understand what you're saying!" Ron said his mouth filled with the chocolate chip cookies. Ginny gave him an unconcerned look and mater-of-factly stated,

"Mum is going to kill you."

"Why?"

"Because those cookies were for someone else, and you ate them all. That was stupid of you." She marched out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

"See what I have to deal with?"

"She warned you."

"Ya after I ate them!"

"That's your own fault. I'm going upstairs to take a rest." Harry jumped off the stool and walked to the staircase.

"WHAT?" He heard Mrs. Weasley shout. Sirius's mother started with her usual insane speech, as Harry and Ron rushed out of the kitchen.

"HOW DARE YOU?" She continued.

"Ron, I don't think she's angry about the cookies."

"Let's check it out."

"How dare you bring her here, Severus?" Albus made it clear that she is to stay where she was! I'm not going to have her here!"

"It was made very clear to Dumbledore that she'll be safer with us! Nevertheless she's already here, so you will look after her, as you look after all the rest!"

"I'm not going to do such a thing!" Harry and Ron ran into the hallway where furious Mrs. Weasley barked at their Potion's professor. Between them stood a delicate girl with long black hair that curled about her face. Her dark blue eyes thoroughly followed the conversation, as her long eyelashes trembled with each shout that escaped Mrs. Weasley's mouth. Her peach lips were tightly pressed against one another. Her cheeks burned red, as each minute passed away.

She held a suitcase with her thin fingers on which a small ruby sparkled, as the light from the candles came its way. A dark brown owl with long ears with brushes on top sat on her shoulder and hooted along with the two adults. On top of everything Sirius's mother screamed about her treacherous son that betrayed their whole family. All she achieved was rise Harry's temper that made the hallway window shatter into little pieces. Mrs. Weasley shrieked from the sound of falling glass, and all eyes turned on Harry.

"Sorry," he whispered and dropped his eyes to the floor.

"Mr. Potter, do you often eavesdrop on other people's conversations? Be you in school you would have lost your house some points."

"Sorry professor, we just wanted to see if anything was wrong." Harry turned his glare from the floor to Snape. He took a long look at the scornful expression on Snape's face, and moved his eyes to the girl that also studied his professor."

"Can anyone shut that bloody woman up?" Mrs. Weasley shouted, and Ron rushed to the portrait.

"You can help Mr. Weasley in anyway possible."

"Yes professor," Harry turned around and headed further down the hallway.

"You can't blame her! It is not her fault that she is here, so think of her as Miss Granger. You have no problems about taking care of her!" Harry saw Snape's black figure turning on his heels and heading out of the manor. Mrs. Weasley looked stunned. Her mouth was open from such rudeness, and her eyes were greatly enlarged; however, after some time she came back to her senses and looked at the girl.

"What is your name?" She asked her harshly. Harry saw the girl hesitate for a moment. "Speak up! I'm not going to eat you!" Mrs. Weasley shouted.

"I'm...I'm Val, Valerie Potter."

A/N

I hope you liked it.