Chapter 5: Neons

After breakfast, Harry remembered that he wanted to read the article that the Quibbler had sacrificed so much to print. He read it carefully, trying to fork out what Voldemort had found so threatening about the article.

Wearing bright colors may save lives

By Jack Jackson, Quibbler reporter

With He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named terrorizing the magical and muggle worlds unbridled, many are becoming increasingly alert and wary. After a jailbreak from Azkaban prison, due to the dementors alliance with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, it seems that the Dark Lord is unstoppable. But are his dark followers? Recent research at the Magical Sciences Agency (MSA), located in northern Greenland, offers hope to those who wish to stop the terror being issued by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his followers.

"Dementors are a highly unstudied creature in the magical world," Research Director Laurel Moffitt told the Quibbler in an exclusive interview. "We've just begun studying these mysterious creatures. There is so much to learn about them, but studying dementors is extremely dangerous, and very expensive." However, the MSA has uncovered what may be some helpful discoveries while studying dementors over the past few months.

"There's more than one way to ward off dementors," Moffitt said. "The Patronus is the most widely known method, but it's difficult to produce a good one when a dementor is swooping down on you. But little things, like wearing dark colors and having darker thoughts, will actually make one more prone to being attacked by these creatures, because it makes them seem like 'easier prey.' Dementors almost never kiss individuals wearing bright yellow, or neon colors, like green, orange and pink. And they avoid places where happy music is playing. Also, it is unlikely that a dementor will ever kiss a sleeping individual, as their emotions are more low-key while they sleep. Dementors want to kiss the most emotional, depressed people they can find."

Moffitt and the research team at the MSA advise any who desire to stay dementor-free for as long as possible to remember these insightful new discoveries.

"Hopefully, people will bust out the neons and the happy-go-lucky music, and get lots of sleep," Moffitt said. "Although there hasn't been a major dementor attack yet, Albus Dumbledore has been warning us to be expecting one."

Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has been funding the much of the research at the MSA with his own money.

"I believe this is a very worthy cause," Dumbledore said. "The researchers at the MSA have learned a lot over a short period of time, and I can already see the bit of money I chipped in more than paying off."

Those who wish to be extra-safe are advised to also carry garlic cloves at all times, as most Death Eaters (direct followers of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named) are said to be vampires.

Harry set the paper down. If Voldemort hadn't wanted this printed, the article must be true, or at least partially true. Ron entered the kitchen just then.

"Did you read it?" he asked, sitting down across from Harry. Harry nodded. "Why do you reckon You-Know-Who wanted to stop the Quibbler from printing it?" he asked.

"Maybe most of his Death Eaters really are vampires," Harry joked. Ron raised his eyebrows at him.

"Do you think?" he asked, sounding uncertain.

"Actually, it was probably because the article gives advice on warding of dementors," Harry said, marveling at his friend's lack of intelligence.

"Really?!"

"Did you even read it?" Harry inquired. Ron shrugged.

"I read the first bit, and the end," he admitted. Relieved to know that Ron was just lazy, and not entirely dense, Harry nodded and passed the paper to his friend. "Can I have a bit of parchment? I need to owl Lupin." Ron pointed to a long scroll of blank paper in the corner and began to read the Quibbler. Harry tore off enough paper for a short letter and found a quill. He then sat for a minute, contemplating what he should say.

Hi Lupin,

I'm at the Weasley's now, as you probably know, and things are going alright. How about you? How are things with the Order? I have a couple of questions for you about my mother. It sounds a bit odd, but I was wondering if you remember her eyes ever being a color other than green, and, if so, what the story is behind it. Just curious. Hope you're well.

--Harry

Reading the letter over, Harry decided it was satisfactory. Heading upstairs, where Hedwig was now perched in her cage, (she'd been hunting the previous night), he attached it to her leg and saw her off.

Harry and Ron spent the next few days flying their brooms around the yard, de-gnoming the garden and trying to catch the ghoul in the attic. Harry found himself thinking about Sirius even less, as he kept fairly busy.

Fred and George came to visit the Burrow nearly everyday.

"When mum takes you lot to Diagon Alley, come and see our shop, and we'll give you discounts," the twins told Harry, as they watched Ron and Ginny finish a game of wizard chess in the front room one night.

"It's amazing," Ron said enthusiastically, grinning as his knight defeated Ginny's.

"We went there the first day of summer break," Ginny said, concentrating on her next move, "And it's even better than Zonko's!" Harry was anxious to see the joke shop, as he had sort of invested in it when he gave his winnings from the Tri-Wizard-Tournament to Fred and George.

"Zonko's," Fred snorted. "Of course we're better than that piece of junk store!"

"Checkmate," Ron said proudly, as he defeated Ginny for the third time that night. He then stood up and stretched. "Well, I'm going to check in. I'm exhausted," he said, yawning widely. "You coming Harry?"

"Yeah, in a minute." Harry was much to comfortable to move just yet. Ron headed for the stairs. George glanced at his watch.

"We need to be getting back to the store," he sighed. The twins now roomed in a small apartment below their shop.

"You boys are leaving?" Mr. Weasley inquired, entered the room with a cup of coffee and a hefty book.

"Yeah, got to get up for work tomorrow...and the next day...and the next. Working sucks," Fred sighed.

"Bet it's better than school," Ginny said wistfully.

"You know it," George agreed. "But we still have to wake up early, and be responsible, and all that dung."

"I do hope I didn't just hear the d-word escape my son's mouth," Mrs. Weasley said sternly as she came in and sat next to Arthur on the couch.

"The-the d-word? I'd never dream of using such a disgusting expression!" Fred declared dramatically, while George nodded fervently. Harry and Ginny laughed and stood up.

"Well, g'night Fred, George," Harry said as Ginny hugged them goodbye. The twins waved and disapparated.

"Can't believe how late you lot stay up. I suppose you two want to head up for bed, too," Mrs. Weasley said. "Could I get you to do me a favor really fast, first?" Harry and Ginny shrugged. "I'm sorry, Harry--I would've asked Ron..."

"No, I'm very capable of helping out," Harry assured Mrs. Weasley with a grin.

"Bless your heart. I just remembered I left the big dining table rug outside to dry, so if you two could go and get that, and when you get back, I'll magic the table up and you two can put it back underneath there." Harry and Ginny agreed to this, and headed for the back door.

"It's so beautiful out here in the summer," Ginny sighed as the two stepped out into the warm summer night air. "Look at all the stars!" Harry looked, and saw that she was right. The midnight sky was peppered with millions of glittering stars. Ginny stopped walking and just took it all in for a moment. Harry glanced at her, unsure of what to do while she relished in the beauty of it all. He was beginning to realize that he might be developing feelings for Ginny Weasley beyond friendship, which was really hard for him to admit, even to himself. It was just really...weird. He was grateful when Ginny stopped stargazing and the two continued over to the laundry line, where the kitchen rug was hanging and billowing slightly with the light breeze.

Ginny broke the silence as the two carefully unclipped the rug from the line.

"Harry? I've noticed you're doing pretty well recently...better than you were at school." Harry glanced swiftly at her, unsure if he like where this was going. "I know it's probably none of my business, but I was just wondering...What's up?"

"You mean you don't like it when I'm in a pleasant mood?" Harry asked lightly. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Don't be thick. Of course I do. I just wanted to know what's up." Harry shrugged uncomfortably. He hadn't told anyone about the scrapbooks yet, and he was still waiting to hear back from Lupin, to see if he knew anything about Lily's eyes. But Ginny was currently looking at him with very persuasive brown eyes. And for all he knew, she may be able to help him figure things out. So Harry told her all about the day he found the scrapbooks. When he finished, Ginny looked rather perplexed.

"That's really odd, Harry. She was born with blue eyes, you say? But they turned green when she came to Hogwarts?" Harry shrugged.

"I don't know, that's what I'm trying to figure out."

"What are you doing to figure it out?" she asked, her eyebrows raised.

"I owled Lupin, asked some questions," Harry said with a shrug. Ginny frowned.

"Was Lupin good friends with your mum when they were first years?" Ginny wondered.

"Er, I don't really know. I sort of doubt it," Harry admitted.

"Well then we'll have to come up with a better plan," she said crisply. "Let me think on it. Maybe I'll ask Dean." Harry frowned. He'd forgotten about Dean Thomas, his roommate at Hogwarts, who was now dating Ginny. What would he know? Harry agreed, however, and finished unclipping the last clothespin from the rug. The two then marched toward the house, the rug slightly dragging along the ground between them.

In the kitchen, Mrs. Weasley was waiting for them, her wand ready. She levitated the table as the two spread the rug back onto the hardwood floor, positioning it as it had been before.

"Thank you, Harry," Mrs. Weasley said kindly, giving him a quick hug and kiss goodnight. She then said goodnight to Ginny as Harry headed up the stairs to the highest room in the house, where Ron was nearly asleep.

"G'night Harry," Ron yawned from his bed. Harry took off his glasses and stretched out onto his own bed, pondering his conversation with Ginny.

"'Night, Ron," he said automatically, his mind still churning. It wasn't until two hours later that he finally fell asleep, mainly because he couldn't get his mind off of a certain red-haired girl with an amazing smile and absolutely no romantic interest in him.

A/N: Whew, that chapter felt like it took ages to write! I wasn't really feeling the impulsive writeaholic vibes the last few days, so that took some energy! Anyway, please review, and thank you for reading! And below are some really brief replies to my lovely reviewers from last chapter!

WolfMoon: Thank you for reading, and reviewing! Not much on Voldie yet, but it's coming!
Sierra Potter-Malfoy: Thanks for the review!
Misty's Dawn: Yeah, you're right about jealousy--that makes a whole lot of sense. Thanks for the review, and for supporting my abrupt ending!
gaul1: Ahh, Harry WILL ask one, or maybe more, of those people about his mum...we shall see. Thank you!
LMTran: Mmm, you noticed exactly what I was getting mad at myself for! Petunia is a lil OOC here, and I was going to change her, but I think I'll just straighten her out later in the story. Anyway, thank you for reading, and adding me to your favorites! (I feel way special!)
Roxoan: Well, thanks for taking the time to review my story, considering you think it's weak--seriously, I appreciate some criticism. You may be right about what JKR said about the eyes, too. I'll need to check that. And thanks for the heads-up on the other story.
The Lady Quotes: Lol, thanks! I think I'll stick to longer chapters from now out. Easier to piece together.
hahahalemur: Wow, you're being VERY generous, I'd say, but thanks a bunch!
Lily: Yeah, I know what brunch is, but over the summer breakfast can be as late as noon w/o it seeming weird, so brunch doesn't exist here. :) Thanks for reading.
Silwen Aurdomiel: Hey, thanks for the review! Glad you like it.
Harry/Ginnyfan4ever: Thanks for reviewing. Don't worry, more action is definitely coming!
KMK: Ahh, we've got a true detective here! We'll see what Lupin knows...Thanks for reading!
Me262: Hey thanks for the tip! Oh, and I might end up throwing in some L/H, just for kicks, but then again, I don't know where I'd put it...Anyway, thanks for reading!

I'll try and post Chapter 6 soon! Thank you all again! Laney-wood :)