5: Tears and tombs.

When Harry woke the next morning the other bed in the room was empty and the sun was shining through Ron's faded orange curtains. He stretched leisurely and dressed for the day. Laying next to his camp bed, and on top of the photograph album that Hagrid had made for him, was a grey owl-feather quill. Harry picked it up and set off in search of the youngest Weasley. Harry hadn't really had a chance to speak to Ginny since the night she had advised him to write his letter.

As he entered the kitchen Harry fingered the quill in his pocket. She was sitting at the table surrounded by her school books and hadn't noticed him come in. Harry wanted to thank her but he felt a bit stupid. And ashamed. He'd been quite rude but she'd been patient with him, as if he was a misbehaving toddler who didn't really know any better.

Harry tried to form some words but his throat was dry and it came out sounding more like a grunt. Ginny turned round.
"Hi Harry. Want some breakfast?"
Harry cleared his throat. "Er, yes please."
She smiled at him. "Well sit down then. Don't look so scared; Mum made it before she left so you don't have to try my cooking."
"Oh, no, it's not that," Harry said.
Harry felt a squirming in his stomach. What on earth did she think of him? He wished he could think of something intelligent to say. He stood again holding out the quill.
"Here, this is yours. I meant to give it back sooner-"
"Keep it. I've got loads," Ginny said with a wave of her hand. "Besides," she added with a grin, "every time you look at it you'll be reminded that Ginny Weasley is never wrong."
"Thanks," Harry said sincerely. "But how do you know that I did what you suggested?"
"Easy. This is the second day in a row you've woken up after Ron, and you know what a racket he makes getting ready."
She was right. Harry hadn't slept as late in months; he supposed his body had been making up for lost time. Just then, the back door opened.
"Finally!"
The kitchen began to resemble the normal hustle and bustle that Harry usually associated with the Weasley household as Ron came in with Hermione and flopped into a chair.
"Are you just having breakfast? I'm almost ready for lunch," Ron said as Harry helped himself to sausage and scrambled egg. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Well that's not really saying much is it Ron?"
Ron shrugged.
"I'm preparing. We have to take Quidditch practise seriously this year. I need my strength."
Harry was struck with the idea that Ron would make a good Quidditch captain and wondered if he'd be allowed to take up the position given that he'd only been on the team for a year.

When Harry had finished his breakfast and cleared away his plate, and Ron had finished his Elevenses, they all went back outside. Ginny and Ron practised scoring and blocking whilst Hermione and Harry watched. Or at least Harry had started watching but soon Hermione caught him staring into thin air. He had been remembering the way Padfoot had chased cats all the way to the station last Christmas, Sirius' hearty laughs and the way Lupin playfully kept him in check. He remembered the happy smile his godfather wore in the photograph of his parents' wedding and the joy he'd felt when he discovered that Sirius was innocent. Harry hadn't realised that he'd taken out Ginny's quill and was twirling the feather between his thumb and forefinger until Hermione interrupted his reflections.

"Alright Harry?" She asked.
Harry nodded. And this time it wasn't far from the truth.

x x x

Just a week later he was no longer brooding and Hermione and the Weasleys, for their part, had done their best to encourage him back into a normal routine. Very slowly, the reality that Sirius really had gone became a little less painful, a little easier to bear. But then, one evening, something happened to shatter all sense of normalcy.

Harry was looking for Ron. The red head had gone to fetch his Exploding Snap cards twenty minutes ago and hadn't come back. Figuring that his friend's stomach had once again got the better of him, Harry entered the kitchen and found, not Ron, but Mrs Weasley. There was a half-prepared dinner sitting on the table and she was in floods of tears. Harry's insides instantly turned cold.

"Oh, my baby," she mumbled lugubriously.
"Mrs Weasley? Has something happened?" he asked, although he was afraid to hear her answer. He was reminded of the time when Ginny had been taken into the Chamber of Secrets. Feelings of guilt and dread that had been carefully tucked away began to resurface.
"My little boy," she said, her breath hitching.
Harry felt sick. "Has something happened to Ron?" he asked, his voice wavering.
"No ... it's ... he's ..."
"What's happened?" Harry asked urgently.
"I'm not supposed to say," she said, sniffing, before hiding her face in her apron in a manner not vastly differing from Dobby's.

At this point Ron walked in. He was smiling and, shaking his head, he motioned for Harry to talk to him in the living room. Harry was reluctant to leave Mrs Weasley alone and in such a state but Ron's smile confused him.

"What is it? What's going on?"
"It's Bill," Ron said, perching on the arm of the sofa.
"What's wrong with him?"
"Nothing," Ron laughed, "he's getting married."
"Really?"
"Yep. Fleur finally got him to say yes. Aparently she flew into a blinding rage when he said no again and that's how he knew for certain that it's her and not the Veela charms he likes. I forced Dad to tell me 'cos I thought he'd been attacked or something the way Mum's carrying on. He's making a big announcement tonight though, so look surprised, okay?"
"Okay, but why's your mum so upset?"
"Dunno," Ron shrugged. "Dad reckons she's just really happy or something."

Harry felt a wave of relief, then laughed suddenly. "Ron, I just realised, you asked your future sister-in-law to the Yule Ball."
Ron coloured. "Yeah, well, whatever... Look, shut up, okay."
Harry forced himself to stop laughing and noticed that Ron was watching him carefully.
"What?"
"Nothing. It's just... you're smiling," Ron said awkwardly.
Harry nodded.
Ron must have sensed Harry didn't want to say anything else because he grinned.
"Hey, let's go and see if Fred and George know yet. They deserve to be teased for a change. Maybe we can get something out of them in exchange for a juicy bit of gossip."

Fleur arrived whilst they were upstairs, and she and Bill announced their engagement over dinner, setting Mrs Weasley off again.
"Mum, don't start. You haven't even heard the best news yet."
Mrs Weasley's eyes immediately snapped to Fleur's stomach but Bill just laughed.
"Fleur obviously loves me as I am, long hair and all, so I've decided I'll never need to cut it now!"
Mrs Weasley tried to look scandalised but the curve of her mouth meant that no-one was convinced.

x x x

As school was starting again in just less than a week the Weasley household was thrown into disarray. Thankfully, Mrs Weasley had already bought all their school supplies, but now they had an engagement party to organise. With Bill, Mr Weasley and the twins all at work, and Percy on holiday, Ginny was helping her mother cook mountains of food, Hermione was put in charge of writing invitations, and Ron and Harry were decorating the house and ridding the garden of gnomes.

By the time 31st August arrived everything was ready. The living room and garden were filled with coloured lanterns containing fire fairies and Mrs Weasley's kitchen smelt of the most wonderful pastries that Harry had ever tasted.

Some of Bill's old colleagues from Egypt had Apparated the previous day and were camping in the back garden using tents that were almost as big as The Burrow on the inside. Mrs Weasley had been casting cleaning charms all over the house and everyone was in good spirits (including the ghoul in the attic, much to Ron's dismay).

On the night itself, the couple's Diagon Alley colleagues were among the first to arrive.
"Goblins can't stand people being late for anything," Bill had explained.
"You've invited goblins?" Harry asked, surprised.
"Merlin, no. They're renowned for being an anti-social bunch. Wouldn't come within a mile."

Soon Bill and Fleur's old school friends turned up, then Dumbledore. Various Order members including Tonks and Lupin turned up at different stages during the evening. Charlie managed to get a Portkey at the last minute and caused havoc by almost landing on Fleur's parents and little sister, who had arrived just moments before.

A whole crowd of the Weasleys' relatives, (easily identifiable by their vibrant red hair) came to join the celebrations. Harry was introduced to most of them but one stuck out in his mind. Mr Weasley's grandmother, Great Grandma Weasley, had apparently been affectionately called 'Greasey' ever since Bill, just starting to learn how to talk, had had difficulty pronouncing her full name.

Harry thought she must have been at least a hundred but he soon came to discover that she was anything but fragile. Her hair, which had presumably once been red, was now grey and her face was soft and smiling but she was almost as relentless as the twins when it came to pranks. Several people found their drinks suddenly tasting of pond weed and whenever she wanted to avoid talking to someone she pretended to be deaf until they gave up and went away. She also told jokes and stories endlessly, although she occasionally forgot the endings. Harry decided that this was definitely where Fred and George must have inherited their mischief genes from.

The only noticeable absence from the party was Percy. He was still on holiday and the twins were furious that he wasn't coming back for the celebrations, choosing to send Bill and Fleur a card instead. Mr Weasley didn't say anything, but Harry thought he looked disappointed.

Fortunately, he was kept busy handing out glasses of something that fizzed tunefully and had roped Harry and Ron into helping him. Once all the guests (excluding Harry, who decided he was sticking to pumpkin juice after the incident on his birthday) had a drink in their hand Mr Weasley called for their attention.

His speech was delivered rather nervously and included a long-winded joke about mothers-in-law. It was a Muggle joke and wasn't particularly funny to start with but he had confused the punch-line, making Hermione, Tonks and Harry laugh whilst the rest of the guests just looked on in confusion. Undeterred, Mr Weasley then made a surprisingly soppy toast to his eldest son and his fiancée.

Harry heard a sob from behind him and turned round to see that Mrs Weasley was teary yet again. This time she was joined by Madame Delacour who was daintily dabbing her eyes with a lacy handkerchief.

During the party Ron pestered Harry to retell the story of his night of drunkenness whilst Hermione stood behind them tutting disapprovingly and trying to hide a smile when Harry got to the bit about Dudley's shoes.

Harry watched Ginny across the room as someone who he had learnt was her Uncle Rudolph was repeatedly ruffling her hair. She was patently embarrassed and looked like she would rather be anywhere else. The twins, on the other hand, were in their element and had a crowd of cousins surrounding them looking at something in a green box until one of the cousins - a girl who looked about six years old - turned green from head to foot and Mrs Weasley banned all 'shop talk'.

As the evening wore on Harry was introduced to a group of Bill's friends from when he had attended Hogwarts. Although they seemed nice enough, a few had been in their first year when Harry's parents were still there and they looked at him with a mixture of curiosity, pity and wonderment, making Harry feel uncomfortable.

Escaping from the group with an excuse about handing out drinks, Harry caught up with Ron listening to tales about curses on Egyptian tombs.
"... of course, we'd assumed that it was much older than that, so when the anti-Apparition wards kicked in we were stuck. I swear, me and Bob ran out of there as if we had Billywigs in our bellies."

Bill's best man Marvin was a short wizard with a slight Welsh accent who seemed to have met and defeated just about any dangerous creature or curse anyone could think of, although his methods were anything but conventional. If anyone had ever wondered who on earth discovered that Kappas will not attack if thrown a cucumber with your name carved into it, or that three-headed beasts fall asleep if you sing to them, they could safety assume that it had something to do with Marvin.

He'd just started a new story ("Well, you see," Marvin said, "it all started because I'd had a green curry the night before...") and Harry was enjoying himself so much that he didn't notice Lupin approaching until he tapped him on the shoulder.

Harry hadn't seen Lupin since the Speaking and he secretly hoped that his godfather's old school friend would stay as quiet as Mrs Weasley on the subject. Like the Weasleys, it was obvious that Lupin didn't have a vault full of gold, and Harry was embarrassed to think that his own pile of Galleons had increased even further, at the expense of his former Professor.

Lupin had obviously dressed up for the occasion and Harry suspected that he was wearing the nicest robes he owned. However, up close he looked as worn down as he had the previous week; he clearly hadn't taken his friend's death any better than Harry had. On top of this, he looked nervous. Harry wasn't used to seeing this expression on his former Professor's face and he began wondering the best way to explain that he knew Lupin needed Sirius' money more than he did.

"How are you? Are you enjoying the party?" Lupin asked.
"Yes thanks, Professor."
Lupin frowned slightly, a sadness shining in his eyes.
"You know, Harry, you really don't have to call me that any more. You could call me Remus if you liked," he said quietly.
With the room full of people chatting away Harry almost couldn't hear him.
"Oh... Okay, thanks."
He smiled. "Good. I'm glad because I wanted to talk to you about something. You see... I was good friends with Sirius, and with your Dad ... well, and Lily too ..."
Lupin frowned again but Harry nodded his head and he continued.
"I know I wasn't your Dad's best friend, and I'm not your godfather, and you'll be of age in a year, and, well, you've got plenty of people looking after you already... It's not like I'd really have much to offer you either..."
Lupin apparently realised he was rambling and chuckled nervously before taking a deep breath, which he let out again.

"The thing is, Harry," he said, almost in a whisper, "I know I can't replace James or Sirius but I've lost Sirius twice now and I loved James like a brother, so if anyone understands what you're feeling, I think I might."
Having got this far, Lupin seemed to regain his confidence and his voice strengthened.
"I just wanted to say that if you ever need anything or if you want to speak to someone about your parents - or anything else - I would like it if you felt you could come to me."
Lupin deflated a little and looked down at the empty glass in his hand.
"I know I should have said this sooner. I loved Sirius and was being selfish wanting to grieve him alone. I should have been there to support you, but I want to make it up to you ... if you'd like."
He looked at Harry expectantly.

Harry was overwhelmed. No-one had ever really offered him an opportunity like this before. Inside, he was more grateful than he could imagine and wanted to tell Lupin how much it meant to him but it was as if there was something stuck in his throat and he could manage no more than an awkward nod.
A shy smile appeared on Lupin's face.

"Hey Remus, come and meet Sandra," Bill shouted from across the room.
Harry and Lupin's eyes met for a moment before the older man gave Harry's shoulder a quick squeeze and left to join Bill.

When Harry turned away he noticed that Ron had been watching him and decided to slip away upstairs before he was asked to explain their conversation.

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To be continued...

In chapter 6: It's back to school but Harry's developed a bit of a rebellious streak when it comes to a certain professor.

Author's note: well, there I was feeling all unloved... until I realised I'd twice posted just before a review black-out. As a yellow person once said: 'Doh!'

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Written summer 2003
Posted 31 July 2004 (Happy birthday Harry!)
Re-posted April 2005