I real that I gave Harry two watches. That was a mistake. I meant to put that the Weaselys had given him a new jumper and some pies.
Chapter 3: Some Surprises, Some Anger
If Harry was honest with himself, his summer had so far been a long one. The first couple of days being slow, the next few days fast, and the rest of the two months were just plain tiring. The most peaceful time Harry had was on his birthday. More specifically, the point where he had woken up and found Ginny dozing on his shoulder. It was then that Harry knew that with all his money and all his powers, he was still missing something.
He knew what it was that he was missing. But he was afraid of getting it. All Harry wanted was companionship; someone to call a girlfriend or an adult to call a parent. He was smart to know when enough parents were enough, and he settled to be just good friends with people he could have grown onto, like the Weaselys or Remus or even Tonks. In the other department, well Harry just didn't want anyone to get hurt; especially someone that he could care about so much. Besides, he hasn't felt that way about a girl since Cho Chang and he was definitely over her.
"You know what, I think it's time to show my friends exactly what I can do now," Harry thought to himself. Truth be told, he had just seen them to days ago at his party, today being August 2, yet Harry had picked up some things for them and he felt he wanted a break. He had actually been bored yesterday without his regular training and had already integrated all of Moody and Tonk's favorite curses into his dual. Their book had held many things that he hadn't learned from his excursion into Voldemort's head and he felt like they would come in very helpful.
He had only flipped through the book Remus had given him, a complete copy of the entire Marauders' adventures, including how to become an animagus. Harry figured he would tackle that later in the week, for now he felt like having some fun. With his mind made up, Harry went to take a shower. He was done in five minutes looking clean shaven and without glasses. Remus had finally found a potion to correct eyesight and Harry had taken it the other day.
Darning his white battle robes (after some trial and error, Harry had learned they were the best he had; they even surpassed the ones Charlie had given him), Harry then pulled a dark green silk robe out of his closet and put it on. He also put on his emerald green baseball cap he had configured at the start of summer and had both wands in their holsters. Of course, the wands weren't really needed that much, just for the newer things he learned, they still gave him a level of comfort and added to his image. The watch his parents had left him was residing on his left wrist, where he hadn't taken it off from once. He had outfitted it with every protection charm he could think of and had added a few names to tell Harry the condition of his 'family'.
Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Remus, and Tonks were all pointing to home at the moment. The other slots were 'Danger', 'Mortal Peril', 'Traveling', and 'Safe'. Mad Eye was offered a position but had declined saying that he didn't think it safe and could mess up Order plans.
The other object Harry had on was his talisman. Actually, he was wearing two talismans. One had been given to him by Ginny and the other left by his parents. They had been tested and had worked like a charm. Harry also wore a diamond stud earring. It shone no matter what angle and was taken from his family vault. He now looked like an imposing figure at 5'8, being outfitted for battle.
"Hey, now if I get stuck in the paper again, maybe they could at least get a picture of me looking like this." With that last thought Harry apperated to the Burrow.
Ginerva Weasely was sitting at the breakfast table. It was seven o'clock and she was still in her pajama bottoms and tank top. Her haired was pulled up in a pony tail and she was waiting for her mom to finish cooking the breakfast.
Ron was sitting next to her, staring off into space. "He's probably thinking about Hermione right now," Ginny thought. Hermione was her best girl friend and like a sister to her brother and Harry. She was supposed to be coming today to stay the rest of the summer. Being related to Ron so long, Ginny knew that Ron was hiding something whenever around he was around Hermione, and Ginny thought she knew what it was.
The rest of her family was at the table too, Bill, Charlie, her mom and dad, Fred and George, even Percy. No one was fully awake yet and it was a miracle they were all up now as it was. That's why when a POP came from outside everyone jumped out of their seats. Mr. and Mrs. Weasely along with Bill and Charlie rushed outside to see what was going on. Fred and George took up defense positions by the door and Percy had floo powder in hand waiting to see if he needed to get help from the Order.
When no sounds of a battle came, the rest of the family in the house went out to see what the commotion was. What they saw was not what they expected to see.
Harry appeared on the front lawn of the Burrow. After about two seconds people started rushing out of the house. Once they got close enough Harry could tell who they were. Bill, Charlie, Mr. and Mrs. Weasely were all bearing down on him with wands drawn.
Seeing their unease, Harry lifted his baseball cap and exposed his face. Mrs. Weasely stood there stunned while Mr. Weasely had lowered his wand and had a smile plastered on his face. Bill and Charlie both looked dumfounded and held their wands at ease. None of the expressions came close though, to what happened when the rest of the family arrived.
The twins were the first ones out and once they caught sight of his face adopted a look much similar to Bill and Charlie. Percy looked scared to see him there and Ron looked on with awe. Ginny had Harry's favorite reaction. As soon as she recognized him she came running forward throwing her arms around him. "Harry!" could be heard from miles away.
"Now this is a good reaction," Harry joked. "Not like the rest of you who just stood there, but a nice big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Makes a man feel welcome, you know?"
Ron was the first to speak, "Harry, mate, how did you…get past the…how-"
Harry laughed. "How did I get pasted the antiapperation wards you mean? Or were you going to ask how I apperated in the first place?"
The twins replied, at the same time, "Both!"
Once again Harry got a good laugh. "Well, let's just say I've been busy lately and this summer has been filled so far. As for apperating where you can't, I helped construct the wards earlier in the summer. It was Remus's idea in order to see if they actually worked and I can recognize my own work for me to by pass it."
After releasing Harry from her hug, Ginny finally took a good luck at him. He seemed much taller than the train ride and had cleaned himself up a bit since his party. His scar shone on his forehead and he had a beautiful diamond in his ear. After two days, Ginny could see a difference. Also his robes look very fine on him and with the way he was carrying himself, he looked an imposing figure. The fact that he had two wands strapped on didn't deter the notion.
Molly quickly recovered from her shock and pulled Harry into a hug. "How are you, dear?" Before he could answer she pulled away and stuck a finger in his face. "If you ever scare us or do something like that again I will treat you like Fred and George!"
Harry simply smiled, "You mean something like this?" He then apperated right behind Mrs. Weasely in order to shake hands with the other men on the household. When he reached Mr. Weasely Harry asked, "I take it you forgot to mention I could apperate?"
"Ah, but it wasn't my secret to tell. Besides, Harry, don't tell me you didn't enjoy the stunned faces you saw."
"I enjoyed it all right, but you guys missed one thing when coming out here. Fred, you could be seen through the window. Next time you need to move a little to your right."
Fred didn't look to agitated at this news and simply shrugged it off. That was when Ginny realized Harry wasn't wearing glasses. "Harry, what happened to your glasses? I just noticed you didn't have them on."
"Ginny, Ginny, Ginny, didn't Snape teach you anything in Potions? Remus was able to get me a potion to repair and then enhance my eyesight. I took it yesterday and it's awesome!" After the younger crowd had a good laugh at Snape's expense, the elder Weasely men had to leave to go get Hermione.
"Wait, dad!" Ginny yelled right before they left. "Can we go into town today while you pick up Hermione? We'll promise to be good."
Boy, Ginny can look so adorable when she puts on a pout face. Harry thought before shaking his head to clear it.
After getting the go ahead from Mr. Weasely, Ginny ran back upstairs to get ready. Ron was already dressed and so he and Harry talked to the twins and Molly for a few minutes. Mrs. Weasely forced Fred and George to go them into town and act as a guard. Soon after that was decided Ginny came back outside. What Harry saw took his breath away.
Ginny was wearing a muggle t-shirt that said Surf Babe on it and a pair of form fitting jeans. Her hair was done up in a bun held up by her wand. To him, she looked stunning.
After saying goodbye to over protective mother, the teenagers set out to town. They spent a great deal of time talking about trivial matters. Quiditch, games, adventures they'd had, pranks that were pulled; all things stayed away from Voldemort. After stopping at the ice cream store the group decided to take a break.
Harry had paid and they say down when Ron tripped and bumped into Ginny who dropped her ice cream all over the floor. The twins and Harry were laughing until the received glares from the two youngest Weaselys. "Here, Gin, you can have mine. I wasn't hungry anyway," Harry managed to get out between laughs.
"Why thank you, Harry. For that I will repay you with a kiss. If one of my duffases of a brother would have offered I would have given them two, but you're just naturally nice." Ginny kept good to her word and Harry traded and ice cream for a peck on lips. He was surprised considering she, like Hermione, had always kissed him on the cheek. However, just because he was surprised didn't mean he didn't like it.
That was when several loud cracks were heard in front of them.
Harry was immediately in action. He upended the table with his left hand and forced the other four behind it with his right. He then proceeded to jump over the table and start yelling curses.
From their vantage point, the four Weaselys could see about twenty Death Eaters charging toward Harry. Fred and George were just about to get up and help when Harry shouted, "Stay down and let me handle it!" He then went on to amaze them.
Drawing his dragon wand in his left hand, and conjuring the sword of Gryffindor in the other, Harry starting attacking the enemy. He shot a stunning spell at one Death Eater who put up a shield. Unfortunately for him, Harry's spell shot right threw it and knocked him out. At the same time Harry had used his sword to cut off another opponent's wand hand. He would live, though he was out of the fight. Turning quickly, Harry shot a blinding spell at the group of oncoming black. In the five seconds that spell had awarded him, Harry had sent a fire spell at one Death Eater, a stunning spell at another, a boil curse at other, and cut the legs from one unlucky man.
"Wow, you are pathetic! In ten seconds a child has already taken down six of your number. Why don't you just try and come a get me?"
Ginny was awed beyond explanation, "Ron, did he just take down six Death Eaters and then mock fourteen more?" The only answer was a nod from Ron, who seemed incapable of speech.
Flinging off his robes, Harry exposed his battle uniform. He seemed to shine from the light of the sun beating off his white robes. That was until he seemed to radiate just power.
The Death Eaters wasted no time taking Harry's challenge. They started shooting every curse they knew. Many unforgivables were heard along with many cutting curses. Harry seemed to be doing the same, and fairing better. It wasn't too long before only nine Death Eaters remained. The only problem was that these were more skilled and Harry was beginning to tire.
Finally a cutting curse hit Harry's right arm. Normally it would have caused his arm to become amputated, yet his talisman and battle robes and took the brunt of the curse. There was still a nice long cut on his arm rendering his sword movements pretty much useless. With a flick of his wrist, the sword disappeared.
"HALT!" screamed a women's voice, a women's voice that Harry hated so dearly. "So baby Potter has learned to duel. It doesn't matter little Harry, your godfather and parents knew how to duel as well. Look where they are, dead! Now here is your chance to join the Dark Lord. Join or die, Potter. That is your choice." Bellatrix Lestrange was still a sinister women, and hatred that Harry hadn't even come close to when seeing Dumbledore, rose when hearing this vile creature talk about his parents.
"Here is my answer, Bellatrix," Harry spat out the name. "Digratetatem!" A purple spell shot out of his left wand. It struck Lestrange in the chest and burned a whole right threw. Before her body had a chance to fall to the ground Harry had brought his right hand up and shot five stunners at the remaining eight. Only three Death Eaters remained and before they could even think about apperating away, were shot down by stunners. Harry finished the job by sending ropes at the twenty fallen Death Eaters and stunning those still conscious.
Right as he was finishing up there were several more distinct sounds of people apperating. After a quick turn realization dawned on Harry as he recognized the group or ten as members of the Order of the Phoenix.
"Well, it was nice of you to show up today guys. I was actually bored today so I paid a visit. Basically, Bellatrix led nineteen others to try and turn me. Only got a scratch but all twenty are downed and roped. I'd appreciate it if you could take them to Azkaban, but I would like their wounds to stay as they are. If they break out they will think again about attacking the light."
"Harry doesn't look too happy with the Order right now, does he?" Ron asked.
"Well, Ron, let's look at it this way. He came over to have fun and ended up fighting twenty Death Eaters while the Order shows up after the fighting. Would you be happy?" Ginny snapped back.
Dumbledore was the first to speak to Harry, "Excellent job, Harry. I believe you should get your arm looked at though and I am a sorry we arrived so late. However, I must reprimand you for using such brutal force. Was it necessary to do some of the things done?"
Harry snorted in disbelief. Here he was saving his and his friends asses when Dumbledore says he should have been nicer with a twenty against five fight. "With all do respect, Headmaster, I acted out of self defense. I heard many killing curses and quite a few crucios. What I don't understand is why you are saying I was mean to twenty people who just tried to kill five teenagers. All of them are alive, but they needed to be taught a lesson. If you had gotten here sooner than things could have proceeded your way."
"Harry, what did you hit Lestrange with?" Remus asked from a crouched position. He was leaning over Bellatrix with an unreadable look on his face.
"A disintegration charm, why?"
"Harry, that charm went right through her chest. It ruined her lungs and ended up killing her. An avada couldn't have done worse." As Remus replied, Harry hung his head and walked over to the upturned table.
He lifted it and simply said, "Let's get back guys. Your mom is probably have kittens and they need to sort this out." Harry called his cloak back to him and looked at his handy work. Bellatrix was the only death, and in a way, Harry was gratefully she was the only one.
As they past Remus in the street Harry spoke, "Do you really think it makes the world a worse place if she's dead? She had killed for fun, tortured for a living, and worshipped Voldemort more than any other. If she is dead than a message was sent. We are no longer playing, and he will no longer be winning this war."
They continued the walk back to the Burrow, yet Ginny could tell that Harry's eyes held doubt in them. Slipping her hand into his, Ginny tried to comfort him. "You know something, Harry? It's called 'if you're not going to take your own advice, don't give it'. What you said to Professor Lupin was true. You sent a legal spell at her and she died. But that's not it. You were not only defending yourself, you also saved us and countless others that she would have gotten. Not to mention the other lackeys you caught back there. You did what needed to be done and because of it, the world is slightly better off. Even if you refuse to be proud of yourself for your accomplishment down there, I will always look back at those few minutes with awe and hope that someday I can do what you did down there; what you did with a pure heart." She finished by kissing him on cheek.
After Ginny's words, Harry seemed to change. He no longer hung his head but held it high. He looked stronger and more confident than ever and had a slight spring to his step that Ginny couldn't be sure if it was because of the battle or not. Still walking hand in hand with Harry, Ginny started towards the front of her home. "This might take some explaining to do," Ginny muttered earning a few chuckles from the group.
Taking a deep breath, Ginny walked through the door pulling Harry along with her. The three brothers followed right after and then they all braced themselves for the real trouble, Molly Weasely.
