Here's chapter 2…

Title: The Future is Waiting

Chapter 2: At the Leaky Cauldron

The rest of that Saturday went uneventful, or maybe Harry just overlooked everything that happened because of his excitement. Before he went to sleep, he packed his trunk and checked everything.

He got up at five the next day and re-checked his things once more. With nothing missing and nothing else wrong, he went downstairs to breakfast.

As usual, nobody took notice of Harry as he entered the kitchen. So, he silently ate his breakfast, an unfairly small apple. (Dudley was still on the diet, so everyone else was, too.)

"You boy, come here," Uncle Vernon suddenly called just as Harry was about to go out of the kitchen. "That fat lady is coming, eh?"

"Fat – lady?" Harry stared.

"The one we saw at the train station before?" Uncle Vernon barked.

"She has a name," Harry said, irritated by Uncle Vernon's manner. The Dursleys hate magic, and feel that they're well positioned to insult anything related to it. "She's Mrs. Weasley – "

"I don't care what her name is! I'm just going to tell you that if she's coming today, we will not face her!" Uncle Vernon yelled. Apparently, even the mention of the name of anyone related to magic was not permitted. "We will be going out today," he managed to say when he'd calmed down. "When you leave, lock the house. Do you understand?" he said, breathing hard.

"Yes, Uncle Vernon," Harry replied.

After breakfast, the Dursleys left Harry alone in the house. Harry was never given the liberty to spend his time alone in the house, but the thought of restricting him from doing so was obviously driven out of Uncle Vernon's mind; he was so preoccupied being horrified at another witch's visit.

At three, the doorbell rang. Harry dashed to the front door and opened it. He saw Mrs. Weasley beaming at him, and beside her, Ron, wearing an expression of relief that they'd found the right house using just Muggle transportation.

"Hello Harry, dear," Mrs. Weasley said with a big hug.

"Hi, Mrs. Weasley. Um, thanks for coming to get me," Harry said after she'd let go of him.

"Oh, it's my pleasure, dear."

"Hi, Ron," Harry smiled at Ron.

"Hi, Harry," He grinned back.

"Nice to see you."

"Me too."

"Well, we'd better get going. Harry, where are your things?" Mrs. Weasley said as Harry stepped aside for them to at least see the hallway.

"It's upstairs. Hang on, I'm just gonna get it," Harry said as he dashed back upstairs.

"I'm gonna help you," Ron said as he followed.

He and Ron brought his things downstairs, and then, Mrs. Weasley hailed a cab outside. While they were riding, Harry suddenly remembered Dumbledore.

"Mrs. Weasley, do you know why Professor Dumbledore told me to come?" he said, looking sideways at Mrs. Weasley and Ron.

"Yeah, Mum. Why'd he suddenly changed plans?"

"It's a long story, you two. I don't think I'm fit to tell you all about it. Just wait 'til we get to London."

"London?" Ron asked, startled.

"We're going to London? I thought we were going to the Burrow?" Harry asked, brows furrowed.

"Oh, all right. Dumbledore figured another way to make you lot safe. He wants the students out of this – Yes, all you young ones at Hogwarts," Mrs. Weasley added, seeing Ron's raised eyebrows. "Today, we're going to Diagon Alley to buy what you need for school. You two are to stay at the Leaky Cauldron tonight. I don't know if Hermione's coming but I think she will. And then tomorrow – "

"We're going back to Hogwarts?" Ron interrupted.

"Of course not," she said irritably. "You will be brought to a safe place."

"I thought there was no safer place than Hogwarts?" Harry said.

"Well, it is probably the safest here in Britain. But Dumbledore doesn't want to take any risks. You're going to a place far from here. But you will still know what's going on, so don't you feel sorry thinking you're missing all the fun."

"What about you? And Dad? Those not attending Hogwarts?" Ron asked.

"Well, your Dad and I, and your brothers, are in the Order, are we not? We're going to have to stay."

"But, Mrs. Weasley, that would be unfair. I mean, why can't the Hogwarts students help you?"

"Harry, you know why we want you young ones alive."

Harry and Ron stared at Mrs. Weasley, once again surprised by the information they received.

"London," the cab driver suddenly said. He was looking at the three of them curiously; he was obviously listening to their conversation.

"Harry help me with this. I don't know Muggle money," Mrs. Weasley said, showing Harry a handful of Muggle coins. After sorting out the money and paying the driver the right amount, Harry, Ron, and Mrs. Weasley made to get out of the car, before Mrs. Weasley stopped and said, "And oh, one more thing!" She said, reaching into a bag she was carrying. She took out her wand and pointed it at the driver. "Obliviate!"

"Have a nice day!" the driver said innocently at them.

"Harry! Ron!" a shrill voice sounded. "Mrs. Weasley! Oh, I'm pleased to see you all!" Hermione came up to the three of them. They entered the Leaky Cauldron.

"Hello, Hermione!" Mrs. Weasley beamed at her. "Oh, look at the time! Boys, do you mind if I leave you now? Can you get your things by yourselves?"

"We'll be alright, Mum," Ron said. "Just – take care – whatever you do for the Order," he added, going as red as his hair.

"Oh Ron!" Mrs. Weasley sniffed, hugging her son.

"See you, Mrs. Weasley!"

"Take care, Mrs. Weasley!"

"You too, dears. Take care of yourselves, okay?" she replied, hugging Harry and Hermione as well. Then, with a small pop, Mrs. Weasley vanished.

"So, what's been happening?" Harry asked as they settled themselves in one of the tables near the corner.

"What do you mean 'What's been happening'?" Ron said.

"Well, a few weeks back, a lot happened with Vol – You-Know-Who, right?" Harry said sarcastically. "How about now?"

"Nothing's happened, Harry," Hermione said. "Well, nothing yet."

"What do you mean 'nothing yet'? You sound like you're wishing for bad stuff to happen," Ron snarled at her.

"Oh please, Ron. Don't you see? The more it's quiet, the scarier it gets!" Hermione said, slapping her hand on the table.

"Keep your voice down, Hermione," Harry muttered.

"Yeah well, sorry. Anyway, what I mean is nothing is happening, or nothing we know about. I think it's better that You-Know-Who fights us straightforwardly, rather than this quiet, while we are restless, knowing that he's somewhere out there creeping up on us."

"You're going to be a Hogwarts headmistress, you are," Ron said, making Hermione blush. "And you're gonna have to fight the Ministry of Magic just like Dumbledore. You have the same thinking patterns, you know."

"Shut up."

"At least we know the ministry's on our side now."

"Yeah, they're not being stupid now."

"So, what do you think's gonna happen to Hogwarts students?" Hermione changed the subject.

"What do you mean? What's happening to us?" Ron asked.

"Well, we're being sent to another school, aren't we?" Hermione replied.

"Another school?" Harry now asked.

"Yes! Tomorrow! Don't you two ever pay attention?" Hermione said, exasperated.

"We know we're being sent somewhere tomorrow, but we didn't know we were going to another school. So, which one is it? Beauxbatons or Durmstrang?" Ron asked.

"Neither," Hermione said casually. Harry and Ron stared at her.

"Then – where?" Harry managed to speak.

"Bridgework,"

"Excuse me?"

"Bridgework Academy of Eastern Magic! Don't you know about it?" she looked at Harry. Harry immediately shook his head. She turned to Ron, who shook his head too. "Honestly! I expect you to know about it! You're from an all-wizard family!"

"Well, never heard of it. Sorry," he stared at Hermione, as though scared she might get angrier.

"Academy of Eastern Magic? So it's somewhere – " Harry started.

" – In Asia," Hermione said.

"In Asia? What's Dumbledore thinking, sending us off to another continent?" said Ron.

"It's for your own safety. Don't be so thick," Hermione said darkly.

"Tell us about – Badgework?" Harry said.

"Well, for a start, it's Bridgework, not Badgework. It's somewhere in Asia, I don't know where, because naturally, it's kept secret. I've read that it's a really close friend of Hogwarts, I think they were established simultaneously. Its founders were British, not Asian. I think the founders were friends, thus, binding Hogwarts and Bridgework with magical ties even stronger than the friendship between Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang."

"Its founders were friends with the likes of Slytherin and Gryffindor? Then they must be loonies too, y'know," Ron said.

"And fortunately for you, those loonies built a school for even worse loonies like you to learn," Hermione said firmly to Ron, and then she continued. "The school teaches English, so all it's students, Asian or not, know how to speak English. And it's the language they use in everyday life anyway. Its current headmistress is Professor Eugene. I think it's the most famous magical school in all of Asia. It has seen many historical events after all, including that of You-Know-Who's rise. And of course, Rose Ashworth increases its popularity," she finished.

"Who's Rose Ashworth?" Harry said blankly.

"Hang on, I know about her! Rose Ashworth! Blimey, I almost forgot about her!" Ron said triumphantly. Harry did not understand why.

"Well, that was the Ashworths' aim when they left, wasn't it? They wanted all of the magical community in Britain to forget about them," Hermione said.

"Why?" Harry said. Hermione stared at her and Ron started to laugh. "What? Can you just tell me who Rose Ashworth is?" Harry said, annoyed.

"She's your soulmate, Harry!" Ron burst out, laughing.

"What?"

"Oh, don't be silly, Ron! Honestly, you don't believe that rubbish, do you?" Hermione said. And then she turned to Harry. "Harry, Rose Ashworth's the only other person who survived You-Know-Who's curse – aside from you."

"Survivor? But I thought – "

"Yeah, we all thought you were the only one who survived. But, as I've said, the Ashworths are almost forgotten now. So people go around saying that you're the only one when actually, you're not. There are two of you who survived You-Know-Who's Avada Kedavra. And Rose Ashworth, since then, had had the same fate as you. She was also a year old when You-Know-Who attacked her family, the same year you were, and her parents, grandparents, and everyone in her family died. She wasn't adopted by a Muggle family, or even a wizarding family, however, so that makes her different from you. She grew up alone, and since the Ashworths were filthy rich, she got by. I think she lives in a mansion, at least, and is currently the employer of at least a hundred human servants," she said, Harry and Ron gaping at her. "Yes, little hard working house-elves are not enough for little Miss Survivor of the Dark Lord," she smiled nastily. "Honestly, I think she sounds like a spoiled brat, much like Malfoy."

"Why did her family want themselves to be forgotten?" Harry asked.

"That, I do not know. But what does it matter? I mean, you get more sympathy than she does, maybe not because she is forgotten, but because people like you more. So what if she survived You-Know-Who if she doesn't know how to treat other humans properly?"

"Now, see here. Those servants must have been employed years before she was born. Maybe she doesn't want all those!" Ron said.

"Well, why not get rid of them?" Hermione said coolly.

"Maybe she can't stand to sack them! I mean, she's grown up with them, hasn't she?" Ron said. Harry sensed that this was the start of another long argument in which he would be forced to take sides, so he decided to cut it short.

"Does anyone know how she survived You-Know-Who?" he said.

"No one knows," Hermione said. "It's the same mystery as yours, Harry."

And Harry felt, for the first time, eager to meet Rose Ashworth.