Chapter 2

As Harry stepped out of the fireplace, he was reminded why he hated floo powder. Covered in soot, he looked around for his parents but didn't see them. As he walked around the small but busy pub and found them sitting on stools and having the time of their life without him. Harry waited for his parents to notice him. About five minutes later his mother turned her head.

"Harry, dear, how long have you've been standing there?" Lily asked.

"Not too long, just long enough to see that it's only a matter of time when I'm not here that I'm forgotten about." Harry said seriously. "I'm just joking" he said with a smile on his face.

"Harry," James wined, "why'd you ruin my fun?"

"Please," Harry said, "I actually want to get home before tomorrow."

"Fine, Fine" James said reluctantly "but why do you insist on treating us like two year olds?" he asked while tapping the magical brick to bridge Diagon Alley and the small pub.

"Because you act like them" Harry said smiling.

"Harry!" someone called while Harry was walking down the road.

Harry turned around to face the person who called his name and found his best friends Ron and Ginny. "Ron and Ginny!" he shouted at the two.

"Hey Harry" Ginny said moving closer.

"Not to be rude, but can I go shopping with you? I don't want to be shopping with my parents." Harry asked hopefully.

"Yeah, sure" said Ron.

"Mum, Dad, can I go shopping with Ron and Ginny?"

"Since you don't want to go shopping with us, I guess so" James said very poorly acting insulted.

"Here are 30 galleons for you to spend, which should be enough, if not, come find us." Lily said gently to her oldest child.

"Have your wizard's phone on too." James called to his son who was already walking down the road with his friends.

"Call us when you're done." Lily said.

"Now why didn't you want to go shopping with your parents?" Ginny asked

"Yeah, not to be rude or anything, but your parents are cool." Ron said.

"Well, with mum, we would have to go into like every robes shop there is here and I really am not up for that." Harry explained, "And with dad, he would get so distracted we probably wouldn't get all of our shopping done."

"Oh" Both Ron and Ginny said at the same time.

"Where are Katie and Nicole?" Ginny asked curiously.

Remembering his two sisters who were 13 and 9, Harry replied, "Oh, Katie is at Abigail Johnson's house for the week, then they, along with Rebecca Thomas and Scarlet Wood will be staying at our house there rest of the summer. And Nicole-"

"Harry," Ron said cutting him off, "you still call your home a house. Get it through your head….it's a bloody mansion!" Ron said.

"Whatever, Ron" Harry said and then continued "And Nicole is at Sirius's house with his daughters." Harry suddenly remembered Sirius and Becky's daughters Natalie, who was 9, Rachel, who was 7 and Maggie, who was 5.

"I think you might want to escape to his house or come to the burrow next week if it's going to be that crazy at your place." Ginny advised him

"I think your right" Harry said thoughtfully to Ginny.

"Except, you can be trapped in the same wing as them at your place and still not meet each other." Ron said obviously jealous that Harry lived in what you could only call a mansion.

"Harry's house isn't a castle Ron, relax." Ginny told him.

"Maybe you could come to my place then. The both of you could come, and Hermione too." Harry said "Speaking of Hermione, where is she?" Harry asked.

Ginny, who was her best friend answered, "Coming, of course."

"Okay" Harry said.

"Do you know who go prefect?" Ron asked as they were heading down the road.

"Actually, yeah" Harry replied feeling for the first time ashamed of himself.

"Who was it then?" he asked anxiously.

"It was me." Harry said.

"Good job" Ron said.

"Yes Harry, Good job." Ginny piped in.

"I don't deserve it though" Harry said sadly.

"Yes you do!" Ron said.

"No, I don't. I was picked because somehow other people thought that I am the best person after what's happened to me, after what I've done."

"You do deserve it Harry. I admit, you may have caused trouble and you may be much more privileged then anyone else, but you're a great big brother. And if you don't believe me, ask Nicole too. I'm sure she'd say the same thing" A voice said from his pocket.

Harry pulled out his wizard's phone from his pocket and looked at his sister. "Thanks Katie." He said to his sister who would be in third year in September.

"Any time, congratulations though." She said.

"Thank you. But, how'd you know what we were talking about?" he asked.

"Mum told me and I just listened to your conversation." Katie said smiling. "Does this mean that if I get caught out of bed after hours, you won't tell on me?"

"That's one thing I don't like about those, you never know who is listening." Ginny said.

"Besides, you actually think that I would let you sneak by?" Harry asked. "Nice try, if I catch you out of bed after hours, I'll dock points and owl mum."

"You can't owl her! Mum will probably get mad at me and I don't want a Howler." Katie said with an innocent face.

"I'll think about it." Harry said.

"Is Hermione there too? I want to congratulate her." She said changing the subject.

"No, she's coming." Harry said. "How do you know she's prefect?" he asked.

"Duh, she's all smart and like hasn't gotten many detentions and she actually cares about her grades."

"Where are you? Shouldn't you be shopping?" Harry asked.

"I'm at Zonko's of course." She said like it was obvious. "I'm trying to decide what to get dad for his birthday."

"Just get some samples from Fred and George's joke shop." Ron said.

"Thanks Ron." Katie said

"It's no problem." He said, "If you wanted to buy something, they would most likely give you a discount."

"Okay, let's not give her too many ideas." Harry said. "Katie, I'm hanging up now and don't you dare to listen." He told his sister sternly.

"Fine" She said annoyed. "Bye" and the screen went black.

"Harry, Ron Ginny!" the trio had a voice shout. They turned around to see a mob of bushy hair.

"Hermione!" they shouted as she gave the three of them hugs.

"How have you been?" asked Ginny.

"Good, I was made prefect!" Hermione exclaimed.

"That's great! I did too." Harry said taking his badge from his pocket.

"Come on, let's go." Ginny said.

"Yes" Hermione agreed.

"Fine" the two boys muttered down the road.