Author's Note: hey, uh okay well I'm bad at spelling and was too lazy to spell check this first chap but the rest of them should be properly written out and ill try to get this one fixed ASAP. Okay well just a few notes. Uh I made it so dat after Voldemort's demise Sirius would come back for one reason or another that I'm too lazy to make up but might include in future chapters. And there are other snip-bits here and there that I will comment on during the story I they are not include. If u have any questions review them. Okie dokie thanks
Disclaimer:
Me JK….I laugh, teeheehee, nope sry fokes. All characters that u recognize form one of the excellent 5 of the Harry Potter Series do not belong to at all. SORRRYYYY…I kno I WEEPPP. All characters, names, places, insignias, logos and such dat you do not recognize are mine unless specified. (I feel so proper!THH) okay well READDDD ONNN….b sure to reviewwww…cuz dunno if I should continue with this although I will prob add another 3-4 chaps till the get to America….so can lemme kno If I should continue. Okayyyy I wuv u buh-bye!
CHAPTER 1: Last Quiet Week at Hogwarts
It was the summer after Harry's 6th year. Just about a month ago the Last Battle had taken place and Voldemort had been defeated. Now summer break was approaching. With exams over and just a week before break the now 4 infamous Gryffindor and one disowned Slytherin where lounging around the grounds near by the lake. Many things had changed over the course of the Great War, among them was Draco's joining the Golden Group and having to be let go from Slytherin. They sat under a large willow. Its branches hung so low that they reached the ground and made some what of a private room outdoors so that no one could look in or out and the branches had to be parted to enter.Harry sat with his back against the tree trunk and he was playing with a charmed snitch which he kept throwing to Draco. Ginny lay with her head in Harry's lap and she kept reaching up to snatch the snitch from him. Draco sat across from them catching every time Ginny missed trying to grab it form Harry. Ron was playing Chess against the bored since everyone refused to play with him seeing as they always lost. Hermione laid on her stomach next to him writing in to her parents, every now and then she would look up at the game and compliment the chess bored begging it not to let Ron win.This is how they had spent much of there days since that memorable day. They kept quiet; mostly outta trouble except for the occasional pranks that even Hermione was in on. Just then someone parted the branches of the Old Willow. They all instinctively reached for there wands, after all they had been thru at such an early age just so recently they were all on edge. But when they saw Prof. McGonagall appeared thru the branches. "Oh, sorry Prof." Harry said as they all lowered there wands. "It's alright Potter, I kno you are all still on edge. I just hope anyone who is not a Prof. doesn't get hurt." McGonagall answered wit a small smile playing on her lips. Ginny smiled..."not
USAUALLYYY..." she sed with a look of innocence in her eyes. Ginny, Prof. Dumbledore and I want to tlk to u...actually we want to tlk to all of you before Lunch so if u would follow me to his office." Prof. McGonagall stated. They all gave one another quizzical looks..."Okay" they responded in an uneasy unison." They gathered they're things as Prof. McGonagall waited patiently. "You kno it's very frightening how u respond together," they laughed... "We kno" they retorted again in unison. McGonagall just shook her head and smile lightly again "come along." They followed her all the way to Dumbledore's office, where he sat patiently waiting."Hello, please sit down, have something to eat...Winky and Dobby have brought plenty of pastries for us." he said in his usual somber and clam. They all sat n reached for a pastry and grabbed a goblet of cold pumpkin juice on a tray. Prof. McGonagall walked around and stood next to Prof. Dumbledore. "Well I'm sure your all wondering why your in here, seeing as every time u are here...its never good, whether grave or childish..." he winked. The others just smiled."Well first off the main news concerns Ginny. Ginny, you've been doing extremely complex spells this year and it was you and Harry there at that last moment. I've been talking to your Prof. and with the grades you've received on the OWLS and your work in your classes...we all feel that your not challenged at all in your classes, we've decided that you should move ahead to 7th year with the others, I kno we haven't done this in years...since Harry's mother in fact...but we feel it would be a waste for you to go thru 6th year unnecessarily, well only if u agree." Dumbledore finished and awaited her reaction.Ginny eyes widened and then she smiled..."graduate early with you guys? Oh my...that would so great!" she said smiling widely. Harry, smiled str8t at her, "way to go Gin...we told u were brilliant" They all chuckled. Hermione smiled politely at Ginny but was thinking something else, 'I've studied so much harder then her...and she gets promoted...Ginny's my best friend...but that not fair...why does she have to be so perfect?' But she tried not to draw attention to her self. "Prof. what else is there to tell us?" Hermione asked.
"Ahh, yes, right u are Miss Granger. It's been a month down to the day since you were all involved in the Last Battle. You are all only 15 and 16….so young. You've had to deal with things that not even grown wizards and witches have. We all feel that you deserve to get away from what's going to be a very public fiasco in Europe's Wizarding World. My niece, Adriana lives with her father's uncle in America. She goes to Beauxbatons in France but she quiet mischievous and had a problem with one of the Professors so she has decided to come to Hogwarts. She is actually suppose to be a 6th yr next semester, but the teaching ideas of Hogwarts and Beauxbatons are different and she like Ginny will be entering 7ht instead. I thought you could all spend the summer in America and you could all return for the fall term. We think it would be best for you all to get away from the media, but of course this is only if you agree." Dumbledore told them.
The five of them looked around at each other, as if mentally trying to communicate. "Where would we be staying in America?" Ginny decided to be the first to start questioning. "Well they live in California in a place called Willow Creek. Her Uncle owns some stables called Cypress Hills. They live in a house on the land." Dumbledore said then took a bite out of a pumpkin pasty. "well I think it sounds like a good idea I really don't want to deal with the Daily Prophet stalking us all summer, but what will mum and dad think, and Mione's parents…………… and well, I hate to bring this up but, what about…………Draco?" Ginny asked thoughtfully giving Draco a sad smile. He looked down.
"Well I've already spoken to your parents and they actually agree it would be a good idea, Sirius is keen too Harry, he says he needs time to fix a house up anyway. As for Draco well………we all sat down and were wondering that too. Draco you have a late birthday… and wont be coming of age for another year and a half right?" Dumbledore questioned. Draco looked up and nodded solemnly. "We have talked to the Ministry and thought that you could stay with a member of the Order, seeing as you yourself are now member." Dumbledore said with a special twinkle in his eye. Draco looked confused and hopeful, "But who?" they all asked in unison. "Sirius Black," he said with a chuckle "he said since you are all so close you and Harry will be fine living in the same house, unless you would prefer not to."
Draco looked shocked, "Sirius Black? Why would he want me, I'm sure he hates my family, especially my father...for the obvious!" he said utterly confused. "Trust me Draco; Sirius would not take out whatever resentment he has on you, besides he knows you're not like him. And well I don't think he could let anyone he liked from his family out in the street." Harry said with a final smirk. Draco gave him the most confused look yet. "Family, were……… actually related?" he asked. Harry laughed, "I kno crazy right, your mum is his cousin." Harry said remebering what Sirius had told him once during the summer before his fifth year. Draco was shocked, "wow, well if Sirius really is accepting me, then I think it's a brilliant idea!" he said. Dumbledore looked pleased. "I'm glad you agree" he said.
"Well I have once last thing to tell you and then we may all be on our way to lunch." He said. "This pertains to your current living arrangements. I kno we altered things because of the way things had gotten during the War you were all living in a separate quarters, specially since Draco was in harm in Slytherin Tower." They all nodded remembering how they had all stayed in a far off Eastern tower in a hidden part of the castle so they would be safe not only from Slytherins but the Voldemort as well. "Well Ron and Hermione you two are next year's Head Boy and girl and I thought instead of having you move into the Head Dormitories you would all rather stay in The Eastern Tower since Draco will be there and most likely Adriana as well." They all looked at each other. Draco spoke up for the others "We wouldn't have it any other way." Dumbledore smiled. "Excellent well, if you all agree about the summer I will arrange that and let you kno soon, before the end of the term. Now in the mean while go off and have some lunch." He said with a twinkle in his eye. The five said there goodbyes to Dumbledore and McGonagall and then made there way to the Kitchens.
They had taken to not eating in the Great Hall anymore, since the Last Battle, although Draco was welcomed at the Gryffindor table they didn't like to deal with looks from Slytherin. Harry and Ron were very hot tempered and they tried to avoid starting fights. So every day for each meal they would head down to the kitchens where Dobby and Winky usually had 5 large trays of the night's dinner which they would take back to the Eastern tower by a tunnel in the wall near the fruit bowl painting.
On the way down they talked about everything Dumbledore had just told them. Ginny was ecstatic to get to graduate early. Draco was happy to have a place to go for the Holidays, Ron and Hermione were happy about there Head Positions and Harry was just happy to get away from the country for just a bit to avoid all the insanity dat was sure to follow as soon as the made for break, there was already people at the gates of Hogwarts whenever the went out to Hogsmead.
When they made it to the kitchens Dobby was putting a few plates on 5 diff. trays. "Master Potter, Weasely, Malfoy. Miss Weasely, Miss Granger. Dobby is just putting on some extra dessert on the tray for the young masters and misses." He said putting one last plate down. "Thank you so much Dobby. We'll see you tonight." Draco said grabbing a tray. The others followed suit after thanking Dobby and Winky. After lunch they went back outside and lounged under the Old' Willow again. "I want some chocolate" Ginny stated after sitting under the tree for a while… who wants to come with back to the tower to get some?" she asked. "Oh not me I'm feeling so lazy I couldn't move a bit." Hermione said. She was lying on her stomach with her head in her arms. Ginny laughed, "any takers, please?" she put up a puppy pout. Harry looked up at her. She looked too adorable. He got up, "alright u little brat common." He said pushing her out of the willow. Draco snickered… he was the only one who noticed that the 2 of them had feeling for each other. "What are you laughing at?" Ron asked Draco looked over at him…"Snape… in a dress, it just came to mind…" he conjured up an air image of the event that took place during there 3rd year. The three just sat there and laughed.
Meanwhile Harry playfully shoved Ginny thru the Branches and they made there way towards the Eastern Tower. Ginny ran into her and Hermione's Dormitory and grabbed a box of Honey Duke's chocolates. She came down stairs to the common room where Harry was sitting playing with his snitch again. "You're so arrogant" she said as she descended down the stairs. "How do you figure?" he asked catching the snitch and looking at her once she had sat down. "Everyone knows you're the best ruddy seeker in ages………… no need to brag with your stupid little snitch, eh?" She said defiantly. "I love your crude honesty" Harry said rolling his eyes. "I try" she said grabbing a piece of chocolate. "Oh and you little Miss Smug." They laughed at their name calling.
"Harry did u see, in Dumbledore's office?" Ginny asked turning toward him, he had begun playing with the snitch again. "See what?" he asked capturing the snitch again. "How Hermione looked at me?" she said with a sadden expression. "When?" he asked as he stopped playing. "When Dumbledore said I could move up to 7th year. She smiled but it was like she was mad." Ginny said thoughtfully. "Why would she be mad? She's your best friend" Harry said. "Your right I must be over analyzing things, as usual." She said grabbing some chocolate. "I'm suree" he said ruffling her hair. "Hey quit that!" This is how the week went by for them.
On the last day Dumbledore called them to his office one last time for that year. He told them they would leave for California the last week of June and return the 3rd week of July. He said that they would leave by airplane, which none of them had been on except Hermione. That last day the train ride home was quiet and on the platform when they arrived stood Mr. and Mrs. Weasely, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, Sirius and Remus. They said there Goodbyes and promise to meet a few times before the left for America.