Home for the Holidays

Chapter 2

Home for the Holidays

"This one right ahead on the left," Harry said, directing Hermione's father. Mr. Granger and his wife had picked the three teenagers up at King's Cross, and was driving them to Harry's home in Surrey. Ron and Hermione had insisted on staying with Harry wherever he went for the summer, most likely, Harry thought, to make sure he didn't do something rash.

Harry didn't particularly want to return to the Dursleys's ever again, but Dumbledore had wanted him to, to renew the protection that surrounded their house. Harry sighed at the thought of Dumbledore. He never thought he would see the end of the old man. If Sirius had been a father figure, Dumbledore was more the grandfather. Always there with advice, he had a way of commanding respect with a gentle manner. He was one of the only people Harry had trusted in the past year. And now he was gone.

Mr. Granger's car turned into the Dursleys's driveway. Harry had thought it best if Hermione's parents had dropped them off. For one, they were muggles, so the Dursleys would be more likely to reason better with them, instead of throwing ceramic ornaments. For another thing, they were the only ones with a car, seeing as how Mr. Weasley's old Ford Anglia was still roaming the Forbidden Forest.

Hermione's parents were quite different. Mr. Granger was always making jokes, and seemed like one to find the humor in any situation. He was, however, very protective. On the way out of the station, they had been approached by Moody and Kingsley and they had pulled Harry, Ron, and Hermione aside. They had just wanted to tell them that the Order of the Phoenix was still reachable, but Mr. Granger had not recognized the rather sinister looking old man with the bowler hat, or the tall black man with the earring. He had jumped at Moody and tried unsuccessfully to tackle him, but would not relent until Hermione had shouted that it was okay. Even Kingsley's deep, normally calming voice had not had its usual effect.

Mrs. Granger, on the other hand, was much like Hermione. She was one to fret about breaking the rules. She was very intelligent, and very persuasive. She was the one who had talked to the muggle police officers who had come and dragged her husband and Moody off, and was on the verge of convincing them to let them go, when Moody had simply pulled out his wand, stunned the officers, and memory charmed them. Moody had obviously seen the similarities between the two, for he had said just that of Mrs. Granger's annoyed badgering of him after he had freed himself and Mr. Granger.

Neither of them had been extraordinarily happy with Hermione's decision to stay with Harry and Ron for the summer instead of them. In fact, they had outright refused, but after Hermione told them there was no way of persuading her to do otherwise, they consented. They had told Harry that Hermione had told them about how being around him was potentially very dangerous. Harry didn't know quite what to say about this confrontation, but then they had told him that they trusted him, and they knew their daughter wouldn't do anything stupid and his nerves had eased slightly.

The five of them climbed out of the car, and walked up the front path to the house. The sun was just starting to set.

"Um," started Harry, "Maybe it would be better if it were just me and Mr. Granger at first. Too many people might just agitate them."

"Oh, good point," said Ron. He was the only one who had met the Dursleys before, and his past dealings with them were not exactly happy ones, although they were quite mild compared to Harry's experience.

Mrs. Granger looked surprised. "Agitate?…"

The other three moved out of sight, off the porch and behind the hedgerow. Harry rung the bell, and they heard Vernon Dursley's voice.

"Coming, coming." He opened the door a second later, and glared down at his nephew with disdain. "Oh. It's just you. I thought your freaky school didn't let out for a few weeks, yet. Or did they expel you?" He added hopefully. He looked at Mr. Granger for the first time. "Who are you?" He asked rudely.

"I'm Dr. Peter Granger," Mr. Granger said warmly, extending his hand.

Vernon stared for a second without shaking his hand, and then said "I didn't think your kind had doctors."

"Mr. Granger isn't a wizard, Uncle Vernon, he's a dentist. His daughter is a friend of mine from Hog-"

"Shut up, you fool boy! Talking about that rubbish at the top of your voice out in the open where anyone can hear you, it's a wonder you're still alive, with those brains of yours. I'd have expected you to walk into traffic with your mouth open, staring at the sky," said Uncle Vernon. He turned his attention back to Mr. Granger, with a more relaxed air, but by no means welcoming. "Well then, thank you for saving us a trip to London to pick him up," Vernon jerked his head at Harry, "but I'm afraid I must-"

"Ahhhh! Mum! Dad!" Vernon was interrupted by his son's yell of fright. Dudley had apparently come around from behind the house, evidently trying to get away without any wizards who might have accompanied Harry seeing him. He had come around the hedgerow, and walked straight into Ron, Hermione, and Mrs. Granger. "There's more of them here!"

Vernon grabbed a baseball bat from the umbrella stand, pushed past Harry and Mr. Granger, and ran down the steps as fast as his short legs could take him. "What the hell game are you playing, boy, trying to sneak more of your kind in?"

"Uncle Vernon, no!"

Harry started after his uncle, but Vernon had reached the other three, who were still standing there, not quite knowing what to do. Ron was standing there with a shocked look on his face, and Mrs. Granger looked terrified as Vernon charged them, bat raised. He made to swing, but Hermione discreetly raised her wand, hidden from the street (and Muggle eyes) by Ron's frozen body, and whispered, "Immobulus!"

Vernon froze right before he was about to swing at Ron, and Hermione quickly took the bat from him with a summoning charm. Dudley let out a short scream, and ran off. Mrs. Granger stared in fright and shock. "Agitate, indeed…"

Harry had stopped just short of them when his uncle had been frozen in place, but then whispered to the back of his uncle's head, "She'll take it off you, but you can't attack them, or try anything at all."

Vernon couldn't move, but he let out a groan of what Harry assumed to be submission. He looked at Hermione, who released Vernon from the spell. His reaction was immediate. "What did you think you were doing, you fool of a girl, what if the neighbors saw!"

"They didn't see anything, Mr. Dursley, there's no one around," Hermione said in an angry voice. "Although, you didn't seem too concerned with what the neighbors would think of seeing you beat three people with a baseball bat in your own front lawn."

Vernon sputtered angrily, spit flying out over Hermione, Ron, and Mrs. Granger.

"Come on," Harry said. "Let's go inside and discuss how things are going to be around here for the next week or so." Hermione and Ron pushed past a still shocked Vernon, and Mrs. Granger nervously skittered around him as well. Vernon slowly turned around and then said, "What do you mean, how things are going to be? This is my house, boy, and don't you forget it!"

The four of them just walked back to the end of the walk where Mr. Granger was standing, however, and Harry showed them into the house.

Although Ron had been inside the Dursleys's house before, it was Hermione's first visit. "Wow," she said. "It's even cleaner than ours." True enough, Number 4, Privet Drive was as spotless as ever.

"Aunt Petunia?" Harry called. No answer.

Harry walked into the living room and over to one of the perfectly cleaned couches and sat down. "Go ahead, have a seat," he said.

Ron and Hermione sat down on the couch next to him, and Hermione's parents sat on the smaller couch.

Vernon came storming in through the front door, he had evidently regained the use of his legs. "What do you think gives you the right to say what goes on in MY house, boy? You ungrateful little…" He continued in this vein for about a minute. Harry just sat calmly, although his temper did quickly rise when his uncle reached the topic of his parents. Hermione and Ron tensed, as though they were ready to grab Harry should he charge his uncle. The Grangers just sat, scandalized by Vernon Dursley's extensive swear words vocabulary, and the level of hostility he was willing to show towards his nephew.

Mrs. Granger opened her mouth to speak, but her husband silenced her. "Let them deal with it," he said, motioning to the three sitting on the other couch.

Just as Vernon was finishing, there was a loud thump on the window, and everybody in the room jumped. Harry jumped up and ran to the window. He opened it and looked down. There, in the same spot he had lain two summers prior, was a tawny owl with a letter tied to its leg, lying unconscious on the ground. Harry reached out of the window, picked it up, and turned around to find his uncle's beet-red face inches from his own. "OWLS! I'M SICK OF ALL THESE BLASTED OWLS!"

Harry ducked around him and went back to his seat on the couch. The owl was lying still in his hands. He put it in his lap, took the letter off its leg, and groaned at the Ministry of Magic seal. While Vernon continued his rant, Harry opened it, and read in disbelief:

Improper Use of Magic Office

Ministry of Magic

London

Mr. Potter,

At approximately 7:10 this evening, an immobilizing charm was detected at your place of residence. This charm was detected to have been placed, not only in possible full view of muggles, but on a muggle. This is a level 3 security breach, and as such, you are to be placed on a one-month magic suspension, to begin on your seventeenth birthday. For that time, you are not allowed to perform magic, or voluntarily interact with any and all magical objects, or visit any magical locations other than your place of residence, and those places required for your place of employment, if applicable. If this reprimand is violated, you will be summoned before the Wizengamot.

Mr. Potter, I have written more letters to you, and seen the indicator light flash on your house more times than I would ever care to. The running joke around the office is we can use it as a lamp. You may be legal in one month, but if you commit the smallest infraction, your wand is mine, I don't care if you are the Chosen One.

Sincerely,

Mafalda Hopkirk

Improper Use of Magic Office

Harry read the letter again, torn between anger at the confusion of the Ministry, and amusement at Mafalda Hopkirk personifying her letter, which before had all been very business-like.

"Harry, mate, what's that all about? Is Scrimgeour trying to get you to do something for him again?" Ron asked.

Harry looked from the letter, and said, "No, they're suspending my right to do magic when I turn legal."

"WHAT!" Ron, Hermione, and Vernon all said at once.

"For what!"

"It wasn't that charm, was it?"

"Ooh, boy, you're in trouble again!"

They all spoke at once, and Harry waved them off, which just set Vernon off on another rant about the lack of discipline in the magical world, if they taught students to disrespect their elders. Harry turned to Ron and Hermione, while Hermione's parents still watched Vernon with a shocked and nervous look on their faces. "Yeah, it was."

"What? They can't do that, that was Hermione, she's allowed, she's seventeen." Ron said confusedly.

A look of realization had crossed Hermione's face, however. "Oh… They can't tell who did it…"

"Right, that's what… Dumbledore… told me last year when he picked me up. They only know that magic was performed around this house." Harry was not as upset as he thought he would be; he knew they could straighten it out with the Ministry.

"That's what they did to Dad, when we took the flying car," Ron said. "It drove Mum raving, because Dad actually enjoyed living without magic, like a muggle

"Give me that," Hermione took the letter and read it with a look of indignation. She then promptly flipped it over, put it on the end table, grabbed a pen that was sitting on the end table, and started writing. "This feels weird," She murmured.

"What, actually voluntarily sending a letter to the Ministry?" Harry asked.

"No, using a pen," Hermione said.

The owl stirred in Harry's lap, and hopped up, puffing its feathers defensively. If Hedwig was here, she would have given this guy a nasty look about now, Harry thought. As it was, Hedwig was out in the Granger's car with the luggage. The owl spread its wings, ready to leave. "Hold on, boy, we have another letter to send back with you," Harry said, stroking the owl's back. The owl gave a loud hoot and flew across to the end table where Hermione was writing. He stood there with his head cocked, looking very dignified. Harry sighed. Even the Ministry owls are pompous.

Hermione finished her letter, tied it to the owl's leg, and sent it off. "That should do it."

"What did you write?" Ron asked, while Vernon continued his spiel.

"I just told them that it was me who did the charm, it was in self-defense, and that Harry would have two fully qualified wizards staying with him for the next week or so."

"-BLOODY FREAKS!" Vernon finished. He stood there in front of Harry, who had ignored him entirely. His face was now its lovely shade of purple, which was fairly common anymore. He didn't seem to have heard Hermione's last comment.

"Did you hear that, Uncle Vernon?" asked Harry. "These two will be staying here for the next week. Then, them, and I, will leave and you'll never have to see us again."

Vernon stood, his mouth agape. He seemed to be torn between anger that Harry was telling him what to do, in his house, and joy that Harry, and the wizarding world, would be gone forever in a week, never to bother him again. Finally, anger seemed to win. "YOU'LL NOT BE KEEPING ANYONE HERE, YOU UNDERSTAND ME, BOY! YOU'LL… YOU'LL…" Then his eyes settled on Hermione. "I'LL NOT HAVE YOU LOT BREEDING UP THERE IN THAT ROOM!"

Everyone moved at once, except Hermione, who sat there, eyes wide open in shock. Mrs. Granger had to hold her husband back, who was lunging at Vernon. Harry got to his feet, and was about to speak, when Ron pushed past him, drew back his fist, and before anyone could stop him, punched Vernon squarely in the eye. Vernon fell back with a yell, and landed on his bottom on the floor. "WHO THE HELL DO YOU PEOPLE THINK YOU ARE, TO COME INTO MY HOME, TELL ME WHAT TO DO, AND THEN ATTACK ME WHEN I SAY I DON'T WANT YOU FREAKS STAYING HERE!"

Hermione gasped, and stared at Ron. Mr. Granger stopped struggling, but Mrs. Granger was looking between Ron and Hermione, with an intrigued look on her face. She didn't seem the least bit perturbed by the fight. Harry caught her eye, and just shrugged, rolling his eyes slightly. He moved up to stand next to Ron, who was standing over Vernon, massaging his knuckles. "One week is all. We'll stay out of your way, as long as you stay out of ours, I promise. I'm not asking, I'm telling you, they will stay with me." Then he turned away and started towards the door. "Come, on, let's get our stuff. Hermione got to her feet, with a sniff, and followed him out. Mr. Granger got up with a disdainful look at Vernon, and walked out with Ron right after him. Mrs. Granger was last to leave, and stopped at the door. She looked back at Vernon, who was still sitting on the floor with a look of pity and sadness. Then, she turned and followed the rest of them out.

Harry got to the car first, opened the door, and started pulling trunks and cages out. Ron was glaring back at the house, muttering about Vernon and what hexes would be good to try out. Hermione was still looking very upset, but seemed to take comfort in Ron's desire to test the Deadly Diarrhea Curse, a new invention of Fred and George's. "Oh, Ron, stop it. Honestly, it wasn't that bad," She said.

Ron stared incredulously. "Wasn't that bad? Wasn't that BAD! He said we were going to be – you know – " He sputtered for a moment.

Hermione just sighed. "He's just an fool who hates anything that's not like him."

Harry spoke up. "That's true. He doesn't know much of anything about the wizarding world, and thinks we're all just a bunch of backwoods barbarians, waving wands and chanting while doing tribal dances naked."

Ron and Hermione stared at him for a moment, their anger at Harry's uncle momentarily put aside. "What?" They both asked.

Harry shrugged. "What? He said that to me once," he said defensively. The other two kept staring. "Oh, shut up," He threw Crookshanks's crate at them, causing the ginger cat inside to yowl madly.

The three of them grabbed their trunks, and started hauling them towards the house. Mr. and Mrs. Granger each grabbed an additional bag. Harry looked at them questioningly. Hermione just grinned. "Later," she said. They carried their luggage inside, although Hermione had quite some difficulty carrying both her huge trunk and huge cat carrier. Once they were inside, and shut the door, she turned to Ron. "Can you levitate my trunk upstairs? I can't do it and carry Crookshanks at the same time, and he hates being levitated," she asked.

"Okay," Ron said, and started to levitate the two trunks up the steps.

"Hey, what about me?" Harry asked jokingly.

"Carry your own, it builds character," he said, echoing Fred and George from the previous Christmas.

"Oh, come on," Harry said. Ron was now at the top of the stairs.

"Alright then," he said.

Ron pointed his wand down at Harry's trunk, and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

A small ball of light flew from his wand at Harry's trunk, but narrowly missed and hit Harry's leg instead. The last thing Harry remembered was the ceiling suddenly being very close, and then everything was black.

"Ennervate," Harry heard, and woke up lying on his bed to see Hermione standing over him. She smiled, and then backed up. Harry sat up and rubbed his head, where a sore spot was forming. Ron was sitting in the chair by the desk, and Mr. and Mrs. Granger were standing by the door, looking apprehensive. The owl's cages were open, and Crookshanks was out, sniffing around the room. Hermione looked at him. "Don't worry, you were only out for about two minutes," she said.

Harry rubbed his head again. "What happened?"

"I missed," said Ron sheepishly.

"But why did it send me flying?" Harry asked. It was just a levitating charm, not a – a banishing charm, or anything like that."

"Harry, don't you remember anything from first year?" Hermione sighed. "The charm Ron used is for objects, there's a separate spell for people. Use Wingardium Leviosa on a person, and, well…" She motioned to Harry's head.

Harry looked at Ron. "Work on your aim!"

"Oh, shut up, you can't honestly say that was that bad, considering all the other hits you've taken, and not whined about!" Ron said good-naturedly.

The tawny Ministry owl chose that moment to return, swooping down through the open window, and straight into Harry's head. "Owww!" he yelled, rubbing the spot where it hit. The owl jumped up and twittered angrily, probably from being injured two times at the same house.

Ron, Hermione, and even the Grangers started cracking up at the timing of the owl.

"Speaking of hits," Mr. Granger said, laughing. The owl stuck out its leg, which had a fresh letter attached, and turned its head away. Harry took the letter off, and the owl flew over to a shelf where it perched, preening its feathers. Harry thought it looked like it was trying to restore some dignity, but the effect was ruined when Hedwig flew at it angrily, squawking. The other owl quickly flew away, and out the window, hitting its wing on the frame as it left. Hedwig then took the tawny owl's spot on the shelf, and began preening herself also. Harry gave a small laugh at this, and then turned his attention to the envelope. It was then he noticed for the first time what it said.

Miss Hermione Granger

4 Privet Drive

Little Whinging, Surrey

"Oh," he said. "It's for you." He tossed it at Hermione. She caught it, and opened it. As soon as she made the first rip, a yellow light shot out at her, and hit her in the chest.

"Hermione!" Her mother screamed. Hermione, however, stood there quite unaffected. She paused then looked down at the envelope, a suspicious look on her face.

"I wouldn't open that if I were you, Hermione," said Ron. "It might do more, and we don't know what that was."

"It's from the Ministry, they don't mean us any harm," she said. Harry snorted, and
Hermione gave him a patronizing look. "Just because they're a bunch of idiots, that doesn't make them Death Eaters."

"I'm more scared of the idiots than the Death Eaters," Harry said.

"Are you sure its from the Ministry?" Ron asked. "Was it the same owl?"

"Same bad aim," Mr. Granger said with a smirk at Harry. Mrs. Granger, however, still seemed worried about what had happened to Hermione.

"I don't think it's safe," she said simply.

"Angela, honey, I'm sure it's just a letter."

"Then what was that light!"

While her parents argued, Hermione went ahead and opened the letter. She read it, and her mouth opened in wild indignation. "What!"

Her parents stopped their bickering, which Harry though had sounded rather like Ron and Hermione, and both said simultaneously, "What?"

She handed Harry the letter. "Well, they scrapped your punishment," she said.

Harry took the letter and read aloud:

Improper Use of Magic Office

Ministry of Magic

London

Miss Granger,

In reply to your letter regarding the incident at Number Four, Privet Drive, Mr. Potter's punishment is hereby rescinded. It is instead placed upon you, effective immediately. A tracking charm was contained in this envelope, which I'm sure you noticed. We have obtained a blueprint of Number Four, Privet Drive, and will be following your movements for the next month. The Immobilizing Charm may have been used in self-defense, but it was still in plain view of the muggle street. Surely you could have devised a thoroughly non-magical method of dealing with the situation.

In regards to you and your companion living with Mr. Potter in his home for one week, I'm afraid that time will have to be extended to the duration of your sentence. You are essentially under house arrest.

Sincerely,

Mafalda Hopkirk

Improper Use of Magic Office

As soon as he finished reading this, everyone erupted in annoyance.

"How can they do this, it was self-defense-"

"What kind of idiot-"

"Will this go on your record?-"

"We have to stay here for a full MONTH!"

The last one was Harry, for he had been anxiously awaiting for sixteen years the day he could leave the Dursleys behind him forever, and now that that day would take even the slightest bit longer, he found himself wanting to find Mafalda Hopkirk and perhaps trying out Fred and George's Volatile Vomit hex. That would show her what Improper Use of Magic really is, he thought.

"Non-magical garbage, he was going to kill you! What kind of idiots are running this place?" Mr. Granger asked angrily.

"We've been trying to figure that out for a while, Mr. Granger," Ron said. "That's just not right, Hermione, you didn't do anything to be punished for. You saved me from getting my head bashed in, you should get a medal! Instead, they're not letting you use magic."

"And not letting us leave," Harry said. Hermione stared at him with an astonished look on her face.

"Did you notice that I can't do magic now? Or were you too busy fretting over having to stay with your relatives for a little longer?" She wasn't too pleased with Harry's lack of sympathy, for she had expressed plenty when it had been him in that position.

Harry sighed guiltily. "I'm sorry, Hermione, it's just – well – you'll see, after three days with the Dursleys you'll want to leave too."

Hermione sniffed at him, and turned back to her parents. "Thanks for driving us here, I think we're okay now."

Mr. Granger gave her a quick hug, said goodbye, and walked out. Mrs. Granger did the same, but whispered something that made Hermione blush, and go, "Mum!" Mrs. Granger smiled, said goodbye to Harry and Ron, and followed her husband out the door.

The door shut, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione were left alone. "Well, Ron, I think you and Hermione are going to need a place to sleep," Harry said. "The floor is pretty uncomfortable."

"Right," Ron said, but didn't move. He just stood there, looking between the two of them. He obviously didn't get what Harry was telling him.

"Oh, honestly," Hermione said. She pulled his wand out of his pocket, and put it in his hand. "He means, make beds. You're the only one who can, now."

"Oh, right," Ron said, catching on, while Hermione rolled her eyes. "Conjurus Camp Beds!" he said, and one very wide cot appeared.

Hermione turned back to him. "We might need two," she said sarcastically.

"Right," said Ron again. "I don't really want to sleep with you."

There was an awkward silence following this pronouncement, where Ron turned more red than Harry had ever seen him. Hermione raised her eyebrows in surprise, and Harry slapped his forehead, laughing silently. Ron, you great stupid prat, think about what you say!

"W-What I meant was – " Ron started.

"I know what you meant," Hermione said, still staring at him with a slightly amused look on her face. They looked at each other for a moment, then Hermione suddenly turned away and walked to her trunk. Ron looked like he wanted to stick his head in the wall, but Harry thought he saw a small smile on Hermione's face as she opened her trunk.

He sighed. They really need to do something about this…

After Ron succeeded in making two smaller beds, and they had gotten themselves unpacked, Hermione opened the two bags her parents had brought her, which contained, to no one's surprise, books. There were books about Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Occlumency, Legilimency, and many others. "I figure," she said, "If we're not going back to Hogwarts, we have to learn somehow. I ordered these before you ever said you weren't returning just for some enrichment -"

"Enrichment!" Ron interrupted.

"- But we all could use it," Hermione finished.

There was a hoot from outside, and they all turned to see another owl flying at them very fast. Harry quickly jumped out of the way, but this one landed gracefully on the windowsill, and held out its leg. Harry pulled off the letter, and the owl took off.

"Not another Ministry owl, is it? I'm of age, I'm allowed to make camp beds," Ron said, blushing again slightly.

"No, it's from Lupin," Harry said, frowning. He read the letter aloud.

Dear H (and H and R),

We still have to talk in code names, so make due the best you can. I heard it from Crazy-Ear and Royal that H and R were staying with you this summer, and I just want to say that this is a good idea. I'm always worried about you doing something rash, even more so now that Agnes Dinkle's gone, and I know that they'll talk some sense into you if you do decide to do something. I know it sounds harsh, and I'm sorry, but there's no other way to put it, I know it's hard, losing Snuffles and Dinkle just a year apart. I know exactly how you feel, they meant just as much to me as they did to you. I'm not with the werewolves anymore. There was a large fight last night (full moon), and several werewolves were killed, and some mangled beyond recognition. I escaped in the fray, so hopefully they'll think I'm one of the bodies. I'm at headquarters now, fulltime. I expect soon I'll know how Snuffles felt. If you need to tell us anything, or if you just need to talk, you can just owl me.

Moony

P.S.: I know my names are bad, but I was never good at this whole covertness thing.

Harry smiled, and laughed at the names Lupin had come up with, which were indeed very bad: It was painstakingly obvious who Lupin was talking about, although he had come up with a good name for Kingsley. He wondered what Dumbledore would have thought about being referred to as Agnes Dinkle, and that just made the truth that much harder. He pushed that thought aside, however, and said sarcastically, "Come on, let's go downstairs and tell my uncle the good news about us staying here."

Ron and Hermione laughed, and walked out and down the stairs with Harry. When they got to the living room, they saw that Petunia was home, and was staring in horror at Vernon, whose eye was turning a dark purple. Vernon had apparently told her about their conversation, because she turned to them, and said, "One week, and then you're out of this house for good."

Harry smiled. "Actually, Aunt Petunia, we'll be here for a full month. House arrest, you see. So, we'll be here to keep you company for even longer." And, savoring the horror-struck looks on his aunt and uncle's faces, he turned and went back up the stairs laughing, with Ron and Hermione in tow. Maybe the next month won't be that bad, after all.

44