"Mr. Weasley! It's nice to see you. Does this mean…?"
"Yes Harry, we've come to fetch you. Are you ready? Molly's in the car."
"I'll go get my trunk." Harry turned back up the stairs and Mr. Weasley said, "I'll help you Harry."
Harry took the stairs two at a time. He was finally leaving the house and people who hated him.
Mr. Weasley looked around Harry's bedroom. "I like what you've done to the place Dobby. Very nice indeed." Dobby, who appeared from the bathroom smiled. "You'll have to undo all this when we leave though; just for precaution."
Harry tossed his homework that he'd been working on into the top of the trunk and shut it. Mr. Weasley said "Scourgify" over Hedwig's cage and shut the door with the owl inside. "Here Harry, you take Hedwig, and I'll take the trunk. I can levitate it downstairs."
As they headed back downstairs, Uncle Vernon was bellowing about the floating trunk. A string of expletives came pouring out of his mouth as Mr. Weasley pointed his wand at Uncle Vernon's mouth and said in a clear concise voice, "Scourgify"
Bubbles not words came out of Uncle Vernon's mouth next. Mr. Weasley smiled at him and said, "Useful little spell that is. It cleans up the bottom of birdcages and other nasty things. You'll have to rinse your mouth out a few times to get rid of that taste I'm afraid." Mr. Weasley said to Vernon. He turned to Harry and winked. "Well, it's time we were off."
"Goodbye Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon". Aunt Petunia looked shocked. She whispered bye as Uncle Vernon waved him off and shut the door behind him.
"That was brilliant Mr. Weasley." Harry was smiling. Mr. Weasley smiled back. "Thanks Harry, But I'd appreciate you not telling Molly about this. She might not understand." Harry nodded.
Mrs. Weasley got out of the car as they approached and after Harry put Hedwig's cage in the back seat, pulled him into a great big bear hug. Harry could see Aunt Petunia peeking out of the front window and smirked. He hugged Mrs. Weasley right back.
Mr. Weasley made a little noise and then said. "Well, we'd better be off. We've got to get you back to safety." They climbed into the car and drove off.
"Um, Mr. Weasley, is it safe coming to pick me up in broad daylight?"
"You don't think that we'd have done it if it wasn't safe now did you Harry? We have a few members of the order with us here, and a few were stationed at the Dursleys permanently. They were all wearing invisibility cloaks of course.
"Say hi to Harry, Tonks." Mrs. Weasley said.
Suddenly there was a rustling beside him and a Turquoise coloured head showed itself.
"Watcher Harry. How ya doing? She pulled her hood back on and became invisible again.
"I'm not supposed to be visible. It's best if you keep looking ahead when you are talking to me. It will be less suspicious."
Harry turned to face the front of the car. "So what's been happening? What's Voldemort been up too?" Mr. And Mrs. Weasley cringed in the front seat. " Are we going to headquarters or the Burrow?"
"We'll tell you what we know Harry" Mr. Weasley said. "But not everything Harry, you're still under aged," Mrs. Weasley added.
"As far as we can tell, V…V…Voldemort has been gathering his supporters in the northern part of England. There have been a few small attacks on muggle villages. Several injuries have been reported, some severe, but no deaths. We think that V…Voldemort is just testing the waters. We've treated their injuries, and obliviated them so there has been relatively little damage. Professor Snape has been able to inform us that so far, the numbers of death eaters is relatively small and we've been able to recruit some powerful allies to our cause. Now that the Ministry of Magic is cooperating and recognizing the fact that Voldemort is back, it has been a lot easier to contact people.
"We will be going to the Burrow first for a week or two, and then to Headquarters for the last two or three weeks of summer holidays." Harry jumped at this because he had forgotten that Tonks was sitting right beside him. "We have to keep moving you around to keep you safe."
"Oh Harry, Ron asked me to tell you that he's sorry he couldn't come to meet you with us, but he is helping Bill and Charlie set up the wards around the house. And Harry, we couldn't be more proud of you if you we're are own son. Ron told us you made you made Head boy. Bravo!" Mrs. Weasley finished.
Harry turned a scarlet red. "I think that Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore made a mistake Mrs. Weasley. I mean really…"
"Nonsense Harry," added Tonks.
Mr. Weasley said.
"Harry, I spoke with Albus about this when I heard and it's no mistake. He feels that you would make an excellent Head boy with superior leadership qualities and your knowledge concerning Voldemort and the advanced knowledge you possess in the Defence against the Darks Arts. This is going to be called into service in the months to come."
If it was possible, Harry felt his blush go all the way to his toes. No one had ever given him such a compliment. He smiled but said now more on it.
The rest of the trip passed pleasantly as they talked about Quidditch, school, and the Burrow. After about 2 hours, they pulled up the lane to the rickety old house. It was a beautiful sight to see.
As they got out of the car, the Weasley clan came out of the house to greet them. Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred and George, Ron and Ginny came up to them each shaking his hand and welcoming him except for Ginny who through her arms around him and gave him a hug. "Welcome home Harry!" They all piped in unison. That was the second time that day that Harry had blushed a Scarlet red.
"Ginny, lay off, give him some air." Fred and George were grinning. She stepped back with a small tinge of pink on her cheeks. Harry had never felt as happy as when he was around the Weasleys.
"Good to see ya mate," said Ron. "How have you been?"
"Not bad, better now since Dobby came to take care of me."
"Ya, we heard about that. He'll be arriving later on today. He seemed to feel that you needed him."
"Is there going to be any room here? It looks as if it's going to be a houseful," Harry asked.
"Not a problem. Dobby said that he'd just do to the house what he did to your bedroom." Mr. Weasley added. He was grinning. "And maybe I'll just ask him to leave it that way when everyone heads to headquarters."
"Yes, I didn't know Dobby could be such a great interior decorator. I'd love for you to have a bathroom like he made for me."
Fred and George grabbed Harry's trunk from the car and hauled it into the house. Percy grabbed Hedwig and her cage from the backseat and was startled when Tonks voice said. "Be careful Percy, she's a little agitated from the car ride." Tonks was still invisible. She pulled off her hood and stepped from the car.
"Nice shade of blue Tonks," Bill remarked referring to her hair.
"Thanks Bill." She took the invisibility cloak off and folded it in her arms.
"Are you staying too Tonks?" Harry asked.
"Yep, one Auror on site at all times. I'll be taking first watch. Madeye, Kingsley, Remus, and the others will be rotating with me. As well, we will have several members of the Order on site too and since most of the Weasley clan is in the order, we won't be needing too many extra's in the next couple of weeks."
They all filed into the house now and Mrs. Weasley said. "Well, I'd better start dinner, it's getting late."
"I'll help you Molly," Tonks offered.
"Umm… thanks Tonks. Ginny, I'll need your help too."
"Why is it always a female that has to do kitchen work?" She huffed.
"Oh all right, Miss Women's Lib. Bill, Charlie, Percy, any takers?
"Sure Mum," Bill said.
"Come on Harry, we'll get your things upstairs and then let Hedwig out for a stretch. Maybe even catch a few rounds of exploding snap before supper." Ron said.
"Well, I'll return the car Molly and be home in an hour." Mr. Weasley said.
"All right dear. But no lingering at the office."
They brought Harry's trunk upstairs to Ron's room, let him unpack a few things, and then headed outside to let Harry release Hedwig. She hopped out of the cage onto Harry's outstretched arm and ruffled her feathers.
"Go ahead Hedwig, you deserve a nice long fly. You've been cooped up for far too long. Have a nice time. But be careful." Harry told her. Harry smiled lovingly at her. She cooed and then took flight.
They all sat at the magically enlarged picnic table and played exploding snap until Mrs. Weasley called for them to wash up for dinner. As they were about to sit down for dinner, a sudden crack filled the air. Tonks, Bill, Charlie, and the twins Fred and George all got to their feet and pulled their wands quickly.
"A little jumpy aren't we boys… and girl? Mr. Weasley chuckled. The group withdrew their wands and laughed as well. Mr. Weasley joined them at the table. They stopped laughing however when another crack broke the silence. Again, the Weasley crew and Tonks jumped to their feet but before they could pull their wands a small voice said. "Dobby is sorry to have scare Harry Potters' Weasy's." He poked his head around the dining room door, a sheepish grin on his face.
"No problem Dobby," Mrs. Weasley said. "We're just a little unused to having such high security here at the burrow."
Everyone laughed and Dobby's grin widened.
"Come join us for dinner Dobby." Mrs. Weasley implored.
Dobby looked shocked and then began to sob. Harry got up from the table and went over to Dobby.
"What's wrong Dobby?" Dobby sobbed all the harder and didn't it was a few minutes before he regained control of himself.
"Dobby has never been asked to have dinner with the wizards, Harry Potter sir. Dobby is not worthy."
"Of course you are Dobby, you are ten times as worthy. You are a great friend and confidante and I feel blessed that you have chosen to come and help me this summer."
At this Dobby was full out crying now. Then Harry did something to Dobby that Dobby had never had done before. Harry reached down and hugged Dobby.
Dobby blinked and then became silent, his eyes growing larger by the minute. Harry stepped back and beckoned Dobby to the table where the rest had make space beside Harry. They began to eat Mrs. Weasleys wonderful meal of fried chicken, potatoes, and corn on the cob, salad, and pumpkin juice.
Harry lie in bed that night, content that he no longer had to suffer the Dursleys for another year. He listened to Ron's soft snores, turned over, and fell asleep.
Harry awoke the next morning at around 6 a.m. It would be quite awhile yet before anyone else in the house stirred. He got out of bed, changed quietly, and headed downstairs, stopping briefly to use the loo on the main floor. He went outside into the garden and sat in one of the comfortable chairs overlooking the pond. He felt so relaxed that he didn't even realize that someone was swimming in the pond until he heard a splash.
"Hi Ginny."
More splashes came as Ginny Weasley sputtered.
"Merlin's Beard Harry, you scared the living daylights out of me. No one ever is up this early in my house."
"Sorry, I didn't think anyone else was up. I just came out to savour the happy feelings of being here."
"It's nice to have you here too Harry. You belong here!"
Ginny swam close to shore and then stepped out of the pond. She was wearing a green, one-piece suit with high cut thighs that accentuated her long legs. Her long red hair lay glistening down her back. She was very streamlined and she looked very attractive in that suit. He stared at her. Was this the same Ginny Weasley who cried after her brothers at the train station in his first year at Hogwarts? 'No definitely not!' He thought. 'Definitely not!'
"Harry, you are going to catch flies with your mouth open like that. Could you hand me my towel? It's on the back of your chair."
Her eyes were twinkling.
Harry promptly shut his gaping mouth and jumped up to retrieve her towel and handed it to her. She towelled off quickly, wrapped it around her, and then sat down beside Harry. He too sat back down, but had the unmistakable blush that he was so used to yesterday.
"So um, do you swim every morning?"
"Most mornings, when it's nice. It's very relaxing and I enjoy the peace and quiet before the storm hits the household when my brothers wake up." She laughed.
Harry mad a mental note to wake up early every morning to watch her step from the pond and his blush deepened.
It must be quite a lot to handle with 6 brothers?"
"It's alright most of the time, but it can be a bit draining and sometimes I just need my own space."
"I'm sorry to intrude on your privacy. Maybe I should go back up to the house?" Harry said as he was about to get up from the chair."
"No don't go. I wanted to ask you something anyways."
She reached for his arm and pulled him back down into the chair. He could feel the warmth radiate in his arm from her hand which she did not remove.
"Harry, how are you doing? I mean honestly, you haven't really said much to Ron and Hermione this summer about what happened last year. And then you arrive here looking like death warmed over. And that's after a few weeks of Dobby taking care of you!" She looked searchingly into his eyes. "How are you Harry?"
He looked back into those beautiful brown eyes of hers and felt the truth come pouring out. He turned back to look at the pond and said.
"It was all my fault! Sirius's death, your injuries, Neville's, Hermione's, Ron's, Luna's. It was all my fault."
"Harry James Potter! Did you use the curse that sent Sirius threw the veil? Did you concoct that plot to force you to go to the Ministry? Did you force us to go with you to the Ministry? I don't bloody well think so. You're a smart wizard Harry, but not that manipulative. We went on our own accord to help you because we love you. All of us, Sirius included. There are things we could have done differently yes, but we can't change the past. We have to move on and not forget the past and the people who mean so much to us!"
She put her hand on his and clasped it. Harry sat there, looking forward trying to keep back the tears that were threatening to spill. They sat for a quite awhile hand in hand before she spoke again.
"Harry, you have a big heart and when you love someone, you do it proper. It's all right to grieve Sirius's death, but you must never blame yourself for wanting to save him. He did the same for you, he wouldn't want you to blame yourself like this, and you know it." She added softly. "I'm going up to the house and change. See you at breakfast." She squeezed his hand and as she got up, Harry squeezed back and said.
"Thanks Gin."
She smiled and walked up the garden to the house. He sat for a while longer contemplating what she had said to him. She had shaken him out of his stupor of the last few months and he realized she was right. He had to keep moving forward. Dealing with Voldemort was going to be hard enough without this weight around his neck. He looked down at his hand. Just a short time ago, she was holding it and it was still tingling from her touch. He smiled and thought how goofy he was feeling remembering that touch. He got up and slowly walked back up to the house.