Author's Note: Hey everyone! We (Jess and I) are glad that you made it past the first chapter! I (Zoe) love reading your reviews and they can definitely act as encouragement and make me post faster. (Hint) Happy reading!

Chapter 2: Headquarters

Almost five AM, back in Europe, Harry Potter fell from the fireplace at Number 12, Grimmauld Place, in London. The four owls twittered madly as they flew quickly from the flu port, and their disgusted opinions of the quick ride from Privet drive were obvious. Harry tried to smile at the stunned members of The Order as he pushed himself up and adjusted his glasses. Harry felt himself flush awkwardly as he pulled his trunk and other things onto the threshold, and was almost relieved when the silence was broken by a warm shriek of welcome coming from Mrs. Weasley's direction.

"Harry, dear!"

"Hullo," Harry said, smiling as Ron's mother enveloped him in a tight hug.

"We weren't expectin' you 'Arry." Harry looked over Mrs. Weasley's shoulder to see Hagrid, his hair bushier than ever, sitting at the table over a large plate of potatoes and steak next to Remus Lupin.

"They kicked me out," said Harry, somewhat bluntly. "The Dursleys- Vernon said never to come back again."

There was a shocked silence in which even the large clock seemed to stop ticking. From next to Hagrid, Lupin got calmly out of his chair.

"I'll go notify the ministry- have someone go talk to these muggles."

"Mrs. Figg is talking to them right now. She went right after I left from her house."

"Still, she's a squib. It won't take even them long to realize that. She needs backup. I'll wake Tonks and Moody. We'll go in five minutes." He walked quickly from the room.

Mrs. Weasley pulled Harry back into a hug.

"It's going to be ok dear. Why don't you go upstairs? There's a bed ready next to Ron. Try not to wake him though, sweetie."

………………………

Harry woke far into the next day. The sun was shining through the bedroom window and he could hear pigeons clucking outside on the muggle street. Harry guessed that it was almost noon. Sliding his glasses over his nose, he stood up and felt the blood rush to his head. Feeling slightly dizzy, Harry waited for his vision to clear, then stretched.

Just as he was about to leave the room, someone else rushed in.

"Ron!" Exclaimed Harry.

Ron grinned from ear to ear.

"Harry! Mum said you arrived early this morning. I've been up for hours. She wouldn't let me wake you."

Harry smiled as he sat back down on his bed. Ron took the bed opposite.

"It's so good to be back," Harry said.

"I know," replied his friend. "This house is actually pretty cool now that we cleaned it up a bit. Still got some problems though. More doxies have hatched in the drawing room drapes."

Harry groaned.

"Hey! Did you open your presents, mate?"

"Oh, no, I didn't. But I can do that now I guess."

Harry got up and walked to his trunk. "The owls gave me quite a bit of a surprise; and my Uncle too, especially since they came at four AM." Harry grinned as he opened his trunk, when they were suddenly hit with another wave of Happy Birthday;

"Happy Birthday dear Har-ry,

Happy Birthday to you-oo!

And man-ny more!"

Ron groaned. "That's what they put on the owls! That's not why you got kicked out though was it?"

"Fred and George did this? You didn't know what?"

"Shut the trunk, Harry." Ron looked slightly mortified as the hats began singing the song all over again. Harry obliged his friend's wishes, grabbing the presents before he snapped the trunk shut.

"So you didn't know- about anything?"

Ron looked somewhat guiltily at his feet. "Well- I didn't know exactly what they were going to do, Harry. You have to understand. They- they didn't want me to see their new inventions. But I knew that they were doing something. They just sent me out of the room and let the owls fly off without me." Ron grinned. "But- well- if it wasn't the hats- then, why are you here?"

"Um, well- I never said that it wasn't because of the hats-" It was Harry's turn to look guilty.

"No way!" Ron's eyes were the size of saucers as he stared at Harry. "Mum is going to kill them once she finds out. Her grudge against them for starting the joke shop was sort of over when they bought the family a new car at the beginning of summer vacation. It's a mini van. Could have gotten something sportier but I guess it is the only model we can fit the whole family in."

Harry gave a weak halfhearted smile. "Yeah, it's cool that they got your parents a car though." He returned to the bed with the three packages, sitting next to Ron. You couldn't hear the hats anymore; he was glad. Opening Ron's present first, he found it to be the usual pies from Mrs. Weasley, along with several more hats from the twins (Harry, these are our newest creation. You're the first to own one!) And…

"Ron! Wow! This candy is going to last all year long!" Ron had given him a box stuffed full with Ice Mice, Pepper Imps, Chocolate Frogs, Drouple's Best Blowing Gum and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Grinning hugely, Harry ripped open the bag of chocolate frogs and they gorged themselves while opening the package from Hagrid.

The box with Hagrid's gift contained two almost identical items that looked very much like furry, dead animals. The box also held a note written in Hagrid's untidy scrawl.

These are made from the same stuff as my beaver skin coat. I hope you like them, Harry. I thought that you might want something to keep your hands warm next winter.

"I get it!" Ron finally said after a few moments confusion. "They're gloves!"

Next Harry opened Hermione's letter.

Dear Harry,

How has your summer been? Mine has been terrific so far. My family spent the first week scuba diving in Bonaire, an island off Venezuela. I took a course for the first 4 days, and then I was able to go with my parents and a guide. The fish were beautiful. It was very fun except for the one time I couldn't see the others and thought I was lost. I panicked then, and I made a fool out of myself, but hopefully the fish that I kicked during my search wasn't hurt too badly.

Ron has written me and asked me to come to Headquarters but I don't know when I'm going to go yet- I said I'd come once you arrived so that we could all be together. So, when are you going?

Ron also wrote to me to send my owl to him first, apparently Fred and George want to do some thing to them. Ron said that it would make you laugh. I wonder if it did. You can tell me when I see you next. I hope they didn't do anything too rash or stupid. I miss you tons.

Can't wait to see you again,

Hermione

PS: If you are already with Ron, tell him that I said 'hello' and that I miss him as well.

Ron asked to read the letter and Harry handed it over, beginning to unwrap the present.

"Oh wow," Harry whispered. "Look, she's gotten me a camera." Inside the wrapping paper was a black and silver camera with a large lens and flash. It looked like it had cost a lot of money. There was also a note.

Harry- I thought you might like a camera. It's an ordinary muggle one, but I've also included the recipe for a special potion that will make the pictures move. The directions are on the other sheet of paper.

"I thought it was a book, she always gives books, I guess she really outdid herself this time though. She's really something, Hermione is," said Ron after he had finished reading the note over Harry's shoulder.

"Yeah," replied Harry, smiling and examining the camera. "I've always wanted one of these. Dudley has about five but I'm never aloud near any of them." Just then, Ron's younger sister Ginny walked into the room.

"Hi Harry," she said to him, then, addressing Ron as well, she continued. "Mum wants everyone to come down for lunch."

The two boys got up quickly. Five minutes later they came into the kitchen, all three of them wearing Birthday hats. For some reason, the hats had stopped singing. The twins yelped with joy when they came in wearing the hats. Grabbing one from each Harry and Ron, who had each been wearing two, they pulled the elastics over their heads. Mrs. Weasley however, did not notice the hats until they had all been seated at the table.

"Take those of at once! No hats at the table." Ron was the only one who complained.

"But Mum, we're celebrating Harry's birthday!"

"I said- take them off!"

Grumpily, Harry, Ginny and Ron took off their hats. Fred and George didn't seem to mind at all though. They removed theirs without complaint. All five of them began to smile though, as the hats began another large and out-of-tune chorus of 'Happy Birthday Harry.'

"What on earth!" Mrs. Weasley was confused.

"They only sing when they aren't on a head." George explained.

"We keep them on mannequins at the shop," said Fred. Even Mrs. Weasley laughed at this.

"Fine! Put them on then! Just make them stop making that dreadful noise!"

Gleefully, all five returned the hats to their heads, where they stopped singing immediately. George, who was sitting next to Harry, began to explain their newest product.

"We needed something different, now that the skiving snack boxes are out." He said. "Most people think that Birthday hats look stupid, or are unacceptable, like Mum, but obviously, they make the party much more fun. So, now since they sing something really annoying if you don't wear them, you have to wear them! We put a little extra enchantments on yours though, so they would write."

"Oy Ron!" Fred gestured to his brother, who was sitting across the table. "Haven't been practicing lately, have you?"

Ron swallowed a mouthful of string beans and took a sip of his water. Harry looked confused.

"No." Ron grimaced, his expression slightly guilty.

"Practice what?" But George pushed Harry's question aside before Ron could answer.

"Ron! You said you'd practice. Fred and I spent money on that set and we didn't plan for it to sit around in the case for months at a time!"

"Mum; can you make them stop?"

"They have a perfectly good point Ron. A collapsible drum set is a big investment of time and money, and you said you'd make use of it. Making use of it means practicing."

"A collapsible drum set?" Harry felt like he was being left in the dark.

"Fred and I said that we'd buy him something as a late birthday present since business at the shop has been going so well. He's played it about three times since June and we spent so much getting him one that shrunk enough to put in his trunk."

"That isn't true! I've practiced at least four times," Ron protested, and then continued. "Anyway, I practiced in my room, so there isn't any way for you to know when I play!"

"Everyone could hear you practicing Ron; it was deafening. We almost died those few times."

"Then I'll never play again ok, if I'm that horrible."

"See George, I told you that this was a bad idea. And Ron, why on earth did you want to have a drum set anyway? Why not a guitar? At first it seemed cool, but now- well- gentle twanging would be much better."

"Ron wanted to be more intellectual." Ginny explained to Harry, giggling. "He thought that playing an instrument would make the girls like him."

"Well, it's true. Victor Krum plays the piano!" Ron looked around the table defiantly. When he saw everyone's surprised expressions, he began listing more people. "And- and- I bet Cedric Diggory played something, and you play the piano too Ginny. Cedric got Cho, and Krum got Hermione. You've had multiple boyfriends already Ginny. You're going out with Dean now, and just to mention it, he's been playing guitar for five years. It just feels stupid to be the only person who doesn't have a bloody girlfriend!"

"Oh Ronnie, this isn't what your life has turned into, is it? The main priority at this point in your life is not girls: it's grades. You shouldn't worry about things like that till you've finished school." Mrs. Weasley was looking concerned.

"It is true honey," Ron's father joined the conversation. "I felt like I'd never have a chance with you. Everyone you fell for played an instrument and I couldn't afford it. Michael played the bagpipes, and Edward played the violin, and of course there was that one bloke who wouldn't part with his harmonica. They made me feel so intimidated."

"Oh honey-"

"Harry and Cho went out last year and Harry doesn't play anything." Ginny tried to support Ron, even though she had started up the topic.

"That's true." Harry found his voice. "And you should hear me sing."

"Well, Ron; since having a girl depends on musical talent, and you don't want to practice I guess you'll never have a girlfriend."

"Fine! I'll go practice already!" Ron tore off his birthday hat and slammed it down on his half empty plate. He managed to leave the room just before it began singing again.

George snapped the elastic over his own head to make the hat stop its horrid chanting, and the whole family sat in a suspended silence until they heard the horrible banging of Ron's drums overhead. Then Mrs. Weasley said something over the din.

"Well, grades should be his target right now. I never knew- well, I just never knew that he cared so much about..."

Harry looked over towards Ginny as Mrs. Weasley's voice trailed off and she got up to refill everyone's plates. Harry grinned. There was a lot that Mrs. Weasley didn't know.

…………………………

Meanwhile over the ocean, Alexis looked out the window at the clouds. She was onboard a plane on her way to England. Her sister had gotten an offer in a famous hair studio. This job paid much more then the ones she had in New York. Alexis hoped life would be easier living in London. Her sister would work in Muggle London and Alexis would be going to a different Witchcraft school called Hogwarts. She was excited (boys with accents! Yay!) and there was only three weeks until the beginning of term. Though there were many people at her school in New York, they had always lived near by.

The school had been a day school; this year she would for the first time be going to a boarding school. She looked down at the pamphlet in he lap. There were many cool things about Hogwarts that were different from her old school. First of all, they were aloud to have their own owls at school. Though she didn't have one, it would be interesting to see the birds bringing the mail every morning. She wanted to bring Nieve with her for company but the pamphlet said that only toads, owls and cats were aloud. She would just have to smuggle her dog in.

…………………………

At Headquarters, back in London, Harry had finished his meal and excused himself from the table with great speed, taking the steps three at a time towards Ron's horrible noise.

"That sounds pretty good." He raised his voice over the din as he closed the bedroom door behind him and took a seat on the bed, trying hard not to wince. Ron ended his routine with several hard clashes on the cymbals.

"I'm no good. I'll never be any good."

"No Ron, that was-"

"You know it stunk to bloody Hell, Harry. So don't lie."

"You'll get better. Hermione used to tell me that practice makes perfect when I was working for the third task. She would push me to try it over and over again and when I finally got it there was a big celebration. Well, a celebration in my head, she just had me start something new."

"Don't mention Hermione. I don't want to hear her name right now."

Harry looked at the floor, confused. At that moment Ginny popped her head in.

"So, Harry, I heard Hermione gave you a camera. Can I see?"

…………………………

The next few weeks were very enjoyable for Harry. Mrs. Weasley's good cooking was nothing like the food he received when with the Dursleys, and he treasured every bite. Harry, Ron and Ginny had fun with Harry's new camera, taking pictures of everything, including Kreecher (an obsessive house-elf,) and developing them in the dark closet in one of the unused bedrooms. Then they would place the pictures all over the house, no matter who or what they contained. The only time that was not fun for Harry was when Mrs. Weasley discovered why Harry no longer lived with his aunt and uncle.

It happened one afternoon, towards the end of the week, when Harry, Ron, and Ginny were just about to go upstairs to develop the film in their newly acquired dark room. Harry had one foot out the kitchen door and the other two were already sneaking past the large portrait of Mrs. Black, the late Sirius Black's mother. Hagrid, Tonks and Mrs. Weasley were all in the kitchen behind him.

"Harry dear," said Mrs. Wealsey. "Can I discuss something with you?"

"Uh... Ok." Harry removed his foot from outside and returned to the kitchen table.

"The Dursleys complained that you did magic the one morning before you came here. That's why they threw you out. Is that true?"

Harry stared at her for a moment; he had been thinking that she would talk to him about Sirius, his godfather who had died recently or going back to school, least of all this.

"Uhhh…" Harry didn't know how to begin. "I didn't do any magic, at least I don't think so."

"Then what was it dear?"

"I-I guess that the owls made a sort of racket when they came in, they were wearing, um, lots of decorations." Mrs. Weasley squinted at him suspiciously but Harry continued before she could say anything. "But I made a lot of noise going downstairs from getting a drink of water too." Harry stared at the floor.

"Do you mean to day that the owls were wearing birthday hats, and that they began singing?"

Harry jumped up. "I have to go to the bathroom," he lied. "Sorry." He almost ran from the room. Instead of going to the small bathroom next door to the kitchen he tiptoed past Mrs. Black's curtained portrait, as not to wake it, and scrambled up to the dark room where Ron and Ginny were already hanging pictures on a clothesline.

"Harry! We were just about to go get you." Said Ginny, waving a gloved hand at him. "Where have you been?"

Harry sighed and walked over to look at the pictures on the line.

"Your mother just questioned me about why I'm not at the Dursley's right now. I think she got it that the owls were wearing birthday hats. I didn't tell her anything though. I just said I made a racket coming upstairs from a drink of water in the kitchen and that the birds were kind of loud."

Ron stared at Harry. Ginny looked down at the picture she was developing in a potion.

"Fred and George are in for it." She sighed. "Not like it's your fault though. They sent them."

As Ginny said, Fred and George were definitely in for it. Just at that moment they heard Mrs. Weasley's shouts coming from the room the twins shared.

"I CANT BELIEVE YOU! YOU PUT HARRY IN SEVERE DANGER! HE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. NO ONE KNOWS WHERE YOU-KNOW-WHO IS RIGHT NOW. HE COULD HAVE SHOWED UP THE MOMENT THAT HARRY LEFT THE HOUSE! YOU SHOULD HAVE USED YOUR BRAINS BEFORE YOU SENT HIM THOSE STUPID HATS AT TWO A.M. IN THE MORNING!"

Ron winced. "Don't worry Harry, they won't hold it against you. No one will remember in a week."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: So, that's all for now, though I'll post in a bit. Hope you liked it and that the 'Alexis' part of this story is becoming a bit clearer! Happy reading! (Reviews are awesome!) Hint. Hint.