Come Back

Chapter Two

Finding Them

00000000000000000000000000000000000

For some reason Harry thought finding his old friends was going to difficult. He was wrong. He was sure that he would be searching for them everywhere. He had this feeling that they had to relocate after the final battle. But as he walked up the drive that lead to the Burrow he was starting to think that maybe nothing had really changed around here. Maybe they would be just as happy to see him, as he them.

Harry's heart was beating madly as he pushed open their little white picket fence gate that lead to the Weasley's yard. Hecouldn't ever remember being this nervous in his entire life. His palms were sticky as he stood there; looking up at the house he had missed so much. You would never have thought that a rickety old house, which had the appearance that it would topple over at any moment, would cause such excitement. But to him this house was perfect. Everything a good house should be.

Felling as if he was gliding on air, he stepped forward and knocked on the front door. As he waited for someone to answer he could see gnomes peering at him from the side bushes. And from somewhere in the house feet were pounding down a flight of stairs as someone called, "I got it Mum!"

Harry's stomach gave a horrible jolt as a tall, skinny, red haired and freckled man stared down at him. Harry's old Hogwarts roommate and best friend Ron Weasly was looking at him with shock written all over his face.

The two of them just stood there staring at each other for what felt like an eternity. Ron finally found an ounce of breath in him and said, "H…Harry?"

"It's me Ron." Replied Harry, heart still pounding.

Ron didn't reply back. He just continued to stare at Harry. Just then another voice, female this time, came from behind Ron.

"Hey Ron, who is it?" and as Ginny peered around Ron she said, "O my God! Harry?"

When Harry saw Ginny's face he thought his heart was going to explode. He had been dreaming about her and her beautiful hazel eyes for three years. She was the only thing that kept him sane. It took every inch of strength in him to stop himself from wrapping his arms around her.

"Um, hello Ginny. How are you?" replied Harry.

Both Ron and Ginny were still staring opened mouthed at Harry. He was wishing they could show some other emotion beside shock. A smile from one of them was all he was looking for. But neither of them seemed able to speak. Harry was starting to feel embarrassed standing in front of the two.

"Okay, well…I guess if none of us has anything to say I'll just leave shall I?" said Harry very quickly.

This seemed to have jolted Ron out of his stupor. "But Harry, we thought you were dead?"

These words started a ringing silence in Harry's ears. It wasn't for a few more seconds did Harry speak, "What do you mean you thought I was dead?"

This time Ginny spoke up and Harry snapped his head so fast in her direction he thought it would fall off.

"Harry! The Daily Prophet reported that you mysteriously died over two and a half years ago! There was a funeral and everything!" Ginny spoke very breathlessly.

Harry paused for a moment to think about how horrifying it must be to see him standing there. A man they presumed to be dead all this time.

"But why would they say that, I just left. I mean, they wouldn't have my body or anything." Stated Harry.

"But there was a body. It was a closed casket because they said your body was all mangled, but they never said how it happened." Said Ron still open mouthed. "If you weren't dead, then where have you been?"

This was the one question he hopped no one would ask him. He was going to try to avoid talking about his whereabouts as long as he could. But Harry knew in his heart that he would have to tell them all, he owed them that much.

"Ron, could that answer possibly wait until I could tell everyone at once. I'd really rather not repeat it to many times." said Harry, looking at his feet.

"Sure, that's fine." Said Ron, still just standing in the doorway, looking at Harry.

"Well, look, I know we have a lot to talk about. I'm sure you have a lot of questions to ask me but I was hoping to find Hermione today to so…" Harry began.

"Harry, she's here…Hermione lives here with us." Interrupted Ginny. "This is silly standing in the doorway. Come inside Harry and I'll fetch everyone."

Harry couldn't believe it. Here he was, standing in the burrow, and they were all here, even Hermione. Within a few moments time he was going to see all the people he had been longing to see for years. These people were his family; he loved each one of them as much as anyone could love. But he suddenly found himself wanting to leave. If they had truly believed him to be dead, then him being here is going cause great confusion and distress. He did not want to afflict any more suffering on this family. They had been through as much if not more than he had. He was tired of causing people pain. He wanted to be the source of happiness for once in his life.

But Harry was unable to move, he longed so bad to just run out the front door and let Ron and Ginny believe they were dreaming. However as he stood there his feet were glued to the ground as he watched people emerging from each direction of the house. Harry stood, stock still in the Weasly's living room staring around him.

From the kitchen came Mrs. Weasly, still holding a towel from drying dishes. Fred and George came down the stairs wearing matching purple dragon skin suites. Percy came from the backyard holding hands with a girl; he thought her name was Penelope. It appeared as if Mr. Weasly had been working in there garage, because he had grease all over him as he came from the side of the house. And lastly came Hermione, taking one step at a time very slowly down the stairs, she was very different looking from the last time he'd seen her, prettier in his opinion.

All of the people emerging around him seemed to happen in slow motion. As if the world was allowing them all more time to gaze at Harry. They were all lost in thought, struck dumb and unable to speak. This was not at all how Harry had been envisioning his grand return. But at least to him, none of them seemed mad, so he hoped. Harry figured that he should be the first one to break the silence.

"Hello everyone." Was all that Harry was able to say.

Ginny and Ron, who seemed to be starting to let Harry's return sink in, gave him a feeble grin. While everyone else still stared in disbelief, but it was Hermione who seemed to be the only one showing emotion. Hermione had tears pouring down her face, Harry could tell she wanted to say something but wasn't able too.

Harry finally found his footing and walked around the couch to where Hermione was standing. He looked her in the eyes and said, "I'm back Hermione." And he put his arms around her. She was so warm. He had hardly any human contact for a very long time. It felt strange, but at the same time he felt like this was what he was supposed to be doing.

Hermione didn't respond at first, she just sort of stood there with her arms limp to her side. But after a few seconds, she found herself and put her arms around him in return. This must have been a signal to everyone else in the room that it was okay to move. Because as Hermione hugged him, they all moved in towards them. Mrs. Weasly joined in on the hug, so did Ginny. All the guys started patting Harry on the back or messing up his hair.

A loud chattering commotion now filled the Burrow. It suddenly sounded like he remembered it and he felt like a massive load was just removed from his chest. They were happy he was back, happy that he wasn't dead. They were not mad or resentful that he'd gone. For the first time in three years, Harry, was home.