Harry Potter and the Return to Godric's Hollow by Erin10.
Spoiler Warning: - This fiction contains spoilers from HPB. If you haven't read HBP, don't read my fic! It won't make sense and I don't want to spoil HBP for anyone! Consider yourself warned! I won't be held responsible if you read this and then complain that I spoilt the book for you!
Disclaimer: - Everything belongs to J.K Rowling! I own nothing! This is written purely for my own enjoyment, and after the last book my sanity depends on it!
Chapter Six: - Camping and Surprises.
Remus Lupin had been as good as his word, and after a farewell in which Mrs. Weasley had cried and raged at the decision, and Mr. Weasley had been careworn and resigned Harry, Hermione and Ron all stood on the outskirts of a Muggle village named Godric's Hollow.
The three had shrunken their trunks (which had required quite a bit of magical talent, well beyond Ordinary Wizarding Level), and the boys had stored their trunks away in their jean pockets, Hermione however, always practical had also acquired a side bag from Ginny in which she had placed her trunk and anything she thought they might need quickly. The baby blue bag was slung over her left shoulder.
"Very small place, isn't it?" Ron said peering up the hill, which led to a smattering of cottages. Hermione tutted.
"Do you ever listen properly with your full attention Ron? That's the beginning of the village. According to Professor Lupin if we walk up that hill we'll come to the beginning of the village, and then if we follow the main road around we'll come to the centre of the village. He said that in the village centre there used to be a small hotel. He didn't know if it would still be there."
They both turned to Harry who had been very quiet during their exchange; he was busy looking at the sign, which sat next to them on the left side of the road. The sign read, 'Welcome to Godric's Hollow, please drive slowly.'
"So where in England is Godric's Hollow then?" Ron asked pulling a chocolate frog out of his pocket and unwrapped it slowly. He ate the chocolate and looked at the card, which accompanied it. He winced slightly putting it in his pocket without mentioning it.
"Godric's Hollow is situated in Dartmoor. On the verge of the National Park, in Devon. Actually we aren't that far from Ottery St. Catchpole." Hermione answered looking at Ron questioningly,she was baffled byhis actions with the famous chocolate frog card.
He shook his head and looked at Harry, who hadn't spoken since they had left the Burrow.
"Harry?" Hermione asked hesitantly whilst pulling her white Muggle coat around her tightly. He began to snap out of his daydream slowly as her voice penetrated the misty fog that surrounded his mind. This place seemed familiar and yet not familiar at the same time, and his body was beginning to feel so many conflicting emotions that his mind was becoming numb with shock quite quickly.
"Sorry." He said In barely more than a whisper finally looking at her.
She was shocked at what she saw, he looked lost, and his eyes held a look of raw pain which she had never seen in them before, as though his very soul was being torn in two. The look made his eyes look abnormally green, and wider which made them look more dazzling than ever before. The lost, lonely feeling that seemed to radiate from his body chilled his friends to their core.
"It's okay. I just wondered… well… whether you wanted to find a place to sleep first, or if you wanted to go and see… your old home now." She asked hesitantly, the shock of the vulnerability of her usually iron willed and strong friend seemed to be wearing off as she took charge of the situation.
Harry thought about the question. Hard. He was split in two. He couldn't understand why only moments ago, before their arrival, he had wanted to see his old home with every fibre in his body, but yet, now they had arrived a sinking feeling of dread rose in his chest trying to choke him; what if the place didn't live up to his expectations. What if the Muggles had built over it? His mind was working overtime, and new fears were being founded every second. This was his only lead, if he did not find anything here, then he was at a loss of how to go on. This meant everything, and not only to him.
"I… Well, tomorrow I think. Ron looks about ready to fall asleep and it'll be better to go in the morning light." Hermione's voice told him, making his decision for him. Ron went to speak, but she trod on his foot. He yelped and held his foot, massaging it.
"What did you go and do that for?" He asked angrily. She looked at him airily.
"Oh, sorry, was that your foot? I thought it was a stick." She told him breezily. Ron murmured, 'girls,' under his breath and massaged his foot.
"And anyway…" Hermione continued now that Ron had seized his angry mutterings. "…According to Lupin, your old house is on the other side of the village Harry, and it's still there apparently, they haven't built over it because it was willed to you, so since you're now of age, the grounds are yours to do whatever you please with."
Hermione had stripped away one of his fears, but, he thought miserably, there was still many, many more to contend with.
Fifteen minutes later when they had found the small hotel, which turned out to be a bed and breakfast which was closed, they stood once again where they had begun.
"Lucky I brought this thing." Ron murmured as they began to set the tent up.
"Wasn't going to but Dad made me, said you never knew when one would come in handy." He continued to talk as they worked. "It's the one we stayed in at the Quidditch World Cup, the summer before forth year, except dad's extended and updated it slightly. It's got two bedrooms a sitting room, a kitchen and a separate bathroom area." He said proudly, "Except it's a bit old, dad got it of Granddad before I was born apparently. You should see the ones they've designed now! They're really luxurious apparently." He sniffed as they eventually managed to get the tent up.
"Hermione do you know any Muggle 'notice me not' spells to cover it?" Harry asked quietly, and she nodded, and quickly cast one silently around the tent area.
"Tomorrow Ron, I'd check with me or Hermione before you talk to any of the Muggles, and make sure your wands not visible to them but that you can draw it quickly if needed. In fact we should probably put up some spells for defence, and to let us know if anyone's near. Slughorn had them on the house he was using last year. Do you think they'll be in one of my books?" He asked taking his trunk from his pocket and unshrinking it.
"Dead useful that." Ron muttered following suit. "Wish we'd known how to do that an age ago."
"Well I think that's it." Harry told them as he entered the tent. "I've placed the detection charm up; we should have at least three minutes notice before being invaded, if it comes to that." He reassured them as he watched them look nervous.
"Really it's just a precaution, and Hermione you've made sure that the Muggles can't see us. Did you say that if they looked they would see a rusty old iron shed?"
Harry had snapped out of his depression rather quickly, although he still felt quite numb. She had nodded at his question.
"Here. I made us all a cup of tea. Your dad even put some milk and tea bags in the kitchen. He's really thoughtful Ron; there are also some pumpkin pasties if anyone's hungry." She said passing Harry a cup of tea.
"I was also thinking that we're too noticeable, everyone knows you Harry, and they're beginning to hear about Ron and myself. Do you think we should do something about our appearance?" She asked sipping her tea.
"You're not wrong." Ron murmured. "My hair and freckles are a dead give away, and Harry's trade mark messy black hair, and your bushy brown hair. All we need is a Witch or Wizard to live in this village who knew the Potters and they'll put two and two together." He said logically.
"That's the last thing we need." Harry agreed, he wasn't looking forward to changing his appearance however.
"I think we should find a charm to grow your hair Harry. It would be appropriate because of your status, you're of age now and you're the eldest surviving family member."
Ron nodded in agreement, "And because you're Sirius's and Dumbledore's heir. Mum would kill me if I did, it wouldn't be appropriate for me, but I could see that look on you!" He said smiling slightly when Harry grimaced.
"It's logical Harry. Your dad never had long hair, and maybe if you grow it out then it'll lose most of its unruliness. We need to stop you looking like a carbon copy of your father, or people around here might think they've seen a ghost." Hermione told him smiling at the blatant disgust on his face.
"New clothes would be good too, everyone knows you wear your cousins cast off's thanks to Rita Skeeter. They also make you stick out like a sore thumb." Harry shot her a dirty look.
"Why don't you pick on Ron?" He asked shuddering slightly. The long hair had made him think of Malfoy Senior. That thought really did disgust him.
"We need to change your hair colour, maybe light brown, red hairs a bit too much of a giveaway." Ron shrugged at Hermione's assessment of him.
"Whatever you say, aren't girls better at that sort of thing?" Ron asked teasing her; he looked her up and down, leering slightly.
"What about you Hermione? How about the Tonk's look with bright pink hair?" He laughed as she looked affronted.
"No your right, it wouldn't go with your complexion." She hit him.
Harry woke up suddenly, the hairs on the back of his neck prickled unpleasantly. He saw a person standing above him but knew that it could not be Ron as he was busy snoring away on the other side of the room.
"It's not like you to have your guard down Harry, sloppy actually. I could have been anyone." A familiar voice told him, the person was pointing their wand in his side slightly.
"Never mind, that's a good thing for me I suppose, and I've got you where I want you and this time your not wriggling away from me."
He squinted into the dark. The person lent forward so that their face was visible in the candle light.
"Ginny?" He asked incredulously. As he managed at last to see her fiery red locks and her bemused brown eyes roving over him.
"The one and only, now get dressed and come into the front room, I don't want to wake Ron."
She lent over and placed a chaste kiss on his lips.
"Do I even want to know what you were dreaming about?" She asked bemusedly, as she walked brazenly out of the room. Harry blushed and thanked Merlin that it was dark in the room.
"What in Merlin's name do you think your doing?" He whispered angrily when he finally reached the front room.
Ginny ignored him and placed a silencing charm around the room. Harry looked at her aghast.
"That's brilliant that is! After all the effort we've gone to make sure that neither Voldermort nor the Ministry can find us and you flout the underage restriction of magic law! They'll be able to track us now!"
"Harry." She tried to interrupt him but he was having none of it.
"They'll be swooping down on us in any moment, go and wake Hermione, I'll get Ron up, we need to move quickly and we haven't even looked around yet!" He rambled, he did not notice Ginny turning almost as red as her hair, or her brown eyes sharpening in contempt. She stopped him at the door to his room.
"I haven't broken the law you idiot! If you read the Daily Prophet then you would know that the Ministry's rescinded the law of underage magic and if you managed to get at least an A in the key compulsory Owl subjects then you're now allowed to use magic outside of school for security reasons! You would also know that Hogwarts is re-opening officially with the blessings of the Hogwarts Board of Governors, but that they don't expect many people to attend. They've said that those who don't want to go can be home schooled, but thatthey will have to sit their exams at Hogwarts at the end of the year!" She snapped angrily.
"… and I put a silencing charm around this room because I've got a hell of a lot to say to you, you git and I don't know if I'll be able to control myself from walloping you, you pigheaded buffoon!" She shouted.
"What did you miss when I told you we needed to talk? Did you even plan to sit down and talk with me, even when I asked you nicely? You didn't even say good bye! You just got up and left!" She poked him in the ribs.
"Stop that." Harry muttered angrily, but he quelled under her fierce glare.
"And I for one think I'm big enough to make my own decisions about my future and I'm not letting you go without a fight! Not when it took me forever and a day to get you in the first place. Voldermort can go to hell; I won't let him destroy what we have!" Ginny poked him in the ribs again.
"And you can stop being all noble right now! I've seen evil up close and personally, I know how dangerous Voldermort is, but I'm not eleven anymore and it's not your duty to protect me! I can do that myself! So where did you get off telling me that it was for my own good? Who made you Merlin?" She hissed her anger was palpable around the room.
"I know the risks better than most people Harry! I know what he could do it he got hold of me, but I don't care! Something's are worth it!"
Her eyes were blazing, and she looked fierce, like she could rip him apart and spit on the individual pieces. It was a frightening thing to see, but it made her look very beautiful. Her lips were red, her hair multi coloured with different tones of red, her eyes narrowed in feline like slits, twinkling with unshed fury.
"Did you think I would sit at home like a good girl and let you go off and fight? I want to be right beside you, every step of the way. You're not the only one with a score to settle with Voldermort!"
Harry's eyes were frozen on her soft, blood red lips. He did the only thing he knew that would silence her.
He matched his lips onto hers and pulled her into a fiery kiss. She smacked his back, not happy with the tactics he employed on her, but she soon quietened down and melted into his arms.
"Did anyone tell you that when you're angry you explode, literally?" Harry asked when they surfaced for air.
"Did anyone tell you that you're the biggest, most noble prat that I've ever had the pleasure of meeting?" She asked softly, while he held her.
"Yes, you have, once or twice." Harry murmured smelling her hair, the flowery scent that she always seemed to smell of wafted around him. He smiled.
"Hadn't you better tell Hermione you're here?" He asked quietly. Ginny laughed softly squeezing him slightly.
"She knew I was coming, fully approved of it too. She just doesn't know how I managed to get here." Harry could feel her smiling against his chest.
"And how did you manage that?" He asked baffled. She kissed him chastely.
"Have you ever seen a cat that didn't want to be found?" She asked slyly, "I hitched a lift in the bag I let Hermione borrow when it was obvious that you were never going to say goodbye to me."
"Your mum will kill me." He said sighing and thinking about Ron. Would Ron go ballistic? He hoped not, he knew Ginny was not about to go without a spectacular fight.
"Yes we can expect a howler in the morning." She said cheerfully, "I left her a letter explaining things; I think dad expected it anyway, he left two beds in the girl's room." She laughed.
They sat on the settee and fell asleep in one another's arms. Tomorrow would be the day to explore the village, change their appearances and find out if Godric's Hollow held any secretes.
End Ch6.
Okay, this chapter was getting way to long so I've split it in two. You'll find out about Godric's Hollow in a few days.
Anyone know where I can get a Beta Reader?
Please read and review! You wouldn't believe the percentage of reviewers to the hits numbers! Something like 5400 people have looked at this fic, and I've got 50 reviews. Not that I'm complaining, I'll take what I can get, but it's nice to be appreciated.
Sorry if you hated the fluffiness of this chapter. It won't always be like this. I promise! I took down the lyrics on ever chapter except the first to stop annoying people!
Review Responses!
Cassandra Lee: - Did this answer your question? Lol! Ginny, let Harry go quietly? I don't think so! XD I quite enjoyed writing the verbal tongue lashing she gave him. Honestly how noble can one person really be?
Faithfulwriter: - I've done as you asked in every chapter now. It was a bit much, wasn't it?
Gfoyle: - Concerning school? I don't think JK would have written Harry as saying that he wouldn't be going to school, if he actually did in the end. Surely that would have been a waste of time? JK never minces her words .Harry won't be attending Hogwarts as a student, but he might visit, I'm undecided.
Lizlovegood12: - Me? I'm eighteen and from England. Cheers for reviewing, I hope you liked this chapter.
Sonic0815: - I'm glad you liked it, and read it even though it's full of mistakes. I've gotten a bit sloppy with that since I finished college; hopefully with the new term approaching I'll hone my skills into shape. I'll look for a Beta also. Thanks for reviewing!
To everyone else, you're all brilliant! Drop me a line, any questions etc and I'll try to answer them!
Remember, please take the time to R/R
Erin10