Chapter 2: Home Again

The Death Eater on the far left raised his wand. Harry instinctively drew his from his pocket and aimed it at him.

"Expelli-"

"No! Harry!" Startled, Harry dropped his wand, which clattered to the ground. The Death Eaters were quick to take advantage of the momentary lapse in Harry's concentration.

"Stupefy! Stupefy!" The many spells combined did what one could not. Harry felt the blissful, soothing sensation of his mind being wiped clear...

"Ow!" Harry exclaimed as his head hit the ground with a loud clunk. Cursing softly, he sat up. It took a moment for him to register that he had somehow been transported to Dumbledore's office. The scratch of a quill against parchment broke into his thoughts, and he turned toward the desk to see the headmaster. After a moment's pause, Dumbledore looked up.

"Ah, Harry."

"What's going on?" Harry asked, tentatively touching the new bump on his head. Before Dumbledore could answer, two figures appeared. A crushed cylinder of aluminum fell to the floor.

"Ouch! Kingsley, you oaf, you just stepped on my foot!" It was unmistakably the voice of Tonks.

"It's not my fault where you put your foot." Kingsley protested. Harry watched, his eyes wide. Kingsley had a scratch on his right cheek. Tonks, looking a bit worse, was sporting a bloody nose and a slight limp.

"Harry!" Tonks hobbled forward and embraced him. "I haven't seen you in so long! That was a pretty rough tumble back there, wasn't it? Old Moody is still back there, he should arrive soon. Are you okay? Sorry we couldn't arrange for a better way to get you here." She spotted the rapidly swelling lump on the side of his head. "Ooh, that's going to hurt."

"Hello, Harry," Kingsley said.

"Hi. Thanks for coming to get me," Harry replied gratefully.

"Just doing our job, Harry," Tonks smiled, affectionately tousling his untidy hair.

"Ow!" Harry exclaimed again.

"Oops! I'm sorry, Harry!" Tonks said. Kingsley laughed, a deep, low rumble.

"Welcome, and thank you." Dumbledore stood up and walked around his desk. "You two should go see Poppy about those injuries."

"Right. Come on, Kingsley. Maybe she can give us something to drink, too. I tried that Muggle can, it wasn't too bad." Tonks propelled Kingsley from the room. Harry heard their footsteps down the short hallway, and then the grating noise of the revolving staircase. When it was absolutely silent, Harry looked up to meet Dumbledore's eyes.

"What's going on?" he asked again.

"Mr. Shacklebolt and Miss Tonks Portkeyed you directly to my office after stumbling upon the Death Eaters at your door. Harry, I was wondering if you might describe yourself exactly what happened?"

"Well, there really isn't much to say, Professor. The Death Eaters came disguised as Kingsley and Tonks and... I just used Legilimency, and it worked. I saw... images. I saw Voldemort. He wanted them to trick me into inviting them into the Dursley's house. And then I thought they'd gone, but it turned out more had arrived.I saw them when I opened the door, but the next thing I knew I was here."

"I see. Well, if that is all, perhaps you'd like to see Madam Pomfrey as well? Or maybe you'd rather go rest a bit in Gryffindor Tower before dinner?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "The password is 'lemon lolly.' Your things will have arrived with Moody, I daresay."

"Er... all right." Silenced settled in again. "Professor?"

"Yes?"

"Why do you think I was able to use Legilimency?"

Dumbledore sighed, the tips of his fingers placed against each other. "Another power the Dark Lord possesses, is it not? Strange things happen when a wizard takes over the mind and body of another wizard, as Voldemort did to you not too long ago. I would not advise you to dwell on such matters at the moment. There will be plenty of time for discussion later."

"All right. And... thanks. For, you know, taking me from the Dursleys," Harry looked down at his feet.

"You are welcome, Harry, but I had dearly hoped it would not come to you being forced to leave home. Have a good afternoon."

"And you, Professor." Harry turned and left the office. As he walked down the long corridors to Gryffindor Tower, he couldn't help but feel a shiver of happiness. Here was where he was home.

The Fat Lady was snoring softly in her portrait when Harry approached her.

"Excuse me," he said. When there was no response from her, he cleared his throat and tried again. "Excuse me!"

"What? Oh! Another one of you students! Has the term started early without me being informed? A great deal of gratitude I get, without having to work overtime!"

"Lemon lolly." Harry said quickly.

"Yes, I'd like one of those, too. Oh, you mean for the password. Well, hurry in now, I haven't got all day." The Fat Lady swung forward and Harry clambered in. The welcome sight of the common room with its squashy red chairs greeted him, but the room was empty. Harry climbed the stairs and looked at the door. The sign had been changed to "Summer Before Sixth Year Boys Dormitory." Chuckling, Harry stepped into the room. The first thing he noticed was that there were not one, but two trunks on the floor. One was open and there was a suspiciously familiar maroon sleeve dangling over the edge... Was Ron here early, too? Harry turned around and raced back down the stairs and through the common room. The Fat Lady wasn't too pleased.

"Running in and out and out and in, without any consideration for an old lady and her rest!"

"Sorry!" Harry called back as he tore down the stairs and into the Great Hall. At the sight of what lay before him, he stopped short. Ron was sitting at a long table, with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and their daughter Ginny. Hermione was sitting next to Ron. The five of them were chatting and laughing when Hermione noticed Harry.

"Harry!" She jumped up from her seat and threw her arms around him. "It's so good to see you! How have you been? Have the Dursleys been treating you okay?" she asked breathlessly. Harry grinned.

"Yeah, they were okay," he replied. "Why are you two here early, too?"

"I don't know. I think Ron's mum and dad are helping with some Hogwarts stuff for the Order, and Dumbledore owled me asking me to come early, but I just got here yesterday, I haven't talked to him yet," Hermione said uncertainly, putting a finger on her chin. "I wonder why he wants me here?" Harry was about to answer her when he was engulfed by a warmth that smelled like cinnamon and freshly baked bread.

"Harry!" Mrs. Weasley wiped a tear from her eye. "I hope those Muggles weren't too bad this summer? It's wonderful to see you again. Oh dear, but you're so thin! They haven't been feeding you right, have they? Sit down, have something to eat," Mrs. Weasley fussed.

"Hello, Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, Ron, Ginny," Harry grinned.

"Hi, Harry," Ginny said, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Hey, Harry, mate! We were just having an early dinner." Ron was wearing a maroon sweater with a big "R" on the front. "Come on, take a seat."

All thoughts of disguised Death Eaters flew out of his head as Harry sat down across from Ron and enjoyed the first full meal he'd had in two weeks. The six of them chatted happily about the latest Quidditch matches, Ron enthusiastically describing a recent game between the Wimbourne Wasps and the Chudley Cannons, which the Cannons narrowly won. Harry listened eagerly, but he couldn't help but think how normal everyone seemed to be, how unaffected by the loss of his godfather.

"That was a delicious pumpkin pie," Mr. Weasley said an hour later, patting his stomach. Mrs. Weasley shot a glare at him. "But, of course, nothing compared to yours, dear." He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and she smiled.

"Well, I expect we'll be visiting Hogsmeade tomorrow to pick up a few things," Mrs. Weasley said.

"But with You-Know-Who around again, do you really think it's safe, dear?" Mr. Weasley asked, his eyebrows raised.

"Don't be silly, You-Know-Who wouldn't attempt an attack on Hogsmeade with so many wizards around," Mrs. Weasley reassured her husband. "We need to purchase some necessities if we're to be staying here for awhile, anyway. Let's meet in the entrance hall at 9 o'clock then?"

There was a chorus of agreement, but Harry was reminded sharply of a certain crumbling, dilapidated shack and a certain night under the full moon. He forced the thought away and pasted a weak grin on his face.

"All right. Good night, dears." Mrs. Weasley slipped her arm around Mr. Weasley's waist and the two left the Great Hall.

"It's been a long time since we've been to Hogsmeade, hasn't it?" Ron commented. "It'll be nice to have some butterbeer again."

"Aren't you worried about what your dad said?" Hermione asked. "He's right, it could be dangerous."

"You worry too much, Hermione," Ron said offhandedly. "You heard Mum, he wouldn't try to attack Hogsmeade, there are too many wizards."

"I wish we could go to Diagon Alley. I still haven't visited Fred and George's new joke shop yet. Mum isn't too happy about it. She refused to let us visit," Ginny said wistfully.

"Don't worry, Gin, we have to go to Diagon Alley to visit Gringott's before school starts. She can't stop us then!" Ron said cheerfully, reaching for a treacle tart. His hand was knocked away from the plate by a large white owl that had two envelopes attached to one leg, and one attached to the other.

"Hey!" Harry reached out and untied the string. Each envelope had a name on it. "Ronald Weasley," "Hermione Granger," and him, "Harry Potter." He handed the two to his friends and then opened his. Two pieces of parchment fluttered out. Harry picked up the smaller one.

"Dear Mr. Potter,

As you have arrived at Hogwarts early, I thought you'd like to have your O.W.L. results a bit sooner."

Minvera McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress"

Harry suddenly felt sick, the potatoes he'd eaten threatening to come back up again. The O.W.L. results. Would he have high enough marks to be an Auror? Professor McGonagall hadn't sounded angry. Allowing himself a tiny flame of hope, Harry picked up the other piece of parchment.

"Dear Mr. Potter,

Enclosed you will find your O.W.L. results. Please take note of the following requirements for N.E.W.T. level classes:

Ancient Runes...O
Arithmancy...E
Astronomy...A
Care of Magical Creatures...E
Charms...E
Defense Against the Dark Arts...O
Divination...A
Herbology...E
History of Magic...A
Muggle Studies...A
Potions...E
Transfiguration...E
"

Harry could hardly believe it. Snape was allowing "E" students into his class? Heart beating, he continued the letter.

"Please review your O.W.L. results.

Astronomy...A
Care of Magical Creatures...E
Charms...E
Defense Against the Dark Arts...O
Divination...P
Herbology...E
History of Magic...P
Potions...E
Transfiguration...E

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress"

Seven O.W.L.'s! That was a respectable number, wasn't it? Harry looked up. Hermione had her eyes closed and appeared to be breathing in the scent of the parchment in her hands. Ron had a sort of relieved look on his face.

"How is it?"

"Not bad!" Ron said cheerfully, passing Harry his letter. "I got seven O.W.L.'s, what about you?"

"Seven," Harry said, giving Ron his. He wasn't a failure, he would be able to continue his studies, after all. Even Potions. Harry didn't want to think about another two long years with Snape, but what was more important was that he still had a chance of becoming an Auror. "What about you, Hermione?"

"Oh." Hermione peeked at them over the top of her letter. She couldn't quite seem to meet their eyes. "Elmph," she mumbled.

"What was that?" Ron asked, his eyebrows raised expectantly.

Hermione sighed. "Eleven."

"What!" Harry exclaimed. "That's brilliant, Hermione, really, it is! You passed every one you took! I bet you're the first student to get that many." Hermione beamed.

Ron didn't seem to be quite as joyful. He was glumly stirring the pudding in his bowl.

"Yeah, that's terrific," he said flatly. Puzzled, Harry glanced at him. Ron was resting his chin in his left hand. Hermione looked crushed, and then indignant.

"Hey, why don't we go up to the common room," Harry said quickly, anxious to head off what would certainly be another quarrel between his two best friends.

"Okay," Hermione said, standing up. "Coming, Ginny?" she added kindly.

"Sure," she replied, getting up out of her chair. The plates on the table instantly became sparkling clean again. The three waited as Ron got to his feet slowly after her, and then the four headed up the stairs, Ginny leading the way.

A short while later, they climbed over the portrait hole and into the Gryffindor common room. Ginny mentioned something about unpacking and headed up the stairs to the girls dormitory.

"I'm tired," Harry said, stifling a yawn. "I think I'll just go up to our room now."

"What! It's so early!" Ron exclaimed. Harry shrugged. "Okay, I guess I will, too," Ron said hastily.

"Okay, you guys go on ahead, I want to finish this book tonight," Hermione plopped herself down in an armchair and picked up an enormous leather-bound tome lying on the table next to it. She opened it to a bookmarked page and began reading eagerly, her head bent over and her hair swinging forward to cover her face. Ron looked at her incredulously. He opened his mouth, then seemed to think better of it, and closed it again.

"Come on, let's go before she ropes us into studying before school has even started," Ron muttered to Harry as he made for the stairs, Harry following behind. When they got to their dormitory, Ron threw himself onto his bed and turned to Harry, his head propped up by his left elbow.

"So, what's going on?" he asked.

"What d'you mean?"

"Harry, it is 7 o'clock. Even Ginny doesn't go to sleep this early."

Harry was silent for a moment. "I guess I'm just a little worried. There was... a Death Eater attack at the Dursleys this morning."

"What!" Ron sat up and stared at Harry. "Why? What happened?"

"Nothing. Kingsley, Tonks, and Moody arrived before they could do anything, and they Portkeyed me to Dumbledore's office." Harry decided against mentioning the Legilimency to Ron. He wasn't exactly sure himself what had happened, and he didn't want Ron to think he had an even deeper connection to Voldemort.

Ron looked at him as if he knew there was something Harry wasn't saying, but he let the subject drop. He rolled over onto his back and stared up at the canopy.

"What about you?" Harry asked.

"Me? What's wrong with me?"

"I don't know. You seemed a bit quiet earlier."

Ron seemed to be fighting an inner battle. Finally, he gave a sigh of frustration and turned to look at Harry again.

"It's... well...," Ron clenched his fists. "It's... Hermione."

Harry choked back a sudden urge to laugh. "Yeah?" he managed. Ron didn't seem to notice.

"I've been thinking," he began. Harry snorted. Ron ignored him and continued. "Why does Hermione spend her time with us, anyway? Eleven O.W.L.'s! What does she need us for, she could probably already take her N.E.W.T.'s and pass those, too," Ron said glumly, picking at a loose thread in his comforter.

Harry tried to think of a good answer to Ron's question. At last, he said,

"Well, we're friends, aren't we? Why does it matter if she got a couple more O.W.L.'s? And you're tons better than her at Quidditch and chess," Harry added.

Ron looked a little happier. "Yeah, that's true."

"Yeah." After a pause, Ron spoke again.

"Fancy a game of chess?"

Harry laughed. They spent the next three hours engaged in an intense battle that Ron won, involving a tyrannical king and a violent rook, with talk of the latest broom models and speculation on the next Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.