AN: Hello, Sorry it took so long to update. Yeah, my beta's grew frustrated with my lack of writing (writers block) so they took it into their hands. Now instead of just being betas they are coauthors. YAY! So this chapter was written by Mad. Next one's going to be by Riz. Hope you enjoy the chapter and please review. I don't care if you flame neither do Mad and Riz. Oh I believe, I should warn you we are pyromaniacs so flames won't bother us. J

Summary: Introducing two new people to the Harry Potter cast and OMG they're related to who…! Disclaimer: We do not own Harry Potter and Company… if we did Mad would be in bliss. Oh Yea Before I forget: Italics thoughts. Unless otherwise stated.".."speaking

.. parseltounge

The day Harry arrived with Lupin, the entire house felt like a weight had been lifted off their shoulders. Harry was there with them and he was safe.

(Flashback) "Harry!" was the first thing heard when the door opened. In an instant, Harry was smothered in a bone-crushing hug. He was having a difficult time breathing. Lupin noticed this. "Molly, why don't you let Harry go? He can't breathe…." (End Flashback)

Harry was up in his room sitting on his bed, staring blankly at the wall.

I don't want to be here…I thought I did, but I don't…not now…not without him…I can't stand it…it's too much…

He was pulled out of his reverie by the door opening. Ginny peered inside.

"Hi Harry. Mum says it's time for supper. Oh, yeah…Charlie's here too!" Ginny added as an afterthought.

"Thanks, Ginny…" replied Harry, smiling weakly.

Harry stood and walked to the door where Ginny was waiting. He was stunned to see how tall she had gotten in the past two months. She bore a striking resemblance to her older brother, Ron, but the glint in her brown eyes was that of her twin brothers'.

They walked quietly down the staircase. As they got further down the stairs, they could hear some murmuring from the rooms below.

Upon entering the kitchen, Molly noticed him right away.

"Hello, Harry, dear. How are you doing?"

"Fine"

"Good that's good. Now, eat some dinner. You need to eat more, Harry. You're nothing but skin and bones!"

The entire Weasley family, including Charlie, Ron, Fred and George (or Gred and Forge, as they had taken to calling themselves) were sitting at the table already. Tonks smiled at Harry from her seat at the end of the table. Mrs. Weasley was obviously not letting her help with dinner again. Lupin was bustling around the kitchen helping set the table. Ginny rushed to help him.

Harry noticed that Hermione was absent from the group. He wondered if she had even arrived yet. He took his place next to Ron, and look around the room. Gred and Forge were talking to each other in hushed voices about some new type of prank product, there was no doubt about it. Harry caught little bits of their conversation. It sounded like they were planning something.

"Well, what about exploding?"

"Nah, how about imploding?"

"Wicked!"

That was really all Harry could hear along with, "Smoke", "Cost" and "Damage". Shrugging, he turned back to Ron.

"Where's your Dad?"

"Er….he's…out…" Ron answered quietly.

Harry knew that "out" meant he was doing something for the Order. Surely, none of them were still on guard duty. There was no need of it. The prophecy had been smashed and Voldemort hadn't heard it.

"So, Harry, how's your summer been?"

"Huh?"

Harry turned quickly and came face to face with a sunburned Charlie Weasley. (O so Harry thought…it could have been some other kind of burn…Charlie did work with dragons.)

Charlie chuckled, "I said, how's your summer been?"

"Okay, I guess…How about you?"

"Good." He frowned, "You seem to be kinda zoned out. You okay?"

"Yeah…yeah, I'm fine…I was just thinking." Harry replied quickly.

"All right." Charlie replied with a smile, "No need to get all defensive, I was just asking."

"Sorry Charlie, I just have a lot on my mind."

Suddenly they heard Ginny squeal. A battered owl swooped in and out of the hall very quickly, bumping into walls occasionally. All eyes turned to her.

"What?" she asked looking innocent.

"Why'd, you scream?" Tonks asked tentatively.

"Oh, that." She said dismissively. "I got a letter from Hermione, see?" she held up the letter only for a second and stuffed it into her pocket.

There was a collective "Oh!" from the table, before the normal chatter resumed. Ginny decided to leave the table and go upstairs to read the letter. She was very, very careful not to wake anything up as she went up the stairs. She flopped onto her bed, tore open the seal and began to read what Hermione had written.

Ginny,

How is everything? I'm fine. How is Ron and the rest of the family? Have you spoken to Harry? Is he there with you? Ron told me you were planning to go and pick him up. I do hope he's all right.

Things are great here. There is another reason I am writing. I can't come to visit you this year. My parents want me to stay with them, rather than skip out of our family vacation. I'm really sorry, but we're going to India! Ooh, I can't wait! I have to get so many immunization shots, so I won't get sick. I hate needles, but I'd rather have that than some foreign disease that can kill me. I'll bring back loads of pictures and souvenirs for everyone. And my Mum says that we'll be back soon so I may be able to go to Diagon Alley with everyone. Just owl me when you find out your going.

Well, we're leaving soon, but your owl should be able to reach me. Oh, my Mum says not to send too many owls, because we will be staying at a muggle hotel. She doesn't want to scare anyone. (They are very superstitious in India.) So, that's all for now. Oh yes, Crookshanks says "Hi!"

With Love

Hermione

P.S Hope to see you in Diagon Alley

Ginny reread the letter.

Oh, no…Hermione isn't coming? She's leaving me here…by myself?

"NOOO!" The sound of her scream vibrated through the room and outward through the hallways. It woke up the portrait of Mrs. Black who began howling about "BLOOD TRAITORS!"

Everyone ran up the stair quickly to see what the ruckus was. Lupin went to the portrait to shut her up.

"Ginny are you all right?" Mrs. Weasley asked panicking.

"Yes, Mum, I'm fine…"

"Why'd you yell then?" Ron asked.

"Hermione isn't coming to visit this summer! She is going away with her parents, then staying at their house for the rest of the summer! I'm going to be the only girl here for two whole months. I won't have anyone to talk to at all! I'll go crazy!"

Tonks plopped down on the bed next to her. "No you won't. I'll be here! We can talk about everything! We'll be the best of friends!" A look of complete horror spread across Ginny's face.

Mrs. Weasley fumed, "That's why you screamed.? Ginny Weasley! You woke up Mrs. Black and scared us all half to death, just because of a letter!"

"I'm sorry, Mum…I just…"

"Let me see that!" Ron said, reaching out for the letter.

Ginny clutched it to her chest; "No! It's mine!"

Ron wrestled it from Ginny's hands and tried to read what was written on the now torn and very wrinkled piece of parchment.

"She says she'll be able to go to Diagon Alley with us…don't worry…" Ron tossed her the letter. "You won't be completely alone…"

Everyone left the room quickly. Ginny threw Ron a dirty look as he walked out behind Harry. While everyone else returned to the kitchen, the boys returned to their room.

Ron fell backward onto his bed and held a hand to his stomach; "I am so full…and I don't know why…"

Harry sank down onto his own bed and looked over at Ron, surprised; "Did I just hear you say you were full? Wow…miracles do happen…"

Ron laughed sarcastically and attempted to sit up with great difficulty. He looked over at Harry who was no staring at the ceiling.

"So…er…" Ron started, "How is everything?"

Harry wished everyone would stop asking him that. He was fine! His answer was not about to change. Even if he wasn't fine he didn't want to talk about it.

Ron waited for Harry's answer. It didn't come. He understood and decided to drop the subject. Hermione had been writing to him too. She had warned him not to say anything about…you-know-who.(And she didn't mean Voldemort.)

"So…uh...maybe this year will be our year, y'know…maybe we'll get girlfriends…"

Harry nodded. He didn't want to talk about this either. He had tried to shove the memory of Cho out of his mind for the time being. He didn't like her anymore. Not like he used to at least. Any hopes of getting back together with her were long since gone. He started to wonder if there was someone else out there for him. This didn't help much with his mood.

"Yeah…maybe…" Ron repeated himself, realizing Harry wasn't going to say anything.

He got up slowly, and walked over to the wardrobe. He got changed into his pajamas and hopped back into bed. Harry still had an unreadable expression on his face.

It took Harry awhile to show any signs of life. He got to his feet and he, too, changed into his pajamas. He laid on his bed, but didn't fall asleep. His hand rubbed the fading scar on his forehead. It wasn't hurting him like it used to. It just felt weird. Like it was trying to tell him something, or someone was coming, but at the same time, telling him not to be afraid of it. It left him very confused. Ron extinguished the candle that was the only source of light in the room. The boys were drowned in darkness.

They both laid there for awhile, not saying anything, trying their best to fall asleep. Finally Harry broke the silence.

"What do you think he's going to do next?"

Ron was caught off guard by this question. This time he knew who Harry was talking about. A shiver ran down his spine.

"I dunno, mate…I dunno…"

Please Review!

Until Later!