-Chapter 6 is finally up and next chapter the group will leave for school, I promise. Thanks to MimsicalDream for the review, and yeah your right. That is my bad and I've made a note it. Oops. Humor is always a good thing right? Well, I think that there is a little bit of that here.
Chapter 6 – Owls and Letters
Now that the wedding was over, the four friends had no choice but to think about returning to school. Everyday they anxiously awaited the owls that would bring them their book list for the classes that they where taking. When came to the two week mark before school would usually resume, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny sat around the table eating their breakfast. Every couple of minutes at least one of them would look at the window, hoping to see an owl with the letters. After one such instance, Ron was the first to break the silence that had befallen the table.
"I don't think that they'll be reopening the school. If they where we should have gotten our letters by now, don't you think?"
"I'm starting to agree with you Ron. They should have sent us our letters already! This will be just horrible if we can't go back to school! I was looking forward to taking the NEWTs this year too." Said Hermione. Harry and Ron looked at each other with smirks on their faces. Hermione was the only person that they knew who would be excited to take a test, especially the NEWTs. Ginny just sat there staring intently at the window.
"I wonder why they wouldn't reopen the school this year? Would it because of happened to Dumbledore?" asked Ron, who then immediately regretted what he had just said when he saw Harry's face. At the mention of Dumbledore, emotions that Harry had managed to lock away for the past couple of weeks were set free to wreak on Harry's mind. Tears started to form on Harry's eyes, both feelings of guilt and grief settled on him at once. The scene in which Dumbledore was killed kept replaying it self over and over again. Then he saw one face fill his whole mind. A face that Harry had hated for years and years. Severus Snape was smirking and laughing at Harry. When he saw that face, Harry was filled with rage.
"Harry! Harry!" Harry was brought back to this world as though he was in a dream. He blinked and looked around, but before he could he noticed that his hand was hurting him. He looked at it to what had happened to it. He was gripping his fork so hard that it had cut into his hand and it started to bleed. He looked down at the table and saw several wet spots where tears had fallen. He released the fork and took a deep breath. Ginny was really close to him and had a really worried look on her face.
"Harry, are you all right?" she asked in a really soft tone. Harry looked at her a gave a weak smile.
"Yeah, I'm all right Ginny. When Ron mentioned…mentioned Dumbledore it was like a flood of emotion hit me. Hit me hard. I saw the scene over and over again. I was there frozen like a statue, unable to help Dumbledore. Malfoy was standing there and then Snape…" at the mention of Snape's name once again he felt a surge of rage, but managed to control it this time, "came and killed him. Killed him in cold blood, after everything that Dumbledore had done for him. When I see him again, that will be the last time either one of us will see each other! I just wish that Dumbledore was still hear to help us. I really need his help finding those accursed Horcruxes." This time Harry wasn't quite as able to control the anger he felt as his fist slammed the table. Ginny grabbed Harry's arm with her small hands.
"Harry, please calm down. Everything will be all right, I promise." Ginny whispered in his ear. Harry turned to look at her, grateful to have someone like her by his side. He smiled at her, indicating that he was clam once again. Ginny kissed him to give him reassurance then sat back down. Harry looked back at Ron and Hermione, but became confused when he saw them. Both of them where looking past him with looks of pure surprise on their faces. Curious he turned around to see what they where looking at. When he saw what they where looking at, his first instinct was to run, run as far away as he could. He wanted to run because in the doorway to the kitchen stood Mrs. Weasley with the biggest look of shock on her face, along with Fred and George Weasley behind her looking in. Smiling nervously he started to talk.
"Good Morning Mrs. Weasley, Fred and George."
"Mum, I can explain this…" Ginny started to say, but never got the chance to finish because Mrs. Weasley fainted on the spot. Fortunately Fred and George where able to catch her. They then carried her to the couch and went back to the kitchen. They got back before Harry could make a run for it.
"I think you killed her from the shock of what we just saw Ginny and Harry." Said Fred.
"Oh yes. Ginny smooching the great Potter certainly shocked me." Said George.
"George, I think that something needs to be done to the Potter boy." Said Fred.
"I think your right Fred. Smooching on our baby sister! And we catch you at it! Let's get him!" both Fred and George made a start for Harry. Before they reached the table he managed to get away and ran for the door with the twins close on his tail. Ginny wasn't far behind cursing the day-lights out of Fred and George. Ron and Hermione just looked at each other and started to laugh.
"At least no one knows about us yet, right?" Ron asked Hermione.
"Yes that's right. Hopefully your mother won't find out about that like she did Harry and Ginny." Hermione said as she gave Ron a kiss on the cheek. When she was back at her seat, both Ron and Hermione heard a thud. They looked towards the door to the kitchen, and there was Mrs. Weasley on the floor. She had recovered from seeing Ginny and Harry, walked into the kitchen then heard, and saw, Ron and Hermione's conversation. Ron looked at Hermione with a long face.
"This is going to be a long day." Ron said. Just then they heard a tap at the window. There were a couple of owls with letter for Ron, Hermione, Ginny, two for Harry and one for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
"I stand corrected. This is going to be a very long day." Said Ron as he grabbed the letters from the owls. With their burdens gone, the owls got a drink of water from Ron and took flight. Ron and Hermione opened their letters at the same time, Ron's poor mother temporarily forgotten on the floor of the kitchen. Hermione squealed with delight as she read her letter. School would be starting once again as normal. But that wasn't all she was happy about. She had been made Head Girl. When Ron heard it, he wasn't at all surprised. Both he and Harry, and the rest of the seventh years in all the houses had expected it to happen.
"Congratulations Hermione. You earned it." Ron said half-heartedly. He felt really disappointed. He hadn't been made Head Boy. Bill, Charlie and Percy had all been Head Boys, and Ron believed that his parents where expecting the same of him.
"What's the matter Ron?" asked Hermione.
"Nothing, nothing at all. Let's help my mum to a chair." Ron said, who then finally remembered that his mother was on the floor fainted away. Between the two of them they managed to get Mrs. Weasley to the couch when the door opened.
"Hello! I'm home early today. The ministry decided to give me a day to recuperate." Mr. Weasley had come home. If Hermione wasn't standing there, Ron would have let fly a thousand curses at that moment, instead he looked at Hermione with a look of defeat on his face. Ron turned around as Mr. Weasley walked into the room. When he got into the room, he stood there looking at his wife, laying there on the couch with Ron and Hermione beside her. Then turned around when he heard the door open and slam shut, closely followed by cries of "Come back here and face us like a man Harry!" which was in turn followed by a curse from a voice that was no others than Ginny's. All four of them came to a screeching halt when they saw Mr. Weasley standing there.
"I think you all need to do some explaining right here right now." Mr. Weasley said.
"I told you this would be a long day." Ron whispered to Hermione.
"Dad we can explain this…all of this. Even why Mum fainted." said Ginny.
"Oh, please do tell." Said Mr. Weasley as he sat down in a chair. He listened as the six of them related what had happened that morning, Fred and George making sure to iterate what they had seen. Then Ron and Hermione told the second part of the story. When the tale was finished Mr. Weasley looked at the face of each person in the room. He then broke out in a fit of laughing. By now Mrs. Weasley had finally recovered and saw Mr. Weasley laughing.
"Arthur, do you have any idea as to what I saw this morning?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
"Yes, yes I do my dear. I just heard the whole story! These past couple of weeks have been rather exciting I must say. I marry off one of my sons, find out my only daughter and Harry Potter have a fancy for each other, and that my youngest son actually attracted a girl! Wow, Harry Potter and my only baby girl. This is too much for me. I remember when Ginny first laid eyes on Harry all of those years ago. She was so nervous around him that she couldn't say a single word. Now look at what I fond out…" at this he had to leave the room clutching his stomach as it hurt from him laughing so hard. Mrs. Weasley walked over to where Harry and Ginny where standing. She put her hand on each of their faces and looked at each of their face. Tears where welling up in her eyes, but they where no tears of sadness, they where tears of joy.
"Having you as a son-in-law has been a dream of mine since I first saw you Harry. I always hoped that you would take a fancy to Ginny here. Oh, I shouldn't be talking as though you are getting married though should I?" With that she followed her husband. Fred and George saw that all the fun out of torturing Harry was just taken away also left to return to their joke shop. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny all stood in the living room.
"I told you my mum would over-react didn't I?" Ron told more than asked Harry.
"Yes you did. But from what I gather, your mum was out cold longer when she saw you and Hermione. So you two gave her the biggest shock." Harry countered. Ron just shrugged it off, more to by time for a comeback of his own. Instead he shifted the blame.
"Well, it was the girls who got us caught." Ron said. Harry couldn't help but agree.
"I agree with you mate. The girls really did get us caught." That earned both Ron and Harry a smack to the backside of the head. Even though it didn't hurt, they acted as though it did.
"Oh, before I forget. Here are some letters for you Harry, and one for you Ginny." Hermione said as she went into the kitchen to grab the letter from the table.
"Letters? What letters? Oh, wait, do you mean that the school will be kept open? That's great!" Harry said. Harry felt glad for more than one reason. One was the obvious that he could go back to school. It also meant that he could keep an eye on Ginny in case something happened again at the school. However, Harry also felt disappointed. If he went to school that would drastically cut into his time available for finding and destroying the Horcruxes of Voldemort. Hiding his feelings he opened the first letter. The letter was the Hogwarts letter depicting what books that they would need for the year. Harry took that letter and put it in his pocket. He then picked up the other letter and looked at it. The handwriting on the outside of the envelope was unfamiliar to him. He opened it and pulled out the letter that was inside. There were two letter in the envelope. Harry read the letter that was on top first.
Dear Harry Potter,
Mr. Potter, as you are now seventeen years of age certain legal proceedings have come into age. The matter in question is that of the will of Albus Dumbledore. He has left you several items as well as the letter that is enclosed with this notice. To claim this items bring this letter to Gringotts Bank and hand them this notice. There the necessary paperwork will be completed and the items will turned over to you as your property.
Graner, Janus
Office of Legal Proceedings,
Ministry of Magic
Harry blinked at the letter a couple of times then reread the letter twice, then twice more. He then eagerly switched over to the other letter that had come and recognized Dumbledore's handwriting.
Dear Harry,
Alas, if this letter had reached you, then something terrible has happened to me and certain matters are left unresolved. When I wrote this I don't know if we managed to destroy any Horcruxes, all I know is that I told you what I know of them. I firmly believe that the secret to the items are locked somewhere in Hogwarts past, and the history of Tom Riddle. You will have to unravel the clues that are encased there and I strongly advise you to enlist the aid of Miss Granger as her head is quit keen to these kind of subjects. Hopefully everything that I left to you in my will assist you in your quest. I don't believe you should trust anyone with this matter other than yourself and Ron and Hermione. However, as you will probably have a hard time leaving Hogwarts while I'm not there anymore, you will need to trust Professor McGonagall. I have written a letter to her to explain the situation and your needs. I have left you my pensieve with the memories that it contains. Hopefully there is something in there that can help. I also left you some money so that you can get anything that you might need. Good Luck Harry, and remember the power of love is your best advantage. Figure out how to use it and Voldemort can be defeated. Also, so not dwell on the fact that I am gone for that will not help you. Don't forget me, but don't dwell on me. My death is unfortunate, but is just an obstacle for you to go around. You have been like a son to me Harry, I shall never forget you or think ill of you. Also, you need to finish your education. This will help you in your battle.
Forever your friend and teacher,
Dumbledore
After reading the letter twice Harry could feel tears start to burn in his eyes. Harry felt a new determination grow inside of him. Dumbledore was right. Dwelling on the past would only hinder him. If he dwelt on the deaths of Sirius and Dumbledore, both of whim had been like fathers to Harry, he wouldn't be able to do anything else that could be productive. Harry closed the letter and put that in his pocket as well. Feelings, that was his edge, his secret weapon against Voldemort. He looked at Ginny who was talking to Ron and Hermione. He loved Ginny in a special way. He also loved Ron and Hermione, but in a different sense of the word. Those two became his friends, his first friends ever many years ago. Without them Harry more than likely wouldn't be alive. But the same went for them, Neither one of those three wouldn't be standing there today if it wasn't for Harry. Hermione would have been squished by a troll- well Harry had Ron's help for that one- Ron would still be in the bottom of the lake, and Ginny –Harry shuddered at the memory- would have been killed by Voldemort. Or rather by one of his Horcruxes and pet basilisk. Harry walked over to the three of them and hugged all of them, giving Ginny a small kiss on the cheek.
"What was that for Harry?" asked Ron after Harry had finished. Harry looked at them and smiled.
"Because I got a letter from Dumbledore as part of his will," Harry paused for a moment as both Hermione and Ginny gave a small gasp in surprise and the continued, "and after reading it, I realized something. That none of us would be standing here today if it wasn't for one of the others. We've all saved each others lives more than once. Because of that we are all good friends. And that is the advantage we have over Voldemort. He doesn't have friends or loved ones, while we do. Now, I think that we need to go to Diagon Alley and get our books." Arm in arm the four friends headed for the door as they planned on apparating to Diagon Alley. As they were leaving they heard Mrs. Weasley shriek. She had just opened the letter that contained a letter stating that Dumbledore had left several thousand galleons to the Weasley family and that the amount had already been transferred to the family vault.
"I swear that at the rate this morning has gone, your mom going to have a heart attack by the end of the day Ron." Stated Harry before they left.
"Like I said, this is going to be a very long day." Ron said as he and Hermione vanished into the air. Holding Ginny close to his side since Ginny didn't have her apparition license, Harry followed suit and disappeared into the air, leaving Mr. Weasley to deal with a Mrs. Weasley who for the third time that day had fainted away.