Author's Disclaimer: I didn't invent Harry Potter, the Dursley's, or any other recognizable character. They belong to that great and honored J.K. who I am trying to humbly honor by inventing a few new characters to interact with hers.
Author's Note: This is a quickie. It came really fast so I'm going to post it with chapter 4. Don't expect to many updates like this, cuz like I said I'm going through some stuff and don't have a lot of time to write. Even though I'd devote hours a day to this if I was getting paid. Unfortunately I'm not so maybe if I see some more reviews up. It might make me feel a little more generous when I'm updating.
Chapter 5
Accepting the Invitations
Hermione was pacing in her room when pecking sound broke her attention. She turned to the window and was excited to see Hedwig. After she heard that Harry had been kidnaped and taken from Dumbledore's care, she was very anxious to get any news of Harry. She quickly let Hedwig in and took one of the rolled up parchments. Hedwig flew off as if needing to deliver the other parchments in a hurry.
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief when she recognized Harry's untidy scrawl. At first reading she was a little upset that he wrote more to the others then to her and that all that she got was a relax, I'm with family. But after the forth reading she picked up that he was at least with Remus and it seemed fairly safe since he was concerned about training and preparing for a fight.
She went to talked to her mother and father. After a lengthy conversion in which her parents wanted to know if they could at least meet this Professor Lupin to see if he was as responsible as their daughter thought he was; Hermione went back upstairs and wrote a quick note back to Harry.
Harry,
My parents want to meet with Remus before they will give consent for me to come and stay with you for a month and a half. If you can make arrangements for that, I'll be there.
It's nice to know you're thinking ahead, Harry.
Hermione.
She sat back and read through her reply, satisfied she laid down on her bed to await Hedwig's return.
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Luna Lovegood was diligently scribbling notes for her father, somewhere in the Alps, when a snowy owl came to land on a log to her left. Her father was trying to find a rare breed of creature that no one else believed in, the Crumpled-Horn Snorkacks. As Luna untied the last roll of parchment from the snowy owl, she looked into its bright eyes and seemed to read something there. The snowy owl took off and looked grateful to be finishing her long flight.
Luna immediately turned the letter upside down and began to read its contents. After her initial shock began to ware off, she began to giggle. "Father," she started, "may I go and visit a friend for a little while before school starts?"
"But of course, Moonbeam. Who is it you wish to visit?"
"Harry Potter. He's invited me and my friend Ginny to stay with him and his friends Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Neville."
"Why did he invite you?"
"He thinks I'm the secret weapon against Voldemort, because I can see things differently than anyone else."
"Very well, Moonbeam. When does he want you there?"
"The 15 of July to the 1 of September."
"Well, little moon, I'll miss you. But you tell them that next summer you're helping me all vacation, unless Voldemort is really acting up."
"All right, Father."
Luna went to summon her screech owl, Starry Night, and send off her reply to Harry.
Harry, Yes Thank you. I'll be there. Tell me when and where. Luna.
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BANG!
Fred and George had just created another successful project, when Hedwig flew through an open window and landed somewhat unsteadily on a pile of odds and ends.
"Hey look, Gred," said Forge. "That's Harry-kins owl. I wonder what he's up to?"
"Don't know, Forge. What say you we find out?"
"Quite right, Gred."
With that the Weasley twins took a roll of parchment off of Hedwig's leg and unrolled it as she flew off.
When they finished reading it, Fred looked at George and something passed between them. They grinned an almost wicked grin and went to find their owl. They would definitely be getting in touch with Harry and letting him know that he could expect them to be there when not at the shop.
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Hedwig found Ron and Ginny in the paddock back of the Burrow. Ron had been complaining for a few days that Harry hadn't answered his letters and he was beginning to get worried. Ginny had suggested having a chaser verses keeper match to get his mind off things.
Ron had blocked about 6 out of 10 of Ginny's shots, when he noticed Hedwig flying toward them. As Hedwig flew closer she circled around Ron and went to land on Ginny's broom handle. Ginny dropped the quaffle as she reached for one of the many rolls of parchment on Hedwig's leg. Ron flew over and hovered by Ginny as Hedwig flew off. Ginny unrolled the parchment and read Harry's message aloud.
"That's bloody brilliant," Ron said, "Let's go ask dad. That way he can tell mum they're going on that second honeymoon, and maybe she'll be so excited she won't get all the details."
"Great idea, Ron," Ginny answered, "and maybe, just maybe, she'll forget that we're not adults and can't practice magic outside of school."
"I'm sure Harry and Professor Lupin have figured something out," Ron retorted.
"Professor Lupin's not go to be there, dummy?"
"Yeah, he is. Read that part again that's for Fred and George. New partner, that's got to be Professor Lupin. He's Mooney from the Marauders."
"How do you know that?"
"Cause I'm one of Harry's best friends, that's how."
They landed and went to wait for their dad to come home.
Later that night, Ron sent Pig off with the following note:
Harry,
We're in. Let us know when and where, we'll be there.
Ron & Ginny.
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Neville was hard at work inside his grandmother's greenhouse. When Mrs. Longbottom had recognized that he had a talent for herbology, she let him spend most of his summers in her greenhouse. She was planning on giving him a greenhouse of his own, if he scored well enough on his O. W. Ls. Neville got up for a drink and through the vaulted roof window he saw a owl coming toward him. He soon recognized it as Harry's owl. He wondered why Harry would be writing to him. Maybe he wanted to apologize for what had happened in the Department of Mysteries. If anything, Neville felt like he should apologize for what happened. He felt like if he had been a better wizard, instead of almost a squib, he could have helped more and maybe Harry's godfather might still be alive.
With these thoughts running through Neville's mind he took one of the three parchments tied to Hedwig's leg and unrolled it. Neville was surprised at who the letter was addressed to. Harry didn't seem the type to address a letter to so many people at once. As he read he was shocked by what Harry wrote about him. 'I'm not a great wizard,' he thought, 'I'm not even a good friend. I let Harry down and now he's telling me that he let me down. I don't believe it. I want to visit him and see if we can be friends, but Gran would never allow it. She doesn't even let me have friends over here. How am I suppose to convince her to let me go?' Neville's thoughts continued down this train of thought for several minutes. Then he screwed up his courage and thought, 'I'm in Gryffindor. The hat put me there for a reason. Harry thinks I'm a great wizard, and I dueled with Death Eaters and came away from the battle with very little damage. I can face Gran and ask her to let me spend some time with my friends. I know I can.'
A half an hour later, a disgruntled looking Neville climbed up the stairs to his room. He decided to write to Harry. If someone could get Harry away from Dumbledore and Dumbledore not even know about it until the next day, then they'd have to be able to get him away from Gran.
Harry,
Gran doesn't want me to be gone that long. But I want to come. Is there anyway you could help me? Don't kidnap me. I just want someone to come and talk to Gran about me going someplace to jumpstart my schooling for the N. E. W. T.s. I can't wait to hear from you, please respond quickly.
Hey, Harry. I'm really sorry about your godfather. I know what its like to lose someone you love, when you haven't known them very long.Neville
P.S. I haven't gotten a new wand yet. Gran said I couldn't get one til August. Is that going to be a problem?