Chapter 6

Harry awoke the next day extremely happy, remembering the wonderful surprise party and the wonderful gifts he received the previous night. Ron did indeed give Ginny his broom, and she was absolutely ecstatic. She gave Ron a big hug and then ran over to Harry and gave him a hug as well.

"Harry, are you all right? You're blushing as much as Ron usually does," Hermione said.

"Hey! I don't blush that much," Ron objected. "Ron, you're blushing right now," Hermione shot back.

"Err. I'm fine, let's go practice Quidditch shall we?" Harry replied nervously.

Ginny giggled and ran off with her new broom, Ron grabbed his Firebolt, and Harry got his Thunderbolt and they walked to the empty field. Bill and Charlie also came and set up a mini field for them and then joined them. The thunderbolt flew smoother than Harry could've ever imagined. It seemed that the broom knew which way to fly even before Harry did. After a few hours of intense play, in which Ginny took a bludger to the face, the group trudged in, covered in mud and ravenous. They lazed about after lunch, with Hermione reading her text books, and the rest chatting. As Harry was laughing about Bill's story of the reason he once got 18 consecutive detentions, Mr. Weasley Apparated in, concern all over his face.

"Kids, you're going to Grimmauld Place right now. Bill, Charley, we'll go there to meet with the Order, You-know-who's just attacked a large number of wizards in broad daylight in Diagon Alley," Mr. Weasley explained quickly. "Kids, get your trunks now, I doubt we'll come back right for a while, and hurry!" He swiftly turned on his heel, Bill and Charley following, while Ginny and Hermione rushed upstairs to grab their trunks.

Harry and Ron quickly grabbed all of the items in the room, whether it was theirs or the other person's and threw them in the trunk. In 5 minutes, everyone was around the fireplace with their luggage.

Harry went after Ron and Hermione and shouted, "Number 12, Grimmauld Place!" and was swiftly transported to the house. Harry clambered out of the fireplace and hauled his trunk up to the room he had stayed in last time. Harry was, of course worried about what Voldermort was doing, but he was also having an extremely difficult time trying to control his emotions from exploding, being in this place again. He walked into the kitchen and saw Lupin and other Order members talking to each other.

"Oh, hello Harry. Alright there? Good, just stay in the house and don't answer it to anyone when the Order members have left, alright?" Lupin said quickly as Harry nodded and more Order members entered the kitchen.

Eventually, Harry was pushed out of the kitchen and as he trudged up the stairs, he heard a very loud crack, which sounded as if all the Order members had left. Harry was so deep in his thoughts, that he rammed into an umbrella holder and covered his ears for Mrs. Black to start screaming. But she didn't. Harry looked at the curtains, but they did not fly open. Harry puzzled over this as he proceeded to his room, where Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were sitting. Ron said to Harry,

"Mum's still here, but everyone else went,"

Harry nodded and asked, "Why doesn't Mrs. Black scream anymore?"

Hermione suddenly looked sad and said, "Lupin told her that Sirius, well, he told her what happened, and since that day she hasn't said anything at all, not a single word."

Harry nodded and then asked, "What happened to Kreacher?"

"He died, and I can't say I'm sorry he did," Ginny said before anyone else responded, with a fierce look in her eyes.

Harry was surprised at her tone and sat down on the bed. They all waited, with Mrs. Weasley occasionally bustling in, saying they should go to bed, or giving them butterbeer. They all waited until past midnight until Bill poked his head in and said they should come downstairs, because Mr. Weasley wanted to tell them what happened. They all looked at each other and stood up and headed downstairs.