Harry Potter and the Green Flame Torch

A/N: Okay, I know, you're all wondering—green flame torch? That's in the past, it's the Half-Blood Prince, woman! Yes, I know. But this particular story I started BEFORE HBP came out—it's set after the fifth book, basically my version of what the 6th book would be like (although obviously it won't be as long as the sixth book). So, although some of it isn't true to the books (like Mr. Malfoy still roams free; Ron doesn't know about the time turner from the third book, etc.), I hope you enjoy it all the same!

Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, unfortunately.

Chapter One

Weasley's Wacky Wizard Wheezes

Harry heaved a sigh. He was still quite downcast about the death of his godfather and convicted murderer, Sirius Black. But Black had turned out innocent. Harry still remembered the first time he had met him. It was his third year at Hogwarts, and Harry had heard the truth about his innocence, and in turn, Peter Pettigrew's (who also coincidentally happened to be one of Harry's best friends, Ron's, pet rat Scabbers) guilt. No. Sirius Black died because of him, because he was stupid enough to believe that what he saw in a dream Lord Voldemort, the Darkest wizard of the century who had killed his parents, had planted in his mind all because Professor Snape had refused to give him any more Occlumency lessons because he had invaded in on Snape's worst memory. And now Sirius was dead.

Harry was spending the remainder of the summer at the Burrow, home to the Weasleys. He had not slept at all that night, tossing and turning at these thoughts, thinking about how differently things would be if he hadn't gone to the Ministry of Magic to save a man who was not in distress. Now that it was daybreak, he couldn't stand it any longer. He climbed out of his own bed and walked over to Ron's.

"Ron, wake up! Get up! Get UP!"

"Huh?"

"Ron, get up. I have an idea. Why don't we get dressed, sneak downstairs, and surprise your mum by having breakfast ready by the time they all come downstairs?" Harry was anxious to get his mind on a happier note.

Ron yawned and said, "Well, alright, then, I'm awake now anyway."

However, when they got downstairs, Mrs. Weasley had beaten them there. Bacon was frying on its own in a pan, eggs sizzled away without being touched, orange juice mixed itself, coffee, which apparently had decided to begin making itself at a very early hour, was ready, and the toast, which had buttered itself, sat ready to be eaten.

Mrs. Weasley, who sat at the kitchen table, reading the Daily Prophet and drinking some of the self-prepared coffee, looked up when the boys walked into the room.

"Ah. Early birds! Would you boys mind setting the table?"

"Yes, mum."

"Okay, Mrs. Weasley."

"Oh, yes, and set six places. Hermione should be coming any time now. She'll be joining us in breakfast."

"Hermione's coming?" both Harry and Ron shouted. Then, there was a knock at the back door. Harry and the Ron scrambled to answer it. Together, they opened the door, and there stood Hermione. They both began to hug her. In turn, she gave them both a swift kiss on the cheek. Ron turned beet red.

Pink herself, Hermione explained, "My parents went to a dental convention for the rest of the summer, so they had me send an owl town nights ago, asking if I could stay for the rest of the summer and, you know, tag along to Diagon Alley and be escorted to the Hogwarts Express."

"Here, we'll help you with your stuff. We'll be a couple of bellhops." Harry beamed. He, too, was a bit flustered with the kiss, but not in a nervous way.

"Bellhops? What the heck are bellhops?" exclaimed Ron. Both Harry and Hermione keeled over in laughter. "What did I say?" asked Ron.

Mrs. Weasley walked up to them. "Hello Hermione. What's so funny?"

"That's what I'd like to know. All I did was ask them what a bellflop is, and they started laughing like a couple of hyenas," accused Ron.

Still giggling, Harry apologized, "Sorry, Ron. It was just the way you said it."

"Yeah, Ron, it was just the look on your face. You have every right to ask what a bellhop is," agreed Hermione.

"That reminds me," said Ron rather sarcastically, "How's spew going?"

"S.P.E.W.! The Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare! And, in fact, Ginny has agreed to join!"

Ron sniggered. Harry decided to grab her suitcase and carry it up to Ginny's, Ron's younger sister's, room before an argument broke out. When he came back downstairs, though, everyone was in a particularly cheery mood at the thought of breakfast.

Three weeks later, Mrs. Weasley proposed they take their annual trip to Diagon Alley to buy their school supplies. "You will be off on the train in two days." So, with the help of a little Floo Powder, they, which included Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny, traveled to Diagon Alley straight after breakfast.

Having arrived at their destination, the group split up. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley headed to Malkin's to buy Mr. Weasley some new robes. Mrs. Weasley stated, "Arthur's old ones are torn and frayed. He's been saving for months, and now I do believe he's got enough Sickles…"

Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Harry, meanwhile, bought necessary school supplies for the upcoming year. They also did a bit of window shopping. Anxious to see what new broomstick would be presented, Harry, with the others on his heels, headed for the Quidditch supplies shop. But he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw a sign that read:

Weasley's

WACKY

Wizard

Wheezes