I would like to thank Curlytop, who just opened my eyes, made me slow down and reread my chapters……I would also like to thank Paranoiain2005, who told me that the Ron/Harry scene was not all it could be.
I always appreciate constructive criticism, and I will not take offense. I read these reviews, and take them very seriously. If you have not already done so, please go back right now and reread at least the first half of chapter 12. Thank you, all of you.
Review responses next chapter.
Chapter 13: In Times of Trouble
"You'd need more than a good sense of fun to liaise with my uncle," said Harry darkly. "Good sense of when to duck, more like…" –Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Page 657.
"Who's Blaise?"
These were the first words out of Ron's mouth at the leaving feast the next day, when the trio heard the news of Blaise's acceptance into the Order. Hermione elbowed him in the side and reminded him that he was one of Draco's good friends.
Draco himself looked fit to explode with excitement, and Harry's head was whirring with unexplained happiness. Close the link! He told Draco quickly, before I get sick.
Draco cut off his emotions from Harry with relative ease. Sorry, Potter, Draco's thoughts were vague and distracted. Harry's eyebrows rose in surprise…Draco seemed almost…worried.
What are you thinking about? Harry asked him carefully.
Draco's familiar mental voice laughed, you don't really want to know!
Yes, I do. Harry answered him patiently, what's wrong?
Draco paused for a long moment, I suppose it's the summer, you know?
Harry grimaced; he had never particularly enjoyed summer 'vacation' either. Even when he went to a Muggle primary school, summertime just meant more time for him to get underfoot at the Dursley's. At least when he was at Hogwarts he didn't have to watch his every step. He wasn't really looking forward to isolation once again at Privet Drive, but at least now he would have Draco to think with.
Think with? He thought to himself amusedly, now that's a change.
What's bothering you, Potter? Draco asked languidly, I can feel your hesitation.
I'm agreeing with you. Harry told him, I don't like the summertime either.
The unspoken 'why,' settled between them, but neither felt the urge to ask it. There would be plenty of time for that this summer.
"Hey, Harry!" The Gryffindor turned to see most of the members of the D.A. approaching him. Ginny was there, along with Neville, Luna, Dean, and half the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He could see Terry, Seamus, Justin and Susan Bones.
This your fan club, Potter? Draco asked in amusement.
Mind your own business, Malfoy. Harry told him sharply.
Draco's laugh echoed in Harry's head.
"Hey," Harry greeted the large group that had gathered around the Gryffindor table. "Why are you all here?"
The others exchanged nervous glances; they had obviously forgotten the rule not to be seen as too large of a group. "Well," Ginny began, "we actually have something we wanted to show you in… you-know-where."
"Let's do it another time!" Harry hissed quickly, they were beginning to draw curious glances from other tables. "Meet me, after dinner."
They all nodded and dispersed quickly, returning to their respective tables almost as quickly as they had come. Hermione and Ron exchanged looks with Harry; soon the D.A. would be discovered by the entire student body, the way they were acting.
What was that all about? Draco asked him, watching all the kids return to their seats, amazement in his eyes, you got some kind of cult going, Potter?
Some kind of it, Harry sighed.
I suppose I won't be invited to you-know-where, Draco joked. It seems to be a high-security secret.
Not like you haven't discovered it, Harry told him, think back.
Think back? Draco asked him, confused. To what?
C'mon, you busted us yourself.
You mean…Draco's eyes lit up with realization; you were running a secret club!
Of course I was, you git. Harry laughed; you and Umbridge did give us quite a scare.
"I thought it was fake, afterwards." Draco admitted, reverting back to speech, startling Ron and Hermione, who had been sharing their pudding.
"Well, you had caught us; we just had a good cover." Harry told him.
Ron then realized that they were discussing the D.A. He leaned over next to Harry and whispered, "Are you planning on letting Draco join?"
He wants to know if you're gonna join. Harry relayed to Draco.
Oh yeah! Please, Harry! Draco's eyes begged, there's nothing I would like more than to drool over you in your fan club! Do we get souvenirs too? He had leaned forward until his hands were gripping Harry's robes in a silent plea.
"Maybe you can join next year." Harry told him.
"Potter," Draco sighed, leaning back, "You wouldn't recognize sarcasm if it slapped you in the face."
"I did know you were being sarcastic!" Harry said defiantly, "I was playing along."
Whatever helps you sleep at night, Potter.
Screw you, Malfoy.
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After the feast, the students had been instructed to return to their dormitories for the final night before boarding the train early the next morning. But Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny had snuck out of Gryffindor tower together to meet the others in the Room of Requirement. "What is all this about?" Harry kept asking the others, but they all refused to tell him, Ginny would only smile knowingly and tell him to be patient.
They finally reached the hallway, and after pacing three times, opened the door to reveal that nearly everyone had arrived before them. Everyone greeted each other before taking a seat on the various cushions. Angelina lit some candles so they could see better in the night. Harry went to stand before them, but Neville grabbed his arm and told him to sit. Hermione stood up instead, and turned to face the gathering of students, most of who were wearing sly smiles and excited grins.
Hermione cleared her throat, and turned to look Harry directly in the eye. "All of you; except for Harry, know why we are gathered here tonight, right?" Everyone nodded quickly, while Harry just frowned in confusion and looked around at everyone who had planned this without his knowledge. "Harry," Hermione continued, "We are doing this for you, in an effort to relate to you, our…appreciation, for everything you have helped us with this year."
"You guys didn't have t-"
"Of course we didn't have to!" Neville interrupted, "but we wanted to!" Everyone nodded their agreement, and Angelina and Katie cheered from the back.
"We would have all failed our O.W.L.'s if it wasn't for your help," Hannah Abbott piped up from the corner.
Ron slapped Harry on the shoulder, "Yeah, mate. Never could have done it without you."
"Don't wait anymore Hermione, just give it to him." Colin added.
"Harry," Hermione said, pulling out a small box, "You gave us all quite a scare a couple weeks ago." She began shakily, Harry smiled reassuringly at her. "Well, we have thought of a solution if you ever find yourself in a situation like that again."
"It's a book, isn't it?" Harry asked her. Everyone laughed, while others groaned.
"Actually," Hermione frowned, "It is." She handed him the package, which Harry now felt to hold a small paperback book.
"I can't believe he guessed it," Ron whined, "he was at least supposed to hold it first!"
"Have I become too predictable?" Hermione asked jokingly.
"Yes!" came the chorus of voices. Hermione's frown became more defined. Harry tore open the packaging to reveal the title, Confounding the Cruciatus, and Other Forms of Defeating Dark Magic.
Harry laughed; it was the perfect gift for him. "Thanks you guys." He smiled, "I love it."
"And we know you will use it!" Anthony shouted. The others laughed affectionately.
"Enough of this!" Dean yelled, "Let's party!"
"WH-what?" Harry asked.
"We still have all night." Ron told him, "And you missed the end-of-exams party. C'mon!" They led Harry outside, where they ran up and down the corridor three times. When they entered the room again, there were balloons with Umbridge's face on them being shot with centaur arrows, confetti layered the benches and cushions, while tables overflowed with pumpkin juice and all sorts of pasties and sweets. Music from the Wizarding Wireless Network was blaring from an unseen source.
"You really planned this!" Harry said, impressed.
"Here's to the summer!" Justin Finch-Fletchley shouted happily.
To the summer, Harry sighed.
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The train ride home was fairly uneventful; Crabbe and Goyle walked by the compartment Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna, and Draco were sharing several times, glaring in the window at the Malfoy, who would find himself nervously tapping his foot involuntarily. Ron finally noticed this, and actually felt some pity for the Slytherin. He would hate to have those two thugs after him for revenge.
"Hey, Harry," said Ron, nodding towards the glass window onto the corridor. Harry noticed Cho passing, accompanied by Marietta Edgecombe. Cho blushed and walked on, while Harry averted his eyes back towards Ron's game of chess.
"What's –er- going on with you two, anyway?" Ron asked quietly.
"Nothing," Harry answered truthfully, and found that he did not really care about impressing Cho anymore.
You and Chang were the strangest couple, Draco commented dryly.
What makes you say that?
I dunno, you just want someone a bit more…er…I don't know. Harry was about to ask him what he meant, when they were interrupted.
"WHAT?" shouted Ron, upending the chessboard. Draco and Harry were startled out of their thoughts. Harry smiled when he heard that Ginny now fancied Dean Thomas, unfortunately, Ron was less amused.
As they neared the train station, Harry thought he had never wanted to leave it less. Surely after the dementor incident last summer, the Dursley's wouldn't exactly be welcoming to him. The four of them walked through the magical barrier between platforms nine and ten, only to see a group of people standing there to greet them, whom Harry had not expected at all.
Padfoot, Lupin, Tonks, Arabella and Moody were standing in a group with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, who were hugging Ginny. Fred and George Weasley greeted them jovially. Ron eyed their new matching dragon-skin jackets, while the twins told him how business was booming.
"What are you all doing here?" asked Harry.
"Well," Moody smiled, "we thought we might have a little chat with your aunt and uncle before letting them take you home."
"I don't think that's really a good idea," Harry said at once.
"Course it is," Moody added gruffly. "That'll be them, will it, Potter?"
The three Dursley's were standing behind Mad-Eye, Dudley was trying his best to appear insignificant, hiding behind Aunt Petunia, who was looking frightened and embarrassed to be seen in such company. Vernon turned a deeper shade of puce when he spotted Mr. Weasley, who had been greeting Hermione's parents enthusiastically.
Moody and Arthur led the way towards the Dursley's, everyone else hurrying within their wake.
"We'd like to have a few words with you about Harry," Arthur began with a smile.
"About how he's treated at your place," Moody growled.
"I am not aware that it is any of your business what goes on in my house-" Vernon bristled.
"The point is…" Tonks interjected.
"…If we get any hint that Potter's been mistreated in any way, you'll have us to answer to." Moody ended ominously. Vernon swallowed, but didn't offer an answer, and as Harry turned to say goodbye to his friends, he felt his Uncle's eyes bore into his back.
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Draco had stood back from these proceedings, content to observe Potter's interaction with the Muggles and acquaint himself with Arabella Figg, who turned out to be a friendly woman, if somewhat…odd.
"Then there is Mr. Tibbles and Mr. Prentice, and Mrs. Cheung, quite the charmers, all three of them, and brilliant too," Arabella, as she had insisted Draco call her, had finally finished describing her odd assortment of pets. "Have you any cats, dearie?"
Draco blanched, much to the amusement of Harry, but managed to answer her quietly, "Nope, never any cats."
"What a shame, well, you'll be sure to get to know them all then."
Draco nodded.
Going to be a fun summer, eh, Malfoy?
Don't think to me Potter, I have to swim in my self-pity for a few more minutes.
Harry laughed mentally. Everyone was finishing their farewells, and turning to Harry for a final goodbye.
"We'll see you soon, mate." Ron said anxiously, shaking Harry's hand.
"Real soon, Harry," said Hermione earnestly, "we promise."
"Take care, Harry," said Lupin quietly, resting his hand on Harry's shoulder, "keep in touch."
Sirius leapt up to Harry, and rested his paws on his shoulders, woofing sadly.
"Only for a little while, Padfoot." Harry whispered, and Sirius dropped to the ground again.
Harry turned and led the way out of the train station, with the Dursley's hurrying along after him.
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They were halfway to the car before Harry heard any sound from the Dursley's. Dudley, who had been trailing behind his mother, suddenly shrieked aloud, "The coldness, it's come back!"
Vernon grabbed Harry by the elbow, and whirled him around to face him. "I knew this would happen!" He yelled, as spit flew in all directions. "What tricks are you up to now, Boy?"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Harry exclaimed, "I haven't done anything!"
"We have paid, plenty of good money, to see our Dudley nursed back to health this school year after meeting those dementors." Vernon whispered menacingly, "I will not have you causing distress to his already tattered mind!"
Harry's jaw nearly dropped open in surprise, this news of the dementors having an ill effect on his cousin was something he had expected, but he had no idea his aunt and uncle had paid so much for therapy.
"We thought he had healed," Vernon snarled, "and if you jeopardize his health, I'll make sure you never see the light of day, again!"
Harry gulped; this was not going to be a fun summer.
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END OF CHAPTER 13
Well? What did you think? Please review and tell me, I will do all review responses next chapter, (which won't be out for quite a while, possibly a week).
Later,
Lana
***Sweet Sorrow, your name will show up later, also. =P