Chapter Six
Home Again
This was certainly not Harry's idea of a cup of tea. He hated his family so much, that often times he imagined them all being dead. Why did his family have to resent him so much for being the way that he was? I was not as if he could change who his parents were or what they were. He was the way that he was; his family was just going to have to deal with it.
Though it was funny that his cousin Dudley kept getting so huge, it was as if he were a balloon and would fly away and never come back. If only dreams could come true.
His Aunt Petunia was always the same way, skinny as a rail, not a hint of fat on her bones. His Uncle Vernon kept getting huge as well. Maybe one day he would just end up dieing and his aunt would marry a wizard portraying himself to be a muggle. Again, if only dreams could come true.
Though there was something different about the house when Harry was walking up to it, music was playing and there was someone humming. His aunt never played music or hummed with Uncle Vernon around, she was always so uptight and quiet.
When he walked into the house, he was greeted with a big hug and a kiss from his Aunt. Yes, something was definitely different.
"Aunt Petunia, what is wrong? Where is Uncle Vernon?"
"Oh, he died dear and I have since then remarried. He is the most wonderful man that I know, Gilderoy Lockhart."
"I thought that he was supposed to be in St. Mungo's."
"What was that dear?"
"Oh, nothing. I am happy for you Aunt Petunia."
"Why, thank you dear. Dudley come say hello to Harry. Gilderoy, darling, Harry is home."
All at once, it sounded like herds of elephants were coming down the stairs.
To Harry's surprise his cousin had lost weight and seemed to be in better spirits.
"Hey, loser. What made you come home, you know we hate you."
"Dudley, that is terribly mean and you know that that is just not true. Now apologize."
"Never, this stupid jerk deserves no apology; he deserves death after getting my father killed."
"I did what?"
"You had father killed. A man showed up here all in black and killed father, tried to kill mother and me too but his friends told him not to do it."
"Please describe this man to me?"
"He was wearing all black and his eyes looked evil. One of his friends had black long hair and the other one had blond long hair. They all looked like they were evil."
"When did they come here?"
"Oh, I do not know, a few months ago."
I may hate my family and wish them dead but no one is going to kill them until I do, thought Harry.
"You must be Harry, I have heard so much about you."
"Hello, Lockhart, good to see you managed to escape St. Mungo's."
"Harry, it is nice to see you again too. Funny how things work out."
"Yes, funny. What made you marry my aunt?"
"She is a lovely woman and was in need of protection, I took it upon myself to protect her."
"My, haven't you changed, doing good deeds and everything. How much is HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED paying you?" Scowled Harry
"Oh, he does not have to pay me anything, I do this freely. He won't mess with your family anymore until after he sees you." Smiled Lockhart
"My, my, I guess I should consider myself fortunate to have to protect myself and my family, what is left of it anyway. Once and for all you Death Eaters will be taken down."
"Such a big threat for such a little boy." Laughed Lockhart
"Well, I am glad that you two like each other. Darling, what language were you speaking?"
"Oh, it is an archaic language, hardly spoken anymore. They teach it at Hogwarts."
"Hogwarts, you went to Hogwarts?"
"I taught there for a term."
"I see. You and Harry must get along marvelously then."
"Yes, we get along just fine."
"I am going to my room. Call me for dinner."
"Okay, honey. See you in a little while."
When Harry went to his room, he quickly wrote a note to McGonagall telling her what had happened so far. She was never going to believe this; Harry probably would not have believed it had he not seen it with his own eyes. Voldermort has killed too many people in Harry's family; the time for revenge was fast approaching.
The rest of Harry's visit was much of the same. Debating with Lockhart in Parseltongue, though the only difference was that Dudley and Harry started to work together to get rid of Lockhart, without Petunia knowing.
As soon as Ron and Ginny walked into their house, they were swarmed with hugs and kisses. Their parents knew that they would not be spending a lot of time at home so they decided to make up for it by spreading love on thick.
"Now, the first thing you have to do is open your presents." Stated Molly
"Yes, yes you must open presents right away, that way you can bring them with you when you go." Stated Arthur
"Mum, dad, we just got home, couldn't we wait a while?" Asked Ron
"No time like the present. Oh, and I have your favorite meals already in the oven warming. There is going to be a feast tonight."
"Mum, you did not have to do that."
"Yes, I did, this may be the last time I see my babies."
"Oh mum, we are going to be okay."
"You never know with HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED, you just never know."
"Harry is going to make sure that nothing happens to us."
"I know but still, things happen everyday that we cannot control. Why would this day be any different?"
"Because, we are home now, safe and sound for the time being. Nothing to worry about."
"Okay, okay. You still have to open your presents."
"Okay mum, we'll open our presents."
After a fashion Ginny and Ron had opened, everything that was sitting out for them. They had also eaten themselves silly on their favorite meals and had been forced to gulp down their favorite desserts. All this love was going to kill them or make them very, very sick.
When Ron and Ginny were heading upstairs to their room, they were feeling so ill that they did not want to move but they could not stand another minute downstairs. All this lovey dovey stuff was making them sicker than they already felt.
"Mum is really worried something bad is going to happen to us."
"I know which is why we should stay here and make sure that we are safe."
"Ronald, you are a baby. We promised we would go, we have to make good on that promise."
"I know, but I still want to stay here. There is no sense jeopardizing ourselves just to help out a friend."
"Ronald, if you and Harry had been switched at birth he would do the same for you without bitching about it. You have to return the favor. Stop being such a baby."
"I am not a baby."
"You are acting like a baby when you pout and say that you want to stay here. This is not a cake walk either."
"I know Ginny, but still."
"No buts Ron grow up and help your good friend out. He is truly the only person that liked you when they first met you."
"I know that too. We should get some sleep, knowing Hermione she will want us to be leaving tomorrow or the next day."
"I know. That is why I love her so much."
"This is going to drive me crazy."
"I already am crazy, I have six older brothers."
"Go to sleep."
"After you."
"No, you first."
"Never, you may do something to me in my sleep."
"I would never do that, you do that."
"No, I do not to that."
"Quiet you two, we are trying to sleep." Stated Molly
Soon enough, the two were fast asleep dreaming of the task at hand. Ginny was excited about it, but Ron was dreading it. He feared this just as much as he feared spiders, which is saying a lot.
The next morning, they got a message from Hermione telling them that they were to leave that night and meet her at the airport in Las Vegas. They were glad to be getting away from home, yet scared to be getting away and fighting evil on there own.
The day passed quickly and before they knew it, they were at McCarran Airport waiting for Hermione, Draco, Blaise, and Harry.
