DISCLAIMER: Not mine, any of it, save a few characters and some plot. Many a dream I have experienced where it
involved me having written Harry Potter, but Dreams are Dreams and sometimes, my dreams are quite…odd and random.
Clowns vs. Sea Serpents, Harry dressed up like those dudes from Organization 13, some ruthless sunflowers trying to eat
my chips…anyways…onto Chapter 1!
Secret Promise
Chapter 1: Mummy's Darling Baby
oOoOoOo
What children take from us, they give…We become people who feel more deeply, question more deeply, hurt more deeply,
and love more deeply.
—Sonia Taitz—
oOoOoOo
If there was one thing Molly Weasley feared more than anything, it was losing her family. Having lost her father, two brothers, and many cousins in the last war, relief had followed her quickly during the few years of peace they had had, closely pursued by caution and wariness of the fear that had dreaded through her veins during the first reign of Voldemort. She had known for many years that he would come back, in her heart she had known that his terror was not over, and it scared her stiff. She wanted to take her family and run, and hide. But she knew that wouldn't be the right thing, it wouldn't help the Order, of which she had vowed to help with her life. And she had more to protect now than just her family.
Harry James Potter, no matter how much trouble he attracted, the boy had burrowed his name deep into her heart, right next to that of her children's, her husband's, her brothers', her sister's, and her parents' names. That young man had more good in him, more unassuming love and kindness and nobility than any other person she had ever known. Just like Albus Dumbledore, he was, radiating with strength and goodness. At least, he did in her eyes. The fact that he had broken up with her beautiful little Ginny didn't faze her. She had seen the way he had looked at her daughter over Christmas, she had known before he had what he felt for her. And if she knew Ginny, she wouldn't let him go without a fight, and even if he did slip out of her grasp, she wouldn't be broken by it. She would accept it, and she would wait for him, until the very end.
Hermione Jane Granger, the most brilliant witch of her age, with a tendency to be a little bossy and over reliant on her precious books, too, had found her way into Molly's heart. And her name rested right beside Ron's name. The two couldn't see it, but they were so in love with each other. The only ones who didn't know it were them. She didn't want to meddle, especial during a war where things could...go wrong. But if they didn't find each other soon, she would have to take the matters into her own hands. Hermione herself abided to rules more than Molly herself did and knowing that the girl was there to guide her baby boy, eased Molly's heart.
Fleur Delacour…now there was a tough cookie. She might not look like it, on the outside, but boy is that girl strong. She hadn't been the Beauxbatons Triwizard Champion for no reason. Molly hadn't seen it before; she just couldn't get passed the fact that her baby boy was getting married to a part-veela, a woman too gorgeous for her, or any woman's husband, own well being. She was conceited, she was vain, she was picky and she and Molly were opposite in almost every way. But she loved Bill. Molly had doubted it before, but now she knew that Fleur really loved him. You could see it, in the way she so steadily stood by his side, scolding him when he put himself down, and soothing his wounds when he was hurt. It made Molly jealous, made her ache inside, knowing that her little boy was being held and rocked by another woman, but alas, every mother must watch her chick leave the nest. Fleur's name was still being etched in Molly's heart, forever to sit beside William Arthur Weasley, but eventually she would nettle her way through, just like the twins always did.
Fleur stood by her now. It had surprised her, shocked her even, when Fleur had insisted that she and Bill be there to greet the children with Arthur and her. There had been a brief argument, not a heated one as was usual, but in the end Fleur had persuaded Molly by saying, "If zhere ees an attack, would it not help zat Bill and I are zhere to help defend ze children?"
Molly looked at the woman beside her. Her arm was linked through Bill's and she was murmuring to him in French and he was grasping on to every word, laughing every now and then. Fleur, with her long perfect silvery blonde hair, fair, unblemished and unmarred complexion, big, mesmerizing blue eyes and long willowy figure that came with a tiny waist and lots of curves, leaned against Bill's long, lean figure. Her curves countered his angles and her beauty countered his scars. It had killed her, seeing her handsome son hurt so badly, not knowing if he would live through this and stay her laughing, consistently steady and patient Bill. The scars were a reminder that she had almost lost him, and she hadn't been there to save him from that horrible monster…
"Molly, dear, you look upset." Arthur looked at her, concern lighting in his blue eyes, the eyes she had fallen in love with in a single heartbeat. He was tall, gangly, with balding hair as red as their children's, and glasses. Sometimes he was the most absentminded, Muggle-obsessed wizard alive and it drove her crazy, but she loved him for it. She loved him for being absentminded, for it made him patient, and she loved him for being Muggle-obsessed, because it let their children believe while growing up that even Muggles could do magic, in their own way. Even she would have caused some bias amongst her children, for Muggles made her slightly wary. She couldn't understand them sometimes, even knowing that they were human, just as she was. "Are you alright?"
"Oh, I'm fine, Arthur." She told him, "Just a little teary-eyed knowing that my babies might be coming off that train for the last time."
Arthur didn't buy it for a second. He knew her inside and out, "Molly…" He squeezed her arm comfortingly, lowering his voice to a whisper, "Bill is fine, now. He's perfectly fine and he's going to get married and he and Fleur are going to be splendidly happy!"
"Oh, Arthur, I know." She said, sighing, looking out at the row of other nervous parents, on edge, dreading a Death Eater attack.
"Oh, look!" She cried, relief flooding her entire being. The train was coming into view, the brilliant red standing out amongst its surroundings.
"Splendid!" Arthur said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, "It's quite the sight isn't it?"
"I remember when I came back from my first year." Bill said, his eyes twinkling with mirth. Somehow, inside, he was the same as he had always been. His scars were only skin-deep, "Mum wouldn't let go of me for about thirty minutes and Ginny was crying, I think she had soiled her nappy, Ron was begging for juice, the twins, Dear Merlin, were up to who knows what, and Charlie was demanding I tell him every little detail about Hogwarts." Bill paused, glanced at his mother, to make sure she was ready, "Percy was trying to calm Ginny down and reminded dad to conjure Ron juice and caught the twins with a muggle screwdriver."
"My little helper," Molly looked sad for a long moment, nearly sobbed even, but the slowing down of the train stopped her.
"Oh, eet is wonderful, no?" Fleur said, smiling warmly. Bill looked at her and grinned, pecked her swiftly on the mouth. Arthur smiled at them and Molly just watched the train. Students came out, not in seas like they usually did. Some sobbed and threw themselves at their parents, some were dragged into very tight embraces by said parents, and some met whole families who, anxious to go home, left immediately.
"I don't see them yet." Arthur told Molly, who was trying to lean on her tippytoes over the crowd. He was much taller than her, as was Bill, who also said he could not see.
"It should be easy, with so few redheads around." Bill complained good-naturedly. Fleur was helping also.
"Oh!" She said, her eyebrows winging up and her eyes widening.
"What? What? Is it Ginny? Ron? Harry? Hermione? What's wrong?" Molly demanded of the others. Arthur was pondering something curiously and Bill's mouth was twitching.
"Wha-oh." She gasped when she finally saw what they were talking about. As the crowd thinned she could see Ron and Hermione…and they were kissing! They were kissing! Well, not exactly kissing…snogging was the term she believed.
Harry and Ginny stood near them, looking shocked. There was a long pausing moment, before both folded over in laughter, collapsing to the ground howling with gales and gales of laughter. She herself couldn't help but smile when she saw that they were laughing. After such tragedy, they could find happiness…Children really were amazing. Truly amazing.
oOoOoOo
"Oh, Harry, I do believe it's my turn!" Ginny managed to gasp when they had both controlled their uncontrollable bout of joy. Ron and Hermione had pulled away, slightly, and were staring at each other, speechlees. Ginny had dragged Harry to his feet and pulled his mouth forcefully to hers before he could see Hermione yank Ron down to snog him some more.
His eyes were open and wide, having not anticipated this, knowing that he should have expected this from her. They closed and he sunk into the feeling of her soft, plush mouth against his. She kissed him fervently, her mouth moving against his in tandem, her hands moving to his waist, his sliding to her hair, as they always did. He cradled her head in his hands, gentling the kiss, slowing it down so he kissed her tenderly, softly, with love and not just passion. She melted against him, making a light sound in her throat. Harry tugged her band out of her hair with ease, letting her silky tresses fall over his hands like satin.
"Harry…you did it again." She said against his mouth, as neither of them opened their eyes or pulled away from each other. He ran his fingers through her hair, feeling the softness of each strand as he did.
He nuzzled her mouth, "I wouldn't do it if you would free your hair from its unjust prison."
Neither moved. She scoffed, "My hair is not a living thing."
"Mmm, it could be with such a lively color." He retorted, opening his eyes. She opened hers and he stared into her bright brown depths, leaning his forehead upon hers, "Ah and such lovely eyes, too."
She blushed, hugged him tighter, "People are staring. Aren't you shy?"
"I used to be." He said, not looking at anything but her, "Not with you."
"Harry…" She pulled him back in with a kiss, not with her arms but with her eyes. He lingered upon her mouth for a long moment then pulled away.
"Your parents are standing right behind us, aren't they?"
"Yep."
"Hello, Mrs. Weasley, Hullo Mr. Weasley." Harry said, turning around and extending his arm.
Mr. Weasley took it, gripped it hard and said firmly, "Don't hurt my little girl, Harry."
"Dad, I am not a little girl!" Ginny protested as she hugged Bill, who watched Harry with narrowed, suspicious eyes. She simply gave Fleur a cheesy, sarcastic grin then spun around when she heard Harry groan.
"What are you then, a big boy?" It was the familiar voice of Fred Weasley. He was walking with his identical twin, George, both clad in sleek black pinstriped magenta muggle pants and suit jacket over a blazingly purple shirt. They grinned, pulling Ginny into a quick three-person hug, then freed her, saying in unison, "What's up, Gin? Cat got your tongue?" She had narrowed her eyes at them, watching them very closely, and standing very still.
"I thought I told you two to wait in the car!" Molly Weasley said, looking at her twin sons disdainfully. She loved them both, but sometimes…they were a handful. A handful with a shop of their own, brilliance she had never known they had, and galleons and galleons being thrown at their feet now that Weasley Wizard Wheezes had opened with quite the bang. She had thought it would flop, and she didn't approve of many of the things they sold, but they were also inventing helpful things, for the Order and the Ministry.
"You told us to wait—"
"Here, not in the—"
"Car. So—"
"We're staying here."
"Just like you said."
Fred turned to Harry, took his hand, shaking it as George shook his other one, "Good to see ya, Harry!"
"Jolly good time you've had this year, now?"
"Meet any girls?"
"We heard a rather—"
"Juicy rumor. Tsk, tsk, Harry."
"Leave them alone, you two." Molly told them, "Arthur, tell them!"
But Arthur was too amused by the look of humiliation on Harry's face that they knew. He was drooping, slowly, very slowly, pulling Ginny to block them from hurting him, knowing that they wouldn't attack him if she was in front of him.
"About you—"
"And a rather vivacious—"
"More like vicious—"
"Lovely sister of mine."
"Ours."
"Yeah, ours."
"We hope you don't mind."
"But if you hurt her—"
"We'll kill you."
"We mean it, Harry."
"We have the resources, the means—"
"Not too mention just a tad too much Slytherin—"
"In our genes."
"But not the jeans-jeans."
"Heh, you bet!"
"Now, about Ginny—"
"Ginny is standing right here!" Ginny interrupted.
"Oh, no, she's talking in third person!" Fred cried.
"Mum, call the healers, she's infected!" George said, pretending to faint with Fred catching him.
"YOU CAUSED THIS!" They both said, pointed accused fingers at Harry, who looked bewildered.
"FRED! GEORGE! Leave Harry and Ginny alone!"
Harry looked very wary, and just to add to it, he stepped behind Ginny, ducked down to hide from them. "Gin, save me. They'll turn my hair pink and make my toenails so long that I'll be too clumsy to walk, and they'll lock me up with a ravenous werewolf…Omigod, they're going to turn me into Tonks!"
"Hey!" Tonks, under her invisibility cloak, protested in insulted, but quiet tones, "I do not have long toenails. They might be bright red, but they are not long!"
"And I, Harry James Potter, am not a ravenous werewolf." Remus Lupin said, although he was nowhere to be seen, due to the strong disillusionment charm Mad-Eye Moody had placed on him.
"I think he meant it differently." Muttered Tonks, giggling. There was a very thin pause and the sound of someone gently swatting the other, "At least I am not named Nymp—"
"Oooohh, I am going to hex you so bad!"
"I'd like to see you try."
Harry smiled at the obviously playful conflict and teasing going on between the invisible Order members.
"Alright, shut it, before someone decides that air shouldn't be talking!" It was a voice none of the younger children recognized.
"Right-o, Marvel!" Tonks whispered.
"Harry, dear, I happen to think it's wonderful that you and Ginny have gotten together!" Molly pulled Harry into a tight, bone-crushing hug, smothering the boy slightly. Ginny giggled at the surprised, slightly pained look on Harry's face that mixed into the happiness that Mrs. Weasley had accepted their relationship.
"Thank…you, Mrs. Weasley." Harry managed to gasp when she had freed him.
Meanwhile, Ron and Hermione had pulled away once more, and were staring at each other…again. Neither looked to have the ability to speak, and both looked extremely embarrassed and yet…happy.
"Did you…?"
"Did we…?"
"Are we…?"
"I hope so!" Blurted Ron, pulling Hermione tight.
"Ron…I have to go with my parents." She said after a very long pause.
"Oh, that reminds me." Harry looked past the crowd to see Uncle Vernon, red faced and impatient, keeping to the side and glowering at everything that passed. Dudley cowered behind him, and Petunia had stuffed her nose up in the air in disgust.
"Wait…what about going to Ha….er…yeah…the thing…?" Ron asked, going red from almost slipping. Everyone gave him a suspicious look and Harry and Ginny groaned. Hermione frowned.
"Er, Ron, I have to spend just a little bit of time with Mum and Dad. A day or two, to explain things." Hermione said to him, trying very hard not to break her cool or give off any sign that this was something important.
"Oho, the second pair of lovebirds—"
"That deserve a bashing—"
"From the Brothers Gred and Forge."
"We've only a few things to say."
"One, you took long enough!"
"Two, Ron, you need to teach this one—"
"To have some quality fun."
"She's not getting it with her—"
"Overrated books."
"Three, Hermione you should smack him—"
"For dating that slag, Lavender."
"FREDRICK WEASLEY!" Molly barked, shocked that he would say such a thing. Fleur huffed angrily, insulted, and Bill glared at Fred.
"What! It's true!"
"She makes a pass at every guy with good looks."
"Er, she didn't—" Harry began meekly.
"Good." Ginny finished, "And let's leave it at that."
He shut up.
"Anyways, Four…"
"Oh, just shut up!" Hermione said, glaring at them both, putting her hands on her hips. "Don't ruin what happened here, and don't ruin the few minutes we have left with everyone!"
"Go, Herms!" Ginny said. Hermione looked at her, cut her eyes.
"Riiiight, I'm sensing tension, so maybe I should just—" Harry began, moving to gather his trunk and Hedwig from the trolley.
"Don't even dare, Potter." Ginny told him, grabbing his hand, "Mum, I'm going with Harry to Privet Drive."
"WHAT!" Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and the twins bellowed. Mr. Weasley frowned deeply. Passersby looked at them, warily.
"Yes, I'm going with him, just like Ron plans on going with him and Hermione as well."
Ginny said defiantly, jutting her chin out stubbornly.
"Ginny, maybe we should approach this differently." Hissed Harry. She ignored him.
"Oh, well...um, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley…" Hermione tried to intervene.
"ABSOLUTELY NO—"
"Why?" Arthur inquired, interrupting his wife. The question was directed at his daughter, who looked at him with burning brown eyes.
"You're considering this?" Fred asked, rounding on his father
"We would understand letting Ron go—"
"He's of age, but Ginny—"
"She's fifteen, and she's…"
"…a boy's…"
"I don't…not even…"
"…ugh!"
"Because, we want to be with Harry. We don't want the Dursleys rounding on him because of the death of the Headmaster," Everyone stilled, the shock and sadness having not worn off as of yet, "We want to be there to support him. And when it comes time, we'll tell you, Mum, Dad, what you need to know."
"No, I will not have you going to Privet Drive! Its bad enough Harry has to go, and I am sorry, Harry, but I won't have you there too, Ginny. I don't trust that man, or any of those Muggles, with your care and wellbeing."
"I would take care of her." Harry mumbled, unnoticed to anyone.
"Molly, it would be the safest place for them all." Arthur interjected, looking at his wife, setting a hand on her arm, "It's the one place You-Know-Who can't get to. You know that."
"No. I won't allow it. Ginny is too young to be going to a boy's house!" Molly said, as if it were final.
"Molly," Arthur moved his wife over to the side, away from the group who watched them anxiously, "Ginny knows what she wants, Molly. And she has learned that when she wants something, if she tries hard enough, she can get it. She is sneaky, she is smart, and she's too bold for her own good. I've come to accept that sooner or later, or baby is going to get serious with a boy."
"Arthur, you can't even be saying!" Molly said, looking at him, shocked. "She's fifteen."
"Nearly sixteen, Harry nearly seventeen." He said, shaking his head, "I don't want it to happen, but they're old enough to know what they want. They're both capable of handling themselves and one another and the consequences."
"Consequences…are you sick, Arthur?" Molly asked, serious.
"Molly!" He said, taking the hand that pressed against his forehead, "Listen to me…I don't know, but there's this feeling…"
"Feeling…?" Molly's face drained of color. "Do you mean the feeling…?"
"Yes, the feeling."
"Oh, dear."
There was a long pause, and Molly's look of surprise was replaced with anger and frustration and sadness and guilt and so many more emotions that Arthur couldn't set them apart.
"We have to stop it!"
"Molly, how can you deny them this?"
"The war…"
"Don't even when you know—"
"This is our baby!"
"Molly, even if we could stop it, it's not our place to."
"I'm her mother!"
"I'm her father!"
"Arthur…"
"Please, Molly, they'll get through this. Harry's made a promise to Dumbledore, and I have a feeling it's something big. Something really big that Harry's afraid to tell us, in case we decide to take away his right to fulfill it, or maybe just because he thinks it's not safe for us to know. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny can help him. I know it."
She thought for a very long, long moment, bowing her head and biting her lip. Finally she lifted it, tears glimmering in her eyes, "I'll be very mad at you for a long while, Arthur."
"You never stay mad for too long, dear. But if it makes you feel better…I'll sleep on the couch."
"Not that mad."
"Okay." He extended his hand to her, "Shall we?"
"There will be ground rules."
"That's a given."
"Really?" Ginny asked after her mother and father returned, both looking solemn faced, Molly more so as she just nodded her head at her daughter.
"Yes." Molly said.
"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Ginny flung herself at her mother, throwing her arms around her tightly, "I love you! You're brilliant! You're magnificent! You look great! I missed you! What do you want for your birthday, mother's day, Christmas? I'll get you chocolate, jewelry, a new stove, anything! I'll work for the money, too!"
"That isn't necessary, Ginevra." Molly said, patting her daughter weakly on the shoulder.
"No, really! Name anything? Do you want a niffler? A dozen new aprons? Nooo, I'll get you a dress! A nice one! Or…Oooooh, I'll get you a—"
"Ginevra." Molly said, stopping her daughter with a look, "I'm not going to be bribed for this."
"Who said anything about bribing?" Ginny asked, looking innocent, "I'm buying my mother a gift for no reason. I don't know a thing about bribing."
Harry stifled a snort with a cough, shaking his head.
"Listen, all of you, that means you and Hermione too Ron." Molly Weasley pierced her son with a steely gaze. Ron snapped up, "There shall be some ground rules…"
"What kind of ground rules?" Ginny asked, pulling away.
"No going out after dark, I don't want any of you, even if you're all together, out past dusk." Molly thought for a moment, "Don't anger the Dursleys, I don't care how much they antagonize you. Be polite to your host. Don't get into any trouble that I might hear about or disapprove of. Owl me every single day. Floo call from Mrs. Figg's every single week. Order members will be walking around, disguised of course or invisible, so you'll be safe, but still, be very careful in everything you do." Molly said. She was flustered, and looked very worried as she named the rules off the top of her head, "Anything that I've forgotten, Arthur?"
"…stay away from strangers." Arthur told them.
The teens processed it, and Hermione pinched Ron to keep him form asking, "That's it?"
"Ow! What was that for?" He cried, looking at her. She sighed, rolling her eyes helplessly.
"Oh, nothing, Ron." She leaned up to kiss his cheek softly, "Owl me?"
"Er, sure." He said, blushing, and looking slightly uncomfortable and extremely nervous as he asked, "Do you, er, want me to er, meet…?"
"Oh, Ron, would you?" She asked, joyfully.
He just shrugged indecisively then nodded, sighing a little. Hermione grabbed his hand, "We'll only be a minute or so." She gathered her trolley and headed towards her anxious parents.
"Take all the time you need, dears." Molly said. Arthur waved cheerfully to the Grangers, who waved back, although with less enthusiasm as they watched their daughter and the boy who had just snogged her senselessly.
"Come on, you two," Molly said, smiling at a rather quiet Harry, who was looking at her as if she was insane.
"Just like that?" He finally blurted, the question having splayed in his mind ever since she had returned.
"Yes, dear." She looked at him oddly, "You will be…careful, won't you?"
"What?" He asked, confused, saw her expression and his face flamed, "Oh. Er."
"Molly." Arthur said, seeing the look on Bill's face. "Let's just meet the Dursleys, alright?"
"I guess coming was pointless," Bill muttered, disappointed. Fleur looked at him, "Oh, hush, Bill, we got to see ze children for a leettle beet!" She bent up and kissed Harry on the cheek, turned to hug Ginny, who gagged as she did, to which Molly looked at her scornfully. Fleur hadn't noticed, and she patted Ginny on the shoulder before stepping back again.
"Okay, come on." Ginny practically tackled Harry, trying to drag him towards the Dursleys.
"Gin, our stuff."
"What? Oh, yeah!" She waved a hand at him. She stopped and looked at him, her expression darkening, "Why aren't you happy that I'm coming?"
"Of course I'm happy you're coming. It's just…"
Promise, Harry, promise, promise, promise!
"Nothing. I'll forget it. I'm deliriously happy!" He grinned at her, headed over to their separate trolleys. He loaded Ginny's things onto his trolley. Arnold peeked out of the tiny carrier Ginny had for him.
"Aw, how's my little fuzz ball?" Ginny said, bending over, scratching his head. Arnold, the purple pygmy puff that Ginny had gotten at Fred and George's shop, made a squeaky purring sound. "Do you want to come out?"
"Ginny, the Muggles!" Mrs. Weasley hissed as they headed towards the Dursleys, who looked downright miffed by now.
"Oh, mum, they'll think he's a…I dunno…"
"A plush toy." Harry interjected.
"Yeah, that." Ginny said, smiling at him. "And I was just asking, Mum."
"Hmph."
"I can put him in my pocket if he feels lonely." Harry said, but Ginny only smiled at him, shaking her head.
"Now I know why I've kept you for so long."
"Because I'm so adorable and charismatic?" Harry asked, batting his eyes at her. Ginny giggled loudly, "No! Because you're useful!"
"I feel so used." He said, sliding a hand around her waist, letting her help him with the trolley. "I am yours, to serve for all eternity."
"Aw, my loyal plaything!" She said, laughing manically, leaning up and giving him a sloppy kiss on his cheek.
They fell silent as they approached the Dursley family. Harry's smile faded, while Ginny's blazed. Molly tried to look pleasant, but worry shown in her eyes.
"Mr. Dursley, wonderful to see you again!" Mr. Weasley enthusiastically jutted out his hand to Vernon. The rather large man, with no neck, a bushy mustache and beady black eyes stared at the hand as if it were covered in grime and garbage, then back up to Mr. Weasley's face.
"Er, no then? I thought Muggles shook hands…?" He directed the question to Harry who saw the twinkle in Mr. Weasley's eye. He knew that Muggles shook hands.
"Not with…your kind." Vernon said, stiffly, looking at Harry, "Come on, boy, we don't have all day."
"Ginny, maybe you should…" Harry whispered to her.
"Oh, I'm going, Harry."
Vernon looked at her, startled. He sized her up, looking her up and down, before sneering greatly.
"Mr. Dursley, this is my daughter, Ginny." Molly began, looking at him, "It has been decided that for her safety, and the safety of my son and his friend Hermione, they shall be staying with Harry at your house until his birthday."
"I agreed to take in the boy!" Vernon snapped at her, his face turning puce, "Not any of his…freakish friends!"
"Remember who you're taking with, Dursley." Mr. Weasley said, smiling pleasantly, looking around him, "I wouldn't like to drop the word Wiz—"
"Are you mad?" Vernon barked in hushed tones, his face going purple as he looked around shiftily, "Do you want everyone to think we're-we're bloody weird!"
Arthur smiled, "Yes. Yes, I do believe I do."
Vernon spluttered. Petunia looked scandalous and Dudley was cowering behind her, well, trying to hide behind her. It would never be possible with his bulk.
"Mr. Dursley, I will make myself clear. My daughter, my son, and their friends, they mean very much to my kind and I. Do you remember the people who met you here last summer? They're all around you."
"I don't see—"
Arthur stared at him, eyebrows lifted, "We can do many things, Dursley, invisibility is easy."
Vernon paled, looking around with beady eyes.
"The threat still stands from last summer. We—my friends and I—will be watching your home very closely. The war has heightened in danger, and Harry is a target. Your family is safe, as is he, at your home. Now, my children will be arriving at your home within the hour, Hermione within a day or two. It is Harry's decision on whether or not he will go with you, understand?"
"What are you to tell me what to do?" Vernon barked, but it was weak.
"I'd rather go with you and the others." Harry told Arthur then said to Vernon, "I'm very sorry that you had to come here for nothing, Uncle."
"You little—"
"Let's just go, Vernon." Petunia said, looking at Harry with a scowl, "I will not have unnaturalness under my roof, Potter."
"Too bad, Ron and Hermione are of age. They can do magic whenever they wish." Harry said, smiling, "I think that adds to the warning, doesn't it, Mr. Weasley?"
He nodded to Harry, "Ron and Hermione are very powerful for their age, just so you know, Dursley. They can handle themselves and Harry and Ginny."
Harry watched Vernon snarl, then grab his wife's arm and usher her and Dudley out of King's Cross.
"They'll make many rude comments about you, Ginny." Harry said after they had gone, "Sometimes for no reason except the fact that you're there."
"Like I can't take a few insults thrown my way." Ginny said, rolling her eyes.
There was a pregnant pause.
"Ron's coming." Arthur told them. They all turned to greet him.
"Hey, so what's the deal?" Ron asked, eyebrows lifted.
Harry explained everything, and Ron nodded, "So…will we be flooing from the house, or…what?"
"Side-along apparition," Arthur told him, "Molly, Tonks and I can do it."
"Oh, goodie!" Tonks said from the side. "Remus has gone to tell Bill, Fleur and the twins to drive home with the car."
"With Bill driving?" Molly asked hopefully.
"Uh, yeah." Tonks replied, "I don't think he would trust the twins with such a feat."
"Good."
"What about our things?"
"Let's take them to a concealed place, so no Muggles can see us banish them." Arthur said, rubbing his hands together, "Shall we?"
Harry, holding onto to Mrs. Weasley, gasped to breathe after he had landed on his feet in a secluded spot hidden by trees. He didn't like the suction tube feeling of Apparition, he would have preferred brooms. Apparition was too…he couldn't describe it. He had never thought himself claustrophobic before, but that's what it made him feel like. Pulling away from Mrs. Weasley, he looked at Ginny, who had appeared with a POP with Tonks, and looked rather giddy by the fact.
"Woo-hoo!" She said, throwing her arms up, "Let's do it again!"
Everyone laughed at her enthusiasm. Tonks looked to the sky, shaking her head. Harry thought she looked…brighter than usual. Her cropped hair was a shimmering orange-yellow color, with gold and red highlights, and her eyes were bright, bright purple. She was decked out in a tight fitting orange shirt (with a logo that read 'Ah-ooooo!') that revealed her midriff and a rather flashy belly button ring that Ginny had ooohed over once the clumsy auror had dropped her invisibility. A black mini-skirt and boots and a string of stud earrings that followed up her ear connected to their neighbors in fine chains, and ending with a dangling crescent moon, which Harry found rather fitting considering her relationship with Remus.
Harry could see Tonks, even in her outrageous attire, standing besides the rather shabbily-dressed, tired and going-gray Remus Lupin. It seemed impossible, but he could see it. They, like Bill and Fleur, brought out the good in the other, while also bringing out the bad. They made a good couple.
He wondered what he and Ginny's impression was with other people. Did they look like a good couple? Were they compatible? He looked at her, smiling and excited at the side-along apparition. Her eyes were bright, as they always were, her hair was flowing over her shoulders to her waist, having finally given up on putting it into a pony-tail, her mouth was giving off a wide smile, and her body was loose and relaxed. And it didn't matter to him anymore. She was his and that was all they needed.
"Where are we?" Ron asked, stretching. His stomach was rumbling slightly, a good sign for Ron. It meant he wasn't upset.
"Mrs. Figg's backyard," Harry said, surprised, "Is this safe?"
"It's warded. Only certain magical signatures can pass through." Tonks said, cheerfully, pushing an orange curl out of her eyes.
"Hey, Mum, can I—"
"No you may not get a belly-thing, Ginevra Molly Weasley." Mrs. Weasley said, shaking her head at her daughter, exasperated.
Ginny sighed melodramatically, throwing herself against Harry with a loud sob, "You deprive me of so much joy!"
"Doesn't it…itch? Or sting? Or…poke?" Harry asked Tonks, patting Ginny consolingly on the back as she leaned into his shoulder, quietly laughing and fake-whimpering. Mrs. Weasley was rolling her eyes, and Mr. Weasley had wandered over to the Muggle gardening tools, looking like he was in heaven.
"Why are we talking about this?" Ron inquired, looking slightly put-off.
"No, well, I got it done in Diagon Alley; you just magic it right on and off, like a clip-on tie. You can get an illusion spell, too."
"Where's the fun in that?" Ginny asked, lifting her head, frowning then just laughing, "I don't really want one anyways. I just love to make mum miffed."
Molly huffed, sent a death glare at her daughter. Ginny grinned at her with a flourish, "See, I'm so good at it!"
"Oooh, this is interesting!" Arthur lifted up a garden spade, "It's a dapes!"
"You mean a spade?" Harry asked, smiling at the eccentric man.
"Yes, that!" Arthur said, excitedly, "You dig with it, to plant flowers!"
There was the sound of a door flying open and Mrs. Figg's head peeped out, "Oh, it's only you all. Come on, dears, come on! Don't want any neighbor's popping their heads over the fence to spy!"
"Er, right." Arthur set the spade down, reluctantly, and wiped his hands on his shirt, ushering them all inside Mrs. Figg's house.
"Oh, look!" Ginny cried in delight, smiling at all the cats as Ron looked at Harry, his face showing that he did not like the smell.
"Hello, beautiful." Ginny picked up a strange looking kitten with spotted fur, large ears and a rather lion-like tail, that meowed loudly when she scooped him up.
"Do be careful!" Mrs. Figg said, slightly worried. She had always been over protective of her cats, especially the kittens.
"I'm sorry, I should have asked." Ginny said, very politely, looking at Mrs. Figg, "It's just that I absolutely love kneazles and cats! And this little one is so adorable!"
Mrs. Figg looked at her, surprised. Ginny did seem to love cats, Harry pondered. In fact, all animals were attracted to her.
"Hmm, do you have a pet?" Mrs. Figg, asked, wringing her hands.
"I have a pygmy puff—it's a miniature puffskein, named Arnold." Ginny said, stroking the kneazle's ears. The kneazle purred in delight. "What's this little darling's name?"
"I haven't named him yet."
Ginny stroked his ears, snuggled her cheek against his fur, "Haven't the Muggles noticed he's not a normal cat?"
"The full-blooded kneazles have illusion charms that make them appear to be normal to Muggles."
Ginny looked impressed, and cuddled the kneazle for a moment longer, before setting him down on the floor with a pat. He meowed, curling around her legs, rubbing his side against her shin. "I think he likes you, Gin." Harry said, grinning at Ginny's look of pure joy.
Mrs. Figg looked indecisive for a moment, she wringed her hands, sighing, "He hasn't really reacted to me as all my other kitties have." She said, almost regretfully, "His parents are some of my best babies, and their litter seems to love it here, but he's always wandering about where he shouldn't, peeking his head into things…If you promise to take good care of him, and if I see that you aren't mistreating him…"
"You're going to give her a cat?" Harry asked, astonished, "But you love your cats!"
Mrs. Figg looked at him, "I have many cats, Harry, as you know. One given to a girl who wishes for one and loves them isn't that much of a feat."
Harry felt abashed and looked down. Batty old cat lady she might be but she wasn't as insane as he had thought.
"Oh, mum! Pleeeeeeeeease?" Ginny turned to her mother, bending down to pick up the kitten, looking at her mother with pleading eyes, using the adorable look of the kneazle against her, "Pleeaaaaasse?" It occurred to Harry that Ginny seemed to always get her way…It seemed plausible, seeing as she was the only girl and the youngest. It was a good thing she wasn't spoiled though. She knew when she couldn't have something, unless she wanted to be really stubborn about it.
"Ginevra, it's up to Harry and the Dursleys." Molly said, looking at the little kneazle.
"The Dursleys?" Mrs. Figg asked nervously, "They don't care for animals."
"Well that's too bad for them." Ginny said, looking at the kneazle then up at Harry, "Harry, pwitty peaz?"
"Peas aren't pretty." He said, looking down at her when she pouted, her eyes going shiny. He kept his face stony, "Gin, I don't know if you can take care of a kneazle…by yourself."
"What! I take care of everybody else's animals at school when they can't!" Ginny said, punching him lightly in the chest.
"Well, this is your responsibility. Arnold is easy to keep, he's a pygmy puff. A kitten…" He looked at her, grinning, "You might need assistance."
She glared at him, "I don't need help."
"Don't you?" He asked, leaning his face into hers, "Because I officially claim half of this kneazle."
She glared at him, "Ugh!"
Mrs. Figg looked to Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, shaking their heads, Ron was gagging and Tonks was laughing.
"You can't claim him, I claimed him!"
"I claimed half ownership of him." Harry said, smiling evilly, "Or you don't get the kitten."
"Why you…you're teasing me aren't you?" She said, scowling at him, lifting the kneazle to her cheek and rubbing it against his fur, "Is your daddy mean?"
"Daddy?" Harry asked, nearly collapsing at the word. "I never said—"
"If you claim half of him, then you're his daddy." Ginny said, giggling, "I'll be his mummy. He'll be our baby."
"Baby?" Harry and Ron choked out.
"Yes, baby!" Ginny said. "What will we name him?"
"What?" Harry spluttered, "I don't…we haven't…you…"
"What about Bruno…no?" She asked the kitty who nipped her finger, "Timmy, Ratheolon, Migbit, Tiger…hmm, no, you're not a tiger are you? You're a lion…Leo, Leonardo, Leon, Lyonee, Lon, Lew…Lonlew? Leolon? Lon Leon? Leonidas?"
"Meeeeeoowwww." The kneazle swiped at her hand, lightly though.
"Jeez, okay, okay." Ginny said, stroking his fur. She put him up in Harry's face. Harry, who jumped back, startled, looked at the kneazle, "You name him, Harry."
"You're the one who's good at naming things." He protested, but took the little kitten. He purred, meowing and curled up in his hands.
"Aw, he loves his daddy." Ginny said, smiling, not seeing Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's faces of astonishment.
"I don't know how to name animals." Harry said, looking at the kitten, "Why don't we just name him…Tigger?" The kneazle seemed to glare at him, "What? I'm not good at this…DA?" Ginny laughed and Ron guffawed, "London Lion? Merlin? Morgan? Camelot?" Harry said, and Ginny howled with laughter. "I dunno Tristan, Gareth, Lancelot, Gawain, Galahad?"
"Meoowww." The kneazle purred deeply.
"Galahad it is." Ginny said, lifting him from Harry's hands, "How is mummy's darling?"
Harry looked at her as if she was insane. If this was what a cat would do to her, what would a real baby do? Blood drained out of his face and he told himself, that's a long time off, Potter.
Shaking himself, he said, "We'd best go to Privet Drive, everyone. I think just Ron and Ginny and I."
"Oh, alright, dears. Give me a hug." Mrs. Weasley gave everyone hugs, and Mr. Weasley smiled at them, waving. Tonks did the same, except more cheerfully than he was.
The adults' disapparated, leaving the children to leave through the door. Ron was silent, watching the others oddly and Harry was pale, holding a bag of cat food that Mrs. Figg had given him.
Ginny however, was smiling, cradling Galahad to her chest, "This is going to be a wonderful summer, isn't it?"
It will be interesting, thought Harry, very interesting.
"Yeah, wonderful," Ron told Ginny mournfully, "I'm stuck with you two love birds for a whole day without Hermione. It's going to be painful."
Ginny punched him, hard.
Ron looked at Harry, his face pained, "See what I mean?"
Harry just laughed, shaking his head.
Please review! Pleeeeeeeease?
A/N-This chapter didn't take too long, there were a few rough spots, but yay for me,I finished it! woot!Next chapter will most likely be posted on friday, and then chapter 3 on wednesday, (but you have to review!)
Vanvadu
