Harry was pacing in the reception area. It was a quarter to 10. The Weasleys were due at any moment. So was Hermione. Gemma's family wasn't coming until noon, but she was waiting with Harry. Harry really wanted to go out to the street to wait for them outside, but Besel, who was working at the desk today, said that he really shouldn't do it until he'd had a lesson on how to navigate on a city street filled with people with his staff by himself. He understood, but it didn't make the waiting any easier.

They had just seen Peter off after meeting his older brother, Ivan, who seemed surprised that Peter had made friends with Gemma and Harry who were nearly half his age, but recovered quickly and was gracious and kind. They also learned that Peter's name was really Petro. His brother gave him a hard time for trying to go by the more Anglicized version of his name at the Center. Their little group had been jostled around quite a bit as they tried to talk tactilely with the two brothers shoving each other. It reminded Harry of their exploding snap game the night before.

As he paced, he wondered if Ron would be up for trying exploding snap with braille cards.

He had just made his third circuit of the reception area, his silver tip making a pleasing (to him at least) tinging sound that echoed off the walls when he heard the noises from the street explode into the tranquil waiting room. He stopped and turned toward the wall that must have just opened up into a door.

"Harry!" Hermione squealed, her footsteps slapping on the tile as she ran toward him and then she stopped suddenly. He felt her hand lightly touch his hand that he was holding out toward her and then she hugged him and her hair was flying around his face.

"Hermione," he said, sputtering, trying to get the hair out of his mouth when he hugged her back. He was really glad she was here. He heard other footsteps approaching them and pulled away.

"Is this your mum, Hermione?"

"Yes. Hi, Harry, I'm Emma," Dr. Granger addressed him.

"Hi, Dr. Granger," Harry said and he stuck out his hand which she grasped quickly and let go.

"How are you doing, Harry?"

"Er, okay, I guess," he shrugged.

"Dan was really concerned about you when he and Hermione returned on Monday," Dr. Granger said.

"Oh, well, I'm… fine."

He heard Gemma come up behind him and he turned toward her, holding out his hand "Hermione and Dr. Granger, I want you to meet my friend, Gemma Boot."

"Hi, Gemma, it's nice to meet you," Dr. Granger said.

Gemma's hand left his arm and he guessed that she was signing.

How is she going to communicate with Hermione's mum? he wondered and then he remembered that she had said that her dad was muggle, too. How does she communicate with her dad? Has he learned sign language yet?

But something was going on… "Dr. Granger, do you know sign language?" Harry asked.

"I was just telling Gemma that I know a little—mostly related to teeth! I have a couple patients who sign, so I've learned a bit over the years of treating them."

Gemma's hand fluttered on his arm. It made her happy.

"That's great." Harry smiled.

"The little bits of paper that write out what you're saying, they are for Gemma, right?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, I can teach the incantation to you, too," Harry said. "There are other people here, too, who use them. I guess I'd have to fin—er—end the charm if I went out onto Charing Cross Road, though. I keep forgetting that they are there." He was afraid that he almost ended the charm accidentally. He was holding his staff.

"Hermione, will I be able to find the entrance if you're not with me when I return?" Dr. Granger had turned to Hermione.

"Oh, I don't know, mum."

"We could ask Besel," Harry suggested and he turned toward the reception desk and started walking toward it, then muttered, "Navigant reception desk."

Hermione jogged to catch up with him. "Harry, is that the silver tip you were telling me about?"

"Yes, I made it at the workshop here—it is Goblin silver. I formed it out of wax and Figora cast it in silver. Gemma made a really beautiful bracelet." He caught the paper and handed it to Gemma, remembering that she'd have a hard time following the conversation while they were walking.

His staff tinged against the desk.

"Hi, Besel. Dr. Granger was wondering how to find the Center's entrance when she returns if she doesn't have a wand," Harry asked.

"Oh, that's a great question. We have a little locator disk that will help you find the entrance, Dr. Granger. Here you go," Besel said.

"Oh, thank you! How does it work?" Dr. Granger asked.

"Just approach the entrance as you did just now, while holding the disk and it will ask you if you want to enter the Center. You may keep it if you think you'll be returning on other… " Besel was explaining when the noises of Charing Cross Road invaded the serene quiet of the reception area again; this time accompanied by an uproarious chorus of Weasley voices. Harry wondered how they managed not to violate the International Statute of Secrecy every time they set a foot out of the Burrow as a family unit.

There was a stampede of feet, shouts of "Harry! There you are!" and Harry turned, collapsed his staff and stuck it in his pocket, and braced himself for the onslaught, grinning as he hadn't done in weeks.

Gemma grabbed onto his arm seconds before they reached him. He heard Hermione running toward the group shrieking "Ron!" and then he lost track of everything—he had no idea who was hugging him, arms were grabbing him from all directions, they were all asking him questions and their voices were alarmingly similar, he was being jostled around, someone mussed up his hair, Mrs. Weasley kissed his cheek (it could only be her), someone had stuffed a roll of parchment into his hand, hands were squeezing his shoulders and pumping his hand with vigorous handshakes, and he only managed to stay upright as he was enveloped by the group because their hands were holding him up.

They brought the aroma of the Burrow with them and it made him feel as if he were home. As they were starting to break away, he had a slight panic when he realized that he'd lost track of Gemma.

"Gemma, are you okay?" he asked.

"Who's Gemma?" Ron asked from just by his elbow. Harry turned his nose toward Ron, relieved that he could pick out Ron's voice at least.

"My friend—she was here with me when you came in. Is she still here?" he asked.

"The little pock-marked girl?" Ron said. "Hey, why are those little papers flying around your mouth?" He batted at it like it was a mosquito.

"Uh," Harry felt like he'd been hit in the gut. He had been so happy to see Ron and suddenly that felt shattered. He turned away from Ron. "Gemma?" he asked again.

"She's talking to Hermione's mum, Harry," Ginny said so softly by his side that he almost didn't hear her.

"Oh, thanks. She's okay, then?"

"Yes," Ginny said just as quietly.

"Hi, Ginny. Hey—how are you doing? Are you okay?" he asked, reaching out for her and accidentally poking her torso… he'd misjudged where she was and pulled his hand back. "Oops, sorry."

She sniffled.

"Ginny?" he asked, cocking his head. It was hard to hear with everyone still talking—their voices were echoing off the walls in the reception area.

"She's run over to mum, mate," Ron said gravely. "Sorry, she's having a hard time."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll tell you later."

"Hey, Harry!" He was pretty sure it was one of the twins, though he didn't know which one.

"Hey, Forge or is it Gred?" he said.

"Ha! Very clever, turning one of our own on us!"

"I'm glad to see that you haven't lost your sense of humor!"

"So are you going to show us around this place, then? Point out all the best views?"

"George, that's not funny!" Molly said sternly, but Harry was laughing.

"Lee's here, too!" Fred said as he turned away.

"Harry! So you've met my Aunt Medea!" Lee said.

"Er… oh, Aunt Medea?—Archimedea—yes," he said, suddenly fearful that she might have told Lee about his face plant in front of everyone or the day he spent trying to disappear into his mattress.

"Harry, I was… " Arthur had clapped a hand onto Harry's shoulder.

There was a tinkling sound of a bell and the voices died down, "Welcome, families! There is tea set up in the dining hall ready for you and plenty of space for you to catch up and enjoy each other's company there," Besel invited diplomatically from the door to the corridor.

"Oh, well, that's lovely, dear. Thank you so much!" Molly said as she started herding her family toward the door. "Is it just down this corridor, then?"

"Harry." Dr. Granger had come up to him. Arthur's hand was still on his shoulder, but he let go when Harry turned to Dr. Granger.

"Yes?"

"I've got to go—I'm meeting a friend for tea. It was good to see you. I'll be back to pick up Hermione around 4 pm," she said.

"It was good to see you, too," he said. "Thanks for bringing Hermione today."

"She's been thinking a lot about you," Dr. Granger said. "Bye."

"Bye."

"Harry," Arthur put his hand on his shoulder again and seemed to be trying to steer Harry toward the door, to follow the group who was moving that way.

Harry got his staff out his pocket and shook it out and started following them.

"Oh, right. There you go, then," Arthur said and fell in step.

"Hi, Mr. Weasley. Thanks for coming to visit me."

"We've been very worried about you. It looks like you're getting along, though. Are you doing okay? Is there anything we can do?"

"Thanks, but I'm fine, sir," Harry said.

What could they do?

"Oh, there you are, Harry, dear!" Molly exclaimed, "I thought we'd gone and left you!"

Harry heard Besel's chair faintly, by the door and turned to her, "thank you, Besel."

"No, problem, Harry—enjoy your day."

"Thanks, I will!"

"Here's the door, Harry dear," Molly said. He stopped though because his staff hit something soft.

"Molly dear, you're standing in his way," Arthur said gently.

"Oh, right, sorry, dear."

She sounded flustered as she hurried on through the door.

I wonder where Ron's gone off to? Harry wondered.

He remembered he could ask his staff, but then remembered that he hadn't had a chance to Memento the Weasleys yet. He'd have to do it while they were at tea. He wondered if his staff would be able to tell Fred and George apart.

That'd be handy.

"Where's Ron?" Harry asked.

"Oh, he's up ahead, you go on and catch up with him," Molly suggested and then caught her breath.

Harry considered just flat out running as he had that morning with Gemma, just to get away from that strangled sob that she'd uttered.

He swallowed a sigh, "It's fine."

"Ron said that the Dursleys wouldn't bring you here and that you set off on your own!" Molly said, "and that you were at the train station, figuring out how to board when Hermione and Dr. Granger showed up!"

"Yeah."

"Well! Thank goodness for them. I can't imagine… and you! Why didn't you owl us? We would have helped you!" Harry cringed when she turned on him.

"Oh, sorry, dear. It's just… it's just not right. You are not alone, despite how your muggles treat you. Is anybody doing anything about it?"

"Er." What's there to do? he wondered. He thought about mentioning Professor McGonagall, but that seemed like a bag of flobberworms.

"Harry, I've been wanting to talk to someone in charge here. Do you know a Healer Jordan? I understand she's the Healer-in-Charge," Arthur asked.

"Yeah, we just passed her office," he motioned behind him on the left. "You know that she's Lee Jordan's aunt, right?"

"Oh, is that right! Well, I'll just pop over there and see if she's around. I want to have a word," Arthur said. "Molly, I'll be in for tea in just a minute."

"Oh, alright dear," Molly said. "Ginny, you're being very quiet."

Harry hadn't even heard Ginny walking alongside Mrs. Weasley, even on the tile floor of the corridor.

"Ginny's been seeing a Mind Healer since she returned from school and she's been helping her a lot with the nightmares, but we've got a ways to go still, don't we Ginny, dear," Molly said, her voice turning away from Harry. Harry imagined that Ginny's face was as red as her hair with that declaration.

"It's been very hard. What a monster. And to think that he nearly killed both of you. Harry, we owe you so much," Molly continued, sniffing. "And you lost so much saving our Ginny."

Now Harry felt his neck getting warm at the same time that he felt the heaviness of the fog infiltrating his limbs.

"You don't owe me anything. I couldn't not try to find her."

"Harry, where did you go?" Ron's long feet were slapping on the tile floor as he ran toward them, skidding to a stop by Harry. "What are you lot talking about? You seem dreadful serious."

"Er."

Harry heard Hermione's lighter footsteps coming up behind Ron.

"I should hurry on in there, who knows what the twins and Lee are up to. Terrorizing Percy, no doubt," Molly said and she rushed off. Harry was pretty sure that he heard Ginny alongside her, but her footsteps were so light that he wasn't sure.

"Is Gemma with you?" Harry asked.

"Who? The scarred girl?" Ron asked.

"Ron!" "Don't call her that!" Hermione and Harry shouted at the same time.

"What did I do?" Ron said. Harry imagined that he held up his hands in defense.

"Just, don't call her that. Her name is Gemma. And I don't actually know what she looks like… and frankly, I don't care. She's my friend. I've been wanting you both to meet her, but not if you're going to do that," Harry said.

"Do what? What did I do?" Ron said, sounding truly perplexed.

"Ron, can't you understand that it might be painful to be described that way?" Hermione asked.

"What? She's not here, and anyway, she can't hear me, even if she was here," Ron said. "Don't get your pants in a twist, okay?"

Hermione let out an exasperated grunt.

Harry sighed, deflated.

"Harry, she said she had to go back to her room. That she'd meet us in the dining hall in a bit for tea," Hermione said.

"How do you know that's what she said. She was waving her arms around like… uh," Ron said. He stopped and Harry guessed that Hermione was giving him a quelling look.

"Well, I don't know British Sign Language like my mum, but I could read the translation slips of paper, like the ones Harry's using," Hermione said.

"Oh," said Ron. "What's British Sign Language?"

"It is just what is sounds like—a language of gestures used by people who are hard of hearing or deaf," Hermione explained.

"I thought that was just for muggles," Ron said. "Can't wizards fix that stuff? Grow her new ears or whatever?"

"No, Ron. I've been telling you. Magic can't fix everything," Hermione said.

"Sure it can!" Ron disagreed.

"Ron, why do you think I'm here?" Harry said cautiously.

"To get new eyes, of course," Ron said. "Like Mad-Eye Moody's—they'll be wicked. You'll be able to see through walls and clothes and stuff!"

"Ron, I told you!" Hermione sounded angry.

"Merlin's beard," Harry swore. He felt too tired. He was fighting an urge to go curl up under his covers again.

"What? What did I say?" Ron asked.

"Healer Jordan told me that they'd only work if I had a working optical nerve," Harry said heavily. "And they'd have to remove my eyes."

"What! Remove your eyes? That's barbaric!" Ron sputtered. "What's an optical nerve?"

"It's the pathway—it's how your brain receives images from your eyes. The Basilisk venom mostly destroyed the connection between my brain and my eyes. I can just tell if it is light or dark, nothing else," Harry explained.

"How can you tell if it is light or dark if the connection between your eyes and your brain is broken?" Ron asked.

"I dunno. I guess it is mostly damaged. The healers said I had some residual vision," Harry said.

"Does this mean you're never going to see again?" Ron said.

Harry's throat felt tight. He hadn't really thought about it like that. He had been thinking in smaller chunks of time. Just getting through to the end of the day or sometimes thinking ahead to how he would manage at Hogwarts.

"Yeah, I guess," he said, his voice felt shredded.

"Oh," Ron said.

Hermione was really quiet.

This was not how Harry imagined this day would begin.

"Come on. Let's go get tea," Harry said, turning to blink away the sting of tears in his eyes. The space between his shoulders torqued closer. He started stalking toward the dining hall. After a second, he heard Ron and, then a bit later, Hermione fall in step behind him. He could hear their breaths escaping in frustration as if they were gesturing to each other.

"You know that I know that you're talking about me, right?" he practically shouted, not bothering to turn in their direction.

"Oh, Harry," Hermione moaned.

"How can he know that?" Ron muttered.

"I can hear you, Ron!"

He felt as if he were slowly filling with sand, each step heavier than the one before it as he stalked into the dining hall.

"Harry, we're over here!" Percy shouted from across the dining hall.

Harry ground his teeth together. Maybe having all the Weasleys visit at once was not a great idea after all…

Harry squeezed his staff to get a reading on the room. There weren't any other residents in the hall. He sighed with relief.

"Harry," Molly had jumped up and was ushering him toward the table, "there's a seat here for you. We pulled up extra chairs so we could all sit together. That's right, dear, there you go!"

She was fluttering around him and he fell into his chair jabbing his butt cheek on the arm as she moved it while he was in the act of sitting down. "Oops! Sorry about that! Let me get you a cup of tea. Milk and sugar, dear?"

"Sure," he said, too tired to refuse.

Hermione and Ron settled into the chairs on either side of him.

"Is there a seat for Gemma?" Harry asked.

Ron groaned.

"Yes, we pulled one over for her," Fred or George said.

"Great, thanks," Harry said.

"Here you go, dear," Molly said, the teacup rattling in the saucer which made it easier for him to find.

"Thank you," Harry managed and set it down carefully on the table.

He felt like all their eyes were on him. He didn't know what they wanted.

"The Center is so breathtakingly beautiful with all the underwater blue-green light and delicate white arches, don't you think? It seems like it would be a very calming atmosphere to learn how to… adapt in," Molly seemed very nervous as she rattled on behind him, trying to fill the silence.

Harry sighed.

"Mum, he can't see that it's beautiful, can he?" Percy said in a sharp whisper.

"Oh, right," Molly said, "I'm sorry, Harry. That was thoughtless. I guess this is going to be an adjustment for all of us, isn't it."

"It's okay," Harry smiled weakly at her. She really was trying.

She patted his shoulder, startling him.

Harry listened to Ron munching on a biscuit.

"So, what do you want to do today?" Harry asked.

"Well, we were wondering what you wanted to do today, Harry," Molly asked. She had finally settled into a seat across the table from him.

"I dunno, there's a lot to do here, if you want to explore the Center," he said.

He had been thinking about getting some new clothes or a second pair of shoes, but wasn't sure if he was up to going out into London with everyone now that they were all here. Just getting down the corridor to the dining hall seemed like an ordeal. Maybe Hermione could help me duplicate my trainers…

"There's a room with a magical entrance to a tropical beach that's pretty lovely. Might be fun to bathe in the ocean for a bit," Harry suggested.

"We don't have any beach attire, though," Percy protested.

"What? Aren't you a wizard, Percy?" Fred or George chided.

"Oh, right," Percy said. Harry imagined his cheeks flushing.

Harry sipped his tea. Hermione was awfully quiet next to him.

A hand ghosted across his shoulders—waving. "Hi, Gemma," he said turning toward her.

"Have you met everyone here?" he asked. She stood behind him and tapped once on his shoulder, "no."

"Oh, I should teach you all the Scribunt loqui charm first," Harry remembered. Around the table, he heard the Weasleys and Lee working on casting the charm until it sounded like they all had it.

He made introductions around the table and they found a spot for Gemma near him.

"Gemma, we were thinking of going to the O&M room, but as the tropical beach—like it was on Monday," Harry turned to Gemma. She tapped twice on his arm, "okay."

"Is that the room where… " Hermione asked and before she even finished Harry said, "Yes. Yes, it is."

"What happened?" Lee asked.

"Oh, we got dumped onto the beach by a boardwalk by… " Harry could tell that Hermione didn't know how to finish.

"Well, it was an accident. Mei didn't mean it, Hermione. She's a lot better now," Harry explained. "She's one of my roommates."

"What? You room with girls?" Ron exclaimed.

"Yeah, we are grouped by age, so Gemma's one of my roommates, as well as Aminah, Tony, Arig (he's a little older, but I guess he wanted to be in with us), and Mei," Harry said.

"Do you mean Aminah Kahn?" Lee asked. "I was wondering what happened to her. I heard her father… "

"Yeah, we're not supposed to talk about those things," Harry said quietly.

"Yeah, Aunt Medea won't say anything. She just gets all serious if I ask her questions. Patient privacy. She wouldn't tell me anything about you, even though you're a friend of mine!" Lee said, indignantly.

"Is that Tony Montague? That Slytherin? Who splin… " Percy stopped himself.

"Ew. You're rooming with a Slytherin?" Ron interjected.

"He's all right," Harry said.

"Right!" Ron said.

"Gemma, what year are you, dear?" Molly asked.

Harry could feel Gemma signing. He wondered what Ginny was thinking. They were the same year and had had hard first years for different reasons. He couldn't tell if Ginny was at the table. She was nearly as silent as Gemma. Actually, she might be even more quiet than Gemma.

"Oh, well, you and Ginny are the same age. Were you at Hogwarts this year?" Molly asked. The Weasleys and Lee made sympathetic noises responding to Gemma's signs.

"Well, I hope next year is a better year for you! Do you know what house you'll be in?" Molly asked.

"Oh, do you three know Terry?" Molly asked.

"Yes," responded Hermione. Ron said, "no," and Harry shrugged.

"He's coming in a bit, we'll get to know him better," Harry said. "So, do you want to go to the beach?"

"I wonder why Arthur is taking so long," Molly speculated as the chairs scraped against the tile floor. "I'll just let him know where to find us." She muttered a message to Arthur and it seemed to rush by Harry with a gust of air. Harry wondered what she'd done.

Gemma tapped Harry's hand for sighted guide and he took her arm.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake, stop it George, Fred!" Molly exclaimed, "That's ridiculous. Lee, I know your Aunt is expecting you to be on your best behavior here."

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Weasley," Lee muttered, laughter in his voice.

Harry was trying to figure out what they were doing. Gemma was laughing. He could feel her shaking as they led the way to the O&M room.

"Stop it!" Percy shrieked.

Harry stifled a laugh. Whatever it was, it was driving Percy mad.