Summer of Fun

Chapter Two

Thursday, July 18, 1996

Harry and Ron were trying to get Hermione to learn how to play Quidditch. "Come on Hermione, it's not too hard." Ron was teasing Hermione on the fact that she was very wobbly in the air on the broom.

"Knock it off Ron. Hermione I am going to come over and help you, okay?" Hermione gave Harry a nod. She was white with fear and didn't seem to be able to talk. As Harry pulled up right beside her on his broom he grabbed onto her arm. They started flying slowly around the attic. "I'm right here and I won't let you fall, and if you do, I'll catch you."

Hermione nodded gratefully at Harry, and then gave Ron a glare, "Just because you find flying on a small broomstick in the middle of the air easy doesn't mean I do" Hermione looked scared about being up so high. "And don't you remember what happened to Neville when we were first years?"

"Hermione, that was because Neville's broom was cursed" Harry reminded Hermione. She looked flustered at the fact that she forgot that. Harry thought that she looked kind of cute when flustered. 'What, no, she doesn't she's my friend and nothing more' he thought. "And Sirius made sure there were cushioning charms all over the floor here. So even if you do fall, which you won't, and I don't catch you, which I will, you won't be hurt by it."

"Thanks Harry, that actually helps."

"I got a question for you, Hermione," Harry claimed. "What is the difference between a hippo and a zippo?"

"Well, for starters, a hippopotamus is a living thing and a zippo is not, a zippo is a type of lighter and a hippopotamus is a giant animal…"

"One's really heavy, and the other is a little lighter," Harry answered. Hermione laughed and Harry felt his stomach flip. 'Her laugh is very beautiful and musical.' At that moment, Harry was thinking of how to make her laugh again when he realized that his ploy worked. "Hermione, look down."

Hermione looked down. "I'm flying!" She realized that Harry had decided to distract her with a joke, and it had worked. "Now I just need to not freak out again."

"Maybe focusing on the game could help," Harry said. "RON! Get in front of the hoops and get ready. Hermione, here's the quaffle, you are now a chaser and I am on the other team, okay? I'll give you 5 seconds head start, okay go." Hermione shot off towards the hoop and 5 seconds later, Harry went after her. When she saw Harry was coming towards her, she started doing some maneuvers that she saw Gryffindor's chasers do in practices. She quickly out flew Harry and then she faked out Ron and got the quaffle in the hoop. Harry flew by and hugged her. "Wow Hermione, you are a natural chaser, you did nice out there," Harry commented. Hermione started blushing.

"Nice Harry? Nice? She didn't do nice, she did awesome!" Ron was ecstatic that their entire friend group was now able to play one of the rolls in a quidditch match. "Now we just need to see how well you do against an actual chaser, Harry isn't that good of a chaser."

"HEY!"

"Truth hurts Harry, but maybe it's because you were born to be a seeker." Ron commented.

"Well, I was the youngest seeker in a century at one point, so, maybe." Harry remembered the day that McGonagall saw him in the air. "I so thought I would get in trouble that day, when she asked Quirrel for Wood, I thought it might have been the name of a cane used to beat students."

"Harry, you know that the teachers aren't allowed to hit the students anymore," Hermione said.

"Now I do, but I didn't then."

Hermione was getting exasperated, "Did anyone read Hogwarts: A History before they got to school?"

"Nope," both Harry and Ron said at the exact same time. "I still haven't read it and neither has Ron, that is what we have you for, Hermione."

"Boys," Hermione just realized that they were still on their brooms. "Want to keep playing?" Hermione asked enthusiastically. "I found that quite fun."

"Sure, lets go." They played on their own for a while and then decided, at Hermione's insistence, to get some of their summer homework done. They worked on Transfiguration for a while. They started working on their Herbology homework when Harry had an idea. "Hey Hermione, Neville is pretty good at Herbology, right?"

"Pretty good? Harry, Neville is better than me at it, and that is saying something. Why did you ask?"

"Well, Neville has talked about not having anyone around in the summer, and I thought he could come hang out with us. The whole Herbology thing is an excuse for him coming over."

"Mate, are you sure Neville's grandmother will let him come over?" Ron was doubting that this was going to work. "After all, he has told us that she is very strict."

"We'll never know unless we try. I rather think that it's a splendid idea Harry, he is very shy and alone most of the time."

"Well, then I'll call for Hedwig and send a letter to Neville." Harry was happy that the others were willing to do this. Harry had more on his mind than just becoming friends and getting help with Herbology. While those were important, he knew that Neville also could be the one mentioned in the prophecy. He could have been 'marked' by what the Death Eaters did to his parents, and he was born the day before Harry was, so he was also born 'as the seventh month dies' and his parents had 'Thrice defied him.' Harry thought that Neville deserved to know why his parents were targeted. Harry started on the letter.

Hey Neville, how's it going so far this summer? Hermione and Ron are here with me and we were doing some Herbology homework and thought about how you are in Herbology and wanted to know if you would be able to come and help us with the homework. We also wish to become better friends so don't think that we are just taking advantage of you for homework help. You were brilliant at the Ministry this year. And speaking of the Ministry, have you gotten a new wand, if not you should, Sirius has been training us all and has agreed to let you join us if you decide to hang out with us more. Let me know if you want to come on by and hang.

Harry

P.S.

You can use Hedwig to send a response, I swear sometimes she can understand us better than the average owl.

Harry thought that the letter was as good as he could get it and called for Hedwig. A white snowy owl flew down before he could even call for her. "You know, sometimes I think that you are smarter than the average owl." Hedwig gave him what looked like an offended look and nipped at his hand affectionately. "Okay, yes you are, maybe even smarter than Ron." With that Harry put the letter on Hedwig's foot and told her to take it to Neville. "If he wants to send back a letter let him use you." Hedwig hooted in agreement and flew off out the window. Harry then decided to get ready for bed.

The next morning elsewhere in Britain, Neville woke up to the sound of tapping on his window. He rubbed his eyes and looked and saw a white snowy owl. He opened the window. "Hedwig, what…?" She interrupted him by lifting her leg. Neville saw the letter and grabbed it reading what Harry had written. He read it and was surprised when another letter fell out of Hedwig's beak.

Neville,

I couldn't put this into the other letter because this is something that even Ron and Hermione don't know. It is also too important to say over a letter because this could fall into the wrong hands. I can say this, I know why the Death Eaters attacked your parents that night, the night that they drove them insane, and it is not the reason most people think. Even if you don't want to hang out with us too much, you need to hear this, it could affect the fate of the wizarding world. No, not just the wizarding, the whole world.

Harry

Neville sat and thought for a moment. Of course he wanted to become even better friends with Harry and them. This past year, even with Umbridge, was one of the best in his life. It was the first year where he actually felt he had friends. He also would not want to be left behind when all the others were ready for war, so he wanted to learn with Sirius And, as a plus, he could get closer to Ginny. He thought a little bit more and started writing a letter.

Harry,

My summer has been pretty boring actually. I guess that makes sense with how full this school year was. I would like to become better friends with you guys, and I know how bad Ron is Herbology so he needs the help. I would also insist that if we become better friends that I join you guys in your training. This is because if You-Know-Who decides to strike, I know that you three will be on the front lines and trying to fight him. And since I believe that we are already friends, I will be there with you. I want to train because I don't want to slow you guys down. And, no, I haven't gotten a new wand yet, Gran is taking me to go get one on Monday in Diagon Alley. If you would like to, we can meet up at the Leaky Cauldron for lunch at noon. We are going to Ollivander's afterwards.

Neville

Neville also took a leaf out of Harry's book and wrote a second letter and instructed Hedwig to give it only to Harry. Hedwig flew back and reached Harry later that day. "Hedwig's back Harry."

"Thanks Hermione." Harry walked over to Hedwig and took the main letter from her beak. He told the others the gist of the letter and Sirius agreed to let them go to Diagon Alley on Monday. When the others left the room, Hedwig surprised Harry by lifting her leg. Harry saw a small letter rolled up around her leg. He saw it was another letter from Neville. It had one word on it.

Yes.

A/N: Thank you guys for reading and I need some ideas for what the new quartet should be called. Please Review and let me know some ideas. I could also do with some ideas on some fun that the quartet should have over the rest of the summer.

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