AN: I do not own Harry Potter, that honor goes to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 2: A Strange Visitor
"You may get confused on some of the subjects because Miranda Goshawk talks about a lot of Magical Theory. I should have read Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling first, but like you, chose to jump right into The Standard Book of Spells. Read as far as you can," Harry said as he passed his copy of The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) to Ginny who sat at the kitchen table.
Mrs. Weasley watched from the stove with a smile. Harry put the Magical Theory book on the table and opened his copy of An Anthology of Eighteenth Century Charms. He'd purchased it on his first trip to Flourish and Blotts but never got around to reading very far into the book.
Ginny read for a while in silence, only asking him or Mrs. Weasley a few questions on how to pronounce a few of the words. Percy came downstairs and took a plate of food up to his room. Mrs. Weasley fussed over Percy for a few minutes before the older boy could escape.
"I'll be back in a bit," Harry said and left the kitchen. Ginny was still reading and mumbled something. Mrs. Weasley gave him a smile and turned back to the large pot on the stove. Potatoes peeled themselves over a basket on the floor beside her. Harry went upstairs to Ron's room and found his friend just waking up from his nap.
"I was tired," Ron muttered as he pulled off his sweaty shirt. "Blimey, that smells."
"Who are you telling, mate," Harry replied with a laugh. He opened his trunk and dug out some heavy parchment, an inkpot, and his favorite quill. "I'll be downstairs when you get out of the shower," Harry called over his shoulder and went back to the kitchen.
Harry laid one of the flashcards on top of the heavy parchment and traced the outline of the card. He continued the pattern for another nine cards before the entire parchment was used up. "The Hardening Charm looks useful," Harry said aloud as he dog-eared the page in his book. It amused him to imagine how much Hermione would scold him for damaging his book.
"Could I use your flashcards?" Ginny asked after a little bit.
"They are for review, you need to read the material first," Harry answered immediately. He smirked when she glared at him.
Ron pulled Harry away from finishing the second parchment of flashcards to play wizard chess. Harry didn't mind as it allowed him to mull over the next few cards he wanted to make. He wanted to use the new cards to write out interesting spells he could try, so he focused on the need-to-know portions of each spell and not when it was created or the history behind the spell.
"Harry, you aren't trying," Ron complained as he won the second game.
"Sorry, I was focused on the new spells. We could use Duro, the Hardening Spell, to transfigure a door into stone or…" Harry explained but was cut off by Ron's angry tirade.
"We're playing wizard chess! Not trying to learn more spells. What is up with you and Hermione trying to learn every spell ever created," Ron complained and crossed his arms.
"Sorry, Ron, but magic is bloody wicked. I'll take the next game seriously," Harry promised and tried to put the new spells out of his head.
Harry focused on the next game and beat Ron with a queen's wing push. Their last game got interrupted by Mr. Weasley coming home from work. He wore the same black robes and blue tie as the previous day. Arthur kissed his wife, to a chorus of groans from the Weasley children and waved to Harry. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley went upstairs to their bedroom as Arthur told his wife about important news from the Ministry.
"Do you think Hermione did her homework already?" Ron asked as he took a seat at the kitchen table.
"She probably started her homework the moment she walked in the door," Harry answered with a laugh.
"John Dawlish will come by tomorrow to put a few enchantments around the house," Mrs. Weasley announced to the family as everyone tucked into the stew that was for dinner.
"Harry, he'll want to say hello," Arthur said with a small frown. "Dawlish has a knack for getting in the good graces of the powerful."
Harry wasn't sure how to take Mr. Weasley's off-handed comment but nodded that he understood. His question as to why Dawlish was coming over was answered by Mr. Weasley a moment later.
"Ah, you're quite famous, Harry," Arthur said with a strained smile. "The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, wants a little more protection for you than Molly or I could provide," he said in a low voice.
"Nonsense, Fudge just wants to keep an eye on Harry," Mrs. Weasley tutted and turned to Harry. "Remember dear, there are a lot of witches and wizards who will want to meet and use you." She stopped and looked at her husband before turning back to him. "Before you hear it from someone else, Arthur and I receive a small salary from the Ministry to have you stay over. I would like to be clear that we tried to turn it down. All of the money is going into a vault at Gringotts for you. We refuse to touch the money."
Mr. Weasley nodded and continued the conversation. "Molly is right, we don't want or need the money the Ministry is trying to give us. We love having you over and I know Ron enjoys your company. For us, family is more important than any number of Galleons in the world."
Harry heard a soft snort from Percy beside him but nodded to Mr. Weasley. He hadn't thought about what complications he might impose on Ron's parents. "What does this mean?" he asked and looked between the adults.
"It means, the Ministry will have Aurors stop by at random times to check on the security of the house and add Ministry Level Protection to the premises. I won't lie, Harry. Having that level of protection for my family is hard to say no to," Arthur said as he looked Harry in the eye. "I understand if you feel angry or used, please understand, we didn't want any of this for you or have the Ministry insert themselves into our lives."
"Do I need to leave?" Harry asked, thinking of moving back to the Leaky Cauldron with Tom.
"No, dear. We would like you to stay and enjoy your summer. For us," Mrs. Weasley said as she gestured to Arthur and herself, "we only have to be inconvenienced for a few months. This level of security will follow you until you come of age. The Minister is very anxious to not lose you again."
Harry snorted and shook his head. He hadn't had any say in being sent to Providence. A voice in the back of his head wondered why Dumbledore allowed all this to happen when he was his magical guardian. "If you'll have me, then I'd like to stay," he answered after a few minutes.
Harry noticed Mrs. Weasley's beaming smile and Mr. Weasley's strained one. The rest of dinner was a subdued affair as everyone digested what was talked about. Harry mulled over his options and decided he'd chosen the best one for him. If he went back to the Leaky Cauldron, if really he even had a choice to, then he'd be alone with his books again. He enjoyed Ron's company, even if his friend could be annoying sometimes.
"Mrs. Weasley," Harry said after everyone got up from the table. Ron went up to his room to get the exploding snap cards.
"Yes, dear?" Mrs. Weasley said and turned to look at Harry.
"Could you use the salary to…" he trailed off as he saw a hard look appear in her eyes.
"That money is yours, given to you by the Ministry," Mrs. Weasley said in a stern voice. "Arthur and I have plenty already."
"All right, ma'am," Harry answered, not wanting to incur her wrath. The scene from earlier in the day was fresh in his mind.
"You and Ron enjoy your game of exploding snap. Don't stay up too late," Mrs. Weasley said with a warm smile and went back to the wash.
Harry and Ron played exploding snap with the twins while Ginny watched with her arms crossed. The twins laughed and tried to throw Ron off his game. It didn't take Harry long to realize the youngest Weasley wanted to play but couldn't as she didn't have her wand yet.
"I'm tired," Fred yawned and stood. "Have a good night Harry, Ron," George said as he stood. Ginny left the room in a huff after a few minutes of watching them play.
"See you two in the morning," Harry said and stood. He followed Ron upstairs and dressed for bed.
"Should we start on the homework to get it out of the way tomorrow," Harry suggested as he crawled into the lumpy camp-bed. He remembered Mrs. Weasley saying that she would get a real bed for him.
"Do we have to?" Ron complained into his pillow. "It's the second day of vacation! Can't it wait for a few weeks?"
"Ron, I'd really rather not have to lie to Hermione when she writes asking about it. You know she will," Harry said with a laugh. Ron moaned his frustration into his pillow.
"Fine," Ron huffed and rolled over. "Night, Harry."
"Night, Ron," Harry called back and tried to find a comfortable position on the bed. He was tired from the day and quickly found sleep.
John Dawlish arrived at the Burrow at nine o'clock the next morning. The tall, tough-looking wizard had very short, wiry gray hair and beady dark eyes. He stomped around the yard for a few minutes before inviting himself into the Weasley's kitchen. Harry watched the Ministry Auror from his favorite spot facing the door.
The tall Auror locked eyes with Harry and smiled. "Harry Potter, what an honor to meet you," he said and stuck out his hand.
Harry shook Dawlish's hand and noticed the Auror's eyes roam over his face and exposed hand. "Nice to meet you too, sir," he said and tried not to feel annoyed by the man. "Any chance I could watch whatever you're going to do?"
"Sorry, Ministry business, Mr. Potter. There are, however, a few standard protection spells you can find at Flourish and Blotts if you look under the Auror section near the back," Dawlish answered with a wink. He looked up and smiled again. "Mrs. Weasley, it's been a while."
"John, it's been ages. How has being an Auror treated you? I know you always wanted to be one," Mrs. Weasley asked as she gave the tall wizard a prim hug.
"Very good, ma'am," Dawlish answered with a flush. "Mum told me to tell you hello."
"I'll write to Agatha tonight. I haven't seen her in ages," Mrs. Weasley said with a grin. "Thank you for taking the time to protect my home, dear."
"Always a pleasure, ma'am," Dawlish said with a small bow. "Harry, it's been a pleasure."
Dawlish retreated from the kitchen and pulled his wand. Harry watched while the Auror cast spell after spell into the air around the Burrow. Some spells he aimed at the ground, but most were shot into the air. Harry thought he could see a faint shimmer in the air as Dawlish walked around the front of the house. The Weasley children and Harry watched from the different bedrooms as they watched Dawlish repeat the same spells at all four cardinal points of the house.
The Auror didn't return to the kitchen before Apparating away. Harry and Ron went to get their coursebooks when Fred announced thunderclouds overhead. After it became clear it would rain for a while, the twins and Percy all sat around the table attempting to finish their summer homework.
"Why are there so many essays on Goblin Wars?" Ginny asked Percy as she took a seat beside him. She was reading from Harry's Charms book but was getting fidgety in her chair. Harry tried to ignore Ginny's growing insistence for someone to go over Magical Theory with her. It became obvious how late the girl had stayed up reading by the questions she was asking. Ron gave him a "see what you did" look. Harry shrugged in response and went back to his essay on Trolls.
Mrs. Weasley drew Ginny away for a while, something Harry was thankful for. He was able to complete three essays to Ron's one by the time lunch rolled around. Once the skies cleared, the Weasley boys, except Percy, were itching to go outside and play more Quidditch. Harry didn't remind them about the de-gnoming chore Mrs. Weasley told them about the day before.
"You will de-gnome the garden before you go to the orchard," Mrs. Weasley ordered as she took the empty plates away.
"Awww!" Ron huffed and kicked his feet under the table.
"What exactly is de-gnoming?" Harry asked.
"Garden gnomes infest wizard gardens and like to dig up roots and plants to make gnomeholes. They are a pest," George said and laughed. "Dad loves the little things even though mum hates them."
Harry stood to one side as Fred stuck his head into a bush. He came up a moment later with a potato-like creature with two arms, two legs, and a misshapen head. "Gerroff me!" the creature yelled.
"This is a gnome!" Fred said and swung it around in circles before launching it a good ten feet in the air over the short wall. "They aren't hurt. You have to get them dizzy enough for them to forget where their gnomeholes are. Newt Scamander says you can drop them out of the garden after you make them dizzy, but this is way more fun!"
Harry was timid about throwing small creatures around until one gnome bit him and called him a "bloody muppet." Shaking his hand and nursing his finger, the rest of the boys laughed at his reluctance to throw the gnomes. After that incident, Harry chucked the gnomes as far as he could launch them.
"Bloody hell," Harry groused as he lost another long-distance challenge from the twins. "How do your gnomes seem to catch the wind and go farther," he asked, narrowing his eyes at the twin's pockets. He wondered if they had their wands up their sleeves to cheat with.
"Not using magic," George answered with a chuckle.
"Good ol' Beater power!" Fred said with a laugh.
"Let's go tell mum, the gnomes are out of the garden," Ron said before running to find his mother.
Harry stood outside and retraced Dawlish's steps, looking around for traces of the invisible magic. One of the books he'd read talked about all magic leaving traces in the air or ground but Harry couldn't figure out how to find it. Ron ran back outside with a book in his hand and the key to the broom shed. After unlocking the outhouse, the boys tramped up to the orchard.
"The book says arm strength and leg strength are paramount to a professional Quidditch player. I think I want to do arm strength first," Ron announced and flipped to the chapter in the book devoted to the subject. Harry had the feeling the recent de-gnoming competition fueled Ron's desire to be stronger.
"Here, Merlin's pants there are a lot of exercises!" Ron gasped as he flipped through the pages.
Harry looked over and raised an eyebrow. "Hanging leg-lift, hover your broom a few feet off the ground, keep your arms straight, shoulders together, and legs straight down. Then lift your legs up so your hips are perpendicular to the ground without bending your knees. Keep your body as still as possible. Do this fifteen times for one set. Ready to give it a shot?"
"You're on, mate!" Ron said and put the book down on the trunk beside them.
Fred and George wandered over to watch Harry and Ron attempt the exercise. They flipped through the book while Ron struggled to finish one set. "Well, we know where Wood gets some of his ideas from," one twin complained as he dropped the book back down onto the trunk.
"Harry, you make that look easy," the other twin accused.
"I'm getting out of shape," Harry complained and dropped to the ground. "Something like this shouldn't be tiring me as out much as it is. I haven't been keeping up with my exercises."
"Mental," Ron gasped as he let go of his broom. He hit the ground with wobbling knees and breathed hard. "These are tough," he said and glared at Harry. "You do make this look easy."
"I've been doing physical exercise longer and more often than you, Ron. You'll get better with time. We have all summer to get you in shape," Harry answered with a feral grin.
The twins gave each other a wry look. "You sound like Wood," they chorused and laughed.
Harry settled into his life at the Burrow after a week passed. In the early morning, he would take time for himself to read or practice spells in the bathroom after his shower. By mid-morning, Ron was up and ready to continue his Quidditch exercises. After lunch, Ron would shower and take a nap for an hour. Harry sat with Ginny and Percy as they went over the Charm's first-year coursebook and Magical Theory. He wondered how far ahead Ginny would be compared to her peers. In the afternoons, Harry would either play with Ron and the twins or play one of the various wizard games on the bookshelf.
"Oh, I do hope Albus wrote back," Mrs. Weasley said one morning as Errol landed on the kitchen table and skidded to a halt on his back, wings still splayed.
"Is he, okay?" Harry asked as he looked up from his book at the aged owl.
"He'll be fine," Percy said and set the bird to rights.
Mrs. Weasley took the letter and nodded. Harry noticed her lips become a thin line and her eyes narrow at the letter. She opened it and muttered to herself by the sink. She looked up to meet Harry's eyes before looking back down at the letter. Harry fidgeted in his seat wondering how much Dumbledore told Mrs. Weasley. He tried to look busy reading his book.
"Harry, dear," Mrs. Weasley said in a low voice.
Harry felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. "Yes, Mrs. Weasley?"
"I'm very glad you, Ron, Miss Granger, and Mr. Longbottom are safe," she finished with a wide smile. "That was very brave of you dear."
"Uh, thanks, Mrs. Weasley," Harry stammered, wondering how the events of that night could garner a smile from the protective woman. He knew how much she doted over all of her children and how their safety was her primary concern. The idea Dumbledore hadn't told her everything floated around in his mind. He couldn't think of a way to ask to read the letter without explaining his suspicions.
Mrs. Weasley tucked the letter into her apron and continued bustling around the kitchen with a small smile. Harry noticed her white knuckles as she clutched the frying pan. He heard Mr. and Mrs. Weasley arguing in their bedroom that night before dinner. Ron was oblivious to the tension in the air and Harry didn't want to fill his friend in unless it was necessary.
"Harry, what is the function of a light bulb? It has something to do with el-lecl-tricity, right?" Mr. Weasley questioned at the dinner table.
Harry fought not to roll his eyes at the seemingly unending questions the adult wizard had about the Muggle world. He wondered how he kept his job at the Ministry if he was the department head that dealt with enchanted Muggle objects. Mr. Weasley explained some of the inner-workings of the Ministry of Magic, something Percy was keenly interested in, during their discussions at dinner and sometimes afterward in the living room. Arthur enjoyed reading the Daily Prophet every morning and talking about his day every night.
"Shrinking door keys, what will those Muggle-baiters think of next?" Mr. Weasley complained and sat back in his over-sized chair.
"Shrinking door keys? Like, keys to your front door?" Harry questioned, trying to think of why this would be a problem.
"Yes, Muggle-baiters will bewitch a Muggle door key to shrink until the poor Muggle can't find it anymore. Poor blighters keep thinking they are losing them," Arthur said with a sigh.
Harry felt his eye twitch as he listened to the Pure-blood answer to his question. The Weasley family didn't realize how many slights they unintentionally made against non-magical people. He understood they didn't realize they were doing it and the comments were born from ignorance. The Weasley family were pro-Muggle but still saw their non-magical counterparts as lesser or unfortunate people.
"What is the punishment if someone is caught Muggle-baiting?" Harry asked as he watched Fred and George arguing with Ginny at the kitchen table.
"Normally a heavy fine. No one got hurt and it's more the principle behind the thing," Mr. Weasley answered with a judicious nod.
Harry sent letters to Hermione and Neville, asking them how their holidays were going. Hermione was with her parents while they visited family in France. Neville was working on building his greenhouse that he'd talked about all year. His grandmother was ecstatic about his marks and funded the building of his greenhouse project. Harry promised to write both of them whenever he was going to Diagon Alley so they could all meet up before the start of term.
Harry had trouble sleeping at night and took to looking out the window beside Ron's bed. The small bed Mrs. Weasley found for him was somehow more uncomfortable than the camp-bed. He didn't want to mention it to the excitable witch and used a Softening Charm on the mattress so he could get a little rest. One night, a small, dark figure dashed out from behind the overturned wheelbarrow near the garden. The figure stopped at the little outhouse and stood in front of the door for several minutes. Harry realized who it was when the moon peeked out from behind the clouds. Ginny got the broom shed door open and snatched a broom off the wall before running up to the orchard. Harry snorted and went back to bed.
The next morning, Harry woke early after a nightmare about Quirrell and Voldemort. Upset and anxious, he took a shower in the downstairs bathroom to try and calm his nerves. He figured Ginny wouldn't wake for another few hours because of how late she'd been up practicing on the stolen broom. Harry stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist when he heard a hair-raising scream from behind him. He spun around, groping for the wand on the sink next to his glasses.
"Harry! What happened to your back, dear!" Mrs. Weasley gasped, her eyes wide.
"You scared me, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said to try and divert the subject away from his burns.
"Harry, please, may I look at your shoulder?" Mrs. Weasley asked in a soft voice. She looked from his face to his hands and across his chest.
Harry never liked to look into the mirror anymore and knew the network of burn scars across his torso was more prominent than anywhere else on his body. "I'd rather you not, ma'am," he answered in what he hoped to be a nice tone. He felt violated by Mrs. Weasley's eyes even if they showed concern for his well-being.
"All right, dear. Sorry, I was half asleep and didn't realize anyone was up yet. I'll go," Mrs. Weasley said and closed the door behind her.
Harry gasped out the breath he'd been holding, thankful Ron's mother hadn't pressed the issue. It took him a few minutes to gather himself and pull on his clothes. He couldn't meet Mrs. Weasley's eyes at breakfast when he came downstairs with Ron. After lunch, Ron pulled Harry aside and asked if anything was wrong.
"I just slept badly," Harry answered with a shrug.
"Nightmares again?" Ron asked as he toweled himself off in the shade of an apple tree.
"Something like that," Harry answered with a weak laugh. "You aren't getting tired as fast anymore," he said and looked at Ron. "Way to go, mate. Ready to work on the next set of exercises in the book? We've got your core and arm strength up. You can pull yourself up and onto your broom with ease now."
"I guess so," Ron answered after a few minutes. "Isn't the next one where I use weights and do a lot of squats?"
"Yeah, like Wood's training. He does a lot of leg exercises to make sure everyone stays on their broom. The Slytherins work on all upper-body strength if my guess is correct," Harry answered with a shrug.
"Let's wait until next week to start new stuff. I want to make sure I've got this down first," Ron said and grinned over at Harry.
It took a few more days before Harry and Mrs. Weasley were on comfortable speaking terms again. Harry got the impression Ron's mother was giving him space because she didn't try and mother him as much. Mrs. Weasley treated everyone in the house as her children, even Mr. Weasley sometimes. It annoyed Harry some to have an adult insert themselves into his life when he didn't want their opinion. He went along with whatever he was told to do or scolded not to do, but he didn't like it.
Mrs. Weasley found him brewing a Wiggenweld Potion outside one morning and scolded him for acting foolishly. He argued that he'd been brewing the potion alone since before Easter. It didn't help his case, as she seemed certain he would hurt himself when his cauldron exploded one day. She compromised with him a few days later when she caught him at it again, saying he could brew potions with her in the kitchen before everyone else got up for the day. Harry knew she meant well, but it grated on his nerves to not be able to do what he wanted.
"Harry, why do you mince your stewed Mandrake when the recipe calls for you to slice them?" Ginny asked one morning. The youngest Weasley had started to wake up early so she could pelt Harry with questions before Ron woke up and chased her off. Harry had an uncomfortable moment one morning when he realized how Professor Dumbledore must have felt with all the questions he asked.
"I've been testing different combinations to see what works best. Mincing the Mandrake allows for a more even color across the entire potion. It can be hard to mince it, because of how tough the Mandrake's skin is. Easier and faster to slice them," Harry answered and put the ingredient on his Potion Clock.
"Why are you using a small iron cauldron?" Ginny asked a few minutes later.
"Because I don't want to waste too many ingredients when testing and it brews the potion a little faster than my larger pewter one."
"Dear, leave Harry alone to brew. He's taking a lot of risks by messing with the way the potion is prepared and needs to concentrate," Mrs. Weasley said from the stove. Harry noticed she kept a close watch on him as he brewed.
Harry knew Mrs. Weasley was right to be worried, as tampering too much with an established potion recipe could spell disaster. "It's all right, Mrs. Weasley, she isn't bothering me," Harry lied with a shrug. Ginny annoyed him but it was something he could say to disagree with Mrs. Weasley.
The matronly woman hummed at him and shot him a complicated look. He had the feeling she knew his thought process. That afternoon, Mrs. Weasley called Harry back into the living room where she was knitting. "Before you go off with Ron and the boys, have a seat," she instructed.
Harry got the feeling he couldn't say no to her this time. "Bill and Charlie have written back and are okay with you staying in their room," Mrs. Weasley said with a smile. "I'll ask you to move back in with Ron if either of them comes round for dinner," she finished.
"No problem and thank you, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said, trying to fight down his excitement. He got tired of trying to practice magic in the small bathroom.
"Off you go, I'll ask you to keep their room clean. I'd tell you to make your bed every morning but you do that better than I can already," she said with a laugh.
Harry told Ron the good news and got a mixed expression in return. "Something wrong with my room?" Ron asked as they did pull-ups on their brooms.
"No, mate, but I'm sure you'd like to get changed without me in the room. That and snog your Chuddley Cannons posters," Harry teased with a laugh.
"Oi! I do not snog my posters!" Ron bellowed and accidentally let go of his broom. He hit the ground with a hard thump.
"You good, mate?" Harry asked as he swung up onto his broom with one hand and flew to catch Ron's escaping broom.
Ron was rubbing his leg as Harry landed with Ron's broom clutched in his hand. "That hurt," Ron complained and shook his leg.
"Here you go, mate," Harry said and passed Ron his broom. "Try to stay on it this time," he said with a laugh.
"Oi! I fly better than you ever could!" Ron said with a grin.
A few hours later, Harry closed the door behind him as he went into Fred and George's room. "Any progress?" he questioned.
One twin sat at the desk by the window, using his scales to measure a pile gunpowder against three Sickles. Harry and the twins were working on mini-fireworks that could produce just as much of a bang as the normal-sized ones. It would be easier to hide and could make a larger impact with fewer materials. "Almost there, three Sickles is just about right for the amount of gunpowder needed," the twin on the bed said.
"Fred has the idea we could bewitch the paper around the fireworks to create a before or after explosion as well," George said with a grin as he pointed to a small pile of red firecracker wrappers.
"We're almost done with this project. We'll need to choose another joke item to work on next. Our list keeps growing," Fred said with a sigh.
"You love every minute of it," Harry shot back with a laugh. Both twins grinned at him.
"Heard from mum that you're getting Bill and Charlie's old room. You can practice all you want now," George said with a wry smirk. "You won't keep knocking over the toothbrush cup trying to wave your wand around."
"You trying to explain to mum why you kept knocking over the cup kept us in stitches," Fred continued with a laugh.
"I really did knock it over when I was looking for my glasses! Come on!" Harry groused.
The days melded together for Harry as June rolled into July. Bill and Charlie's room had posters of Ancient Runes on one side of the room and moving portraits of dragons on the other. The portrait over Charlie's bed had a Romanian Longhorn breathing fire at a wizard who split the fire with a spell. Harry chose Charlie's bed to sleep in, as it was next to the window.
"Percyyourletteris here!" Mrs. Weasley screamed one morning as a large brown owl landed on the kitchen table.
Every door in the house slammed open as the entire Weasley family rushed to get downstairs first. "I thought it would be by the fifteenth," Percy stammered as he took a seat at the table. Mrs. Weasley placed the letter in front of him. Arthur put his hand on Percy's shoulder and squeezed.
"I… I… I…" Percy stammered harder as tears fell from his eyes.
"You what, Perce?" the twins chorused as the tried to peer over Percy's shoulder.
"I passed them all," Percy got out with a gasp. "I pass them all! Mum, Dad,I passed them all!" The normally reserved boy jumped up and screamed his excitement at the top of his lungs.
The entire Weasley family cheered for Percy. Fred and George complained how insufferable Percy would be from now on but still congratulated his hard work. Ron looked morose. Ginny screeched and jumped on her brother's neck. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley took turns reading the letter and hugging their son. They looked like all their dreams had come true.
"Oh, we will have to celebrate! Maybe a cake!" Mrs. Weasley gushed and flicked her wand at the cabinets.
Percy didn't gloat as much as the twins feared and retreated to his room as soon as he could get away from his parents. Errol got run ragged by Mrs. Weasley as she used the aged owl to let her friends and family know the good news. Harry itched to pull a Ginny and ask Percy for his old coursebooks and notes. Percy's marks galvanized Harry to do better than the older boy. Ron was annoyed with him for the next few days when he told Ron to practice alone so he could read more. Harry used the excuse of studying to stay later and longer in Bill and Charlie's room so he could continue to practice his Charms and Transfiguration spell-work.
Mr. Weasley used the Floo Network via the fireplace to go to the office in the mornings and return home at night. He'd only Apparate if there was an incident or was coming home late from one. Mr. Weasley would come home late at least once a week and sometimes more if the name Mundungus "Dung" Fletcher was involved. Harry couldn't tell if the small-time criminal helped or hindered Mr. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley seemed to dislike hearing Dung's name in Arthur's nightly recaps of his day.
Harry sent Neville a book on plants in Great Britain for his birthday a few days early. He'd needed a reason to get out of the kitchen when Ginny received her letter. She screamed and ran around the kitchen as Mrs. Weasley watched on with a huge grin. Mr. Weasley picked Ginny up and calmed the excited girl down. Mrs. Weasley said they would go to Diagon Alley to get her school things with the rest of the boys in a few days.
Hedwig was happy to see him when he called to her from Bill and Charlie's window. Harry's snowy white owl enjoyed flying and hated being caged. He allowed her free roam of the Burrow and often played with her at night. "Here, Hedwig. I've got a letter for Neville and the present. I really need you to stop by Hermione's too," he said and scratched Hedwig's neck.
She hooted at him and affectionately nipped at his finger. Hedwig took off, buffeting Harry with her wings. Harry watched as his owl disappeared into the morning. Ginny had to be sent to her room by mid-day because she wouldn't calm down. Mrs. Weasley had enough of the excited girl's talking and random shouts of joy. For three blessed hours, Harry sat with Ron and enjoyed the silence while playing wizard chess. It was raining outside so they couldn't even go out to play Quidditch to get away from Ginny.
Harry lay in bed that night, reading a book by wand-light. A sudden crack made him jump and point his wand at the small dark figure. His wand illuminated a house-elf standing by the door. It was about three and a half feet tall with large, tennis-ball-like green eyes, a pencil-like nose, and long, bat-like pointed ears. One ear was bent down a little and had fresh cuts along the top edge. The house-elf wore a dirty pillowcase and cowered under Harry's wand.
"Harry Potter, such an honor it is," the house-elf said in a quavering voice.
"Hello? Are you from Hogwarts?" Harry asked, lowering his wand a little. He flicked his wand at a candle on the bedside table and lit the small candle.
"I am not from Hogwarts, sir. So long has Dobby wanted to meet you!" the house-elf said with a grin.
"Uh, hello Dobby. It's nice to meet you too," Harry greeted, feeling confused by the entire situation. His eyes fell on Dobby's hands and he gasped. "Dobby, your hands. Did someone hurt you?"
"Dobby had to iron his fingers, sir," Dobby whimpered and hid his hands under his pillowcase.
"I can heal them, Dobby," Harry said as he got out of bed.
"Never… never ever has Dobby been shown such kindness from a wizard," the house-elf wailed. Fat droplets of water leaked out of Dobby's eyes.
"That's horrible, who could hate house-elves?" Harry said and shook his head. He pointed his wand at Dobby's fingers. "Leniae," he said and watched as Dobby's bleeding and blistered fingers mended themselves. The spell wasn't perfect as he could still see the marks and cuts on Dobby's weathered skin.
"Thank you, Harry Potter! Thank you for this kindness Dobby doesn't deserve," the house-elf wailed into Harry's shirt.
"Now that you're healed, mostly, what can I do for you?" Harry asked and sat down on the bed. He patted the bed beside him.
Dobby cried louder and Harry cast a Muffliato Charm at the door to prevent the distraught house-elf from disturbing the rest of the house. He hoped the charm worked as he'd only recently learned how to cast it. "Dobby, please take a deep breath. There you go, what can I do for you?" Harry prompted and looked at the door. He didn't hear anyone moving up or down the stairs.
"Dobby… Dobby is here to warn Harry Potter. Dobby never knew the greatness of Harry Potter. Harry Potter asks if he can help Dobby…" the house-elf gasped and started to wail again.
Harry felt his eye twitch as he looked at the sobbing house-elf. "Whoever said I'm great is full of it. Take a deep breath, Dobby, please."
"Harry Potter is humble and modest," Dobby said and hugged himself. "Dobby is bad and has to stop Harry Potter from going back to school."
"Why, Dobby? Why must I not go back to school?" Harry asked, narrowing his eyes at the house-elf.
"Dobby cannot tell, Dobby cannot tell," the house-elf wailed and beat himself over the head with his fist.
Harry caught Dobby's wrist and held it tight. The diminutive house-elf was no match for his strength. "Deep breaths and explain, please Dobby."
"Dobby cannot explain. Dobby's master ma…" Dobby started before his eyes widened and he beat himself over the head with his other hand. "Bad Dobby, Bad Dobby," he cried until Harry caught that wrist too.
"Stop hitting yourself, Dobby! Look me in the eyes," Harry ordered in a stern voice. "There, only explain what you can. I will immobilize you if you try and hurt yourself again."
"Harry Potter is a greater wizard than Dobby knew," the house-elf hiccuped. Snot ran out of Dobby's nose. "Dobby has to punish himself if Dobby goes against Master's orders."
"Does your Master know you are here?" Harry asked, hearing Quirrell's voice in his mind talking about the Master he served.
"Oh, no, sir, no! Dobby will have to punish himself more after leaving. Dobby will have to shut his ears in the oven door for this. If they ever knew, sir…" Dobby gasped and shuddered. He struggled against Harry's strength for a moment before giving up.
"I know you can't escape, I've done a little reading about house-elves. Pass your warning or information quickly so you don't have to hurt yourself more," Harry grated out, hating himself for asking more of the magically bound house-elf. He had an idea of what horror awaited Dobby for his disobedience.
"Harry Potter's greatness," Dobby cried and shuddered. "Harry Potter must not go back to Hogwarts. Dobby has come to warn and protect Harry Potter! Even if Dobby has to shut his ears in the oven door later. Harry Potter must not go back to Hogwarts!"
"Why? What awaits me at Hogwarts?" Harry asked. He tried to envision Voldemort returning or waiting somewhere in the Forbidden Forrest. Dumbledore never said where Voldemort escaped to.
"Harry Potter must stay where he is, stay safe. He is too good to lose! If Harry Potter goes back to Hogwarts he will be in mortal danger," Dobby gasped and shuddered.
"More mortal danger than normal?" Harry laughed.
"Harry Potter jokes at death. How great Harry Potter is! There is a plot to make terrible things happen at Hogwarts," Dobby said in a whisper. He trembled in Harry's grip. "Dobby has known for months and now must act, sir. Harry Potter is too important!"
"What plot?" Harry asked and grimaced as the house-elf writhed and mewled in his grip. "All right, all right, don't tell me."
"The Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, will protect the school, Dobby. He did when Voldemort," Harry tried to say before Dobby wailed.
"Don't say his name! Speak not the name!"
"Dumbledore has protected the school," Harry continued, ignoring the house-elf's wails. "He will continue to protect the school."
"The plot is against Mr. Dumbledore as well, sir!" Dobby cried and tried to beat himself on the head again.
"Enough, Dobby. You've passed your message. Please stop trying to hurt yourself."
It took thirty minutes for Harry to calm Dobby down. After letting the house-elf go, he grimaced at the numerous praises the addle-brained house-elf heaped on him. Harry thanked Dobby for his warning again and was thankful when Dobby left with a quiet pop. He lay in bed for hours trying to go over the warning in his mind. Dobby's warning made him nervous about his future at Hogwarts.
"Did you have a nightmare, dear?" Mrs. Weasley questioned before breakfast.
Harry froze and grimaced. He forgot the master bedroom was above his. "Sorry, Mrs. Weasley," he said and winced as she wrapped him in a hug.
"They are just dreams," Mrs. Weasley said and patted his head. "I can brew up a Potion of Dreamless Sleep if you'd like."
"Uh, thank you, ma'am, but I'm all right," Harry said and disengaged from the motherly woman. "They come and go."
"If you ever do, just let me know," Mrs. Weasley said in a kind voice and turned back to the pot on the stove.
Harry debated telling his friend what he'd learned from Dobby as everyone ate breakfast. After the boys got up, he pulled Fred, George, and Ron aside to talk with them. "Let's go to the orchard for a walk," he suggested.
"No brooms?" Ron asked, a manic light appearing in his eye.
"No brooms for now. Something happened last night we need to discuss," Harry stated. He saw the twins exchanged a glance before breaking out into wide smiles. His heart dropped to his stomach as he realized the twins were about to make fun of him.
"Harry, that happens when you get older," George said with a smirk.
"It happened to Percy when he was sleeping on the couch," Fred added with a snicker.
"Something tells me I don't want to know," Harry said slowly as he looked between the cackling twins. "No, I had a visitor last night," he tried again.
The twins guffawed with laughter as they clutched their stomachs. "Tell me, did she," George started but Fred interrupted, "or he," he said with a laugh. "Did she have pretty eyes?" George managed to choke out.
"Okay, yeah, no, now I know what you're talking about. Sick! No, a house-elf appeared in my room and told me it would be dangerous to go to Hogwarts," Harry said quickly, as to not cause any more misunderstandings.
"What?" the Weasley boys chorused together.
"Dobby, a house-elf, appeared in Bill and Charlie's room last night," Harry said and explained his entire baffling experience. He left out the use of magic since Ron was there.
"Blimey," Ron muttered. "You think it might be You-Know-Who?"
"I don't know, but it doesn't feel right. Why wouldn't Voldemort just use Dobby to steal the Stone?" Harry asked aloud and ignored the gasps from the other boys.
"Mysterious," George said. "Mum always wanted a house-elf. Know anyone who would want to do you in, Harry?"
"Maybe not do me in, but Malfoy and I have had some differences," Harry answered with a wry grin. The twins grinned back at him.
"Dobby is a fairly unique name for a house-elf. Maybe we can ask one of the Hogwarts house-elves if they've heard of him," Fred offered with a shrug. "You going to skip this year?"
"No way in bloody hell am I missing Hogwarts," Harry declared and narrowed his eyes.
"Easy, mate," Ron laughed. "We won't be stopping you from going."
When the boys returned to the kitchen, Mrs. Weasley stopped Harry with a gleam in her eye. "Happy Birthday, Harry!" she said as Ginny appeared from the hallway holding a large cake. It had "Happy 12th Birthday" in red frosting across the top of the white cake.
"That's why you kept circling around the orchard," Harry groaned as he looked to Fred and George. They flashed him a huge grin.
Harry was led over to a small pile of presents on the sofa. "We thought you'd notice the owls over the last few days, mate," Ron laughed as he picked up a large brown package. He passed it to Harry with a grin.
Harry opened the package with a raised eyebrow. He read the title of the book and grinned at his friend. "Brilliant, thanks! I can't wait to give it a read." Dueling: The Basic and Intermediate Guide by Servan Newman had a picture of two old wizards locked in a duel.
Hagrid sent him a large album of pictures of his mother and father. The letter said the gentle giant had sent off to all James and Lilly's friends for any picture they might have of them. Harry flipped through the album, engrossed in watching his parents growing older and falling in love. He thought his father looked a bit of a prat in a few of his younger photos, but noticed quiet reserve behind his father's eyes as he got older. His mother looked and acted like a ball of energy throughout her entire life. All of her pictures made her look beautiful and vibrant. Harry's throat caught as he realized the last few pictures were days before their murder.
"We've got you a little something too," Fred said with a laugh. He passed Harry a round black ball. "Throw it against the carpet!"
Harry realized what was in his hand and laughed. He threw the ball into the carpet and grinned as the Smokescreen Spell erupted from the small ball. The entire first floor was obscured by the smoke as Mrs. Weasley scolded the twins. Harry realized the twins had run outside as soon as the smokescreen covered the room.
After the smoke dissipated with the help of Mrs. Weasley's wand, she handed him a small package. It was a worn mortar and pestle bewitched to help grind ingredients into finer powders. Harry thanked her with a grin and picked up Neville's present. His round-faced friend sent him a dueling wand holster that could be tied to his leg or hip. Hermione sent a handwritten compendium of popular quality of life spells she'd found. He was surprised by the almost two hundred page book that Hermione wrote herself.
Ginny made him a red and gold scarf out of course wool. Harry smiled and thanked the blushing girl.
"Thank you all," Harry said and smiled at everyone still in the living room.
"You're welcome, dear. Now, I believe it is time for cake," Mrs. Weasley said with a bright smile.
Harry enjoyed the day with Ron, Ginny, and the twins in the orchard playing Quidditch. Ginny was coaxed onto a broom by Fred and Harry had to fight to not laugh at Ginny's acting ability. She looked lost while the twins showed her how to fly. Harry had to return to the house to go to the bathroom so he wouldn't burst out laughing. He had three kinds of dessert for dinner and felt stuffed as he lay in bed reading Hermione's present.
All the boys received their letters from Hogwarts the next morning. Harry grimaced at all the books they were required to buy for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Every book listed was written by Gilderoy Lockhart. Hermione and Neville both wrote back and told him they would meet at Diagon Alley around noon the next day. Harry told Ron and asked Mrs. Weasley if it were possible to meet their friends.
"Yes, dear. I for one would love to meet Mr. and Mrs. Granger," she said with a gleam in her eye.