Chapter Seventeen

A/N: I do not own anything from the Lion King or from Harry Potter—to my eternal disappointment and lack of money to show for it.

The following two months were filled with sun and grubs. Simba had finally managed to convince the twins at least to eat the insects he'd survived on for five years, and they admitted that they were pretty good.

"So what's on the agenda today Simba?" Fred asked, as he sprawled out on the grass, preparing his parchment for whatever essay he was writing. Mrs. Weasley had stated that it didn't matter that they were in an oasis in the middle of the dessert. They were going to get their homework done. Right now, she was helping Ginny with hers.

"Watch you get that Potions essay done," Simba said and then stretched out as to avoid the knot in his back from increasing in size. Shaking his head, he was proud that a little more mane had grown over the year—increasing the chances of a full mane by at least sixteen or seventeen.

"Would you two shut it!" George shouted. "I'm trying to get this Charms essay done."

Simba chuckled. The twins had a system, as they explained to him the first day they arrived in the Oasis. One twin would do one essay for a class, and then the other twins would copy. Seeing as they were in the same year, it made for a pretty good plan.

"Done!" Ginny grinned as she snapped her inkbottle shut and stuffed it in her bag along with her quill. "Mum, can I go swimming with Simba?"

"Of course dear," Mrs. Weasley nodded as she collected her daughter's essay. "Don't go too far."

"We won't," Ginny promised and the two of them ran into the jungle. As soon as they were out of earshot Ginny sighed. Simba knew she still wasn't sleeping well; he could tell by her eyes.

"Are you okay Ginny?" he asked.

"Yeah," Ginny nodded but stopped after a while. "No. Simba, can you keep a secret?"

"Yeah," Simba promised. "What's up Ginny? Your brothers bothering you or something? You know I can scare Percy in a second."

Ginny giggled but then quickly sobered up. "No, it's…I was the one behind the attacks last year."

"No, Harry said it was Voldemort," Simba said, looking back at the small

redhead. "In the form of a memory."

"How do you think that memory got into being?" Ginny asked and Simba was still confused until he added two and two together.

"What, did you think I'd blame you or something?" Simba asked. "Ginny, it wasn't your fault. Heck, I shouldn't have been near that bathroom in the first place. I was trying to torment that cat."

Ginny gave a half-smile. "I just think everyone's going to blame me next year. Secrets, they never stay hidden for long at Hogwarts according to Bill."

"Have you told your mum about it?" Simba asked as he hopped over a log. While they were going farther than they'd planned to, it was nice to talk with Ginny and really get to know her.

"No," Ginny scoffed. "If I did, would she let me out of her sight?"

"You have any problems next year, you come to me," Simba said. Ginny was officially a member of his pride and he'd protect her no matter what. "Now about that swimming?"

"Race ya!"

00000

The next few weeks were filled with the same old, same old. Ginny and Simba became close friends, and the friendship between the lion and the twins remained as strong as ever. Even Mrs. Weasley stopped being so afraid of him every time she saw him.

"You know," Mrs. Weasley thought for a moment. "I bet we can make these into something delicious."

She was, of course, talking about the grubs they were all sick and tired of eating by this point.

"If you can do that mum," Fred said, who'd turned green at the sight of the bugs on the stump that Timon had provided for them—with the help of Pumbaa. Apparently, they'd stowed away in the twins' pockets. "You'd be amazing."

Mrs. Weasley pulled out her wand when suddenly, a shiny weasel appeared out of thin air.

COME BACK TO THE CAMP! NOW! it announced and then faded into thin air.

Mrs. Weasley didn't even flinch. Grabbing everyone (including Simba, Timon and Pumbaa), she hugged them tightly and suddenly Simba had the feeling of being sucked through a narrow tube.

"What was that?" he asked upon seeing the campsite and shook his head a little. His ears felt as if they left the oasis rather reluctantly.

"Apperation," Fred said, and then frowned. It was an odd look for the prankster. "Wonder why Mum had to do it though. Normally she never passes up the opportunity for walking."

Mrs. Weasley had quickly approached her husband, who was brandishing a piece of paper in one hand and a beverage in the other. Bill and Charlie were in the background, looking nervous.

"Wonder what that's all about?" Simba muttered to Ginny, who was on his back as they walked around.

"Dunno," Ginny shrugged. "Wonder if we'd be cutting the trip short."

"GIN! SIMBA!" Ron's approaching voice startled them. Ginny grinned upon seeing her brother.

"What's up Ron?" Simba asked, amazed at how fast the red-head had run. By the way he was panting, he must have sprinted just to get to their location.

"Sirius…. Black," Ron panted out.

"Who?"

"What about him?" Ginny narrowed her eyes at the mention of the man, ignoring Simba's question. Ron collected himself before answering.

"He escaped Azkaban. I grabbed the Prophet before Dad could and saw the headline. Percy snitched on me though, I couldn't read the whole story."

"He… escaped," Ginny said slowly, as if she couldn't understand the words that were coming from her brother's mouth. "But that's impossible! Wasn't he a high security prisoner?"

"Yeah, with a cell right next to Bellatrix LeStrange," Ron shuddered at the mention of the woman. "But he's out. No one knows where he'll go so Dad's trying to arrange a portkey back home as soon as he can."

"Leave?" Ginny frowned. "But…."

"I know Gin," Ron smiled. "Hey, on the plus side, Dad sighed my Hogsmeade form before he saw that headline so I can pick you up anything from the village this year."

"Can't wait till third year," Ginny muttered as they made their way closer to camp.

"I'll keep you company Gin," Simba told her. "I'd probably cause a panic or something if I went there anyway."

Both Rona and Ginny burst out laughing, causing Simba to join in the hilarity. He didn't know what was so funny, but he just felt like laughing.

"Ah, there you three are," Percy said with an air of self-importance. "Mum is looking for you. She says that we're needed back in London."

"Percy?" Ginny asked. "What's the month? We didn't exactly have a calendar on our journey."

Percy smiled gently at his little sister. "It's August 8th, Ginny. Now, don't dawdle. Mum and Dad are in a hurry and I've left them with the twins."

"Ugh," Ginny made a face as soon as Percy left. "Well, we should hurry."

"Why'd you want the date?" Ron asked.

"So he wouldn't talk about how he needs to watch over us," Ginny replied. "You have to admit it was close to coming."

Ron was silent for a moment and then shuddered in realization. Simba didn't talk though; his mind had realized something that he hadn't. He was going back to London. He was going back to Hogwarts. He was going back to Harry!

"So you excited about going back?" Ron asked Simba as they gathered up all of the stuff into the trunks. Simba was handy in that as he was able to bring stuff in his mouth when Ron would drop something. This was an act that occurred more than one—something that greatly amused Bill when he saw it.

"Here squirt," he said after Ron tripped over two of his schoolbooks and a roll of parchment. "Let me do that."

With a flick of his wand, all of Ron's things were packed neatly in his trunk. Ron was still lying on the ground, from where he tripped.

"Wicked," Simba grinned. He'd been picking up a few words and phrases from Ron.

"Yeah, laugh it up," Ron (mistakenly) thought Simba was referring to his little spill. Simba didn't correct him. After everyone was packed, Bill presented an old bag to his father.

"Don't be a stranger Bill," Mrs. Weasley told her eldest son.

"Don't worry Mum," Bill chuckled. Simba looked at the camp one last time before grabbing hold to the bag. Suddenly, the world started to spin. Before he could get used to it, Simba noticed the spinning had stopped.

"Where are we?" he asked Percy.

"France," Percy said pompously (Simba didn't even know it was possible to say the world France pompously!). "We need to grab another Portkey to get to London."

"Oh."

Simba honestly had never been more confused in his entire life. Luckily, the trip was short and soon they were back in London and facing the Leaky Cauldron.