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Harry Potter and The Last Journey

Chapter 3—The Burrow

When Harry opened his eyes, he was standing in front of one of his favorite places: the Burrow. Harry, Ron and Hermione made there way up the yard to the front door and Ron knocked on the door, "Mum, it's us."

"Are you sure? Answer the question," came a voice from behind the door.

"Aww, mum," Ron complained looking embarrassed.

"What question?" Harry asked.

"We have to answer a question to get into the house, in case someone is impersonating us," Ron explained.

"Oh yeah I remember," Harry said.

"What's no the wall next to the stove?" the voice asked.

Ron sighed, "The family clock that shows where everyone is." He answered referring to the clock that had all nine Weasley's names on hands pointing to where they currently were.

With that said the door was open. As soon as Harry stepped through the door, he was grabbed into a crushing hug.

"Oh Harry! It's wonderful to see you. Happy Birthday!" Mrs. Weasley said with a bright smile.

Harry blushed, unused to the affection, "Thanks."

"Look at you, your all skin and bones, I'll get you something to eat," she said, when in fact Harry had been eating better than he ever had at the Dursley's.

Ron quirked an eyebrow at his mother and then looked inquiringly at him, "The way she goes on, it's as if I don't exist."

"Don't be silly Ron," Mrs. Weasley said, flicking her wand at the stove, where eggs and sausages started cooking, "I saw you."

"Right," Ron said dryly and took a plate of eggs and sausages and started to eat.

"So, how was your stay?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Better than the rest," Harry replied buttering his toast.

"You wouldn't believe it mum, Ron said though a mouth full of eggs, "the way they treated us," he swallowed, "It was like we had some sort of disease or something."

"Really?" Mrs. Weasley asked looking to Hermione for proof.

"Hermione nodded, "I was hoping that Harry was exaggerating about them, but I was wrong, they're horrible."

"At least I didn't have to do chores," Harry laughed.

"Ron grinned, "Yeah, but they were too scared to come near us to make you." They all laughed at that.

After having 3 helpings Harry had had enough and had to turn down the 4th. Harry, Ron and Hermione shared what they did while they stayed at the Dursley's, leaving out the hours of studying from numerous books. After a while Harry grew tired. At the sight of Harry's half concealed yawn, Mrs. Weasley ushered them all to bed.

Later on that morning the trio were back down stairs eating yet another breakfast, but Ron didn't complain. They were repeating yet again their less than quiet stay at the Dursleys with Mr. Weasley, Bill and Fleur, Charlie and the twins present. The Weasley's gave presents to Harry for his birthday, and Mrs. Weasley promised to bake a big cake for his coming of age. As they joked around and told the pranks they had pulled on Harry's cousin Dudley, not without a few mild scoldings from Mrs. Weasley, Harry began to fidget restlessly as time dragged down.

Harry had no idea what to say to Ginny when she came down. Was she okay? Was she mad at him for their sudden break up?

"Calm down, Harry," Hermione whispered.

"I can't help it," he whispered back.

Harry had explained to both Ron and Hermione why he had broken up with Ginny. He had thought that Ron would be furious with him for hurting his little sister, but they had both understood why he had done it. But it didn't make him feel any better.

"Come on, let's go up to my room," Ron said.

They agreed and headed up the stairs, chatting about Bill and Fleur's upcoming wedding in a couple of days, when a door on the second floor opened. Harry jerked to a stop as he came face to face with Ginny dressed in jeans and T-shirt, ready to go down to breakfast.

"Err," Harry started, he really didn't know what to say. He wasn't prepared, "Hi."

"Hi," Ginny said quietly. An extremely awkward silence filled the air as they stared at each other.

"So, how's your summer?" Harry asked and winced inwardly, he sounded like an idiot!

"Fine," was her reply.

Sensing the awkwardness between the two, Hermione piped up, "Come on Harry, I want to show you the new book I got that just came in!"

"What bo-," Ron hissed as Hermione stepped on his foot. And then tugged on Harry's arm.

"Okay, bye," Harry said lamely. Ginny nodded and headed down the stairs.

When they got to Ron's room Harry sat down and buried his face into his hands and groaned in frustration.

"That was intense," Ron commented rubbing his foot.

"I'm such an idiot!" Harry exclaimed, gripping his hair, "'How's your summer' what kind of question is that!"

"It's okay Harry," Hermione said placing a hand on his arm, "You knew it was going to be like this."

"I know, but it doesn't make it any easier," he said flatly.

"So, where's the new book you got Hermione," Ron asked looking around.

Hermione stood up and placed her hands on her hips, "There is no book Ronald! I was trying to get Harry out of there. Your so thick sometimes, God!"

"Gee, how was I supposed to know!" Ron snapped. Some of their arguments were annoying and tiring but some were just too funny to watch. They're fighting over a book. Harry thought and laughed.

"I was just trying to…" Hermione stopped and saw the glint in Ron's eyes, "You knew. You knew there was no book!"

"Of course I did. When you stepped on my foot, it was pretty clear. I'm not that stupid, " Ron said crossing his arms.

"I didn't say you were, I said 'sometimes' remember," Hermione said.

"Uh huh, right" Ron said with a grin. Then looked over at Harry who had been watching the exchange with a smile, "It worked though."

"What worked?" Hermione asked curiously.

Ron through his arms up in the air in mock victory, "I made Harry laugh HA HA HA," then gave Harry a goofy smile and Harry couldn't help but laugh.

"Thanks Ron," Harry said with a smirk.

"No problem," Ron sat down next to Harry on the bed, "Your one of those people who shouldn't be sad. I don't like it."

"Me neither, but Harry has every right to be upset," Hermione put in.

"Angry more like," Harry commented.

After a moment of silence Ron asked quietly, "When are we leaving?"

"After the wedding I suppose," Hermione said thoughtfully.

"The sooner the better. I want to get this over with," Harry said.

"True. What better way than with the distraction of the wedding," Ron said simply, "Mum won't be happy though if we just up an disappear."

"Happy?" Harry asked, "She'll probably be absolutely furious and worried. I'd hate to do that to her. Especially after everything she's done for me, but I have to do this."

"We'll leave a note," Hermione said, "So she won't worry as much. Or at least know that we weren't kidnapped or something."

"I don't know. She'll probably worry anyways," Ron commented, "How are we going to find the first Horcrux anyways?"

"Well thanks to the spell Hermione found and my ability to sense when Voldemort in near me, it should be easy," Harry stated.

"And the spell does what again?" Ron asked.

Harry sighed, "How many times have we been over this?"

"I know, I know. Just say it again. I wasn't to make sure it sticks," Ron said.

"How do you know it will stick?" Hermione questioned apparently amused.

"I know that you can't apperate and disapperate in and out of Hogwarts," Ron said simply.

"You remembered!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Of course. Say it enough times I'll remember it," Ron said tapping the side of his head, "So how does it work again?"

Harry laughed "Okay!" Ron turned towards him and listened intently, careful not to miss anything. "The spell is a Heightening charm, it heightens your senses. Because of my connection to Voldemort and the spell I should know where the Horcruxes are by sensing them."

"So why are we doing the spell every night when we haven't started looking for them?" Ron asked.

"Overtime the spell won't be needed, Harry will be able to sense them by himself," Hermione said sitting down on the bed across from theirs.

"It will also help me sense Voldemort when I fight him, I've seen how quick he moves. Trust me I'm going to need it," Harry said quietly.

"You'll do fine," Hermione said quickly seeing Harry's disease. Harry nodded.

"So why do me and Hermione have to do it?" asked Ron.

"Well it will help you too. Not with Voldemort, but other things. To sense danger for instance and we'll be in dangerous situation out there, so better to be prepared ahead of time," Harry explained.

"Okay got it," Ron said deep in thought.

"Did it stick?" Hermione asked dryly.

"HA HA" Ron said flatly while Harry laughed.