A/N: Hey again! Here's the second installment of the story. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

House Cleaning!

Harry woke with a start there was sunlight streaming through the window and Ron was gone. Ginny was sitting on Ron's bed poking him. "I'm up," he said sleepily, "you can stop. What do you need?"

"First," she replied, still poking him, "You can take this bloody compulsion my wonderful brother put on me, it's getting really annoying, and my finger is getting tired." Harry grabbed his wand of the desk next to him and waved it at her. She sighed and rubbed her finger. "Thanks Harry, that was mean of Ron. Why was Hermione so late to bed last night hmmm?"

"We were talking, why don't you ask her?" he responded, feeling a little aggravated.

"I did, but she just looked at me funny, and sighed, saying that she was just tired," Ginny said, and with a stare, left the room.

Down in the kitchen, Mrs. Weasley was bustling around, making breakfast. Harry asked what he could do.

"Don't worry dear, I can manage," she said, as Harry ducked a spatula and frying pan that flew through the air. "Here, take this up to the drawing room. Ron and Hermione haven't gotten anything either, and they could use some help cleaning. You'd think that room would be done, but there is no end to the secrets in this place."

"Secrets?" Harry asked, clearly confused.

"Rooms, compartments, closets," she answered, "Just the other day, we found a dormant picture of Regulus Black."

Taking two breakfast trays, one for Hermione and himself, and one for Ron, he went up the stairs, quietly passing the portrait of Mrs. Black. They had managed to keep the curtains closed for a short while, but the charm had to be renewed once a week and no-one could keep up. Opening the door with his foot, he entered the drawing room. "Breakfast," he said, noticing Hermione standing by the tapestry and Ron missing. Ron came hurtling out of the seemingly solid back wall.

"Hey Harry," the redhead said, "What do you have for us?"

"Eggs, bacon, toast, one for the human stomach and one for Hermione and me," Harry responded.

"Funny," Ron growled, his mouth already full of toast. Harry noticed the front of his hair was blackened, and soot was all over his face.

"What is going on in there?" he asked, stifling a laugh.

"Found a rogue pack of exploding snap cards in a wardrobe, along with some other dangerous artifacts. Cursed knife, necklace, and a few strange boxes inhabit the drawers," Ron said. "Dealt with the easy stuff, sent it to dad, but the deck of cards is a nasty one. One of the cards nearly set my hair on fire."

"And you Hermione?" Harry asked, turning to her.

"I've been attempting to get that damn tapestry from the wall, or at least change its color. No charm, hex, transfiguration or spell I know is working," she said.

"Sure you'll figure something out, you are the smartest witch of the last century, aren't you?" Harry teased. "I'll help Ron; it sounds like he needs it more."

"Ron, where are you?" Hermione said. They heard an explosion, muffled curses, and then a louder explosion, and Ron flew out of the wall, hair burning. Twisting in mid-air, he cast a cushioning charm on the wall.

"Hello there," Ron said, standing from the floor and putting his hair out, "damn thing got me."

"Nice charm Ron," Harry said, following his friend into the room. He had to duck as a card flew at his head.

"What did I tell you?" Ron chortled, as Harry rose from his crouch, wand in hand, "murderous."

Cards started to fly at them, and Harry and Ron ducked, jumped, and dodged the cards. Harry blasted the drawer holding the deck, and the cards splayed onto the ground. "Harry…" Ron said warily.

"GO!" Harry yelled, as he flew through the wall, erecting his shields. An explosion met their ears as they saw about 40 cards hit his shield. He winced as he saw the damage to the house.

Hermione was standing by the tapestry again, and said without turning, "Did you let those cards loose Harry?"

"Yes Hermione," he said, "I realized they were acting individually, but not as they escaped. So I didn't know they would all go at once. She turned and saw the hole in the wall.

"Oh, of course," she said. She took a step backwards and yelled "REDUCTO." The wall exploded, and she stepped into the hole that had been made. She then aimed he wand at the wall behind the tapestry and it too exploded. When the dust cleared, the tapestry was hanging in mid-air attached to a series of planks and wallpaper. Hermione put a softening charm on the planks and rolled it up.

"I guess Tonks will just have to deal with the planks," Harry said. "That was bloody brilliant, Hermione."

"Thanks," she said, as she repaired the wall with a wave of her wand.

Ron went back to the room with the wardrobe and continued to empty the wardrobe. "Harry, Hermione, the headmaster would like to see you," a voice said from downstairs.

"Ron, we're going to talk to Dumbledore," Hermione said, "it shouldn't take long."

They heard a muffled "Okay" and another explosion accompanied by a string of profanities and a BANG! Chuckling, they went downstairs and into the kitchen, where the Headmaster was sitting at the table, talking with Mrs. Weasley.

"Harry, Hermione, how are you two? Thank you Molly" he added, as a plate of toast and eggs appeared in front of him.

"Fine Professor," Harry said, and he nodded to Hermione. She unrolled the tapestry onto the table and Dumbledore's mouth fell open.

"Even my most powerful charms and spells could not remove this. How did you do it?" asked Dumbledore, clearly stunned.

"I blew up the wall around it, and cast a softening charm on the plywood so that it would roll up easier. Tonks will just have to deal with the wood," Hermione responded.

"Professor," Harry said, "we had a concern to voice."

"Then by all means, Harry, speak up," Dumbledore said, "I assume it has something to do with protecting someone, and by using my amazing powers of deduction, most likely Hermione's parents?"

Hermione nodded silently. "Professor, we were just concerned about their safety. You see, Victor Krum visited Hermione in the summer after 5th year, and last summer he joined the Death eaters," Harry explained.

He looked at Hermione and she continued, "Lacking the intelligence to understand, he owled me to tell me, and he thought I would be proud, or glad. He apparently forgot that I was best friends with the Boy-Who-Lived." She smiled at Harry with the last statement.

"I see. I will have a few order members sent to your house to ensure their protection," the Headmaster responded. "By the way, Mad-eye will be here this afternoon for your defense training."

"Why today?" Harry asked.

"The recent attacks have worried me. According to our spy, Voldemort is attempting to create bases throughout Britain. He has been targeting strategic places near Hogwarts, Grimmauld, Privet Drive, and, unfortunately, Ottery St. Catchpole," Dumbledore said.

"Has Sirius's will been found?" Hermione asked, "I know it disappeared when he died."

"No," Dumbledore said, "we believe he had a safe somewhere in the house that it was hidden in, but with so many secret rooms, we might never find it. We will keep looking, but I am…"

Suddenly, Ron burst into the kitchen, panting. "Harry, Hermione, Professor, you have to see this room!"

"What happened Ronald?" Dumbledore asked.

"Just follow me, it's amazing." Ron led them into the room where he had worked the cabinet.

"Um, where's the cabinet?" Hermione asked.

"I sent it to dad," Ron answered. "I was hoping he could fix a curse on it. But never mind that!" Ron touched a spot of green on the wall in front of them and then a spot of silver. The wall vanished and there was a door in front of them.

Harry's eyes widened. "Ok, that is definitely an important room. Show us what's in it."

"I have to show you something first," Ron said. He opened the door and stepped into the room. The door slammed shut and they heard Ron yelling, a hissing, a shouted spell, and the door opened to reveal Ron standing next to a burning snake body. "Runespoor," he said, "Dammed thing drops from the ceiling."

"Did this happen when you first entered?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, and I think there's a cage up there, but I can't see it," Ron answered.

The others went in, staring in awe at the shelves and shelves of books. "Sirius's library!" Harry said, "He had mentioned something like this in one of his letters."

"Indeed," the headmaster said, "quite an extensive collection. Some of these must be worth quite a bit."

"Yeah, but look Harry," Ron said, pointing to a shelf directly in front of them. Sitting on it was a safe.

"Ahh, it seems we have discovered the resting place of Sirius's will," Dumbledore pronounced, "But let us take care of the problem with the snakes. Hermione, if you'd please…"

"Specialis Revelio" Hermione said, revealing a cage of Runespoors hanging in the air above their heads. "We should send those to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."

Dumbledore waved his wand and the cage with the snakes vanished, as did the charm around the door. "There we go. Let's take a crack at that safe."

"Hang on," Ron said, "Professor, could you cast a revelation spell on the room we need to find the combination." The Headmaster waved his wand in a wide circle, and the room shimmered. A large golden book appeared on a high shelf.

"Accio," Harry said, pointing at it. It didn't budge. "I believe it must be lifted by hand," Dumbledore said.

Ron turned to Hermione. "You're lightest."

Hermione turned white and said, "Alright, but Harry lifts." Harry flicked his wand and she started to rise. "Stop," Hermione said, and he held her steady.

"I wonder what's in there," Ron asked.

"It could be anything," Harry answered.

"Harry?" Hermione said. His wand arm dropped as he looked up and she flew downwards. "Harry!" she exclaimed. With reflexes born of 6 years of Quidditch, he slowed her and caught her, landing on his back to take most of the damage.

"Are you OK?" Harry asked looking up at her face. "His eyes..." Hermione thought, "they are so..." She wrapped her arms around him, "Wonderful catch" she whispered, "but if you drop me again, I will hurt you."

Ron, who had gotten over his crush on Hermione in 6th year, grinned at Dumbledore and whispered something to him.

The Headmaster nodded, also smiling, and Ron cast a conditional charm on his friends. As they tried to get up, they found themselves stuck. "Umm, Ron, help," Harry said, "this is really awkward."

"Good," their red-haired friend said, "I cast a conditional charm that says you can't get up or unstick until you, ahem, kiss."

Hermione's head snapped towards Ron and her eyes started to glow. "Yikes!" Ron exclaimed, as a bolt of white flew at him. He dashed out of the room and Hermione's wrath was directed towards Dumbledore. He too walked out, robes smoldering.

Ron stuck his head in and said "And no sissy kiss on the cheek will do it! The condition says to kiss for at least a minute!" He ducked his head out as a double bolt hit the door.

They sealed the door and turned back. "Childish, stupid, dumbarse," Hermione growled, "he is so going to pay. He'll be vomiting slugs for...Mmph." Harry had moved his lips to hers, carefully keeping his mouth closed. Her eyes widened and so did his. After a minute, Harry broke off, and pushed her up. Oddly, they were both flushed and breathing heavily.

"Let's go curse Ron," Harry said. Hermione turned red and marched over to the door. Harry heard shouting and a yelp. She walked back in, Ron and Dumbledore trailing with horns sprouting from the top of their head and flowers from their ears.

Harry chuckled as Ron suddenly conjured 2 buckets and slugs sprayed into them. "Let's see that book Harry," she said. She opened to the back and read aloud, "Most current combination: 7-31-80" Harry spun the dial and the safe swung open. He pulled out a thick envelope, a scroll of parchment, a book, and a ring of keys.

AUTHOR'S NOTES!!!!

Well, here it is again. Note to self, never make Hermione angry. You see the development a little here

Next Chapter: The reading of the Will and a big Surprise!!!