Chapter 21 Promises

Within the next couple of weeks, Harry was able to get up out of bed, but he was still pretty weak. Hermione and Ron aided him when he walked at certain points, but for the most part, he was able to get around on his own.

"You really do seem to be doing much better, Harry," Hermione pointed out when they sat in the common room. Harry had a book open on his lap, and was reading intently.

Harry smiled at her, and encouraged her to join him, accepting a kiss once she sat on his lap.

"Is it any good?" She asked, noticing the book he was reading: FAMOUS QUIDDITCH PLAYS. He nodded.

"Pretty good. Some of these I think we can use for next year-they aren't too complicated."

Ron then entered the room with a surprise guest. "Look who's here," He announced, revealing Lavender who was smiling from ear to ear. "Mum brought her just a little while ago. Dumbledore said it was all right and she's spending the last week of the summer at Hogwarts with us."

Lavender waved. "Hullo Harry and Hermione."

Hermione hopped up from Harry's lap and enveloped her girlfriend in a tight hug. "You look great," She complimented. Harry covered his nose with the tissue and sneezed again, grumbling something inaudible under his breath.

"I heard you were really sick, Harry." Lavender announced, wrapping her arm around Ron's waist as the two of them went to sit down in an empty chair.

"Uh huh." He sniffed and sneezed yet again, much to the frustration of Hermione.

"Do you still have a cold?" Lavender asked with concern.

"A little bit," he replied. "But it's mostly just leftover sniffles. I'm getting a lot better." he tightened his hug on Hermione, squeezing her hands.

Ron leaned his chin on top of Lavender's head. "It was really scary for a while," he admitted.

Hermione nodded. "Yeah-I'll think about that." She gave Harry another kiss.

"Hey-it's a great day outside-why don't we go and sit in the sun?" Lavender suggested. "It's too gloomy inside and I'd like to enjoy what's left of my summer vacation."

Hermione looked at Harry. "We should ask the nurse first if you're able to go outdoors right now, especially with your allergies."

"We'll go ask her. But I could definitely use some fresh air," Harry admitted and followed Hermione to the hospital wing. The nurse shook her head with a sigh when they approached her.

"You sound very stuffed up, Mr. Potter."

"I'm all right, really," he insisted, and the nurse gave him a curious glance.

"Ah-I see. Well, Harry-how do you feel about going outside? You are allergic to pollen and dust, remember."

Harry knew that, but he hated being cooped up inside while his friends were enjoying the warm sunshine. "I'll be all right. I'll take my inhaler with me if I need it out there."

She nodded. "Very well then. Just take good care of him-here-wrap this around your shoulders in case you get cold." Madame Pomfrey handed Harry a fleese blanket, which caused Ron to snigger.

"A fleese blanket? It's 78 degrees out there!"

"Just in case." The nurse explained. "Go on now."

Harry felt as though he had been reborn when he stepped outdoors for the first time since arriving in Diagon Alley. The group decided to go and hang out by the lake and sat on the bank, gazing ahead at the sparkling water. The giant squid poked it's enormous tentacles through the surface every so often but meant no harm. Soon all four friends were lying in a circular pattern, with their heads touching. "It feels so odd to be here before anyone else," said Lavender, smiling as she gazed up at the fluffy white clouds that passed overhead.

"I like it," said Hermione. "I'm glad we were able to help you, Harry."

"I'm very lucky to have friends like you two," Harry told her, sniffling a little; he could feel the affect of the pollen.

"So what did you do this summer, Lavender?" asked Hermione. "Well-my parents and I went to the seashore for a week and visited some relatives in Devon-my Aunt and Uncle. My cousin just turned eleven today and she got her letter to Hogwarts," Lavender replied proudly. Lavender's father was a wizard but her mother was a Muggle and everyone on her father's side had magical blood in them.

"What's her name?" Hermione inquired, and Lavender looked at her.

"Jessica Brown."

"Congratulations," Said Harry. Hermione then turned over on her stomach and stroked Harry's messy black hair. "I'm so glad you're feeling better-I know I've told you that a hundred times, but I really am." She told him. He smiled softly, feeling very tempted to fall asleep at the moment.

"Since this happened," Lavender began with a grunt as she sat up and leaned against Ron. "I say we make a pact from now on, right here and right now. That we'll always be there for each other when anything happens-good or bad." She looked at Hermione with a grin.

Hermione nodded and placed her hand on the grass. "It's a pact." She replied, and Ron, Harry and Lavender placed their hands on top of hers.

"That means, Harry, that if you feel the least bit sick that you tell one of us," said Hermione. "Don't try to hide it like you did before. You saw where that got you."

Harry shuddered. "I promise I'll tell you." He insisted.

"All for one and one for all," laughed Ron, tackling his girlfriend in a playful tickling session.

"Noooooooo!" Lavender squealed, curling into a little ball, trying to escape his wrath. Hermione looked at Harry and pulled her wand out of her pocket and tried very hard not to laugh as she muttered "Narico."

Everybody gasped-in Ron's place was now a toad, and Lavender burst into laughter, slapping fives with Hermione.

"Hermione!" Harry cried. "Turn him back!"

"Hey-we're in school and can use magic to our advantage," Hermione giggled. "I promise I'll turn him back, but I kind of like him this way for the moment."

RIBBIT. That was too much-Harry burst out laughing and finally Hermione turned Ron back into himself, revealing a very angry red head. "NEVER," He began, "Do that AGAIN."

"Can't you take a joke, Ron?" Hermione sniggered.

"Obviously not," giggled Lavender. "Oh come on, Ron-it really was funny-you have to admit that."

Ron scowled. "Funny for you maybe. Shut up, Harry!" He snapped at his friend who was still laughing. Suddenly they all heard the sound of barking and turned to see Sirius bounding towards them. He had taken the form of the black dog Harry had thought was a bad omen during his third year at Hogwarts, and he stood wagging his tale at them.

"Hi Sirius." Said Hermione, giggling when the dog turned into a man.

"Wondering what happened to you kids."

"Darn-I was hoping to play fetch with you!" Ron teased.

"Do you want to? I'll bet I'll be good at it." Sirius joked back.

Harry watched with amazement as his godfather returned to his dog form, and Ron hurried to find a stick. Hermione shook her head with a roll of her eyes as the game started, and she and Harry watched Sirius run back and forth. "Here Harry-you try it," Ron suggested, handing Harry the stick.

"I don't know about this," Harry hesitated, but his friends encouraged him to go on with it. Harry managed to throw the stick a good fifty feet away, and the black dog stood watching where it had landed, whimpering slightly as he trotted off to go and retrieve it.

"You should think about baseball," Hermione joked. "You have some arm!"

Harry shrugged. "It was nothing." Sirius trotted back and dropped the stick on the ground and once again changed back into the form of a man, panting.

"Good grief, Harry-that was some throw!"

"You got your exercise," Hermione laughed as Sirius sat down panting.

"No kidding."

"Hey-it's getting close to lunchtime-I'm starving," said Ron standing up. "Let's head inside for a while."

"Okay." Harry agreed-he was starting to feel tired again anyway, and wanted to fall into bed and go back to sleep for a while. He told Sirius this, who looked a little worried but didn't fuss as he used to. He probably chose to hold back with the warning look his godson gave him and he followed the teenagers into the castle.

END PART I