Chapter 14: Sneaking Out
"Hurry." Harry whispered at 4 in the morning.
"Do you have the letter?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah." Harry told her.
The Golden Group was going out for the day under one of the transfiguration spells they found. Harry was using his metamorphmagi powers. He was going as a brown haired boy with blue-green eyes. Ginny now had black hair and green eyes (her choice), and Ron and Hermione both had blond hair
"How does this sound?" Harry asked. "Dear Everyone, gone to explore the extremely huge backyard. Don't worry about us. We'll be back later. Don't bother calling us for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We have picnics. Be back soon. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny."
"Good enough." Ginny said placing it on the dinning room table.
"Got the food." Ron said carrying three picnic baskets.
"Great. Now Trixy won't have to lie." Harry said.
The group went out of the house to the backyard. When they got to the wooded area, they placed the baskets down so the animals can enjoy. They were going to eat out in Diagon Alley.
"Ready?" Harry asked as Hermione pulled out a shoe.
"Ready." They said. "Portus."
The Golden Group felt the familiar tugs as they disappeared.
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The crew reappeared just outside the Leaky Cauldron.
"THAT'S why we're out at four in the morning." Ron said looking around. "Nobody's up."
"Exactly." Harry replied. "C'mon."
"Well," Tom said as they entered. "Aren't WE up early?"
"Morning Tom." They greeted.
"Some fire whiskey." Harry said giving Tom more than enough Galleons
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The gang was walking along the street, but Harry stopped. He took off his cloak and walked back toward a homeless man.
"Here." He told the man handing him the cloak. "I have plenty at home."
"Thank you." The man repeated in shock putting on the cloak.
Harry walked back to his friends and passed them as they starred at him and then to the homeless guy.
"Wait up!" they called to him.
"Why did you do that?" Ron asked.
"He was cold." Harry told him. "And I have plenty of cloaks at home."
"I wonder if he would have taken it if he knew who you were." Ginny said.
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Later that afternoon,
"This has been the best day ever." Harry said as they were gathered at an ice cream parlor. "A day with my closest friends on the town."
"Don't you mean alley?" Ron teased.
"Whatever." Harry said sipping his shake. "The point is, were just being normal teenagers."
"Slimy git at noon." Ginny said looking behind Hermione.
"Snape?" Ron asked.
"No." Harry said to Ginny as he looked. "Slimy Git is Snape. Ferret boy is Malfoy."
Everyone laughed at that.
"One of us should have been a ferret." Ginny laughed as the Malfoys went into the book shop.
"Eh hem." Harry cleared his throat
"Oh yeah." Ginny remembered. "I keep forgetting"
"Hey guys." Harry said. "I've been thinking. Should we allow Neville and Luna in our group?"
Silence
"Why?" Ron asked.
"Because, think of the prophesy." Harry said. "born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... Neville's birthday is the day before mine according to Mum. AND his parents were in the Order."
"I think it would help him. If we accepted him as one of us, then…he'd probably be a lot better." Hermione agreed
"And Luna helped us last June." Harry added.
"All in favor?" Ginny asked.
Harry raised his hand. Ginny followed. Then Hermione. Then Ron.
"It's official." Harry said. "When school starts, we'll help Neville and Luna catch up to us."
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That evening,
"Uh. Harry?" Ginny asked looking at all of their shopping bags. "How are we going to get these past the adults?"
Harry waved his arm and prayed it worked.
The bags shrunk to pocket size.
"Thanks." Hermione said
They snuck into an alley.
"Ready?" Harry asked pulling out a copy of the Prophet.
"Ready." They answered.
"Portus."
The kids were gone and found themselves back in the Potter's backyard.
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"So." James said. "How was it?"
"Fun." Harry told his father. "It's very…wooded."
"He's starting to sound like you." Lily told her husband.
"When I'm hiding something" James added as he recognized the tone.
"Now what can I hide from you two?" Harry asked.
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That night,
The Golden Group was in the Training Room. Harry had his glasses off to the side. He only wore them when adults were around.
"It's been about a month." Hermione said.
"Time to become animagi." Ron added.
"Let's do this." Harry said.
POP
A coyote, an owl, a cat, and a phoenix were standing in the room.
POP
"WE DID IT!" they cheered.
KNOCK KNOCK
"Come in." Harry said putting his glasses back on
"Kids." Lily said entering. "It's time for bed."
"Yes Ma'am." They said.
TBC