Thanks for the reviews! I'll go back at some point and edit a little deeper to get rid of those mistypes. Keep in mind that it's been over 3 years since I wrote this! I'm trying to edit more before I post though. I'd like to think that my grammar and spelling has improved since I was in high school ). Anyway, on with the story.
Over the next three weeks, Harry tried his hardest to forget about his prophecy and his nightmares of Sirius, and enjoy the remainder of the summer. The day after their trip to Diagon Alley, he discovered that Kreacher, the Black family house elf, had mysteriously vanished. Hermione seemed to feel sorry for him, but Ron and Harry couldn't care less where he went; in their opinion he was no loss. The house was again falling into disrepair, being uninhabited for most of the summer. The Order had avoided the house for several months after Sirius' death. Harry, Ron, and Hermione could often be found cleaning out a spare room or making minor repairs.
The Sunday before they were due back at Hogwarts, Mrs. Weasley decided to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny a party (Ginny had been made a prefect). She invited all of the usual members of the Order along with Hermione's parents. She was preparing for the party all day; just as she was setting up two long wooden tables in the backyard, she yelled,
"Harry! Ron! Hurry up with the silverware!" Harry and Ron came out the back door seconds later, clutching handfuls of cutlery, looking grumpy because their game of wizard chess had been interrupted.
"Jeeze mum, keep your hair on! I bet the whole city heard you!" said an annoyed Ron.
"Well I wouldn't have to yell if you boys would just do what you're told," she said, waving her wand and conjuring up a checkered tablecloth. Then she flicked it and the silverware shot out of their hands and arranged itself neatly on the table.
"Nice touch mum!" came Ginny's voice from behind Harry. She and Hermione were each carrying a stack of plates from the kitchen. They set them on the table.
"Anything else we can do?" Hermione asked.
"No dear, I'll have the twins set up chairs. You just relax a bit," she replied, now stringing up small rainbow paper lanterns in the trees. Ginny turned to the others.
"I'm bored now. Wanna play Quidditch?" Harry gave her a skeptical look.
"Won't the muggles see us? They're right next door."
"Oh, don't worry about them. They backyard is protected as well as the house, so they can't even see us right now," Ron explained. "C'mon, we'll play two on two; me and Ginny versus you and Hermione."
"Sounds fair to me. Come on, let's get our brooms," Harry said. He and Ron ran up to their room and grabbed their brooms. A thought entered Harry's mind.
"Ron, does Hermione have a broom?"
"She can use my old one," Ron replied. "I brought it because I thought you'd want to play Quidditch sometime." He handed Harry the old broomstick and they went back outside. They saw Ginny and Hermione waiting for them in an open clearing with trees on either side.
"Here Hermione, you can use Ron's old broom," Harry said, handing it to her. She took it with an anxious look on her face. Ron was discussing their strategy with Ginny. "So, what's the game plan?" Harry asked Hermione.
"Harry," she said in an undertone, "I can't fly! You know that! I never learned how, thanks to you and Malfoy, interrupting our flying class!"
"Don't worry," he said laughing, remembering the incident which earned him the seeker position on Gryffindor's team. "There's really nothing to it!"
"But I'm deathly afraid of heights. I almost died when we rode on Buckbeak that one time, remember? She hissed. Harry thought for a moment. Then an idea popped into his head.
"Hey Ron, how about we just play some other time. I just remembered that I haven't packed yet," he said. "I'd like to get that done before the party."
"Oh yeah, me too!" Ginny said, smacking her forehead. "I have to get my stuff together so I won't forget something tomorrow. Come on Ron, you'd better pack too, or Mum'll have a fit!" She hurried away with Ron close behind. Hermione whispered
"Thanks!" She made to go back to the house but Harry grabbed her arm to stop her. "What?" she asked.
"You're not getting off that easy. Meet me right here after everyone's gone to bed. I'm going to teach you how to fly," he said.
"But-"Hermione started, and then fell silent when she saw the excided look on his face. "Fine. I'll be here," she said grudgingly.
"You better not stand me up," Harry said, and they walked back to the house.
Later that night, they were all sitting at the table in the backyard, talking and having fun. The packing was finished on time, for once, and the atmosphere was very relaxed. A large Gryffindor banner was strung between the trees, and the area was well lit from the multi-colored lanterns in the trees. Harry had just finished his homemade strawberry ice cream when he saw someone he thought he'd never see again
"PERCY! IS THAT YOU?" Mrs. Weasley shrieked.
"Mum! I'm so sorry!" he cried, as she caught him up in a hug. The whole table went silent. When Mrs. Weasley finally let go of him, he turned to the table. "Everyone," he said "I quit the Ministry. I want to apologize for being such a bloody arse the last year, especially to my family and Harry, for not believing him. Please…please forgive me." he finished, tears in his eyes. It was dead silent, but all at once, someone started clapping. It was, to Harry's surprise, Ron. Soon the whole table was clapping, and Percy looked relieved. Everybody clambered to talk to him, and no one hesitated to tell him how stupid he was, but he took it well in Harry's opinion. He looked at Hermione's parents, who looked rather confused. Hermione was explaining the situation to them. Then she caught his eye and motioned for him to come over.
"What's up?" he asked.
"Mum, Dad, this is Harry," she said.
"Nice to meet you, Harry," Hermione's mom said. She was very pretty, with the exact same hair color as Hermione, and almost the same height.
"Hello Harry," said her father, firmly shaking his hand. Hermione had his eyes; hazel with a hint of green. He wanted to talk to them more, but Mr. Weasley started bombarding them with questions about toasters, and Harry and Hermione walked a short distance away.
"So, you still on for the flying lesson?" he asked.
"I guess…" she replied doubtfully.
"Great, let's go!" Harry said, grabbing her arm and dragging her over to the clearing. He grabbed his broom, which had been leaning against a tree, and held it up. It hovered in midair.
"Right now?" Hermione hissed. "Are you crazy? You said after everyone was asleep?"
"Well…maybe I am a bit loony," Harry said, grinning. "Come on, get on." Hermione swung her leg over the broomstick and Harry got on behind her. He pulled his folded up invisibility cloak out of his pocket and threw it over them. "Now don't get nervous, I'm going to push off." She held on to the broom and Harry put one hand on the broomstick, the other arm around her waist so she wouldn't fall off. He kicked off from the ground and immediately felt Hermione's muscles tense up. They slowly rose above the trees and buildings of London.
"Relax," Harry whispered in her ear. Her eyes were firmly shut. He rose a little bit higher and said, "Open your eyes. Don't be afraid." Harry heard her gasp.
"It's beautiful!" she sighed. They could see the whole city of London; miniscule cars and buses lined the streets, and lights flicked on and off in buildings and houses. The stars were glimmering and the moon was but a sliver. He felt her relax and he eased his hand off the broomstick.
"There, you're flying now. Just turn it whatever way you want to go." Hermione slowly turned right, and then left. Before long, she could control it well by herself. She was having so much fun that she didn't even notice she was shivering. Harry felt her shaking against him. "Hermione, you're freezing!" he said.
"Wow, I guess it is getting cold up here," she replied. "Maybe we'd better get back before we're missed."
"You're right," Harry said. He put the broom into a dive, but a slow one. They landed with a soft thump on the dewy grass. They could still hear the party going in full swing. It was much warmer on the ground, but Hermione's hands were shaking.
"Thanks Harry. That was the most fun I've had in a long time. It's like I left my worries behind on the ground!" she said, positively glowing with happiness. Harry noticed that her hands were cold, hesitated, and then took them in his own.
"Me too," he whispered.
"Harry! Hermione! Where are you?" came Ron's voice from the table. He let go of her hands, and he felt his face getting hot.
"Coming!" they yelled, and went back to the party.