-- ::insert witty disclaimer stating non-ownership of Lady Rowling's HP universe:: --

a/n: hey y'all XD. Sphinxgurl, Aufera, Spots on a Pony, and Lady of the Dark thanks so much for reviewing!! I wasn't really expecting to get any responses to my fic, and y'all reviewing with such nice things to say really made my day.

Sorry for taking so long to get this chapter out… and for it being so short… Real life has caught up with me and I'm insanely busy - school, internship, finding a job and an apartment for after graduation... ::sigh::

I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I will hopefully find time to post another sooner rather than later.

Chapter 3

Later that day, Harry wandered slowly back to the Gryffindor common room via the longest route he could remember. He had finished brewing the switching potion just minutes earlier, and the possible consequences of taking it were swirling chaotically through his mind.

He knew that if things were going to go smoothly, he would need to brief Ron on proper behavior while at his home… he only hoped the stubborn boy would listen and heed his advice. He didn't want his first friend to be hurt because he made some stupid mistake.

Another worry that had recently sprung into his consciousness was the fact that he would be going home with Ron's family. That idea scared him… He had never met Mr. or Mrs. Weasley, Ron's younger sister Ginny, or his older brothers Charlie and Bill. Yes, he had heard stories, but the only Weasley's he was familiar with were Ron, the Twins, and Percy. He had no idea how to behave around them. No idea how to behave like a son or a brother!

They were Ron's family… and while he appreciated the presents Mrs. Weasley had sent him for Christmas, he was uncomfortable with the idea of intruding into their lives. He would be seeing a very personal glimpse into the Life of one Ronald Weasley. What he wouldn't give to really be a part of a family, loved and taken care of…

He sighed… he needed to stop panicking about what was to come. He knew he could handle anything sent his way. Hadn't he beaten a possessed professor and the spirit of his parent's murderer? He could face his best friend's family. That was what he would keep repeating in his head… if he told himself he could succeed enough times, he would. He had to.

He knew after talking to Ron, that the other boy saw this whole thing as an adventure, a chance to prank his family and basically the whole school. Showing up his brothers and getting a free and happy couple of days as the famous Boy-Who-Lived. His mind was that of a carefree child. Harry understood that while it was true they'd be pranking everyone, the consequences of this could be drastic.

The words "Password Please Mr. Potter," broke him out of his musings. He realized he had finally reached the common room… he must have been deeper in his mind than he had realized.

Looking up at the Lady he said the password, and the door swung to allow him access to the land of Red and Gold. He was a Gryffindor, sod it all… he could do this! He would just have to dredge up every last ounce of courage he had in his body. Maybe he should have let the hat put him into Slytherin; he wouldn't be having this problem if he were truly cunning or ambitious.

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It was the morning of doom, the morning when Harry and Ron would switch lives… Harry woke up groggily long before the sun broke the horizon. He wanted to finish packing all of his things before his dorm mates awoke. He put his books, his potions supplies, the presents he had received at Christmas, and the offerings he had amassed while he was in the hospital wing into his beat-up old trunk.

He was very worried about his invisibility cloak and his wand… the boys would be transporting each others possessions, and Harry felt distinctly uncomfortable with the idea that the only things he owned would be out of his reach.

When he finished packing, he looked over at Ron's bed and then crept over to wake the snoring boy.

"Five more minutes mum" Ron groggily mumbled at Harry's shaking.

Harry rolled his eyes, smiling, after a year of living together; he knew that Ron could sleep though anything.

He stopped suddenly and hit his head against the bed post. Could things get any worse? Aunt Petunia wouldn't be happy with Ron/Harry's behavior in the least. Harry would just have to stress the point that Ron needed to be on his guard and wake up no matter what. That would be the first thing he would tell the other boy during their "training" after breakfast.

Finally Ron woke up and groggily looked up at Harry.

"Morning, mate."

Harry shushed him and quietly asked if he had finished packing up all of his stuff. Ron responded in with a positive nod, and Harry made a split second decision.

He handed Ron the Switching Potion and told him that they would take it on the count of three.

In his brain were running all of the possible scenarios of how to keep Ron from spending any extra time with the Dursleys... If the potion only lasted for 3 days, and this was the day before the train would take them home, they would switch back during the early morning hours of vacation day #2. Ron would not be subjected to a second morning of Aunt Petunia and her strict schedule of chores.

It was hard to predict what his family's reactions would be to having him back at their home… he knew they would be horrible, but he didn't know if they would continue to ignore him as they had done before he left for school, or if they would be back to their "Go to your Cupboard and no meals" attitude. Harry didn't even know if he would be living in Dudley's second bedroom or not. There were so many unknowns he felt nauseous.

Only a second into his musings and he felt something shift. All of a sudden he was the one sitting on the bed. He opened "his" eyes and was shocked at the clarity of his vision. As he looked around, the first thing he noticed was his body standing next to him grinning in delight.