Chapter 6

A Mark of Friendship

Sirius had set up the living room for Harry's playdate. He had put food and drinks on the table. He had brought down some of Harry's books, toys, and games that was in his room, for them to play. Ron and Hermione were coming over that after later, and Rachel would be there, a hour after them.

Harry had been looking forward to this playdate. He had never had company over his house. Harry wanted today to be perfect. He asked Sirius to cook all the foods that was most common, and to serve three different kinds of juices. They had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, popcorn, candy, chips, pizza, fruit, orange juice, apple juice, and grape juice. Harry picked out a lot of fun books to read, even though they couldn't read, but they read by the pictures. Harry brought down his favorite toys and games, and was sure that they all would have a wonderful time.

"There ya go, Har." said Sirius, eating a bit of popcorn. "You got food, toys, games, books. Anything else you want?"

"Yeah." said Harry. "Privacy. Can you not stick around when they get here?"

"I don't know. Do you think you can make this a clean party?"

"I won't let the house get dirty."

"Good. Ms. Jackson and I will be in the kitchen if you need anything."

"Okay. And I'll keep the party in the living room."

Mrs. Weasley showed up with Ron and Hermione, during the lunch hour. Sirius and Mrs. Weasley had a quick conversation about child care, emergency numbers, and other things. Then she left with a fussy Ginny, who apparently did not want to go to the doctor.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione started the playdate having lunch. Where they had fun making faces out of the food, arraging the food by shapes and colors, and having food fights, which were started by Ron.

Sirius had just wiped up the last of the juice when the doorbell rang. Sirius open the door and revealed Rachel in a dazzling short red dress. It had a split at the side that went up to her thigh and it was low cut revealing little breast. She was wearing matching hooped earrings and had clip on nails that was tastefully designed, by an expert. She smiled while Sirius stared.

"Hello, Sirius." when Sirius continued to stare, she added. "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

"Er...right." he stepped back and welcome her into his home.

"You have a lovely home." she said, looking around. "Hello, guys." she said when she noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who were all running around in circles shouting nonsense.

They all stopped, muttered a shy 'hello', and continued to run around. Sirius and Rachel went into the kitchen, where tea was waiting to be drunk.

"What do you wanna play now?" Harry asked, after they all had tired themselves out.

"Actually, I'm hot." said Hermione. "Want to read a book?"

She moved over to the couch, picked up a skinny book with a blue cover, and sat down. The book had a cartoon drawing of a skinny man on top of a tall mountain, who's peak was covered with snow.

"Oh. I know this book." she said. "I have it at home."

"What a surprise." Ron said sarcastically, taking a seat next to her.

"You can read it to us if you like." Harry said, sitting next to Ron. "It's my favorite story. It's called Jimmy John Climbs a Mountain."

"Okay." she replied opening the book. "I know this one by heart." she then began to read.

One summer day, Jimmy John and his friends decided to climb a mountain.

They packed what they needed, food, flashlights, and water fountains.

They packed tents, compasses, and even a boat.

Jimmy John even packed his winter coat.

Jimmy John about to climb

But his friends backed out. "It was a waste of time."

Jimmy John climbed alone.

Oh how he wished he was at home.

When Jimmy John reached the peak,

He fell fastly asleep.

When Jimmy John reached home on the pave,

they said that he was brave.

Jimmy John said with a moan.

"Next time he go up the mountain, he won't go alone."

"The end."

"Wish I could climb a mountain." Ron said, when Hermione closed the book. "Books have all the adventures."

"That's it!" blurted out Harry.

"What d'you mean?"

"We can climb a mountain." when Ron gave him a confused look, he continued. "Haven't you notice the big ole mountain sticking out the middle of the city?"

"That's Murder Mountain." Hermione explained. "It's rumored to be the dangerous mountain in the world. That's where it got it's name. Anyone who ventures up there is bound to die. There isn't a single soul who didn't die on that mountain. And if they reach the top, they never lived to tell the tale."

"Yeah." said Harry. "That's the mountain we're gonna climb tonight."

"Harry, didn't you here what I just said?"

"I'll be the leader." Harry said, ignoring Hermione. "Ron you can be the side kick."

Harry knew that Hermione didn't like being left behind. He knew that she would tag along and there was nothing she could say to change his mind.

"Who can I be?" she said.

"Little know-it-all."

Later that night, Harry, Hermione, and Ron laid wide awake, pondering over the adventure they would have that night. Sirius had always warned Harry to go anywhere by himself, and he felt bad about disobeying him.

"Hey, Ron." spoke Hermione's voice. "Yesterday you told us that your parents were divorced. Can you tell me exactly what happened?"

Harry could tell that Ron was pondering over this answer. At first, Harry thought that he would have told Hermione none of her business, but he opened his mouth to speak.

"I guess it had do something about how much money my family recieved." he began. He then hesitated and finally said, "You see, we're poor."

Harry knew that poor meant to have very little or no money. Sirius wasn't poor, but they were doing okay. Then there were people like the Malfoys, who were rich snobs.

"There wasn't enough money, food, and space for seven of us." Ron continued. "So my mother decided to split us up. My older brothers Fred and George went to my dad, who worked at the Ministry of Magic in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts. He was receiving a fair bit of money, but not enough to support all of us. Percy, Bill, and Charlie went to Canada to live with my Grandma. She's an administrative assistant and made a fair bit of money too. My mom took me and Ginny, and the ministry of magic agreed to help her out with money until she found a job. Once a month they would give her a check to pay for food and other supplies, and my dad still paid child support."

"What's that?" asked Harry.

"That's when a parent pays money toward his children." said Hermione. "They still love each other don't they?"

"Oh, sure." answered Ron. "Dad check on us all the time, but. . . sometimes I wonder if my family will ever get back together."

"They will." Harry encouraged softly.

"How do you know?"

Harry turned to face Ron. "Because things have a way to work out. Just because your family's not here physically with you don't mean they're gone. Your family's never gone no matter how far away they go. They live here," he motioned towards his heart. "in your heart."

There was a moment of silence then Hermione spoke in a soft whisper. "We'll always be friends, won't we?" he voice sounded as if she was about to cry. "No matter what happens and how far we go?"

"Of course." said Harry. "Y'know I never had a friend other than Sirius before."

"Me neither." said Hermione.

"I'm glad I met you guys." said Ron.

And they all, one by one, drifted of to sleep.

Awwwwwwwwww. Aren't they the sweetest? I think I'm gonna cry. Read and review please. And those who like Snape, check out my new fanfic Living in a School. I need some tissue. And maybe a hug.