Previously
He smiled and hugged to book to his chest, having a strong suspicion on where these thoughts came from. He wanted his parent to be proud of him. If that meant fighting for freedom from the Dursleys then that's what he would do.
Harry really enjoyed the next few weeks at the Grangers.
The visit from the social worker has been stressful. As he recounted his treatment at the hand of the Dursleys he thought back over his resolution to escape them. The more he talked the easier it became as he truly realised how wrong they were.
The social worker who's name was Sheree, interviewed him for a little over an hour, leaving him very worn out. After the interview Sharee was confident that Harry would be removed from their care.
Despite the unpleasant experience, Harry hand Hermione had a lot of fun. They went over all their school books, Harry had to keep Hermione from memorising them and played outside. Hermione confessed that she had never had many friends her own age. The kids at her school made fun of her for being a bossy know-it-all and the local kids thought she was a snob for going to a private school. Harry could relate because all the kids at his own school had been too afraid of Dudley to dare try to be friends with him.
Another thing they spent a lot of time on was writing to Ron. Harry had sent a letter a few days after he arrived at the Grangers. The letters were a bit stilted at first but after Harry had expressed curiosity over Quidditch Ron had really opened up about his favourite sport. Hermione's response to the sport filled letters had been to shake her head and sigh "Boys." She had started writing her own letters asking about his life as a wizard, questions ranging from food preparation to communication and travel. This last question inspired the idea to meet up again.
Hermione broached the topic with her parents. "Mum you remember Ron, who we met in Diagon Alley? Well he asked us to come over to his house this weekend. He says you or Dad could come too."
"Ron? That was the boy whose sister was so taken with Harry, yes? I'll talk it over with your father and see what he says. Where does he live?"
"He lives in Ottery St Catchpole." Harry answered. "I know it's a long way fro here but Ron suggested we take the Knight Bus. It's heaps faster than muggle busses and will pick you up and drop you off anywhere."
That weekend saw Harry, Hermione and Mrs Granger on the front curb of the Grangers house.
"Harry, how are you supposed to call the bus?" Mrs Granger asked sceptically.
"Ron said just to hold out your wand." Harry did so and waited, feeling a little silly.
"I don't think…" Hermione was interrupted by a loud BANG as a bright purple double decker bus appeared and screeched to a stop right in front of them. An old woman appeared at the door of the bus and waved them inside. "Welcome to the Knight Bus transportation for the stranded witch or wizard what's your destination?" All this was said in a complete monotone as if she has said the same thing everyday for decades. From the look of her she probably had.
"We would like to visit the Burrow in Ottery St Catchpole please. That's in…" Hermione started to say but was interrupted again.
"That'll be 11, sickles, three knuts." Hermione was very taken aback by the abrupt woman, but Harry just paid her and they took a bed. Mrs Granger had barely sat down when the bus took off again, Throwing her back. They all braced themselves firmly after that.
The ride couldn't have been over quick enough for Hermione and her mother despite lasting only a few minutes. Harry, on the other hand, found it to be enjoyable. Hermione just gave him a filthy look.
The bus dropped them off in front of a ramshackle house that had to be held together with magic. As they walked up to the house Harry noticed passing through something that made a shiver go down his spine. He was about to ask Hermione if she felt it too when Ron came flying out of the house.
"Awesome! You guys made it!" He raced up and stood in front of them, grinning. "Come on lets go our the back. I want…"
"Ronald!" Mrs Weasley yelled at her son from the porch. "Have I taught you no manners? Bring all your guests inside and offer them something to drink."
Ron looked a bit sheepish as he then greeted Mrs Granger and invited them inside. The inside of the Burrow was just a cluttered and mismatched as the outside. It was also very magical. There were dished washing them selves in the sink and a clock above the mantle piece that had nine hands on it, at various places like work, home, work, prison, or mortal peril. After making sure her youngest son remembered his manners, Mr Weasley commandeered Mrs Granger in the kitchen. Ron dragged his friends out the back door looking back where the women has gone with a wary expression.
"Its scary when they go off like that. You just know they are talking about you."
"Where is the rest of your family?" Hermione asked looking the house over.
"They're all in their rooms. Ginny's hiding." Ron answered knowing what she truly wanted to know. "When she heard you were coming today she couldn't stop talking about you but Fred turned her hair blue and now she wont come out of her room." Harry was secretly relieved. "Fred and George are in their room as well so if you hear any explosions don't worry its just them. Percy's up stairs polishing his prefect badge." This last was said in disgust.
"Ron being a prefect is an honour we should all aspire too." Hermione started to lecture.
"It's not him being a prefect Hermione, Bill and Charlie were prefects too. It's just Percy. He's so smug and bossy about it. Rubbing it in everyone's faces. Its really annoying."
"Don't mind Hermione Ron." Harry reassured him. "Being a prefect has been a life long dream of hers since she know what they were." He grinned at her. "I have this strange image in my head of Hermione in nappies telling her parents all the things she was going to accomplish in life." At this he had to duck away from Hermione as she swung her had at his head.
Ron smirked. "It must have been a long list." Ron unfortunately was not fast enough to avoid her hand and it connected to his with a sharp crack.
"That will be quite enough out of you two thank you very much." She glared at them as they sniggered. "It's not a crime to have goals in life."
"Well I had a goal for today, and it was to get you two up on a broom and playing Quidditch." Ron looked gleeful. "You guys head out to the paddock and I'll go grab us some brooms."
Harry and Hermione started of to the field indicated and Ron ran to the shed, catching up to them with three broomsticks in hand.
Hermione laughed at him. "Oh my goodness you really do ride on broomsticks."
Ron gave her a queer look. "Yeah. O'course. How else are you supposed to get around? Flying carpets have been outlawed for ages."
Hermione couldn't answer for laughing so hard. Harry explained about the muggle image of witches on broomsticks.
Ron snorted. "That's dumb. Its not just witches that ride broomsticks."
"Ron its just the muggle image of witches you know." Hermione told him now that she had calmed down. "Just a stereo type."
Ron shock his head. "Barmy if you ask me. Come on lets give this a try."
Ron showed them how to activate the brooms so that they would respond to them. Harry got it immediately, the broom jumping into his hand. Hermiones just sat there.
"Try using your magic Hermione," Harry suggested. "That's what they respond to."
Hermione nodded and concentrated. Ron turned to Harry. "What do you mean magic? They respond to voice and touch."
"No it's the magic. The word or movements are just the focus for it. Magic is what guides the broom." Ron was about to answer when Hermione shouted "UP!" and the broom slammed in to her hand.
"I did it Harry! See?" She yelled happily.
"Okay now all you have to do is get on."
"You go first Harry." Hermione said.
Harry swung his leg over the handle and felt his magic moving through the broom. He pushed off gently from the ground and floated a few feet off the grass. Hermione squealed. "You're doing it, Harry!"
"Yeah, yeah. Anyone can float on a broom." Ron rolled his eyes. "But can you fly? Head to the other side of the paddock and back."
To Hermione and Ron, still standing on the ground, it seemed as if Harry just disappeared. Hearing a yell from above they looked up to see Harry racing across the field at about ten feet off the ground. They could only watch in shock as he speed across the field in a few seconds. Once he reached the other side he spun handle over end and raced back, this time upside down. Reaching them he seemed to slide to a stop and spun up right again. The pair on the ground were in shock.
"Blimey Harry. I've never seen anyone fly like that. Our old brooms shouldn't be able to go that fast."
Harry was elated. "That was great! You gotta try it Hermione! There's nothing like it!"
Hermione was a good deal more dubious about the whole thing but between the two of them Harry and Ron managed to persuade her and they spent the next few hours happily shooting around the paddock.
Inside Mrs Granger and Mrs Weasley had been talking like old friends as Mrs Weasley, ("Do call me Molly dear.") bustled around the kitchen, preparing tea and cakes. Diane was reluctant to mention anything about Harry's situation but wanted to know more about why Harry was so famous and what it meant for him.
"Well dear, its not really a topic for a pleasant Sunday morning but I can see that you need to know. He who must not be named affected us as a society very deeply. Things were the worst just before he was defeated. There were more disappearances everyday, reports of the Dark mark, his mark in every paper. No one could trust each other. No one knew who would be next. Friends and families were torn apart. My own brothers…" Molly faltered and Diane could only listen in horror. "Well anyway, Halloween was always his favourite time for attacks. There was always something big. So when that Halloween came and there was no mention of anything we didn't know what to make of it. Then we heard. He had been defeated. By a baby!" Molly sounded incredulous even now. "He became an icon of hope and magic. To have ended the dark times and to do it by surviving a killing curse? A double miracle. People are expecting him to live up that."
"But still, he was only a child! Is a child!" Diane was outraged. "Surely…"
They were interrupted by the fire igniting with a green flame. "What on earth?" Diane asked.
"Not to worry dear. Its just the floo. I have a call coming in." Molly waved her wand at the hearth and Diane barely held back a shriek as the head of an old woman appeared in the flames.
"Molly I apologise for the intrusion but I need you to look after Neville for a while. If you don't mind. Algie's done his hip in and I'm needed at St Mungos. I'll send him through now shall I?" Without waiting for an answer the woman pulled her head out and the flames died down. Molly huffed in irritation.
"Ohh that woman. She just makes me so mad. If Neville wasn't such a good influence on my boys why I would just… Just…" The flames flared again and a boy stumbled out of the fire place and into the kitchen. "Oh good morning Neville. It so lovely to see you again." She helped him right himself and dusted him off.
"I'm going to Hogwarts, Mrs Weasley! I'm really going! I got my letter and everything, see?" He showed her the letter he was carrying.
"Well of course you're going." Molly laughed, and hugged him "What else would you do? Off you go, Ron's out in the paddock with the brooms. He's showing a couple of new friends how to fly." She shooed him outside and didn't notice the look of apprehension on his face.
Auther Note:
Well another chapter done. It might take a bit longer for the next one as I'm going away for a bit but l'll try and get it done as soon as possable. I'm really enjoying all the reveiw people so keep them coming.
Also just a note. Neville will not be a big part of the story. I love the boy and he will be in it but probably not much more than in the books.
Okay then. Keep reveiwing. Till next time,