Chapter nine: The Weasley's and Diagon Alley…again.
Harry was laying on his bed the day after his sensei had confused him because of his insistence on more training and then with the wards suppressing him. Or anyone that was in the house at that time – he didn't feel any different but les…pressed down upon, he supposed.
Bill had advised him not to actively try and develop his elemental training since most of it needed to be done in a controlled setting or with another elemental – even a different element – in close range. Apparently Charlie was an air elemental so he would be able to help, he used air to bend flames of a dragon to avoid hitting him too much.
Syria had suggested going over to the Weasley's for the day since it wasn't training today and Bill had agreed to pick him up and surprised Ron and, shockingly, Hermione who was staying with them whilst her parents were on a three-month business trip/volunteering in a third world country.
To be really honest it hadn't surprised him one little bit since Hermione had got to the Weasley's weeks before him before second year and then had spent the start of the summer before third year there too. It did hurt that neither of them had bothered to write though to see how he was in the months they had been away from school now, since October and it was now the end of January.
They hadn't responded to his letters either, that he had sent.
"Whoa," a startled voice whispered jerking the young karate student from his thoughts, he looked up to see Bill staring at him with wide eyes. "I didn't realise you had good taste in clothes man, Ron always said you always wore things too big!"
"You only saw me yesterday…"
"In some muggle training things!" Bill protested dragging him to his feet and looking over him carefully – Harry had dressed himself in a pair of dark blue designer jeans, a white vest top with a checker shirt (different shapes of blue) with the top three buttons open, "All you need to do now is something about that hair! And shoes…"
"I'm wearing these," Harry told him pointing to a pair of dark-blue plimsolls that had cost way too much in his opinion. They were 'designer' though like most of his things, Damn Blaise. "And there isn't anything wrong with my hair!"
"Come here," Bill ordered picking up the tube of gel on the side that hadn't even been touched once; Harry walked over him exasperated and allowed him to mess around with his hair. "There! Perfectly better."
Glancing in the mirror on the front of the wardrobe Harry had to agree – if it wasn't for the lightning bolt scar that could easily bee seen he wouldn't have recognised himself…Bill had shortened his hair (by magic, duh) so that it was semi-sort and then spiked it up but not too much,
Slipping into his shoes Harry grabbed his wand from underneath his pillow, earning a disapproving frown from the older man, and slipped it between the vest and shirt – a lose pocket had been added inside all of his clothing by Minx and hidden with elf-magic it wasn't just for his wand.
Picking up a can of 'emerge' energy drink he nodded to Bill who pulled out a portkey and once harry had allowed it activated it straight into the living room of the Burrow.
"They're just having breakfast." Bill informed him sitting down in one of the mismatched chairs; Harry did the same on the opposite side. "You have eaten right?"
"Yep, I have to stick to the schedule, especially when training."
"Bill is that you dear?" Mrs Weasley's voice drifted from the kitchen, popping her head into the living room she squeaked in shock before rushing over and enveloping Harry into a tight hug. "Oh Harry! I didn't expect to see you until the summer – those darn relatives of yours, have they been treating you right? Are you able to stay for a few days?"
"I'm fine," he assured stepping back a little bit, as far as the couch would allow without baring his access to freedom. "I can only stay the day I'm afraid, I've taken up a…muggle club. I can't just not turn up."
Mrs Weasley defiantly wouldn't have approved if he had told her that he was leaning to fight and defend himself. She barely agreed that they had to take a defence against the dark arts class in school as 'they were only children'.
"Oh dear, well we are going to Diagon alley today." Mrs Weasley smiled patting his cheek looking proud of him, grabbing his wrist he was pulled towards the kitchen with Bill following amused. "How if your school work coming along?"
"Ok thanks for asking,"
"Understatement." Bill coughed in Harry's ear; he shot the eldest Weasley boy a dirty look and ignored him. The results from his assignments had arrived whilst Bill and Syria had been there yesterday – all Os beside for three in potions giving him an overall 'E' for that subject and a complete fail in divination. "Hey Charlie! Are you still in touch with Master Vesey?"
"Yes why?"
"Vesey…it wouldn't be Julian Vesey would it?" Harry asked raising an eyebrow at their nods; Chase had mentioned that his father had been born to two squibs. "Ah. His son…runs that club I attend. I met Chase's brother Hunter too."
"Julian Vesey is a second generation squib but an elemental." Charlie informed him, concentrating slightly so a breeze ran through the room, "He taught me. He works as a judge for martial arts, I though his sons…oh. Why you asking anyway Bill?"
"I know someone that needs help," Bill said glancing Harry's way so only the three of them noticed, Charlie nodded with a small smile before Bill turned back to Harry who was being pushed to eat by Molly. "Mum, Harry's already had breakfast. I already checked."
"Where's Ron?"
"In his room with Hermione," Mr Weasley answered from behind his paper at the head of the table, Harry nodded slowly before going up to the top floor after being told to do so by Mrs Weasley.
"Harry!"
Well apparently they really hadn't been expecting him – Harry smiled lightly as he was hugged tightly by his two best friends who explained why they hadn't been able to write…erolle had finally died and they didn't have an owl. Hedwig had been delivering the letters during the night and then vanishing before they knew and could send a reply…though he had doubts he pushed them aside.
"Bloody hell! What 'av you been doing?" Ron demanded once Hermione let go of him finally. Harry blushed but didn't duck his head; his body had changed from thin and scrawny to toned and slim. "I'm surprised you have your hair like that too, you usually have your scar hidden."
"Blame Bill." Harry shrugged – he had honestly forgotten about the scar in the past few months the muggle world. "I sort of just didn't remember to cover it – No one recognises me by in in the muggleworld."
"A temp glamour should do," Percy advice from the doorway, walking over and tapping his head – smiling at his work. "Bill and Charlie told me about your new hobbies, I wanted to apologise for thinking you were self-centred and a fame seeking prat."
"That was news to me…ah well."
All of them headed downstairs, with Hermione and Percy speaking rapidly about arithmacy – Ron and harry trailing quietly behind them with nothing to say. Ron seemed to have frozen when Percy had mentioned a new hobby.
"Back again Mr Potter?" Mr Flourish asked appearing behind the desk of Flourish and Blotts as the group entered. "Would you like the book you ordered now or them sent to your house?"
"I'll take 'em now," he smiled accepting the pile that included the books for next year that he'd sent along for not knowing when he'd be in. "Thank you, No biting books this year then?"
"Thank Merlin,"
"What are these books?!" Hermione demanded grabbing the top book which happened to be 'Dual Defence' by Alexsi Pervelle. It was one of his ancestors and this just happened to be the original lost to the family. "Dual Defence? You aren't old enough to Dual Harry!"
"Dual means more than one," Mr Flourish informed her plucking the book away and placing it in the bag he had supplied for Harry, "For example using magic and a sword at the same time. I found it in the back a few days ago and I'm returning it to its rightful owner."
"You don't happen to have any more elemental books do you?" Charlie enquired stepping up to the counter before Hermione could start ranting about how Harry should give the book to the shop to republish. "Its always interesting to read different perspectives and try and pick up on different ideas,"
"I'll get them,"
"Can I borrow them books Harry?" Hermione asked as they exited the shop earning a quick shake of the head from her friend. No. "Why not?! That could be the only copy in existence!""
"It is." Bill confirmed smirking,
"That isn't fair!"
"It's perfectly fair." Harry countered taking out the book on ancient runes – again from one of his ancestors, this one a Potter and handing it to Bill. "Get the goblins to copy that please? Keep it within those they employ."
"Harry!"
"I will," Bill assured tucking the book into his pocket knowing what Harry was doing. Proving to Hermione that some information was meant to be kept between families or occupations. "Maybe the Auror department could do with looking at that other book? After the last war and all…"
"I don't trust half of them." Charlie butted in, thinking a minute he whispered to Bill who nodded in agreement then out loud "Get an oath so they can't use it against you or tell anyone about it if they have so much been accused of being a death eater."
"I'll read it first," Harry shrugged walking, leaving Hermione fuming and Ron jealous once again…both from the rare items and his brothers attentions not being on himself for once. "I best be off now anyway, I promised Marcus that we'd go for a run today."
"Ok! See you soon?" Charlie asked/said winking at him,
Harry nodded and turned around and walked out using the portkey to get back home.