Author's Note: I want to thank everyone who has added my story to their favorites or alerts or me as an author. It makes me feel really special, so I tried to have a shorter time between chapters this time. You guys inspire me. Also thank you to anyone who has given me reviews, they have all been nice and I've taken things said into consideration & have tried to add you wants to my story. You're all amazing and I will try to produce more work soon, but I've got a lot going on from now on so it may be a while. You know the drill, Harry Potter is not mine etc etc etc
Freedom-In-Fantasy
Chapter 5 - Home
The Burrow's occupants tiptoed cautiously around a fuming Mrs Weasley that day. "Right I need help cleaning up this mess we call a house." Mrs Weasley had declared at breakfast.
"I have to go to work" Bill quickly excused himself.
"So do we Mom." Fred began.
"After all one must be responsible for ones own business." George finished.
"I need to check in with my parents before I commit to anything." Hermione tentatively gave an excuse, surprising everyone.
"I'm going with Hermione." Ron quickly added.
"I need to go to work, but I'll help later." Percy promised while his brothers glared at him.
"Maybe you could ask Tonks for help when she comes over later." Fred suggested mischievously as the children fled the kitchen.
"Arthur?" Molly Weasley turned sorrowful eyes towards her husband.
"Of course Mollywobbles." he quickly answered.
"Would Master and Miss like some breakfast." Harry and Ginny jumped, they had been caught up in their own little world and hadn't noticed the young house elf who now shyly stared at them.
"Yes please, thank you…." Harry wracked his brains trying to think of the young female house elf's name.
"Mink." Ginny finished for him, with a smirk directed at Harry as soon as the house elf disappeared. To which Harry responded with a pout. They jumped again as they heard someone clapping and looked up to see Harry's parents in a painting above their heads.
"Well done." James congratulated Ginny. "You showed you have the skills of covering up your man's brainlessness with the poise once expected by all Potter wives."
"James!" Lily hissed as she saw her son and his girlfriend turn red.
"it's true." James protested.
"And less than tactful." Lily countered.
"Well it doesn't hurt if they get the hint." James argued.
"We get it." Ginny broke in. "Now could we please move on."
James sighed but dropped it for now.
"So." Lily said brightly after Harry and Ginny had feasted on a proper English breakfast. "Are you ready for some dancing lessons?"
"Dance lessons?" Harry and Ginny asked, startled.
"Yep." James grinned. "Lily and I are throwing a Ball in your honor on the last day of your party and it is required for the couple of honor to give the first dance."
"A proper ballroom dance." Lily added sternly.
"How are we going to lean to dance in a couple of days?" Ginny asked worriedly.
James grinned proudly. "That's when a Marauder invention comes in."
"So get dressed and meet us in your lounge." Lily instructed.
20 minutes later Harry and Ginny stood in the lounge filled with apprehension. James chuckled as he saw their faces. All you have to do is step through this painting" he told them, indicating to where he and Lily were standing. Behind them in the painting Ginny could see an elegant ballroom, lavishly decorated, with tables groaning with delicious foods around the walls and the center space cleared for dancing. Harry looked at his father suspiciously. "You're a known prankster. Why should I believe you?"
Lily cut in before James could reply. "Believe me then." Harry and Ginny looked at each other and shrugged. What did they have to loose?
As they stepped through the painting they felt a strange squeezing sensation as if they were going through an invisible tunnel. Once the sensation stopped they bent over trying to catch their breath, only to be startled by someone rushing up and hugging them. "I can touch human flesh again!" James crowed. Lily smiled and came over to hug them too; tears came to her eyes as she hugged her baby boy once more. "How can you be like physical here?" Ginny asked bewildered. James grinned. "Another great Marauder invention my dear. This painting has been magically altered to hold physical objects inside it, but because it's still a painting Lily and I can become more real. It also manipulates time. You may a felt like you were being squeezed though a tunnel as you enter. You were actually being squeezed through a time wormhole of sorts. Basically we have frozen 8 weeks of time for you to learn to dance."
"8 weeks!" Harry gasped.
"You're going to need it." His mother told him firmly.
As Molly Weasley dusted the family clock she noticed Harry and Ginny's hands still rested on home. "Arthur!" she called. Arthur came running at his wife's call. 'What's wrong?" he asked immediately. "The clock says Harry and Ginny are still home." Arthur scratched his head.