disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Chapter 14
Harry found he liked being at Sophie's quite a lot. After Ginny and Harry ate. Caleb took Ginny to show her the library in the mansion, so Sophie could talk to Harry. She made him tell her everything that has happened to him since she left. Before Hogwarts, and up till now. After a small hesitation Harry told her everything. From the years before Hogwarts to his first year, the stone, stopping Quirrell. Then second year, the Chamber of Secrets, saving Ron and killing the basilisk. Then third year, and Pettigrew escaping. Then last year and from his scar hurting, the seizures staring, up till every little detale about Cedric's murder. Sophie had flinched when he talked about seeing his parents, but other than that she just sat and watched him as he told her every little detale about his life. He even told her about him being addicted to Dreamless Sleep potion. Which was something all four of the Gryffinclaws had sworn they would never speak of. Heck, he even found himself telling her what the Sorting Hat said to him when he was being sorted, how wanted to put him in Slytherin and about the Oath he and his friends made last year. Sophie had snarled her mouth up and hissed when he told her the lessons Dumbledore wanted him to have with Snape. And for the first time showing Harry her long fangs, as her eyes turned a light blue for a moment. Apparently his sister wasn't a fan of Snape either.
It was like he had no control over his mouth she asked and he told more than he meant to. But to his surprised it didn't bother him, he liked getting all that off his chest. Like a big weight was lifted off his shoulders. No one but his friends had ever made him tell ever single detale. Maybe talking about stuff was what he needed. But the embarrassing thing was after he told of Cedric and how he felt it was his fault; he felt tears falling down his face. Sophie didn't seem to mind him being a big baby and unlike everyone else she didn't ignore it either. Instead she comforted him by putting her arm around his shoulder and allowing him to cry into her shoulder until he got it all out. She then told him it was in no way his fault and the blame always goes back to the same man. Voldemort. When he calmed down and pulled back. Sophie wiped his eyes and then kiss his forehead in a sisterly way, right on his scar. Then stood. When he pulled himself together they went to hunt down Ginny and Caleb.
On the second day Harry went to hang out with Caleb. Sophie said she and Ginny could have a 'girl talk' So Caleb took Harry down to a Game Room, where he decided Harry needed to learn to play pool.
"So, how long have you and Ginny been a couple?" Caleb asked, shooting at a nine ball.
"Since last year." Harry answered. "But we've been friends since first year."
"Friends first, eh?" Caleb asked. "Like me and Sophia."
"How did you meet my sister?" Harry asked.
"I saved her life." Caleb said. Harry stared at him.
"What do you mean?" He asked. "What happened to Sophie?"
"It was six years ago." Caleb said. "I was out hunting when I heard a scream. I went to see what it was and saw Sophia about to get attacked by a werewolf. I still don't know what she was doing in the woods to begin with, but anyway. Werewolves are our naturl enemy, so of course I decide to stick my nose in it. Besides I couldn't let an innocent girl be mauled by a wolf. I jumped between her and the werewolf and killed it, but I think I scared her." Caleb smiled a little. "She accused me of killing the werewolf so I could have her for dinner."
"She did what?" Harry laughed. Caleb smirked.
"Oh, she didn't like me at first." He said. "Sophia had just turned seventeen when I meet her. And she was living under a bridge and half-starved. I still thought she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. After saving her that one night I decided I needed to watch over her, keep her safe. Sophia didn't like that, she said I was stalking her. And even with her starving she refused any of the food I brought her. And insisted on getting her own food her own way." Caleb's face suddenly took on a sad look. "After a few months I begin to grow on her. And wanted someone to talk to, she started being friendly to me. We became kind of friends. But when winter set in Sophia left the bridge to find shelter some place warmer. I searched for over a year and did not find where she went. It was like she just disappeared."
"How did you finally run into her again?" Harry asked.
"It had been that next winter, it was a bad one too, we had two days of consent snow and ice." Caleb said. "I got lost in some woods." Harry snorted at that. "I came upon this cave, I went in to seek shelter from the storm for a while before heading back home. When I heard the sound of my name being said. I looked and there she was, lying on the floor of the cave half froze to death. I brought her back to the Mansion with me. My father wasn't too pleased with that, but when he saw how I looked at her. He understood."
"Did you turn her to keep her alive?" Harry asked. Caleb shook his head.
"No," Caleb said. "Sophia is a very strong and stubborn person. We were able to nurse her back to health, and my father allowed her to stay here. We fell in love and it wasn't until another year later Sophia ninetieth birthday, the day we were married. That she was turned into a Vampire. I did it on our honeymoon. When we made love for the first time. During which I gave her the bite that turned her."
"Merlin, Caleb, I didn't need to know that part." Harry made a face and Caleb snickered.
"Sophia chose to become a vampire." Caleb said. "In case you were wondering. She wanted to feel like she was truly a part of the family. She wasn't forced " He gave Harry a look like he thought it was important for Harry to believe him.
"I get it, Caleb." Harry said. "Don't worry I don't blame you or anything. It doesn't even bother me that Sophia is one. She's still my sister."
"Sophia was right about you." Caleb said.
"About what?" Harry asked.
"You have a good heart, kiddie." Caleb said. "Something you don't see very often. No wonder you landed yourself such a pretty girl." He winked at Harry. "I might be a vampire, but I think I still felt her punches." Harry grinned.
"Sophie said Ginny reminded you of your sister." Harry said.
"She dose." Caleb smiled. "Pretty, smart and a bit of a rebel. My sister had a good punch on her too. She took out five Death Eaters before one got her from behind. I really do miss her. Ginny even looks a little like her. She just needs black hair and brown eyes." he grinned. "There's something we have in common. We both like red-heads." Harry laughed. The door opened and Ginny and Sophie came walking in.
"What's all the laughing about?" Sophie demanded. Caleb winked at Harry, then turned to Sophie.
"Oh, nothing. Just talking about you two." He said. Sophie raised her eyebrow. "You know the usual completes us men have about our women." He took a shot, but Sophie snatched the ball off the table before it hit. She smirked at Caleb's glare.
"How about we have a friendly little game." Sophie said. She held up the ball. "Us women," she motioned to her and Ginny. "Against you boys."
"Hey, there is no boy here." Caleb said, pounding on his chest with his fist. Sophie rolled her eyes. "And you're on. Harry and I are going to kick your butts."
"Dream on, little boys." Sophie said, tossing the ball back on the table.
"Um...Sophia." Ginny said. "I don't know how to play."
"I'll show you." Sophie said, handing her a pool stick. "Harry doesn't know either. So, it should be fair."
"It's not that hard, Gin Gin." Harry said. Noticing she was wearing the Sophie's raven choker. "Once you get the hang of it."
"Gin, Gin?" Caleb asked, with a grin. "Maybe I should start calling Sophia, So, So."
"Only if you what to start sleeping on the sofa." Sophie said. Harry laughed at him. He couldn't remember ever laughing so much.
Sophia was wrong, it wasn't really a fair pool game. Since Sophia was a way better pool player than Caleb. Her and Ginny won. Or Sophia won. It was mainly her and Caleb against each other. Harry and Ginny never got a shot in. But they enjoyed standing back and watching Caleb and Sophia's game. For a husband and wife, they could be very competitive against each other. It was kind of funny. The game only lasted ten minutes before Sophia won with a smirk toward Caleb. Harry only wish was he didn't have to leave. And that he could stay longer.
When night came Harry and Ginny slept in Sophia and Caleb's bed, since that was the only room in their little part of the mansion. They kept the door open and Harry laid on top of the covers. Sophia and Caleb went out doing whatever it was Vampires do.
"What did you and Sophie talk about?" Harry asked, that night. He was lying on his back and Ginny was on her side facing the opposite from him.
"About you actually." Ginny answered. "She wanted to know how close you were to Cody and Jesse. I told her you and Cody were pretty close, but you fight with Jesse all the time. She also wanted to know about your friends, and us."
"Us?" Harry asked. "What about us?"
"How long we've known each other, and how we got to together." Ginny rolled over on her back so she could look up at Harry. "She threatened me if I was to ever break your heart." Harry frowned.
"I'm sorry, she didn't have a right to do that." Harry said. Ginny just smiled.
"No, I understand." She said. "You're her little brother, and she really cares a lot about you. I like her." She now rolled on her side and smiled at Harry.
"I noticed you've been wearing Sophie's choker." Harry said.
"She gave it to me." Ginny said. "After I assured her that I love you and I would never ever hurt you in any way." She moved closer to Harry and put her arm around his waist. "Mum would have a fit if she knew we were sleeping in the same bed."
"We haven't done anything but sleep." Harry said. "We both decided we're not ready for... that, yet. "
Ginny moved closer so she could put her head on Harry's chest. "That's something Sophie talked to me about also. Somehow she knew about the way we were making out in the sitting at Grimmauld Place. She said we're young and need to take it slow. See seemed relived that we haven't gone all the way yet. But she's right. We need to be careful with stuff like that. Don't want me to accidentally get pregnant and Voldemort find out."
Harry winced at the very thought of the danger that would put Ginny in. "We would use protection if we did do something."
"I know." Ginny said. "But Sophie is just worried about you. She hates that Voldemort is back."
"She isn't the only one." Harry mumbled. He put his arm around Ginny and pulled her closer. Ginny tightened her hold on Harry's waist and they soon fell asleep that way.
While Ginny and Harry were having a fun visit, at Grimmauld place the mood was sobering: Jesse, Sirius and Cody sat around the kitchen table wondering just how they let things go this far. Was there anything else about Harry they did not know. How could they not see Harry was hurting so much, how did it miss them that he hasn't been eating or sleeping, he suffers nightmares.
"I can't believe we never knew he was addicted to Dreamless Sleep Potion." Sirius said, looking down in his half empty Butterbeer bottle.
"Where did he even get it?" Cody demanded. "He couldn't have gotten it from Madam Pomfrey. She would have realized he was addicted and stopped giving it to him."
"He's in Ravenclaw." Sirius said. "Maybe he would buy it from one of the older students."
"No," Jesse shook his head. "I bet he made it himself."
"What?" Cody demanded. "Harry-"
"Is not as bad in potions as he pretends to be." Jesse said. "Don't you remember, he used to do them with Mum. He was pretty good at it too."
"Oh yeah." Cody said. "I forgot about that. Is that why you were always hard on him when he got a bad potion grade?" Jesse nodded.
"I hadn't realized no matter how Harry did, Snape would still give him a bad grade." Jesse said. "Yesterday when I went through his trunk hoping to find a clue to where he was. I saw this Potion paper from a few months ago. Snape gave him a P, but when I read it, that paper should have gotten him an A, if not an E."
"Snape's a slimy Git." Sirius said. "I still can't believe Dumbledore wants him to teach Harry."
"Three nights straight." Cody said. "They had to stay up with him for three nights straight to help him get over his addiction."
"Can't really blame Harry." Sirius said. "Look at all that happened before third-year, and then to find out the one who caused your parents murder was roaming free, who wouldn't have nightmares. If all that happened to him in his short life, it had been me I'd be constantly drunk. Hell, anyone else would be in a permanent ward at St. Mungo's."
"You don't think, maybe when the school year is over we should...I don't know check Harry in somewhere?" Jesse asked. "Just for a few months. Get him some help."
"Help?" Cody demanded. "He's not crazy, Jesse."
"I know that." Jesse said. "But...I don't know. How do we talk to him. I have no idea how to help him. Some brother I am."
"Locking him up somewhere isn't going to help." Cody said. "He'll hate us even more. He already thinks you want him dead. What do you think he would think if you check him in somewhere."
"He thinks I what?" Jesse demanded.
"Remember what he said after racking Sirius' bike?" Cody demanded. "He said you wished he had been killed with Mum and Dad so you wouldn't have to take care of him."
"Do you think he really believes that?" Jesse asked.
"At the time I thought he was just angry." Cody said. "But now, I'm not so sure what Harry believes. He sure has pulled away from me this year. We use to be pretty close."
"Last year we were doing so good." Jesse said. "At the end there. I thought we would finally put all this fighting behind us."
"He's had to deal with growing up and Voldemort at the same time." Sirius said. "That's a lot for one kid to deal with."
The kitchen door opened and in came Tonks and Rumes Lupin. Which is what the others were doing in the kitchen they had been waiting for them.
"Good, you're here." Sirius said. "Maybe we can get to the bottom of this. Cody go get the two brats."
"I'll get them, they're not going to take this serious unless one of us makes them come down here." Remus said. "Where are they?"
"Rigel's room." Sirius said. "Second landing, first door on the right." Remus nodded and headed out the door.
"Do you think they'll be truthful and tell us everything?" Cody asked.
"They better." Tonks said. Sirius nodded.
"Yeah." He said. "Or I'll break out the truth potion."
"You can't give underage kids truth potion, Sirius." Jesse said. "It's illegal."
Sirius snorted. "This coming from the guy who basically told the Minister of Magic to go to hell." Cody snickered and Jesse glared at Sirius.
The door opened and in came Remus followed by both Rigel and Teddy. "Alright you two, have a seat. We need to talk."
"If you think we're going to rat out our friends."Rigel said. Then we have nothing to talk about."
"Rigel, I am not in the mood for your smart mouth." Sirius said. He pulled the seat next to him out. "This is not about ratting someone out. We do want to talk about Harry, and you are going to give us the answers we want rather you like it or not. Now have a seat." He pointed to the chair he pulled out, Rigel nor Teddy moved. "NOW!"
That got them moving, they both sat down at the end of the table, and looked around at all the adults. They could tell they weren't playing games.
"First of all." Sirius said. "I cannot believe you two nor Ginny never told anyone what Harry went through in third year. I understand friends keep secrets, Merlin knows Moony there and I had a lot of secrets along with Prongs, but when it comes to something like that, you can't keep it to yourselves."
"Guys, we want you to tell us every little detale about your Hogwarts years up until now." Remus said. "Everything, do not leave one thing out."
Teddy and Rigel looked at each other, but neither said anything.
"I hope you know we're not leaving this room until you do." Sirius said. Rigel just shrugged and propped his feet on the table and pulled out a pack of smokes and lit one, but said nothing.
"Come on, guys." Cody said. "We need to know, what if...what if Harry needs help or something."
"Harry is just fine." Rigel said. "He's a tough kid, he'll get over it. He always does. And what you're talking about happened two years ago. Harry got over it a long-time ago."
"He's my brother." Cody said. "I have a right to know what he's going through."
"Teddy, Rigel, come on." Tonks said. "We just want to know how we can help him."
Rigel said nothing, but Teddy sighed, causing Rigel to glare at him.
"Fine." Teddy said. "I'll tell you, but you can't punish none of us for what went on years ago and when it comes to what Harry is going through...Well, Ginny would know more than us how he feels. I bet she knows stuff we don't."
"I don't know about that." Rigel said, flickering ashes on the floor. "It's pretty hard to talk with your mouth glued to another person's." Teddy snickered.
"Guys, come on." Tonks said. "Spill it."
Teddy took a deep breath then told them every little singel thing, that he could remember anyway, from their first year till now. The only thing he left out was their friend oath. By the end the four adults and Cody were completely shocked. They had known little bits of what happened, but they had no idea how much they didn't know. No wonder Harry was upset with them. And Jesse felt guilty that he had isolated Harry this past summer, from the only ones who knew what he was going through. The only ones he could talk to. The only ones he thought cared about him. He must really seem like a real monster to Harry.
The day before they had to be back at Hogwarts was when Sophie and Caleb decided to take Ginny and Harry home. It was a cold gray day, with a little sleet falling down from the sky. The ground was covered in snow where it had snowed last night: About three in the afternoon they pulled up in front of the house only Ginny and Harry could see.
"Wish I didn't have to come back." Harry said. Sophie smiled a little, but said nothing as Caleb got out to let Ginny and Harry out of the back seat. This time though they did not have to wait until they got inside, the moment Ginny and Harry got out of the car, the front door flew open and out stepped the adults and Cody.
"Ginevra Elizabeth Weasley!" Mrs. Weasley cried. "How dare you run off in the middle of the night! You are grounded from now until your seventeenth birthday!" Ginny rolled her eyes. "Now you get in that house and don't come back out until we have to go to kings cross tomorrow!"
Ginny didn't argue. She just rolled her eyes again and headed into the house. Mrs. Weasley followed her, still yelling stuff.
"Poor Ginny." Caleb snickered. "It seems we got her in trouble."
"Harry," Jesse stepped forward. "We need to have a very long talk."
"Come on, Jesse." Harry said. "Don't start on me already. I just got here. It's cold, I would like to go in and get something to eat."
Before Jesse could answer, the driver side door opened and Sophia stepped out. None of them had seen Sophia in the car yet and when she stood up and looked Jesse right in the eyes, his eyes widened and his mouth dropped up. He knew Harry had seen her and if his note had told the truth he had run off to her house, but to have his long-lost sister suddenly appear right before him was still a bit of a shock.
"Sophia." Cody said. His eyes just as wide as Jesse's. "So it's true?" he looked at Harry. "You were at Sophie's?" He nodded and Sophia walked around the car to where Harry and Jesse where.
"Harry, go on in the house." Sophie said. "Jesse and I need to have a talk." Harry looked between Jesse and Sophie and then nodded to Jesse shock, he never listens to him like that. Harry then shocked Sophie by given her a one arm hug and then heading off to find Ginny and their two friends.
"How dare you." Jesse spat before Sophie could say anything. "How dare you come into our lives after all this time and try to turn Harry against me. You have some nerve. You wanted nothing to do with us so you left. Now you come back thinking you can worm your way into our lives and...I don't know take Harry."
"Are you finished?" Sophie asked. "Look, I don't want to argue. I want to talk about Harry." She stuck her hands in her pockets.
"What about him?" Cody demanded. He walked forward and stood next to Jesse. Sophie's eyes went from Jesse's to his. And looked Cody over. Before saying nothing and turning back to Jesse.
"I've talked with Harry a lot the past few days." She said. "And I have decided, when school lets out I want Harry to come live with me."
"No way!" Cody cried. Jesse crossed his arms.
"What for?" he demanded.
"I think he would be better off." Sophie said. "He'll be safer."
"Sophia, Harry has been through a lot the past few years I don't think-"
"I know what he's been through." Sophie said. "He told me. You apparently haven't been a very good big brother or guardian. He needs a change. All he's done the past five years is go to school almost get killed, come home for a few months then go right back to school. He can't keep going on like that."
"You are not getting him." Jesse said. "Harry and I don't get along, but I'm going to talk to him and things hopefully will get better."
"He's my brother too you know." Sophie said. "I have-"
"You lost your right when you ran out on us!" Jesse yelled. "I'm the one whose raised him the last seven years! You have no right to even be around him. And I believe the best thing for Harry right now would be if you were to stay away from him."
"I believe you better watch how you talk to my wife." Caleb said, stepping between Sophie and Jesse.
Jesse looked taken back for a moment, Caleb was a pretty good size man, with muscular arms and almost a head taller than Jesse. Sophie laid her hand on his arm, calming him, so he wouldn't lose it and end up attacking her older brother.
"Jesse, I said I didn't want to argue." Sophie said. "We haven't seen each other in seven years and the first thing we do is fight. Now, do you see why I didn't stick around? Would you have wanted a life full of us fighting with each other?."
"You could have visited once in a while." Cody said. Sophie smirked.
"Did you miss me, little brother?" She asked. Cody glared at her.
"No, not really." he said. "Harry did though. I don't know why, but that kid has always adored you."
"At least let Harry stay with me until Voldemort is taking care of." Sophie said. "He would be much safer there. My new family can protect him."
"No," Jesse said. "Like I told you just stay away from him. I don't want you anywhere around him, Cody or me."
"No," Sophie said. She stepped from behind Caleb and pointed her finger at Jesse. "I will give you one last chance, Jesse, but if Harry ever sends for me to come for him again, because he cannot take being around you guys anymore. I will not bring him back."
"Do not threaten me." Jesse said. He went to take a step toward her, but Caleb held his hand out and stopped him.
"I'm not threatening you with anything." Sophie said. "I'm telling you what will happen. If Harry comes to my house upset anymore. I will not bring him back."
Without another word she turned walked to the driver side. Caleb gave them a smirk and a salute, before climbing in on his side and closing the door. Sophia opened her door, but before she climbed in, she looked right at Jesse and said.
"Oh, and if you ever hit Harry again brother or no brother. I will rip your throat out. And that is a threat." She got n the car and slammed her door and speed off.
Meanwhile Harry and Ginny wer in Rigel's room telling him and Teddy all about their little stay at Sophie's. When they were done. Rigel and Teddy shared a look.
"Um...Harry," Teddy said. " Jesse and the others know all about our years at Hogwarts and um...what happened in third- year. You know with the potion."
"How did they find out?" Harry demanded.
"Because your friend here-" Rigel hit Teddy on the back of the head. "Has a big mouth."
"Hey, you're the one that told about the potion." Teddy said, holding the back of his head.
"They made me mad." Rigel said. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Idiots." She said.
"Don't worry about it." Harry sighed "They were bound to find out sooner or later." There was a knock on the door and Jesse came in.
"Harry, we need to talk." He said.
"Right now!" Harry demanded. Jesse nodded. Harry sighed and followed him out the door, he led Harry down to the room he and Ron shared, and when Harry entered he saw Sirius and Cody was already there.
"Harry, we need to talk." Jesse said. He pushed Harry down on one of the beds. Across from Cody and Sirius, Jesse then sat by Cody. Sirius was on Cody's other side.
"We're sorry." Cody said. Harry looked at him surprised.
"Sorry?" Harry asked. "About what?"
"Everything." Cody said. "Not being there for you, not knowing what you've gone through. And about the potion in third year. You should have told us."
"Harry, you can't keep things like that to yourself." Jesse said. "If we're getting on your nerves or if you feel like you just can't take it anymore tell us. We'll help you the best we can."
"I should have known." Cody said. "I go to Hogwarts too, I should have knew he...and he came home for the holidays and we still didn't see. How...how can that be. How did we not see."
"Cody, it's not your fault." Harry said. "And I'm over it now. I'd like to pretend it never happened."
"That's not healthy." Sirius said. "You can't keep pretending stuff doesn't happen. You can't keep it all bottled up inside. You'll go nuts."
"Haven't you read the paper?" Harry demanded. "I am nuts."
"Harry-"
"No, Sirius," Harry said. "If I think or talk about it makes me-"
"What it." Sirius said. Harry nodded slightly.
"You don't know how many times this past summer, I wanted to take some to stop the nightmares." Harry said. "I can't stand seeing into Voldemort's mind or the pain in my scar. I hate it all."
"Who wouldn't?" Sirius asked. They we silent for a while.
"Can I go back to my friends now?" Harry asked.
Jesse sighed. "Yeah, Harry, go ahead." Harry stood and went toward the door, but Jesse stopped him.
"Harry, whatever you might think about me is not true." Jesse said. "I do care about you, and never, not once in my life did I ever wish you had died with Mum and Dad."
Harry looked up at Jesse and searched his face and eyes. He saw the truth in them and he smiled.
"I don't hate you either, Jesse." he said. Jesse grinned and hugged Harry before letting him go out the door. He then sat down on the edge of the bed across from Sirius and Cody.
"Maybe...Maybe, Sophie's right?" Jesse said. "Maybe Harry does need a change."
"Jesse , what are you saying?" Cody demanded. Jesse sighed and took his glasses off to rub his eyes.
"I looked into his eyes, Cody." He said. "He's scared, confused, hurt and...and in a lot pain. I want to help him, but I don't know how or if he would even let me. Maybe it would do him some good to spend the summer with Sophie."
"Jesse, no." Cody said. "How could you even suggest that."
"It would just be for the summer?" Jesse said. "It might help our brother to get away for a while."
"Then lets take a vacation or something." Cody said. "I've always wanted to go to Disneyland when I was little. Let's take a trip to America, see the muggle world."
"Cody, I'm being serious." Jesse said.
"You've got to be a lot better looking than that, mate." Sirius said. Jesse rolled his eyes. "Look, how about Harry come spend the summer with Rigel and I, at my place not here." he added to Jesse's look. "We'll go to my house in Paris. That'll get him away for a while. I haven't been there in years. I'd like to see if the house is still standing."
"Yeah, Jesse, do that." Cody said. "If he goes to Sophie's we won't get him back. You heard her."
"I know, Cody." Jesse said. "I'm just trying to... I don't know."
"We'll think of something." Sirius said. "But I think what Harry needs is to know we care and is here for him. That he's not going through this alone." Jesse put his glasses back on and stood.
"I'll think about it." Jesse said. "In the mean time, I think I'm going to owl Sophia."
"What for?" Cody demanded. "I thought we decided not to send Harry there."
"I still want to owl her." Jesse said. "You saw Harry when they got hers. He's gotten attached to her. Last thing, he needs is for her to up and disappear on him. If she wants to visit him sometimes, I think we shouldn't stop her."
"Jesse, we can't trust her." Cody said.
"I know." Jesse said. "But I'm not risking telling Harry he can't have anything to do with our sister." He left the room and headed to the one he and Cody have shared all summer and dung winter break. He sat down to write Sophie a letter. He didn't trust her as much as Cody didn't and there was something different about her he could not point his finger on, but Harry seemed to like visiting her and that bigfoot husband of her's. He wasn't going to risk making Harry made by saying he couldn't see her. Besides, he still had it in his head to allow Sophie to have him for the summer, only this coming up summer though. At least for the most part of it. Jesse just couldn't get out of his mind how Sophia had said Harry would be safe there. He couldn't help but believe that. Jesse just hoped Cody understood if or when he sent Harry to Sophia's. He just wanted to do a little checking first. Make sure he would be safe there.
Harry had mixed feelings when he packed his trunk the next morning and headed downstairs so they could head off to Kings Cross. On one hand he was glad to get out of this dumpy old house and head and back to the school he loved, but on the other hand: Umbridge would be there and his lessons with Snape, if it wasn't for Defiance and Qudditch he would press his raven and make Sophie let him stay with her until the end of the school year.
When Harry made it down stairs with his trunk, he found that Jesse wasn't here, Sirius told him he had a meeting, and for some reason Cody kept scowling when anyone mentioned Jesse's name, Harry wondered if he and Jesse had a fight. When he was trying to get some sleep last night, he did think he heard some arguing coming from their room, but he thought maybe it just sounded that way, because Jesse and Cody haven't really fought with each other since they were kids. So, Harry could think of what could possibly have them fighting.
The next day they were to return to Hogwarts on the night bus, escorted once by Tonks, Lupin, and Sirius. Mrs. Weasley to Ginny's joy would be staying behind. Harry wanted to ask Cody why and if he and Jesse had fought, but before he could he was being pushed out the heavily chained and bolted front door. Harry didn't know it was his imaginations or what, but it seemed like they were a lot more locks on the door than before. Outside was a cold wet day, not a sign of sun anywhere. Ginny held onto Harry's hand as they walked down the front steps of Number twelve and out onto the sidewalk. And down the street.
"Come on, quicker we get on the bus the better," said Tonks.
"I hate the night bus." Teddy grumbled. "It makes me sick."
"You'll be fine." Lupin said, Britney was standing by him holding on to his left arm, as he held his right arm out.
Suddenly a purple, triple-decker bus had appeared out of thin air in front of them, narrowly avoiding the nearest lamppost, which jumped backwards out-of-the-way.
A thin, pimply, jug-eared youth in a purple uniform leapt down onto the pavement and said, "Welcome to the-"
"Yes, yes we know." Tonks snapped. "On, on, everyone get on." As she shoved Harry forward toward the steps, past the conductor, who goggled at Harry as he passed.
"Ere-it's, Arry-!"
"Shout his name I will curse you into oblivion." Sirius snapped, menacingly, as he shoved Rigel on behind Harry, then Teddy, Ginny had already got on with Harry; they still had a tight grip on each other's hands. The lower deck was full, so they all had to find seats on the top deck. Harry scowled as people stared at him as he walked passed.
"Don't you know staring is rude." Rigel snapped, at one wizard, who looked at Harry with a wide-eyed look and his mouth dropped open. When Rigel snapped at him he closed his mouth and looked away with a red face.
"I should have put on my dad's cloak." Harry mumbled to Ginny. And to his horror Stan decided to follow them and even though Harry and his friends wanted to sit by themselves he stood popped down in the seat between Harry and Rigel. Ginny was on Harry's other side.
"You keeping' well, then, 'Arry? " He asked. "I've seen your name in the paper loads over the summer, but it weren't never nuffink nice.. I said to Ern."
"I don't care." Harry said. "Just go away, please."
"Oh, Arry, don't be like that." Stan said. "Anyway, I said to Ern,-"
"Hey, man," Cody cried from the seat cross from them. "He said leave him alone. Don't you have a job to go do?" Of course Stan ignored him.
"I said Ern," Stan went on, making Harry groan. "I said he didn't seem like a nutter when we met him." He laughed, "Just goes to show, dunnit?" He elbowed Harry in the ribs, who was trying hard not to lose it.
Ginny put her arm through Harry's and laid her head on his shoulders, as Teddy got tossed out of his seat when they turned ruffly. Harry. Rigel, and Ginny laughed at him. He glared as he climbed back in his seat and Harry slipped his fingers in Ginny's entwining their hands together.
"Got your girl with you, eh, 'Arry? Stand asked. "I saw her in the paper last year." He wiggled his eyebrows and Harry knew what paper he was talking about.
"That paper was a lie." Harry said.
"I said to Ern, I said, he must have used his fame to get that girl." Stan said. "We all know 'Arry Potter isn't that good-looking. Wish I was famous, so I could get a girl like that." He looked around Harry at Ginny.
"I can Owl you sometime." He said. "You ever tire of 'Arry, we could hook up and-"
"Hey!" Fred and George cried from their seats on either side of Cody. "That's our sister!" Stan held his hands up as in surrender.
"Leave her alone." Ron spoke up. "Leave them both alone."
"Get the hell back down to the lower deck." Rigel snapped.
"Stan." Sirius said. "You're not suppose to bother the passengers. Why don't you go on back down to the lower deck."
"You all don't want me up here?" Stan asked. "I was just talking-"
"Go away!" Everyone yelled, even the other passengers, who seemed to be just as annoyed with Stan as they were.
"Fine...Fine." Stan said. But he didn't get up. "I wasn't doing nuffin. Just talking to my friend-" He didn't get to finish, looking back Harry couldn't say what made him do it, but he had got no sleep the night before, he's scar was bothering him and he was just sick of everyone and everything that wouldn't leave him alone.
As Stan kept talking and not showing any signs of leaving, Harry grabbed the back of his hair and jerked his head back and put his wand to Stan's throat.
"Harry!" Tonks cried in shock.
"First off, Shunpike, we are not friends." Harry said. "Secondly, I do not like you hitting on my girlfriend, and third everyone has told you like a zillion times to go away. Now if you don't do that the moment I let you go-" Harry dug the tip of his wand dipper into Stan's neck. "The Knight Bus will be needing another conductor."
He let go of Stan's hair with a shove of his head. Without another word the conductor jumped out of his seat and headed down below deck, all around them people started cheering Harry for getting rid of Stan.
"Harry," Lupin scolded shocked. "You can't go around treating people like that. You'll get in a lot of trouble."
"Ask me if I care." Harry snapped, sticking his wand back in his pocket. He saw Cody and Sirius give each other a worried glance. What got them was none of Harry's friends were as shocked as everyone else about what Harry did, nor were they not even a little surprised.
"Harry, just calm down, kiddo." Sirius said. "No need to lose your temper now."
"No need." Harry cried. "I'm so bloody sick of people who wouldn't leave me alone. I have a right to be left alone."
"We know, Babe." Ginny said. "He's gone now, just calm down." And to everyone's relief Harry did.
Harry didn't think he would be so happy to get to Hogwarts, with Snape and Umbridge inside, but when the Knight Bus pulled up in front of the gates he couldn't be more relieved. He just had to get away from all the cautious and worried glanced the adults, plus Cody were giving him. But as he entered the gates (without telling anyone bye) and headed for the large castle, a shiver ran down his back. He suddenly had this feeling something bad was going to happen and soon.
A.N. I'm going to end it there, sorry not much happened in this chapter, and that it's not very long, and I keep promising long chapters, but now that Harry 's back at Hogwarts they should be longer.