Chapter 6

Ron had moved over to the chair George had vacated to give Harry some privacy while he read the letter in full. He watched Harry as he read and watched Harry's face crumble and start to cry.

By the time Harry finished the letter, he pulled his knees up and rested his arms on his knees and his forehead on his arms. He rocked back and forth as he cried. Soon his whole body shook with racking sobs and Ron decided to go over to him.

He patted Harry's back as he cried and just let Harry's grief subside. He had seen Harry break bones, see someone he loved die, fight a war, give a eulogy at several funerals in one day and almost never shed a tear. But this was beyond any measly tears he had seen Harry let loose in the past. Harry's tears and the sound of his sobs scared Ron more than anything he had ever seen. After several long minutes of crying, Harry sat up and conjured a tissue and blew his nose.

"Thanks, mate," Harry sighed. Ron nodded.

"I can't even begin to understand what your feeling right now Harry. I don't blame you for loosing it a bit there," he said quietly.

"I just can't believe they're alive," he whispered. "I might believe it more if I see them breathing and awake and talking, but right now, it's too surreal. I need Ginny and I need to tell Kingsley that I'm going to be missing this afternoon's classes. I also want to go visit McGonagall's office before this Madge person," Harry said.

Just then George and Kingsley walked into the room. George took in the sight of Harry's red puffy eyes and courteously didn't mention it.

"Harry, I told Kingsley what was going on," said George before he conjured up another chair. Kingsley took the vacant one, while Ron was still next to the bed.

"I took the liberty of telling your instructors that you were having a family crisis and were to be excused this afternoon, and since it's a Friday that gives you a partial three day weekend. Now, may I read this letter, please?" he asked in a calming voice. Harry handed him the letter and excused himself to the bathroom to splash his face with some cold water.

While Harry was out of the room, Ron told George he was going to get Hermione and Ginny and maybe their mum too and he'd be back in a tick.

He ran out of the room and down the hallway and to the General Use Floo. He threw in some powder and said the Burrow. As he tumbled out he yelled for everyone.

"Ginny! Hermione! MUM! Kitchen NOW!" he heard feet running from every corner of the house as Ginny, Hermione, Molly, Bill, Fleur, Arthur, and Percy all ran into the room.

"Harry…emergency…Leaky Cauldron…Now!" he said out of breath as he threw powder into the Floo. He disappeared and was quickly followed by them all. They followed him down the hall at a run and into the room just as Harry was exiting the bathroom and Kingsley finished the letter, a surprised look on his face.

"Harry! Are you okay? What happened?" Ginny said as she ran to him. The fact that he grabbed her and hang on as if life was ending scared them all a bit. Ron pointed at Kingsley and then the letter. He was too out of breath to speak. Kingsley took this as he wanted him to read the letter out loud. He looked at Harry who nodded and snuggled his face into Ginny's shoulder.

Kingsley read the letter to them all, leaving them dumbfounded and thunderstruck. It took them all a full five minutes before anyone could speak.

"That manipulative old bastard!" Ginny whispered, horrified. She had seen Harry's red eyes before he grabbed onto her for deal life. He was still clinging to her, but had slightly loosened her grip.

Percy was aghast. "He was head of the Wizengamot, he knew that…using a Time turner was illegal for what he planned…" The poor boy's world was crashing down around him.

"Harry, are you…what are you feeling?" Hermione asked attentively, a worried look on her face.

"What do you think I'm feeling Hermione? I read the first paragraph and thought it was a joke, once I realized it wasn't, I bloody well fainted. I honestly can't believe it, until I see them. Otherwise, I'm still in shock," he replied tersely.

"Well of course that's how you feel, I would imagine that would be normal for this kind of situation, if it had ever happened before. I think I'd like a word with your dearly departed headmaster though," replied Molly. Her ears were turning red and she was getting angrier by the second.

"As would I, Molly, as would I," replied Kingsley. "Why don't we head over there now, Harry. If you want, the rest of this group can come as well." Harry nodded and they headed out to the main part of the Leaky Cauldron.

a/n: so i decided that if a chapter (like this one) isn't over 1,000 words long, i'll post two in one day. Otherwise, only one 1,000 word chapters a day, unless of course i get a lot of reviews for the one chapter, then i might post another for my great reviewers! So, motivation for you guys to review! Also, if you haven't seen them i have two otehr stories, a one shot, and a novel length. I am still working on the novel length one but i needed a break from the seriousness of the plot and the 5,000+ word chapters. So check them out and let me know what you think of them! and as always...REVIEW! Thanks!

PS: Glad you like them Becca!