Chapter 2- The burrow

Harriet's P.O.V

It was Saturday morning and I was in the back garden of The Burrow slicing up the practice dummies I'd conjured. "What did the immobile straw dummies ever do to you?" Fred appeared next to me with a plate of toast, sausages, bacon and eggs. I shrugged and sat on the dewy grass, taking the plate. "Thanks. I swear if your mother gives me another dirty I am going to scream." Fred laughed and starched out on the grass next to me. "Well, you did judo flip her favourite person of all time." He said. "He was trying to touch me." I insisted, Fred's face flashed with anger then he said calmly. "Next time I see him remind me to kick him in the nuts." I giggled. "Will do." He grinned and then glanced at my untouched plate. "You better eat up. Even if Mum hats you, she doesn't want to starve you." I nodded and started on the toast. "At least he wont be at school." Fred pointed out. "Yeah, although I do wonder who the new defence teacher will be. I hope we have someone good this year, or at least someone not harbouring Voldemort." Fred flinched. "I hate it when you say you-know-who's name." Fred said. "It's just a name." I shrugged. "I guess, but it's a scary name."

"Any name can be scary if it has a bad person attached to it."

"I don't think Bob could be a scary name."

"Depends on the person."

"There really is no point in arguing with you."

"Harry warned you." I grinned putting aside my empty plate and starching out next to him. "Yeah he did." Fred grinned at me. "Good. I'm glad one of us has some sense. Hay look, that cloud looks like Zoe." I pointed. "And that one looks like Errol." We spent a few happy hours cloud spotting, before Mrs Weasely called Fred inside. "Well, this better be good." Fred stood up and yawed. "Why do you think she wants you?" I asked as I gathered up my sword and plate. "Probably found mine and George's experiments." He shrugged and helped me up. "Why where you experimenting?" I asked as we made our way back to house. "We want to open a joke shop." Fred grinned. "I can't imagine you doing anything else." I grinned back. "Good. I don't wanna do anything else. What do you want to do?" He asked as I opened the kitchen door. I shrugged. "Depends on how long I live, probably a teacher." I shrugged. "Can't see you doing that." Fred laughed. "Depends on what I'm teaching." I laughed, the door opened and Mrs Weasely came in, dragging George behind her. "Fred! I just found this in your bedroom!" She shook several pages at Fred. Even though the twins were taller the her, Mrs Weasely seemed to tower over the two boys. I mouthed good luck to them and slipped up stairs. "Ginny, can I come in?" I knocked on her door. "Sure, it's your room too at the moment." Ginny called. I opened the door and took in the spotless room. "How do you keep this place to tidy?" I grinned. "With you around? I have know idea." Ginny laughed as I bundled my uniform into my trunk. "Do you have everything?" Ginny asked as she packed the glossy Lockhart books. "I think so." I said, gingerly picking up my own Lockhart books, and shoving them in my trunk. "I hate Lockhart." I growled. "I'm not surprised." Ginny grimaced. I noticed her pick up slim back book and quickly slip it into her backpack. "Is someone keeping a diary?" I wiggled my eyebrows at her. "Maybe." Ginny muttered. "It's ok, just so long as it doesn't write back." I grinned at her, she looked slightly alarmed. "It's doesn't write back, does it?" I asked. "What would you do if I said yes?" She asked worriedly. "Tell you to chuck it out, one thing I have learnt over the summer is don't trust something that where it's come from." Ginny looked slightly depressed. "I found it in one of my books, I thought someone had left it in there." She looked close to tears. "Can I see it?" I asked kindly. Ginny shook her head. "Ok, just don't put your trust in it." I said then closed my trunk. "LUNCH!" Mrs Weasely yelled up the stairs. "Come on. Let's go." I grinned. "I'm hungry." Ginny grinned back, her shyness temporarily forgotten. "You're always hungry." I shrugged and followed her down stairs. Mrs Weasely and Hermione gave me dirty looks when I entered, I sighed and grabbed a plate. Pilling it with food I turned to Mr Weasely. "Can I sit outside, the atmosphere in here is, frosty." I glanced at the two Lockhart fans. "Of corse." Mr Weasely smiled sadly at me. "Thanks." I muttered and exited via the back door. I sat on the grass and looked dejectedly at my food. The bushes rustled, I ignored it, probably a garden gnome, I nibbled at the edge of a sandwich but it turned to dust in my mouth. The bushes rustled again and a pair of big green eyes appeared in the leaves. "Who's there?" I called out, reaching for my dagger. "Don't hurt me." A voice squeaked. "I won't if you show yourself." A tiny creature in a dirty pillow case with massive eyes and pointy ears rolled out the bush. "What are you?" I asked. "I'm Dobby, the house elf."

"Ok, what are you doing here?"

"I came to tell you not to go to Hogwarts this year, or your brother." Dobby said quickly. "Why?"

"Something bad is going to happen."

"Voldemort." Dobby shook his head, his ears flapping. "No Miss."

"Really?" I asked sarcastically. "What else am I meant to do? Stay here? Go back to America? I can't Hogwarts is my home, my life, I cant abandon it if something's going to happen." Dobby's eyes glistened. "So brave, so noble. But Miss must not go, something terrible will happen." I glared at the little house elf. "No, I will go to Hogwarts, no one can stop me." Dobby disappeared with a crack as the grass crunched behind me. "Hay Sis." Harry sat on the grass next to me. "Hay." I mumbled. "You ok?"

"Fine."

"Come on Harriet, you know I know you better then that."

"It's just, I thought Hermione was a better friend than this! After what we went through last. And now she fawning over some idiot!" I burst into tears, Harry lent over and gave me a hug. "Shhh, it's ok, I understand. You still have me, and Fred and George and Ron and Ginny and Neville and Annabeth and Percy and Thalia and all our friends at camp."

"But Hermione I was my best friend and I have to share a dorm with her, Harry. I don't think I'll cope." I lent against him. "You'll cope, you're as tough as old boots." Harry ginned. "Boots are strong until they wear out. 'Till someone walks to crumbling." Harry looked at me sadly. "The whole world isn't against you, you know." I nodded. "I know, I just feels that way sometimes." I sighed. "I know Harriet, I know." Harry said, sounding more grown up then twelve. "Don't let them get you down, K?" He said, referring to Hermione and Mrs Weasely. "Well, at lease we're going to Hogwarts soon."

"Year." Harry grinned.