Chapter 4: The Burrow

"Harry… Harry, wake up, dear… Harry, wake up," said the gentle voice.

"Wha… Where am I?" he groggily replied, his vision blurry from just being woken up.

"You're at the Burrow, dear," added the voice he now recognized belonged to Mrs. Weasley.

"Oh, I… what happened?" he replied.

"You fainted, dear. You've been passed out since we left the funeral home," said Mrs. Weasley softly.

Harry's eyes and mind were now coming into focus. "Oh! I remember. Oh my god! They burned him! They burned Sirius," Harry screamed in horror.

Mrs. Weasley patted Harry on the shoulder to console him. "Shhh, calm down, it was all in accordance with his wishes, Harry. It was apparently laid out in his will. Sirius wanted it that way," she informed Harry.

Harry was now fully aware of himself. "But will… his will. Why wasn't I at the reading? He was my godfather! Surely he had to mention me." Harry could not believe he had not been summoned to the reading.

Mrs. Weasley looked at him as if searching for the right words. "Well, Dumbledore thought that after everything you went through last school year, that you would be safer at Privet Drive, he…"

Harry sat shot up to a sitting position in bed, anger on his face. "Dumbledore thought! Dumbledore thought! I couldn't give a toss what that heartless bastard tho…"

Slap! The open hand hit him with full force, knocking his glasses to the floor and stunning him. Mrs. Wesley gasped at her action and threw her arms around him. "Oh Harry! I'm so sorry, I…it's just that I often think of you as my own son, and I can't allow you to say those things about Dumbledore. I'm so sorry!" she sobbed.

The slap had sobered Harry up as to how badly he had hurt Mrs. Weasley. No matter what his problem with Dumbledore, Mrs. Weasley had always been so very kind to him, and here she was telling him he was just like one of her own sons to her.

"It's… its okay. I'm sorry, really. I should never have used that type of language, I apologize," Harry said, ashamed of himself.

Mrs. Weasley picked up his glasses off the floor. "Harry, I… Dumbledore really cares about your well-being; he really does want you to be safe, and feels that if you don't know certain things, it can protect you. I know it seems hard to understand now, but one day you will see." Mrs. Wesley was not lecturing Harry, but trying to make him understand in a civil voice.

Harry didn't want to cause Mrs. Wesley any more stress. He would deal with Dumbledore on his own time. "Okay, sorry," he said.

Mrs. Weasley smiled. "Okay, Harry. Now come along. Dinner is ready, and we have steak and kidney pudding, and baked potatoes, and fish and chips."

"Sounds great!" said Harry. "How long have I been out of it?" he asked curiously.

"Hours, dear—we wanted to let you rest. It's been a hard day for you," Mrs. Weasley stated calmly.

"I just didn't expect them to do that with his body. I didn't know they were going to…to…" Harry stammered.

Mrs. Weasley gave him another hug. "It's okay, dear, everyone understands. Now let's go. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny are waiting for you downstairs."

Harry followed Mrs. Weasley downstairs into the kitchen, where his mates were waiting for him with worried looks on their faces.

"Are you all right, Harry?" asked Ron nervously.

"Yeah, I'm better. I'm really good." Harry looked around the kitchen, and into the living room. "Where is everyone else?" Harry asked as he sat down at the table to cut up his steak.

"Well, Lupin, Tonks, and Mundungus had to go do work for the Order, and dad had to work at the Ministry. He could only get half the day off. Bill went to visit Fleur Delacour. Charlie was only here for the funeral. He had to catch a Muggle flight to the Czech Republic to do some work with dragons," Ron explained.

"Dad 'll be writing to him every day about that!" chimed in Ginny.

"Yeah, I guess everyone's really busy," Harry said, and dug into his steak. "Well, what's been going on with the Order? No one tells me anything. Dumbledore's orders I suppose." Harry had said his headmaster's name with a note of disgust that everyone ignored.

"Well Harry, there's really not much to tell. It seems that Voldemort has been lying pretty low after the defeat of his Death Eaters at the Ministry. A lot of the Order members are scouring the country looking for him. A few Order members are now guards at Azkaban, now that the dementors have left to join You-Know-Who."

"Tomorrow, we'll go to Diagon Alley to get your school supplies. I've got the list of books you'll need," Mrs. Weasley said, changing the subject and handing the list to Harry, who looked over it.

List of titles that 6th year students will need to purchase

Potions, the Ultimate Guide, by Azeri Loki

Charms, Accelerated Edition, by Inchatia Valourom

The Ultimate Pre-N.E.W.T. Study Guide to Transfiguration, by Minerva McGonagall

Care of Magical Creatures: Walking in the Land of Giants, by Vincent Peterzoon

Hogwarts: A History, by various contributors (see credits)

The Complete Guide to Muggle Studies and Relations, by Jane Bromhead and Thaddeus Bogs

Seeing Tomorrow, by Glades Stargazer

Herbology through the Ages, by Stanley Swampland

All books indicated with are optional classes for 6th years.

"'ang on! Professor McGonagall wrote a book? When did she have time to do that with all that's been going on?" Harry asked in amazement.

"Oh Harry, Minerva's been trying to get that book approved for ages. I've talked to her about it. She wrote it in your and Ron's first two years—it was just approved by the Ministry this year," replied Mrs. Weasley happily.

"Is it safe for us to go to Diagon Alley with everything going on, mum?" Ginny asked.

"Well You-Know-Who's lost a lot of his Death Eaters, but the Order is sending a bodyguard for us in the morning. I don't know who though," replied Mrs. Weasley.

After everyone finished their meal, Ron suggested that they go into the den and play a few games of Wizard Trivia, a game that he had just bought over the summer.

"Great!" Harry said. He began to follow everyone into the living room.

"Harry, just a minute. I need a word with you in private." Mrs. Weasley's tone was serious.

"Okay, Mrs. Weasley. Be with you guys in a minute," Harry called to the other three.

"Harry, please sit down." Mrs. Weasley motioned to the chair across from where she sat. She rubbed her eyes, and it looked to Harry that she couldn't decide where to begin. Finally, she found her words. "Harry, I… You've been through a lot in your short life. More than any adult I know. More than anyone should have to endure. And this latest tragedy… well, Arthur and I were talking to Hermione's parents the other day when they dropped her off, and…well, you know how I don't approve of most Muggle…err… ways of dealing with people who hurt. But the Grangers were talking about…" Mrs. Weasley looked at a piece of paper she had taken out and put on the table, and read it to herself, then looked up again at Harry. "The Grangers were talking about these physic… psychiatrists that they have, and they… they go to school to study how people think. They are supposed to be able to help people who have suffered a great loss. To help you feel better. Like a happiness charm, only more permanent. And after… You know, how upset you were after the funeral, I wanted to ask… Harry, would you like to see a psychiatrist?"

Harry was really surprised that Mrs. Weasley would even consider Muggle science to help. She must really be worried. "Mrs. Weasley, I'm alright. Really I am. Dumbledore…" the name left a sour taste in his mouth, but he managed to say it, and sound casual with effort, "…said it was my destiny to kill Voldemort." Harry paused as Mrs. Weasley gasped. "I've accepted that, and I just got a little passionate today. But really I don't need a psychiatrist. But I appreciate your concern." Harry smiled at her reassuringly.

"All right, dear. Just let me know if you want to talk," she said.

Harry nodded. "I will," said Harry, and he started to leave. But half-way to the living room something stopped him, and he turned back to face Mrs. Weasley. "Mrs. Weasley, about what you said in the bedroom. About me being like a son to you…. Thanks."

A wide smile came across her face. "I meant it. Now go and join your friends, dear."

After the tenth session of Wizard Trivia, in which Hermione won with over one-hundred points more than everyone else, it was time for Harry to ask about the events of the summer.

"So Ron, what have you been up to this summer?" Harry started.

"Well, a lot really. We got to visit dad at the Ministry. He's not really happy with the new Minister for Magic, Albert Jefferson. Worse than Fudge ever was, dad says. He's got a particular dislike for Muggle relations. The new Minister says that we wouldn't have such problems as You-Know-Who if we'd keep the wrong people out of our schools and offices. He says letting too many Muggleborn kids into our schools is what's upsetting all the purebloods, and as he put it, causing fine, decent citizens like Lucius Malfoy to join terrorist groups like the Death Eaters."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Since when was Lucius Malfoy ever an upstanding citizen? Doesn't the Minister know that he was a Death Eater before Voldermort's return? I mean, what's he ever done to deserve such a title as upstanding citizen?"

Ron nodded his head but gave an explanation for Jefferson's comments. "Officially he is still listed as being innocent, because he was under the Imperious Curse back then. And they checked his public history. He's given loads of money to popular charities. Many people are arguing that he both fell in with a bad crowd, and should be shown leniency, or he was again under the Imperious Curse. Fortunately, he's the only Death Eater popular among the public. Everyone's calling for the rest of the lot to be hanged. I guess when their trials start we'll be called in to testify against them. But anyway, a lot more people are turning to the fact that You-Know-Who is coming back, and despite his apparent prejudice, the new Minister for Magic is raising an army to be ready to fight him."

Harry was a bit confused. "But Ron, why would anyone elect someone like him to be Minister for Magic? I mean, are there not more half-blood and Muggleborn wizards and witches to vote for a better candidate?"

Ginny cut in before Ron could say anything. "Dad says that Fudge had just recently been re-elected before the tri-wizard tournament, and his suicide caught everyone off guard with the next elections sometime off. So the new Minister wasn't voted in, but appointed. I guess we can get him out when the next elections occur, but we're stuck with him until then.

Harry face was flustered. "Just great," he thought "Another git sitting in the highest post in the magic world, and worse than Fudge."

But Harry was still holding out for some good news. "And what else has been going on?" he asked.

Ginny again answered eager to fill him in on missed events. "Dad took us to London to see the Muggle sights. But he got a bit confused at some of the things like computers and fax machines. We practically had to drag him out of every shop to give the storekeepers some relief from all the questions. He did seem really sad every time we passed a car dealership. I think he really misses our car, but we really can't afford another one right now."

Harry and Ron looked at each other, full of guilt. It had been their rash, irresponsible action, that had caused the loss of Mr. Weasley's car in their second year, but Harry never realized that Mr. Weasley missed it so much.

"Bill is really into Fleur Delacour. I think he's in love. Also Charlie's' met a Czech girl that he fancies who also works with dragons. So I think he intends to stay in Eastern Europe for a while. I overheard mum say that he asked Dumbledore for a more permanent assignment there. And I…"

Ginny was interrupted by a tapping on the window, and everyone looked to see Pigwidgeon flying around outside the living room window.

"Blimey! Already?" Ron said he got up and opened the window. Pigwidgeon flew onto Ron's shoulder and held out his leg. "I can't believe it," he said as he took the parchment off the owl's leg, and read the name of the sender.

"Who's it from, Ron?" Harry asked, genuinely curious.

"Loopy Luna Lovegood! She writes to me every week, sometimes everyday, and usually sends me a free article of the Quibbler."

Harry heard a giggle from Ginny and he thought a "Humph!" of disgust from Hermione, who looked none too pleased at the announcement of the sender.

"Really? She's been writing to you? What did she say?" Harry asked with anticipation.

Luna Lovegood was the one student at Hogwarts he felt he was going to be able to talk with about his godfather's death. She had seen her mother die when she was very young, and Harry needed someone who understood what he was going through when Lupin couldn't be there.

Ron began to read the letter aloud to everyone.

Dear Ron,

Dad and I are now back from Sweden, and we managed to catch an actual Crumple Horned Snorcack. We'll have pictures in the next issue of the Quibbler, and my father's going to loan it to Hogwarts for our Care of Magical Creatures class this year. He had to go to St. Mungo's for frostbite from it. Did you know that when we hosted the Triwizard tournament, that the Yule Ball was such a success that myself and most of the other girls at Hogwarts started a committee to have an annual ball at the school. This year the staff finally agreed. I can't wait! Anyway, how are you? What have you been up to since your last letter? Tell Ginny I said hello, and tell Harry to write to my friend Cho Chang when you see him.

Miss You,

Luna

Ron raised his head to look at everyone. "What does she mean, what's been going on since my last letter? I wrote to her a week ago telling her what I would be doing. I didn't even think she and I talked all that much last year, and now it's like I'm her best friend. And since when is there a committee to bring back the ball? No one told me," he said, exasperated.

"Oh Ron, wake up! It's obvious she fancies you. And Hermione and I told you and Harry about the committee to make the ball a yearly event a week after we had it. Don't you remember?" asked Ginny.

Ron and Harry both shook their heads.

"Well, obviously it's not as important to boys, but Hermione and I remember," she finished.

"Loopy Luna fancies me?" asked Ron, genuinely surprised.

"Yeah! Are you so thick that you didn't notice the way she looked at you all last year? And don't call her 'Loopy'. She's a very sweet girl," Ginny said proudly.

"Well yeah… it's just that she acts like she's' a bit…"

"Brainless!" Hermione shouted louder than she had intended, and she clasped her hands against her mouth to suppress her own gasp. Everyone looked at her, rather shocked. She set a more matter-of-factly tone. "I mean, she really doesn't seem that bright, especially considering she's in Ravenclaw. I just think Ron could find someone who's more… more of a match for you, that's all. Maybe you should let her down easily, Ron."

"Let her down easily? I'm not even going out with her," said Ron blankly.

Hermione looked pleased. "Good! I think you've made the right decision, Ron. Well done."

"What was that part about me writing to Cho Chang?" asked Harry.

Ron read back over the parchment. "Oh Harry, you should write to Cho Chang," Ron replied unimportantly.

"Why?" he asked, confused.

"I don't know. She didn't say." Ron shrugged.

Mrs. Weasley then entered the room. "Okay you lot, it's getting late. Off to bed you go. Harry, you'll be up in Ron's room with the twin beds."

Ron and Harry lay in their respective beds in the darkness with their eyes closed, but not yet asleep.

After a long silence, Ron started: "Harry?"

"Yeah?" came the reply from the darkness beside him.

"Do you think Luna Lovegood's beautiful?"

Harry thought for a moment, picturing her face. "Yeah, I do, why?"

Ron hesitated, and then spoke. "Well, what you think of her otherwise?" he asked.

"She seems nice. I plan to talk with her about… you know… about Sirius. She saw her mother die when she was nine, and I think that maybe she'll be able to help me talk about it, y'know. I think she's a really good person. She also showed a great deal of courage last year against Voldermort's Death Eaters."

"Eh… I wish you wouldn't say his name," Ron pleaded.

"Ron, you can't keep being afraid of a name," Harry replied.

"Who's afraid? I just don't like hearing it," Ron replied defensively.

"Glad to know," Harry added.

Ron pondered. "Do you think I should ask her out to the Yule ball?" he asked.

Harry thought about it for a minute. "Before then," he replied. "That way the ball wouldn't be such an awkward occasion for you."

Ron nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

After a few minutes, Harry turned to Ron. "Why would Luna want me to write to Cho Chang?" he asked.

"Dunno, weren't you two dating last year?"

Harry reflected. "Not exactly: we had one date and she made it a disaster. She brought up Cedric, and seemed upset that I wanted to meet Hermione. I mean, I told her that she could tag along if she wanted to. Also she was always crying, and brought that stupid sneak of a friend of hers to my DA class, and got Dum…and got the class broken up. And then the silly git tried to make excuses for her friend, and looked like she was going to turn on the water works again, so I bit her head off!" Harry finished with an air of disgust.

"Yeah, well you spent a lot of time last year biting Hermione's and my head off too, ever since you arrived at Grimmauld Place."

Harry turned to Ron in the dark. "Well sorry, but you two were keeping things that I needed to know from me. You were also trying to keep me from rescuing Sirius."

Ron let out a sigh. "But Harry, Hermione and I were right about not going to the Ministry."

Harry was getting a little upset at being lectured this late. "Look Ron, the point is that I didn't know that then, so it's understandable that I was yelling at you two last year. I mean I had a lot on my mind, and you two are my friends and should understand that."

Ron turned toward the ceiling. "Have you thought about Cho Chang at all this summer?" he asked.

Harry gave a disgusted sound. "I wouldn't waste my time on a sobbing girl that's obsessed with her dead ex-boyfriend, so much that she brings him up on our first date. I've got bigger problems than her. I've got bigger problems than anyone," he said resentfully.

"God Harry, that sounds really harsh! I think she really liked you," said Ron.

Harry closed his eyes again. "Yeah well, she never did anything for me. Now get some sleep. Good night, Ron," Harry finished.

"Good night, Harry." And Ron drifted off to sleep with dreams of playing for England in the Quidditch World Cup. But Harry was not so fortunate: He had the same dream that he always did. The dream that kept him waking up throughout the night. The dream that kept him deprived of badly needed sleep, the nightmare that he was being tortured and killed by Voldemort.

In the nightmare, Voldemort would finish him off with the Avada Kedavra curse. Harry would vividly remain asleep for the torture, and feel every minute of it, but when Voldemort hit him with the Avada Kedavra curse, Harry would always wake up in a pool of his own sweat. Was it such a wonder that he was always so cranky? Everyone should be more understanding towards him. No one had it as bad as him; no one suffered the losses he had.

That morning Harry did in fact wake up in a pool of sweat again. Fortunately, he was the first one up, and was able to hit the showers before anyone else.

After breakfast everyone was finally ready for the trip to Diagon Alley. At around eight, Mad-Eye Moody limped into the Burrow to escort all of them there. They would all be going through the Floo Network.

As they got ready to step into the fireplace, Moody asked Mrs. Weasley if he could talk to Harry in private for a minute before they left. "Err…Harry before we go, I'd like to have a word with you in private, really quick," said Moody.

"Right, how about the kitchen?" Harry gestured behind him.

After they had left everyone in the living room, Harry and Moody sat down at the kitchen table.

"Harry, I've just come from the Dursleys and getting your things. And well at the beginning of the summer I had a talk with your Uncle. I warned him to treat you well, or I'd come and have a not-too-friendly chat with him. I think I came on a little too strong. When I came through the Floo the Dursleys were horrified, and Mr. Dursley begged me to spare him and his family. I think I came on too strong that day at King's Cross station. It really wasn't my intention to scare him that bad. I tried to calm him, but he was in tears. I felt really bad and made my way out of there as soon as I could," Moody finished.

Harry smiled at the picture of the Dursleys cowering and sobbing. "Look Mad-Eye, I think the Dursleys needed a scare. I only wish I could have been there to watch them squirm," he said.

"Harry, it's not good for the soul to delight in the suffering of others," Moody said with an air of sternness in his voice.

"I guess that would depend on who the others are. They seemed to delight in my suffering all those years," Harry said bitterly.

"Well you don't want to be like them, do you?" Moody asked.

"I'm not like them. I'm better than them. I'm better than all of them put together. Haven't you been reading the Daily Prophet? I'm The Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived," Harry said proudly of his titles.

"Well, The Harry Potter, try not to get too big a head, vanity is never a virtue, and putting yourself above others alienates you from them," Mad-Eye finished.

"Right," said Harry. He was humoured at the thought that Mad-Eye Moody was giving him advice about alienating himself from anyone with his record of being a recluse.

"Well, chat's over Harry. Let's go to Diagon Alley. I'll have Arthur try and calm the Dursleys in a few weeks," Moody said as they returned to the fireplace.

Everyone reached into the black kettle to grab some Floo Powder.