A/N Managed to update even though I've had a v. stressful week! Art exams, Art Coursework, Drama Exams ... but it's all over and I have two weeks off for Easter! Yay! Thanks to all the people who reviewed last chapter and I hope you like this one! I'm trying to add small twists instead of just tying down to the original story line. BUT, I'm not changing that big of things (Maybe not until later) Anyway, Happy Good Friday ;) and please R&R xxx

Chapter Five

Thirty-Three, Norwalk Drive, Surrey

Life at Grimmauld Place slowly became are rather boring routine: cleaning and eavesdropping. The Extendable Ears had been useful, but they weren't picking up any new information, and a few days later, Mrs Weasley found out what they were doing. They had to hide most of the Extendable Ears because Mrs Weasley threw all the ones she found away and yelled at them.

So then, they were back to square one. Fred and George didn't want to risk using the Extendable Ears because Mrs Weasley could get them all and throw away all their work.

In retaliation for finding the Extendable Ears, Mrs Weasley made them clean even more, as she was still trying to discourage the idea of Fred and George's joke shop.

"She should see the things in your room," Amara told them when they were cleaning one afternoon.

Something else, however, soon popped up which drove the finding of the Extendable Ears out of her mind. She was in her and Tally's room near the end of July, sweeping owl dropping out of Archie's cage, when Archimedes himself came flying through the open window (Amara wanted some summer breeze to filter through).

"Hello," she said to him, as he flew to her shoulder and stuck out his leg proudly. Amara retrieved it and opened it quickly.

Dear 'Mara

We got back from Spain a last week and Mum was quite annoyed Dad didn't tell her you'd gone somewhere with your teacher. She's saying she's going to write to Mrs Weasley or something about something or other, I don't know I shouldn't have been listening. Anyway, guess what happened today?
MY HOGWARTS LETTER ARRIVED!
It was the happiest moment of my whole entire life, I can tell you. I wish you were here to see it, but I know what you're doing is Top-Secret-And-Very-Important, as Dad and Ethan keep saying.
Ethan's booklist hasn't arrived yet, but mine has with my letter, have you got yours? We're going to Diagon Alley next week I think, to get my robes, because apparently Mum says there's no point in buying the books because we already have one or two copies of each one (except this weird Defence Theory thing – I thought you said it was Defence Against the Dark Arts? Not theory).

Hope to see you soon, if not, I'll see you on the Hogwarts Express on September 1st!

Love from Tessie xxx

Amara grinned at her sister's letter. She'd grown up a lot since Amara had received her letter to Hogwarts. No longer was she the whiny seven-year-old who had pigtails and couldn't spell properly, now she was the slightly annoying eleven-year-old who wore plaits because her hair was always scruffy. Amara missed her sister, she didn't see her much of the year, so she was glad she was finally going to Hogwarts (four years was an annoying distance between them) and they could see her all the time. Amara wondered if she was going to be in Gryffindor with her and Ethan. She definitely suited Gryffindor, with her tomboy nature (but who had the obsession with pink) but she could do well in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff.

Amara didn't not dwell on the fact that Tessie had told her that her mother was writing to Mrs Weasley until the next Friday, when Mrs Weasley called her into the kitchen one morning.

She was surprised to see Moody and Kingsley in there as well, with the usual Tonks and Lupin.

"Amara, your mother wrote to us yesterday and asked if you could go home for a few days," said Mrs Weasley as she sat down.

"Why?" said Amara immediately.

"She didn't say specifically," said Mrs Weasley. "But she said something about your grandmother."

Her grandmother? Amara blinked. What on earth was that about?

"Do you know why?" growled Moody.

"Er," Amara thought. "I'm not sure, but we haven't seen her in ages. Oh wait – it's her birthday I think. She's going to be quite old, I think."

"Dumbledore said you could go," said Kingsley, in his deep voice. "Your mother wants you for a few days."

"Really?" said Amara. "Well, when am I leaving?"

"Tomorrow," said Mrs Weasley. "Arthur's taking you to your house before going to work."

Fred, George, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Tally were waiting for her outside the kitchen.

"What was that about?"

"I'm going home for a few days," said Amara. "My mum asked them if I could, apparently Dumbledore said yes."

"When are you going?" said Ginny.

"Tomorrow," said Amara.

Later, in her room, Amara turned to Tally. "Are you going to be alright here without me for a few days?" she asked.

"Of course," said Tally. "I like ze Weasley's, zey're my good friends now. And zis grandmother iz no relation to moi, so zere would be no point in going."

Amara nodded and continued packing a small suitcase of things.

-OOOOO-

"Amara!"

Bryony Matthews came running out Amara's house, grinning and glowing in her new tan.

"Mum!" Amara grinned, and hugged her tightly. Mr Weasley got a hug too.

"I'd better be getting to work – see you in a few days, Amara," said Mr Weasley, before he looked around and disappeared with a small crack.

"How've you been, sweetie?" said Mrs Matthews as she led them inside.

"I've been fine," Amara said. "How was Spain?"

"Beautiful – it definitely distracted Tessie – but now she's gone and got her letter, of course," Mrs Matthews rolled her eyes. "You haven't got your booklist yet have you?"

"No," said Amara. "They probably sent the first-year letters out first – I mean, Dumbledore is really busy at the moment."

"'Mara!" Tessie came into the hall and gave her sister a hug. She was also tanned, and her hair was neat for once, and in two plaits.

"Alright Tess?" said Amara, tugging affectionately on one plait. Tessie shrugged her off.

"Awesome," said Tessie. "Ethan's at his stupid Potions supplies again. He's running low on Armadillo Bile and Billywig Stings, Mum, he wants to get some more."

"That boy costs a lot to run," Mrs Matthews said, now used to all the strange ingredients that came with Ethan's obsession with Potions.

"I don't think I'll like Potions," said Tessie. "It sounds boring."

"It's alright," said Amara, who's Potions grades weren't all bad, it was just that Snape didn't like them very much.

"Well, when you do get your booklists, do you want me to get things for you? I'd need to take Ethan anyway," said Mrs Matthews.

"I assume Mrs Weasley will get them," said Amara. "but I'll go with her anyway, she'd have to get things for everyone."

"How's Tally?" said Tessie. "She still wherever you are?"

"Yeah," said Amara. "She's good friends with the Weasleys, they'll look after her."

"Remember she's going home on August 29th," Mrs Matthews reminded her.

"Yes, Jesse's taking her to the airport," said Amara. "What am I doing here anyway?"

"Well, it's Rose's birthday tomorrow," said Mrs Matthews. "But Jamison is rather ill, so we're all staying over there to see if he's alright, because Rose can't look after him on her own.

"Didn't they recently move house?" said Amara, wondering about her Father's parents.

"Yes," said Mr Matthews, entering through the backdoor. "They live in Surrey now. Isn't that where your friend Harry lives?"

"Yeah, they live in Little Whinging," said Amara.

"Isn't Harry with the Weasley's?"

"Not yet," said Amara. "Maybe I could go visit him?" She could explain to him that they can't tell him anything!

"Maybe," said Mr Matthews.

"Amara, come look what I can do!" Tessie said, grabbing her hand and taking her outside. It was still a beautiful day, and Amara loved being outside.

Tessie had walked over to the tree in the garden, where a few flowers were dotted around it. They were drooped over, looking pitiful, as their parents were never ones for gardening – in fact, Amara remembered her Auntie Sophia planting them one day after she'd noticed how little colour there was in the garden.

Tessie stood in the middle of them, resting against the trees and twirled her hands. Immediately, the flowers began to rise up and seconds later, they were bright and full of colour.

"Isn't it amazing?" said Tessie. "Ethan said I won't be able to do this soon, because you're not allowed to do magic out of Hogwarts."

"Too right," said Amara. "But that's amazing, Tessie."

Tessie grinned and let her hands fall to her sides. The flowers drooped once more as she walked away from the tree and flopped on the floor in the sunshine. Amara followed suit and had momentary déjà vu, to the beginning of the summer where Tally was in Tessie's place.

"Do you keep your wand on you a lot?" asked Tessie.

"All the time," said Amara. "I have to hide it though."

"I can't wait for September," said Tessie. "I love the wizarding world. I can't wait to be a part of it."

"You already are," Amara pointed out. "But I'm glad you're finally able to come."

"What if I'm not in Gryffindor with you and E?"

"Then you'll be in a different house," said Amara. "Quite a lot of siblings aren't together – there are twins in my year, one in Gryffindor, one in Ravenclaw."

"But all the Weasley's are together," said Tessie. "That's got to count for something."

"I suppose, but in all honesty, I think you'd be a good Gryffindor anyway – I mean, I didn't think Ethan was going to be Gryffindor."

"What about Slytherin?"

"You won't be in Slytherin," said Amara. "They don't usually take muggleborns anyway, and are really horrible about it."

"That's OK then," said Tessie. "Do you have many friends outside of your house?"

"A few," Amara admitted. "Not many – but Ethan has Piper and Flick."

"I thought they were in Gryffindor?"

"Nope, they're both in Ravenclaw," said Amara.

"So Slytherin's the evil one, Ravenclaw's the clever one, Hufflepuff's the kind one and Gryffindor's the brave one?" Tessie listed.

"Yep," said Amara.

"I wouldn't mind being a Hufflepuff," said Tessie. "They sound nice – and wasn't your boyfriend a Hufflepuff?"

"Yes," said Amara, turning away and looking to the sky.

"Sorry," said Tessie. "But I need to know – what – what happened? Mum and Dad got a letter and were really serious about it when they got it."

Amara looked at her and remembered the letter that her brother had written at the end of June. He'd told them not to tell Tessie, but she'd found out Cedric had died.

"There was this man," Amara said, deciding to tell her, because she couldn't go to Hogwarts without knowing. "Called Voldemort – people call him You-Know-Who, because they're scared of him – who did bad things ages ago, before you were born. But then Harry saved the world by getting rid of him – that's why he's famous, see? Anyway, this June he returned – people believed him dead – and Harry and Cedric were there, and because Cedric wasn't needed in the rebirth, they – they – killed him." Amara took a breath. "So, He came back, and now our Minister – Cornelius Fudge – doesn't believe him or Dumbledore, probably because he doesn't want to, and now we've got to help stop him whilst the Ministry of Magic is breathing down our necks."

"I didn't realise how serious it was," said Tessie after a pause. "Harry's really got it hard, hasn't he? You should really go see him, I mean, we're staying at Grandma's for a few days."

"His birthday's on the thirty-first," said Amara.

"See him then," said Tessie. "He'll need reassurance. Bake him cookies or something."

"You've grown up a lot," said Amara. "I remember when you wanted me to read you witch stories before bedtime."

"I've had to," said Tessie. "What with my sister and brother off to magic school, the former getting into all sorts of adventures."

Amara laughed as Tessie grinned.

"Everyone wandered where you'd gone," said Tessie. "When you went off to Hogwarts. Gina and Martin came round nearly every day after school, asking for you. We had to say you'd won a scholarship to a nice boarding school. They stopped coming after a while."

"I forgot about Gina and Martin," Amara admitted guiltily. "I was really close to them. I wonder how they're doing now."

"They're at Westfields," said Tessie. "And they're dating too. I see them around town sometimes, I think they've forgotten about us though. They probably got offended you forgot about them."

"I would be the same," sighed Amara. "What about your friends, have you told them that you're going off to boarding school too?"

"Of course," said Tessie. "I mean, once Ethan disappeared too, they all decided that the 'Matthews' kids were all really smart' and that I'd get a scholarship too. It stops them asking questions, I suppose."

"Must've been weird for you to be alone for two years," said Amara.

"I've been without you for four," said Tessie. "I'm glad that I'm not a muggle."

"You could have been," said Amara. "How horrible would that have been?"

"I couldn't even imagine it," Tessie said, shaking her head.

It was like the good old Matthews family meals that evening. Mrs Matthews prepared a huge lasagne with salad and for desert they had chocolate cake. Amara didn't pay any attention to the fact that her mother never usually went all out unless it was a celebration (and even if it was her grandmothers birthday, it was weird to do a massive meal that she didn't attend) and instead, she talked and laughed with her family like old times.

In the evening, Tessie forced Ethan to watch the movie with them instead of re-reading his potions book. He looked slightly disgruntled, him being thirteen and all, but was more than happy to watch Back to the Future with them.

And Amara was able to sleep in her own bed that night, instead of the one at Grimmauld place. Even though the one at Hogwarts was now more homely, Amara would still take her bed at home any day.

-OOOOO-

Amara didn't realise how ill her grandfather was until they were driving in the car (Amara felt this very odd as she was used to apparating or Flooing now) speeding along the motorway. Ethan was listening to his new edition of headphones, whilst Tessie was snoozing on the window. She was wearing her hair in the normal plaits and wore her more neater clothes, a white skirt and a blue blouse with a darker blue collar. Ethan was also wearing neater clothes, as was Amara, because their Grandma liked to see them neat and tidy.

Amara was the only one listening to her parents' hushed conversation of how worried they were. She was surprised that they hadn't told her, but they wouldn't have had the time, what with her being away at Grimmauld Place, and her mother being in Spain.

Her wand was tucked in her pocket, with her top covering it, unbeknownst to her mother and father, because they didn't really want Amara or Ethan taking their wands to a muggle household. Ethan had his wand too, tucked in his sock. Tessie had found this very amusing and promised not to tell anyone.

It took no longer than an hour to get to thirty-three, Norwalk Drive. Amara had not been to their Grandma and Grandad's new house before, and she was surprised to find that it was a neat, brick house with a garage and normal, square windows on the front with a blue door. It looked very ordinary, not at all like The Burrow or Hogwarts or the houses in Hogsmeade. Ethan looked bored with it too, but cheered up when their Grandma opened the door, hugged them all and ushered them inside.

"I haven't seen you in ages, Amara, dear," she said as she tottered into the kitchen. "Or you, Ethan – I saw Tessandra a month ago."

"My name is Tessie Grandma," said Tessie. Their Grandma had it firmly in her head that Tessie was the diminutive of Tessandra, but even though it could have been, Amara's parents had just called her Tessie.

"Where's Dad," said Mr Matthews.

"Upstairs, dear," said Rose. David turned and walked up the stairs, Amara trailing cautiously behind.

Her Grandad was in his bedroom on the bed, looking very pale.

His eyes perked up when he saw them, and he lifted his arms slightly.

"Amara," he wheezed. "I haven't seen you in forever."

Amara suddenly felt very guilty.

"I'm so sorry," she said.

"I heard you were at a boarding school though," said Jamison. "So I suppose that was a good reason."

Amara smiled slightly. "Sure."

She spend most of the day talking to her Grandad, about St. James' Boarding School (Amara made up some rather spectacular inventions about it) in Scotland and how Tessie had just received a scholarship there.

"I am very proud of you," he told her.

"He needs to sleep now," said Mr Matthews.

Amara nodded and went down the stairs to find Grandma and her Mum just finishing the touches to the dinner. As it was her Grandma's birthday, it was quite big and luxurious, and Amara was reminded slightly of the Hogwarts feasts.

That night, Amara shared a room with Tessie, as the house had four bedrooms (one for Jamison and Rose, and three spare: one for Mr and Mrs Matthews, one for Ethan and one for Tessie and Amara).

She was just about to settle down to sleep (Tessie was already snoring) when an owl, Archimedes to be exact, tapped on the window. Amara had left him at Grimmauld Place because she saw no reason to take him home with her.

Opening the window, she let her owl in and took the letter quickly. She saw Tally's neat handwriting immediately.

Dear Amara,

I know that your Grandparents are Muggles, and you're probably staying with them, but I sent Archie this evening so that it wouldn't cause a disturbance. I just wanted to see how things were – what's up with your Grandparents? Is it only because it's your Grandma's birthday? I hope it's nothing serious.
It's normal here, I mean, we still have to clean and clean which is rather annoying, but I've got closer to Ginny and Ron once I've been here. Hermione's still reading all the time and rather irritable, so I wrote to Jesse telling him to take her out on a few dates, because he's never around. He took her to London today, and I think they had a nice time because she came back all smiley and giggly.
Mrs Weasley very nearly found the other Ears today, as well, when she went into Fred & George's room. I had to distract her quickly, and apparently I'm their new favourite person (except from you, apparently).
See if you can see Harry at any point, won't you? He'll need the reassurance, the letters you lot are sending are not exactly helpful.

See you soon

Love Tally xxx

Amara smiled at the letter, and by the light of the street lamp, she hastily wrote a reply using a pen and pad in the room she was in. Archimedes looked affronted about leaving her again, but she reassured him that she'd be back very soon.

-OOOOO-

Deciding that meeting Harry would be the best thing, especially on his birthday, Amara made chocolate chip cookies the morning after, because she hadn't been able to go to Diagon Alley for a present.

Her mother helped her make them (Amara was good in the kitchen, but her mum liked to make sure nothing happened) and even wrapped them up in a box. She put them in her rucksack to keep safe, because she thought she'd look rather odd walking around with a box.

Knowing that she didn't know where Harry lived exactly, except the road, Amara told her father to drop her off at a point where she 'knew' and let him drive away, with the promise that they'd meet back in two hours.

She didn't really know where she was – the sign said Magnolia Crescent with leading to Magnolia Road underneath, in smaller letters. She supposed walking that way may help.

Five minutes of walking down the pavement lined with houses, each with scrubby patches of yellowing grass and cars that had centimetres of dust lined on them. Amara had heard of the drought, and she supposed that hose-pipes had been banned.

There was no one around to see a lone teenage girl, with a rucksack and wearing scuffed sandals (they were too comfy to throw out) walking aimlessly down the road.

In fact, Amara had nearly decided to turn back, before she looked into the park she was passing. Sitting on an unbroken swing, reading a copy of the Daily Prophet and completely alone was her other best friend, Harry Potter.

He was still rather skinny, but had stretched so much that even Dudley's old tops weren't as long anymore, just rather baggy. His jeans were dirty and his trainers had small holes in them. He was focused on reading the front page, but had not turned any further, and Amara, who didn't want him reading the nasty things inside, decided it was the best time to interrupt.

"You shouldn't read it so openly you know."

She had crossed the park so quietly that Harry had not noticed. Indeed, he was so oblivious that when she spoke he jumped and fell backwards off the swing.

Amara snorted and peeper over the edge, where his feet where dangling.

"Clumsy," she said.

"Amara?" Harry said in utter disbelief, scrambling to get himself up. When he did, Amara had to look up to see his face. "What – how –"

"It's good to see you too," said Amara. "And Happy Birthday."

"Thanks," said Harry, still perplexed. "But how come you're here?"

"Grandma's birthday," shrugged Amara. "They moved to Surrey – near Woking I think – and viola, it's near Little Whinging. Thought I might surprise you."

"Yeah you did," said Harry, scratching his head, making his black hair even messier. He snatched up the Daily Prophet and shoved it unceremoniously into his back pocket. "Do you read this rubbish? Nothing is about anything going on."

Amara blinked in surprise. "What are you talking about?"

"Voldemort!" said Harry, looking frustrated.

"Well," said Amara. "He's not going to be in there, but didn't you know you and Dumbledore are?"

"What?" he said.

"You haven't been reading it through, have you?"

"No – just the first page," said Harry.

Amara shook her head.

"I can't tell you around here, who knows who's about?" she said. "But I'll tell you when you get to where we are."

"Where are you – The Burrow?" Harry looked annoyed.

"No," said Amara. "I'm sorry we couldn't tell you anything, but Dumbledore made us swear not to, in case anything happened. It's been a right pain in the bum, I'm telling you."

"I know what you're talking about, I've been receiving the stupid letters," said Harry forcefully.

"Don't be annoyed with me – or anyone else," said Amara firmly. "I know it must be horrible kept in the dark, but I swear he'll let you come soon. It'll be stupid if he doesn't."

Harry sat down on the swing and scuffed his shoes in the gravel.

"Are you going to tell me anything?"

"No, sorry," said Amara, and she took off her rucksack. "I brought you cookies, for you birthday."

A smile flickered on Harry's face.

"Thanks," he said. "I threw away Ron and Hermione's Honeydukes chocolate."

"Why?" said Amara.

"Anger," he said. "But then I got a rubbish dinner, so I regretted it later."

"Well, you have these now," said Amara. "You been up to much?"

"What, for my four weeks on Privet Drive?" scoffed Harry. "No. I've been listening to the news mostly."

"Listening to the news?"

"To see if there's anything about –"

"Don't say it here," said Amara. "But yeah, I know. I doubt it will be on the TV though."

"It's the only thing I can do," said Harry.

Amara sighed.

"I stay out of the house most of the time," said Harry. "Being on my best behaviour."

"Don't want to do anything stupid," said Amara.

"Of course," said Harry dully.

"I honestly wish I could tell you about it Harry," said Amara. "But I can't."

"Yeah," said Harry. He still seemed very tense.

They swung in silence for a moment before Harry spoke again.

"Been having nightmares," he said.

"So have I," said Amara.

"I forgot that he was boyfriend, then I realised you probably had the same thing," Harry told her.

That was the way that they spent their afternoon. They munched their way through the cookies (which were very nice, Amara thought) talking about anything (other than Voldemort) and joking about Dudley and his pig-like qualities.

No matter what she said, Harry still seemed annoyed about not being involved with anything, so when she said goodbye at an alleyway connecting Magnolia Road to Wisteria Walk, she vowed to talk to Dumbledore or Moody to get Harry to come to Grimmauld Place quicker.