Harry Potter and the Galator
Chapter 2
The Galator
The week went by faster than Harry anticipated. It helped that aunt Petunia always had something for him to do. There was always housework or garden work that needed to be done. Harry didn't mind as long as he didn't have to listen to his cousin complain.
"Aw, mum. I need a new radio." Dudley had complained one day after throwing the radio out his window because of static interference.
"Of course, darling. We'll get one as soon as your father gets home," she answered.
"But I want one now. I can't listen to my music without one." He continued and Harry rolled his eyes as he listened.
"I'll tell you what. Why don't we call your Dad and tell him to stop by the electronic store to buy you a new one. In the mean time I'm sure you can use the old one you gave to Harry, right Harry," she said nervously. Even as a teenager, Dudley still threw a full-blown temper tantrum like a child.
"That's fine. I can go get it if you want Dudley." He didn't want him to go into his room and see his school supplies or his letters from Hermione.
"Fine, I guess." Harry was already out of the kitchen to get the radio.
"I'll call Daddy right now, okay dear." Dudley was placated for the time being until he would find something else to complain about.
Harry kept busy in the gardens more. He figured he could get sunshine, a work out, and not listen to Dudley's music or his whining. He couldn't decide which was worse, the whining or the music. They both sounded awful to him.
When Saturday came he'd already packed up his trunk and made sure he took all his personal belongings with him. During dinner his Uncle Vernon asked again how they were picking him up.
"So, how are they going to come get you this time?" he asked angrily still remembering the damage to his fireplace the other year.
"Oh, Ron said they would use a port key."
"A what?" the Dursley's said in unison.
"A port key. It's like trave…" before Harry could finish his explanation his uncle stopped him.
"Never mind. I don't want to know. As long as they're not seen by the neighbors then it's fine by me." Harry left it alone and they finished there dinner in silence.
The next day, Mr. Weasley and Ron appeared in the Dursley's living room at 8 o'clock in the morning. Harry had just finished putting the dishes away and was on his way to his room when he heard his uncle Vernon screaming.
"What is the meaning of this!" Uncle Vernon yelled while Aunt Petunia and Dudley went behind him for cover.
"Oh, hello there Mr. Dursley," Mr. Weasley greeted him. "It's nice to see you again. I didn't think it was appropriate for us to just appear on your front porch, the neighbors you know." His explanation was a bit plausible for Uncle Vernon and actually appreciated his discreetness. But that wasn't the only reason of course. He didn't want to attract any Death Eaters that may be patrolling the area.
"Well, since you put it that way." Uncle Vernon calmed down. "Thank you. But I wish you'd give us some sort of warning."
"Oh, Sorry." Mr. Weasley saw the television "Oh wow. What is that huge rectangular box with people moving around in it?" He walked over trying to find out how those people fit in such a small box. He always became like a small child when it came to muggle things. Ron left his Dad with the Dursleys and walked over to where Harry was standing.
"Hey Harry. Good to see again, mate." He smiled and gave Harry a hug.
"It's good to see you too Ron. Let's get my things while your Dad is busy figuring out how the television works." They went up the stairs and brought Harry's trunk down immediately before Mr. Weasley did something to the television.
The trunk seemed a little lighter for them now that they've built up their muscles a bit. Ron was a little taller than Harry and though both had visible muscles, Ron was still thinner. He'd let his red hair grow out a bit, but he'd promised Lavender, his girlfriend, that he'd get it cut before school started. He and Lavender had been dating since the middle of their fifth year.
"Dad, Harry and I are ready. You'd better come here with the port key or you'll be leaving without us." That last statement brought Mr. Weasley out of his close investigation of the television.
"This is very fascinating." He told them as he walked towards Ron and Harry. "The people inside are moving, but I can't figure out how they all fit."
"They're called actors Mr. Weasley and the contraption is called a television, T.V. for short. They're not really inside the box."
"Oh. Well, we'd better get ready we only have a minute left before the port key is activated again. Harry you'd better say your goodbyes." Harry looked at the Dursleys all bunched up at the corner of the sofa. Their fear of magic makes them cower when such things happen in their own home.
"Er.. Bye then, " Harry called out to the Dursleys just as the port key was activated and pulled the three of them back to the burrow.
"Oh, Harry!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed as she took Harry in for a bear hug. "How have you been?"
"Mom, he'd feel better if you weren't hugging so tight." Ron cut in.
"Sorry, dear. It's just so wonderful to see you again. I have been worried."
"I'm fine. Thanks Mrs. Wealey."
"You know, Arthur and I were wondering if you would stop calling us Mr and Mrs. Weasley. It sounds so formal"
"Er.. What should I call you then?"
"Well, I think it would be out of line if I asked you to call me Mum even if I do feel like you're one of my children, so why not Aunt Molly and Uncle Arthur." Harry looked at Ron to see if it was okay. Ron just grinned at him obviously feeling the same way.
"Er. Okay. Thanks Mrs… um Aunt Molly." Molly Weasley smiled her approval.
"My you and Ron have grown like weeds. Have you had breakfast?"
"Yes, Ma'am"
"Ok then, why don't you and Ron take your things to his room and get settled. I'll call you for lunch. Give you two some time to catch up on things."
As they walked upstairs, they can hear Mr. Weasley trying to explain to his wife about the television. They saw Ginny on her way down. She'd grown as well. Her hair had grown long past her shoulders and had started to wear makeup.
"Hi Harry," she greeted him with a hug. She was no longer the shy little girl who had a crush on him. She'd become more confident and had finally outgrown her crush and treated Harry like another brother. Besides, she had her sights on someone else.
"Hey, Ginny. How've you been?"
"Oh, come on you two. Let's continue the reunion in my room. This trunk is getting bloody heavy." Ron complained. The three of them went into Ron's room. They set Harry's trunk down and sat on the bed, in Ron's case more like collapse on the bed.
"So how are Fred and George?" asked Harry.
"They're fine. They're getting things ready for the Grand Opening of the Weasley's Wizards Wheezes shop."
"Yes," seconded Ginny. "Mum and Dad were getting annoyed with all the owls coming over carrying a lot of orders for their products so they decided to help them out and find a prime location for their shop."
"That's great! I guess your mum gave up on trying to make them find some "sensible" jobs?"
"Are you kidding? They still hear it once in a while, but not as much now that they're actually getting profitable," answered Ron.
"So, when's the big day?"
"In about two weeks before we go back to school," Ginny said. "So, have you guys heard from Hermione?" asked Ginny from out of the blue. She was the main reason her crush for Harry stopped. She had the feeling that Hermione might like Harry, but hadn't actually said it out loud. She called it a woman's intuition. She also noticed Harry's reaction at the mention of Hermione's name. She was sure that he might like her too. She had to ask Ron some other time.
"Well, she did say to owl her when I find out what day we will be going to Diagon Alley" Harry answered her trying to act as normal as possible. "I guess we'll tell her to meet us there at the grand opening of W3."
Ginny also got the vibe that they wanted to talk about guy things, so she decided to excuse herself. "Well, I'm going to check if mum needs help downstairs. It's nice to see you again Harry."
"You too, Ginny. See you later."
When Ginny left and close the door behind her, Ron finally got up. "Oh, good. Now I can give you your present."
"Why'd you wait until Ginny left?"
"No reason. I just wanted to give it to you in private."
"Oh, okay. Is it something that girls shouldn't see?" he asked amused at Ron's secretive actions.
"No! Come of it mate. I just didn't want her thinking that her big brother is getting sappy. Here." He practically shoved the rectangular package at Harry. Harry opened it and was shocked to see a book, and book that has nothing to do with Quidditch, their favorite sport. Ron became the Gryffindor keeper in their fifth year and they won the Quidditch cup and the house cup as well.
"Wow Ron, where did you find this? This looks old and maybe rare." He looked over the title, 'Discovering Merlin'.
"We were touring the Stone Henge and this one is from mum and dad," he handed Harry a smaller box. Harry opened it and found a green amulet attached to a leather string.
"This looks great, but your mum already gave me something for my birthday."
"Well, since we visited the Stone Henge after your birthday, she couldn't resist. She said it matches your eyes and all." Harry felt so cherished at that moment. His real aunt and uncle would have never thought to buy him anything just because something reminded them of him. The truth is, they'd never given him a present for his birthday or even acknowledged his birthdays. They basically tried to ignore him as much as they could unless they needed something done. Harry started getting teary eyed.
"Hey, you're not going to cry on me are you?" joked Ron. He didn't like being too emotional.
"I am. I mean your family treats me more like family that my own."
"Well, didn't you hear what my mum and dad said? You are. I mean we're practically like brothers and my mum already said she thinks of you as one of her children and she also knows that the Dursleys treat you like dirt, so you're practically adopted, without all the paper works of course."
"Your family is great Ron. You're lucky to have them. Never forget that."
"What are you talking about your… you mean ours." This made Harry more emotional than he'd wanted. He gave Ron a bear hug just as Fred and George walked in.
"Aw.. this is a Kodak moment," teased Fred. Upon hearing the voice Harry let go of Ron and looked towards Fred and George. They noticed unshed tears in Harry's eyes.
"Er" said Ron feeling uncomfortable " just giving Harry his presents." Fred and George looked at each other and decided not to tease them about seeing them hug.
"Well, if that's how you react when you get an old book, then you'll love this." George said and handed him a piece of parchment. When Harry stretched out to receive the paper, George noticed the green amulet.
"Thanks." Harry said as he started to open the sealed paper.
"Hey, that's the amulet mum got from that old woman at the Stone Henge. She was really strange." This piqued Ron and Harry's interest about the piece of parchment.
"What do you mean?" asked Ron curiously.
"While you were looking at the books, this strange old lady came up to mum and practically forced her to take the amulet from her. She even said it would look good on a dark haired boy with green eyes."
"Oh come of it George. You're pulling our legs right?" Ron cut in. But he'd never seen his brothers look more serious in his life and they were usually up to some kind of prank. Harry on the other hand was listening intently.
"He's telling the truth. I was there too. She said that the amulet is called the Galator, I believe. Legend says that it had been in Merlin's family for generations. Its powers are beyond any magic here on earth. He's used it many times to save his life and his land."
"But why would the lady specifically tell your mum to give it to a boy bearing my description?" asked Harry.
"That's another strange part," added George.
"Yeah," Fred chimed in. "Mum said it was as if she read her mind because mum was thinking of you when she saw the green stone."
"That is strange," Ron added. "How come you guys didn't tell me this before?"
"Because we didn't think mum would actually give it to Harry. We thought she took it because she felt sorry for her and she was so persistent that maybe she took it to get rid of her." George answered
"Well, that's what made him all mushy." Ron told them matter-of-factly.
"Okay, so why don't you read the parchment. We'd like your answer immediately." Fred told Harry as they left Ron's room sniggering.
"Oh go on. Open it. It's probably about the grand opening."
"Well, they were laughing. Do you think they might have enchanted this parchment to maybe, oh I don't know, blow up in my face when I actually start reading it."
"Oh go on Harry. It's just an invitation. I am sure Hermione already received hers. They just waited to give you yours in person. Not that you need it, but just to make it official. I got one too. Well all did, because it's by invitation only. You can't cross the threshold without one." Harry trusted Ron. He opened it and found that it was an invitation.
You are cordially invited
To the Grand Opening of
Weasley's Wizards Wheezes (W3)
On the 30th of August
At 11:00 A.M.
Note: Please bring your invitation for admittance.
Harry was about to close it when he noticed a note at the bottom of his invitation.
P.S. This is for your eyes only Harry.
We would like to thank you for your wonderful
contribution, er, investment. We wouldn't
have done it without you. Consider yourself
our very silent partner in this venture.
Harry smiled to himself. He remembered when he gave them the prize money for the Triwizard Championship Tournament. He didn't feel right keeping it, especially since it caused a death of one of his classmates, Cedric Diggory. He felt better giving it to Fred and George. Now he knew he didn't make a mistake.
"What's wrong Harry?" asked Ron wondering what he was smiling about.
"Er. Just surprised it didn't do anything."
"Ah, but knowing my brothers we'll never know what's in store for us once we get into the shop."
"True. I guess we'll just wait and see."
"Yeah."
"So, I guess we have to wait two weeks huh?"
"Yeah, lets go play quidditch with Fred and George."
They met up with the Fred and George. They missed the low glow the Galator emitted just as Harry set it down in his trunk.