Chapter 3
"If Hermione could see you now, she'd be so proud," called a familiar voice from the Library doorway. The tall redheaded teenager leaned on the doorjamb looking at his best friend slumped over asleep on top of a book.
Jerked awake by the sound of the familiar almost baritone voice, Harry looked up to see if he was dreaming or if he'd actually heard his best friend's voice. "Ron?"
"Hey mate. Thought we'd surprise you and come over for a visit."
"Ron!" He stood up and ran to him excitedly. He knew he'd missed his friend and his company, but it hit him at once just how much when he saw him leaning on the door way. They gave each other their manly hug and would have screamed like girls if it weren't for their pride.
"Harry!" called another familiar voice from the end of the hall leading to the library.
Ginny had grown a couple inches to add to her already tall height. Her hair was still as flaming red as her brothers to keep up with the Weasley trait, but she'd had it styled in a more trendy way from when she first used to fix it. It must be Lavender's influence, he mused. It looked good on her. He hoped she and Ron resolved the issue with Malfoy being her boyfriend. Then he remembered, they were probably waiting for him to be present amongst them in order to break the news to their parents. He usually became some kind of buffer between them. At times he didn't mind it at all, it just made him more part of their family and then there were times when he didn't want to get involved fearing that he'd put a wedge between the elder Weasleys relationship with him. However, the family bond in him was stronger and always seemed to win in the end.
"Ginny!" She ran towards him and pulled him in a hug with such force that it almost knocked him on his arse. "Good to see you too!" He chuckled.
"Come on Ginny, let the man breather will you," Ron complained as it was what he was always good at.
Harry held her at arms length. "Wow, look at you. You've grown a bit eh?"
"Just a little," she smiled.
"What are you talking about a little, she's an Amazon." Ron earned an elbow in the mid section.
"That'll teach you Ron," called Remus from behind him. "Didn't you know that women have tender feelings especially regarding their height and weight, and as such you must always believe them to be light and tiny."
"Thank you Professor," Ginny giggled in response.
"Remember, just Remus. I am no longer your professor. So, where are your mum and dad?"
"They'll be by later some time. They thought you'd needed help getting Harry.." Ron earned another elbow in the rib.
"Would you stop hitting me? Anyway, as I was saying," Ginny turned to eye Ron and gave him a glare that finally made something click in Ron's brain. "Yeah, they sent us here to keep Harry company and help him settle in."
Remus and Ginny almost let out a loud sigh of relief. Ron almost blew the most elaborate plan ever conceived by their parents and Dumbledore. Harry sensed something was up and he would have felt it if he'd turned on his empath powers. Still keeping his promise to them not to use it on his friends unless in dire emergencies, he was unable to sense anything from the three people standing in front of him. He didn't mind. He was just so happy to see his friends.
"Well, I'll let Harry show you to your rooms. Harry, the Gweneviere room for Ginny and Lancelot for Ron?" Harry nodded in acknowledgement. He knew where the rooms were from his exploration the first day he arrived. He knew the house from top to bottom like the back of his own hand.
"Come on then. Where are your bags?"
"Remus said they'd be sent up to the rooms. I guess they should be there already."
Ginny and Ron followed Ron up the stairs and into their respective rooms. Ginny was flabbergasted at first sight of her room. She took in the princess like canopy bed with golden roses holding the cover on each side of the bed. The bed was as big as Harry's four-poster bed, queen size at least. Everything was matching including the dressers, armoire and desk. She sat on the bed and bounced a bit and felt the feather like softness of the mattress. The room was a bit smaller than Harry's, but it was certainly bigger by a lot than her room at the burrow. She felt like a princess.
Harry and Ron left her squealing at each beautiful decoration she happened to set her eyes on. The boys proceeded to Ron's room, which was only a door away from Ginny across the hall next to the bathroom they would be sharing. Harry found it unusual that Remus did not put them in the same wing as his room, but he didn't question him at that time. He'd been too excited to have his friends with him, well more like his brother and sister.
He opened the door for Ron and witnessed the same awe in Ron's face as they'd just seen in Ginny's only moments ago. He'd always had a tiny room at the very top of the burrow and seeing the room made his head spin. He saw the gigantic four-poster bed in a slightly darker shade of oak. He saw the very exquisite armoire, dresser and a desk. Even in Hogwarts he'd had to share the room with five others, but the huge room he had to himself. He was beyond amazed of such a wonderful host they had. Of course he'd have to thank the generous person when he found out who it was, but in the mean time he would enjoy his moment of luxury. He knew the house would be crowded soon and he may have to share the room, but until then it was his.
He did just as Ginny did and bounce a little on the bed and let his body freefall backwards and wallow in the softness of the bed. Harry was a little amused at his friends childlike enthusiasm but did not say anything since he did the same thing only a few days before.
"Harry, I could live here forever. This room is great."
"I know. I felt the same way when I first arrive. You should see the view from the window. The grounds are definitely enormous and great for a game of quidditch."
Ron practically bolted to the window to have a look for himself. He wanted to squeal his delight, but didn't want to be called a girl so he just let his mouth hang open for a while.
"My room is in the other wing. I don't why Remus put you here when there are about three other rooms in that wing."
"I don't mind mate. This is a great room and maybe the other rooms are already reserved for others who might drop by or something."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I mean that the rooms may already belong to others. You know Tonks, Remus, Mad-Eye…"
"I guess. But I haven't seen anyone go into those rooms. Then again, I haven't slept in my room for the past few nights." He chuckled.
"Really Harry. Hermione is a very bad influence. You mean to tell me you've been in the library reading every night since you got here?"
"Amazing isn't it. Not only that, I've also spent the days in there as well except during meal times and such."
"Harry! What is happening to you? Are you ill?" Ron placed his hand on his forehead to feel his temperature.
"Oh will you stop it. I'm fine. I've just been researching something."
"Oh really, now who did that sound like?"
"Who sounded like whom?" asked Ginny from the door.
"Harry is starting to sound like Hermione. He's been in the library everyday and night. He's even talking about researching."
"That's great Harry. At least one of you has finally learned the value of a good book." Ron's mouth dropped.
"What?"
"Oh, come on. I love quidditch and all, but really the mind is a terrible thing to waste especially if you've got one."
"She's got you too," Ron whined.
"Will you stop it, Ron. Why don't you try reading something besides your quidditch or chudley cannon books from time to time. You may find that you are capable of enjoying it."
Harry smiled at Ginny. Ron scowled at both of them. He couldn't fathom reading anymore than necessary for school. He'd had to read enough for research with Hermione's insistence, but he drew the line there. He was not about to start reading for his own pleasure at his leisure.
The banter between them gave Harry a great escape. He'd missed just that and he didn't want to go into an explanation of what he'd been researching. He didn't want to say anything until Hermione was able to join them and knowing her, she was probably doing the same thing he was. She was probably researching and has a stack of notes on the subject. That made him smile. Then he started to ache inside from missing her.
"You lot ready for lunch," called Tonks from the hall just behind Ginny. Ginny almost jumped out of her skin.
"Don't do that! You scared the life out of me."
"Well, if you weren't so busy arguing with one another, you would have heard me, wouldn't you?"
"Come on. Remus and Mad-Eye don't like to be kept waiting for a meal," Harry told them.
They followed Tonks down to the dining room where Remus and Mad-Eye waited patiently for their charges. The children didn't know what the future held for them and they hadn't told Harry much about why he was brought to Avalon yet. He'd asked them countless time, but all they would tell him was that Dumbledore wanted him there and he'll know why in due time.
He would be seventeen in a few more days and they still treated him like a child, he thought. He wondered at times like those if his parents would have treated him the same way. He knew everyone was being over protective because of the fact that Voldemort was out to get him. Well, he was a bit tired of it and wished they would teach him to defend himself and others instead of just trying to protect him. He knew what the prophecy said; it was either he or Voldemort. They couldn't both win. Either he died or Voldemort would. He'd accepted his fate, but he did not expect to lose in the end. He had a lot to live for.
He hoped they all had it in their heads that no matter how much they tried to protect him, the less they're really helping since he was ultimately going to face the evil by himself. He didn't want to sacrifice anyone else especially the people he cared about and loved. His training with Merlin had helped a great deal, but he knew he needed to learn more and practice more in the real world and not in his projected world. Spending time with Merlin was great and he couldn't wait to start up his training again, but he needed more practical training. He just hoped Dumbledore realized that. He also hoped that they would start treating him as an adult instead of a defenseless child. He knew there was so much more he was capable of, but he needed to practice it and he couldn't with the restrictions set upon him.
He sat down at his place at the table and watched to his amusement Ron's eyes pop out at the sight of the mouth-watering food set in front of him. It seemed as if they were having dinner instead of lunch. Lunch usually consisted of a sandwich, pumpkin juice and cookies. There on the table were baked chicken, potatoes, tarts, and steamed vegetables.
"Well, go on. Dig in you lot," Mad-eye told them almost chuckling at Ron's expression. He acted strict and surly most of the time, but inside he was a softie. He just doesn't want the children, in his mind the future of the wizarding world, become relaxed about the threat of evil. There will always be someone who will oppose good and it was his job, if not his mission, to drill that possibility in their minds.
Ron starting hoarding loads of food onto his plate and started to stuff his mouth as if he hadn't eaten in days. Ginny was appalled, but saw that the rest seemed unaffected by his brother's actions. She forgot that they've been a part of her family and family usually overlooked the other's flaws. She took some food and started to eat daintily as was her manner.
After lunch Harry took Ginny and Ron for a tour. As was his first thought when he'd walked into the kitchen, Ron did not disappoint him. Harry looked at his face and hoped he didn't faint from the shock and excitement written all over his face. He was like a child on Christmas day. Ginny and he looked at each other and started to laugh hysterically. Harry saved the kitchen for last because he knew that Ron would have a hard time leaving it once he saw it. They sat in the kitchen for a while reminiscing and drinking butter beer.
A/N: Thank you all for the reviews.