Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Author's Note: The second edited chapter now on portkey. I'm going to write another one shot romance story for those of you who enjoyed Truly, Madly, Deeply, and Since I don't have you it's only make believe. Please review. Also please if you don't have any constructive criticism or praise, please do not leave a review just to get points on your account that is full of gibberish and random keyboard punches. That is very rude and makes you look ignorant. Thank you.
Chapter 2: Siriusly, One Less for Dinner
Harry awoke early Saturday morning but his body refused to get out of bed. How good it felt to lay there knowing that there was nothing bad awaiting him when he stepped out of the room. No Dudley, no Aunt Petunia, and best of all no Uncle Vernon. He rolled his head over in the direction of Ron's snoring to see his redheaded friend drooling.
Flinging the covers off Harry forced himself to sit up. He scratched the back of his head, and feeling a small gurgling deep in his stomach, decided to head downstairs to see if anyone was making breakfast. Creeping quietly past Ron he took care not to make too much noise opening the door and slipping into the hall.
Harry made his way quietly down seven flights of stairs to see a disheveled Ginny setting a large breakfast table. Not noticing him she laid down the last spoon and slumped half-awake back to the kitchen. Harry pulled out a chair and settled down cozily into it, as Ginny walked back into the living room.
"Oh my god!" Ginny jumped so much from fright she almost dropped the stack of plates she was carrying. Clearing her throat and regaining her composure she looked down at him, "You're up bright and early."
"You're one to talk. Sorry I gave you a fright."
"Oh no it's ok." She set down the stack of plates and started to pat her hair down a little ashamed of her appearance. "Mum and I were just making breakfast for everyone. Hungry?" She began to set the plates out. Mrs. Weasley came out of the kitchen with a large bowl full of scrambled eggs.
"Oh Harry good morning. How'd you sleep dear?" Mrs. Weasley questioned him. She sat the bowl of eggs down and walked over to the stairs.
"Oh just fine Mrs. Weasley, thank you again for letting me stay here with you."
"Think nothing of it Harry." She turned to face up the stairs, "RON, FRED, GEORGE, GINNY!"
"I'm right here mum," Ginny replied shortly.
"Oh, oh yes you are. Sorry. Why don't you run up and tell Hermione that breakfast is ready too." Ginny hustled off up stairs and Mrs. Weasley took a chair next to Harry. "I suppose Ron told you that some of the Order is coming tonight for dinner?"
Harry stopped scooping eggs onto his plate and looked at her. "Oh yes he did mention that. He said even Dumbledore might stop by."
"Yes, yes if time permits him too. He's been very busy lately now that you-know-who is back. That is why everyone is coming to dinner tonight, we're going to hear the latest and find out just exactly what Dumbledore wants from us all." She stood up and put a hand on Harry's shoulder, "I know it's hard dear, missing your godfather and all. But know that we're here for you." She slid her hand slowly off his shoulder and returned to the kitchen.
Harry's throat rose a little. He'd put Sirius's death so deep inside himself that he'd almost forgotten about it. It was the only way he knew how to deal with the great feeling of emptiness and loneliness that accompanied his thoughts of Sirius. Now Dumbledore was going to tell everyone what he expected from them. Harry knew that his job wasn't going to be pleasant, what with his having to fulfill the prophecy he knew to be true.
Could he do it? When the time came could he face Voldemort, and worse yet without Sirius…could he do it alone? Then there was seeing the members of the Order of the Phoenix again tonight. Harry had been so excited about it, it never occurred to him that it would bring back all these feelings for his lost godfather. Now he was having second thoughts about dinner tonight, and if he even wanted to be there for it.
"You're up bright and early," Ron said drearily slipping into the seat next to Harry. Ron's words shocked Harry out of his pondering.
"Oh! Huh? Oh morning Ron. Yeah so I've been told." As Ron began to sweep eggs and bacon on to his plate Harry simply stared at his. He didn't feel much like eating anymore. He wanted to be alone, to be able to think, to sort out his feelings. If he was in fact going to meet the Order tonight he'd have to make sure he wasn't going to start bursting out in tears at not seeing Sirius. Harry stood up.
"Aren't you hungry?" Ron asked pulling a piece of bacon apart.
"No, I don't feel real well. I'm going to get some air," Harry said opening the door.
"Ok but where," but Harry had already left the house before Ron could get anymore of his sentence out.
Harry perched himself on a low-branch of a nearby tree. Holding tight to the branch he stared off into the field that lay opposite the Burrow. What am I going to do he thought as he buried his face in his hands. I can't do this. I'm not powerful enough to face Voldemort. I'm not even strong enough to face the Order tonight. A loud purring from below enticed him to peek down through his fingers.
Hermione, clutching Crookshanks tightly in one arm was trying to climb the tree up to Harry. Slowly but surely she made her way one handed up to where Harry sat. Making sure the branch was sturdy, she sat down beside him.
"What are you doing Hermione?"
"I should very well ask you the same thing." She sat petting Crookshanks softly who purred in her lap. Harry noticed that the letters S.P.E.W. had been sewn into Crookshank's collar. "Why aren't you in eating breakfast? Everyone is worried about you."
"I'm fine really," Harry muttered. But he wasn't fine and they both knew it.
"Harry come on if you're not going to come in at least tell me what's troubling you." She pushed some of her bushy hair out of her face and looked at him. Harry still stared at the ground.
"I guess - er - it's about the Order coming tonight."
"You miss Sirius don't you?"
"Wouldn't you?" Harry looked over at her. "I'm all alone now Hermione."
Hermione frowned and looked down at Crookshanks. "You've got us Harry." She didn't look back at him.
"Oh, no, no that's not what I meant." Harry, realizing his mistake made to correct it. "Of course I have you, and Ron, and all the Weasleys. You guys are the only thing that keeps me going. You're my only friends. I just meant family wise. I'm sorry Hermione I didn't mean what I said.
"I know," she looked back at him and smiled. "I know Harry." Letting go of Crookshanks she wrapped her arms around him and held him in a hug. Hugging back Harry was relieved he hadn't upset her. "I know what will make you feel better. Why don't you go play quidditch with Ron. It'll be fun, come on."
"Brilliant." Harry replied and followed her closely down the tree. He felt much better as his feet hit solid ground. He wasn't sure why, but he was glad that at least Hermione always understood him. He would be able to face the Order tonight after all.
Ron was coming out of the broomshed when Harry and Hermione walked up. "There you are mate, where have you been?"
"Harry was just feeling a little lonely that's all." Hermione smiled at him, "He just needed reminding that we're all here for him."
"Of course we are. Lonely, take a brother or two of mine you'll never be lonely." The three of them laughed and Ron handed Harry his Firebolt. "I brought it down from upstairs. Up for a game?"
"You bet." Harry replied switching his Firebolt to his other hand. Fred, George, and Ginny all came out of the broomshed with their respective brooms.
"Ready for a whoopin' Potter?" Fred asked, patting Harry playfully on the back.
"You're no match for a Potter, Weasley!" Harry joked back. They all giggled and Ron stepped in to the center of the group.
"Ok Harry you'll fly opposite Ginny as seeker. Fred and George," Ron looked at them and they held up their beater's bats in unison. "We don't have enough people to use bludgers guys, come on." Fred and George tossed their bats back into the shed a little disappointed..
"I'll keep opposite you Ron," said Fred mounting his broom. "It's not like I could do much worse."
"Hey! I've gotten better. So that leaves George to play chaser. Hmm we're still a person short and Bill and Charlie won't be home until later. Oh well I guess George can you play all-time chaser?"
"Can I try?" came a tiny voice from behind everyone. They turned to see Hermione, who'd been shoved to the back of the group, looking at them wide eyed.
"But, Hermione," interjected Ron. "You don't play quidditch. Besides we've all seen you on a broom…" he trailed off.
"We're a player short," Harry said. "Why not let her try? What's the worse that could happen? We don't have any bludgers out I say we let her play chaser." Hermione looked hopeful from behind them.
"Ok then. Hermione there's an extra broom in the shed you can use that. All right guys here we go." Ron mounted his broom and hovered up. They all flew (Hermione lagging behind) to a make shift quidditch pitch they'd made out of an old field. Ron, George and Ginny lined up behind one side of the starting circle.
Harry leaned over to Hermione when they had lined up too. "Ron's not too good to his left." He gave her a small pat of encouragement.
When Ginny dropped the old quaffle between them George nabbed it squarely out of the air before Hermione even realized what was going on. Ron and Fred took their places at opposite ends of the pitch as Harry and Ginny rose above the action to start looking for the snitch.
I hope she's better than she was in my dream Harry thought as he kept his eyes pinned on Hermione. She trailed behind George pitifully slow and before anyone could stop him he had scored. Fred muttered a swear word under his breath and tossed the quaffle to Hermione.
Clutching the quaffle tightly under her arm, both hands locked onto the broom handle, Hermione started up field. George flew a few feet away not attempting to steal it from her, giving her a chance.
"Come on, score on us!" Ron taunted. When she was in throwing distance she immediately took the quaffle and tossed it as hard as she could toward the center hoop. Ron caught it easily, but even if he hadn't the quaffle would have missed the target anyway.
Ginny floated over to Harry. "Seen the snitch yet?"
Harry looked over to her, "Like I'm going to tell you.
"She's really doing poor isn't she?"
"Oh I don't know Ginny. This is her first time after all. Give her a chance." The game continued on for another half-hour in which Hermione didn't score a single point. After her tenth miss in a row she floated dejectedly up to Harry, not even bothering to chase George who was already halfway down the field.
"You're not really poor at this." Harry smiled at her.
"How did you know what I was going to say?" She looked at him oddly.
"Just call it a hunch. This time fake like you're going to toss it left, then toss it right. Ron is horrid at making moves to his left. Trust me try it."
"Ok I'll try. But I'm not promising anything." She flew down to Fred who handed her the quaffle and wished her good luck. She made her way down field easily again as George still wasn't trying to stop her. When she came within range of the goal she came to a stop.
Harry urged her on in his mind as she did just as he instructed. When the quaffle passed through the right hoop she threw her arms up in celebration. Everyone but Ron flew to congratulate her, who joined after he'd retrieved the quaffle.
"Nice one Hermione. Won't happen again though," Ron smiled as he gave her a big hug.
"Thanks Ron." Hermione looked around at everyone. "So you think I'm ready to try out for the team?" She waited for a reply, but when she didn't get one smirked, "I'm kidding. I'd never play this for real if you freed every house elf in existence."
"CHILDREN!" Mrs. Weasley called from the front door. "HURRY UP AND COME CLEAN YOURSELVES. PEOPLE ARE COMING LATER, YOU DON'T WANT TO SMELL LIKE DUNGBOMBS DO YOU!?" the screen door slammed shut behind her.
"I don't know what mum is on about," Fred said as they flew back to the ground. "Ginny always smells like dungbombs." Ginny shot him a nasty look as they tucked all their brooms away back into the shed.
Harry sat next to Ron at the table, facing the front door. Any moment the Order will be here. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this he kept repeating over and over to himself.
"I certainly hope Moody doesn't use that eye of his on me." Ron shuddered as he said this. "It gives me the creeps that thing does." There was a large crackling sound from the kitchen and a high pitched scream from Mrs. Weasley.
"SORRY MUM!" came the voice of Bill Weasley from the kitchen.
"YOU SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH!" shouted Mrs. Weasley. Bill hustled out of the kitchen wearing handsome green dress robes. He scuttled over to Harry and Ron.
"Harry," he gave Harry a pat on the shoulder, "Nice to see you again. Still playing seeker I suppose. Oh Ron, don't get on mum's bad side tonight. She's in one of her "I'll blow up and destroy things" moods." He took the seat opposite Ron and waited. Charlie appeared a few minutes later and took up a conversation with Bill.
Mrs. Weasley came from the kitchen to greet Mr. Weasley as he apparated in. "Oh honey you're just in time. People will be showing up any minute and dinner is almost ready." She gave him a small peck on the cheek.
"Wonderful Molly! Is everyone ready?" He looked around the table. "Where are Fred and George? The girls?" As he said this Hermione and Ginny came traipsing down the stairs. Ron went wide eyed at Hermione who apparently had used another jar of Sleekeasy's Hair Potion on her hair. It bounced and shined as she stepped off the stairs.
Ron leaned over to Harry and whispered, "Nice."
Harry smiled at this opportunity. "Ron that's your sister!"
"You know what I meant," Ron whispered loudly and sat back straight in his chair. Harry smiled at his joke, even though he did know what Ron meant. The Hermione Granger who just walked down the stairs definitely did not look the same as the girl he had known on the Hogwarts Express six years ago. Harry might even say she looked beautiful.
A loud knock at the door made everyone jump. "Someone's at the door!" George notified everyone. Harry looked behind him to see Fred and George who had mysteriously appeared in the room. As Mr. Weasley opened the door everyone got up to greet the guest.
"Remus, hello come in, come in." said Mr. Weasley opening the door for the lead member. Lupin stepped into the house greeting Mr. Weasley and looking as weary as ever. When he was done saying hello to Mr. Weasley he turned to Harry.
"Harry. How are you these days?"
"Oh fine. How are you doing Lupin?"
Lupin took Harry's hand and shook it. "Oh I've seen better days. And it looks like I may not see them again for awhile." He handed Harry a chocolate frog, "Tell me Harry where is Molly, I must say hi."
"Oh I think she's in the kitchen and thank you," Harry pocketed the chocolate frog. He heard Lupin say something to Mr. Weasley about Mundungus having better things to do but Harry didn't catch anymore of what he said. When he turned back to the door he was face to face with a black tail-coat. He looked up into the distorted face of Mad-eye Moody. "Oh," Harry gulped even though he couldn't see Moody's magical eye from under the top hat he was wearing. "Hello sir. How are you?"
"Just fine Harry." He handed Harry his tail coat and top hat. In his deep scowl of a voice he added, "Keeping a constant vigilance Harry?"
"As ever sir." Harry said as he handed the coat and top hat to Ginny. When Harry saw Moody's magical eye spinning from person to person he gulped, wishing that Moody had left the top hat on. He thought he should be used to the eye by now, but he still couldn't get over how creepy it was. He didn't have much time to think about it though because his vision was soon clouded in a rain of turquoise.
Long hair had covered all of Harry's vision as he felt himself being embraced. "Harry you've grown up so much!" said a high pitched sweet voice.
"HI TONKS!" Harry couldn't help but let his voice squeak as she was squeezing him so tight. When she let go Harry looked up at her. Her hair was a brilliant turquoise and was down to her bum. She no longer looked like a punk rock star but rather wore a white blouse and a long skirt that made her look rather pretty.
"How are you?" she asked. She handed her purse to Mr. Weasley. "I had a bet with Lupin on how much you'd grown Harry." She turned to the kitchen. "Time to pay up Remus!" she giggled and strolled off toward the kitchen to say hello to the rest of the family.
The night wore on more pleasantly than Harry had expected. More do to the fact that nothing of a serious nature was brought up over dinner, and what conversation there was mostly consisted of jokes and good old-fashioned stories. Mrs. Weasleys cooking had been delicious and Harry was forced to take two tarts for dessert.
The girls and Tonks were busy having a conversation of their own after dinner, and Fred and George had taken up to showing Lupin their newest invention.
"We like to call them Colorblast Sweets," George showed off a small piece of purple toffee. "Just insert like so," He pushed the sweet into Fred's mouth, "chew and voila!" As Fred chewed on the piece of candy his face turned from flesh color to a bright hue of purple.
"The effects will only last twenty minutes so far. We're trying to get them up to an hour." Said the purple faced Fred.
"That has got to be the oddest thing I've ever seen. I'm sure you'll sell a ton," said Lupin. Mr. Weasley agreed and they continued on about how the wizarding wheezes business was going.
Harry settled back into a large comfy armchair. Ron was cross legged on the floor beside him staring intently at something. "What're you looking at?" Harry asked him. Ron looked up.
"Oh, uh, nothing." He looked down at the floor.
"Nothing sure looked like something, come on-"A loud knock at the door stopped Harry mid sentence. Mr. Weasley got up and opened it. A tall slim man in deep blue and silver robes stood firmly fixed in the doorway.
"I," said Dumbledore noticing the small pile of dessert pastries on the table, "do hope Molly has saved me a Lemon Drop or two." He smiled and stepped inside the house.
"Of course," said Mr. Weasley. Everyone got up and greeted Dumbledore, and laughed heartily when he told a joke that Harry didn't get. He didn't feel so bad though when Ron didn't laugh either, and took his place back in the armchair. Harry continued talking and enjoying himself well into the night.
"I would now like to ask," Dumbledore stood up and addressed the entire room, "the children to please leave the room. There are matters that need to be discussed that are much of an adult matter."
All the children groaned but didn't argue. Even Fred and George didn't want to put up a fight with Dumbledore. Harry followed Ron up to his room.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Ron asked. Hermione walked up behind them.
"Voldemort I'd suppose," she said stopping and waiting for Ron to go in. Ron stopped turning the handle and winced. "Oh honestly Ron it's not like he's going to just appear out of thin air when I say it."
"You never know," Ron said under his breath as he opened the door. They both crashed on their beds as Hermione took a seat in a small wooden chair.
"I wonder why we can't hear?" said Harry. "I mean we already know enough. What's it going to hurt?"
"Perhaps he's going to talk to us later." Hermione replied.
"I certainly hope so. I don't like the thought of someone out for my blood and I don't know what he's up too."
"You shouldn't say things like that Harry. You'll be fine. Remember you've got all of Dumbledore's Army behind you."
"Yeah, meetings will be great next year now that Umbridge is gone." Harry smiled at the thought. He noticed Ron hadn't been talking, and was once again in some sort of dazed stare. Not wanting to embarrass Ron or anything he quickly thought of something to say. "Uh…excellent dinner tonight. Your mum's a real cook Ron."
"Huh," Ron looked shocked, "oh yeah, yeah he is."
"He is, is he?" Harry laughed. His attempt to draw Ron out of his daze had only proved he was actually in one. Harry was thankful that Hermione was bright enough not to say anything.
"I know you haven't been practicing Occlumency Harry like you should have. So if Dumbledore ask you should apologize and promise to start on it again." Hermione stood up and stretched as Dumbledore entered the doorway.
"Mr. Weasley, you do keep a very cleanly room if I do say so myself. Might I have a word with Harry alone for a moment?" Dumbledore smiled down over his half-moon spectacles.
"Sure thing Professor," Hermione said getting up. "Come Ron let's let them talk." Ron stopped and faced Dumbledore before he left the room.
"Say Professor, do you think you could tell my mum about my clean room?" but before Ron got a reply Hermione grabbed him by the arm and yanked him into the hall.
Dumbledore walked quietly over to the bed and sat beside Harry. "How are you doing my boy?"
Harry couldn't make eye contact with Dumbledore. "Not good Professor. Not having Sirius has been hard on me. I thought I'd put it away so deep I could forget about it but tonight made me think twice. I don't know if I'd have been able to face anyone tonight if Hermione hadn't helped me out. Plus without him I don't feel strong anymore. I don't know if I can face Voldemort." Harry looked at Dumbledore's crooked nose. "What's happening with him anyway?"
Dumbledore patted Harry's knee and sighed. "Voldemort has been keeping oddly quiet these past few months. I'm afraid we don't know anymore than we did. As for Sirius's death you must remember that he will always be with you Harry. In here" he put an old boney finger up to Harry's chest. "You have power in your friends Harry. Always remember that you are never alone." Dumbledore smiled and withdrew his finger. "I have much planned for this year at Hogwarts for you Harry. I wish to see you in my office when you arrive at the beginning of term." He stood up. "I know it will be hard to visit an old man like myself what with studying, Voldemort, and those dreadful things we refer to as girls but do Harry, do come and see me." He smiled and headed toward the door. "Hopefully Mr. Potter we can keep you out of trouble this year."