Unofficial Portkey Archive

Author's note: I have to thank Jen who has begun to provide invaluable assistance to the creative process by making Hermione a little more realistic (45 y/o guys may not have the teenage girl psyche worked out so well) and giving me new ideas. Hopefully this will improve the quality of my story. Thanks Jen for telling me something needs work and telling me what you like.

The Burrow Reunion

Harry finally had his gifts for Hermione, but now he just had so much to think about. He had never made any kind of move toward Hermione as though he was interested, but now things had definitely changed. He continued thinking about what has happened to them in the past five years, she could have really been hurt that night in the Department of Mysteries, thank Merlin she wasn't. All the way home he thought about her; from the first time seeing her on the Hogwarts Express that first day of school, up until now, becoming his best friend and the only person he might ever love. How would he survive if she were taken away from him?

As he turned the corner on Magnolia Road, he looked down the street where he'd met the Knight Bus, and also over at the place where the Dementors had attacked Dudley and him. He felt a chill run down his back, so he turned away and continued to think of Hermione.

Ron and Hermione had spent four weeks together while he'd been stuck in the Dursley's house waiting for instructions. They had all the time in the world to get to know each other better and they'd better not become sweethearts. This thought gave him hope. Maybe just the opposite happened and they had decided to just be friends.

He knew Ron though. He could be a terrible procrastinator. Case in point: the Yule Ball. The most infamous incident was Ron being sweet on Hermione. Harry remembered vividly that it was Ron looking so forlorn at Hermione going to the Yule Ball with Viktor. It didn't help matters that Hermione took pleasure in reminding Ron that if he had wanted to go with her, he should have asked sooner. It was the ultimate combination of I-can't-wait-for-you-to-grow-up and that of being a great tease. Harry had the feeling that if Ron could have used a Time-Turner to go back and woo her, he would have. Two years later, Ron still didn't get it.

He turned onto Privet Drive and saw his prison-like home. This was his Azkaban. Instead of Dementors, he had Tormentors to suck the happiness out of him. He laughed half-heartedly at that thought. The Dursley's certainly weren't as bad as Dementors, but his experience with them was nonetheless a very unhappy time. Thank goodness he found a way to quell their antics. He hadn't had his soul sucked out while he was here, but he did do a lot of soul searching

As he went in the door, Dudley was sitting watching TV as usual. And, as usual he had his assorted pastries and snacks laid out if front of him. Harry shook his head and started to say something to him to get a rise out of him when Dudley spoke first:

"A couple of bloody owls came to the back door after scratching at your window. There's a letter and a package for you on the steps." He had not looked at Harry nor cracked as smile or a frown. He was almost robotic in his announcement. Harry muttered a "Thanks" then picked up the post and ran up the stairs.

Harry looked at the letter, which was from Hermione, and at the package that was from Ron. Harry felt something strange. He'd never have suspected that the day before going to Ron's he'd get a package from him after getting a letter earlier in the day saying to be read\\

tomorrow and the time. The letter from Hermione seemed normal; she wouldn't be there until next week. The package wasn't really a package really. It was one of those envelopes that had padding so that something wouldn't break.

He decided to open Ron's package first.

As he opened the package he realized what ever else was inside would not be accessible without reading the letter or tearing it to shreds first. So Harry knew he was forced to read Ron's letter.

Harry,

Do you remember the letter I sent which asked you to come to my house a week before Hermione, because I wanted to talk to you? Well, plans have changed a little and things are a little more rushed and complicated.

Hermione's already here, Harry. I got so lonely to see her that I convinced her to come early by telling her we could all three spend more time together. But the real reason was that I want your help in telling her that I fancy her. I don't mean you'd have to do anything after she knows but be supportive and give us time alone. She'll feel better if it seems like it's okay with you…

We've always kind of just walked up on each other, no matter what the situation was and got in the conversations. I don't want to be embarrassed you know.

Mate, I know I can count on you to help me. I'll bet you're as happy as I am that I finally got the courage to tell her.

I have the gift I'm going to give her hidden in the plastic under the letter. I was so surprised she agreed and got here so quickly. I wanted to hide it from her where snoopy Ginny or my brothers wouldn't find it and spill the beans.

Thanks mate. See ya at noon tomorrow.

Regards,

Ron

Harry had read the letter twice as though it were an April Fool's joke. He kept waiting for punch line. The pit of his stomach was rumbling like a volcanic eruption were about to take place. He stood and stared at the gift. He didn't want to open it and look, because from the look of it, it was inexpensive but probably very precious to Ron. Ron didn't have a lot of money unless he borrowed it from one of the twins. He wouldn't be worried about the twins finding it if they'd gave him the money. Then it dawned on him. Ron had worked for them all summer. They probably paid him. No wonder he didn't want them to see it.

Harry ran to the loo and was sick. He couldn't remember the last time something made him this ill, other than the Polyjuice Potion and becoming Goyle, of course. After a few minutes, he cleaned himself and the loo around him up. This was ridiculous to him. He was embarrassed for himself. He hadn't even been this upset at the death of Sirius nor at the death of Cedric. Even when he faced Voldemort, he had been better than this.

How could this be happening? Hermione had been writing to me as much as him, right? He was totally baffled as to how he could look at Ron without wanting to yell, `No, she's mine you red-haired, goofy git!' at him. However, Harry instantly felt guilty for even thinking something like that about Ron. Then he remembered Hermione's letter through the haze of sickness and confusion.

He opened the letter and read it carefully. How could they have sent their letters by the same owl if Ron had sent his before Hermione? He couldn't think straight. Time was beginning to become difficult to tell, because one set of thoughts had made the time drag and the other set made the time fly. Unfortunately, it was the bad news that made time fly so fast that night. He'd have to face the music tomorrow.

He had no idea what to expect in Hermione's letter. For all he knew it could be a profession of love for some other bloke she met over the summer.

Dearest Harry,

I don't want you to be shocked when you arrive at Ron's house. I know he told you I wouldn't be coming until next week. But he said you'd be there tomorrow and kept begging that we all spent more time together this year. I was all for that. I love my books and all, but I like being with you two as well. I arrived last night at around 10 pm and stayed in Ginny's room.

Well, here's the thing. I get here and Ron follows me like my shadow. If I am with Ginny in her room, when I come out, he's standing in the hallway waiting with this great big grin on his face.

Ginny seemed weird too. She seemed like she wanted to tell me something but couldn't. Something feels very different here. Even Mrs. Weasley as kind as she's been to me over the years has called me `dear' no less than 18 times in the five hours between breakfast and lunch. I've been here less than twenty-four hours and I feel like someone has stolen the real Weasley family and left this one behind.

Almost everything became clear about 10 minutes ago. I overheard Ginny and Ron talking in kitchen near the pantry. Ron has a letter he was going to send you with a secret gift for me. He doesn't want Ginny or his brothers to know what the gift is so he's sending it to you. I don't understand Ron though. Why tell her it even exists if he doesn't want her to know what it is? Sometimes Ron can be so thick.

After their conversation, I caught Pig before he could get out the window with the letter and gift. I didn't open it because I heard Ron coming down the hall, so I let him go. So I am going to send Errol with this one.

I heard Ron quarrelling with Ginny about something. All I could get was Ginny saying, "It's not right to do this to either of them. Stand up for yourself. Don't count on Harry to help you." So just two minutes ago I caught Ginny and told her what I knew and that I wanted to know what's going on.

Harry, she told nearly word for word what Ron wrote to you. Here's the thing. I love Ron dearly, but I can't be his girlfriend. Not like he wants right now. A few years ago before everything that's happened, we might have become girlfriend and boyfriend. I don't want a boyfriend who's going to hang all over me like he's been doing and probably will do. I can tell.

The bottom line is Harry. Don't you dare give him any help. If anything I am going to go out of my way to show affection for you. I don't want you to misunderstand me either, but we're going to have to make it convincing. I am not talking about snogging in the garden or holding hands wherever we go. I mean the way we say hello to each other or listen to each other's adventures from the summer. Subtle things will give me a way to let Ron down easy and explain away any relationship he thinks there is between us. I'll just tell him that he's been so clingy that I have become more comfortable with you.

Can you do this for me, Harry? Please be a sport and help me. I love Ron very much as a friend, but not that romantic way he wants. At least not like the crush we had on each other years ago, but didn't know what to do with it then. Besides, I fancy someone else.

See you tomorrow. I guess I'll know by your reaction when you arrive.

Love and Friendship Always,

Hermione

He was more confused than ever. If he helped Ron, he was going to make Hermione mad at him. But if he followed Hermione's suggestion, he'd likely end up hurting Ron. And as for pretending to like her when he really wasn't pretending at all would be torture. She had made it clear that she would be `going out of her way to show affection' to him. She didn't want him either. It nearly broke his heart.

Harry paced for nearly an hour thinking of how he could avoid helping either of them. Now he knew why guys stuck together and girls stuck together at this age. They played games with each other. Either way he was helping the enemy. He understood the game Hermione was playing. It wasn't to make Ron feel bad, just to keep things civil so she didn't have to tell him off.

What Ron wanted was never going to happen and Harry knew it. He couldn't pretend it was all right for Ron to be more than a friend to Hermione. This choice made him nervous. The entire Weasley family would disown him if they knew he intentionally hurt Ron. He didn't have that many people he loved, and he couldn't afford to lose even one.

Finally, after midnight he fell asleep. Harry slept peacefully for most of the night until he was woken up with Uncle Vernon shaking him.

"Are you bloody insane? First, it was just minor talking in your sleep. Then I heard you going to the loo. I looked in and you had stopped. But just now you were screaming, `I'll kill you. Leave her alone or I'll kill you.' Wake up you little troublemaker, you. I knew you'd come out to know to no good. I can't wait for you to leave tomorrow." Uncle Vernon was not frightened of Harry at all tonight. He was red and very angry. He threw Harry back down toward the headboard of the bed. Had it not been for his pillow against the headboard, he would likely have been knocked unconscious.

Harry got up and looked at the clock. It was 4:30 AM. He tried to remember the dream. Only bits and pieces seemed to be clear. In his dream, there was someone else in the room. He recognized it as the Common Room. The voices he remembered seemed muffled, but one of them was maniacal and seemed to be one of the most evil voices he'd ever heard. Wormtail! Then he recognized what the voice said, "Where is Potter? He was just here with you. Where is he?" He could hear who ever it was crying. Hermione! Or was it someone else? That's when dear Uncle Vernon had jerked him out of his bed.

Harry paced the room, but was careful not raise the ire of his Uncle again. He didn't want to have to use magic to defend himself against a muggle. His Uncle had been stronger than he'd remembered.

As the sun started to rise he fell asleep, once more, thinking of Hermione.

Harry didn't remember anything from the time he saw the sunrise until he heard a familiar voice yelling at him. "Bloody hell! Are you the laziest best mate anyone ever had or what? I have to come through the Floo to wake you up. Is your trunk even packed?" Ron was standing in front of him with his letter to Harry and the gift in his hand.

"Sorry, Ron, but get out of here! Give me a minute, you impatient…" his voice trailed off as he realized that he really wanted Ron out of his room. He couldn't remember where he'd put Hermione's letter. If Ron found out, he'd be devastated. Harry would also lose out on a lot of `quality time' with Hermione. He'd reasoned this was the best reason to help her rather than Ron. "Please Ron, let me get dressed. I was up until dawn this morning with a nightmare. I'll tell you all about it later."

Harry had decided that he'd tell them the true dream. He didn't want to scare Hermione nor did he want to tip off their plan to Ron so he couldn't afford to lie. He would tell them that Wormtail had snuck into the castle looking to do Voldemort's bidding. He'd tell the rest as it happened. He just wouldn't tell them he was dreaming of Hermione too.

Ron left Harry upstairs. Ron had come with Ginny, Mr. Weasley and Fred. Harry had packed most of his things before he went to Pappy's so all he had to do now was get his toiletries after he showered and get dressed.

"Hurry, Harry. Mum's got lunch on. You can shower at my house." Ron yelled impatiently.

Harry found Hermione's letter and decided it was better if he left it here rather than take it with him so he placed it under the bed between the bedpost and the frame. Hopefully, it would not serve as a reminder to the nightmare that could take place at Ron's.

Harry called Ron back up and they slowly took Hedwig's cage, his trunk and the package that he'd worked so hard for this summer down to the living room. He decided he'd take the music box and the figurine through the Floo Network.

When he arrived in the living room, Harry saw Mr. Weasley looking at the widescreen television the Dursley's had purchased. "Hi, Mr. Weasley." Harry walked toward him and put out his hand. "Hello, Harry. How have you been?"

As was his custom, Mr. Weasley vigorously shook his hand and asked what it was that he had been looking at. "Fine," Harry lied. But when Harry told him about the widescreen television, he looked like a little kid in a candy shop.

"We've dawdled enough I suppose. Mrs. Weasley will blame me for getting to involved with the muggle artifacts. We won't tell her you had a bit of a sleep in this morning." Mr. Weasley winked as Ginny, Ron and Fred smiled while they each grabbed a portion of Harry's belongings. In succession, they all went into the Floo, cast the powder into it, and said "The Burrow." Harry was last.

Swoosh! Suddenly Harry was face to face with Hermione and Ron standing side-by-side looking at him, while Charlie, George, and Mrs. Weasley were standing in living room stacking Harry's belongings for the time being. After lunch they'd be able to take them up stairs. "Happy Birthday Harry!" Hermione said gleefully with a quick peck on the cheek. "I have your present upstairs. I'll get it after lunch." Harry kissed her back on the cheek and took her hands in his.

"You look great Hermione," Harry said as he looked at her from head to toe. Harry didn't know what had come over him. He smiled at her broadly. Hermione blushed slightly at Harry's obvious flirtation, but she didn't pull her hands away quickly because she'd asked him to make it look good. They stared in each other's eyes momentarily until they realized that they were making a spectacle of themselves, and maybe more than she wanted to do in the first thirty seconds Harry was there.

"Well, Harry, sit down. Lunch is on the table," said Mrs. Weasley. She looked at Harry and Hermione with suspiciously. "Ron, will you seat Hermione down here by us?" Mrs. Weasley motioned toward the opposite end of the table from Harry and watched for their response. Ron pulled out Hermione's chair and waited for her.

"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley." Hermione didn't hesitate. She went and sat down.

"Harry come sit here next to Ron and me." Hermione thought Mrs. Weasley was in on Ron's plan to court her this week. "It's so nice to have you both here. It's kind of like being at Hogwarts, but homier. Lunch looks great Mrs. Weasley." Hermione smiled at Ron and then turned and smiled at Harry too.

Ginny sat across from Harry. The rest of the family sat in any available chairs.

"Harry, what's in the box you brought?" asked Ginny.

Harry immediately wished he'd put it in his trunk. But he was able to think quickly enough to refrain from telling the whole truth, no one needed to know the truth right now. "It's a couple of things I got from Pappy, an old gentleman I met and worked for this summer. They're breakable so I didn't want it to get crushed in the trunk."

"Cool," said Ginny. "We'll have to look at them later." Harry felt like he'd just been kicked in the stomach. He couldn't worry about it now.

"So, what about you Ron, how'd things turn out with Fred and George?" Just then the dishes from the counter began coming to the table and settling neatly on the potholders and hot pads on the table. There was soup, a plate of baked ham, and loaves of hot fresh-baked bread.

"Gee, Hermione's right, Mrs. Weasley. The lunch looks more like a supper. It smells great too," said Harry with a glimmer in his eye and a smile at Mrs. Weasley. Harry had not eaten a ham like this in ages. Mrs. Weasley's countenance changed slightly and became much friendlier toward Harry.

"Thank you, dear." Harry was glad she smiled back. He could feel the excitement growing that he was sitting next to Hermione. He'd have to follow her lead or he'd be just as bad as Ron had been. He'd be following her like a lost puppy.

Lunch went well. Ron looked annoyed with Harry at first, but as lunch went on he started talking about Quidditch and other stuff with him. He looked nervous that Harry was sitting so close to Hermione, `Let him be' thought Harry. They talked a little, but the stories from the summer would wait until the three of them were alone. Harry was grateful that Ron had not asked about the nightmare in front of everyone.

As evening rolled around that first day, the three of them sat out back of the house looking west at the sunset. The day had been hot and most of it had been spent on brooms flying patterns at Ron. This, unfortunately, left Hermione alone to root them on; it was a particularly boring task for her because there would be no winners and losers. She had decided that it would be in poor taste to applaud only Harry, Ginny or Charlie in the unusual spot of chaser, if they conducted a scoring maneuver on Ron. So she applauded both sides. However, Charlie couldn't help but notice the exasperation on Hermione's face after an hour and a half of cheering.

After another fabulous meal, the three of them took some lawn chairs out back of the house to get away for a while to sit and talk. Hermione sat in the middle because Ron moved his chair. Without making a big deal about this maneuver, Hermione looked at Harry and said, "Do I look sunburned Harry? I can feel the heat in my face and arms. After all, I did sit patiently and watch a Quidditch scrimmage for part of the afternoon."

Harry leaned in as if the fading light made it more difficult to tell. "Let me see." She'd worn sunglasses most of the day and he really hadn't noticed at dinner. "A little bit, but tomorrow will tell the story. I found that out this summer when I was cleaning the windows to Pappy's shop. I got sunburned on the back of my neck."

The chitchat about sunburns and other insignificant events continued for a few minutes until Hermione suggested they take a walk. The conversation turned more serious as Ron brought up the nightmare Harry had. "Harry, you told me you'd tell me more details on the nightmare when we got here. "What was that all about?"

As they walked, Harry began from the beginning about Pappy and some of their conversations. He told them that Pappy had been the owner of the house in which he and his parents had lived.

"That's bizarre, did you tell him anything before that, Harry?" asked Hermione.

"No. I had told him the story that people know around Little Whinging where the Dursley's live. You know…that they'd died in a car accident." Harry affirmed. "He told me because he said his wife was killed when that house exploded and burned to the ground."

"Wait. What are you saying? He was there…or at least his wife was?" Hermione stopped walking for an instant and asked even more intrigued than before.

"Yes." Harry continued with the full story. Before they knew how far they'd walked as they interrogated Harry on every point, Ron just jumped into the conversation in his usually unintentional way. "Harry…. Hermione, we'd better turn around soon or we'll be at Hogwarts by morning." Harry and Hermione laughed. Ron didn't understand at first how funny it had sounded and how important breaking the tension that had building with Harry's story was. He laughed too. They turned back toward the Burrow.

Harry said, "So, when I left Pappy's last night I was thinking about the whole summer holiday I'd spent with him." He knew he'd have to tell a few white lies to keep this from being about Hermione and the Dark Lord. "I must have fallen asleep with the image of Voldemort walking into our house. Because I believe that's where the dream came from."

"Bloody hell, you mean you were dreaming about Voldemort again?" Ron interjected.

"Sort of, you know how hard it is to figure out dreams once you wake up. My Uncle woke me up shaking me saying that I said `I'll kill you. Leave her alone or I'll kill you.' I feel more like it was Wormtail…. Peter Pettigrew. I think it was him because I had been with Hermione in the Common Room in my dream. No one else had been there, when I left and I returned quickly from the dorms. I heard the voice and, believe me, Voldemort's is definitely different. Wormtail could have gone in as a rat. I can't remember what was the real dream and what I have imagined since." This part was absolutely true. Things had become fuzzier and other dreams had scrambled his recollection.

Hermione looked at Ron and then Harry. "You think he was after me, don't you?"

She walked fast and got right in front of Harry and made him stop. "You were ready to defend me, weren't you? That's why you haven't brought it up until now. Right?"

Harry couldn't tell whether she was agitated or whether she was about to make a big deal about him defending her to dissuade Ron's advances that were sure to come later this evening. "Yes, it was probably you. But I didn't hide it; I just didn't want to worry you."

I was still hard to read Hermione at the moment. The sun had gone down far enough that he couldn't see her beautiful brown eyes clear enough to see if she was squinting in interrogation mode or just what her expression was.

"Harry, have I ever told you how much I appreciate that you look out for me? Well, I should have. But Harry you need to tell me about these things so I could be on guard. I don't know whether to be mad because you were acting macho or be happy because of your concern?" Hermione was driving Harry crazy. Harry knew that Ron had to be just about bonkers by now too.

They walked in silence for the next six or seven minutes until Harry said, "I'm beat. I'm going to go get some rest. The horrible night's sleep, the long day and the excitement of seeing you two have taken it out of me…not to mention the nightmare and telling the story again. What about you two?" Harry was leaving the door open for Hermione to step through.

"I'm really tired too Harry. I am feeling the effects of the sunburn. I'd better turn in early too. I'll bet Ginny will suggest a potion or something her Mum uses for sunburns." They'd been walking and talking for quite some time. Ron appeared downcast. Maybe he felt stupid for not suggesting something for her sunburn like Ginny undoubtedly will or Hermione was getting to him.

"Well, I suppose if I let you guys skip out early tonight, you'll have no excuses tomorrow." He said looking directly at Hermione with a smile. Hermione smiled back.

Harry watched this exchange for a second and then said, "Good night. Are you coming up to the room now Ron or are you staying out here?"

Ron looked around at the night sky. "I think I'm going to sit out for a while and think." His expression was hard to read.

"Hermione, can I walk you up to Ginny's room?" Harry said. Ron had turned away so Hermione winked at Harry.

"Absolutely, you can tell me about the package you brought today? Or is it a big secret?" Harry wasn't sure how to answer. On the one hand, he wanted to be alone with Hermione for his own purposes and on the other; he wasn't sure now whether she was pushing Ron away or trying to make him jealous.

They walked slowly toward the house and once inside Harry took a furtive glance around to see who might overhear them. There was no one. "So how am I doing?" He asked Hermione. She looked at him with a somewhat quizzical look and said, "If I hadn't asked you for help on this, I'd think you have been flirting with me, Harry." She smiled. "I hope it's just my imagination." `But, oh Hermione, it isn't your imagination, I was…still am' was the thought running through his head.

They walked up the stairs in silence until Harry reached Ron's room. "So can I see what you brought from Pappy's?" Hermione asked.

Harry had decided at the very instant Hermione had spoken last that giving her the music box and figurine while they were at The Burrow was a bad idea. "I didn't answer outside or at lunch, because it really is a surprise for someone. I don't want to spoil it by telling or showing anyone." Harry's heart sank, but he was sure he'd done the right thing. Hermione was sensitive to the attention she was getting from everyone. He wanted to make a good impression with his gift and he wanted it to be a surprise.

"Anyone I know, Harry?" Hermione asked in a pleading tone.

Harry decided not to answer. He simply gave her back a little of her own medicine. "Why…I do believe I am getting the feeling you're flirting with me, Hermione. Is this true?" He smiled. He was surprised by Hermione's lack of response for a second or two. She shook her head and smiled.

"Good night, Harry."

"Good night, Hermione." He watched her climb the steps to Ginny's room, and before he could turn around and head up the stairs to Ron's room, Hermione was already turning back and giving him a big wink.

Document created with wvWare/wvWare version 1.0.0

-->