Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter stuff except for the wonderful posters on my wall!!
AN: I actually really liked writing this chapter. I'm not sure why. Let me all know what you think of it. Comments are welcome, and thank you to the people who have left them, they truly do keep me writing!
Chapter Two: The Burrow
After finally finishing cleaning the kitchen after the breakfast I had made, I found myself lying on my bed staring up at the ceiling. The little cracks would not be re-forged until Uncle Vernon was sure to be rid of me, he didn't want me to have any niceties. Thoughts of Sirius, Ron, and Hermione drifted into my head clouding any logical thoughts. The nightmares had begun again, the one where I'm in the Department of Mysteries and I can see all over again the look of horror cross Hermiones face when she's hit with Dolohovs' curse, the brains attacking Ron and the scars it left him with, and then the worst one of them all. Sirius' look of joy totally shattered when the spell hit him in the chest knocking him backwards into the veil, never to return again, and Bellatrixs' joyous smile as the look of realization hit both her and her cousin. Those nights I usually woke up sweating, tangled in my bed-sheets.
I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the horrible visions I was now having wide-awake. I rolled over onto my side and tried to envision what my last year at Hogwarts would be like. Of course I was still seeker on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and I had gotten my letter stating that I was indeed head boy this year. Things would be exceptionally normal for me, except for one tiny detail. Voldemort. He was still at large, and looking for me. I knew when it came down to it, I would face him this year, and it would be either him or me. This was what I had been training for, for the past seven years of my life, that moment.
What is wrong with you Potter? Going from thinking about the people you love dying to Voldemort? You have issues mate.
I sat up willing the voice of Ron, my conscience, from my head. At that moment Rons' owl Pigwidgeon flew through my window and landed with a thud on my bed. I smiled at the tiny bird, taking pity on it. I scooped him up and removing the letter from his leg, put him on Hedwigs' post where he drank her water welcomingly.
I looked at the letter; the stationary was Hermiones' not Rons'. I tore open the letter, excitement evident in my face. I hadn't received a letter from her all summer. Upon opening the letter my face dropped slightly. Rons messy inscribe was on the parchment, not Hermiones elegant scribble.
Harry,
Have your trunks packed and be ready by tonight, we will be by to pick you up. Better have your arse ready, we won't wait long.
Ron
I smiled but was a bit confused by the harshness of Rons' tone. Had I done something wrong? Most likely not, Ron was probably just in a bit of a bad mood. I dropped the letter, letting it float down to the floor, and then ran to my armoire to grab my clothes. I filled my trunk with clothes and all my magic books and studies. Finally after closing it, I sat on top of it, looking around at the even emptier room. This was going to be the last time I was ever going to have to stay in this room, ever again. A feeling of elation overwhelmed me, and I thought I was going to cry. This room, this house had been the cause of so many bad moods and fits of hysterical crying over the years. I couldn't feel anything but contempt for the shoddy room.
I rose from my perch and grabbed the handle of the trunk. Holding Hedwigs' cage under one arm and opening the door with the other, I dragged the trunk to the foot of the stairs. Taking a breath I began the descend into the family room. The Dursleys' were sitting around the television watching in rapt attention some idiotic sitcom. Petunia caught sight of me first and her eyes widened when she spotted my trunk.
"Where do you think you're going Harry?" She asked, her mousy voice barely able to be heard over the television.
I smiled at her, and began to walk to the door.
"I believe Petunia asked you a question boy!" Vernon spat, droplets of spittle hurtling themselves from his mouth and landing on his chin.
"I'm going to the Weasleys', then I'm going to my school and I am never coming back here." I proclaimed proudly, walking towards the door once again.
Uncle Vernon pulled himself up from the chair he was sitting in, Dudleys' portly body taking shape right behind him.
"And that's it? We don't even get a thanks for taking care of you, and putting up with your hideous attitude and oddness?" Uncle Vernon shouted. I had had enough of him, enough of this house. I dropped my trunk and Hedwigs' cage and strutted up to him, my temper flaring.
"Thanks? You want thanks? For what? For locking me in a cupboard for eleven years? For never letting me study? For making me your own personal slave? For never feeding me? Which is Uncle Vernon? Hmmm?" I shouted into his face.
Uncle Vernon stood stalk still staring into my eyes, his face very purple from exertion.
"ANSWER ME!!!" I shouted even louder into his face. The whole Dursley family stood erect, gawking at me. My outburst had obviously reached them.
"That's what I thought." I said quietly. "You have nothing to say to the truth, so I have nothing to say to you, except, Goodbye."
I grabbed my belongings and headed towards the door. I had just about reached the exit to the world in which I longed to belong to when my Aunt Petunias voice rang through the air.
"Harry!" there was sense of urgency to her voice, something I had never heard from her when addressing me. Whatever it was, it made me turn around to face them once more.
Aunt Petunia was approaching me slowly. Her lanky body was slightly slouched as if she looked defeated.
"Harry, I want to tell you something." She said without preamble.
I nodded my head, urging her to go on. She swallowed heavily.
"I loved your mother, my sister, very much. But I was also very envious of her, and her…abilities." She stopped and took a breath, this was obvious very difficult for her to admit this to me. " When Dumbledore appeared and told me of her murder, I was heartbroken. I would never admit that to anyone, only Dumbledore knows of it, but I agreed to take you in, because you were my sisters' son. You were the only living thing I had left of her, and I needed it." Tears were forming in her eyes now, and one silently crept down her cheek. "I'm sorry for the way we've treated you, I know nothing I do will ever make up for the hurt we have caused you, but I am apologizing here and now, and maybe it will give you some sense of completion to know…I did love her."
I was totally in awe of everything my Aunt Petunia had just revealed to me. I had never thought her capable of those feelings for anyone other than her precious Duddikins. I didn't know what to say to her, so I nodded my head. She seemed to get the idea of what I meant, so she too, nodded her head.
Once again, feeling slightly calmer, I grabbed my belonging and pulled open the door. Ron and Hermione were standing in the front lawn waiting for me, a scowl plastered to Rons face, and a smile on Hermiones. I knew good times were on there way.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The weeks I spent at the Burrow were amazing. Mrs. Weasley cooked miraculously for us every night, no meal was ever just satisfactory. I think she sensed the impending doom lurking in our futures.
One night after a particularly large dinner, I decided to take a stroll in the Weasley family gardens to give myself some time to think. It was only two weeks away until we were to leave for Hogwarts for the final time, and I had to ponder on what I was going to do about the threat of Voldemort.
I went deep into the garden which eventually led into a wonderful forest where I found a rather comfortable stump and decided to rest awhile. I had placed my head on my knuckles and was thinking deeply about Voldemort. How was I going to go about the final battle with him? He cannot be defeated by magic, or not my magic. Our wands are brothers, therefore we cannot kill one another, at least not with any ease. A headache was forming in my head and I wanted nothing more than to close my eyes and doze off, however I knew my problems would not be solved by sleeping them away.
A secret type of magic? Dumbledore had once told me that there is a secret magic out there, that I possess. That alone will kill Voldemort for good. The only problem was, I hadn't the slightest clue what it was.
The pain in my head was becoming worse.
I brought my knees up and rested my elbows upon them. I was going to need many long nights of this type of thinking to even attempt to crack the code Dumbledore frequently speaks in.
"You know, you look like "The Thinker." Someone said behind me. I whirled around at the beautiful voice. Hermione stood behind me smiling, her perfect teeth gleaming in the darkness.
"So I've been told." I joked with her. "What are you doing out here?" I questioned. She shrugged innocently, and walked towards me. I scooted over on my stump so to make room for her. She sat next to me our thighs touching briefly as she got comfortable.
"I just wanted to see how you were. I've been worried about you. You seem to be shutting yourself off from Ron and I." She spoke quietly but with force.
I sniggered slightly. "I didn't think you had noticed. You and Ron seem to be all into each other, I didn't think I fit in there anymore."
Hermiones' eyes opened wide in shock.
"Oh no Harry! Please don't ever think that! I love you! We both love you dearly!" A rosy blush spreading up her face. "Things are just weird right now."
I looked at her suddenly in a new light. All the feelings that had been coursing through me all summer were now coming to a head. I fancied Hermione. The feelings about Ron, were jealousy. It all made sense now, and the reason for Ron being such a prat to me were the same. He was jealous of me. What a sorry git he is. I thought to myself, he's the one who got the girl.
"Harry?" Hermione said, her eyes boring into mine. "Are you alright?"
As I sat there staring into her wonderful eyes I had never noticed before the gold flecks that took up residence in her mocha eyes. The way they glinted even when there was no sunlight out. How her skin was flawless, and her mouth the perfect shape and size. And in the right position to kiss her. Wait. Stop right there mister, this is your best mates girl right in front of you. You wouldn't want him thinking things like this if she was your girl, would you? Oh sod off Potter.
Realizing that Hermione was still sitting in front of me, I snapped out of my trance and looked down at her.
" Are you quite alright Harry?" she asked concern flooding her eyes.
I nodded my head, not saying anything. I wanted her, right then. I wanted to kiss her, for being so concerned about me then, and always. For never letting me forget anything, and for always being by my side. I wanted to kiss her for being my best friend and for never doubting me. I wanted to kiss Hermione, just because she was sweet, wonderful, beautiful Hermione Granger.
"Hermione…" was all I managed to get out before I crashed my lips down onto hers. A small moan of surprise was emitted from her mouth before she began kissing me back. She tasted like strawberries and pumpkin pie, and I wanted to eat her all up. Her lips were silky smooth and I couldn't get enough of them. My hands found their way to her hair, where they dived into her wonderful brown tresses. My tongue touched her lips begging for access into the beyond. I suppose that was going to far because she pulled away from me suddenly.
"Harry…" She blushed furiously and I knew our friendship would never be the same again.
Instantly I regretted doing what I just did.
"Oh Merlin, I'm so sorry Hermione, I don't know what came over me. I don't know…I'm sorry…" I finished lamely.
She smiled at me softly. " It's alright Harry." Was all she could muster.
I shook my head. "No, I don't want this to ruin our friendship, and goodness I don't want Ron to find out about this, he would skin me alive."
Hermione giggled nervously, and nodded her head. "That he would, my good thinker." We laughed together at the inside joke. Then she took my hand in her own and began stroking it gently. "Harry, this wont ruin our friendship if we don't let it." She looked up at me, her magnificent mahogany eyes staring up into mine. " And I wont tell Ron if you don't." She added with a conspiratorial wink.
I laughed and winked back at her. Standing up from stump, and still holding onto her hand protectively I yanked her up.
"Come on lets get back, its getting late, and I promised Ron a game of wizard chess before bed."
She smiled at me, and hand in hand we made our way back to the Burrow.