Chapter Two: A wish, A dream, A promise
*4:08 PM, Wednesday July 27th; Number Twelve Grimmauld Place*
"Harry? You look a bit peaky, are you okay?" he heard Ron ask him. "Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine Ron." Harry wandered over to the stairs as he followed Fred, George and Ginny upstairs. Fred and George closed Weasley's Wizard Wheezes for a couple days so they could spend time with the family. Ginny had grown up too. Like her brothers, she was getting taller every time Harry saw her. Her red hair was past her shoulders now, which made her look a little older. She had just arrived too.
As they all trudged up the stairs under the weight of their belongings, Fred and George disappeared with a loud CRACK. "Those lazy idiots Apparate everywhere! They don't seem to know how to walk anymore!" Ginny exclaimed as she tried to hoist her trunk up the stairs without falling backwards onto Harry. He laughed and helped push her trunk. When they reached the top of the stairs Ginny stopped.
"Thanks much, Harry." she said. "Your welcome, Ginny." she smiled and set off for hers and Hermione's room. Harry found his and Ron's room near the end of the hallway. He dragged his trunk into the dark room and set it down so as to keep the door propped open. He searched the walls for a light switch, and eventually found it, and flicked it on.
It was the same room as before, nothing different except the fact that it was considerably cleaner. He walked over to his trunk and heaved it up. He dragged it until he was at the end of his bed and let it land on the floor. "Whew." he said in relief. Than he realized he hadn't grabbed Hedwig yet. So off he went back down the stairs and into the kitchen. He found Hedwig's cage, with her inside, on the dining table.
He grabbed it and headed back up the stairs and into his room. Ron was now there sitting on his bed looking at a Quidditch magazine, and reading an article on the Chudley Cannons. His favorite team. "Hey Harry! The Cannons are going to the semi-finals at the Quidditch Cup!" "Good for them Ron." he said this with sarcasm, because Harry knew how bad the Cannons really were. "They might have a chance this year! It's the first time they've ever made it this far without being totally pummeled!" They have as much a chance of winning as I have a chance to become head boy! They're never gonna make it past that point, but I guess I'll humor him until he sees it for himself.
"Supper is ready!" they heard Mrs. Weasley yell. Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione all made their way down the stairs, but Fred and George Apparated again. Ginny was right, they are really lazy. Harry smiled as he heard Mrs. Weasley yell at the twins for using magic for everything, again.
They all sat at the mismatched chairs under the dining table. Fred, George and Ginny were on one side, and Ron, Harry, and Hermione took the chairs on the other side. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley took the chairs at either end. They had beef stew, baked potatoes, and mugs of warm butterbeer. When it came time for dessert, most of them were full to bursting. Harry had saved room, though. Mrs. Weasley made a large chocolate cake. She laid the cake onto the middle of the table.
She cut it into small slices and handed out plates to everyone who wanted some. Harry, Mr. Weasley, and Hermione were the only ones to take some besides Molly. "Thanks, mum. Excellent nosh." the twins disappeared with another loud CRACK. Mrs. Weasley winced as she heard the noise. She made a face like she was very frustrated with something, and of course Harry knew she was mad at the twins for Apparating again.
Tonks, Kingsley, and Lupin came in late, and ate quickly. They stayed after to help clear the table for Molly. Harry, Ron and Hermione retired to the Drawing room, which last year had a boggart in the desk, and Doxy's in the curtains. Ron plopped on to the couch, and Hermione took the recliner in the corner. Harry decided he just wanted to stand up.
"So, Hermione. How are the folks?" Ron asked. "Their doing okay, I guess. Hey, Ron?" she asked. "Yah?" he said without looking up. "Have your parents heard from Percy at all since last year?" she was curious to see if Ron would answer the question or just trail off. "Actually, he called to apologize a few weeks after the incident at the Ministry." they both knew he was talking about the battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort in the lobby of the Ministry of Magic last year.
"So does that mean he doesn't hate them anymore?" she asked him. "Yah, I suppose you could say that." he looked at her with a smile on his face. Harry was staring out of the window into the wooded area at the back of the house. "Harry?" Hermione was trying to make him snap back. "Harry, are you okay being here, after……well, what happened last year?" she sounded concerned. That's a quality Harry loved about her. She always cared about everyone else.
"I don't know yet. I'm still getting used to the fact that he's not around anymore..." he said, still staring. "Harry, there isn't anything very interesting to look at back there. Are you sure your alright, mate?" He let Ron's words sink in before he answered. "I know. I'm just thinking about Sirius. I miss him." he turned his head so they wouldn't see the tear going down his cheek. "We all miss him terribly too, Harry. We also know that he was the only father-figure in your life. I am so sorry, but remember we are here too. We love you just as much as he did." Hermione said this with tears welling in her eyes.
Harry appreciated her words very much. He was never so appreciative in his life than to be right here, with his true
family. After their conversation, they all headed up the stairs. At the top, Hermione stopped, and turned to Harry.
"You need to get some rest. It'll all work out Harry, I promise. Keep your faith, in all of us. We're here
for you." with these words she leaned forward and pecked him on the cheek. "See you in the morning." she
said as she turned around and headed to her room further upstairs.
*11:23 PM, Wednesday July 27th; Number Twelve Grimmauld Place*
That night, Harry had another horrifying recollection of the events at the Ministry. He was panting, and in a cold sweat just like before. He rubbed his eyes vigorously, and searched for the nightstand so he could grab his glasses. When he finally found them, he placed them on his head and headed out of his room.
Harry walked down the stairs and into the drawing room. Hermione was sitting there reading a book. He thought he should tell her about the dream, or vision that he had just had. "Hermione?" she looked surprised to see him. "Oh, Harry. Hi. What is it?" "I need someone to talk to for a minute or two. Do you have time to spare?" "Yah, Harry. Of course." He sat next to her on the couch.
They sat there for a good part of an hour talking about his dreams. The one he had at Privet Drive, and the one he had just experienced. She expressed her opinion several times, and told him that he should probably tell Dumbledore. "I know I should, but I haven't seen him at all yet." he said. "Well, as far as I know he's supposed to come and check on us this Friday. Tell him then." she said this in a serious tone of voice.
"I guess. I need to talk to Ron too. He still doesn't know." he said as Ron's face popped into his head. "Yah, but tell him tomorrow or something. For now you should probably try to get some sleep." she sounded like Mrs. Weasley saying this to him. "Yah, I suppose your right. G'night Hermione." "Goodnight Harry." she turned her attention back to her book.
Harry headed back upstairs, and entered his room. He fell into his bed and stared at the ceiling before drifting off to a dreamless sleep
-->