Unofficial Portkey Archive

By: FayeValentine00

Chapter 4

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The next morning, Harry mailed the letter to the Weasleys but it wasn't wasn't until a week letter that Hedwig swept into the great hall durning breakfast with the responce. After untying the letter, Harry gave Hedwig a piece of bacon and scratched her head lightly before she flew off again and he was able to open the letter.

"Harry, what is it?" Hermione looked at him over the Daily Prophet that she had received with curiousity written all over her face.

"I-It's from the Weasleys."

"They finally wrote back!" Hermiones eyes lit up brightly. Ever since he'd told her about writing them she'd been waiting for the responce as eagerly as he. "What do they say?"

He opened the parchment and held it between them so they could both read at the same time.

"Harry, dear

Sorry it took me a while to write you but things are still a little hectic over here with the Order and... other things. You understand, I'm sure, but it gets a little better everyday. Bill and Charlie are both home now and working hard trying to gather intelligence. We'd love to tell you everything over the holiday. Will you and Hermione please come? It really would mean alot to us. Dumbledore has put some sort of protective charm around the burrow so it should be safe. (We already asked him for you.) Can't wait to see you. Can you bring Ginny home with you?

Thanks Molly"

After reading the letter, Harry took a big swallow of pumpkin juice before looking over at Hermione for her reaction.

"So, what do you think?"

She opened her mouth to speak but before any sound came out, Harry saw a blur of red before Ginny came to stop before them. "Are you really coming?! Mom just wrote me!"

Harry couldn't remember seeing Ginny look so happy in a long time but it was Hermione that spoke up first with a smile of her own. "Of course we're coming. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

"Oh good. Everyone will be so excited! I'll write Mom back to confirm everything!" With one last smile she turned and ran from the hall, presumably to go get some parchment to return the good news.

"You sure about this?" Harry looked at her, trying to hide his concern.

"Yes, I actually am. We can't put things off forever, right?"

"Right."

Before they knew it, the holidays were upon them and Harry found himself packing for the trip that he was half avoiding and half looking forward too. Once he was finshed and realized he really shouldn't stall any longer, he made his way down to the common room and found the girls already waiting for him.

"Finally." Ginny said with a smile on her face.

"Yeah, you took forEVER!" Hermione said with an equal smile.

"Sorry about that."

"Oh Harry, we're just joking." Ginny picked up her suitcase, obviously ready to get out of the school as quickly as possible. "We'd better hurry or we'll miss the train, right?"

The train ride out of Hogworts was tense. None of them had been back to the burrow since the incident, not even Ginny, so nobody knew what to expect. The three got a cabin to themselves in the back of the train and closed the door for some peace. Before long, Hermione had fallen asleep on Harry's shoulder and apparently Ginny wasn't in any more of a mood to talk then he because they both simply sat in silence, watching through the window at the passing scenery. It wasn't until the snack cart came around, and they had some food to occupy themselves with, that they all actually spoke to each other.

"Ummmm... Can I ask you guys a question?" Ginny looked at them with a nervous look on her face.

Harrys mouth was full of chocolate frog so it was Hermione that answered her.

"Sure. What's on your mind?"

"Well... Are you two g-going out?" She immediatly looked very embarrased.

Before answering, Harry and Hermione looked at each other, both feeling equally uncomfortable. Since that night in the common room, when they'd kissed, neither had spoken about it but it was obvious that they were closer then they'd ever been before. Hermione gave Harry a curious look, obviously awaiting the answer as much as Ginny.

"Ummm... I think so." Harry knew he sounded stupid but he continued looking down at Hermione. "We are, aren't we?"

"I guess so."

"REALLY?!" Ginny's squeal was so loud that it completly ended any potentially romantic moment there might have been but they both laughed at her excitment anyway.

"Yeah, really."

Ginny beamed at Harry. "Can I tell my parents? They'll be so excited! PLEASE?!"

"Sure." Hermione answered with a giggle but even though Harry agreed that telling the Weasleys was no big deal, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of pranks the twins were going to pull when they heard. They'd never been the kind of people to let something this good slip away.

The time on the train flew by after that. They ate their snacks and gathered their things together so when the train stopped, they were the first ones off but none of them were prepared for their welcoming party.

All the Weasleys were there and waiting for them. Ginny jumped into her parent's waiting arms while Bill, Charlie, Fred, George and Percy all looked at Harry and Hermione, nobody knowing what to say. It wasn't until Mrs. Weasley gave them both hugs that Harry finally felt at home.

The first night at the burrow had been tense but after nearly an hour of arguing, Mrs. Weasley convinced Harry to sleep in Ron's old room while Hermione would be sleeping in Ginnys room. Trying to put off going into the room he wanted so badly to avoid, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny sat up half the night with the twins, helping them sample some new products coming out. Harry thought it was amazing to see how much their store and products had grown since the store had opened two years ago but by 2 a.m., Mr. Weasley sent them all off to bed.

The stairs up to Ron's room at the top of the tower seemed longer then ever but slowly he made his was to the top step and stood before the closed door with a growing knot in the back of his throat. As his hand reached for the doorknob, Harry had to tell himself over and over that no matter how much he wished for it, Ron would not be waiting for him on the other side. With a deep sigh and a heavy heart, Harry opened the door and walked into the eerily silent room that had once seemed so warm and happy.

Everything was exactly as it had been in his past visits except maybe a bit cleaner. He looked over everything slowly while memories that had once seemed so pointless or futile came flooding back. He could remember everything from the games of wizard chess and the conversations about quidditch to the days last summer when Voldemorts power reached an all time high and they'd had to hide out for nearly a month. It all seemed so unreal now.

At school, Harry and Hermione had both been able to bury themselves into their work and try to forget about the pain but how was he supposed to do that now when everything his best friend had owned and loved was staring him in the face. Not able to stand it any more, Harry sat down on the bed and stared at the window trying not to think about anything.

It seemed like he'd sat there a long time, just staring, before he heard the bedroom door open and close. He knew someone was watching him but he didn't want to look. He didn't want to talk. He just wanted to disappear for a while, something he'd never been able to do since coming to the wizarding world 7 years ago.

"We all miss him, Harry."

The voice Harry heard was the last one he'd expected and when he turned around, he found Bill sitting next to him on the bed. The oldest Weasley brother looked older and more tired then he'd ever noticed before. His long hair was unkept and the lines around his eyes seemed to deepen every moment he looked at Harry.

"We were right there, Bill. Only feet away." Suddenly Bill felt like the older brother that Harry'd never had. He wanted to talk to him. He needed so badly to say the things that weighed so heavily on his chest. The things he couldn't say to Hermione for fear of upsetting her even more then she already was.

"No one blames either of you. There was no way to change it."

"I blame me! They took over Hermione and by the time Ron and I realized what was going on, they got us unarmed. It all happened so fast. ... GOD!" Harry punched the pillow on the bed with all the anger in his heart but he had no more tears to cry. All he had left was the anger at his own failure to save one of the most important people in his life.

"Harry, I can only tell you one thing but it is the honest truth. I swear." Bill took a deep breath and put a firm hand on Harry shoulder. "Do you know what the first thing my mother said after they told her what had happened? She asked about you... and Hermione of course. She and all of us knew that if anything could have been done, you would have done anything to save him. Even if it meant dying yourself. This is no fault of yours. You're still alive, Harry. You have to live. If you can't do it for yourself, do it for Ron. He loved you and Hermione too much to see you like this. Do you understand?"

Harry found himself staring into the face for the older man for a long time, thinking over everything he'd said with serious consideration. After several minutes a peace settled over his soul and he found himself nodding in responce to the question. "I understand. T-Thank you."

Bill got up and headed to the door but before he opened it, he turned back to Harry. "If you understand then do me one favor tomorrow."

"What?"

"Smile for my mother. She's worried sick about both of you. It will do her good to know that you'll be okay."

"Sure." Harry found himself smiling in responce.

With a quick nod of acknowledgment and a wink, Bill left the room leaving Harry feel more at peace then he had in a very long time.

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Next Chapter - Danger strikes at the burrow.