Harry Potter and The Long Strange Journey

Chapter Five: Hermione's Arrival

Mr. Weasley seemed to be choosing his words carefully.

"Well now Harry, seeing as you are not an official member of the Order, I don't think I really can tell you that..." Harry thought this was a load of bullshit.

"Mr. Weasley, after everything that happened at the ministry, I would've thought that I had proved myself worthy joining the Order, or at the very least knowing what was happening in it."

"I'm sorry, Harry, but the Order did not tell you to go into the Ministry. That was of your own doing." These words infuriated Harry.

"Mr. Weasley, I have a RIGHT to know what's going on now with the Order! I lost Sirius because of it! NOT TO MENTION MY PARENTS! A surge of hot anger was pulsing through Harry now, like a bolt of lightening. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley seemed highly taken aback. Ron began to say something, then stopped. Ginny stared at the table top. Mr. Weasley tried again.

"Harry, I understand your sadness and anger about losing Sirius and..." Now he'd gone too far. Harry cut him off.

"You DON'T understand! You DON'T! NO ONE DOES! DON'T TRY AND FEED ME THAT RUBBISH!" He just couldn't stop himself. A flood had risen in his eyes. He stood in one jerky motion, blinking like mad, trying to see through the well of tears that had formed. A huge sob shook his body. He could see a tear running down Mrs. Weasley's face, and Ginny looked incredibly sad. He turned on his heel, chest heaving with emotion.

"I'm...sorry..." He dashed off up the stairs, two at a time, to Ron's room. He slammed the door behind him, and flopped on his bed. Then he let himself go completely. It had finally hit him, and out of nowhere, it had torn him apart. He sobbed loudly into his pillow, his mind replaying repeatedly Sirius' face as he fell into the veil. A violently strong hatred for Voldemort seemed to grasp his heart and squeeze. After a short time, a soft knocking was at the door.

"Harry, dear?" It was Mrs. Weasley's voice.

"May I come in?" Harry sat up, and wiped his wet face.

"Yeah..."

The door opened and Mrs. Weasley entered, looking red in the eyes. She sat down next to Harry, and handed him a box of tissue. The she put an arm around his shoulders.

"Harry, what Arthur should have said is that we DON'T understand exactly how you feel. How could we possibly? We are not you. We have not lived through the horrors you have. However, if you think that Sirius' passing had no effect whatsoever on anyone else, you are very much mistaken. I myself have spent many hours brooding over the loss...Sirius was such a bright spirit. We all loved him very much, and miss him greatly, as I know you do. But we mustn't despair over it, Harry. We simply cannot. I knew him well enough to know that he would never want to see you in such a state as this. He'd never want you to throw away your happiness--your future. He would've wanted you to go on, to be strong and happy again. To remember him, but to do so lovingly and with pride. He was a good man, strong and brave, and he died valiantly, fighting the good fight, just as your parents did. I hold all of them in a place of utmost respect. Soon the pain will subside, Harry, trust this. Time eases all things, it's true...someday you will fully understand why these things happened, and how very brave Sirius and your parents were. They sacrificed themselves for the good of us all." Harry felt the strain on his heart slowly releasing, his breathing slowing down, and he realized he already felt much better. He smiled weakly at Mrs. Weasley.

"You're a very good Mum, Mrs. Weasley...my Aunt would be horrified by your kindness..." Mrs. Weasley and Harry both chuckled for a moment. Then she went on.

"I am going to tell you that Arthur and I are on a bit of business with the Order this evening. We are meeting with Dumbledore and the others to discuss some of the dark acts that have been occurring recently, and most importantly, to plan a memorial service for dear Sirius. However, I think perhaps I should stay here instead tonight and tend to you." Harry smiled.

"No, no, you don't need to do that Mrs. Weasley. I honestly feel so much better now. I just needed to get some of that stuff off my chest, and to hear what you said. I'm ok, I honestly am. Thank you for being honest with me." Mrs. Weasley hugged Harry tightly.

"Alright, dear. Now, Hermione will be here shortly. I expect you'll all have a very fun time together while we're away. If you need anything, don't you dare hesitate to send for us right away." She smiled, and crossed out through the door.

Harry lay on the bed for awhile and listened to the sounds of Ron and Ginny saying good-bye to their parents. He felt jealous of Ron for having always had such a wonderful person to guide him through life.

"It's no wonder I'm such a mess, really..." Harry said to himself quietly as he rolled on his side.

"All I've got for a Mum is sweet old Aunt Petunia..." He shut his red eyes for a moment, and thought of his real mother's face. She was so beautiful. In reality, he didn't actually know too much about her, but he believed fervently that her kindness would have rivaled even Mrs. Weasley's.

"Hey..." Ron had entered the room almost silently.

"Hey..." Harry found he couldn't quite look Ron in the eyes.

"Um, I wanted to tell you...I'm here for you, mate...If you need me..." Ron seemed awkward, but genuine. Harry managed a weak smile.

"Thanks Ron...sorry 'bout that downstairs...I just...lost my head a bit..." He still avoided Ron's eyes.

"Harry, you don't need to apologize. Honestly, you're not the only bloke who ever cried you know!" Harry chuckled. Ron always seemed to say the wrong thing, but somehow that's what always made things right.

"Anyway, Hermione is going to be here in a minute, and now we've got the whole house to ourselves, so what should we do?" Ron seemed excited about something. Harry smirked.

"Well, perhaps me and Ginny should clear off--you know, give you two some privacy..." Harry started laughing and Ron threw a pillow at his head. Then Ginny walked in, right as it hit him in the face.

"Hermione's going to be here any minute you two!" Harry and Ron got up laughing and followed her down the stairs.

"How is she getting here anyway?" Harry asked Ron.

"Floo powder. Dad had her fireplace hooked into the Floo Network for tonight and tomorrow afternoon." The three of them turned the corner, and were suddenly facing Hermione.

She was standing in front of the fireplace, coughing, and dusting off her jeans. Crookshanks ran from her side as soon as he caught sight of Ron.

"Hermione!" Ginny yelled, and leapt forward to give her a hug.

"Hello! I almost got out at the wrong grate!" Everyone laughed. She too seemed prettier to Harry then when he'd seen her last. She looked at him then.

"Harry! How're you doing? I've been so worried!" He stepped forward smiling, and Hermione hugged him around his middle. As she hugged him, Harry could smell a strange scent in her hair, which he quickly identified as the odd scented perfume Ron had bought her last Christmas.

"Hey Hermione..." Ron took a step forward, blushing thoroughly from ear to ear. Hermione smiled widely, and came at him, her arms extended. Ron made an awkward movement, which looked as though he was stepping forwards and backwards at the same time. Eventually they collided, and Hermione put her arms around his neck. Harry nearly laughed out loud as he watched Ron's face. First he looked embarrassed, then astonished, and when he realized Harry was looking, he put on an expression of deepest distaste behind Hermione's back. Then Harry did laugh.

"What?" Hermione said, releasing Ron.

"Oh, nothing, just good to have you back with us..." This answer seemed to suit her just fine. Then she got down to business. She held up her bag.

"Ronald, what should I do with this?"

"Oh, I'll take it up to Fred and George's old room. That's where you'll be sleeping, ok?"

"Very good." Hermione replied. Ron took the bag and rushed off like a servant. Both Harry and Ginny laughed at the sight.

"What is so funny?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, nothing. We just thought you were against the use of house elves..." Harry replied sarcastically. Ginny and Harry both chuckled. Hermione looked nonplussed.

"What? I am...what're you..."

"Hermione--it's you and Ron--you're just--he's just--" Ginny looked to Harry for help.

"Aw, fuck it. Hermione, you both like each other, but for some reason neither of you can admit it!" Harry and Ginny laughed. Hermione turned red.

"Well...I can admit it, so there..." Hermione stuck her chin up in the air.

"Oh...well, this is certainly going to be an interesting year..." Harry said. There was uncomfortable laughter as Ron re-entered the room.

"What? What?" Ron looked around. All eyes avoided his gaze.

Chapter Six: A Party for Potter

Later that evening, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were sitting around the kitchen table finishing the supper they had concocted together. All throughout dinner, Harry had gotten the strange sensation that something was going on that he didn't know about. Ron, Hermione and Ginny all kept checking their watches, and asking Harry questions about what he'd like to do for his birthday next week. What he really wanted to talk about were the supposed "dark acts" that Mrs. Weasley had mentioned before she'd left. Ron started to ask him another question geared toward birthday plans, and Harry, becoming highly irritated, cut him off with his own question.

"So, would you like to maybe have some people from school over for your birthday? I think we could--"

"I dunno Ron! What I really want to know is if any of you have heard anything yet about Voldemort or the Death Eaters!" Harry looked at each of them, and noticed Hermione staring at the tabletop.

"You know something, Hermione. Tell me what's going on." Harry demanded.

"Alright...well, I've been watching the muggle news the past few days, and apparently there have been over twenty suspicious muggle deaths and disappearances over the past two weeks or so..."

"Well, what made them suspicious? Couldn't it just be a coincidence?" Ron asked Hermione, looking worried.

"Well, as far as the disappearances go, aren't those always suspicious? Especially in such large numbers all across Britain...As for the deaths, many of the bodies that are found don't have a mark on them, and there is no evidence whatsoever, except for muggle witnesses, who say that they saw flashes of green light..."

"That's why Mum and Dad went to meet with the Order, then." Ginny said to Ron.

"Do you think the Death Eater's have broken out of Azkaban?" Harry asked Hermione. She looked like she'd rather not answer him.

"Well, if they haven't yet, I'll bet they will soon...I mean, the Dementors have already left, haven't they? Now they have some of the best witches and wizards in the country on guard there. Along with very powerful spells, but I'd like to see either of those things stop the Death Eater's for too long..." She trailed off.

After this statement, the conversation went in circles of speculation for almost an hour. Harry saw Hermione look at her watch suddenly, then give a meaningful look to Ron and Ginny.

"Hey, what's going on? You've all been acting very mysterious..." Harry looked around at each of them. They all avoided his gaze. Then Ginny said,

"We should figure out something fun to do tonight, instead of sitting around here, making guesses about what Voldemort's up to." When Ginny said 'Voldemort,' Ron gasped, as if she'd said a vulgar word.

"Ginny!"

"Oh please, Ron! Get used to it!" Ron stared open-mouthed for a moment at Ginny. Then Ginny turned to him and said loudly,

"Voldemort! VOLDEMORT! VOLDEMORT!" Ron covered his ears. Harry couldn't help but crack a smile. Ron looked at him.

"Do you agree with her?" He asked Harry, as if Ginny had gone nuts.

"Uh, yeah I do..." Harry replied laughingly.

"I do as well, Ronald." Hermione added. Ron looked highly affronted, and crossed his arms. Hermione went on.

"Anyway, you're right about tonight too, Ginny. We really should take advantage of having the whole house to ourselves..." Ginny smiled and looked at Harry. Just as Harry was about to demand that the three of them tell him what was going on, a loud crash came from the other room, and then several loud male voices.

"What was that?!" Harry said. Nobody else seemed even slightly alarmed.

"Let's go and see..." Hermione said in a mischievous tone. They all got up from the table and walked quickly into the other room. When he rounded the corner Harry was surprised to find himself looking at Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, and Neville Longbottom, all standing in front of the Weasley's fireplace, dusting themselves off, and bickering about how Neville had made them all fall down.

"Why'd you come so quickly after me, Neville?! Couldn't you see that I hadn't got out of the grate yet?!" Seamus finally noticed Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"Harry! Happy Birthday, mate!"

"Happy Birthday!" Echoed Dean and Neville.

"Thanks..." Harry turned to Ron, Hermione and Ginny.

"You planned this?"

"We started planning the minute we left you at the train station." Hermione beamed.

"We thought since Mum and Dad we're going to be gone, we'd celebrate your birthday a bit early this year! Loads more people are coming too!" Ron grinned. Seamus handed Harry a small box wrapped in black paper.

"Go on, open it now, mate!" Harry ripped the paper off. It was a small carton of Wheezing Warlock Cigarettes. A tiny wizard was smoking one on the label, blowing smoke rings of every color off the side of the package.

"Gee, thanks, mate...I don't really smoke, though..." Seamus smiled.

"Well, now you do! They're wicked, Harry! The smoke changes color in your lungs with every drag!"

"Oh, right, wicked. Thanks, Seamus..." Harry smiled and put them in his pocket.

Then everybody went to work. Hermione went to find glasses, and Ginny went with her to set out food trays. Ron and Dean went out to Mr. Weasley's garage to get an old, but useful, muggle stereo and speakers. Neville started to ask Harry how he'd been, but was cut off by the sudden arrival of Parvati and Padma Patil with Lavender Brown in tow. They all ambushed Harry with hugs and even a kiss on the cheek from Parvati, whose speech was already slurred. Lavender giggled, and shooing Parvati away, while she explained to Harry that they'd all just come from another party at Roger Davies' house. Harry waited until they'd both turned around, and wiped off his cheek with a scowl on his face. Justin Finch- Fletchly arrived a minute later with Hannah Abbot. They each wished Harry a happy birthday, and then began to mingle in the gathering crowd. Ron returned with Dean, and the stereo and speakers, which they set up in a matter of minutes. Seamus handed Dean a large book of CD's, and Dean flipped through it, until he found the right one. Rock guitar blared out of the speakers. Dean told Harry it was a wizard band called "Hexem." It reminded Harry of a very good muggle punk band called Rancid.

The fireplace burst with green flames again, and this time Fred and George Weasley stepped out with Lee Jordan. The twins saw Harry first.

"Harry!" They chorused together as they entered the room. When everyone saw the twins, there was an uproar of excitement and greetings. Everyone knew that now the party had officially started.

"Can't hardly believe it! Little prefect Ronnikins throwing a party while the 'rents are away!" Fred messed up Ron's hair. George added:

"We've never been so proud to call you our brother!" Then he messed up Ron's hair again, which he had just straightened out. Everyone watching laughed. Fred let off some of their specialty fireworks, and stars and lightening bolts spun off around the room. Then he and George both turned to Harry.

"So, you're sixteen now, Harry...Tell me, have you ever tried Albert Amose's Albanian Ale?" George held up a twenty-four pack of the ale. The Label on the box had a funny picture of a wizard who looked completely smashed and was hobbling around drunkenly, with a blue bottle in his hand. Little musical notes were coming out of the wizard's mouth. Harry laughed as the wizard on the box tripped and fell down, sloshing ale down the front of his robes.

"Um, no, I haven't," Harry answered truthfully.

"Well, what the bloody hell are you waiting for then?!" Fred and George laughed raucously, and ripped open the top of the box, exposing the dark blue bottles. He pulled out two, and handed them both to Harry. Harry opened one of the bottles, and chugged nearly the whole bottle in one go.

"Blimey! The kid's a natural!" George said laughingly. Fred opened one and drank some as well, then he put the rest of the box on the table. Several people approached the table immediately and began helping themselves. George turned to Harry again.

"Harry, have you tried the Pyramid Plant yet?"

"No, it's upstairs."

"Well, what's it doing up there?!" Harry grinned, and set off across the room for the stairs. When he reached the foot of them, he looked over at the fireplace and Roger Davies appeared holding hands with Cho Chang. Harry considered momentarily pretending he hadn't seen them and continuing his quest, but it was too late. Roger made eye contact, and called out to him.

"Harry! Happy birthday, mate!" Harry stopped. Cho looked him in the eye.

"Yeah, happy birthday Harry, how've you been?" Harry thought about saying something really sarcastic, but then decided it wasn't worth the effort.

"Fine. Um, I was just heading upstairs. Help yourself to drinks." And he practically ran up the stairs away from them.

Harry retrieved his pipe and satchel from the twins, and his bottle of Valerian sipper and marched back down the stairs. Harry put the sipper on the table next to the ale, and noticed that someone had added a bottle of FireWhiskey to the mix. Harry watched as Lavender was given a capful of the valerian sipper by Seamus, who was doling it out, and thought to himself that she was the last person in the room who should take something that makes you laugh. Sure enough, a few minutes later she was in a fit of giggles much worse than usual. Across the room, Harry spied Ron drinking a bottle of ale, and handing one to Hermione. Harry watched her put the bottle to her lips, and begin to take a small sip, until Ron, drinking out of his own bottle at the same time, put his other hand out, and tipped the bottom of Hermione's upward. Harry laughed out loud and walked across the room to join them. Hermione was telling off Ron when he approached.

"...idiot! You're going to make me spill!"

"Hey Hermione, what's up?"

"Oh, nothing. Ronald is just being an idiot..." Hermione rolled her eyes. So did Ron.

"I heard that much..." Harry joked. They all chuckled.

"Don't you think we should turn the music down a bit?" Hermione looked anxiously around the room, which was filled with noise.

"Nah, there's no one around here to hear!" Ron yelled over a loud drum fill in the song that was playing. Fred approached the three of them around the table with George.

"Harry, you got that stuff then?" Harry reached in his pocket and took out the pipe and satchel and handed them to Fred with a smile.

"Nice one, Harry. Now we'll have some fun!" Fred sat at the table, and opened the satchel containing the Puniceus plant. Several people gathered around the table, pulled in by the flowery scent. Fred packed the pipe, and handed it to Harry along with a muggle lighter.

"Is that Puniceus Pyramid Plant?!" Seamus practically shouted.

"Yes, indeed it is." George answered.

"Wicked! I've heard about that stuff!" There were many murmurings of agreement from the crowd around the table. George spoke again.

"Yes...our greatest invention yet--'Puniceus Pyramid Plant'--A dark blue bud dressed in light purple powder. The lucky smoker gets a great chill, without the confusion caused by some other magical herbs. AND reverses lung damage!"

"YOU two created it?!" Roger Davies said, overhearing. Suddenly Fred and George looked at each other meaningfully, then back at Roger with squinted eyes.

"Don't know what you're talking about..." Fred said.

"Not a clue..." George added. Roger Davies looked confused and walked away with Cho, back to the corner they'd come from, where everyone happily ignored their presence.

Susan Bones joined the circle curiously. Then she walked over to Hermione, and started chatting away. Harry saw Hermione finish her first ale, and grab two more. She handed one to Susan, and then they kept talking about something that Hermione looked anxious about. Fred jabbed Harry in the arm.

"Go on!" Harry realized he was just standing there with the pipe and lighter while everyone waited. Fred said loudly,

"Do the honors, birthday boy!" Harry finished his ale. Then everyone watched as he clumsily lit the bowl, and took a long soft drag. A beautiful sensation came over him, like the clouds parting inside his brain. He was going to exhale, but George said,

"Hold it in! Hold it!" Harry passed the pipe to Hermione, who took it very slowly, looking both fearful and deadly excited.

"Do you think...I should?..." Harry answered Hermione's question by blowing the smoke in her face. It came out in a big pink shimmering cloud. Hermione closed her eyes as it washed over her.

"Thanks, Harry...alright then..." Everyone stared at her motionless as she took the next hit.

Harry felt wonderfully at ease and his mind was definitely clearer than it had been in awhile. He coughed hard for a few minutes, then suddenly stood straight up. His lungs felt like they were sparkling.