Harry Potter and the Eye of Isis

Chapter 2 - Life at the Burrow

Harry was surprised at Ron's calm face as they passed in the corridor. Ron smiled slightly, just as if he expected to see Harry every morning, and said, "Good morning, mate," nonchalantly as he entered the loo. Harry, however, wasn't at all shocked when Ron popped back out of the restroom, and stared at him in disbelief.

"Harry, what are you doing here? When did you get here?"

Harry was both happy to see Ron and amused at his friend's reaction to his presence. He had to laugh slightly as he answered. "Yesterday."

"Yesterday!" Ron exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" He wondered, and then asked, "Where were you?"

"In my...I mean, Fred and George's room. Your mum and dad told me I could stay in there. Your mum invited me just two days ago," he explained. "I didn't get a chance to tell you because I sent Hedwig back to the Burrow and told her she should stay."

Ron nodded, understanding that Harry had no way of telling him his plans. "This is great! You can come with me to Fred and George's store now! It's great!"

"Your letters about it sound wonderful, but I can't leave the Burrow without a member of the Order." Harry felt like a three-year-old suddenly. "I need a babysitter."

He was extremely disappointed because there was nothing he'd rather do than go into Diagon Alley again, it seemed like it had been far too long. Mrs. Weasley had bought his school supplies for him the last two years, so he hadn't been there since the summer when Sirius escaped from Azkaban.

"They're just trying to protect you." Ron offered as a consolation. "Mum is a member of the Order, I'll ask her to bring you. You're going to love it Harry, really, it will get your mind off of things."

Harry realized that as well. "Yeah, I know."

"I'm glad Dumbledore let you come!" Ron finally welcomed him properly with a big slap on the back. "We're going to have a great holiday!"

"Now that I've gotten my broom back we can go flying."

"Flying," Ron said with a silly grin plastered on his face. "That's a great idea Harry, we'll go tonight."

"Right," Harry nodded. "I'll see you downstairs in a minute." Harry descended the stairs and entered the kitchen taking a seat next to Mr. Weasley.

Mr. Weasley lowered his Daily Prophet slightly so that he could greet Harry. "Good morning, Harry."

"Good morning sir."

"Good morning, Harry." Mrs. Weasley set a plate down in front of him piled with porridge, biscuits, eggs and ham. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, thank you." Harry ate a few bites before looking back at Mr. Weasley. "Mr. Weasley, I was wondering if I could go to Diagon Alley? Ron asked me to come to Fred and George's shop with him, and I'd really like to see it."

"That sounds like a good idea Harry," Mr. Weasley set his paper down. "I'll have to arrange that for you. It's been extremely chaotic at the Ministry since Fudge acknowledged that You-Know-Who is back. I've been working all hours it seems, so I don't think I'll be able to manage it myself anytime soon, but don't worry, I promise you, we'll get it worked out."

"Thank you."

"I thought we could get started on our little project this afternoon Harry," Mrs. Weasley told him. "I have some books you need to read on the subject."

Harry looked up to acknowledge Mrs. Weasley, but instead his eyes fixed on Ron and Ginny come down the stairs. Ron took a seat next to Harry while Ginny sat across from him. Harry's eyes lingered for a moment on Ginny until she seemed to notice this, and he became very interested in his porridge.

Ron and Ginny began conversing with each other. Harry didn't feel very comfortable as they spoke, but finally, he did lift his head and begin smiling and laughing at their bantering.

It wasn't long before Harry and Ginny were the only two left in the kitchen and Harry tried his best to avoid looking straight into her eyes. He felt strange suddenly, and was very unsure why his cheeks flushed when Ginny spoke his name.

"Harry?"

Harry finally made eye contact with her, and when he did, he finally took full notice of her, and the changes in her appearance. Her hair seemed longer and her face a bit thinner. She'd grown some over the summer month, she looked nearly an inch taller, but maybe that was just because she wasn't wearing robes.

"Would you like to talk about it? I know that I'm not your friend, but--"

"I've always thought of you as my friend Ginny," he interrupted. "I know we aren't as close as Ron and I, but we have shared our own adventures."

"True." She wanted to smile, feeling that she had shared something with Harry, but neither adventure with Harry had been pleasant. "I can't imagine what you may be thinking, or what you're dealing with, but if you do want to talk about anything, just know that I'm here."

"Thanks Ginny," he smiled somewhat awkwardly, feeling even more embarrassed for an unexplainable reason. "But I'm just not ready yet, please don't be offended, it isn't you--"

"It's fine Harry, you haven't offended me. I just want you to know that we've both been through an ordeal with Voldemort...and...well...I just wanted you to know..." Unsure of what she wanted him to know exactly, she stopped speaking. The silence became uncomfortable quickly, and Harry was grateful when she finally left the room.

After rinsing his plate, he retreated to his room where he found three books laying on his bed: Practical Apparation, From Here to There and Don't Splinch Yourself. Harry was thankful for the distraction. Reading was a welcome change. Hermione would be so proud.

It was nearly one o'clock when Mrs. Weasley knocked on his bedroom door. "Tea Harry?"

"Yes, please." He said as he set his book down.

Mrs. Weasley set the tray down on a small table under his window and took a seat in a nearby chair. "Do you mind if I join you?"

"Not at all." He took the cup that she handed to him.

"How far have you gotten in the books?" She asked pointedly at the opened one next to him.

"I'm halfway through this one," he replied, glancing at Practical Apparation. "It seems so complicated. I don't think I can do it."

"Of course you can Harry, but you won't try it yourself yet. Tomorrow, we'll go out to the orchard and I'll Apparate between two points so you can study to movements and the technique. Then, I'll teach you a transportation charm so you can transport objects, rodents and small animals, to give you the feel of it. Once you are able to do all of that, you'll give it a go."

"So I need to finish this book by tomorrow?" He asked gloomily, hoping reading wouldn't impede his plans of flying with Ron later.

"It would be helpful." She smiled at him.

Silence filled the room for a few minutes as they sipped on their tea. Harry didn't feel awkward at all sitting with her, the silence was companionable, and made him think of his own mother, and if this was how tea with her would have been.

"Can I ask you something?" Harry asked Mrs. Weasley, and she nodded at him. "Did you know my mother?"

"I didn't know her very well Harry, but I do know that it is her love that saved you, and I suspect that love has propelled you to the powerful wizard that you are now, and the one you are destined to become. So from that, I know she was an extraordinary woman."

"And my father?"

"A brilliant Chaser. Quidditch is in your blood."

The thought of Quidditch actually made Harry frown. "I don't think I want to play this year, even if I can."

"Those decrees are rubbish, they will all be dissolved by the time you get back to school," she informed him. "So that foolish punishment the High Inquisitor put on you, and Fred and George is going to be tossed out."

"Why wouldn't you want to play?" She knew the pleasure he drew from flying, it seemed extremely improbable that he wouldn't wish to be back on his broom.

"I can't really say, but I think it's because I don't feel like much of anything right now. If my heart isn't in it, I will only hurt the team."

"I know you're hurting Harry, but our feelings can be our best weapons."

"And our Achilles heel."

"Achilles?" Mrs. Weasley looked truly puzzled. "I didn't know that Greek history was still taught at Hogwarts."

"Greek history?" Harry questioned. "That stuff is true? Zeus? Hercules? Aphrodite?" She nodded. "It's called Greek Mythology in the Muggle world. They are well known gods and goddesses."

She started chuckling at that statement. "I had no idea. They were not gods and goddesses," she explained. "They were witches and wizards in a time when magic wasn't hidden from Muggles. Perhaps that's why they were recorded in Muggle books as gods and goddesses."

"Muggles tend to believe that anyone with magical abilities is a god."

"There are many instances in history where witches and wizards have abused their abilities and tried to pronounce themselves gods. Not everyone uses his or her power for good, something you know all too well."

Harry nodded, knowing it too well, but he couldn't help wondering, "Do you think that he will kill me?"

Pleasantness seemed to escape Mrs. Weasley at the question. "I think he will try again Harry, but I also know that he has tried several times in the past and never succeeded. And I don't think he will try again until he knows that he can succeed."

"Great." Harry conceded dryly.

"Yes, it is. It gives you time to learn, grow and get stronger. If he couldn't beat you at 15 months, he certainly won't be able to once you've achieved magus subolesco.

"You have the advantage Harry. You've defeated him once already and he's never gotten the better of you, even with all of his Death Eaters trying to help him."

"If you're so confident in me, why isn't anyone else?"

"They are, Harry."

"Then why all of this secrecy and protection? Why can't I just be normal, and have a summer job like Ron?"

She wished that for him as well, but knew the reason it couldn't be. Voldemort would try to kill him again, and Harry needed to be ready the next time Voldemort came for him: ready to fight, or ready to run.

"And if you were to get a summer job and he came after you, would you be ready to face him today?"

The answer didn't come immediately. It took a full minute for Harry to realize why he was so well protected. They were buying him time to mature.

"No, I'm not."

"That is why we continue to protect you Harry. You've done well every time you've faced him, grown wizards can't say the same, but no one wants to see you face him again anytime soon."

"I don't want to face him again at all."

"I know Harry." She smiled hoping it would comfort him. "I hope that you don't."

But they both knew that was improbable. Voldemort wanted Harry dead, and would not stop until he accomplished that. Killing Harry had become more than wanting to do it, it had become proving that he could.

"Mrs. Weasley?" Harry needed to ask, and now that his emotions were out in the open, adding one more wouldn't hurt. "I asked Sir Nicholas about why some people become ghosts, and I understand that, but I don't understand what happens to those who don't become ghosts. What happened to my parents and Sirius? What is that veil in the Department of Mysteries? Where does it go?"

"Those are all excellent questions Harry, none of which I have an answer to. Those who don't become ghosts, go on, to where, I don't know. The veil is said to be a doorway between worlds, but only those with the inner eye...well, I shouldn't say what I don't know. What I do know is that some people can hear beyond the veil, but most can't."

"I heard voices behind the veil, and I was drawn to it."

"You are extraordinary Harry. It doesn't surprise me in the least that you could hear the voices beyond."

"But what does it mean?"

"I suppose it's because you've faced death, and perhaps, even welcomed it." He nodded. "Don't despair Harry, there is so much life to live and I know you will survive." She patted his knee. "I know it."

"My, my, time has gotten away from me." Mrs. Weasley collected the cups and placed them onto the serving tray. "I'm so glad that we had this discussion. Bill and Charlie are going to be here tonight for supper."

"Splendid." It had been a while since he'd seen either of them.

She patted his cheek gently. "Ginny's practicing flying in the orchard. You could always go give her a few pointers. There will be time to read later."

Harry watched her leave the room and felt for the first time that he had a mother, someone who loved him, cared for him, and wanted him in her home and with her family. Harry was thrilled about that and decided he was going to take this chance to be part of the Weasley family. He grabbed his broom and headed out to the orchard to find Ginny, knowing that flying (even with Ginny) would never make him feel awkward.

He and Ginny flew and played one-on-one Quidditch until Ron flew out on his broom a few hours later. The three of them took turns playing Keeper, Chaser and Beater. Harry was truly happy when he returned to the house that evening, broom hoisted on his shoulder, flanked by two friends.

*

Percy was the only member of the Weasley family missing that evening for dinner. "Where's Percy?" Harry asked as he had a sat next to Ron at the picnic table.

"Shhh," Ron hushed him. "Don't let mum hear you say his name, he hasn't returned any of her messages. He's the world's biggest prat."

"I thought he'd apologize after everything came out." Harry was shocked that Percy hadn't after the Ministry finally acknowledged that Voldemort was back. Why wouldn't he apologize if he were wrong?

"No, just the opposite. He thinks mum and dad should apologize to him."

"For what?" Harry nearly shouted.

"Because he still thinks that Fudge is right, and that everything is hunky dory, and we all need to leave it to the great Cornelius Fudge to handle Voldemort." Ron rolled his eyes. "Fudge is probably a Death Eater himself, which is why he didn't want to acknowledge you and Dumbledore last year, and Lucius Malfoy certainly has him in his back pocket."

Harry's confusion showed and Ron realized that Harry hadn't read The Daily Prophet over the summer, so he explained. "At Malfoy's trial, Fudge overruled the jury and reduced his sentence to one year in Azkaban with no fines."

"What did the jury sentence him to?"

"Ten years and ten thousand galleons." Ron's outrage was apparent in his escalated tone.

"And Fudge reduced it? That's outrageous!"

"What's outrageous?" Bill asked as he sat down between the boys.

"Oh," Ron said quietly. "I was just telling him about Malfoy's trial."

"Scandalous," Bill said as he shook his head. "I hope it isn't long before Fudge is ousted. Look at everything he's done. He ignored Dumbledore about Voldemort returning, he appointed that stupid woman as High Inquisitor, he's wanted Dumbledore out of Hogwarts for years now, and then this farce with Malfoy. It is outrageous Harry." Bill concurred. "We need a loyalist as the Minister of Magic. You can't trust the Ministry right now."

Harry looked down into his lap. "Sometimes it's hard to know who to trust."

"Too right, Harry." Bill agreed. "You certainly have to be careful who you trust these days."

Harry didn't feel like continuing the gloomy conversation, he wanted to talk about something he didn't have to worry about. "How are things in Egypt right now Bill?"

"Fabulous, I've been working in a pyramid down in Memphis for months now. It's really thrown a curveball at me. Those Egyptians were some damn fine spell casters. I'm starting to wonder what is so important in the chamber." He scratched his head. "What is that valuable that five thousand years later we still can't get in there?"

"You always wondered what's so important inside," Ron interjected. "And it's always some bag of bones surrounded by loads of gold. That's why Gringotts wants you to break in so badly."

"That's very true Ron, but I've got a gut feeling there is something else beside bones and gold in this one. It's not even documented as a burial chamber, we just happen to stumble across it last year."

"It'll be bones and gold." Ron reiterated once more, making his brother laugh.

"It must be fascinating," Harry looked at Bill with wide eyes. "Egypt must be filled with so much magic and mystery. What's it like living there?"

"Here we go," Ron said dryly while getting out of his seat. "You've just unleashed the desert rat Harry." He patted Harry sympathetically on the shoulder and walked away, shaking his head.

Bill immediately began telling Harry about Egypt, starting with Cairo, which was where he lived. He talked about all of the sights, the sunsets and sunrises, the magic that was just coursing through that place. Harry began to understand why Ron called Bill a desert rat after listening to him talk for an hour. It was clear that Bill had found a home and his niche.

"It sounds fantastic." The tales of the distant land amazed Harry.

"It is. You're going to have to come visit me. Maybe we can arrange that next summer. You'd love Egypt Harry. In fact I bet you've got a knack for curse breaking."

"I'm going to hold you to that offer Bill."

"Good." He winked at him. "There's nothing better than getting out and seeing the world. I get pretty downtrodden here, not that I don't love England; don't get me wrong, it's just not the same. You'll understand exactly what I mean when you find the place that your heart calls home."

For some reason Harry looked at Ginny as he answered Bill. "I hope so."

"You will Harry."

Harry was so thankful for Bill saying that to him. Bill wasn't trying to tell Harry how strong he was, or how much was in front of him, or what he must do; he was just assuring him that he would find his place, that he would feel comfortable in the world, and Harry believed him. It was the most comforting feeling he'd had in longer than he cared to remember.

The peace of that thought stayed with Harry through dinner and into bed that evening. He tucked into bed that night feeling quite content with life. Somehow, he now saw a light at the end of the tunnel. "No matter what," he promised himself. "I will find my home."

*

"Concentrate Harry," Molly instructed.

Harry stared at the cat hoping he wouldn't harm it. This was his first warm-blooded transportation attempt, and he was nervous about it. He drew in a deep breath, and then pointed his wand at the small creature.

"Recedentia!"

With a loud pop the cat disappeared, then reappeared on the opposite side of the field. Before Molly could inspect the cat, it high tailed its way out of there, apparently unwilling to participate any longer.

"Well done Harry!" Molly exclaimed. "Very good, but I'm afraid we've scared off our subject."

Harry just laughed. "Can you blame him?"

"I suppose not." She walked back over to him. "Shall we try again?"

"But the cat ran away."

"I know, but there are plenty of rabbits out here, maybe even a deer if we're quiet enough."

He tentatively nodded his head and joined her in search of more unwilling participants. By the time they returned to the house Harry was feeling quite confident in his transportation abilities. He had successfully transported a cat, three rabbits, and a stray dog, not to mention all of the insects and other objects he'd successfully transported in the past week. He hoped this was a reflection of how his Apparation skills were coming along.

It seemed strange to Harry that the previous summer he stood before the Wizengamot for performing necessary magic to save himself and his cousin, Dudley, from two Dementors, and this year he was blatantly using magic daily.

Mrs. Weasley had explained to him that even though there were magical detectors near his home in Little Whinging, and the Burrow, someone within the Ministry would have to actually press charges against him (Fudge clearly took care of that last year in order to try and get Harry out of the wizarding community to stop him from spreading word that Voldemort was back). Since the Weasley's were a magical family, the detectors near the Burrow were useless for detecting underage magic because they couldn't distinguish between Harry doing magic, or Mrs. Weasley. And if anyone were to ask, she would most certainly say that she had done magic in question.

"I told Dumbledore you'd have it in a week didn't I?" He nodded at her. "I think I may even have you give it a try soon."

"Try what soon?" Ginny asked as they entered the kitchen.

"Nothing dear." Mrs. Weasley smiled at her.

"Quidditch Harry?"

"Sure, let me go get my broom."

Ginny thrust it at him. "Got it already."

He just laughed at her as they went out to the orchard. The last week had been like this; lessons with Mrs. Weasley, and afternoons with Ginny either flying or studying. Ron had even come home from work one evening and caught them wrestling and tickling on the floor.

The evening seemed reserved for playing chess with Ron, and talking about nothing in particular, which somehow always amounted to a conversation about Hermione, and the outrage Ron had towards the fact that Hermione wasn't at the Burrow. Hermione had gone to Bulgaria to visit Viktor Krum. Harry was beginning to sense that Ron was obsessed with the thought of Hermione, and he wondered how long it would be before Ron realized that obsession was actually attraction.

Aside from listening to Ron complain about Hermione's choice in vacation destinations, Harry was truly enjoying the way his summer was turning out. The entire Weasley clan was happy to see the change in Harry's behaviour. If he weren't ready to talk about his emotions yet, they would do everything in their power to help take his mind off his burdens, and feel like a normal teenager.