A Different World

Chapter 2: The Meeting

Harry woke up in the guest bed in Ron´s room. He blinked tiredly and put on his glasses. He then heard the voice that had awoken him. "Boys! Get down here! We have a lot to get done today." Mrs. Weasley´s voice rang through the house. Ron groaned from the bed next to him and sat up. The last week and a half had been rather uneventful, but fun. Harry had spent his days with all of the Weasley boys playing Quidditch and even Ginny had played. Harry was genuinely impressed with her skills as a Keeper and told her so the first time he saw her play. She had smiled a bit at him and thanked him. He was jerked out of his reverie by Mrs. Weasley´s voice again. "Boys! You better be down here in five minutes."

Harry and Ron threw their clothes on and ran downstairs. Mrs. Weasley gave them a disapproving glare when they walked into the kitchen. "Ron, I told you we were going to Diagon Alley today. I think you could do a little better to hurry up." Harry knew this speech was probably meant for him too, but Mrs. Weasley would never yell at one of her guests. Ron nodded sheepishly, but when Mrs. Weasley turned back to the bacon in the frying pan he rolled his eyes. Harry and Ron sat down at the kitchen table with the rest of the family and Hermione.

After eating breakfast they were all ushered towards the fireplace in the living room. "Do you all have your letters?" Mrs. Weasley questioned.

"Yes, mum." Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny said simultaneously. Harry felt in his own pocket to make sure his was there. He remembered with a smile the previous day in which their letters had arrived. Hermione had shouted at once that she had been made a Prefect and seemed genuinely shocked that it had happened to her.

"Oh my...I can´t believe this! Being a prefect is such an honor." She had gone on like that for a while muttering about what a great responsibility it was and hoping she would do the job well. She had been jerked out of her rambling by Ron´s laughter, which had been going on since she had voiced her surprise, but she had just seemed to notice it. "What are you laughing at?" She had asked him icily.

He had chuckled for a few minutes and then seeing the irritated look on her face forced back more snickers and decided to answer. "You really didn´t see it coming?" Harry hoped that they would not start to fight with each other already. They had managed to avoid topics such as Bulgaria and Viktor Krum thus far, but they had fought in the past about the smallest things...like rules and prefects and such.

To his surprise, Hermione had actually smiled at Ron and there ended the conversation about prefects. Ron had shot him a puzzled look, but Harry had just shrugged. Perhaps she had been too happy about being made a prefect for her spirits to be broken by Ron´s teasing.

Mrs. Weasley handed the Harry the little jar of Floo Powder. He took a pinch, threw it and himself into the fire, and roared, "Diagon Alley!" Soon he was standing beside Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny. Hermione came after him and finally Mrs. Weasley.

After they had retrieved their money from Gringotts, they proceeded to split up to go get their things. "Well its noon now, so I´ll meet you all back at Flourish and Blotts at one thirty to get your books. And not a minute later." Mrs. Weasley said sternly. Fred and George started walking towards Quality Quidditch Supplies. Harry and Ron wanted to go to there as well, but Hermione said she needed to replenish her potion ingredients, so they headed in the other direction towards the Apothecary.

They then made there way towards Madam Malkin´s. Ron, who had grown even taller over the summer, was now bigger than his brothers had been and needed new robes. Harry had been curious as to how the Weasleys were affording all these things. If they needed any money he would gladly help them out.

Ron actually answered Harry´s silent question. "You guys wouldn´t believe what happened over the summer. Fred and George confessed to Mum that they had been selling all that joke stuff at school. Said since they were making money they ought to contribute money to the family too. Then they gave Mum a hundred Galleons! A hundred! Can you believe that? I guess they were selling a lot of stuff or something. Mum didn´t even care that they had disobeyed her. She went nutters though, crying and hugging them and telling them that they could pursue whatever ambitions they had. Said she was sorry that she had tried to push them into a career they didn´t want. Can you believe that?" Harry smiled. At least he had helped the Weasleys in some way, if they wouldn´t let him directly repay them for all they had done for him.

"So where too now?" Harry asked innocently, eagerly hoping that no one had anywhere to go so he could check out Quality Quidditch Supplies.

"Erm....I don´t know. I think I have everything I need except for my books," Hermione replied.

"Me too." said Ron. So they took off towards the Quidditch store. The first thing they saw upon arrival was a broomstick that made Harry´s jaw fall open. It was beautiful. It looked to have the same sort of shape as his Firebolt, as sleek and aerodynamic as they come. The twigs at the end stuck out neat and straight, each one the exact same length as the next. The polished handle shone with brightness and Harry could almost feel himself drooling. He read the sign above the broomstick.

THE THUNDERBOLT: SEQUEL TO THE FIREBOLT

Nearly twice as fast as its predecessor

"Wow," was all Ron could mutter. Harry didn´t get too excited though. If it was nearly twice as fast as his Firebolt, he could bet it would probably be twice the price too. His broom was an excellent one and it had not failed him once. Still it was an awesome sight. A few minutes later Hermione finally dragged them away from the broom, as it was time to meet Mrs. Weasley at Flourish and Blotts.

Harry took out his booklist and perused the shelves of the bookstore in search of the right titles. He needed The Standard Book of Spells Grade 5, An Advanced Guide to Transfiguration, The O.W.L. Prep Guide: Ace Your Exams and 1,000 MORE Magical Herbs and Fungi.

After everyone had gotten the books they needed, The Weasley clan, Harry, and Hermione headed home. At arrival of the house, Harry was surprised to see a group of wizards huddled in the next room. He attempted to get nearer for a closer look at who they were when he was held back by a tug on his collar. "Harry get out of the house. Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Fred, George you too. All children out. Go down to the pond. I´ve packed you a picnic basket. I don´t mean to be rude, but this is important." Mr. Weasley´s voice pierced the silence of the room.

Before exiting the house, Harry caught sight of a glint of a silver beard. He was sure it was Dumbledore´s.

"What was that all about?" Hermione asked; voicing the question Harry had been about to ask himself.

"Don´t really know," Fred answered. "This is the third time this had happened this summer. A bunch of wizards come to our house. We´re kicked out and told to go the pond. Probably some sort of secret meeting."

Harry puzzled over these words. Why were Dumbledore and a bunch of other wizards at the Weasley´s? What were they talking about at this secret meeting? Hi first thought went to Voldemort. Why else would these meetings be held in secret? Harry, Ron and Hermione and the rest of the Weasley kids had put in so much energy in the fight against the Dark Side so why did everyone, even Dumbledore, want to keep them clueless about what was going on?