Summer

Summer - Chapter Seven ~

"Arrival of the Weasleys"

It had been a week since Hermione had visited the Dursleys' house for dinner, and Harry was enjoying the changes. The furniture Aunt Petunia and Hermione ordered had arrived the day before, and Uncle Vernon had paid for it, grudgingly, but he had done it. Aunt Petunia had acted pretty decent, he had to admit. Somehow he thought Ivy had used a different Charm on her, or maybe it just had affected a female differently.

Hermione had sure been happy. He was trying to believe it was all because he was at her house so much, but the thought that Viktor Krum would soon be in town with his family kept pulling at him when he saw Hermione smile for no apparent reason. It would be good to see the Weasleys though. Mrs. Weasley had sent an owl back, saying she and Mr. Weasley, Ron, Ginny, Fred and George would be happy to come for a few days. He remembered the look on Ivy's face as she read the letter Errol brought. "Arthur has been working hard, trying to make people see the danger we're facing," she said, with a worried look. "It will be good for him to visit us, and get his mind off the stupidity of those Ministry people. Especially Fudge, It's time the wizarding world began waking up about the man."

It had been hard for Harry to get used to Ivy speaking so frankly about Voldemort. She seemed to have no problem talking to him and Hermione without holding anything back. When he had mentioned that to Hermione, she had shrugged and said," Why shouldn't she? We, and mostly you, have already seen more things than the rest of the witches and wizards in this country.We're still here aren't we? Mom just knows we have a few brains between us."

Harry had gotten a good laugh from that. Hermione talking about a few brains! But they both knew they'd need more than brains in the future. He shook his head, and told himself to stop thinking that way. As Hagrid had said, what would come would come, and they would meet it when it did. For now, he was going to have as good a time as possible. Krum wouldn't be staying at Hermione's house.

Then it occurred to him that he probably wouldn't either. He knew the Grangers had two extra rooms, and they would be full of Weasleys. Harry finished what he was doing on the computer for Hermione's dad, and went to look for her. He found Hermione going over some lists with Ivy in her office.

" Oh, hi, Harry! Mom and I were just going over some things for when the Weasleys and Krums are here. We're going to have so much fun! I can't wait to see Ron, can you?" He couldn't help noticing how Hermione's eyes were shining, and he got a little stab of something, even though he was looking forward to seeing Ron.

"Yeah, um, sure. Wonder how Fred and George are doing with their inventions." Harry had told Hermione about making Fred and George take the Triwzard prize money, knowing she would be happy to hear the Weasley twins had some good luck, after their experience with Ludo Bagman. A thought of Viktor Krum eating one of Gred & Forge's TonTongue Toffees cheered him up. He would have to have a talk with Fred & George when they got to the Grangers. Maybe they would have a new invention that would be just as effective.

"Molly and Arthur and the kids will be here soon," said Ivy, happily. Harry could tell she was really excited, and why wouldn't she be? This would be the first time Hermione's mom would be with the Weasleys since she had come back into their world. He thought back to the time they had all met in Diagon Alley their second year. He, Ron and Hermione had been too busy complaining about Malfoy to notice, but he did remember now that the Grangers and Weasleys had talked for some time in low voices. He had just assumed they were speaking about Hogwarts, since the Grangers were muggles, and would be unfamiliar with the school and eager for information.

"Hermione, why don't you check the rooms to be sure everything is comfortable for them?", said Ivy, as she continued to check things off her list.

Hermione nodded and said, "Harry , will you come with me. I may need some help moving things." Harry nodded and followed her upstairs.

They checked one of the guest rooms and Harry laughed when he saw the hairdryer and radio Ivy had put in the room."Mr. Weasley will have those taken apart before he's been here for an hour. I hope your mom has the good stuff put away."

" Oh, Dad will keep him occupied with all the dental machinery. Can't you imagine how much fun they'll have, Dad loves to talk about the stuff,and Mr. Weasley is so curious. I only hope they can remember how to put everything back together!"

"And I suppose your mom and Mrs. Weasley will have a lot to talk about, too. Mrs. Weasley will want to give her the latest recipes from the Daily Prophet, "

Hermione's face became more sober at this and she replied," I think Mom is more interested in talking to Mrs. Weasley about what happened at Hogwarts during the Triwizard Tournament. She told me she wanted to talk to her about the Diggorys, and how they were feeling. You may not know, but she and Dumbledore have been sending owls to each other since I got back from school. She hasn't told me why, and I just thought it was because of you. Now I'm not so sure. Everything is fine at the Dursleys, isn't it? "

Harrry made a face and said, "As much as it'll ever be. Dudley doesn't try to beat me up, Aunt Petunia isn't starving me, but they aren't a lot of fun. But my room is a lot more comfortable now, thanks to you. I just stay there most of the time when I'm there. Dudley brought me some of his CD's and an extra player."

"That was okay of him, but he has some awful music, Harry. Let me get you some of my CD's." They went out of the guest bedroom, and Harry followed Hermione into her room. He hadn't been in there before and had always assumed it would be books, books and a few books.

There were a lot of them, but there was also a really nice color on the walls, and her ceiling had somehow been made to look almost like the ceiling of the Great Hall. The best thing about the room, though was the smell. Harry realized he could walk into this room blind and still know who lived here.

"Are you catching a cold, Harry?" Hermione asked, looking at him a little strangely.

"No,I don't think so. Why?" answered Harry, feeling his ears get a little warm.

Hermione looked relieved."Good," she said. "I was hoping you wouldn't get sick, not when we're having all these visitors.You were just sniffing a lot. Well, come on, let's look, and find some things for you to listen to."

Harry and Hermione sat on the floor, and she began pulling the plastic cases out, and describing different ones to him,playing a song or two for him. Hermione sure was more fun than she had ever been at Hogwarts. He and Ron had sure never known she liked music so much.

A few minutes later they heard Ivy call, "Harry! Hermione! They've arrived." Hermione and Harry got up and left the room and Harry turned and looked one more time over his shoulder.What were those piles of clothes? Everything else looked pretty neat.

They got downstairs to find the living room full of Weasleys, everyone still brushing off from having traveled by Floo powder. Everyone except Mrs. Weasley, who was telling Ivy, " No, I've given up Floo powder. No point in waiting til I'm stuck in a chimney. Apparating is fine for me, now that the children are old enough to use the Floo powder alone "

Ivy was nodding in an understanding way, but he was sure she was glad to still be able to travel as she chose. Chris was looking a bit confused with all the Weasleys talking and moving around the room. Mr. Weasley was eagerly examining each item he picked up, and looking around the room delightedly. "So this is a Muggle home," he said.

"Let me take you into the office area," Chris said quickly. "I can show you how the machinery operates."

Mr. Weasley's face lit up, and he broke into an even bigger smile. "Ah, dental machinery," he said, in a pleased tone. "I had hoped to see how things like that work. Our Wizidentists use nothing more than a wand. Pity, I've always thought"

"We'll come along too...." " Just to make sure things get put back together correctly!" said Fred and George.

" You two stay away from things!" Mrs. Weasley said sharply. "Your father's not the one who makes trouble everywhere he goes." She shook her head, and muttered to Ivy, "I had to make them empty their pockets five times before we left the house."

Harry's heart sank at hearing this, but George gave him a nudge, and nodded toward their bags. So, the twins had so far managed to trick their mom again. He hoped it would last long enough to ask them to help him trick Krum.

"Want some help with the bags ? " Harry asked the Weasleys in general, but hoping to be able to talk to Ron, Fred and George alone.

Ron looked around the Granger's living room in disgust "They're bags all right," he muttered. "Trash bags!"

"Shut up, Ron!" said Ginny, in a low, but angry voice. "Stop embarrassing Mom and Dad, They brought you on this trip, even after all the whining you've done about Viktor Krum.

"Ron gave Ginny a venomous look,then turned to Harry. " Let's get on with it, then."

"You'll find the room a bit changed now, Harry. Since you, Ron, Fred and George are in there, I had to put a bit of a Stretching Spell on it." Ivy told Harry. " I stretched Hedwig's cage a bit too, so there's room for Errol and Pigwidgeon."

Harry's heart gave a leap when Ivy said that. So, he wasn't going to be expected to go back to the Dursley's, while the rest of them were having fun here. He told himself to stop assuming the worst, things were diferent now that Ivy was looking out for him. He looked at her, but didn't know quite what to say except, "Thanks!" but he could tell Ivy understood.

As they took the bags upstairs, Harry and Ron could hear Ginny and Hermione laughing in her room, then they heard the door close. "When did Hermione start going off alone with Ginny?" Ron grumbled. "She's barely spoken to me!"

"Erm, Ron, Hermione is, well, sort of different since we got back from school,' began Harry.

"Different? That what you call it? Just because she's got this fancy house, and is wearing some kind of jewelry? I never saw Hermione wear bracelets and stuff before."

Harry gulped and wondered what to do now. Giving Hermione the bracelet had seemed so natural, he'd sort of forgotten the way Ron had acted about Viktor Krum. But he took a deep breath and decided he'd better get it over with. If things were going to be like they had been after the Goblet chose him as one of the Champions, he might as well know it now. "Uh, Hermione and I had to go to Diagon Alley for her Mom last week and we also went to Gringotts. "

"And? Did your fortune grow while you were at school.? Richer and more famous than ever? " Ron snapped in a sarcastic voice that made Harry want to throw something at him. If Ron kept this up, Harry knew he'd be going back to Privet Drive in the morning.

He forced himself to say, in a normal voice,"No, nothing had changed. But I found a box that had some letters my Mom wrote when I was a baby. And that bracelet."

He felt his face go red as Ron looked at him, his eyes widening in surprise. "From your mom? Wow! Harry, what did she tell you? Anything about You Know Who?"

" No, only that I if I was opening them without her, their plan didn't work. 'Course I didn't need a letter to know that! The bracelet was something Professsor Dumbledore gave my Mom,and she said it should be worn by someone I trust completely." He stopped,laughed and then continued, " So, you want me to tell Hermione you want it?"

At first Harry thought Ron was getting mad, but then Ron laughed and said, "Yeah, do that! Malfoy would have a holiday, talking about it!" Ron and Harry both had a good laugh over that, imagining Draco's comments and remembering the Potter Stinks pins from last year. Then Ron's face broke into a huge smile.

"You are a genius, you know that? If we'd tried for a week, we couldn't have found a better way to send Krum back to Bulgaria- alone. You and Hermione as a couple!"

Harry felt distInctly uncomfortable. "Ron, I think Hermione just wants to be treated like a girl, instead of a brain.You really think I ought to treat her like a girlfriend?"

Harry knew Ron had no idea what he was suggesting, but he also had no idea how to change things. "Sure I know," Ron said, with a sarcastic laugh."And I'm sure she knows you don't like her like that. But Krum doesn't."

With a feeling of coming disaster, Harry nodded his head and said, "Um, okay, but I dunno how Hermione's going to like this." Just then they heard a crash and Hermione and Ginny yelled, "OH NO!!"

______________________________

Harry and Ron looked at each other wide - eyed for about a second, then tore out the door, heading toward Hermione's room. Instead of some dark scene of destruction, they found Ginny and Hermione standing and staring at a horrible, gooey, foul-smelling mess on the floor. Behind Hermione they could hear Crookshanks hissing and growling in the corner.

"What IS that stuff? " groaned Harry, holding his nose, and feeling his eyes begin to water. Ron was holding his nose too, but he was grinning.

"Part of it I know about. Ginny doesn't know this, but I heard her talking to Fred and George about making something to turn her hair less red- permanently. I can't believe you were going to use that on your hair. Look what it did to the carpet."

Harry could tell Ron was right. The place where one side of the gooey mess was spreading had turned a brilliant peurple with glowing streaks of green."Oooh, I'll kill them!" shrieked Ginny. "And if it hadn't been for Crookshanks - oh no, Hermione, look!"

They all turned to look at the corner, where Crookshanks continued to growl. Hermione yelped and ran to the corner."Oh, Crookshanks, what have we done to you?" she moaned.

'What indeed? ' thought Harry, looking at Crookshanks, whose once fluffy fur now hung limply down his sides, and its once ginger colour had now turned to a violent mauve, streaked with bright lime green. Hermione moved to pick him up, but just as she bent over they heard Ivy say sharply from the doorway "Don't!" and Hermione jumped back as if she'd been burned.

Next they heard heavier footsteps in the hall, and Mrs. Weasley appeared in the door. "Ginny!" she roared." I'd have expected this from your brothers, but I thought you had more sense!" Ron was now bent double with laughter, holding his sides , but he managed to gasp, "Spot on, Mum. George and Fred did have a hand in this, but Ginny doesn't have any sense. I'm not so sure about Hermione either. Um, sorry , Dr. Granger,"

'Here we go !' thought Harry. Now they'd be fighting for sure, and Ron would probably be expecting him to "pretend" to defend Hermione.

Surprisingly though, Hermione just grinned at Ron, and said teasingly. "I've got more sense than you'll ever have Ron Weasley!" Behind them, both of the mothers laughed and Ivy picked up a blanket and dropped it over Crookshanks.

As she rolled him tightly, so that his head was the only thing exposed, she said "I think all of you had better go check on Chris, Arthur and the twins, while Molly and I try to figure out how to deal with this mess . We'll find out later who's got sense and who doesn't."

None of them could find any answer to this. It was a silent and somewhat sheepish group that descended the stairs, leaving Mrs. Weasley and Ivy pulling their wands from their pockets, and Mrs. Weasley muttering something that sounded suspiciously like "Lockhart".

As they made their way toward the dental office, Ron finally spoke up "Wonder if they've left anything in one piece. Dad has been talking about this since your mom wrote inviting us."

Hermione shook her head and said, "There might not be anything, you're right. It would be nice if they'd stick to the chair Dad altered for your Uncle Vernon, Harry, but that's too much to hope for."

"What happened to your family, Harry?" asked Ginny. 'We heard Mum and Dad laughing over something in Dr. Granger's letter, but they wouldn't tell us what." Harry and Hermione filled Ron and Ginny in quickly on Ivy's altering of the Dursley's personalities, and the results. Soon all four of them were laughing so hard, Mr. Weasley came through one of the doors to investigate.

"Are you children having fun? I suppose your mother sent you to check on us?" Even though he did his best to look indignant, Harry could tell Mr. Weasley was feeling slightly guilty about something.

"What's happened, Dad " asked Ginny. "No need to say nothing, I've seen that look on your face since I was a baby."

"Well, if you must know.....come along." He led them back to the large room the Granger's used when they treated several patients at the same time, ususlly children. Hermione gasped when she went in, and Harry had to admit to himself, it was a mess.

Fred and George were spinning in two of the chairs, and various instruments were lying on the counters, out of the neat plastic bags Hermione had prepared. Getting his first good look at George, Harry saw a a huge grin with a set of teeth that rivaled Hermione's before she had Madame Pomfrey change them,after Malfoy's curse. But these teeth, instead of being long, as Hermione's had been, were wide, and colored in various shades.

The chair Ivy had used for Uncle Vernon now had another seat added, and Chris was reclining in this seat, looking amused instead of horrified as Harry would have expected. "Not so bad this magic stuff!" he said to the astounded group of teenagers."Maybe I've been wrong all these years, not encouraging Ivy to go back to her old profession.I suppose it's been mostly because I've known I'd feel left out of her life."

Immediately Fred and George turned to each other and said, in triumphant voices "Kwikspell course!!!" Hermione opened her mouth to speak but before she could get any words out, they saw a blast of blue flame shoot from a smaller room, and a voice that could have only come from Mr. Weasley saying "Aaarrrgggghhh!"

Everyone ran to the door and found Mr. Weasley standing there with what apppeared to have once been a large piece of plastic. Now it was pink and shiny, and was slithering around on the floor as if it were alive.

"I.. I only touched it with this clever little wand, and it turned to liquid. Thought I was turning that way next, but as soon as I dropped it, the flame stopped. You muggles haven't invented self spelling wands at last have you?"

Harry, Hermione and Chris began to laugh but quickly and fortunately noticed the younger Weasleys weren't laughing. "Funny thing to leave lying about, " Ron said flatly. " Dad, you could have been badly hurt!"

"Oh no, relax, Ron. If I had been, it would have been no one's fault but my own. Chris warned me about this when we first came in. As usual, I couldn't keep from coming back for another look. With You-Know -Who making an appearance, we need to know about all the wands and such things as possible."

They all looked at each other, somewhat disconcerted at Mr. Weasley's open admission of Voldemart's return, but were saved from further conversation by Mrs. Weasley and Ivy appearing in the door.

"Every part of this house disturbed and we've only been here ........." Mrs. Weasley began, but Ivy interrupted, saying, "No problem, Molly. Harry and Hermione have been doing a bit of experimenting since they've been home on holiday. We've become used to having two teeenagers in the house constantly, so I believe we'll survive this."

Everyone laughed in relief, and Hermione said,"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm starved. Any possibility of breaking this up, and having tea?" They all trooped out of the room, talking and laughing, but as they did, Ron grabbed Harry's arm.

"Been here constantly, eh? Sounds as if you won't have any problem playing the 'boyfriend' part. Had lots of practice have you?" Harry stared at Ron, not sure whether he was angry or joking, but before he could say anything, Hermione and Ginny appeared beside them, full of talk and laughter about the mess the men had made.

He'd just have to wait and see what happened,thought Harry, but he couldn't help feeling this visit might not be all pleasure.

To be continued......