Harry Potter and the Black Grimoire

The next day, Harry, Sirius, Remus and Arabella all traveled to the Weasleys' home through the fireplace. They went one by one, each throwing their Floo powder in and stating clearly "The Burrow!" before popping out of site.

Their arrival at the Burrow was a pleasant occasion for everyone. Mister and Misses Weasley had not seen Arabella, an old friend of theirs, for quite sometime. They were both happy to welcome Remus and Sirius into their home as well, making sure to congratulate Sirius on his freedom at last.

"I always knew you didn't do it!" added Mrs. Weasley. Everyone knew she was just being polite though.

Being at the Burrow also gave Harry a chance to catch up with his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Hermione had arrived earlier that day.

They all sat in the living room with the rest of the Weasley family, which consisted of Ginny, the twins Fred and George and Ron's older brothers Charlie and Bill who were visiting.

Charlie spent all of his time in Romania where he was studying dragons and Bill was a safecracker for Gringott's Wizarding Bank.

They all chatted lively for some time before the visitors got up and announced that they had to take their leave. Harry, of course, was not happy to see his godfather leave, but Sirius promised (with a slight wink) that he would be seeing him soon enough.

Their departure gave Harry and his friends a chance to talk in private for the first time that day. They made their way to Ron's room at the top of the house.

"So Ron, have you caught anything from your about... you know..." asked Harry.

"Some, yeah," replied Ron. "He keeps Mum pretty well posted on what's going on in the Ministry and their progress. Everything has been weirdly quiet though. It's not like it was all those years ago, I hear. He hasn't tried anything at all since Karkaroff. Even the Death Eaters have kept fairly quiet."

"That sounds like good news then," said Hermione.

"He could just be saving up for something big," said Harry.

"Oh Harry! Why do you always have to be so negative?"

"I'm just stating the probability Hermione!"

"Let's just drop it then."

"Good idea," said Harry and Hermione together.

"So Hermione, how come you're not wearing your prefects badge?" asked Ron with a mischievous grin.

It wasn't a surprise to anyone when Hermione had owled them to say she had made prefect. Although Harry and Ron didn't get bad marks, everyone knew Hermione was the smartest witch in the soon-to-be fifth years.

"I don't want to wear it!" said Hermione. "Jeez! I'm not Percy you know!"

"What was that about me?" Percy asked, sticking his head out of the door. They had just passed his room when the comment was made.

"Nothing Perce, sorry," said Ron.

"Ok then, but do try and keep it down, I am trying to work."

"No problem Percy," said Harry.

They all waited until Percy was out of earshot before resuming their conversation.

"Just kiddin' ya, Herm." said Harry.

They were now at Ron's room and went inside, shutting the door behind them.

"I know, I know," she replied. "You boys are just so jealous though."

"Us? Jealous?" said Ron and Harry.

"Yes! Very!"

"Why would we be jealous of a skinny brainiac who is ticklish beyond belief?" asked Ron, winking at Harry.

"I am not ticklish!" said Hermione, defensively.

"Wanna make a bet on that?"

And before she knew it, both boys had pounced on her and began to tickle her feet and belly. They were all laughing hysterically before the tickle-fest erupted into a giant pillow fight.

Had it not been for the fact that they were such good friends, the situation could have proved to be quite awkward.

* * * *

That night, Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys, including Bill and Charlie, all ate supper in the garden. It was a meal reminiscent of the one they shared in the garden last summer around the same time.

"What's wrong Harry?" asked Hermione, helping herself to a chicken leg.

"Yeah, you've looked like you have something on your mind all night," added Ron.

"I do, it's about something Sirius said yesterday," replied Harry

"What is it?"

"Well yesterday, when I asked Sirius how all of them knew each other, he said they had all been friends at Hogwarts."

"So?"

"Oh Ron, you can be quite thick sometimes. Don't you get it? Come on; use your brains," said Hermione. "But that's definitely something to think about."

"What is?" asked Ron, still puzzled.

"I wonder why he would tell you that," replied Hermione, ignoring Ron.

"Me too. I don't really think that Mrs. Figg would have been at Hogwarts at the same time as Sirius and my parents. She's too old."

"Oh, now I get it."

"Well, he must have a good explanation for telling you that. Maybe she's just in disguise," Hermione said.

"Or maybe she took too much aging potion at one point," added Ron.

"Both possible explanations," said Harry. "But I think it's something else. I'll have to ask him about it when I see him next."

"Good idea," said Ron and Hermione.

"So what do you want to do for the rest of the summer Harry?" asked Ron.

"We should talk your parents into letting us stay in Diagon Alley for the rest of the summer."

"Yeah! That sounds like a good idea," said Ron, his broad smile turning into a frown. "But I don't think that I can aff- "

"And tell them that it would be my treat. It's the least I can do for your family taking me in the last couple of summers."

"Well that sounds ok then. How about you Herm? Sound ok to you?"

"Fine with me. My parents gave me plenty of money, plus I have some from my grandmother. It would give me some time to spend in the library as well."

"There's a library in Diagon Alley?" asked Ron.

Harry chuckled to himself, but Hermione made no attempt to answer this question. Instead, they all got up to go and ask Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

"What do you think Arthur?" asked Mrs. Weasley.

"Well I see no reason why they can't, but Harry, you know if you're going to be off by yourselves, you are going to need some sort of security. We can't have anything happening to you."

"I sort-of figured it would have to be that way Mr. Weasley, but I don't mind really."

Well then I see no reason why you kids shouldn't go and enjoy the rest of the summer being kids," replied Arthur. "I'll owl the Ministry later and set it up. Dumbledore'll probably want to know as well. And I'll try and pull some strings and see if I can't relieve you kids of some of the fees."

"You rule Dad! Thanks Mom!" shouted Ron with obvious joy.

"Yeah, thanks Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," said Ron and Hermione.

The three friends got up and ran back to Ron's room, leaving behind the two Weasley parents, who were feeling very pleased with themselves.

They spent the rest of the night talking, playing games and planning what they would do for the next two months that they would be spending together. By the end of the night, they were thoroughly anticipating the Ministry's response letter. Mr. Weasley assured them that everything would be in order though.

Later, the only regret Harry had about the plans was that he would have to leave the lively atmosphere of the Burrow after only just arriving. But then he imagined the great time he would be having with his two best friends in the world and everything was better again.