Harry Potter and the Thunderstruck Muggles

Next morning, after breakfast, Harry escorted Rahewa back to Hogwarts. The Weasleys were invited from the Delacour family. Of course, they would have taken Rahewa with them any time, why not, except that the offer had been rejected with an expression which, on any other girl, would have been called horrified.

Not expecting an overnight improvement in his portkey programming skill, Harry used the same steps as the day before, only in reverse. At the Hogsmeade linkport, he said goodbye to Rahewa - less from his own impulse, more following the girl's demand. "See you tomorrow," he called when realizing that Rahewa wouldn't show her face a last time for this day.

A second after she had disappeared, Harry found it mandatory to test his programming. But of course - this time the one-time mode had worked. Consoling himself with the image of a very informative book in the Hogwarts library, he apparated home.

Ginny had the clever idea to take the game with them into the Delacours castle. The result was predictable: as soon as possible within the boundaries of politeness, they were sitting in a large room and playing, with Gabrielle instead of Rahewa.

And they learned something new. A quarter-Veela could control her figures easily, never hearing a protest from them. Therefore, Gabrielle might have won effortlessly, if not for her strategy, which could only be called wanting. She simply didn't take money seriously enough, ran always short of that, too much aiming for fame and happiness.

However, after a while, Ginny, her ally, could convince Gabrielle to share a common strategy in which Ginny would administer the budgets while Gabrielle had to rule the figures. The end was inevitable - a triumphant victory over Harry and Ron. At least, they still had some time left to sit and talk with the older people.

Harry had a few minutes with Fleur alone. Until then, Fleur had found the time to watch Harry's present. It was the Groucho dance course - complete, so far however with just one cassette. The others would be delivered when ready. Fleur said, "It was very interesting, especially after hearing some other news, and knowing a bit of the background."

"Interesting, yes, you can say that."

Fleur laughed. "Maybe, if you find the opportunity, you can use my parents' present."

"Fat chance." Even so, Harry had to grin. Their present was a Veela shawl, passed over by a smiling Elienne, who had admonished him to use it only for honest purposes.

Fleur asked, "What about the new teacher?"

"Danielle? She's okay, but I wonder whether she's going to stay longer - she seems in desperate search of something - er, male."

"That's a shame, 'arry. And you call yourself her assistant? Tsk, tsk." Fleur had fun.

"Veela - it's unbelievable." Harry sighed. "As if I hadn't trouble enough."

Growing serious, Fleur asked, "And you think chastity now will solve it? I don't think so; that's definitely the wrong approach."

"I didn't say it's an approach, but I'm awfully sure it's a prerequisite."

Fleur still looked unconvinced, however she admitted that Veela and Chinese - in particular Chinese dragons - might have different opinions. For her, there was no sense in shying off from an opportunity, not after being caught with the hand in the honeypot anyway.

When they had to leave, in order to catch the last gate back to The Burrow, everybody agreed - it was high time for Harry to master a long-distance portkey; after all, what were relatives good for, even adopted ones?

* * *

Next morning, Harry learned what it meant being serious to his own alarm clock. Hearing the drill sergeant's bellowing, he quickly jumped out of his bed, feeling guilt for this racket that had to be heard three rooms farther. However, stepping out of the room, he couldn't hear any noise from Ron's or Ginny's direction. Maybe next room this sergeant sounded like the house ghoul, although Harry didn't think so.

At any rate - he was fully awake, his anticipation toward a shopping tour for a pet animal growing by the second.

Reaching the breakfast table, Harry found a letter at his seat.

The envelope alone told him enough. And right he was - Mr and Mrs Chang invited him to a dinner party at New Year's eve, expressing also the hope Harry might be ready for his famous magical artistry, except that this year, with everybody aware of wizards and witches, the premises might be a bit more challenging.

Harry had expected this letter, felt no surprise whatsoever. This was why he found the words quickly and didn't lose much time in writing his answer: he was sorry, but under the given circumstances he felt it inappropriate to come, and Mr and Mrs Chang might forgive him for letting them down with their other guests. In a few minutes, reaching London Linkport, he could send the letter as urgent mail. The sooner they knew, the better.

Harry wouldn't have been surprised at finding Rahewa waiting outside. However, she sat in the Entrance Hall.

Today, savouring every minute, Harry didn't feel like programming portkeys that would fall too short anyway, and his companion had no objections. Wandering toward Hogsmeade, Harry asked, "So, did you finish that book?"

"Er - yes, I went through twice."

The answer made Harry smile for an instant. Then he realized - Rahewa would have done it a third time, just to let the day go by. He asked, "And - know what it will be?"

"Erm ..."

After a moment, not hearing more, Harry said, "We have all day long, so take your time. I was just asking because, you know, if it would be an owl, it had to be Eeylops Owl Emporium, while for any other pet, it's the Magical Menagerie. Anyway, they aren't far apart."

"No, not an owl ..."

Harry grinned. "Then I figure it's a toad, right?"

He wouldn't even receive an answer for that.

"Ahh - I almost forgot, if it's a dragon, we have to travel to Ellesmere, there's an opportunity right now; in a few days, Carrie will be fed up with her four chicken."

Rahewa giggled, then shook her head.

Harry felt pretty sure, she knew exactly what she wanted, but wouldn't tell him, try as he might. Maybe Rahewa was afraid her particular choice would not be available in the Magical Menagerie. Glancing to the girl at his side again, another thought crossed Harry's mind.

"Rahewa?"

"Hm?"

"You'll go only by their looks, and by your preferences, right?"

A moment's hesitation ...

"And you won't ask for the price; that's my job, right?"

Full-scale hit. Obviously, this damned book had been a bit too detailed. Desperately searching for a tight lock against such concerns, Harry said, "That reminds me - for horses, hippogriffs, and mountain trolls, we have to look still somewhere else."

Another giggle. "No, not that big, actually it's pretty small what I was thinking of."

"Okay ..." Feeling sure he would find his answer just by watching Rahewa inside the store, Harry said, "Then I won't ask more, and you won't ask more - all right?"

A nod.

---

The Magical Menagerie looked very much like the last time Harry had been in - four years ago, when Hermione had bought Crookshanks. His eyes followed Rahewa, who was moving around in the narrow space between walls, racks, piles. Rahewa had ignored the toads completely, barely noticed the snakes. Well - little surprise, so far, who would go for a snake after Nagini had upped the ante that much?

The rats got a look, then Rahewa had passed.

The giant tortoise was inspected more closely, while not in earnest, just for the spectacular view. This done, Rahewa's glance went to the rack of cages with cats inside. Harry saw her smile. Would it be a kitten -

A squeak - and gone she was, disappeared around a corner.

Harry followed expectantly. Had Rahewa found what she was looking for? Probably so, guessing by the sound. And then he saw it, crammed between a pile of food cans and a rack full of bird cages.

A basket on a table. Inside two bundles, snow-white. Only when coming closer, Harry recognized the tiny faces, the button-shaped eyes - mini poodles, obviously still quite young.

He reached Rahewa, who stood before the basket, frozen in admiration. "That's it? Mini poodles?"

The answer came breathlessly. "Yes - a dog, and small, and white ... poodle, terrier, spitz - "

"And they're okay?"

"They're the best: the highest intelligence, they don't bark - " Rahewa stopped. Apparently, poodles ranked also on top of another category, except she wouldn't tell, which left little doubt that this category was part of Harry's job in the business.

The girl looked no longer frozen. Rahewa's hands caressed the tiny creatures, kept still while small, pink tongues came out to lick them. According to Harry's guess, the dogs' age could still be measured in weeks, months at the most. And he had the distinct feeling that there was some dope in their food, or maybe in the water - a tranquilizer to keep them quiet in this shop fuller than full with animals of all kinds.

Maybe even an act of mercy. And for one of them, within the next hours ... Harry said, "Well, then, pick your choice."

The girl was at a loss to decide. The two small dogs looked like twins.

Harry examined them closer, not finding any individual sign. Then he took them up, to check from all sides.

"A male and a female ..." Harry turned to Rahewa. "Does that help in your decision?"

No it didn't. Harry learned that the book had listed as many pros as cons for either sex - totally unbiased, and somehow not helpful at all.

The two poodles seemed a bit more lively than before, responding stronger to Rahewa's caressing. Even so, there was nothing which would help coming to a decision.

"Shall I count them out? Eeny meeny miney - "

"No! Please ..."

Rahewa looked as if under torture. After some more hesitation, she grabbed one of the two bundles and held it to her chest.

"This one."

It was the male.

"You're ..." Harry swallowed the rest - of course Rahewa wasn't sure, hopefully that might come later. "All right, c'mon."

---

After the first step, the remaining poodle looked alarmed. Coming around the corner, the one in Rahewa's hands looked alarmed too. Halfway to the cashier desk, they could hear a desperate whimpering from behind.

Rahewa looked worried - no, terrified.

Until they had reached the desk, the bundle in her arms was responding to the sounds from farther down.

Rahewa stopped and looked at Harry with an expression for which heartbreaking seemed a rather inadequate term.

"Wait ..."

She turned and moved forward, again heading toward the hidden corner.

Harry followed her, just in time to watch how Rahewa dropped her bundle back into the basket, where it was welcomed with an effusive licking and sniffing.

"I ... I can't ... they belong ..." That was all Rahewa could muster, then she made a step to pass him quickly, to leave, to storm out before ...

Harry blocked her path. "You're totally right. Stupid of us not to see it instantly. Hold on!"

The last words were almost a shout, since Rahewa, face to the other side, was trying to break his barrier. Then Harry stepped to the basket, carefully fetched the two bundles, and turned.

"Here - you take the dogs, I take the basket."

"Wha ..."

Not waiting for the rest of the question, which never came, Harry took the basket, walked to the desk, and put it down to ask for some more utensils: collars, leashes, and a box of chewing bones suited for the sensitive teeth of such puppies.

Hearing the sum, he suppressed a whistle, but grinned inwardly. His money, which no longer felt like his property, was completely dedicated to socially valuable purposes like hunting dark wizards, rescuing white dogs, and similar tasks.

Outside, Rahewa seemed still busy recovering from a rapid sequence of shocks, her eyes shining from excitement, and still from something else. "Harry - "

"It's okay - I mean, it wasn't our decision, was it? We couldn't separate them, and we couldn't leave without a dog, so that's the only possible solution, it's as simple as that. Now - in the mood for a short visit in The Burrow, or directly back to Hogwarts?"

Back to Hogwarts - Rahewa's mind was filled from front to end with two tiny bundles of snow-white fur.

They had to wait a few minutes in London Linkport. Examining the documents that had come with the dogs, Harry said, "According to the papers, they're called Alma and Abraham. What do you think, are these proper names for them?"

"These are breeders' names, Harry. The first letter tells you that it was the mother's first litter."

"A bit boring. Do you know already how to call them?"

"No, not yet ... I wasn't prepared for two, and then things were happening so fast ..."

However, reaching Hogwarts, Rahewa had cleared her mind. She turned to Harry. "I know how to call them."

"So?"

"Er - Romeo and Juliet."

"Romeo and Juliet? Wow - say, doesn't it bother you that they are brother and sister?"

"No, why? You know, the book says, breeding with siblings is quite common - for dogs, I mean."

* * *

Back in The Burrow, Harry was of course asked if their shopping tour had been successful, and why he hadn't brought Rahewa and her pet with him. He answered, "She's busy with - well, what we've found. For the next days, we have to play a triple round, or look somewhere else." Harry was referring to the Wheel of Fortune, what else.

"What did she get?"

"Guess what?"

"A dog?" Ginny looked quite convinced to have guessed correctly.

"Wrong."

"A cat?"

"Wrong."

"A tame harpy?" That was Ron.

"A pixy?"

"A black panther?"

Harry grinned. "There's a nasty little trick - your guesses weren't that bad, but they all share the same mistake."

Hermione wasn't present - for her, this trick question would have been a piece of cake. However, while Ron was still looking blank, Ginny smiled triumphantly. "Two dogs!"

"Very good! Yes, two mini poodles ..." Harry explained what had happened in the Magical Menagerie, then they settled for another round with Ginny's game, this time a three-player round.

Three players nearly made a different game, as it turned out. No alliances, each tribe on its own - suddenly, lucky accidents had a stronger impact, while strategy seemed less important because the bandwidth of decisions was more limited than before.

Still, the time consumption hadn't changed at all. It was already late afternoon when they heard the doorbell ring. Moments later, Ma Weasley's voice called from downstairs. "Harry - a telegram for you."

A telegram? Who ...

It had been delivered by the Magical Tours postal service. The envelope didn't tell Harry anything - small wonder, had been provided by the local office. He opened it.

A phone call to the Chang house? The thought alone was accelerating Harry's heartbeat - what if it was her to pick up the receiver?

Hopefully not ... probably not, not if Cho's father had sent this telegram. Harry went upstairs to announce a break in their game, then he apparated to what for him came as the closest pay phone: London Linkport.

"Chang." Thank God - Mr Chang's voice, reduced to the limits of a phone line.

"Hello, Mr Chang, this is Harry Potter."

"Oh - Harry, thank you for calling back so quickly. I was a bit suspicious whether this telegram would work - you know, for us Muggles, this is an almost archaic communication method, would be surpassed only by horseman's mail, ha ha."

"Owls are quicker, sir, but I know what you mean."

"Yes. Say, Harry, you can't be serious with your decline, can you?"

"Er - I'm afraid so, sir. Right now, it wouldn't be a good idea to come - "

"Yes, we heard about the little dispute ..."

Little dispute? If there was ever an euphemism, then this one.

"... but wouldn't this be the best opportunity to take it out of the way? Or are you afraid my wife and I would be totally biased, on Cho's side?"

"No, sir, that wasn't the point, I mean, not at all. It's just - "

"Then why don't you give it a try, Harry? My wife and I, we were looking forward to your visit."

Tricky guy, that - playing the well-meaning host and businessman, interrupting Harry at every sentence, surprisingly un-Chinese over the phone.

"Sir - it's your invitation, so I'm sorry to appear so impolite, but I don't think Cho would take my coming well, and under these circumstances, I think it's better to stay off."

"You hit the point exactly, Harry" - suddenly, Mr Chang's voice sounded a bit cooler, more Chinese than before. "It's our invitation, and we feel some disappointment, in particular since it comes so undeserved, given the relationship so far between us."

That was heavy artillery. Relationship so far - translate to half a million galleons ...

Even so, or maybe just for this reason, Harry felt himself relaxing, although not in his decision.

"I'm truly sorry that it affects you and your wife that way, sir, but I don't see a choice - not as long as your invitation isn't supported by Cho. I can't confront her against her own will in her parent's house - "

"Yes, Harry - her parent's house - our house, which means it's our decision whom to invite, and when."

Even over the phone, the voice reminded Harry of a conversation in Hogwarts, almost exactly two years ago - and this memory made him find his next words.

"Certainly, sir. I would never deny my obligation toward you, and your wife, but as I explained at a previous occasion, if it turns out a matter of priorities, then Cho's perspective is my first consideration. I can only hope that you'll accept my position."

A moment of silence. If there had ever been the question, now it was obvious that Cho hadn't signed this invitation, never would.

"It sounds strange, Harry - to claim Cho's perspective, in this situation."

"Yes, sir, probably, but as long as I don't know any better, I see no other choice - the risk's too high to deepen the conflict."

And of course, Harry didn't learn any better. All he learned till the end of this conversation were some low-temperature remarks, ending with a frosty goodbye.

When returning to The Burrow, Harry couldn't concentrate too well on the game - his real wheel of fortune kept whirling in his mind. His tribe - fishermen, for a change, was steamrolled by Ron's and Ginny's figures.

* * *

Next morning, Harry first visited Sirius in his office, learning that life with no more than wizard criminals had been simple in comparison. From there, Harry headed for the Daily Prophet offices. Deborah was in, but couldn't tell him anything about Paul's progress. Paul was on tour - through other newspaper's archives.

Coming home again, Harry found another telegram.

Damn! Couldn't they give it a rest? But Harry saw no choice, and maybe, vis-a-vis to Mrs Chang, he would find the right words to make it clear, once and for all, that this dinner party had to run without an amateur magician of the professional category.

The linkport, that meant neutral territory, obviously quite on purpose. Still, Harry didn't hesitate to visit his standard flower shop first before coming to the meeting point, three o'clock sharp.

Mrs Chang smiled. "Thank you, Harry - that gives me hope." Seeing his expression, she added hastily, "No - I'm not trying to change your mind regarding the party. I just wanted to talk with you."

They found a table in the cafeteria, both ordering tea. This settled, Mrs Chang dropped her spoon. "Harry, what's going on?"

"Erm - what did Cho tell you?"

"Almost nothing, that's why I wanted to talk with you."

Uh-oh ... In a way, this seemed an even heavier attack than that from her husband, and Harry felt like walking on territory still more dangerous than before.

"Well, er, there's a row between Cho and me - "

"Really?" Mrs Chang smiled, taking the sharpness out of her sarcasm. "That much I know, Harry, but that's about all I know. What happened?"

Harry swallowed. "Mrs Chang ... to some degree, I'm ready to tell you, only I'm not sure whether I should do that. If Cho isn't telling you, for some reason - I don't want to attack her from behind, if you know what I mean."

The woman nodded. "That's agreed, Harry. Did you tell your - the Weasleys?"

"The state, yes, but no details."

"And why not?"

Harry flushed. "Because ... it's a bit embarrassing."

Mrs Chang smiled. "Yes, of course it is, and the same problem hangs between me and my daughter. Imagine - what would you think if, by some accident, Cho would tell your - how do you call her? Yes, Ma Weasley."

"Then ..." Thinking it over, Harry felt sure. "Well, I guess then we'd discuss it."

"Just so?"

"I'd be embarrassed, certainly, but ..." Harry grinned. "Ma Weasley can come on quite straight."

"Then she has an advantage." After a moment, Mrs Chang said, "Harry - I promise you not to use my knowledge against my daughter."

Harry looked at her, startled. "No - I didn't think so for a second, Mrs Chang. That's not my concern."

---

Another pause, then Cho's mother asked, "Do you think her father plays a role, too?"

"Erm - yes, that's my feeling."

"What a surprise." Mrs Chang smiled again. "All right, Harry - I promise you not to use my knowledge so that my husband can use it against our daughter. Is this a base on which we can talk?"

"Yes, it is." Harry swallowed again. "Our problem has two parts. One is - er, another girl, and the other is money and Cho's business ..." He summarized the last half year, the meetings with Cho, and finished, "On our last meeting - after I saw that she had hired Marie-Christine, first I blocked the plan with those daughter companies. Then ... Cho and I had a conversation, and were shouting at each other. At the end, I told her I'd pass over the loan to Groucho, and the twenty-six percent share to her personally, and that from now on I'd be on my own. I'd no longer mess with her business, and make sure she won't mess again with mine ... Well, that's about all."

Mrs Chang kept silent for a moment, thoughtful. Then she looked at Harry, smiling. "She was right, you know?"

"What?"

"Cho - she said, money doesn't impress you at all - remember?"

Harry shrugged. "Maybe - certainly not as much as some other things."

Mrs Chang laughed openly. "Well formulated - pity I can't quote you, Harry."

He blushed. "No - I mean, I never intended to play power games with money. I bought the share mainly to meet her - was a big success, really. What's left - I don't think I own this money rightfully, and I have the feeling Cho thinks the same, but I need it for hunting Voldemort, and for some ... That's why I can't give it back. Maybe after - "

Mrs Chang took his hand. "Harry - don't stop halfway through."

He didn't understand.

"Either my husband gave you the money free of conditions, and free of afterthoughts, then it's yours, no matter what happens, and why. Or" - Cho's mother looked into Harry's eyes - "it was an attempt to buy you, or bribe you, only it didn't work, as this invitation shows so clearly, but then you shouldn't feel worried at all, keeping it, or spending it for purposes of your choice. This way or the other, the money can't establish an obligation."

Harry shook his head. "It certainly does, this way or that way. It simply doesn't feel like something I can dispose of at leisure. Anyway, it's a secondary issue."

Mrs Chang looked satisfied. "Then we can drop it. I have to thank you, Harry, and I'm awfully glad we had some chat before - I'm sure, without that, this meeting wouldn't have worked out. I can't offer a solution at the spot - but maybe I can help a bit."

"Erm ... Mrs Chang, er, how is she?"

This smile was a sad one. "You two would be a perfect match, one looking more miserable than the other."

* * *

New Year's eve would be a big day in The Burrow. Ma Weasley had invited all of her children for a New Year's party, and all of them had accepted. She had also invited the Delacours, who excused themselves, however, with social obligations of their own.

The day before, Ma Weasley said to Harry, "What a pity - they all come, and all with their wifes or girlfriends, and Janine's brother's coming too, which makes it even with Ginny, and you're the only one left - "

Harry grinned. "You mean, I should invite a girl?"

Ma Weasley looked surprised. "Do you have someone in mind?"

"Yes, I do."

Ma Weasley looked more surprised, then suspicious, then she caught the joke and smiled. "All right, Harry, ask her. Might be an opportunity, in a way."

The girl didn't think so, seemed a bit scared of the idea, and excused herself with her new duties toward two little dogs for which everything was new and exciting.

Not registering a serious rejection in his haragei, Harry argued, "Poodles have a strong social impulse, right? Well then, meeting lots of people is the best education they can get."

Probably so, only they would meet still more people here in Hogwarts, pretty soon, and besides -

"Rahewa - if you don't come, I'll be the only one without a partner at this party."

This argument could not be invalidated, while the thought of such an inferior role felt simply unbearable - for Rahewa, at least, and so she finally agreed.

Strange as it was, in the few minutes Harry still kept around, playing with Romeo and Juliet, Rahewa's reluctant consent seemed to change into an excitement that was growing by the minute.

The twins with girls - that was the topic at lunch, at least among the younger family members, and Ma Weasley was stormed with questions.

"Do you know whom they'll come with?"

"Something serious?"

"Are those girls twins too? Would make things easier, what do you think?"

Ma Weasley didn't know, very much to her disappointment. These two of her sons, which always had been the most difficult ones, apparently showed little inclination to deepen their mother's influence now that they were on their own.

Until it was time to fetch Rahewa, Harry trained portkey programming - with a fierce energy, ignoring the invitation for a game, ignoring the teasing jokes from Ron. It was just too ridiculous not to master the distance!

Half an hour before he had to jump, a triumphant shout from outside told the other Weasleys that Harry's efforts were crowned with success. London Linkport was just one portkey away - true, no one-timer yet, Harry had to de-spell the piece, however it gave him a sense of achievement on this last day of a year that had deteriorated from a promising start to an end that left much to be desired.

Harry arrived with his knapsack, designed for a snake, now offered for two snow-white bundles. To no avail - Rahewa looked indignant, almost outraged.

"Harry! Such a dark bag - really!"

"Try it - all dogs like caverns, especially if they're well isolated."

No she wouldn't, and besides, small that they were, fitting under Rahewa's coat, she could offer caverns by herself.

Only that she looked like a twelve-year-old with an enormous bosom, and Ron didn't hesitate with a remark in that direction, earning him a sharp answer from Janine while Rahewa wasn't impressed much, simply because all her concentration kept with the two dogs.

Janine had arrived with her brother Alain - the middle one, about a year younger than Ginny. It wasn't exactly clear whether this had to be rated as an act of babysitting or as balancing in the number of guests, maybe a bit from both - at any rate, Alain looked quite self-conscious in Ginny's presence, while Ginny managed politeness enough to suppress her amusement.

Rahewa's arrival solved the problem elegantly. No longer being the youngest guest, seeing the two dogs, Alain seemed to revive and busied himself to follow them into all corners, together with Rahewa.

---

Then the other guests arrived in quick succession - Bill and Fleur, Percy and Penelope, and finally, awaited with great expectation, Fred and George with their girls. The first of them, Mary-Ann, was unknown to Harry, however finding his approval. She belonged to Fred, whatever that meant.

The other girl surprised Harry considerably when she said, "Hello, Harry - long no see. Where's Cho?"

It was Katie.

Before Harry had a chance to gather more information about how serious this relationship could be rated, he found himself in the centre of attention. Harry cross with Cho - who'd have thought?

Fred said, "You picked a bad time for that, Harry, by all accounts."

George said, "Which doesn't mean we'd know any other time suited better, mind."

Percy said, "That's a necessary experience young people have to go through - then, after a while, they'll settle."

Harry felt ready to strangle him. He also felt sure that Ginny would help - and maybe it was just good that Rahewa had to deal with her curious little dogs, raising delight in every face.

Katie said, "I can't believe it, Harry. Cho cross with you, that's nothing new, but you with her? Sounds like one of the twins' jokes - somehow, I'm still waiting for the punch line."

Janine said nothing. She knew too much about the background, felt no need to rub salt into a wound that was deepening enough without her own contribution.

Fleur saved him. "Shut up, you lot - he loves her as before, can everybody see that, and if you don't stop making fun of him, I might make a bit fun of you!" Her face made it clear that she meant it, and nobody felt adventurous enough to mess with a Veela.

With so many people in The Burrow, the topic in conversation was a matter of choice. In one room, Percy discussed ministry politics, even after poor Arthur Weasley was the only listener left. In the next room, Muggle fashion provided the topic, discussed mostly by women. Bill and the twins talked about business with Muggles, and every now and then, the groups interrupted themselves to make a fuss with these cute little dogs.

Harry ran a second attempt to squeeze Katie - with little success. She said, "I can offer you a deal, Harry. You tell me what's going on between you and Cho, and I tell you what's going on between George and myself. You'll even get a bonus - I can tell you what's going on between Fred and Mary-Ann."

Harry grimaced. "Sounds fair, only the price is too high."

Compared to a dinner party in the Chang house, the party in The Burrow was bursting of life, joy, laughter. And still ... Harry waited almost impatiently for the clock to chime twelve - less for the party, more to mark an end of this damned year.

And then all people gathered, glasses in their hands, counting down, drinking to each other, exchanging hugs, kisses, good wishes for the new year. This done, Harry stormed out to wipe off his frustration in the longest - and loudest - firework he'd ever conjured up.

Of course, within minutes, it developed into a contest between most of the male Weasleys, plus some of the girls.

Harry and Ron together won the award for the highest shot. Ron scored with the loudest bang - Harry's nitro ball might have been still bigger, only it shot much higher, so the explosion was not as impressive as Ron's. George won the crown for the best illumination, while Bill surpassed everybody with the longest curtain of glittering sparks.

Entering the house again, Harry found two younger guests, looking very reproachful at him. One was Rahewa - the noise from outside had scared Romeo and Juliet considerably. The other was Alain: torn apart between staying with Rahewa and watching the firework, Alain had opted for the gentleman's tour, however without feeling too happy in that role.

Fleur came over. "Did you make a resolution for the new year, 'arry?"

"No."

Fleur looked disappointed. "None? Not a single one?"

"Not tonight. But don't you worry - I made a few some weeks ago, enough to keep myself busy all year long, believe me."

There were four, actually. The simplest of them was probably a matter of time - programming portkeys for any distance around the world. The other three were competing against each other in the number of question marks you could attach. Finding Voldemort - and dealing with some dragons, their shapes, and their behaviour.

Good intentions were also the topic in the greater round. Arthur Weasley, for example, had sworn to make sure that the new family car would not get lost, due to some son's careless navigation - raising much laughter and also a protest from Ron, who pointed out that now, having mastered apparition, there was no longer a risk.

Ma Weasley's comment was shorter. "Don't make it fly, my dear, that should be sufficient."

Which of course raised a discussion whether this was still illegal, when all Muggles knew about the wizards. The common agreement was no, it wasn't, would only require a pile of forms in triplicate for which The Burrow would be just too small.

Then the guests said goodbye, one group after the other, with Rahewa as the only one to stay overnight. And Romeo and Juliet, of course.

* * *

When escorting Rahewa back to Hogwarts the next day, Harry felt a kind of expectancy at the sight of the school buildings. This was the year in which he would finish school - a few months from now, one restriction would be gone. And by then, maybe ...

They had been late, and Harry had lost a bit more time watching two young poodles in the halls and corridors of Hogwarts. Returning to The Burrow, it was already early afternoon. And shortly after his own return, he saw the first omen of the new year arrive, via owl mail. A letter - from Cho!

Sitting in his comfortable chair, Harry read the letter again and again. About once every five minutes, he had to stop himself from jumping across a large ocean, across a large continent, to Santa Monica. Wasn't this the most hidden version of an invitation?

Yes, definitely. And he had been right - he wasn't the only player opposite Cho in that game, her father was pulling strings, or trying so. Well, of course - one such pull had brought Harry a lot of money.

Only ... assuming he would visit Cho, what then? Would anything be different? Was there any hint that she felt ready to change her policy? Harry couldn't find any, try as he might. He would arrive, and they would continue the dispute where it had been stopped the last time.

Yes, today was the first day of the new year. But was this a reason for stepping back to square one?