Harry Potter's Worries

~~~~~Chapter 8~~~~~

A loud 'CRAACK!' greeted Mrs. Weasley as she sat there on the sofa.

"Hello Arthur," she said.

The tall balding Mr. Weasley brushed off some dust from his robes.

"What's the matter Molly?" he asked.

"Nothing, except your sons are REALLY getting on my nerves."

"Come now, OUR sons..."

FWOOOHHMM!!

Somebody tumbled out of the Burrow's grate. Ron was there in a heartbeat, helping a very dusty and darkened girl, someone whose bushy brown hair was covered in cobwebs---

"Hermione! Sorry about the cobwebs! Ron I thought I---"

"Sorry Hermione..."

"Pwehh, it's alright, I just need to dust this off, that's all."

"Oh, come here and I'll help you."

"Thanks Mrs. Weasley."

And the two women disappeared into the kitchen.

"She could've said hello," said Ron.

Mr. Weasley only shrugged.

***

A few minutes later they all gathered at the grate. Mrs. Weasley made sure that everyone looked like normal Muggles. Hermione passed this test, wearing comfy jeans and a light blue sweater. Ron missed by inches, for his wand stuck out of his pocket. Fred and George had to turn out their pockets, but Mrs. Weasley was relieved to that there

was NOTHING in them.

Fred winked at George, who winked at Ron, who was about to wink at Hermione when---

"Okay, I'm ready!"

Ginny Weasley bolted down the stairs and crashed on Fred.

"Oi! Careful with the merchandise!"

"What merchandise?"

"Oh! Umn...Nothing!"

Mrs. Weasley stood in front of the twins and eyed them suspiciously. She patted them down like a security guard. Unfortunately for her, nothing turned up.

"C'mon Mum! We're done with troublemaking!"

"Yeah, he's right. We're adults now, really responsible."

She stood there and gave them a stern look. After a while she sighed and went to the flowerpot.

"You better make sure of what you said, because if I catch you---"

"Don't worry Mum. If they say it well...err...let's hope they mean it?"

"Thanks Ginny, that's really convincing."

Mrs. Weasley made them get some Floo powder and shoved them off into the fireplace.

"Number Four, Privet Drive!"

One by one, the Weasley’s left. Mrs. Weasley was the last to go.

"I hope this turns out well."

FWOOOHHM!!

~~~*******~~~

The joint was jumping, in Harry's opinion. His friends popped out of the fireplace and greeted him. Dudley was there beside him, greeting the guests as well. The living room was decorated with simple ribbons, which Harry and Aunt Petunia put up themselves. When Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came out of the grate, Uncle Vernon was there to receive them.

It wasn't so bad, Harry thought as Uncle Vernon asked Ron's parents if they'd like a drink, they could get along if they wanted. He directed the rest of the Weasley’s to the food. Harry instantly spotted Fred and George trying to corner Dudley.

"Hey, guys, what's up?"

"Hey, Harry! Care to try this new product?" said Fred, tapping his empty hand with his wand which revealed a small tin can.

"What's that?" asked Dudley. Magic didn't seem to bother him anymore.

"Burping Bon-Bons, guarantees 100% more burp volume."

"Cool!" said Dudley.

"You think so?" asked George.

"Yeah, SOUNDS brilliant."

The three laughed, Harry left them to it, happy that Dudley could get on fine with the guys that made his tongue expand just a year ago. He sidled over to where Ginny, Ron, and Hermione were. They seemed to be trying to put on some music.

"Hey, Harry, can you help us with this?"

"I've got a better idea," said Harry, and went to his room.

He came back carrying a rock.

"HEY! Don't throw that at the component!" said Hermione.

"No, of course not." Harry smiled and gave it a slightly stronger tap.

Music issued from the rock, it was a nice up beat tune, and everyone soon felt like dancing. And so they did, the adults reluctantly hopped around the room.

Harry looked around, none of the Aurors he invited had come. His thoughts seemed to be answered as Tonks Apparated on top of Fred. She was wearing her hair bright red, making her look like a long lost Weasley.

"Oh! Sorry about that!"

"I'm fine; you can remain there as you please."

Tonks gave Fred a little punch and went to Harry.

"Wotcher, sorry I'm late. The others can't come and wanted to give you this."

She handed Harry a big and heavy gift, judging by its size, it must have been a book. He thanked Tonks and directed her to the food. Mr. Weasley soon called her and introduced her to the Dursley’s.

This was one night Harry would surely remember. Everybody was laughing, eating, dancing. They all watched in amazement as Dudley, Fred, and George popped Bon-Bons in their mouths and gave consecutive burps. Mr. Weasley produced a bottle of fire whiskey out of nowhere earning him a dangerous look from his wife.

But every party has an end, and with that end, the guests would leave, er, leave a mess. And so Harry, together with the Dursleys, cleaned up the house. Harry crawled up to his room an hour later and sighed happily. He was tired yes, but this tiredness was from all the fun he had had.

He was about to sleep when Hedwig arrived. His owl had a letter.

Harry immediately jumped from his bed and greeted Hedwig. He put some Owl Treats in her food tray and let her have some water. He sat on his bed and turned over the envelope. It was from Dumbledore. Harry tore the letter open and read the headmaster's loopy writing. It said:

Dear Harry,

     Good evening, I persuaded your owl to remain here until I found an answer to your query. Unfortunately, I am sorry to tell you that as of the moment I have nothing to give you yet. And I wish to apologize again, for you will surely find this news as distressing. When you get back to Hogwarts, you are to stay in different quarters, not in Gryffindor tower. At the end of the welcome feast, you are to go to my office; there I shall tell you the reasons for this.

Yours sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Harry almost crushed the letter. No answer to his question before and now he wouldn’t be able to stay in Gryffindor tower? What the heck was going on? Was it because of that photograph? Then I shouldn't have sent it! He furiously told himself.

He lay down, thinking that sending that photo was a huge mistake. He carefully smoothed the letter on his stomach, folded it and put it on his bedside table. He was tired and desperately needed rest. With that, Harry slept; dozing into dreams from Burping Bon-Bons to horrible blank photographs that he just couldn’t seem to figure out. He woke up at that thought drenched in sweat, he didn't want that photo to be blank.