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Yeah, it's done.  Do you think they get back to normal?  I did mean to make it sound like they did, I just don't like to spell everything out.  Let people guess at some stuff. Glad you liked it.  Haven't had a chance to write anything new lately, but I will. . . eventually

 ;D  They like me.  They really like me.  

There are about 34 oz in a liter. Little less.

 :o
Wow, you guys made a post just to say hi to me.   ;D  I feel Speskil.  Hello all of you.  You know, I found this place about a week ago I guess, and wow.  I've had so much fun.  Love all your stories.  No one really seems to be online at the same time as me so we prob can't chat or anything, but hey, I'll be looking for ya!  Till then.  BTW, I posted a fanfic.  It's kinda long, but if any of you actually read through it I'd like your feedback.  I'm planning a couple more now.  Thanx!!

Congrats.  I've had . . . .22, counting this one  Ha ha.  Everybody's gotta start somewhere. ::)

 ;D Very long, but tell me what you think when you read it.  It's my first attempt.  Thanks

   Mr. Cramley's wand flew through the air and Dumbledore caught it.  Looking sternly at Mr. Cramley, Professor Dumbledore said, "I think you better go back to Voldamort, and tell him that as long as these children are under my protection, he cannot touch them."  Dumbledore snapped Cramley's wand in half and threw it on the ground at his feet.  Cramley stared at the broken wand, turned and sped away with a very frightened look in his eye.
   "As for you three," Dumbledore said, looking at the three trembling students, "follow me please."
   The children were terrified.  Harry was sure they were all going to be expelled.  They followed Dumbledore back to Hogwarts, and up to Dumbledore's office where they all sat waiting while Dumbledore petted Fawkes and got some candy from his desk.
   "Lemon drop?" he offered them.  They all declined and he put down the small bowl with the tiny yellow balls.  
   "Professor," Harry said bravely, standing up, "This is all my fault.  I didn't want to be me any more.  I was tired of people always staring at me, talking about me, trying to kill me.  I just wanted a normal life.  Ron always wanted to be out of the shadow of his brothers, and me.  We found the charm by accident.  Really.   We didn't mean any harm.  Hermione even tried to get us to tell you but I wouldn't let her.  I didn't think Ron would really be in danger.  I guess I should've known.  If you have to punish anyone, punish me.  Let them go, please."
   "No Harry!" Said Ron.  He looked at Dumbledore and took a deep breath.  "It's my fault.  I didn't want to change back either.  Harry and Hermione both told me not to trust Cramley.  I just thought they were jealous.  I never had anyone want to take my picture before.  They warned me not to go and I did anyway.  It's my fault.  Punish me.  Not them."
   To finish everything off, Hermione stood and faced Dumbledore as well.  "I did tell them to go to you right away, Professor, but in the end I agreed to let them keep this a secret.  If it's anyone's fault it is also mine.  I should have gone to you right away and told you what happened, then none of this would have happened."
   Professor Dumbledore looked at them all solemnly, then a wide smile spread across his face.  "No need to worry children.  All will be right.  There will be no punishment for what has happened.  I believe you have all learned your lesson.  Let me just ask you one thing," he said, looking at Ron and Harry, "Do you truly want to be someone else?  What has trading places taught you?"
   Harry and Ron looked at each other.  Harry spoke up first, "I really do miss being seeker."
   "And, and I guess I do miss my family.  Harry, I think I want to change back.  It's not so hot being you after all."
   Harry laughed, then agreed, that he would rather be himself than Ron as well.  "Even if that scar gives me attention I don't want, it's also a reminder of my own past, my own family that I had at one time, and I don't think I want to give that up.  Besides, I just can't get used to seeing you every time I look in a mirror."
   Dumbledore smiled.  "I know of quite a few past students of Hogwarts who have learned the hard way, that they should be happy about who they are.  I believe it's time you all go back to your common room, and . . . get changed for dinner."
   "But, how do we change, Professor?"
   Dumbledore looked at the red-haired Harry and smiled.  "Sometimes,   when you need something, all you need to do is ask."
   Harry suddenly remembered the day all this started.  Dumbledore had said almost those exact words to him at that time.  Then when they were in the common room Harry had 'asked' the paper to tell them what it meant, and that is when it decoded for them.  Now that Harry thought about it, he was sure Dumbledore knew from the start what was going to happen.  He nodded at Professor Dumbledore thankfully and they all went back to the common room.  Harry picked up the paper with the crawling lines.
   "After we do this, I think we need to give this paper to Professor Dumbledore.  We don't need anyone else accidentally swapping themselves." Said Harry.
   "Are you sure Harry?  Wouldn't it be great fun to plan that in one of Malfoy's books?  Maybe he'll swap places with Goyle.  That would give him a good shock." Replied Ron.
   Hermione gave Ron a disapproving look.
   "I was only joking!" Ron defended himself.  "Go for it Harry."
   Harry looked down at the paper again and asked.  "How do we get back to normal?"
THE END!

Chapter 4: Be Careful What You Wish For

   One evening, while *Harry* was beating Hermione in a game of wizards chess, Hermione brought up something that had been nagging at the back of  Ron's mind, "Are you going to stay like this forever?  I mean, do you really want to be Harry, Ron?  This means that during the summer you will have to go live with the Dursleys.  You won't have any family.  Harry will get to go back to the Burrow and everyone will think He's you."  Ron had thought about this himself.  He loved being Harry.  He did want to stay this way, and Harry hadn't made any mention of changing back.  Then again.  Why would he?  If they stayed this way Harry would get to go back to The Burrow.  He would have a family.  He would have everything he always wanted.  But didn't Ron have everything he always wanted now, too?  He had money, he had fame, he had a Firebolt. . .  He was on the Quidditch team, and he was no longer constantly compared to his older brothers.  
   The next trip to Hogsmede came and Harry, Ron and Hermione all went for a walk around the town so they could talk in private.  They got  half way to the post office when someone walked up to *Harry* very excited.
   "Harry Potter!  It's you right?  Well, Mr. Potter, I'm very glad to meet you.  Very glad indeed.  My name is Barus Cramley.  I'd like to make you an offer you can't refuse, Mr. Potter.  You just can't refuse!"
   *Harry* shook Mr. Cramley's hand and looked questioningly at *Ron* and Hermione. "How, uh-how can I help you Mr. Cramley?"
   "Well, Mr. Potter here's the deal.  I work for the company that makes the wizard trading cards for chocolate frogs."
   Just then, *Ron* was opening a chocolate frog and looking at a card with a picture of Dumbledore on it.  He dropped it when he heard what Mr. Cramley had to say.
   "Well, Mr. Potter," stated Mr. Cramley, "I'd like to take your picture.  You'd be a very nice addition to the collection, indeed.  Especially after all we keep hearing about you foiling He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, again and again!  What do you say Mr. Potter?  You would get a nice payment for it, I assure you!"
   "Yeah!" *Harry*  answered quickly.  *Ron stood, scowling behind Hermione, who was also looking suspiciously at Mr. Cramley.
   "Wonderful!  You won't regret it, I promise.  Meet me here in an hour.  I have to go make the arrangements, and we'll take your picture.  Thank you, Mr. Potter, this is going to be fabulous!"  With this Mr. Cramley turned on his heel and sped away.
   "I don't know if this is such a good idea," Harry told Ron after Mr. Cramley left.  "It might look like, you're showing off or something."
   "I just don't trust that Cramley."  Hermione added, "There's something about him that doesn't feel right."
   "You two are just jealous."  He scowled at Harry, "You're just jealous because before you were the one who got all the attention, and now I'm getting it.  Well I think it's time that I got a little attention, and I'm going to do it."  He turned around and walked off toward Zonko's.  He wasn't going to let them stop his fun, now that he was finally having some.
   One hour later the three of them showed back up near the post office where Mr. Cramley stood waiting.  "Oh, wonderful!  I thought you'd never arrive!  Just stand right over there Mr. Potter." He said pointing to an open area with lots of lighting, "And smile!"
   Harry watched as Mr. Cramley lifted his camera and took aim at Ron.  Just then a small fold of Mr. Cramley's robe fell back, exposing a mark on his forearm.  Harry recognized it immediately.  It was a snake's head.  Harry knew from memory that if he looked further up the arm he would see it protruding from the mouth of a skull.  Mr. Cramley was a Death Eater, and Ron was in trouble.
   "Expelliarmus!" *Ron* and Hermione yelled at the same time, using the disarming spell to force the camera out of Mr. Cramley's hands and fly several feet away.
   "He's a Death Eater, Ron.  Run!" Yelled Harry.
   "Come on Harry!" said Hermione, grabbing at *Ron*'s arm and pulling him with her.
   "Harry?  Harry . . . Potter?" Said Mr. Cramley suspiciously, staring at Ron.  Pulling out a wand he aimed it right at *Ron*'s head.
   "Accio Wand." Came another voice from off to the side.
   "Professor Dumbledore!" Yelled Hermione.

   Just then, Harry appeared to be coming down from the dormitory.  Colin Creevey shot up from a couch by the fire and ran over to him.
   "Harry!  Hi Harry.  Dennis and I were going to play some wizard chess Harry, wanna play?  We'll let you go first Harry, what do you say?  Do you want to play with us Harry?"  
   *Harry* smiled kindly to Colin Creevey.  "Maybe in a little while Colin.  Ron and I have some things we need to take care of first.  Ok?"
   "Sure Harry, you bet.  We'll be here Harry.  You just let us know when you want to play, ok."  Colin ran back over to Denis and excitedly told him that Harry Potter had said he might play wizard chess with them later.  
   "This is great!" said *Harry*.  "Let's go visit Hagrid and see if he's fooled."
   Ron and Harry in their respective bodies left the Gryffindor common room and headed down the stairway to the main exit of the Hogwarts castle.  Once out on the grounds they headed strait for Hagrid's cabin.  They knocked on the door and Hagrid opened it wide to let them in.
   "Well hello there!  Glad you two finally got a chance ter come down an see me.  Fang and I have been wonderin' when you might show up.  Care for a bit o' rock cake?"
   Harry and Ron shook their heads.  They started talking to Hagrid, both pretending to be who they appeared to be.  Hagrid was completely fooled.  By the end of the visit both boys were thoroughly confidant that they could pull off their stunt.
   As they walked away from Hagrid's cabin an hour later they talked excitedly about what would come next.
   "Next thing I have to learn to do," said the brown haired Ron, "Is learn how to be a seeker.  You know that I'll have to play your position if I'm in your body, so I'll need you to help me with that now, instead of learning to be a beater."
   "You're right."  Harry wasn't really sure he wanted to train Ron to be a seeker.  Harry loved his position on the Quidditch team.  If this was going to work, however, he realized he would have to give that up.  Maybe he could be a beater.  It might be fun to be in the action of the game and not have everything depending on weather or not he caught the snitch.  "It's a deal.  Let's go grab my Firebolt.  Uh, I mean, your Firebolt, and head down to the Quidditch pitch to practice."
   *Harry* got a happy glint in his eye.  "MY Firebolt.  Yeah, let's go."
   Practice was uneventful.  *Ron* threw many golf balls for *Harry* to catch.  To the casual observer Harry didn't seem to be quite up to par, but he still caught most of them.  Then *Ron* practiced hitting a Bludger.  Quidditch try outs were tomorrow.
   After a good night's sleep *Ron* woke up and dressed.  He went to meet the other students at the Quidditch pitch who were trying out for positions on the house teams.  *Harry* joined him after a few minutes.  They were going over the basics of what they had to do when Malfoy joined them.
   "Hey, Weasley, I hear you're trying out for beater this term.  You better watch it Potter.  With Weasley on one of those antiques," he pointed at a bundle of school brooms propped against a fence, "he wouldn't be able to swat a fly."
   "Even on one of those antiques, Malfoy, I'm still a better flyer than you'll ever be.  Planning on watching the Snitch float around you head again this year?  Or do you think you'll actually try to catch it this time?" replied *Ron*.
   Just then, Madam Hooch blew her whistle and called for all prospective players to join her.  One by one the students hopped on a broom and did some practice rounds for what ever position they were trying out to be.  When it was Ron's turn, *Ron* hopped onto a school broom and flew up into the air, ready to try his hand at knocking away some Bludgers.   Harry found that even in Ron's body, he was still a natural flier, he hardly had to think about it as he zoomed around with the small bat in his hand.  He did quite well hitting the Bludgers and Madam Hooch seemed pleased when he landed.  
   "Admirable job Ron.  You may be a contender for Fred and George even.  I look forward to seeing you in action during an actual game."
   "So I'm in?" *Ron* said hopefully.
   "Yes, Ron." Said Madam Hooch with an indulgent smile.
   *Ron* told *Harry* the good news.  "Of course you got in!  You've been playing for 4 years.  I just hope that when it comes to game time I'll be able to catch the Snitch."  Said Ron.
   Over the next 2 months the two boys fell into a fairly normal routine, and the only person who knew who they really were was Hermione.  Even she started calling them by their apparent names after some time, sometimes forgetting who they really were.  Harry loved the peace he got.  People didn't stare at him as he walked down the hall.  Snape didn't pick on him as much either.  Ron on the other hand was enjoying his new found fame.  He got attention everywhere he went.  He made sure to comb his hair just right in the morning so that the scar there was clearly visible, even if Harry's naturally messy hair did cover it up again within minutes.  He even enjoyed the attentions of Colin and Denis Creevey.  

Chapter 4:  The Deception

   "You're Harry."  Hermione said flatly.  Turning to the person she believed to be Harry she said, "And you're Ron."  The red-haired boy nodded, a grin spreading across his face.
   "This is, this is . . ."stammered the boy with glasses.
   "This is TERRIBLE!" yelled Hermione.  We have to get you back to normal, NOW!"
   "No!" yelled the red haired boy.  Hermione looked at him, mouth open wide in disbelief.  He was staring fixedly at the boy in glasses.  They both had wide grins on their faces.
   "Bloody fabulous!" said Harry (Really Ron.  Note: from here on out *Harry* will mean Ron in Harry's body, and *Ron* will mean Harry in Ron's body)  You look just like me.  Quick!  Hermione, get me a mirror."  Dumbfounded, Hermione pulled a mirror from the wall near by and gave it to *Harry*.  He took it from her and looked from Ron (Harry) to the reflection and back again.
   "Let me see," said *Ron*.  *Harry* passed the mirror to *Ron*.   *Ron*  gazed into it disbelievingly, and touched his face in amazement.  He then pulled up his red bangs and gazed happily at his forehead.  "No scar!"
   "Of course there's no scar, you're Ron.  Or, Ron's body at least.  Oh, stop grinning like that!  Don't you see, this is bad!  We have to go to Dumbledore and get this reversed!  Or at the very least you should see Madam Pomfrey!"
   Harry couldn't believe it.  He was looking at his reflection from Ron's body.  And when he looked at Ron, he was really seeing his own body.  It had dawned on him, just as it had dawned on Ron that this could be an answer to many problems.  Harry hated being famous.  He wanted nothing more than to be just another boy.  Ron was always in the shadow of his older brothers, and then of his best friend, and never got any recognition of his own.  Now that they had switched bodies, Harry could fade into the shadow of the Weasley family, and Ron could adopt the fame that Harry didn't want.  It was perfect!  They both knew that this is what they really wanted.  Why Couldn't Hermione see it?
   Harry tried to explain this to Hermione.  She kept shaking her head, closing her eyes, and calling him Ron.  He finally got her to agree not to tell anyone.  They were going to try to pull this off.  To see if they could get away with it.  The first thing they had to do was see if they could fool someone who knew them both very well.  They made their plans.  Tomorrow, they would go to visit Hagrid.
   The next day dawned bright and clear.  Harry woke up and was disoriented for a few moments until he realized what was wrong.  He was looking at the dorm room from the wrong perspective.  He was in Ron's bed.  Then he remembered the events of the day before.  Of course.  He WAS Ron now.  He jumped out of bed and ran to Ron's trunk.  He pulled out a black school robe, slightly frayed around the edges and put it on.  He then went over to his own bed and saw himself lying there, asleep.  
   "Ron, Ron wake up.  Wake up."  Harry shook his own body to wake Ron up.  He saw himself open his eyes and look confused.
   "Fred?  George?  Is that you?" he asked rubbing his eyes and blinking.
   "No Ron, it's me, Harry, put on your glasses so you can see me.  Here."  Harry handed the round glasses to the brown haired boy in the bed.  Ron in Harry's body put the glasses on and blinked up at Harry in Ron's body.
   "It wasn't a dream then!  We really did switch places!" Ron exclaimed.
   "That's right Ron, but remember, to everyone else, I'm Ron and you're Harry. We'll have to remember that, or this will never work.  Remember our plan?  We're going to go visit Hagrid today and see if he notices.  Get your robes on, hurry.  I'll meet you down in the common room for breakfast.
   Harry in Ron's body hurried away down the stairs to have breakfast while Ron in Harry's body got dressed.
   Down in the common room Hermione saw *Ron* Coming down the stairs.  She glanced around nervously then walked over to him.  "Ron?" she asked quietly.  The red haired boy looked at her and smiled, then shook his head to say no.  "Harry?" she said again, disappointedly.  The red hair boy nodded to say yes, then sat at one of the tables in the common room.
   "You aren't really going through with this are you Harry?" Hermione asked him.
   "Call me Ron, Hermione, or someone will notice.  Yes we're going through with this.  *Harry* is coming down soon, then we're going to visit Hagrid.  Want to come?"
   "No." said Hermione, "I have to study.  I'm going to the library."
   "You're not going to tell anyone, are you?"
   "Oh, of course not Harry, I already promised you, didn't I?
   "Ron!  My name is Ron."
   "I just wish you could've said that last night, *Ron*."

After two weeks of trying Hermione was applying every decoding charm she could try on the parchment.  The lines made a face that then stuck it's tongue out at her and she yelled impatiently, "I GIVE UP!"  I've tried every decoding charm I could find on this stupid piece of paper and nothing works.  I don't think it's a message after all Ron.  I think it's just some stupid joke someone wanted to play by sticking a charmed piece of paper in an old book with lines that make fun of you while you try to figure out what their for."  At this Hermione slammed her clinched fist down onto the paper and the lines scattered to the far corners to avoid getting squished.  
"Maybe you're right Hermione."  Ron said, dejectedly.  "I guess it's nothing after all."  He grabbed the paper and stuck his own tongue out at the face he saw there.  The face then grinned at him and scattered into a bunch of tiny lines again.  "It's too bad, really, after all the time we put in trying to decipher the stupid thing, and it's not even anything that can be decoded.  It might make a nice pet though."  Just then the lines formed into the shape of a frog that started hopping around the page.  This at least had the effect of making Ron laugh.
Ron laid the paper on the table and Harry picked it up looking at it again.  It made Harry a little nervous.  He had always heard Ron's parents say not to trust anything that could think for itself if you couldn't see where it kept it's brain.   Harry had a run in with this himself a couple years back when Harry had trusted a diary that could talk back, just to find out it was a memory from a young man tamed Tom Riddle who was just a young Voldamort trying to kill Harry.  "Won't you please just tell us what you are?"  Harry said in a pleading voice to the lines on the paper.  Just then, the lines seemed to slow.  A small bunch that were playing leapfrog in the corner stopped mid leap and began inching their way to the middle of the parchment.  One by one the lines began to merge, and within moments Harry could see what they were doing.  "Look at this you two!  They're spelling something out!  I think we got it!"  Harry and Ron squinted at the writing but couldn't read any of it.  It still seemed to be just a jumble of letters.  Hermione looked at it, however and her face lit up with a knowing smile."
"What are you so happy about?" Ron asked Hermione, feeling slightly annoyed.  "We still can't read it."
"That is where you're wrong." She replied, looking superior.  "We can't read it right now, but it's only decoded.  Now that we can see the letters, we can see what we need to decode."  Hermione pulled out her wand and aimed it at the letters.  "Enodare!"  The letters on the page then began to change, clearly spelling out legible words on the page. They read: Corpus Transferre.
   "Corpus Transferre?  What is that?  Some sort of charm?" asked Ron staring transfixed at the lettering.
   "I don't know.  I've never heard of it." answered Harry.  "What about you Hermione.  Have you ever seen that before?"
   "No, I haven't."  Hermione looked perplexed.  It was a rare thing for her to be stumped.  Maybe we should take this to Dumbledore.  It might be dangerous."
   "You have got to be joking!" exclaimed Ron.  "This is great.  All we need to do is find out what it does, then we've got something no one else in this school will have.  It might come in handy.  Maybe we can use it on Malfoy."
   "You are NOT going to use this on anyone until you know what it is Ronald Weasley!" retorted Hermione indignantly.
   "Ok, so I'll find out what it is, THEN I'll use it on Malfoy." replied Ron.
   "I think before we decide who you're going to use this on, Ron, we need to find out a way to discover what it is." suggested Harry.
   "You're right Harry," Ron replied, "Let's try it on something and see what it does."
   "What could we try it on?" Asked Hermione.
   "Here, use this." Harry handed Ron a silver candlestick holder.
   "OK." Said Ron.  He pointed his wand nervously at the candle stick holder.  "Corpus Transferre!"  Nothing happened.  He tried it again.  "Corpus Transferre!" this time waiving his wand around a bit more.  Still nothing happened.  
   "Let me try," suggested Hermione.  She aimed her wand carefully and with a complicated series of flicks and twists shouted, "Corpus Transferre!"  A bit of light seeped from her wand to the candle stick holder, but still nothing happened.  "I guess it's a bad spell.  It doesn't seem to do anything at all."
   "Harry, you try it." Said Ron impatiently.
   Harry tried it as well and still nothing happened.  "Maybe if you and I try it together Ron.  Some charms work that way."  Ron and Harry both stood off to sides of the silver candle stick holder and pointed their wands.  "Corpus Transferre!" they both shouted in unison.  
At first  a thin line of light shot from the ends of their wands and hit the candle stick holder, then the beams of light changed colors, starting from the candle stick holder and inching toward each wand.  The two boys were frozen, unable to pull away from what was happening.  Suddenly there was a blinding flash of light, then there was just Ron, Hermione, and Harry, standing around a perfectly ordinary candle stick holder once again.  Ron and Harry stared at the candle stick holder as though it had just recited a poem.
   "I knew it wasn't going to work.  Come on Ron, we still need to make sure you know all about transfixing potions before you take your O.W.L.S." Hermione said weakly.
   "I don't really feel like it right now Hermione." replied Harry.
   "That's ok Harry, because you got that perfect.  It's Ron that needs to practice."
   Harry looked back and forth between Ron and Hermione with a shocked expression then replied, "I AM Ron, Hermione."
   "Are you mad?" asked Hermione.  "Maybe that blast rattled your brains a bit.  You're Harry." she insisted.  Then she turned her head to Ron and saw that same look of shock.  "Ron, what about you, are you ok?"
   Ron looked up into Hermione's eyes and said in a very calm, convincing voice, "I'm not Ron, Hermione, I'm Harry."

When they reached the school, Harry spied Hagrid and waived.  Hagrid, Harry had learned last term, was half giant.  He stood twice as tall as any normal man and many times as wide.  Harry could see that many of the first year students were afraid of him, however, Harry could see through the grizzled hair and beard that the eyes were crinkled into a friendly smile.  "Firs' years.  Firs' years this way!  Hiya Harry!  Ron!  Hermione!  Firs' years follow me.  Hogwarts this way!.
Harry, Ron and Hermione climbed into the horseless carriages for the ride up to Hogwarts.
"Can you believe it?  We're Fifth years now!  Couple more years and we'll be fully fledged Wizards!"  Ron said happily.  It was true.  Now fifteen, Harry was only 2 years away from being considered an adult in the Wizarding world. . . and from being able to use magic at home.  He couldn't wait to follow through on some of those threats he made to Dudley.  "I'm starving.  I can't wait until the feast."  They bounced to a stop before the main entrance to Hogwarts and disembarked from the carriage.  They filed into the Great Hall for the sorting of the First Years.
The new students were sorted into their respective houses.  They sat at their house tables looking relieved.  Harry was glad to notice there were no more Creevey brothers joining them at the Gryffindor table.  As it was, Harry had to deal with Colin Creevey and his younger brother Dennis who seemed to think Harry was the greatest thing in the world.  
The whole Hall grew suddenly quiet.  Albus Dumbledore stood facing the entire school with a considerate look on his face.  "Welcome!  Welcome back to Hogwarts.  I am glad to see so many of you here tonight.  I hope you will allow an old man a few more moments of your time before we begin the feast.  I would first like to inform our first years, as usual, that the dark forest is strictly out of bounds.  Now more than ever, we will be enforcing our rules about straying off the school grounds.  I am sure you all need no reminder of what occurred at this school last term."  The entire Great Hall was filled with a heavy quiet.  There was a sob from the Ravenclaw table.  "Now more than ever we need everyone to be under their best behavior."  Harry glanced at the Slytherin table to see Malfoy sblack personing with Crabbe and Goyle.  Now more than ever Harry wished he were as powerful as people told him he would be some day, just so he could zap Malfoy into a rat.  Harry was still troubled by thoughts of what happened to Cedric Diggory.  It had been on Harry's insistence that Cedric and himself grab the Tri-Wizard cup at the same time, making them tie for the tournament.  If Harry had just listened to Cedric and grabbed the cup while he had the chance, then Cedric wouldn't have been transported to where Voldamort was.  He wouldn't have died.  Turning back to Professor Dumbledore, Harry pretended to listen to what the old wizard was saying, but honestly didn't hear a thing until he heard the words, "Let the feast begin!"  Suddenly the table in front of Harry was covered in delicious smelling food.  Ron grabbed some chicken and rolls and many other goodies to pile on his golden plate, stuffing his mouth full of food while trying to talk to Harry and Hermione.  
"I recon I'll try for the house team this year.  Maybe I can be a beater now that Fred and George are off the team.  Can you imagine it Harry, me and you up there together.  We'll be unstoppable!"  Harry's friends had no idea how much Cedric's death had upset Harry, and he had no intention of unloading all of that on them now, when they were so excited about the start of the new term.  He tried to look happy and to encourage Ron.  It would be nice, he thought, if Ron were on the team with him.  He'd have someone to go to Quidditch practice with him, and maybe Ron will even earn himself a little recognition.  It would be good for him.  Harry set his mind to help Ron make it onto the house team.  
The start of classes the next day went as usual.  Their first class was Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid.  With his past record on dangerous animals, Harry was a little nervous.  Today he had baby Firemanders.  Distantly related to dragons, the Firemander could breathe fire when it reached adulthood.  Other than the obvious fire breathing, however, the firemander was relatively harmless, so Harry breathed a little easier.  It lived on a diet of insects and as a baby was even quite cute.  It had shiny purple and blue iridescent skin and large green eyes on the sides of it's head, meaning it had to turn it's head sideways to see you.  This gave anyone watching it a slight impression that the tiny lizard was shy.  Hagrid had a large jar of Crickets to feed to the Firemanders.  Everyone picked one that was to be his or her project for the year.  Ron's firemander seemed a little more hyper than some of the others and kept trying to crawl up into his hair.  Hagrid told him it was because female Firemander skin turned a bright orange when they reached maturity, and his firemander believed that Ron was his mother.
Harry, Ron and Hermione finished their classes without too much incident for the rest of the week.  Professor Snape took 10 points from Neville Longbottom and Gryffindor because his fountain of light potion started shooting off red and blue sparks before emitting a terrible smelling gas into the dungeon that then had to be evacuated.
During breaks and days off Harry, Ron and Hermione spent their time in their common room, trying to get the lines on the parchment from Ron's book say something meaningful.  Once Ron did get them to do the polka, and Hermione got them to spell out, "LEAVE US ALONE!" in large angry letters.  Quidditch trials were coming up fast, as well, and Harry wanted to help Ron make the house team.  During lunch hour one day, Harry saw Professor Dumbledore talking to Madam Hooch near one of the stairways and he decided to stop and ask them both about using the field to practice.
"Absolutely!"  replied Dumbledore when Harry asked if he could work with Ron on the Quidditch pitch before tryouts were to begin.  "As long as Madam Hooch has no objection, I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to practice.  Mind that you only do it during the day when you have free time.  We do not want anyone out after dark."
"Thank you Professor Dumbledore, Madam Hooch."
"Not at all, Harry.  You know, when you need something, sometimes all you need to do is ask."  Professor Dumbledore winked at Harry and continued his conversation with Madam Hooch.

the pages of his Charms and Counter Charms book.  He showed the parchment to the other members of the car when the door slid open and Draco Malfoy stepped in with his goons, Crabbe and Goyle.  Harry had just glimpsed some strange markings on the parchment before it was snatched from their hands by Malfoy.
"What have you got here, Weasel?" chuckled Malfoy as he scanned the parchment, turning it over in his hands, trying to make sense of it.
"Give that back Malfoy!" demanded Harry.
"Or you'll what, Harry?  Call the ghosts of your mommy and daddy to come and make me?"  Malfoy sneered at him knowingly.  Harry knew the only way Malfoy could've found out about the shadows of his parents coming back to help him against Voldamort were if his father had told him.  It had been suspected all along that Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father, was really a Death Eater, a follower of Voldamort.  Harry had confirmed this first hand at the end of last term when he had seen Mr. Malfoy there, along with many other Death Eaters, welcoming back their Dark Lord.
"Accio Parchment!"  Hermione held the parchment in her hand and waved her wand threateningly at Malfoy.  "You better get out of here Malfoy.  Unless you and your friends want to see first hand what I've been learning all summer.  I'd like to see if some of these hexes I found really work."
Malfoy scowled at Hermione.  "It's just a lot of childish scribble anyway.  You had better watch it this year Harry.  I'm sure He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is going to be more intent than ever to get a hold of you."  Malfoy turned and led his two bumbling goons out of the door and slammed it hard behind them.
"What is this Ron?"  Hermione asked, looking at the piece of parchment she still held in her hand.
"I'm not sure, exactly.  At first I thought it was just a bunch of scribbles like Malfoy said, but I was really looking at it in the car on the way back from Diagon Alley, and some of the lines started crawling around on the paper. I think it's some sort of a message, it just needs to be decoded."
"That's really cool Ron, have you figured any of it out yet?" asked Harry excited to have a mystery to solve even before they reached Hogwarts.
"Not yet.  That's why I was hoping Hermione could look at it.  What do you think Hermione?  Any ideas?"
Hermione looked at it closer and sure enough, she saw some of the lines crawl around like little worms on the paper.  "I'm not sure." She replied. "It could be a message, but there aren't many lines on here.  It would have to be a short message if that's what it is.  Still, it should be quite interesting to figure it out.  I even found some decoding charms in our new "Charms and Counter Charms" book.  There might be something in there that can help us."  Immediately, Hermione opened up her Charms and Counter Charms book and began flipping through the pages, trying to find something that might decode the parchment.  Harry stared at the lines a bit longer to see if they did anything other than just crawl around.  
"So this is what you've been so excited about since yesterday."  Harry said pleased.  He was happy to have Ron talking to him again, for whatever the reason.  Ron and Harry played a game of exploding snap for the rest of the way to Hogwarts, with Hermione occasionally commenting on some of the charms she came across in her book, even trying a few on the paper to see if any of them worked.  She got the lines to make some nice pictures a few times, but no message appeared.

Chapter 2:  The Grudge
   The next week passed without incident.  Pig arrived shortly after Harry and for once seemed unhappy.  He hadn't expected Harry to beat him to The Burrow.  He joined Hedwig in ignoring Harry for the most part. Hedwig ignored him because of her mishandling during their trip to the Burrow.  Harry knew not to worry about it too much, however.  He knew that Hedwig wouldn't stay mad at him much longer.  She was already letting him pet her again on occasion and she brought him a garden gnome earlier that morning, kicking and screaming.  
   The only thing that seemed to be getting Harry down was the excessive attention he was getting from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.  They hardly left him alone, insisting that they go with him when he went any distance from their house, and not allowing any of them to play Quidditch in the near-by field.  Hermione kept telling him that he needed to study, and was trying to get him and Ron to stop fooling around long enough to try to answer the questions she kept popping at them.  Mrs. Weasley also seemed to be intent on making them study.  It seemed it wasn't a joke telling Hermione's parents that she wanted Hermione to help Ron study for his O.W.L.S.  
Ron became gloomier and started snapping at Harry.  When Harry asked Hermione what was going on she told Harry that Ron made a comment earlier about how everyone was doing so much for Harry they didn't have time to have fun.  Ron even planted one of Fred and George's fake wands in the kitchen to get a laugh and his mother just tossed it aside and went to make Harry a special dinner.  "Honestly," she told Harry, "I think he's a little jealous of the attention you're getting right now.  It's nothing new, really.  You know he's always been a little jealous over the attention you always seem to be getting."
"I would trade with him any day." Harry stated gloomily, "I would love to have a normal life for once, and not have to worry about anyone trying to kill me or gawking at my scar as if it were a third arm growing out of my head."
The trip into Diagon Alley to pick up the next year's school supplies was under way.  Mrs. Weasley tried to get Ron, Harry ("Stick close to me, dear.  We don't need you off by yourself."), Hermione, and Ginny all together and piled into Mr. Weasley's newly purchased used car.  This one unfortunately was not yet equipped with charms to make it stretch to fit it's passengers, or fly, as Mrs. Weasley had threatened Mr. Weasley severely if he broke wizard law by charming another car.  Mrs. Weasley drove, and Harry sat in the front seat.  In back were Ron, Hermione and Ginny, somewhat cramped in the small car.  Ron glared at Harry while Harry pretended not to see.  He felt bad enough, and he understood why Ron was upset.
One by one, they stopped in all the important wizard stores in Diagon alley, stocking up on new school supplies for the following term.  Ron glared a little more as his mom handed him a stack of second hand books.  One of them was so old it had gray hairs sprouting out from the binding.  Harry looked at the stack of new books he himself had.  If Ron would've allowed it, he would've bought him all new books, but Ron was very touchy about his financial situation.  The only new thing Ron carried was a new set of dress robes.  This he bought with money given to him by Fred and George Weasley, out of the money Harry had given to them after he won the Tri-Wizard tournament.  To Ron's dismay, however, his mother insisted on getting them in Maroon.  Still, new maroon dress robes, were better than old moldy ones with lace.  On their way back home they all looked through their new books.  Hermione exclaimed at every page as she came across a new spell that she couldn't wait to try out.  Even Ron seemed excited after flipping through the book with the gray hair, titled "Charms and Counter Charms by Fiderick Fiddkin."  He even started talking to Harry again, excited about their return to Hogwarts.
The next day they all piled into platform 9 ¾ waved goodbye and boarded the Hogwarts express, chatting happily about the upcoming year.  Even the shadow that had been hanging over Harry since Voldamort's return lifted as they snacked on Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.

Just before the sun started coming up Harry heard another sound from his window.  When he looked over he saw a little gray ball of feathers pop up from behind the window sill, hoot merrily with an over sized letter tied to his leg, then drop out of sight again.  The second time this happened Harry realized what it was and rushed to his window to catch the gray ball when it came up again.
   "Pig!" cried out Harry.  "I sure am glad to see you.  What does Ron have to say for me now?"  A jumble of muffled hoots and squawks came from the tiny owl nearly hidden by Harry's hand.  A large envelope was dangling, tied to Pigwidgeon's leg.  Harry was surprised that the tiny creature was able to lift it.  If Harry had to say anything about Pig, it was that he was determined, and never failed in delivering anything Ron tried to send Harry.  Harry untied the string that held it on and placed Pig into the cage with Hedwig.  The large snowy owl voiced a superior hoot and stuck her beak into the air as if snubbing off the tiny squawking owl.  Pig, heedless of Hedwig's disdain hopped happily closer to the large white owl and hopped up and down on the perch hooting incessantly.  
   Harry ripped open the thick envelope and pulled out several sheets of folded parchment.  The first was a letter from Mrs. Weasley, Ron's mother.  Harry scanned it quickly, wondering what she was writing to him.

Dear Harry,
  I've been so worried about you since the end of last term dear.  Arthur has been working extra hard at the Ministry to get people to understand what is happening.  I've been in contact with Albus Dumbledore trying to find out when we could get you over here to stay with us.  I can't imagine why he wants you to stay with those horrible muggles.  I received an owl from him, however, earlier today saying we could have you over any time.  I hope you will come, Harry.  You need proper protection now that You-Know-Who is back, and those muggles wouldn't know what to do if he arrived there.  Please send a return owl as soon as possible and we will have Arthur go and pick you up dear.  Oh my, I have to go now.  It seems that Fred and George have blown up their workshop out in the yard again, making more of those awful candies for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.  Hope to hear from you soon.

Molly
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   Harry pushed down a lump in his throat.  From the first time Harry had met the Weasleys they had taken him in, treated him like family.  Mrs. Weasley was the closest thing Harry had to a mother.  She made him a nice warm sweater every Christmas, and always sent a delicious box of fudge or some other treat with it.  He was glad Professor Dumbledore had finally agreed to let Harry go visit The Burrow, which is what the Weasley's called their ramshackle old shack.
   Harry picked up the next piece of parchment.  This one was from Ron, his best friend at Hogwarts, along with their other friend, Hermione Granger.  

Harry,
   Great news!  
Dumbledore has finally sent an owl saying you can come over!  Hermione is already here.  Mum sent her folks an owl around the beginning of the Holiday saying that I needed help studying for my O.W.L.S. this year and wanted her to come over to tutor me.  She didn't want to scare them by telling them about You-Know-Who.  Mum's writing to you now so I'm sure you'll hear lots about that.  I just can't wait to get you over here.  Hermione is driving me nutters!  She actually took that owl seriously and she's trying to get me to study.  Come as quick as you can.  Maybe against the both of us we can fight her off.  

Bye- Ron

PS.  Fred and George spent half their money already to start up their joke shop.  Dad built them a workshop out in the yard so they can experiment without burning the house down, but they've been using us all as testers, so make sure you don't touch anything they give you when you get here, ok?
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Harry chuckled and read the last letter by Hermione.  This one was the longest of all.  It went on and on about how careful Harry has to be, and reminding him to bring all his supplies so they could study for their O.W.L.S.  This was typical of Hermione.  She believed grades and education were more important than anything else.

. . . Beside all that other stuff Harry, I really do miss you, and we're all worried.  I hope you will send a reply soon so that you can come stay here with us before we go back to Hogwarts.

Your friend,
Hermione Granger
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Harry folded up the letters and slid them under the loose floorboard under his bed.  Over the past 4 years, the space under the board had slowly begun to fill with miscellaneous items sent from his friends at Hogwarts, and letters from his Godfather, Sirius Black.  Harry wondered how Sirius was doing now.  He hadn't heard from him as much this summer, since he had been working with Dumbledore to put together some sort of force to fight against Voldamort's return.
   Harry quickly, quietly packed up everything he could into his trunk, leaving out only Hedwig's cage.  He wanted to be able to grab his things and go as soon as possible when the Weasleys came to get him.
   Just then, Pig squeaked loudly, flitting madly around Hedwig's cage then out the open cage door.  He stuck out his foot impatiently to Harry.  It looked as though the Weasleys were not the only ones expecting a prompt reply from Harry.  The squeak, however, must have woken Uncle Vernon because just as Harry was jotting out a quick acceptance he heard Uncle Vernon yell from the hall, " . . .owls!  Boy, I told you about keeping them QUIET!  . . . sun up . . . . neighbors will see!"  Harry hastily tied the reply to Pig's leg and forcefully threw him out the window seconds before his bedroom door banged open with a steaming Vernon Dursley blocking the doorway.
   "What do you think you're doing boy?  What have we told you about sending those owls about in broad daylight?  Do you want the whole neighborhood to find out about you and your . . . . abnormality!?"  He took several menacing steps toward Harry.  Harry stepped back to avoid a grab Uncle Vernon made for his neck and kicked over the bottle of ink and the quill Harry had just used to send the reply to the Dursleys, leaving a nasty red ink blot on the carpet.  This left Vernon stunned for a moment.  Not long, but long enough for Harry to grab his trunk and Hedwig's cage and bolt down the stairs, with a huffing, puffing, Vernon Dursley on his tail.  The trunk made loud banging noises as Harry pulled it down the steps by one handle, Hedwig hooted indignantly as her cage was jolted back and forth.  Harry put on a last burst of speed as Uncle Vernon dove down the steps at him.  Harry slipped out the door and ran down the street, dragging all his belongings behind him, then ducked around a corner out of sight of the Dursley house.  He hoped upon hope that the Knight bus ran at this hour and would pick him up before the muggles started waking up and spotted the strange kid on the corner with a trunk full of wizard stuff and an owl.  He stuck out his wand hand, and he heard a loud BANG.  In front of him stood a large bus and the conductor stepped out wearing a purple uniform.  Harry recognized the conductor, Stan Shunpike.
   "Well!  If it i'nt 'Arry Potter!  Nice to be se'en you again!  Where you goin' Mr. Potter?"
   "The Burrow please" said Harry smiling, stepping into the Knight bus.
   "'Attl be 9 Sickles Mr. Potter.  To The Burrow Ern!" Stan hollered to the driver, Ernie Prang, after Harry gave him the wizard money.  "You just 'ave a kip o'er there on that bed Mr. Potter, we'll 'ave you there in no time."
   Harry knew there would be no way of getting any sleep on this ride.  If he remembered it right, the last time he was on the Knight bus it was all he could do to keep from being rattled out of his skull.  True to memory, the bus lurched to a start, popping in and out of various parts of London, picking up and dropping off passengers.  Finally, it popped right in front of the Weasley's house, with the old wooden sign out front that said "The Burrow".  Harry thanked the Conductor and the driver before leaping down the steps, barely managing to drag his belongings after him.
   Ginny Weasley, The youngest Weasley and only girl of 7 children ran out of the shack yelling "It's Harry, Mum.  He's come on the Knight bus!"  Ginny stopped a few paces out of the doorway and froze, blushing bright red.  Harry knew Ginny had a crush on him since the first time he went to visit the Weasleys at The Burrow.  Just then Molly Weasley came running out of the house and caught Harry up in a big hug.
   "Oh, thank goodness you're alright."  She looked at Harry lovingly then scowled, "What do you think you're doing, young man, taking off like that?  We were going to pick you up!  You shouldn't be traveling by yourself when You-Know-Who could be out there looking for you!"
   "I'm sorry, Mrs. Weasley.  I just barely got off my reply to you when my uncle came in and I just knew I had to get out of there or he might not let me go at all."
   Mrs. Weasley's expression changed immediately to a cross between pity and disgust.  "Of course, dear, I understand.  I don't know why Dumbledore is so intent on making you live with those horrible muggles.  They're just the worst sort.  You really do need to be more careful though dear.  We worry about you."
   Mrs. Weasley led Harry inside where the rest of the Weasley clan was gathered around talking. Ron ran over to him immediately, dragging Hermione behind him.  "That was bloody magnificent!  Pig hasn't even gotten back yet!"
   "That could be very dangerous Harry.  You should listen to Mrs. Weasley.  You-Know-Who could just be waiting for a mistake like that to hurt you."  Harry smiled at Hermione.
   "It's ok Hermione.  I made it after all."  Just then, Hedwig hooted angrily and Harry opened up her cage.  She swooped out of the door and off to the field by the house.