Welcome back to the Mysteries series! I hope you guys are as excited as I am but first I just want to reiterate that I do not own Harry Potter and I am not making any money from this.
July 31st, 1997- Potter Manor
"Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Harry and Neville! Happy birthday to you!"
Harry and Neville sat in front of a two-tier birthday cake made by Lily and Molly.
Ginny was sitting to Harry's right, leaning her head on his shoulder and kissing his cheek lightly. Sophie was seated on his left grinning at him with Melody in her lap and Dudley was standing over her protectively. Ron, Hermione, Luna, Lily, James, Molly, and Arthur were all standing behind the birthday boys, cheering as they blew out the candles. Meg and Sirius cuddling on the couch. Tonks and Remus holding hands and talking in front of the fire. And as Harry looked at all the people around him, he realized that it seemed like the perfect scene.
Except it wasn't.
The adults all had creases in their forehead from the constant worry of attack. Meg's summer dress revealed several long scars that ran down her legs. James was downing a pain potion between smiles. Even Harry's face wasn't void of sadness and worry.
Voldemort had been much more public with his attacks lately and without their leader, the Order had been struggling. Battles had been brutal and new recruits were few and far between.
They moved their headquarters to Potter Manor after confirming that Snape had indeed switched sides. Lily was still devasted that she had lost her childhood best friend for the second time but, understood that there was no way they could compromise the Order's safety by still allowing him entrance to headquarters.
"Maybe we should open presents," Lily suggested snapping Harry's attention back to reality.
"Presents?" Harry asked.
"Well of course Harry! It's your birthday after all! And Neville don't think we forgot about you!"
Neville blushed and ducked his head.
"You really didn't have to Mrs. Potter-"
"Oh, of course, we did sweetie! It's your party too. Now let's see what we've got here," Lily said, rummaging over to a table where several beautifully wrapped presents sat. "The first one goes to... Neville! Here you go love, from James and I."
The cycle continued with both Neville and Harry receiving many presents from their friends and family. By the end of it, Neville was surrounded by plants that may or may not be trying to kill him and Harry was surrounded by new quidditch and school supplies.
"Are you sure that thing's safe?" Harry asked Neville, pointing towards a plant that seemed particularly interested in biting Neville's face.
"Of course I'm sure! It's just a Nimimbulous Nimbulia. I love it thanks Professor Lupin!" Neville replied gently stroking his new plant.
Harry just scooted his chair a bit farther away.
"Do you like the ball that I got you, Harry?" Sophie asked sweetly.
She had gotten Harry a snitch with his name engraved on it.
"I love it thank you, Soph," Harry assured his adoptive sister.
She smiled so brightly that Harry swore his eyes hurt afterward.
After a bit more chit chat and eating lots of cake, the party started to end. Luna, Neville, Sirius, Remus, Tonks, and Meg all left leaving only the Weasleys and Hermione with the Potters.
"Do you guys want to stay over?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione as they cleaned up dishes in the kitchen.
"I've got to ask my mom mate. You know how she is with the wedding tomorrow," Ron replied. "Remind me to elope when I get married. I don't want all this hassle."
Harry laughed loudly and finished putting away the dishes.
"Oh, Ron. You don't really want to elope. Think about how much you would regret not having your family there and celebrating with your friends!" Hermione added.
Ron shrugged.
"You guys can come," He said. "As long as you don't try to make me write those lovely dovey vows."
"Oh, but those are the cutest!" Hermione complained.
"No! I'm not going to be writing-"
"Just put the dishes away for Merlin's sake," Harry said.
"Sorry Harry. Anyway, have you made any progress on those horcruxes?"
"No," Harry said, slamming a cabinet shut harder than he normally did. "But I think I've made a decision."
Ron and Hermione turned towards him sharply.
"I'm not going to Hogwarts this year."
"Harry-" Hermione started.
"Hermione, we know that he's still out there! And I don't know about you but I can't, no I won't, rest until I know that he's dead. I can't look for horcruxes if I'm trying to do my homework and I certainly can't sneak out if I found one. Besides, it's what Dumbledore would've wanted."
"Then we'll come with you!" Ron said.
"I can't ask you-"
"You're not asking, Harry. We're telling you that we will be coming with," Hermione said, stepping forward and resting a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Your parents will never let you," Harry objected.
"They won't know," Ron said. "We can sneak out at night and we'll be gone before they even wake up."
"And you already know about my parent's memory, Harry," Hermione said referring to the spell that she had cast on them early in the summer. They no longer remembered anything about having a daughter or their real names. As far as they knew, their names were Monica and Wendell and they had lived in Australia for their entire lives.
"You guys realize that if we do this, there's no going home and just returning to Hogwarts," Harry said seriously. "Once we leave we can't come home until he's dead."
"Harry, we said that we'll have you back," Hermione said.
"Alright. Then we leave the night after the wedding."
If the trio had stayed in the kitchen for a little bit longer, they would have noticed a little girl that was just trying to put her dishes away when she heard her brother talking about running away. Sophie quickly disposed of her dishes and ran to her room.
"Harry!" Sophie screamed as she ran into his room later that day.
"Soph! Come here you want to come read this book with me? It's about defensive magic-"
"You're leaving soon aren't you," Sophie asked, lowering her voice as she got closer.
Harry's mouth opened and closed like a fish.
"I heard you in the kitchen with Ron and Hermione. Why are you leaving Harry?" Sophie asked looking close to tears.
"Sophie it's complicated-"
"Harry! I want to know why my big brother is leaving me!"
"Soph, I swear it'll be ok I promise I'll come back-"
"You don't know that!" Sophie screamed.
Harry froze and looked down at the little girl he called a sister.
"Harry I know how dangerous he is. I lived with him, remember? Do you know how many times I had to walk through those dungeons, listening to the cries of people who would never get to see their friends and family again? I can't lose you too, Harry," Sophie said, her voice now lowered but tears flowing down her cheeks.
"Soph, I, ugh," Harry started as he guided her towards his bed. "I've got to do this so the war can end. I know it seems crazy and I can't tell you anything right now but, just know that I'll be back ok? And don't forget about Dudley. You guys can hang out and you have to watch out for him alright?"
"Ok Harry," Sophie sniffled. "Promise that you'll come home?"
"Pinky promise," Harry said.
"Ok, but I'm going to miss you, Harry. More than when you go to Hogwarts."
"I know Sophie. I know."
August 1st- The Burrow
"Alrighty. Now Sophie remember what I said?" Lily asked as she fixed a flower into Sophie's hair.
"Stay by you, Dad, Sirius or Remus at all times," Sophie recited for the millionth time that day.
"Same with you Dudley!" Lily called out to her nephew who was messing with his tie.
"Yes Aunt Lily," He called back after he finally figured out how to twist his tie properly.
"Good. Now James?" She yelled up the stairs.
"Yes, flower?" He called as he hurried down the stairs with Harry on his heels.
"Oh good both of you are here," She said as she switched her attention over to Dudley who was now having trouble getting his hair to stay flat. "Harry, I want you to be by Order members at all times ok? And James you better not take a sip of firewhiskey while we're there."
"Mum, the Burrow has the strongest wards available, other than this house I think-"
"I don't care Harry. I want you by Order members, ok? For me?" Lily pleaded.
"Fine," Harry grumbled.
"And what is everyone in this family going to do the entire time we're there?" Lily asked.
"Keep our heads down, stay alert, report anything suspicious and look out for each other," The family recited in perfect harmony aside from a couple grumbles from Harry.
"Good now let's go before we're late."
When Harry stumbled out of the fireplace, he was immediately greeted by Ginny's warm embrace.
"Hi Ginny," Harry mumbled.
"Hey Harry," She replied with a smile.
"Alright lovebirds-"
"Move out of the way," Fred and George said together.
Harry blushed lightly as Ginny kissed his cheek right in front of her two brothers before pulling him out of the living room.
"Come on. Mum's having a fit in the kitchen so we're going to go outside and see if Dad needs any help."
Harry walked through the familiar house, occasionally stopping to talk to the guests who were accumulated in various rooms. Once they made it out to the garden, they found that Arther actually didn't need any help. So, the couple sat down on a wooden swing and caught up.
"I feel like we haven't had any time to ourselves in forever!" Ginny said, the swing rocking back and forth slowly.
"I know! Summer has been really busy though. I mean Hermione's been making me read a book a week!" Harry said with a small laugh. His eyes seemed extremely concentrated on a pebble resting in the dirt.
"Is everything ok Harry? You seem... off."
"I'm fine Gin," Harry said, shooting his girlfriend a tight smile.
"Harry? Can I ask you something?"
"Anything Ginny!"
"Are you going to go to Hogwarts this year?" Ginny whispered.
Harry hesitated.
"I can't Ginny. He's out there! Just waiting and I can't put Hogwarts in danger by being there."
Ginny closed her eyes and nodded softly.
"Do your parents know?" She asked.
"No one but Ron, Hermione, and Sophie," Harry admitted quietly.
"Are you going to tell them?"
"No. I'll leave in the middle of the night and by the time they wake up, I'll be gone."
"Sophie's going to miss you."
"It's for the best."
"I'll miss you."
Harry's bright green eyes snapped up to meet Ginny's.
"I'll miss you too Ginny. You're absolutely extraordinary Ginny Weasley and any boy would be lucky as Merlin to call you their boyfriend so I understand if you don't want to wait-"
"Harry Potter don't you dare think that I would break up with you!" Ginny said.
Harry noticed how her nostrils flared ever so slightly and her brown eyes narrowed until they were laser-focused on his eyes.
"Ginny, can I tell you something?" Harry asked with a small smile.
"As long as it's not about breaking up, I suppose you may."
"I love you," Harry whispered, leaning in to kiss her.
"I love you too, you idiot."
A/N- Hi guys! I'm back! I'm so so so excited to finally be back in Harry's world and I can't wait to show you guys everything that I've planned. In the meantime, please consider checking out my wattpad account! My username on there is ThatMatchie and I write original romance novels! Now some updates about this fic.
It will update on Saturdays, hopefully, every Saturday but it might end up being every other Saturday. Please be patient.
I'm still editing Mysteries of the Veil so please be patient about that too.
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Love you all and I'll see you later!
-Marauderette24