The Chambers doing

Chapter 5 - Return to Privet Drive

Friday morning soon came and their friends came to visit once more before boarding the Hogwarts Express. As soon as it had left, Professor Dumbledore came by once more, with an old book, presumably the portkey. They both placed their hands on it, and where at once whisked off to Number 4 Privet Drive, where they landed outside the front door.

Straight away, Aunt Petunia opened the door, and ushered them inside, all the while looking from side to side fearfully, ensuring none of the neighbours saw their arrival. Once inside, she ordered them upstairs, and informed them rather rudely that they were not to come down except for meals.

In Harry's mind, this was an improvement, he thought as they made their way up the stairs, as it suggested he wouldn't have to do the chores anymore, but Ginny was horrified that anyone could speak to him in this way. This disgust only grew when she saw his bedroom, with multiple locks on the door, that contained a cat flap, and bars on the window.

Once inside his room, she sat on his bed and pulled him down next to her. "Have they always treated you like this?"

He seemed embarrassed, as though he had done something wrong. "A lot of the time. It was worse, actually, I guess Dumbledore did manage to get through to them somewhat." He spoke quietly.

Ginny wanted to question him some more, but from the expression on his face, she decided not to push him - he was looking afraid. So instead, she let some of her well-known Weasley temper show, but not loudly enough for any of the other occupants of the house to hear.

"Dumbledore should never have left you here! I've had it with his wards! They are supposed to keep you from harm, but what about from the occupants of the house?" Ginny raged. A slight smile appeared on Harry's face. "What are you smiling for?" She knew Harry well enough to understand that he wouldn't open up to just anyone.

"You." He replied. "I've never had anyone care for me before."

"Oh Harry..." She said, hugging him, but he cut her off.

"Thank you, for caring."

"You'd do the same for me, wouldn't you?"

"You know I would."

He hugged her back, and then pulled back slightly, just enough to plant his lips gently on hers. After a moment of shock and surprise, she returned his kiss, and they sat there, locked in an embrace, until the need for air overcame them. They lay back, still hugging each other, and eventually, sleep came to both of them.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Weasleys had arrived at the Burrow. Mr Weasley started the inevitable conversation, although he was worried, along with his wife, as to how the kids would react.

"Boys, before you go upstairs and unpack, your mother and I need to talk to you in the kitchen."

When they had all filed in to the Burrow's undersized kitchen, Mrs Weasley started the talking. "We thought you might want to know where Ginny is going to be this summer."

"I thought she and Harry were staying at school a little longer so Madam Pomfrey could keep checking up on them?" Ron said. It was, after all, what everyone who had visited had been told.

"No, that was a cover story. We don't want anyone knowing where they are really going. But before we tell you, you must promise not to overreact. Your mother and I are perfectly happy with this." Mr Weasley took over.

Fred started "So where..."

"...Are they then?" George finished.

"They have both gone to stay with Harry's relatives." Mrs Weasley said, expecting an explosion much like that that had come from her when she had heard the news. "Given that they were the only two who saw the inside of the chamber, and best know what happened, we thought it best if they were kept together to help each other through this time, and Dumbledore insisted on Harry going to stay at his relatives." She continued, intent on forestalling the blow-up that could be seen starting on some, but not all, of the faces in front of her. Ron's and Charlie's were the most noticeable.

"What's he doing, taken advantage of our baby sister..." Ron started.

Mr Weasley placated him. "Now he's not taken advantage of her, and you know that Ginny doesn't like it when you refer to her as a baby."

The argument continued on in this vain for half an hour, but eventually Mr and Mrs Weasley managed to prevent the boys from running off to find Harry and knock his head off for even looking at their sister. It was six bedraggled and angry boys who went upstairs to unpack, as Bill and Charlie had come back home for a few weeks after they had heard about Ginny.

That evening, Harry and Ginny both headed down stairs for the inevitable disaster that would be their evening meal. Unfortunately, the Dursleys' fear of the threat that Dumbledore gave them did not drive them far enough to leave the two kids upstairs and take their meals up to them, so they didn't need to be seen at all.

Surprisingly, dinner wasn't all that bad. As usual, Harry was practically treated as if he didn't exist, but Aunt Petunia had attempted small talk with Ginny, as if her being there was nothing out of the ordinary. This was odd, especially for Aunt Petunia, as normally anything out of place would have to be gotten rid of. Clearly their method for dealing with having extra witches and wizards around meant treating them properly. It was disappointing that this did not extend to Harry.

After their meal, they were about to head upstairs when one of the news reports caught their attention. Uncle Vernon had just turned on the TV in the sitting room, and was watching with the rest of the family, when it was announced that - "Mass Murderer Sirius Black has escaped from prison. Members of the public have been warned to stay vigilant, and not approach him under any circumstances."

This news greatly bothered Ginny, and seeing her reaction, Harry pulled her upstairs and to their room. Once they were sat on the bed and the door was locked, from the inside for once, he asked her what the problem was.

"Sirius Black, he's a wizard. Mum said he was one of V-V-Voldemort's most fanatical followers. He was imprisoned early November 1981 after killing 12 muggles, and one of his best friends, Peter Pettigrew. While that is all most people will tell you, if anything, I heard Mum and Dad talking once. Apparently another of his best friends was one James Potter, and he was their secret keeper. I don't understand that though - how could someone betray one of his best friends and kill another?"

"Okay, so there's another threat out to get me, that's pretty normal." Harry replied.

"You don't understand. He was in Azkaban, the wizarding prison. It is built on an island. No one has ever escaped from it before. If he can do that, he can probably get into Hogwarts."

"Ah. I can see where that could be an issue. But there is no point worrying about it now. With these wards you seem to have found out about here he shouldn't be able to get to me, should he?"

"I guess not. But Harry, promise me you'll be careful when you go outside?"

"Okay Ginny, I promise, but now we should get to sleep, it has been a long day."

"Okay, goodnight Harry."

"Goodnight." Harry kissed her on the top of her head, and they curled up together, hugging each other, until sleep took them.