HP8 (On Hold)

12 Grimmauld Street

As soon as Harry emerged in Grimmauld Place, Kreacher appeared with a Pop, “Master, I didn’t know you were coming here tonight, the house isn’t finished yet.” 

Harry took a few steps away from the fireplace as the others started to arrive.  “Sorry Kreacher, we hadn’t intended to be back tonight, but we needed somewhere to sleep a bit unexpectedly.” 

“That’s ok then Master, it was the bedrooms where Kreacher started today, and several are ready.” 

“Thanks Kreacher.” 

“Does Master or his friends need anything else?” 

“I don’t think so, does anyone want something to eat or drink?” 

Ginny, Hermione and Ron all shook there heads, “Just lead me to a bed is all I ask, I’m falling asleep on my feet.”  Ron commented. 

Hermione whipped her head around and gave him a sharp look, but seeing the yawn he was trying to stifle, she gave him a look of exasperation but in an understanding way. 

Kreacher led them up the stairs, Ron’s room was the first they came to, the one he had shared with Harry when they had stayed here a few years ago.  He immediately entered the room called “Night” over his shoulder and shut the door, Hermione bristled for a second, caught Harry and Ginny looking at her, so she just shrugged and walked into the bedroom opposite where Kreacher was holding the door open.  She turned in the doorway, “Night Harry, thanks for the bed, Night Ginny, sleep well.”  And with raised eyebrows and a smile she shut the door on them. 

They followed Kreacher who took them up the next flight of stairs, he opened a door there which led into another bedroom.  Ginny walked toward the door but turned round before entering and looked back at Harry, straight into his eyes.  Harry didn’t know what to do or say, and after just a couple of seconds her eyes dropped and shoulders sagged. Turning around she murmured “Night Harry” in a strange tight voice. 

Harry took a couple of quick steps forward, grabbed her by the arm, span her round and kissed her hard.  Breaking free after only a couple of moments, but what had seemed like a world away he said “Good Night” in a Husky voice.  Ginny smiled brightly at him shut the bedroom door leaving him on the landing, looking at the door.  

“This way then master.”  Kreacher tugged his arm, coming back from where he had been, Harry followed Kreacher up yet another flight of stairs where he found himself in front of an ornate old door. 

“The Master Bedroom, Master.” Kreacher called out, and opened the door, through which Harry could see a vast bedroom with a huge bed and very expensive furniture and furnishings. 

Harry would have preferred to spend the night in any other bedroom but this one, here he felt awkward and out of place, but he knew that he would upset Kreacher if he was to sleep anywhere else, and he would have to get used to sleeping here if he was going to keep the house. 

Bowing to him, Kreacher backed out of the door. 

Harry reflected on the last five minutes as he got ready for bed, it hadn’t been as bad as he had feared, although he had been close to really upsetting Ginny, and Ron had definitely annoyed Hermione, but he smiled to himself, that was nothing new, and she was probably used to it. 

He got into the vast bed, put his glasses on the bedside cabinet, laid back and looked at the ceiling. 

It had been an eventful and very enjoyable day, he was so please for the Weasley’s, the family had always been looked down upon by other pure blood wizards.  Ron had always felt embarrassed by the second hand possessions he had owned, yet was always very defensive of them at the same time.