chapter 25

Harry landed on his feet, making sure he wouldn't fall before looking around. They were standing beside the garage, facing the Burrow. "You took that surprisingly well," Charlie said from beside him.

"Yeah, I have Side-Along Apparated before, only a few times though," Harry answered. "I almost threw up the first time," he added as he looked continued to around. Ron, beside Percy, and Hermione and Ginny, beside Arthur, were laying or sitting on the ground, while Fred and George, on either side of Bill, looked a little unsure on their feet.

"Okay, everyone! We're home! Up to your rooms and sleep," Arthur said before helping the girls up from the ground. Ron got up and leaned against Percy, who just sighed fondly at him.

It took some time, but finally all the stairs were conquered and all four of them fell into their beds in Ron's room. Ron grumbled, asking why his room was on the top floor, but soon all fell asleep.

They slept until nine the next day, and slowly made their way downstairs for something to eat. Arthur was already sitting by the dining table, having a cup of tea while eating. Molly was standing by the stove, eerily silent. Ron said a quiet "morning" as they entered and sat down by the table. Quietly, to not break the tense pressure, they filled their plates with bread, eggs and sausages from the different dishes on the table.

They were eating quietly as the rest of the occupants of the house came in. The people who came into the kitchen quicky felt the tension, and none tried to say any more than a quiet "morning". Even when everyone had finished eating the tense silence hadn't lifted.

It wasn't until a knock at the door startled everyone that anyone moved from their spot. Molly walked up to the door, slowly opening it to reveal… Remus and Sirius. "Harry!" Remus said as soon as he saw Harry from between the opening between Molly and the door. Harry quickly rose from his seat and made his way over to the door. Molly stepped away as Remus and Sirius came into the room. As they met in the middle Harry was caught between them in a bone-crushing hug.

"Oh, Merlin! We were so worried when we heard what had happened," Sirius said loudly from above Harry's head. His voice shook as he spoke, like he was still scared, "You're okay, right? Nothing happened to you?"

"I'm fine, Siri," Harry assured Sirius, "We're all fine," Harry was let out of their arms, and he smiled up at them. from the corner of his eye, he could see Molly make a weird face, like she had tasted a lemon, or smelled something rotten.

Before Remus and Sirius could say anything, Arthur's voice sounded from the table, "Remus, Sirius! So much have happened since we last talked, would you like to come in for a cup of tea?" he asked. After some back and forth, Remus and Sirius agreed to stay for a little while, after Remus contacted Petunia to tell her Harry was fine. "Of course, go ahead," was Arthur's reaction.

Remus dug in his pocket and dragged out a cell phone and began pressing the buttons. He put the phone to his ear, and almost immediately Harry heard Aunt Petunia's voice through the speaker, "Remus! Remus, tell me you found him. That he is okay!" Remus calmly told her that Harry was fine, and that they would be staying at the Burrow for tea but would be back soon. "Okay, but be back soon," she said before Remus ended the call.

It had taken maybe two minutes, but every red-head in the room stared at Remus like he had grown a second head. Remus repocketed the cell phone as he looked at the people staring at him, "What?" he asked in confusion. "Oh wow. This is like Sirius all over again," Remus said for only Harry and Sirius to hear.

"What was that?!" Ginny suddenly yelled.

"A phone," Hermione answered before anyone else could say anything, "It's muggle technology." Then her eyes widened, "But that shouldn't work here," she said, and now she was looking at them like the red-heads.

"That's actually propaganda," Remus smiled at Hermione, "started by traditional wizen people when the industrial revolution happened."

"What does a pone do?" Ginny said loudly.

"Phone. It can call other people if you have their phone number," Harry explained, "Rem was talking with Aunt Petunia."

"We decided it was a good idea to have a way we could contact each other instantly, since Petunia and Dudley can't use magic phones were the best option," Sirius said, as he and Harry also pulled out matching phones from their pockets. "That reminds me," Sirius rounded on Harry, "Why didn't you call any of us?"

"I may have forgotten it in my bag," Harry looked away as he said it. he put his phone away. "Anyway! Shall we go to the living room?" Harry changed the subject as he began walking further into the house. There was scraping on the floor as the people still sitting rose to follow Harry to the living room.

"I don't need any help," Molly's voice came from behind, quite loudly. Arthur came through the arch in the wall between the kitchen and living room, with his wand raised guiding a dozen cups of tea through the air.

When everyone had sat down the conversations began. First it was talks about Sirius' acquittal and the court day, where everyone listened, then the conversations divided, and different people were talking about different things. Harry listened to Ron and Percy talking about chess and talked with Fred and George about their joke shop.

"Professor Lupin?" Hermione's voice sounded strained and hopeful, and Harry's attention was drawn to the conversation about to take place. Harry saw Remus turn to Hermione before she began talking, "What is your opinion on house-elves and their right to be freed," she got right to point. Harry saw more than one person sigh, especially Arthur.

"What do you mean by 'freed'?" Remus asked her.

"Well, House-elves shouldn't have to have contracts with wizards and witches," she said matter-of-factly.

"I am afraid that that is not possible, House-elves need a contract with wizen people," Remus immediately said, "It is sad that the contract has become like a slave contract, and that should change, but no contract is impossible." Hermione was obviously not pleased with that answer and gave a huff before beginning to talk with Ginny, ignoring Remus. Harry heard Arthur tell Remus and Sirius what had happened with Winky and Hermione's reaction, but the subject was dropped after that.

When the tea was drunk and they had talked for close to an hour Remus said "Well, maybe it's time to go home? Could you go get your things, Harry?" Harry nodded as he rose up from his seat, he also stopped Fred and George from doing the same by pressing their shoulders down on his way up. Ron and Hermione had no such block and thus followed Harry up the stairs.

Halfway up to Ron's room Hermione began digging, "Professor Lupin said 'home', and you called them 'Siri' and 'Rem'," she began. "Are you guys living together?" she finally asked.

Harry answered with a casual "yeah", not wanting to bring her attention to it. "We all live in one of the Potter estates, me, Rem, Siri, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley," he said. He then started talking with Ron about the Quidditch World Cup, ignoring every attempt Hermione made to ask more.

When they came back down Harry saw Remus and Sirius still talking with Arthur, sitting on the sofa. "Rem, Siri, I'm ready," Harry said.

"Wouldn't you want to stay here?" Molly's voice came from the kitchen. She was standing in the arch, looking over the living room. "You can stay with us until you leave for school."

"No thank you," Harry said immediately, "I want to spend the remaining time of summer break with my family," he said. Remus and Sirius followed Harry to the door and the three of them said goodbye to everyone before leaving, "See you all on the platform!"