Beware the Ides of March

Soon after pulling away from the Dursleys’ house Harry said
“See you were able to acquire another car from the Ministry.”
“Oh yeah. It’s nice to have connections,” Laughed Ron “Better than popping out your aunt and uncles fireplace.”
“Oh trust me I’ll take this any day over a fireplace.” Harry said adamantly.
“I’ll bet you were up early this morning,” said George in the rear view mirror.
“In a hurry to put that house behind you I’ll wager,” added Fred quickly.
“Huh? Oh yeah right,” Harry said distractedly.
The mention of up early made him think back to the discovery in bed a few hours earlier.

“Erm… can I ask you guys something?”
“Fire away mate,” Chimed Fred.
Harry told them the story of his puzzled find when he woke up that morning, and as he did he noticed grins spread across their faces. By the time he was done, the brothers were cheering and laughing and Ron as slapping him on the back.
“Well if this is only the first time Harry you’re only about three years late,” chortled Ron. “Yeah, “said George “I had my first one at age 14.”
“Ha I beat you by one year,” Fred said proudly.
“Show off,” muttered George.
“I had mine when I was about 15.” Admitted Ron, while shrugging his shoulders.

Harry just sat there looking confused as ever, until finally it dawned on Ron that he had no idea what they were talking about.
“Crikey mate, didn’t anyone ever explain to you about wet dreams?” Cried Ron incredulously.
“Actually, no…or have you forgotten who I was raised by?” Harry said sarcastically. “What are wet dreams?” he asked a little annoyed.
Ron just sat there looking completely aghast and both Fred and George were shaking their heads.
“Mate, those Dursleys did you no favors. Seriously,” he said while rubbing his temples. “It’s all right Harry, we understand,” said George. “Enlighten him Ron,” sighed Fred.

“Harry, what you had last night was a “Wet Dream”,” said Ron gently.
“And what is that?” Harry asked.
“A “Wet Dream” is when you just sort of…explode in your sleep.” Said Ron carefully, slightly red.
“Oh” said Harry looking a little embarrassed, “and what does it mean?”
Ron and his brothers exchanged knowing looks at each other and then Fred turned around to face Harry.
“It means, Harry my lad, that you’re not going to able to date a single girl, without having her father following you around with a beaters bat.”

“I think you’re late, because living at the Dursleys sort of… stunted your development.” Ron said gingerly.
“Well, listen to Dr. Weasley here.” Chimed George facetiously.”
“Please,” begged Harry “Don’t tell anyone.”
“Not a word, I promise,” said Ron while raising his right hand.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” chimed Fred and George in unison, and Harry finally relaxed.

“Hey by the way,” piped Harry after a short while of silent driving. “I got my apparation test notification today.”
“I went for mine two days ago,” said Ron excitedly. “And I passed this time, no half an eyebrow left.”
“Why didn’t you write and tell me?” asked Harry.
“I thought I’d wait to tell you today,” Ron said guiltily.
Harry just smiled at him, and Ron smiled back.

It was about 10:30 A.M. when they finally pulled up to the Burrow. Every one pilled out and began unloading Harrys’ things. Mrs. Weasley appeared at the door and greeted him warmly as she hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.
“Harry dear, it’s so nice to have you back again,” she said as she began to usher him into the house. Then she turned to her three boys, “you three just nip Harry’s things upstairs to Ronalds’ room, would you?”
“Sure mum,” said George and Fred in unison, and with Harry’s trunk and Hedwigs’ cage, dissaparated upstairs, leaving Ron holding Harry’s Firebolt.
“Would you two stop that!” she yelled “We have a ruddy front door!” She then turned and the three of them went inside.

While Mrs. Weasley ushered Harry to the table, Ron took his Firebolt upstairs to his room. Mrs. Weasley returned to the breakfast she had been preparing and began to ask Harry about how his summer had been going so far. As Harry answered her, his eyes happened on the Weasley’s family “where abouts” clock and saw Mr. Weasleys’ picture go from work to traveling to home in a span of about 5 seconds, and Mr. Weasley walked through the door.

“Morning all!” he called brightly, while hanging up his hat and coat.
He kissed his wife and turned to the table and saw Harry.
“Harry,” he exclaimed happily. “I didn’t see you there. How have you been Lad?” “Hello Mr. Weasley, I’m good now that I’m here. Thank You.”
“Good, good glad to hear it. News from the Ministry Molly,” he said suddenly. “It seems that Lucius Malfoy’s’ son Draco will be returning to school in September after all.”
At the mention of Draco’s name, Harry started and looked sharply at Mr. Weasley “What?” he snapped. “But he was going to kill Dumbledore!”
“Yes, well it seems the council has determined that Draco was under the Imperius curse at the time, and not responsible for his actions,” he said sounding a little disappointed.

Harry looked thoughtful for a moment before muttering to himself
“I don’t believe it,” while shaking his head. Resigning to accept the fact that he would have to face Draco at school once again, he hurriedly changed the subject. “Is Professor Slughorn still going to be teaching Potions?” He asked in a forcibly casual voice.
“Well he wasn’t going to at first, but in light of…er… what happened, he offered to stay on to save Professor McGonagall from having to search for and appoint a new potions teacher,” replied Mr. Weasley..

Harry paused for a moment then asked carefully “So…er… how about… Dark Arts?”
“Uh… don’t rightly know Harry.” He answered, and abruptly changed the subject to Harry’s life living with the Muggles.

Harry letting his question go unanswered said suddenly, “Oh by the way.” Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver cigarette lighter and handed it to Mr. Weasley. “Here, this is f or you.”
Mr. Weasley took the lighter and gazed at it thoughtfully, before saying “Well, how interesting!” he exclaimed suddenly. “What is it?”
“It’s called a lighter.” replied Harry smiling, as Mr. Weasley appeared very pleased with the gift. “Just press down the lid with your thumb.”
Mr. Weasley did and jumped slightly when the bright orange and blue flame popped to life.

Harry had filched the lighter from Dudleys’ room two days ago while Dudley was out with friends. Dudley liked to use it to set trash cans on fire and was recently overheard contemplating stray cats to his equally horrible friends. So Harry thought he would do the cats a favor, and liberated it from his possession.

“Well for heavens sake isn’t that something now. Molly, look what Harry gave me,” he said excitedly. “It’s a lighty.”
Harry gave a little laugh and said to Mr. Weasley, “actually it’s a light-er.”
“Huh? Oh yes…right…a lighter you say? Yes terribly fascinating,” and for the next minute or so, took delight in flicking it on and off while chuckling to himself.

At the sound of many feet coming down the stairs Harry looked up to see Fred, George and Ron coming back down. They all took their places at the table and Molly began bringing over breakfast. As she did, Harry asked in his most casual voice
“Where’s Ginny?”
“Upstairs,” said Ron simply “She’s trying to decide what dress she wants to wear,” and he rolled his eyes.
“Oh,” he said, and then quickly changed the subject. “So, Fred, George how goes the joke shop business? I imagine you’re still living above it?”
“Actually, for the time being we’ve moved back home, it makes mum feel better knowing we’re close by.” Yeah,” said Fred. “After what happened…” his voice trailed off. “As for the business, it’s closed for the day. We’ve been working on an advertisement to increase business.”
“Just… so you know Harry,” Fred said a little sadly. “We’ve pulled the Peruvian Instant Darkness powder from the shelves.”
“We felt it was the least we could do since it helped Draco carry out his plan.” George added morosely, poking lamely at his eggs with his fork while looking down at his plate. “It’s not your fault guys.” Harry said reassuringly, while reaching for another piece of toast.
“It’s ok Harry…It…wasn’t a big seller any way.”
In an attempt to change the subject to something less gloomy, Mrs. Weasley piped up, “Now Harry, you just help your self to seconds dear, you’re so thin.”
“Yes ma’am” Harry replied taking her clue.

Just then Harrys’ eyes shifted to the stairs and saw Ginny descending into the kitchen. Her hair was laying in loose bouncy waves over her shoulders and she was wearing a simple cream colored cotton dress that accentuated all her girlish curves in just the right places. “Hi Harry,” she said through a coy smile.
Harry was almost drooling. He had been contemplating resuming their relationship since his decision to return to Hogwarts, and now, it seemed that his ‘little friend’ was making up his mind for him.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley seemed to miss his predatory smile as he ogled Ginny, but her brothers did not.
“Er…Harry?” Ron said while passing his hand in front of Harrys’ face.
“Huh?” Harry replied coming out of his daze.
“Can we…see you upstairs please…? Now!”
“Oh sure,” and he stood up excusing himself form the table and following Ron and company up stairs while still watching Ginny picking at a piece of toast.
On the second step he tripped and almost fell on his face. Everyone still at the table suddenly looked up from what they were doing and stared at him.

When they reached the top of the stairs, Ron said brusquely, “In here,” indicating to his room.
Harry followed them inside and George said sharply, “close the door.”
As Harry turned from closing the door, to face them, he was met with three pairs of eyes that looked as though their owners might quite cheerfully strangle him.
“Is there…something wrong?” he asked timidly.
“Hmmm, gee let me see,” said Ron theatrically “Could it be that you were just about slavering all over yourself down there?” snapped George.
“Almost ready to jump Ginnys’ bones right there on the stairs,” added Fred
“Oh…that,” said Harry guiltily
“Oh…that” echoed Ron, not amused.
“Crikey,” said Fred, “ You sort of looked like a wolf that just caught sight of a lamb.”

Harry was now feeling like he was being unfairly attacked and protested. “Now hold on…, I was just-”
“We know what you were just” interjected George.
“Look Harry,” Ron said calmly. “You’re my best mate, you know that, but we’re only looking out for the only sister we’ve got, and we just don’t want to see you trying out your newly discovered talent on her, ok?”
“Good Merlin,” cried Harry. “Do you actually think I would take advantage of our friendship by, as Fred put it so tastefully, jumping her bones?” and then sounding a little hurt added, “What do you take me for, a Death Eater?”

They all now looked a little ashamed for how they all jumped on Harry. They all knew that Harry had a certain pension for saving people, and knew that they could trust Harry with her life, as they trusted him with their own.
“I’m sorry Harry,” Ron said bleakly
“We…all are” said Fred and George together.
“Were just protective about Ginny that’s all, it’s all this Voldemort business, it’s got everyone on edge, afraid to make a move.” Ron was now getting agitated.

“I know, that’s why I want to get back with Ginny. If everyone just keeps walking around on eggshells it’s only going to give Voldemort more power. I’m going after Voldemort at the end of the school year. I’ll send Ginny back home with you where she’ll be safe, and then I’m gone.”
“Well that’s fine Harry, but I’m going with you,” said Ron as if it were final.
“Us too” added Fred and George.
“No!” Harry checked his voice, then more quietly, but adamantly “no I will not subject anymore of my friends to that monster. I’m tired of having everyone I care about, handing their lives over to him,” he said through gritted teeth, “ Giving their lives to save mine. Not only that, but I’m the only one that can defeat him. Dumbledore said so.”
“But Har-“
“The subject is closed! Now I would appreciate it if you didn’t mention this to your parents. There’s no point having them worry about something that they can’t do anything about.” Ron was about to speak again but there was a knock at the door.

“Boys?” It was Mr. Weasley. “Everything ok?”
The four boys just looked at each other for a few seconds, before Harry answered, “Everything’s fine Mr. Weasley.” While still looking at Ron