Mediocrity

Hello ladies and gents, sorry about the long wait and the short chapter. This was more to let you know that I am, indeed, alive. However, I am swamped with real life and thus, short chapters might be all you are getting until winter.

I do have a Beta, however I have not heard from her in a while...so...yeah...probably safe to keep the ad up. If you are curious, the job does include ragging on me to, uh," motivate" me to write.

It was not until dinner at the Leaky Cauldron that the Golden Trio met up with the rest of the Weasleys as well as Remus and Sirius. Ron and Hermione had finished their shopping not long after they had eaten their frozen treats, and since then the Trio had taken to browsing through the various stores.

Barely two steps into the private room and Harry was swept up into several hugs starting with Sirius. The poor man's eyes were wide and shiny, hinting at the tension he felt. Harry had to be pried out of Siri's arms by Remus, only to be passed along like a doll.

"Sweet pea!" Mrs. Weasley wailed as she muffled Harry in her bosom.

"Mrgh!" grunted Harry, though he may have snuggled in a little more, not that he was going to tell anyone.

"Molly-kin!" said her husband in an exasperated voice.

With a deep sigh she let the young boy go. Immediately the raven took a small step back and wobbled over to his friends.

Chaos reigned for a few more minutes as the Weasleys trickled in. Fred and George were the last to show up. Under suspicious glares from their mother, they sauntered into the room and sat near Harry.

"Harry love-" began Fred.

"-our most favorite-" George continued.

"-sibling!"

"How have things-"

"-been for you since-"

"-we were last together?"

Harry could not help it; he had to smile at the twins.

"I haven't been better," he replied with a smile.

"Care to-"

"-elaborate?"

"Nope."

Yes, the twins had to be his favorites amongst the Weasleys. They always made him feel relaxed and, to the surprise of many, Harry felt safest with them. The explosions, smells, and the many other oddities that came from their rooms were merely illusions from a charmed box they had made during their fourth year at Hogwarts. It made others think that they were working on something dangerous. Rarely were the noises or smells ever true.

The twins were actually very safe and cautious when it came to their experimental joke items. With every potential idea, every aspect from ingredients to wand movements was carefully researched. They even willingly learned runes and arithmancy so that they could mathematically predict and prove reactions and so that their workspaces were properly warded.

Harry knew whom he was going to go to for help this next year.

A knock thudded throughout the room. Just by listening, Harry could tell that it was old Tom, the barkeeper.

"Dinner, m'Lords and guests," the old man preened once the door was opened. Behind him floated several silver trays and dishware nothing like his usual services.

Gently they floated into the room and swooped elegantly onto the center table. Plates and cutlery rested neatly up and down the table as lids flew off the trays to reveal mouth-watering foods.

The only thing Harry could think of was Remus. Everything was made of silver, but there was no way for him to warn Remus without revealing his secret. The man was enraptured in some book that Hermione had bought.

His anxiety dropped down only a mite at Tom's next prideful statement was crooned into the room.

"These are my best platinums!" He grinned widely. "Enjoy yourselves m'Lords and guests."

The young Weasleys moved quickly towards the set table. From experience, Harry knew every morsel on that table would be devoured quickly and without mercy.

It made him smile.

One final note, besides real life craziness, my main writing tool known as the laptop is very fussy and regularly contributes to slower chapter production. It is going to be serviced soon.

-Red