“A portkey?”

They had appeared inside of a car garage along side of a red sports car. Kevin got out. “How else did you think we were going to travel?” Harry shrugged.

Kevin popped the trunk of the car and motioned for Harry to take his owl, Hedwig, from the backseat. Harry eased the snowy owl’s cage out of the car as he heard Kevin struggle with Harry’s trunk. He closed the door and walked to the back. “Need any help?”

“Help with what?” Kevin asked. He was holding his wand out and levitating the trunk at waist level. They exited the garage and Harry’s eyes lit up in astonishment. They had arrived in an opulent neighborhood with grand houses made of brick ad stone lining the street on each side. But the one that seemed the most spectacular was the one, which was placed before him. It was a two-story house on a raised hill with sloping walkways off to the side and in the front. The house was painted a deep maroon, and windows lined the two stories. Harry counted nine large windowpanes on the front, five on top and four on bottom. Kevin led him to the front doors, which were carved from oak.

As Harry walked inside, he was speechless at the sight. The floors of the entry hall were laid with polished tile and covered with exotic rugs from around the world. Large Marble columns seemed to make a path leading to the bottom of a grand staircase. Kevin set the trunk near the front doors. “You can let Hedwig out of her cage if you want, Harry. I’m sure she would have fun exploring this place.” Harry set the cage near his trunk and opened the door. Indeed, Hedwig soared from her cage and took flight to the upstairs.

Kevin led Harry to a room off to the right, which Harry guessed was the living room. Three long couches, which could probably seat four people each, were spaced around the room. Several reclining chairs filled the gaps between them and Harry thought he might like to try out one of them soon. A large screen television was set off to one side of the room, while a great fireplace was off to the other. Harry noticed that this room was carpeted and looked like it could be very comfortable on his bare feet. The entire room seemed to say, “Relax.” Harry was sure he would.

“The best is yet to come,” Kevin told him as he saw the younger boy glance around every part of the room. He steered Harry through another door at the back of this room, which led to a stone pavilion outside. Patio tables and chairs were set across the slab of stone and stopped at a large stone staircase leading down to a garden path. They walked through it till they came upon a large swimming pool. Harry saw beach chairs spread around the pool, but one chair in particular caught his attention. He saw a girl reclining in it… a girl with brown-red hair and a fair complexion. She was reclining with her back to the boys, but seemed to notice when they approached.

She stood and Harry’s breath was momentarily caught in his throat. This girl was a tall and lean work of art. She was wearing a red bikini, which caused Harry to blush a bit at the sight. Kevin went over to her and placed his arms around her waist as she threw her arms around his neck. “Thank God the two of you are safe,” she said. This woman was an American as well, which quelled Harry’s earlier notions about her. He had thought, for the briefest of moments that this girl was a member of the Weasley family.

“I told you there was no reason to worry,” he said, planting a kiss on her cheek. “I haven’t met a Death Eater yet that could outsmart me.” He released her from the embrace, but left an arm around her waist. They turned their attention to Harry and Kevin motioned with his hand. “Harry Potter,” he said, “meet Sara Hall, my wife.”

Harry gave a slight bow. “Pleasure to meet you,” he said. His face turned red again as his eyes, accidentally, roamed over Sara’s body. Sara smiled at the courtesy bow and nodded. “And you as well.”

The warm smile and pleasant voice again reminded Harry of someone in the Weasley family. It reminded him of…

“Harry!”

A voice from the pool pulled Harry’s attention from Sara to someone else. Emerging from the water, wearing a modest light blue swimsuit, was Ginny Weasley. Harry was transfixed on her as she walked over to where the three other people had been talking. “When did you get here?”

Harry did not answer right away as he was focused on the sight of Ginny’s bare skin. The water running down her legs and arms glistened in the sunlight. Kevin caught this hesitation and covered for the boy. “We just got here,” he said. Harry shot Kevin a grateful look.

“Did you have any problems?” Sara asked, also noting Harry’s inability to speak and wanting to spare the boy any embarrassment.

“A few,” Kevin answered. “Nothing too serious.” He gave his wife another kiss. “Why don’t you girls go and get cleaned up while Harry and I fix something to eat?” He let go of his wife and walked over to Harry, laying a hand on his shoulder. “What do you say?”

Harry’s gaze did not leave Ginny. “All right,” he said. Sara picked up a towel from a beach chair and handed it to Ginny, who wrapped it around herself. The girls walked back towards the house with Kevin and Harry looking on after them. “Beautiful,” Harry heard Kevin say. After a moment, he felt Kevin nudge him forward. “Come on, Harry. We don’t want to keep the girls waiting.”

As they walked back to the house, Kevin leaned close to Harry’s ear and lowered his voice. “And next time, Harry, try to keep your jaw off the floor.”

The guys pulled different varieties of meat, bread, cheese and vegetables from the various cabinets in the kitchen. Harry was not surprised that this room was as lavish as the others in the house. White tiles and fine wood cupboards seemed the appropriate choice to match the rest of the opulence. Kevin had just started slicing a tomato when Harry broke the silence. “So, why is Ginny here?” he asked.

Kevin smirked. He’d guessed that Harry’s first question would have nothing to do with Voldemort, Malfoy or why he had been taken from the Dursley’s so abruptly. “her parents asked Sara and I to look after her until school starts. Fred and George offered to watch her at their joke shop in Diagon Alley, but she declined in a way that told her mother it might be better this way. Besides, Arthur and Molly have been friends of ours for years.”

Is Ron going to stay here?”

Kevin shook his head. “Ron is staying with the twins. Besides, I doubt that there is going to be any room in the next few days.” A shower faucet turned on upstairs.

No room?Harry thought, remembering the extravagant upstairs. What is going on here?