THE WEASLEYS' NEW SERVANT

This is sheer madness. With two works already in progress, I should hardly be starting another one. But then this idea will not let go and so I thought I better get it out of my system. The story takes place after the main happenings of Deathly Hallows. So spoilers for all the seven books. Voldemort is dead and a new world order begins….

So here goes.

1.1

Harry alighted from the plane along with Hermione and her parents. A fortnight had passed since the great battle at Hogwarts. After the war and Voldemort's death, and Fred's funeral, Hermione had left for Australia keen to meet and bring back her parents. Harry had accompanied her. Ron had wanted to go too, but with Fred dead his family needed him. Locating Mr. and Mrs. Granger had been easy but revoking the memory charm had proved difficult. Hermione had to do it gradually lest her parents suffer some kind of a brain damage. Harry recalled in great detail the way Hermione's eyes had lit up when her parents had recognised her and gathered her in their arms. Even thinking about the scene brought a lump in Harry's throat. It was at times like these that the loss of his parents cut the deepest. Had his parents been alive, how would they have reacted to his victory? Perhaps they would have engulfed him in their arms and smothered him with their affection, relieved that their child was safe.

Deep in his thoughts, Harry simply followed the Grangers out of the airport and was mightily taken aback when somebody hugged him tightly.

"Harry!" Ginny sounded out of breath. Suddenly Harry realised that he was free. Free of the burden of his inheritance. Voldemort was dead and gone and he could live life like any other normal teenager. Almost involuntarily, his mouth found that of Ginny's and he was smooching her like mad. A wolf whistle brought him back to the ground and he suddenly realised what he was doing. He took a step back and looked around. Ginny looked flushed, the red colour on her face almost rivaling the colour of her hair. Next to her, Ron too looked the same. And no wonder, he still had a hand around Hermione. Apparently, the two of them had been engaged in something similar. Hermione's hair looked all ruffled. Hermione's parents were exchanging smiles. "Hot man! It was hot!" floated in the air. And suddenly Harry was laughing, and the others were laughing….

"So shall we apparate to the Burrow?" Harry whispered to Ginny and Ron as Hermione left with her parents. Ron who was looking a little crestfallen watching Hermione leave, gave him an incredulous look. "Not the Burrow, Harry."

"Where to then?" Harry asked surprised.

Ginny and Ron exchanged a look and grinned at each other before Ginny said, turning towards Harry, "Dad has become the deputy minister of magic."

"What?!"

"Yes!" Ron shouted, clapping Harry on the back. "He is second only to Shacklebolt."

"But that's just great." Harry exclaimed in joyous surprise.

"Isn't it?" Ginny spoke now, her eyes all alight. "And as befits his position, we have been given a grand house."

"Wonderful." Harry asked feeling pleased all over. Mr. Weasley deserved all this and more.

"So shall we then apparate? I can't wait to see this new house of yours."

"Harry it is not merely ours. It is yours too." Ron said.

"Of course." Harry said, swallowing. For a moment, he looked at Ron. How lucky he had been to make friends with him on that day so long ago. He had not merely found a friend, he had found a family.

"And we are not going to apparate," Ginny put in chirpily as the silence seemed to stretch a little. Harry looked at her questioningly. "We are going by a car."

"Car?"

"Dad is advocating more interaction with the muggle world and more adaptation and adoption of muggle technology. We have got three cars." Ron sounded smug.

"Three!"

"Yes. An Audi, a BMW, and a Chevrolet."

"I wanted a Rolls Royce but Dad did not agree." Ginny said, pouting.

"Rolls Royce!" Harry said in bewilderment. "But…But…how will you drive…I mean who will teach you…and…"

"Oh Harry." Ginny said, cutting him short. "Will you always think like a muggle? These cars fly."

"Fly!" Harry muttered stupidly, thinking of the second year and the crash subsequently.

"No crashing now." Ron said, squeezing his shoulder. "These are magical cars now. You just imperio them and they follow all your commands. And they are invisible to the muggle eye. Now come on." He moved briskly towards a gleaming BMW.

"And that's not all, we have even got a house elf." Ron exclaimed, a little later, as they flew in the sky, elaborating all the perks that they enjoyed now. His eyes gleamed.

"House elf?" Harry asked in surprise. "Hermione isn't going to like it."

"Oh she will." Ginny said smiling mysteriously. "You know, this elf is very special."

Harry looked at the brother and sister feeling something was being left unsaid. And just for a moment, he felt left out.

1.2

"Harry open your eyes now." Ginny said and Harry opened his eyes, adjusted his spectacles and looked around. In front of him was a mansion, breath-taking in its largeness. Massive gates opened on their approach and the car glided through a huge expanse of gardens. Flowers seemed to be blooming everywhere, their scent sweetening everything around. Harry took a deep breath.

"It is wonderful, isn't it?" Ron asked by his side.

Harry nodded, still trying to adjust to the fact that this was the new home. Ginny was tugging at his arm, pointing out everything: the pool, the quidditich field, the garage!

"We will explore it later Ginny. First let me meet the others." Harry said laughingly, stopping her flow. The car descended smoothly and they stepped out.

"Just the two of us." She whispered, leaning towards him. The picture of Fleur and Roger Davies falling from behind the shrubs rose in Harry's mind and he felt a quickening of his heart as he glanced at Ginny. And suddenly all he wanted to do was to have her mouth under his own again.

"BOY!"

Harry shuddered. How had uncle Vernon reached here? He almost replied. And then he realised that the call wasn't for him. Not uncle Vernon but Ron was shouting this imperiously.

All questions, however died on his tongue as a figure came racing down the few stairs that led to the house proper to stand with a bowed head in front of Ron.

"Pick up Mr. Potter's luggage from the car and take it to his room." Ron was still talking in the same imperious manner.

The boy nodded and started making his way towards the porch where the car stood.

"Don't you know how to greet your superiors?" Ginny's voice was pretty ugly.

"I am sorry ma'am." The boy spoke now, his voice tremulous. Harry had an idea that he had heard this voice before.

"Good evening and welcome, sir." The boy stood in front of him, his head still bowed. Harry had his first good look at him. The darkening twilight cast shadows on the face but there was no mistaking that pale blonde hair.

"Malfoy!!!"

A/N: So do you think I should continue? Do tell me what you think about this.