A/N: I am so sorry. Here I thought I was doing good with updating, but I didn't Friday, thinking I was leaving for a trip. Unfortunately, we didn't go until Saturday. To make it up to everyone, I'm going to post three chapters in quick succession, for the three days I didn't post.
Thanks to Rozalla, Franv, Dem Bones, Theosheron, Asphodel21, Kriskow13, Dreaming End, Erowen, , Callie Longworth, Dax33, AlmondWithUnicornHair, JustPlainAmy, and my one Anonymous reviewer, I appreciate the reviews, comments, favorites, and alerts. They mean so much to me! *tear*
Geez. Road trips are awful. With a seven month old puppy trying to crawl onto your computer, its even worse. I'm typing this on a highway somewhere on the way to someplace, and my stepmom is teasing me about the dog trying to help me-.-" Anyways, enough of my sidetrip, none of you care :D. On with the chapter, -Auro.
Disclaimer: I wish I owned this- I do not. I own my plot bunny, and Benji. If J.K Rowling wanted to sell me Harry Potter, I would unfortunately not be able to afford him. Sorry.
"But Harry dear, why can't you tell us where you'll be? You know we worry. I've always thought of you as my own..." As Molly Weasley once again expanded on how Harry was really just an honorary family member, and that they all loved him and wanted to protect him. Harry, as usual, began to tune her out, and thought instead of the man who was convinced he could cure cancer. The young man wasn't sure whether to believe him, but didn't want to get his hopes up.
Looking around the burrow, Harry noted that over the years, nothing had really changed. The people aged, yes, and minute items disappeared or reappeared, but the giant grandfather clock remained, and the knitting needles we're in their basket, waiting for the spell from Molly Weasley to animate them. Harry quickly noted all of the Weasley's that had apparated or flooed in, and noticed that many of the immediate ones came, bringing their families along. This made for a very crowded home.
Hermione and Ron Weasley, with a young Hugo and even younger Rose; George and his Partner Benjamin, Benji for short; Angelina and her son, Fred, who had both been adopted into the family when they realized how much Angelina had meant to Fred, the twin; Percy and his wife Penelope, which no one was surprised about; Charlie had even arrived for the occasion, taking off his work with Gringotts, and everyone one but Harry himself knew Charlie's affection for the man was more than just brotherly love- not that anyone would be enlightening Harry of that fact; Bill and Fleur had also arrived, bring with them Victoire.
Harry sighed, knowing all of them would protest his leaving. All of them were protective, all of them caring, and he knew he'd have to convince every one of them that it would be okay. Not an easy task.
"Mrs. Weasley, honestly, I know I'll be okay. This person won't hurt me." Physically, he thought, though he didn't voice that out loud. "He really believes he can help, and I've got nothing much to lose anymore." Harry left it at that, knowing he needed to convince the others before the matriarch of Weasley's, because he knew that if they were convinced, he would have help. "We can discuss it later, if you'd like. I know it's a family dinner, and it's rare all of us are together and free."
Reluctantly, Mrs. Weasley nodded, and gave Harry a tight hug, one he awkwardly returned, before heading to the kitchen to start on dinner. As usual, he offered to help, and as usual, she refused firmly. Smiling softly, he turned to the Weasley standing next to him, and motioned towards the backyard.
Charlie followed Harry quietly, sending a warning glance at George, who was looking contemplative that Harry had picked Charlie to speak to first. He knew it was only because he had made the effort to get close to him, even if it was slightly selfish in nature.
"You've already decided." Charlie said quietly, leaning against the back shed where Mr. Weasley kept his muggle artifacts.
"Yeah." Harry said, keeping it simple. He leaned up against the long haired man, not putting deep thought into it, just knowing that he felt comfort and safety in doing it. Charlie only wrapped an arm around him, secretly glad no one could see him do so- they would make an enormous deal out of something Harry took only as a brotherly gesture.
"Nothing will change your mind, I suppose? Or get you to at least tell me?" He prodded, already knowing the answer, but needing to ask, to be able to say to his family that he tried.
Shaking his head, Harry sighed. "He would murder me in my sleep, Charlie. And get away with it." He added, smirking slightly. Charlie noticed it, and made a mental note. He was one of the few people that knew Harry had preferences towards Blokes, and probably the only one who knew how Harry acted when he liked one.
"How is that going to be, Runt," Charlie asked, teasing Harry, "Staying with this man for a period of time? You like him." He said calmly, already knowing that he wasn't meant for the black haired, green eyed teen, though it didn't keep him from liking the young man more than he should.
"Yes, well, that's beside the point, Charlie." Harry muttered, frowning, and kicked a rock- directly onto the head of a gnome, causing it to stumble around confused for several minutes. "Considering the man would never like me in return."
Immediately, Charlie deduced that the man was straight, and though Harry could tell the man had jumped to the wrong conclusion, he let him stay there, knowing it'd be easier than explaining.
"I'm sorry, Harry." Charlie murmured, kissing the boy's head firmly. Unlike Harry, Charlie was open about his preferences, and everyone in his family knew, and accepted it. Harry just didn't know how specific his feelings were for him.
"Not your fault, Charlie." Harry mumbled, burrowing his head into the man's shoulder.
"Doesn't keep me from synthesizing." Charlie protested, trying to lighten the moment a bit. Harry allowed it to work, and grinned just a little.
"Will you help me with this?" He asked, serious now. Charlie sighed, nodding. There was only one choice for him, though Harry didn't know it. When a relieved look crossed his face, the older Weasley realized just how much his opinon meant to the boy.
"Thank you, Charlie." Harry said, hugging the man tightly. Charlie breathed in deeply, trying very hard not to let the hug affect him the way it wanted to.
"You're welcome, Runt. Better go convince another Weasley. May I suggest Bill and Fleur? Fleur is especially fond of you ever since the Triwizard Tournament, and we both know she has Bill wrapped around her finger." Charlie advised, grinning. Harry grinned back, and walked back inside, not once lookiing back. He may have been alarmed if he had, considering he would have caught Charlie with an uncomfortable look on his face, his hand subtly trying to adjust the bulge in his pants.
Harry thanked whatever power was watching over him as he noticed Bill and Fleur off to the side of the small living room, talking with each other, though they were alone, as everyone else was either helping in the kitchen, or out in the makeshift quidditch pitch.
"Fleur, Bill, hadn't had a chance to say hello." Harry said as greeting smiling at Fleur as she kissed his cheek. "How have you been?" he asked, directing it towards Bill, and the man smiled, the scar on his cheek stretching, though Harry didn't react, used to it, and knowing how the man got it.
"Okay, Harry. Might want to improve your deception. We both know why you made a special effort to talk to us." Bill said, teasing, but meaning it as well.
Sheepish, Harry smiled, and Fleur giggled. " Iz Okay, 'Arry." She reassured. Her accent wasn't as bad anymore, though when she was upset or stressed it tended to come out more.
"Thanks, Fleur." He said gratefully, not wanting the couple to think he didn't like them, or only talked to them when he wanted something.
"I will support you, Harry. As will Fleur. In fact," Bill mentioned, slightly sidetracked, "It's what we were discussing when you walked up. This won't hurt anything, could only help at this point." Harry nodded, leaning back in the chair he had sat down in. He was getting tired, physically at least, which frustrated him to no end, though he knew he could do nothing about it. "Just promise to owl, will you, Harry?" Bill asked, worrying about his mother.
"I will." He grinned, knowing where Bill's thoughts had gone, and Fleur smiled gently at him, glad his spirits were still somewhat high, despite his circumstances. "Thank you. Both of you." Harry hugged Fleur, then Bill, and stood slowly, trying to hide his wince of pain, one they both caught anyways. They pretended not to, and pointed to the quidditch pitch.
"George is refereeing, if you'd like to speak to him next. Benji," Bill snorted disdainfully. None of the Weasley's thought the man good enough for George, "is playing beater for one of the teams."
"Thanks." Harry nodded and headed outside, rubbing his temples, willing his headache away, at least until he could give into the pain and sink into oblivion for just a few hours.
"Hey there, George." Harry commented, apparently staring intently up at the figures on brooms, fighting each other for the quaffle.
"Don't even try with me, Harry." The man said, not glancing over. "If I didn't agree with you going away to get help, nothing would sway me." He said calmly, then caught Ron trying to play off a catch that had gone through. "Foul, Dad's side!" He called, and the other team cheered. Ron sent dirty looks towards his brother, but George only shrugged.
"So," Harry said, vaguely confused, "You do agree with me going?"
"Does it matter?" George asked flatly, still not looking at his surrogate brother. "You'd go anyways. The only reason you're trying to convince mum is because you're too nice for your own good."
Harry grinned sheepishly, then collapsed on the ground. "Yes, well, if I have Charlie," George got a funny look on his face, one Harry didn't catch, "Bill, Fleur and you on my side to help me, I think I can get her to be fine with it."
"Fine, Harry." George agreed, finally checking to look over at the young man. "But only because you're my partner at the joke shop." A twinkle had finally appeared in the man's eyes, and Harry felt relieved.
"Good." He said, sighing. "Because this is going to be awful. I leave tomorrow." Even George's eyes widened, and Harry stood quickly, wanting to head this off. "I wasn't given a choice. I have a portkey, and the man set the time." George nodded, knowing there wasn't much of a choice if Harry was telling the truth. And Harry never lied, at least, not to his family, not unless it was to protect them.
"Help me referee, Runt." George said, ruffling the shorter man's hair. Harry glared, but gave in with a chuckle and looked towards the sky. "I'm not that short." He said defensively. "Your whole family of males is just freakishly tall." George snickered, but said nothing, and the two stood in companionable silence except for the occasional call of fouls.
A/N: Okay. I'm so sorry. I didn't think I would have wifi, and this is actually pretty spotty. So, we'll see how this goes. I know this chapter was wordy, but I wanted to get in Harry's interaction with the Weasleys, and maybe some drama*wink wink*. I should post again today, but that depends if I finish the chapter. I'll try, because that will keep me on schedule, but if I don't, please accept this poor teen's apology, and the excuse that she is spending time with her family today and tomorrow. Continue to review, I love them, -Auro.