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Albus didn't like this, he wanted Severus to keep Harry, but he agreed. He had spoken to Molly, who had been happy to take Harry, for now. She thought he would stay, but Albus hoped it wouldn't be forever. He and Lucius both agreed, having Harry would be good for him, but he was stubborn. Even if Remus came, Harry couldn't be with him alone, because of the laws. But Severus was stubborn, and he needed to be given a push in the right direction, and he would be. He just didn't need to think he was being given a push.
Severus went to take Harry to Molly's. He had no idea why, but he had arranged to meet with the social worker, the next day. Albus had pointed out, Molly would need to know all she could, to help Harry out. He knew perhaps he should have listened to the woman more when she tried.
He looked at Harry when he summoned the bus. "You will like this new family."
Harry wouldn't look at him at all.
Severus tried. "There is a mum there, and she is a really good cook. And lots of little kids for you to play with."
Harry for some reason began to shake even more.
Severus tried to remind himself to be calm. "I bet they have some animals around too. I know how much you like animals."
Harry just watched the bus come in front of them.
Severus took his hand and helped him on and into a seat. "I packed your toys, from me, and from Narcissa. They are all for you."
Harry just laid his head against the suitcase.
Severus watched him, as the bus went, and reminded himself this was better. Harry had done nothing but cry, when he was near him till now, since he took the cat. He knew Harry liked cats, one of the few things he remembered Portia saying, perhaps he could have listened better. He would speak to her, and hopefully what ever she told him, would help Molly. He had taken the cat home to his owner, he was sure Harry understood that, he should have. The cat didn't belong to them, they couldn't just keep it, because Harry liked the little fur ball.
When they got to the Burrow, Molly and her entire brood were in front of the house. He knew some of them, her older two were now in school, and he had known the couple since the war. They hadn't been in the war, but Molly's brothers were, he was friends with Gideon.
Severus made Harry look. "Harry this is Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and their kids. You're going to stay with them now."
Molly knelt. "Hello Harry, welcome to our home."
Harry just looked back and forth between him and Molly.
Severus handed over Harry's bag from him and Narcissa, and the suitcase to Arthur. "It is all we have for him. If you need some money…"
Arthur took the bags. "Albus already offered, and we said no. Another mouth is no problem."
Severus knelt and showed Harry the bear. "This is my old bear. He hasn't had anyone to sleep with for a long time."
Harry eyed the bear a little.
Severus pushed it forward. "I think I can trust you to keep care of him."
Harry tentatively took the bear, and hugged it to his tiny frame."
Molly came to his side. "Come along Harry, it is lunch time, and I'm sure you're hungry."
Harry reluctantly followed her into the house with her sons.
Severus watched and said quietly. "Lily would have approved, she'd know her son was better here."
He left, promising to actually listen to Portia, when he spoke to her tomorrow. She didn't need to know Harry was no longer with him. She seemed truly to care about Harry, and had been anxious to tell him about Harry, when he met with the woman. Harry had not lived with her, but he had been her case for two years, and she'd know him better than anyone else would.
Molly watched Harry over lunch, as her own boys were so boisterous and wouldn't stop moving. Harry sat there, looking like he would be hit, if he even left a crumb on the table. The mother in her ached for the little boy.
Harry got up and went to put the dishes in the sink, but he took a chair to the sink.
Molly reached out to stop him.. "No Harry, you don't need to do the dishes. How about you go and play with the boys outside?"
Charlie had gone over. "Come on Harry, we're going to play ball."
Harry reluctantly followed them outside, but he sat alone on a bench, head buried against the bear.
Arthur held his wife as they watched. "I agree we should help, but I'm not sure how well he'll do here."
Molly sighed. "He needs a home, and Severus said it himself, he doesn't know much about kids. Harry needs some where to go."
Arthur agreed. "He has a place with us. But I think Severus may have been a better home than he gives himself credit."
They watched Harry that afternoon, and with dinner, and nothing changed. Arthur wasn't sure, but Harry was so jumpy around loud noises, and he was no more at ease with the kids than with the adults. He wished he and Molly had more time for the boy, but they had seven kids of their own. Severus may not seem the ideal dad and would be a teacher come fall, but he had more time to devote to the little boy, and a quieter house.
Molly tucked the little boy in that night into the extra bed in Ron's room. "Sleep tight Harry. I'm sure you'll soon feel at home with us here."
Harry crept out of the bedroom before sun come up. He know it early but he need the extra time. He not sure how he going to feed all these people. He saw, they have no troll, like the man had. The man had let the troll do all the cooking and cleaning. The man didn't make him do any cooking, but he send Harry away. Harry do wrong chore outside, and then Harry cry. He upset man, because he cry too much, and he get sent away. He not mean to cry so much, but he upset, he sad Carrot be dead. He know man take Carrot to shelter, and Carrot now in kitty heaven, with Toto and the others. He so confuse, he don't understand why people hurt kitties, kitties not hurt them. Carrot was a good kitty, he not go in house, he make no mess. Carrot no take extra food, Harry share his food with Carrot, not any extra.
He come down in kitchen. Kitchen odd, like man's house, but he figure it out. He cook before, but not for so many. This be school he thought, why so many kids, but they all have red hair. Maybe uniform. Maybe they would color his hair. He not sure he like that.
He begin. He make pancakes, he make quickly, and make enough for them all.
He make batter, and set table best he could, for all people. He put first pancake in pocket. He not have Carrot to feed any more, but he not sure. He make wrong food, he may get no food, he make sure to put some away. He quickly started on the others. He make many pancakes, there many people for him to feed, so many of them. He not remember any names, except Ron, he the boy Harry share room with. Ron talk a lot.
He was finishing, but no finish cleaning yet, when woman come down stairs. She look very surprised to see him, and he worry, not like the look. He not sure why she upset, maybe she not like pancakes after all.
Molly came towards him. "Harry what are you doing up? You should still be in bed."
Harry shook his head.
Molly looked at what he had done. "Harry you shouldn't be cooking. You are too little, and could get burned."
Harry reach for bear as she close to broom, and he scare she swat him with it. Last group home, he fall down stairs, as woman chase with one.
Molly just motioned him to a chair. "How about you sit down, while I finish? The others are still asleep."
Harry reluctantly moved over to the chair and sat.
Molly went to the batter. "Well the boys will be happy. They love pancakes."
Harry not sure, she not seem too mad, and she being using the batter. He scare, when she start using a stick, and making things happen. He only seen man's stick once, when he turn rock into ball, but troll make things happen. He not like at all, he not like things happen, not supposed to. He not know what stick is, but he not be liking it at all. Not at all. He whimper when she come near him with it.
Man come down the stairs, and Harry watch, as they talk quietly. He wonder if he be spank now. Maybe it be the man who do the spanking. In many homes man was the one who hit. Women too, but women not as bad, and never the ouchy touch in the bad places, like Uncle.
The man came over to him. "Hey Harry how about we go up and have a bath now?"
Harry looked at him but didn't move.
Arthur offered his hand. "It is the best time of day to have one you know? Everyone is asleep, and you won't be rushed."
Harry stood but didn't take his hand.
Arthur led him up to the next floor "I am sure we have some toys and bubble bath. This is Ron and Ginny's bathroom mainly."
Harry watch as man fill up the tub.
Man tried to move towards him. "Come on Harry, lets get out of the pajamas, and into the bath."
Harry tried to avoid him. The man kept reaching for him, and Harry freak. He remember, Uncle and other men, in bath. Miss Portia say very bad, he say men not come in, very bad of them. Troll not come into bathroom with him when he freak. He move past man, and he hear splash. He know man fall in bath. He very scare, man be very mad at him, he sure to be beat now. He run past Ron and boys, they try stop and ask him what wrong, but he run. He run out of house, he so scare, he know he be beat and beat very bad now. He find shed, and unlike old man's, not lock.
He walk into shed and look around in wonder. Wow.