Chapter 11 - The First Supper

It only seemed a little time later when Ron and Harry were debating the merits of chocolate versus marmalades that a knock was heard on the door and one of the twins poked their head in. "Mum sent me up to make sure you two get cleaned up as supper is almost ready."

As quick as it appeared the head vanished and Harry turned to Ron. "Was that Fred or George?"

"I couldn't tell you Harry. They work very hard at confusing people up; it's part of their 'pranking mystique', as they say. Mum and Dad can usually tell them apart but Ginny's the one that really tell you who is who. She really is quite scary at times for a little imp. Race you down!"

Ron had a head start out of the door but Harry had managed to catch up to him on the second set of stairs as they headed for the bathroom. Harry pulled into the lead just as they had reached the door so he was the one knocked over as someone exited the bathroom.

Harry and Ginny looked at each other laying on opposite sides of the doorway as Ron stepped over them both into the bathroom.

"Craft and cunning wins again; too bad Harry!"

"Prat", Ginny yelled at her brother.

"Shrimp", Ron yelled back through the closed door.

"Are you ok?" Both the children asked the other at the same time.

"I'm fine Harry, just burdened with overly stupid brothers." Harry and Ginny both broke out giggling at the same time. Harry had a thought as he looked at his trainers. He started taking the laces out quickly while Ginny got to her feet. When he knotted them together and gave one end to the girl, a smile of understanding lit up her face.

Ginny moved to one side of the door and got down to her knees. She winked at Harry and held up three fingers and started counting down. When she reached zero, she yelled out loudly, "Ron, supper's on. I'm going to get your portion!"

When the door opened quickly, the trap was sprung. Ron, hurrying out, never saw the shoelaces that tripped him up. Harry caught Ron before he hit the wall and let him down to the floor. "All right there, Ron?"

"I'm ok, why?" Ron replied.

"So I don't feel bad about doing this." Harry gave him a push sending him rolling down the stairs. Ginny gave Harry a quick grin and ran giggling down the stair. Harry turned back to the bathroom to wash up and replace his laces.

When Harry joined the rest of the family in the kitchen, he noticed the twins were flanking Ron at the table and picking on him about his arrival at the foot of the stairs. Ron was protesting about being ganged up on but Ginny had a look of absolute innocence on her face as she stood by the table. Harry grinned at Ron and mouthed 'revenge'.

Ron then gave a quick laugh himself and waggled his finger back at Harry. Harry was really enjoying being around this family. This was so much better than the horrid Dursley household.

Harry went over to ask Mrs. Weasley if she needed any help with things but Percy and Ginny were bustling around helping bring food to the table. Molly asked him quietly if he minded if the family had some of the fudge that Mr. Flume had given him. As Harry said "No", he heard a small pop from outside and Mr. Weasley pushed open the door and stepped inside.

"Hello family", Mr. Weasley boomed. Ginny ran over for a quick hug from her dad as everyone else greeted him. Mr. Weasley hung up his robes and went to the stove to give his wife a quick kiss before sitting down at the head of the table. Mrs. Weasley put one more bowl on the table and sat down on the other end indicating that Harry should sit next to her.

"How's your afternoon been Harry?" Mr. Weasley asked as he reached for a plate of baked potatoes. Evidently that was the signal for everyone else to begin eating also. The level of conversation increased as every Weasley asked for different foods to be passed around. All in all, it was very confusing to Harry who was used to seeing the quiet supper of the three Dursleys instead of this general chaos of the whole Weasley family eating together.

Seeing as Mr. Weasley was still looking at him with some interest, Harry answered. "Brilliant, thanks Mr. Weasley, I took your advice." Harry was trying to speak at the same time as he put food on his plate as the plates, platters and bowls were passed to, through and around him. By the time all the passing was done Harry realized that he had a small mountain of food and no idea of how it all got there.

Mrs. Weasley stood up and the rest of the table went silent.

"Forgot Harry's potion." she said rushing to the pantry. She came back with one vial, set it down and everyone stared at the greenish mixture that sat by Harry's plate. Harry picked up the glass and gave it a tentative sniff. The twins chuckled at the face Harry made and Mr. Weasley spoke up again. "Best get it over with Harry; potions were never designed to smell or taste good. Take it early and take it fast, as my mum used to tell me."

Trying unsuccessfully to imagine Mr. Weasley as a youngster, Harry downed the potion in one long gulp. Ginny, sitting next to him, held up his glass of juice so Harry could wash the taste quickly out of his mouth.

"Thank you Ginny."

"Thank you Ginny," the twins parroted from across the table. Ginny stuck her tongue out at the pair.

"Well at least someone at this table knows their manners", Percy said as he glared at the twins before returning to his supper.

Harry watched the rest of the family as he ate the great tasting meal. (He would have to correct Dumbledore that Mrs. Weasley wasn't just a great cook, but a fantastic cook!) Ron was trying to cram as much food in his mouth as fast as he could. The twins were both stealing things off his plate and were constantly giving him nudges from one side or the other. Percy was sitting on Mr. Weasleys right side and was listening avidly as Arthur described his day to Mrs. Weasley. Percy occasionally asked his father questions about the other people in the ministry or how some official procedures were done. Mrs. Weasley kind of kept a running conversation going with everyone at the table and stopped the twins once from stuffing Ron totally under the table.

Ginny turned a little in her seat to ask her mother a question but accidentally knocked her juice glass over and into Harry's lap. She was totally embarrassed and her face quickly flushed to match her hair as Harry grabbed some napkins and wiped at the stain. The twins and Ron were all staring at her in shock. Ginny gave a quick sob and started to run from the room. Harry, surprised, reached out an arm and pulled her around to keep her from leaving.

Ginny was surprised that Harry had reached for her. She stood there and hung her head, waiting for him to yell at her. Harry was bewildered at her reaction and looked over at Mrs. Weasley for some indication of what to do. Mrs. Weasley just gave him a little shrug, letting him know he was on his own. Harry somehow felt that this was an important test for him with this family. Seeing his almost empty glass of juice next to him, Harry grabbed it and knelt down in front of Ginny so that she could see him.

When Ginny looked up in surprise at his closeness, her eyes went open wide. Harry heard the sudden quiet behind him and felt all the Weasleys' eyes on him but he really didn't care.

"Ginny," he said quietly, "It's not that bad, but I usually don't drink my juice like that. I usually drink my juice like this." With Ginny staring at him, Harry deliberately poured the rest of his juice slowly over the top of his head so it ran down over his face and into his open mouth. He then looked up and winked at her.

The girl blinked once, she blinked twice and then her shoulders started shaking. Ginny let out a great roar and then fell over holding her sides laughing. Harry heard the rest of the Weasleys behind him joining in the laughter as the twins whooped their approval.

Harry stood up and asked Mrs. Weasley if there was a towel handy so he could clean up all the messes that happened. Mrs. Weasley just pulled her wand out from her pocket and placed a drying charm on Harry and the floor. Harry got up and sat in his seat, completely dry.

The youngest Weasley eventually rejoined her family at the table. Her face was still red but only from having laughed until she cried. She sat back in her seat, smiled at Harry and then slugged him on the arm.

"Ginerva Weasley", her mom exclaimed, "you don't treat guests in our house like that. You apologize immediately!"

"Sorry Mum, I can't do that," Ginny said with a smile, "Harry's not just a guest, if he is going to stay here, he's part family now."

Harry was the one to have a pink face now, but he felt a tear of something he faintly recognized as happiness fall on his cheek. Mr. Weasley was heard in the background saying that "I guess that answers the question of whether Harry will fit in."