Molly and Arthur had been so happy when they were told Harry accepted the invitation, though their happiness faltered, with Percy. They had forgiven the twins for going to the wedding, and Harry as well, but Percy had already been on bad terms with them. For some reason Harry insisted, even with the promise the twins were coming, and they agreed. Since Charlie obviously would not need it, Harry would have his room, putting him on the same floor as Bill and Fleur. Percy, the twins and Ron as well as the attic, were on their own floor, Ginny's on the same as the master, for it had once been the nursery.
When the bus arrived there didn't seem a happy face on it, and Molly was worried, though she had known there were problems. Ron and Ginny had promised Albus they would sort them out, but she assumed Percy didn't help; those two had never forgiven him.
Ron shocked his parents when he came in. "Tell scar head to stop calling me Uncle Ron. He is no family of ours"
Molly was about to chastise her son for his rudeness when she heard. "Why would he be calling you that?"
The others had seen them come in, and had either come down stairs, or from the sitting room. The twins of course knew, and were surprised Albus had not told their parents, and moved to stand with Harry. They had a feeling he would be needing more than just Percy for support.
Arthur looked at Harry. "What is going on Harry?"
Harry was a bit confused. "I would have thought Dumbledore told you, I'm your grandson. Well adopted, Charlie and Lucius adopted me at Christmas."
Shock ran through the family, they had all taken him in, but this was different. Ron and Ginny were the only ones paid, but their parents had been asked to care for him, and even the twins and Percy had been asked to spy, which even Percy shot down. It was one of he reasons he so easily believed Cornelius, when the man had told him Albus was a manipulative bastard out to control Harry, he had seen it. He had gone too far with the man, and had his regrets, but not about this.
Molly was recovering from the shock, knowing Harry had lived with them that summer, but she thought Remus would take Harry soon. Albus had said Harry had some news of his own, and they had been expecting to hear he was a Lupin, but this was out there.
Molly motioned Harry to sit. "You allowed the Malfoys to adopt you? I am a bit confused, I thought Remus."
Harry took a seat."Remus and his husband are close, like the Tonks, but Lucius, Charlie and Draco are my family. Remus is happy for me to be a Malfoy."
Harry had made sure not to call them the Malfoys, but to refer to himself as one, emphasizing he was a member of that family. He knew the family had some old feud, one of the reasons they had thrown Charlie out, but Harry had no idea what it even was. Lucius had not either, and he had been more than willing to over look old bad blood, for his husband, but it seemed he was the only big person. Harry could still remember Charlie's pain, when none were at his wedding. Harry had been honoured to stand up for him, but he knew it should have been Bill, the two had always been so close.
Fleur shared a look with her husband, and reminded him they had news, and it might be a good time to share it. Albus had not been lying when he said the family had news, why Harry and the youngest two were leaving school for the weekend. Fleur had always liked Harry, and she knew he needed saving right now.
Bill cleared his throat. "Well Harry will not be the only grandchild. Fleur and I found out last week, that we're pregnant. She is due mid September."
Molly's color returned as she turned to her daughter in law. "I am so happy for the two of you I can't wait to start knitting for the two of you."
Happy for the couple, Harry's mind was on Charlie, and the fact he and Lucius were trying for a baby as well. There was a good chance the kids could go to school same year, and he wondered if the cousins would even know each other, before school. He knew Charlie had told his parents if they didn't come to the wedding, they would never see their grandchildren, but most of that was out of pain. He knew even with the twins and Percy, Charlie still missed the rest of them.
Fleur kissed his cheek. "I thought you could use some help. Don't take it too hard, they didn't welcome me to the family very easily either."
Harry knew that, but he had also been a member of this family for so long."Thanks Fleur. And I really am happy for the two of you."
Though he knew the issue was still in the air, Harry was happy not to be the center of focus, over dinner. Percy squeezed his hand under the table, and the twins did their best to distract him as well, but he wished he could just go. It was not the old fear of being out and around, he handled Greece even, it was being here, with them.
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Harry was not sure why but he couldn't sleep, perhaps as odd as it seemed, because there was moonlight coming in. He was used to the dungeons, and though on vacation they were at the manor and on vacation, there were black out curtains. Harry got out of bed, and closed the curtains better, hoping it would help, but it did little He knew it wasn't simply the light, his mind was congested, and he needed to relax some how.
He wished he had an elf like at school, and though he could have called for Dobby or Kreacher, he headed down to the kitchen He stopped on the landing before it, finding the light on, and all of the family, but Percy and him, were in robes around the table.
Molly was pouring coco for all of them."I feel like a criminal in my own house. I should not have to sneak around, to have a family conference."
Fred cut in "No, and you don't need to. Besides you're not, there are two members asleep up stairs, and a third at school."
Harry knew Fred was always loyal and George of course, but he was still surprised to hear him speak up to his family like that. They had rebelled by going to the wedding, but they had not thrown it in the family's face, or tried to convince them to come. Harry guessed it had to do with the fact if included three of them now.
Arthur put a calming hand on Molly. "We will just have to tell Albus he is not welcome to send Harry here any more. I stand by my no Malfoy rule."
Molly nodded. "I wasn't sure about this idea in the summer about taking Harry in. I mean Harry obviously has issues, and I don't have time to sort them out"
Sinking down onto a step, Harry was reminded he had been told that summer that the couple planned to fight for custody of him. It seemed to have been more of the desire of Albus, and though the couple were willing as they felt pity for Harry, they were relieved they never had to. They were happy to have Harry come for a few weeks, and take him shopping, Albus always helping out with school supplies when they did, but not this.
Percy had come up behind Harry and hearing some, he took Harry into his arms."Come on, you don't need to hear any more."
Harry allowed himself to be helped to his feet. "I just want to go home please."
They had thought they were quiet, and they had not been seen before, but Percy had forgotten about a stair. His parents had set a spell years ago to ensure none of their kids could listen in on adult talk, and though they both managed to avoid it on the way down, set it off now.
Ron was the one who spotted them. "I told you he was a little rat, spying on us like his good for nothing new family."
Molly looked at Harry. "Harry I don't know what you over heard, but you should not be eavesdropping. You could misinterpret"
From the looks on the faces of the others, the only friendly faces were again Fleur and the twins, he knew he had not misinterpreted anything. The family respected and followed Albus, and when he had asked them to help keep an eye on Harry, they had. He had even convinced Ron to make sure Harry was not Slytherin.
Bill finally calmed some of the explanations from the others. "We were just surprised and a bit upset, when we found out you were a Malfoy."
Harry cut in. "Because I have a family and don't need you? You know Lucius is an amazing man, and a lot like the people I thought you were."
Anger boiled over in the others, but it was true, Lucius was everything he thought they once were. He had not needed to take Harry into his family, he had not just given Harry a home, but a dad, and love he had always needed He remembered fighting Lucius the first time the man hugged him, never having a proper hug, even Molly holding back. Until now he felt like she held back for like Remus, she worried she was over stepping bounds, how wrong he was.
Harry couldn't take any more, their anger over the top when he said that, and turned to Percy. "Please take me back to school"
Fred cut Percy off when he mentioned the time."Go flag the night bus, and we'll get the bags. I have a feeling we will all sleep better else where."
The twins accompanied them to the school, not looking out of place on the bus, none of them changing. The twins left them at the gates, but reminded Harry they loved him and he would always be their little brother. Percy was aching for Harry when he took him home, and knew Harry was barely holding it together. His family may not have taken money, but neither had they acted on their own, and it hurt. A surprised Charlie and Lucius appeared when they came in, and seeing Harry was in no condition to tell them, Percy quietly explained what had happened.
Charlie was irate his family would do that. He kissed Harry on the head "I am so sorry Harry But you know Percy and the twins are here, as well as us. Always."
