Chapter nine

It only took two days before Harry had enough so he sent Hedwig to Susan and her aunt. Harry received a patronus message from Amelia late that night. She would be there the following day to pick him up.

Harry had been hiding under his cloak at the side of Mr Weasley's shed. Even though he really wanted some privacy, which he couldn't get at the Burrow, he also wanted to meet Madam Bones before she spoke with the Weasley's to explain that Harry would be staying at her home for the remainder of the holidays.

Ever since he had arrived at the Burrow, Mrs Weasley kept putting Ginny with Harry whenever she could. Harry told Mrs Weasley that he had a girlfriend and it wasn't right to push Ginny near him when she would get hurt. Mrs Weasley went off, yelling, Harry got up and walked out. When Mr Weasley hurried after him and asked why he left the house, Harry explained that he will never put up with anyone yelling at him. He had to with the Dursley's, but now he was older, he would not allow it to happen again. She was not his mother, she was not even a relative, if she kept going, he threatened to release a statement about what was going on and how he was basically been kept a prisoner and trying to forced into a relationship with someone he hated. It was only Arthur Weasley who had stopped Harry being given a love potion. He always made sure to taste any food before giving it to Harry. Harry refused any food unless Arthur had tasted it first. When the man was at work, Harry always snuck away and bought his own food.

Nothing Harry said or did stopped Mrs Weasley or Ginny trying to get Harry to change his mind. He ended up ignoring them completely, so when they talked he acted like he couldn't see them or hear them and just kept talking to Ron, or the twins. It made things very tense at the Burrow. At first Ron had been angry, but again he realised what Harry was doing was trying to stop Ginny being hurt because he will never breakup with Susan. Harry had told Ron that all this with Ginny and his mother was just making Harry hate Ginny, so much so that he couldn't stand to be around her.

When Harry heard the sound of apparition Harry looked up but had his wand in his hand. He saw Susan and her aunt.

'Madam Bones,' Harry said with a smile.

'It's good to see you again, Harry. Are you out here waiting for us?'

'It's good to see you too and yeah, but also to warn you that Mrs Weasley will probably try to stop me going with you. As I wrote in the letter, she hasn't stopped trying to get me with Ginny and break up with Susan, she just won't listen.'

'She will listen to me, also, she is not your guardian. We are keeping your living arrangements quiet so the wrong people don't try to gain custody of you. I did find out that since you are about to turn fifteen, you can, if you wish, name someone to be your guardian until you turn seventeen.'

'I didn't know that. Dumbledore said I had to stay here as it was safer. I mean, Ron is a good friend but we spend so much time together that's its beginning to strain our friendship, especially after the drama with his sister and mother. I sneak out to get food through the day because I can't trust any of the food here. I suppose I'm sounding ungrateful, but I just can't get comfortable here, especially when Mrs Weasley tries to get me to call her mum. I had a mother, I won't allow anyone to take her place.'

'Which no one should. Let's go in so I can explain that you will be staying at my home for the rest of this summer. We will talk and try to work on a more permanent home for you.'

'Thank you,' Harry turned to Susan and gave her a smile and a hug, 'Sorry Susan.'

'Don't be, I've heard enough of Mrs Weasley's howlers to know what she is like.'

Harry and Susan joined hands ready to follow Madam Bones. Before we could take a few steps, Arthur hurried towards us.

'Minister.'

'Arthur.'

'Don't take this the wrong way, but why are you here?'

'I came to pick up Harry. He will be spending the rest of the holidays at my home, with his girlfriend. Harry said in his last letter to Susan that he might have trouble getting away so I figured I would pick him up.'

'There will be trouble. How about I get Harry's trunk and owl that way Molly won't realised Harry's gone until you have left.'

'Your wife will still need to know that she has no right to stop Harry leaving or spending time with his girlfriend.'

'I know, I've tried talking to Molly about this, but she is determined that Ginny would make Harry the perfect wife. This will cause enough trouble Minister, so please, let me take care of it. If you would wait near my shed, I'll bring out Harry's things.'

'Very well Arthur.'

'Everything is packed Mr Weasley, mainly because there wasn't really anywhere for me to put my things. Hedwig is out delivering a letter to Neville, so it's just her cage and my broom which is near my trunk.'

'I won't be long.'

'It seems Arthur knows how his wife will react. Let's go back towards the shed.'

Amelia watched Harry and Susan. Even though they were holding hands, they kept staring at each other. It was only a few minutes later that Arthur hurried out with Harry's trunk, broom and cage.

'Molly is busy making potions, so she never noticed. Ron was in the living room playing chess with Percy.'

'Thanks Mr Weasley. I didn't want to cause trouble, but I knew Mrs Weasley would have tried to stop me going when Madam Bones offered me to spend the rest of the summer with her and Susan.'

'Yes, I have tried Harry, but when it comes to you, she will not listen. Go on, enjoy the rest of your holidays. It might be a good idea to write to Ron and explain.'

'I already left a letter on his pillow, he should find it later.'

'Alright, have a good holiday. Minister, it was nice see you and your niece.'

'Thank you Arthur, it's good to see you as well.'

Arthur watched as the minister for magic took Harry and Susan by side-along apparition. Now it was time to explain to his wife that Harry was gone and she legally could not do anything about it.

Amelia had Susan show Harry to the room he would use while she spoke with the house elves, then she had to head to the ministry to become Harry's guardian. She had been surprised when Harry asked her to be his guardian, but then she realised that Harry didn't know many adults, only the teachers at Hogwarts, or the Weasley's. He said that Susan always spoke highly of her aunt and he liked what he heard.

Harry and Susan ended up snogging the moment they stepped into the room, 'I missed you.'

'I missed you too Susan.'

'Has it really been that bad with the Weasley's?'

'Only with Mrs Weasley and Ginny. I told them outright that Ginny would end up hurt because nothing would make me break up with you. Because I refuse to eat any of the food that is dished up for me Mr Weasley had been dishing up my food or gives me his, but he eats a bit of it first to prove it hasn't been tampered with.'

'She really used a love potion on her husband?'

'Yeah, when they were students. Mr Weasley said he was shy so the potion gave him the courage to ask her out. But it made me worried she would try it on me since I refuse to break up with you. She also spends a lot of time in her potions room. It's only thanks to Mr Weasley that I haven't starved.'

'Even though I would hope she wouldn't, she just might, so it's safer. Let's go downstairs, I don't want to lose Aunty's trust.'

'Yes, I don't want her to think bad of me. You know I would never try anything but your aunt doesn't know me.'

'No, but I've talked to her about you, so I'm sure she knows if I said I can trust you then she can.'

Arthur ended up walking out so he wouldn't have to listen to his wife yelling again. He ended up down in his shed, just to get some peace. The twins weren't at all surprised to hear Harry had left, Ron had been surprised though, until he read Harry's letter.

Harry and Susan were swimming in the pool when Amelia got a surprise visitor, Albus Dumbledore. The teenagers had just headed inside when they heard voices.

'What can I do for you Albus?'

'I heard Harry is here, I've come to return him to the Burrow.'

'No, you will not be taking Harry anywhere. He is going to stay here for the summer with his girlfriend. He wrote to Susan and explained that Molly Weasley is causing a lot of trouble. Susan and Harry explained not long ago that they don't trust her not to use a love potion on Harry to get him to break up with Susan so he will date Ginny Weasley. Arthur has been tasting all Harry's food so that doesn't happen. As of an hour ago, I assumed guardianship of Harry. I asked him who he would like to be his guardian and as he had no family, he just wanted someone that wouldn't try to take his mother's place, which is what Molly was trying to do. Now, you are headmaster, Albus, but it does not give you the right to tell a student what he can or can't do during the holidays. If you persist or cause any trouble for Harry, then he will not be returning to Hogwarts. I will send him to another school, or just get someone to tutor him at home.'

'You don't understand Amelia, Harry needs to be watched.'

'Tell me why you feel he needs to be watched?'

'I'm sorry, that is something I can't discuss.'

'Then get out Albus, return to your school, one that will never have the-boy-who-lived as a student. Cornelius might have put up with your antics, but I will not. If you persist, you will be arrested and if that happens you will instantly lose your job as chief warlock and headmaster.'

Albus sighed, 'There is a prophecy, about Harry and Voldemort.'

'I had a feeling you were thinking of Voldemort. Ever since that problem with Quirrell he has not been seen. I have checked on a few old marked death eaters, the mark is gone, completely, not like before where it was just faded. I believe over the last couple of years, he weakened until he finally left the mortal realm. I even spoke with an unspeakable, they also believe he has finally crossed over. Now if you truly believed that Harry had to fulfil this prophecy then you should have been training him from a young age, so he would be ready. With the absolute disastrous teachers you've hired, it's a wonder his up to scratch just for his year.'

'It won't be spells that allows Harry to win Amelia, but love.'

'I think you've gone senile Albus. Susan wrote to me a few months ago, about how Harry asked about love, he wanted to know how to recognise love when he had never felt love for anyone or felt love from anyone. He has big trust issues so he won't allow himself to get close to anyone without trust. It seems he has had a few falling outs with his friends so he doesn't trust them. He finds out that you, along with Minerva left him on a doorsteps after his parent's were murdered, so he doesn't trust you. That just got worse when you allowed Snape to act the way he did. You need to do some serious thinking Albus because so far you have been wrong on too many accounts. I give you this warning, stay away from Harry or you will be sorry.'

Neither Albus nor Amelia knew that Harry and Susan had overheard everything that was said. When they did, Susan took Harry's hand and pulled him outside. She wanted to be there for her boyfriend, but she also wanted to help him if it meant he had to face Voldemort. She hoped that wasn't the case and her aunt believed Voldemort was gone. But she was worried, she heard what Dumbledore said, so she was wondering if the headmaster would do something to get Harry away from her or talk Harry into something which could get him killed.