Author's note: Lovely readers. Many apologies for the length of time between postings. I'm still actively writing... just distracted by other things... such as the podfic that I've started recording of Basilisk Eyes. You can find it on Spotify or Anchor, search for Hegemone Fanfiction Podfic or email me at hegemonemilo at g mail dot com and I'll send you the link. It's okay if you can't stand my voice. I'm not a great reader... but I figured no one else was going to take on a 157 chapter fic and I had requests from readers... so there you go.
[break - where the story actually starts]
"Oi, Harry!" Ron shouted through the bathroom door where Harry was brushing his teeth. "Have you seen Scabbers?"
Harry emitted a garbled groan and spat out the toothpaste, rinsed his brush and mouth, shoved his toothbrush back into the storage of his staff, wiped his hands on his pajamas then found the doorknob. He stuck his head out of the door and hooked his first two fingers in front of his eyes (the sign for blind) expecting a guffaw or at least a groan from Ron, but apparently, the gesture was lost. From the sound of it, Ron was rummaging through the debris under his bed and no longer looking in Harry's direction.
"Er, Ron?" Harry said, dragging his fingers through his wet hair and stepping tentatively forward through the minefield of discarded clothes and detritus that Ron kept forgetting to tidy up no matter how many times Harry stumbled.
What had started as a euphoric reunion and gleeful extended sleepover last week was now morphing into a steady stream of bickering and resentments. Harry's gut tightened as he thought about it. He hated that he was already feeling resentful toward Ron and he'd just woken up. He bit back his chuntering as he used his staff to push something soft out of his way and shuffled forward. He had just been in the loo for a few minutes and already there were added items in his path. He toyed with the idea of casting a vanishing spell.
"Harry, help me look for Scabbers! I can't find him anywhere."
"Have you tried summoning him?" Harry sighed.
"Yes, but nothing," Ron said with such heartache that Harry felt some of his irritation slough off.
Harry had finally made it to his bed and was feeling along the sheets until he found his pillow where he'd left Nio snoozing. He gently traced Nio's scales until he found his head, then gently tickled him under his jaw.
"Nio," Harry whispered in Parseltongue, conscious of how much the language unnerved Ron… another thorn. "Nio, have you seen Scabbers? Ron can't find him."
The snake nuzzled Harry's fingers and emitted a grumbling hiss, "the stench of the rat has been long absent, thankfully."
"For how long?" Harry asked, stretching out on the bed.
"Nearly since we arrived. He doesn't smell like a rat. Something is off about that creature. And he doesn't like me or you. I'm glad he's gone."
"Ron misses him," Harry said, to which Nio harrumphed and started to coil around Harry's neck.
Ron was now pulling things out from under Harry's bed. Harry wondered how there could be things under his bed when he kept all of his belongings in his staff and the bed had just been added last week when Harry arrived at the Burrow.
"Where does all this stuff come from Ron?" Harry asked.
"Huh?" Ron asked as he dragged what sounded like a tin full of marbles out from under the bed.
"All these bits and bobs on the floor? How is it possible to have this much stuff? I don't think Dudley even has such a cluttered room."
"I thought your Aunt was a neat freak and made you clean his room."
"Ha, yeah. But don't let her hear you call her a freak. That's what we are," Harry said quietly.
"Where could he be hiding? This isn't like him," Ron moaned.
"Nio says that he's been gone a while."
"Why didn't you tell me?!"
"I just asked him," Harry said, shifting onto his back carefully so that he didn't squash Nio.
"Drat," Ron said absently. "Why would he leave?" His muffled voice made it sound like he was halfway under Harry's bed.
Harry decided against sharing Nio's thoughts about the rat with Ron and rolled to his side and cast around for his glasses before sitting up and shoving them on his face. He pushed the rubbish that Ron had pulled out from under the bed away with his feet before standing up and carefully making his way to the door using both the directions from Nio and his staff to navigate the minefield. He winced, though, when he stepped on something small and sharp—biting back an angry outburst. He decided that half his irritation with Ron was hunger and tried to let it go as he followed the aroma of a full English breakfast to the kitchen.
The creaking and groaning staircase suddenly started shaking as the thunderous footfalls above him alerted him to the passage of the twins chasing each other down the stairs. Nio hissed in alarm as Harry flattened himself against the portrait covered wall (much to the dismay of the occupants) to make way for them.
"Hiya, Harry!" they called in unison as they roared passed.
Harry waited a moment, feeling the staircase jerk and sway as the twins frog-hopped over the bannister onto the landing on the second floor and then continued down the stairs. When he emerged into the warm kitchen, the heavenly scents of bangers, scones, and fresh tea enveloped him, providing a buffer to the tongue-lashing Fred and George were receiving from Mrs. Weasley for nearly knocking into Ginny as she was taking scones out of the oven.
"Please accept our apologies, Ginny," they said contritely, and it sounded as if they had snatched scones off the biscuit sheet as they passed from Ginny's protesting noises.
"Harry!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed when she saw him, her footsteps rapidly approaching him. "Happy Birthday, dear! I can't believe that we get to celebrate your birthday with you!"
Harry felt his face warming as she pulled him into a tight embrace. There was a chorus of birthday wishes from all the Weasley's in the kitchen and someone drummed a beat on a cast-iron pan from the fireplace.
"Oh George, you'll knock out the bangers."
"What's the point of bangers if you can't bang 'em, Mum?" George protested.
"We've got a big breakfast planned. Come, dear. There's a spot for you here." She took his arm and pulled him toward the table. Harry couldn't bring himself to protest, even as his staff struck the bench. She squeezed his arms and then pulled a clattering teacup in his direction, filling it with tea. He stepped over the bench and sat down, ghosting his fingers over the worn wood of the table until they found the saucer, then pulled it closer. Mrs. Weasley kissed him on the top of his head. Then she was pushing the pitcher of milk toward him. His fingers slipped on the condensation that covered the lower half of the pitcher as he tried to lift it.
"Oh, let me get that for you, Harry!" Mrs. Weasley started to pull the pitcher out of his hands, but Harry held onto it.
"I can get it, thanks," he said, trying not to let the exasperation leak into his voice.
"Right," she said, taking a step back. "You've got it."
He felt relieved that she was beginning to understand that even though he might look like he needed help, that it was better if he figured it out himself.
She turned and immediately gave clipped instructions to Fred to scoop the eggs out of the skillet after she hollered to George to stop nibbling on the bangers before he sat at the table.
Percy stumbled into the kitchen in the meantime and was struggling with Errol to let go of the Daily Prophet.
"Perc, I need your help with the mushrooms," Mrs. Weasley said as china clattered in her arms. "They are going to burn. Can you scoop them out?"
Harry stood up halfway, starting to pull his leg over the bench, wanting to help with the breakfast, but someone pushed him back onto the bench.
"We've got it," George whispered near his ear, his breath salty with sausage. "She'll have kittens if you get near the skillet."
Harry nearly choked at the thought. Just what this house needed… kittens underfoot.
The Burrow creaked and swayed as Ron's footsteps crescendoed from the stairway above until they burst into the kitchen, preceded by his announcement that Scabbers was nowhere to be found.
"Oh, pup, I'm so sorry," his mum said, and his voice became muffled as she pulled him into a hug. "I'm sure he'll show up… he always has."
"Thanks, mum," Ron snuffled and then the long table was rocking as he sat down at it and pulled food toward his plate to load it up.
"Ron! Manners! Not everyone is seated yet. Can you put out the lemon curd and jam for the scones, please?"
Harry felt a knot forming in his stomach as the kitchen bustled around him and he sat alone at the table. He sipped at his tea and willed the uneasiness in his belly to settle. He was grateful when the garden door clattered open and the family erupted into gleeful clamouring of surprise and joy.
"Bill! You're back!"
"Do you have news?"
"Did you catch Black?"
"Where's Dad?"
"Did you bring our powdered scarab beetles?"
"Oi! Give a bloke a break!" Bill's voice was deeper and rougher than Charlie's and still distinctively Weasley-ish.
Dishes had been hastily set upon the table and the bench Harry was pivoting on started to tilt as Weasleys jumped off it. Harry steadied himself as Nio tightened on his neck and hissed in protest.
Harry stood up and yelped when someone swung their arm around his shoulders, pulling him into the fray. Harry guessed it was Fred or George by their height, but he wasn't exactly sure.
"Harry, don't hang back; you've got to join in the rumpus!" George called above the tumult, right in Harry's ear. Harry winced and tried to pull away, and Nio butted his nose against the side of George's face while muttering indignantly about the exuberant adelphi.
Ginny, Percy, Ron, George, and Fred started hounding Bill with questions again and Mrs. Weasley started pushing everyone toward the table, expressing her fears that the food was getting cold.
Someone took hold of Harry's shoulders and directed him toward a place at the table. Another hand reached out and guided his outstretched hand to the bench. Harry slid into his spot as the bench rocked as everyone sat down and started piling food on their plates. Ginny was on Harry's right and she quietly told Harry of the dishes as they were passed along and helped him find the serving spoons so that he could load up his plate. She didn't make a fuss about it, either, and that made it easier for Harry to accept her help.
"So, did you find Black?" Percy asked in a lull of the conversation.
"No, but we think we're on his trail. That's actually why I'm here. We're pretty certain he's moving west toward the Burrow. We can't be certain that he knows where Harry is, but the credible sightings are suggesting that he's moving this direction," Bill informed the family grimly.
They were silent for a moment.
"But how? How could he find Harry here?"
"It's a logical assumption," Bill said. "It's widely known that Harry and Ron are mates. It has even been printed in the Daily Prophet, not to mention that Black must be receiving help from Deatheater families and some of them are bound to have Hogwarts students who would be eager to tell him of Harry's connection to our family. Some of them are directly related to the Black family… the Malfoys, for instance."
"The Malfoys were cleared of charges," Percy spoke up.
"Lucius Malfoy was, but there are others in the family who may still have connections."
"I thought all of the Black family was imprisoned or dead," Ginny said.
"Narsissa, Lucius's wife, is Sirius Black's cousin," Mrs. Weasley said.
"And don't forget," Percy added, "we're related to the Blacks and the Malfoys through the Weasleys and the Pruitts."
"Ugh! Percy! You say it like it's a fine thing to be related to that lot!" Fred protested and the bench rocked as some shoving occured.
"Hush, now. No one gets to choose their family… well, except you, Harry," Mrs. Weasley's voice was directed toward him. "You are part of our family now."
Ron thumped him on the back in agreement and Harry tucked his chin and blinked, his eyes suddenly stinging.
"Well, Dad's meeting with Bones right now."
Harry lifted his head and pointed his nose in Bill's direction, "Bones?"
"Amelia Bones. Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
"Err?"
"The Aurors?" Ron nudged Harry in the ribs.
"Oh," Harry said, thinking about all the pulling and bumbling that surrounded the arrest of Aminah's father. "That lot."
"Oi, Harry. Give them a break. They were trying to protect you," Percy muttered from across the table.
Harry hunched his shoulders and remembered Aminah's sobs as her father was hauled off. "I wasn't the one who needed protecting, was I?"
"Oh, Harry. I'm sure they'll get it all sorted out. Just a case of mistaken identity, isn't it?" Mrs. Weasley said from her place at the head of the table.
Ginny squeezed Harry's hand.
"I think Dad'll bring Auror Bones here soon. He asked if you could keep a couple plates warm for them," Bill said.
"Bill! Why didn't you tell me earlier?! We could have all waited," Mrs. Weasley huffed, pushing away from the table and starting to clatter plates.
"Oi! I was eating that!" Fred protested.
"Mum, Dad said not to wait," Bill said.
Mrs. Weasley continued to bustle around the kitchen filling plates, but it sounded like Fred got to finish his breakfast.
Harry pushed his fork across his plate, toward a bit of scone held in his other hand to help scoop up the bits of egg but couldn't bring himself to eat more as he thought about meeting with yet another Ministry official. His fingers itched to summon his invisibility cloak out of his staff and slip away.
He let a lump of resentment settle in his stomach… Why couldn't I just have this day?
Nio squeezed his neck and coiled toward his ear, whispering, "Why have the doldrums settled on you?"
"I'll tell you later," Harry whispered shortly, aware of how Ron stiffened next to him as he hissed his response.
Nio expressed his annoyance by slipping under Harry's collar and wiggling against his belly. Harry squirmed until the snake was still, trying not to laugh at the tickling movements.
"What is it," Ginny asked.
"Nothing," Harry whispered back. "Just that Nio is upset about being left out of the conversation."
As the family finished, they started getting up and taking the dishes to the sink.
"Harry, got your broom?" Ron leaned against him.
Harry nodded, a smile lifting the edges of his mouth.
"After the kitchen is tidied, Ron!"
"But, mum! It's his birthday!"
"No worries, mate. I don't mind doing dishes if we can use magic!" Harry said.
"No underage magic during the Hols!" Mrs. Weasley reminded them, to resounding groans.
"Especially with the DMLE head coming over!" Percy added.
"Ugh."
"Mum, remember it doesn't count for Harry if he's using his staff," Ron continued to protest.
Harry made his way to the sink by following the sound of the running water. He was carefully balancing his plate, tea cup, and silverware in one hand while sweeping the staff in front of him with his other hand. He heard Ginny gasp slightly when he stumbled over something in his path… a bit of cloth he guessed from the squishiness… but he was able to steady the teetering saucer. No one else seemed to have noticed. He lifted his chin and sent a small smile in her direction to let her know that he was okay.
Harry placed his stack of dishes on the edge of the counter and pushed them forward, listening as other dishes were scooted along the counter. He collapsed and flicked his staff away in a quick motion, then started to ghost his hands over the dishes waiting to be washed, getting a sense for what was there and thinking about the order he'd tackle them. Aunt Petunia was so particular about washing china and glasses before skillets and saucepans. He shook his head to get rid of her voice ringing in his ears.
Harry found the dishrag hanging over the side of the sink and plunged it into the waiting tub of hot water, as the suds tickled his forearms.
"And I don't know," Mrs. Weasley muttered as she scraped out a pot. "I don't think it's a good idea… what with Sirius Black getting closer… what if he were to see you flying about?"
"Mum, I'll go out with them," Bill said. "I heard Harry's quite a flyer and since the last time I went flying with him he was invisible, it'll be nice to actually see what he can do on a broom."
"Harry! What are you doing?" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed from behind him.
Harry jumped and almost dropped the glass he was washing.
"The dishes?" he answered.
"No, dear. You're a guest," she said, trying to pull him back from the sink.
"I thought you said I was part of the family," Harry said without thinking. "If I'm family, I'll do my part."
"Oh, Harry. What have we done to deserve you?" Mrs. Weasley hiccuped and squeezed him, then patted his shoulder as he rinsed the glass he'd been holding.
She turned away and sighed. "Oh, all right, Bill. But you all keep your eyes peeled for anything suspicious… and come right inside if you see any big dogs!"
oO0OooO0OooO0OooO0Oo
Harry clung to his broom as he corkscrewed through the air, nearly suffocating as Nio hissed in fury and tightened his hold on Harry's neck. As the vibrations from his broom telegraphed the quickly approaching earth through his whole body, Harry pulled up and then hopped off, with only a bit of a lurching as he found his footing on the rain-soaked ground.
Ron and Bill's whoops of delight were nearly drowned out by Hermione's shouting outrage. She had arrived shortly after they had flown out to the orchard.
"Harry! Don't. Do. That. Again! You frightened me!" she demanded as she landed near him, the bells on her broom jingling impishly in stark contrast to her indignant tones.
Harry huffed into his hands to warm them and then eased a finger under Nio's coils to encourage the snake to let go and slide to his belly. "Hermione—leave him be! He was brilliant," Ron said, dismounting near them and slapping Harry on the back.
"Ron! Did you see how it jars Harry everytime you touch him without alerting him first?" Hermione hissed.
"Hey, I'm here, you know!" Harry said, as his elation from his spiralling descent wore off. Though the snake was getting warmer at his belly button, Nio hadn't let up on his hissing tirade.
Harry tried to swallow his irritation as the other flyers landed and gathered around them.
"Let's head back to the house—Dad's just arrived with Auror Bones. They'll want to talk with Harry," Bill said, ignoring the squabbling. "Also, it's bloody cold with that wind. Let's put some tea on to warm up."
Harry swung his leg over his broom and flew back to the kitchen door. It gave him a bit of time to regulate his annoyance and a moment of peace as Ron and Hermione continued to take the mickey out of each other. Also, it had started drizzling again.
Harry stepped off his broom right by the door and must have crushed some of the mint as the aroma rose around him. The door banged open.
"Oh, I was just going to send a Patronus to fetch you. Did you see the Auror arr… er. Silly me," Mrs. Weasley blustered. "Oh, it's raining again. Are the others coming in, too?"
"Yep, right behind me, I think," Harry said as he shook out his staff, stashed his broom, and found the stairs.
"I've put the kettle on… we'll get you a cup of tea straight away," Mrs. Weasley fussed as he walked into the kitchen. She cast a drying spell on him and Nio sighed in relief from inside his shirt.
"Oh, thanks! That's better," Harry said, patting his torso with his free hand.
"Auror Bones is in the drawing room with Arthur," Mrs. Weasley directed Harry toward the doorway from behind, both hands on his shoulders.
Harry paused, took a deep breath and then cast the navigation charm.
"I've got it, Mrs. Weasley," he said quietly.
"Don't you worry, Harry. Arthur and I have already told Amelia that you won't be sent back to the Dursleys or sent to the Ministry," she assured, somehow understanding his hesitancy.
"Thanks," he muttered and swept his staff in front of him until he could hear the conversation in the drawing room grow louder. Mr. Weasley and Auror Bones were having a rather serious talk and they stopped as soon as they saw Harry enter the room, but he heard some of it. They had been talking about the wards on the Burrow from what he could gather.
"Er, hello?" Harry said, feeling their eyes on him.
"Harry, thanks for coming in. This is Auror Amelia Bones from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She's been wanting to meet you," Mr. Weasley said as he got up and strode over to Harry, pulling him farther into the room by looping his arm over Harry's shoulders.
Harry stuck out his hand and waited while Auror Bones stood up and then grasped it in a firm handshake that revealed strong, long, bony fingers. "It's a pleasure to meet you at last. My niece, Susan, speaks highly of you." Her voice was efficient and yet friendly. He wasn't sure how she managed it.
Harry was wracking his brain trying to place Susan and his expression must have conveyed his confusion.
"Susan Bones. She'll be a third-year, same as you. In Hufflepuff," Auror Bones provided.
"Oh, right. Yes. Susan Bones," Harry said, relieved, finally remembering a girl with a long plait of dark auburn hair, a sprinkle of freckles, and a friendly smile.
"Harry, there's a seat just to your left," Mr. Weasley instructed. Harry found the chair, feeling his face heat up as both adults seemed to just stand there watching him poke around until he got himself situated. After a moment they seemed to realize what they were doing and quickly sat back down themselves, fishing around for something to talk about.
"Harry, I understand you've been learning magical ways to get around since your encounter with the Basilisk earlier this summer," Auror Bones finally said.
"Er, yes," Harry agreed, and then added, "At the Perenelle Flamel Adaptation Center."
"Right. Excellent facility. I hope they are able to open their doors again soon. I've heard from quite a few families who are waiting for services while they put things to rights."
"Has Mr. Khan been released yet?" Harry asked, sitting up a bit straighter, his eyebrows furrowed in the Auror's direction.
"Ah. Well, we're working on that. And in fact, that is one reason why I'm here today. I'm hoping that you'll be able to provide your memories from your encounter with Mr. Khan in the tunnels under the Center."
"Yes, of course. Though, the encounter was more with Bill McCarthy," Harry explained, feeling a bit self-righteous on Mr. Khan's behalf.
"But what about Sirius Black," Bill asked before he was all the way in the room.
"Oh, hello, Bill. Your dad and I have been working on restructuring the wards around the Burrow. We're also adding a highly guarded Egress to the premises so that you can escape quickly to the ministry if needed."
Harry shuddered at the mention of an Egress directly to the Ministry and imagined Mr. Croaker with his creepy voice, sneaking into the Burrow while they all slept.
"Listen, we don't want to alarm you, Harry," Mr. Weasley said, clearly misunderstanding Harry's reaction. "But, we feel that rather than move you more directly to a new location, it would be better if you stayed here and we use the opportunity to trap Black as he tries to get closer."
"You're using him as bait?" Ginny shrieked in indignation, and there was a commotion as it sounded like a pile of people fell into the room.
"Well!" Auror Bones exclaimed. "It looks like we need to work on the warding of the interior rooms as well!"