This will be a Harry/Ginny fic, and will be a slightly different take on the marriage or betrothal contract trope. It's based on a comment I saw on Reddit that basically said, "What if marriage contracts were used to protect children from love potions, marriage contracts with untrustworthy families, or other dangers?"
Some elements will not be new and I don't know if it will be a complete retelling or just addressing the changes to canon. If it does continue for the whole series, things will get farther away from canon as it goes.
This will not be soul bond, soul mate, or bashing fic. Some characters like Snape, Draco, and the Dursleys will be treated harshly but nothing over the top. Dumbledore may be called on some of his more questionable actions (namely the Dursleys situations) but he will not be evil, senile, or extremely Machiavellian.
There will be age appropriate romance but nothing explicit. I'm not sure about the level of violence yet as I only have the majority of first year written. I don't intend this to be a fix-it fic but some things that never made sense to me will change. I will only address things that happened in canon in passing in order to not rehash those plot points most have read dozens of times and to keep the pace from slowing down too much.
That all said, here we go.
Reconnecting
The Dursleys just left him at King's Cross and Harry was staying to think this whole thing was a cruel joke. He could not find platform 9 anywhere. He sat on the trolley that held his truck and his owl, Hedwig, in her cage. As he's watching commuters pass by, he spots a large family of redheads. They consisted of a mother and father, a young girl, and 5 boys near his age pushing trolleys with similar items to his own. The oldest of the boys even had an owl.
"Alright everyone," the slightly plump woman calls out. "We are going to spread out and find Harry."
Harry freezes after starting to walk towards the family. 'What if they're just like those people in the Leaky Cauldron who just wanted to share his hand because he's famous?' he worries.
"Arthur," the woman continues, "you take Percy and Ron on through to check the train and platform. Fred and George, you're with Ginny and I searching the muggle side. We don't know l exactly what he'll look like after 10 years, but he'll have James' black hair as well as Lily's green eyes."
"We'll find him, Molly," the father, Arthur, assures the woman with a squeeze of her shoulder as he follows the oldest and youngest boys through the seemingly solid wall.
Harry stood stunned at the sight before looking back at the remaining four. The other 2 boys, obviously twins, separate to either side of the column while the mother, Molly, addresses the young girl who stands slightly behind her skirts.
Harry takes a step forward at the mention of and apparent familiarity of his parents.
"Come on Ginny dear, there's no need to be so nervous. Where's the happy, carefree girl who's always running around the Burrow?" Molly tries to encourage her daughter.
"What if he doesn't like me or hates me for this?" The small redhead asks quietly, stepping slightly out from being her mother.
Now that he can see her properly, Harry realizes she is quite pretty with her vivid red hair, brown eyes, and abundant freckles across her cheeks and nose.
"Oh Ginny," the older woman speaks softly while kneeling down. "Oh course he'll like you. You're sweet, if more than a bit fierce and wild, as well as being clever and pretty," said with a teasing smile, "you're kind and always willing to help someone in need. I remember Pandora telling me about you stopping Luna from being bullied by some children in the village when you were 6. And there is no reason for him to hate you as nothing is set in stone, and neither of you had any control over the situation. This is and was entirely to protect both of you, even if we haven't been able to find him these past 10 years. But no matter what, we will find him now and make up for lost time."
This seems to calm the girl, Ginny, somewhat as she gives a weak smile before forming around the platform.
As her eyes meet Harry's, her mouth opens slightly as she breathes out, "Mum."
The woman follows her gaze and sees Harry standing with his trolley and school supplies. With a wide, friendly smile, she stands while taking Ginny's hand and walking towards him.
"You must be Harry," she states.
He nods while saying, "Yes ma'am."
Molly scoffs, "What a polite young man, but there's no need to be so formal dear. I've known practically since you were born and even changed your nappies a time or two."
Harry can feel his face redden at her statement as the girl tries to suppress a snort of laughter.
"You called me 'Mawee' once you started talking since you couldn't quite say 'Molly' before… that night," she claims with a small frown before carrying on, "And then we couldn't find you. Dumbledore claimed you were safer with your aunt, but from what your mother told me about her sister and brother-in-law, I don't think you were treated particularly well."
She then fully takes in his appearance, and Harry sees a flash of anger as she looks over his ragged, oversized clothes and skinny build. He tries not to show his flinching at her expression but her worried look tells him he was unsuccessful. Instead of questioning his reaction, Molly's smile returns in full force before she continues speaking.
"Oh!," she exclaims, "where are my manors? Here I am going on and on, and you don't know me from Merlin. I'm Molly Weasley, and I knew your parents from shortly after they graduated until…" she blinked back tears before continuing. "My brothers, Gideon and Fabian, fought in the war with them, and I got to know them, especially Lily, over time. We really became close once she found out you were on the way."
"And this is my daughter, Ginny," she jesters to the girl beside her.
"Hello, Harry," she says with a smile and pinkening cheeks.
"Hello, Ginny," Harry replies. Then before he could stop himself, he continues, "you're mum's right, you are very pretty."
Almost simultaneously, the children's eyes went wide and their faces turned bright red as they looked away.
"Thanks," Ginny mumbles as she glances back at him with a small smile.
Harry can only nervously smile back.
Meanwhile, Molly was doing all she could to not burst out laughing at the two adorable children. She was finally able to control herself when the twins returned.
"Mum," one called out from behind her. "We didn't see him."
"That's alright, Ginny spotted him right away," the matron replies, causing both of the younger children to blush again.
"Of course, Ginerva would find her boyfriend," the other twin teases.
"Don't call me that!" Ginny growled angrily, but the effect was lessened by her bringing impossibly redder.
"Leave your sister be, Fred." Molly scolds softly with a grin.
"I'm not Fred, he is," the boy replies.
"Honestly, you call yourself out mother," mocks the other boy, Fred.
"Oh, I'm sorry George," Molly says, slightly embarrassed. "You two go on through and let your save brother know we found Harry."
"I'm just joking," George laughs, "I am Fred," before running at the wall with his supplies. Fred (or maybe George?) follows with his own.
Molly rolls her eyes, "Those two. Well come along Harry, just push your trolley straight through and you will be on the platform. Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous," she instructed.
"Good luck," Ginny encourages.
Harry does as Molly says and before he knows it, he is standing on a crowded platform with dozens of families. He hears a whistle and turns to see a brilliant, red stream engine and several passenger cars.
Ginny and her mother came through behind him with the younger saying, "The Hogwarts Express. I can't wait 'til I ride it."
"Oh," Harry said sadly, "you're not going?"
"Next year," she replied wistfully.
"Great!" he exclaimed before his blush returned.
"Ah, Molly, Ginny, there you are," the older man who had to be the father said before turning to Harry and extending his hand while sporting a beaming smile. "And you must be Harry. Arthur Weasley, I'm pleased to finally meet you."
Harry cautiously took the offered hand, "Hello, Mr. Weasley."
The train whistle blows again and Arthur checks his watch before starting, "We'll have to talk more at Christmas, Harry, we need to get you all on the train before it heads out." Arthur then helps Harry through the crowd so Harry and the youngest Weasley boy can stow their trucks in a free compartment.
As they walk back to the platform, the boy says to Harry, "I'm Ron by the way."
"Harry," he replies with a smile as they share hands.
On the platform, Harry meets the Weasleys again, including the oldest boy with neat hair and glasses like his father's. "Percy Weasley," he greets formally, "Nice to see you again, Harry. Although you don't remember of course. If you need anything, feel free to ask, I am a prefect this term." Percy concludes while buffing his chest out slightly causing Harry to notice a shiny badge with a "P" on it.
"Oh, ok. Thanks." Harry replies. Percy seems a tad pompous but still rather nice.
"I know we haven't been properly introduced, old chap," one of the twins says in an exaggerated impression of Percy and a mock bow, "George Weasley, at your service."
"And I am Fred Weasley," the other continues in the same manner of his brother, "Jolly good to meet you." They both then vigorously shake his hands at the same time.
"No you're not." Ginny chimes in glaring at the two. "Don't try to confuse him until he knows you better."
Both smile mischievously before saying their goodbyes and boarding the train filled closely by Percy.
"Sorry about those two," Ginny apologizes to Harry. "They think they're funny. Don't eat or drink anything they give you. They like to pull pranks," she warns.
"Thanks," says Harry.
"Do stay out of trouble, Ron, and focus on your school work." Mrs. Weasley addresses her youngest son as she hugs him.
"Ok Mum," he says, wiggling out of her embrace slightly embarrassed.
"You too Harry dear," she adds as she wraps him in his first hug. Harry stiffens and when she pulls back, she looks at him with obvious concern, but doesn't say anything.
"Bye Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and thank you for your help."
"Bye Harry," Ginny says. "I guess I'll see you at Christmas?"
"Oh course dears," Mrs. Weasley assures. "We will have you over and explain things to you when we have more time."
"Really?" Harry asks, astonished.
"Absolutely," Mr. Weasley confirms. "And you can owl us anytime. Just ask the boys how to address the letter."
Harry and Ginny share a smile and a wave as Harry and Ron climb on the train.
"I'll write to you if you'd like," Ginny offers.
"I'd like that," Harry replies.
As the train starts moving, Harry and Ron go back to the compartment and see Ginny chasing the Express until they lose sight of her. The two boys settle in and begin getting to know each other.