I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters
The Family that Chooses You
Chapter 30 – Famine to Feast
The fire flared up, turning bright green. It filled the large hearth and out stepped a figure from the dancing flames. They showed no sign of discomfort, no pain from the fire or the heat. They stood on the grate in front of the fireplace, brushing soot and ash from their clothes.
Molly smiled at the visitor, stepping towards them from the kitchen. "Oh hello Angelina, so good of you to visit."
Angelina smiled. "Hi Mrs. Weasley! Good to see you." She liked the Weasley Matriarch. Mrs. Weasley had the ability to make people feel at ease, even the first time meeting them. She acted as if she had known you for a long time, that you would be well looked after. Plus any woman that could handle the twins, much less all the Weasley children, had to be formidable. "Thank you for allowing me to visit."
Molly waggled her wand, collecting the ash from Angelina and tossing it back into the hearth with a flick of her wrist. "Anytime dear. How are you parents?"
"Doing well thank you. Mum wished she could visit but something came up at work. She sent this and hopes to see you for tea soon." Angelina handed over a tin of tea leaves.
"Oh how sweet of her. I do like this blend. Tell her she's welcome for a cup and a chat whenever. How are your brothers?"
"Irritating but tolerable."
Molly snorted. "No wonder you get along with my lot. Speaking of, they should be convening at the orchard." She smiled, noticing that Angelina had brought her broom. "They're all scattered about at the moment but will be there soon. They wanted to finish their chores before spending the afternoon doing more fun things."
Angelina grinned. "Seems they learned to do their work first then?"
"About time really. Normally I have to nag them a bit but thankfully lately that doesn't seem to be the case." Molly noticed Angelina looking around. "Harry's out on the grass. He likes to be outside during the day."
The tall girl blushed slightly, she did not think she was that obvious. "Thanks." She hesitated. "How is he?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
A tiny cloud of concern covered Molly's face briefly. "He's…doing better." She gave the girl a considering look. "He…well…" her voice faded. She shook her head, visibly pushing something down within herself. "You gave him his rabbit yes?"
Angelina nodded. She felt her stomach cramp at how Molly was acting. She had been worried about this day. She was eager to see the Weasleys and Harry of course. Having not heard from the young boy for weeks then learning that the twins and Ron had gone to "fetch" him had done a number on her nerves. She had resigned herself to waiting to see Harry when they went back to Hogwarts. At least he was able to send letters again.
Then she was invited to spend some time at the Burrow and she was able to find the time for it. Katie would be coming too. Alicia was out of the country and Oliver was at a camp and could not leave. She was glad for the chance to see her friends.
She was scared however. She saw all what was not said in the letters.
"He loves that rabbit, a fine gift for him." Molly patted Angelina's hand.
"He gave me one too."
Molly laughed. "You know, that doesn't surprise me. I've only really gotten to know him a few days now but he's very kind, considering his…" She coughed awkwardly again. "You should go to him dear. It'll do him good to see you I imagine."
Angelina thanked her and left, her mind running. It ran all over the place, frequently going to the extremes. She tried to stop it but was failing miserably.
"Hey Angelina!"
"Hey George!" She smiled at the gangly red-head. "Look at you, all domestic."
The boy grinned, flapping his heavy work apron and twirling as if modeling it. "Beats getting your clothes covered in chicken muck. Even when you magically clean it the smell is awful."
"Ugh you don't have to tell me. My uncle has chickens and it reeks."
George pointed. "He's over there, napping in the sun."
"That sounds nice. Your mum says he likes to be outdoors a lot?"
George grimaced. "Yeah I bet. Given what he came from."
Her mind raced harder. "George, what're you not telling me?"
He looked faintly haunted, not a trace of a smile on his lips anymore. "It was bad Angelina. Not my place to say more, but it was really bad."
She gulped. She did not like seeing George so serious, so upset. It made things feel even more dire. She was about to turn to keep walking when George reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"Hey, uh, remember Harry's only been here for a few days."
"You're starting to scare me, George."
"Not trying to. Just wanted to prepare you."
"For what?"
"For when you see him."
She waited for him to say more, to explain. She waited for him to allay her fears.
He did not. He could not. Instead, he let her wrist go and pointed back towards the trees before walking away.
She did not run up the path. She did walk very swiftly. Her hands shook slightly making her broom like it was vibrating in place. She felt fear and panic and concern all in one. She was afraid of what she would see. She tried to think that it could not have been any worse than the first time she saw him. It would not be worse when he was curled in front of her begging for her not to hit him, him apologizing at the top of his voice for any imagined fault.
She was wrong. Terribly, awfully, horrifically wrong.
He laid in the sun, his back against a tree. He wore the familiar looking old clothes that were far too big on him. His hair was as messy as ever. His glasses glinted in the sunlight. His lightning shaped scar could be seen on his forehead.
Those were the only things that had remained unchanged. He was far thinner than when she saw him last. His skin looked pale despite the sunlight, in defiance of the warm rays. The air about him felt heavy, the neglect they had painstakingly tried to remove had come back a thousand-fold. Even though he looked like he grew an inch or two, he somehow seemed smaller.
He looked even more fragile than before.
She dropped her things in her shock. Her broom and bag fell from nerveless fingers.
The clattering sound woke him. He woke sharply, as if expecting the worst. He looked about for the source and then he saw her.
His eyes opened wide and he smiled hesitantly, as if disbelieving what he saw. "Angelina?" he asked.
The shy way he spoke, the tone of want, scoured her heart. "Hi Rabbit," she said huskily. She found that her legs trembled so she knelt down and opened her arms.
He rose slowly, took a few steps. His face betrayed his nervousness, as if he saw something he wanted but was afraid it would be taken away at the last moment. He knew it was her. No one else called him Rabbit. He liked that she did.
"I'm not that scary looking, am I?" she said as teasingly as she could. She tried to inject as much lightness in her voice as she could.
Another old joke between them. That tipped the scales and he ran to her, almost throwing himself into her.
She clutched him to her, scared to squeeze him tight in case she would hurt him. She felt better that he had no reservations. His arms were almost painfully tight around her. Her eyes had not deceived her, he was thinner. Her fingers could feel his ribs, his bones.
What did they do to you? Her inner voice was a howl of rage.
She pressed him into her so he could not see her cry. She could not see him cry either but she felt his tears.
"I missed you," he murmured into her neck.
"I missed you too Rabbit," she replied, keeping her voice steady while the tears streamed down her face.
-0-
Katie found them a bit later, still sitting together in the sun.
She had arrived not too long after Angelina, popping out of the Floo as well. Like Angelina she had come with her broom to play Quidditch with everyone. Like Angelina she came with a gift from her mother for Mrs. Weasley and she too chatted with her before leaving.
Like Angelina, she too was afraid for Harry, afraid of what had happened. Afraid of what she would see.
She had hoped her mother would come with her. She wanted her mother to see Harry. Katie still felt out of her depth. All she knew, all she thought what should be done, was second-hand knowledge. It was information she had gleaned and gathered from her mother when she unfortunately brought work home. She thought it would be far better to have her mother examine Harry herself, the actual professional.
Unfortunately, Samantha had been unable to leave work. She also confided to Katie that she also had to see Harry in a somewhat professional capacity. That meeting him in another context did not hold as much weight.
Katie thought that was stupid and she said so. It made her feel better when Samantha agreed with her. She knew there were rules that had to be followed, that some rules could not be broken.
Despite the Weasley twins' usual behavior anyways.
She resolved to try and pay as much attention as she could. Take copious mental notes. Report everything she saw and heard to her mother. Her mother had promised to aid her in any other way that she could think of. Katie did feel a little better going into this day with a plan.
Despite the plan, despite being happy to seeing Harry and the Weasleys, she was still afraid. Just like Angelina.
Unlike Angelina, she had not been prepared to see him.
He was facing away when she walked up to them. Katie stopped when she saw Angelina's face, at the tears that ran down her friend's face.
Angelina did not even try to hide her anguish. She could offer no reassurance. She could not down play any of what she was feeling. Instead, she whispered into Harry's ear, letting the boy go so he could turn and stand.
What did they do to you? Katie screamed internally. He was skin and bones. He looked like a thin caricature of the boy she saw mere weeks ago
His eyes were worse than the first time she had met him. Too large making him look even younger and more hurt. Full of pain and uncertainty. He too had tear tracks etched deep into his skin. He stared at her without seeing for a moment. Then he blinked and the Harry that they had come to know slowly reappeared.
"Katie?" he whispered.
She did not reply. She ran to him.
Her body shook as she held him to her. She wanted to think it was the boy's emotions shaking her. She wanted to say it was his release of closely held pain was what made her body shake.
She knew better.
She half carried him a few steps. She thought it was ludicrous that she could almost physically carry it despite being barely taller than him. They managed to cross the distance in a tangle of limbs and clumsy half steps to Angelina who grabbed them both.
Katie and Angelina cried softly, letting Harry sob loudly.
Eventually his sob subsided. He murmured something, his voice muffled.
"What was that?" Angelina asked, gently releasing her grip.
Katie did the same, letting Harry move his head away slightly.
His eyes were red, his face wet. He spoke softly, his voice hoarse from crying. However he spoke with conviction, another sign of the Harry from the end of the school year was returning. "I remembered."
"Remembered what?" Katie asked.
"I remembered what I promised you. I'm not a…" he took a deep breath, "…a freak. They kept saying I was, that I deserved it because I was a freak."
The girls tightened their grip on him.
"But you two told me I'm not a freak. That I didn't deserve it." His eyes became hollow and his face insecure. "Right?"
"That's right Rabbit, you're not. You don't."
"I rather trust you two than them," Harry said. "You two won't lie to me."
"Never," Katie said.
Harry nodded. Naked relief rose on his face and he relaxed ever so slightly. Then the relief was swallowed by despair. "Then why do they say that I am?" The tears came again, if they ever went away. "Why do they treat me like that?"
"I wish I knew," Angelina said. Her voice shook as much as her arms.
"I thought they were my family," he whimpered.
"They're related to you but they aren't your family," Katie said firmly. She never said something with as much conviction as she did in that moment. "They didn't want you and that's their loss."
The poor boy looked at them, pain and hope all in one. "But you do, right?"
The girls squeezed him tight.
"Since we met you," Angelina said.
"We're the family that chose you." Katie said it with even greater conviction.
"Thank you," he whispered.
-0-
The Weasleys found them a while later and by that point Harry was calmer. Angelina and Katie were less so, their emotions raw, but their fears had been let out instead of held in. The twins, Ron, Ginny, and even Percy had come together holding brooms.
The afternoon went far too swiftly. They played three a side Quidditch with Ginny joining in at Harry's request. Percy would sub in for a moment here and there if someone wanted a breather but he was content to sit and watch while offering well meant but inefficacious advice. By the end everyone was tired from playing and being in the sun and heat.
But everyone was happy, especially Harry.
Harry had looked wistful as Angelina and Katie left but he had been beyond happy to see them so he let them go easily. With him out of Number 4, sending messages via owl would be far easier and they promised that they would speak often.
Before Katie left however, Molly drew her aside. "A moment of your time please, dear."
Katie looked at the older woman. "Of course, Mrs. Weasley." She waited for her to say something. Molly looked nervous for some reason and Katie felt that she had committed some kind of faux pas.
Molly must have realized and she smiled reassuringly. "Oh I'm sorry dear, I don't mean to alarm you. I'm just at a loss of how to say this so I'm dithering a bit. Best to say it out right." She took a deep breath. "Your mother is a Medi-Witch? The twins mentioned it."
Katie nodded.
"She specializes with children, yes?"
Katie's heart thumped. Relief flooded her body, followed closely by discomfort. Her relief was knowing she had an ally. Discomfort was knowing why she had an ally. "Yes ma'am, she does."
"I'd love to take Harry to see her but I am…unable to." She frowned. She had a hushed conversation with Arthur when he returned and his news was less than ideal. "There seems to be a bit of trouble with the guardianship."
Katie nodded sadly. She had an idea of what that meant. Her mother had complained about that issue many times.
"Would you mind asking your mother if I can send her a message here and there? Asking for her professional, if unofficial, advice?" She lapsed into silence for a moment, looking awkward. "I may not have the right to be doing anything but-"
Katie hugged Molly, cutting her off. She hugged her tightly, trying to impart words into the gesture, to say all that she wanted to but could not.
Caught off guard, Molly looked surprised. Then she hugged the girl back just as tightly, realizing what the younger girl was doing, why she was doing it. What she meant.
"I'm sure Mum will be happy to help." Katie smiled wetly. "Unofficially but professionally of course."
"Of course," Molly agreed. She smiled at Katie. "I'm glad you're friends with my children and Harry. You're a good girl. You're always welcome."
-0-
The fire flared at the Bell residence and Samantha looked at it expectantly. She was not worried about Katie per se. Katie was remarkably mature for her age and would never back down from defending herself. Or others as she had proved earlier this year.
Something Samantha was still very proud of.
Physically, Katie was tough. Samantha knew that. She had seen Katie fall from her broom as a child and despite a broken arm had tried to get back up immediately. She was also mentally tough too. Having stood up to heckling and teasing from children older than her.
Katie did have her soft spots however. Harry was one of them.
Samantha blamed herself a little for that. Katie had always been somewhat empathetic. She easily picked up on the emotions of others. The stronger she felt about them, the more she took on their moods as well. She and Katie had a very close mother/daughter relationship. Many times Katie would share Samantha's frustrations from work, be upset with her, be angry with her.
It was good that Katie was so kind in that fashion. It came with a dreadful price however.
Katie appeared out of the green flames.
Samantha could see that Katie had enjoyed herself. Yet just behind the tired smile, just behind the fatigue earned from Quidditch and running about, there was something else. Something painful. Something upsetting.
"That bad?" Samantha asked sadly.
Katie threw herself at her mother.
Ignoring the ash and soot Samantha pulled Katie in. She sat on the sitting room floor, holding the sobbing girl to her.
"I'm so sorry," Samantha said again and again, trying to soothe her daughter.
It took some time for Katie to regain her composure. Finally, she was able to speak. "Mrs. Weasley wants to message you. She sees something wrong too. She wanted you to see him but she mentioned the guardianship problem."
Samantha growled. "She can message me anytime. I'll help however I can."
Katie wiped her eyes on Samantha's clothes. "There was one good thing though."
"What's that?"
"Harry realizes that everything his…aunt and uncle told him isn't true. He understands that he doesn't deserve what they do to him."
"That's incredible. That's a really important first step that not many people get to." She kissed Katie's forehead. "I'm so proud of you my darling girl. He couldn't have gotten there without you."
Katie felt the tiniest bit better. "It wasn't just me," she said.
"Maybe not. But you're the one that noticed first. You led by example and everything that happened since then, everything that happens from now on, is possible because of you."
"You make it sound more amazing than it is," Katie said quietly, her cheeks red from embarrassment and emotion. She remembered this exact same conversation happening half a year ago.
"Because it is. Because you are."