Chapter 4 – The Reunion

Mrs Weasley ran up to Gareth's side and tried to take Harry into her arms. Harry got a bit scared again and buried his head into Gareth's jumper. Gareth sighed while Mr Weasley put his hand on the shoulder of his wife.

"Come on inside, I'll put the kettle on and we can have a seat in the living room, we have someone else here too to see Harry from Hogwarts" Gareth carried Harry into the living room and sat down in a vacant armchair. In the distance he could hear Mrs Weasley telling her children to go up to their rooms while the meeting was in progress. Gareth was surprised who he saw in the armchair on the opposite side of the room.

"Ah, Mr Potter. If you would like to face me instead of being an arrogant, stuck up boy and tell me what all this nonsense is all about?" Asked Severus Snape in a cruel sneer. "Spoilt Potter can't appreciate the kind folks who let you stay here, you have merely been here for a day and you are making a scene. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Severus this is not the time for sarcasm, can you at least let James Potters grudge go, he is much more like lily even though he looks like his father." Replied Gareth. Harry managed to take his head out of Gareth's jumper and looked at Snape dead on in the face his eyes wide and still full of the tears he had shed up in the forest. Snape sighed, he saw Lily in the boy and instantly his grudge against the boy left him, seeing Lily's eyes so full of hopelessness and scared of everyone in the room hurt him. How could he have been so judgemental and not seen the signs before?

"Mr Potter, I would like to apologise for judging you like your father and not knowing the real you, I will try to in future starting from now to be a better person" the sarcasm and harsh voice was dropped, and it was replaced by one which had concern and worry. Mr and Mrs Weasley had just entered the room and had overheard the conversation; Mr Weasley quickly cast a silencing charm so that any of the other children who were trying to listen could not.

"Sorry sir, and Mr and Mrs" mumbled Harry. It was barely audible but everyone in the room caught what he had said.

"You have nothing to apologise for Harry, we all get scared" comforted Gareth. Harry buried his head back in Gareth's jumper. "I found him in the forest up the hill, he seemed scared by something or other"

"Ron and I were arguing with him at the table about his eating and he just up and left" explained Mrs Weasley.

"Right, Harry can you explain why"

"I shouldn't have done it" mumbled Harry finally getting down from Gareth's lap "I apologise for my actions, thank you Gareth for coming. I didn't mean to waste your time"

"You can't help panic Harry" said Snape in a rather kind and understanding voice. Harry wanted to run he had wasted everyone's time and concern. Everything was getting overwhelming again he started to panic for a second time that day but tried to not let it show. Gareth of course could tell Harry was getting tense so he gave him some calming magic.

"we don't have to discuss things today, if you want we can wait until you are back at school and we can have a conversation then?" said Gareth. Harry visibly relaxed at that, it was of the pressure of talking to adults was too much right after a meltdown.

"You can't leave him like this! Good Merlin!" gasped Mrs Weasley

"Sometimes when a child has come from a difficult background then we need to take time and know when they are ready. Harry has coped so far, and I am sure he will be okay until we can get him back to school, it is only 4 weeks and if he needs assistance then Severus will be there if he needs to talk" explained Gareth

"That is certain, Mr Potter if you require anything do not hesitate to contact me via floo powder"

"I'm sorry sir, What is floo powder?"

"Don't you worry Harry once your Hogwarts letters arrive over the next few days we will show you" said Mrs Weasley kindly

"Thank you" replied Harry. Hoping that his one was an end of conversation one.

"What we are going to do Harry is when you go back to school I will meet you with Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape to discuss what we can do to help you" Harry nodded he didn't like where this was going but freaks shouldn't answer back an he shouldn't argue or say anything, he should be punished so much already. "Alright then, I will see you again, it has been a pleasure to meet you" Gareth shook everyone's hands then left the building. Severus then got up to leave.

"Things will work out okay Potter, I will inform the headmaster about this" said Snape leaving the house too so that it was just Mr and Mrs Weasley and Harry left in the room. No one said anything for a while.

"Harry do you want to go upstairs and play with Ron until dinner is ready" asked Mrs Weasley as she took down the silencing charm. Harry nodded and went upstairs to fine Ron, Ginny and the twins waiting for him up in Ron's room.

"Are you alright now Harry?" asked Ron

"Yeah, can we forget this happened?" replied Harry

"Of course, do you want to play exploding snap?" Harry nodded and the five of them started to have a game and Harry was able to forget about what had happened. Though that night when he went to sleep he couldn't and sat up thinking about what had happened.