Written for Writer's Month 2022. Prompt #25: Lips.
This happens after A Rescue Party to Cool You Down, but before Protected by Fire (Or At Least A Firehead). It's something of a missing scene - one I forgot about before. Thanks go to edwards-sparrow and Ghostwalker for pointing it out:)
Happy reading!
Ron was sitting in an armchair, looking at his sleeping friend. It was hard to believe they had brought Harry to the Burrow mere hours ago – it seemed like days had passed since they came home. So much had happened in the meantime – they had to pull him back from mortal peril, to be honest – and Ron was feeling exhausted.
Harry was sleeping now. Ron would've been concerned about it, but his mom had told him Harry would need a lot of rest to recover. Apparently, being overheated and dehydrated caused a person to feel very drained.
His friend's sleep was a bit restless – every now and then he'd turn around, mumbling something. Ron had been trying to understand what Harry was talking about, but he hadn't been having much success. All he got was "Aunt Petunia" and "Coming!". Just as he thought about how unfair it was that Harry couldn't get a rest from those awful relatives of his even while asleep, Harry spoke a little louder.
- Hedwig!
He turned some more after that, and then went back to mumbling something quietly. In the meantime, Ron felt like slapping himself on the head – they had forgotten Hedwig! And Harry's stuff! Obviously, seeing Harry so sick drew their attention from it all while they were in Surrey, but Harry would definitely want his things once he got better. Ron got up and went to the kitchen.
Seated at the kitchen table, his parents were drinking coffee and talking in hushed tones. Once Ron entered the room, they grew silent and looked at him.
- Is everything alright, Ron? Did Harry wake up?
Ron shook his head at his mother.
- No, he's still asleep. However, we do have a little problem. You see, when we saw how sick Harry was, we kinda forgot about his stuff, so it's all still at his relatives' house...
His father raised his head at that.
- All of his things are still in Surrey?
Ron nodded vigorously.
- Yeah – his clothes, books – even his owl!
His mother looked at his father.
- The poor boy would be devastated to lose his pet, I'm sure of it. We have to do something!
His father nodded resolutely.
- Yes, we have to. I think it would be best if I took the boys in the car and went back with them to pick it all up – you should stay here and make sure he gets better while we take care of this.
His mother seemed to consider this.
- You may be right – although, don't you think that will be the last you hear about that car, Arthur Weasley! We have much to talk about once Harry's well!
His father looked to the side. Ron found it a little funny – his mother's scoldings could be so scary, even their father was wary of them!
- Of course, Molly, dear. Now, why don't we get going? What do you say, Ron?
Ron nodded at him rapidly.
- Sure, dad. Let's me just get Fred and George, and we'll go.
He left the kitchen and went upstairs.
- Fred! George! I need you now!
The twins came out of their room, making sure to quickly close the door so no one would see what they were up to inside.
- What's up, Ron?
- What do you need...
- ...us for?
Ron quickly filled them in on the situation. Soon enough, they four of them were in the car, flying toward Surrey.
- So, you flew this thing all by yourself this night, huh, boys?
The three of them looked at their father. He laughed at them.
- Don't worry, I won't scold you for it – I just wanted to hear how it went.
They relaxed at that, and started talking about the adventure. Between all the questions from their father, and the excited retellings of the three midnight drivers, the journey to Surrey passed very quickly.
Once they were near Harry's relatives' house they turned on the Invisibility Booster and landed in the front yard of the house. Their father cast a protective spell over the house, making the whole area inconspicuous to Muggles – their eyes would just go over it and move away, not noticing anything happening there. They could now get out of the car without anyone seeing them appear out of nowhere.
They went to the front door, which their father opened with a quick Alohomora. Once they were inside, their father put a finger to his lips, telling them to keep quiet while they looked around for the Dursleys. They were all in the living room, watching television. They could hardly believe it – Harry had just disappeared from their home, and they didn't give a damn! It took a lot out of them to only Confound them and move on; however, they didn't want to end up in trouble with the Ministry over hexing them.
They went upstairs and saw the locks on Harry's room. They were horrified – how could anyone do that to a child? Their father looked like he wanted to forget it as quickly as possible – most probably, he wouldn't even tell anything about it to their mother, for fear of her losing control and coming there to murder the vile creatures who did it to Harry.
They went inside and took Hedwig. A look around the room showed very little things worth of being taken – the clothes in the wardrobe were hideously worn, even by the Weasley standards, and there wasn't much stuff in the room at all. They went back downstairs, trying to figure out where Harry's trunk could be.
A little snooping showed no sign of his things in any of the rooms. In the end, George spotted the door to a cupboard under the stairs. Figuring they had nothing to lose, they tried the door, and it opened. Inside the cupboard, among mops and brooms, laid Harry's Hogwarts trunk.
They took it out and carried it all to the car. With great difficulty, they left the monsters who called themselves Harry's relatives intact and left, going back home. When they came to the Burrow they told the Weasley matriarch it had all gone well, without any problems. They made sure to leave out the disturbing details out, knowing she wouldn't be able to control herself if she found out how awful their treatment of him was. Arthur vowed to talk to Dumbledore about it if the man refused to see reason when Molly talked to him, but that was it – no one else would find out about it from him if he could help it.
A little after they came home Harry woke up once again. To his great joy and surprise, Hedwig was perched next to his bed. He felt a warmth spread around his heart. He was happy.
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I wish you all the best, and hope you're doing well! All my love to you!
