Authors Note
Summary: Harry falls ill in the Christmas holiday and is taken care of by Molly and the rest of the Weasley clan.
AU set in Harry's third year. Ginny is a little bit OOC in this fic, as shes at home, shes more comfortable and not as shy as she normally is.
Written for: Bailey! I hope you like this!!
Beta: S L Blake
Harry, dear
There was no need for you to write. You're welcome here any time. We are all looking forward to having you here with us at Christmas. Here is something to keep you warm on the journey.
Love from,
Molly
OoO
I bit my lip nervously as we arrived at The Burrow. I looked out of the car window, admiring the snow that seemed to have settled for more than a couple of days. I turned to face Ron, who grinned at me, patting me on the back.
"We're home," he said.
I pulled at the sleeves of my jumper as we stepped out of the car, and I thanked the driver before he drove off back down the gravel path. The jumper I was wearing gave me comfort, and made me feel loved. Which was something I was still new at feeling. Molly made it especially for me to wear, and it had the 'H' on the front, like I was part of the Weasley family. I know she's sent them to me before, but somehow it feels different this year. I watched the driver turn right and disappear from view, with a warm smile on my face, as I took in my surroundings.
Snow really did make everything so much more beautiful than it was before. The fields and hills as far as I could see were covered, and in the near distance, it was still snowing. I could tell because faint lines of snow were breaking from the dark grey clouds to fall to the hills below. And, also, because it was easy to see, my glasses helped with that.
"Come on, Harry! I'll race you to the front door!"
I laughed and rubbed my nose with my sleeve out of habit, although I was a little colder than usual. I suspected it was because of the snow. So, I ran after Ron, not wanting to be last.
It was nice to run along the driveway, seeing the landscape around me, knowing that I, too, was at home.
Once we got to the door, I grumbled. Ron had only just beaten me, but it wasn't fair! He started before me. We argued a bit, but we both knew we were only joking. I knew by the mischievous look on his face.
Just as Ron was about to knock, the door opened.
"Ron, come on in and distract Mum! Fred and George pranked her and you know what she's like when–"
"Alright, Gin! I'll take Harry to her, she loves him more than me!"
"Ron–" I said, eyes wide. I sniffed a tad, wiping my nose on the back of my hand.
"You know what I mean!" He replied, as we were ushered into the cottage.
"What did they do?" I asked Ginny, who walked with us to the sitting room.
She grinned, somewhat shyly, and yet somewhat amusedly, "Tested their new sweets on Percy."
"Poor Percy," I sympathised, with a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips.
I coughed a few times, starting to not feel too good. It didn't sound great either, as I sniffled. Maybe it hadn't been just a one off cough on the journey back? I'm fine though.
"I thought you said you were fine?" Ron asked me, as I rubbed my nose.
"I am!"
"That did not sound fine to me," he said, frowning with concern.
"Look, Mum, Harry's here!" Ginny announced, and all of a sudden the house was quiet.
And then it wasn't. All the attention was on me, and I didn't know what to do, so I stood, awkwardly.
"Harry, darling! How lovely it is to see you! How are you?"
She gave me a warm hug, and then frowned as she said, "You need to eat more. Don't worry, we'll get that sorted. Are you warm? You seem warm to me."
I blinked, shrugging sheepishly. "I'm cold, actually. It's fine though, because it's snowing outside and that's why–"
"Mum, he's not feeling well! He was coughing on the train and just now," Ron told her.
I glared half-heartedly at Ron, I didn't want anyone to make a fuss. I was fine. I usually got ill around Christmas and just looked after myself. I didn't want to worry anyone else.
"I'm okay," I said, just as I sneezed loudly. "Sorry," I added, leaning on the arm of the sofa.
"Fred!" Mrs Weasley called out to the house. "George!"
I sighed heavily, as I got another cold spell. I didn't know what was wrong today, but it was okay. I was fine. And I just needed to convince everyone else that that was the case too.
"Yes, Mum?" Fred asked, with George in tow.
"Get the blankets, and rearrange Ronald's room. Harry's sick," she explained.
I closed my eyes, and sat down on the armchair I had been leaning on. I didn't want them to make a fuss. I didn't see the look of sympathy that George sent my way, or the look of determination from Fred.
I coughed again, this time I could feel it deep in my chest and my throat was sore from it.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly.
"Nonsense, there's no need to apologise. You can't help it when you get unwell. Come on, Ron, help me take Harry upstairs. Ginny, can you make soup–"
I didn't know how to feel as my arms were wrapped around Ron and Mrs Weasley's shoulders, as they took me up the stairs. They cared. I knew that, but actually experiencing it was different… I didn't want to be a burden, but they weren't making me feel like that. It was a different type of feeling, one I didn't really understand.
"I'm already on it!" Ginny replied, rummaging through the cupboards and getting to work.
I saw her boil some water as I looked back, giving Ginny a weak smile, and a grateful nod. Which she returned with a kind grin. I closed my eyes, as they suddenly felt very heavy.
Once we got to Ron's room, I tried to open my eyes to see that two beds had been brought together, many blankets and pillows rested on the beds and a couple of towels were placed on the chair next to the beds.
"That's great, Freddie, and Georgie. Go help Ginny with the soup, will you, dears?" Mrs Weasley asked, appreciatively.
"Get well soon, Harry!' Fred said.
"Yeah, Harry. We need you for the pranks we have planned tomorrow!" George added, grinning as they jogged out of the room.
"What did I say about no pranks on Christmas Day, boys?" Mrs Weasley spoke, loudly.
"You didn't!" They both called back.
It didn't take long for me to then be put in the joint beds, and I coughed a couple of times as I was tucked in by Mrs Weasley. I smiled, or tried to, but I was too tired.
I couldn't believe I hadn't been shunned out, or told to leave and go into my own room. To look after myself. I was the one being looked after. I… I realised what the feeling was that I didn't recognise as I was handed a teddy bear and a book to read.
A mother's love.
"Thank you," I croaked, my eyes slightly blurry as I shivered again.
"It's alright, dear. Now, if you don't mind. I'm going to read with you," she said, as Ginny came in with some gorgeous smelling soup on a tray.
"Carrot soup," Ginny said, "With bread and butter."
"And a hot chocolate," George said, as he entered with Fred.
"Parchment and quill in case you get bored," Fred said, placing the items on the bed.
I felt a blanket wrap over my heart as they left quietly, and I let a tear fall down my cheek.
It wasn't just a mother's love I was getting for the first time. It was family love, too. They were like the family I had always dreamed about having. And I loved them. So much.
"I don't know if you've heard of this, Harry. But this is a children's fairy tale that's been passed down for many generations. A bit like, as Arthur tells me, Goldilocks and the three Dragons…"
I laughed, and coughed, and she gave me a look of confusion.
"It's Goldilocks and The Three Bears," I explained, with a tired smile tugging at my lips.
"Ah," she said, softly, with an amused grin. "I will let Arthur know. Now, are you comfy? Too hot, too cold?"
I thought about it, and noticed I was feeling a little bit hot. "Too hot, but it's okay–"
"Alright, let's take off a blanket. The soup and hot chocolate will make you feel a lot warmer than you are feeling already," she stated, happily making me feel comfortable.
I sneezed, sniffled, and smiled. Another tear fell down my cheek and I wiped it away. I settled down, and picked up the soup spoon as Mrs Weasley sat back down on her chair. I blew on the soup as I tried it and closed my eyes.
It was delicious.
"Now, three brothers, travelling a lonely, winding road at midnight…"
Soon, I fell asleep, with a smile on my face.
OoO
I woke up, feeling a lot better. I didn't have a sore throat anymore. I had only coughed a couple of times during the night. I looked around me, and moved a pillow as I realised just how hot I had been during the night.
I then slowly got out of bed, and stretched. I had no idea how long I had been asleep for, but my muscles were still tired. I blinked as I put on a pair of slippers and the jumper over my pyjamas.
I opened the bedroom door, only now wondering where Ron had slept as I had taken his bed too. What if he hates me now, because I took up his whole room?
The smell of cooking filled my nostrils as soon as I stepped down the long spiral staircase. I recognised the smells – it was a roast dinner.
As I stepped into the kitchen, I was wrapped in a hug. I grinned with surprise, I didn't realise that Hermione had been able to make it. Her curly, bushy, brown hair bounced onto my shoulders as I hugged her.
"Harry! Merry Christmas! I came here as soon as I heard you were not well! How are you feeling? Do you need to go back to bed?" Hermione asked, all at once.
I sniffed as we pulled apart from the hug, and wasn't given much room before I got another one from Mrs Weasley.
"Harry, you look a lot more like yourself. Still peachy, but we can work on that. Help yourself to something to eat, and then you can join the others in the field at the back before I call you all in for Christmas Dinner."
I was feeling a tad overwhelmed, but I nodded as Mrs Weasley used magic to stir whatever was in one of the saucepans.
I took that moment to take in how Christmassy The Burrow was decorated. Christmas lights, a tree, lots of presents and mistletoe. Everything that made The Burrow more like home, than it normally was. Or maybe it was just the warm spirit of Christmas.
My stomach gurgled so I helped myself to some toast, as Hermione chatted to me about her holiday. She had spent it with her parents and they were going to join us for the family dinner. Apparently, they had been taken to Arthur's shed of Muggle bits and bobs and have been there ever since.
I told Hermione I'd be back to go and see what Mrs Weasley had meant by joining the others in the field. I got changed, still wearing my Christmas jumper, and put on a jacket as it was cold outside. I coughed, and drank some water before going back to Hermione.
We walked down the garden path, and I climbed over the fence that connected to a field, where I saw all of the Weasleys on their brooms.
Flying.
"I love magic," I said, mainly to myself as I watched them having fun, with a smile on my face.
"Why don't you join them?" Hermione asked, nudging my side.
"It's okay. I can't join in mid match," I replied, biting my bottom lip just as Charlie and Ron flew over to us.
"Nice to see ya, Harry!" Charlie spoke, looking exhausted, but like he had been enjoying time with his brothers and sister.
"Come on, join us, Harry!" Ron said, "Charlie's sitting this one out. He's old!"
"I'm not old!" Charlie responded, sticking his tongue out childishly. "I need a break, and someone needs to keep Hermione company!"
"I'm so glad you're not making me fly, I really hate flying!" Hermione replied, sounding grateful to have someone with her.
"Alright," I said, giving in.
It didn't take me long to get on a broom and start flying – and it was as amazing as it always was. The breeze in my hair, looking at the snow on the horizon, and playing a friendly game was all I needed to make myself feel better.
This honestly, was the best Christmas ever.
