Author's Note: This is very important – this story may not have an ending! The explanation to why is a bit complicated, but whatever. Enjoy or destroy what I do put up, and hopefully you'll get a conclusion!
Disclaimer: I own none of this, JKR does.
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It was another hot July day. The sun shone brightly against the blue sky above the Burrow. Charlie Weasley sat in the backyard of his parents' home, shielding his eyes from the blazing orange light overhead. He was staring intently at a tree, apparently deep in thought. And for good reason.
The world was changing quickly. News of You-Know-Who's return spread like wildfire through the wizarding world, not that anyone expected differently. People were in a complete state of…state of what? Shock? Panic? Disbelief? Well, whatever they may have been feeling, most of them were confused, at least. While friends, family and acquaintances said the rumors were true, most Ministry officials insisted that that's all it was; rumors. Of course, Charlie knew the truth. His younger brother's best friend, Harry Potter, had been there, and all the Weasley's treated Harry like a family member, like a Weasley. Not believing him would be like betraying him. And if there was one thing his family could not do, it was betray another Weasley.
So it was true, what they had all feared. The Dark Lord had returned, as strong and as powerful as he had ever been. Charlie and his brother Bill moved in with their family, just to be with them. Well, among other reasons…
It seemed a bit cramped at first, but with a little magic, all was sorted out. To Charlie, it had felt wonderful to be home. They were a family again. They bickered, they laughed, they argued.
Most importantly, they were happy.
That afternoon Harry and Ron's other best friend, Hermione Granger, were arriving for their customary stay at the Burrow for the remainder of the summer. Everyone was bustling about the house, getting things prepared, and Charlie had snuck outside for a moment of solitude to just think. Unlike most of his family, he didn't like ignoring serious things. He wanted to think about his life, about his priorities, so he stole away, not unnoticed.
"What are you doing out here?" Ron asked, walking up behind his brother, who jumped.
"Shit, Ron! Don't sneak up on a person like that!"
"Sorry," Ron shrugged. "You didn't answer my question. You actually sort of resembled someone thinking. It scared me."
Charlie swatted the 15 year olds arm.
"Well, I was. But it doesn't matter. Are they here yet?"
"Nope. Should be any minute now," Ron hoped Charlie hadn't noticed the tone he used. But nothing gets by Charlie Weasley.
"What's up, Ron? Something going on?" Ron shook his head.
"No, not really. Harry's just been acting a bit stupid, but it's nothing I can't handle."
Charlie raised an eyebrow.
"Harry? Acting stupid? I thought that was your job. How is he acting stupid?"
"It's nothing, really!" Charlie gave Ron one of those looks. "He's just…he didn't want to come this summer. He said he's caused enough families problems. I argued with him for saying it, and insisted he come, but it won't make any difference. He's depressed, and rightly so, though I hate to admit it."
"There really isn't much we can do about it except be there for him, I guess." Ron nodded in agreement, but there was something else going on, Charlie could tell.
"Charlie! Ron! Harry's here and Hermione will be any minute! Come inside!" Mrs Weasley's voice carried over to them. The brothers started walking towards the house. As they did so, Charlie glanced at Ron and noticed something he hadn't before.
"Ron," he began, halfway to the backdoor, "Why are you wearing that?" Ron had on a black, long sleeved shirt, much to heavy for such heat.
"Hmm? Oh, I dunno. I'm not hot, that's all." That didn't seem right, somehow.
Shrugging, Charlie pushed open the door and let Ron in before him. He really couldn't think about it, though he wanted to, because the next thing he knew, he was hearing a bunch other voices and staring at a jumble of red hair, with a bit of bushy brown and messy black.
***
Harry hadn't really expected all of the Weasley's to greet him when he stepped out of the fireplace. Ron hadn't mentioned Bill and Charlie visiting, so he was shocked when he found out they had actually moved back in. It wasn't a disappointing surprise, anyways. In fact, he was rather happy. The more people, the less chance he'd spend all his time alone, brooding, as he had done so much of at the Dursley's.
"Good to see you, Harry. I hope your well?" Percy smiled at him from the kitchen table, peering over the newspaper he was reading. Harry opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted.
"Harry! You're here!" George said in surprise, walking into the kitchen. Fred was right behind.
"We've got loads of…books to show you later, if you want," Fred smiled, a smile that told Harry he was not in fact referring to books.
Probably Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Harry thought, grinning.
Ginny walked into the room then, carrying a book. She noticed Harry, and jumped a little. Smiling, she shook her head.
"Harry, you scared me. I didn't know you were there. Good to see you though. It's nice you're. . . it's good you're here. For the whole family, I mean." Harry couldn't help but smile, and, to even his surprise, blush a bit (which was funny because, for the first time, Ginny wasn't). He didn't think much of it, though, and thankfully, no one else noticed.
Bill, who was reading over Percy's shoulder, forced a smile.
"Alright Harry?" he asked. He had been one of the three Weasley's to have been there last year, during the third task.
"Yeah, thanks." It wasn't a complete lie. He certainly was better now that he was at Ron's house.
Where IS Ron? he wondered. He didn't have time to speculate, however, because he was soon swept up in a huge hug from Mrs Weasley.
"Oh Harry! You're here! I'm so glad!" She pulled away and looked down at him, tears in her eyes. She seemed determined not to cry, however, so she smiled and hugged him once more. "I heard you weren't planning on coming. I'd have went straight to your house and dragged you here myself, if you hadn't." Harry made a mental note to kick Ron later.
Mr Weasley gently pulled his wife away from Harry, then clapped him on the shoulder.
"Glad you could make it," he said simply.
"Charlie! Ron! Harry's here and Hermione will be any minute! Come inside!" Mrs Weasley called out the back door. As if on cue, there was a small noise in the fireplace, and Hermione stumbled out, coughing slightly. Harry was practically tossed aside as Hermione received a greeting not unlike his own. He noticed, while Hermione was being hugged (or strangled) by Mrs Weasley, that Ron and Charlie had come inside. Charlie waved and mouthed the word 'hi', and Ron grinned in his lop sided sort of way. Harry mimicked Charlie, mouthing 'hello' to them and waving.
Finally, after what felt like ages, the three were able to tear themselves away from the family, claiming they needed to drop Harry's and Hermione's stuff upstairs. They didn't say a word to each other until they were in Ron's room, and Ron had shut the door.
"You told your mum I didn't plan on coming this summer?" Harry asked, not so much in an angry way.
"Actually, I mentioned it to Bill or something a few days ago. Word gets around in this family, it seems," Ron shrugged, "Besides, you were the one being a prat about it!"
"Wait, what's going on? You weren't going to come, Harry?"
Harry sighed "Look, I wasn't in the best of moods, I was upset about. . .well, you know-"
Hermione smiled sympathetically, and interrupted him. "Yes, we get it Harry. Just so long as you're here now, that's all that matters. Right Ron?" Hermione said the last part very pointedly.
Let it pass this time, Ron. He's been through a lot. Let it pass, she thought to herself, staring at the red head. He sighed, but nodded.
"So, how come you didn't mention Bill and Charlie moving in?" Hermione asked, desperate for a change of conversation.
"…I did. I sent you both letters about it. Didn't you get them?" Ron asked, blushing ever so slightly and averting his eyes to look down at Pig, who was making a hell of a lot of noise.
Hermione turned to Harry, a confused look on her face. He shook his head, and they both looked at Ron.
"Um, neither of us got them Ron."
"Did you use Errol?"
Ron laughed. "No, I used this little bugger. Figures he'd screw it up. Doesn't take anything seriously, this one."
"Sounds like you," Harry said, and Hermione giggled. Ron glanced up at them, looking as though he was going to say something back, but ended up smiling as well.
The three of them spent the rest of the day in Ron's room, catching up. Not that they had much catching up to do, but it's what they told the other Weasley's, so they wouldn't be disturbed. Really, they spent the time lounging around, discussing things like Quidditch and school, playing Exploding Snap, that sort of thing. It was nice, to be able to stay with each other and not have to think about the war, which was sure to come.
They didn't go downstairs until dinner, and afterwards they went right back up. Around midnight, Mr and Mrs Weasley crept up to see if they were alright, and found the three asleep, still dressed. Ron and Harry were on the floor, Quidditch Through the Ages in front of them, and Hermione on the bed, her head resting on a book.
Feeling they looked too peaceful to disturb, the married couple left for their own room, smiling.
