DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Arthur Weasley was a very mild mannered man. He was quiet and reserved, very seldom raising his voice in anger. There were only a handful of his friends and his eldest two boys that knew he used to be an unspeakable. The first war had changed him, so much so that he wanted just to live peacefully in a job he enjoyed, and with his love of all things muggle, he was quite happy, if not overly wealthy. This didn't bother Arthur though, for he considered himself to be quite wealthy with love. He counted himself lucky to be alive after his attack last winter. He was upset that both Ron and Ginny had gone to the Department of Mysteries, but also glad that he no longer worked there. That had been Voldemort's first target. Albus had told them all of a prophecy that mentioned the dark lord, and that he would be after it. He failed to inform them that it mentioned Harry as well. He cared for the boy, and if Molly had anything to say about it, Harry was part of the family already, an honorary Weasley. His saving of Ginny's life in the chamber was enough, but then he saved Arthur's life as well. Molly had argued for hours, even sending Albus two howlers to let Harry stay with them, but they were refused. Harry was back with his muggle relatives, but hopefully the warnings at Kings Cross would make his stay easier.
As the post arrived on that Sunday morning, Arthur would not have been suspicious if he or Molly had received a letter from Harry, surprised maybe, but not worried in the least. But when several owls arrived, all with letters from Harry, he knew something was very wrong. Arthur didn't have a chance to start reading his when a friend, who knew of the order, informed him that Harry had used magic at Privet Drive. Arthur immediately left for the ministry to sort out the details. When he arrived he made for the detection department to find what spells had been used. He soon retrieved the list, one shrinking charm, a summoning charm, a stunner, a mobilus charm, a full body bind and finally an enervate. Arthur assumed that Harry had been attacked by his relatives and fought back, using the shrinking charm in preparation to leave. Feeling a bit relieved, he made his way to his office to grab some things, and their decided to read Harry's letter.
Dear Mr. Weasley,
I hope this finds you well. I'm not sure how to say what I want, as it is mostly how I feel. I consider the Weasleys to be my family, I hope I am not mistaken that you feel the same, and as such I want to make sure my family is taken care of. With that said, I have had some of my money transferred from my vault to yours. Please accept this, for I have never had use for money, nor will I ever need as much as my parents left me. I know you will most likely not want to accept this, but please do. If Bill or Charlie were to bring some money to help the family out, you would accept it from them, so please accept mine. Your family has given me so much; I just want to pay you back in at least this small way. Now that I have said that, I must tell you what happened at the Department of Mysteries.
Arthur read the details of what happened and what the prophecy actually said. Harry was the one who had to defeat Voldemort. This couldn't be happening, not to Harry, he deserved better. Arthur silently prayed that Harry hadn't told Molly the prophecy in his letter to her, otherwise she would be there now, and most likely wouldn't leave.
An Englishman once said 'The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.' I remember this not meaning much when I was younger in muggle school, but now I have to wonder why more people don't stand up to Voldemort. I surely don't want to say that most witches and wizards are not good, but I can't help but wonder why more people are not fighting him. Another thing I remember from school is a saying from an American President. It also never meant much, but after learning the prophecy it has helped me to come to terms with my destiny.
He said 'A man who has never lost himself in a cause bigger than himself has missed one of life's mountaintop experiences. Only in losing himself does he find himself. Only then does he discover all the latent strengths he never knew he had and which otherwise would have remained dormant.'
I am supposed to have 'power he knows not', but that power hasn't shone itself to me yet. Can I only discover myself, and unlock my dormant powers by accepting my fate? I found myself faced with this decision, and I know that it must be faced sooner or later. I have chosen sooner. I will face Voldemort today, and with any luck we will both die. I am not afraid to die, I believe, as does Professor Dumbledore that it is the next great adventure, and I will be able to see my parents and Sirius again. I so looked forward to talks with you, those of a father to son, for I have never had anyone to fill that role before and I have always been jealous of others that did.
Harry went on to tell of his backing the twins joke shop, and his feelings toward all the Weasleys. Arthur finished the letter and quickly returned to headquarters. Things there were much as he figured. Molly was crying hysterically while most others where in a state of shock. The twins were trying to console Ginny. Hermione and her parents arrived with Minerva after awhile and everyone settled in to wait for news. Remus had left, presumably to go to Privet Drive, and Minerva said that Albus was there now with Tonks, Kingsley and Vance. Ron and Hermione were both crying, holding each other in whispered conversation. Ginny sat on the floor rocking back and forth like she had done for months after the chamber of secrets, the twins consoling her as best they could. Arthur picked up on various smatters of talk; Harry had given an interview where he told of his life, the prophecy and facing Voldemort this morning.
It wasn't until Bill arrived covered in blood that he realized that Bill was Harry's guard for today. Bill assured them that he was fine, that it wasn't his blood. Although he didn't say it, everyone suspected it was Harry's. They learned that Harry had fought Voldemort and at least a dozen death eaters some of which had died. Harry was injured and taken back to his relatives for safety where healers were attending to him. He knew that there would be no stopping Molly and the rest from going to Privet Drive now, and in fact he wanted to be there as well. When Albus finally returned, he expected Molly to lash out, but when Ginny did, everyone was stunned. Albus barely deflected two curses as Ginny tore across the room towards him.
'DID YOU LIE TO ME!!! WAS OUR TALKS JUST A BUNCH OF BLOODY LIES???' Ginny's small frame shook with rage as she cursed Albus.
'No Miss Weasley, I did not lie to you.' He said in a mild but demanding voice.
'Then why did you send Harry back there. And don't say it was because of the protection. He could have went there later in the summer. He should have been with us, with his family, not those BLOODY MUGGLES!!!'
Albus simply sat down and looked defeated. 'I understand how you feel.'
'SHUT UP! I was ready to kill myself that night you stopped me. You told me the pain would go away, that all I needed was to be home with my family and that love would see me thru it all. I felt terrible, but I didn't just see my godfather murdered! Harry needed someone to love and care for him.' With that she broke down into sobs again. The household that was somewhat happy this morning was devastated now.
No one expected an outburst from Hermione, but burst she did. 'This is all your fault! I've always thought you cared about Harry, but I cannot believe that now!'
Her comments were met with gasps and whispers, the look of pure loathing on her face as she watched the headmaster was enough to surprise everyone. Albus simply hung his head in defeat.
'I just did what I thought was best for Harry.'
'You have got to be joking. You placed Harry with people who hated him. They abused him, lied to him, looked down on him and treated him like a slave. I knew more about Harry than he did when he got to Hogwarts. He should have been with a family that would love him, not those⦠those MUGGLES!!!' Hermione said the last part with disgust, like it was a foul word, but it seemed that's how she felt about Harry's relatives.
'Although my family knew nothing about magic at the time, I think my mum and dad would have taken Harry in. Then the person I love as a brother would have been that legally! The Weasleys would have taken him in, everyone knows that. What were you bloody thinking?' The adults tried to interrupt, seeing Hermione swear and berate the Headmaster was a bit much for them, although they all agreed with her.
'Sirius wanted to take Harry, but you wouldn't let him', Ginny added. Others tried to say that a life as a fugitive from the law wasn't for Harry, but she explained.
'No, not now, back when it happened. Sirius went to Godrics Hollow. He told me last summer. He was there to visit but then he realized that something had happened. Before he could go in the house, Hagrid came out with Harry. Sirius pleaded with Hagrid to let him take Harry, but he refused. Hagrid said Dumbledore told him to bring Harry to him, and not let anyone stop him. Sirius let his rage at Wormtail get the best of him. He told me that was the biggest regret of his life.' Ginny's words had everyone thinking that Albus had made a few mistakes concerning Harry. His life would have been so different if he had grew up with people who loved him.
Hermione drew her wand on the headmaster then, 'You knew that Voldemort wasn't gone forever, that's why you had the Stone hidden at the castle our first year. Regardless of if you suspected it before, you knew for sure then. Harry should have been trained to defend himself from that year on, but what did we get, that fool Lockhart. If you cared about Harry you would have taught him yourself! Surely there was someone that you could have found to do it. All this time I have trusted you!'
If everyone thought the situation was bad, they were sadly mistaken. 'Kindly remove your wand from the Headmasters face Miss Granger.' Severus Snape entered the kitchen with his typical sneer as he spoke to Hermione.
She spun and brought her wand to bear on him, 'Were you there? Did you help them curse Harry?'
Snape simply raised an eyebrow and in his best loathing voice replied. 'Although I would love to have cursed the arrogant brat,' he never got to finish his sentence. Several curses hit the potions master, throwing him back into the wall landing in a heap. Hermione and every Weasley hit him with some type of curse, hex or jinx.
Hermione spun back on the Headmaster, 'You will make a portkey right now. We are going to Privet Drive to stay with Harry! If I see you or your pet death eater near Harry again, I will curse you into next week!' Her threat was met with sharp intakes of breath from the adults, but all the children seemed to agree. Albus simply nodded his head and left to find something to cast the spell on.
It was moments later that the twins realized that the ministry should be sending owls for the improper use of magic violations. It was Albus who answered their questioning, 'This house has wards that protect magic here from detection. The children are free to practice magic within these walls.' With that the last nail was driven, and what trust he did have with the teens around him was buried.
An old mop was made into a portkey and soon seven Weasleys, Arthur, Molly, Bill, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny, three Grangers and one Delacour were in the backyard of number 4 Privet Drive.
