Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
A/N: Hey there! Sorry about the lack of A/N's up until now. My computer has really not liked me and I have only just convinced it to cooperate. Thank you to everyone who reviewed! They seriously make my day if not my whole week! As promised, here is Chapter Four! Enjoy!
While Harry and Arthur were in transit to the Burrow, Bill, Charlie, and Percy came home to find their house bustling with more activity than usual, which was saying quite a bit.
Grabbing a hold of Ginny, they found out that since the previous evening, their mother had had everyone cleaning the house from top to bottom. Nothing under the beds, or shoved in the closets, but for once, everything was actually put away.
The only room that had really remained untouched was Fred and George's room for fear that someone might set something off. Fred and George did indeed help clean, but they left their room alone. Besides, they wanted Harry to see the new products they had invented with the money he had given them.
"I'll ask again," Charlie said shaking his head in confusion as he helped Ron with cleaning his room. "Why are we cleaning the house from top to bottom?"
Ron looked up from under the bed where he was removing a large stack of socks. "What? You don't know? I thought that Ginny would have told you."
"All she had time to tell us was that we were supposed to help out with cleaning the entire house. She was about to tell me why when mum appeared and shoved a mop at me," Charlie said, looking over his shoulder as though his mother was there with another cleaning device.
"Yeah, well, now you now how the rest of us feel. We've been doing this since last night!" Ron complained.
"Could you just tell me why we are doing this Ron?" Charlie said.
"I'd like to know the same thing. No one is saying anything and it's driving me mad!" Bill said coming into the room, with Percy right behind him.
"Indeed, I do hope that there is a very good reason behind this. Mum isn't normally this insane about chores," Percy said with a grimace.
Ron just smiled at his older brothers. "Sorry guys, if the others aren't telling you, then I won't either. I think mum wants it to be a surprise for you three."
Bill, Charlie, and Percy all rolled their eyes and glared at Ron. "Fine then, we'll just get Ginny to tell us. We're her favorite brothers after all," Charlie said grinning.
Ron looked at them for a moment before bursting out into laughter. "I would not do that if I were you. You would only get her angry, which as well all know, is not a good idea."
The others winced. Ginny may have been the youngest of them, but she had a set of lungs that rivaled their mothers. It was far better to play it safe then get Gin Gin angry.
"Fine, be that way. We'll find out eventually," Bill grumbled.
"No, I think that you're about to find out now," Ron said looking out the window with glee. "MUM! EVERYONE! THEY'RE HERE!"
As Ron ran out of the room, the others ran towards the window to see what Ron was talking about. All they could see though was their father's new enchanted car. Shrugging, the three of them followed the others out into the yard.
-
Harry watched through the window of the car as the Burrow came into sight. It was just how he had remembered it. Warm, cozy, comforting, and very welcoming. As they got closer, he could see all the Weasley children were outside waiting.
He noticed with some puzzlement that Percy, Charlie, and Bill were scowling at the twins, Ron, and Ginny and absently wondered why. Harry was brought out of his thoughts though when the car stopped.
Arthur smiled at him from the front seat. "Ready Harry?"
Harry nodded, not trusting himself to speak at the moment.
"All right then. I'll get your luggage, you just go on and greet everyone," Arthur said.
Harry looked at him tentatively. "Are you sure that you don't need any help?"
"I'm fine Harry. Besides, if you don't get out of the car soon, I think that everyone else will mob my car just in order to get to you!" Arthur said half jokingly. The rest of the family did indeed look about ready to storm the car.
Harry smiled and took a deep breathe before exiting the car. This was it, he had finally come home at long last.
He had barely gotten out of the car before he was mobbed by a sea of red hair.
"Oh Harry! Thank goodness you're here, we have been terribly worried about you! We've been waiting for this day for years now!" Molly said pulling him into a tight embrace.
Harry returned the hug while surprising the urge to moan aloud from the bruises on his chest and back. Vernon had been quite thorough the other night. He refused to dwell on that though. Privet Drive was only a memory which would fade in time.
"Mum? What do you mean we've been waiting for this day for years?" Percy asked looking somewhat puzzled.
"Oh ignore him, Bill, and Charlie, they don't know yet. Welcome to the family mate," Ron said hugging Harry.
The twins and Ginny were not ones to be left out and quickly joined the hug which quickly deteriorated into a massive group hug.
While the teens were hugging and slapping each other on the back, Bill, Charlie, and Percy all turned to their parents with astonishment clearly etched onto their faces.
"What, how? They... they finally approved it?" Bill asked not quite believing what he was witnessing.
"Yes, they did. Harry is ours now, just as he should have been all along," Arthur said, hugging a tearful Molly.
For a few seconds, the three oldest children stared blankly at their parents before whooping and joining the massive group hugging.
"Oi! Let go of him you prats! It's our turn now," Charlie said.
Everyone ignored him though so Bill and Charlie took matters into their own hands. "Accio Harry!" they cried out together.
Before Harry knew what had hit him, he was zooming in the air and flew directly into Bill's chest.
"Gotcha little bro! That's what you are now I hope you realize. You are now officially the youngest male Weasley!" Bill said happily as he danced around still holding onto Harry very tightly.
"And about bloody time too!" Ron exclaimed as he watched his brothers antics with amusement.
"Bill, would you kindly put Harry down? He looks a little green," Percy said fondly.
"Oops, sorry there Harry," Bill apologized.
"No harm done," Harry wheezed as the world spun in circles around him.
"Steady there mate, Bill doesn't realize his own strength sometimes," Ron said laying a steady hand on Harry's shoulder.
"I noticed. So, I heard something about a Quidditch game. Does anyone want to play?" Harry asked.
"AH! Not until you have eaten young man, and that goes for the rest of you as well," Molly said glaring at her brood. "Go on into the kitchen Harry dear, I'll have dinner ready in a jiffy!"
"Welcome home Harry and welcome to the family," Ron whispered as they sat down at the table.
Harry's grin was as wide as the sun it seemed. "I'm home," he whispered happily. "I'm finally home."
-
At Remus Lupin's house, Sirius Black was sitting in the kitchen laughing his ass off. He was laughing so hard that tears were falling and he had fallen off his chair.
Remus was watching the whole scene with amusement and a little bit of concern. It was good to see Padfoot laugh again, but what in the name of Merlin could have prompted it? Could Sirius at last have cracked?
"Sirius? Are you done laughing yet? I would really like to know what has you in such a state," Remus said.
"Oh Moony, I know now where those identical twins you and Harry were telling me about get it from," Sirius said, wiping away tears of laughter.
Moony looked at him with surprise. "Do you mean Fred and George?"
"Yes, those two. Ron's older brothers right," Sirius said.
"Yes, what about them?" Remus said, his curiosity sparked despite himself.
"I now know for sure where they got their trouble making streak from. I just received the most interesting letter from Arthur Weasley," Sirius dangled.
Remus rolled his eyes. "Just spit it out Padfoot. How is Arthur just as trouble making as those twins of his?"
"Well my dear Moony, it would appear that Arthur and Molly have finally done the impossible. They have pulled one under Dumbledore's nose. Frankly, I don't blame them. I would have done the same if it wasn't for the fact that I'm a supposed escape convict," Sirius said bitterly.
Now Remus was definitely intrigued. "What did Arthur pull on Albus? I didn't think anything got past that man."
"I didn't either until just now. It would appear that for the past three years, Arthur and Molly have been doing a lot of research and paper work, as well as visiting certain wizarding courts. They have legally gained custody to Harry and are his foster parents!"
Remus's jaw dropped somewhere around ground level as he sank down in a chair next to Sirius. "What! When, how.." he stuttered in shock.
"Albus is going to be furious, but frankly, I don't give a damn. I really don't think he knew what Harry's life at Privet Drive was like. Harry will no longer be returning there however, for good. Arthur got Petunia and Vernon to sign papers transferring their guardianship of Harry over to him and Molly. About damn time to if you ask me," Sirius stated.
"I couldn't agree more, but by Merlin! The wards around the house will fall any day now! If Albus doesn't know about this already, he will when the wards fall," Remus said.
Sirius's eyes shined with anticipation at the thought. "I don't know about you Moony, but I intend to be in Hogwarts when that happens."
Moony's eyes shone as well with mischief. "Oh believe me Padfoot, I shall be there as well. If I know Dumbledore, he will have Arthur and Molly in his office within five minutes of figuring everything out. I very much wish to be present when Molly goes off at him."
"Albus won't be too mad once he understands the reasoning behind what they did. He would never want Harry to suffer any more than he already has. He loves Harry as much as we do," Sirius said seriously.
"I know, but for now, shall we go to Hogwarts Padfoot?" Moony said.
"Why I do believe we should dear old Moony," Sirius said.
The two men laughed as they went to back their belongings for a prolonged stay at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy.
TBC