Disclaimer: See Chapter One

A/N: Hey there! Thank you so much for the reviews! I know that there are not that many right now but even one means a lot to me. So, thank you! A huge thanks to my beta enb2004! Go read her story Acceptance, it's fab! As promised, here is Chapter 5, enjoy!

Two days had passed at the Burrow, and for the first time since the Third-Task, Harry felt happy. He did of course have his moments of depression, namely when he had his nightmares, but he didn't let it get to him. Or so it appeared on the surface anyway.

The dreams truly bothered Harry but he didn't want to talk about them. To talk about then would mean reliving the third-task and that was the last thing he wanted to do. All he wanted right then and there was to be a normal teenage boy for once. For a while, it seemed his wish had come true.

In hindsight, Harry should have realized that it couldn't last. Nothing in his life ever stayed perfect for long. He should have known that this would have been no different.

Ironically, the day everything went to hell had actually started off quite well. That should have been the first clue that everything was about to go wrong.

Harry opened his eyes sleepily and noticed that the sun was just coming up over the mountains. Groaning, he tried to go back to sleep but found he couldn't.

All of those days waking up at the crack of dawn to his Aunt Petunia's shrieks had trained his body to wake up early. He hadn't slept in since he had left Hogwarts. Still though, the day looked to be a beautiful.

From downstairs, he could already smell Molly's cooking. He grinned at that. It had taken him the better part of the last two days to get used to calling Molly and Arthur by their first names.

Grimacing, he rose out of bed, and bit back a moan of pain as his bruised torso and back complained bitterly about the movement. Smelling the delicious food though sent him into motion despite his body's protests, and before he realized it, he was in the kitchen.

"Good morning Harry! You're up early," Molly said while scrambling some eggs.

"Yep, it must have been your cooking that woke me. It smells so good that I just couldn't resist," Harry said with a smile. Well, it was partially true at any rate.
Molly beamed at him and immediately served him a large helping of eggs and bacon along with a tall glass of orange juice.

Harry dug in with gusto. He hadn't had much of an appetite since the Third-Task and then with his relatives feeding him, he was quite hungry. Two days at the Burrow had done much to improve his appetite.

Apparently, the smell of Molly's cooking woke up several others in the household as well. Arthur, Ginny and the twins had come down and were gobbling down their food with Harry. Only Ron had yet to make an appearance but Harry knew that Ron would not appear until around 11am or so, without Molly's intervention that was. He estimated that Molly would call for Ron in a few seconds. He was right.

"Ronald Weasley! You get down here and eat breakfast with the rest of your family," Molly shouted.

Seconds later, a sleepy eyed Ron had come down the stairs and sat next to Harry grumbling about mother's who didn't understand the need to sleep in every once and a while.

"What was that Ron," Molly asked sharply.

"Nothing mum," he muttered.

Harry stifled a laugh and put more eggs on his plate. He didn't notice Ron smiling in approval or the other Weasley's happy smiles.

"So, are we going to play Quidditch today?" Harry asked.

Ron grinned. "You bet we are. Charlie, Bill, and Percy are all actually coming by this afternoon. Everyone wants to see Charlie go against you and prove once and for all which of you is the better seeker."

Harry's eyes widened. "Ron! Charlie is excellent! Wood couldn't stop ranting about him and his legendary seeking."

"Harry, Harry, Harry. Oliver rants about you now," Fred said.

"It's true mate. We got a letter from him that he's been offered a position with Puddlemore United. He says the seeker they have is nothing compared to you," George said.

Ginny grinned. "Who knows Harry. They maybe coming after you next!"

Harry groaned and put his head in his hands. "Just what I don't need, more publicity."

Ron, Ginny, and the twins exchanged despairing looks. They hadn't meant to remind Harry of his unwanted fame.

"Don't worry about it mate. You still have three years to go before you finish Hogwarts. That's when the teams will really start coming after you," Ron said trying to cheer him up.

It appeared to work as Harry's expression lightened up, much to everyone's relief.

With the prospect of Quidditch in the air, everyone ate all that much faster. Without even thinking about it, Harry began to clear the table until he realized that everyone was staring at him.

"What?" he asked.

"Harry dear, you don't have to clear the dishes. I can do that just fine with magic. Why don't you all go on out and play?" Molly said.

Harry flushed and nodded in agreement. Clearing the table was so automatic for him that he hardly ever thought about it. Years of Aunt Petunia's conditioning he supposed.

"Come on then, what are we waiting for? Lets go play some Quidditch before the others get here!" Ron said.

Harry laughed, and joined all the other teens out in the backyard to practice their Quidditch skills.

It turned out to be a very good thing that the kids had gone outside. Not moments after they had left did Professor Dumbledore's face appear in the fire place.

"Molly, Arthur, if I might have a word?" he asked grimly.

Arthur and Molly exchanged glances. This was it. Albus knew that Harry was no longer with his relatives.

"Of course Albus, we'll be right there," Arthur said calmly.

Dumbledore nodded and disappeared.

Moments later, both Arthur and Molly were in Professor Dumbledore's office along with Sirius and Remus.

"Sirius, Remus, how are you dears?" Molly asked as soon as she saw them. Ever since she had learned of Sirius's false imprisonment, she had made it her goal to see that life was as comfortable for him as possible under the circumstances.

"We're just fine Molly. Arthur, thank you for the letter. I can't tell you how happy I am about all this," Sirius said, eyes sparkling.

"Pardon me, but what is it that you are referring to?" Professor Dumbledore asked, truly curious.

"Just a private matter Albus. Now, what did you call us all here for?" Arthur asked.

The sparkle in Dumbledore's eyes diminished and he suddenly looked his age. "I have called you here about Harry. As you are all the adults he trusts and looks up too, I feel that you have the right to know that Harry has disappeared from his relatives house."

Molly, Arthur, Sirius, and Remus all looked down and struggled not to grin. It was obvious that Dumbledore had no idea that Harry was at the Burrow.

"I am most concerned that he ran away again. He needs to be returned immediately to Privet Drive before the wards come down. If he is not back there within the next few hours, the blood protection will be useless. Please, if Harry goes to any of you, take him directly back to Privet and then alert me," Dumbledore said gravely.

Molly, Arthur, Sirius, and Remus glanced at one another guiltily. Albus truly did care for Harry and he looked to be very worried about his students safety.

"Ummm, Albus?" Molly started to say but was cut off by what sounded like glass being broken.

Everyone watched with concern as Albus put his face in his hands. "It is done then," he said.

"What is done Albus?" Remus asked hesitantly.

"The blood protection has been broken. Harry can never return there and be safe now," Albus said wearily. "I'm sorry Molly, you were saying before the protection came down?"

Molly looked at Arthur helplessly. Quite suddenly she didn't wish to be the one who told Albus that she and Arthur had adopted Harry.

Arthur took pity on his wife and looked straight at Dumbledore. He didn't regret his decision one bit and if that meant the blood protection around the Dursley's was gone, so be it. Personally, he thought that Harry was in danger from the Dursley's themselves, but as of yet, had no concrete proof.

"Albus, I know that this went against your wishes, but I will tell you now that I do not regret my family's decision one bit. Sirius and Remus agree with us on this. It doesn't matter now anyway," Arthur said.

Albus looked between the two Weasley's and the remaining Marauders with confusion. Something had obviously gone on between them, something that he would not approve of.

"What is it that you speak of Arthur?" he asked calmly.

"For years now, we have gone through the court systems to gain custody of Harry. A few days ago, we finally got the approval and the legal papers were signed immediately. Harry is home at the Burrow, where he belongs, where he's always belonged," Molly said fiercely.

Albus sighed and rubbed his temples. "I knew that this would happen eventually. I did not expect the papers to be legalized without my approval however."

"There are ways around things Albus. You know that better than most," Remus said.

"Yes, yes I do. I wish that you had told me your plans Molly. Harry should not have been removed from the Dursley's, but it is too late now," he said.

"Oh, I disagree Headmaster. Harry should never have been sent to live there in the first place, and one day, I hope you will see that as well," Molly said softly.

"Very well, what is done is done and we must move forward. I shall make preparations to ward the Burrow this afternoon and then have a talk with Harry about all this. Fear not, I am not mad at you. As I said, I just wish that you had consulted me," Albus said sensing the tension in the room.

"All right Albus, but please, don't blame Harry. We never told him that we didn't have your approval. He knew nothing of this up until two days ago," Arthur said.

"I wouldn't dream of it Arthur. Harry has been through far too much in his life. The least I can do is see that some on his childhood is preserved," Albus said. "Come, we should all return to the Burrow now. Sirius, Remus, you are most welcome to join us."

The two Marauders nodded and jumped into the fire place after the headmaster and the Weasley's. Once more, everything was about to change, they just did not know it yet.

The teenagers were all out in the backyard and blissfully unaware about what was taking place at Hogwarts. Ignorance was indeed sometimes bliss.

After they had eaten, they had all grabbed their brooms and started running exercises and just fooling around.

"Oi! Who do I look like, a bludger?" Ron hollered after George had nearly bludgeoned his arm, again.

"Sorry Ron," George called out, not looking very sorry at all.

Harry watched on with amusement as he floated around the yard. He hadn't really taken part in any of the games. It was far too hot out for him and he was feeling more than a little peaky. Not that he would admit that.

Apparently though, he wasn't the only to be feeling the heat.

"Oi you lot! It's far too hot out here to be playing Quidditch, let's go down to the pond," Fred said.

It didn't take much convincing. Everyone was hot and sticky and the pond sounded quite ideal.

"Come on mate, I'll race you over there," Ron said grinning.

"Um Ron, until five seconds ago, I didn't even know that there was a pond here. I have no idea where it is," Harry said grinning.

Ron blinked for a few moments. "Oh, right! Well then, follow me," he said taking off at top speed, for his broom that was.

Harry sighed and resigned himself to following Ron. Pushing himself forward on his firebolt, he easily caught up with Ron, but his body was protesting badly. He was very grateful to see the pond and land on the ground right next to it.

Dismounting off the broom, the world spun around him sickeningly for a moment and was forced to close his eyes in order to keep from being overwhelmed.

"Harry!" Ginny called out in alarm.

Ron spun around just in time to see Harry sway. Swearing, Ron grasped him by the arm to keep him from falling.

"You all right there mate?" Fred asked once Harry seemed steadier on his feet.

Harry smiled weakly. "Yeah, fine. It's just really hot out here."

The Weasley children looked at Harry with obvious suspicion but didn't say anything. After all, it was quite hot out, unusually so at that.

"Then lucky for you that you've come to the perfect spot!" Ginny said before diving into the water.

Ron and the twins jumped in only seconds later and started splashing around playfully until they noticed that Harry hadn't joined them.

"Harry, aren't you coming in mate?" Fred asked.

"Nah, I'll just stick my feet in," Harry said.

"Oh come on Harry, I know that you're hot. You nearly passed out for Merlin's sake! Don't make us have to push you in here," Ginny said playfully.

Harry still shook his head no. He was wearing a white shirt and if it got wet, they would be able to see his bruises and welts. That was the last thing that Harry wanted them to see, next to Lord Voldemort that was.

"Oh come on Harry," Ron said.

"If you don't, we'll drag you in," the twins warned.

"Guys! Look, I really don't want to and besides, I can't really swim," Harry said with embarrassment.

Everyone looked at him oddly. "Um, Harry, in case you have somehow forgotten, you do recall that you saved me from the bottom of that bloody lake?" Ron questioned.

Harry looked at them with confusion. "Well of course I remember, but I had the gillyweed. Before that, I had never been in a pond or a pool."

"That settles it then. You are going to come in here right now and learn how to swim! Merlin knows we can't let the Daily Prophet get wind of the fact that Boy-Who-Lived doesn't know how to swim," George teased.

Harry rolled his eyes but still steadfastly refused to get in the water. "Oh come on Harry! It will be fun," Ginny said.

"How in the name of Merlin can you take on a Hungarian Horntail but won't get in some shallow water?" Ron asked seriously puzzled.

Harry sighed at their tenacity. Why or why did they have to be so stubborn? "I don't know but I do know that you are not going to push me in!"

"All right, we won't push you in," George said smiling in a way that made Harry very nervous suddenly.

"No, we won't push you, but they will!" Fred crowed.

Before Harry could even turn around, he found himself flung into the water. Thankfully, the pond was shallow and he managed to get his feet under him. Gasping he came up to the sight of Charlie, Bill, and Percy grinning at him from the shore.

If Harry had ever had suspicions about Percy not being like the rest of his family, they were out the door. No, Percy was most certainly like his family, even if he didn't show his troublemaker side all that often.

Harry's musings about Percy were cut short by a horrified gasp. It was only then he remembered his original desire for not wanting to go swimming.

The white shirt he was wearing had become completely see through and the bloody gashes and dark bruises were highly visible.

Harry gulped as he turned around to face the shocked Weasley's. Ron though saved them the problem of an akward silence by summing up their feelings with two words.

"Bloody hell," Ron whispered.