A Short and Insignificant Car Ride
"You could have come over to our house, dear," said Mrs. Weasley, brushing some of Harry's dark hair away from his face, but (knowing that Harry didn't like for it to show) kept a little of it on his forehead to cover his scar.
"I didn't want to intrude too early," Harry said truthfully.
Mrs. Weasley laughed, and Mr. Weasley joined in. "You're as good as part of the family, Harry. There's no problem at all if you want to drop by sometimes. You could have just told me you left early," said Mrs. Weasley.
Harry was beginning to flush a little in his cheeks, and Ron couldn't help but grin. "Mum, he was trying to be polite," he said, touching Harry on his shoulder.
"I know, he always is," said Mrs. Weasley in response. "I just want him to know he's welcome anytime."
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley," said Harry appreciatively.
"Harry, why don't you get your things ready and I'll get everyone ready to leave," suggested Mr. Weasley.
"Alright," said Harry, and he went up the stairs to repack the few things he'd gotten out of his trunk. He carefully placed the Defense Against the Dark Arts book away, tossed a couple articles of clothing into it, and closed it. Then he carried it downstairs, though it was heavy. He put it at the bottom of the stairs and went to retrieve his bag, then came downstairs to find that his trunk had been taken.
"We're going to go home in a car," said Mr. Weasley. He motioned to a black car that was sitting outside The Leaky Cauldron. They all piled in, and Harry recognized that the car was far roomier than it should be, just as the Ford Anglia had been in his second year…he half smiled as he remembered the trouble Ron and he got in when they were caught flying it. Mr. Weasley winked at Harry and he grinned again. "Fred and George were kind enough to lend their car to us…they got it with their joke shop money. Quite a business, I say," he said as he began to drive the car.
"See, Mum, it turned out alright in the end, didn't it?" said Fred; Harry could tell because now Fred kept his hair longer than George did.
Mrs. Weasley glanced back at them. "Yes, I suppose…" she said, knowing that they were making quite a profit from their joke shop in Hogsmeade, which at first she had objected to.
Fred and George gave satisfied smiles to one another. "You see, we've been thinking," said George. "Perhaps…perhaps…"
"Perhaps you'd like a car as well, to replace the one Ron destroyed," Fred finished.
Ron turned a pinkish color, then looked back at the twins. "Listen, we've been over this before…"
"We know, Ron, but the story never wears out…" said Fred. George nodded in agreement.
Ron had to smile because the twins were right. It was one of those stories that people were nearly always entertained by. Everyone continued chatting in a similar manner until they got to the Burrow not too much later. By that time, they were all hungry for dinner.
"Let me see…" said Mrs. Weasley, and she conjured up a quick but delicious meal for them all.