A/N: Anyone else think Molly is insufferable at this point.
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"Keep at it children, you're doing well."
Harry wasn't the only teenager that grumbled as they all tried valiantly to remove the doxies from the dusty drapes of number twelve Grimmauld Place. The Doxycide made Harry's eyes sting and he glared at the back of Molly's head as she left the room.
They did as she asked, but Harry wasn't feeling all that excited about anything at the moment. They'd only been in London for just over a week, but with Mrs Weasley's hovering, Sirius' moods and the general darkness of the place, it felt like he'd been there a month.
He missed the open skies of home and he even missed Kenna's hovering. There was a garden, but Molly had forbidden them from going out there, in case the neighbours saw them. Harry thought it was a stupid rule considering no muggles even knew the place existed.
There was still so much hanging over his head. The hearing that would decide his future followed him everywhere like a dark cloud and coloured all that he did. He wondered if after tomorrow he could even go back to school in September, or whether he'd have to go back and stay with Kenna. The thought made him wince as he sprayed a particularly bad cluster of doxies. He knew that never being able to go back to Hogwarts would be akin to torture, but he was sure that if that happened, Minerva would continue teaching him. Whenever his thoughts reached this low, however, he only had to think back to when he was living with the Dursleys to see how much better his life was, even with everything hanging over him.
"Harry? Let's go, mate," Ron said, nodding him out of the door.
Mrs Weasley had obviously gone off to boss someone else around and Harry smirked as he whipped off the tea towel that was around his face like a mask and followed his friends into the library.
"There's my favourite godson!" Sirius cried, looking like he was in pain as he tried to smile.
"I'm your only godson," Harry laughed, accepting a hug from the man.
They chatted quietly, mostly about what was going on with the Order and tried to get as much information out of him as possible. Unlike everyone else, Sirius seemed to have no issue with sharing.
"They're making some headway," Sirius assured him. "With Fudge being an idiot, there's only so much we can do publicly, but we're making big strides privately. We're getting followers from all over to help; to ally with us and not everyone else. And it will happen Harry, it's going to happen soon."
Harry smiled, but he could see how much it hurt Sirius that he couldn't help.
"I guess it's hard," Harry shrugged, feeling a tendril of anger weaving through him. "Being stuck here, not being able to do anything."
He noticed how Ron and Hermione blushed but didn't comment. He still got a little angry when he remembered they hadn't even tried to contact him, even though Albus had told them not to. He completely understood what Sirius was going through.
"I'm being as useful as Dumbledore will let me," Sirius sighed. "We're in the perfect house for a headquarters; my mother will be turning in her grave." He smiled darkly. "Which is fine by me."
Harry grimaced thinking of the shrieking painting in the hall.
"Dinner!"
They piled into the kitchen, all vying for a seat at the magically lengthened table. It was Harry's favourite time of day, not just because of the food, but because he was with everyone. After almost an entire summer holiday of being on his own with an albeit friendly, but busy house-elf, he was more than willing to take even Mrs Weasley's fussing.
"Minerva sent a suit for you, Harry," Molly said suddenly as they were all filling their plates. "It's brand new, she mentioned you hadn't got one and," she looked at him pointedly. "It's best to wash your hair tonight. First impressions can make all the difference."
The Ministry hearing crashed back into his psyche. He swallowed thickly, looking down at his plate and realising he was no longer hungry. He didn't have to look around to hear that everyone else had stopped as well. He refused to look up.
"Couldn't you have left it until later?" Sirius growled. "Can't you see it's stressing him."
"Nonsense," Molly rolled her eyes at Sirius. "Everything will be fine." She turned back to Harry who was forced to look up at her when she cleared her throat. "Arthur's going to take you in when he goes to work," she explained, oblivious to the tension.
"You can sit in my office until it's time for your hearing," Arthur said kindly.
Harry nodded, finally getting the courage to look up at Sirius. He took in the clenched jaw and the sad eyes and frowned.
"You can't take me?"
"Dumbledore said it would be best if Arthur did," Molly said quickly, startling Harry with the information.
"What? When was Albus here?"
"Last night," Arthur said jovially. "He dropped in once you were all in bed. Great man Dumbledore."
Harry caught Sirius' eye and he knew his godfather understood how he felt. The fact that Albus had stopped his friends from talking to him, then 'dropped in' while he was asleep on the eve of his hearing - without stopping to talk to him - made him feel even worse. He knew he wouldn't sleep tonight.
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"Harry? Harry, wake up darling."
"Wha- huh? Máthair?" [Mother]
"Wake up mo mhac [my son], you need to get dressed."
"You're here?" he frowned, managing to open his eyes. "You're here!" he cried, hugging her tightly. He pulled back, suddenly feeling sick as he remembered why she was in his room.
"Steady mo gradh [my love]," Minerva said, pressing a kiss to his head. "Don't panic, we're alright. Up you get."
Harry did as he was asked, groaning as he saw how early it was.
"Máthair! Why is it so early?"
"Molly is making you breakfast, and I wished to spend time with my son."
Suitably cowed, Harry smiled, hugging her quickly before going for his shower. He luxuriated in the hot water that seemed to be present in all wizarding houses, no matter how many people were having baths and showers. He recalled for a moment all those times he had to shiver through cold showers while living at the Dursley's. He recalled Molly instructing him to wash his hair, and he did so, but he could already see through the steam on the mirror that it hadn't helped. He had his father's hair and there was nothing he could do about it.
He made it to the kitchen to find Mr and Mrs Weasley, Sirius, Remus and Tonks, who waved tiredly from her seat.
"Hiya Harry," she said, kicking a chair out for him, wincing as it toppled over. "Sorry. Minerva said she'd be here in a moment, she's just changing."
"Hi," he said quietly. "Okay."
Sirius got up and sat beside him, but it didn't stop Molly from fussing as she passed him a full English breakfast. She sat on his other side, fiddling with his hair and shirt, but it was making him feel incredibly uncomfortable on top of the nausea he already had.
"Stop fussing," Sirius growled, ignoring her huff as she got up and left them to it.
"Thanks," he whispered.
Harry had never been happier to see Minerva come into the room, especially when she took Molly's vacated seat beside him and rubbed his shoulder.
"Eat some toast please," she whispered, kissing his temple. "Something at least."
The rush of emotion from her kiss buoyed him somewhat and he managed to eat two pieces of toast and a slice of bacon before he pushed his plate away.
"You should eat more," Molly fussed.
"Enough woman," Sirius barked, standing almost over the two of them.
"Come on," Minerva said, pulling him up and walking him into the library.
She sat on the couch and held out her arms, and he practically fell into them, trying to absorb as much love as possible from her.
"Molly won't leave me alone," he muttered. "And Albus was here, and he didn't see me," Harry said quietly.
"I know, Sirius told me," she said into his hair. "I'll talk to him. He promised me he'd be there mo mhac [my son] but I have no idea what's going on with him. I thought he was better than this. We talked; I just -"
"I know," Harry sighed. "I just thought he was going to be -"
He felt Minerva's emotions spike and knew he'd gone too far and he struggled to backpedal before he upset her.
"I don't want you worrying about this Harry, about me. It will be alright," she assured him before he could say anything. "Albus and I have already had our own conversation about your relationship and I can promise you that I too thought we could all be together, as a family. It seems though, for reasons he will not deign to tell me about, it is not a possibility he is willing to consider at the moment."
Harry nodded and he felt another kiss on his head, coupled with all of Minerva's love and devotion to him. He sniffed, blinking back tears, snuggling into her embrace as best he could.
"You're growing lad," she chuckled, pulling his legs up over the arm of the sofa. "You're going to be too big to do this soon."
"Nope," he whispered. "Never. I'm not gonna be as tall as the twins," he muttered. "Or you."
"You're perfect in whatever form," she whispered, leaning her cheek on his head. "Great seekers are always smaller."
There was a knock at the door and Minerva let Harry sit up before inviting in the visitor.
"There's just about enough time for a cup of tea, then Arthur said they should get going," Sirius informed her, giving Harry a hug before letting him go into the kitchen.
"Morning," Minerva nodded to the new arrivals at the table. "Shall I make you a hot chocolate?" she asked, rubbing her thumb over his.
He shook his head and listened intently as Arthur began talking.
"How are you feeling?" he asked. Minerva squeezed his hand, but he couldn't form his emotions into words. He wanted to tell them that he was petrified. Sick, angry, upset, but all he could do was shake his head. "It'll all be over soon," Arthur reassured him. "The meeting is with Amelia Bones - the head of DMLE - she'll do right by you."
"Amelia is a good sort," Tonks said, startling Harry a little as she came back into the kitchen.
"The law is on your side Harry," Remus said in his quiet, reassuring way. Harry smiled at him as Tonks dropped down beside him at the table, knocking over the salt. "It's going to be fine."
Harry felt a shiver run down the back of his neck and he wondered idly if Minerva had put some sort of spell on him before he realised that Minerva's spells always felt warm.
"Ow!" he yelled, as someone pushed forcefully onto his head.
He stood up, ready to attack whoever had just assaulted him to find Molly standing behind him with a wet comb.
"Doesn't it ever sit down?" she asked in exasperation, reaching for him again.
Minerva's firm hand on her wrist stopped her in her tracks and the two women stared at each other for a moment before Molly backed down.
"No," Harry said, looking gratefully at his máthair. "It doesn't."
"I'm afraid," Arthur said quietly. "That it's time to go."
Harry pushed his chair in and was about to turn to follow Arthur when two sets of long arms wrapped around him, bathing him in warmth and love and belief.
"You're going to be fine mo mhac, [my son]" Minerva whispered. "Tha mise maille ribh a-ghnàth [I am with you always]."
Harry nodded and shook Sirius' and Remus' hands before nodding to Tonks.
"I guess I'll see you all later."
Molly tried to fuss some more but was headed off by Remus and Sirius blocking her way as Minerva walked him to the door.
"Sealbh ort [Good luck], and remember Harry," she said, leaning in for one last hug. "Cluasan anns gach ceàrn [walls have ears]. Mind Arthur and keep your chin up, I'll be right here."
She rubbed her thumb across his cheek and kissed his nose.
"Ceart gu leor." [Okay/Alright]
She smiled before kissing his lightning-shaped scar and nudged him towards Arthur. It was cold out and Harry shivered a little, looking back to wave, only to realise that the house had already disappeared.
"Fidelius charms," Arthur muttered, looking down at a map of the London Underground.
"You don't usually walk to work, do you, Mr Weasley?" Harry asked.
"No, I usually apparate, but we thought it best not to tempt fate by using any magic, as it were. Let's arrive there in an ordinary fashion and not rock the boat."
Harry nodded, and simply trusted that Arthur knew what he was doing. He helped Arthur with the turnstiles at the station twice, but he insisted he would work out the money. After a few wrong platforms and Arthur trying to pay with a handful of sickles, they were finally on the tube. They wound their way to the centre of London, with Arthur counting off the stations as they passed.
"We're getting off at the next one," Harry mumbled, looking over Arthur's shoulder.
He tried not to care as people stared at them, but it was all he could do to keep calm as the ball of fear grew and grew in his stomach and threatened to spew out of him as they crept ever closer to The Ministry and potentially, his future in the Wizarding World.
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A/N: Hello friendly people, look who's back! Who knew that this would take me so long to get on with! It's been a long journey and I told you I wouldn't abandon things! I'm always reading your comments and reviews, so I thank you for those! They keep me going! You all have Spin to thank for getting me writing this again. Full disclosure, this was the hardest chapter to write, so they might be slow going to begin with while I get back into the groove of everything again. So many things I had forgotten!
As always, the best beta in the world is mine and I shall never give her up. Thank you Spin for making this readable and coherent. 3
Also. I love my wife illestviking. A lot. More than anything else in the whole universe actually. We're pretty cute ey 3
