Chapter 5.
Flying
Every day for the last five years little Harry had woken up at 5:30 a.m. to begin making breakfast for his Aunt and Uncle. So Harry woke up like he did every day at 5:30 a.m. He was very confused at first, looking around and realizing he was in a bed. And there was another bed and someone was snoring in that one. Then he remembered the dog, the bus and the kind people with the red hair. He looked over the side and saw the big black dog sleeping there. Harry smiled and got out of bed. He looked around for his clothes but did not see them. He put the dressing gown on that was draped over the post at the end of his bed, quietly made the bed so as not to disturb the sleeping boy and dog and then slipped downstairs to the kitchen.
When he walked into the darkened kitchen the center chandelier's candles lit by themselves. Harry was startled. He stepped back out of the room and they went out. He stepped back in and they went on again. He smiled and went into the kitchen and looked around. Harry went to the stove and could not figure out how to turn on the burners. There were no controls. Looking around he saw that Molly had left her stick on the table last night. He picked it up and was surprised to feel a warmth go up his arm. He pointed it at the stove, closed his eyes and thought very hard about flames. He heard a whoosh and looked and the front burner was lit. He smiled. He went to the ice box and found bacon and placed some of it in the big iron pan to fry. Then he opened the bread box and saw a loaf of sliced bread, and while taking it out a slice fell off the back. He placed the loaf on a plate and turned back to the box to get the last slice and was amazed to find a whole loaf. He picked up the loaf and placed it on a plate and then put one slice back in the box. He blinked and then another loaf appeared. Wow, this is really a magic kitchen thought Harry. He placed a plate with one slice of bacon in it and was gratified to see a whole plate of bacon appear. He looked in the ice box and found only one egg. He put it in a bowl and placed that in the bread box and he had a bowl full of eggs.
Harry got busy making a pot of coffee and hot water for tea, a platter of toast and then was starting to whip the eggs for scrambled when Molly walked in the kitchen to find Harry standing on a chair in front of the stove. "Oh dear;" thought Molly.
"Harry, why are you cooking breakfast?"
Harry was startled.
"Umm, Mrs. Molly, mam, I am just doing my chores;" said Harry, looking down at his feet. "Uncle Vernon says "Have to earn your keep Boy; if you don't work, you don't eat and I'll have you out on your ear."
Molly walked over to him and hugged him fiercely. She felt him stiffen in her grasp. "Oh Harry, you little dear. You're a guest in my house, you don't have to get up before everyone and cook breakfast. Now sit at the table and I'll make you a plate."
Harry nervously sat down. He did not know what to think. Why are they being kind to me? Was this how other families were? He was startled by her emotions. He felt sadness and anger. Was she angry with him? He was so confused.
Meanwhile back at his Aunt and Uncles house his Aunt mentioned to his Uncle: "Should we get the boy. It would be nice to have some help with the chores today."
Vernon rose from his chair and put his paper down. "OK, I will get the little freak out to help you. He does have to earn his keep and two days is punishment enough." He walked down the hall to the cupboard and slammed his fist against the door several times. "OI, BOY WAKE UP! Time to earn your keep you little freak!"
Just then his cousin walked by and kicked the door. "UP YOU MORON!"
Vernon listened and heard nothing. "I SAID UP BOY!"
Again nothing. He slipped the lock to the right and pulled on the door. It seemed stuck. He pulled harder and the door opened suddenly and stubbed his toes through his slippers and he felt the clank of a bucket and the splash of liquid that covered the bottom of his robe and his pajamas from the knees down and soaked his new leather slippers. Then the stench of stale urine hit him.
"I'm going to beat you to an inch of your life you little freak," screamed Vernon Dursley!
Petunia was rushing from the kitchen. "What happened?"
"Your - freaky – nephew - rigged – a – bloody - booby - trap and he's gone," spluttered a very red faced Vernon!
"What are we to do," asked Petunia?
"Nothing!" Screamed Vernon as he slapped her, driving her into the wall and causing her to fall into the wet mess on the floor. And clean up this mess and forget he was ever here to bother us! I'm going to change; as he turned and stomped away. Petunia started to cry as she sat in the stinking puddle of urine.
Back at the Burrow, Molly set a plate in front of Harry that was piled with bacon, and what looked to be a small mountain of scrambled eggs, and three pieces of toast in front of him. "Here you go Harry, eat up."
"Harry sat there and stared at the plate. He looked around the table and saw a stack of plates next to the stove. He was afraid to say anything so he got up and took a plate off the pile and sat down. Then he took a spoon full of eggs and a single piece of bacon and a slice of toast and put it on the new plate.
Molly took all this in and asked; "Harry is there something the matter with the plate I gave you? Why did you put it aside and only take a little?"
Harry blushed and looked down. "I thought you made a mistake, Mrs. Molly, Mam. That is more food than my aunt gives me in a week for breakfast. I didn't want you to be mad at me for eating too much. I was afraid you'd yell and hit me."
Molly cringed and thought what did his family do to him? "No mistake Harry, little boys need lots of good food to grow, so eat! There is plenty where that came from."
"Mrs. Molly, mam, is it OK to put some of that jam on my toast?"
"Of course Harry. If it's on the table you don't have to ask. Help yourself."
"Really? My Aunt never let me have jam, because Uncle used to say, "No jam for useless freaks!"
Molly was trying very hard not to lose her temper and storm off to find and hex Harry's relations into the next world. Harry could feel her anger rising and was perplexed. Was she angry with him?
"Mrs. Molly, Mam, are you angry with me?"
"Oh no Harry, you sweet dear. I'm upset that your Aunt would not feed a growing boy properly." Just then Ron came running down the stairs with a racket followed by Paddy.
"Mom I found a dog in my room! Is this a new pet for me? Can I keep him?"
Paddy made a bee line to Harry and put his head on his lap and was wagging his tail as Harry petted him. Ron skidded to a halt and looked first to his mother, then to the dog and Harry and back to his mother. Ron held out his hand: "Hi I'm Ron. Is that your dog? When did you get here? Who are you? Can I pat your dog?
"Harry smiled at Ron and said: "Yes, last night, Harry & yes!"
Molly was laughing now and Harry felt self-conscious. "Ron, give the boy a chance. Sit down and I'll give you a plate. This is my son Ron. Ron this is Harry, he will be staying with us."
"Way cool Harry. Nice to meet you."
Just then Fred and George crashed into the kitchen with a "Good morning Mother what's for breakfast"? And ruffling Ron's hair as they walked by the saw they had a visitor. "Well hello there! I'm George, and he's Fred, or is it I'm Fred and he's George? Mother can you tell us who's who?"
Laughing the two boys held out their hands and Harry shook each one with "I'm Harry."
Then Percy walked in followed by the old man from last night, Arthur, and with him were a Bill and Charlie, all saying hello and shaking Harry's hand. A moment later a cute little girl with long red hair and beautiful brown eyes wearing pink pajama's and a long red robe sat across from Harry with her elbows on the table and trying to rub the sleep out of her eyes. She mumbled something he thought sounded like "Hi I'm Ginny."
Molly introduced Harry as just Harry and his dog Paddy. Paddy padded around the table poking his nose into every one and wagging his tail which got him pats on the head and bits of bacon. With everyone introduced and Molly putting platters of food on the table everyone dug in. Molly placed a platter of hot buttermilk biscuits on the table in front of George, or maybe Fred? Percy asked if someone would pass the buttermilk biscuits. Both Fred and George picked one up and whipped rather than tossed them at Percy but Harry reacted instinctively and shot out both arms and snagged the biscuits out of the air with a smile.
Everyone was dumbstruck for a moment. Then Fred yelled; Blimey Harry's a natural seeker! George followed with: "When we play Quidditch you can play seeker Harry!"
Harry looked perplexed and said: "Um, what's Quidditch and what's a seeker?"
"WhatdoyoumeanHarry," mumbled Ron through a mouth full of bacon, swallowing, he said: "In my lowly opinion I think it's only the greatest game ever invented in the wizarding world. Don't tell me you don't know about Quidditch?"
Ginny shyly added that "It's played on flying brooms Harry."
"Wait a minute! You can fly; on a broom; you are pulling my leg, right?"
Again the table fell silent. Harry started to blush and looked down at his plate. Molly came to his rescue.
"Harry grew up with his muggle relatives; he did not know he was magical and a wizard until last night."
The twins looked at each other, winked and said in unison: "Harry after breakfast we will take you down the orchard and teach how to fly!"
Molly exploded: "You know the rule! No one flies until they are 11 and go to school!"
Harry was astonished at the outburst. He could feel Molly's raw emotion of fear and concern. Was flying on a broom dangerous?
Fred and George looked briefly at each other and hung their heads and said "yes mom" and turned towards Harry and both winked out of the eye hidden from their mother. Again in unison the two boys recited: I'm dreadfully sorry Harry but Mrs. Weasley does not allow underage flying at the Burrow homestead. You will have to be content to just have us explain and watch Bill fly," ending with another wink at Harry.
Somehow Harry knew he was going to experience broom flying and Quidditch, whatever that was, today. The little girl across from him was staring intently at him. She had been doing so since she sat down. It was making Harry uncomfortable and self-conscious. Ginny was just picking at her food and looking intently at him. He was starting to sweat and used his napkin to wipe his forehead, pushing his hair off his forehead in the process. Ginny's brown eyes grew ever wider, dropped her fork, which hit her plate with a clatter and screamed: "Eieeeeeeee"!
Everyone jumped at this, startled by the scream. Before anyone could say anything Ginny stood up and stammered: "M-M-Mom this is Harry Potter;" and ran out of the room.
Ron turned to Harry and pushed up his hair on his forehead and said: "Cool scar Harry, does it hurt much?"
Fred and George looked at Harry in astonishment and were just about to speak when Molly stood behind Harry and waved a wooden spoon in everyone's faces.
"Now you leave Harry be. He's just a boy, like the rest of you. I don't want any talking, no gossip or stories or anything you may have heard about Harry. He's just Harry and I'll have no one in this house filling his head with rumors and stories! Am I understood?"
She got a chorus of "Yes Mum's from the boys."
Harry felt confused. He was sure he looked that way too. Why had the little girl run away? What was the big deal with who he was? How did she even know who I was? How did they all know him?
Breakfast continued as before and a few minutes later Ginny showed up again in a bright blue dress and her red hair tied back in a ponytail that fell all the way to the small of her back. Harry noticed but did not say anything. He smiled at her sweetly and then looked down, with a blush spreading across his cheeks. She quietly slipped back into her seat across from him with a big smile. Bill cleared his throat and he and Ginny locked eyes. Ginny inclined her head with pleading in her eyes and Bill nodded.
Just then George looked at Ginny and elbowed Fred in the ribs. As he was about to speak Bill cleared his throat loudly and the boys all went silent and looked at him.
"I think it best if we keep our comments to ourselves this morning. I don't think teasing is a good idea, as we have a house guest, don't you Forge," he said though he was staring intently at Charlie, as he spoke?
Percy said, "Well brother Bill, it's not like an opportunity like this one comes along very often."
Forge said in unison, "Yes Bill we quite agree. This is like getting the Quaffle just handed to you. No effort at all."
Charlie chimed in with, "We have to take advantage of this one. We'd be remiss to let this one slide. This almost never happens. Besides it will be fun too"!
Bill looked at them and said: "Is that how you want it?"
Most of the brothers were nodding their heads in agreement.
"I'm invoking oldest brother privilege!"
A chorus of frustration rose from the boys as they all complained loudly. Harry looked on in amazement, but not without a little trepidation.
"Nope, I'll not have it today; "said Bill.
Harry leaned into Ron and nervously whispered: "What's going on?"
"He's warning us not to tease Ginny. He'll whoop us if we do."
"Why would you tease her"?
Ron looked at him? "Huh? She put a dress on dummy;" with a huge smile that told Harry he wasn't really calling him a dummy. "We often do things as a group, the oldest gets to be in charge and make the rules. Bill rarely does it, usually only for Ginny when we gang up on her. But remember, don't ever underestimate her, she is tough and gives as good as she gets Harry."
Harry stared at Bill and then at Ginny. He did not really understand what was going on and was very confused but decided not to ask any more questions for now.
Bill shook his head. "Nope, I'll not have it boys. Leave it be."
All the boys were looking at Bill. Molly and Arthur were drinking coffee with bemused looks on their faces.
"Oh come on Bill, this stuff doesn't happen every day you know," stated Charlie. "I can't remember the last time ikkle Ginnykins wore a dress let alone one for breakfast."
"What about you Ronald? I've not heard an opinion out of you yet?" asked Bill as he stared at Ron with those intense eyes on him.
"Well, I guess, I well hmm, well you know she gives as good as she gets Bill," said Ron as he locked eyes on Ginny and received a kick in the shins from her. "Ouch! What you do that for Ginny? I err, on second thought; I think it best if I just don't say anything Bill."
Bill cleared his throat, "Good. Anyone else has anything to say you can take it up with me behind Dad's shed." Bill looked at his brother Charlie.
Charlie stared back. "You know Bill…. Well-OK-this-time."
Bill smiled and said "Thanks boys, I won't forget your sacrifice. I will make it up to all of you. Would someone pass me a muffin please" and the table went back to the usual loud bedlam of a Weasley meal.
Harry sat there staring at each of the Weasley's in turn. He had never experienced such easy going manner at a table. Food time at his Aunt and Uncles were always a stressful affair as he tried to serve and, not incur the wrath of any of his family and also manage to get something to eat. He often broke some obscure rule of theirs and then he was banished to the cupboard with nothing to eat. His food was rationed. There was no talk. Here it was overwhelming sound. Loud voices and raucous laughter. There was so much easy banter between the boys and Ginny and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. And the food. He was in heaven. He never saw so much food at one table, even with the prodigious amounts his Uncle and fat cousin would trough up. He had eaten so much he felt like a beached whale. He felt almost, but not quite sick. It was strange to feel full. This was the first time he could remember.
He kept stealing a look at Ginny. Every time he looked at her she was staring at him and she would sweetly ask him a question. "How old are you Harry? Where did you live Harry? Did you really grow up with Muggles Harry? How come you did not know you were a wizard Harry? How did you find yourself at the Burrow Harry? Did you really come on the Knight Bus Harry? When did you get your dog Harry? Did you go to Muggle School Harry? Do you have any friends Harry? How did you get your black eye Harry? Do you have a favorite toy Harry? What do you like to do Harry? When's your birthday, do you like cake Harry? Ever have treacle tart, because my mom makes the best in the world Harry."
Harry's head was spinning, the little red head was relentless. He was glad when the meal was over. Molly took charge.
"All right you lot, dishes in the sink and off with you to get washed and dressed. You can all take Harry down to the orchard to play outside. Bill, Ron & Harry stay a moment."
"Ron, please take Harry up to your room and get dressed and then come back down so I can alter Harry's clothes. Harry I laundered what you wore and left them on the end of the bed."
"Harry, after lunch Arthur and I will be taking you to Hogwarts Castle to see Albus Dumbledore, to make arrangements for you to stay here and not go back to your relations. Now off you two." Turning to Bill, "Bill, I'm depending on you to keep an eye on Harry. If any stranger shows up you take him back here immediately. You all stay together. Don't let him out of your sight."
When Ron and Harry arrived in Ron's bedroom, Ron asked: Did you get here this morning"?
"No it was late at night and I slept in the bed next to yours."
"Really, I didn't hear a thing. Did you make your bed this morning?"
"Yes I did, don't you?"
Laughing Ron said, "Bloody Hell Harry, you're going to spoil mom and make us all look bad, making your bed without being told too! Oi, I can see mom now talking to us about chores. I'll give it one lecture and the twins will pull you aside and corrupt you!"
Harry wasn't sure what to say and told Ron: "I really try to stay out of trouble."
"Ya me too, but it has a habit of finding me, Harry."
"I guess were very much alike in that respects Ron, trouble seems to follow me around like it's my best friend."
A short time later Ron and Harry arrived back in the kitchen. Harry was astonished to see the dishes being cleaned by themselves and Molly with her head in the fireplace. A strangers head was there in the middle of flames and she was discussing the upcoming trip to Hogwarts.
When she was done she saw Harry and asked him to come over to her. She picked him up which elicited a gasp from Harry as she put him on a chair.
"Sorry to startle you Harry, now stand still please." She waved her wand and his pants shrunk to fit him. Another wave and his shirt shrunk. How about your trainers Harry, how do they fit?"
"I have paper in the toes because they are too big, Mrs. Molly, mam."
"OK I can fix that." She waved her wand and the paper came out in a long strip through the shoe lace hole. Then she waved it again and the shoes now felt perfect."
Harry was beaming. "Mrs. Molly, mam this is incredible. Will I be able to do things like this when I'm older?"
"Of course Harry, you will learn in due time."
"Mrs. Molly, thank you for making my clothes fit. This is the first time I've ever had clothes that fit."
"Why does you Aunt buy you clothes that are two sizes too big, Harry?"
Harry blushed in shame and hung his head.
"She doesn't, Mrs. Molly, mam. She never buys me anything. All I get are the clothes my cousin grows out of."
"Wow Harry, you get hand me downs too. I get a lot of stuff that my older brothers grow out of but I don't have to wear things that are too big. And Mom always gets all of us new socks and underwear too."
Molly was a little embarrassed to hear this exchange until Ron asked Harry: Does your Aunt ever get you anything new?"
"No Ron, my uncles says "Freaks like me don't deserve anything so be grateful we give you Duddie's cast offs."
One of the twins was walking by and commented, "Sorry Harry, your Uncle sounds like a real git!"
"Fred Weasley watch your mouth!"
"Mother," with a sideways wink at Harry; "I'm George, really you ought to pay more attention as to who's who around here!"
"I don't care who you say you are Fred, I'll not have you saying such unkind things. Watch your mouth young man."
"Ok, Ok mother, don't blow a gasket," as Fred slipped out the back door as fast as he could.
Harry was thinking, Fred was right but decided to keep that to himself.
Just then Ginny screamed: "Mom, come up here now, George give me back Mrs. Wiggins right now!"
Ron grabbed Harry's arm. "Come on let's go we don't want to be here when Mom is going to rant" and led Harry out the back door.
Harry followed Ron through the yard. He looked up and saw Bill and Charlie coming out of a garden shed with brooms in their hands and sprinting around back to the trail to the orchard.
They followed them and in minute caught up to Bill and Charlie sitting on the grass. A few minutes later George walked up followed by a grinning Fred and Ginny. "Good distraction George and Ginnykins" said Bill.
"Did you get the brooms?" asked Fred.
"We did! Ok Harry, now pay attention. We have four brooms so Charlie and I and the twins will go first then they will hand off the brooms to you, Ron and Ginny and I'll fly with you. Ok boys five minutes and don't go higher than the trees so Mother doesn't see us."
"What about Percy? Isn't he going to fly;" asked Harry.
"Nope, he's distracting Mother so we get a chance to fly."
With that the four brothers stood next to their brooms, said "Up" and then mounted their brooms.
"Ok Harry, watch us," said Bill; as he demonstrated how to go up and down, move forward, turn and stop.
"Ok boys lets go do a little demonstration, five minutes and then we let them try."
Bill then conjured an hour glass and he tipped it over. Harry looked on in wonderment. Things he had dreamed about were true! After five minutes were up they landed and handed off their brooms. Harry was amazed and excited to have a chance.
Harry was in the middle between Ron and Ginny. Harry stood next to a broom, put his hand out and said "Up" with all the authority he could muster. The broom slapped into his hand immediately. Harry looked at in amazement. Harry climbed on the broom and pushed up with his feet and was amazed again to start rising. Bill flew over and spoke to Harry for a minute telling him again how to go forward and turn and slow down. Bill then pointed his wand at Harry and said something Harry thought had stickum in it and a flash of light hit Harry but he did not feel anything. Just a sticking charm Harry, so you don't fall off the broom. Do it with all the first timers."
Ginny was growing impatient and flew by taking Harry's ball cap and turning and saying; "Come and catch me if you can Harry" and took off. Without thinking Harry yelled "Hey!" and followed her immediately. Ginny wove this way and that and Harry just stuck to a few feet behind her and followed every move she made. Up, down, turns, rolls, reversals, loop de loops, split S's, Harry stayed on her tail through every maneuver Ginny tried but found it impossible to shake Harry off her tail. After a full fifteen minutes Bill whistled times up and the two descended immediately. Ginny jumped off her broom and ran to Harry and almost knocked him over as she gave him an impressive Molly type hug.
"That was bloody awesome harry!"
Then she ran and leapt on Bill and hugged him, giving him a big kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for letting us fly Bill!"
"Blimy Harry, that's the best flying I've ever seen! You and Ginny were incredible! You sure you never flew before; asked Ron?"
Just then Molly followed by a downcast Percy appeared and said "Accio Brooms" and then turned to her children. Don't even think of moving a step. All of you come here now! And Ginny, I don't want to hear you swearing like your brothers again. Be a lady!"
"Oh, Oh we're in trouble," muttered Ron.
"Oh how right you are Mr. Ronald Bilious Weasley."
"Watch it Harry, she's' angry and means business when she uses full names," whispered Ron.
"Now William Arthur Weasley what is the meaning of this"?
"Mom, we just wanted to teach Harry how to fly. He's never been on a broom before," answered Bill.
Harry was looking down at his shoes and sniffling. He just had the one most exhilarating experiences of his life and now he was thinking it was all over.
"It looked to me like all you lot have some experience flying. Harry please tell me the truth, was that the first time you've ever flown before?"
"Mrs. Molly, mam, I don't ever remember flying on a broom before. I only remember someone taking me on a motorcycle that flew but I'm not so sure. I dream about it now and then." Harry looked down at his feet. Just then Paddy woofed and put his nose in Harry's hand and then sat in front of him, wagging his tail. Molly looked closely at him remembering something Arthur had said about Sirius Black.
"And Ginevra, you certainly held your own. Where did you learn to fly?"
Ginny was also staring at the ground. Trying desperately to think of something to say when Bill stepped forward.
"Mom, I taught Ginny."
Charlie stepped up and said: "I helped too Mom."
Then Percy nodded and said: "I helped too Mom."
Ron nodded, "Me too Mom, I'd not let Ginny do it alone."
The twins in unison: "Us too Mother."
Molly stood there with her hands on her hips and glared at her brood. "All in this together are you? In for a Knut, in for a Galleon I see. Do you know how dangerous this underage broomstick flying is?"
Harry spoke up. "Mrs. Molly that was the most exciting thing I've ever experienced"!
"But you could have been hurt Harry dear. There were no adults here."
Ginny finally looked up and commented: "Mom, Dad showed Bill how to do a sticking charm on our bums so we'd not fall off."
A chorus of groans came from the boys.
"So your father was in on this too? I'm going to have a word with him about that now. "All right you lot, I cannot deny that you all fly very well from what I have just seen. And I don't know why but Ginervra and Harry seem better than anyone else. I will allow you to fly, but"
The boys erupted in cheers.
Molly held up her hands. "Once your punishment is done and over with."
"Oh mom!" from seven Weasley's.
"Well you lot broke the rules. No flying for two weeks and you all will have extra chores too. Now the lot of you march up to the house. When you get there I want you all in your rooms to clean. Everything is to be put away, make your beds, dust and then you can come down for lunch. No Shirking either. I am going to inspect."
"Bill, how did she know what we were doing" asked Charlie?
"A mother knows when her children are misbehaving," answered Molly. "Not hard to figure out you were trying to distract me with Percy, and the twins faking taking Mrs. Wiggins. And oh by the way I saw you all flying from the second floor window!"
Ron and Harry went up to Ron's room and Harry retrieved his backpack.
"Nice back pack Harry. Is that all you came with, asked Ron?
"Yes, my Aunt will blow a gasket when she finds out its missing. This was my cousins. The one I had was one of his hand me downs and one day when I was locked in the cupboard he cut it with a knife and broke the zippers. I used tape to close up the holes. The kids at school always point and laugh at me. So when I decided to leave I took it to carry my stuff. Not that it's a lot, just my stuffed dog, my blanket and my jacket. I took some food but Paddy and I ate it all the two days we were out there alone." Harry went on to tell Ron what led up to him leaving.
"Blimey Harry, I can't believe your own family dosen't care for you. We don't have a lot but Mom and Dad, love us. Mom may rant now and then but she'd never hit us."
"Well Ron, it was wonderful meeting you. I have to go and talk to your mom now."
Harry turned and went down stairs to the kitchen.
"Mrs. Molly, I'm ready to go now. Thank you for letting me stay here last night. It was really nice of you." Harry started for the door.
"Wait a minute Harry, where are you going? It's not time to go to Hogwarts."
Harry looked at the floor and sniffed loudly. "Mrs. Molly, mam I broke your rules. You said no flying unless you were at least eleven and I flew anyway. When I broke a rule at my Aunt and Uncles house, my uncle would cane or beat me and then put me in the cupboard for a day or two. I told Mr. Weasley last night no one was going to hit me again. So I'm leaving. I'm sorry this did not work out."
Molly reached out and brought Harry into a hug, which caused him to gasp and cringe. She was crying. "Oh Harry, I don't know why you were mistreated by your relations. But here we don't cane children and we don't lock them in cupboards. I gave you the same punishment as my children, no flying and a few chores. Arthur and I would never hit you. I don't want you to leave."
Just then Paddy pushed his nose between Harry and Molly and woofed and licked Harry's face.
"I don't think Paddy wants you to leave either. Now put your back pack in your room and come down and play with the other children. Ginny wants to teach you Gobstones and Ron said he wanted to teach how to play wizards chess."
Harry and Molly stood staring into each other's eyes. In a moment many things rushed through his mind. Harry was relieved to say the least. Out there scared him, even with Paddy for company. The money he took from his uncles hiding place would not last long. While there would be no repeating the exhilarating experience of this morning for two weeks he could live with that as he'd not even known he could do such things before today. And Mrs. Weasley treated him nicely. She gave nice hugs, and while he always gasped, he did feel good when she did that to him, and the food! He'd had so much to eat. In one meal he had more food than he had in a week at his Aunt and Uncles. The chores were nothing to what he had to do at Privet drive. And he was intrigued by the other children. They all seemed to know who he was like he was famous or something but after the first surprise of meeting him they treated him just like another kid. And the older ones didn't want to beat him up on sight. He also felt all the fear and concern for him from the red haired witch. This took all of two seconds.
"OK, Mrs. Molly, mam, whatever you say. Thank you."
Harry turned around and walked back up the stairs passing Ron and Ginny on the stairs.
"Harry, hurry back down, and I'll teach you how to play gobbstones and exploding snap," demurely said Ginny.
"Never you mind that Harry, we will play wizards chess first."
Harry looked at the brother and sister good naturally bickering as they walked down the stairs. This place is so unlike where I grew up. I think I may have made a good decision to stay here he thought.
