Of Harry and Love

Eight people stood around a room. as the last, Rubeus Hagrid, walked in Remus Lupin moved to the center. "Thank you for all coming on such short notice," he said. "I'm sorry, but I do rather want to talk about something that has been weighing on my mind." he paused and turned toward the door. he spoke to the door. "And since it involves no Order business whatsoever, but rather something far more important, you three should come on in."

blushing, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny slipped in. They were at Grimauld Place. The twins were at their shop, and Harry was still at the Dursley's.

"The important matter I wish to discuss is the maturation of one Harry Potter," Remus finally summed up.

"Harry's plenty mature," Ron alleged, sticking up for his best friend.

"Very true," Dumbledore agreed. "But I believe Remus is talking about other things."

"To right," Remus agreed. "Now, for some years I studied psychology, and I've thought some things through that have brought me to a sad conclusion; Harry doesn't know how to love."

"that's bollocks," Ginny said, offended on Harry's behalf.

"Virginia!" her mother scolded.

"No, Molly," Remus said. "I need to explain that. You see we learn most everything we need to for the basis of our social life in our first five or six years of life, by watching how those around us behave, and how those around us treat us. Harry has had only the Dursleys to learn from and..." he paused as his voice was choked with emotion. "They've never shone him any sort of love."

he took a breath before begginning again. "To me, there are four kinds of love that Harry doesn't know; Parental, sibling, romantic, and physical.

Parental, the love of a child for their parent. Harry's never had someone to love like that. this is evidenced by his interactions with Sirius, treating him like elder one moment, and peer the next. He's had brief and, I'm sorry to say, inadequate substitutes." he cast his eyes over the Weasleys, Albus, Minerva, and even Hermione. "Know that I may have given you each a pointed look, but I'm just as guilty."

"I did not trust him," Albus confessed.

"I never coddled him," Minerva admitted. a teacher should never coddle their student. a mother however, must occasionally coddle their child.

"We never hold him accoutable," Molly sighed, Arthur's hand tight in hers.

"I'm not old enough," Hermione nodded. She had from time to time taken an almost maternal role with Harry, she'd always seen that he needed it.

"Sibling love he's been provided with, but I almost fear it is too late in life," Remus continued. "You children are wonderful for Harry. And you two," he said looking at Tonks and Hagrid. "You are something he needs. The problem is that Harry has no idea how to treat a brother or sister. You notice he never shares his problems unless confronted."

"He doesn't want to impose," Ron confirmed.

"He doesn't think he's worth our time," Hermione said, tears shining in her eyes.

"He just doesn't understand how to work with friends, how we want to be there for him." he took a breath. "Romantic love is something I am positive that Harry knows nothing of. Given Harry's extreme degree of awkwardness, I think that he has never even considered the possiblity that someone could care for him."

Ginny could swear his eyes landed on her for a moment.

"this is not so grand a hurdle for him, as most men are clueless about love."

Ron, Arthur, and Albus all nodded in agreement.

"And now the most awkward... physical love. sex." Remus took another breath. "I don't believe for one moment that the Dursley's have ever talked to Harry about this, much less taught him how to protect himself and his partner, or even what the consequences can be. I doubt he knows the basic workings of it all."

Ron and Tonks were blushing, while the rest felt the anger at the Dursley's.

"Harry needs to know that he is worth our love," he looked to the paternal figures. "All of our love. he needs to know that our love for him will never end because he needs help," he looked to the sibling figures. "He needs to know that someday, he will meet a girl that will love him for him. And he needs to know how to consumate such a relationship."

"We... we want him to stay with us for the summer," Molly wept. "We don't want him to spend another moment with those horrible muggles."

"That will be arranged," Albus said. "Spending the summer in the Burrow will be far better than spending it in this dismal local. Do remember to yell at him now and again," Albus added the last part with something like a playful smile.

"We'll talk to him about sex too," Molly agreed.

"Um... Mol," Arthur added, squeezing her hand. "Perhaps it should be just me. You know, man to man."

"Not just you," Remus added. "I would have been there had he gotten the talk from his father or Sirius, to straighten out any wrong impressions he might have gotten."

Arthur chuckled. "I think he'll enjoy seeing you for that."

"We'll make him ask us for help more," Hermione said.

"Even if we have to hurt him," Ron added, getting a laugh from the crowd.

The crowd thinned out, and Ginny prepared for her trip back to the Burrow. "And I'll tell him," she whispered where she thought no one could hear her.

across the room though the Headmaster nodded his head, with an expression she could only interpret as "good idea."