Author's Note: I am sorry for the short length (I know I personally hate super short updates), but this is more of an interlude to help set the stage. I had a hard time with this chapter and I am still not really satisfied, but it is what it is. Plus, Harry seems pretty melodramatic this chapter but he just refused to be written any other way. Things start to pick up and lengthen here soon, I promise!

Interlude: Food for Thought

Harry found that he could eat a lot more with friendly company. He hadn't been able to eat much of anything since the end of term. For some reason, his aunt kept setting bread and soup in his room every day, even though he hardly touched it. He was sure that it was more out of concern for her own welfare than anything else. Beyond that, he sometimes grabbed something to eat while he was out, but his primary source of nutrition for the past three weeks had been coffee and cigarettes.

While having breakfast with Charlie was nice, he was still at a loss as to what the man wanted. His intentions seemed sincere, but he was always surrounded by people with good intentions and that had never turned out well for Harry. He was sure that Dumbledore had the best of intentions when he left him at the Dursley's; but while he may have been safe from Death Eaters, there was nothing there to protect him from his aunt's sharp tongue and his uncle's heavy-handedness.

Harry was also sure that the Headmaster had the best of intentions when keeping him in the dark for the past five years about everything, particularly the prophecy. Unfortunately, that plan ended in disaster as well. His Godfather had become just another person on a long list to leave him. His parents were gone, his only living blood relatives abandoned him emotionally the day that Dumbledore essentially abandoned him on their doorstep. His friends could not be trusted to stand by him. Even now, they were probably deciding how best to avoid Harry next year. Even if his Godfather had not died, he knew that Sirius would have left him as soon as he realized that he was not a reincarnation of James. He had been attached to Remus Lupin, but even his presence after third year had been almost non-existent.

The past few weeks had been a distraction from his morose thoughts and he had found that he did know how to keep people interested in him enough to stick around. He knew Michael would always look for him at the club and he knew how to get the attention of anyone else that might come along. He only had to give up a small part of himself and really, what did it matter when there wasn't that much of himself left anyway?

Charlie slowly ate his breakfast, more to encourage Harry to eat than out of actual hunger. He spent the companionable silence in thought, contemplating his next steps. The only thing he knew was that Harry could not go back to his relatives and could not be allowed to continue as he had been. Charlie's first thought had been to take Harry to the Headmaster, but after Harry said that he had not heard from the Headmaster since the end of term, he had begun to doubt his plan. 'Why had no one kept in touch with Harry? Did they expect him to send him off for the summer and have him come back whole and ready to fight? What a mess.'

Charlie could not help but think about why he cared so much about what happened to Harry. He had only told a half truth when he had told Harry that he would do the same for anyone. He would of course, but he would not be sitting here trying to make long-term plans for just anyone.

If he was honest with himself, he knew that he had admired Harry in more ways than one since the Tri-Wizard tournament. He couldn't help but remember the flush of attraction he felt when he saw Harry out-flying the Horntail during the first task. At the time, his thoughts had made him feel a bit dirty. Charlie could not help but think that it was wrong to be attracted to a 14 year old. Even now, Harry was not quite sixteen and Charlie still felt a bit guilty. However, he felt it was a redeeming factor that he was not just physically attracted to Harry. Harry had always been so vibrant and determined, no matter the situation and Charlie loved to be around him for that reason. Plus -and he smiled inwardly at his assumption at how indignant Harry would be if he told him what he was thinking- Harry was just so sweet. He wanted justice for everyone without ever thinking about himself.

And wasn't that the crux of the issue? Harry did not think about himself; at least not in the way that he should. He would never just ask for help or support under the assumption that he is entitled to it simply because he is a person. He seemed to think of every interaction as an exchange, which was not inherently bad, but Harry always seemed to give himself the short end of the stick in his interactions with others.

That particular characteristic of Harry's was what seemed to raise all of Charlie's protective instincts. He felt compelled to go in and correct all of life's injustices for Harry and then run his fingers through his hair at the end of the day. 'Hmm, melodramatic much, Charlie' was his thought to himself.

'So, since I am being melodramatic anyway, how can I help fix this mess for Harry?' Charlie decided that the Headmaster was truly the best place to start, but he would be making that trip alone.

Satisfied with his plan of action, Charlie continued to finish his meal.