Charlie was startled awake by a scream, running out of his library, he ran to the room where the noise had came from. Harry was on the bed thrashing around whimpering and crying with the occasional silent scream. Charlie went to the bed and started to gently shake Harry. Sleep filled green eyes opened and Charlie covered a gasp. They looked dead.
"Harry, you were having a bad dream, are you ok? Do you need anything?" Charlie asked.
"Where am I?" Harry replied, then he turned to look out the window.
"My house in Romania, on the dragon reserve." Charlie gently reached out and turned Harry's head so he was facing him, "Are you ok?"
"I'd be better if I was dead," Harry whispered. "How'd I get here?"
"First off, don't say that. Please don't say that and Severus brought you here." Charlie kept his grip on Harry's chin when he tried to turn away .
"Why? Why did he bring me here and why can't I say it? I wanted to. I didn't do what I did to still be here. I want to be dead in the ground, no more, no one cares I just," Harry finished screaming with tears streaming down his face.
"He brought you here because he cares and I care. We don't want you dead, we want you alive. I know what they did to you and I don't approve but I'm not like that and neither is Fred, George or Bill. We love you, adore you even. Which is why I'm going to ask for you not to give up quiet yet. Please give the rest of us a chance." Charlie looked straight into Harry's eyes, "Lets go get breakfast and then you can give me your answer. Ok?"
"Ok," Harry said meekly "let's go get breakfast."
"Ok, let's see. Eggs and sausage are all I have right now, is that ok?" Charlie asked.
"Yeah."
"Ok, you sit and I'll cook."
"Um, Charlie? "
"Yeah, Harry?"
"Do you have any clothes not covered in blood, because as much as I think this is a very festive look, it's dried on to me." Harry said with some hint of mirth in his eyes.
"In the dresser, in the bed room, there are clothes and through the door on the right is the bathroom. While I cook, why don't you freshen up…..Please come back ok?"
"Ok. Thank you, Charlie."
Those words gave Charlie some hope. Knowing it wouldn't be an easy or short road but harry would be back to his little imp self in no time and he couldn't be happier about it. As Charlie started the eggs there was a tapping at his window. He looked at it, "Pig, what are you doing here?" He opened the window and let the owl in, giving it a piece of sausage. Looking at the letter, it was addressed to Harry. Charlie set it on the table next to a plate of food for him.
"Thanks for the shower," Harry said as he walked back into the kitchen.
"No problem. Eat, there's also a letter Harry. No matter what it says, you have me and Severus. Ok?"
Harry just nodded his head as he opened the letter and started reading
Dear Harry, ~so it's Harry now?he thought bitterly
Look mate. We're sorry. We are just really stressed and your letter
Came at a bad time. I took out my frustrations on you and it's not
right. I'm sorry. I'm hope we can patch things up. We miss ya, mate
and I can't wait for the new school year.
Write back, Ron.
"Well bugger him," Harry growled. "No, not again."
"Good for you, Harry. What do you say we go shopping today to get you some clothes and all that good stuff?" Charlie asked a beaming smile on his face.
Harry smiled back. "I would like that. Can we not go to Diagon Alley though? I don't want to see people."
"They have a shopping district here and a Gringotts. So, no Britain for you until school. Even then, you could go here for while. No one cares who you are here and it might do you some good."
"I'll think about that, it sounds like a good idea though. Let's go shopping. Please please please." Harry pleaded with his big green eyes and his puppy dog look.
Charlie laughed, "Let's go, little puppy."
Severus was sitting in the Headmaster's office scowling.
"Was Harry ok, Severus?" the Headmaster asked politely.
"Yes. It seems the wards were fine but his family went for a vacation. That is why the wards were weakened," Severus said with a sneer.
"Yes yes. That's good. How is he?"
"Good, a little sad, but he will live another day."
"Yes. Well, if he stays in his depression too long, I will have to take over his guardianship again. With no family and no marriage, he can't, in good standing, make the decisions needed for him." Dumbledore stated, his eyes twinkling madly.
Severus was shocked. ~What was this man up to?~ And then it hit him. Dear god, he wanted this boy destroyed, didn't he? "Indeed Headmaster. I have potions to attend to, so if you do not mind, I need to get going."
"By all means Severus, I'll see you later." It was a clear dismissal. Severus got up and left, going straight to his chambers and Flooing to Charlie's house.