Harry wasn't sure what made him confess. All he knew was that for the first time in his life, people seemed to care about him. These people who he'd never talked to before in his life were concerned about why he was sitting out in the cold. Then they'd told his aunts off.
When he glanced at Aunt Petunia and saw how angry she was, he knew exactly what he was going to go home to. Not only would she spank him, but so would Uncle Vernon. He had let himself be seen. He hadn't meant to. He thought he'd been well hidden, but then the twin boys had found him.
When he thought about the woman's kindness, he felt tears in his eyes. Though at school he'd been taught never to talk to strangers, he couldn't help but trust her or her family. As young as he was, he could tell she cared about him, and so he'd blurted out the truth.
Now he was standing inside a strange looking home after going through a fireplace where'd they spun really fast. The woman had held him while they went through but had set him down when they entered a strange kitchen. When the rest of the family arrived, she'd sent them all from the room. As he glanced around, he felt his stomach grumble. It reminded him of how hungry he was.
"Would you like to eat?" The woman asked him.
"It's okay," he muttered as he stared down at the ground.
"If you are hungry, I would like you to eat. Afterward, the children will show you around. For now Harry, I would like you to sit down at the table. I would like to more about your life with your aunt and uncle," the woman said. "My name is Molly Weasley, and I would like to help you."
"I don't want to go back to them," he said still not looking up. "They're going to hurt me as soon as I go home."
"And that is why I would like you to sit down at the table," Molly said. "I'll make something for you to eat."
Harry finally looked up at her again. She had such a friendly smile, and he felt tears in his eyes. Why was she so nice to him when his own family hated him? Was it true that they were freaks too? Either way, he figured he should repay her for being so nice. He knew how to make food after all. He could do it himself.
"I can make my own food if you want," Harry finally said. "You don't have to for me. I know how to cook."
"What do you mean you know how to cook?" She asked sharply and Harry flinched. Was she angry with him? Would he get spanked by her too? Was she going to send him back? He stepped backward. "Oh honey no, I am not upset with you. I'm angry with your aunt and uncle. You shouldn't be making food. You are only five, you are too young. I would like to make you something to eat dear."
And before he could say anything, she scooped him back up and then carried him over to a table. She set him down in a chair where he flinched again. He was still very sore from his spanking. She seemed to notice because she looked at him with concern again.
"What's wrong dear? Are you okay? Where else do you hurt? I've noticed you are limping, and I see your black eye," she said.
"I got spanked hard," Harry said, but he looked away, so he didn't have to look at her. "It still hurts. Please don't spank me."
"Harry-" she began but he heard her sigh. "I'm just going to make you something. While I do that, please tell me everything. It is very important that you tell me. I am going to do whatever I can to make sure that you don't have to go home again."
He didn't respond. He just continued to stare at the table. There was a dark spot on the table. He could hear her rattling around, meanwhile, in the other room, he could hear excited voices. He wondered what it would be like to live in a place like this. He hadn't seen too much of it yet, but he liked what he saw.
The house had a messy look to it, but he didn't get the impression that the inhabitants were dirty. It was a relaxed, lived in home where the people didn't care about things being out of place. It wasn't a big deal if there were fingerprints on the walls, or if someone happened to spill. It wasn't too clean. It was comfortable and fun looking. The kids didn't have to worry about being scolded for being messy and loud. He felt envious of them. Why couldn't he live in a home like this?
And while he thought about the differences between the overly cleanness of his home, and the Weasley's home, he suddenly found himself opening up again. He began telling her about the last few days, including getting empty presents, to being spanked very hard for tripping over Ripper. Molly continued making him breakfast all the while asking him some questions.
Finally, she placed a plate with turkey, mashed potatoes, and peas in front of him.
"I can eat?" He asked her as he looked down at the food back to her. It looked so good!
"Of course you can. We just talked about this dear," Molly responded. "Harry, while you eat, my husband and I are going to go talk to someone about you. While we do this, Bill and Charlie will look after you. My children are all very nice. If you don't want to talk about your home life with them, you don't have to. You can just play if you want, or maybe Percy will read to you. He enjoys reading to the younger children."
What Harry didn't know was that Arthur was currently telling the children not to badger him. All he knew was that for some lucky reason, he'd been found by the nicest people he'd ever known. Why did they care about him? Where would be go if he didn't go home? He glanced around the messy but comfortable kitchen. He wanted to live here! Was that sponge cleaning the dishes by itself in the sink? He smiled as he watched it before he reached for the fork Molly had handed him. Would this family let him stay with them?
Molly wasn't sure exactly what she was going to say to Dumbledore, or if she would be able to hold her temper back. As it was, she wanted to find out exactly where the Dursley's lived so she could yell at them some more. How could they live with themselves knowing that they'd put an innocent child through so much? It was a lot worse than she'd originally suspected.
"They even ruined Christmas for him," Molly told Arthur angrily as they made their way across Hogwarts grounds.
The two of them had apparated to Hogsmeade not knowing if Dumbledore would have security on the floo network or not. Given that You-Know-Who had just been defeated four years ago, she figured the Headmaster would still want extra security on the castle. What surprised both Molly and Arthur was to find that the gates weren't locked. Perhaps security wasn't as tight these days.
"They actually took the time to wrap empty boxes for Harry to open. They made him think Father Christmas had done this deliberately to him," Molly continued. "If they didn't want to raise a magical child, why didn't they send him back?"
"I knew dear, but remember, Albus can't have known that Harry would grow up abused," Arthur told his wife as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know you are angry. I am too, but Albus would have stepped in if he'd known."
"He shouldn't have been placed there in the first place," Molly responded. "There are plenty of magical families who would love to raise him."
Including herself.
"But Albus will have his reasons for placing Harry with his relatives," Arthur told her calmly.
Molly didn't answer, she knew deep down that her husband was right. He was usually the calm and rational one. All she knew was that she was very angry for what had happened to little Harry Potter. Not only had the young boy's parents been murdered, but he'd almost been killed himself. Instead, You-Know-Who had disappeared and Harry became the saviour of the Wizarding World.
There would be an outrage if everyone knew that The Boy Who Lived had grown up abused.
As they began making their way up the long steps to the castle, the double doors opened. A man with a very hairy face stepped out of the castle. He was much bigger than the average man. As his eyes fell on them, he let out a roar of enthusiasm as they continued to make their way up the steps.
"Molly, Arthur," he called. "What are yeh two doin' here?"
"Hagrid, we're here to see Dumbledore," Arthur answered once they were closer. "Is he here?"
"O' course he is," Hagrid replied. "Jus' got back from talking to him meself. Is everythin' alright? How are Bill and Charlie?"
"The children are fine," Molly assured him as he led them into the castle.
She decided against telling Hagrid about Harry for the time being. She knew that Hagrid had been close to the Potters. She didn't want to upset him. Instead, while Hagrid lead them through the castle to the Headmasters office, she told him about their Christmas.
The castle really hadn't changed since she'd been there. She recognized certain portraits as they walked. It had been so long since she was here, but it could have just been yesterday. She'd loved her time being a student at this school. It had been where she'd met the love of her life. As she thought this, Arthur suddenly nudged her and pointed ahead of them. It appeared to be just the stone wall, but they both knew that there was a passageway hidden behind that very spot.
It had been years, but they still knew exactly where it was. They'd spent many happy moments in that space while hiding their budding romance, and even once they came out in the open, they'd still gone there. Her husband smirked at her and winked; she felt her cheeks warm up as she blushed. Who would have thought the two awkward teenagers would have married and eventually had seven children.
She was barely listening to Hagrid as he talked about the latest events at Hogwarts. Though when they finally arrived in front of the entrance to the Headmasters office, she was brought back to reality.
"Thank you Hagrid," Arthur said after they were given the password. "Don't be a stranger. Perhaps you could come over for dinner sometime."
Hagrid thanked him and told them he would that before he turned and walked off.
It had been years since they'd been on the revolving staircase to the Headmaster's office, but Molly noticed the crack was still there. She remembered being a student and staring at it while it went up. Not that she was sent up to the office often. When they arrived at the top, Arthur knocked on the door, and it swung open immediately.
"Molly, Arthur," Albus said who looked as if he'd been in the middle of pacing. "What do I owe the pleasure of this visit? How are the boys?"
"They're fine," Molly said as they stepped into the office. "But we do have some bad news."
Albus made a gesture for them to sit down in a couple of chairs in front of his desk. As they made their way over to the chairs, Molly took in the many magical instruments Albus had around his office. She wasn't even sure of what half of them did. Were they for decoration, or did he really need them?
Once they were seated, Albus took a seat behind his desk.
"We went on a shopping trip today into muggle London," Arthur began and then he explained how they'd found Harry outside, not even dressed warmly enough for the weather.
Molly jumped to explain everything Harry had told her.
"Where is he now?" Albus asked.
"We left him at home," Molly replied. "Don't you have people checking in on Harry once and a while?"
"A squib by the name of Arabella Figg lives down the street from the Dursley's," Albus responded. "She has reported that he is neglected, but we knew there was a chance of that when we dropped him off. It is imperative that we get him back to their home. I will talk to them. I'll inform them that this treatment can no longer go on."
"Are you serious?" Molly demanded. "Albus, you knew this was going on, and you chose to leave him there? You want to send him back?"
"I did not know the abuse was that bad. Arabella has not reported any physical abuse. Are you sure the child isn't exaggerating? Often, children can exaggerate-" Albus began, but Molly felt her temper erupting.
"He is not exaggerating Albus! He is covered in bruises. It hurts for him to sit down. He is far too light for a child his age. I have seven children. I know when they are lying or exaggerating. Harry is abused!" She said furiously. "Albus, they left him outside in the streets of London while they ate in a restaurant! What if we'd been child abductors? How can you sit there so calmly after we've told you that Harry Potter is abused?"
"Albus," Arthur began in a calm voice, he reached over to put a hand on Molly's knee. "Harry cannot go back. I don't understand how you don't realize how serious this is. He is five-years-old. Our son is five, and to imagine someone hurting him…" but he broke off. "There has to be an alternative."
"Harry has to live with his aunt and uncle; it's where he is safe," Albus said. "Believe me, Molly, Arthur, I do understand how serious it is. I will go talk to the Dursley's right after you leave."
"No, that's not good enough," Molly said. "He can't go back there! Petunia looked furious when we found him. It wasn't us she was angry with though. It was Harry. I'm sure that if we'd sent him home with them, they would have beaten him for being seen! How can you possibly believe that he is safe there? If we send him back, they'll probably promise they won't, but they'll beat him anyway! I would like to know why you think he is safe there."
"When I placed Harry with his aunt and uncle, I sealed a spell when his mother sacrificed herself. As long as he resides where his mother's blood is, that is Petunia, he'll be safe if Lord Voldemort shall ever return," Albus explained. "The blood wards keep him safe. There is no other way."
Molly flinched when Albus said the name: Lord Voldemort. Many witches and wizards were still too scared to say his name, even four years after his disappearance. Most called him You-Know-Who or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
"We'll take him in," Molly stated. "I don't care what you say about the blood wards. We can take care of him better."
If she had to be honest with herself, she'd been considering it the moment they'd found him. Yes, they had seven mouths to feed, and yes they didn't have a lot of money. However, they would be a better fit than the Dursley's. She felt that if they cut back a bit more, especially with Billy and Charlie in school, and Percy starting soon, they could afford it.
She knew she should have talked to Arthur first, but Molly felt she needed to bring up now.
"Molly, I know money is tight," Albus began. "And what if he comes back? Your entire family could be in danger."
"We are capable of taking care of ourselves," Arthur spoke up, squeezing Molly's knee now. "If You-Know-Who returned, we'd be in danger either way because we are blood traitors. One more mouth to feed isn't going to hurt us. Harry is better off living with us than with the Dursley's. We'll apply for custody as soon as we can."
"Arthur, Molly," Albus began, "It is a lot to take on. I understand that you're worried, but I will prevent further abuse-"
"Albus, we will fight you on this," Molly said. "He can't go back to the Dursley's. They'll emotionally abuse him if they can't hurt him. They purposely ruined Christmas for him! They actually took the time to wrap boxes up, to make Harry think Father Christmas gave him empty gifts. Albus, he can't go back to that home. If you don't believe we are good enough, there has to be another family. Albus, if you care at all about that boy, you will not send him back!"
She didn't understand why he was so stubborn about this. There had to be many other alternatives then leaving him with Petunia. She'd do anything to protect her children, and she already felt that way about Harry. If You-Know-Who came back, she and Arthur would do whatever it took to protect him. They knew their own protective spells. They would do it anyway to protect their own family.
"You don't have much gold to fight me," Dumbledore stated. "You'd fight, and lose a lot just to allow Harry to stay with you?"
"Yes, we'd do the same for him as we would our own children," Arthur said. "But I don't believe you'd fight us to that extent."
Dumbledore let out a sigh and then put his fingers together as he observed them. There was a twinkle in his eye.
"You're right, I do not wish to fight you on this matter," Albus replied. "I wanted to see if you were serious. You two do realize the amount of responsibility you'd be taking on by taking him in? It's not just financially, or the danger… Harry was abused. He will be bringing in a lot of emotional and psychological problems as well."
"We understand all of that," Molly said.
"The ministry may not grant you custody as well," Albus continued. "Given your financial problems, they may not believe you have a stable enough home for him. I'll see what I can do to put in a good word for you."
Molly was shocked by the turn of events. One moment, Albus was telling them that he wasn't going to allow them to take Harry away, now he was offering to put in a recommendation. And part of her wondered if he was going to let them do this from the beginning. Perhaps he was trying to see how serious they indeed were. A lot of the time she didn't understand the old Headmaster, and this was definitely one of those times.