Authors notes:
Thank you so much for giving the story a favourite and a follow!
Feel free to leave a review since I am new to this and I'd appreciate some feedback!
I plan to write a lot more HP fanfiction, so don't worry this may be the end of this story but not of me :)
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"Is there something you want to tell me, Harry?"
Harry's shoes had once again become rather interesting as his gaze fell from Arthur's face. He knew this was going to be brought up the second he told Arthur that he was not smacked on the bottom, he knew he had opened up a can of worms and even if he chose to say nothing, this wouldn't be the end of it. Harry was touched that Arthur held so much concern for him (even after the boy had shamelessly stolen his car and had given him cause to smack his bottom), but he didn't think it was fair to burden the man with his life's story and tell him about the awful neglect and abuse that he suffered from his supposed family. He figured he had been enough trouble already with his antics not only this term but last year as well. If it hadn't been for him, Ron wouldn't have ended up in the Hospital Wing at the end of the year for sacrificing his safety in a life sized game of Wizard's chess.
That wouldn't have happened if he and Ron had never become friends. Harry had somehow inserted himself into the Weasleys lives and made everything more troublesome for them. After all he was quite sure that the House elf who showed up in his bedroom had something to do with the gateway sealing itself, they wouldn't have had to take the car if something hadn't stopped them (particularly him) from getting through the barrier at King's Cross station. Trouble seemed to follow him wherever he went, whether he tempted it or not. Still, what if this was his chance? His chance to finally escape such abusive, toxic people and be with someone who loved him and cared for him? What if Arthur Weasley could fix everything right now? Right here? What if he never had to go back to Number 4 Privet Drive? A spark of hope ignited within his heart and the boy worked up enough courage to say what had been shut away in silence his whole life.
He poured his heart out to Arthur Weasley that December afternoon. Explaining everything from being fed scraps at meal times, from being starved whenever there was an incident with accidental magic that, at the time, Harry couldn't explain. He told Arthur about how he'd been shut in a cupboard under the stairs up until last year when he'd come home from Hogwarts and had been given Dudley's second bedroom filled with broken and unwanted toys. He told him about all the bullying he'd suffered at the hands of his dunderhead cousin, and the verbal and emotional abuse from his Aunt and Uncle. He told him everything.
With every word, Arthur Weasley felt the anger bubbling under his skin. How could Dumbledore, the greatest man he'd ever known, have left Harry with such…such atrocious people?! Arthur had always held such a high opinion of Muggles, but even that couldn't stop him from hating Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and Cousin Dudley. This poor boy had been put through so much, all of which he had not deserved. James and Lily would be tossing and turning in their graves if they knew…perhaps they did. Still, he had to swallow down all his frustration and anger at the situation and keep calm, for Harry's sake. He let the boy finish speaking and he nodded after a processing every word in his brain. He had to do something about this, how could he not? There was no way he would allow Harry to go back to such an abusive home life, even if he had to hide him at the Burrow in his (Muggle item filled) shed or in the attic with the Ghoul.
"Oh Harry…" the man drew the child to his chest once more, resting his chin atop the boy's head. "You don't have to worry about a thing any more, I'll fix this." he promised the child. How he was going to do that, he wasn't sure. He planned on sending an Owl to professor Dumbledore immediately, he had to believe that the man hadn't known about the cruel mistreatment of this child. Dumbledore would never knowingly leave Harry with abusive family members…would he? Arthur carded his fingers through the boy's dark hair and sighed, letting Harry flop against him in silence.
"Ow! Bloody hell Fred, that hurt!"
"Well if you moved your fat arse, I wouldn't have hit you would I?"
"Maybe we should toss you over the garden wall next, Ronniekins?"
"Shut up George! Don't call me that!"
Arthur sighed. The job of a father was never done. "Well, I'd better go and break up world war three." he said, getting to his feet and giving Harry's shaggy mop of hair an affectionate tousle. The man then strode to the window, pulled it open and stuck his head out, just in time to see Fred and George trying to grab Ron by his ankles. "BOYS!" He thundered down at them. "I told you to de-gnome the garden not de-moralize one another!" he scolded, wagging a finger at all three of them (who at least had the good graces to look contrite). "That garden had better be empty by the time your Mum gets home or else there will be no pudding for the lot of you!"
"What did I do?!" Ron whined in protest.
"I heard you swearing Ronald. Had your Mum been home she would have cast a scourgify charm for that filthy mouth. You too, Fred." Arthur responded, causing Ron's ears to flame red and Fred to scowl just a little. Arthur then stood back and shut the window with a thud.
"Scourgify?" Harry asked curiously as he was half way out the door.
"Ah. A cleaning charm, usually used to wash pots, clean surfaces…and scrub away swear words from a naughty child's tongue." Arthur winked, picking up his wand from the night stand and tucking it into his inner jacket pocket.
Harry nodded in understanding, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile. He'd have loved to see the usually foul mouthed Fred and George with a mouthful of suds.
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"What is for pudding this evening anyway?" George asked, grabbing a pesky gnome by the ankles and whirling it over his head. "I hope it's worth not throwing Ron over." he smirked at their little brother.
"Shut up George."
"Very articulate today aren't we, Ronald?"
"I think Mum said she was making pumpkin pie." Fred shrugged.
"As long as Dad doesn't try to bake again, I'm happy."
"Ah the 'Cauldron cake incident'." Fred grinned, a reminiscent gleam in his eyes.
"Poor Dad was cleaning egg off of the kitchen walls for a week." George recalled. "Dunno why he didn't just buy the ready made ones from Honeydukes."
"Leave it to Dad to do things the hard way." Fred shrugged. "He even insisted on cleaning up without magic. He's too fascinated by the old boring Muggle ways."
"Blimey, is that the last of them?" Ron interrupted his brothers, hurling the last dizzy gnome over the garden wall and reaching down to rub his ankles (where he'd been bitten multiple times by the garden intruders).
"I reckon so. Can't see any more of the little buggars."
"Good." Ron sighed, wiping the sweat from his clammy forehead and sighing. He absolutely hated de-gnoming the garden, it was possibly the worst chore he and his brothers (and Ginny) had to do. He'd rather peel potatoes or dust and sweep or whatever. Something much less physical.
"Boys! Come give me a hand, would you?!" All three heads turned in the direction of the open back door. "Ginny dear?! Anyone?!"
"Mum's home."
Fred, George and Ron hurried inside in time to see Molly Weasley making her way into the kitchen, large bags bundled under her arms, her face bright pink and glistening with sweat. She set the bags down none too gently on the table and her hands went immediately to her back.
"I don't know, a house filled with six strapping young men and I'm the one carrying the bags inside!" she sighed angrily.
"Sorry Mum, we didn't hear you coming up the path." George answered sheepishly, making his way over and giving the short, plump woman a hug.
"Blimey, was there a sale or something?" Fred asked, pulling at one of the many bags sprawled out on the table to try and get a good look inside.
"Just a few extra things for Christmas and…No! Don't go looking in there!" Molly quickly smacked Fred's hand away from the biggest bag. "Honestly!" the woman's stern expression softened though and she brought Fred and Ron into a hug, pleased to see them home for the Christmas Holidays. "Oh it's good to have you home, boys. Where's Percy?"
"How should we know?" Fred groaned, rubbing vigorously at his recently kissed cheek, trying to wipe away the lipstick. "Probably up in his room doing something positively perfect, as per usual."
"You could learn a thing or two from Percy, Fred. And you George." Molly scolded wagging her finger at both identical boys.
George looked affronted, "Hey, I didn't say anything."
"You were thinking the same though." Fred grinned.
"Ah brother, you know me well." George laughed. "I suppose I should have remembered that Mum can read minds now." he added, rolling his eyes.
"And where is your sister?" Molly asked, ignoring the both of them and looking around the kitchen for a moment.
"Blimey we're not your kids' keepers, Mum." Fred muttered.
"And your Father?"
"We're not your husband's keepers either." George mumbled.
"Is Harry here?"
"Oh he's getting his bum smacked." Fred smirked. "Just like ickle Ronniekins did."
Ron's face instantly coloured up and he fought back the urge not to kick his brother in the shin. He really was being a git today. George too, actually.
"Well unless you want your bum smacked, Fred." Molly scolded, giving the teen's bottom a sharp swat. "I suggest you don't make fun of your brother. You're not too big to go over your Father's knee you know, or mine for that matter!" she then glanced at Ron and sighed, she too had been upset about the incident with the car, but considering Arthur had likely made their disapproval very clear to the young boy (and his friend), she decided to let her anger go.
"Hello dear." Arthur smiled as he and Harry got to the bottom of the creaky staircase. He brought his wife into his arms and kissed her lovingly, despite the overly dramatic gagging and groaning coming from their boys (if anything it just lengthened their kiss). "Oh, you should have given one of us a shout," Arthur frowned, looking at the bags along the table. "We would have come and given you a hand."
"I did, none of you heard me apparently." Molly sighed, "Never mind." she gave her husband a kiss on his cheek when he gave her a rather sheepish look and then her face practically shone when she saw Harry. "Oh Harry dear!" she brought him into a huge hug and rubbed his back. "Oh it's good to see you!"
Harry blushed pink and returned the woman's hug, smiling despite himself. "You too, Mrs Weasley." he answered, fidgeting a bit when the hug lasted just a little too long for his liking. Not that he didn't enjoy it, but with Fred, George and Ron as his audience, he felt sort of awkward.
"Molly dear…I need to talk to you." Arthur said after a moment and locked eyes with Harry. This couldn't wait, he was going to have to talk to his wife about everything Harry had told him and decide together how they were going to handle this situation. Molly seemed to understand the solemnity in her husband's voice, and the concern he held in his usually gentle gaze, and nodded.
"Of course, love." she agreed before turning to Fred and George. "If either of you look in those bags you wont sit for a week." she warned them and Arthur hid a chuckle.
"Really, what do you take us for, Mum?" Fred gasped, hand to his chest, the picture of insulted.
"A couple of no good peeping toms?" George added, aghast.
"Boys." Arthur warned. "Mind your Mother."
"Yes Dad…" the twins groaned in unison.
"Wonder what's so important." Ron muttered to Harry as he watched his parents ascend the staircase and no doubt go to their room for some privacy.
"Dunno…" Harry answered, though he did. He knew exactly why Mr and Mrs Weasley had gone upstairs to talk in private. His stomach knotted again as he thought about being the centre of the conversation. Part of him wished he hadn't said anything to Arthur, while the other part of him willed them to be able to do something about his abusive situation.
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Fred and George had taken Molly's warning seriously, and decided to leave the bags alone in favour of going upstairs to bother their brother, Percy. Ron and Harry had made their way into the living room, both laid on their stomachs and engrossed in a game of exploding snap.
"Sorry about…y'know, all that." Ron said after a moment. He had a feeling Harry would understand what he meant, "You doing okay?"
Harry's cheeks heated up a little at the question and he cleared his throat a little awkwardly. "It's all right…and y-yeah…you?"
"Yeah.." Ron looked just as embarrassed as Harry, especially since his best mate had seen his Father smacking his bare bottom. The thought alone made him inwardly cringe.
—THOSE BLOODY MUGGLES!
Harry and Ron both looked up from their game to the ceiling as they heard Molly's scream of anger. Ron swore his mother had made the walls of the burrow shake with the ferocity in her voice.
"Bloody hell…Mum hardly ever swears." he muttered.
—HE'S JUST A BOY!
The boys couldn't really make out what was being said, just a whole lot of screaming and the odd few sentences from Mrs Weasley, most of it being profanity because her inner mother Lion had been brought out. She was fiercely protective of her Lion cubs, Harry being one of them. Ron's ears turned pink as he heard a few choice swear words leave her mouth, ones that he knew for a fact would have gotten his own mouth washed out and his bottom smacked simultaneously.
—IF DUMBLEDORE KNEW ABOUT THIS!
"Dumbledore? What the bloody hell are they talking about?" Ron asked, his eyebrows drawing into a frown, his focus had left their game completely now.
Harry felt a little bad. How could he not? Mrs Weasley was obviously quite upset and he knew it was all because he had opened his mouth and said something. Both boys jumped when they heard a loud bang and Arthur's voice booming above Molly's for a change. The man had likely slammed his fist down on their night stand in rage.
—FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE MOLLY, KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN!
—THEY'RE NOT HAVING HIM BACK! HE'S STAYING HERE!
Molly's voice had obviously not lowered in volume after that, but then, there was silence. Harry and Ron could no longer hear anything, heck, half of London could no longer hear anything! The boys exchanged confused expressions and then looked to the staircase when they heard a set of footsteps, just one. Arthur had come down them a moment later, his face pink and tired but he was wearing his usual kind smile.
"Harry, do you mind coming upstairs for a moment?" the man asked softly.
"Uh…s-sure Mr Weasley." Harry got to his feet and walked over to the man, throwing a glance back over his shoulder at Ron who looked absolutely horrified. Was Harry in some sort of trouble? Was his best mate going to get smacked again? Harry knew better though, and he followed in silence behind Mr Weasley as he lead him up the stairs, along the hall and to their room.
It smelled pleasant inside, like a mixture of Molly's usual cheap perfume and Arthur's muggle cologne (old spice). It was reasonable in size, being the master bedroom it was the largest bedroom in the house. The walls were cream coloured and adorned with moving pictures of their children laughing, making faces, and being the rowdy Weasley bunch that they were. There was a light, pleasant feel to the room, plenty of natural light was pouring in from the windows and though the carpet was a sort of off-putting sea foam green colour, it still tied in nicely with the room.
"Take a seat, Harry." Arthur gestured to the bed in the middle of the room, turned down with deep, crisp white sheets and a satin sea foam throw.
Harry awkwardly lowered himself down onto the bed and half fidgeted for two reasons, one because his bum was still a little sore, and two because the bed looked too nicely made and he was too worried about wrinkling it or ruffling it. Never before had he felt like he had just too many legs. Should he cross them? Keep them apart? Fold them? How was he supposed to sit in a situation like this?
Molly wiped the last of her tears from her eyes and seated herself beside Harry, wrapping an arm around the child and bringing him to her chest, where she tightened the hug with both arms. She never wanted to let this precious boy go. Harry leaned into her comfort, not feeling so awkward about sitting on the bed now but he still squirmed a bit thanks to getting smacked less than an hour ago.
"Oh Harry, you poor boy." she sighed, the woman blinking back more tears as she pulled from the hug and cupped the boy's narrow face with both hands. "Don't you worry dear, you won't be going back to those…..Muggles." she decided to say. It would do no good for anyone for the woman to say what was really on her mind.
"Harry, I'm going to send an Owl to Dumbledore and explain the situation to him. For now, until we can find you somewhere permanent to live, you'll be staying here with us, all right?" Mr Weasley asked, standing at Harry's side and putting a hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
"Somewhere permanent my left cheek!" Molly snapped. "He's staying here Arthur, he'll have a permanent home with us!"
Arthur smiled gently. "Well dear, that's Harry's decision, not ours."
Harry could hardly believe his ears. He could stay here? With Ron and Ginny and the twins and Percy? He could be part of the Weasley family? He could have a family? His very own loving family?! He could hardly believe it. Surely he must be dreaming?! He was speechless for a few moments as everything processed in his brain and then he blurted out,
"Of course I want to stay! I mean…I mean, yes please!"
Arthur and Molly pulled Harry into the tightest, warmest hug imaginable, holding the young Harry James Potter between them. There was still the matter of writing to Dumbledore, and getting everything sorted. There would be a long way to go before Harry was made a 'proper' member of the family. For now though it was a start.
The start of Harry's new life as a Weasley.