2
A./N.: I know it has been forever since I updated and this chapter is really short ... trying to get back into the story. I hope you enjoy it none the less and I promise to again update on a regular basis from now on. Ilane
After the ceremony ended Harry found himself tightly clasped to Mrs. Weasley's voluptuous chest.
"Oh Harry, my dear, I'm so happy for you," she exclaimed through happy tears. "Now you have a real family and you don't ever have to go back to these horrible Dursleys."
Harry smiled shyly, still a bit uncomfortable around Ron's over-expressive mother. Yet he secretly craved exactly that. Hugs, kisses to the forehead, fussing, exclamations of all kinds and even fights. The Dursleys had mostly ignored him and that had hurt more.
Glancing shyly over to his new parents, he saw that stone-cold Professor McGonagall was in tears. Harry smiled at the scene before him when Albus softly gathered his wife into his arms and kissed her tears away. He had learned so much about his two most respected teachers in the last couple of days that not much was left of his previous (mis-) conceptions.
Gently he disentangled himself from Mrs. Weasley and smiled at her. She returned the smile warmly and gave him a tiny push towards his adoptive parents.
"Go on," she whispered. "Go to them."
Harry didn't need telling twice. He practically flew across the room and into Minerva's arms. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and burrowed his head into the folds of her cloak, inhaling her scent.
It only took her a second to overcome her surprise and wrap her arms equally tightly around his shoulders. Then he felt her cheek against his hair and a soft kiss was planted on his temple.
"I ... I love you, M-Mum," he mumbled softly.
Albus heard the mumbled words as well and quickly gazed up into his wife's face. For a moment she seemed utterly overwhelmed then her eyes filled with tears, both of sorrow and joy. She leaned back slightly and placed a finger under Harry's chin, softly forcing him to look up into her eyes.
"I love you too, Harry," she said quietly. "I'm sorry for neglecting you all these years and I'm sorry about the way you found but now we can make it all right. I promise I'll try being a good mother ... please, have patience with me, I'm still learning that," she ended with a tiny wink and the spell of sadness and regrets was broken.
Minerva bent down slightly and kissed his cheek. Albus wrapped his arms around his small family and held tight. He swore in that moment to protect these two people he loved most with the last drop of blood he had. Nothing and no one would ever hurt them.
Hermione was crying happily and beamed at the scene through her tears. Her best friend seemed happier than she had ever seen him. For the first time she saw a genuine smile without any trace of sadness in his eyes. Ron, too, was overjoyed and grinned from ear to ear.
----
Back in Hogwarts the new family had to face their first problem. Most of the other pupils and teachers still thought that Harry had put his name in the Goblet and cheated to get into the Tournament. The Slytherins in particular were harassing Harry, but the Hufflepuffs cheered them on and added their own insults.
Harry was increasingly withdrawing into himself. Both Minerva and Albus were worried about these new developments. Harry was quiet and introverted at the best of times but now he was downright secluded.
Now he was sitting in his Friday transfiguration class, working hard over an assignment. Minerva sat at her desk and glazed up every now and then to make sure her pupils were still working and not daydreaming. For a long moment she stared at her son and wondered how she could possibly draw him out of his own little world and cheer him up. Of course she knew why he was so down. She had noticed the harassment for the others and she was very mad at all of them. More often she took points off pupils in other colours than Gryffindor. And she had realized lately that she harboured a deep resentment for the youngest Weasley boy. Ron was really treating his 'best friend' shabbily and she hated him guts for it. Nobody messed with her child!
She suddenly felt the urge to walk over and slap Ron silly for his stupid, childish behaviour. Then she was on her feet and had already taken a step towards Ron when a few heads were raised to her. Instead she just walked over to the window. Overlooking the lake and hills of Hogwarts she had an idea. No one would begrudge her and her husband a weekend to get to know their adoptive child some more. It was high time to visit the family in the Highlands. Smiling brightly, Minerva turned back to her class ... just in time to scold Mr. Finnigan for doodling.