Hey everyone,
So I am going to be honest with you all, I don't really have an idea yet who I want for Harry's godfather and I am slightly looking up against this chapter. This is because, as much as I love bashing on Molly Weasley, I do appreciate the bond her and Arthur have and how they raised their seven kids so well.
Sure, with almost all of the kids they had issues – and the way Percy turned out in OotP, HBP & DH is better left unsaid – but the fact that one of their kids works for Gringotts, another one for a foreign Dragon Reserve and that two others got to open their own Joke Shop proves they did a good job raising kids while in poverty.
And I am going to be honest with you, as weak as Arthur still is, recovering from the bite, he IS going to stand up to Molly. And that is something I usually prefer to leave to those she actually wrongs. Call me a sappy, but I always – or at least most of the time – like to leave a supportive person to someone I bash.
So yeah, wish me luck,

Venquine1990


Chapter 07
Comforts And Tests

25th of December 1995
Grimmauld Place, London
Arthur's POV

"This is just inevitable. Harry has been accepting of everything that happens to him for far too long. I knew at one point or another, there'd be a moment where he'd finally stand up for himself, where he would prove that he could hurt others just as much as they sometimes walk over him and hurt him, no matter how unintentional."
I think to myself as I see Hermione rushing out of the room in front of us in a combined sense of anger and pain and while her eyes are shedding tears fast, does the way she slam the door closed prove that she is more angry than hurt. And this alone makes me know that whatever Harry told her, she probably took completely the wrong way.

Then Molly tries to rush in to rant at Harry over this, but to my utter pride, do I see that my sons have remembered what we are all here for as they drag her back into the hallway. And as they come back into the hallway, does Remus reluctantly enter the room. And that reluctance really worries me as to his future role in Harry's life.
"Boys, how could you? Harry –." Molly wants to rant, but then I snap: "Probably stood up to something Hermione did wrong for the first time in a long while and it seems as if Hermione was too angry over this to actually feel guilty. It's time we stop pretending as if Harry is the only one who can do wrong, Molly, right now."
The woman look shocked and I ask: "Ron, do you have any idea of what Harry could have against Hermione?" And the boy shrugs as he says: "I can think of three things, really, and they're more or less all linked together. They kind of have to do with – that club she decided to found through Harry against Umbridge."

At this Molly wants to start a new rant, but I send her a stern look and I ask: "What do you think these links are, Ron?" And the boy shrugs as he says: "It can be one of three things, really. The fact that she doubted founding the club because Sirius was all for it and that she doubted the location Dobby offered until Harry mentioned Dumbledore.
It could also be the way she kept trying to handle setting up the first few meetings and how she sometimes shrinks the room way much more than it needs to, regardless of the fact that Harry has anxiety issues that come up when he's in small crowded rooms. Or it could be the fact that she's been trying to trick him a few times."
"Trick him, how?" I ask in concern as I have little doubt that the boy could be onto something, but then Molly snaps: "Ronald, you better have some actual evidence to back up that ridiculous claim." To which I growl: "This is your son you're accusing, Molly. You're supposed to support him instead of his friend, remember?"
Ron looks at me gratefully for this while Molly cringes and he says: "Don't worry, dad, I have more than evidence. I have Fred, George, Ginny and some of the others back at Hogwarts who can all back me up on this. Several times now, before our meetings start, Hermione would rewrite the scheduled lesson – forging Harry's handwriting.
And like I said, I have evidence. This parchment right here? This is one of the lessons that Hermione adapted instead of asking Harry to adapt the lesson for her." And he shows me a roll of parchment that, as I look at the text, I can easily see that a girl was trying to imitate a boy's handwriting and failed quite badly.

This makes me frown in anger at the girl that just ran out of the room as if she got insulted or something and I ask: "So let me see if I get this straight. Hermione has Harry run a secret and dangerous club for her, ignores his anxiety issues, doubts the ways others try to help her – and tried to mess with his role as the leader?"
And while Molly wants to object, does she get shocked out of this as she sees all four of our kids nod in pained acknowledgment and I grimace as I mutter: "Then Harry was fully in the right to kick Hermione out the way he did. So no, Molly, you are not to make Harry feel bad over something that was never his fault to begin with.
If anything it's Hermione who deserves one of your famous rants. And before you ask why I should want you to do that, I could clearly see that Hermione was too angry with the situation to see that she was in the wrong. She is probably down there ranting about Harry in a way he doesn't deserve. That's why she deserves one of your rants."

The woman looks shocked at what I just said, but then we get a new problem as Lupin actually comes out looking just as pissed as Hermione looked angrily hurt before and I ask: "Is anyone here going to remember that we are here to atone for the mistakes we made to that kid? Are we really that lost in our own egos that we constantly forget that?"
Yet Lupin just turns away and growls: "You wouldn't understand." To which I decide to prove that I am 100% on Harry's side and say: "You're right, I don't understand why you are so adamant to not have the right motivation in staying in Harry's life. Or why you are throwing away a chance to have a close bond with the kid."
Yet before the man can angrily retort, do I hear my name being muttered from the room and so I roll in my wheelchair. Yet at the door Molly asks: "Are you sure, Arthur?" And I answer: "Molly, right now I trust Harry more than I trust most members of the Order. And unlike some, I can hear what sounds through a young man's voice."

And while I can hear Remus let out a derisive sound at this, making me think: "He really isn't guardian material of any kind." Do I roll my wheelchair into the bedroom my youngest son shares with his best friend and instantly I can see evidence that everything I have been vouching for is indeed true, as sad as that is.
Sirius, James and Lily all look tense in a defensive way and Harry is standing in a corner in the room, his arms wrapped around himself in a way that proves he is trying to keep himself stronger than he emotionally is. And just by looking at him and Sirius, do I just know that Remus was as much in the wrong in his anger as Hermione.
Yet just by looking at Harry can I tell that the boy is already starting to doubt himself and so I sternly say: "You were in the right, Harry. Ron and the twins told me exactly what Hermione has been doing during those meetings and you were in the right to point her faults out at her. Whatever you did to punish her –."
"I ended my friendship with her." Harry mutters and this does startle me, but then I remember the scroll I now have in my pocket and I say: "You were in the right to do that. She was lying to your face and treating you no better than a puppet. She wasn't being a friend and she deserved to get proven that you acknowledged that."

This makes Harry send me a slight smile, but I can tell that, whatever happened between him and Remus is also badly affecting him. Yet it seems that neither of his new siblings are willing to discuss that quite yet as James sighs and says: "Arthur, I don't like to say it, but –." Yet I nod at him as I already know what he means.
"We're being forced into picking sides here. Those that realize that they wronged Harry and those that feel that Harry is wronging them by pointing out the ways they wronged him." And the two other teens nod before I sigh and say: "Well, I may not be the physically strongest, but I have always believed in fair treatment."
Yet Harry seems to disagree with this as he asks: "Then why are you letting Mrs. Weasley be so derisive about the twins and their skills and dream? They have the abilities and skills needed to get their dream realized, but she just doesn't see it. And worse still, even though the Ministry's slandering me, she still wants them employed there.
Why is that?" The boy asks and I sigh as I say: "It's a really stupid reason, to be honest, but it's one that works on my own Fatal Flaw. Molly is of the impression that, unlike Percy, the twins can work for a department where I can keep an eye on them and continue where she left off. And you know me, I just really want to please her."

And while Harry seems to understand this, but then he says: "But she is completely blind to their dreams, to what they can actually do. I looked up some of the stuff they did, the components of some of their candy and stuff; there's almost nothing like what they used in three-quarter of the Hogwarts library, nothing at all.
And those fake wands? The fact that the twins can make those so well that even experienced witches and wizards don't sense the difference proves that they really studied wandlore – as in really studied it. But she's just not seeing that and instead she destroys everything she can get her hands on. She destroys her own kids' inventions."
And while I never even realized that Harry is right about the whole thing with the Fake Wands, does Harry sigh and say: "You were there yourself, Mr. Weasley, so you can vouch that they actually got more praise from a Ministerial official than from their own brother – let alone Mrs. Weasley. And that's just not right.
And I get that, as their mother, she should guide them to be the best they can be, but she's not doing that. She's destroying their best work, because she wants something for them that she thinks is right, but that doesn't fit them at all. And that makes me wonder something. Why didn't you ever tell her about the required paper period?"

This shocks me as I didn't think anyone who didn't enter the Ministry looking for work would know of that and Harry shrugs as he says: "I was thinking of becoming an Auror. I like to plan ahead and research things that could influence my indirect future." And this only makes me feel even more proud of the boy.
Yet then I decide to test him and ask: "If that's so, Harry, then why isn't Minerva complimenting your skills in school as much as I think she can? Is there a reason for this?" And the boy shrugs carelessly as he says: "I never had anyone who cared if I did good in school or not. Why perform well in something no one's interested in."
And this makes me cringe before I ask: "Not even for your relatives?" But the look the boy sends me quickly makes me go on: "Never mind, what about Sirius?" To which Harry shrugs and says: "He's always more worried about my safety, so I didn't think my schoolwork would matter that much to him, in light of the bigger picture."
At which Sirius shrugs and says: "Had it not been for the Tournament, I would have disagreed on that. However, seeing that, I can definitely admit that I really didn't care for his essays or his exams, I was more concerned with how much time he spend trying to make sure he would survive the blasted thing." At which I agree with him.

"And do you think that will change once the ritual has been performed?" I ask the boy, but Harry grimaces and says: "There's not going to be a ritual. You just saw my godfather walk out that door." But at this I shake my head at him and say: "Remus never had the right potential. Sorry Sirius, but he really just didn't."
At this the man sighs and mutters: "I sure found out about that the hard way just now." And then I decide to take charge in all this and ask: "Harry, do you think Kingsley ever had any reason to get in contact with you before the Order got together?" And while Harry looks warily confused, does he mutter: "Not really, no."
"And the fact that he often almost agreed with Sirius about how we should change up the guard duty we were having over you? How do you feel about that?" To this Harry frowns, but then he seems to get up with some kind of plan as he asks: "Mr. Weasley – Arthur – do you – do you think he would be against – being tested?"

And the fact that he is onto my attempt to see if he's against Kingsley replacing Remus for Godfather makes me smile in pride as I say: "I've known Kingsley long enough that he often lives for exactly that, Harry, especially when the test comes from someone he respects. And yes, Harry, Kingsley does indeed greatly respect you."
This makes Harry smile at me and then he moves over to his trunk and pulls out a simple roll of parchment that looks like it's a letter that is at least a few years old. The boy then seems to think and he asks: "You and Kingsley are often seen to be in professional contact with each other back at the Ministry, right Arthur?"
And I nod as he says: "Then he'd be someone who'd be concerned if he heard that you just got released from St. Mungoes. And it really wouldn't be looked upon as strange if he met me while checking up on you, right? Or if I would suddenly hear that he is on Sirius' case and decide to offer him some evidence, would it?"
And while I now feel a hint of concern and see the same showing on Sirius' face, do I say: "No, I don't think anyone would really question a cover story like that. Why do you ask?" And Harry hands me the scroll as he says: "Because this letter will give Kingsley the right to pick up a few very interesting things from Hogwarts.
Namely a report that McGonagall put together over the Christmas and spring of my Third year and my Firebolt. Sirius, I'll explain later why it's there and not here with me, alright? Anyway, the Firebolt, this letter and that report –." But because I already read the letter, do I get what he's trying to say and I gasp in shock as I say:

"They form a perfect reason for Kingsley to demand a trial for Sirius. Combined they're even enough to have him get the right to call of the Kiss On Sight order. It will give Sirius the chance to move to Tibet and for the Aurors there to capture and – if we can arrange it – put him on trial there." And Harry smiles as he says:
"I didn't even think of that last bit, but yeah." And instantly I want to give the boy a warm hug, but my body is too weak and so Harry bends down to help me do so and I smile as I say: "I will make sure Kingsley gets all the facts as soon as possible. And I'm proud of you, Harry, for coming up with such a catchy backstory."
And with that do I happily roll back to the door. Yet before I open it, do I turn back and say: "And Harry, I promise. From now on, whenever Molly is being unfair in her treatment of any of my kids – you soon included – I will speak up about it. I appreciate her need to see our kids succeed, but I won't let her talk down on them anymore."
And the way that Harry smiles at me at this makes me know I truly have something to motivate me into coming true to my promise from now on. And while I feel slightly bad as it should have always been my kids that should motivate me into this, do I still feel that a child that needs my help as much as Harry is just a better motivator.

I then open the door and Sirius asks: "Who's up next, pup?" And Harry softly answers: "Ron." Yet while his voice is soft, can I easily hear how doubt and trust are raging a battle even in the tone of his voice and I think: "Considering what Ron has done so far, I'm pretty sure Ron will side with Harry just like I plan to."
And with that do I nod in pride at my youngest as he enters the room while I leave it and instantly Molly asks: "Are you alright, dear? What happened in there? You – you don't look angry or –." And I say: "I don't look angry, because I have no reason to be angry. Yes, Harry pointed out a flaw, but it was a righteous one and I agreed with him.
You see, Molly, that's the big difference between me, Hermione and Remus. I may be the Pureblood here, but I am at least humble enough to acknowledge it when I do something wrong and accept it when the person I wronged points this out to me. And if my wrong is severe, I am willing to accept a severe lashing out of that person."

This makes Molly look uncomfortable and I say: "Molly, think. It's wrong of the Order to think that everything they do is right and everything Harry does is wrong, because he's too young or not in the know or without proper experience. It's wrong to think that, just because our intentions are right, our actions are just as righteous.
They're not and they've been not just hurting Harry, but the bond that we once had. The bond that made Harry look forward to spend time with us, that made him eager to help and be there for us, that motivated him into doing the crazy stuff he did for us. And now, it's time we start working to repair that bond.
And no, Molly, that's not Harry's responsibility – because that's our fault, not his. And if there is anything wrong in all this, it's the fact that we expect Harry to fix all of our problems, but fault him for our shortcomings or try to make him feel worse, just because we feel bad about something. That's more than wrong, Molly, that's immoral."

By now Molly has her head down in guilt and I think: "She may have trouble sharing the parental role with Sirius once the ritual has been performed, but at least she will stop trying to make it seem as if Harry's faults are always greater or worse than her own." I then move over to the staircase and use my wheelchair's special feature.
I start gliding down the staircase and Molly and my kids follow me. And downstairs, I grimace as I spot Lupin and sitting at one end of a table, both of them with their arms crossed and pouting like little kids while Tonks is sitting on the other end, tapping her wand in annoyance against the table. She spots us and says:

"Oh there you are. Maybe you lot can explain what is going on? I came to check up on you, Arthur, and instead I find these two grouching and insulting Harry as if they're suddenly part of the Bash-Harry-Potter fan-club or something. And when I asked why, I got a whole rant from them, but no actual explanation. What's going on?"
And I roll my eyes as I say: "Long story short? The legendary Guardians are actually real. You know, Frost, the Tooth Fairy, Sandman, the Easter Bunny and Jack Frost. They all exist and North even went so far as to revive James and Lily as teenagers. But when they all came here, it caused quite the argument to occur.
And from that, James and Lily proved that we've been doing wrong by Harry and then Sirius went and spoke with him, only for him to come back down here and tell us we'd have a chance to make up for our mistakes. Only when Harry pointed out how these two wronged him, they got angry instead of accepting their guilt."

This makes Tonks look at the two with a raised eyebrow before she asks: "And now they're here, acting like five year olds that got told they couldn't have a sweet before dinner? Are you for real here?" And I nod before smiling as she actually gets the same treatment as the rest; a snowball hitting her between the eyes.
The young woman shakes her head and then she gasps: "Wow, they really are real. That's – that's incredible." I nod at her and then ask: "Is Kingsley here?" But the Metamorphmagus shakes her head and says: "He got called in by Madam Bones, couldn't leave or it would risk his job." At this I nod and ask:
"Do you know if he'll be here anytime soon?" To this Tonks shrugs and says: "Probably once his meeting is over. Why? Do you need to tell him something?" At which I nod and say: "Harry gave me a test to give Kingsley. It's to prove that he is actual godfather material." Yet while this makes Remus glare, does Tonks ask:
"What about Siri?" And I realize that I forgot to tell her and I say: "Right, I forgot. Sirius offered us a ritual that can give Harry a modified family. He offered to have Molly as Harry's mum, me as his uncle and Sirius as his dad, but Remus here just ruined his chance to be Harry's godfather, so I suggested Kingsley instead."

Yet at this Lupin jumps up and actually manages to break through Tonks' Silencing spell a little as he whispers: "That brat took me my friends." But while I have no doubt he planned to yell that, do I retort: "Why do I doubt that? Maybe because it comes from someone who puts more devotion behind his leader than behind his friends?"
And the man glares at me, but doesn't argue my words and I mutter: "I thought as much." Only to get prove that Lady Fate is trying to help this plan along – or perhaps that it's the Man In The Moon – as the fireplace lights up and Kingsley actually steps out. And the man seems startled at his surroundings before he asks:
"Do I want to know?" To which I answer: "I'll catch you up later. For now, I have a test for you." And instantly the lad gets excited as he asks: "What do I need to do?" And I tell him the entire thing, the backstory Harry came up with, where to find the necessary stuff and what he can get out of it if all goes according to plan.
The man gets more and more excited and intrigued the more I talk and at the end Molly asks: "Are you sure this can work, Arthur?" And while I know it's just her usual need to worry that currently speaks, do I say: "I am 98% sure it will, Molly." Making the woman smile and she hugs me as she says: "Then it sounds brilliant, well done, Arthur."

But then I decide to prove that I really do descend from the Black line as I say: "It wasn't my idea, Molly. It was Harry's." And the way I say it causes exactly what I wanted as Hermione is this time the one to jump up and break through the spell as she asks: "Harry? How could he possibly have come up with an idea like that?"
And while Kingsley is the one most shocked to hear the girl say this about her former friend, do I coldly tell her: "Harry is able to do that, Hermione, because you stopped proving that you deserve to know about the full extent of your former friend's full ability. Because you proved to Harry that you weren't to be trusted."
"How could you support him?" The girl almost shrieks if it weren't for the Silencing charm she is trying to break and I answer: "I support him, because I am not egocentric enough to believe that Harry is the only one able to be in the wrong or immoral enough to believe that all of my wrongdoings are Harry's fault or something."
And the girl visibly shrinks back, sitting down and keeping quiet as Kingsley says: "Wow, I don't know what happened here but – wait, did you just say former?" And I retort: "I'll tell you later. Just see if you can get this plan set to work. The sooner the better, Kingsley." And the man nods before he leaves back through the fire.

I then turn to Molly and she says: "I'm going to go check and see if Harry and Ron are done talking." But then she turns around and gasps as she sees Harry walk in, Sirius in front of him and his new brother and sister behind him and with Ron walking next to him, the two encased in a warm and brotherly embrace.
"You can't be serious! You too, Ronald?" Granger asks in shock and Ron glares as he says: "I may not be Prefect material, but I sure am not going to repeat my mistakes of last year just because being friends with a famous person makes me feel more entitled than I deserve to. I'm not going to let my ego ruin my friendship, not again."

And Hermione looks at him shocked, while I wonder what he means with his mistake of the year previous and then I notice Jack and North share another look and the younger one says: "There is definitely still a strong sense of Pitch's power hanging around here, but it seems the power is definitely lessening and fast too."
At this North nods and says: "It does seem that way. Looks like those that want Harry to be happy and have a good time are excluding some kind of energy that is repelling Pitch's aura, the same way Sandman here managed to expel Pitch's Nightmare horses back last time we faced him." And he slaps the small man on the shoulder.
This makes me smile at the boy in question and I say: "That does make sense. Before all this madness started, Harry's fame and title stood for something people drew hope and confidence from, something they used as a motivation to move past the war. It's only natural that his very presence has that same effect, if in a different manner."
At this the Guardians nod and then the Tooth Fairy says: "It must be because Harry is still a young guardian. The way he feels and the way he makes others feel can still effect the area surrounding him. The better others feel around him, the better the atmosphere, especially when they feel happy for something that concerns him."
At which I snark: "Like the fact that he is happy with the trust and respect he gets from those who are, were or could have been his friends or even his family." And the two I aim this at glare at me, but I just send them an unimpressed look back that silently says: "Drop the ego already, you stuck-up bunch of stubborn prats."

"So, how about some dinner? I don't know about you lot, but I am getting hungry here." Harry then says and everyone in my family nods as Lily asks: "Molly, would you mind helping me? I'd like to make a feast to celebrate all the wonderful things that are happening here. Our return, our future family, Sirius' potential freedom."
And my wife happily nods before she says: "Fred, George, you two look after your father and siblings. And I mean all three of them." And the way she sends a smile at Harry makes the boy actually tear up and I send a proud nod at my wife as I know that, even if there might be a few complications down the way, things will work out.


I sure hope so, Arthur.
Okay, so this chapter was actually supposed to be about Harry talking with Arthur first and then with Ron, but I feel Ron already had his chance to shine a few chapters ago. Now I had to focus on someone who will play a big role in keeping things peaceful in Harry's future family, regardless of the aforementioned complications.
Next chapter: Kingsley performs his test and runs across some interesting facts. What will he find out? Will it have anything to do with Umbridge and her having Harry "write lines"? And what about Albus and Minerva? How will they feel about Kingsley coming to visit them and – potentially – endangering the Order?
Let's find out,

Venquine1990
PS. What do you think of this new "Next Chapter" thing I started? Personally I feel it's a nice way to help me keep writing and keep me from writing myself into a corner.