Harry's Future, Part 32
Harry was sitting at the kitchen table in the Burrow looking at renderings of the proposed Potter house. Once Doctor Antimony had made the attempt to heal some of Harry's knee injuries, and failed, Harry's knee was wrapped in a heavy brace. Harry had explained the theory of the ancient magic resisting changes to Harry and the healer had found his efforts thwarted just as Madame Chevalier had when Harry and Fleur had visited Beauxbaton. As the healer was leaving he couldn't help but express his dismay at the idea of magic that could keep the killing curse at bay but couldn't deflect a chunk of errant debris. Harry could only shrug and smile.
Now he was sitting with the chair placed sideways to the table, his injured and braced leg propped up on a stool-like support that Mr. Weasley had whipped up in his shop. Harry was impressed at the workmanship. Apparently his 'dad' had hidden depths. What had his attention at the moment were pictures of the house that Ginny and Abagail, with some input from Harry, or so he thought, had put together. Harry looked at his wife who was sitting across the table from him.
"Um, love, isn't this a bit larger then what we had been discussing? This looks more like a lord's manor or something."
"I think your exaggerating a bit, Harry. Some of those places go to four stories; this is only two with an attic. I know what you've said in the past, sweetheart, but try to understand my reasoning. We've talked about three kids, so that means four bedrooms. I want to have at least two guestrooms plus we need to make accommodations for Abagail if she continues to live with us after she graduates, which all things considered I think is a good possibility. Then there's the bathrooms, a library for you, living room, dining room and a good sized kitchen so Kreacher can keep up with the cooking."
"Whoa, whoa. What do you mean, library? I just need a small study," Harry objected.
"No, my dear, your collection of books is already starting to crowd your study at home so I have to plan for a lifetime of collecting and reading. We'll need to have room for the kids so they won't be underfoot and for you to have friends and family around. Remember what I said about you needing them around you," she said and her tone turned serious. "Harry, do you love me?"
"Of course I do, more then my own life," he said quietly.
"I appreciate the sentiment, Harry, but please don't put it that way. And I love you, more then I ever thought it would be possible all those nights I used to dream about being Mrs. Harry Potter. I want you to have this, my dear man, because you deserve it. You deserve a home that is comfortable and full of love and life and laughter," she said as she held up a picture that showed a three quarter view of the proposed house. "This is it. I realize it isn't my money that is going to build it but at least I'll have felt that I've had a big part in designing it so it will seem like I'm giving it to you."
"Actually, Gin, half the money will be yours since half of what I have became yours the moment we said 'I do'. But I understand what you're saying. It's just that it's not really me, you know."
"Yes, I know, Harry. And that's one of the things I love most about you but if you trust me and let me have my way in this I can assure you, you'll be very happy with how it all works out," she said earnestly.
Harry leaned back a bit to look over his shoulder towards his 'mum' who was working in the kitchen.
"What do you think, Mum? Is what Ginny is saying making sense to you?"
"A great deal in fact, Harry. I wasn't going to say anything about it, but since you ask, I think what she has in mind is right on the mark. You'll need the room and you deserve the amenities. As to the cost, that's something that you need to decide for yourselves, but you've been very generous with what has come to you, Harry. I can't imagine anyone thinking the worse of you for making this kind of investment in yourselves and your family. Not that it should matter anyway," she said.
Harry looked back at his wife and saw the look on her face and any further objections evaporated. He smiled back at her and said,
"Alright, my love, we'll do it your way. Let's look for a builder."
Ginny's face lit up in a huge smile and she bounced up out of her chair and rushed around to his side of the table. However, instead of her usual ballistic embrace she stopped short and then leaned forward to take Harry's head in her arms and cradle it to her. He covered her hands with his and kissed them. Without letting go she looked up to her mum and said,
"When are you expecting the others, Mum?"
"The invitation was for dinner but I'd expect arrivals shortly after lunch. It should be a full house since this will be the first time since Harry's injury that we've tried to get everyone together. Even little Victoire's first birthday was on the quiet side."
Harry had been looking back at Molly when she said that and she noticed the way his eyes darted away.
"Harry, dear. Don't feel like that."
"I know I shouldn't but sometimes I can't help it. I've managed to put a damper on a few holidays," he said a bit morosely.
Ginny looked to her 'mum' helplessly. Mrs. Weasley walked over to the table with a wooden spoon in one hand and hooked a thumb under Harry's chin and pulled his head up so she could look directly into those bright green eyes.
"You listen to me, young fellow," she said sternly. "Those few dampened holidays are a small price to pay for all the holidays and regular days that we've been able to enjoy on account of your efforts and sacrifices. So hear me well, if I ever see that look on you face again I will take this spoon and I will redden your backside until you can't sit down, knee or no knee. Am I making myself clear?" she finished.
"Yes, ma'am," Harry said quietly and then he took the hand away from his chin and kissed the back of it.
Molly smiled back at him and touched the spoon to the tip of his nose and then returned to the kitchen. Harry and Ginny spent the time until lunch going through the pictures of separate rooms, exterior views and landscaping ideas. Harry was more then a little impressed by the quality and quantity of work the two had put into this. He would have to thank Abagail when she arrived in the early afternoon, her presence being specially requested by him.
They had a quiet lunch, simple but plentiful, in anticipation of the dinner to follow. Kreacher had spent the morning at the London house putting together several baskets of supplies from their pantry to supplement the Burrow's. Harry had been feeling guilty about the amount of food that he had been consuming but Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had taken great pains to assure him that he was only slightly ahead of what it took to feed the twins when they were home and nowhere near what they had to provide when the whole clan was together. He was already working with Ginny and Fleur on plans to send his parents to the house on the Mediterranean owned by Fleur's aunt and uncle as a way to repay their seemingly limitless kindness.
The first to arrive for the family gathering were Bill, Fleur and Victoire. The little girl was able to walk with the help of her mother holding a hand and she rapidly, or as rapidly as her little legs would allow, made her way to Harry and sought to climb up on to his lap. He obliged to lift her up and set her carefully on the half lap formed by his good leg. She proceeded to try and hug him like her mother and Bill laughed.
"I guess you have another angel in the making, Harry," he said smiling fondly at his daughter.
"I seems I need all I can get," he replied as he held out one arm to hug Fleur as best he could.
She kissed the top of his head and said, looking down at him,
"I theenk the theeng I 'ate most about your injury, 'arry, ees that eet deprives me of a proper 'ug from you."
"I know, Fleur, I miss them, too, but don't worry. I'm keeping track and I'll make up for it once I get better. We're up to twenty three," he said with a straight face.
As the afternoon proceeded various other family members arrived. Percy and Audrey were next and both were showing visible signs of nerves as their wedding was in two weeks. Ron and Hermione were close behind and within minutes of their arrival Harry and his best mate were immersed in a game of wizards' chess. A chorus of hellos from the living room signaled the entrance of Abagail via the floo network. After exchanging greetings with those in the living room she hurried over to Harry's side and threw her arms around his neck.
"It's so good to see you, Harry. You should have let me come sooner," she said in her airy voice.
"Better that I had a chance to heal up a bit before you saw me, little one. You've had enough to deal with lately," Harry replied, looking at her.
"Harry, you can't keep trying to protect me from the world forever, you know. I'll be sixteen in a few weeks," she said seriously.
"I know, Abagail, but let me try for a little while longer," he said with a smile and turned back to his game just in time to see Ron's queen's knight kick one of his pawns off the game board.
Charlie and Eleanor showed up around mid afternoon. This was the first time she had seen Harry since he was hurt and that had been a little surprising to him. He had asked Charlie about it but he said he wasn't at liberty to discuss it. Charlie greeted Harry with his usual good natured smile and handshake. Then he made eye contact with Eleanor. He got the impression that she wasn't happy to see him but he waited to let her make the first move. After a few moments she simply placed her hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze and then walked past to find a seat in the living room. Charlie followed behind looking disturbed.
When Harry looked back over at Ron the look they shared was one of incomprehension but inwardly Harry thought he knew what was going on. He would have to wait to see if he was right.
The last to arrive was George and Angelina. They arrived bearing gifts. Several bakery boxes where placed on the table nearby, but not within reaching distance of Harry. He looked at them and said,
"Hey, what's that all about? You playing games with me?" he asked.
"No, mate, we just thought that we'd give everyone a fair shot at them. Otherwise there'd be nothing left but the boxes and bits of string. This is for you, however," George said and handed Harry a small box that contained half a dozen of his favorite cookies.
"Ah, I knew you wouldn't forget about me," Harry said with a wide grin.
He undid the string and opened the box, taking out two cookies, one of which he slid across the table to Ron.
"Cheers, mate," Ron said as he made quick work of the treat.
Dinner was still an hour away but Mrs. Weasley chased Harry and Ron so she could get things set up. Ginny was sitting in the living room and talking to Abagail, most likely about having gotten Harry to agree to the house as the two had envisioned it. Harry was using a pair of crutches now to get around, the heavy brace wrapped around his leg over his pants. Ginny and Abagail shifted around to let him sit on the couch with the left leg supported on the cushions.
"So you like the house, Harry?" Abagail asked.
"Yes, you and Ginny did a wonderful job. It's a bit more then what I was thinking but Ginny's reasons make sense so that's what we're going to go with. Thank you," Harry said with a smile.
While he was talking Victoire wiggled down onto the floor and tried to make her way over to Harry. Ginny reached out a hand so that the toddler had something to hold onto as she let go of her mother's hand. She tottered across the floor and when she was at the couch she let go of Ginny's hand and stood looking up at her uncle, holding tight to the couch cushion. Harry returned her serious gaze and then lifted her up and sat her on the cushion propped against his bad leg. She immediately began an intense examination of his right hand.
"She certainly finds you fascinating, Harry," Bill said as he watched his daughter scrutinize Harry's hand.
"I can't say why, Bill. She's the first infant I've ever had any experience with so I don't know what would be normal. Maybe she's just looking for the toys we were playing with when I was first laid up," he replied.
Harry's eyes did a quick sweep around the room and for a moment they caught Eleanor's just before she looked away. He saw Charlie looking uneasy. He wondered if there was a problem between the two of them, and whether or not he might be the cause of it. His thoughts along those lines were interrupted when he found himself pulled into a friendly disagreement between Ron and Audrey about the relative merits of several different opening gambits in wizards' chess. It lasted until the call came for dinner.
It was a magnificent meal. The combined talents of Mrs. Weasley and Kreacher supported by the two pantries produced a large baked ham and two roasted chickens with all the fixings. The bones of most of one chicken wound up on Harry's plate but when he pushed back a bit from the table he was full and happy.
"Thanks, Mum, Kreacher, that was a great dinner. Um, you know, Mum, it's probably time I started thinking about getting back to the London house and not poncing on you anymore," he said.
"Oh, Harry, do we have to go through this all over again? You know we are more than happy to have you here and we have more than enough room, thanks to you. What's more, with you here, there are more visitors so you are in no way a burden to us," Mrs. Weasley said looking at her 'son' fondly.
"I know, Mum, but you know how I feel. It bothers me to think you have to keep watch on me all the time, that's all," he said.
"Maybe it's about time you stopped thinking about yourself so much, Harry," came a voice from the end of the table, a bitter, angry voice. "Maybe you should be thankful that you have people who love you and care about you so that every time you go off on one of your capers and get yourself all broken up there will be somebody there to pick up the pieces and put you back together again. Maybe you should grow up a little and stop thinking it's all about you," Eleanor said as she stood up from the table, now full of stunned diners.
"Thank you for dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," she said and then walked out through the kitchen door.
Charlie got up and as he was moving towards the door he said,
"I'll be back."
After a moment of uncomfortable silence Mrs. Weasley said,
"Harry, I'm sure she didn't mean that. Something must be bothering her."
"No, I'm sure she meant exactly what she said," Harry said. "And something is bothering her. I think it started the night after Christmas. When she hadn't been out to visit after I got hurt I asked Charlie and he said he couldn't, or wouldn't, tell me why. I have a feeling they're having some kind of problems over it."
"But 'ow could she say those 'urtfull theengs about 'arry?" Fleur said heatedly.
"Because it's probably how she sees things, Fleur. Come on, Ginny, I think it's time for us to go home," he said somberly as he struggled to get up.
"Harry, you're going to hurt yourself," Ginny said.
"Not if you help me, I won't," he replied in a tone of voice that cut off any argument.
She pushed back her chair and made room for Harry to swing his leg out and he pushed himself up to his feet, or foot, and took his crutches and began heading for the door. Kreacher was already there to open it for him.
"'arry?"
He looked across the table and said,
"Not now, Fleur. Please," he said and made his way through the opened door.
Ginny looked at her mother helplessly and whispered she'd talk to her tomorrow. Ginny saw Harry standing in the middle of the backyard and when Kreacher closed the door behind her she heard a babble of voices arise.
"Harry?"
"Home first, Ginny," he replied.
"Alright, sweetheart. Let me go first."
"Ok, I'll count to ten once you leave," he replied quietly.
"See you at home," she said and she was gone.
Harry counted to ten and then Disapparated to the porch at 12 Grimmauld Place. He Apparated without stumbling and found Ginny standing there prepared to grab him if necessary. He gave her a bit of a smile and then the door swung open as Kreacher welcomed them home. Harry swung himself along to his study and was about to sit down when he realized he had nothing to prop up his leg. Kreacher walked in carrying the leg rest that Mr. Weasley had fashioned. Harry looked at it and shook his head. Even after what happened they were still thinking of him. Perhaps Eleanor was more right then she knew. As he sat down and got his leg comfortable Ginny walked in and sat down on the desk chair. She looked dismayed. Harry waited until she spoke.
"I'm sorry, Harry, I don't know what Eleanor could have been thinking. I've never heard her say anything like that before," she said quietly.
"I think it was all too obvious what she was thinking, Gin. My guess is she thinks I'm a self centered twit who doesn't know how good he's got it," he said.
"Harry, how could you say that?"
"I just listened to what she said, love," Harry said with a bitter chuckle. "I think she made it all too clear. I guess something about me rubs her the wrong way. Hopefully Charlie will be able to get some answers. I just hope this doesn't ruin things for them."
They sat there for a few moments and then Harry said,
"I think I'd like to go upstairs, Gin. It's been a long day."
Harry pulled himself up and took hold of his crutches and worked his way out to the hall and then stood looking up the staircase. His was beginning to regret his choice to come home.
"Master Harry? May Kreacher assist?"
"What did you have in mind, Kreacher?"
"Master Harry will please stand still and face the top of the staircase," the house elf said.
Harry did as Kreacher directed and then he suddenly felt light as a feather. With crutches in hand he slowly and steadily drifted up the staircase with Ginny walking slowly behind him. When he reached the top he settled onto his crutches and good leg. He looked back down at Kreacher and smiled.
"Thank you, my friend. That should solve a lot of problems. Good night."
"Master Harry is welcome. Kreacher wishes Master Harry and Mistress Ginny good night."
Harry and Ginny went to bed but it was quite a while before Harry was able to drop off to sleep. He awoke several times during the night and when he finally got up the next morning his thoughts were fuzzy and disorganized. He got dressed carefully and Ginny helped get the brace back in place. He used the crutches to get down the stairs and managed to get to the kitchen without mishap.
Despite his state of emotional turmoil he still managed to consume his entire breakfast. He and Ginny retired to his study afterwards and began making plans about the house. They were going to need the services of an architect and builder. He had only ever dealt with the remodeling company so he thought he'd contact Gringotts and see if they could point him in the right direction. They heard the door bell ring and they thought it was likely to be someone from the Ministry. They were surprised then when Kreacher appeared in the doorway and said,
"Miss Eleanor MacManus wishes to speak to Master Harry."
Harry and Ginny looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Then Harry looked to Kreacher and said,
"Ok, Kreacher, show her in and would you bring in another chair please?"
"Certainly, Master Harry."
A few moments later Eleanor stood in the doorway. Her expression was somber but resolute. She looked at Ginny and then concentrated her attention on Harry.
"Thank you for seeing me, Harry. After last night I wasn't sure you would."
"Don't be silly, Eleanor. Come in. Kreacher is bringing you a chair," Harry said.
"In that case, would it be alright if I asked to speak to you alone, Harry?" she asked.
"No, I don't think so," Ginny said before Harry could answer. "Not after what you said last night."
Eleanor sighed and simply nodded. At this point Kreacher levitated in a chair and set it in place and then bowed and left. Harry gestured and Eleanor sat down, still keeping her attention fixed on him alone.
"I'm not here to offer you an apology, Harry. I said what I said and meant every word of it. But what I will offer is an explanation so that maybe you can understand why I said it."
Harry could sense Ginny tense up and he hoped she wouldn't lash out and say something that would ruin her friendship with her former teammate. He waited for Eleanor to go on.
"Do you remember when we were talking the day after Christmas and I mentioned that I had spent several summers with my aunt and uncle and that's where I learned something about muggle physics?"
"Yes, I recall that," Harry replied.
"The fact is I spent every summer home from Hogwarts with them. At my insistence. I couldn't stand the idea of spending more then a few days at home with my parents. My father is a wizard from a wealthy pure blood family. He was something of a renegade in his younger days so he thought the idea of marrying a muggle was a way to put a finger in the family eye so to speak. My mother was something of a self styled mystic and found the whole magic thing irresistible. The problem was they were totally unsuitable for one another. By the time I was old enough to know what was going on the situation had deteriorated to the point that they should have gone their separate ways. But my father could never admit he made a mistake and mother was too fond of the comfortable life and the trappings of magic to walk away," Eleanor said and then looked away for a moment and then back at Harry.
"My aunt and uncle were muggles who just thought my dad was another mystic like my mom but at least they loved each other and made for a pleasant household, so they became my refuge but they weren't a real family. So everything I know and think about family is based on those experiences. Fortunately I was good enough at Quidditch to get picked up by the Harpies and they've been my family since graduation."
Eleanor leaned forward in her chair and said,
"And that brings me to you, Harry. We all knew about you as far as Voldemort was concerned and then when Ginny came to the team we learned a lot more. I have to say you made a really good impression when you came to her tryout. So humble and polite. And the way Ginny used to talk about you incessantly. How hard you were working at the Ministry and everything you were trying to accomplish and the dangers you were facing. She used to talk a lot about her family too and the way they tried to look out for you, even when you were at school. I was jealous in a way. You were raised by those terrible muggles and probably had as bad a time of it as I had, maybe worse. But you found a haven and a real family."
Harry watched Eleanor intently, giving her every bit of his attention as he had that afternoon at the Quidditch pitch at Beauxbaton watching the flyers. He saw the tightness of her eyes, the set of her mouth whenever she paused, and how tightly she was clasping her hands together. He knew that what she was telling him was very painful for her.
"When she asked me to be a bridesmaid, I was so excited. I was going to get to be a part of all that, even if for just a short time, and it would give me the chance to meet Charlie, which I have to admit was a big part of it. I got to meet all of her family and I absolutely feel in love with them. There was so many of them and they were so welcoming and kind. And of course I started dating Charlie and it got to be so much better. And there was you. Always you, Harry. Your ups and downs are their ups and down. Your pains are their pains. When I think of what it must have been like sitting at that table when you so cavalierly asked about what those two healers had to say about you and how dangerous you might be. I just wantd to slap that scar right off your forehead. Charlie told about when Ron took you off to explain it all to you he didn't think anyone breathed more then twice, they were so concerned about you. You, Mr. Harry Potter, the center around which the Weasley family rotates," she said and then paused as if for breath.
"I'm well aware of how much they care for me and worry about me, Eleanor," Harry said mildly.
"Are you, Harry, are you really? Because if you are then how can you possibly treat them the way you have?" Eleanor snapped.
"What are you going on about…" Ginny began but Harry stopped her with a raised hand.
"How do you think I'm treating them, Eleanor?" Harry asked quietly, his bright green eyes fixed on her face.
"You allow your own selfishness to inflict untold pain and anguish on them every time you go off to save the world and get yourself broken up in the process. Good lord, we all thought that Ginny was going to go insane when you practically killed yourself with that first dragon. This last time, you knowingly come to the one place you know you'll get help but not before subjecting your family to the spectacle of you writhing in pain with that shattered knee. And to make things worse you up and decide it's time to remove yourself from their presence because it's making you feel uncomfortable about being there. Do you ever pay attention to anything that is going on around you, Harry?"
"I try to, yes," Harry replied.
"Well, I must say you do a pretty poor job of it. Do you see the way that Mrs. Weasley looks at you? Or Fleur, or Ginny for that matter? If I had someone that deeply concerned about me I'd never want to be away from them or give them any cause for worry. Do you remember that Christmas, the first one after you and Ginny were married? You were playing chess with Ron and I was sitting in the living room with your family."
"I remember," he said.
"You looked up from the game and we were all looking at you and you waved and we waved back. The reason we were looking at you was because I was getting lessons in 'life with Harry'. I think Fleur said it best when she said your well being was the greatest concern of the Weasley family. And you have given them so much to be concerned about without seemingly a thought about them."
"It may seem that way to you perhaps, Eleanor, but believe me I do give them a thought, a great many thoughts. That's why I try not to be a burden on them. And it is my life, after all isn't it?" he asked.
"No, Harry, it's not. Not when you have people who love you and worry about you the way they do. They are a part of your life and have a claim on you because of how your actions affect them. And you've completely missed the point about being a burden on them. Being among them to be fussed over and talked to and hugged and all the rest isn't the burden. The burden is when they don't know where you are for three days and the burden is seeing you fall over in a field and the burden is knowing that every day you could be walking into a situation that not even the great Harry Potter can come out of alive. Your family are the most wonderful people in the world, Harry, and they deserve better. They deserve a son who is living in the country raising a family and teaching generation after generation of Hogwarts students how to live free of the dark arts and how to deal with them if they run into them. They deserve the peace of mind knowing that the orphan they took into their family is safe and happy and whole."
Harry continued to look at Eleanor for a moment and then he smiled at her a bit.
"You know, Eleanor, it's ironic in a way but your feelings toward me are based on the same thing as why I've been doing what I've been doing. You're passionate about protecting the Weasleys. I guess the issue is we differ in how we think we need to do it. I have to admit your arguments have merit. In my own defense I can only say that the way I was raised was to stay out of the way as much as possible and not create any more work for my aunt and uncle then was the barest minimum required to keep me alive," he said with a crooked smile. "Can I ask you a question, Eleanor?"
"Go ahead."
"Do you love Charlie?"
She blinked in surprise a bit and then said,
"Yes, very much."
"And I get the impression that you care for the other Weasleys very much as well."
"That's right, Harry. I think I've made that clear enough. Even you, as much as I'd like to take a broom to you at the moment."
"Then I think you and I need to come to some agreement so that our issues don't cause a problem for the rest. I can understand how you feel but I think you might want to have a long talk with Mum and Dad to see how they feel about the whole thing. I'm well aware of how they feel about what I do and where they'd rather have me. Ginny and Fleur have been very forthcoming about it. And it might become a moot point anyway because of this," he said gesturing towards his leg. "But let there be no mistake, whether or not I do it well, everything I do is based on the idea of protecting the people that have given me a life. That means the Weasleys, yes, but it also includes the whole of the wizarding community, and that includes you."
"That's all very well, Harry, but it might help to remember that people want to be loved, not just protected," she said. "I will take your advice though and have a talk with Charlie's mum and dad."
"I'd appreciate that and then maybe we should sit down and talk things through. I don't know that we can ever completely resolve our issues but I think we owe it to the family to try," Harry offered.
Eleanor looked at him and nodded and then looked over at Ginny.
"I hope that this hasn't damaged our relationship too badly, Ginny. I value our friendship and where it has led me. I know how fiercely protective you are of Harry and what you must think of me right now," she said.
"I'll have to think about it, El, but for right now I think you're way off target on this and you need to give it some serious thought," Ginny said tightly.
"Fair enough. Well, I think I've taken up enough of your time. Thank you for listening Harry. I hope we can work this out somehow."
Eleanor stood up and with a last nod she turned around and left the room. Harry and Ginny sat in silence as they heard Kreacher open the front door and wished Eleanor farewell. Harry looked over at Ginny and then said,
"That was certainly enlightening. So what about it, Ginny? Does any of the rest of the family feel that way? That I'm just being selfish and not really caring what impact my work has on the rest of you?"
"We know you well enough to know it's not about being selfish, Harry. But it has been suggested more than once that your sense of duty is misplaced and that if you care about the magical community as a whole and us in particular you should be more concerned with staying alive and whole so that you'd be around to do the most good for us," Ginny replied.
"And about being a burden?"
"That's attributed to the fact that you have so little understanding about families in general and ours especially. I cringe every time you make some comment to Mum about not imposing or being a bother or any of the rest. You have no idea how that upsets her but she forgives it because she realizes you don't understand. Let me see if I can paint you a picture," Ginny said. "Mum was never happier than during the summers because all her children were there. It really hurt her when Bill and then Charlie left home. Then you came along and it was like she got one back. I remember what it was like being the last one home. She looked so lost. The first couple of weeks of September were the worst when she had to get used to cooking and cleaning for just a few of us. I can't imagine what it was like when I went off to Hogwarts and it was just her and Dad."
She paused and looked over at Harry, his expression cloudy and obviously disturbed.
"Sweetheart, I know this is difficult to hear but with everything that has happened you need to understand. Molly Weasley lives to be a mum. All the things that she does whether for you or any of us, that you think is a burden, is a joy to her. Why do you think she cried so much about that kitchen and extra rooms. Yes, it was because it was such a nice thing that you did but mostly because she was so happy at the potential for big family gatherings and doing all that cooking. She was over the moon when Abagail showed such an interest in learning to cook. I was too concerned with flying to learn any of it," she said and then got up and came over and knelt down next to her husband and took his hands in hers.
"Understand this, Harry. Not you nor I nor any of the others could ever impose on Mum to the point that she would think it was anything but a wonderful time to have her kids about. I think Eleanor saw that right from the start. What she didn't understand is what was driving your side of it and she assumed it was what usually causes people to behave the way they do. Hopefully you've helped her understand that. The question is do you understand things better now," she said and then kissed his hands and went back to her chair.
Harry sat and stared at the floor for a few moments. Then he looked back up at this wife and said,
"How could I have been so blind, Ginny? How could I not see all that?"
"You've had no reference to draw on Harry but what you've lived through. And let's face it; the Dursleys weren't exactly role models for a loving family experience. They warped your view of how people live and you saw everything that someone wanted to do for you as something they had to do and would be happier not doing it. You saw the protests as just being polite and when you heard 'it's no bother at all' you figured it masked 'I'd really rather not bother'. You came to us as damaged goods, my love, and we've been working very hard to repair you."
Harry looked away blinking at the mist building in his eyes. Then he looked back at his wife and thought how beautiful and perceptive she was, and how lucky he was to have her and said,
"Come on. Let's go back to the Burrow," he said.
"Are you sure, sweetheart?"
"I'm not really sure about anything right now, but I think we should."
"Alright, let's go," she said with a smile.
She helped Harry get up and they made their way to the corridor. Harry called to Kreacher and when he appeared told him they were going back to the Burrow and would he kindly bring the leg support along. Then they went out to the porch and as before Ginny went first and waited for him to arrive. Once more he made a perfect three point landing and as they approached the back door it swung open to reveal Mrs. Weasley.
"Children, what a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect you both back so soon," Mrs. Weasley said, a slight emphasis on 'both'.
Harry said nothing, but closed the distance between them, then handed off the crutches to Ginny and as best he could balance on the one leg, he wrapped his arms around his 'mum' and held on for dear life. Although momentarily surprised she responded and held on to her 'son' just as tightly. This went on for a few moments and then Mr. Weasley came outside with a tea cup in his hand.
"What have we here? Is everything alright?" he asked.
He had gotten close enough that Harry reached out and flung his arm around the neck of his 'dad'. Ginny had to move quickly, dropping the crutches, to rescue the cup and its contents. Harry finally relented and eased his grip. Mr. Weasley was now free to reclaim his cuppa and Ginny retrieved the crutches from the ground. Still supported by the firm embrace of Mrs. Weasley Harry said,
"I think I may understand things a little better now. Could we go inside and talk for a while? Maybe a long while?"
"Certainly, Harry. Come right inside. Can I get you anything?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
As they all proceeded through the kitchen door, Harry almost responded with 'no, I don't want to be a bother' but he caught himself and said,
"Yes, Mum, that would be great, maybe a sandwich and a cuppa?"
Mrs. Weasley's smile widened considerably and unseen by Harry, Ginny was smiling, too.