Chapter XL - Unexpected House Guests

"What was that you just said, boy?" Uncle Vernon replied.

Harry grinned. "I said welcome to Potter Manor, my home."

"Manor?" Dudley asked, speaking for the first time since Harry had seen him. "You own a manor? Is this a joke or something?"

Harry laughed. "Nope, it is not a joke or something. This is my home. You are going to be living here until the air is clear. You can't leave for anything."

"Oh, I don't think so." Uncle Vernon said. "I have a job, boy; you might not understand that, being as you've never worked a bloody day in your life! And Dudders has to go to school."

Harry shrugged. "You're going to be taking a little break. Now the Ministry of Magic has something worked out to make sure that your absence from both school and Grunnings will be alright. You'll still be paid, Uncle Vernon; and Dudley will still be guaranteed to pass high school."

Ginny giggled and slipped her arm around Harry's waist. "Harry, what are we going to do with them for the weekend?"

Harry laughed and leaned down to kiss her softly. "We'll figure something out." He turned back to the Dursleys. "This is my fiancée, Ginny Weasley . You will treat her with the utmost respect, or you'll answer to me. And I can do anything I want because I'm seventeen, and in the magical world, that's an adult, which means I can use magic outside of school. Understood?"

Uncle Vernon nodded. "Sure."

Winky came into the room with a cart full of food and drink. "Here, sir, I is bringing a little bit of everything. I wasn't sure what you is wanting to eat."

Harry grinned. "Winky, you're a jewel. Thank you." She grinned broadly and hurried out of the room. Harry pointed at the cart. "Well, dig in, looks like Winky has outdone herself."

Ginny placed a hand on her trembling stomach. "I am kind of hungry."

"Me too." He pulled her over into a chair and onto his lap, before they both began to help themselves to the food and a bottle of butterbeer. When the Dursleys failed to move, Harry raised an eyebrow. "Well, aren't you hungry?"

Uncle Vernon glared at them. "I'm not going to eat a single bite of that rubbish! What the hell was that bloody creature?"

Harry sighed. He swore that his uncle was just getting more and more sour by the minute. "She was a house elf, and I don't care if you don't want to eat, starve then. But Merlin knows how long you're going to be here."

Aunt Petunia took a seat in the chair across from Harry and Ginny. "Thank you, Harry. I know that this isn't easy for you … but I really appreciate that you're letting us stay here."

Harry nodded. "No problem, really. I suppose I owe you for taking me in."

Aunt Petunia smiled warmly, something that she had never done in Harry's presence before. "Thank you anyway." She picked up a bottle of butterbeer. "What is this?"

"Butterbeer." Ginny supplied with a smile. "It's very good."

Aunt Petunia nodded. "I'll take your word on that. Congratulations by the way, about the engagement."

Harry smiled. "Thanks."

Ginny kissed Harry's cheek and then she smiled at Aunt Petunia. "Harry and I are planning the wedding for this Christmas Eve; we would both really like it if you were there."

Harry looked at Ginny in surprise, like hell he wanted them there. He glanced up at his aunt and sighed … they were the only family he had when he was growing up and … he supposed that he did sort of want them there. "Yeah, we would."

Aunt Petunia smiled. "I'll think about it. Thank you."

They ate in silence after that, though Uncle Vernon and Dudley did eventually come over to eat. Once they were done, Harry told them that he and Ginny were going to sleep, and he had Dobby lead them up to their rooms. He held Ginny's hand in his as he pulled her into the master bedroom, closing the door behind them.

"At least one good thing comes out of this night; I get to wake up with you in my arms."

Ginny smiled. "Mmm, that sounds good." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly. "I don't have any night clothes."

Harry smiled. "I think I have some clothes here." He walked over to his dresser and found an old tee shirt that he had once gotten from Dudley. "Will this do? It might go down to your ankles."

Ginny laughed. "I'm sure it will be fine."

She went into the bathroom to change and Harry stripped down to his boxers before climbing into bed. A few minutes later, Ginny climbed in next to him. She snuggled close, her arms wrapped around his waist and soon they both drifted off to sleep.

Harry woke up later on that morning and glanced over at the clock. It read ten a.m. and he groaned. He really hadn't got that much sleep. Ginny was curled up next to him, sleeping peacefully and he grinned. She was so beautiful. He slipped his hand up the tee shirt she wore, running his hands along her smooth skin. Ginny moaned softly.

"Mmm," Harry grinned and began to nibble at her lips. "I want my shirt back."

Ginny laughed. "Well, why don't you take it?"

He kissed her softly and slowly pulled the tee shirt over her head. "I think I will." Then he rolled her over, pinning her to the bed and she giggled.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

He brought his mouth back down to hers. Her fingers ran through his hair, while one hand touched his skin and he showed her exactly how much he loved her.

Harry and Ginny showered and transfigured some old clothes into new ones for them to wear. They headed downstairs to eat some breakfast. The Dursleys had yet to make an appearance, according to Dobby. Harry and Ginny told Dobby about their engagement and Dobby, Winky, and Maddy immediately began to call Ginny, Lady Ginny, as she was to be the new mistress of Potter Manor. Harry found this amusing and Ginny just giggled. They ate quietly and finally after an hour, all three of the Dursleys came downstairs. It was as if they were afraid to not be together. Dobby grinned at them. He was happy to have guests.

"Mr. Dursley, Mrs. Dursley, Mr. Dursley, good morning! What can I get you for breakfast?" Uncle Vernon looked down at Dobby in disgust, and Dudley looked afraid.

Aunt Petunia on the other hand spoke to him. "I'll just have some toast please. The same for my husband and son will be fine."

Dobby nodded. "Of course, miss." He hurried off and the Dursleys took a seat at the kitchen table.

"Good morning." Harry said as he finished up his eggs and bacon.

Aunt Petunia nodded. "Good morning."

Dobby hurried back in with Maddy behind him. He placed the food in front of the Dursleys and Maddy spoke to Harry. "Harry Potter, sir, Lady Lily and Master James heard about your house guests and they insist on speaking with them immediately."

Harry sighed; he'd been wondering how he was going to work in the whole parents' thing. "Tell them to be patient; they can talk to them after breakfast."

Maddy nodded and left the room. Aunt Petunia was looking at Harry quizzically. "Did she just say Master James and Lady Lily?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, and yes, she means my parents."

Maddy came back in. "Sir, Master James says that you are being a royal ass for even letting them into the manor after the way they is treating you, and that if was alive he'd smack you."

Ginny laughed. "Your dad doesn't sound happy."

"No, he doesn't. Be right back." He kissed Ginny softly. "When they're done eating, will you bring them into the hall?"

Ginny nodded. "Sure."

Harry stepped into the hallway and over to his parents' portraits. "Dad, what is your problem?"

James glared at him. "You brought the Dursleys here! And you're treating them like guests! If they treated you so damn badly while you were growing up, then why the hell are you being nice to them?"

Harry laughed. "I wanted too, but I couldn't. They may have treated me like shit, but they still took me in when I needed them too … I guess you can say I'm repaying the favour."

Lily smiled. "Good, it's nice to see you do good things. I'd like to see Petunia, Harry."

Harry nodded. "She's finishing breakfast, and then Ginny will bring them out here."

"Humph!" James said. "I'd like to do more than see them!"

"James!" Lily exclaimed. "Will you please just calm down?" She turned to smile at Harry. "How's Ginny, dear?"

Harry grinned. "Oh yeah, I forgot, you don't know. Ginny and I are engaged."

James grinned. "Well, that is good news. She is beautiful."

"Yeah, she is."

"Are you complimenting me again, Mr. Potter?" Ginny asked from the doorway.

James laughed. "I've got this thing for redheads."

Ginny laughed. "It must run in the family. Harry, they're coming out now."

Uncle Vernon burst into the hallway angrily. "POTTER, I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS! THIS IS BLOODY RUBBISH! WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO ORDER US AROUND THIS PLACE AND TELL US WHERE TO GO? I THOUGHT I GOT RID OF YOU MONTHS AGO! YET HERE I AM STUCK IN THIS BLOODY PLACE WITH YOU ONCE AGAIN!"

This seemed to be exactly what James was waiting for, because he screamed right back at Uncle Vernon. "HOW DARE YOU TALK TO MY SON THIS WAY? AFTER EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS DONE FOR YOU? HE BLOODY WELL IS SAVING YOUR FAT ASS FROM DEATH AND YET HERE YOU ARE BITCHING AND COMPLAINING ABOUT EVERYTHING IN SIGHT! WELL LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING VERNON DURSLEY, I HAVE BLOODY WELL ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU WERE A JACKASS! THAT'S RIGHT A BLOODY JACKASS! BUT LILY ALWAYS SAID THAT I HAD TO BE NICE BECAUSE YOU WERE HER SISTER'S HUSBAND – WELL TO HELL WITH NICE – YOU TREATED MY SON LIKE SHIT HIS WHOLE LIFE! IF I WERE HIM I'D CURSE YOU INTO GODDAMN OBLIVION AND I'D ENJOY EVERY GODDAMN MINUTE OF IT!"

"JAMES!" Lily exclaimed. "That is enough!" She turned to look over at her sister and her brother-in-law who were both pale with shock over the idea of talking and moving pictures. "Petunia, I expected better of you. All I wanted was for you to love him, care for him like you did your own child. Why didn't you?"

"Lily?" Aunt Petunia asked in shock.

Lily nodded. "Yes. Merlin Pet, all I wanted was for my son to be well taken care of. I was horrified when he told me of the terrible things that you did to him, and the way that you treated him."

Tears poured from Aunt Petunia's eyes as she stared up at the portrait. "Oh Lily, how can you be here?"

Ginny tugged on Harry's arm. "Come on, let's leave them to talk."

James continued to growl at Uncle Vernon, so Harry just tugged Dudley out of the room and they went into the living room. "Man, my dad was pissed."

Ginny laughed. "I don't blame him. Besides, I think the four of them need some time to talk."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, I think you're right."

Harry turned to look over at his cousin. "So Dud, how's life?"

Dudley stared at Harry in shock; obviously he was still having trouble with the whole talking pictures thing.

Ginny stood up and Harry watched Dudley's eyes greedily wash over her body. "I'm going to go check the post with Dobby, I'll be back." She kissed him softly and walked out of the room, Dudley's eyes following the sway of her bottom.

"Put your eyes back into your head, she's mine."

Dudley turned to Harry. "She's got a great butt."

"I know, so don't look at it."

Dudley shrugged. "I'm not hurting anyone by looking."

"Don't you have a girlfriend at home?" When Dudley didn't respond, Harry shrugged. "Well, she's going to be my wife, so I'm telling you to not stare at her if you know what's good for you."

Dudley looked like he was going to respond like his old cocky self when Ginny came running into the room, grinning. "Harry, you got a letter from the Ballycastle Bats and from the Wigtown Wanderers! Hurry up and open them!"

Harry grinned. "No way, do I have offers this soon?"

Ginny grinned. "You're Harry Potter, and an amazing seeker! Of course you do."

Harry opened the first one and began to read. "Wigtown Wanderers have practice seven days a week and they begin in August. Wow, they are a little strict. Um, 50,000 galleons a year and an additional 150 galleons every time I catch the snitch. They want me as a full time seeker."

Ginny grinned. "That one sounds like a lot of work. Open the next one."

Dudley was looking at them in curiousity now. "What's a seeker?"

Ginny turned to Dudley. "It's an athlete! Harry is being offered top positions in professional sports."

Before he could help himself, Dudley look impressed. "Wow."

Ginny grinned. "What does the Ballycastle Bats say?"

"Full time seeker; they only practice five days a week. Wow 100,000 galleons a year with a bonus of 150 galleons for every snitch I catch." Harry replied. He opened the box on the floor that the envelope had been sitting on top of. "And they sent me souvenirs. So did the Wanderers though. Look, I've got jerseys and a pocket snitch, it only goes so far. It says here that it's supposed to be good practice for the reflexes."

Ginny giggled and reached over to kiss him. "Do you know what this means Harry?"

"No what?"

"It means that you are on your way to becoming a professional Quidditch player."

Harry grinned. "Yeah, I suppose I am."