Disclaimer and updates:

My apologies to a two year absence, I just sort of let this slide, but I'm going to try and get better at updating and such. I think I'll have some more time now finally, and definitely a little more drive for it. Well have a lovely time reading and thank you so much for your reviews.

Harry's body wracked with coughs all through the next few days; a nonstop wave of them, the sound penetrating throughout the whole house. Mrs. Weasley came up to check on him constantly, and he received visits from several of the Weasley children. Ginny, most of all was almost always outside his bedroom, and would only go in when he was able to talk; otherwise she would sit out in the hall way and hum, or talk about anything. Sometimes the sound of her voice was enough to make him fall asleep simply because he wasn't alone. Although Harry had very little to complain about, he rather enjoyed the scenery of the Weasley house, it felt cozy and warm. Like a real house should, and the Weasleys were a proper family. Harry couldn't help but laugh, every now and again Fred and George, a set of troublesome twins who sometimes snuck in to see him, would do something to get yelled at, making Harry laugh as well as bringing on another fit of coughs. He'd stopped throwing up after swallowing down some very funny tasting medicine. He'd never tasted anything like it before, not that the Dursleys ever really gave him medicine, and not that he ever really got sick. His fever had also gone down, but Mrs. Weasley would not let him leave the bed until he was done coughing.

He enjoyed it though, because aside from Ginny, his favorite person in the whole world also lived here. Ronald Weasley, Ron, was a year older than Ginny and the youngest boy. He was Harry's favorite visitor and he couldn't wait for him to come up and see him. He was actually in Ron's room; Ron was sleeping with his older brother Charlie, and didn't really mind once he started talking to Harry. Actually they had both become fast friends, and Ron could see what Ginny was going on about. Mr. Weasley would also come up and talk to him, mostly about what his life at the Dursleys was like, his childhood, and why he ran away. He had told Mrs. Weasley, Molly was her name, that he would speak to a "Carmody" whom Harry assumed was a very important person about an appointment with the "toad woman" who obviously was someone very dislikable. He said there was no way around it, that the whole thing had to be reported. He also said that "Fudge" will have to know, and judging from Mrs. Weasley's reaction, he also was a very important person, more important than the Mr. Carmody.

But Ginny would never reveal who these people were, whether it was because she didn't want to or didn't know Harry wasn't sure. She would come in and talk to him about anything, lately she had even taken to reading a book to him, it was very strange, but Harry had rather begun liking it. The Tales of the Beetle Bard it was called, Mrs. Weasley used to read it to her all the time and she had decided to read it to him because it was one of her favorites. It was quickly becoming one of his as well.

Harry had finally finished coughing when the door opened; a red haired freckled face peeked in and raised his eyebrows.

"You all right Harry?" Harry smiled and nodded at his new best friend, Ron had come to see him, which meant it was almost lunch time. Mrs. Weasley allowed Ron to sit with him during lunch.

"What's for lunch?" Ron frowned slightly.

"Soup again." Harry smiled.

"I think I'm beginning to like soup, matter of fact, I've never had soup as good as your mum's." Ron smiled, Harry was always able to make him smile like that by complimenting his mother's cooking, which was slightly strange to Harry, as he had never tasted anything so good in the whole of his life. Harry was about to speak when the door opened.

"Harry, good to see you're awake, Arthur will be back later, and he'll have something you can take for that cough, and in a couple of days you'll be good as new, of course, you'll still have to stay here for a couple of days just to rest up properly. Not to mention of course, we have to contact your aunt and uncle and let them know where you are, they're probably worried sick, and I'm certain they'll be glad to hear you're all right." She set the tray down and stirred the soup a bit. "And of course, we have to contact the authorities and let them know what happened, although I don't think there will be any problems, now you just tuck in sweetheart, and it'll all be all right." She turned to Ron.

"Now don't you go disturbing Harry while he's eating and trying to get better…."

"Can he stay please, it's only just," Harry looked down a bit, "I don't get to talk to anyone hardly, can he please stay, just for a little bit?" Mrs. Weasley smiled at him.

"Very well, I'll bring up some more soup and crackers, tuck in dear, tuck in." she patted Harry on the head and patted Ron on the shoulder. "You be a good boy Ron." He nodded and Mrs. Weasley disappeared downstairs to come up with another tray of soup and some more crackers. After wishing them a good lunch she went back down again to continue her knitting and clean house a bit. Half an hour later Ron and Harry had barely touched their soup, they had spent most of the time talking. The door opened and Ginny walked in.

"Oi," Ron looked at his sister in childish contempt, "don't you ever knock?" Ginny stuck her tongue out at him and sat on the edge of Harry's bed, while Harry suppressed a chuckle.

"Good afternoon Harry."

"Good afternoon Ginny." Ginny looked at his soup and back at him.

"Is everything all right? You're not feeling worse are you?"

"No, I was just talking to Ron, everything's fine." Harry immediately began to finish eating his soup. It was cold now, but he didn't dare to ask for it to be reheated, he didn't want to upset Mrs. Weasley.

"Calm down Harry, it's all right."

"You'll start coughing again." Ginny said patting his hand, "It's all right, I'll go get Charlie."

Charlie walked in and waved his wand muttering something, and the bowl got warm again. Harry had all ready been explained about the fact that the Weasleys were wizards, and he had promised very thoroughly not to tell a soul. Actually he found the whole thing fascinating, and upon learning that because of where they lived as long as they were small spells, Bill and Charlie could do some magic, he had asked them if they could. Well, he had asked Bill mostly, Charlie said it wasn't a good idea, but for the most part Bill had no problem doing magic, Charlie would only do it if he was bored or if it was something that had to be done with magic. This was one of those situations where he would excuse the use of it. Harry smiled and thanked him and Charlie couldn't help but smile back.

"But if that soup isn't drunk by the time Mum comes up, you can forget it happening again." Charlie winked at Harry and walked out the door. The next forty-five minutes were filled with Ginny, Ron, and Harry all talking and enjoying each other's company and Harry of course finishing his soup.

Harry was just beginning to get sleepy when the door opened and slammed shut. Ginny and Ron looked at each other and back to Harry. It was very quiet downstairs for several minutes, and then they heard someone walking up the stairs. Harry was about to ask something when the knob on his door turned ever so slowly, there was a light knock on the door. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath staring at the door, what seemed like an eternity went by.

"Come in." Harry said his throat suddenly very dry. The door swung open to admit Mr. Weasley, he peeked his head in.

"Hello children, I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Ron and Ginny shook their Heads.

"Is everything all right?" Harry asked. Mr. Weasley looked at him curiously. "I heard the door slam." He nodded.

"Of course, uhm, yes, everything is fine." He reached into his pocket and produced a bottle. "Here is something for that cough, and judging by those heavy eyes it's coming just in time." He turned to his two children. "Come on kids, let's let Harry rest." Arthur like Bill saw no harm in letting Harry see some small magic and waved his wand to let the tray levitate in the air. He poured the oddly colored liquid in the glass on the bedside table. It was a translucent paisley pink and smelled like burnt toast.

"I know it smells awful, and I warn you it certainly isn't butter beer, but it does taste better than paste." Harry looked at him, nodded and swallowed the glass in two gulps. From the face Harry made, if it did taste better than paste, it didn't taste much better. Mr. Weasley nodded.

"That'll take care of that. Now you lot, out we go, let's let Harry sleep."