AN: The last chapter felt like a bit too much of a filler to me (not that this story has had much in the way of plot so far anyway), so here's a bonus update to make up for that!
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In the following two weeks, Harry, together with Alduin and Miss Burke, dined with the Longbottoms and the Shafiqs again, and Neville's visits became more frequent in the better weather. They were becoming close friends now, and Harry even convinced Alduin to let Neville try flying. It wasn't hard to see that Neville did not have the natural talent that Harry could boast of, but, nevertheless, it hadn't been a complete disaster.
Harry was slowly beginning to think that he would perhaps settle into his life, with no new people to meet after two months of doing nothing else, and more of a fixed routine appearing, and was trying to decide how he felt about that, when he heard his cousin telling Miss Burke: "There is no helping it, we have to ask them before the first garden party."
He tried to restrain his questioning glance, but Alduin caught it and said: "How many times, Harry? Ask. Your. Questions."
"Okay, um...what's the problem?"
"Well, we have introduced you to all of the families I closely associate with, and you are quite acquainted with Neville, of course. There is, however, one more family you should meet before you are introduced to the more general company of the wizarding crème de la crème. There is no helping it, we will have to ask the Weasleys."
"Only for tea, I hope?" Alexandra said pleadingly.
"Of course! The last thing I need is having to suffer through a dinner at their house in return for our invitation." He paused. "The good thing is that it's school term, so most of the children will be at Hogwarts. It will be only the gentleman and the lady, and a couple of the younger offspring. I'm honestly not sure how many."
Harry didn't bother saying that if his cousin disliked them so much, there was no reason to ask them. He had already tried that, and it had been explained to him why that was not true. Besides, he was sort of curious, though it was curiosity mixed with dread. From what Alduin told him, these Weasleys had been friendly with his parents. Not so long ago, he would have been thrilled by the discovery, but now was not so sure. Alduin didn't like them, and Alduin argued with his father about his treatment of Snape. Was the reason for his dislike similar in this case? Were the Weasleys one of those, apart from Black, who had encouraged his father to attack Snape? He decided to proceed with caution.
The day that dreaded visit was to come, Alduin took Harry aside and said: "I'm sorry I couldn't quite control my feelings about this in your presence, but the Weasleys are really not my kind of people. However, that's not saying they won't be yours. I wouldn't want you to get influenced by my opinions – and prejudices – to have an unnecessary dislike of a family who was one of your family's principal allies. I would like you to form your own opinions."
Harry nodded. "At any rate, I'm looking forward to meeting the children," he said. There, at least, he knew for certain he would have nothing to reproach them with.
But the moment the Weasleys arrived, he realized that Alduin's problems with them had likely nothing to do with attacking Snape, or anyone else for that matter.
While all the other wizards he had met on these occasions were dressed more or less on par with what was the norm in the Travers household, the Weasleys' clothes was clearly old and ill-fitting, reminding Harry of what he wore while he had lived at the Dursleys. Also, they somehow completely lacked the grace everyone else seemed to have to some degree, the grace Harry admired and tried to imitate. It was very confusing to him, because he knew they were one of the great families, so how did this happen? Both children were very obviously staring at the drawing room they were ushered into, giving the impression that they have never seen something like this in their lives, which, again, confused Harry. Surely they had many rich wizarding relations, even if they themselves were poor?
"Mr. Weasley," Alduin said, "Mrs. Weasley. Welcome. Allow me to introduce Harry Potter, my first cousin once removed and my ward."
"Hello, Harry, darling," Mrs. Weasley said, making him cringe a little. "These are our children, Ron and Ginny."
"Hullo," Ron said a little awkwardly, while Ginny only looked shyly to the ground.
"Nice to meet you," Harry said, seconded by his cousin, who asked everyone to take a seat. The tea appeared, and as they started to eat, Harry turned to the children – conscious that in the present circumstances, it was for a large part up to him to make a conversation – and said: "So, how much time do you have left till Hogwarts?"
"Oh, I'm going in September," Ron replied.
"Really? Me too! Are you eleven already?"
"Yeah, my birthday was a week ago." Ron seemed to be staring at Harry's forehead for some reason.
"Happy belated birthday, then!" Harry said, trying not to be unnerved by it. "Mine's only at the end of July. I can't wait to get the letter, though."
Ron nodded his assent.
"And you?" Harry turned to the girl.
She raised her eyes to him quickly, then cast them back down. "Next year," she muttered.
"It must be nice to have a sister who is so close to you in age," Harry said, turning back to Ron, deeming him a more hopeful object as far as conversation went.
Ron shrugged. "Well, I have two brothers who are only two years older than me, so..."
"Really? Twins?"
"Yeah. But they are at Hogwarts already."
"Well, obviously! I mean, if they are older...do you have other siblings?" Harry asked, not sure if four children were enough to count as a whole bunch in his cousin's mind or not.
"Oh yes," Mrs. Weasley joined in here. "Fred and George are in their second year, as Ron just told you, but then there is Percy in his fourth and Charlie in his seventh. And we have another son, Bill, out of Hogwarts already – he is in Egypt, breaking curses for the Gringotts!"
"It must be difficult for you," Alduin said, "having your eldest so far from home."
"You're absolutely right, it is – and our second son decided that he will go to Romania after he graduates, to care for dragons, of all things! I do not know why all of my children have to insist on scattering around the globe."
Alduin privately thought he could venture a guess. If he had been born to Molly Weasley – gods forbid! - he would certainly do his best to get away from home as soon as possible.
"I think you can be calm in Percy's case," Mr. Weasley joined the conversation. "If his plans hold, he wants to work for the Ministry, so he will stay home as long as even you could desire, I daresay."
"Do you know what you would like to do?" Harry asked Ron.
"I haven't really thought about it much. I mean, playing Quidditch professionally would be cool, I guess...And you?"
Alduin shifted a little in his seat. Harry knew why: as the head of Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, Harry would not need to work, and would be unlikely to have the time, what with his place in the Wizengamot and other duties connected to such a position. However, it would be insensitive to say so, so instead, Harry just said: "I agree with you, that would be totally cool!"
He took Ron and Ginny to his room soon afterward, and once there, Ron became a lot less subdued, though Ginny's shyness did not abate. "Do you really have the scar, like they say?" He asked, plopping down on one of Harry's chairs.
Ah, Harry thought. That explained the stare. "Yes," he said. Ron's stare returned, and sighing, Harry pulled back his hair for a moment to show him.
"So that's where You-Know-Who…?"
Harry was confused for a second, before he remembered that Alduin had warned him this was how some people called Riddle. He had never heard it used in practice before. "So I am told," he said, "but I don't really remember it."
"Nothing at all?"
Harry frowned. "Well, some green light," he said, and then, wanting very much to change the topic, he added: "You said you'd like to play Quidditch professionally, so I take it you're a fan? What's your favorite team?"
This topic worked even better than it had with Neville all those months ago, and Ron was off, talking about the Chudley Canons. Harry personally did not think much of that particular team, but judged it wiser not to say so, and mostly listened for the rest of the time the siblings stayed in his room.
Once the Weasleys were gone, Alduin turned to Harry with a raised eyebrow. "Well?" He asked.
Harry shrugged. "They're not so bad, I guess – Ginny is really shy – but I think I can see why you don't like to see them too often. They don't really have manners, do they? I mean, if even I can tell..."
"Yes, Harry, they don't have manners. I am proud of you for noticing it."
"But how is it possible? Didn't you tell me that they are one of the old families? And how come they're so poor, too?"
Alduin sighed, and led the way back to the afternoon parlour. "The Weasleys have been scorning proper education for generations," he explained as he walked. "Their poverty is part of it. In other old families, the family seat is always entailed, meaning that only the eldest son can inherit it, or daughter if there is no son."
He sat down in his usual armchair, and Harry chose the sofa, listening in interest as his cousin continued: "It's rather hard luck on the younger sons, of course, and it is the reason why so many old families only ever have one, but it ensures that the main line of the family does keep having a good income, and if some misfortune befalls any of the family's other members, they can provide for them. The Weasleys decided to break the entail many generations ago, resulting in the family inheritance being divided into smaller and smaller parts, until finally it came to nothing. Mr. Weasley works at the ministry, but in a very badly paid job. Mrs. Weasley...well, she was educated properly- she is a Prewett by birth – but I imagine having seven children does not leave you much time to teach them social graces, or to keep yours up to date. Especially without any household help. The fact that they are hardly asked anywhere where it matters plays a part, too, I suppose – she had had no reason to remember."
"Does she work?" Harry inquired.
Alduin smiled a little at the question. "No. In spite of her changed situation in life, she was raised in the belief that she'd never work a day job, and she kept to it. And of course, when the children were little, she really couldn't have."
"But that's been a while now, hasn't it?" Harry pointed out, and then he frowned. "And anyway, she must have been raised to believe her husband would never have a regular job either, and he does anyway. It's strange, isn't it? I mean, I remember how everyone in Muggle school laughed at me for the terrible clothes I wore. The Dursleys hated me and so they didn't care, but well, I don't suppose the Weasleys hate their own children, so why don't they do anything about the fact that they have to wear old, badly fitting clothes?"
Alduin nodded. "You've managed to hit precisely on the reason why no one who matters talks to the Weasleys any more. Because they seem to intentionally bring their House as low as possible and then keep it there, and that is simply not done. In the wizarding world, family is everything, and we have very little understanding for those who neglect it. Mrs. Weasley refuses to find a paid job, Mr. Weasley works in one of the lowest paid positions you can have at the ministry without being a house-elf, and they have seven children. I respect the fact that someone desires to do what he loves, but he has to accept some degree of responsibility and not have seven children, for Merlin's sake, if he is unwilling to provide for them properly."
Harry considered this. "I kinda agree that it's wrong," he said, "but, I mean, it's not the kids' fault, is it? And if no one talks to them either...I mean, yeah, Ron really was kinda rude, but from what you said, he just doesn't know any better...and if no one talks to them, how is he supposed to learn? I wouldn't have known how to act either if you hadn't told me..." Harry did not like Ron much, but felt bad about his old and badly-fitting clothes and was remembering when he was dressed like that and no one would talk to him. He didn't want anyone else to go through the same thing.
Alduin gave a deep sigh. "You're right, of course – Ronald cannot really be held accountable. We can attempt to ask him for some of your afternoons with Neville if you want, and I can promise you that I will treat him as well as I am able."
Harry considered this. He didn't actually really want Ron to intrude on his time with Neville, but it would be hypocritical to refuse now, and so he just nodded.
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When they were asked for a return visit to the Burrow, Harry was shocked even more – the contrast between it and the other houses he had seen was striking. Didn't the Weasleys even inherit a house from their ancestors? Everyone else seemed to have a mansion of some sort, so why did this family live in something that seemed to have been put together by a giant child playing with his building bricks?
The living room they were ushered into was rather worn and rickety too, but the cake that accompanied the tea, at least, was excellent.
"It's a pity it's so cold and raining again," Ron said, "otherwise we could go and play one on one Quidditch outside. But come up to my room, I want to show you something!"
Once Harry entered and saw all the Chudley Canons posters, he sighed in resignation. It appeared this visit was going to have much in common with the previous one.
They had visited the Shafiqs just a few days ago, and Harry was now thinking nostalgically about his talk with Abdulaziz. The boy wasn't nine yet, but conversation with him was certainly more entertaining than with Ron. Sometimes, it was more entertaining than with Neville, but Harry felt too guilty thinking that, and so he pushed the thought away and tried to arouse in himself some interest about Ron's favourite team.
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It was now the end of March, and with his cousin's and Miss Burke's help, Harry managed to finish all of his course books. He had hoped it would mean he wouldn't have to have classes any more, but that showed he really didn't know his cousin very well yet.
"I bought you books for seventh year," Alduin said one cheerful Monday morning, "and I am very happy that you will have a chance to get a little ahead. If we work through the summer, we might even get a good part of it done."
Harry stared at him in horror. His cousin laughed. "Not as hard as we do now," he assured him, "but I will want you to put in at least two hours a day, even during the holidays. These are important things to know, Harry, and Hogwarts under Dumbledore won't prepare you for it."
"How come we've finished my sixth grade books so quickly, anyway?"
"Well, one-on-one education is always more efficient than just sitting in a classroom. Especially as no one ever worked with you at home. Now, let's look at what changed for wizards after the Battle of Hastings..."
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AB: Just a reassurance to Ron fans: this is not a Ron bashing fic. I'm not his huge fan, but, like, he's an 11 year old kid here. It's hard to blame him, and don't worry, you haven't seen the last of him.
(Similarly, I don't hate Molly and Arthur...but I don't think they are such wonderful parents as JKR seems to imply. I mean, it is of course possible that there is an unemployment crisis in the wizarding Britain and Molly can't find a job even with all of their contacts, and Arthur can't get a better one, but I didn't get the impression from the books. And of course, Alduin is being a snob – it's very easy for him to criticize when he never had to work to earn his living.)