A/N I love love getting reviews! It encourages me to keep going!
Disclaimer: All characters belong JK Rowling
Chapter 5: Mum
"Harry, how did you survive?" Bill Weasley asked. Harry took a moment to form an answer.
"Well the way Professor Dumbledore explained it in King's Cross, the killing curse only killed the piece of his soul within me. But I still had a choice to move on to the after life if I wanted. So in retrospect I survived because of love. Just like the first time. Because of my love for Ginny and the people I'd be leaving behind, I was given the choice to survive." Ginny put her hand on Harry's knee and gave it a gentle squeeze. Bill gave a small smirk.
"Good thing you've faced the darkest wizard this world has ever seen, I guess my brothers and I don't stand a chance against you if you hurt our baby sister." Bill said rejectedly.
"I am not a baby!" Ginny protested, and Harry chuckled.
"Bill, if there comes a day where I hurt your sister I promise you that I will personally hurt myself far worse than anything you lot could do to me. I really do love her, and I don't plan on hurting her or leaving her again." Harry kissed his girlfriend's head and continued to dig into a light lunch. "Professor, I believe despite what others may choose to believe that Professor Snape's portrait should be hung in this office like the Headmasters before him."
"After hearing your story, I believe this too. The minister and I can speak to the board about it, we might need a statement from you but we will try to only reveal what is necessary to clear his name." Professor McGonagall said. "Miss, Weasley, I believe this answers the question we've had all term." She gave Ginny a pointed look, and everyone looked between the two curiously.
Ginny cleared her throat and straightened up, "It does. When Neville, Luna, and I attempted to steal the sword of Gryffindor from Snape's office his punishment was not what I expected. With the Carrows around it could've been anything from being held under the cruciatus curse or other torturous punishments. That night Snape told the Carrows to leave us for him to punish, and he merely asked us what our purpose was. Eventually he assigned us all detention with Hagrid every night for one week and sent Luna and Neville off to bed. When they left he spoke to me quietly and told me I need to be careful because the Dark Lord was aware of my relationship with Harry. He could only keep me protected for so long within the walls of the castle. He warned me I shouldn't even come back after winter break, but I didn't listen."
"Ginevra, you stole what?!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked. Ginny winced.
"We tried..we got caught so it didn't matter much anyway." She looked a bit down at this.
"Actually I think it is thanks to you three that Snape knew we needed it. We would've never been able to defeat Voldemort without it." Harry put a finger under her chin and forced her to look at him. "Thank you." He was a bit shy being in front of everyone else but he decided he didn't really care and gave her a soft kiss on her lips. When they parted she nuzzled into his chest as he held her close.
"I think we have gotten the information we need. I will need to prepare some sort of statement for the press but I will have it sent to you three for approval before anything gets published. I want to thank you again for everything you have done." Kingsley stood and shook everyone's hands.
"Of course, Kingsley. And no thanks necessary, we only did what needed to be done." Harry said, and he got nods of agreement from Ron and Hermione.
"Alright, Bill has already been back to the Burrow to access any damage and make sure the wards were put back up. Everything seems to be in order so we can all make our way there. And yes I mean all of us, Harry and Hermione too." Mr. Weasley said to his family.
"You all can just use my floo if you'd like." Professor McGonagall gestured to the fireplace. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny gave quick hugs and words of thanks to Neville and Luna. Then one by one they all flooed back to the Burrow.
They all landed, some not as gracefully, and got about getting settled in. Mrs. Weasley already moving to inspect her kitchen and start on dinner. Mr. Weasley started going over room assignments.
"George, you are welcome to stay here in your room. Your room is yours to stay in as well, Percy. Bill, are you and Fleur staying here tonight?" Mr Weasley asked looking at his three sons.
"I think I will stay here for a bit, I don't think I can handle staying in the flat by myself." George said solemnly.
"I will be heading back to my flat after dinner, but I promise I will stop by often to be here for the family." Percy said.
"And Fleur and i will be headed back to our cottage after dinner." Bill said earning him a nod of agreement from his wife.
"Well then that settles it, Harry you can stay in Percy's old room. And Hermione can stay in Bill and Charlie's old room. Does that sound okay to everyone?" Everyone nodded, the kids said words of thanks. The girls bustled up the stairs to get settled into their rooms while the boys slowly trudged up behind them.
A while later Harry crossed the hall to his girlfriend's room and knocked on the closed door. Ginny opened the door and a big smile grew on her face.As she opened the door further Harry could see his bushy haired friend was also in the room.
"Er…hello ladies." The girls giggled. "I was just going to see if Ginny wanted to talk and spend some time together."
"We can catch up later, after dinner, okay? Hermione and I were just chatting about…well you boys." Harry blushed and Ginny gave him a lingering kiss on his cheek.
"Alright then, I suppose I will find something to entertain myself then." He gave them a final look and left the room. He trudged down the stairs and saw Mrs. Weasley bustling about the kitchen.
"Oh Harry dear, settling in okay?" Harry nodded at Mrs. Weasley. "Could you be a dear and fetch Ginny for me? I would like her help getting these potatoes peeled and the table set?"
"Actually if you don't mind, I'd be happy to help. Her and Hermione were catching up and I am more than happy to do it." He didn't wait for a response as he picked up the peeler and began peeling the potatoes.
"Oh now you don't have to do that, she is more than capable." Mrs. Weasley gave him a curious look as she realized he was peeling the potatoes much faster and much cleaner than her daughter would have.
Harry must have noticed the look as he said, "I used to cook most of the Dursley's meals for them during the summers. And believe me, it was never good to keep Uncle Vernon hungry. So I learned how to prep the potatoes quickly. If you ever need help or want a break from cooking, I'd be happy to help out. I didn't really like cooking for them, but I do enjoy it sometimes. And I am sure its much nicer to cook for people you love that actually appreciate it." Harry felt himself being squeezed tightly by the matron.
"Those muggles were awful people. I would never make you cook for this family, with how much they eat. But if you would like to help out from time to time, I'd be grateful for the company." Harry and Mrs. Weasley went about making dinner, talking every now and again. As Harry was setting the table the two giggling girls and Ron came walking in. Ginny walked over to her boyfriend and grabbed half the table settings to help him finish up.
"Harry was most helpful. He helped me prep dinner and set the table. I originally asked him to fetch you for me but he insisted on letting you spend time with Hermione. He is a good boy." Mrs. Weasley patted his warming red cheek as Ginny beamed at him.
Harry had been thinking of something for awhile now. Since he realized he loved Ginny and realized what love meant and what different love felt like, he knew he loved Mrs, Weasley the way her would have loved his own mother. Without too much more though the words just casually slipped out of his mouth,
"I was happy to do it. I love you, Mum."