Chapter 4 - Mother knows all.
"Harry are you sure?" Ginny asked for what seemed like the millionth time. "You don't have to come, you know."
"Gin, I would not miss dinner with your family for the world. Merlin, knows that if I do not show up, they will be drawing straws on who will come and fetch me." Harry chuckled at his girlfriend's panic, "it's not my first Weasley dinner. They know me and your mum will run interference if your brothers get out of hand."
"Maybe, but you have never dinner been at our house as my Boyfriend, Harry." Even as flames licked her face, he could see heat flooding her face at the use of the word 'boyfriend'.
"Ginny, your parents love me. Your brothers respect me. Everything will be fine. If anything, your brothers will spend the evening terrorizing you." Her eyes seemed to bug out, apparently having not thought about the implication that her brothers might just prefer to tease her about their relationship. With having Harry knowing the lot of them too well to be nervous. He knew every jab the twins would make, would be in jest. With the side benefit of embarrassing their sister.
But it seemed that the thought never crossed her mind. She seemed to flinch, "they would, wouldn't they," Harry felt his lips twitch at her sullen expression, having been in on a few pranks the twins have pulled over the years.
He knew how ruthless they could be. Ranging from harmless to exploding fireworks rampaging through Hogwarts for days. Depending on if they liked you or not. The twins had always seen Harry as another brother. That went visiting relatives two months out of the year. And would return to their bosom, that was the Burrow.
"Try to remember that they do actually like me, Ginny." He pleaded for her sanity, "It won't be as if you had Michael or Dean over."
Shaking her head, she gave a wan smile, "I know. I just want it to be perfect."
"Gin, perfect for me, is sharing a good meal with great friends. Dinner at the Burrow has always been that way. I doubt me, going from Ron's best mate to being your boyfriend is going to change much of anything. Except your mum is probably already have our wedding planned out.
The look of horror on her face was priceless. Mrs. Weasley has never made it a secret, that Harry may not be blood, but he was as good as any of her own brood. Having grown up not truly knowing a parent's love, Molly and Arthur Weasley had long since filled that hole in his heart and then some. With lectures for getting in trouble and summer holiday at the burrow. He had yet to spend a summer solely with his aunt and Uncle.
"Ginny, I'll see you in a few hours. I promise it will not be the horror show you are picturing in your head." At that she glared at him, finally shaken from her fear that he would bolt at the first sign of Fred and George's hijinks. "Tell your mum and dad, I can't wait to see them."
"You know, she doesn't like you living alone in that house, Harry." Ginny said. "She'd love to have you here with everyone else."
"I know, Ginny. She takes every opportunity to tell me. That's why I try to have supper with them every Sunday. "Harry wasn't exaggerating, Molly never stopped pecking at him to literally move in with them. He loved them but he needed his own space. Besides, even having Sunday dinner with them didn't stop her from popping in and feeding him. She was surprised the first time she tried and was shooed out of the kitchen by Kreacture.
It seemed like anytime; he had any down time from his studies at the Auror Department. He would wake to finding her in his kitchen with Kreacture. The house elf's new attitude had shocked her when he bowed to her without insult or slurs. They had a solid alliance; she would visit and Kreacture would make her tea and they would chat.
The first time, he had walked in on them. He about did a double take. Harry made it clear to the Elf that even though he belonged to Harry through house elf-wizarding laws. Kreacture was not a servant but family. But under no circumstances was he to disrespect the Matriarch of the Weasley family.
"I really need to go Ginny have some coursework I need to go over before supper." Harry held back the yon he felt filling his lungs. If Ginny knew he was exhausted, then Mrs. Weasley would know, and Harry would find himself tucked away in Ron's bedroom before supper even settled. Because if Mrs. Weasley wanting Harry to move in was bad enough. It was nothing compared to Ginny's. The two Weasley women were a force to be reckoned with.
"Ok! OK! Harry, I'll let you go. See you at six o'clock." Ginny said before rolling her eyes. And then with a pop she was gone. Leaving Harry to sag against the fireplace.
The "coursework" he had waiting for him was a long nap. He had been up all night with a group of Aurors hunting a few stragglers of Death Eaters. It was a long night, but they apprehended the six in the wee early hours. Harry was more than ready for a nap. Kreacture had fed him when he returned home. He had been about to go snuggle under his warm covers when Ginny popped in via the floo. Harry not wanting to miss a moment with her, forced down his exhaustion into submission. And settled in for a lengthy talk.
But now the world seemed to want to close in on him.
"Master Harry needs to rest!" Kreacture snapped poking a wooden spoon at his rib. "Go on now, Kreacture will take of this."
"Thank you, Kreacture." Harry said as he made his weary way up the creaky staircase. "If you would Kreacture. Could you wake up at 5 o'clock, so I can get cleaned up before dinner with the Weasley's?"
"Of course, young master Kreacture will do that." Kreacture gave a nod of his head, as Harry forbade him from bowing to him. It was an easy compromise, but Kreacture was still uneasy about Harry treating him as an equal. He had seen how Harry treated Doby as a friend. How he found those revered for their pureblood heritage as beneath him.
To him the boy who lived was an oddity. He was respected by the adult wizards that surrounded. Cherish by those who knew him. Loved by the few he called his family. Harry Potter was everything Doby had claimed and so much more…Kreacture thought as he watched his master ascend the stairs.
In the upper most room, Harry achingly removed his clothes and slid beneath the warm covers. With the scent of lavender filling his senses. As he finally allowed the world to close in on him and let sensual tendril strokes of darkness consume him.
Six Hours Later
"Master Harry it is time to rise." Kreacture shouted as he shook his master awake, none to gentle. He had learned his new master was a heavy sleeper, now that the dark lord had stolen his last breath. The boy that had slept fitfully, was now no easier to wake than a slumbering giant. "Master, unless you wish to go to the Weasley's smelling like the wrong end of Hippogriff." He sniffed.
Groaning Harry, rolled over muttering to himself as, he pried himself from his bed. "Ok, Kreacture. No, need to add insult to injury. I'm up." Harry swung his legs over the side of the bed.
Giving a shake of his head to clear the cobwebs, Harry felt slightly better. His exhaustion was still visible in the ache of his muscles, but its sharp edges were dulled by the nap. "Thank you, Kreacture." He said mustering up a smile for the house elf.
"Tis Kreacture's pleasure, young Master." Kreacture snatched up a pile of freshly laundered clothes, before turning and presenting them to Harry. "Kreacture also made sure you had clean clothes for your dinner."
"Thanks, Kreacture." He muttered, with a dip of his head in acknowledgement of his efforts. Kreacture strolled out of the room.
It took Harry around twenty minutes, to feel half human enough to shower. Heat from the water beating down on him eased the rest of his sore muscles.
And soon, he was dried and dressed. And heading for the door. "Kreacture, I'll be back later. You don't have to wait up for me." He told the elf, as he handed Harry his jacket.
The Elf scoffed, "I doubt you'd make it to the first course; the Mrs. will take one look at you and send you to bed."
Wincing he nothing got past Mrs. Weasley's eagle eyes. "Let's hope, I can plead my case than shall we."
Checking his hair in the mirror, it was as always unruly. Mrs. Weasley had tried on occasion to neaten his hair, but it seemed to be a losing battle. With that last glimpse he turned in a spin and popped away.
The next moment, the next moment he stood at the end a of a lane that led to the one place other than Hogwarts that he felt at home. He could see the burrow standing off into the distance. But he wasn't alone. There standing at the end of the lane stood two very familiar people.
"Oi! Was wondering when you'd show up!" Called the tall lanky red head. "Come on, now! All this travel has me starving!" Hermione stood by his side shaking her head.
Harry ran to the pair as he had since their first year at Hogwarts. "It's good to see you two!" He engulfed the pair in a hug. "When did you get in? How was Australia?" He peppered the pair with questions, "Did you find them?" The them being Hermione's parents.
"Yes, we found mum and dad quite quickly." Hermione said, as Harry gave the pair one last squeeze. Before pulling away. "It was actually Ron, knew a way to find them."
Pulling away Harry chided playfully, "So, Ron knew something the great Hermione Granger didn't? Wow, he must be 3-5,000, now. Hermione you better watch out he's gaining on you!" Hermione simply rolled her eyes before sliding her arm thru Ron's and nestled in.
Harry could not help but grin at the pair of them. "So, this is a thing now?" He asked gesturing between them, because with Ron and Hermione, you never really knew where the other stood.
"Is it weird for you? My being with Hermione." Ron asked shifting his weight a little.
"No, I'm glad the two of you finally saw what the rest of us already knew." Harry grinned, "It took you guys long enough." Feeling the needed to poke Harry said, "Mean I know Ron is a little slow, Hermione. But really? Seven years, you are usually a lot quicker on the up take, Hermione. I knew something was happening our second year. I'm mean really, how often have you seen Ron take notes in class with such care about the subject." Hermione scowled and rolled her eyes.
"Six years not seven, Harry. You know that." She countered.
"True, but it took seven years for you to make a move. We both know Ron would have never made a move otherwise. You're too out of his league. How could the smartest girl in our year. Have a crush on him?" Harry playfully elbowed Ron, "Talk about denial." Ron gave Harry a shove.
"Quit it, Potter." Ron laughed.
"Whatever you say Weasley." Harry smile at his two best friends. They looked happy. "But you know, she's like a sister to me, Ron. Remember that if you step a toe out of line with her. After Hermione is done with you. I get whatever was leftover. Which by Hermione's standards won't be much. But still." Harry told the happy couple. Ron rolled his but Hermione beamed at him.
"Like I said, I'm starving. Let's go eat." Ron countered. "Mum said Charlie is here visiting. So, all my brothers are here, Potter. Are you ready?"
"For a Weasley dinner? Yes!" The trio start towards the house, "A Weasley interrogation? Don't Ginny but I am a little nervous."
"Please, Harry, you will do just fine." Hermione tried to cheer him on. "They all have known you for years. And each of them loves and respect you."
"For more than being THE Harry Potter." Ron added, "I doubt Fred and George would have tolerated, you. If you were anything like Malfoy. You know how they are about pomp."
"They like to make it pop." The trio broke into around of giggles. Picturing how the Twins handled Professor Umbridge, on their last day attending Hogwarts.
"IT WAS GLORIOUS!" Ron chortled.
"They really sent her message." Hermione smiled, Umbridge had made an Enemy of Hermione. Hermione loved her rules. But Umbridge abused her power over the students. For Hermione it was her forcing students to carve the lines they wrote on the back of their hands that caused Hermione to go off the deep end.
The three made their way down the dirt lane, laughing as they recalled the Twin's antics over the years. All the stress of the years gone. Harry still felt a twinge of nerves when they made their way past Mrs. Weasley's garden. Spotting Gnomes poking out here and there.
"Still nervous?" Ron asked him. Harry gave a fateful nod with the kitchen door in sight. He though back to all those summers ago, when Ron and the Twins had rescued him from his aunt and Uncle's. That had been his first visit to the burrow, that had been the start several visits. Which had increased from summer holidays to spending Christmas with them.
"Everything will fine." Hermione attempted to soothe to no avail.
Suddenly, the kitchen door was thrown open with a crash and a red headed blur came running out. Screeching, "Ronald Weasley!"
Before any of them knew what was happening Ron was being smothered in his mother's embrace. Anything said had long been buried beneath cries of "OH! Ronald! Ronald!" Ron's face reflected in his embarrassment as his mother fussed over him. He looked to both Harry and Hermione for aid. But the two just looked between themselves.
Until, Hermione stepped forward, "Mrs. Weasley it's good to see you too."
Molly returned her tear-streaked face towards her. Only to cry out, "Hermione!!" And proceed to engulf Hermione in a hug all her own. Reluctantly releasing Ron, of whom was bent at the waist gulping deep gasps of air. "Oh, Hermione!! I've been so worried about the two of you."
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley!" Hermione choke out returning her hug. "We've missed you, too." Harry carefully eased around to the other side of Mrs. Weasley. Hoping to avoid a hug, he knew that had his name on it.
"When did you get in?" Mrs. Weasley asked pulling away from Hermione.
"About two hours ago, I'd say. We ran into the Twins, when we arrived at the end of the lane. They told us that Harry was going to be here tonight. We wanted to surprise him. So, we waited for him." Harry flinched, knowing he'd just been outed.
She turned on him where he stood with Ron. Her eyes turning to slits as she scanned him. "Evening, Molly." He knew what had caught her ire.
"Harry, dear you look like a stiff wind would knock you over. Go upstairs and lay down for a bit. Dinner won't ready for another two hours." Her eyes darted around the three of them. "You know what all three of you look like you could use a wee bit of a rest. Go on the three of you! SHOO!" She made to herd them inside just as the rest of the Weasleys came hustling out.
Calling, "RON!! HERMIONE!!! Harry!!" Soon the three were being passed around to waiting arms.
Till, Harry was pulled from the crowd by Ginny. Smiling down at her, Harry said, "Hello, Beautiful." Leaning down to give her a kiss on her cheek.
Out of nowhere, a hushed silence swept through the crowd of Weasleys, Harry pulled away from Ginny in time to see a series of shocked looks rake over everyone's face. Turning to Ginny, he asked, "I'm guessing you haven't told them about us."
Ginny opened her mouth, but Ron beat her to it, "Nope, she hadn't a word!" Ginny's face flushed red with heat. As did every Weasley there. Molly came rushing forward and grabbed Harry up and started to squeeze him.
"Please, tell me that this means you're dating!" She shrieked!
"Yeah, mum. We are dating." Ginny said crossing her arms at her brothers. All of whom were looking everywhere but at her glare.
"Ginny…" Harry said turning to Mrs. and Mr. Weasley, "yes, Ginny and I are dating." Both parents looked pleased.
"You've always been like a son to us, Harry." Arthur said, turning an eye to his sons. "We owe you for more than one life here."
"Any of these miscreants, give the two of you any trouble. Let me know." Molly told with a fawn smile. Pulling him in for another hug and whispering, "Hurt my daughter and you'll find out why my boys fear me." With that she let a stunned Harry, then gave his cheek a pat. "Now, go lay down, you three I'll have the others come get you when it ready. "As the trio began to argue, she shushed them with, "a mother knows best." And headed back into the house.
Leaving all ten of her children and husband in the yard.
Arthur turned to the crowd saying, "And a mother knows all. So, you three best get to bed." Before following his wife's lead into the house.