14th of April 1995 - The Burrow, Devon, England.
He was going to get a crick in his neck, he was sure of it.
Standing at the wardline of the property, Harry contemplated the rather whimsical and all together odd form that was the Weasley family homestead.
It was the first magical home - barring Hogwarts which was technically both a school and a home and Hagrid's hut - he had visited. He had been perplexed even back then, at twelve, staring up at it after having been rescued from the Dursleys by Ron and the twins.
But he had fallen in love with it almost as soon as they'd snuck in the back door. Dishes washing themselves, a colourful shawl knitting itself and an equally colourful clock that had locations instead of numbers on its face.
It was very normal. It was very magical.
The Dursleys would have hated it.
So Harry had loved it, heart and soul.
A couple of years later and he still loved it, though now he knew more about architecture and structural engineering and he had to admit the Burrow worried him.
The funny thing was that in execution as long as the upper rooms were anchored through to the foundation and each supported properly against things like heavy winds, then you could have your house any which way you wanted. It could look as mad or as stately as tickled your fancy, provided you had the right place for it and the right materials to support it.
Magic made that a fair bit easier, what with its ability to drastically reinforce even the more brittle of building materials and make wood, for example, impervious to rot or pests like termites.
The problem with the Burrow wasn't so much it's odd design, that on its own would have been fine. The problem was that the foundation wasn't made or reinforced for the increased weight of the additional floors that had been added on after the original cottage's construction.
Which is why it was sinking, causing the section of load bearing wall that was sitting on it, to drop.
Biting his lip, Harry spent a moment weighing the pros and cons of the different potential fixes that came to mind before he sighed and lightly nudged Sirius who had been patiently taking in the view himself before making his way to the front door.
Sirius followed along behind him, absently cocking his head at a couple of geese that chase each other from somewhere around the back side of the cottage. "It's changed a bit since the last time I visited."
"Considering the last time you visited, Bill was only a couple years old, that's not surprising." Harry reminded him with an arch of one brow.
"There is that." Sirius conceded.
Wrapping knuckles on the stout wooden door, Harry gave his godfather an amused look before turning back as the door all but flew open revealing Mrs. Weasley.
Worn apron in place and a beaming smile crinkling the skin at the corner of her eyes, Molly quickly made a waving gesture with both hands. "Oh Harry, Sirius, come in, come in!"
Stepping past the threshold the young king smiled and allowed himself to be pulled into a tight hug. Wrapping his arms around her happily plump frame in turn, Harry gave her a little squeeze before stepping back a bit. "How have you been, Mrs. Weasley?"
She gave him a slightly wry smile before giving him a discerning once over, the same look she gave him every time she saw him. "Oh just fine, busy as a bee, even with the boys and Ginny off at Hogwarts. But look at you. You've grown at least a few good inches since your last visit, and grown some muscles if your hug is any hint. All that hard work you've been doing no doubt." She said before tutting. "I hope you're not overworking yourself?"
Harry opened his mouth to reply, but before he could she was tugging him into the house proper.
"Oh, look at me. Come for dinner and I've got you stuck on the doorstep nattering you ear off. Come in dear." She fussed and moved out of the doorway to wave him - and an amused Sirius - past her into the cottage.
The air was warm and filled with the scent of wildflowers and cooking things, rich scents that pulled at the senses and stirred a previously silent stomach into rumbling alertness. The low beam ceiling and the many bits and bobs sequestered away wherever there was space made the house feel cluttered, but the warm aura that suffused the home told you that despite all that, you were most definitely welcome.
Or at least that was how the Weasley home had always seemed to Harry.
It was such a marked difference to the Dursley residence it was almost worthy of a little culture shock. It was an eclectic collection of plates, bowls and mugs, formed over years of use and love. Of buying a set and having a few breaking or being misplaced to parts unknown, where only a favourite was repaired or called back home. It was a smoothness and divots worn into stone or wood that came about from years of repeated handling rather than something imparted by a tool.
It was this rug or that throw rug that had taken someones fancy or this or that portrait or photograph hung upon the wall. And riots of colours from every which way that should probably have been headache inducing but only managed to drive the feeling of home through.
Each member of the family had left their mark in and around the house, from dog-eared old issues of magazines, to well battered misplaced-and-found-again chess pieces that marched back and forth along bookshelves keeping guard for lack of a playing field on which to battle. Shadowbox frames filled with butterflies and dragon scales, and odd stains that were likely the result of pranks long since passed.
Encyclopaedia and tomes on history and law, squished into shelf space with an old worn book of jokes and fairytales that was purely magical if the bunnies bouncing around the spine and out of sight were any indication.
And the old wireless radio crooning quietly in the background.
They were waved over to one of the well worn in couches before the fireplace and no sooner had they been seated than Mr. Weasley appeared at the back door.
"Harry, Sirius, you're both well I hope?" He greeted them before placing a dutiful kiss on his wife's cheek.
"We're doing alright, Arthur, you?" Sirius returned, offering the other man a smile and a handshake as he took a seat on the couch across from them while Molly weaved her way back into the kitchen. "I imagine the Ministry's been keeping you on your toes lately."
The Weasley patriarch blew out a harsh breath but nodded. "Normally our department isn't quite so busy, but we've been having to step up and help cover the gaps while the different departments are busy trying to recruit people to fill those gaps. There'll be plenty of long shifts for everyone before it's sorted."
"Minister Scrimgeour definitely doesn't seem the type to sit on his laurels." Harry remarked casually, thinking of the few letters he had already exchanged with man. "He's revived and refurbished the British Ministry mediation halls and has been setting teams to update the various wards and protective measures around the Ministry. I've a meeting with him there next week to finally sit down and formalise things between Volstar and Brittain." He added at the quizzical quirk of a brow he received from Arthur.
Arthurs expression shifted into one that could be described with a rather amusing 'ah-ha!'. "So that's what all that noise is about. There was a spot of gossip going around the cafeteria that the Minister had a meeting with someone quite important, but anyone who had details was keeping mum on them."
Harry nodded, letting himself sink into the well worn in chair as he listened to Molly potter about in the kitchen in the background. "He and Madam Bones have been writing back and forth with my security team and Remus to work out the finer details."
"As long as you're safe and no one tries to bully you into agreeing with something you're not comfortable." Molly called back, quite sternly.
Sirius barked a laugh and shook his head. "That's pretty unlikely at this point. Harry's shown himself to be someone of sufficient power and talent that even the daftest of sods knows he's someone worth keeping on-side."
"There's that." Harry agreed, one hand coming up to rub at the back of his neck, expression sheepish. "I've already made quite a bit off my patents from hospitals licensing the rights to reproduce my improved potion and salve formulas and the could Potter original potions I have to my name. They're honestly going a long way to refilling my vault after the gold I spent on the purchase of Volstar's land to begin with."
He paused for a second before turning his focus towards the kitchen. "Percy and Bill both send their love and their apologies. Bill decided to work late today so he can finish work on a project of his, and Percy is currently out on a dinner date with a few of his new work colleagues from our Ministry."
Both Mr. and Mrs. Weasley frowned then brightened in turn at the news.
"I'm glad to hear Percy is making friends, we've been a bit worried about him. All this terrible business with the British ministry." Arthur admitted, his expression settling into something a little more bittersweet. "He's a gentle boy, our Percy, always trying to please and stand tall so he can support himself and his old mum and dad."
"He takes too much on himself." Molly agreed from the kitchen.
Harry nodded along politely, accepting their views on their third child and laying it beside his own observations of the young man he sometimes worked with. "If it's any help, he seems pretty interested in one of the other Ministry secretaries. From the accounting sub-department under the Department of Health."
"Has he really?" Arthur asked, breaking into a grin.
"Oh that's wonderful, he was rather upset when things didn't work out with the Clearwater girl." Molly added, tossing a smile their way as a swish and flick of her wand had plates and trays and bowls laden with the evening meal floating along to the dining table. "What are they like?"
The teen thought for a moment, head cocked to one side before he answered. "Diligent and an early riser. Ms. O'Leary is usually, aside from myself, the first person to arrive for work in the morning. And she doesn't usually leave for the day until her desk has been cleared. Fairly friendly to talk to and she doesn't seem like someone that's too interested in gossip."
"Oh that sounds nice, doesn't she sound lovely, Arthur? A nice, hard working, down to earth girl to balance out our little bookworm." Molly gushed, a happy flush rising in her cheeks as she beamed at her husband.
Arthur hummed and bobbed his head, and his eyes sparkled as he smiled back, clearly pleased his wife was so happy. "Early days then, is it?" He asked as he turned his gaze back to Harry and Sirius.
The older animagus nodded, arms crossing over his chest. "So far it's only been a few group outings, as far as we're aware. Bill hasn't mentioned anything either, so either he's keeping it close to the chest or he's taking his time. He's a cautious boy, your Percy."
The Weasley patriarch nodded, expression falling a little. "Once bitten, twice shy. Always taking things to heart, good and bad, ever since he was a little boy. It's why he butts heads with the twins so badly, has a lot of trouble letting hurt feelings go."
"Come on you three, up to the table." Molly called as she cast a look between the kitchen counters at the dining table to make sure she had grabbed everything.
The three males climbed to their feet and made their way over as called, since there was no chance of being in the way any more. Arthur settled into his place at the head of the table after pulling out Molly's chair for her and placing a kiss on her cheek.
"This looks lovely, Molly." Sirius said as he sank into his spot across from Harry and plucked up a bowl of dinner rolls and passed it around the table.
"A goddess of hearth and home." Arthur agreed, smiling proudly across the table.
Molly tutted at that, though it was obvious - to Harry at least - that she was pleased with the high regard. "I wouldn't go that far."
"I would." Harry disagreed, grinning impishly. "But I'm probably a bit biased. I had my first home cooked meal at this table."
"You've done quite a bit of growing since then." Mr. Weasley noted, not quite idly, as he set about cutting up a bit of meat. "A bit of a slow start, but you might just end up the same height as your father if you keep growing the way you have been."
Sirius hummed, opting to weigh in while Harry was busy with his own mouthful of food. "His elf Hildegara is very determined to make sure he eats three solid meals a day. Four if she can manage to corner him into it around all his work. Between that and his daily exercise with his goblin guard, his body has a lot of incentive to grow healthy."
"And all that sun." Molly added, giving Harry a happy smile. "Bill keeps mentioning it when he writes. Says it's like being on one of his digs in Egypt, but the nights are warmer than where he was last."
Harry nodded. "The earth and grass that makes up most of Volstar holds in heat better than the sand in the desert spots he used to be deployed to. So it means it takes longer for the sun's warmth to dissipate after the sun has gone down."
"Hm, I'll admit to looking forward to a bit of good beach and sun over the summer." Arthur said, giving Harry a smile. "Are you sure you won't take a few galleons for putting us and the children up for the visit?"
"You're all staying as my guests, as my family on my personal invitation. I'm terribly afraid your money's no good as far as accommodation. Though there are a couple of restaurants and cafes that have opened in the last month, their pricing is quite reasonable so it might make for a special night out while everyone else is off exploring." Harry told them, hiding a smile behind his glass of water as they exchanged a look and a smile.
"That might be nice, don't you think, a nice night on the town. Or a picnic at the beach, like when Bill was little." Arthur said to Molly, left hand setting down his knife in exchange to laying atop Molly's own hand.
"We'll see." Molly replied with a small smile of her own before turning her attention back on Harry. "Speaking of dating, you mentioned in some of your letters that you've become friends with the other competitors from that tournament. What can you tell me about this Fleur girl my William is so taken with?"
Having expected the question since he had gotten the letter inviting him to dinner, Harry set aside his cutlery for the moment and instead let his hands rest on either side of his plate. "At first glance, I suppose Fleur might seem a little standoffish at the moment. She's the sort of person that takes her responsibilities very seriously and at the moment one of her biggest ones is setting a good example. That aside she's actually very warm to the people she becomes close to." He began and noted he had both Molly and Arthur's full attention.
"Let's see, she's quite studious and she likes pretty things but she doesn't mind getting her hands dirty and working hard. She usually spends her summers helping out in her family's bakery either in the kitchen or at the counter or tutoring her younger sister Gabrielle." He added then paused for a second to think about what else he knew. "She likes trying new things, and she likes making her own soap apparently."
Molly blinked at the last bit, clearly taken a little aback. "Does she really?"
Harry nodded. "Actually part of why she's so good with potions. Apparently she grew up very quickly so she was a little clumsy on her feet, so she worked out how to mix bruise salve and mild healing balms for cuts and scrapes into soaps to help heal her bumps and bruises. Then decided she enjoyed it so she kept it up as a hobby on the side, she mixes a lot of different scents in too. Things like lavender or orange blossom or other nice smelling things for aromatherapy to help her parents relax after a hard day's work."
"Now that's not a bad idea." Arthur said with a small thoughtful hum. "It seems like a fine hobby to have."
"Apparently her mum, Madam Apolline is something of a whiz with household charms which she's passed along along to both her daughters so they're better able to take better care of their own families when the time comes, which I thought was a pretty good idea." Harry added, idly wondering at the back of his mind whether Bill or Fleur owed him lunch now, considering how much 'work' he was putting into presenting Fleur as a suitable partner for Bill in front of his parents.
"It's certainly much more sensible than what some parents do these days, sending their children into the world with no idea how to take care of themselves." Molly sniffed, though she did look more thoughtful as she considered what Harry had revealed.
Seeing his wife deep in thought Arthur decided to take charge of the conversation. "What about you Harry?"
"What?" Harry asking, blinking in surprise.
"Is there anyone special in your life, perhaps?"
Sirius barked a laugh at the flush that readily started spreading across his godson's cheeks. "Not much time for that. Harry spends most of his time going from project to project at the moment."
Arthur considered that for a moment before nodding slowly. "I suppose with all the work it must take to build a new city, a whole country even, that would take a bite out of your spare time." He conceded.
"There's not really anyone my age in Skyfall yet, aside from Neville and Draco. And I don't see either of them that way." Harry added, shifting a little in discomfort over the current topic.
"Ah, yes. Malfoy's boy. You know there was quite a fuss going around the Ministry the week before last. Apparently someone managed to get wind that the boy had made a hasty exit from the country. There was even an enquiry into the Malfoys household, at least according to scuttlebutt." The Weasley patriarch revealed, frowning a little at the topic.
Sirius scoffed, setting his knife and fork aside on the edge of his empty plate and leaning back in his chair. "A fat load of good that likely did. Malfoy and his lot have years of practice hiding their dirty laundry from prying eyes." He growled, expression twisting into a near sneer. "I should know."
"None of that now, unpleasant discussions at the dinner table are bad for digestion." Molly chided gently before taking charge again. "Harry dear, are you sure you're not working yourself too hard?"
"I'm not, I promise. Sirius and Remus both take turns making sure I take breaks and get out of the office. Though honestly I think I spent more time out helping with construction around the city than I sit at my desk. So I'm getting a lot of sunshine and fresh air." The young king offered, hoping it would ease or otherwise distract Molly from her well intentioned worrying.
She hummed quietly at that, seeming not entirely convinced. "I suppose that's better than nothing. I don't know how I feel about someone so young getting into construction. Chores and odd jobs are one thing, but all that heavy work..."
"It's fine. I've found I rather enjoy it actually and I've learned quite a lot about how to build structures and how to notice and fix problems." Harry assured her, offering the motherly woman a warm smile. "Like how your foundation is sinking."
Both Arthur and Molly blinked at that, clearly confused and caught off guard.
"I beg your pardon?" Arthur asked, head cocked in confusion.
"The extra levels you've added over the years are too heavy for the original foundation, so that combined with the soft and moist soil beneath it, it's causing the foundation to sink rather awkwardly which is probably causing a fair amount of strain on your walls and ceiling on the original cottage structure." Harry told them plainly, neatly setting his knife and fork aside now that he was done with the meal. "You'll start getting cracks in the walls and ceiling eventually, if they haven't started to crack under the strain already."
"Oh, are you sure?" Arthur asked, expression turning troubled as he exchanged looks with his wife.
Harry nodded. "Apparently it's a pretty common problem with country homes. It would have been safer given the soil and the shallowness of the water table, and the added water from runoff from the surrounding hills, to extend the house out rather than up, if you could."
"We wanted to, but the cost of warding stones was just too much to add on the ring we would have needed to expand outwards." Molly told him quietly, expression worried. "Can it be fixed?"
"It can, though just raising the foundation where required is a bit of a stop gap solution here, you'd have to do it again in another decade or so. And then again and again." Harry answered truthfully, offering a small sympathetic shrug. "It'll end up costing you a lot more in the long run than if you were able to pool your money and rebuild with a better foundation and added the extensions you need at the same time."
Arthur and Molly exchanged a long look, silently weighing the problem together before Molly sighed and Arthur's attention resettled on Harry. "What would we need to do?"