Harry potter and the Time of Retirement
Everything related to Harry Potter belongs to JKR
Chapter 27 – Year 2
While walking towards the entrance of the Burrow, Harry could not avoid feeling a little nervous – and silly at being so. Purposely trying to talk to Mrs. Weasley and Ginny was exactly what he planned not to do, but now that he was at the Burrow he simply could not resist. Too many memories, and too much nostalgia for the past.
'Nothing weird is going to happen anyway' he thought, taking a small breath before entering inside, a fake smile on his face.
"Are you sure you don't want to join them, dear? You've helped me enough" said an older woman's voice, obviously Mrs. Weasley.
"They are all Ron's friends, mom" answered what sounded like a young girl, in a tone that seemed both matter-of-fact and whiny.
"So what? Go out and…. Oh, hi Harry" said Mrs. Weasley, noticing him. At these words Ginny turned and stared at him for a second, eyes widening, before moving her stare on the dishes in front of her.
"Hello. May I come inside? The line for the brooms is so long I got bored" said Harry, getting closer to a chair and sitting down after Mrs. Weasley's encouraging smile.
"Sure, sure. I actually don't mind talking with you a little, you know? To know if they treat you well in that family of muggles…."
"And if dad's car was enchanted" whispered sarcastically Ginny – her voice was not low enough though, as both Harry and Mrs. Weasley heard her, with different results.
"That too" said dryly the Weasley matriarch, while Harry genuinely smiled a little towards Ginny that, blushing, refocused immediately on her hands.
"That car seemed perfectly normal, for being one driven by a wizard. Promise" said Harry, with an even voice "And my family…. well, they aren't good, but they aren't bad either. We all have unpleasant relatives"
"If you say so, dear…. I am happy to hear that. Ron talked a little about you in his letters, and once wrote me that your family was very mugglish. Which is weird, since i doubt he ever met them" said Mrs. Weasley.
"He didn't, he just asked about it once" answered Harry "I heard instead he has a lot of brothers, more than just the twins."
"Yes, yes, my oldest sons… Bill and Charlie. They are not here today, they are working out of England" said Mrs. Weasley in a wishful tone "And, if you haven't met him yet, Percy: older than you, but still in Hogwarts."
"I might have seen him around the twins, yes" – said Harry, casually picking up on cookie from a tray on the table. "Then, Ginevra, of course. The only girl?"
"Ginny" said Ginny in a low voice, passing one empty glass from one hand to the other.
"Ginevra is a wonderfully pretty name" said quickly Mrs. Weasley, only to display a fond smile towards her daughter "After all her brothers, you can imagine how happy I was to finally have another girl in the house, Harry. All my boys are wonderful, but having a daughter is different."
"Mom, I can…." started to protest Ginny, only to stop confused. 'Probably not even sure how to say it', thought Harry.
"I think your apron suits you" said Harry quietly to Ginny "but it doesn't mean you should wear it all the time."
"…..right!" she said, finally looking straight at his face.
"Ginny, you already spend too much time with your brothers and I" said Mrs. Weasley, only to stop and focus outside the window. Turning around, Harry saw Mr. Weasley motioning to his wife to come out.
"Excuse me kids" said Mrs. Weasley, moving towards the door "Ginny, offer something to Harry in the meantime, will you"
A bit of silence followed, only to be interrupted by a hesitant "Soooo" from Ginny.
"I would take some pumpkin juice, thanks" said Harry.
Hurriedly, Ginny had recovered a big pitch and a glass, poured some of the juice into it, and placed it in front of Harry. She tried to go back to her corner, but was stopped by Harry's voice.
"Sit down" he said.
"What?"
"There" added Harry, pointing on a chair next to him "Seems comfortable enough."
Ginny hesitated a little, looking around herself in a panic, before finally sitting down, her hands clasped in her lap.
"If you wanted to ask me something, this is your best chance." said Harry in a sarcastic voice, sizing her up.
"You…. I wanted…." started Ginny, only to stop again. Her face, Harry noticed, had become noticeably redder.
"What did they even tell you, to make you so nervous?" said Harry, shaking his head, and sipping from his glass.
"That… you saved the whole world! You saved us all! There was this very evil wizard, you-know-who, and you defeated him!" she said suddenly, with passion – only to shift her stare again at the table in front of her.
"Saving the whole world" commented Harry in a slight sarcastic tone, while nodding with his head "Sounds impressive. I should receive the order of Merlin for that. Why didn't I get it already, anyway?"
"I don't know" said Ginny "Maybe you are too young."
"Yeah, maybe. I am 11, and I was one then. Most awesome baby ever, I guess, to defeat such a powerful evil guy when I couldn't even walk around."
At this Ginny raised her eyes, and said "But… you did it, right?"
"Yes? Dumbledore said so, and I don't think he lied. But" and here Harry stopped for a second, smiling kindly at her "even if it was me to defeat you-know-who, it probably was not something I did, if you know what I mean."
"Oh" said Ginny "No, not really. And it's still awesome."
Sniggering a little, Harry took a sip of his glass before continuing "Ok, i'll make it short then. I don't like being celebrated for something I can barely remember – makes me uncomfortable. So you can be my friend or my fan, not both."
Ginny seemed surprised by Harry's words and didn't answer so Harry, that watching outside of the window noticed how some of the brooms were now unoccupied, stood up.
"I am going out to fly a little, now. Come, if you want. I can teach you" said Harry, waiting with patience for a solid 10 seconds of silence before an unsure Ginny stood up herself to follow him. Harry started walking towards the door.
"I know how to fly" said Ginny behind him. Without turning, Harry smiled and answered "I am not surprised".
Opening the door and letting Ginny walk through first, he added teasingly "But I am impressed. A little."
The rest of the evening went on more than well, in Harry's opinion. Quidditch, food, other childish games, it was overall a friendly and mildly entertaining time. He couldn't avoid to compare it to Malfoy's party and decided that both had their charms: the more reserved, "dignified" atmosphere in Malfoy manor might have been weird when applied by kids but it suited Harry more; and yet the carefree time at the Burrow was certainly more relaxing – and a bringer of old good memories for him.
After some pushing, Harry had managed first to convince Ron and their other year mates to let Ginny play, and then to convince Mrs. Weasley that it was good for her to play with the other girls from class, "even if it's Quidditch". Ginny never truly dismissed her fangirl attitude but Harry didn't expect her to: people don't change just because someone asks them to. Giving her an input is all he could, or wanted, to do.
The problems, fortunately, started only near the end of the party when most of the kids had already left after greeting Ron and his parents; Harry, that had joined them, was told to wait a second as they still had something to tell him. The request itself didn't bother or worried him, the opposite in fact.
'Maybe I could use a ride back home, after all' he simply thought, uncaring.
That was not what the Weasleys were planning for him, though.
"Ah, Harry. So, did you have fun this evening?" asked a smiling Mr. Weasley, with his wife right next to him.
"Yes, sir, I did. Thank you all for inviting me" said politely Harry, who was by then the only non-Weasley left in the house.
"You are welcome, absolutely! You know, Harry…. many of us are worried about you, your headmaster included. If you are happy at home, and well cared for."
"I manage, sir" said Harry, now suspiciously tired. 'What, now' was his mental reaction.
"Good, good. You know, we would be happy to have you stay with us until school starts! You could sleep in Ron's room" continued Mr. Weasley, while Ron made a surprised face "and fly in the garden. I am sure you would like it."
"I would, sir, but this is such a sudden offer. I would never want to impose like this, so…" started Harry, only to be interrupted by Mrs. Weasley.
"Nonsense, dear, we would love to have you here" she said, while the twins, that had come down to the kitchen when the other kids started to leave, made gestures of hugs and kisses behind their mother "and once all your school letters arrive we could take you shopping for your new supplies. The headmaster trusted your Gringott key to us, you know?"
"Oh" said Harry, narrowing his eyes for a second before forcefully relaxing "no, I didn't know. What a fortunate coincidence."
Mr. Weasley, be it because he saw Harry getting nervous or just guessed his reaction, spoke again: "Harry, this is just a friendly invite. What do you think?"
'Tempting' thought Harry; he had fond memories of the Burrow, being able to use magic without worries would be a nice perk and his relatives, no matter how hard he tried, were still generally unpleasant. On the other side he would be under check constantly, here.
Looking around at the other kids he saw the entertained faces of the twins, with an uncaring Percy in their background; a speechless Ron and what seemed both a terrorized and excited Ginny. Out of instinct, the latter made Harry decide.
"I really appreciate this offer, Mr. Weasley, and I would be happy to join you on a shopping trip, soon. But I can't simply leave my house and stay as a guest here so suddenly. Thanks again."
"Harry, I am sure your relatives wouldn't mind at all!" insisted Mrs. Weasley, but Harry didn't even bother to look at her, remaining focused on Mr. Weasley who, after a couple seconds, gave up.
"I see. Too bad, Harry. But let me tell you this, at least: if you change your mind, do not hesitate one second to tell us, ok? I mean it – our invite is still on, until Hogwarts starts."
"I'll remember this, sir. So, I guess it is time for goodbyes now?" said Harry, turning towards Mrs. Weasley and Ron "I had a great time today; thanks for having me here" he said with a respectful nod.
"Harry, you… oh, ok. It was our pleasure to have you with us, dear. Please come back soon" said Mrs. Weasley.
"Yeah, sure" said a puzzled Ron "Anytime."
"Come on, I'll take you back home with the car. No, you'll stay here and help reorder everything, Ron" said Mr. Weasley, opening the front door. When Ron started protesting, his mom quickly grabbed him by the arm and pointed him towards a pile of dirty dishes.
"Bye – kid" said the twins, while Percy just nodded at him. Ginny said nothing, but Harry before leaving aimed at her a final smile that made her blush deeply. And with that, he was out of the house.
The trip back home was mostly uneventful – only a final small conversation with Mr. Weasley happened.
"Harry, I noticed how you grimaced when the headmaster was named by my wife" he started "I assure you his, no, our interest in you is completely well intended".
"I don't doubt that" answered Harry "but it's… I mean no offense, but it's awkward when it comes from complete strangers. Sir."
"Come on, you and Ron are friends right?"
"We are. And he didn't even know you planned to invite me, right?" asked teasingly Harry.
"Right" said an amused Mr. Weasley "Have it your way. As I said, if you change your mind, my door is open".
"I'll remember that, sir" said Harry "Depending on the coming days, I could even come knocking on it" he added on a teasing tone. Mr. Weasley took it in a positive way, though.
"I hope you'll do. So.." he stopped – still looking at Harry, but apparently out of stuff to talk about.
Harry smiled lightly and then turned back to the front of the car, but then he found something to ask:
"If I may, what exactly have you been telling your daughter about me?"
"Oh" started Mr. Weasley, laughing softly "That was mostly my wife. Your story makes for a great goodnight tale for little girls, you know? I mean well" he added in a rush, maybe realizing how that phrase could be taken.
"I guess, if you focus only on the positive part" said Harry "but you should have told her it's just a fairytale."
"Is it?" asked a genuinely surprised Mr. Weasley "Maybe you boys think it's all about being special and famous, but that is not why we adults celebrate you."
Mr. Weasley had stopped talking, and Harry was adding nothing. Suddenly, he restarted.
"The fear we had at the time; the very idea we could die any day, that we could have to face him…. those who didn't live through it can't understand" said Mr. Weasley, focusing onward – but I was obvious his eyes were looking at some time long gone, yet not long enough to forget it.
"No one cares how you did it, or if truly you did it. That night he died and you lived" said Mr. Weasley - forcing down on both 'died' and 'lived' - "and for us it meant we would, too. I could look at my family, my wife and my children, and think that they would have a future, after all."
Suddenly, Mr. Weasley smiled fondly "If you find it awkward to be celebrated, it's because you are a good kid deep down. But don't underestimate your importance. It is real."
"I didn't think of it like this" said Harry, slightly embarrassed.
Silence followed, and soon he was left in front of his house at Privet Drive. Greetings were exchanged, Mr. Weasley left and Harry walked in.