Disclaimer: All rights to Harry Potter belong to Warner Bros.
Author Notes: Thank you to everyone who has supported the story so far by reading, reviewing, favouriting and following it. The support is much appreciated.
The chapter is a bit smaller than usual as the cut off point I reached seemed natural to me.
The next chapter will feature more summer fun, including the rest of Harry's birthday.
Harry Potter-Weasley Chapter Sixteen:
Harry looked out of his bedroom window and sighed heavily. The sun was shining brightly and there was not a cloud in the bright blue sky and the birds were singing away happily enjoying the fine summer weather.
Harry scowled at the weather outside and threw his quill down in frustration. "It's just so bloody unfair!", he complained.
At the desk next to him he heard an "I second that". He glanced over at his equally miserable brother Ron and grimaced. He felt guilty that Ron was here as well since it had primarily been his idea to go down the trap door. "Ron I'm sorry", he said miserably.
"It's not your fault, I demanded to come with you and in any case Mum is being so bloody ridiculous about this. I mean it's not like we forgot to tell a teacher or whatever".
"Yeah, we tried and McGonagall refused to believe us", Harry scowled "what were we supposed to do, let the Stone get stolen?".
"Even Fred and George haven't been grounded for this long, it's so unjust", Ron grumbled.
They glanced out of the window and spotted Fred and George hovering outside on their brooms. "And those gits...", Harry began.
"Are not helping", Ron finished for him.
"We should definitely prank them once Mum stops grounding us", Harry declared.
Ron nodded and replied "count me in, it's about time we got them for once instead of it being the other way around" he then added "at least today is the last day that we're grounded".
"Yeah I know, I just wish we could go outside already", Harry groaned "it feels like forever since I last got up on my broomstick", he ran a hand through his hair in frustration "it's going to take weeks to remove my broom rust".
Ron snorted. "Who are you kidding Harry? You're a natural on a broom, always have been", he sighed a bit enviously "you'd probably catch the snitch on the oldest and most rickety broomstick imaginable".
A knock sounded on the bedroom door and Ron grumpily shouted "go away!".
"What was that Ronald Bilius Weasley?", a stern voice answered as the door opened to reveal their mother standing in the doorway, hands on hips and glaring at Ron.
Ron wilted at the sight of his mother's steely gaze and replied in an apologetic tone "nothing Mum, I'm sorry I said to go away".
Harry felt the need to defend his brother and told their mum "we thought it was Fred and George coming in to tease us again about them being able to go out flying and us being stuck in here Mum, us being grounded is one thing but surely it's not fair for them to take the pi...err take the mickey out of us"
"You were both grounded for perfectly good reasons as you both well know", Molly replied sternly informing them "I had hoped to that by grounding you it would teach the pair of you to be more sensible about not jumping into danger", she sighed "however Fred and George are out of line for teasing you and I will be speaking to them about it". She walked over to their desk and glanced down at their homework "is this the last essay you have to complete?", she asked them.
Harry and Ron both nodded at her question. "Show me your homework and if this is truly your last essay then I shall let you out from your grounding early", Molly promised them.
Harry and Ron handed over their homework for their mum to look over. She nodded in satisfaction at each of the essays and handed them back before asking "what is your last essay boys?".
Harry scowled and informed her "we have to write about the twelve uses of dragons blood, coming up with detailed information on each and how other ingredients interact with it in potion making".
Molly frowned heavily. "That sounds a bit advanced for first years to me. Let me have a look at what you've written so far", she offered.
Harry and Ron both gave her grateful smiles, they knew that as harsh as their mother could be she would always be on their side if they were badly treated by others.
Harry and Ron handed over their potion essays and Molly surveyed their work. "You appear to have listed all interactions in a detail manner and covered all but one of the uses. Did you know that dragons blood is used in the Wolfsbane Potion that is used to allowed werewolves to retain their human minds?", they both shook their heads and so she told them "it is a crucial ingredient that helps to stabilise all of the other ingredients, I would suggest writing something along these lines and once you have finished you may go outside and enjoy the sunshine, no flying until tomorrow morning though". She kissed them both on the forehead and said "lunch will be ready at one o'clock, I'm making toasted cheese sandwiches or an alternative toasted sandwich for anyone who wants something different".
As their mother left, Harry and Ron returned to their work with gusto, the promise of toasted sandwiches and getting outside in the warm summer sunshine spurring them on in their efforts.
At around midday, Harry and Ron finally finished up their last essay and descended the stairs like a herd of Hippogriffs. "Is it alright if we head down to the pond Mum?", Harry asked Molly politely. She nodded and told them "that's fine Harry love, I'll call you in for lunch at one, you and Ron go and have fun".
The second they exited the house via the back door, Harry slapped Ron's back and yelled "tag, you're it!", he then took off laughing in the direction of the pond.
"You git!", Ron shouted after him, though he was grinning as well.
Harry reached the pond and dived down into a high stand of grass, hoping that it would hide him. He hoped in vain "got you, tag you're it!", Ron ran off and was hiding before Harry could ascertain his location.
He searched the chicken run, the trees at the side of the garden and throughout the house. "Where the heck has he got to?", Harry muttered to himself. Ron had always been the best at hiding, except for Ginny who, being younger and smaller, was able to squeeze into tighter spaces.
Harry grinned as an idea came to him. He had always been good at impersonations and his impersonation of their mum's voice was his best one. He cleared his throat to get the pitch right and said in a clear and serious voice "Ronald, lunch is ready, you'd better come in now before Harry eats your share!".
Harry waited, knowing that if there was one thing capable of drawing Ron out from a cover it was the possibility of food and even more so the likelihood of missing out on said food. "Coming Mum!", a voice called out. He grinned as he heard the sound coming from the broom shed.
Harry crept silently up to the broom shed and hid on the right hand side of the doorway. A few seconds later, a cautious red haired boy poked his head out and scanned the yard nervously. Not seeing any sign of anyone nearby he grinned and stepped out of cover. "Tag, you're it!", Harry shouted with a laugh.
Harry took off at a run while Ron was still standing just outside the broom shed and blinking rapidly. "I...what...Harry!".
Harry and Ron continued their game of tag for sometime until two voices interrupted them. "Well if isn't Ickle Ronniekins...", one of them said.
"And Ickle Harrikins", the other said.
Harry and Ron exchanged scowls as they turned around to see Fred and George. "And just what...", one of them began.
"...Are you doing outside?", the other continued.
"You're supposed to be grounded until tomorrow morning", one of them finished.
Harry and Ron smirked and informed them as one "Mum said she was letting us off of our grounding a day early due to the fact that, unlike you two, we've now finished our summer homework AND you two being a pair of complete gits!".
"You're not supposed to...", either Fred or George said.
"...Tell on us!", the other one continued.
And together the Twins complained "we have an agreement to never tell on each other".
Harry shook his head in disagreement. "Nope, that only applies to pranks pulled on each other, not to you two acting like insufferable gits and making fun of us over being grounded, we haven't done the same to you before".
Fred and George both grimaced. "He's got a point you know Gred", George was forced to admit.
"I guess he does my dear Forge".
The Twins seemed to come to a decision and one of them offered a deal "lets make a pact then that none of us four will ever again make fun of any one of us for being grounded or taunt the grounded party in any way during said grounding".
Harry and Ron exchanged a silent conversation before nodding and then replying as one with hands outstretched "you've got yourselves a deal".
As part of this newly concluded pact, Ron felt bound to inform their older brothers that "by the way after we told mum about your prattishness, she said she was going to have a 'word with you both' so I'd be ready for a tongue lashing".
Both Fred and George exchanged a grimace and Harry and Ron both felt somewhat sorry for them as a Molly Weasley scolding was infamous in the Weasley household and never a pleasant experience. "Don't suppose she'd let us off being told off if we mention this new arrangement", one of the Twins said hopefully. The other three all shook their heads doubtfully and whichever Twin it was, sighed.
Lunch was, apart from the tongue lashing from Molly to Fred and George, very good. Harry had enjoyed the cheese and ham toastie, crisps and grapes that he'd had while chatting animatedly with Ron about what a git Snape was. Fred and George had joined in with said Snape conversation with some choice language about the Potions Professor which earned them another verbal scolding from their mother.
A few days after Harry and Ron's grounding was lifted it was the 31st of July and Harry's twelfth birthday, something he had been looking forward to immensely. He wondered what they would be doing this year and was pleasantly surprised when he found out what his birthday surprise was. "You mean we're really going to see a Quidditch match?", he asked his father. Arthur had managed to get the day off from work and had arranged, through Ministry contacts, to get tickets to a charity Quidditch match.
Arthur ruffled his son's hair and grinned at him. "We sure are Harry son, I managed to get tickets for you, Ron, myself, Fred, George, Ginny, Percy and Charlie who has some leave from his work at the dragon sanctuary, plus your new friends Neville and Hermione. Unfortunately Bill couldn't make it back from Egypt as he's swamped by work but he sent this", he handed Harry a card and present causing Harry to smile, Bill was his favourite brother. He felt sad that Bill couldn't be there but he was pleased that his oldest brother had remembered his birthday even so. His father went on "I didn't get a ticket for your mother since, as you know, she has no interest in Quidditch. She'll be spending the morning and early afternoon at home instead, preparing for your party and sleepover".
Harry hugged his dad fiercely. "Thanks Dad, you and mum are the absolute best!".
Arthur smiled warmly and hugged his son back just as fiercely, feeling, once again, glad that they had adopted Harry. Their family had felt complete on the day that they'd completed the paperwork and officially made Harry a member of the Weasley clan.
After a breakfast with Harry's favourite, a full English breakfast and pancakes with golden syrup, Harry opened his present and card from Bill. He grinned widely as pulled the card from the envelope to find a 3D magically animated card of a roaring lion. He opened it up and smiled at the words Bill had written; To Harry, I hope my fearless and prank filled younger brother has a day full of fun and enjoyment. Dad told me you were going to a Quidditch match so I thought that the present I got for you might be appropriate. Hope you enjoy the present, wish I could be there with you and not stuck at work. Happy Birthday Harry with all my love and best wishes, Love From Bill. P.S. I've got some time off in November and I'll be visiting Mum and Dad so I'll be able to watch your first Quidditch match of the season.
As Harry showed Ron, Ginny, Percy, Fred and George the birthday card he was grinning madly. He couldn't wait to show Bill what he could do now that he was a seeker on the Gryffindor team. He hoped Bill would be impressed.
Harry was just opening the parcel containing his present from Bill as the floo chimed and he heard a voice say "where's my pipsqueak of a younger brother?". Charlie stepped out of the fireplace and Harry leapt to his feet, jumping into a hug.
Charlie made an "oof!" sound as Harry collided with him and joked "you're getting big pipsqueak!". He hugged Harry and ruffled his hair "Happy Birthday little brother, is this the card that Bill sent you?", he picked up the lion card and seemed fascinated by the fact that it roared at him. "He mentioned he was going to get you an animated card this year, but he didn't tell me he'd got you a lion card, it's certainly appropriate though".
Charlie glanced down at Harry's present from Bill. "Who got you that?", he asked him.
Harry grinned and told him "it's from Bill, he said in the card that since I'm going to see a Quidditch match today the present will be appropriate".
Charlie grinned back at him. "Did he now?", he said "well lets see it then, I wonder what he got you...oh by the way, I've got you something I think you'll like as well and it'll prove handy but it's better if I show it to you later, it's a gift that I'd prefer no one else knows you have". This intrigued Harry but he knew that Charlie wouldn't tell him what the gift was unless he wanted to. His older brother was exceptionally good at keeping a secret. Charlie then slapped his forehead and said "I completely forgot, since your friend Hermione wasn't able to be here mum and dad asked me to stop by her house and pick up the present and card that she'd picked out for you". He went and grabbed the present and card from Hermione and handed them to Harry.
"Thanks Charlie, I really appreciate you picking it up for me", Harry thanked him.
Charlie ruffled Harry's hair. "No problem, I was happy to do it".
Molly entered the living room and moved over to kiss, first Charlie on the cheek, and then Harry on the cheek. "Lets see what Bill has got you, Harry love and then you can open Hermione's present", she smiled "she seemed a very nice and sensible girl from what I could see".
Harry tore off the brown paper packaging and stared in awe at the parcel of clothes before him. There was a brand new set of Appleby Arrow replica robes, all in their famous light blue colours and bearing their signature arrow logo on the front. As Harry turned them over he grinned and laughed at the sight of his own name on the back and the number 1 just above it. Along with the robes was a pair of water resistant Quidditch goggles, ideal for those Quidditch player who wore glasses and alongside these was a piece of card proclaiming "VIP pass for one Harry James Potter-Weasley, Ronald Bilius Weasley, Ginevra Weasley, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Percy Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Charlie Weasley and Arthur Weasley to meet the Appleby Arrows Quidditch team after the match.
Harry gazed at the passes Bill had sent for he, his siblings and his friends in amazement. He wondered how Bill had managed to arrange such a thing for them all. "He works with Alfie Quirks older brother David", Charlie informed them all and grinned "that's a present and a half". Harry was so stunned he could only nod in response.
"This is going to be so cool!", Ginny enthused as she bounced around "I can't believe we're meeting the players as well!".
Harry grinned. "It's going to be awesome, especially since Neville's coming with us too". His face fell a bit "it's a shame Hermione can't come though".
"Well yeah I guess, she is a bit bossy though", Ron pointed out.
Harry slapped Ron's arm. "Don't be a prat, you know how lost we'd have been without her in June" and in a lower voice he added "not to mention the fact she lied for us with the whole troll incident".
Ron grimaced at the reminder of facing down the troll and conceded the point. "True, she is pretty clever".
"Lets see what your friend Hermione has for you Harry", Molly said with a smile. Harry nodded and tore open the envelope containing the birthday card. He smiled at the sight of a Quidditch player flying along and catching a snitch that graced the front of it. He'd only known Hermione properly since last October but she knew him so well already, he was grateful to have such a good friend. "She says that she's sorry she can't be here today for the party but she hopes I have a really fun day watching the Quidditch and hopes I'm doing well".
"Ooh Ickle Harrikins has a girl crushing on him!", Fred and George teased together.
"Fred and George don't tease your younger brother", Molly interrupted sternly "I am sure that they are merely friends and nothing of that sort is going on, they are only twelve after all".
Fred and George merely shrugged. Harry wondered why everyone was talking about he and Hermione in such a way. As far as he was concerned the things grown ups did, such as snogging and all that love talk, was gross and not for him. It couldn't possibly compare to Quidditch or playing his albums in his room or reading a good book for that matter.
Harry opened the present Hermione had sent him, grinning at the sight of the wrapping paper which bore a pattern of broomsticks, snitches and quaffles upon it. "Brilliant!", was his verdict as took out the two items that made up his present. "I've always wanted a gobstones set, I told Hermione a few months ago and she must have remembered".
"I've heard gobstones is great", Ginny agreed with a smile as she moved over to look at the set. "Apparently if you lose you get squirted with foul smelling liquid, it sounds really fun. We should try it out later". Harry nodded.
Harry took out the second part of the present and his eyes lit up in delight as he saw a brand new pack of exploding snap cards. "Fantastic! I've needed a new set for the last two years. I'm going to have to thank Hermione a lot when I see her again".
"Another thing we can play later on", Ron chimed in.
"Why would you want to? You keep losing and burning off your eyebrows", Ginny cut in with a smirk. Ron glared at her and retorted "only because you deliberately distract me, you're a cheater!".
Harry rolled his eyes at his siblings' argument while Arthur chastised them both "now that is enough Ron, Ginny, apologise to Harry, we do not argue with each other on birthdays, they're meant to be a happy occasion". Ron and Ginny muttered half-hearted apologies to each other causing Harry to roll his eyes again. Ron and Ginny seemed to argue even more than he and Ron or Ron and Hermione for that matter.
Fred and George exchanged grins and Harry guessed they were plotting a prank on the Appleby Arrows players. Molly told them sternly "no pranking any of the players you two, that's an order!". They merely gave her mock hurt looks and replied as one "why Mum, we'd never do such a thing!". She shook her head in fond exasperation. She looked at the clock "Harry dear, your friend Neville should be here any minute and then you'll all be able to head off to the Quidditch match".
True to Molly's word, the fireplace flared up a few minutes later and out stepped Neville or rather, out stumbled Neville. He quickly righted himself and held the present he had for Harry upright. A rather forbidding looking woman, rather plump and wearing a hat with some sort of feathers stuffed on top, followed him out of the floo and greeted them all "you must be Arthur and Molly Weasley, I remember Frank and Alice speaking about you both a few times and of course Neville here has mentioned your children a few times in letters home and the like". She shook hands with Harry's parents before greeting Harry "you must be Harry, Happy Birthday young man, I hope you have a pleasant day".
"Thank you Mrs Longbottom", Harry replied with a smile.
"Please call me Augusta", Neville's gran insisted "I know can be quite forbidding but I much prefer to be on a first name basis". Harry smiled at her again, he liked Neville's gran already.
Harry greeted Neville with a clap to the shoulder and a grin. "Hi Nev, I'm really you could make it today, it's going to be great!".
Neville grinned back. "Happy Birthday Harry and thanks for inviting me". He turned to Harry's parents "hello Mr and Mrs Weasley, I hope you're both well".
Molly and Arthur both smiled at Neville warmly and said with equal warmth "please call us Molly and Arthur, Neville dear, like your grandmother we prefer a first name basis and yes we are doing very well thank you".
"Yes, we're happy to have you here for Harry's Birthday", Arthur agreed.
"I got something for you Harry", Neville told him as he handed over a wrapped parcel and a card.
"Cheers Nev", Harry thanked him and opened both card and present. He loved the card which showed a group of stars and planets on the front and the present was just as good. "Thanks Nev, I've always wanted my own copy of the Night at the Opera album and this book detailing the history of Queen looks really interesting".
Neville smiled. "Glad you like them Harry".
Harry clapped his shoulder. "I love them. By the way, how are you getting on with that plant I got you for your birthday?".
Neville grinned. Harry knew how much he loved herbology and gardening in general, hence the plant present. "It's growing well already even after just a day. I can't wait to see how big it grows by the end of next month when we return to Hogwarts".
"Right then, now that everyone is here and ready, you all have a good time at the Quidditch match", addressing her children next she said "behave". She kissed Harry's cheek "have a good time Harry love". She said to Neville "I hope you enjoy yourself too Neville dear". Addressing all of them again she said "Augusta and I shall work on the food for the party later".
Harry watched as Arthur stepped into the floo and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Several others followed and then Harry stepped in, calling out in a clear and loud voice "Westmorland Quidditch Stadium, Cumbria, England!" and he vanished in a puff of green smoke.