Lost Up a Chimney

I don't own Girl Meets World, Harry Potter, the MCU or anything else you recognize!

Harry's summer was going horribly. Uncle Vernon had locked Hedwig in her cage the moment they returned to Privet Drive from Kings Cross Station, shoved all of Harry's school materials in the cupboard under the stairs, and expressly forbidden Harry to do anything "strange or unnatural" for the entire summer. As it was, Hedwig didn't like being cooped up, nor did Harry for that matter, and this led to several shouting matches with his uncle.

Bu worse than that, was the fact that Harry hadn't heard a peep from the magical world since arriving home for the summer. Not even his best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger had written, and they'd promised. Ron's surrogate older sister, Thea Matthews had practically threatened to knock the Dursleys door down herself if she didn't hear from Harry, but she was nowhere to be found either.

Though, it wasn't as if Harry could write to them himself, not with Hedwig locked up. He sometimes imagined using the unlocking charm Hermione had taught him to open her cage and write to his friends. But he, like all underaged wizards, was not permitted to do magic outside of school.

And so, a month and a half into summer vacation Harry found himself hiding up in his tiny bedroom so as not to spoil Uncle Vernon's dinner party. Unfortunately, there was already someone there. A little creature, with eyes like great green tennis balls blinked up at Harry from his bed.

"Uh, hi?"

"Harry Potter!" The creature bowed, scraping his nose on the carpet he ducked so low "So long has Dobby wanted to meet you, sir...Such an honor it is!"

The little being's voice was high and squeaky and Harry quickly shut his door, hoping to muffle it before his family downstairs heard "Thank you? Er, what-I mean, who are you?"

"Dobby, sir. Dobby the house elf." Harry had no idea what a house elf was, but clearly he was from Harry's world, and if the Dursleys found him, there would be hell to pay.

"I don't mean to be rude," Harry tried diplomatically "But it's not really a great time for me to have a house elf in my bedroom. Not that I'm not pleased to meet you, but, er, is there a particular reason you're here? Can I help you with something?"

"Help Dobby?" The elf choked "No, sir. No. Dobby is here to help Harry Potter!"

"Help me?"

"Yes, sir. But it's difficult, Dobby doesn't know where to begin."

Harry resigned himself to hear Dobby out and get him out of his bedroom before the Dursleys could be any the wiser "Why don't you sit down?" He offered.

This had a rather negative effect unfortunately as Dobby started to wail, loudly "Sit down...Never sir, never ever..."

"Shhh!" Harry quickly tried to calm the crying elf down "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you or anything."

"Offend Dobby? Dobby has never been asked to sit down before by a wizard, like an equal." The elf's eyes were shining as he hiccuped.

"I guess you haven't met many decent wizards then." Harry tried to joke.

Dobby shook his head shyly, then without warning leapt onto the windowsill and began banging his forehead against the glass, crying "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!"

Harry pulled him back onto the bed as Hedwig woke up with a screech "What're you doing?"

The light rumble of voices downstairs stopped and Harry froze, keeping a tight grip on Dobby's wrists.

"Dobby had to punish himself, sir." Dobby wheezed, slightly cross eyed "Dobby almost spoke ill of his family, sir. The wizard family Dobby serves."

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what that means." Harry whispered, straining his ears to head hat was happening downstairs.

"Dobby is a house elf, bound to serve one house and one family forever." Dobby explained, at least he wasn't screaming anymore.

"Do they...know you're here?"

"Oh no, sir. Dobby will have to punish himself most grievously for coming to see you." Dobby pulled on his giant bat like ears "Dobby will have to shut his ears in the oven door. If they ever knew, sir."

"Won't they notice if you shut your ears in the oven door?" Even for the wizarding world, that seemed strange.

"Dobby doubts it, sir." Dobby shook his head "Dobby is always having to punish himself for something, sir. They lets Dobby get on with it. Sometimes they remind Dobby to do extra punishments!"

"That's-" Harry spluttered "That's mad. Why don't you leave? Escape?"

"House elves must be set free, sir." Dobby explained sadly "And the family will never do that to Dobby. Dobby knows too much. Dobby will serve them until he dies."

"And here I thought I was hard-done staying here another month. Can't someone help you? Can't I?"

Dobby burst into fresh tears.

"Please, please be quiet." Harry begged "The Dursley's can't know you're here."

"Harry Potter asks if he can help Dobby...Dobby has heard of your greatness, sir, but never of your goodness, Dobby never knew." Dobby wailed louder.

"Whatever you've heard about my greatness is a load of rubbish!" Harry clamped his hands over the elf's mouth, trying in vain to silence him "I'm not even top of my year at Hogwarts, that's Hermione-"

"Harry Potter is humble and modest." Dobby blinked up at him with adoration in his eyes "He speaks not of his triumph over He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

"What, Voldemort?"

The name would usually elicit at least a squeak of terror, but Dobby screamed "Speak not the name, sir! Speak not the name!"

"Sorry, I'm sorry! I know lots of people don't like it, my friend Ron-"

"Dobby heard tell, that Harry Potter met the Dark Lord for a second time, just weeks ago and that Harry Potter escaped again. Ah sir, Harry Potter is valiant and bold! He has braved so many dangers already! But Dobby has come to warn him, even if he does have to shut his ears in the oven door later." Dobby leaned in conspiratorially "Harry Potter must not go back to Hogwarts."

"What?" Harry stared "But, I've got to go back, term starts on September the first. It's all that keeps me going. You don't know what it's like here, I don't belong here. I belong in your world, at Hogwarts."

"No, no, no!" Dobby shook his head so fiercely his ears flapped "Harry Potter must stay where he is safe. He is too great, too good to lose. If Harry Potter goes back to Hogwarts he will be in mortal danger."

"Why?"

"There is a plot, Harry Potter. A plot to make most terrible things happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year." Dobby whimpered "Dobby has known it for months, sir. Harry Potter must not put himself in peril. He is too important, sir."

"What terrible things? Who's planning them?" Harry demanded "Why come to me about it? Why not Dumbledore or the Ministry? You know who Dumbledore is, right? Has this got something to do with, er, You-Know-Who? You can just nod or shake your head."

Dobby listed dangerously close to the wall, but slowly shook his head "Not-not He-Who-Must-Not-Be Named, sir."

He seemed to be trying to give Harry a hint, but Harry was lost "He hasn't got a brother, has he? Or she, I suppose?"

Dobby shook his head.

"Well, then, I can't think who would have a chance at making terrible things happen at Hogwarts." Harry tried to soothe the shaking elf "Dumbledore will stop them, he's the most powerful wizard in a century."

"Albus Dumbledore is the greatest headmaster Hogwarts has ever known." Dobby agreed "Dobby has heard Dumbledore's powers rival those of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named at the height of his strength, sir. But there are powers Dumbledore knows not, powers he doesn't, powers no decent wizard..."

Before Harry could stop him Dobby seized the lamp on his bedside table and started beating himself round the head with it, letting out sharp yelps with every strike.

Downstairs, a hush fell again, and Harry wrestled the lamp away with difficulty.

"Dudley must have left his television on again." Uncle Vernon's chair scraped ominously against the floor "The little tyke. I'll just go turn it off."

He stormed up the stairs and Harry had only a split second to shove Dobby into the closet and hiss was warning to be quiet.

"What the devil are you doing up here?" Uncle Vernon grunted, his face an ugly puce "You've just ruined the punchline of my Japanese golfer joke. One more sound and you'll wish you'd never been born, boy."

He slammed the door behind him, not giving Harry a chance to answer or defend himself.

Harry pulled Dobby out of the closet "See what it's like here? See why I've got to go back to Hogwarts? It's the only place I have, well I think I have friends."

"Friends who don't even write to Harry Potter?"

"I expect they've just been...hang on a second. How did you know my friends haven't been writing to me?" Harry grabbed the ratty pillowcase Dobby was wearing.

"Harry Potter mustn't be angry with Dobby. Dobby did what he thought was best." Dobby shuffled awkwardly.

"Have you been stopping my letters?"

"Dobby has them here, sir." The elf pulled a thick stack of letters from nowhere, Harry could see Hermione's neat handwriting, Ron's untidy scrawl, Thea's loopy lettering, and even a a scribble that he thought might be from Hagrid, the gamekeeper "Harry Potter mustn't be angry. Dobby hoped, if Harry Potter thought his friends had forgotten him, Harry Potter might not want to go back to school."

"Give me my letters!"

"Harry Potter must say he will not return to Hogwarts first." Dobby tugged himself out of Harry's grip, dodging his attempt to snag the envelopes "This is a danger you cannot face, sir. Say you won't go back, sir!"

"No! Give me my friend's letters!" Harry swiped at the stack in Dobby's arms.

"Then you leaves Dobby no choice, sir."

Dobby, quick as a blink, fled the bedroom and Harry tumbled after him in hot pursuit. He could hear Uncle Vernon chatting to the investor and Aunt Petunia's high pitched laugh. All Harry could do was pray Dobby wasn't heading to the dining room. The kitchen, where he ended up, wasn't much better. Aunt Petunia's masterpiece of a pudding that she'd spent all day making was floating near the ceiling, tilting from side to side.

"Dobby, no, they'll kill me." Harry begged in a desperate whisper.

"Harry Potter must say he won't go back to school."

"I can't!"

"Then Dobby must, sir. For Harry Potter's own good."

With a crack like a whip, Dobby vanished and the cake dropped. Harry dove forward, skidding across the tile in a hopeless effort to catch it, but it was too late. The shattering plate shook the windows and the pretty little lilacs that had decorated it fluttered down around him. The kitchen door flew open and Aunt Petunia let out a squeal at the state of her kitchen.

"It's my nephew." Uncle Vernon tried desperately to cover "He doesn't like visitors, so we kept him upstairs."

It might've worked, Aunt Petunia dug some ice cream out of the freezer and set Harry to work mopping up the mess with a promise that he'd pay for it later, when an owl swooped through the open window in the living room, dropping a letter on poor Mrs. Mason's head and sending her screaming like a banshee out the door.

Mr. Mason had not been amused, and Uncle Vernon's business deal was in the toilet. Uncle Vernon thrust the letter at his unfortunate, pudding covered nephew.

"Read it!" He hissed "Go on, read it!"

Nervously, Harry peeled the letter open.

Dear Mr. Potter,

We have received intelligence that a Hover Charm was used at your place of residence this evening at twelve minutes past nine. As you know, underage wizards are not permitted to perform spells outside school, and further spellwork on your part may lead to expulsion from said school (Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage sorcery, 1875, Paragraph C).

We would also ask you to remember that any magical activity which risks notice by members of the non-magical community (Muggles) is a serious offence, under section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy. Enjoy your holidays!

Yours sincerely,

Mafalda Hopkirk

Improper Use of Magic Office

"You didn't tell us you weren't allowed to use magic outside school." Uncle Vernon had a mad gleam in his eye as he seized Harry by the scruff of his neck "Forget to mention it? Did it slip your mind? Well I've got news for you, boy. I'm locking you up. You're never going back to that school, never! And if you try to magic yourself out, they'll expel you!"

And so Uncle Vernon cut a cat flap in Harry's door, where some meager food was provided to him and fit bars on his window. Harry was allowed out to use the bathroom morning and evening, but otherwise he was to be locked in his room. No friends, no homework, no letters.

That is, until Harry, laying on the floor one day counting the carpet fibers, spotted something beneath his bed. A singular envelope, with his name written on the front. Dobby must have dropped it in their struggle. Feeling an excitement he didn't know was possible, Harry tore the letter open.

Dear Harry,

I hope you're not ignoring me. I was serious about finding your relatives place. It's been weeks and no one's heard from you. Ron and Hermione are worried sick and so am I. Listen, I'm going to be in London for a week starting on the tenth, why don't you meet me in Diagon Alley for an ice cream one day? You can meet my parents and my little brother.

Are you even getting our letters? Iris keeps coming back all ruffled and grumpy but I assumed it was just the flight. Errol's not really reliable but Hermione said she sent you a few cards through the muggle post. Please just drop us a line to let us know you're alive.

If I don't hear from you soon I'll track you down myself. You can tell your relatives I sad that.

Miss you,

Thea

P.S.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley are getting worried too, they were talking about writing to Dumbledore.

The letter was clearly from weeks earlier and Harry deflated as he traced the words with his finger. Thea had been in London, but it was long past the tenth now and he'd missed his chance at freedom. Harry dropped the letter on his bed and went back to counting the carpet fibers.

Thea was fuming, she was in the backseat of the Weasley's old Ford Anglia, directing Fred as they quite literally flew over the skyline of London.

"No, take a left at the river." She insisted "It's Surrey, that's left."

"Are you sure?" George turned from the passenger seat to look at her "I thought it was right?"

"Of course I'm sure." Thea huffed, straightening the map in her hands "Take a left."

"All right, all right, bloody hell." Fred grumbled, turning the car sharply "Talk about backseat driving."

"I wouldn't be backseat driving if you went where I told you." Thea sniped "Go straight for ten miles then take another left, that'll put us in Little Whinging and we can go from there."

Ron craned his neck to look at the map "How can you tell? Nothings moving?"

"It's a muggle map, Ron." Thea reminded him "It doesn't change like wizarding maps do."

"Weird." Ron mumbled, peering at the writing in the dim light "Why're they all different colors?"

It wasn't long before they reached Little Whinging and Fred brought the car lower so they could get a look at the street signs. They spotted Privet Drive and turned down the road, number four was as regular looking a house as one could get. A little patch of lawn and an enormous car in the driveway.

"Let me out here." Thea whispered "Circle the block while I figure out which window is Harry's."

Fred stalled the car a few feet in the air and let her leap to the ground before he drove off. Thea studied the house carefully eyeing all the windows on the front, nothing special it seemed. She snuck around the side and climbed over the small garden wall, careful not to tread on the daisies. It was then that she spotted bars on a single window of the second floor.

Harry's window. If she was wrong, she'd eat an owl.

Fred pulled the car back around and she climbed back in "Second floor, south side. There are bars on the window."

"Bars?" Ron gawked.

"Bars." Thea grit her teeth "Let's go."

Fred pulled the car up alongside the house and Ron reached out to tap the window sharply. Sure enough, Harry sat up in bed, his hair more mused than usual and stared.

"Ron?" He asked, sounding like he didn't quite believe it.

"All right, Harry?" Ron grinned "What's been going on? Why haven't you answered any of our letters? We've asked you to come stay like twelve times now and then Dad came home and said you'd got an official warning for doing magic in front of muggles."

"It wasn't me. How did he know?"

"He works at the Ministry. You know we're not supposed to do spells outside of school. Is this what they do if you break that rule? Put bars on your window."

"It most definitely is not." Thea waved at Harry over Ron's head "How have none of your neighbors reported this? This is so not okay."

"You want to talk about doing magic outside school?" Harry gestured at the floating car "What do you call this?"

"This doesn't count." George rolled his window down "It's our Dad's. We didn't enchant it so it's free game."

"I love loopholes." Thea giggled, passing Ron some rope "Here, tie that to the bars, we'll pull them off."

"What?" Harry struggled "What good's that going to do?"

"You're coming home with us." Ron started unspooling the rope they'd brought "You think we're letting you stay here? Fat chance, mate."

"But the Dursleys, if they wake up I'm dead."

"Harry, trust us." Thea insisted "We're getting you out of here."

Harry hooked the rope around the bars and stood back. Fred revved the engine and they were off. Thea carefully lowered them down to rest in the flowerbeds, Harry shoved the window open.

"My things, my trunk, my wand-"

"Where are they?" George asked.

"In the cupboard under the stairs."

Thea climbed through the window, catching Harry in a quick squeeze "I'm on it."

She slipped an ordinary looking pin out of her hair and knelt down by the door. Fred and George clambered through the window just as she swung it open.

"We'll get your trunk, you grab anything you need from your room and hand it out to Ron." George instructed.

"Watch out for the bottom stair, it creaks." Harry started dashing around his room, pulling his things together.

The twins and Thea crept down the stairs, skipping the last one and Thea picked the lock on the cupboard.

"Get his things." Thea pulled a note from her pocket "I've got a message to deliver."

"Don't get caught."

"I never do." She slipped into the kitchen, planting a dung bomb in a cupboard and carefully sticking her letter to the refrigerator with a bit of tape.

Her boys had mostly cleaned out the cupboard by the time she got back, and they hefted Harry's heavy trunk up the stairs and back to his room. Thea pausing only to slip a few stink pellets under the other doors. Ron and George pulled the heavy case while Harry and Fred pushed from the other side, squashing it in the car.

They clambered in the car quickly, Harry had one foot out the window when Hedwig, still in her cage across the room screeched. Harry darted back to grab her, but the damage had been done.

"THAT RUDDY OWL!" Vernon Dursley's shout echoed through the house.

Harry hastily passed the cage to Ron and pushed himself through the window. Vernon was thundering towards them when there was a great crash. He'd slipped on some of the stink pellets Thea had rolled under his door.

"What the-?" He burst into ragged coughs as the little spheres started to spray their nasty smelling gunk all over him "BOY!"

"Girl, actually!" Thea shouted.

"See you next summer!" Harry shut the car door behind him and they were off.

His last view of Privet Drive was of Uncle Vernon getting stuck in the window frame as he tried to chase after them, Aunt Petunia looking sickly green in the background as she tugged on her husbands leg.

The flight back to the Weasley's was uneventful. Thea picked Hedwig's lock so she could stretch her wings and Harry told them all about odd Dobby and his warnings. They debated the possibility of it being a trick by Draco Malfoy, but Harry wasn't even sure the Malfoy family had a house elf, though it wouldn't surprise him.

"I'm glad we came to get you anyways." Ron told him, tossing an arm around his best mate's shoulder "We were getting real worried when you wouldn't answer any of our letters, and you didn't met Thea in London."

"Sorry." Harry apologized automatically.

"You weren't getting your letters, Harry." Thea was squished against the window and her voice was slightly muffled "It's not your fault."

"I thought it was Errol's fault at first?"

"Errol?"

"Our owl." Ron explained "Wouldn't be the first time he's collapsed on a long delivery. So, then I tried to borrow Hermes-"

"Who?"

"The owl Mum and Dad got Percy for being made a prefect." Ron rolled his eyes "But Percy wouldn't let me. He's been writing loads of letters this summer. So Thea let me send some letters with Iris-"

"Iris?"

"My owl. Percy thought the messenger god theme is so creative." Thea laughed "By the time I explained it to him, Hermes wouldn't answer to anything else. She's a long distance owl, I mostly use her to send letters to my family in New York. Fred, you're driving too far west."

"Why don't you come up here and drive if you think you could do it better?" Fred twiddled the steering wheel, no real heat behind his words.

"So, does your Dad know you've got the car?" Harry wondered, it didn't seem likely.

Ron chuckled awkwardly "Er, no. He had to work tonight. Hopefully we'll be able to get it back in the garage without Mum noticing."

They made small talk for the rest of the trip, Thea interrupting now and then to give Fred directions. Finally, the Burrow cold be seen on the horizon, just as the sky was beginning to lighten. It stood several stories tall and looked like a gust of strong wind could send it toppling to the ground.

"And, touchdown!" Fred crowed, landing smoothly on the lawn.

Thea quickly ushered them all out of the car "Okay, grab the stuff, let's go. Fred, George, stick the trunk by the door. Ron, take Harry upstairs. When Molly calls you for breakfast come down all excited 'Mum, look who turned up in the night.'"

"Is that supposed to be my voice?" Ron squawked.

"And no one needs to know we took the car."

The front door banged open, making them all jump.

Mrs. Weasley, in all her furious glory, stalked towards them "So?" She huffed.

"Morning, Mum." George smiled nervously "Lovely day for a morning walk, innit?"

"Do you have any idea how worried I've been?" Mrs. Weasley shouted at the top of her voice "Beds empty, no note, car gone! You could've crashed! You could've died! You could've been seen! You could've cost your father his job!"

"Uh, I left a note." Thea mumbled.

Mrs. Weasley softened, looking at Harry and Thea while Fred and George made various noises of betrayal "Of course, I don't blame you, dears. You didn't make them steal that car." She started shepherding them inside "I'm very pleased to see you, Harry dear. Come in and have some breakfast."

"Why'd you leave a note?" George hissed.

"So she wouldn't worry." Thea grinned "I just said, 'Getting something important, be back later. Love Thea.'"

"And you couldn't have added our names?" Fred grumbled.

"That wold've looked suspicious. I told you I was happy to go get him on my own." Thea nudged him "You're the ones who insisted on coming too."

They shuffled through the door and Thea noticed Harry's wide eyes as he took in the kitchen. It looked nothing like the polished, pristine room back on Privet Drive. The Weasley's kitchen was cluttered but not unclean, a rag was washing some bowls in the sink by itself, the large clock on the wall with the Weasley's and Thea's names on its hands ticked loudly. It was warm, in a way the cookie-cutter kitchen of the Dursleys wasn't.

Mrs. Weasley busied herself at the stove, frying bacon and shooting her sons scalding looks as she muttered under her breath "We never had this kind of trouble with Bill, or Charlie, or Percy..."

"Perfect Percy." George grumbled.

"You could do with taking a leaf out of Percy's book! I'd never have believed it. What were you thinking?"

"Sorry." Thea didn't sound very sorry "Let me help you." She started making toast, letting Mrs. Weasley focus on the bacon.

"Thank you dear." Mrs. Weasley smiled softly "I know you were just doing what you thought was best."

Fred, George, and Ron all rolled their eyes.

Ron leaned over to Harry and whispered "Thea can get away with anything. Mum always wanted more girls."

"But really, flying an illegal car halfway across the country? " Mrs. Weasley was still going "Anyone could have seen you."

"It was cloudy." Fred accepted the plate of toast.

"They were starving him, Mum." George agreed, swiping a slice.

"Keep your mouth closed when you're eating." Mrs. Weasley scolded.

Wisely, Fred and George quieted down. Thea handed Harry a plate with half a dozen slices of toast and a mountain of bacon, and he thanked her. It might've been the best food Harry had ever had.

A squeal from the bottom of the stairs made him turn around, just in time to catch a glimpse of a fiery haired girl in a long nightdress sprinting back up the steps. Fred choked on his tea as he tried to smother his laughter.

"Ginny." Ron explained "Our little sister. She's a fan of yours."

"I'll go check on her." Thea offered "Thanks for breakfast."

"Of course, dear. Now you three." Mrs. Weasley rounded on her boys "You're going to de-gnome the garden for me, they're getting completely out of control again."

"But Mum-" Ron whined.

"Don't. I don't want to hear it. Harry, dear, you can go up to bed. You must be absolutely exhausted."

"I'll help Ron, I don't mind." Harry said quickly "I've never seen a de-gnoming."

"That's very sweet of you dear, but it's dull work." Mrs. Weasley bustled over to the overflowing bookshelf and pulled out a large tome "Now, let's see what Lockhart has to say on the subject."

"We know how to de-gnome a garden, Mum." Fred scowled, glaring at the book like it had insulted him.

The wizard on the cover was blond and good looking, dressed in sky blue robes and he kept winking cheekily at Mrs. Weasley, making her blush "Well, if you think you can do better than Gilderoy Lockhart, get on with it then." She snapped.

"Better run for it." George dashed out the door, knocking his twin out of the way.

"Oi!"

Thea climbed the stairs, heading to the room she shared with Ginny. The young witch had been badgering her older brothers and Thea for every scrap of information she could get on Harry all summer.

"Ginny?" Thea knocked gently before coming in "Are you in there?"

The redhead was digging through her closet and didn't even seem to notice her adoptive older sister's entrance until Thea put a hand on her shoulder.

"Breathe." She instructed "Just breathe."

"Is that really Harry Potter?" Ginny clutched at Thea's arm "The Harry Potter? In our kitchen?"

"Harry, Ginny. Don't go treating him weird just because he's famous. He's a normal person, just like you and me."

"But he defeated You-Know-Who! And he saved the stone last year! He's Harry Potter, he's The-Boy-Who-Lived."

"And he's a twelve year old boy. Just be yourself, stay calm." Thea reminded her "Come on, let's get dressed. Maybe we can all walk down to the village this afternoon and get some ice cream? Give you a chance to talk to him?"

Ginny bounced on the balls of her feet "Will you braid my hair? The nice way?"

Thea laughed "Sure."

Ginny quickly dressed and let Thea fix her hair, braiding it in a crown around her head. They were about to go downstairs so Ginny could have breakfast when there was a thunk outside the window.

Thea stuck her head out "What was that?"

"It bit me!" Harry sounded shocked "Sorry!"

Ron was doubled over laughing "Don't be sorry! That must've been twenty feet! I think you beat Thea's record."

"Oh, no you don't." Thea shouted "Come on Gin, let's show 'em what we're made of!"

She and Ginny finished de-gnoming the garden with the boys, both of them beating their personal records for gnome punting. Mr. Weasley returned and faced his wife's ire, though luckily not the laws'. Ron gave Harry the grand tour, ending in his own room on the top floor. Finally, they all got a few hours of sleep after being up all night.

Harry was thrilled. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were so kind, agreeing to let him stay with them for the rest of the summer. Thea was taking them down to the village in the afternoon to celebrate at the ice cream parlor. He was going to spend the next weeks at the Burrow and then he'd be going back to Hogwarts.

The days at the Burrow were spent flying, catching up on homework, and walking down to the little village of 'Ottery St Catchpole. Mr. Weasley would often corner Harry and Thea to question them about muggle stuff. Percy, when he came down from his room would play a round or two of exploding snap with Harry and was teaching him gobstones. Thea helped Mrs. Weasley cook fantastic meals every night, Harry often found himself helping them, chopping vegetables or peeling potatoes, and enjoying the familial atmosphere.

The Hogwarts school lists were late, only arriving a week before term was set to start. So, a trip to Diagon Alley was in store. Mrs. Weasley lined them up in front of the fireplace, checking that everyone had all they'd need before they left.

Harry wondered how they'd all be getting to London, the trip from Little Whinging had been cramped enough with Fred, George, Thea, Ron, and himself. Today, Percy, Ginny, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would be coming too. There was no way they'd all fit in the old Fort Anglia.

Mrs. Weasley took an old battered flowerpot off the mantle and offered it to Harry, it was full of an odd sparkly dust "Guests first. After you, Harry, dear."

"Uh, what do I...?"

"Harry's never traveled by floo powder before." Ron remembered "Sorry, Harry, I forgot."

"Never?" Mrs. Weasley was aghast "But, how did you get to Diagon Alley last year?"

"I went on the underground."

"Really? Were there escapators?" Mr. Weasley lit up.

"Not now, Arthur. Floo powder's a lot quicker, dear. But goodness me, if you've never used it before."

"He'll be fine." Fred snagged a handful of dust from the pot "Harry, watch us first." He tossed the glitter into the fire, turning the flames bright green "Diagon Alley!"

And he vanished. George followed.

"Keep your elbows tucked in, and be careful of the ash." Thea went next "It can be kind of uncomfortable, but I can try and catch you on the other side. Diagon Alley!"

Thea spun out of the Leaky Cauldron's fireplace, spinning neatly on the rug. Fred offered her a hand. A few minutes later, Ron rolled out.

"Where's Harry?" He asked, looking around.

"He's not come through yet." Thea pulled him up.

"What?"

Ginny tripped on the edge of the fire "Where's Harry?"

Percy tottered out next, soot coating his glasses.

"Did he come before you?" Fred asked.

"George, go get Tom." Thea ordered.

Mr. Weasley stumbled out, followed quickly by his wife. Ron hurriedly filled them in while Thea and George spoke to Tom, the barman.

Mrs. Weasley started organizing them at once "Ron, Ginny, wait here, see if Harry turns up. Arthur, you take Fred and George and start down by Ollivanders. Thea and Percy start at the other end. Ginny, come with me, if we can't find him in ten minutes meet back here."

Thea grabbed Percy's hand and they raced out the back door to the wall that separated them from the wizarding shops, opening it and knocking people out of their way as they sprinted towards the end of the alley.

"Excuse me! Pardon me!" Thea shouted "Coming through!"

Percy crashed into a shopkeeper and slowed down to apologize, but Thea kept running.

"Thea!"

"Hermione!" Thea grabbed the bushy-haired second year by the shoulders "Have you seen Harry?"

"No? Isn't he with you? Ron said you were going to rescue him from his relatives."

"Floo powder...lost in a chimney..." Percy caught up with them, huffing and puffing "Can't breathe..."

Hermione's eyes widened as she comprehended the situation "I'll help you look for him." She offered "He can't be far."

They started dashing in and out of shops, searching high and low for Harry. Fortunately, Hermione spotted Hagrid in the crowd and, at his side, a very sooty Harry.

"Go let your parents know we found him." Thea shoved Percy back towards the Leaky Cauldron "Thank Hecate you're okay."

"He wound up in Knockturn Alley." Hagrid thumped Harry's shoulder "Nasty place."

"You are not leaving my sight for the rest of the day." Thea started mother henning over Harry, swiping ash off his cloak "Oh my magic, you almost gave me a heart attack."

The Weasley clan were soon joining them, Percy wheezing with every breath, trailing slightly behind. Mrs. Weasley started fussing and Harry had to wonder if the phrase "helicopter parent" should be named after the matriarch instead.

"You'll never guess who I saw in Borgin and Burkes." Harry lowered his voice so only Ron and Hermione could hear him "Draco Malfoy and his father."

"Lucius Malfoy?" Mr. Weasley was behind them "Did he buy anything?"

"No, he was selling."

A slightly wicked look spread on Mr. Weasley's face "So, he's nervous. Oh I'd love to get Lucius Malfoy for something."

They collected the gold they'd need from Gringotts. Thea helped Hermione's parents exchange their muggle money for galleons, sickles, and knuts while the Weasleys and Harry trundled down to their vaults.

They split off to get their things. Thea, Fred and George were sent to the Apothecary, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley took Ginny to get her school robes and wand, Percy disappeared into the tea shop, claiming he was meeting his friends, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione wandered around, checking items off their lists. A few hours later, they were set to meet up in Flourish and Blotts to get their books, conveniently on the same day Gilderoy Lockhart would be doing a book signing.

The trip ended with a bang when Mr. Weasley and Lucius Malfoy got in a fistfight in the middle of the shop and had to be separated by Hagrid. Mrs. Weasley was absolutely furious, shouting at her husband.

"Really, Arthur, a public brawl! What kind of example are you setting for your children? What Gilderoy Lockhart must have thought-"

"He liked it." Fred laughed "He asked the bloke from the Daily Prophet if he could work it into his article. Not that he'll need help making the front page, eh?"

Lockhart had noticed Harry in the crowd and forced him to take some photographs, then announced that he was going to be the new DADA teacher at Hogwarts. Thea was not pleased and had stamped on his foot, hard, to get him to release Harry.

"He's going to be teaching defense?" Thea scoffed "His books are all style and no substance. There can't be true, there's no way to turn a werewolf back into a human. The wolfsbane potion lets them keep their minds but they still transform."

She kept ranting as they made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron and said their goodbyes to the Grangers. Thea absolutely would not let Harry take the floo by himself this time, holding his elbow tight to make sure he didn't disappear again.

Thea hadn't had much time to write to her family that summer. Her parents and Auggie had come for a visit, like they always did, but Riley had once again chosen to stay in America. They'd had great fun, Thea showing them the sights of magical London and entertaining Auggie with her adventures in the last year. School would start in three days, so Thea sat down to write her letters, detailing the rest of the summer.

Dear Mom, Dad, and Auggie

There's been a lot going on these last few weeks. Remember my friend Harry, I told you about? We had to go rescue him from his relatives. There was some interference with his post so he didn't get any of our letters. He's okay now, he's been staying with the us at the Burrow since. He was also briefly lost in a chimney, but that's another story.

I miss you, Auggie. I'm sorry I haven written more this summer (I sent you extra chocolate frogs to make up for it). I also found a copy of some French wizarding fairytales I think you'll like.

I'm really excited for fourth year. I dropped divination last year, so now I'm taking arithmancy, care of magical creatures, and ancient runes. I heard the care of magical creatures teacher retired, so we'll be getting a new one. For some reason, Dumbledore's hired a novelist to be the defense against the dark arts teacher. He's handsome, but his books are ridiculous. If you get any letters from Dumbledore this year, it's probably because I snapped on him. I don't think he's forgiven me for breaking his doors last year.

I was thinking about it, and maybe I can try coming home for Christmas this year? It would be nice to be home again. Do you think that's a good idea? I absolutely don't want a repeat of first year. I'm putting a letter for Riley, nothing big, short and sweet, but maybe you can gauge her reaction?

We can talk about it more when it gets closer. I'll write to you again when I get to school. I love you.

Thea

Now to pen a letter to her sister.

Dear Riley,

How are you? I hope you're doing well. Are you excited to start eighth grade? I know you're going to do great, you have good friends, stick with them and it'll all work out. I found a case of tea in Diagon Alley I think you'll like. It's meant to flavor itself and change color according to your mood.

I love you and I miss you.

Your sister,

Thea

There. Short and sweet. Thea sent her letters off with Iris, hoping beyond hope that this time would be different.

They arrived at Kings Cross Station with barely enough time. Ginny had forgotten her diary and Fred had left his cauldron, causing them to have to turn back several times. Mrs. Weasley was frazzled, checking and double checking that Ginny had everything she needed and hat everyone had their sandwiches for the train.

"Where's Ron and Harry?" Mr. Weasley asked, helping lift George's trunk into a compartment.

"They must have found seats." Percy shrugged "I expect they're with Hermione."

"I'll find them later." Thea handed Mrs. Weasley a tissue.

"My baby is going to Hogwarts." She blubbered "My children are all grown up."

The train whistle blew and they all climbed aboard, saying their last goodbyes. Ginny started crying too, burying her face in Thea's shoulder.

Little did they know, Ron and Harry had missed the train. The barrier to the platform had closed and they'd had the brilliant idea to "borrow" the Ford Anglia to get to school.

Word count: 6880 words

I'll be honest, Mrs. Weasley is not my favorite. I don't like how she treats Fred and George just because they have different ambitions than she wants them too. She's a pretty good as a parental figure for Harry, and she does love her kids, I just have opinions about her.

Please don't forget to comment, vote, and add to your reading lists! #FreePalestine🍉🍉🍉

Love,
The Author