The Burrow
“Chapter 3: The Burrow”
“Harry’s coming to our place, sick!” Fred exclaimed.
Ron. breathed Harry… old turquoise car, which was parked in midair.
“You have a flying car?” Hermione asked.
“Not at the moment, no.”
Amelia turned to look at the elder Weasley, “Nor will you have one, or need I remind you of the law that you helped write?”
Arthur blushed and nodded in agreement with the formidable witch.
“A flying car is cool, but it has nothing on my flying motorcycle,” Sirius boasted loudly.
“Sirius, shut up.”
“Aww Jamesie, you’re no fun.”
“Stop calling me that!”
“Okay, Jamothy.”
James wrinkled his nose in disgust, “That’s so much worse.”
“Jathaniel?”
“No.”
“Jameson?”
“That one’s actually not that bad-”
“Will you two children be quiet?” Lily groaned, effectively cutting off the conversation from the bickering pair.
“You two fight like an old married couple,” Remus added, causing Sirius to smack him.
Grinning at Harry from the front seats were Fred and George, Ron’s elder twin brothers.
“Of course you two are there as well,” Molly sighed.
The twins grinned widely, happy to be living up to their mother’s expectations of them.
All right, Harry?... the Ministry’ll think that’s the second spell I’ve done in three days, so-
“Like they’re going to leave you there,” Bill scoffed.
Stop gibbering, said Ron… You forget who I’ve got with me.
“The human bludgers themselves,” Charlie joked, quoting the previously said words of Oliver Wood.
Tie that around… how important this was and kept still and silent.
“She’s such a smart owl,” Luna cooed.
The car revved… hairpin from his pocket and started to pick the lock.
“Where did you two even learn-” Arthur started before cutting himself off with a shake of his head, “Never mind, I don’t want to know.”
A lot of wizards… skills worth learning, even if they are a bit slow.
“Brilliant!” James praised, “Why didn’t we ever think of that?”
There was a small click… for the bottom stair --- it creaks.
Moody nodded in approval at the younger Potter’s attention to detail. A small detail like that could be the difference between getting caught or escaping in a situation like this.
Harry whispered back… Uncle Vernon coughed again.
“We need to hurry up, he’s waking,” Harry urged anxiously.
A bit more… dived at Harry, grabbing him by the ankle.
“Get your filthy hands off of him!” Sirius snarled.
Ron, Fred, and George seized… HE’S GETTING AWAY!
“Shouldn’t they be happy that you’re leaving?” Neville asked, “It’s not like they want you around.”
Alice gave Neville a pointed look in Harry’s direction, causing him to blush and stutter out, “Sorry Harry. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“It’s okay Nev, you’re right afterall.”
James frowned at how casually Harry mentioned the Dursleys not wanting him, but didn’t move to interrupt.
“I suppose they would prefer me to stay and be miserable than for me to leave and be happy.”
Neville, who wasn’t actually expecting an answer to his question, regretted asking. That was just depressing.
But the Weasleys… were all hanging, dumbstruck, out of Harry’s window.
“Well it’s not every day you see a flying car,” Dudley explained, stopping his reading momentarily to leave his input.
See you next summer! Harry yelled.
“I would hope not,” Percy said, with a frown. “I would hope that the twins and Ron are smart enough to tell mum and dad about your living situation. After all, it’s not exactly normal for a kid to have bars on their window.”
“Percy, you’re a genius!” Ron cheered, “Harry will get out of his home for sure!”
“That house has never been my home,” Harry said, voice a bit harsh.
Dumbledore froze. “Harry, my boy, your relatives might not love you as much as they could, but surely you see Privet Drive as your home?”
“I’m not your boy,” Harry snapped. “Privet Drive has never been and never will be my home.”
Dumbledore sighed and slouched back in his seat. If Harry didn’t see Privet Drive as his home, then the protections in place would be rendered useless.
“I implore you to see reason, your relatives were kind enough to take you-”
“Kind enough?” James repeated with a snarl, shooting out of his seat in anger. “They abuse him.”
Lily got out of her seat and placed a calming hand on James’ shoulder, “Babe, just ignore him. Harry will not be going back there, no one in here, bar Albus, would allow that to happen. There’s no point in arguing with someone that refuses to listen.”
James huffed and sat back down, eyes shooting never ending glares to the headmaster.
The Weasleys roared with… Someone’s idea of a joke.
Frank shook his head in disagreement, “I don’t think Dobby was sent as a joke. Him punishing himself was enough to show that he was clearly doing something that he wasn’t supposed to.”
Can you think of… Draco Malfoy, Harry explained. He hates me.
Draco did his best not to gape at Harry. While he knows that he didn’t send Dobby to stop Harry from going to Hogwarts, it was a bit of a shock that Harry had come so close to guessing the truth. Dobby was their elf after all, so part of his suspicion was correct. He might not know exactly what that crazy elf was up to, but he did know that Dobby had surely come of his own accord.
Draco Malfoy? Said George… Dad reckons he was right in You-Know-Who’s inner circle.
Mentally, Narcissa was incensed. She might not be a devout follower of the Dark Lord, but she would stand by her husband. Family always came first.
Harry had heard… Malfoy made Dudley Dursley look like a kind, thoughtful, and sensitive boy.
Draco spluttered, how dare he compare me to that muggle? Surely he wasn’t as bad as Harry’s abusive family… Was he?
I don’t know whether… an old wizarding family, and they’ll be rich, said Fred.
“Most pureblood families own house elves,” Augusta commented knowledgeably. “The Longbottoms own four.”
“We have eight,” Narcissa added.
“I’m not a pureblood, but I have a personal elf,” McGonagall continued.
“We have seven,” Regulus said casually. “Two for each property, and then one personal elf.”
“The Potter family has fifteen.”
Many gaped at James at his admission.
“We have three manors, each housing five elves.”
“You all own slaves?” Hermione repeated dumbly.
“We’re not getting into this again, Hermione,” James said sharply. “I can assure you that the Potter elves are treated with respect, they are more like family than they are servants.”
“Sorry,” Hermione said, blushing furiously. “I’m still just trying to wrap my head around this.”
“I understand, but remember what I told you about trying to change what you don’t understand, okay?” James said, voice a lot kinder than it had been previously. “During break we can see if a Potter elf is able to come when it is called. Normally, they can go practically anywhere, but I’m not sure if they will be able to, given where we are. If circumstances allow, you can talk to my Head house elf Dippy, and learn a bit more. Does that sound suitable to you?”
“I would very much appreciate that, thank you sir.”
Yeah, Mum’s always… only so many times you can polish a prefect badge.
“Wonder what Percy’s up to,” Charlie mumbled to Bill who shrugged.
You’re driving too far… get it back in the garage without Mum noticing we flew it.
Bill snorted, “Good luck with that.”
What does your dad… if he raided our house he’d have to put himself under arrest.
Arthur shifted, eyeing Amelia nervously “Technically nothing I am doing is illegal. There’s a loophole in the law-”
“And who wrote the law, Arthur?”
He laughed awkwardly and motioned for Dudley to continue reading.
It drives Mum mad… looked as though it were held up by magic
“It is,” Molly confirmed, eyeing the Malfoys as if daring them to say something about their home.
Which Harry reminded himself… pleased to see Harry and no one need ever know we flew the car.
“You can’t honestly believe that would work,” Bill said in disbelief.
“It wouldn’t,” Molly confirmed.
Right, said Ron… remarkable how much she looked like a saber-toothed tiger.
The Weasley children winced, all having been on the receiving end of that look before.
“I gotta hand it to Harry, that's a brilliant description,” Bill muttered to Charlie who nodded in agreement.
Ah, said Fred… we never had trouble like this from Bill or Charlie or Percy-
“Molly dear, you really do need to stop comparing the boys to one another,” Arthur murmured quietly to his wife. “Remember Ron’s mirror?”
Molly nodded, as if she could have forgotten. It broke her heart that her youngest son’s self esteem was so low, and it hurt even more knowing that her actions had helped to make it that way.
Perfect Percy, muttered Fred… you could have lost your father his job
Fred, George, and Ron blanched at this, their dad losing his job would have been disastrous to their family. They were already so low on money.
“Sorry, mum,” Ron said quietly.
“Knowing what I know about Harry’s home life now-” Molly took a breath, as if working herself up to say what she did next. “- I'm glad you boys went out to save him.”
The majority of the room gaped, staring at Molly as if she had grown three heads.
“However, there are other ways you could have gone about rescuing him,” Molly added tersely.
Fred nodded dumbly, still shocked at his mother’s own prior admission.
It seemed to go on… I’m very pleased to see you, Harry dear.
A few snorts of laughter sounded in the room.
She said… Time to feed the chickens, and You’re late.
Dudley paused, dropping the book down to his lap. “That’s wicked and all but how do you know the time without a proper clock?”
“Magic” The twins chorused, wiggling their fingers dramatically.
Books were stacked… she assured Harry, tipping eight or nine sausages onto his plate.
Snape nodded approvingly at the amount of food Harry was given.
Arthur and I had been worried… dishes in the sink, which began to clean themselves
Harry perked up, he would never have to do the dishes again, he thought to himself happily.
Clinking gently… they were starving him, mum! Said George.
The group all leaned forward eagerly. Surely Molly would do everything in her power to get Harry out of that house after hearing that.
“They fed me,” Harry grumbled to himself.
James gave his son a pointed look, his eyes flickering to Snape, as if reminding Harry about the regime of nutrient potions he was on.
And you! Said Mrs. Weasley… Harrys bread and buttering it for him
“What!?” Alice exclaimed looking furious, “your son just told you that Harry was being starved and you ignored it?”
Molly pinked but didn't argue, she didn’t know what future her was thinking, and she was just as furious at herself as Alice was at this moment.
George, however, wasn’t surprised that his mum hadn’t taken his words seriously. She never listened to him.
At that moment… gave a small squeal, and ran out again.
Ginny blushed furiously at all the amused looks thrown her direction.
Ginny, said Ron… She’s been talking about you all summer.
“Aw does-”
“-ickle Ginnykins have-”
“- a crush” The twins finished together.
“Boys,” Arthur reprimanded sharply.
The twins grinned widely, looking not the least bit sorry.
Yeah, she’ll be wanting… you’re going to de-gnome the garden for me
Draco sneered, of course the Weasley’s would have such pests littering their house.
They’re getting out of hand… let’s see what Lockhart’s got to say on the subject
“Lockhart? Gilderoy Lockhart?" Frank interrupted questioningly, “the poncey blonde kid four years below me in Ravenclaw?”
“That’s the one,” Amelia confirmed.
Sirius laughed, “that idiot wrote a book?”
“He’s not an idiot,” Molly miffed, “He’s a genius.”
Frank scoffed, “He set fire to his hair on more than one occasion. The moron couldn’t manage a simple hair curling charm.”
“I ran into him once while he was naked in the corridor,” Sirius said, chortling. “He was running back to his common room after accidentally spelling his clothes off.”
“How in Merlin did he manage to do that?” Percy asked, bewildered.
“He was trying to get a stain off his robes he got during lunch.”
“Or there was that time where-”
“That is quite enough,” Augusta interrupted, “The man was an idiot, we get it. Continue.” She said in finality, motioning for Dudley to read.
And she pulled a… it’s a wonderful book
“It really is,” Molly sighed dreamily.
Mum fancies him
Molly snapped out of her dreamy expression from before at once, but before she was able to say anything, Dudley quickly continued reading.
Said Fred… a big green pond full of frogs.
“That sounds amazing,” Harry said in awe.
Arthur smiled warmly, “You’re welcome to come over and see the garden yourself whenever you’d like, son.”
Harry leaned forward to look up to the Weasley patriarch, his eyes shimmering slightly. “I would like that very much, thank you.”
Muggles have garden gnomes too, you know
“They do?” Regulus asked.
“They’re not nearly the same as ours,” Charlie replied, waving his hand offhandedly.
“Oooh!” Hermione exclaimed in excitement, “I wonder just how many things in the muggle world are inspired by those in the magical. I would love to see all the similarities and differences between the two, where do you think the muggles got it all from? Is it back from when magical and muggle communities were mixed? Are there any books about it?”
“I do not believe there are any books highlighting the items derived from the magical world, Ms. Granger,” Dumbledore said, smiling. “Perhaps you could write one in the future?”
At this, Hermione’s face lit up. You could practically see the wheels turning in her head as she dreamed about all the research she would have to do.
Yeah, I’ve seen… It was small and leathery looking, with a large, knobby, bald head exactly like a potato
Hermione wrinkled her nose at the description.
Ron held it… Dad’s too soft with them; he thinks they’re funny
“They are.”
Just then… And old Mundungus Fletcher tried to put a hex on me when I had my back turned
“CONSTANT VIGILANCE!” Moody roared from the back, causing everyone to jump.
Mr. Weasley took… hard to convict anyone because no Muggle would admit their key keeps shrinking
Draco snickered quietly, earning a glare from his mother and godfather.
They’ll insist… LIKE CARS, FOR INSTANCE?
Arthur winced, he felt sorry for future him.
Mrs. Weasley had appeared… As long as he wasn’t intending to fly the car, the fact that the car could fly wouldn’t —
“Need I remind you Arthur, of who wrote the law?” Amelia asked pointedly to a blushing Arthur.
Arthur Weasley, you made… Harry who?
Ron snorted loudly, “Oh only Harry Potter, one of the most famous wizards of our time.”
Harry sunk back into his seat awkwardly, earning a mouthed “sorry” from Ron.
He looked around… seemed to be a violent shade of orange.
Sirius wrinkled his nose, “Why orange?”
“It’s because-”
Before Ron could explain, McGonagall interrupted, “I’m sure Mr. Weasley will tell Mr. Potter why. Do continue reading, Mr. Dursley.”
The bedspread… The Chudley Cannons
Sirius whooped loudly, “Yes!!! Does this mean they're finally good again?”
Everyone in the room that was from the present day snorted.
“They’re still last in the league every year,” Ron admitted.
Sirius wasn’t bothered by this admission, if anything, he seemed to look at Ron with respect.
“A real fan doesn’t change teams when their favorite doesn't play well,” he stated, giving Ron a nod of approval.
Said Ron… This is the best house I’ve ever been in.
Draco opened his mouth to comment but stopped after seeing the glare thrown his way by his mother.
Ron’s ears went pink.
“That’s the end of the chapter,” Dudley announced.
“My turn!” George yelled happily, running over to Dudley and taking the book from him.
“After this chapter and the next, how about lunch?” Molly asked, looking about the room.
Everyone nodded in agreement, and George opened the book and began reading.
“Chapter Four: Flourish and Blotts”