An Eclectic Catalogue of Ideas

Molly Weasley stood in her kitchen, waving her wand as she directed her sauces into a bowl before turning to check the oven's temperature. She always did her best thinking when she was cooking.

Three of her sons had returned with Harry Potter in tow. While angry at them for their foolish actions, what she saw and heard worried her a great deal.

The poor boy had been locked in his room with bars in the window. And an animal flap in the door. He was all skin and bones, so had barely been fed.

Her children were not lying. After years of dealing with children, especially Fred and George, Molly had a sense of things. She knew when her children lied to her.

She had always respected Albus Dumbledore. Had thought him a good man. So what in the world was Albus thinking, sending the poor boy to that home?

And what could she do to help Harry? She'd have to speak to Arthur later.

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"I think something is wrong with Harry's home, Arthur." Molly lay beside her husband, looking at him seriously.

"What do you mean, Molly?" asked Arthur, putting down the book he had been reading.

"When the boys came home in your car, I was furious, but then I saw how thin Harry looked. It wasn't a boy being a fussy eater, Arthur. He was being starved. I could see his ribs. And then they mentioned how they found him. He was locked in his bedroom!" Molly continued. "With bars on the window. There was a cat flap on the door. All of his school things were locked in a cupboard downstairs." By now, the woman was fuming, "Fred said there were broken toys and a little mattress on the floor in the cupboard. They obviously kept him there; I don't know how long!"

Arthur frowned, "I had noticed how skittish he was. Have you spoken to Albus?"

"I'm not sure I should," Molly said after a moment. "I've always respected Albus, but how could he not know, Arthur? He always insisted Harry was happy. I asked Ronald if he knew anything about Harry's home life. He told me that Harry didn't talk about it much, but had asked to stay at the school during the summer last year. Albus absolutely insisted that he return home to the Dursleys. He didn't even listen about why Harry wanted to stay." She sighed, "That worries me."

Arthur frowned, looking at his wife, "That worries me, too," he said after a moment, "What do you want to do?"

"I want to make sure that Harry's safe. Ronald adores him, and the twins like him too. Even Percy likes him, though he said that Harry lets Ronald talk him out of studying too much." Molly bit her lip, "I was thinking that we could invite him and the children home for Yule, and maybe just take him home over the summer. From what the boys said, his family won't care."

"Albus would find out, don't you think?" Arthur said after a moment.

Molly frowned. "You're probably right. We'll have to think of a way around that. I don't like going around Albus' back, but I will not let the poor boy be treated so badly. We have to do something, Arthur." She suddenly giggled, "My Great Aunt Esther once used her family ghoul to pose as her brother as a prank. With a few transfigurations and confundus charms, we could convince the Dursleys that our ghoul is Harry and ill with a magical disease. We could have it stay in Harry's bedroom."

Arthur frowned at his wife, "I'm not sure I like the idea of confounding muggles, even people like Harry's relatives seem to be." He mused, "However if it's the only option, I suppose it's fine as long as we don't hurt them." Pausing for a moment, he thought about what his wife told him about Harry's home life. "No matter how much they may deserve it." He sighed, "I really don't like going around Albus' back though, Molly."

"I don't like it either, but Harry should come first. And we won't hurt them," Molly assured him. "I'd like to, but we have to be there for our children, and now Harry. I figure during the summer, we can transfigure his hair colour and features just a bit. Maybe cover the scar with makeup. When we visit Diagon Alley or you take the boys for trips, he can be Jamie Weasley."

Arthur couldn't help but chuckle at his wife's words. "If you want, we can do that." He frowned, "I just hope Albus doesn't find out. I doubt he'd be pleased with us."

"Frankly," Molly told him, "I don't care. I respect Albus, but if he seriously expects me to let a child be treated badly, he has another thing coming. And Harry deserves better."

Arthur laughed, "Well then," he said with a smile, "I suppose we have another son. Or we will, at any rate."

"Oh, Arthur, I'm looking forward to this! It's been a little quiet since Bill and Charlie moved out. Should I give him Bill's old room?" Molly asked.

"Sure," Arthur agreed. "The other option would be to move him in with Ronald. Bill's room is empty except when he or Charlie visit. We can arrange something when they do. Perhaps I should get around to expanding a few rooms. I keep meaning to, but forgetting."

"That'd work. That way we can make the room bigger and split it into two rooms!" Molly agreed. "I'll talk to the children tomorrow and invite Harry here for Yule."

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Harry was miserable. He'd have signed up to stay at Hogwarts if he hadn't promised Mrs Weasley he'd visit the Burrow during Christmas. The entire school seemed convinced that he was some horrible dark wizard, and he wanted to figure out who was actually petrifying everyone so they'd stop being afraid of him. Hermione had an idea of using Polyjuice to investigate Malfoy, too! They'd have to try something next term.

Following Ron onto the train, Harry slumped into a seat, watching Ron and Hermione sit down with him. "Are you all right, Harry?"

Harry glanced at Hermione and answered her with a sigh, "Not really. I'm getting tired of being stared at." He added, "It's worse than usual. Now everyone's afraid of me, too."

"I'm sure it will be all right," she said kindly as she opened the book on her lap. "Perhaps Professor Dumbledore will figure out who's doing it during Christmas break?"

"Not sure how he would," Ron cut in, "But it'd be nice. One of the Hufflepuffs tried to hex Harry in the back the other day. I had to push him out of the way. It's getting worse. I don't know why the teachers aren't doing anything about it."

"I'm sure they're doing all they can," Hermione said, glancing up from her book again.

"I don't know, Hermione," Harry said. "They don't stop Malfoy. Usually, Snape just comes in and punishes me when he's the one starting things." He added after a moment's thought, "And Ron's right. I've had people try to hex me quite a few times. Some of them landed; thankfully, those were all Stinging Jinxes. One person even used a Severing Charm. I'm glad I got out of the way of that one. I don't know who it was, they ran before I could see their face. They were a Ravenclaw, that's all I know."

"Did you tell a teacher?" Hermione asked, shocked, "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"There was nothing you could do, so I didn't want to worry you," Harry said with a shrug, "As for telling a teacher, I tried to tell McGonagall, but she said they couldn't do anything if I didn't know who did it. I don't think she believed me."

"It's daft," Ron said with a frown. "You'd think they could do something. Half the school is afraid of Harry. They could at least say that speaking Parseltongue doesn’t mean you're automatically Dark."

"You're right," Hermione agreed with a frown. She really didn't like the idea of teachers being wrong. "At least you're out of school now? I'm sure you'll have fun with Ron and his family, right?"

"Yeah, I just wish we could've found out who was doing this, so I didn't have to worry anymore," Harry lamented.

"At least you'll be with us, Harry," Ron said. "Mum said she had a surprise when we got home, too," he told him. "I'm sure it'll be fun." He grinned, "Maybe next year, we can invite you and your folks, Hermione."

Hermione perked up, "Oh, that would be fun. I bet my parents would love to see a magical house."

"It's not that different from a normal if old-fashioned house on the inside," Harry said after a moment. "No electrical stuff, of course. It looks really nifty outside, though," he adds.

Harry smiled as Hermione began to ask Ron questions, his mood lightening. Soon, he closed his eyes and fell asleep. He hadn't slept well the past few days.

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"Harry! Harry, the train stopped." Harry felt someone nudging him, and he opened his eyes to see Ron pulling away. "We have to get off the train. You slept the entire trip, you must've been tired."

Yawning, Harry nodded, "I haven't been sleeping very well lately." He slowly stood up and picked up the bag he'd borrowed from Hermione. There wasn't any real need to bring his entire trunk with him for the holidays, so he'd packed a few outfits and other things.

Following Ron and Hermione off the train, Harry said to Hermione, "I'll see you after Christmas." He stiffened slightly when she hugged him; he just wasn't used to hugs.

After giving Ron a hug as well, Hermione said lightly, "See you, Harry! Ron!" She headed towards the exit to muggle London.

Shrugging at Ron, Harry followed him towards his mum. "Oh, boys! How are you?" Her eyes flickered behind them, "Fred, George, have you two been behaving? Oh, Ginny, let me look at you!" she said lightly, moving to hug the girl.

Harry found it odd how Ginny looked uncomfortable being hugged by her mother. She'd seemed upset about coming home, which had confused him as well, "Hello, Mrs Weasley," he greeted the woman, a bit nervous. Visiting for Christmas felt different than visiting over the summer. It was a family holiday.

"Hello, Harry," Mrs Weasley said, beaming at him. "I'm glad you could come for Christmas."

"Thank you," Harry answered as he followed them, "How will we get to the Burrow?"

"There's a floo in a hotel not far from here. We'll walk there and take the floo," Molly said to him with a smile.

Harry found the walk to the hotel pleasant enough, and they entered a small door to the side, other families entering as well to use the floo. This time, Harry was very careful to speak clearly as he called out, "The Burrow!"

Unfortunately for Harry, he arrived in his typical fashion, stumbling and nearly falling on his face. He moved to the side quickly, watching as Ron and his brothers arrived, then Ginny, and finally Mrs Weasley. He offered another smile, not sure what to do in this situation.

"Why don't you all sit down and I'll go make us a snack, maybe some sandwiches," Molly declared as she moved towards the kitchen. "Harry, come with me, I'd like to talk to you about something."

"Uh, all right, Mrs Weasley," the boy agreed as he followed behind her, going through the doorway into the kitchen. "What do you need?'

"Harry, my boys told me about what they saw when they picked you up this summer," Mrs Weasley said simply.

Harry blanched at her words, "Oh?" was all he managed to ask, as he looked around the kitchens as if looking for an escape.

"Yes, dear," Mrs Weasley said as she waved her wand, slices of bread getting covered with buttery egg and placed on a large skillet before slices of cheese, ham, and turkey were laid on top. "It didn't sound good. I wanted to ask you: if you could leave that place, would you?"

"I'd love that, Mrs Weasley," Harry said before his shoulders slumped, "But when I asked last year, Professor Dumbledore insisted that I had to go back to Privet Drive."

"Ron mentioned that to me," she responded. "However, Arthur and I talked it over and we think we can work around that. A few spells and the Dursleys will lock our family ghoul, who they think is you, in a bedroom. Meanwhile, you will stay here, with us. Arthur already did a bit of work expanding a few rooms so we have a room for you. We're going to ask Ron if he wants to move in next door to you, or keep the room he has."

Harry looked shocked, as he blinked, "Y-you did all that work, for me? Do you think it'll really work?"

"I do," Mrs Weasley said to him. "Our main concern is having Albus find out. As long as the Dursleys think you're there and there's someone in the room moving around from time to time, it'll be fine I think. He will find out eventually I'm sure, but hopefully not for a few years."

"All right. I'd like to stay here, Mrs Weasley," Harry told her.

She beamed. "All right. Then in the summer, you will be Arthur's nephew, Jamie Weasley."

Harry couldn't help himself. He laughed softly, "I'm trying to imagine myself with Ron's hair."

"Oh, we'll do a few other changes too, dear, but yes, you'll have Ron's hair," Mrs Weasley said with a smile. "Help me finish with the snacks and we can go talk to everyone."

"Yes, ma'am," Harry agreed.

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Later that night, Harry found himself in his new bedroom. There wasn't much there other than a bed, chest of drawers, and a small desk: but it was all his. Ron sat on the bed beside him, "I don't believe it. You're going to be staying here now, that's great! We can play quidditch during the summer. I decided to stay in my room, though. Mum offered me the other one on this floor. I'd have probably agreed, 'cept dad enlarged my room too. It's still a little smaller, but it's a lot more private."

"You're not the only one. Though it'll be bloody strange to have red hair during the summer," Harry said with a grin.

"I don't know. I bet it'd make you look better, Jamie," Ron joked with a grin.

"Oi!" Harry said, throwing a pillow at his friend. "Keep it up, and I'll start calling you Ronald all the time."

"Merlin, please don't. My mum is enough," Ron said with a shudder.

Harry smiled, "Your mum is nice, though. I can't believe she's doing this for me," he said as he tucked a leg underneath him. He made a face, "I tried to tell people a few times about the Dursleys, nothing ever came of it."

"Yeah, well, mum is like that. She likes to send care packages to Ginny's friend Luna; she's done so ever since Luna's mum died," Ron said. "Says she needs good food, and 'Xeno never could cook'. She probably was pissed when she heard about you being locked up and saw how thin you were." He added, "Well, once she decided we were telling the truth."

"I don't think I know Luna," Harry said after a moment's thought.

"She's got pale blonde hair and grey eyes. She was sorted into Ravenclaw," Ron said to him. "She and Ginny have been friends for a long time." He paused, frowning, "Which makes it odd you haven't seen her, now that I think about it."

"Well, you have been avoiding Ginny," Harry noted.

Ron's ears went red, "I guess. She was the baby of the family, I..." He trailed off, and Harry's mind gave the answer: Ron was jealous. "Still, Ginny and Luna are friends and I don't recall seeing them hanging out."

"Maybe they fought?" Harry suggested with a shrug.

"Maybe. Though Luna's not one to fight. She never really gets angry, or at least I've never seen her," Ron said after a moment's thought.

"What about Ginny?"

"Oh, Merlin," Ron said with a shudder, "I know you haven't seen her do it much 'cause she's got a crush on you, but she's as bad as mum when she gets angry."

"Sounds like someone I should be cautious of," Harry quipped. "I'll be sure to not piss off Ginny, then."

They continued to talk far into the night.

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The next day, Harry and Ron were sitting in the living room, talking, when Ron looked up, glancing at Ginny. Remembering their conversation the other day, Ron asked, "Hey Gin, I haven't seen you talking to Luna recently, is everything okay?"

Ginny glanced up, from where she was staring at the table in front of her, "Huh? Yeah, I, uh, have just been busy." Harry saw a brief moment of worry before it disappeared.

"Busy?" Ron blinked, "First years don't get that busy. Or at least we never did," He said, gesturing to himself and Harry.

Harry grinned at Ron, "Well, we didn't study as much as we should have, Ron."

Ron gave him a shocked look, "Study?"

Ginny rolled her eyes and got up, picking up her schoolbooks. "I'll go up to my room to study away from you jokers." As she moved, she stumbled and her books went flying.

Getting up, Harry and Ron went to help her pick them up. "You okay, Gin?" Ron asked before he blinked as he noticed one of the books he picked up. "T. M. Riddle?" He frowned, "I know I saw that name before."

Ron was looking down, so he didn't see it; for an instant, Harry could swear Ginny's eyes turned a brilliant, frightening red. He'd seen such eyes before: on the back of Quirrel's head. She snatched the books, "Don't you ever touch my things again!" and stalked up the stairs.

Harry stared at the stairs a moment, before glancing at Ron, "Ron...where did you see that name?"

"Y'know how I had detention with Filch? Well, I must've belched slugs on the damn thing at least ten times. He had a special award from the school. Back in the forties or something, why?" Ron asked.

Harry led Ron out of the Burrow and into the snow outside, heading towards the orchard. Once he was sure they were out of sight, he said, "Ron...I think something's wrong with Ginny."