TheUnwillingChosenOne Uploaded!

In Which A Rat is Captured and Harry Has A Very Sulky Snake

Lunch was very fun. Harry had whipped up some simple ham sandwiches, black tea, and small biscuits to match. Ron became Aspen's favorite person that wasn't Harry when he kept sneaking bits of ham to the snake. The Weasley children, Hermione, and Snape made polite conversation while Molly sulked near the end of the table. Harry danced around serving everyone with a grace that came with experience.

Anytime Molly went to make a comment, one of the kids would begin to talk loudly to Harry about their summer or adventures in the past two years of Hogwarts. They were more than happy to drown out Molly's complaints and snide remarks. Snape, who had received a few odd looks at first, was soon dragged into a conversation by Bill and Charlie on potions used in both curse breaking and dragon taming.

The twins were happily showing off their newest trick: a toffee that made one's tongue swell up. Percy was forced to set his transfiguration book down and to participate, so he chose to chat with Ginny and Hermione on the pros and cons of the integration of muggle culture into the wizarding world. Ron would hop from conversation to conversation all whilst entertaining Aspen, who would break into hissy laughter at the sarcastic remarks he would mutter under his breath. Harry took everything in stride, easily keeping up with every conversation and occasionally glaring at Mrs. Weasley to keep her in line.

"Harrykins! Whenever -" started George.

"Did you get a dog?" finished Fred. It was then that the other Weasleys noticed the long-haired mutt that seemed perfectly content to lay next to its food bowl and nap.

"He's a stray I took in a few weeks ago! He loves cuddles, so I named him Snuffles. He doesn't bite so pet him if you like." Harry had barely finished when Ginny had squealed and ran to sit next to the dog to pet him. She looked happier than she had since the chamber, possibly before that, so much so that not even Molly had the heart to tell the girl to get away from the mutt.

They returned to their chatting, Percy continuing to talk with Hermione, but changing the debate to creature rights and ways to prevent prejudice against each side. The twins had accosted Snape for help with something they needed a third opinion on with the potion side of it. Ron had settled down near Percy and Hermione to occasionally add his opinion into their debate, he found magical creatures to be fascinating and had thought of trying to apprentice under Newt Scamander.

Bill had moved to sit with Ginny on the floor while Charlie talked with Harry about cooking, he had been wanting to learn recipes he could easily make on the dragon reserves. Molly had begun to listen in on the creature debate with a sour look on her face as the teens thought of laws to pass for equality between creatures and wizards.

At some point, Ginny and Bill nodded off, lying against Snuffles, while the twins had snuck into the living room to draw up more prank ideas using the information from Snape in semi-privacy. Most, if not all of the Weasley children had stopped conversing and found other things to occupy their time; Percy was studying, Charlie was reading Harry's book on weird but prominent wizards, and Ron had dozed off leaning against an equally sleepy Hermione. Harry, Snape and Molly had moved to the kitchen to keep from disturbing the others as they talked. Harry decided to make some more biscuits before making dinner, they had decided on garlic butter steak bites with mashed potatoes and green beans. The day was quite peaceful after the minor hiccup from before.

Arthur showed up as dinner was being served, but was quickly given a place at the table next to Molly. Everyone was quieter than normal, most were still half asleep, but Harry wouldn't trade this for anything. Of course, their life is never this nice for long.

"I caught a rat! I caught a rat!" Aspen's muffled snaky singing filled the room as he carried one Peter Pettigrew in his mouth. He was far too proud of his catch. "Can I eat the fat rat, Speaker?"

"Aspen, give me Petti- um, Scabbers. We now need to explain some things to the Weasleys." Harry's cool reply sounded as the room delved into chaos. He would have to get a special treat for Aspen or he'd be insufferably sulky. "Alrighty, let's take this from the top!"