Child of Hogwarts: Part I

Chapter Fourteen - The Burrow and The Alley

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The Burrow and The Alley

Dumbledore's prediction proved perfectly true. He had no sooner apparated Harry to the Weasley house than Molly Weasley swooped down upon him, hugging him tightly before holding him out at arm's length. She scrutinised him.

'I still think you're looking a bit thin, dear,' she said, sizing him up. 'You're sure he's been eating properly?' she added, giving Dumbledore a disapproving look.

Dumbledore nodded at her, smiling. 'Of course, Molly,' he said, his voice placating. 'Harry has been hale and healthy.'

'Hmm,' she said. 'Well, I'm nearly finished prepping luncheon, so we'll get some food into you soon. The boys have gone out back to de-gnome the garden. I can take you round to see them if you like, or you can come straight into the house if you're feeling tired.'

'Thank you, Mrs Weasley,' said Harry with a smile. 'I'll go see Ron, if that's alright.'

Mrs Weasley smiled back at him, patting his cheek. 'Of course, Harry dear,' she said. She turned to Dumbledore, 'Would you like to have some tea before leaving, headmaster?'

'Oh no, but thank you, Molly,' said Dumbledore with a bow of his head. 'I'd better get back to the school. We're expecting most of our professors back this afternoon, and I have to prepare for our start of term staff meeting this evening.'

She nodded, and Dumbledore turned to Harry. He placed a hand on his shoulder. 'I shall see you next week, Harry.'

Harry nodded. 'Yes, sir.'

He gave Dumbledore a small smile which the headmaster returned, squeezing his shoulder reassuringly. 'Do try and have some fun, and keep well.'

He released Harry's shoulder, turning once more to Mrs Weasley. 'Molly, please be in touch if anything comes up, or if you need me for any reason.'

Mrs Weasley bowed her head toward him, her eyes twinkling a bit. 'Of course, Albus.'

Dumbledore nodded at the pair of them, and turned on the spot. He vanished without a sound.

Harry stared for a moment at the place Dumbledore had stood, lost in thought. Mrs Weasley put a hand on his back. 'Are you ready, Harry?' she asked him.

'Yes, ma'am,' Harry replied, forcing a smile back on his face and shutting his feelings about Dumbledore's departure firmly away for the moment. Mrs Weasley steered him up a little hill, toward the oddest building Harry had ever seen.

It looked rather like a former stone pigpen, to which walls and ceiling had been added, and then additional stories and outcroppings, by an exceptionally untrained architect. The entire structure – which was composed of mixed variations of stone and wood – was lopsided and as crooked as the wooden towers in the Muggle game, Jenga, that Harry remembered playing in primary school. Harry thought the house must be held up by magic. A crooked sign in the front garden read 'The Burrow.'

Harry loved it immediately.

Mrs Weasley did not go into the house, but instead led Harry around to the back of the building. He could hear Ron, Fred and George's voices, carried back to them on the breeze as they rounded the corner. His friends came slowly into view, Ron and George watching Fred, who seemed to be swinging his arm around like he was preparing to lasso a bull. As Harry watched, Fred stopped his circling and flung his hand open as his arm shot forward. Harry saw something small fly in an arch from Fred's fingers, soaring over the back stone wall and out of sight. Ron whooped, holding his arms aloft in a cheer.