Harry Potter Oneshots

A Real Home

trigger warning for child abuse
(Not my original idea. From a tumblr post I found)

Harry, Ron, George, and Fred snuck in through the back door. Harry's eyes were low, though the three brothers were celebrating their trip. They thought they had made it.

"Beds empty! No note! Car gone — could have crashed — out of my mind with worry — did you care? — never, as long as I've lived — you wait until your father gets home, we never had trouble like this from Bill or Charlie or Percy —"

"Perfect Percy," muttered Fred.

"YOU COULD DO WITH TAKING A LEAF OUT OF PERCY'S BOOK!" yelled Mrs. Weasley, prodding a finger in Fred's chest.

"You could have died, you could have been seen, you could have lost your father his job —"

It seemed to go on for hours. Mrs. Weasley had shouted herself hoarse before she turned on Harry, who backed away.

"I'm very pleased to see you, Harry, dear," she said.

Harry froze. He looked up, not quite meeting her eyes. He stared at her nose, a trick he had picked up at the Dursley's. When you do some, you look like you stare at their eyes.

He nodded his head slightly, whispering. "Likewise, Mrs. Weasley. Thank you."

She sent the boys up to their rooms, Harry going with Ron. Harry was shaking. Ron didn't notice.

Once Harry's stuff had been put away, the twins, Harry, and Ron were called downstairs. Mrs. Weasley told them to degnome the garden, and that Harry could sit out. Harry was shocked, asking Fred why they were all doing the chores. Fred just laughed and ran to the garden.

Harry was uncomfortable just sitting there, so Fred and George showed him how to throw the gnomes. He helped for a while until his arms hurt too much to continue. They finished soon after.

Harry walked into the house after the three brothers and saw Percy asleep in one of the chairs, a book wide open in his lap. He wondered just how someone could be so vulnerable at home.

The boys went to clean up before dinner. When they came down, Molly was throwing away a small burnt piece of food. Harry looked over at Ron and quietly said that she should have given it to him, rather than throwing it away. It was what he ate at home after all. Ron's face dropped, and he was speechless. The conversation wasn't brought up again.

Dinner was ready not much later, and Harry our very little on his plate. The Weasleys had enough to worry about, so he didn't need to be one of the reasons they didn't have enough food.

During dinner, Ginny was asking her father tons of questions about his work and the muggle project he had. Harry kept sending her looks to stop, but she didn't see any of them, or she ignored them. Mr. Weasley, however, answered each question patiently and kindly.

Once everyone finished eating, Harry and Ron went upstairs to get ready for bed. They settled under the covers and heard footsteps coming up to their room. Harry whispered to Ron what they had done wrong that day. Ron just shrugged.

Mrs. Weasley opened the door just enough to see both boys and said goodnight. She shut the door and went to her own bedroom.

Harry stayed up nearly all night. He never was good at sleeping in new environments, no matter how comfortable the bed. He did pretend to be asleep once when Mr. Weasley has come up to check on them at about 3am. He only fell asleep at 5am, exhausted from the day he had.

*********

The next day, everyone let Harry sleep in a bit. He woke up, still tired. At first, he panicked because he should have woken up beforehand so he could start on breakfast. He calmed down, though, when Ron walked in and told him that breakfast was ready. Harry nodded and went downstairs. He didn't eat much again, even after Mrs. Weasley asked if he wanted anymore.

The next few days went as the first had. Everything at the Burrow was different from the Dursleys house. Harry couldn't help but feel thankful for finally getting to know what a real home felt like, if only for a little while.