the boy soldier

03- chances

This chapter is relatively short, sorry, But also I would like to explain before the story goes on that in this fic Ginny never has had a thing with Harry. Or Cho, lol. Wanted to get that out of the way. 

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The next morning Harry woke up, dressed quickly, and walked off the school grounds to apparate to the Burrow. When he had first started apparating, he thought he would never get used to the sick twisting and pulling sensation. It still wasn't a normalized feeling to his body, but it had at least gotten better.

He arrived right outside the front door of the topsy-turvy house and knocked politely on the wood door.

"Yes? Is that Harry? Come in dear," Molly Weasley called from inside, the door swung open with no one behind it.

"Hello, Mrs Weasley. Are Ron and Hermione here? I promised I would help them with the garden gnomes."

"Right, they should be outback. Would you like some tea first, I just put the kettle on," She smiled endearingly at him.

Harry really wanted to speak to his two friends, but there was no saying no to Molly, "I would love some, thank you."

She set about steeping the tea bags, and sat down across from him at the table, "How have you been Harry, dear. We have all been worried about you. How is the rebuilding going?"

"It's been good, I finished the entranceway. Actually, I would love for you to be the first to see it. And there is no need to worry, I have been getting along fine." Harry knew this was half a life, and knew Molly was aware of that as well, but it was better than the truth, "How has George been?"

She cleared her throat and messed with her hair awkwardly, "Well, he has of course, been better. We all have. But we are trying our best. Here's your tea." Molly hurriedly set down a cup in front of him before putting a hand on his shoulder and saying, "Harry, you know we want you around here, right? We know how hard everything has been, and we all miss you. All of us. Please, come by more often."

Guiltily, Harry replied, "Of course, Mrs. Weasley. I've been busy at the school, but I would love to visit more. I'm sorry if I've seemed a bit absent."

"That's alright, love. Just know we are here if you need anything. Anything, you hear me? Now finish your tea, and hurry outside."

Thanking her one more time, before gulping down the rest of the scalding tea, he gave her a soft hug and ran to meet Hermione and Ron in the garden.

"Harry!" Hermione squealed, running to embrace him.

"Hello, mate. This is nasty business, not sure why'd you volunteer yourself for it." Ron greeted him, smugly, "I would never have gotten around to it, if Hermione hadn't insisted. She's mad, I tell you. Bloody mad."

Hermione smacked him lightly on the shoulder, "Oh, hush."

For hours, it seemed, they swung little garden gnomes around, their little legs dangling before waddling off dizzily. The three of them sat, in the now gnome free garden, exhausted.

"Do you want some pumpkin juice, Mum's just gone and got some." Ron offered.

They both grumbled agreements in response, and Ron slumped inside to get cups for them all.

"Hermione, I've been meaning to ask you. Do you think it's possible, Draco Malfoy didn't want to be a Death Eater? I mean I knew his father was, but could he have been forced into it?"

Hermione considered for a moment, before replying, "I mean, I suppose. It was sort of his family's legacy, you know? Dealing with the Dark Arts."

"Yes, true. But if he only did it to please his father? I know we have always had run-ins with the family, but as you know, he's staying at Hogwarts right now, and I don't think he is coping very well. He just seems... broken."

She chuckled grimly, cocking her head questioningly at him, "Well, Harry, wouldn't you be? Isn't everyone? Perhaps people can change. Perhaps he was never really that awful after all. We might not ever know. But people deserve second chances, don't you think? So why don't you try talking to him?"

Harry recounted what had happened the previous night and she sat quietly, thinking. Putting her hair up in a ponytail before replying, "I don't know really what to say, except that maybe he really isn't well at the moment. And you said he wouldn't talk to you? Hm, I'd be worried too, honestly. Ron would probably have something entirely different to say about the matter, but you know how the two families have always been. These things may run deeper than you and I will ever understand. With that being said, I think you should give him a chance. Keep trying to talk to him. Maybe he just needs someone to care."