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Author: Grandma Kate Story: The Early Years Rating: Everyone Setting: Pre-OotP Status: Completed Reviews: 3 Words: 16,838
Arthur told Molly quietly that Professor Dumbledore wanted to keep Harry’s visit a secret from as many people as possible. He suggested she make a Floo call to the Diggorys’ to see if Cedric would like some company for the rest of the day. Molly went over to the fireplace and threw in some Floo powder. “Amos, we’ve been trying to get our boys over to play with Ceddie all week. Would today be a good day for them to come?” Amos Diggory popped out of the fireplace to consult with his wife for a bit and came back smiling. “It’s a grand day with You-Know-Who gone. Send your three older boys over as soon as you can. It’ll be more fun for Ceddie if Bill and Charlie and Percy go with us to Diagon Alley for the celebration at the Ministry this afternoon. We’ll eat dinner out and they can stay the night. I’m sure there’ll be fireworks tonight. Not often everyone gets a day off to celebrate something as big as this.” When Ronnie and Harry finished their breakfasts, Arthur took them into Ronnie’s room to play with the door closed. Molly fed and changed Ginevra and put her down to nap in her cot. She came back into the kitchen in time to dish up breakfast for Fred and George and Percy. They were all still excited about being out at a party the night before on Halloween. When Bill and Charlie finally came down for breakfast, she told them they were invited to play and spend the night at the Diggorys’ and that they were going to Diagon Alley for a special celebration. “It’s a sort of holiday because You-Know-Who has lost his powers and everyone is celebrating. Pack a coat and some pyjamas; you’re going to spend the night.” Bill and Charlie ate their breakfasts quickly. “Mum, do you think there’ll be fireworks?” asked Bill. Fred and George stopped playing with the blocks in the corner and came over to the table. “We yike fireworks. They go ‘Boom! Bang!’ Can me and George go?” Fred was doing his “puppy-dog eyes”. George stood next to him with the same expression on his face. “We promise we’ll be good and not get in trouble!” completed George. “No, boys. You’re not invited, just Bill and Charlie and Percy. The fireworks will be very late after you are asleep,” said Molly, trying to calm the twins down. “Your dad is going to stay home and play with you today.” Fred and George chorused, “We yike when Daddy pays wif us.” After the older boys left for the Diggorys’, Molly and Arthur brought Ronnie and Harry downstairs to play in the corner of the kitchen with Fred and George. The twins were glad to have an extra playmate. They had always liked Harry. Arthur promised to play with all four of them after he made a quick visit to the Ministry through the Floo connection. He came back within the hour and said, “Everyone is acting like it’s New Year’s Eve. People are dancing in the street and setting off fireworks. Owls are flying around in the daytime.” Arthur looked at the four little boys playing in the corner with the blocks. “All right, boys, shall we build some tall towers or just make roads to run cars on?” Molly turned on the Wizarding Wireless to listen to Days of Destiny when Ginevra woke up and needed to be fed. After the episode, Molly changed her and put her in her baby seat on the floor where she could watch the four boys play with Arthur. The baby squealed every time one of them came over and showed her what they’d made from little plastic blocks. The only time she fussed was when they built a tower with the wooden blocks and Fred and George crashed it down. While the boys and Arthur were playing, Molly washed Harry’s sleepers, nappy, and blanket so he’d have clean clothes when he was left with his mum’s sister. Molly muttered as she folded his things. “I just hope that aunt of his understands what a special boy he is and how much he was loved and cared for. I still wish we could just keep him here but if he and our children wouldn’t be safe...” Harry was so busy playing with the three Weasley boys that he didn’t mention his parents again until it was time for lunch. Harry looked at the cut up banger and scoop of mash that Molly gave him and said, “ Mummy tum now?” Molly shook her head and answered, “Mummy and Dad are gone bye-bye.” Harry looked like he might cry. “No Mummy bye-bye. No Da bye-bye.” Then he started to eat his lunch very slowly. Ronnie moved his chair and plate closer to Harry and said, “Dis is dood.” Fred and George seemed to know Harry needed cheering up and outdid each other in making funny faces at him. After lunch, Molly told all four boys that they needed a nap. Ronnie asked, “ Me and Haw-ee nie-nie Dinny?” So Molly put the three youngest down for a nap sideways on the big bed she and Arthur slept in. Since Ginerva was not quite twelve weeks old, she couldn’t turn over yet but Molly put her in the middle, just in case. “Ronnie, you and Harry take care of Ginevra,” said Molly. “Two big boys will keep her safe.” Ronnie snuggled next to her on one side and Harry on the other. “My baby!” said Ronnie. “My Dinny!” answered Harry. All three children dropped off to sleep. Molly took a little rest on her chaise lounge and thought how darling they looked while they napped. She wondered if Arthur had a charmed Muggle camera out in his shed so she could take a picture. Arthur decided he needed a little lie-down with Fred and George in their room. He was beginning to wonder how Molly did this every day. He fell asleep very quickly. When the children and Arthur woke from their naps, Molly made a cake and cooked dinner. She was happy to have Harry and the younger family members and Arthur all together. She thought, “This is a day to remember.” Ginevra sat in her baby seat on the table with Molly and Arthur and the four boys for dinner. Harry sat on one side of her and Molly on the other. Molly gave her a little taste of applesauce but she spit it right out. This made Harry laugh. “Dinny no yike toss.” Ronnie immediately spoke up, “Me eat more toss.” Molly laughed and said, “No worry about you finishing what she doesn’t want. You definitely have the Prewitt appetite.” After dinner and small pieces of cake, Molly suggested that Arthur bathe the twins first so they could play for a bit after their bath. Then she fed and changed Ginevra and put her down in her cot before she put Harry and Ronnie in the bathtub. She gave them both a good scrub and let them play for a while before she dried them off. She dressed Harry in the clean nappy and the blue pyjamas with feet he had come in. Ronnie said, “Me do it.” and put on his pyjama bottoms. Molly helped with his shirt and snapped his pajamas together. Both boys followed her in to kiss Ginevra good night and then down the stairs to kiss Arthur and Fred and George. “Off to bed now, good friends Harry and Ronnie,” said Molly as she kissed them and tucked them in Ronnie’s bed. “Night-night, sleep tight!” Harry asked “Mummy nie-nie?” Molly answered, “Yes, Harry. Mummy is night-night, too.” The boys cuddled close together. Arthur put the twins to bed about an hour later and Molly and Arthur settled down in their chairs to wait for Hagrid. “You know I don’t agree with Dumbledore’s plan to send Harry to his aunt. Harry would be safe and loved here,” said Molly in a tired voice as she set her needles to knitting. Arthur looked at her kindly and said, “Molly, if Harry stays here, our whole family would be in danger. I know you wouldn’t want anything to happen to our children. Professor Dumbledore says Harry will only be protected by his mother’s sacrifice if he is with others of her blood. It is ancient magic, very powerful.” Molly sighed and seemed lost in her own thoughts but remained silent while she knit. Both Weasley parents had dozed off when Hagrid arrived on the loud motorcycle at midnight. Arthur opened the door and asked him if he’d like a cup of tea. Hagrid refused, saying, “I need ta meet Professor Dumbledore in jus’ a couple of hours. Me and Harry have a long way to fly.” “I’ll go get Harry,” said Molly, starting up the stairs. “I still wish he could stay.” Molly picked up the sleeping Harry and carried him down the stairs. He opened his eyes and smiled at her. “You’re going bye-bye on the big motorcycle again, Harry.” Harry smiled, “Me bye-bye.” “We love you, son,” said Arthur as Molly wrapped Harry in his big fuzzy blanket. He and Molly both kissed Harry. “Come back any time. Ronnie and Ginny will miss you,” added Arthur. “Bye-bye!” said Harry. Molly passed the securely wrapped toddler to Hagrid. “Be careful and be safe.” Hagrid took Harry and climbed on the big bike. “I’ll be off now. Professor Dumbledore said he’d be ‘long shortly.” He gunned the motor and the motorcycle roared down the drive and lifted into the air. Arthur gasped. “That bike can fly!” He and Molly went back in the Burrow to wait for Professor Dumbledore. Molly was making hot chocolate when they heard a knock on the door. Arthur let Professor Dumbledore in. “Would you like some hot chocolate, Professor?” he asked. “Ah, hot chocolate is the perfect drink to soothe the spirit when there has been a loss. I know you both wanted to take Harry and raise him as your own. I am sure Lily and James would have agreed with you while he is so young. His godfather also wanted to raise him but there is no question that he will be best protected at the home of his mother’s sister.” Dumbledore took the cup of hot chocolate and sipped. Arthur and Molly drank their chocolate in silence. Dumbledore put his cup down and asked, “Arthur, do you want me to...” Arthur interrupted, “No, I think it’d be better if I did it. After all, I perform the spell almost every day on one Muggle or another that has had an unfortunate experience with magic.” “What are you talking about, Arthur? What spell on Muggles?” asked Molly, beginning to get alarmed. “Molly,” began Arthur. “Do you remember why I asked you to send Bill and Charlie and Percy to stay with the Diggorys?” “You said that Professor Dumbledore wanted as few people as possible to know that Harry was staying with us.” Molly looked confused. “You said it was safer for Harry and for our family.” A look of alarm spread over Molly’s face. “No. You’re going to make me forget the past twenty-four hours, aren’t you? You are going to Obliviate me – your wife and the mother of your children. No, Arthur!” “Molly, I’m doing it for you and the children. None of us will be safe if You-Know-Who knows we took Harry in. I will leave as much as I can about your friendship with Lily, but I can’t guarantee what you will remember or when.” Arthur was looking very upset. “I love you and our family. I’m doing it to protect all of you.” Molly closed her eyes. “Do what you have to. I won’t endanger our children. I’d die before I let a hair on their little red heads be harmed.” Arthur raised his wand and uttered the limited time Obliviate spell. Molly seemed confused that Professor Dumbledore was drinking hot chocolate with them at midnight and said, “I’m suddenly very tired. Professor, if you’ll excuse me, I think I need some sleep.” Arthur kissed her tenderly and walked her to the stairs. “I’ll be right up, dear Molly.’ Albus Dumbledore stood and prepared to apparate to Privet Drive. “You may have saved several lives tonight, Arthur. You protected those you love.”
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