Chapter 1 - Harry's Return
Harry Potter stood at the bottom of the driveway and ran a hand through his messy black hair. The Burrow hadn't changed in the five years he had been away, its familiarity bringing him some comfort as he steadied himself for whatever was about to happen. Rearranging the backpack on his shoulders and grabbing the handles of the smaller bag at his feet, Harry took a deep breath and started walking up the path. It was early Saturday evening and the winter sky was already dark - after spending three years in the southern hemisphere Harry had blissfully forgotten how early it got dark in his homeland during the winter - but the January gloom wasn't his main concern.
Harry hadn't seen or spoken to anyone since Voldemort's defeat five years earlier, disappearing once he knew everyone was going to be alright. Pausing once again before crossing the small yard to the house, he took another deep breath and readied himself for whatever reaction came his way - would they welcome him? Or would they be angry and turn him away? It was time to find out. Taking the final steps towards the door, Harry tentatively knocked.
A few moments passed before the door was opened and a familiar face peaked out, a look of shock before a scream of welcome and Harry was engulfed into a bear hug from Molly Weasley.
"Molly? Molly, are you alright dear?" Arthur Weasley came anxiously into Harry's line of vision as he remained held tightly in Molly's embrace, "Harry? Goodness me, Harry!" Arthur exclaimed, coming forward, "Molly, dear, let the boy go. I don't think he can breathe." Harry couldn't help smiling as he felt the grip loosen around him and he was able to look down at his assailant.
"Hello Mrs Weasley, Mr Weasley," he ventured shyly, "sorry to disturb you…"
"Disturb us? Shush," Mrs Weasley bustled, "oh Harry, come on in, come on in. None of the children are here at the moment but…oh, Arthur, Ron will be ecstatic!"
"Harry might not be ready to see everyone," Mr Weasley said kindly as he shook Harry's hand and led him into the cozy kitchen, "you look tired son."
"Thank you Mr Weasley," Harry replied as he sat at the table, placing his luggage in the chair next to him, "yeah, I am a bit fuc…ah, buggered. It was quite a journey to get here…"
"Well, some food will help," Mrs Weasley injected, "and then a rest. Where exactly have you come from dear?"
"New Zealand…"
"New Zealand?" Mr Weasley interrupted, "but Harry, that's miles away!" Harry nodded mutely, his mouth suddenly becoming full of the freshly baked bread that he had just dipped into the lovely pumpkin soup which had been placed in front of him.
"Are you here long Harry?" Mrs Weasley asked, sitting down next to her husband on the opposite side of the table, "everyone would love to meet you!"
"Actually, I've come back to sta…" but Harry couldn't finish his sentence due to the scream of delight from Mrs Weasley.
"Did you hear that Arthur, Harry is going to stay! Well, you are more than welcome to board here until you find your feet, Merlin knows we have too much space now all the children are gone. And Arthur - are there any vacancies at the Ministry? I can't remember…"
"Molly, sweetheart, Harry may have plans," Mr Weasley said calmly, winking at Harry as his wife continued to make suggestions, "but if you haven't Harry, we would be pleased to have you stay."
"I was going to get a room at the Leaky Cauldron…"
"No! I will not hear of it," Molly interrupted again, "not when there are rooms begging here at The Burrow. I'll go and fix Ron's old room for you." Without another word, she bustled out of the room and left the two men sitting quietly at the table.
"Things have been tough on Molly after Ginny shifted out," Mr Weasley explained, "the house seems so empty. Still, it fills up quick enough when they all return."
"How is the family?" Harry asked as he had another mouthful of bread.
"Growing," Mr Weasley smiled fondly, "Bill and Fleur have a son, Artie, he's four now. Bill still works at Gringotts. Charlie married a nice girl just over a year ago, Kimmy is her name, and they have a new little son called Allie. Fred and Angelina got married, ooh, two and a half years ago now and are happy with a house in Hogsmead. No children as yet as he is so busy with the business, which I must say is doing very well. He and George run the shop at Hogsmead while Ginny manages the store at Diagon Alley. George is still single, we can never keep track of his girlfriends! Who else? Oh yes, Ron married Luna and have a lovely son called Lenny who keeps everyone on their toes while Ginny has been dating Neville Longbottom for a little while now…" Mr Weasley stopped and glanced over at Harry. Part of Harry realised what his host was silently asking - his relationship with Ginny had still been in progress when he left, just, and knowledge that she had moved on may have been painful. It wasn't.
"It sounds like everyone is happy," Harry said finally, smiling as he finished his soup, "I'm glad. What about the others?"
"Remus and Tonks are doing well, still at Grimmauld Place though it is unrecognisable…"
"And Hermione?"
"Hermione is training to be a Healer," Mrs Weasley answered as she re-entered the kitchen, "your bed is ready Harry, but I know both Ron and Ginny would love to say hello." Harry frowned.
"And Hermione?" he repeated.
"It's a bit late for her dear. You will see her soon enough."
Harry glanced at his watch and saw that it was only seven o'clock, making his frown deepen - how could seven o'clock be too late? Yet he realised he will have to wonder about that mystery a bit later on as he looked at the anxious face of the Weasley matriarch, who was waiting on tender hooks for Harry's permission to contact her children. Thinking that it would be nice to see Ron again and knowing he would have to face Ginny sometime, he smiled his acceptance to her offer and in a dash she headed towards the fireplace in the living room.
"I won't let them stay too long Harry," Mr Weasley said kindly, "you must be exhausted. But they would love to see you." Before Harry could respond, a tall, lanky redhead strode into the kitchen, a smile plastered on his face. Harry recognised his friend immediately and rose to meet him, allowing himself to be drawn into a hug.
"Harry," Ron exclaimed, "I don't believe it mate! Welcome home!" The two men drew apart and Harry noticed that although there was a new maturity in the familiar face, it still had the boyish inquisitiveness that he remembered from his school days.
"Good to see you too," Harry responded, grinning, "though its hard to believe you are a father!"
"I know! But, well, these things happen if you keep having sex!"
"Ronald," Mrs Weasley scolded before another familiar redhead entered the room. Harry turned from Ron and looked into the eyes of a girl that once meant so much to him.
"Hey Ginny," he said softly. The two looked at each other, Ginny with a small smile on her face.
"Looking good Potter," she replied just as softly.
"You too," Harry came back, "Neville must agree with you." Ginny's smile faulted slightly before taking a few more steps to stand directly in front of him.
"I didn't think I'd ever see you again."
"Things took a bit longer to sort out than I had anticipated."
"And you're back to stay?"
"Yeah." They both just looked at each and Harry noticed, as he did with Ron, that the main change in Ginny was a new maturity that hid in her eyes. But the nervousness that he thought he'd experience when facing her never arrived - his heart hadn't fluttered when he first saw her or ache that she was now out of reach. Ginny was once again just Ginny, a good friend and the baby sister of his best friend. Still, he had had left without a word seemingly a lifetime ago.
"Sorry Ginny," he finally said.
"What for?"
"For leaving, for hurting you, for giving you no explanation…"
"It isn't me you need to apologise to Harry," she replied, once again smiling, "what we had was nearly over - I knew that. I can't deny I wasn't upset or worried when you disappeared, we all were - but it wasn't because I was in love with you. It was because you were my friend and you were hurting."
Harry broke from her gaze and looked at his feet.
"I had some things I had to deal with on my own," he mumbled.
"And are they sorted?"
"Yeah, most of them," he looked back up at her.
"Welcome home Harry," she grinned and once again Harry was pulled into a hug.
Later that night Harry found himself walking up the stairs to Ron's old bedroom. The house was surprisingly warm so Harry stripped down to his boxers and fell into bed, ready to sleep. Tired as he was, however, he found he couldn't shut down as his mind went over and over what had happened in the last few hours.
The Weasley's treated him like a long lost son, that he hadn't done any wrong with dropping out of their world for such a long time and had welcomed him back with open arms. Harry smiled as he thought of their acceptance, realising just how much he was part of this family.
Ron has also accepted him back without a second thought, returning easily to their old friendship. Yet Ron was no longer an insecure, gangly teenager - he was a man with a family and responsibilities. He worked in the Ministry in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement in an office role that kept him close to his family, which was how Ron wanted it. He told Harry that he had had enough excitement and danger to last a lifetime, being quite happy to sit at a desk and let others go out and get the bad guys. Harry agreed. He chuckled into the darkness as he thought about his friend, still not quite believing that Ron had married Luna and couldn't wait to hear the full story of the courtship and subsequent wedding.
His relationship with Ginny was a lot less complicated than Harry thought it would be. He didn't leave her on the best of terms and he had been unsure of her response to him. It seems that time had been a fantastic healer and that Neville was better for her than Harry could ever have been. He was happy for her, happy for them both, and slightly relieved to not have to hurt her again if she had wanted to start off where they had ended.
Sighing, Harry closed his eyes but sleep still stayed away. Ron and Ginny didn't hate him - two down, one to go. He wondered whether Hermione would be as accommodating, whether the closeness that had begun between them the days before the final battle would mean that her hurt would be greater. He guessed it would be.
Harry's eyes opened as he looked to the dark ceiling of the room. Remnants of a Chudly Cannon poster still coated the space above him, but he didn't really see it. He knew his return wouldn't be plain sailing, life here had continued without him and things had changed - but that didn't make things any easier. Sighing again, he let himself stare into nothingness until finally his weariness overtook him.