Author's notes:

This is a sequel following the story 'Wrath of a Weasley' in which Harry adjusts to life as a Weasley.

Feel free to post a review, maybe even suggest a few things you'd like to see. Maybe I'll take you up on some of them! :)

—————

Arthur Weasley certainly kept true to his word about the whole clean slate thing. It had been a few days since the incident had been dealt with and now it was as if it never happened. Not counting the usual teasing from Fred and George (whenever they squirmed in their hard chairs at meal times the following day), it was completely forgotten. Molly and Arthur were ever kind to him, making sure he got extra portions whenever he finished a meal (which he always declined because he was so full from the first helping), making sure he was comfortable and warm enough whenever he went to bed (Molly would always come in half way through the night and give him an extra blanket anyway) and Arthur was more than delighted when Harry agreed to help him figure out the mechanics of a muggle radio one afternoon.

The boy would have thought they were just being nicer to him because of his situation, but this was how Arthur and Molly had been treating him last summer too. They were just the kindest, most loving people the boy had ever known. He thought himself so lucky to be spending Christmas with them.

The Weasleys certainly held Christmas in high regard, unlike the Dursleys who put up their tree maybe a week before Christmas day and Harry had to watch them place every single one of Dudleys (fifty or so) presents around it until there was hardly any floor space left. The Weasleys certainly didn't have quite the abundance of brightly wrapped gifts of all shapes and sizes under their thin, dry Christmas tree-just a few squashy presents in cheap wrapping paper (Dudley would have been mortified!) There was maybe one or two presents for each child, all labelled with a handwritten note that melted Harry's heart every time he looked them over.

Notes like,

To Ronnie.

Merry Christmas, dear. We know you've had your eye on this for some time.

Love Mum and Dad x

And,

To Ginny

Merry Christmas sweetie. Congratulations on making it into Gryffindor,

We're so proud!

Love Mum and Dad x

There had even been two presents for him. A medium sized squashy one wrapped in blue, shiny paper and a rather hard rectangular one which had him constantly picking it up, shaking it about and trying to figure out what it could possibly be ('A paddle for Mum and Dad to keep you in line' was what the twins had told him). Not only that, but he'd read the note attached to it at least twenty times over, his heart aching with joy every single time he finished reading.

To Harry,

Merry Christmas love! We're so happy to have you join our little family

Love Molly and Arthur x

—

"Tree looks sort of battered, doesn't it?" Ron asked after lunch that afternoon as he and Harry decided against going out with Percy, Fred and George into the snowy wonderland beyond the warmth of the burrow and settled themselves down onto the squashy sofas with a pack of fifty or so wizarding cards in their hands each. "Not like the ones at Hogwarts, flimsy thing can barely hold up the lights."

Harry glanced over at the Weasley family tree. It was thin and the branches were withered, pines were scattered on the floor amidst the small collection of presents, (which Molly kept grumbling about having to clean up). The lights sort of hung on for dear life to what little support they had, twinkling on and off with the help of a charm. The star on top was lopsided, practically sliding down an inch or two per day and the baubles of all different colours glistened weakly from the faint glow of the lights. Each kit had taken it upon themselves to adorn the tree with their own personal touches. Molly and Ginny had nestled some wonderfully baked ginger cookies against the branches (who winked their chocolate eyes now and again). Percy had rolled up some pieces of parchment tied together with golden and burgundy ribbon to look like scrolls, (which he shoved delicately into the tree, making sure to present them as neatly as possible of course). The twins had wanted to adorn the little tree with a few of Dr Filibuster's Fabulous Wet-Start, No-Heat Fireworks which Molly had immediately declined, so the pair settled on hanging a pair of screaming yo-yos instead. Ron had hung a few of his favourite wizarding cards with a bit of string to a couple of branches, having not been able to come up with anything better.

The tree was a lot like the family really. What it lacked in rich presentation, it made up for in heart and character. Harry loved the tree, even if Ron seemed quite embarrassed by it.

"It's not so bad." he answered after a moment, turning back to face the freckled boy. Harry then looked down at the cards in his hand, "I'll swap you a Balfour Blane for a Cyprian Youdle." he decided.

"Balfour Blane? Aw c'mon I've got about five of him. Don't you have Derwent Shimpling or Dunbar Oglethorpe?"

Harry looked through the deck of his cards again, trying to find one that might tickle Ron's fancy.

"How about an Edgar Strougler?"

Ron looked as if he was considering it for a moment before then nodding his head,

"All right, here's your Cyprian Youdle. Pleasure doing business with you." The red head laughed, taking the card from Harry and handing one back in return. "You're just mad about all the Quidditch related cards aren't you?"

"I can't help it." Harry grinned, looking down at his card. "The only Quidditch referee ever to die during a match? That's pretty interesting."

"You better keep an eye out for Joscelind Wadcock then." Ron answered, looking through his stack of cards for the third time. "Actually now that I think about it, I bet Dad's got one of those. Why don't you ask him?"

"The Chaser for Puddlemere united? Isn't your Dad more of a Cannons fan?" Harry asked, though the thought of getting his hands on that card was certainly appealing. Puddlemere United were his favourite team! At least at the moment, it could always change as he got older.

"Dad doesn't really support a team, he just enjoys the game." Ron shrugged.

"Oh." Harry answered. "Well, I guess I could go ask him." the boy set down his deck of wizard cards and then smirked at Ron, "Oh and don't even think about touching those." he said in his best Molly Weasley impression which caused Ron to smirk. He didn't really care either way if Ron did rifle through his deck, as long as he didn't pilfer his Quidditch and broomstick related cards that is. Harry made his way up the creaky wooden steps and then along the Hall to Mr and Mrs Weasley's bedroom. He curled his fingers into a fist, about to knock…but then—

"Doesn't sound happy? For goodness sake Arthur, maybe you're reading a little too much in between the lines? Surely he wants what's best for Harry?"

Harry frowned. They were talking about him? The boy knew it would be wrong to eavesdrop of course, but he couldn't help himself. The young Gryffindor pressed his ear against the cream coloured bedroom door and listened carefully to every word.

"He's asked to meet in person immediately, Molly, and there was no usual paragraph containing Christmas wishes either."

"Well it is a bit too important to discuss through letters alone." Molly answered, sitting down at the night stand and squirting her usual cheap but sweet-smelling perfume onto her neck. "Honestly Arthur, I think you're worrying yourself over nothing."

"I just have a bad feeling, that's all." The man sighed, running a hand through his thinning red hair. Maybe he was worrying about nothing? He was just dreading the possibility of Albus Dumbledore not being open to the idea of Harry being taken into their home.

"Whatever happens dear, Harry is staying here." Molly answered firmly, setting down the bottle of perfume and charming her hairbrush to drag through her bushy red hair of it's own accord. "I'll fight off Dumbledore and anyone else who wants to take him away from us if I have to!" the ferocity in her voice was not to be ignored.

"They'll certainly rue the day they decided to cross you, Molly Weasley." Arthur smiled, putting his hands on his wife's shoulders and leaning down to kiss her on the lips.

"Oh they certainly will." Molly chuckled into the kiss and then smiled once he pulled away, "Are you going to meet Albus tonight?"

"Yes, when the kits are in bed." Arthur decided, the man then looked over to the door and rose a brow when he heard the floorboards creak just outside their room. Harry had unfortunately taken a moment of silence to shift his position, and it had not gone unnoticed. Arthur took out his wand and gave it a flick, opening the door. He was not happy to see Harry almost tumble onto their sea foam green carpet. "Harry." he frowned.

"Uh…sorry I was just…uh—" Harry shifted awkwardly from foot to foot, avoiding Mr Weasleys stern gaze. Well, this hadn't been part of the plan.

"—Eavesdropping on a private conversation?"

"...No?"

"Don't lie to me, Harry James."

Harry winced at the use of his first and middle name.

"I heard my name and…I got curious." the boy admitted sheepishly, gaze fixed on the carpet beneath his navy woolly-sock clad feet. "…Sorry."

Arthur sighed softly and nodded a little in understanding. He couldn't be angry with this boy, even if he wanted to be.

"It's all right, just don't do it again, understood?" Harry nodded and both Weasley parents exchanged anxious looks, knowing Harry had likely heard everything they had been talking about. "How much did you hear?" he asked after a moment of silence between the three of them.

"I heard you guys talking about Dumbledore and that you're going to meet him tonight." The boy answered honestly.

"Thank you for being honest, Harry." Arthur praised and sighed. "I was going to talk to you about this a little later on but, given the circumstances, I suppose we can talk about it now." Arthur took a seat on the bed to be a little more level gazed with the young boy.

"Harry, eyes on me please." He really did prefer keeping eye contact with whom ever he was talking to.

"Oh, right." Harry nodded, lifting his gaze from his socks and looking into Arthur's eyes, holding his gaze.

"I received Professor Dumbledore's owl this morning and he wants to meet with me to discuss our decision to take you into our home." The man began explaining and sighed when Harry's chin dropped again and he was looking at his feet once more. He didn't address it though because he knew it wasn't an act of defiance.

"He's not going to let me stay, is he?" Harry asked dejectedly. He was used to having his hopes and dreams ripped away from him within a matter of moments. He didn't think now would be any different, though he so wished with all his heart and more that it would be. "Am I going to have to go back to the Dursleys?"

"We won't let that happen." Molly cut across firmly, rising from the salmon pink Ottoman and standing at her husband's side when the man had risen to his feet.

"We told you that you were staying here, and we meant it, Harry." Arthur reaffirmed. "Whatever happens, you will have a home here." he knew he shouldn't be promising something so final to the child, but seeing that dejected look on his young face broke his heart and he would have promised the moon if Harry had so desired it in that moment.

It was still too good to be true for Harry, but he made himself nod anyway, willing himself to believe the two loving parents before him.

"I want to go with you." The boy decided after a moment, lifting his head again.

"With me? No Harry." Arthur dismissed quickly, "You'll be in bed for one thing, and for another it's not a conversation a child should hear."

"But—!"

"—No." Arthur's tone left no room for argument on Harry's part and he sighed in frustration. How could he not be frustrated? Why did adults always have to keep things from him and exclude him from matters that were about him? It wasn't fair! Just because he was a child? Heck! He wasn't even a child, he was twelve, almost thirteen! Whatever Dumbledore and Arthur had to say they could say in front of him!

"I'm going with you." the boy decided, an air of finality in his voice as he crossed his arms over his chest and fixed Arthur with a defiant stare. "I'm not a child and I have a right to know what's going to happen to me!"

Had Ginny, Ron, Fred, George, Percy, Charlie or Bill spoken to him that way, Arthur would have given them a firm pop on the bottom and warned them about their tone. They knew far better than to speak to him with such disrespect. He had more patience with Harry though, the boy wasn't used to being someone's responsibility and having to follow the rules laid out for him. That was something he would learn over time. Still, Arthur was going to make sure Harry knew not to speak to him like that and dictate what he would and wouldn't do.

"Harry." Molly held a clear warning in her tone but Arthur was determined to have Harry see reason.

"You're staying here, Harry James and you will mind your tone when you speak to me." The man firmly rebuked. "I promise when I get home I will tell you everything you need to know. You need to trust that I only have your best interests at heart. I understand your frustration but there are some things that are best left to be discussed between adults."

"Adults who think they know what's best for me…" Harry mumbled bitterly which did not go unheard by Arthur.

"Adults who know what's best for you, Harry." the man's patience was wearing thin but he kept himself in check because he knew very well that there were going to be some things that Harry would find difficulty coming to terms with. "Unfortunately that's just the way it is for now. I promise you won't be kept in the dark about the outcome though, all right?"

Harry supposed that was better than nothing, and he had to remind himself that Arthur was doing this for him in the first place, doing what he could to keep him there at the Burrow with them and their children, keeping him as part of the family.

"All right, fine." he sighed in defeat.

Molly smiled and brought Harry into a hug, which broke down his defences and caused him to curl up in her embrace like a kitten. He really wasn't used to this, being comforted instead of clouted when he flew into a rage, being held and knowing in his heart that everything was going to be okay, that he didn't have to worry about everything all the time. It was a nice, warm feeling that he wished he could hold onto forever.

"Good boy." Arthur smiled, tousling up Harry's hair fondly. "So, what made you come up to our room in the first place?" he asked.

"Oh right, Ron said you'd have a Joscelind Wadcock card that I could have." Harry answered, lifting his head from the comfort of Molly's shoulder and giving Arthur what could only be described as puppy-dog pleading eyes.

"Oh he did, did he?" Arthur chuckled, "Chaser for Puddlemere, right?" at Harry's nod, he gave the boy a wink, "I'll do you one better than that. I have the Puddlemere Seeker card too, Benjy Williams." he told the boy, heading over to the wardrobe that he and his wife shared, and reaching up on the very top shelf for a small metal tin. Bright purple and gold in colour.

"Really?" Harry's green eyes widened and he pulled out of the hug completely, following at Arthur's heels like an excited toddler. The boy knelt down with Arthur and watched carefully as the Patriarch opened up the tin and revealed a rather organized set of a thousand or more Wizard cards. "Does Ron know about this tin?" Harry asked curiously, blinking in amazement.

"I've given him a card or two from my collection over the years, but the tin itself? No. He'd have his hands on it faster than you can say Quaffle." Arthur chuckled, running his fingers along each hexagonal card. "I always felt that collecting the cards yourself was more important than just having them, which was why I never told him. Sometimes it's much better to work hard for something you really want than to have it simply given to you, because it adds value." he told the boy wisely. "Aha! Here's the little devils." he grinned, taking out both cards each and handing them to Harry.

"Thanks!" Harry beamed, looking down at them with adoration. Ron was going to be so jealous!

Molly smiled and shook her head. Honestly, boys and their toys. It was nice to see Harry and Arthur bonding though, it was important for both him and herself to make those relationships with Harry, the relationship a parent should have with their child. Harry needed to feel loved, safe and wanted. Arthur and Molly were more than inclined to make sure he did.

"I suppose I'll leave you boys to it." she chuckled, exiting the room and making her way downstairs.

"All right, dear." Arthur answered, not looking up from the tin for even a moment. "We'll keep this tin our little secret, okay Harry?" Arthur chuckled, putting the lid back in place and then put the tin back where it belonged.

"I promise!" Harry answered quickly. "Our secret."

Arthur closed the door to the wardrobe and looked back over at Harry, the boy was still knelt on the floor, studying both his newly given cards carefully, grinning from ear to ear. He smiled. It felt so good to see the boy happy despite everything he'd been through. The boy needed a loving family more than he realized and despite being worried about Dumbledore's response, he was going to ensure he did everything in his power to make this boy one of the litter. He adored Harry, even if he hadn't known him for too long, he was already a son in his eyes and in his heart. He would fight for him if he had to, and defend him with his life if it came to that (he prayed it never would). Arthur knew the danger of the risks he and Molly were taking and the potential peril he could be putting his children through with this decision. Voldemort, though gone for now, would eventually return and Harry would be his immediate target.

None of that was going to sway his and his wife's decision to keep the boy though. Maybe they were in way over their heads but they had to believe they could be capable of protecting him. No, they were capable. They would keep him safe at all costs.

"Jeez Harry, what's been keeping you!?"

Harry and Arthur both turned their heads in the direction of the open doorway to see Ron stood there, looking a little irritated. Ah of course, he had been waiting for Harry to return all this time.

"Sorry Ron." Harry answered, getting to his feet. "Look! I got the Puddlemere Chaser and Seeker!" he grinned, showing his cards proudly to his best mate and laughing when Ron's jaw dropped and he gave his Father an affronted look.

"What?! That's not fair!" he whined.

Arthur chuckled, "Keep collecting and you might get them someday too, Ronnie." he indulged his child, reaching out and ruffling up the boy's fiery head of hair as he continued to pout. "Who knows, maybe you'll get some more cards for Christmas, maybe even a Cornelius Agrippa." he told him, an air of whimsicality to his voice.

Ron's brilliant blue eyes grew to the size of dinner plates, "Agrippa?! Really Dad?!"

"Maybe." Arthur shrugged, a grin spreading across his face. "Come on then you two, all this snowy weather and you're cooped up inside like a pair of hermits." he snorted, prodding Ron's side and the crook of Harry's neck in a ticklish fashion. "It's not like you to deny your brothers the opportunity to pelt you black and blue with snowballs, Ronald." he smirked.

"Hey! I give as good as I get!" Ron giggled, jutting his hips away from the tickling.

"Well someone certainly needs to put Fred and George in their place." Arthur laughed, shaking his head.

"I'm pretty sure that's supposed to be your job, Dad." Ron teased.

"Yeah well I'm old and tired and I've been dealing with those two since birth." Arthur answered, "I'm entitled to a break now and again."

Harry and Ron laughed as they hurried to their currently shared bedroom and put on some warmer clothes before sprinting down the stairs and outside to join Fred, George and Percy. Arthur and Molly watched in amusement from the kitchen window all afternoon as their kits took one another on in perhaps the most intense snowball fight they'd ever witnessed. Poor Percy seemed to get the brunt of it toward the end with George, Harry, Ron and Fred teaming up against him, even with his snow-built barracks, poor Percy didn't stand a chance. The prefect wasn't usually the type to engage in silly games with his brothers, but when it involved strategy and the chance to pelt Fred and George in the face with snow, he was all for it.

"Looks like I'd better step in." Arthur chuckled, pulling on a pair of pea green Wellington boots by the door.

"I knew you wouldn't be able to stay away for too long." Molly playfully chided her husband, who'd always been a bit of a child at heart.

"Hey, I'm just doing the right thing by protecting our kit." Arthur chuckled, wrapping a woolly, navy scarf around his neck and pulling on his waterproof coat before stepping out into the middle of the war zone. "Don't worry Percy, I'm here to save you!" he cried out dramatically, ducking behind the barracks with his sixteen year old son. "We can take them."

"They always gang up on me." Percy couldn't help whining a bit. Arthur saw how miserable he was and sympathized with his boy.

"I know, but we'll teach them a lesson, together." he grinned, gathering some snow and packing it into the shape of a ball. "Your old man was quite the connoisseur of snowball fights back in the day." Arthur then got onto his knees and hurled a snowball over their protective wall, managing to catch George (or was it Fred?) on the side of his head.

"I've been hit!" The assaulted teen cried out dramatically.

"Man down! Man down!" the other yelled, "Take cover!"

"Yes!" Percy cheered, punching the air, his narrow face alight with glee.

With the fight a little more even on both sides now, the warring commenced. Snowballs went flying in every direction, hitting faces, bottoms, arms and legs, (and one particular nasty throw from Fred that hit Arthur in the lower regions, causing the man to fall on his knees in the snow). Needless to say Arthur and the kits were exhausted and frozen to the bone by the time the sun began setting over the roof of their home and both teams had called a draw. Each boy was ushered into the warmth of the burrow where Molly and Ginny had spent the afternoon baking more Christmas cookies and fixing hot chocolate with whipped cream and sprinkles for everyone. Each boy (Arthur included) got themselves a warm shower and changed into their pyjamas before settling themselves down for tea (which had been a delicious, piping hot beef stew with buttered bread rolls) and then congregating in the living room with their second mugs of hot chocolate and a warm Christmas biscuit in their hands that evening.

Poor Harry and Ron were fighting to keep themselves awake by eight o'clock, the two having downed their creamy, chocolatey drinks and were now sat together on the sofa, Ron's head on Harry's shoulder, and Harry's head on the arm of the sofa. Arthur smiled from his position in the comfortable recliner and smacked his hands together.

"Bedtime for you two, I think."

"Awww Ickle Ronniekins and Harrybobs couldn't stay awake past eight?" Fred cooed.

"Aww bless their little cotton socks." George added.

"Just for that, you can march your backsides up to bed as well." Molly decided and stretched from beside Ginny on their own respective sofa, "I think it would do you two some good to get an early night."

"But Mum!" George gasped,

"It's far too early!" Fred whined.

"Well there's always the option of disobeying your Mum, staying up later and sleeping on your stomachs." Arthur interjected firmly.

Fred and George opened their mouths to protest but decided against it when their Father fixed them with a warning look. They knew when they had been defeated. Their Father was always a worthy opponent.

"I'm gonna go to bed, too." Ginny decided, rubbing her tired blue eyes and then wrapping her arms around Molly in a hug. "Goodnight Mummy." she yawned.

"Goodnight sweetheart." Molly smiled, returning her little girl's hug and her smile widened as Ginny made her way over to Arthur, giving him a hug too.

"Goodnight Daddy."

"Goodnight love." Arthur smiled, giving Ginny a squeeze and pressing a kiss to her forehead, "Pleasant dreams." Arthur then turned a prompting gaze onto his two scowling fourteen year olds and arched a brow, "Get moving boys."

Fred and George sighed, getting to their feet and mumbling a less than enthused goodnight. Both boys then began retreating after their sister up the creaky, wooden staircase and to bed before they got their bottoms smacked good and proper. Their Dad didn't play around when it came to disobeying or disrespecting their Mum.

"Come on kits, up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire." Arthur yawned, getting up from the comfortable recliner and popping his back.

"The…what to what?" Ron mumbled, rubbing his eyes and emitting a loud yawn as he slowly got to his feet as well. Harry joined him, and the two younger boys made their way in a zombie-like fashion upstairs, along the hall and to Ron's room. Since they were both dressed in their pyjamas already, they collapsed into their respective beds and shut their eyes. They were both out like a light by the time Arthur and Molly had made their way up to their room to tuck them in, both of them smiling in amusement over the fact Ron had one leg and one arm dangling over the side of his bed, and Harry had fallen asleep with his glasses on.

"Poor little lambs, all tuckered out." Molly whispered, properly tucking her sleeping bundle of Ron into his bed and pulling the Chudley Cannon covers up to his chin. She then pressed a loving kiss to his forehead and looked over her shoulder as Arthur chuckled.

"Oh I'd say so." he agreed, carefully removing Harry's glasses and putting them on the night stand. The man then tucked the navy Puddlemere United themed blankets more securely around the boy and without really thinking, leaned down to press a kiss to the top of his unruly head of hair. It was instinct really. The man then turned from the sleeping kits and withdrew his wand from his dressing gown pocket, "Nox." the light fled from the room immediately, and the man walked through the door with his wife, shutting it carefully and quietly behind them. "Go on to bed love, I'll be back as soon as I can." the man promised, kissing her lightly on the lips and then making his way downstairs once they'd parted ways.

Arthur grabbed his emerald travelling cloak from beside the fireplace, grabbed a fistful of floo powder and then entered the grate, disappearing without a trace.

Albus Dumbledore would be waiting for him…..