Red Black & Restricted Love

Harry Potter sighed gratefully at the mysteriously held together house setting in front of him. The wonderfully enchanted and inviting Weasley house. Never in all his life had he known such generosity from a family who could hardly afford to pamper themselves. But pampering was not what he needed; it's not even what he wanted. He wanted a home - a home with a family, sisters, brothers, laughter, teasing, arguments, and healthy, normal love that any mother or father could give to their children. He knew he was asking for a lot, and perhaps, even, too much. However, the Weasleys were the insistent ones in this situation. They told him to come to their house if he ever needed a place to stay. They buried him with affection, loyalty and scrumptious home cooked meals. And they even had a girl there, though in this situation he didn't want to think to the affect of her being a sister.

Ginny Weasley, the vivacious and witty 17 year old sister of his best and long time mate, Ron Weasley, was living there. Ginny and Harry had become close friends over the past two years, leaving Ginny's teenage crush a memory in the wind. She had always been somewhat infatuated with Harry since she had first laid eyes on him at King's Cross Station and had often been caught in embarrassing situations when she was around him. Ginny had grown up, however and the more Harry got to know the real Ginny, the more he grew fond of her. Staying at the Dursleys' the past year was absolute hell. His cousin Dudley, a plump and porky young man who was more spoiled than an old potato left at the bottom of a kitchen cupboard, was one of the main reasons Harry was keen on splitting from the wretched household. Another reason, though Harry wasn't always all too willing to fully admit it, was Ginny. All Harry could think about at the Dursleys was Ginny this and Ginny that: her laughter, her uncontrollable laughter made Harry's stomach twirl inside just thinking about it. Even thinking about her angry streaks brought a smile to his face while he was lectured and yelled at by Mr. Dursley.

But now, here he was. Away from the Dursleys, away from angry red faces and pudgy cousin glaring at him. Here he was at his favorite place to be. The Weasley house. Harry shook his head, despite the large smile spread across his face, and stepped awkwardly up the front steps to the front door. Before he had a chance to actually knock, the door opened and standing there on the premises was Mrs. Weasley. Apparently, she didn't know he was there because she let out a highly audible scream and pinned her hand to her chest.

"Harry!" she shrieked, embracing him in a tight hug. "What are you doing here?"

"Well", mumbled Harry, unable to fully breath in her tight embrace. "You said if I needed a place to stay-"

"Oh Harry", she whispered, standing back to admire a full view of the boy. "You're so thin, and you've grown so much since I've last seen you. Come on in, I'll fix you some lunch, and of course you can stay!"

That's all it took to make Harry feel right at home.