Furious Angels

Chapter Four: Living Conditions...

"So what do we do, Professor?" Molly Weasley was staring at her daughter and her... she refused to use the word "husband" when talking about a boy of only twelve. It was ridiculous... outrageous... it had to be a huge mistake! Her eyes narrowed as she watched the boy, sitting there with an innocent grin on his face. Innocent... Hah! She thought to herself. There's nothing innocent about this boy... He trapped my daughter in a love spell. My innocent baby... victimized by this... Lothario.

The two children had been remarkably quiet once they declared their unending love for each other. Hand-in-hand, they had moved to one of Dumbledore's chairs. Ginny had actually begun to climb up into Harry's lap until headmaster had magically widened the seat. After that, they'd been listening to everything said about them without interrupting.

"There isn't anything you can do, Molly. I'm sorry... if it is any consolation at all, know this: Harry will die before he hurts her, or allows someone else to hurt her." Both Harry and Ginny began nodding at this, as if to confirm the headmaster's words. Dumbledore smiled at them. "Molly, you need to accept this. They are soul-bonded now. There isn't any way to reverse it, or remove it, and these two children would fight you tooth and nail if you tried. They are as they will be for the rest of their lives."

"But she's only ten, Headmaster." Molly's lips thinned into a line. "She can't possibly know what love is."

"Molly..." Dumbledore began. He sighed and cut himself off. "I'm sorry... but there's no way around it. Harry gave her the Soul Stone this morning. There is no way he could have done that unless she was, indeed, his one true love. She accepted the Soul Stone from him. Again, she could not have done that unless he was her one true love. Obviously, they had some idea of what love was."

"I... um... sorry to interrupt." Harry blushed as every eye turned to him.

"No, no, dear boy... by all means, what were you going to say?" Dumbledore smiled, trying to make Harry more comfortable.

"Well, sir... I didn't give Ginny the Soul Stone this morning," Harry said. "I was at home all morning cooking breakfast. I don't even know what a Soul Stone is, Professor."

Dumbledore's mouth fell open in shock. "You didn't..." He looked at Molly and Arthur. "But you said he gave..."

"She said he gave it to before he left, but can't remember when it was that he left. As far as we know, he's never been to the Burrow," Arthur said with a sigh. "I've no idea what's going on. I do know that he was never at the Burrow this morning."

McGonagall frowned for a moment. "Harry... are you sure you didn't give her some friendly token of your affection, perhaps, not knowing what it was? Just in the spirit of friendship, mind you?"

"Minerva, are you suggesting that Potter gave Miss Weasley a Soul Stone by accident? Such a thing is unheard of!" Flitwick was bouncing up and down in excitement. "If everything I've read about Soul Stones is true, such a thing is impossible!"

"Not necessarily, Filius," Dumbledore interjected. "If these two children were, indeed, meant for each other and one of them, as Minerva suggested, gave the other a token of affection without being aware of the presence of a Soul Stone -- I believe the Stone would accept the transfer even if the intent wasn't present. It's the love that's important, after all."

"So if it's all wrapped up in the Stone, let's just get rid of it, then." Molly reached for the ring on her daughter's hand.

"NO!" two voices yelled simultaneously. Flitwick and Dumbledore both had expressions of sheer terror on their faces. "Molly..." Dumbledore started. "If you can never accept anything else I tell you, accept this please: you do not ever want to attempt to forcibly remove the Stone from Ginny's hand. If she wants to voluntarily hand it over, that's fine... but never try to take it from her. The consequences are... nightmarish..." The headmaster turned to Ginny. "May I see your ring, my dear? I'll give it right back to you once I'm done."

"Certainly, Professor!" Ginny slid the ring from her finger and handed it to Dumbledore.

His eyes widened. "Oh my... I recognize this ring. It's the engagement ring James Potter gave to Lily Evans. Until today I had thought it was locked within the Potter Family Vault. How did it get out of the vault, to be received by Miss Weasley, I wonder." He read the inscription, nodding the entire time. "This is the Stone of Burning Bright, an heirloom of the Ancient Line of Potters."

The older man turned to Harry. "Did you somehow access your family vault, Harry? How did you take this out of Gringotts?"

"I haven't been to Gringotts since Hagrid took me, sir. Before Ginny showed me that ring, I'd never seen it before."

Dumbledore was quiet for a moment, staring into Harry's eyes. "Harry... did you give Ginny the ring before you left?"

"Yes, I did that, Professor," Harry said.

"And when did you leave, Harry?" The headmaster's gaze seemed to burn into Harry's.

"I... um... I don't..." Harry shook his head. "I'm sorry Professor."

"Perfectly all right, Harry," Dumbledore sighed. "Well... we have a mystery before us."

"We have more than a mystery before us, Headmaster! What are we supposed to do now?" Molly's anger was fizzling out, slowly. "You said they are legally adults, but there is no way on this Earth that I am allowing my ten year old daughter to live on her own. They couldn't support themselves, for one thing..."

"I assure you, Mister Potter has the material resources to live quite well on his own, should he choose to," Dumbledore said quietly.

"That's beside the point! He's eleven! Ginny's ten! There is just no way we should accept these two children living on their own! How would they eat? Where would they sleep? How would they live, for Merlin's sake?"

"I quite agree with you, Molly. It is important that they be looked after. They are far too young to have this thrust upon them, but what's done is done! Now we must insure that they are safe, and happy, and that they can grow up healthy.

"We don't want to live by ourselves, Mum," Ginny said. "Right, Harry?" Beside her, Harry nodded. She turned back to her mother. "We'll stay with you and Dad until I go to Hogwarts."

"What? What do you mean 'we'll stay'?" Molly asked. "Harry will have to go back to his Muggle relatives until start of term."

"Unfortunately, he cannot do that. He wouldn't be safe. An apparent side effect of the Soul Stone transfer was the complete collapse of the blood wards surrounding his aunt's house. He cannot live there," Dumbledore explained. "We were, in fact, planning on contacting you about the possibility of his staying with you during the summer, since he is such good friends with Ronald."

"Harry is going to stay with me, Mum. We're staying together." Ginny's voice was flat and final.

Arthur interceded before Molly could speak. "Well, we'd certainly be willing to have Harry over in the summer. He can stay in Ron's room. I'm sure Ron will enjoy the company!"

Molly was quiet for a moment. She sighed, finally, and said, "I suppose that would be okay. He's very young, too, and as you say he needs some looking after." The angry defender of her children was slowly being replaced by the mother who wanted to take care of all children. Harry was so skinny-looking.

"Excellent! I'm glad that's settled." Dumbledore stood. "Arthur, if I could impose upon you just once more... seeing as he will be staying with you, I suppose it would be most appropriate if you could escort young Harry here to Gringotts." The headmaster held up the roll of parchment he was still holding. "Apparently there is an important matter he needs to look after... something to do with his parents' vault."

"Oh... er... certainly, Headmaster." Arthur looked at Harry. "It's not his fault, I suppose... just one of those odd things that occur." His own parental instincts had been triggered at the sight of the boy. He was skinny, too skinny... and the clothing didn't help. He'd have to see what he could do about getting the boy something decent to wear. And Molly would be force-feeding Harry before too long, just to get him to put on some weight.

"Well... I suppose one more child won't kill us. And he is family." Arthur smiled at Harry, who beamed back at the older man in return.

"That's the spirit, Arthur. And he won't be a burden, I assure you. As I said, he's more than capable of looking after his own needs, as pertains to money. I'm sure he'd be willing to help out with his own support."

Arthur scowled. "Now, Albus... we're not going to take advantage of the boy. That wouldn't be right."

"Arthur, think of it this way. Would it be right for a son to not help his wife's family when they were in need?" Dumbledore raised one eyebrow. "He's your son now, Arthur. Even though he's twelve, he's your daughter's husband. That's not charity, it's one member of a family helping out another."

Arthur didn't know what to say to that. He hadn't thought through all the implications of suddenly having a son-in-law. "Yes... well... even so... there's helping out occasionally and there's taking advantage. We're going to be careful to not take advantage."

"Of course you won't, Arthur. No one could think otherwise." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

"Well, I suppose it could be worse," Molly said, finally.

"Oh, I have no doubt it will get worse, if you don't mind me saying so," Minerva McGonagall said, clucking her tongue. "This marriage had to have been recorded in the Ministry Office of Magical records. By now someone in that office has sold the information to the Daily Prophet. Probably Witch Weekly as well. In fact, I'm fairly sure the only news source out there that doesn't know about this is the Quibbler, and even then it would only be because Xeno Lovegood finally caught one of those ridiculous beasties he's always going on about."

Arthur sighed again. He was doing that a lot today.

XxxxxxX

Arthur popped out of the Floo at the Leaky Cauldron and turned quickly enough to catch Harry as the boy stumbled out of the fireplace. "I've got you. There's a lad." Without warning, Ginny came bursting through, slamming right into Harry and knocking both children to the ground. He quickly pulled the pair to their feet just as Molly Weasley came out of the fireplace herself.

"Don't worry, kids. You'll get the hang of it. It's just a matter of practice." Arthur dusted soot from the two children's shoulders. "Now, let's head over to Gringotts and take care of this..." he held up the letter "... and then I think we need to go to Madame Malkins or Gladrags and get you some clothing, Harry. I'm sure this is what the stylish Muggle boy is wearing, but to the Wizarding eye, they look like someone's baggy hand-me-downs..."

"Well, actually..." Harry began. Rather than finish his sentence, he snapped his mouth shut and nodded.

"All right, then... let's be off!" Arthur took Harry's hand, Harry held Ginny's, and Ginny held her mother's. Thus, as a human chain, they headed out into Diagon Alley. The alley wasn't as busy as it was a year ago, and so this time the trip to the goblin bank was much quicker than the one he'd taken with Hagrid.

Molly and Ginny hung back as Arthur and Harry approached one of the service desks. The goblin finished what he was writing, and then looked up. "May I be of service?" It sneered.

"Yes, sir. I have a letter requesting I come in and deal with some things regarding my family vault, and security changes and such..." Harry said. He had never been that comfortable around goblins. To him, they always looked as if they were about to take a bite out of you.

"Security changes and such." It was clear from his tone that the goblin would have rather been boiled in hot wax rather than attend to Harry's business. "Do you have this letter, sir?" Harry nodded and turned it over. The goblin read it, slowly, twice, and then nodded. "Very well, Mister Potter. Let me escort you and your bride into one of our conference rooms. I'll inform the Honored Rogluk that you are here; he is your account manager. And many congratulations on this your day of mating. May you have many sons and may they be strong and productive."

Harry perked up when the goblin spoke of Ginny as "your bride". "Thank you!" He motioned Ginny and Molly over. The goblin unlocked the door and gestured them in, but when Arthur started in the Goblin stopped him. "This is a confidential meeting, sir. Only the account holders are permitted. You'll have to wait in the lobby until they are done."

"But... they're children. She's our daughter," Arthur protested.

"Ah... then my congratulation to you as well on the day of your daughter's mating. May she have many strong and productive sons. Please wait in the lobby." The goblin was adamant. Harry shrugged apologetically at Arthur as the door closed behind him and Ginny.

For the first time, Arthur felt it... that sense of loss all fathers who have daughters feel, when they realize that, while they aren't being kicked out of their daughter's lives they aren't necessarily the center of her universe anymore. And it hurt.

XxxxxxX

Mere minutes after being shown into the conference room, Ginny and Harry were joined by a large, truly ugly-looking goblin who introduced herself as the Honored Rogluck. "Mister Potter... Missus Potter. Greetings on this day of your mating. It's always glad tidings when one of the Twelve Ancient Houses marries."

Harry and Ginny both blushed at that remark. Harry wasn't sure what was meant by 'Twelve Ancient Houses', but he took it the way it was meant. "Thank you, sir. Um... sir... I'm sorry to ask, but what was this all about? I mean... why the letter?"

The goblin inhaled through her nose and held it for a moment. "Mister Potter, you've been able to access the Potter Trust vault prior to today. It was set up as a way to pay for your tuition and any needed supplies, plus to give you a small but appropriate supply of pocket money. However, it is not the primary Vault owned by your family. Because of your recent mating..." the goblin nodded toward Ginny "... you are now eligible to access the entirety of your parents' fortune. I need you to sign certain documents authorizing the re-absorption of the Trust vault into the primary Potter vault. In addition, I am certain you wish to add your new bride to the Vault's security spells, thus allowing her to access it as well. It would hardly be proper to have your wife burned to a cinder while she's trying to get the grocery money." The thing laughed, and it was perhaps the creepiest thing Harry had ever heard.

The signing of documents took no time at all; there were only two pages to be signed. Adding Ginny to the security took slightly longer. Not only did she have to sign several sheets of parchment, in the end both Harry and Ginny had to prick their fingers and seal the document in blood. As they watched, the blood soaked into the parchment and disappeared.

"There... now Missus Potter will be able to enter the Vault without triggering the anti-thief spells." The goblin made to stand. "I'm sure you'll want to visit the Potter vault in order to inspect the contents. The gold transfer from the Trust vault has occurred automatically and your old vault has been declared empty. Here is the new Vault key." The goblin passed it to Harry, who nodded in thanks. "As that is all, I shall take my leave."

The door behind Harry and Ginny clicked open. They stepped out into the lobby, still a bit confused about what exactly had happened. They spotted Arthur and Molly waiting uncomfortably and ran over to them. "Guess what, Dad!" Harry said without any hesitation at all. "We're rich! We need to go down to the Potter vault to take a look around and see what's in there. That's what Mister Rogluck said. While we're down there, I can pick up some money for the clothes."

Arthur had been thrown off by being called 'dad'. The simple phrase had struck him like a punch to the gut, so it took a moment to react. "All right, Harry..." Molly had heard it too, and was alternately frowning and smiling. The smile finally won. She mouthed Dad? at Arthur, who shrugged.

Harry and Ginny led her parents back to the counter, where the vault key was presented. The roller-coaster ride to the old vault was long, but this one was spectacular and seemed to never end. Harry had asked about the difference.

"The deeper the vault, the larger the vault," their goblin escort, Griphook, said. "The indicated vault is one that belongs to one of the Twelve Ancient Houses, the Potters. It is thus one of the largest vaults in the facility."

Arthur interrupted. "The Twelve Houses... really? I didn't know the Potters were one of the Twelve Houses. I thought that... well... since Harry's the last of the Potters, the house would have been... I don't know... dissolved or something similar."

"That would only happen if last Potter dies without a male heir. Then, and only then, would one of the twelve great families be removed, and the next ancient of families advances in their place. Watch your heads," the goblin called as the cart took a particularly sharp dip under an outcropping of rock.

"When was the last time a family was replaced?" Harry asked. The subject sounded fascinating. He loved learning about Wizarding culture, and to find out that he was a part of some ancient tradition appealed to him.

"1690, when the Malfoys were advanced to fill the space left by the Darcys."

"Really? You mean all that talk about being from an old and noble family, and they're all Johnny Come Lately?" Harry almost bounced in his seat at the news. "So... erm... if I don't have any sons... when the time comes... who'd replace the Potters?"

"The next family in prominence is the Gamp family," Griphook said. "Not long now."

"So where are the Weasleys in line?" Arthur asked, casually.

The goblin turned to look the man in the eyes. "There are thirty-seven Families between the Weasleys and a place among the Twelve Families."

"Really? How fascinating... that's closer than I ever thought," Arthur said to himself as they finally coasted to a stop.

"Vault Eleven." Griphook got out of the cart and motioned Harry and Ginny to follow him. "Account-holders only," he cautioned as Molly made to get out of the cart. "The vault only recognizes the account-holders, Madame. It is not safe for you in there. Please note that I am not entering the vault, either."

Arthur gently took one of Molly's arms and kept her from getting out of the cart. "It will be all right, Molly... we have to start accepting this situation. This is a good way to start." Ginny and Harry watched this exchange with a growing look of sadness. They were aware that something was going on, but weren't sure what.

The children stepped into the vault and their mouths hit the floor. Gold, silver, and bronze coins were everywhere. Artwork, statues, old furniture... the room was filled end to end with artifacts. It would take weeks to precisely figure out what was in the vault.

Ginny was gobsmacked. Harry already had the experience of his original vault to fall back on, despite this one being much, much bigger. "Come on, Gin... let's grab some money and get out of here..."

XxxxxxX

The Floo at the Burrow flared green and Harry, Arthur, Molly, and Ginny stepped out as a group. "Percy! Fred! George! Ron! Everyone gather at the table! Family discussion! Now, please!" She looked around for damage to the house. They'd left Percy in charge, but there was no guarantee that the twins wouldn't stuff him in a closet and go rampaging around. Everything, at the very least, looked normal.

Ron was down first. He glared at Harry as he sat down. "So... what's he doing here?"

"Ron, he's still your mate!" Ginny yelled.

"Not after trapping my sister with some sort of love spell, he's not!" Ron harrumphed. The righteous indignation was flowing from the boy like waves on the ocean.

"He didn't trap me with anything, Ron... Dumbledore said that this was meant to be or it wouldn't have happened at all!" Ginny said. "It just... happened sooner than anyone thought it would have."

"What happened sooner than anyone thought it would have?" Percy asked, finally arriving.

"Ginny marrying Harry. Apparently, they are legitimately meant to be together, or else the magic wouldn't have taken effect," Arthur explained.

Fred and George joined the family at the table, just as Percy asked, "But what about the marriage...that can't be legal, can it? I mean... that's not actually happened, right?"

"Well... apparently it has," Molly said. At her words, the table exploded in voices as all four of the Weasley sons offered comment, protest, or both.

"One at a time, boys!" Arthur said, as loudly as he ever got. "We can answer your questions... just one at a time."

"What does it mean, they're married? I mean, are they going to be living of somewhere, sleeping in the same bed, kissing all the time like you and Mum do?" Ron asked, completely scandalized. "I mean, they're both kids!"

"And what are you, Ronald Weasley? An old man?" Ginny yelled. She was obviously getting angry.

"No, but I'm older than either of you!"

"Boys!" Molly called. "Let's still to the subject. No, they won't be living elsewhere... Harry's moving into the Burrow, permanently. Harry will be staying with you in your room, Ron. Ginny stays in her room as normal, and no, there won't be any kissing all the time. Life will go on like it always has, and we're all going to pretend like everything is fine. Because everything will be fine. Nothing has changed, really. This is just... one of those things..."

Arthur looked skeptical, but didn't say anything.

Ginny tapped her father on the shoulder. "Dad, while you and Mum explain things, can I show Harry around? He's never been here, before and you don't exactly need us for this..."

XxxxxxX

When Ginny suggested that she give Harry a tour of the land around the Burrow, he agreed happily. It seemed as though she were surrounded by a nimbus of light... and he wanted to follow that around wherever it went. He was dimly aware of other people (he wondered if Mrs. Weasley would stop huffing at him any time soon), but Ginny was the only one in color. He grasped her hand in his and they stepped out the door.

"There's the Quidditch pitch." Ginny pointed. "It... it isn't really a Quidditch pitch, but... my brothers play there... and I do too when I can sneak one of their brooms out."

"You like Quidditch?" Harry beamed. There were many wonderful things about Ginny, and he discovered something new almost every minute. Sometimes even twice a minute. "I love Quidditch! Are you a Cannons fan like Ron? Or... I heard that a lot of people support Puddlemere United."

"I like the Holyhead Harpies," Ginny said enthusiastically. "Did you know that they're the only all-female Quidditch team in the league?"

They carried on talking about Quidditch and their mutual love for the wizard sport until they reached a small pond toward the back of the property. The Burrow might have been small for the amount of people it contained, but the land it stood on sprawled and by the time they reached it, Harry had started to sweat through his shirt. He gazed longingly at the water.

Ginny was apparently able to read his thoughts. "Let's go in!" Her shirt hit the ground, and Harry's wasn't long after. He hopped on one foot, and then the other, trying to pull off his jeans, underpants, socks, and shoes all at the same moment. He almost had it -- but his foot caught on his jeans and he went sprawling. Ginny giggled. "Last one in is a pile of dragon droppings!"

She shrieked when he disentangled himself from his attacking clothes and chased after her. She'd had a head start, but Harry had longer legs, and they hit the water at the same moment. It was cold... far colder than he had been expecting, and he gasped. Water streamed down his back as he caught his breath. He'd just gotten used to it and was looking around for Ginny--

And found his legs pulled right out from under him and he was fully submerged in the water once more. He reached out blindly, felt the curve of a small elbow not his own, grabbed it, and hauled her closer to him. He stood up again, keeping Ginny close. "Playing a bit rough, Ginny?" He grinned at her. Then, without warning, he lifted her by the waist and threw her up and away. The look of shock on her face when she splashed back down was priceless.

This began a war that was three parts laughter, and one part actual splashing and dunking.

"Time to come out!" Arthur called. "Come on! We need to have a little chat!"

Ginny immediately shrieked. "We're naked, Dad!"

"Exactly," Arthur said. Harry froze, glad that the water was up to his waist and that Mr. Weasley could not see anything through the water. Then he did something for which Harry would always be grateful: he turned his back. Mortified, and desperately hoping that Mr. Weasley had only inferred the nakedness from the clothes piled up on the shore, and not because he had seen any flailing bits, Harry scampered and pulled his clothes on with remarkable speed considering the fact that he was wet.

Ginny threw on her dress and pulled up her knickers just as Harry zipped his jeans. "We're decent now, Dad."

"Er," Mr. Weasley looked extremely uncomfortable. "I don't think the two of you should... should be naked around each other."

"Why not?" Ginny asked, astonished.

"Well... it just -- I don't think your mother..."

"But Dad!" Ginny said. "It was hot, and we wanted to swim!"

"Would you have gone swimming naked with your brothers?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"Of course not," Ginny said immediately. "But... it's different with Harry."

Mr. Weasley turned bright red and mumbled something under his breath that Harry did not quite catch. Harry could dimly understand why Mr. Weasley might be upset... but this was Ginny! Being with her was more natural than breathing. Surely Mr. Weasley could understand that...

"Sir, it's just -- we were just having fun," Harry said lamely. He spread his hands in a placating gesture. "We just didn't even think about it."

Mr. Weasley gazed at him intently for several tense moments. Finally, he sighed. "I believe you. Just try -- please -- to bring swimming things next time. And... don't tell your mother. She's a little... fragile at the moment." He performed a Drying Charm on the both of them and muttered, quietly, under his breath, "...glad it wasn't Molly..." Then, louder, "Let's get back to the house. Lunch is almost ready."

Harry and Ginny grasped hands again and dutifully followed behind Mr. Weasley. The older man glanced back, took in the entwined fingers, and turned bright red, though he did not appear to be angry. "No -- I don't want -- the two of you are not allowed to -- to -- to play 'Healer' or anything like that."

Harry exchanged a dumbfounded look with Ginny. "What?" Harry asked cautiously.

"Sorry," Mr. Weasley muttered. "Glad you don't -- there were two Muggle girls from the village... Fred and George were ten..."

Harry did not quite understand, but he sensed that Mr. Weasley would not explain that particular comment. What exactly is playing 'Healer'? Maybe I'll ask the twins...