Link of Hogwarts

Fifteen

Arthur blinked at the blond at the table, helping his wife and children set it. From behind, he could have been mistaken for a Malfoy but his hair was obviously darker and more to the color of warm golden honey as opposed to Malfoy's cold platinum gold. Not to mention, the ears. He noticed his daughter Ginny shyly sitting at her usual space, red faced and bashful as opposed to her usual strong fiery personality much like Molly.

It can only mean one thing, as he dumbly sat on his chair at the head of the table; Harry 'Link' Potter has come for a visit. He beamed at the boy who looked nothing like his parents and yet at the same time do, "Why, hello there. Welcome to the Burrow,"

Link smiled at him, "Glad to be here, sir,"

Arthur grinned before turning his attention to his wife's scrumptious cooking. He had heard about Link from his children, a bit surprised when his eyes landed on said child at his table for breakfast. Molly had then come down on him about his enchanted project and the children's recklessness. He's torn between findings out if his secret project was a success and scolding the boys for their good intention born of worry for their friend. In the end, Molly sent the children out to do their chores, Ron introducing Link to the art of de-gnoming the garden.

Ron grabbed hold the ankle of one trashing garden gnome, looking nothing like the one that sat on some of the pristine lawns of Petunia's neighbor that Link know, before twisting his arm to throw it. Ron peered over at the area the gnome fell before pumping his fist in victory. He then saw Link watching him with polite but bewildered interest. Flustered, Ron explained, "Well...you make them dizzy first with the swinging before tossing them over the garden. Fred and George made a game out of it and now we try to toss it as far as we could. The target distance would be beyond that tree stump there,"

Link studied the gnome hiding in the bushes, "Does it hurt?"

"Who? Them? No, not that I know of. It's better than sniping at them with magic though, some people do it that way and it can leave nasty scarring on their skin. But then they'll pull a revenge stunt and destroy whatever crop you're trying to grow. Ginny swear they like being thrown around,"

Link grabbed a struggling gnome, listening to their gibberish as they try to claw their way out of his sturdy grip. Some part of him think that it was like handling cuccos as he shook them as hard as he could, which was quite hard and accidentally knocking the poor thing out. Ron stared at the unconscious gnome, "Wow, Link. You didn't have to shake that hard,"

Link cringed, "Sorry," He then tossed the garden gnome light over the fence. It didn't reach anywhere near Ron's target distance. He feel sorry for the gnome but since they're more like garden pests, he can't exactly bring up any more sympathy than what was given.

So he shook his concern away and grabbed an escaping gnome, swing it over his head like a flail and toss the creature as hard as he could like a javelin. His gnome landed right on the stump, knocking it out cold. Ron gave him a side along look before shifting away a little, making Link sweat, and said, "Is it just me or do you really hate them that much? You keep knocking them out,"

This continued until late noon, where Link will try to not knock his gnomes out and barely succeeding. Once that was done, Ron showed him where to shower and their shared room. He sheepishly presented his room, "Sorry, it isn't much,"

Link smiled kindly, "More than I even have. At least everything here is yours or at least willingly given without spite,"

Ron internally winced, recalled Link's living condition. Then he looked at the room through his friend's eyes; sure enough, everything here belonged to Ron or at least handed down to him by his family because he needed it more than they do or the older Weasley outgrew their need. Whatever Link has, he had to scavenge and build it on his own. So Ron smiled, "Well, I guess we'll be roommates until Hogwarts start again,"

Living with the Weasley, in Link's opinion, was more welcoming than the Dursley. The siblings will always try to get him involved in whatever activities they were doing, they didn't try to alienate him or make him feel less. If anything, the brotherly look sent his ways by the older boys and sometimes Ron whenever he asked about things that appeared bizarre to him but common to a full magical household was endearing and tickled his heart warmly. The only one avoiding him was the only Weasley daughter, Ginny, who would peek at him from afar before squeaking and dodging out of sight. Ron said he had never seen his sister so quiet.

It wasn't long before the letters from Hogwarts arrived and their school lists were updated. Link wore his hoody and stared at the new transportation that the Weasley was introducing him to; the Floo Network. He was then pushed forward and given much encouragement by Molly, "Just keep your limbs close, tuck in your chin and squint so the ashes don't get in your eyes. Also, don't forget to say Diagon Alley loudly and clearly!"

He was handed the silvery powder and pushed into the large fireplace. Keeping an eye on Molly with uncertainty, he swallowed his nervousness and threw the powder down just as he spoke out the name of his destination nervously. Unfortunately, he said it a little too quickly thus stringing the two separate words into one and disappeared before he could correct it.

The Weasley couple looked at each other in confusion;

"What did he said? Did you hear what he said?"

"Diagonally...I think..."

"Oh dear...hopefully he only missed a couple of fireplaces..."

Link doesn't know whether to call himself lucky or unfortunate as he found himself rolling to his feet from unlit fireplace in a gloomy shop. Quickly standing up, he patted down the black cloak covering his green shirt and tan khaki. Stomping out his laced up boots like he would when snowed, Link looked around the store, taking note of the rather alarming contents before shrugging it and turned to leave but stopped at the sight of Malfoy coming through the door, the bell jingling pitifully above the door.

Draco blinked and frowned, "What are you doing here, Potter?"

Link shrugged and turned his head at the unlit fireplace. Draco had a sinking feeling that he's going to end up in a bad spot with his father. So he quickly grabbed Link and stuffed him into a sarcophagus nearby just as Lucius Malfoy opened the door behind him. Draco pretended to be staring at the sarcophagus while Lucius barked at him to "not touch anything".

Link awkwardly stood stiff in front of the dried up mummy behind him. He listened to muffled discussion going on beyond the closed door of the sarcophagus he's trapped in. Soon, the discussion disappeared and the door opened with a flushed Malfoy staring at him, "I think you'd better leave before my Father catches sight of you,"

As Link absentmindedly signaled thank you to the Malfoy Heir before walking out of the store, Draco wondered why he even helped Harry 'Link' bloody Potter hide. So instead of thinking too much on the matter, he decided that he's just paying back for that night at the Forbidden Forest. Feeling good about his excuse, he gave himself a pat on the back before facing his Father who started berating him about playing with Dark Magic imbued items for nth time since he understand words.

That Potter better be grateful...

Meanwhile, Link looked around him at the unsavory street. Shady people lingered around darkened corner and eyes followed him with part curiosity and part predatory. Link know, in that way that he just do, that not everyone who came here meant harm but desperation can force the hand of the most well-meaning man. So he kept his guard up, hands gripping on his wands on both sides of him and face stone cold. He ignored all attempt to engage him and kept an eye out for the way out of this place.

Just as he started being followed by those who decided that he's an easy target, he heard a familiar deep voice calling out in surprise, "Link?"

Link looked up to see the tall and sturdy form of Hagrid eclipsing all others around him. His stone cold face melted into a friendly smiled as he called back, "Hagrid!"