Authors Notes: No the title was not a biblical reference or a play on the painting. I just thought it was a fitting title that had no religious meaning to my story. :)
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When the pudding was laid out on the table Harry snorted darkly and covered his face in both of his hands. "Do you have any other desserts?" Harry asked with his face still covered.
Ron sat up straighter, he was still upset about all of this and he needed to blow off steam. "Why is the great Harry Potter too good for my mum's desserts?" Hermione elbowed Ron but it was too late.
Harry snapped his head up and everyone could feel the anger rolling off of him. "You know damn well that I have never once liked the way people treat me because of my name. I have never used my name to grant me anything. I have never used my name to get something I didn't deserve. I have never used my fame to further my own agenda. I have always done things with my own merit. Even when I testified at the trial, I did so with my own knowledge. I studied law books for two months just so that I knew what I was talking about. You have the nerve to say that to me? Have you forgotten everything that we have been through in your bid to smite me? You really want to know why I was asking that?" Harry said with pure venom in his voice causing Ron to shrink down in his seat.
"Your brother is fucking allergic to Raspberries. I was asking if there was something else for Fred. How about instead of jumping to conclusions, you just ask me!" Harry exploded as he pushed the pudding away from him. He had definitely lost his appetite a long time ago.
Everyone turned to stare at Fred in surprise. Fred's eyes widened comically. Fred really hated to be the center of attention when it didn't involve a prank. But despite his growing discomfort, he couldn't help but be filled with warmth that Harry knew this. He had known that Harry had told the raspberry story to Blaise but it hadn't been clear if he had known why his hands had swelled.
Bill tilted his head to the side as he thought back to when the twins had come in to talk sense to the rest of the family. His mother had mentioned raspberry pie then too and that was when Fred stormed out. Had he really been allergic and no one noticed? Had Fred told them? He was feeling quite guilty that he hadn't known this about his little brother.
Molly frowned in confusion. "Fred's not allergic to raspberries. I would know if my own baby was allergic. It is his favorite."
Harry snorted. "Why because George likes raspberries? They aren't the same person. They both have different dreams and ideas. They like different things and hate separate stuff. Just because they are twins and do things together does not mean that they are the same. I imagine you all gift them identical presents on holidays." Harry shook his head at the gobsmacked looks on everyone's faces.
"Did you know that George hates onions?" George startled. He knew he had never told Harry that. He wasn't allergic so he was confused at how Harry knew that. Bill nodded remembering that was when George had stormed out too. He felt like the worst big brother in existence. How could he not have known this? He took a glance towards Charlie and noticed the same guilty look. At least he wasn't the only one.
"He is always picking them out of meals at Hogwarts. At first I just thought it was the one dish but it is any dish that has onions. Did you know that Fred loves anything with pumpkin? His face lights up like a Christmas tree every time anything pumpkin is on the table. Did you know that George's eyes are slightly darker than Fred's? Or that Fred has an extra freckle on his nose that George doesn't?" The twins were staring at Harry with their jaws dropped open.
Harry vaguely realized that he had probably said too much but he was on a roll. There was no stopping now. "Did you know that Fred doesn't really like quidditch that much? Every time we would have to go to practice his smile would be a little fixed and he hardly participated in conversations that revolved around the topic. I am sure he liked it well enough but not as much as George. Did you know that George never drinks pumpkin juice? No idea why but he doesn't. Always chooses something else. Did you know that Fred always smiles bigger than George when something funny has been said? Did you know that George is always moving? He can't sit still for too long. Did you know that silences bother Fred? He sometimes hums to himself if it gets too quiet or he cracks a joke just to break the quiet. Did you know that hardly anyone can tell them apart? It isn't difficult, you just have to have the drive to want to. You just have to care enough to see them for who they are. Here is the most obvious question. Did you know that they are separate people? Seems rhetorical but no one treats them like that."
Silence. That was what greeted Harry after his mini speech. He winced internally. Fred wasn't the only one who didn't like silences. Had he said too much? Did he come off as creepy? Harry glanced up to see the reaction of the twins, they were the ones that mattered right now.
Harry could see the complete surprise on their faces and he had no warning before the pair of them completely launched at Harry over the table tackling him into a hug.
"Oi! Get off me." Harry said through chuckles. "No." They said in unison before hugging the day lights out of him. Draco put his hands beneath his chin and watched them with a fond smile on his lips.
Fred couldn't believe it. No one had ever noticed any of those things about them before. During school Lee had been their closest friend but he was just interested in the pranking really. They had lost touch since they had left during their final year. Lee had been a tad upset that they left without him but Lee would never have been serious enough for the business. He worked for the ministry now. That was all the proof they needed to know they made the right decision. The things that Harry had picked up on weren't everyday things. Harry had been paying close attention to them and it touched Fred in ways it probably should have freaked him out.
George was stunned. Goodness he wasn't even aware that Harry had known any of that. To him it showed how much Harry cared about them. Sure, it was odd but it was so endearing that he was able to look over that bit. Besides, who wasn't odd these days? George had always wondered why it was so hard for people to tell them apart, they were more different than they were alike. People just couldn't see past the identical part and just assumed that they were the same in personality as they were in looks. He wondered how long it had taken Harry to notice all of these things. Was this a recent development?
Fred and George took a step back and grinned at Harry. Draco tilted his head to the side, now that Harry had mentioned it, Fred's grin was wider than George's. Interesting.
"You are our best friend Harry." They said in unison with emotion. Harry threw his arms around them. "You are my best friend too. You guys mean so much to me. You don't even know. You were there for me when I really needed it and I am so grateful that I get to call you two family."
Ron glared at the three of them. This wasn't right. Harry was supposed to be his best friend not his brothers' friend. None of this would have happened if Harry had left Malfoy alone... or if he had been a better friend.
Bill and Charlie shared guilty looks again. Neither one of them had noticed any of the things that Harry had mentioned. Some of them were questionable things anyways. Who watches what someone eats that closely? But a lot of the things shouldn't have come across as a surprise. Bill was guilty of always getting them the same things because he assumed that they liked the same things. They were always together, it had just made sense that they were into the same stuff. But now it seemed rather silly to just assume that. It wasn't like they were one being split into two bodies.
Molly was horrified to realize that she didn't know any of the things that Harry had mentioned. What else had she been overlooking? How could she have not known her baby was allergic to raspberries? Had George always disliked onions? She felt like she had failed at being a mother. Was it because she just had a lot of children that she tended to not notice the little things? Or was this something bigger?
When the twins sat back in their chairs an awkward silence filled the air. "How come you didn't tell me you were allergic?" Molly wailed as she wiped her eyes. Fred and George scoffed as they made their way back to their seats. She made it seem like this was somehow his fault.
"I did!" Fred cried out angrily. "On quite a few occasions. Remember the summer Harry was here? You had us all out picking raspberries? I tried telling you again that I couldn't do that but you said that I was just being lazy and that I needed to pitch in wherever I could. My hands tripled in size! I had to have Percy brew me an anti-allergy potion!"
Molly flinched at the memory. She had said that. She had just assumed that he was trying to get out of it. The twins always tried to get out of their chores so she thought this was just another instance where he was trying to trick her.
"Anaphylaxis Paralysis." Harry and Draco corrected at the same time. Everyone turned to stare at them.
"Huh?" Fred asked confused. "That is the potion that he would have made. You called it anti-allergy but that isn't the correct term." Draco said shifting in his seat.
Harry nodded. "Quite a difficult potion to make too. It is combining the shrinking potion with restoration potion. The shrinking solution is needed to target the inflammation from allergic reaction while the restoration potion is designed to go in and target the areas that were affected due to the raspberries. If not made correctly the shrinking solution can be too potent and could shrink your organs internally. But if the restoration potion is not strong enough it won't have any effect on restoring your body."
Ron, Hermione and Ginny shared confused looks. As far as they were aware, Harry didn't know much about potions at all. Was this Malfoy's involvement?
"Even with doing the potion correctly there is usually always a chance of a rash forming on your skin. It is a negative reaction from the Sulphur Vive in the restoration ingredients." Draco added.
Fred had been a little frightened hearing that if Percy had made the potion wrong that his insides could have shrunk! Percy never mentioned that! This was his mother's fault. If she had just listened to him in the first place than they wouldn't have needed the potion. It is a good thing that Percy had been a nerd like Harry and Draco or else they would have been in some serious trouble.
"But not if you add a couple drops of Murtlap Essence. That should take care of any rashes but I wouldn't add more than two drops." Harry piped up lost in thought.
Draco hummed in thought. "You know that is a smart idea." Hermione raised her brows. It was a smart idea and she couldn't believe that Harry had been the one to think it. "But Murtlap Essence is a solution taken from Murtlap tentacles. It would be more potent to either shave or dice the tentacles and then just add a small quantity ensuring that there really would be no rash." Draco pointed out.
"You know I didn't think of that. You are love are brilliant. You could even-" Harry was cut off by George.
"You two will be at this all day if I don't stop you now. Not to mention you are boring me more thoroughly than Binns ever did. Wait till you get home before you start this stimulating conversation of Murtseed tentacles." George said sarcastically. Fred snorted at the identical affronted looks being sent his brother's way.
"It is Murtlap not Murtseed. Murtseed shouldn't be added to anything unless you are making a salve to treat burns. The volatile way it can react with other ingredients makes it a hazard to work with. I don't know how you can confuse the two." Draco explained like it should have been obvious.
"Unless it is added to deep abrasions that Essence of Dittany can't reach." Harry piped up. Draco turned to Harry intrigued. "Do explain that one. I can't fathom how the Murtseed would help with abrasions, depending on the abrasion Murtlap would be preferable." Harry opened his mouth to explain but the twins let out giant groans so he closed his mouth.
"Later." Harry promised. Draco pouted for a moment but then his face cleared. "Later." He agreed.
"I have been an awful mother." Molly moaned in despair as she ignored the potion conversation. She didn't want to think that something could have happened with the potion. Why hadn't Fred come to her as soon as his hands started to swell?
Fred and George pointedly looked elsewhere. Neither one was about to lie to make her feel better.
"Nonsense." Arthur argued as he pat the top of her hands. "It was just an honest mistake."
Fred and George made startled noises of disbelief while Harry and Draco shared an incredulous look.
"Mistake?" Fred asked weakly. A mistake? It wasn't like it was the first time he tried telling her about his allergy. That had been the last straw for him that day. Once she told him to stop making up lies to get out of chores he had stormed out. Luckily George did all the picking after that day. Goodness it was more than just a mistake. She only saw what she wanted to see when it came to them.
"Right. It was only a mistake." Arthur said firmly as if daring them to argue. Fred huffed. He couldn't believe it, even his dad was sticking up for her. But honestly what did he expect? It's not like their dad ever went against the status quo around here, just letting his mum run the house.
"A pretty deadly one." Harry mumbled quietly. Not quiet enough it seemed. Molly snapped her head up and glared at Draco. Harry furrowed his brows, why was she glaring at Draco? He wasn't the one who said anything.
"What did you say?" She asked putting her hands on her hips, seemingly over her sadness.
"Nothing." Draco said in confusion. Harry was the one who spoke! Why was she glaring at him? Draco had more respect than to just blurt out things like that in someone else's home. Merlin, his mother would have a fit if he had done that. Pureblood etiquette and all.
"Don't you nothing me. I heard you mumble something over there. I invite you to my home and you have the nerve to talk bad about me and my family. I knew you were bad news from the beginning. Bullying my children, Harry and Hermione then worming your way into Harry's life! Harry has had a hard life and he doesn't need you to make matters worse. You think that he needs an ex-deatheater to stain all the good work he has done? When people look at him all they are going to see is how he defended your family from Azkaban. They are going to forget all the good he has done. And now you have somehow confunded him into a marriage with you. The horror of that is astounding. Can you imagine what the papers will say about this? And they won't be wrong! You have ruined Harry and his good name. Your entire family is a black stain on our society. Ugh Malfoys are nothing but evil and vile and you are no different. The longer he stays with you the more his entire work was for nothing!" Molly shouted angrily and eyes gleaming when she caught sight of the flash of pain in the boy's face.
"Excuse me." Draco muttered before getting up and walking out of the room with as much dignity as he could muster. Draco walked into the living room and shakily sat down. He took big gulps of air trying to calm himself down. That hurt. That really hurt. He knew he should ignore the things she had said. He knew this. But... those thoughts have been with him since the start of their relationship. He was always worried about what his relationship with Harry would do to his lover's name. That had been his main concern. Harry has done so much good in his life and Draco didn't want to be the one to tarnish his name. Was she right?
"Mum!" The twins said in outrage. How could she say such things like that to Draco? Kind Draco who had handled a lot shite from the rest of the family. Fred's heart ached for Draco. He had seen the pain that his mother's words caused him and he felt awful. Draco has had a rough day, which is the understatement of the year really. He didn't need all of this family drama. Neither Harry nor Draco deserved the treatment that they have gone through tonight.
George glared heavily at his mother. He didn't like the triumphant look that was in his mother's eyes. How has he never noticed this in his mother before? She was always so kind and loving, well unless it didn't have to deal with Fleur. His mother liked to control things, everything had to be just her way or she thew a fit. Which is alright for a clean house... mostly. But when it comes to the lives of her children it is not okay. They are people with their own lives, that she has no say in. Which has always been her biggest issue. She wants to bottle them all up into what she deems as the perfect life. It appears that she had included Harry into this as well. George couldn't believe how cruel his mother had been tonight. Not just with Draco but regarding Fleur and Demetrius as well. What happened to his mother? Why was she so prejudiced?
Fleur's heart broke as she watched Draco walk away with tears in his eyes. She leveled the biggest glare that she could possible muster at her mother in-law. Fleur couldn't understand how someone could be so hostile and mean to someone as lovely as Draco. Harry and Draco had a lot more patience than her, that is for sure. She would have walked out a long time ago and never looked back.
Bill was stunned speechless. He had heard a lot of horrid things out of his mother before. Usually leveled at deatheaters or dark supporters but to treat Draco like that was uncalled for and he wasn't even the one who had spoken. It was like his mother was just looking for a reason to explode on him to prove how 'evil' he is to Harry. Bill's heart went out to Draco and even Harry. He sighed sadly. This was not how he had hoped tonight would go.
To be honest, Charlie wasn't even surprised. Not after everything that had been said tonight. The only thing he was feeling was disgust for his bigoted mother and pain for Draco. He just wished things could have been different. He wished that everyone could have gotten a long nicely and that Harry would have gotten his family back. Because after everything that Harry has been through, a family is the least that he could ask for.
Harry could feel guilt, regret, pain and utter despair from the bond before he stood up so rapidly that his chair went flying backwards. Magic cackled throughout the room causing the hairs on everyone's arms to stand up. The drinks on the table shattered, spilling the liquid inside all over. Plates cracked in half, silverware flying up as if lifted by wind. The table buckled as if there was a heavy weight pressing upon it. The magic in the room was tangible and thick. It sucked most of the air out of the room and left everyone feeling tight and uncomfortable.
Molly shrank down in her seat when Harry directed a furious glare in her direction. Perhaps she over stepped her boundaries just a little bit.
"Who do you think you are?" Harry asked in a dangerous voice that sent shivers down all those listening. Harry's voice had gone from normal to dark. Very very dark. The sound was deep and gravely, it sounded nothing like Harry's voice at all.
Fred and George shared startled looks. What was going on? Was this the darkness? Did their mother push Harry past a point of no return? Had the darkness taken over?
Draco stilled when he felt something odd coming from Harry. It was like he was there but he wasn't at the same time. Draco couldn't pin point exactly what had changed but he could feel a ton of anger and just a sense of wrong. Draco shoved his pride away and walked back into the room. He would do this for Harry. No matter how much he just wanted to run away and lick his wounded pride in privacy.
Draco froze when he entered the room and saw the floating objects and the nearly visible magic. He took a glance around the room and snorted when he could see Weasel shaking in his seat like a first year who just met Severus for the first time.
"How dare you say those things to Draco? After everything that you have learned about him today you still have the ignorance to utter the pure shite that you just spewed. I was the one who mumbled not Draco! You fucking moron." Harry snarled angrily. Molly flinched at her mistake, she wasn't sure what to make of this very angry Harry. She was honestly terrified of the anger that was rolling off of him in waves.
Harry's eye color was rapidly receding. The green was being taken over by black. A deep pitch dark black that had everyone leaning away. The darkness of his eyes wasn't human.
"I didn't want to come tonight. I was ready to chuck the lot of you away but Draco was the one who convinced me to come. He said that you guys were my family and he was not going to be the one to come between us. He wanted you all to like him. He wanted this dinner to go smoothly so that I could finally have my family back. Draco is ten times the person you will ever be. I don't want any part of this family. I am so utterly and completely done with you. I don't give a rats ass what happens to you. I don't care if we ever see each other again. Family, that is one word that can't describe you all. Because family would never have done this. Whatever the fuck you guys are I want no part in it." Harry said forcefully right before all the windows in the burrow shattered.
Hermione and Ginny screamed and covered their heads. Everyone else just flinched violently.
Draco stepped up close to Harry. "Love?" At the sound of Draco's voice, green sparked through Harry's eyes for a moment before the black came back full force.
"I wish you could understand how much that man means to me. You are so narrow minded and so far shoved up your arses that prejudiced is simple for you. Oh you are a light family so that means that you can do no wrong. Anyone who isn't like you must surely be bad. You ignore every single positive thing that has been said today about Draco and choose to spout off the most ridiculous notion that you could possibly come up with. I can't believe how thick you can be. I see where Ron gets it from. I have never encountered worse people in my life. And that is saying something since I grew up with the fucking Dursleys!" Harry bellowed angrily. The shattering of dishes in the kitchen could be heard.
Molly was cowering in her chair. She was really wishing she could take back her previous statement. She wasn't sure what was going on but she didn't like it. She wasn't sure what was happening with Harry. She had never seen him so angry before. Actually, she had never seen anyone this angry before. Something dark was inside Harry, of that she had no doubt. The tone of his voice and the way his eyes seemed to stare straight into her soul indicated that there was something other than Harry in there. She was freaked out. Was this a side effect of killing you-know-who? Was Harry now the next dark lord? Was this something that could be fixed? How were they going to get him to calm down before he destroyed their entire house?
Draco took another step closer. "Can you hear me Harry?" More green started to shine through. That was a good sign. Draco didn't dare push any feelings through the bond just in case it backfired. As it was the bond was eerily dark almost as if it was laughing at Draco. Mocking him and letting him know that he was now on the back burner. It was asking him if he liked being second now. Draco had to fight the urge to surround Harry in love.
"I wish I had never come here tonight. I wish that you imbeciles possessed an ounce of knowledge. I don't think you can even rub two brain cells between the lot of you. Draco is the absolute best thing that has ever happened to me. I count my lucky stars that he found me in the quidditch pitch. He is more than just my partner. He is my everything. When you insult him you are insulting me." Harry warned as his voice dropped another octave. The walls of the burrow shook violently making everyone look around in panic. Was the house about to come down?
Draco made the last step up to Harry and wrapped his arms around Harry's waist.
"I love you Harry. Come back to me." Draco pleaded calmly. That did it. The black completely left Harry's vision and was replaced with his normal green emerald eyes. Everyone let out a breath of relief as the walls stopped moving and the silverware clanged back down on the now sturdy table.
It was odd, Harry knew what had happened and what he had done but it wasn't like he was caught off guard. He meant every word that had been said but he wasn't intentionally destroying the house. It was like his anger fueled him to actually say it all. He had felt another presence inside him but it wasn't quite sentient. It was 'helping' his anger. Making it higher and more potent. The first time he had heard Draco's voice he tried to reign it in, he wanted to comfort his love but the presence wasn't done. The darkness wanted to voice more of its opinions. It wanted more time to speak. The more Harry had struggled the harder it was to control the anger. It was almost as if the anger was being fueled by the struggle as well. Only when Draco's presence was there did he feel like he could fight it more efficiently.
The final push that had been needed was Draco's love. Normally he feels the love but the bond had been quiet. Too quiet. All he could feel had been the darkness. That was all. But this time when he heard Draco's declaration he could feel the love through Draco's words. It was like a switch had been turned on, Harry knew what he had to do. He stopped struggling against the hold on the darkness and focused on his love for Draco. Harry was reminded of the time that Voldemort had tried to possess him but couldn't due to the love and grief he was feeling over the loss of Sirius. The darkness inside him was no match for the sheer depth of love that Harry felt for Draco. Their bond was not going to come in second to this darkness. Draco would always be his number one in everything that they do and that included the bond. The love that he felt for Draco was pouring into every corner of his body and shoving the darkness back into recess of his mind until they could figure out a way to destroy it.
Harry turned around in Draco's arms and buried his face into Draco's neck. Harry let the comforting smell of Draco calm him down just as much as a calming draught would have. Harry loved the smell of Draco, hell he loved everything about Draco.
Draco ran his hands up and down Harry's back in a soothing manner and making little shushing noises. "It's alright my love. I am right here. It is okay." Draco said over and over until Harry calmed down. "I love you, I am not going anywhere. Everything is okay." Draco assured him as he nuzzled his cheek into the top of Harry's head. Holding Harry healed most of the hurt that Molly's words had caused. How could what they have be wrong when it felt so right? Draco loved the feel of Harry in his arms.
Once Harry was fully calm and back in control of himself did he remember where they were at. He didn't flush in embarrassment like he thought he would. No. He was still so angry. Harry kissed Draco's neck softly and relished the little breathy sigh that his actions caused before pulling away.
Harry turned around and leveled a glare at Molly and then at Arthur as well. "This is the last time I will ever darken your doorsteps. I would like to thank you for the wonderful times that I have had with you but that is all in the past. I have never had a home before. The Dursleys don't count. Hogwarts was the only place that I had ever felt truly at peace before until I came here. I was welcomed with open arms and treated like I mattered. You treated me like a part of the family and that was something that I have never experienced before. I was proud to be an honorary member of the Weasley family. But now all the good memories are tainted. I think that one day I will be able to look back on all of this with fond memories and not feel the sting of your rejection but that won't be anytime soon." Harry said with narrowed eyes.
"I never knew my parents and with the way you guys treated me, I had thought that you were a close second. But I was wrong. You are nothing like how a parent should treat their children. I thank everything that I have that I am not actually related to you. I feel bad for your children. I feel bad for the way that you have raised some of your children." A meaningful look at Ginny and Ron.
"In your absence I have gained a real family, real friends and was accepted into a home. The Malfoys have given me a place among them in every sense of the word." Harry lifted his right hand and showed them the heir ring. Arthur and Ron gaped as he stared at it while Ginny made a surprised wheeze. Molly covered her mouth in shock as tears sprang up into her eyes. Arthur's eyes widened comically. Lucius Malfoy invited Harry into the family? What?
"They love me for who I am and they accept every single part of me. They adore my relationship with Draco and will support me in everything that I do. I love the Malfoy family. They aren't your typical family but that is okay. I am a Malfoy and I couldn't be happier. When I wed, I will drop the Potter name and pick up the Malfoy name. Which is something that I came to on my own. The Malfoy and the Weasley feud has been going on for quite some time. I have no idea what started it and I imagine neither do you. But what I do know is that not one time while I have been with the Malfoys have they uttered a single negative thing about you guys. You want to know why? Because they knew how much you meant to me and they accepted that. They may not like you but they respected the fact that I did. They didn't make me feel like shite for considering you my family. They didn't get jealous and demand that I leave you all alone. They didn't make snide comments or mutter insults. No. They acted like the mature adults that they are. They have treated me more like a family than you guys have. And that is okay. I am happy with this. I don't need you guys in my life." Harry said as his eyes began to fill with tears. Arthur and Molly shifted uneasily in their seats to know that the Malfoys had acted more maturely than they had. That knowledge didn't sit well with them at all.
"That was a hard decision to come to but it is one that I know I will never regret. Because I can't be around this negativity. I can't be around people that would so openly despise my family. Lucius and Narcissa will be my in-laws and I couldn't wish for better candidates. They have done a lot for me and I love them. So as bitter as my departure from the Weasley family is, I know that I will have a true family waiting for me to pick up the pieces."
Draco's eyes filled with tears as well. Partly at what Harry must be going through to give up people that he once considered family but also at the words he spoke about Draco's family. He loved Harry so much that it hurt. Every single pore in his body was filled with the love he held for Harry.
Harry smiled involuntary at how much Draco loved him and he hadn't even been sending it through the link. Harry could just feel it.
"So once again, I thank you for all the good times that we have had but this is goodbye and I wish you well." Harry said before entwining his hand with Draco's. Harry paused at the front door and spoke without turning back around.
"Fred, George I will see you tomorrow." They nodded even though Harry couldn't see them.
"Fleur we will see you in a couple days. Bill it was lovely dining with you." The married couple smiled warmly.
"Charlie congratulations again on the engagement. Hopefully next time we see each other you will bring Demetrius. We would love to meet him." Charlie grinned widely.
"Will do." Charlie said with emotion.
Harry opened the door but was stopped. "Harry." Arthur said tentatively. Harry paused but didn't turn around. "Are you happy? Are you treated well?" Harry smiled softly. "More than you will ever know."
"Alright." Harry wanted to turn back around but he knew that he couldn't. So much had been said in that one word. There was an apology, approval, regret and finally acceptance. Who knew so much could be said with single word. Harry took a deep breath and continued onward.
"One more thing." Harry said with a pause. "I am not cleaning any of that." Harry thought it might be a little petty but fuck them. They could clean it all up.
The door slammed loudly as the duo left.
Silence. Everyone was staring around the house a little awed at the destruction. "Well I hope you are happy." Bill said snidely to his mum.
Arthur shot a warning look to his son but Bill shrugged it off. "No. All of you have literally shoved Harry out of the family. I feel bad for him because he never deserved this. Harry is such a beautiful person and to know that my family is responsible for even a fraction of his sadness kills me. I think you deserve being walked out on. Fred and George tried to warn you that this was going to happen. They told you that if you didn't shape up that you would lose Harry. And what did you all do? You alienated his fiancé and insulted everything about the both of them. You treated Harry like garbage and you only have yourselves to blame." Bill said standing up and offering his wife his hand as they made their way to the floo.
"Fleur and I won't be around here for a while. We need some space." Bill told his mother as he pointedly ignored her watery eyes. "Oh." Bill paused after throwing in some floo powder. "I'm not helping you clean either." He said before disappearing with his wife.
Charlie stood up and cleared his throat before making his way to the floo as well. "Now that this... lovely," He sneered on that word. "Dinner is over I will be heading back home. I am afraid you won't see me around here until Demetrius can be fully accepted." Charlie warned without even bothering to look at his parents. "You can clean on your own." With a flash of green Charlie was gone.
The twins stood up as one and walked to the front door. "We aren't even going to say 'I told you so' because it would bring no satisfaction." Fred said with his back turned to his family.
"I just hope you are happy and have fun with the mess." George said before they slammed the door shut. The rest of the family looked at the surrounding mess with despair and resignation. It was going to be a long night.
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Authors Notes:
The Burrow part of this is finally done. 40k words later. Sweet baby Jesus that is a lot. There are books less than that! I don't know if I should be concerned that this one part of the story was so long. So much had to be said that I can't bring myself to care that much.
Now with this chapter I wanted to highlight the treatment of the twins. Everyone else had pretty much aired their grievances so I wanted them to get a shot at it.
I did think it was slightly odd that Harry noticed all of the things that he did about the twins but at the same time I liked it. The reason he knows most of that was him trying to find all the ways that they are different. He wasn't watching them for some weird twin kink or anything like that. He just enjoyed the different ways to tell them apart. I thought it was kind of sweet in a weird way.
I really enjoy the potions talk. It is fun to come up with different ways of having them change potions. Sometimes it takes me a minute to figure out how I am going to make a potion. Sometimes it is just tweaking a name of one that is already in the books or making one up completely. The ingredients are the same way. Some I make up or some are in the books. I just find it fun. *Grins*
Now I could have ended this whole burrow episode without any drama considering that the dinner has been nothing but Drama, but I needed the anger to manifest for the plot later on. So I needed more drama to get the level of anger to spike so sorry if it was too much but oh well.
So now that the burrow scene is over let me know your final thoughts on the dinner. Did it meet your expectations? Was too much said? And more importantly, did you enjoy it?
-XxTheDarkLordxX