Chapter 1 - Arrival at King cross station.

* The usual confusion and noise filled the corridors as the students began to disembark. Ron and Hermione struggled out past Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, carrying their trunks. Harry, however, stayed put.

"Fred – George – wait a moment."

The twins turned. Harry pulled open his trunk and drew out his Triwizard winnings. "Take it," he said, and thrust the sack into George's hands.

"What?" said Fred, looking flabbergasted.

"Take it," Harry repeated firmly. "I don't want it."

"You're mental," said George, trying to push it back at Harry.

"No I'm not," said Harry. "You take it, and get inventing. It's for the joke shop."

"He is mental," Fred said in an almost awed voice.

"Listen," said Harry firmly, "if you don't take it I'm throwing it down the drain. I don't want it, and I don't need it. But I could do with a few laughs. I've got a feeling we're going to need them more than usual before long."

"Harry," George said weakly, weighing the money bag in his hands, "there's got to be a thousand galleons in here."

"Yeah," said Harry, grinning, "think how many Canary Creams that is." The twins stared at him. "Just don't tell your mum where you got it...although she might not be so keen for you to join the Ministry anymore, come to think of it..."

"Harry," Fred began, but Harry pulled out his wand. "Look," he said flatly, "take it, or I'll hex you. I know some good ones now. Just do me one favor, okay? Buy Ron some different dress robes and say they're from you." He left the compartment before they could say another word, stepping over Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle who were still laying in the floor covered in curse marks.

* Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – J.K. Rowling

Mrs. Weasley was waiting beyond the barrier with Hermione's mother, Dr. Granger. She hugged Harry very tightly when she saw him, and whispered in his ear, "I think Dumbledore will let you come to us later in the summer."

Harry nodded and murmured, "Thanks Mrs. Weasley." She released him after a moment, and moved to greet her other children.

Harry sighed a little wistfully as he watched the Weasleys and the Grangers. For about the millionth time, he wondered what his life would be like if his parents had survived. Would he be an only child like Hermione? Would he have a flock of siblings like Ron? He smiled softly as he took in the sight of Mrs. Weasley surrounded by her chattering brood, and Dr. Granger giving Hermione a warm hug. Speculation was much more pleasant than the last few days had been, so Harry allowed his mind to wander. What would it feel like to look forward to the summer holidays? Would both his parents meet the Hogwarts Express? What would they do together?

After a few minutes, Molly Weasley came back over, pulling him out of the Land of What-Might-Have-Been with a bump. "Wherever is your family, Harry dear?" she asked, putting a protective hand on his shoulder.

Harry blinked, and gave himself a mental slap. Embarrassed at having been caught daydreaming, he glanced around the immediate vicinity, then shrugged helplessly. Hogwarts students and their families mixed with Muggle commuters and travelers. The area around the barrier leading to Platform 9 ¾ had become quite crowded while he'd been woolgathering. "Erm, they don't seem to be here yet Mrs. Weasley," Harry admitted, studying the crowd. "I'm sure they're just running a bit behind," he tacked on hastily when the witch's expression darkened and she gripped his shoulder a little tighter.

"Is everything okay, Harry?" Hermione asked, walking up with her mother.

"I think so," Harry replied in a distracted sort of way. "I just haven't been able to spot the Dursleys.."

"Well I can't say I'm surprised," Hermione remarked matter-of-factly. She indicated the crowd. "It'd be a bit of a trick to spot anyone in this."

"Ah, but Harry isn't just anyone," George said moving to stand on Harry's other side.

"That's right," Fred joined in dramatically, as he and Ron moved to stand beside George. "He's..."

"The Youngest Seeker in a Century!" the three Weasley brothers chorused surrounding Harry and jostling him good naturedly.

Harry smiled, knowing they were doing their best to distract him from the unhappy events of a week ago. Harry and another Hogwarts student, Cedric Diggory, had been participants in the TriWizard Tournament. Voldemort, the dark wizard who had murdered Harry's parents had used the tournament to trap him. Harry, had then been forced to participate in a ceremony that had returned Voldemort to his body. Harry had barely escaped with his life. Cedric hadn't been so lucky. His team-mate had been of no use to Voldemort, and had been killed without a second thought.

Molly chuckled fondly. "All right you lot," she said, addressing the boys. "You two," she told Fred and George, "make yourselves useful and fetch some trolleys. And you two," she addressed Harry and Ron, "push the trunks over to the wall. There's no sense standing here in the way."

Ron exchanged an amused glance with Harry as all four boys hurried to obey. Molly Weasley was a pleasant, kind-hearted woman, but sane people did not risk being on the receiving end of her temper. Hermione and Ginny helped as well, and between the four of them they quickly and easily shoved the trunks over to the wall.

"There's loads of people here today," George complained a few minutes later when he and Fred returned with four trolleys. "We couldn't find enough for everyone, but I think we can manage with these."

Nodding his thanks, Harry gazed at the trolleys a little longingly and said, "I wish I could take one back to Surrey with me." When he saw his companions' questioning glances, he shrugged a little and elaborated, "It's nothing, really...I'm just a bit sore. Can't say I'm looking forward to hauling my trunk upstairs."

Molly was bursting to say that the trunk was almost as big as Harry was, and he had no business trying to haul it around alone, and furthermore those horrible muggles he lived with should be helping him, but she managed to hold her tongue. Instead, she focused on something she could do to make Harry's life a little easier. Giving the raven-haired boy a reassuring smile, she said, "Well, that's easily fixed dear. Everyone gather around Harry's trunk," she instructed, as she surreptitiously took her wand out of her pocket.

When she was essentially hidden from view, she tapped Harry's trunk with her wand and whispered a lightening charm. As an afterthought, she tapped Hedwig's cage while she was at it, then put her wand away. "There you are, dear," she told Harry pleasantly. "You should be able to manage your trunk without any trouble, and Hedwig's cage will fold flat for easy storage if you want to let her fly ahead. I'll remove the charms for you when I see you later in the summer."

Experimentally hefting the trunk, Harry set it on the trolley, along with Hedwig and her cage. "Wow! Thanks Mrs. Weasley," Harry said gratefully. The trunk wasn't completely feather-light, but it was much easier to lift and carry. He grinned at the red-haired witch. "You have no idea how much simpler this will make things."

"It's nothing, dear."

Little by little, the crowd thinned. The station was still bustling, but the Hogwarts people had largely dispersed. Mrs. Weasley and Dr. Granger chatted companionably, while Hermione and the Weasley siblings clustered around Harry and talked about various light subjects, including visits and trips to Diagon Alley.

Harry nodded and smiled, and tried to contribute to the conversation while watching for the Dursleys. He couldn't imagine why they still hadn't arrived, and he was starting to feel vaguely uneasy as well as stiff and tired. There was also an annoying soft edge to his vision. Impatiently, Harry removed his glasses, and rubbed his eyes. They felt fatigued, like he'd pulled an all-nighter studying.

His companions traded concerned looks. Madam Pomphrey, the Hogwarts mediwitch had healed all of the injuries Harry had sustained during the Third Task, but he wasn't quite himself yet. He was thinner and quieter than normal, and still looked a bit peaked.

"All right there, Harry?" Ron asked as he watched his friend polish his glasses on his shirt tail.

"Yeah. Just tired," Harry said, replacing his specs and giving Ron a small smile. The rubbing and cleaning seemed to have helped somewhat, he noted with relief. Harry glanced around for his family again, then realized the others had stopped talking. He raised an eyebrow when he noticed the other teens staring at him. "What?"

"Oh, nothing Harry," Hermione said quickly, knowing Harry hated it when they fussed. "Its just that you...uh...you just look different without your glasses." The others quickly nodded in agreement. It was a true statement, after all, and kinder than Well, Harry, you look a little weak and sick and we were just wondering if you were going to keel over on us... They were about to resume their light chatter when Dr. Granger came over to them.

"Hermione, I hate to do this love, but we have to go. We're supposed to meet some family in town to celebrate your return, and I have to pick up Dad at the office. I'm afraid if we don't leave now we'll be late."

"Mum-!" Hermione started to object, but Harry nodded and said, "I appreciate you staying Dr. Granger."

"It's possible they got caught in traffic," Dr. Granger offered. "It was absolutely dreadful when I came earlier." She eyed the boy speculatively for a moment, considered her none-too-pleased daughter, then took a business card out of her purse. Scribbling on the back of it, she addressed Harry. "These are our home, business, and cell numbers. Molly says she'll look after you, but it just doesn't feel right leaving you here like this. Ring us if you need anything," she instructed, handing Harry the card. "We can come back and get you if need be, or you could take a cab out to our place."

"Thank you ma'am," Harry said with a grateful smile. He tucked the card into his shirt pocket then turned to his friend. "Bye Hermione. Hope you have fun tonight."

* "Bye, Harry," said Hermione, and she did something she had never done before, and kissed him on the cheek.

Harry and the Weasleys waved as the Grangers walked away, then Molly Weasley turned her attention back to Harry. "We need to leave too, Harry dear," she said, then seemed to come to a decision. "I guess you'll just have to come with us."

Harry felt his heart sink as she began speaking, although he had expected as much. The Weasleys surely had better things to do than stand around Kings Cross Station with him. They and the Grangers had stayed more than an hour, after all. He had just started to thank her for staying, when his brain processed the last part of her statement.

A huge wave of relief and joy washed over him, for he desperately didn't want to return to his uncle's house. Although he was loathe to admit it, Harry had been badly shaken by the events of the Third Task. He had relied heavily on Ron and Hermione's patient, undemanding company since his release from the hospital wing five days before, and was not looking forward to going somewhere he was so obviously unwanted. Vernon and Petunia Dursley, and their son Dudley hated Harry simply because he was a wizard, and "abnormal" in their opinion.

Molly watched fondly as Harry's green eyes began to sparkle, then frowned as a shadow crossed his face. He looked up at her uncertainly. "Professor Dumbledore said I could put you all in danger," he said softly, his disappointment and concern showing clearly. "I can't–" he began but she was having none of that.

*****