Snape nodded, looking grim. "His Muggle cousin used to do something called 'Harry hunting', and his parents prevented any retribution. I have made it clear that he is no longer bound by those rules."
Arthur looked weary for a moment. "Considering that there are wizards out there who truly are 'Harry hunting', that is a lesson he needs to learn quickly and well."
Molly looked at the two men. "Do you think it's starting up again? We've had ten years of near silenceтАж"
Snape raised on eyebrow. "Silence doesn't necessarily mean there's nothing out there."
"I know. But he's such a small boyтАж Teach him well, Severus."
"I intend to," he retorted shortly, but without his usual snarl. "As you can see, however, there is much work to be done. His relatives were appalling. He has not felt physically safe for most of his childhood."
"I'd say he's beginning to feel that way now," Arthur smiled. "He tells me that you said no other adult has the right to touch him. He sounded very impressed."
Snape fought back a desire to preen. "That is quite correct. And that is true for his time here as well. If he misbehaves, he is to be returned to me for punishment."
Molly raised her eyebrows. "If he misbehaves in any way? You do remember he's an 11 year old boy, correct?"
Severus scowled. "Over the past ten years he has been beaten, starved, locked up, and used as slave labor. It is important that no current punishments remind him of life with his horrible relatives."
"How about this?" Arthur suggested. "We certainly won't strike him or deprive him of meals, but if he gets into minor trouble with our kids, then Harry will face it alongside our bunch. If he and Ron get sent to bed early, for example, or have to de-gnome the garden, will that bring back bad memories for him? If he's being punished right alongside Ron, wouldn't that be a way for him to see that he's part of the family?"
Snape grudgingly agreed that might be acceptable. Molly and Arthur shared a not-very-well-hidden grin.
"Should we тАУ" Molly's question was interrupted by an almighty crash from the stairwell.
The adults rose as one and rushed to find a guilty-looking Harry struggling to his feet. "'M sorry," he blurted as soon as they appeared.
"What happened, Harry?" Molly asked, hurrying over to check him for injuries.
He shrank back. "I tripped on my way down the stairs. I'm really sorry. I think I might have broken the banister." He hesitatingly pointed to one of the battered spindles that ran along the stairs, but he kept a wary eye on both Weasleys and tried to sidle closer to Severus.
"That's all right, Harry. We're just concerned you might have broken you," Arthur said. "Did you get hurt?"
"No, sir," Harry said quickly. "I'm fine."
"Harry, your leg!" Molly pointed to a rip in his trousers.
"I'm sorry," he said nervously, looking at Severus. "I can fix it, honest!"
"Harry, you're bleeding," Molly persisted.
"It's okay," Harry protested, but Severus already had his wand out and was casting a diagnostic charm.
"Mr Potter," he snapped a moment later. Harry flinched at the tone. "I believe I have indicated my intolerance for falsehoods?"
Harry gulped and nodded. "But it wasn't a real lie, sir. I just тАУ"
"Mr Potter," Snape leaned over to make eye contact, "is this one of the Dursleys' rules? No admitting when you are injured?"
Harry trembled as he gazed into his professor's angry eyes, but he was unable to look away. "YтАФyes, sir," he finally admitted.
"And what did I tell you about their rules?"
"To forget them." Harry's voice was very small and apologetic. The professor snorted.
"If you are injured or distressed in any way, I expect you to tell me about it," Snape said sternly. "I will consider failure to do so as not only a lie but also an example of your putting yourself in jeopardy. Do you understand?" he asked pointedly.
Harry unconsciously covered his bum. "Yes, sir."
"Then perhaps you would like to answer Mr Weasley's question again?"
Harry nodded hastily. "Yes, sir. Um, my wrist and my leg hurt, sir."
"Your wrist is strained. I will give you a potion when we return to Hogwarts. As for the cut on your leg тАУ"
"Leave that to me," Molly invited. She took Harry's hand and smiled at him encouragingly. "After seven accident-prone children, I'm practically a certified Healer."
She led Harry over to the living room couch. "I'm not as flexible or as slim as I used to be," she explained to Harry, "so rather than making me bend over to see your knee, why don't we both sit on the couch?" She sat down, had Harry sit next to her, then helped him swivel around so his back was against the armrest and his bent knees lay across her lap. She gently raised his trouser leg and tutted over the small cut.
Harry watched, amazed and delighted, as she gently scourgified the wound, removing all the blood, then magically sealed the laceration with a murmured spell, tracing the tip of her wand over his injury. "How's that, love?" she asked.
"Great!" he beamed. That would sure have come in handy plenty of times in the past!
Another spell and his trousers were cleaned and mended, and Harry was even more sold on magic than he had been. "That's brilliant, Mrs Weasley! Thank you!"
He started to get up, only to be gently pushed down. "Oh no, Harry. We're not done yet." Arthur grinned and nudged Severus.
At Harry's puzzled look, Molly explained, "In this house, if you get hurt, you have to sit still for a few minutes and let the healing spells take effect, and there's a rule that when you get hurt, you get cuddled. Is that all right?"
Harry blinked. Ron's mum was willing to give him a cuddle? But wasn't she only supposed to do that with her own kids? And wasn't he too old anyway?
She must have seen the indecision in his eyes, for Molly leaned over and whispered, "Don't tell him I told you, but Ron twisted his ankle two days before going to Hogwarts, and he didn't mind the cuddle."
Harry felt his heart start to beat faster. He was finally going to see what it felt like to get hugged by a mum! Of course, it was someone else's, not his own, but that was almost as good, especially since he was practically an honorary Weasley. "Well," he said carefully, "if it's a ruleтАж"
Molly grinned and held out her arms. A moment later, Harry was cuddled against her and she was rocking him, crooning in his ear.
Snape thought he might sick up at all the sentimentality, but an odd feeling of envy was also making itself felt deep in his chest. He could have done that. Not that he would have wanted to, but he could have.
Harry felt wrapped up in clouds of love. He hadn't known that it was so nice to be hugged like this. When he had hugged Snape, he had felt safe and warm, but this was different. This wasтАж softer.
After several minutes, he heard Professor Snape clear his throat, and he dutifully looked up. To his surprise, Molly's face was wet with tears as she smiled down at him. "You're such a good boy, Harry," she said, and she kissed him.
Harry decided that he might have to fall down the Burrow's stairs on a semi-regular basis.
As Harry got up and crossed over to join an impatient Snape, Molly let out an exclamation. "Oh! I nearly forgot!" She hurried over to a small cabinet and lifted out a flat box. "I have something for Harry."
Harry didn't move closer. "It's not my birthday, Mrs Weasley," he said, mystified.