home

search

Chapter 7

  Arthur Weasley’s condition—that no magic be used in the food—was met with mixed reactions, especially from Fred and George. But eventually, they agreed. The whole family was excited about the new venture. Arthur promised to find the initial funds to get Molly started, and Harry was determined to make it a success. Molly made her famous treacle tart, the recipe so perfect that just one bite told Harry this was going to be a hit.

  When the batch was ready, Harry, along with Bill and Charlie, prepared for their trip to the muggle world. With a pinch of Floo Powder, they arrived at the Leaky Cauldron and then ventured out into the busy muggle streets. Harry, being the most familiar with navigating the muggle world, led the way. They visited several bakeries, cafes, and Harry confidently approached the shop owners. He expined that they were offering samples of his mother’s homemade treats, and if the bakeries liked them, they could order more.

  Each time the owners tasted Molly’s treacle tart, their faces lit up with surprise and delight. The warm, sticky sweetness and the fky crust were unlike anything they had ever tasted. Orders began to pour in almost immediately. Some shopkeepers were so impressed that they even offered to pay in advance, especially after Harry expined that they were a poor family needing funds to continue buying ingredients.

  The trial run was a resounding success. The treacle tart became a sensation in the local bakeries, and as word spread, more and more orders came in. It wasn’t long before Molly was busy in the kitchen, making rger and rger batches, with the rest of the family pitching in to help. Even Fred and George found themselves eager to assist, seeing how well the business was taking off, despite the ck of magical enhancements.

  The success of the trial run made Harry realize that they had stumbled upon something big. The Weasleys had managed to find a way to bring the magic of their world into the muggle world without using spells or enchantments—just through Molly’s extraordinary cooking. And now, with the orders flowing in, the Weasley family had hope that their financial situation might finally improve.

  With the success of Molly’s treacle tart and the increasing demand for her cooking, the Weasleys decided to expand. They built a rge outdoor kitchen behind the Burrow, designed for baking and cooking in greater quantities. It was a cozy space, filled with the warmth of Molly’s magic touch (though none of the food used magic, of course). The whole family pitched in, and it became a new hub of activity at the Burrow.

  Harry took the lead in buying ingredients from the muggle world, using the money they had earned from the initial orders. Molly, in turn, expanded the menu beyond treacle tart, creating all kinds of delicious treats: pastries, pies, cakes, and more. Each dish seemed to be a hit, and soon they were receiving so many orders that the Weasleys struggled to keep up with the demand.

  As the business grew, Harry took on a new role: managing the finances. None of the Weasleys had much experience with muggle money, so Harry became the unofficial accountant for the business. He tracked the incoming payments, made sure they bought enough supplies, and handled all the transactions with the bakery owners. Though it was a lot of responsibility, Harry found that he enjoyed it. It was something he could do for the family that had given him so much.

  Time passed, and as the Weasleys’ catering service continued to thrive, their financial situation steadily improved. Money began rolling in from various cafés and bakeries all across London. It was almost unbelievable how far they had come in such a short time. What had started as a small idea to help the family had grown into a thriving business.

  The entire Weasley family went back to Diagon Alley a week before Bill and Charlie were set to go to Hogwarts. This time, they had a specific purpose beyond just shopping for school supplies—they were going to convert the muggle money they had earned from their new business into wizarding currency. Harry, who had been handling all the financial aspects of their venture, carried a small bag containing £600, the payment they'd received from various bakeries in London for Molly’s delicious baked goods.

  Neither Arthur nor Molly Weasley fully understood how much muggle money was worth, but they trusted Harry, who seemed to have a natural talent for managing the financial side of things. As they walked through the bustling streets of Diagon Alley, Harry led them to Gringotts, the great white marble bank run by goblins.

  Upon entering, they approached a goblin at one of the long counters. Harry, standing confidently at the front of the group, addressed the goblin. "We’d like to exchange some muggle money for galleons, please."

  The goblin gave him a sharp, calcuting look and nodded. "What amount of muggle currency do you wish to convert?" he asked in a raspy voice.

  Harry carefully pced the bag of £600 on the counter. "£600, please," he said, his voice steady.

  The goblin eyed the money, then swiftly took the bag. "The exchange rate is £4.5 per galleon. I’ll be back shortly." He turned and disappeared into the bank's back rooms.

  As they waited, the Weasleys all looked at Harry with a mixture of curiosity and admiration. Arthur, ever fascinated by the muggle world, was mentally calcuting the exchange, trying to figure out how much that would be in galleons. Molly looked proud of how Harry was handling everything, though she still didn’t fully grasp the value of muggle money.

  "How much will that give us?" Ron whispered to Harry.

  Harry did the quick math in his head. "About 133 galleons," he answered.

  Ron’s eyes widened. "That’s a lot!"

  Just then, the goblin returned, holding a small leather pouch. He handed it to Harry and said, "133 galleons. Pleasure doing business." Harry took the pouch and thanked him.

  As they left the bank, Arthur pced a hand on Harry’s shoulder. "You’ve done remarkably well, Harry," he said, beaming with pride. "This is more money than we’ve had in a long time."

  Molly smiled warmly at Harry, her eyes filled with gratitude. "You’ve helped this family more than you know, dear. We’re so proud of you."

  With the newfound financial freedom, life at the Burrow changed significantly. Arthur Weasley, always fascinated by the muggle world, couldn't hide his surprise when he realized that the money they earned from the business was more than what he made in a month at the Ministry of Magic. Their income had effectively doubled, and it felt like a weight had been lifted from the family. For the first time in a long while, they weren’t scraping by.

  In her happiness, Molly Weasley immediately took action. She went out and bought new clothes for all her children, including Harry, who she now saw as one of her own. For Bill and Charlie, who were heading to Hogwarts, she purchased brand-new school supplies—no more second-hand robes or patched-up bags. The Weasley family could now afford new things, and it was a celebration of their hard work.

  Harry, always thinking ahead, noticed that the old second-hand books they had previously bought for Bill and Charlie were no longer needed. So, he quietly collected those books, knowing that he could use them for himself when the time came. After all, there was no point in wasting perfectly good textbooks.

  The family’s catering business was now running smoothly, with regur orders from various muggle bakeries in London. And this time, with Bill and Charlie preparing for school, it would be Harry and the Weasley twins, Fred and George, who would handle the deliveries. Even Ron wanted to join them, eager to be part of the adventure and help out where he could. The excitement in the family was palpable as they all felt like they were contributing to something special.

  Molly, who had found a new sense of purpose as a chef, seemed to glow with energy. Her kitchen was a whirlwind of activity as she prepared batch after batch of delicious food. With every dish, she outdid herself, creating more delectable items that quickly became favorites with their muggle customers. The smell of freshly baked goods and magical meals filled the house, and everyone eagerly helped out where they could.

  Harry, who had been forced to do gardening under the harsh eyes of the Dursleys, had found a new purpose in pnting at the Burrow. Unlike the Dursleys' endless demands, this time it was his own idea. Instead of flowers, Harry decided to pnt vegetables—things that could be useful and even bring in some extra income. He had gotten his hands on a book about farming from a muggle store and collected various seeds to begin his project.

  At first, it was a slow process, as Harry did most of the work manually. However, one day, Arthur Weasley, intrigued by Harry's project and always eager to engage with the muggle world, helped him dig up rge areas of nd around the Burrow using magic. With his help, what had started as a small garden quickly transformed into a rge vegetable farm. The magical climate around the Burrow made the vegetables grow much rger and heavier than they normally would, and soon, the Weasleys found themselves with more produce than they could ever need.

  With this abundance, Harry suggested they sell the vegetables at a muggle farmer’s market. Arthur, delighted at the prospect of interacting with muggles and their economy, was more than happy to accompany Harry to the market. Together, they sold the oversized vegetables, and to their surprise, they made a decent profit.

  As time went on, the vegetable farm became another source of steady income for the Weasleys. Harry and Arthur grew closer through their shared effort, and the entire family started getting more and more ideas on how to live better without relying solely on magic. The money they earned from both the bakery and the vegetable market meant they could live more comfortably and even pn for the future. The Weasleys, once struggling to make ends meet, were now thriving, thanks to Harry’s resourcefulness and their combined efforts.

  Through all of this, Harry realized that life at the Burrow was a world apart from his time at the Dursleys. Here, every task he did felt meaningful, and instead of being a burden, he was a valued part of the family. The Burrow might have been a little crooked and worn, but it was a pce full of love, warmth, and possibility. And for Harry, it was home.

  Harry, always thinking ahead and eager to expand their budding business ventures, remained sharp and observant despite being just a young boy. His curiosity about both the muggle and magical worlds never waned, and he read the Daily Prophet regurly, discussing various topics with Arthur and Percy Weasley. One day, while reading the paper, Harry came across an article that troubled him. It talked about how werewolves were not allowed in many establishments in the wizarding world, making it difficult for them to find work and live normal lives.

  Feeling bad for the werewolves, Harry had an idea. He approached Arthur Weasley and suggested that when they eventually opened a bakery, they should hire someone with the werewolf curse to run the business in the muggle world. That way, not only would they be helping someone in need, but they could also avoid the discriminatory practices in the magical world, ensuring a decent profit from the venture. Arthur was impressed by Harry's thoughtful idea, his eyes gleaming at the prospect.

  Arthur told Harry that he knew just the right person for the job: Remus Lupin. He was a man of good character, though cursed with lycanthropy. Without wasting any time, Arthur somehow acquired a small store in London and used magic to clean it up and prepare it quickly for business. Soon, "Molly's Kitchen" was up and running, with Remus Lupin managing the operation.

  Though Harry hadn’t met Remus yet, he could tell from the way his father spoke that Lupin was a honest man, and Harry didn’t mind at all. He admired the idea of giving someone with such a difficult life a chance to live with dignity and purpose. Harry’s heart swelled with pride, knowing that their business wasn’t just about making money—it was about making a difference in people's lives.

  And so, Molly's Kitchen became not only a profitable venture but also a symbol of hope and acceptance, quietly standing against the prejudices of the wizarding world while flourishing in the muggle one.

Recommended Popular Novels