Growing up under the Dursleys' care, Harry had a very different understanding of his parents from what was true. Aunt Petunia had drilled into his head from a young age that his parents were irresponsible, zy people who had simply abandoned him. Whenever Harry asked about them, Petunia would tell him how they had left him on the Dursleys’ doorstep without a second thought, leaving her and Uncle Vernon to take on the burden of raising him. The version of his parents that Aunt Petunia painted was one of two people who were reckless, selfish, and ungrateful. Petunia would go on about how they lived on the fringes of society, doing things that were "unnatural" and never cared for Harry. This narrative left Harry with the deep-rooted belief that his parents didn’t care about him, and certainly weren’t anything special.
Harry had no idea that his parents were magical. The thought had never crossed his mind, as Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were determined to make him believe they were just as ordinary as anyone else. In fact, Aunt Petunia constantly made it clear that she didn’t believe in anything out of the ordinary. Magic, or anything supernatural, was ridiculed in the Dursley household. Harry grew up in an environment where any mention of anything magical was quickly shut down or met with anger. As far as he knew, his parents were just everyday people who had left him behind to live with the Dursleys, the only family who was willing to put up with him.
When Harry was adopted by the Weasleys, he began to learn more about the magical world and about his parents, though he didn’t connect the dots at first. Arthur Weasley was the first to suggest that family members of witches and wizards were usually informed about the magical world, which led Harry to wonder if Aunt Petunia knew more than she had ever let on. After all, Arthur expined that whenever a child showed magical abilities, their family would be informed and introduced to the magical world. This made Harry question whether Petunia knew about his parents' magical heritage all along. But when he thought back to how adamantly Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon denied the existence of anything supernatural, he couldn’t reconcile it. They had always dismissed anything out of the ordinary as nonsense. It seemed impossible to Harry that they could have known about magic.
Still, as Harry became more immersed in the magical world, he heard the name "Potter" spoken with reverence. People in the wizarding community spoke of the Potters as a famous and beloved family, with stories of heroism and bravery. James Potter, in particur, was widely admired, and his son, Charlie Potter, was a legend—The Boy Who Lived. The way people spoke of the Potters was completely at odds with the neglectful, irresponsible people Petunia had described. As far as Harry could tell, there was no way these famous Potters were reted to him. Potter was a common enough name, he thought. It must be a coincidence.
Harry’s suspicions were further reinforced when he saw pictures of James Potter and Charlie Potter. They looked nothing like him. James Potter had a striking, confident appearance, and Charlie was hailed as the hero of the wizarding world. They didn’t resemble the neglected, forgotten child Aunt Petunia had described to him. To Harry, there was no way he could be part of this well-loved, famous family. The Potters he was hearing about were nothing like the people Aunt Petunia had told him about. So, Harry dismissed the idea completely, choosing not to think about it any further. To him, there must be many families with the surname Potter, and the ones he heard about in the wizarding world were just another family—not his.
Thus, Harry continued his life with the Weasleys, never making the connection between himself and the famous Potters, the legendary family that seemed so different from the story Aunt Petunia had forced him to believe. His focus remained on his new family, the Weasleys, who had shown him kindness and care in a way that his previous guardians never had.
Harry had never expected his life to turn out like this. Growing up with the Dursleys had conditioned him to believe that happiness and fun weren’t things he would ever experience. He had been used to loneliness, chores, and feeling like a burden, but all that changed when he was adopted by the Weasleys. Life at the Burrow was a world away from the cold, indifferent existence he had known. There was always ughter and warmth, with his new brothers, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, and Ron, and his new sister Ginny, who had become like true siblings to him. Harry couldn’t believe how easily they had accepted him into their lives. The sound of their teasing, the endless pranks by Fred and George, and the shared adventures with Ron filled his days with joy.
But it wasn’t just the Weasleys who made Harry’s life brighter. Their neighbors, the Lovegoods, were frequent visitors, especially their daughter, Luna. The Lovegoods were known for being eccentric, and Luna was no exception. She often spoke in cryptic riddles that left everyone puzzled, except perhaps Ginny, who had a way of understanding her friend’s unusual thinking. Despite Luna’s oddities, there was something about her that made Harry feel comfortable—perhaps because she, too, seemed like someone who didn’t quite fit into the mold. Molly Weasley, his new mother, had a soft spot for Luna and always treated her with kindness, offering her treats and ensuring she was well-fed whenever she came to py with Ginny. Luna appreciated Molly’s affection, and over time, the bond between the two girls deepened. Ginny and Luna were inseparable, giggling together and inventing wild stories that they shared with the boys.
The Burrow had always been full of life, but there was an undeniable change in the household after the family’s newfound financial stability. Ever since Harry had come up with the idea of selling Molly Weasley’s magical cooking in the Muggle world, money was no longer the constant concern it had been. Before, Arthur Weasley had often been tense, his brow furrowed with the worry of how to make ends meet on his meager Ministry sary. He would work long hours, returning home exhausted, only to spend his free time tinkering with broken Muggle objects, his passion. But now, with the extra income from the business, Arthur was free to pursue his interests without the weight of financial stress pressing on him. He was happier, more rexed, and spent more time engaging with Harry and his other children, sharing stories of his fascination with Muggle technology and culture.
Molly Weasley, too, seemed to come alive with her new role. What had once been the daily grind of managing a rge family on a tight budget had transformed into something she truly loved. She had always been a talented cook, but now, with her business flourishing, she was able to focus on creating meals not just for her family, but for countless others. Her cooking brought joy to both the wizarding and Muggle communities, and the success of the venture gave her a sense of fulfillment that went beyond the kitchen. Harry often helped her, learning how to prepare some of the magical dishes that had become so popur. Molly’s pride in the business—and in Harry for helping her start it—was obvious, and her gratitude toward him only strengthened the bond between them.
For Harry, life at the Burrow felt like a dream come true. No longer was he the forgotten child locked away in a cupboard; he was a part of something bigger, something full of love and warmth. He had a family now, one that cared about him and made him feel wanted. Harry couldn’t believe how lucky he had been to find a pce in the Weasley family, a family that treated him like one of their own. He wasn’t just a visitor or an outsider here; he was a brother, a son, a part of the heart and soul of the Burrow.
The once-stuffy rooms of the house now bustled with a new sense of energy. There were always pots bubbling on the stove, the smell of freshly baked bread or a hearty stew filling the air. Outside, the garden had grown, not just with flowers, but with the vegetables Harry had started pnting with his new dad, Arthur. Harry had learned about gardening from his miserable time at the Dursleys, but now it was different. With Arthur’s help, Harry had turned the Burrow’s nd into a lush farm of vegetables, much to the delight of his new family. The magical environment around the Burrow made the pnts grow stronger and faster, and soon, Harry and Arthur were taking produce to the local Muggle farmers' market, where they made a tidy sum selling their magical crops, disguised as ordinary vegetables.
Arthur, who had always been fascinated by Muggles, loved every part of this new venture. He enjoyed speaking with the Muggles at the market, learning more about their way of life, and proudly watching as Harry navigated the Muggle world with ease. Together, they would haggle over prices, making enough to bring back even more money for the family.
The extra income not only helped ease the burden but also allowed the Weasleys to treat themselves in ways they hadn’t before. New clothes, better school supplies for Bill and Charlie as they prepared for Hogwarts, and little luxuries like sweets from Honeydukes and joke items from Zonko’s for the twins. It was a far cry from the hand-me-downs and patched-up robes they had once known.
But what mattered most to Harry wasn’t the money—it was the love and happiness that filled the Burrow. The Weasleys, now freed from financial worries, were happier, more carefree, and the sense of joy was infectious. Harry reveled in the simple pleasure of being part of a family that cared about him. He was no longer a burden or an afterthought. He was a Weasley now, in every way that mattered, and for the first time in his life, Harry felt like he belonged.
When the letter from Hogwarts arrived, the whole Weasley household buzzed with excitement. Bill and Charlie had both settled into their school life, and it came as no surprise that Charlie, like his older brother Bill, had been sorted into Gryffindor. The two boys wrote back frequently, sending home tales of their adventures and lessons, each time with a different Hogwarts seal. For Molly, this was a source of immense pride. She knew her boys were thriving, and now with their financial worries finally eased, she wanted to give them something special to mark this milestone.
“We should get them their own owl,” Molly announced one morning, her face glowing with joy. "Something reliable, so they won’t have to rely on the school owls anymore. They deserve it.”
The decision felt right. They had the means now, and there was no need to pinch pennies anymore. The family had come a long way, and everyone was sharing in the happiness that came from their new sense of security. It was a moment to celebrate, and the thought of surprising Bill and Charlie with a gift they had long wished for filled the house with even more cheer.
Harry felt that joy too, though for different reasons. He wasn’t just happy for Bill and Charlie—he was imagining his own future at Hogwarts. He had dreamed of attending the magical school ever since he had learned of its existence. The thought of going there, being sorted into a House, learning magic, and making new friends filled him with a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation. But, for now, he lived vicariously through his older brothers, absorbing every word of their letters, reading their hand-me-down schoolbooks, and imagining the halls of Hogwarts.
He still remembered the day Bill and Charlie had left for Hogwarts as if it were yesterday. The trip to King’s Cross Station had been an event in itself. Harry had been in awe, watching the bustling crowds of witches and wizards, young and old, dressed in all sorts of strange and wonderful clothing. It was a scene unlike anything he had ever seen before. The ptform, with its strange mix of old-fashioned robes and enchanted pets, was a far cry from the dull and dreary world of Privet Drive.
Harry couldn’t help but feel a little out of pce at first, standing there in his bright green and red cloak, a gift from Molly, which cshed magnificently with the traditional robes the other students wore. His siblings were no better off, each dressed in their own array of mismatched colors. But in the chaotic whirl of the station, they all fit right in. It was as though the magic of the pce swallowed them whole, and for the first time, Harry felt like he truly belonged.
The memory of that day lingered in his mind as he poured over the old textbooks that Bill and Charlie had left behind. Though they were second-hand, to Harry they were like treasures. The pages, worn and dog-eared from years of use, were filled with notes, doodles, and diagrams that Harry read with rapt attention. He spent hours in the corner of the Burrow, curled up with the books, absorbing everything he could about the magical world. Potions, Transfiguration, Charms—every subject sparked a new curiosity in him.
At times, Harry would sit with Percy, who, despite his bossy nature, was always eager to expin what he had learned at school. Harry found himself constantly asking questions, desperate to know more about the world he would one day be a part of. Even Ron, who was the same age as Harry, seemed more interested in Hogwarts now that their older brothers were away, and the two of them would pour over the books together, practicing spells with sticks or pretending to duel like they imagined real wizards did.
Molly and Arthur, though proud of their sons, were always mindful of Harry's eagerness to go to Hogwarts. Arthur would occasionally bring home enchanted items, like a Sneakoscope or a collection of old Quidditch magazines, just to fuel Harry's excitement. Molly, for her part, encouraged his curiosity, often helping him decipher some of the more difficult parts of the textbooks, and even teaching him a few simple spells that didn’t require a wand.
“Don’t worry, Harry,” Molly would say with a smile, ruffling his hair. “You’ll be at Hogwarts soon enough.”
And though Hogwarts still felt like a distant dream, Harry had never been happier. His days were filled with ughter, learning, and love—a stark contrast to the life he had once known. The Weasleys had given him more than a home; they had given him a family, a future, and a pce in a world that was filled with magic. And Harry knew, deep down, that one day, he too would walk through the great doors of Hogwarts, just like Bill and Charlie, and begin his own magical journey.
