37. Family (2)

Holding back no longer, and realizing that our interaction was really drawing attention, Percy, the eldest of the children, steps forward.

"Mom, Dad, what's going on?" he looked a little worried, but he was much more curious, and by the looks of it, the rest of the class was the same, paying unusual attention.

Without losing her breath, Molly lets go of me and grabs Harry once more, happily as the tears that had already wet my shoulder and hair now did the same to Harry.

Arthur resumes his posture.

"Percy, Fred, George, Ronald and Giny, meet your cousin, Evans Black. He's my nephew on my mother's side, and your mother's cousin." he says, making the boys, and the little girl, wide-eyed.

"Wait, so why is Mum hugging Harry too?" Ronald asks confused, completing. "They're half brothers, but that doesn't make her his aunt or cousin." His jealous words make everyone look at him strangely.

"On the contrary, Ronald. It reaffirms that we are all blood related. Harry has Peverell blood, through his father's lineage, and Molly has Prewett blood, which is descended from the Perverells, as well as the Potters.

It doesn't make us directly related, but adding that, Evans here is my nephew, it magically makes our connection closer, thus making his mother Harry's cousin and me his uncle.

When Evans came into Harry's life, he brought a lot more people into the fold because of the ramifications his family has over time. So Harry now has a bigger family than he would have liked or imagined."

Arthur tries to explain, but even for me it was confusing to understand where one begins and the other ends. I just accepted his explanation as the simplest to understand, and with it, I'll move on with my life.

"Uncle Arthur, I hope I don't bother you by calling you that, but we need to take care of some things at Gringotts, and we need you to accompany us." I declare, making everyone look at me curiously but Harry.

"I don't mind, and in fact, I'm even happy about it." he says rather sheepishly as his wife gives him a warm hug. "But why do I need to go to Gringotts with you?"

I give a humorless laugh, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly. "I forgot to speak with Cousin And, so I ran out of money to do my shopping, and I can only withdraw my money accompanied by an adult, and family."

He just chuckled, as he couldn't believe I had so conveniently forgotten to speak to my guardian, on the day of meeting a relative, and, not least, a house-elf could withdraw the money on my behalf.

"Fine, I'll accompany you." he says, amused by the idea of what this scheme of mine could be. "Molly, can you wait with the kids at Flourish and Blotts? We won't be long." he says, kissing his wife's forehead.

"To celebrate, I'm going to buy gifts for each of my newly acquired relatives." I say, but I glance quickly at the boys. "And no, I'm not trying to buy you guys off, don't worry about it."

"But honey…" Molly starts to say, when I make a remembered face and cut her off.

"Aunt Molly, as my present, I want to try the cake Harry said you make, a non-pumpkin one." I make a face of disgust when I say pumpkin, making Harry laugh.

"That's easy honey." she looked excited now.

Arthur next door just felt that he did it to make her forget about money and gifts, which was very wise of me. If there's one thing that makes Molly forget about financial problems, it's her children and relatives.

"Come on, we can't be late, or the store will be full." Arthur hurries us along, and Harry starts to keep up. "Harry, don't you want to stay with Molly?" he asks, seeing that his wife would call the boy.

"I would love that, Mr. Weasley, but I also need money." he says blandly. Then he turns to Molly. "Sorry Mrs. Weasley, but I promise I'll make it up later." he beams at the woman, who loses her momentum, and begins to lead the rest of the gang into the store.

After walking for a good few minutes, just before entering the bank, Arthur stops, and looks at us seriously.

"I need to make a few things clear, boys. I don't know what you're up to, but I hope it doesn't involve Molly and the kids. I don't want to see you hurt by your actions, whatever they are, and not least."

He turns seriously, looking straight into Harry's eyes. "It would be really magical Harry, if you could call Molly and me uncles, it would be one of our joys. Know that we will always be there to help you however we can."

That last part, he says glaring at me and Harry, a smile on his face.

I just see Harry smile even happier, knowing that he was accepted by people who really liked him. People who were the first to make him feel what it's like to have a real family.

I didn't count, because I was trapped in his mind, and I only got out a little while ago. They, on the other hand, gave a hand-knitted blouse, invited them to Christmas, remembered their birthday. They took care of the emotional aspect of it.

Seeing this, I won't deny it, I was a little jealous, but happier for the boy. My coming here was to make his life a little less miserable, and by the smile on his face now, I can believe I was succeeding.

"Uncle Art, don't worry, we don't have the slightest intention of harming you or your family, which is ours too. Already worried, I can't say the same words." I say, eliciting laughter from the duo.

"So let's get this money problem resolved soon." he sighs, fake tired.

"That's the Uncle Arthur spirit." Harry teases, walking beside me at the front. Arthur just looks at our backs, and lets a smile dance across his face, and then he catches up with us.