Ottery St Catchpole.
The morning mist lay like a damp veil, lightly covering the rolling hills.
A crooked plume of cooking smoke rose from the chimney of the Burrow.
In the kitchen, the warm air carried the wheaty scent of toast and the fatty aroma of frying bacon.
There was also Molly Weasley's own distinctive scent, a mixture of wool and care.
When Douglas appeared in the doorway, he looked like a boy from next door who had timed his visit precisely for breakfast.
He wore an easy smile and carried a paper bag bearing the Honeydukes logo.
"Good morning, Aunt Molly. I smelled something delicious."
Mrs. Weasley was directing a row of plates toward the dining table with her wand. At the sight of him, delighted surprise instantly lit up her tired face.
She rushed out of the kitchen almost at once, flour still dusting her apron.
"Oh, Douglas! Merlin's beard, come in!"
Her delight and warmth almost melted the entire doorframe.
She opened her arms and gave him a firm hug.
"Arthur! Come and see who's here!"
Mr. Weasley poked his head out of the sitting room. He put down his Daily Prophet, a sincere smile appearing on his face as well.
With none of the children home, the house was particularly quiet, yet that only made its warmth more concentrated.
Douglas settled into a seat quite naturally, while Molly kept piling food onto his plate as though feeding a hungry owl.
"Eat more. You look thinner again. Isn't the food at school good enough?"
"Aunt Molly, if the Hogwarts Kitchen heard that, they'd all go on strike."
Douglas cut into a sausage and answered with a smile.
They chatted about everyday matters, from the latest Ministry of Magic gossip to Ginny's letters from school.
The atmosphere was