They got to the fireplace ready to leave, when the fire flared green and Ron fell through followed closely by Hermione, who came out with a lot more grace.
�Fred and George told us you were here so we decided to visit,� Ron explained, �or rescue you.� He whispered in Harry�s ear, earning a swat from his wife.
�Wonderful,� Mrs Weasley said after hugging her youngest son and daughter-in-law, �You can all stay for dinner,� she then started the process of cooking another meal.
�No we couldn�t�� �No Mum�� Ron and Harry spoke at the same time, just and Hermione did, �That would be lovely, thank you Molly,� she said, drowning out the other two.
�That�s settled then,� the Weasley matriarch said as she continued her meal preparations, ignoring the two men�s protests.
Ron and Harry exchanged a look, knowing that there was no point in protesting. Ginny also caught his eye from the doorway to the living room, with an �I told you so,� look on her face.
At 8 PM Harry insisted that they return to Hogsmeade, claiming that he wanted to spend some quality time with his daughter. Ron and Hermion agreed that they also wanted to call it a night and the foursome left through the fireplace, after a promise was extracted from Harry that he would spend Christmas day with the Weasley�s along with Mrs K and Alex.
Stepping into the fireplace he breathed a sigh of relief, he was ready to just sit back for a few hours with only his Lizzy for company. But when did Harry Potter ever get what he wanted?
Ron and Hermione walked with them from the three broomsticks, where the floo connection was, and escorted them back to the house they had been given for the weekends. Mach to their surprise they found the front door was ajar and the lights were on inside.
Inside they found, Dumbledore, McGonagall, and the ministry official Harry had spoken too the week before in Dumbledore�s office.
�Mr Potter, I thought we made it perfectly clear that you were restricted to certain areas of the wizarding world, and that means that when you are in those areas you are to stay there!� the official snapped.
�What so I�m a prisoner now!?�
�We allowed you to stay here under certain rules�� the official continued, but he was cut off.
�I didn�t agree to this, I agreed not to go into any areas of the wizarding world except the three you stated unless accompanied by a ministry official.�
�And where were you today?� the official counted.
�He was spending time with a group of old friends,� Ron interrupted before Harry could reply.
�In a wizarding household.� The man pointed out.
�You can�t dictate who we bring into our house.�
�No we can�t but this man has broken wizard law, its just as bad as allowing a known death eater into your house.�
�How dare you compare Harry to a death eater?� Hermione shrieked, starting another argument.
Before Harry could join the war of words McGonagall approached him.
�Let me take Lizzy to the Three Broomsticks for a drink, she should be hearing this.�
Harry paused, weighing up whether his distrust of the deputy headmistress was heavier then his dislike of Lizzy being there for the argument. Finally he nodded.
�I�ll come and get you when this is finished,� he then grabbed her arm as she moved towards Lizzy who was just as angry about the comment about her father as Hermione was and she was screaming just as loud. �If you�re not there when I get there�� he let the sentence die, allowing the head of Gryffindor to fill in the gaps.
�We�ll be there,� McGonagall assured him before forcing the young girl out of the house and back down the street.
Harry stood quietly to the side for a moment longer allowing the four wizards and witches a chance to let their anger at each other out before they, hopefully, sat down and discussed it like adults.
After another five minutes he had had enough and he called for them to stop. When they didn�t he tried a repeat of his earlier accident and pointed at the group thinking the spell he wanted.
It took a moment but the group finally noticed that the room had gone quiet despite their continued argument. They looked at each other in confusion and then turned to Harry who was sitting in a chair by the fire, silently watching them.
�Now are we going to discuss this like reasonable adults or are you going to leave this house and continue this on the street.� Harry gestured towards the other chairs in the room.
Hermione and Ron looked at each other then sat down on the couch. When the other two didn�t move Harry changed the direction of his arm pointing to the door. The two scowled at him before sitting down.
Harry pointed at each of them again and their voices returned.
�Potter you are not��
�Uh Uh, reasonable adults,� Harry said, cutting Dumbledore off when he raised his voice to high. �Now let me get this straight, I am not allowed to leave Hogsmeade without a member of the ministry, correct?�
�Yes, and��
�No let me finish. Now if I am not wrong, and correct me if I am, Arthur and Claire Weasley are both employed by the ministry.�
�And Malfoy.� Ron pipped up.
�Thank you Ron. And Draco Malfoy. Therefore I have spent the entire day in the company of at least one ministry members, if not all three. So may I ask, what is the problem?�
�Arthur Weasley is in charge of the Muggle sector, he is hardly��
�But Claire Weasley is the deputy head of international affairs and Draco Malfoy is undersecretary to the Minister of Magic and next in line to be Minister.� Hermione countered.
The official breathed in deeply as if he was ready to start a long, angry argument but he looked at Harry and let the breath out with a scowl plastered to his face. He stood up, towering over Harry, �Next time inform the ministry when you are leaving the town.�
�Very well, then I inform you that I will make regular visits the Weasley household, and I will be spending Christmas day there. Good evening.�
The man looked like he was about to say something but he stormed out of the house instead.
Harry turned his gaze to Dumbledore, �Was there anything else?�
�You are in a very precarious position Mr Potter, I suggest you watch yourself.�
�Consider me warned. Don�t let the door hit you on your way out.�