It was bad enough having two brothers but having Fred and George for brothers – Charlie was ready to go insane. He rolled his eyes as the eleven year olds dashed off again and he gave chase only to bump into someone. Not someone – a girl.
"Merlin's beard! I'm so sorry." Charlie said. She smiled at him.
"Don't worry about it. I was chasing after my bonkers little sister."
"No way. I was chasing after my insane younger brothers. They're twins so double the trouble." Charlie said and she laughed. He liked it, it was a warm, friendly sound and Charlie couldn't resist laughing as well. "I'm Charlie Weasley."
"Emelia Grady." She said shaking his outstretched hand.
"I don't think I've ever seen you at Hogwarts."
"No, I'm homeschooled but my little sister will be starting this year." She answered and Charlie nodded before there was an almighty crash further down Diagon Alley. They turned and ran towards the sound and found Fred, George and an eleven year old girl in a tangled heap outside Potage's Cauldron Shop, various cauldrons surrounding them. "Lissa!" Emelia cried and the girl looked up at her.
"I guess we both found our siblings." Charlie murmured and Emelia nodded before reaching out and tugging her little sister to her feet.
"How many times have I told you not to run off? Diagon Alley isn't like the market back home." Emelia scolded as she brushed her sister down. "I promised Mum and Dad I'd look after you. I can't do that if I can't see you."
"Come on you two." Charlie said and Fred and George stood up and brushed themselves down. "Emelia, do you and your sister want to come and get an ice cream with us?" Charlie called after the girl that was walking away. She turned back and smiled.
"We would love to."
Emelia smiled as she sat beside Charlie and watched Lissa's animated conversation with the Weasley twins.
"Watch out!" Charlie said and Emelia looked at her ice cream before licking the melted cream off her thumb.
"That's the only bad thing about ice cream." Emelia said as she licked at her Key Lime Pie flavoured ice cream. "They melt too quickly meaning you have to eat them quickly and you end up with brain freeze."
Charlie chuckled. "That is true. There's that and they also make children stupidly hyperactive." He murmured in her ear and she smiled, turning into him, their faces so close.
"Charlie!" Molly cried and the teenagers jerked apart.
"Mum, you're early." He said; looking up at her while Emelia went back to eating her ice cream with a light blush on her cheeks.
"No I'm on time. Now who is this?" Molly asked, looking at Emelia.
"This is Emelia Grady and her sister Lissa Grady." Charlie introduced, Emelia giving Molly a shy smile while Lissa gave her an enthusiastic wave.
"Nice to meet you girls. Are you a friend of my son's from school?" Molly asked, looking at the older girl.
"No I'm homeschooled Mrs Weasley."
"Oh."
"But my sister Lissa is going to start this year." Emelia said brightly and Molly smiled at the younger girl.
"Are your parents waiting for you somewhere else?" Molly asked and Lissa fell silent.
"Our parents died in the war. We live with our aunt." Emelia explained.
"I'm so sorry." Molly said, a hand at her mouth. Underneath the table where no one else could see, Charlie Weasley slipped his hand into Emelia's, linking his fingers through hers and squeezed it gently.