Erin was the most excited she had ever been in her life, not counting when she had first gone to Hogwarts or when she had turned into the wolf. But this definitely counted as one of the most exciting times she had felt. She had only been back at the orphanage for three weeks and already she had been told by Mrs. Peabroom that the Weasley's wanted her to come for a visit and would allow her to stay until school started. It was the most wonderful thing in the world to hear! She thought that the Weasley's would forget all about her, even though Ron had written her a few times and Fred and George sent something daily. Hermione also wrote as often as she could, but strangely Harry had not written her nor had he responded to any of her letters. She was quite worried at this, as were Hermione and Ron, for they hadn't received any letters either. So she was excited and also very worried at the same time. It wasn't like Harry to forget his friends, they were terribly afraid that something had happened to him.
Erin was thinking about all this as she tried to sleep. For once she had gotten all her work done early so she was actually in bed by 10…but now she couldn't sleep. She thought about going to stay with the Weasley's and also she thought about the predicament Harry must be in…she was worried about him, she had harbored the crush on him for the last year. She often wondered if Harry might just feel the same about her. She didn't think she even had a hope of Harry liking her…uh, in that way. She knew Harry thought of her as one of his best friends and she considered him one of hers. The four of them had been almost inseparable when they left…she missed them so much and it had only been 3 weeks!
Tomorrow though the Weasley's would show up and they would take her to their home and she would spend the next almost month and a half there. Her and Ron would talk, she would have Fred and George doting upon her (ok, that wasn't so exciting), she would get to know Ginny better…it would be wonderful. She didn't know why Mrs. Peabroom had let them…she always said only family, but then again they might be related, after all she didn't know anything about her family…well not that much anyway. She knew about her mum and dad and knew they were purebloods…and she knew all of the families were related, so they must have been pretty closely related for old Peabroom to let them take her. She had to be up early, because Peabroom said they would be there sometime that morning…oh, she hoped it would be earlier than later, but they did have a drive ahead of them…all the way from…she thought a moment. Otter-Catch-Poles? Or something like that. It didn't matter; she just wanted to be with her friends, even Ron was very preferable to this place. She loved Ron, he was a great friend, after all, but at the moment she would take Draco Malfoy over the orphanage, and that was saying something.
Erin awoke the next morning to the sun shining. Peabroom, obviously, thought it best not to make her work that day. Erin was so excited as she got her stuff together and went down to take a shower. Some of the other girls eyed her warily, but they didn't say anything or come near her. They didn't even talk while she was in there and most of them left before she had finished. Erin was very careful to get completely clean, she didn't get to take a shower too often because she was always cleaning and when she wasn't she was just too tired. She doubted Mrs. Peabroom knew that Mrs. Weasley knew all about the orphanage and what Erin did and didn't do, so she had been under strict orders to be clean and presentable. She didn't mind these orders; after all, she liked to be clean.
After her shower she went back to her attic room and sat at her small desk with the cracked mirror. She brushed her long black hair and plaited it into two thick breads, which she wound up and pinned to the back of her head. She looked herself over in the mirror, there were circles under her eyes, but they weren't that bad and she wasn't as pale as she had been last year. All in all she looked presentable.
She stood and pulled on her dress, which was black and had fishnet arms below puffed sleeves. In a few minutes she was dressed and ready to go. The clock on her bedside table read 9 o'clock. Well, she would go down to the kitchens and get some breakfast from cook.
At 11:30 Erin was still sitting in the kitchens while the cook and maid gossiped and slid over some treats to her every now and again. The morning was almost over… they should be there soon though…Erin was very anxious about this. The gardener had been sent up for her trunk hours ago...he had done it as a favor to the maid (they were married). All the 'help' there liked Erin, they had seen her grow up and they didn't think a nicer, prettier girl existed anywhere, especially not a pureblood. At 11:45 Erin was getting even more anxious for them to get there.
At 11:50 the loud doorbell rang. Erin had been coming out of the bathroom at the time and Mrs. Peabroom hurried past her so Erin had to stepped back into the bathroom, the woman's huge presence taking up practically the entire hallway. Erin stepped out, when it was a reasonably safe thing to do, and hurried after the woman. Mrs. Peabroom got to the door and straightened her hair and voluminous dress before opening the door with an equally large smile on her face. Erin inched around her and craned her neck to see through the door. Erin's eyes practically bulged out. She hadn't expected this…all the Weasley's (minus Ron's two oldest brothers) were standing there. Mrs. Peabroom faltered a little, but kept her smile. "Come in, come in!" She said mock-excitedly. "Erin! Erin? Oh, there you are, dear. Take our guests into the parlor, I will just tell Cook that we have a few more to lunch."
She swept off, as fast as a fat woman could sweep at least. Erin smiled when the woman had gone and threw her arms around Ron. Ron didn't mind being hugged and embraced the girl right back, very happy to see her. When they let go Fred and George were quick to spot the opening. Before Erin knew it both Fred and George were hugging her and kissing her. Mrs. Weasley reprimanded them while Mr. Weasley (a tall redheaded balding man) pulled them back. Erin led them into the parlor and told them to sit down. "My," Mrs. Weasley said as she looked around the room. "You most certainly do a good job, dear."
"Thank you." Erin blushed. "I try." Erin sat down next to Ron and Ginny, much to Fred and George's disappointment.
"Well, dear," Mrs. Weasley said. "You know everyone except Arthur, Arthur you know this is Xenia's daughter."
Mr. Weasley smiled. "Your mother was an inspiration to us all. We were very grieved when she was killed."
Erin nodded. "Thank you." She cleared my throat. "How are we related?"
They looked taken aback at the question. "How do you know that we are related?"
Ron, Fred and George were particularly interested in this question, for different reasons. "I thought we were, because Mrs. Peabroom would never allow anyone to visit the children or have them go anywhere unless it was with someone that was related."
Mr. Weasley nodded. "Yes, your father is my second cousin…and your mother is my…" He thought a moment. "Well, my brother was married to her sisters' husband's sister."
"And I am related to your father by marriage and your mother's grandmother and my grandmother were sisters." Mrs. Weasley said, she looked at Fred and George and rolled her eyes. "Far enough so you could date her if you wanted."
Fred and George high-fived each other and practically cheered, "We're in!"
"I never said yes." Erin reminded them.
Mrs. Peabroom came in at that moment and sat down in a high-backed chair. "I see you have all made yourselves comfortable. Wonderful. Lunch will be ready soon. Oh, Erin, that reminds me, you have sent and owl telling your guardian that you will not be here?"
"I sent one last night." Erin told her, Remus would be happy…if he wasn't indisposed.
"Wonderful. You are all packed?" She asked like a dutiful mother.
"Yes, ma'am. My trunk is in by the stairs." Erin said not looking up.
"Good girl." Mrs. Peabroom laughed. A truly horrific sound and then a bell was heard. "Ah, lunch. If you will all follow me to the dining room."
They all stood and followed. Ron leaned in close before they left the room. "That woman is truly scary."
"You have no idea." Erin said.
"Have you heard from Harry?"
"No. I'm getting very worried about him." She murmured.
"Us too, Fred, George and I decided that if he didn't write us before his birthday we would go and get him ourselves."
"Good idea." Erin said. "How are you planning on it?"
"We drove here in a car that my dad tinkered with. He loves Muggle stuff and likes to take them apart and bewitch them. He works in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office. If he raided our house he'd have to put himself under arrest." Ron snorted good-naturedly. "But the car can fly and we were going to take it to Surrey and get Harry."
"What do you think those people are doing to him?" Erin sighed.
"I don't know." Ron admitted. "But I'll tell you this, it can't be anything good. Poor Harry, Hermione is just as worried. I wrote and told her about what was happening and what we were planning on doing. She hasn't had time to get back yet, but she'll be supportive, don't you think?"
"It's Hermione, anything to help us, if we needed her nothing could stop her from getting to us. She's just as worried about Harry as we are, but we don't have proof that anything is going on…" Ron gave her a look. "Ron, we don't have any proof, but we know nonetheless. You can count me in."
Ron grinned. "Great. Fred and George will be happy about that."
"What will we be happy about?" Fred asked turning his head.
"Erin's gonna help us with the Harry problem." Ron told him.
"Good." George said smirking at them. "That means she can't tell us to get lost."
"Like I would." Erin rolled her eyes. She would have said more, but the ship finally came in, in other words Mrs. Peabroom had finally waddled her way to the dining room. And since she had been in front, well everyone took a while to get there. Erin just wanted lunch to end and for them to leave. She wanted to get as far away from this place as possible.