Hey guys! This is my new Harry Potter story that I've been working on for a while and I've FINALLY gotten around to publishing it! I really hope you enjoy it! Please review so I can see what you all think! :D
{The Heart of a Weasley}{Chapter One}{Together}
"Alex. Sweetheart, wake up. Come on." I heard my dad say to me, gently shaking my shoulder, pulling me from my deep slumber.
"Okay, I'm awake." I replied, not opening my eyes, or making any sign to move. I heard dad laugh a little.
"Come on, Alex. You have to leave for The Burrow soon-"
That woke me up.
I sprung bolt upright in bed, a huge smile on my face. "Is it the time already?" I asked excitedly, pulling back the covers and rushing over to my chair, where I had set out all my clothes for today.
"Wow. That shows your excitement." Dad said, from where he started opening my curtains.
"Are you kidding me?" I said, pulling a brush through my hair. "I haven't seen the Weasley's, and Rose for that matter, in over four weeks! I can't wait to see them again." Dad had surprised me in taking me on a four week holiday to California. We had travelled along the whole state, seen, and did, so many amazing things. We walked along the Walk of Fame, went to San Diego Zoo, swam with dolphins, crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, took many boat rides, visited Alcatraz Island, went to Six Flags, and went horse riding on the beach. Well, I did the horse riding – Dad has never been fond of it. Mum was amazing at horse riding. Dad told me that I had gotten her talent passed down to me in the genes. I seemed to be very much like mum… "But don't get me wrong, I had a fantastic time on our holiday. Particularly the horse riding." I grinned, the happiness reaching my eyes. Dad saw it too.
"Exactly like your mother." Whenever mum was mentioned, the atmosphere changed. It was much more meaningful, and powerful.
Dad came over to me, and put his hands on my shoulders, smiling down at me. "You're the spitting image of your mother." I smiled up at him, knowing that we'd get through another day without her. "I'll let you get ready. Do you want me to sort you out some breakfast?" He asked, backing away towards the door.
"Umm…" I checked the time on the clock. Ten o'clock. "I think George said that they would be cooking a big lunch for the family today, and so I don't want to ruin my appetite. But thank you."
He smiled and nodded, closing the door behind him as he went out into the hallway.
For the next hour or so, I was rushing around my room, trying to remember everything that I had to bring with me for my stay at the Weasley's house for the remainder of the summer. Tomorrow, we would be going to the Quidditch World Cup. Dad was coming too, but he had to sort out some business at the Ministry today, and so he would be joining us at the World Cup tomorrow. I was so excited to see the World Cup. It's not every generation that get to experience the hype of it.
Once I was dressed and had applied some makeup, I checked that I everything that I would be needing; I can be rather forgetful when it comes to packing for a trip. Extra clothes, toiletries, gifts for the Weasley's and Rose, wand, broomstick, money, sunglasses, shoes, sun cream (no doubt that I would get sunburnt, being a redhead and having fair skin)…I think that's everything.
I slung the bag over my shoulder, and headed out my room, taking one last look behind me as I wouldn't be seeing my room again for another year.
I met dad downstairs in the hall, as my trunk and owl were there waiting with him.
"Right, do you have everything, Alex?" Dad asked me.
"I think so." I replied, stroking Tierney briefly through the bars of her cage. Dad bought her for me for my first year of Hogwarts. She is a wonderful barn owl, apart from when she brings me half-dead presents…
"Okay then. I'll drop you off at the Weasley's, and then I shall meet you at the World Cup tomorrow during the afternoon sometime." I nodded, and grabbed the top of Tierney's cage, whilst my dad grabbed hold of my hand, and the handle of my trunk. "Ready?"
"Yup." I closed my eyes and held on tightly to the things I was holding. Within a second, our feet where no longer touching the ground as my dad apparated us to the Weasley's. It felt as though I was being pulled through very tight tyres; it wasn't a pleasant feeling at all. It made my stomach lurch.
Within a few seconds, our feet were planted firmly on the ground once more, and I let out the breath I had been holding in.
"You alright?" Dad asked, knowing that I didn't really like to apparate much.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just the usual." I said, with a little laugh on the end. I then looked behind me, and instantly smiled. I saw my favourite place in the whole world.
The Burrow.
I always felt so at home when I was here. The Weasley's are truly the nicest family I have ever met in all my life. They are my family.
Dad and I started to walk towards the Burrow, my dad carrying my trunk and my owl, whilst I just had my bag. We had hardly walked five steps, when a brunette sprang out of the doorway, grinning over at our direction once she saw me.
"Rose!" I shouted, dropping my bag, and sprinting towards my best friend. She called my name also and mirrored my actions. We collided in a severe hug, but neither of us felt just how hard we were squeezing each other. We had never spent so long apart in all the years that we had known each other, which was coming up sixteen.
"I missed you so damn much!" Rose told me, not releasing her hold on me.
"Nothing compared to how much I missed you!" I replied.
We finally parted, and started laughing, immediately enjoying each other's company. Just as I was about to ask Rose how her summer had been, I noticed that two redheaded twins had emerged from the house, behind Rose. I looked over her shoulder, and grinned so widely that I thought my face would be plastered like that forever.
I ran past Rose, towards my two favourite guys in the whole world. I jumped into their open arms, and gave them both bone-crushing hugs.
"These past four weeks couldn't have gone slower!" George said, burying his face in one side of my hair.
"We thought this day would never come!" Fred replied afterwards squeezing me closer to the both of them. I then felt a third person hugging us all from behind me; Rose had come to join in the group hug. I felt a slight tear escape my eye from the sheer joy of being reunited with these guys.
"Whoa, guys let her breathe!" I heard Mr Weasley say from the direction of the house. We all released our hold on each other, and I went to greet Mr and Mrs Weasley.
"Good morning, my dear." Mr Weasley said, pulling me into a brief hug. "How was your holiday?"
"It was fantastic thank you. I really loved it, but I missed everyone so much." I replied, giving Mrs Weasley a warm hug.
"Everyone has been missing you also. We've been counting down the days until we would see you again." She said, smiling heartedly at me. Mrs Weasley had become a mother figure to me ever since mum died when I was nine. I was now sixteen, and going into my sixth year at Hogwarts with Rose, Fred, and George.
After many more hugs and greetings, Mr and Mrs Weasley ushered everyone inside, but my dad insisted that he had to go to work, and politely declined Mrs Weasley's offer for him to join us for lunch. My mum and dad had met Mr and Mrs Weasley when they were at Hogwarts; Dad had been in Gryffindor with them, and mum had been in Hufflepuff. They had all been best friends, just like Rose, Fred, George and I were now. When mum died, the Weasley's were instantly there for me and dad, and if it wasn't for them, I don't know where dad and I would be now. And therefore, that's how we are such good friends with the Weasley's.
I bid farewell to dad, and once he had apparated away, Rose, Fred and George lugged my things upstairs, whilst Mrs Weasley spoke to me. "We've made up an extra bed in Ginny's room for you to sleep in, but if it's gets a bit tight, what with four of you being in there, then let me know, and I shall do some re-arranging."
"Oh, no I'm sure we'll be okay, thank you. I don't want to be a burden by having to re-arrange everyone." I said, feeling a little guilty that I was another person invading Ginny's room.
"Besides," Ginny said, coming to stand next to me, "It's like having a sleepover every day of the week." She laughed a little, and I joined in.
"Well, alright then." Mrs Weasley said with a smile. "Okay, well go and settle in. Lunch is in twenty minutes." She ushered us upstairs, and Ginny led me to her room, which was situated on the first floor.
"Seriously, Alex, what do you have in that trunk of yours?" George asked me, as he had just carried my trunk up to Ginny's room. "Weighs a ton!"
"Stop complaining." Rose said, whilst elbowing George in the stomach lightly, with a laugh. He, maturely, stuck his tongue out at her, but there was a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"I have a whole years' supply of clothes and books in there so it's natural that it would weigh a fair amount." I replied, coolly.
Fred had set my bag and owl down in a corner, and then came to stand over with Ginny and I by the door. He breathed out in a soft whistle and rubbed the back of his neck. "It's going to be a bit of a squeeze in here, isn't it?" He said, looking around at the sleeping arrangements.
You know, now that he pointed it out, I saw what he meant. The floor was hardly visible at all.
"Maybe you girls should sleep in our room. It's bigger than Ginny's." George stated looking around at the beds, probably comparing the size of his and Fred's room to Ginny's.
"Good idea, George." Fred said. "But I don't know if mum'll let you. We'll go and debate with her." They made a move to leave the room for downstairs, but soon stopped when I spoke.
"Who says that Rose and I want to stay in your room?" I said, crossing my arms.
"You'll have more room." They said together, pointing out the obvious, and looking at me as though I was being stupid.
"Your room smells like gunpowder though." Rose stated, coming to stand by me and Ginny, tripping over a sheet as she went.
"It's always smelt like that. Was like that when the house was built." Fred said.
"No, it smells like that because you guys like to make things explode." I said, knowing that they couldn't argue.
I was right. They just looked at each other, turned, and headed downstairs.
"I really don't know how you two handle them all throughout the year." Ginny said, laughing slightly.
"I don't know how you deal living with them." Rose said back, laughing also.
"But then again, we wouldn't have them any other way." I stated, smiling at them both, and they nodded, agreeing with me.
Fifteen minutes later, we were all in the kitchen, helping Mrs Weasley to set out the table and to dish up dinner. There was only Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Rose, myself, and Mr and Mrs Weasley eating lunch today as the eldest three Weasley's were off working, and Harry and Hermione would be arriving late this afternoon.
Fred and George had managed to persuade Mrs Weasley to let Rose and I sleep in their room, but only if the boys wouldn't experiment with their inventions whilst we were in their room. Mrs Weasley wanted to stop their experimenting full stop but Fred and George would never give up their dream of inventing the most random, although rather brilliant, products.
We all sat round the kitchen table, Rose standing out the most with her dark brown hair and fairly dark skin against seven pale and redheaded people. Rose's dad, Diego, is Spanish, and came over to England to attend Hogwarts, which is where he met Rose's mum, Felicity. They have three children; Jae, who is in the year above us, Rose, and Lilly, who is in Ginny's year at Hogwarts. Jae, Rose, and I are in Hufflepuff, whilst Lilly is in Ravenclaw, following on from her mum.
"This is a fantastic roast, Mrs Weasley." Rose complimented.
"Thank you very much, sweetheart." Mrs Weasley has always been very fond of Rose also.
There was a continuing clanking of knives and forks against plates, and the chatter was at a minimum. The food was just too delicious to neglect for long.
"So, what has everyone been up to this summer?" I asked, hoping they had all enjoyed their summer as much as I had.
"Well, Fred and I found this new ingredient that would make the Skiving Snack boxes work even better-"
"What have I told you two? You are not to experiment with things that you don't know anything about!" Mrs Weasley said, her cheeks pinking up from anger.
Rose and I stifled a laugh, trying to hide our faces behind our drinking glasses.
Fred and George were about to start arguing their point, but Mrs Weasley gave them both very stern looks, which made them quickly fascinated by their food.
Minutes later, all the food was eaten up, and all the plates were empty.
"That was delicious, Mrs Weasley. Really, really lovely." I said, standing up to start clearing the table, but was soon ushered back into my seat.
"No, no dear! You're a guest in this household, not a maid." Mrs Weasley said, smiling over at me. I smiled back, and soon enough, everyone (apart from Rose and I, as we had received stern tone from Mrs Weasley not to help) was clearing the table, and cleaning the plates, glasses, and cutlery.
"Oh, boys, could you go and de-gnome the garden before you play Quidditch this afternoon please?" Mrs Weasley asked, while casting a spell on the sink and the brushes so that they started to wash up on their own.
There was a chorus of groans from the boys, but with an angry look from Mrs Weasley, they all finished their jobs in the kitchen, and trudged outside to proceed with their other chores. Rose and I thanked Mrs Weasley once more for dinner, and then followed the boys outside, whilst Ginny stayed behind to help her parents.
As Rose and I started to walk slowly over to the boys, we noticed that there weren't too many gnomes around, but enough to keep the boys busy for a while.
"I'm going to try my hand at this de-gnoming business." Rose announced, uncrossing her arms and looking at me.
"Seriously?" I said, with a laugh.
"Out of all the years that we've been to the Burrow, we haven't even attempted it." She stated.
"True, but I thought that you didn't like the sound of it?" I was still wearing an amused expression.
"Well…I still don't. But, for some reason I feel like trying." She said, eyeing George, who had just grabbed a gnome by its legs.
"Be my guest." I gestured with my arm for her to go first.
With a look of determination on her face, she walked up to George, who had just flung the gnome into the other field successfully.
My eyes then started to skim over garden, to see if there were any more gnomes for me to sort out, but they're weren't. Oh well, there will most likely be more tomorrow for us to deal with.
Looking back at George and Rose, a small smile instantly spread across my face. Rose was now holding a gnome by his feet, and George was standing behind her. His arms were stretched out along hers, and his hands were wrapped around smaller ones, showing her what to do. A slight pink tinge was playing at Rose's cheeks, as she laughed slightly, most likely at something George had just told her.
I was so busy looking at Rose and George that I hadn't noticed that Fred had come to stand next to me.
"You're a bit transfixed, Alex." He commented, waving his hand in front of my face.
I looked at him, smiling. "Look." I said, and turning back towards Rose and George. Fred followed my gaze. George stepped away from Rose, and after she had spun a few times on the spot, she released the gnome's legs, and he went flying into the next field, landing on his head. Rose looked really happy that she had managed to do it, and turned around to hug George. He responded enthusiastically.
"They fancy each other right?" Fred said, to put it bluntly.
"It's been mind-blowingly obvious for the past year." I said back.
"What I don't understand is why they haven't told us. I mean why George hasn't told me, and why Rose hasn't told y-"
"Ssh!" I interrupted him, as Rose and George were making their way over and were now in earshot.
"Ready to play some Quidditch?" George said, eagerly rubbing his hands together, as well as wearing a mischievous grin.
"Definitely!" Fred replied, high fiving George. Rose and I looked amused. "Hey, Ron!" Ron looked over from where he was making his way towards the house. "Quidditch?" Fred shouted, and Ron replied with a 'thumbs up'.
After the twins impatiently ushered us into the house so that we could get our brooms, we headed up to the field that was a little way up the hill. The place was beautiful; it was surrounded by trees, and through the gaps in the trees, you could see the little village of Ottery St Catchpole below the hill.
We had collected some apples from the ground and played three against three; Ginny, George and I versus Ron, Fred, and Rose. We played many games throughout the afternoon, throwing and catching the apples to each other, and scoring goals if you hit a certain tree. Rose and I were chasers on the Hufflepuff Quidditch team at Hogwarts, and so we had the best aim and tactics (which was why we weren't allowed on the same team when playing outside of Hogwarts). It was so much fun playing QUidditch, but we really played ourselves to the point where we physically couldn't walk anymore.
Harry and Hermione arrived just before dinner, and for the rest of the evening, we all hung out in the lounge, talking and sharing what we had done over the summer. Everyone else went to bed around nine (as we had to be up early for the World Cup tomorrow), except Fred, George, Rose, and I, who stayed in the lounge for a further half an hour. I gave them all their gifts from America, which they all loved, and then we retired to bed. Rose and I were surprised that Fred and George had given up their own beds so that we could sleep in them, while they took the blow up beds on the floor. They could be such Gentleman when they wanted to be, which wasn't often. But Rose and I knew that they would go to the ends of the earth to protect us.