Bill was in the kitchen, flicking the pages of The Daily Prophet and devouring sugar almonds one after the other. Surprisingly enough, there was peace dominating the house despite the whole family being present. Not Mrs Weasley cleaning manically, not Fred and George laughing and yelling like lunatics, not anything. It was almost too quiet for Bill to get used to.

Suddenly, there was a ring on the doorbell. Knowing there was definitely someone else probably getting it already, he did not move from his seat but much to his dismay, soon enough he was forced to get up by his mother calling for him. "Bill? Could you come down for a second, darling?"

He hurried down the stairs, ready to face whatever crazy thing it was his mother wanted this time but before he had even come down the steps, he was met with an overwhelmingly pleasant surprise. And there was Melanie Skylights, his best friend since their school years even, his favorite person in the whole entire world. He had not seen her gorgeous face in what; five years? Of course, they had maintained contact through owls but it certainly wasn't the same. He had missed her incredibly - it always felt a little odd being back home with her not being there as well.

"Hello, you!" she simply stood at before him, all sweet smiles and happiness as he froze in his position. Before he even knew it, he was running towards her and picking her up in his arms as she wrapped his own around his neck.

She was the first to let out a happy cry and giggled enthusiastically while they remained in their hugging position; him clinging onto her for dear life and her trying to keep her balance despite her feet not even touching the ground due to their significant height difference. In an instant, he let her slip back down, afraid that he might hurt her.

"Mellie! How-What are you doing here?" the smile playing on his lips was simply impossibly to erase, he found.

"It is nice seeing you too!" she laughed and made an ironic grimace.

"Of course it's nice seeing you! I missed you so much! But that doesn't answer my question. I thought the Greeks had stolen you from us!" he pulled her in for another hug, this time a bit more properly.

She laughed at his comment. Merlin, had he missed her laugh. "Oh, they would never! As beautiful as it might be there, this will always be home. You know how it is."

"So are you back permanently?" he finally let her go from his death grip.

"I'm afraid I cannot be sure. I have no job here and although I would love to stay here, I fear papa still needs me. What I can promise you though is that I will stay long enough for you to grow tired of my company!"

"Never. I wish you had let me know though, my week would have been a little better if I did."

"Then it would not be a surprise! Thankfully, your mother is just as sweet as I remember her and agreed to help me." Melanie beamed.

"Wait, you knew?" he whipped his head around to look at his mother, bewildered.

"Of course I did! She send us an owl and asked that we keep it a secret." Molly answered simply before disappearing into another room.

"A true conspiracy behind me back then, huh?" they both laughed.

Soon enough the entire family was in the room and welcoming Melanie with all their love. They were all so thrilled to see her, but he wished he could be alone with her. There was so much to talk about.

Finding his way through the crowd of his loud family, he grabbed her hand and sneaked them away and up on the roof where they sat in their familiar spot. It was on that particular spot that they had spent entire summer nights away from school during the holidays and several other days after their graduation - before their ways split. So many priceless memories of pointless chattering and laughing, memories he would never give up.

"Merlin, Little Red. I missed you so much. It's been so long!" he exclaimed happily.

"I know! To be honest, I didn't remember you being so much taller than me. Although that is quite the case with everyone I meet." she joked and they both laughed. Sure, she was a little short but if anything it made her cuter.

"And I didn't remember you being so beautiful!" she blushed at his comment. Νow that was a lie, she had always been just as lovely and irresistible - perhaps this was simply the effect of not seeing her in so long.

She had not changed a bit, even the marvelous color of her hair remained the same. He could still remember the day he first got to see the drastic change on her naturally light brown tresses. It was during the summer holidays outside Hogwarts back during their fifth year and she had changed her hair color, making it a wine red, the color of ripe cherries. According to her words, she simply wanted something to make her look just as different physically from her twin sister as she did mentally. Well, mission accomplished.

"You changed so much! No longer wearing that earring, are we? Did the infamous Bill Weasley tone down his coolness?" she perked an eyebrow at him and laughed. "I hope that is all that's changed."

So much talking and she still hadn't even mentioned his scars. And it certainly couldn't be that she did not notice. She must have. Merlin, did he look so dreadful that even the subject alone made her uncomfortable? He quickly swept those thoughts away though when another one crept into his mind. "So where will you be staying?"

"I fear I haven't quite figured that part out yet..."

"Good. You're staying with us." he spoke decidedly, obviously not taking no for an answer.

"Oh, no. You are seven people in here. I am firmly positive you are in no need of another one."

"Nonsense. You are staying here with me. End of discussion. Do not think you are going to get rid of me so easily, Mel-Belle! You are going to be seeing so much of me you'll grow tired of my existence, trust me! There is so much we have to talk about." he grabbed her hand in an instant, caressing the baby-soft skin of her palm affectionately.

She giggled in response. "Oh try me, Billy."