*Warning: this story will not make sense if you have not read The Next Heir of Slytherin.*

Chapter 1

George hurried and jumped playfully off the train; Fred stepped down first and turned to lift Alli off the step, and place her gently on the ground in front of him. Alli was greeted on platform 9 ¾ by her mother and the Weasleys. This was the first time Diane had met Fred and his parents. Alli was nervous for this moment and clenched Fed's hand; he smiled at her and took over the introductions.

"Hi, you must be Mrs. Jerrings. I'm Fred Weasley and these are my parents Arthur and Molly."

"Nice to meet you all," Diane shook hands with all of them before embracing Alli. The group exited the platform together but there was such a commotion, Alli, Diane, Molly, and Arthur were separated from the rest of the Weasley kids.

"Come, this way, our son Percy knows to get his siblings to the lounge over here if we should be separated." Mr. Weasley motioned towards a deserted waiting area. It wasn't long before George wandered into the room saying the others were not far behind him. George decided to make use of this time to cause some trouble.

He came up behind Alli and wrapped his arms around her waist and said into her ear, "It was great last night, hope we can have a repeat of it tonight."

"What!" all three parents said in unison.

Alli turned and pushed George off of her, laughing, "Stop it George, you're going to get me into trouble."

As the adults sighed in relief and the two kids laughed, they were joined by the other two Weasley kids.

"What's going on in here?" Fred asked wondering about the laughter.

"Nothing, George was just being a jerk." Alli smacked George with the back of her hand, hitting his stomach.

Alli went over to Diane while the Weasleys prepared to travel home by floo powder.

"So nothing has happened between you and Fred?" Diane looked to her daughter for reassurance.

"Definitely not, George just likes to cause trouble."

"Good" Diane hugged Alli because she was staying at the Burrow for the first three weeks of summer.

"Diane, why don't you join us for dinner tonight?" Mrs. Weasley asked as Alli was about to finish saying goodbye to her mother.

"Oh I couldn't impose."

"You most certainly would not be imposing. It would be our pleasure, plus you only just saw your daughter so you should have some more time with her."

Diane then accepted the invite and took her handful of floo powder. Percy went first, followed by George, Fed, and Alli; next went Diane and finally Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. By the time Diane entered the main room of the Burrow, Alli was catching up with Ron and Ginny. Diane looked around the house in awe; it seemed like a crowded house but in a strange way also spacious.

She looked at her daughter, who was hugging a little red headed girl, and knew there was something in this house she could never give her child, a whole family. Diane had saddened herself with this thought but was brought up when Alli and the young girl offered to give her a tour of the house. Alli was so excited to have her there, Diane felt secure that Alli would never completely leave her for this family.

Dinner was so lively and full of laughter that it didn't take long for Diane to also feel at home. Having only had a dinner with a majority of three people at the table, except on holidays when they joined the Grangers, a table surrounded by nine members seemed like organized chaos. But this gave Diane a chance to see a whole new side to of Alli, the carefree side. At one point one of the twins made a joke at Alli's expense, but instead of being angered, as Diane expected, Alli laughed and tossed a piece of her dinner roll at the boy across the table. Before she could scald her daughter for being rude, the boy tossed the piece back at her, only making it high enough so Alli could catch it in her mouth. The entire tabled cheered, including the parents, and the youngest boy commented that it was the fourth time in a row Alli had caught a piece of food; this told Diane that this was a sort of tradition for her daughter and the Weasleys.

After dinner the kids helped Mrs. Weasley clear the table while Mr. Weasley questioned Diane on Muggle objects.

"I have an idea, how about when Alli come home; all of you come to our house for dinner. That way Arthur you can see some of these objects for yourself."

"That sounds wonderful, we would be delighted." Mrs. Weasley answered while Mr. Weasley expressed his excited by naming the main items he was curious about. When the meal was over and the table was cleared, it was time for Diane to leave. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were washing the dishes, the twins and Percy went to unpack, Ginny was getting her room ready for Alli, and Ron was in his room organizing his wizard cards; this gave mother and daughter a moment of privacy to say goodbye.

"They seem like a really nice family" Diane said.

"They are and they have made me like a true member."

"I'm glad you're so happy here."

Alli caught the hint of disappointment in her mother's voice, "but not even a family of this size could replace you, mum, you know that."

"Of course but I do have one question before I leave. I know you share a room with that little girl, Ginny. What happens when you have a bad dream, I mean how do you explain that to her?"

"Well I haven't had to yet thankfully. Any dreams I have had while here have either been good or at least tame. I haven't sent things flying around the room in a while."

"Well that's good news. Maybe this means the violent nights are a thing the past."

"I hope so for my sake and for the sake of those around me."

Diane kissed her daughter goodbye and then thanks Mrs. Weasley for the wonderful meal. The rest the Weasley crew ran down and said goodbye to Diane before she disappeared in a flash of green flames.

Arriving at empty house was bitter sweet for Diane; she was glad her daughter's demons were lessening and she could now live a somewhat normal life, but she wished she wasn't always alone this big house. She missed having someone to talk to, to laugh with, and even argue with. Sitting on the couch, Diane reflected on the past few years and finally decided to call the person who kept entering her mind. They had grown apart a few years ago but had recently started taking again; their friendship had grown and now they had become quite close, almost as close as they were about six years ago.

Diane dialed the number and waited anxiously for it to be answered. Within the first few rings Diane heard the soft soothing voice say hello.

"Hello, Allen, how are you?"