Ok, now I've altered a few things, I know that Midsummer is like 22nd of June and that cant possible be right in here, but it's a story ok, this is artistic license so bear with me.
Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own Harry, Ron, Fred, George, Ginny, Hermione, or Mrs. Weasley but everything else is mine, I think.
It was a hot summers day and the wind cooled their skin as Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George made their way up the large hill near the Weasley's home. Mrs Weasley led the way with Ginny in tow but the five behind them found it impossible to keep to the fast pace and so fell back.
"It's too hot to be walking up a hill." Fred groaned.
"It's too hot to walking," George corrected. "Especially on a Sunday."
"Why do we have to come here anyway, I mean granted the girls are pretty nice but in this heat, so is a bucket of ice!"
"Actually I'm quite looking forward to it. In a book I've got Magickal Religions it talks about how the summer solstice is celebrated and -" She was interrupted by Harry.
"A summer solstice? What's that?"
"Oh honestly Harry, don't you read?" Hermione said impatiently, then she explained, sounding, as always, as if she had swallowed a textbook. "The summer solstice is also known as Midsummer or Litha. This is the beginning of Harvest season and a celebration of the labour through the year. You know, it's said that whatever you dream on this night will come true."
"Oh God! What if you dream that you're married to Millicent Bullstrode Harry?" Ron groaned. The boys laughed and made up other horrible situations to be dreamed about, much to Hermione's annoyance.
But eventually they made the top, and what a sight it was. There were tents scattered around the edge of a large circle centered on the top of the hill, but the tents were not ordinary muggle tents. They were large and had pinnacles, they looked as Hermione said to Harry and Ron "positively medieval". However, they were not just white or dull colours, there were red and green, blue and pink, there was even a small tent (small compared to the others but actually about four metres across, at least) which was midnight blue and covered with silver moons and stars which seemed to shimmer and sparkle. Another had a green roof with delicate leaves on it. The colours weren't gaudy but the yellows were as if they had been taken from the sun, the oranges and pinks and reds, from a sunset. The overall effect was magnificent; the gathering signified happiness and beauty and was clearly a community of people living together harmoniously. There were lots of people around, but most of them were dressed in a style Harry had ever seen before. It was very unique; the clothes were a sort of cross between wizard robes, and muggle clothes. There were items of each, but they were worn together...
A girl with black hair came over to them, she was wearing a white top with no sleeves but instead had a wide strip of chiffon sewn on so that the arms were covered yet poked through with every movement. She wore a cotton skirt that she wrapped around herself it was a deep purple but when it caught the light looked bluey-green. She wore no shoes but her an anklet made of silver and her wrists were adorned with bracelets made of silver and braided threads. Her hair was black and fell in loose curls, but somehow she had plaited some of it like a crown around her head. The result was breathtaking and she pulled it off, yet she was one of the more "normally-dressed" people. The girl herself was slim but not attractive as such, her hair was her greatest beauty and although she was certainly striking, she couldn't really be called pretty. The expression she wore was not angry but serious, however, as she reached them she smiled.
"Hello. I'm Seraphine." She said to Hermione.
"I'm Hermione, nice to meet to you." She held out her hand nervously and Seraphine shook it.
"You have a beautiful name. It means 'earthly' doesn't it?"
"Um…I don't really know."
"Well I'm probably right, names are very important to us. Mine means burning and ardent, it suits my personality, as do everyone's names here. See the girl over by the yellow and orange tent, with golden hair, that's Tiaret, her name means 'lioness', she looks like it doesn't she?" She laughed as she spoke but the other saw what she meant. The girl was lightly tanned, her eyes were large and tawny brown and there was something strangely feline about her and the way she moved. "And that boy is Alex, his name means 'protector of mankind', do you see what I mean?" She was right again, the boy was quite muscular and tall, you could see that given a sword and he could defend and protect anyone. Seraphine laughed at the concentration and wonder on their faces. "But here am I boring you with names, feel free to look around the camp."
"You're not boring, what does my name mean?" Ron asked, "I'm Ron by the way."
"Ron? That's a form of Ronald which means 'of mighty power'."
"I'm Harry."
"From Harold, it means 'Ruler', like of an army." She was losing interest in this conversation and it showed.
"I love your hair, how on earth did you do it? It must have taken absolutely ages." Hermione asked looking at it closely.
"Oh a quick hair enchantment makes things a lot quicker to do. Haven't you ever tried one?" Seraphine laughed at their shock.
"But………how did you…. know?" Hermione spluttered.
"Oh be serious, you don't think we'd let those interfering muggles up here do you?" Naturally we put a few spells up to protect our magic while we're here. You know the sort, muggle-reppelling charms stuff like that. So if you can come up here then obviously you're not muggle. We have a few people who come and visit us all the time when we're here." She turned to Hermione, "do you want to come with me? I think I've got something to show you, you're going to love it, I'm sure." She turned and headed towards the crowd, Hermione followed and Ron took a step forward but the twins pulled him back. The invitation was clearly for Hermione only.
"Well, give us a hint why don't' you?" Fred said.
"Come on, let's go have a look round for ourselves, see if we can spot mum and pull a couple of those gorgeous lasses eyeing us up over there. That Sarah girl wasn't even pretty." George said, nodding to where a small group of girls had clustered around Tiaret.
"Her name was Seraph-" Ron started, but George and Fred had already walked off so the other boys followed them in search of excitement and Mrs. Weasley.
* * * * *
Seraphine led Hermione across the main circle and towards the blue tent with stars that they had noticed before.
"Wow. You live in this tent?" Hermione exclaimed as Seraphine smiled.
"Yes, it's smaller than some but we can't bear to make a new one. Besides, its big enough for the two of us."
"Two of you?"
"Yes, my mother and I."
"And you actually made this? With your own bare hands?"
"Well, mostly, the material is from Lapland, it is called sky-silk. It will withstand any weather. Then we change the colour or colours to whatever is around us, we modeled this on the midnight sky. That's when we made it; I remember I was only seven at the time. It was so much fun but seriously hard work and lots of concentration was needed I slept for 3 days afterwards." Hermione laughed but Seraphine was serious. "The yellows are modeled on the sun, the blues on lakes or whatever. It's hard but it's worth it."
"Oh I agree they're beautiful."
"Thank you, now come inside, we can't stand out here allday" She pulled back the opening and Hermione followed her in. Unlike wizard tents, it was not enchanted to be a house inside. There was a space in the middle with lots of large square cushions in various bright colours and various books scattered about. To the left of the tent, was a mauve partition curtain and to the right there was a deep red one. It was through the latter that Seraphine led them both and behind it was obviously her "bedroom".
There was a rectangular bed that was so thick it must have risen at least a foot of the floor. It was made up with white sheets and two red blankets were folded up at the end. There was a light-brown wooden table and a stool to match and it was at this that Seraphine bade Hermione to sit. She did so and realised that there was a mirror hanging in front of her. Obviously it was charmed into doing so and Hermione smiled. Littered on the table were various bits and bobs and Seraphine took a small bottle and tipped some liquid onto her hand. Then she ran her fingers through Hermione's hair until it was dark and slick, almost as if it were wet, but it wasn't, nor was it greasy. Seraphine smiled at Hermione confusion and said nothing. Then she held her hands approximately 10cm away from the girl's head and closed her eyes. She muttered an incantation. She kept at it for what seemed to Hermione hours, but what were really only two or three minutes. Then she looked satisfied and opened her eyes and started making tiny plaits in Hermione's hair. She chanted as she worked and as if by magic (which it actually was) coloured threads appeared and were woven into them, as were beads and even jewels. She stopped after she had done six plaits, and then pulled the rest of Hermione loose hair into a tight knot. Then the small plaits, which were equal distances apart, were also pulled back and taking their loose ends, Seraphine started to braid them all together and then made another circular braid around her friend's bun. When she was finished she stood back and gauged Hermione's reaction.
"Oh wow!" Hermione gasped. The look transformed her. Her hair now accentuated her features and, had she been wearing some of the eccentric mixture of clothing like the rest of Seraphine's friends, she would have fitted in almost perfectly.
She turned and hugged Seraphine and the girl was taken greatly by surprise. Yet she smiled and went back through the partition curtain and sank onto one of the cushions. Hermione followed suit beaming happily.
"I'm glad you like it, you look great." Seraphine laughed.
At that moment a tall willowy woman entered the tent. She was dark-haired and had the same golden skin as her daughter, who was quite obviously Seraphine.
"Sera, darling, what are you doing? We have preparations to make for tonight. Who is this?" She pronounced Seraphine's nickname 'sarah' and her voice had an accent that Hermione could not place.
"Mum, this is Hermione. She's one of the witches that came up today. I've just been showing her a trick or two with hair." Hermione stood up.
"Hello Mrs.…. Um" She held out a hand nervously, but Seraphine's mother just laughed.
"Don't be so formal dear. We don't bother with surnames here. I am Adalia that is what you must call me. Will you be joining us tonight?"
"I'm sorry? Tonight?"
"Yes dear." The woman sounded impatient now and Hermione cast about for something intelligent to say. "The reason we visit here every summer is for the summer solstice." She sighed and tapped her foot. "Will you be joining us in the festival of Litha tonight?"
"Wow. I- I mean really? Can I?"
"I have just inquired so evidently you can."
"Oh, well yes I'd love to." Hermione was quite breathless with delight and excitement.
"Good, we must make preparations. I shall collect the material for the robes we are to make Sera, you and you're friend will collect the wild flowers." And with that she swept out of the tent.
"What is going to happen? What do I have to do?"
"Come with me, are you sure you want to do this? Adalia can be quite thoughtless sometimes."
"Yes I'm sure."
"Ok, well first we make our robes out the natural sources, the sunlight, the grass, the leaves, the heather etc. And we do this at dusk. Then we have to make a giant fire, but without wood, its all our magic and enchantment. Then we call upon Hina, the goddess of the moon. We make symbols and things on the floor and we invoke the spirit of her. The priestess will do this and we dance and sacrifice in her honour. You'll see as we go along."
"Right, ok. Cool." Hermione looked out across the fields below the hill and over to where the sun was. It was four o'clock so it was still quite high. "Wait!"
"What? Can't you do it?"
"Yes, well I hope so, but I need to find Mrs. Weasley to ask her, see I'm staying with friends."
"Oh…. well ok you go and look for her, but I need to get these flowers, Adalia will kill me otherwise." So Hermione hurried off to look for Mrs. Weasley, who she found with Ginny talking to a group of people.
"Mrs. Weasley?" She started.
"You must call me Molly dear."
"Oh, of course, sorry. Molly?"
"I've been invited to participate in the festival tonight, can I?"
"Really? Oh how lucky, I came to one once, I very nearly joined the coven you know, but then I had to go back to school, I was ever so disappointed, that's why I come back here every year, to see the group again." She smiled distantly at the memory of her past, and then snapped back to the present. "But of course dear. Is there anything you need?"
"No I don't think so, but if you could just leave a key or something out for me so I don't need to wake anyone when I come back then I'd be really grateful."
"As good as done dear. Actually we probably should be getting back, are you to stay here then and help prepare?"
"Yes."
"Right, come along Ginny."
"Your hair looks gorgeous Hermione."
"Thanks Gin' Seraphine did it for me."
"Who?"
"The girl over there."
"I wish I could join in tonight." Ginny confessed wistfully looking round at the cauldron being polished and the buzz of activity around them.
"I know I wish you could to. Sorry."
"Its ok, it's not your fault." At that moment Harry, Ron and the Twins came over.
"Hermione?" Ron called uncertainly.
"Wow, you're hair looks cool." George exclaimed, as Fred poked a plait roughly.
"Oi! Do you mind?" Hermione cried.
"Not a bit." Fred told her. Harry grinned.
"You look great Herm' you coming down with us?"
"No I'm staying for the festival tonight." Hermione told them, and she couldn't help being the slightest bit smug. The boys exclaimed over this fact.
"Really?" said George
"Cool." Agreed Fred.
"Can we come too?" Ron asked.
"I don't think so, I was invited by Adalia."
'By who?"
"Seraphine's mother. Now I have to go and get ready, I'll see you tomorrow, sweet dreams." With a teasing laugh Hermione turned and went in search of Seraphine.
"You might see us sooner than you think, little witch Granger!" Fred said darkly.
"Why's that?" Harry asked. George and Fred grinned mischievously.
"We've never seen a Midsummer's festival before, and we were thinking of coming down here around dusk and watching it." George explained.
"But are we allowed? Won't they see us?" Ron asked.
"Not if we hide in the trees you great prat." Fred told him. "So are you in or out?" Harry and Ron looked at each other and grinned.
"In." They said simultaneously.
"Now remember not a word to mum or Ginny ok?"
* * * * *
There we go, chapter 1 down, well it should b chapter 2 shouldn't it I mean it hasn't really got a beginning but I'm going to go for the whole C.S. Lewis thing here + write the first bit last! R&R please!!!