Lizzie had been at Arabella Figg's for the summer. She spent almost every day with Harry, playing at the nearby playground and traipsing around the neighborhood. She seemed happy. But when her seventh birthday came and went in July and there was no sign of Remus coming for her, the joy soon gave way to melancholy. He had sent a card to her with a rental owl. Harry hadn't read it but from the fact that days continued to go by and there was no mention of her leaving, he gathered Remus wasn't coming for her anytime soon. Perhaps he was still having trouble finding more work? That was why Lizzie's wasn't with him after all.
Things brightened the day Harry got a letter from Ron about the Quiddich World Cup tickets that Mr. Weasley had obtained. Ron had sent a letter with his owl Pig to tell Harry. There was no mention of Lizzie, but he couldn't leave her alone with Mrs. Figg. Not for the rest of the summer.
When they were together at the park later that evening, Harry told Lizzie.
"So you're leaving. Have fun I guess. See you at school." The downhearted tone was enough to break Harry's heart. He sat on the swing beside the one Lizzie was occupying. "Listen," he said, hands firmly grasping the chains. "I'm not going to leave you here. You're coming with me."
"I'm supposed to be with Mrs. Figg."
"I'll send a letter to your dad when we get to Ron's house. I think he'd rather the Weasley's look after you if I'm there." Harry reached out for Lizzie hand, and she placed her small hand in his. "I'm not leaving you alone. Okay?"
And so here they were, standing with Harry's aunt, uncle, and cousin in the living room welcoming all the boys of the Weasley clan. They had tried to get in via floo powder, but the Dursleys had an electric fireplace, so there was a bit of a catch up, trying to the Mr. Weasley and the others out of the fireplace. Following this though, Arthur seemed to be in a jovial mood.
"Got your trunk Harry?"
"Yeah, it's upstairs."
The twins offered to grab it for him. Harry waved Lizzie forward. She was wearing a lilac romper and had braided her hair. She walked to him and Harry laid an arm over her shoulders. "I don't know if Ron told you, but this is Elizabeth Lupin, Professor Lupin's daughter. She's been staying with Arabella Figg up the street."
Mr. Weasley crouched down and extended his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Lupin." Lizzie smiled and took it, shaking it briskly.
"If it's all right, she's coming with us, sir. I was supposed to be looking after her a lot this summer and if I'm not here…she should just be with me."
"Of course," Mr. Weasley said, standing straight. "Always room for one more."
Lizzie ran to Harry's bedroom to collect her summer knapsack while the others remained downstairs discussing the house and Mr. Weasley's varying interest in muggle artifacts. When the three children returned with Harry's trunk and Lizzie backpack, the entire party made to leave, until Fred dropped some candies, one of which Dudley promptly ate and which turned his tongue into a long purple thing, causing Lizzie to giggle before stepping into the fireplace with Harry.
Apparently the candy was an invention by Fred and George. They had decided to test their creation on Dudley. Bill and Charlie were there. They greeted Harry, who smiled and said hello before leading Lizzie by the hand to the kitchen table. "Lizzie, this is Bill, and this is Charlie, I'm guessing."
"In the flesh, and who is this little one?"
"Lizzie Lupin." Lizzie had introduced herself this time with a grin and a handshake. She sat in one of the chairs and set her bag on the back of it.
"Well now," Bill said. "Look at that magnificent mane of red hair. You could be one of our own."
"I'm half Irish," Lizzie offered. "My grandmother is Minerva McGonagall. Her daughter was my mum."
"No kidding," Charlie said appreciatively. "She was one of my favorite teachers, McGonagall."
"Now Lupin, that be Professor Lupin who taught you all last year?"
Lizzie nodded. "He sent me to Mrs. Figg's for a while, until he could find some work. We don't have much money. He's trying to save a little before I go home."
Before anyone could say anything else, Mr. Weasley came out of the fireplace and started berating his sons for using the Dursley boy as a guinea pig. Strange enough, Lizzie didn't mind. Her father never raised his voice for anything. This lound house didn't bother Lizzie at all. It was like being in a home with siblings. How she always wanted a home, with a father and mother, brothers, even a sister.
Lizzie went to sleep that night excited for the world cup. Seemed Mr. Weasley had an important connection who could scrounge up one more ticket. The summer was turning around. Now if only her father would come for her…