Witch Diaries Chapter 1
The Warren, 2 p.m. 10th June
My mum leaves my dad, moves us to the country – which smells weird by the way – where she used to live, and then gives me a diary. She says it's so that I can write about my feelings. What feelings? Oh, er, missing my dad? Missing my old friends? Not being able to go to my old school? Nah, mum you've got it all wrong. I haven't got any feelings. At least none that you care about. And what is it with the country? Every thing is green and yellow. And it smells like something. I can't place it. Oh my god, you should see our house. It's this teeny tiny little cottage out in the middle of nowhere. And get this, it has a name! The warren? What kind of a name is that? What kind of a house has a name anyway? Kylie is ecstatic. She's chasing the gnomes that have crawled into our garden.
Oh look, we have neighbours. Yippee! Actually, I'm not being sarcastic. This red headed guy is talking to my little sister. She's giggling. He's got long red hair tied back and an earring. He's really good looking. Yippee indeed.
"No you see, you can grab them by the legs and fling them into the air," he said to Kylie. Her eyes were as big as saucers. He smiled at me and then turned and went back into his house.
Oh my god, their house! Okay, I guess it's a bit worse that ours. I just looked; it's got a name as well. The burrow. What is with this place? But the burrow is, well, it's a mess. It's tall, and crooked, and tall. No I said that. Uuuugh, I have to go get my stuff and take them to my room, which I haven't seen yet.
The Warren, 4.30 p.m.
Ok, it's not that bad. Once I went inside, it was nice and cool. I chose the attic as my room. It's really nice. The ceiling is slanted and I have the most privacy. My mum came up and asked me what colour I wanted my walls. I told her scarlet.
"But, what about pink?" she said looking at my room. She'd clearly wanted me to choose the big room downstairs.
"Pink, ew mum! Kylie can have pink." Mum rolled her eyes.
"She wants blue," I snorted. Way to go Kylie.
"But Kate, Scarlet…such a dark colour." Mum went over to the windows and opened them. "You need a bit of fresh air."
Seriously, I am being suffocated by fresh air.
Mum finally gave in, flicked her wand and I had a scarlet room. I grinned and started to unpack.
At around three a red headed girl about my age knocked on my door.
I opened it.
"Um, hi," she said, "I'm Ginny - from next door."
"Oh hi, I'm Kate." She smiled and looked around my room.
"Your mum let me in," she said casually. I let her in my room and sat on my bed.
"Do you have a brother?" I asked I was of course referring to the red headed hottie. Ginny nodded, "six."
Must be the country air.
I laughed, "I'm sorry, I heard six."
"You heard right." Ginny sat down next to me, "yup, I'm the last, and only girl." Wow! Rabbits.
"You're Magical I suppose?" she asked.
"Of course," why of course? Sometimes I can be stupid.
Ginny smiled.
"Have you only got a sister?" I raised an eyebrow and nodded.
"Yeah, just Kylie." Ginny let out a quiet laugh.
"Count yourself lucky Kate," I smiled. She was really nice I suppose.
"Do you go to Hogwarts?" I asked. I had already flopped onto my stomach.
"Yes. So does one of my brothers, Ron."
"Only one?Out of all six?"
"Well yeah. Bill is a curse breaker at Gringotts."
"Is he the one I met?" I asked. Ginny nodded. "Be sure to remember ... the one with the earring and the long hair." I smiled.
"Charlie works with dragons in Romania and we don't speak to Percy." Ginny scrunched her nose, "does something at the bloody ministry." I guess this Percy human is quite a sore subject.
"The twins, Fred and George own a joke shop in Diagon Alley."
"MOTHER OF – are you serious? Your brothers OWN Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes???" Okay, I admit, I was a bit overexcited and rather frenzied. But I worship their stuff.
"Um yes," Ginny looked just about ready to stuff her whole hand into her mouth to resist the urge to laugh.
"Go on, Laugh," I said grinning a bit, "Their stuff is fabulous!" Ginny gave me a knowing look.
"I know," she said, "Although I'd probably appreciate them more if I wasn't their prime test subject!" I laughed at that.
"You're lucky," I said quietly.
"You've got the peace and quiet Kate, not me," I looked up at my new friend.
"It's not about quiet; it's about having a huge family who love you." Ginny fell quiet and got off the bed. She quietly walked to the window and looked out.
"It is nice, but sometimes, you just want out you know. Out of the constant vigilance from everybody around you." I was totally not getting her.
"It hurts to be cared for." She whispered.
"I beg your pardon?"
Ginny turned to face me. She had tears in her eyes. Okay I knew the country was weird but I never knew I'd make a friend instantly. A good enough friend that she wasn't afraid to cry in front of me.
"My boyfriend dumped me two weeks ago." My mouth fell open.
"Why? How?" Okay seriously how is that relevant to our conversation?
"My boyfriend was Harry Potter," she said calmly. I wanted to gasp but I didn't, for Ginny.
She must've noticed because she thanked me.
"Can you believe the nerve on that boy??" Ginny asked, "He dumped me, because he wanted to protect me." I am pretty sure my eyes widened.
"What?"
"He wants to go after Voldemort," I squeaked at the mention of the guy's name, "and he dumped me, so I wouldn't follow him. Stupid sod!" Ginny wiped her tears and gave me a feeble smile.
"Guess you're kind of regretting moving here huh? Being a neighbor to a crazy girl in love with the boy who lived?"
I blinked.
"I don't regret it Ginny. I'm here for you, cause what are neighbours for?" And I meant it. I never really had a best friend. But I am beginning to think maybe this one day brought Ginny closer to me than any one back in the city. I got off the bed and gave her a hug.
"I'd best be off, don't wanna be late for dinner." Ginny said. She smiled warmly and walked to the door.
"Oh and by the way, Harry and Hermione are my brother's best friends. And they'll be visiting." I looked up at Ginny.
She smiled. "You seem like a good enough person for this."
"For what?" I asked her.
"Ron is in love with Hermione and the feeling's mutual on her part."
"Is there a problem with that?" I asked. Ginny grinned.
"They're both oblivious. I'll need your help in the match making process Kate." I smiled. "Sure thing Ginny." and she left.
The warren, 8 o'clock.
I just got off the phone with Dad. He says he misses me. I'm not too sure. He was rather distant on the phone. Well whatever, if he loved us enough he would come get us. Not that I don't want to live with mum of course. God why can't – no. I'm a bit old to wish them together. One second somebody is at the door and nobody is answering.
Oh it was Ginny; she just came to give us an invite to their house for dinner. Mum agreed instantly, saying it was healthy to have good neighbours. I don't know where she heard that but I don't mind. I want to meet the rest of the Weasleys. Now what shall I wear. Ginny mentioned that all her brothers save for Percy were going to be there and judging from Bill, I think they're all going to be quite good looking. I really want to meet the twins though.
The Burrow-
Aw, the Weasleys are so nice, especially Fred and George. Oh and they are so hot. I'm into George big time; he's so sweet and funny, which is good seeing as Fred has a girlfriend he's completely besotted with. Ron is a riot as well. He cannot go one sentence without swearing, it's endearing. Hermione and Harry are getting here soon- a few days. After dinner, the parents retired to the sitting room and we all went to sit by the lake. It was only slightly dark, even though in the country it should be pitch black. It was only Fred, George, Ginny, Ron and me. Kylie had busied herself with Ginny's old toys and pictures. Charlie and Bill have gone out.
"Who's in for a game of Truth or Dare?" Fred said in a loud whisper. I felt a shiver in my spine and counted myself in. The last to agree was Ron, but after our glares and taunts he reluctantly nodded. George conjured up an empty bottle and settled it in the middle.
"As our guest of honor, Kate must spin first!" I smiled and spun the bottle. It stopped lazily at Ginny and Ron.
"Wait!! No kissing!" I said loudly. They all looked at me. George stared at me in the eye and raised an eyebrow, "why not? The game's not right without kissing," he smiled. I felt a tingling in my bones and looked down.
"But your all related, I can't be kissing each of you, it's not fair," I said.
"Well we can't very well kiss our sister can we?" Fred said.
"Okay, how about we get back to the game and worry when it's your turn…" Ginny said she had a malevolent look in her eyes. I was immediately scared.
"So Ron, Truth or dare?" Ron seemed to have caught the malevolence too, since he gulped.
"Truth," he said. Ginny looked visibly disappointed, then her face lit up.
"Saving your first kiss for Hermione are we?" Fred asked making kissing noises. I bit back a laugh and ducked my head. Poor Ron.
"Sod off you," he added a little rude gesture to Fred before staring back at Ginny.
"Before I ask him a question, I shall let you all know, that if I even catch gist of a lie, you will be the recipient of one of my famous Bat Bogey Hexes the second we step onto the train!" she was talking to all of us, and from the reactions of her brothers, I assumed she was quite talented at that hex and I shuddered.
"Now Ronald, I heard you murmuring in your sleep last night, who were you dreaming about?"
We all gulped and stared at Ron, we'd all expected a "who do you love?" or a "who would you want to shag?" but this was just too much… I heard a chuckle coming from the twins.
Ron muttered something inaudible.
"WHAT?" Ginny shrieked leaning closer and cupping an ear. George fell about laughing on the grass at her. I glanced at him and smiled. I instantly regretted it when I caught sight of Ginny looking at me and smiling evilly.
"Can you repeat that Ronald," she said.
"Hermione!" he shouted, "Merlin's pants Ginny!" we all smiled, I leaned over and squeezed his shoulder. He grinned appreciatively and turned back to the circle.
"I get to spin," he said loudly. Nobody contradicted him. The spinner stopped in front of George- Ron was the asker.
"Dare mate," he said. He conjured up five bottles of Butterbeer and handed them around. We all drank while Ron pondered.
"I dare you to jump into the lake starkers," George barely batted an eyelash. He stood up, told Ginny to turn away, which she did gladly, and started to strip. As he threw his shirt over his shoulder he looked at me and winked. I felt myself go physically weak. I grabbed bunch of grass and squeezed. I couldn't take my eyes off him as he yanked off pieces of clothing. He finally shrugged off his boxers, nodded once and dove into the lake. Ginny turned to us and asked if he was fully submerged.
"Yup," I answered, my voice wavering. I had caught sight of everything. And I have to say, as tall and thin as they look with clothes on, it was nothing compared to what was under - George was toned! We saw a head emerge, Ginny turned away again as George got out. He quickly pulled on his boxers and the rest of his clothes over his wet body. I glanced at him and the away; I tapped Ginny's shoulder, signally to her that her brother was dressed.
George grabbed the bottle and spun it hard. It took a while before it stopped between Fred and George. George being asked. He groaned and ran a hand through his wet hair.
"Again?" he asked, "is that allowed?" Fred snorted.
"Everything's allowed," Ginny answered, "I cannot wait to play this game when Hermione and Harry come…" she looked at Ron when she said that. We grinned.
"Truth or Dare Georgie?"
"Truth," he said, "a change." Fred snorted again at his excuse and tapped his head in mock thought.
"You keep glancing at Kate, why?" I blushed, my mouth a perfect 'O'. George looked back at me and then at Fred.
"I find her quite fetching," he said. He turned back to me and winked, baring a lopsided grin. I almost died. I took a deep breath and smiled back.
Again George took the bottle and spun it. Ironically, I was the subject to be tortured, and scarily enough, Ginny was going to be doing the torturing. She gave me such an innocent smile, I shuddered.
"Truth or dare McAvoy?" I'm not even going to ask how she knows my last name.
"Er, Dare, no I mean Truth, I didn't mean it!"
"You heard Dare boys?" the boys all nodded grinning broadly. Remind me to kill them all.
"I hate you Ginny," I said. She shrugged, "You'll get over it,"
The worst thing was she was right. I clenched my jaw.
"I dare you, to kiss George,"
"My specialty," George said grinning at me. I wanted to kiss him so badly, I was almost okay with the dare, I just didn't want to do it in front of everyone. I've only been kissed a couple of times, randomly, at my old school. I bit my lip.
"Does it have to be here?"
"Unfortunately," George answered. I moved across the circle so I was in front of him. He leaned closer to me and said; "Don't worry, we'll have a better first kiss later," and then he kissed me. I didn't even have time to acknowledge what he said. His lips were so soft on mine, I forgot everybody was watching. I forgot I was embarrassed, I just enjoyed it. He was an exceptionally good kisser.
He pulled away and brushed my chin with his forefinger before sitting back down in his place. I crawled back into my place and looked down. My face was radiating heat. I could feel it.
The Warren, 11.57pm
I'm in denial. I can't believe what happened. All I know is that its going to be one hell of a summer. I am so glad we moved here.