Chapter 2

Besides learning about our school and about magic, our first year was spent getting to know Albus, Rose, and the rest of the first year Gryffindors. While we liked Rose, she had other friends that she spent more time with. So, naturally, Ella and I grew close to Albus, and we began calling him Al.

"Did you know," Al said one winter day soon after my twelfth birthday, "that my dad and my Aunt Hermione and my Uncle Ron were all best friends all the way back when they were our age?"

I nodded. "We've heard stories about how the three of them saved Hogwarts every year!"

"Are they true? They're not just stories, are they?" Ella asked, still somewhat awed by Al's family.

"Of course they're true! You can ask any of the teachers who taught here when Dad was a kid, like McGonagall," Al replied.

At the end of the year, Ella hinted that she wanted to meet Mr. Potter. I wanted to meet him, too, but I was too shy to say anything. A week of summer holiday went by, and then I got a letter inviting me to Al's house for a few days. The return address said, "Number 12, Grimmauld Place." I soon found that Ella had also received an invitation.

The next day, we arrived at Al's house. We entered a brightly lit hallway, where we were greeted by Al. My parents were supposed to leave after they discussed my accommodations with the Potters, but I suspected that they wanted to meet Harry, too.

Ella arrived about 30 seconds after I did, also with her parents in tow. Ginny, Al's mum, introduced herself and told Al to show Ella and me where we would be sleeping. He led us upstairs to a clean room with three beds.

As soon as we put our stuff down, Al said excitedly, "Let me show you around!" Every room had a story about it, most of them involving Al's dad. It was all very fascinating. On our tour, we met Al's sweet little sister, Lily, who was younger than us by two years.

Eventually, we went downstairs to the basement kitchen, where Ginny was preparing a rather large supper. Al told us that his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins were visiting, too. "That's why there are three beds in your room- one's for Rose."

Ella and I looked at each other and when Al turned away briefly, we both quietly squealed. "We're going to have so much fun!" Ella whispered excitedly.

At that moment, we heard the loud bang of a door burst open and several voices drifted down to us. "Something smells good!"

Many heavy footsteps approached and the kitchen door opened to reveal the wizarding world's hero: Harry Potter. Ginny greeted him with a kiss as Al muttered to us, "They do that a lot."

"Harry, we've got some friends who'd like to meet you," Ginny said beaming at us.

I think I probably blushed nervously as Harry looked us over. "Dad, this is Ella and Mae, my friends from Hogwarts."

I also think I blushed even more when he shook my hand as if I were a grown-up and not only 12 years old. Ella smiled happily and I smiled shyly, and we both were speechless.

"Hello! It's very nice to meet Al's best mates," he said.

I somehow managed to say, "It's very nice to meet you, too, Mr. Potter."

"Just Harry. Mr. Potter is my name at the Ministry," Harry said, eyes twinkling happily behind his glasses.

Ella and I exchanged a glance that said, "He's letting us call him Harry! Isn't this wonderful?"

Just then Al's uncle and cousin tumbled into the kitchen, with Al's aunt arriving laughingly behind them.

"Boys, behave. We have guests," Ginny jokingly scolded.

"This is Uncle Ron and my cousin Hugo," Al said. "Hugo is the same age as Lily."

"And I'm Hermione," Al's aunt said. "What are your names?"

"I'm Ella Martinelli," Ella said.

"I'm Mae Rogers," I said, still feeling shy and nervous.

However, I relaxed quickly when everyone was talking and all eyes weren't on me. The atmosphere in the whole house was pure happiness with each other's company. Soon more people arrived, and we were introduced to what seemed like Al's entire family.

"But since I'm related to the Weasleys, chances are you'll never meet everyone; I mean, I haven't even met some people. Our family's just too big," Al said when I commented on the number of people.

We met a cheery Mrs. Weasley, who gave us both bear hugs and asked if we were hungry, and a grinning Mr. Weasley who chuckled at his wife ("Really, Molly, let them breathe!") and shook our hands. Next was Uncle Bill, Aunt Fleur, and cousin Victoire. The two women were both very beautiful with their flowing silvery-blonde hair and smooth faces that contrasted with Bill's ginger hair and rugged, scarred face. Fleur had a light French accent and carried herself with grace, but she smiled and hugged us as if she knew us. Bill welcomed us to the family. Victoire mostly looked around as if expecting someone else to be there. They joined the hubbub in the kitchen, but Ella and I ran up to our rooms to talk about this new excitement.

"They act like we're family," I said, having been quite surprised by the amount of affection shown to us, considering they had never met us before.

"I know! Don't you love it? I adore big families," Ella said, eyes shining.

"Yeah, it's really nice, I was just wondering why-," I was cut off by Rose entering the room.

"There you are! I was talking to Lily and then I came to find you and I couldn't but now I did!" she said rather quickly. "What are we talking about?"

"Your family," I told her. "They're all so nice!"

"Yes," Rose said. She sat with us on Ella's bed. "I think, after all they went through when they were younger, you know, with Voldemort and everything, that they really value friends. Especially Uncle Harry, since he didn't really have a family. All he had was his friends, and he knows how close friends can be."

I thought about that for a moment. It made sense. "So that means we'll be welcome here like family? Anytime?"

"You basically get adopted once you're friends with a Potter or Weasley," Rose said smiling.

"Teddy's here!" Lily shouted from below.

"Come on! You must meet Teddy!" Rose said, jumping up off the bed.

"Who's Teddy?" I asked as we followed Rose down the steps at a run.

"Uncle Harry's godson," Rose said over her shoulder, and then catapulted into Teddy's arms.

"Hey, Rosie!" Teddy said good-naturedly. He was tall with dark brown hair, warm brown eyes, and a broad smile.

"Teddy! Meet Mae and Ella. They're friends with Al and me."

"Hello, Mae and Ella. Having fun with our mad lot?"

We nodded, laughing. Turning to Rose, he asked, "Is Victoire here yet?"

Rolling her eyes, Rose said, "Yes, Teddy. In the kitchen."

"Thanks," he said, racing downstairs.

"Long story," Rose said.

"We have time," Ella said curiously.

"Well, ok." We went back to our room and were given much information about the family members, including Teddy and Victoire liking each other. But the thing we most wanted to know was answered when Rose told us that just before Teddy's parents were killed, Teddy's father, Remus Lupin, asked Harry to be Teddy's godfather.

"Teddy comes here all the time when we're at school. He's already left Hogwarts, so we don't get to see him much except during holidays."

Soon, we also learned about Rose's Uncle George and how his twin, Fred, was killed in the final battle against Voldemort. "They said the two of them were so funny. They ran the joke shop together, but since Uncle Fred died, Uncle Ron helps him. He's still funny, but it's not the same as it used to be, I'm told. He even named his son Fred."

"Will your Uncle George be visiting today?" I asked.

"I don't know, sometimes he comes, and other times he doesn't. I hope he does, though, he really is funny."

"Food's ready!" Ron bellowed upstairs.

Upon entering the kitchen, we were bombarded by dozens of smells and the sound of 15 people talking and laughing. Over the course of a very delicious meal, we learned how to address everyone. We were told, "Oh no, Mr. Weasley is my dad. It's Uncle Ron to you!" and "You are een zee familee, call me Aunt Fleur!"

I thought I might faint of excitement.


All Harry Potter characters belong to JK Rowling. All other characters (aka Ella, Mae, and such) are mine.