Thank you for reading! Two chapters in one week! The next chapter will be at the wedding, so I am really looking forward to that chapter. Any HP info I have got wrong, please let me know!
-Constructive criticism (or praise) is welcomed, so please review.
-I don't own any of J.K's characters, places etc.
Enjoy chapter 2!
Chapter 2: The Invitation
Staring.
I have become very good at it over the summer; whether it's staring at the stunning blue sea outside my bedroom window, staring at the vast, emerald valleys where my house is situated, or staring at the ivory coloured letter currently in my hand.
It is an invitation. I read it over and over again, to make sure I don't miss anything. The postal address is written shiny, violet ink and reads:
Orianna Amor Andrews
31 Sunfields Lane
Britain
The letter inside has more of the same fancy, violet writing:
Dear Orianna Amor Andrews,
You have been cordially invited to attend the wedding of Teddy Remus Lupin and Victoire Weasley.
They request your company at the Burrow on 30th of August.
Dinner and dancing to follow.
Yours Sincerely,
Teddy and Victoire
Another letter fell in my lap in on the same day. The beautiful barn owl that swooped down, I recognize as Rose's.
Dear Anna,
I asked Teddy to invite you to his wedding, 30th August, as the company of my cousins is becoming extremely maddening! Victoire was a little reluctant as she wanted it to be a strictly formal affair, but Teddy said more the merrier, and even invited the whole of his Hogwarts year students to come! Grandma Weasley wasn't impressed, and she told him to cut the number by half before the wedding.
Anyway, how are your holidays? As I said, mine have been maddening. Victoire has been changing the colours of the bridesmaid dresses every day. Today, she has settled on a pale pink, but I am sure it will change to a mint green before the week has finished! All of the cousins (except for the boys obviously) are completely fed up, I found Lily crying last week. Something about Victoire shouting at her because she was tugging at the bridesmaid's dress.
I think you can see why I need your company so desperately. There's Scorpius, too. He is another affair completely. There have been a lot of arguments about his loyalties and whatever. But Scorpius is coming, and so is Elizabeth. It would be great if you invited your parents as it seemed like I'm always blabbing on about mine!
Anyway, can't wait to see you soon, maybe as soon as Friday? That's when Albus and I are going to Diagon Alley. Elizabeth might come, too. If you can, you should meet us there ten tomorrow morning. Reply soon!
Love,
Rose
Elizabeth, as well as being my roomate, is one of James Potter's best friends. The two grew up in Godric's hollow and she told me, on the night after that 'famous' transfiguration lesson, about her life with the trouble making Potter.
She said it was about time his ego deflated a little and gave me permission to scold him any day. After that we talked more and became good friends, this in turn made me spend more time with James. Underneath the arrgant exterior and popularity, he was a funny, smart boy.
I reply to Rose's letter straight away, to the disgust of my mother. I'm not bothered with my handwriting as I send it, but later, when remember my letter in my mind, I am immediately disgusted with my messy scrawl.
Dear Rose,
Guten Tag! My holidays have been all right. If you haven't guessed, I went to Berlin this year with my parents. It is a very lovely city! I visited the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg gate and Reichstag building, which I'm sure will come in handy when I have to help Elizabeth with her muggle studies.
Victoire is probably just stressed, but that is no reason to take it out on you of course. Just remember this is supposed to be a happy time! I haven't been to a wedding, so I cannot wait to see what happens. Because of work my father is currently still in Berlin, so only my mom can accompany me.
I will be at Diagon Alley by 10:00. I can't wait to see you and Albus.
Love, Orianna
I am ready and waiting at Diagon Alley by 10:00. I am so nervous my hair starts changing from my usual bright teal hair to a pale, almost periwinkle blue. This does attract some curious looks, but, I have learned to ignore them.
I decide to head to the new ice cream parlor. It's a shop that's painted bright pink and blue and always smells like cookie dough. The walls are filled with various ice cream flavours, written vertically, horizontally and slanted. If you go up to the walThe next chapterl, you can smell the flavour that was written on that piece of wall. It's called Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour Jr. My mother says it is a tribute to a Mr. Fortescue who owned an ice cream parlour elsewhere. His best friend, Mr. Fontana, owns the Jr. version.
"Good morning, Mr. Fontana," I say brightly to the near balding man. He has rosy cheeks and rectangle glasses on the bridge of his nose.
"Oh hello, Miss Andrews," he says. "Lovely day today, isn't it?"
"Brilliant," I say. The sapphire skies are particularly bright today. "But please call me Orianna," I add politely.
"Well, Orianna, you are looking a little nervous today," Mr. Fontana comments, looking at me for just a moment too long. He quickly busies himself with his ice cream making.
"Just meeting a couple of friends for Hogwarts shopping," I say,eying the wall behind him for a flavour.
"I think a special Butterbeer ice cream is ideal," says Mr. Fontana. And he whips his rather long wand out and scoops the ice cream with a swish. Deep honey coloured ice cream lands in a dish that he places in front of me. A sparkling, silver spoon floats in mid air, and I grab it.
"How much, sir?" I ask, my hunger turning my hair to an electric orange. I blush slightly and change it back to a shy blue.
"Free of charge, just don't tell the other customers," says Mr. Fontana, giving me a wicked wink. I smile and thank him again, then retreat to the corner and dig into my ice cream.
I'm in the middle of a humungous scoop when a shadow looms over me. I look up to meet warm, brown eyes and untidy black hair.
"Hey, Andrews," James Potter says, and he takes a swipe at the tip of my nose. To my embarrassment there's a bit of butterbeer ice cream on the tip of his finger. To my further embarrassment, he licks his finger.
"Butterbeer?" He says, more as a statement than a question, sounding surprised. I nod, still embarrassed, and quickly check to see if my hair is still a bright teal rather than a burning red.
"It's delicious! No wonder you were eating it like an animal," he smirks.
"Shut it, Potter," I hiss. " What are you doing here anyway?"
"Spending the day with my favorite brother and cousin, of course," he says sarcastically, pointing at the counter. There, indeed, are Rose and Albus.
"Rose!" I exclaim, and run all the way to the counter where Rose is ordering a bubblegum ice cream.
"Anna!" she replies with a wide smile. Her red, bushy hair is combed back into a long ponytail, and she's wearing a red plaid shirt, light blue jeans and some blue trainers. She has become increasingly pretty over the summer, I think.
"How are you?" I ask her.
"I'm fine, glad to be getting a few hours away from Victoire though," she says with a sigh.
"Hi, I'm still here you know," says the boy next to Rose. He has the same untidy hair he's had for the three years I've known him, and the same shockingly bright green eyes. I notice he has grown a couple of inches.
"Al!" I say, and hug him tightly.
"You've grown," I say as I release him.
"That's what everyone's saying," Albus says with a groan.
"Because it's true! You'll be taller than me soon!"
"I am already."
"All right, don't rub it in!" I say, ruffling his hair.
"Awww, little Albus-kins is growing up," James teases.
"Shut up," Albus mutters.
"So, should we get going?" I say as we finish our ice cream. With a wave to Mr. Fontana, we leave the ice cream parlour. "I suggest Flourish and Blotts first."
"I think we should wait for Elizabeth," says Rose.
"Why? She'll just spend most of her time in Twilfit and Tatting's," Albus says.
"There she is!" I say loudly, before an argument starts to brew between the two cousins.
Elizabeth has dark chocolatey brown hair, which is tied back into a long braid. She's dressed in a blue skater shirt with a sleeveless white collar shirt. She looks very beautiful in the morning sun.
"Orianna!" she says, and gives me a tight hug.
"Hey, Eli, can't your best friend have a hug too?" James says from behind me, and Elizabeth throws her arms around him.
"How have you been, James?" she asks with a sincere smile.
"I'm holding up well, just some idiot got the Gryffindor quidditch captain badge instead of me," he says bitterly.
"Oh yeah, well," and Eli slips her hand into her pocket and brings out the scarlet badge with gold writing on it that reads Gryffindor Quidditch Captain.
"Cool! You're the captain!" exclaims Albus.
"Congrats, Eli!" Rose says with a wide smile.
"No way!" groans James, running his fingers through his hair. "That badge will be mine next year."
"Not unless I drop down and die, James," chuckles Eli, and she slips the badge back in her pocket.
"Now are we here to do shopping or what?" I say.
"First, I will need a new broom, and some new robes, some more parchment and quills of course, and maybe someone to carry all of them?" Eli's glance lingers on James.
"No way, I have my own stuff to buy," he says defiantly.
"Well, what with all the stories you've been spitting out, I'm sure a couple of bags won't throw you, Potter," I say to James with a wicked smile.
His brown eyes dart between Eli and myself, and he sighs in defeat."Great! So can we go?" Albus says impatiently.
"Yeah, I did promise mom I'd be back before lunch," Rose adds.
"Okay, let's go then," Eli says, and confidently she links arms with me and James and starts to walk towards Flourish and Blotts.
"I'lll see you on the 30th, I hope ," Rose says, hugging me.
"Course you will!" I say, hugging her back. "Now hurry up, I don't want you to be late!"
Rose pinches a bit of powder from the side of the fireplace.
"The Burrow!" she yells, and watches the fire in front of her become a bright green. She gives one quick wave to Eli and me, and then walks into the green flames.
"See ya soon, Al!" I say to Albus, as he copies what Rose did before him and walks into the green fires.
"Andrews!" I turn to see James coming out of Eli's hug. "See you at the wedding," he says. "Don't be late, or Victoire will bite your head off." He takes a pinch of Floo powder.
"Whatever, Potter," I say with a warm smile.
"The Burrow!" he shouts, and he walks into the dancing green flames. I stare at the fire for a while until a gentle hand comes to rest on my shoulder.
"He loves daisies," Eli whispers, and without saying goodbye she yells "12 Godric's Hollow!" and walks into the fireplace, leaving me to wonder. Daisies.