div style="direction: ltr; border-width: 100%;"
div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; margin-left: 0in; width: 11.2604in;"
div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; margin-left: 0in; width: 11.2604in;"
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Hi all! This is my first fanfic story! I hope you all enjoy it :)/span/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters are not mine/span/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Maddie's POV/span/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I hope it goes okay Mad" George said, concern in his voice as he put his arm round me. I shrugged, draining the last of my tea./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I don't think it's going to be the best thing I've ever done" I said with a sigh, putting down my tea and making to stand up./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""We'll be at mum's later so we'll see you there, yeah?" Fred questioned, looking at me closely. I nodded and looked at them both, staring up at me not looking too convinced./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Let us know straight away if things don't go so well" George said, his voice toughening up a bit. I had to laugh at this; they were both very protective over me./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Guys I'll be fine, honest" I told them. "How do I look?" I asked, doing a twirl with a smile. Fred shook his head and George laughed./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""He won't want to let you go" he said./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""You're such a tease going like that" Fred said disapprovingly./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I still have time to change" I said with a frown but he shook his head./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""No, no you have to look good" he said, the sides of his mouth tugging./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Right I guess I'll make a move then. You sure your mum is okay with me staying?" I asked them and they both rolled their eyes at the same time./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Of course she is. She doesn't really want you to stay here anyway. She doesn't think it's 'safe'" Fred said, putting quotation marks round the safe./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Honestly it's like she thinks we want something bad to happen to you. Anyway come on, I'll walk you over" George said, making to stand up./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""No don't be so silly. It's like five minutes down the road!" I exclaimed, backing away. This made them both stand immediately./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""If you think we're going to let you walk there on your own-"/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""-you are absolutely barmy" they both said, so agitated they did their weird finishing each other's sentences twin thing./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I'm eighteen years old, fully trained, with a wand" I told them fiercely. I loved them both, with all my heart, but sometimes they were too protective. I backed towards the door,/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""If you dare follow me I'll hex you happily" I told them with a grin before literally running out of the door and down the stairs. I knew I would pay for that later; they wouldn't dare follow me because, from experience, they knew I really would hex them (they tried following me when we were at Hogwarts when I was trying to sneak off to meet up with a Hufflepuff boy and found out the hard way that I don't appreciate that) but they would have a go at me when I saw them later. I drew my coat round me, it was unseasonably cold for this time of year and started to make my way towards the bar. I was on my way to break up with my boyfriend of a year and a half, Roger Davies. We had met at Hogwarts and found we had a lot in common. It had been just before Fred and George had left and he had helped to fill a little of the hole that was missing from their departure when they had gone. However, recently we had started drifting apart and the spark just wasn't there anymore. As I wandered down the street I hadn't been properly watching where I was going and as such nearly bumped into somebody./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I'm sorry" I mumbled, trying not to make eye contact and to move away as quickly as possible./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Maddie?" a familiar voice questioned. I turned and found myself looking at none other than Charlie Weasley./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Charlie!" I exclaimed, moving forward again, smiling at him. I had known Charlie almost as long as I had known Fred and George. Having been their best friend, naturally I knew their whole family. However, seeing as Charlie worked in Romania I hadn't seen him since the Quidditch World Cup./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I wasn't sure if it was you or not. How are you?" he asked, smiling back at me./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Yeah good thanks, sorry I didn't recognise you! It's been a while" I said, apologising./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""No it's fine. I know what it's like these days. Speaking of, how come my brothers have let you wander down a dark road by yourself?" he asked, crossing his arms not looking impressed. I rolled my eyes; typical Weasley men./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I threatened to hex them if they followed me" I said with a grin. Charlie laughed at that,/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Ah yes, I've heard the stories" he said, his face lighting up./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Well, seeing as I'm out anyway, please, let me keep you company" he said, moving to stand next to me./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Charlie, really -" I started to say but he just shook his head./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Humour me" he said with a smile and he started walking in the direction I was headed, leaving me with little choice but to follow him./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Charlie's POV/span/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"It must have been almost three years since I had last seen Maddie Holt. The last time had been at the Quidditch World Cup. When the Death Eaters had started rampaging, Maddie had gone with Fred, George, Ginny, Ron, Harry and Hermione. Somehow, she had gotten separated from everybody else, been pushed over and knocked her head. Myself and Bill had found her wandering around looking terrified, blood dripping down her face. We had managed to get her back to the tent when dad found us. I hadn't seen him so angry in a very long time. I had stayed with her in the tent, reassuring her and sorting out her cut. She was so young and vulnerable back then. Glancing at her now, she was no longer that same young child. She had grown into a, well, a rather attractive young woman. I had naturally heard a lot about her throughout the years, even when I hadn't seen her so felt that I knew quite a lot about her./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""What brings you out tonight then?" I asked her, making light conversation as we walked./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Well, I'm kind of off to break up with my boyfriend" she said, cringing slightly as she said. I turned and raised an eyebrow at her. This must be the famous Roger Davies then. The twins had kept us all informed./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""How come? Or do you not want to talk about it?" I asked her, thinking that this might be a sensitive subject./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""No it's fine. I just, it's like we've drifted apart recently. Things aren't the same anymore" she said with a sigh. "What are you doing round these parts anyway?" Maddie asked, turning the attention away from herself./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I'm back in the country for a while. Thought it would be best given the circumstances, plus I have a best man role to fulfil" I told her with a grin. "Are you with your parents or at The Burrow at the moment?" I asked her, curious as to what she would be doing with all the problems we were facing. She looked a little uneasy at this,/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I'm staying at The Burrow for a while" she said, not expanding. I decided not to pursue the subject and we walked in silence for a while./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Right, it's only a couple of shops down now" Maddie said, stopping and turning to look at me. "Don't think it would be the best idea to turn up accompanied by another man, especially given what's about to happen" she said, a fidgeting with her dress a little. This gave me an opportunity to run a quick eye over her, now fully appreciating that she span style="font-style: italic;"really/span wasn't a young girl any more. I shook my head, realising she was probably waiting for a response./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""No probably not. Well, I guess I'll see you at home a bit later. I hope it goes okay" I told her with a reassuring smile./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Thanks Charlie. I'll see you later" she replied and with that she wandered in the direction of the bar. I lingered until she had gone in before going on my way. I really hoped mum didn't find out that the twins had let her go on her own./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Maddie's POV/span/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"It was only a couple of hours later that I found myself apparating just outside The Burrows protective boundaries. As I made my way through the charms I was filled with relief. Breaking up with Roger hadn't been that bad at all. He had sighed and said he had started to feel the same but he wanted to stay friends. I agreed completely with him as I did still count him as a friend, just not one with any romantic feelings involved. As I approached the door, I took my wand out and made some alterations to my dress so that Molly wouldn't scold me. She really was like a second mother to me and I knew she would disapprove with how I had gone out. I knocked on the door before making my way in where I was, naturally, hit by a wall of sound./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Maddie my dear!" Molly exclaimed when she saw me open the door, barrelling towards me to envelope me in a huge hug./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Hi Molly" I told her with a big smile as she finally let me go and took me in (checking what I was wearing)./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""The twins told me where you've been. How was it?" she asked me, ushering me in and boiling the kettle to make me a cup of tea. I was about to tell her when Fred and George charged into the kitchen./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""You weren't long. How was it?" they both said together, as I got a duel hug from then./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I was just about to say. It went okay actually. He was really understanding and said he had started to feel the same way" I told them. Molly looked at me with concern in her eyes but Fred and George both looked relieved./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Well that's good then isn't it? I mean it's good that he felt the same, makes it a bit easier I guess" Fred rambled on, I could tell he thought he was going to hurt my feelings with his initial question and so decided to try and back track. I shrugged,/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I guess, yeah. Will take some getting used to but it's for the best, I think" I said, with a slight frown at the end. Molly came and gave me another hug before plopping a mug of tea and cake in front of me./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Of course it is my dear. Everything's better after a cup of tea" she said with a smile. I smiled back and had taken a small sip before Ginny came to find out why everybody had left her./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Maddie! You really are staying?" she exclaimed, coming to hug me when she saw me sat there./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Yes, why do you ask?!" I replied, slightly confused about her question./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I thought Fred and George had just stolen your clothes again" she said. At this, we all laughed, well apart from Molly but you know./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""What's all the commotion?" came a voice from the stairs, and looking up I saw Bill walking into the kitchen. "Well, well, if it isn't Maddie Holt. What happened to the young girl I used to know?!" he exclaimed as he moved forward. I stood to give him a hug./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Hiya Bill. She grew up, weirdly" I told him with a grin and he chuckled./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""You seem to have done a lot of growing up in one year" he said with a grin, and I flashed back to the end of last year when Bill was in the Hospital Wing after Greyback had attacked him. Bill had always been good looking and in truth, the scars on his face only now added to his edgy, cool appearance. "Fleur, come here a second" he yelled up the stairs. "You haven't met my wife to be yet have you?" he asked and I shook my head. Truthfully I had encountered her at Hogwarts during the TriWizard tournament but I doubted that she remembered me. A few seconds later and the most beautiful woman ever appeared at the foot of the steps./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Fleur this is Maddie. She's Fred and George's best friend and practically a part of the family" he told her and she beamed at me, almost glowing./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""It eez so nice to meet you, Maddie" she said, kissing me on each cheek./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""It's nice to meet you too" I told her with a smile./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Why did everybody just get up and leave me?" a voice interjected and we all turned to see Ron stood in the kitchen, frowning at us./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Oh, er hi Maddie" he said, blushing when he saw me. I rolled my eyes, used to this reaction from him./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Hi Ron" I replied with a smile./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Right come on, let's go and sit down everyone" Molly commanded and with much shuffling everybody made their way into the sitting room. I smiled happily as I picked up my cup of tea and cake, it was good to be at my second home./p
/div
/div
/div
div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; margin-left: 0in; width: 11.2604in;"
div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; margin-left: 0in; width: 11.2604in;"
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Hi all! This is my first fanfic story! I hope you all enjoy it :)/span/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters are not mine/span/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Maddie's POV/span/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I hope it goes okay Mad" George said, concern in his voice as he put his arm round me. I shrugged, draining the last of my tea./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I don't think it's going to be the best thing I've ever done" I said with a sigh, putting down my tea and making to stand up./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""We'll be at mum's later so we'll see you there, yeah?" Fred questioned, looking at me closely. I nodded and looked at them both, staring up at me not looking too convinced./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Let us know straight away if things don't go so well" George said, his voice toughening up a bit. I had to laugh at this; they were both very protective over me./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Guys I'll be fine, honest" I told them. "How do I look?" I asked, doing a twirl with a smile. Fred shook his head and George laughed./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""He won't want to let you go" he said./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""You're such a tease going like that" Fred said disapprovingly./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I still have time to change" I said with a frown but he shook his head./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""No, no you have to look good" he said, the sides of his mouth tugging./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Right I guess I'll make a move then. You sure your mum is okay with me staying?" I asked them and they both rolled their eyes at the same time./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Of course she is. She doesn't really want you to stay here anyway. She doesn't think it's 'safe'" Fred said, putting quotation marks round the safe./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Honestly it's like she thinks we want something bad to happen to you. Anyway come on, I'll walk you over" George said, making to stand up./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""No don't be so silly. It's like five minutes down the road!" I exclaimed, backing away. This made them both stand immediately./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""If you think we're going to let you walk there on your own-"/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""-you are absolutely barmy" they both said, so agitated they did their weird finishing each other's sentences twin thing./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I'm eighteen years old, fully trained, with a wand" I told them fiercely. I loved them both, with all my heart, but sometimes they were too protective. I backed towards the door,/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""If you dare follow me I'll hex you happily" I told them with a grin before literally running out of the door and down the stairs. I knew I would pay for that later; they wouldn't dare follow me because, from experience, they knew I really would hex them (they tried following me when we were at Hogwarts when I was trying to sneak off to meet up with a Hufflepuff boy and found out the hard way that I don't appreciate that) but they would have a go at me when I saw them later. I drew my coat round me, it was unseasonably cold for this time of year and started to make my way towards the bar. I was on my way to break up with my boyfriend of a year and a half, Roger Davies. We had met at Hogwarts and found we had a lot in common. It had been just before Fred and George had left and he had helped to fill a little of the hole that was missing from their departure when they had gone. However, recently we had started drifting apart and the spark just wasn't there anymore. As I wandered down the street I hadn't been properly watching where I was going and as such nearly bumped into somebody./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I'm sorry" I mumbled, trying not to make eye contact and to move away as quickly as possible./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Maddie?" a familiar voice questioned. I turned and found myself looking at none other than Charlie Weasley./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Charlie!" I exclaimed, moving forward again, smiling at him. I had known Charlie almost as long as I had known Fred and George. Having been their best friend, naturally I knew their whole family. However, seeing as Charlie worked in Romania I hadn't seen him since the Quidditch World Cup./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I wasn't sure if it was you or not. How are you?" he asked, smiling back at me./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Yeah good thanks, sorry I didn't recognise you! It's been a while" I said, apologising./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""No it's fine. I know what it's like these days. Speaking of, how come my brothers have let you wander down a dark road by yourself?" he asked, crossing his arms not looking impressed. I rolled my eyes; typical Weasley men./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I threatened to hex them if they followed me" I said with a grin. Charlie laughed at that,/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Ah yes, I've heard the stories" he said, his face lighting up./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Well, seeing as I'm out anyway, please, let me keep you company" he said, moving to stand next to me./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Charlie, really -" I started to say but he just shook his head./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Humour me" he said with a smile and he started walking in the direction I was headed, leaving me with little choice but to follow him./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Charlie's POV/span/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"It must have been almost three years since I had last seen Maddie Holt. The last time had been at the Quidditch World Cup. When the Death Eaters had started rampaging, Maddie had gone with Fred, George, Ginny, Ron, Harry and Hermione. Somehow, she had gotten separated from everybody else, been pushed over and knocked her head. Myself and Bill had found her wandering around looking terrified, blood dripping down her face. We had managed to get her back to the tent when dad found us. I hadn't seen him so angry in a very long time. I had stayed with her in the tent, reassuring her and sorting out her cut. She was so young and vulnerable back then. Glancing at her now, she was no longer that same young child. She had grown into a, well, a rather attractive young woman. I had naturally heard a lot about her throughout the years, even when I hadn't seen her so felt that I knew quite a lot about her./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""What brings you out tonight then?" I asked her, making light conversation as we walked./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Well, I'm kind of off to break up with my boyfriend" she said, cringing slightly as she said. I turned and raised an eyebrow at her. This must be the famous Roger Davies then. The twins had kept us all informed./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""How come? Or do you not want to talk about it?" I asked her, thinking that this might be a sensitive subject./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""No it's fine. I just, it's like we've drifted apart recently. Things aren't the same anymore" she said with a sigh. "What are you doing round these parts anyway?" Maddie asked, turning the attention away from herself./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I'm back in the country for a while. Thought it would be best given the circumstances, plus I have a best man role to fulfil" I told her with a grin. "Are you with your parents or at The Burrow at the moment?" I asked her, curious as to what she would be doing with all the problems we were facing. She looked a little uneasy at this,/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I'm staying at The Burrow for a while" she said, not expanding. I decided not to pursue the subject and we walked in silence for a while./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Right, it's only a couple of shops down now" Maddie said, stopping and turning to look at me. "Don't think it would be the best idea to turn up accompanied by another man, especially given what's about to happen" she said, a fidgeting with her dress a little. This gave me an opportunity to run a quick eye over her, now fully appreciating that she span style="font-style: italic;"really/span wasn't a young girl any more. I shook my head, realising she was probably waiting for a response./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""No probably not. Well, I guess I'll see you at home a bit later. I hope it goes okay" I told her with a reassuring smile./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Thanks Charlie. I'll see you later" she replied and with that she wandered in the direction of the bar. I lingered until she had gone in before going on my way. I really hoped mum didn't find out that the twins had let her go on her own./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Maddie's POV/span/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"It was only a couple of hours later that I found myself apparating just outside The Burrows protective boundaries. As I made my way through the charms I was filled with relief. Breaking up with Roger hadn't been that bad at all. He had sighed and said he had started to feel the same but he wanted to stay friends. I agreed completely with him as I did still count him as a friend, just not one with any romantic feelings involved. As I approached the door, I took my wand out and made some alterations to my dress so that Molly wouldn't scold me. She really was like a second mother to me and I knew she would disapprove with how I had gone out. I knocked on the door before making my way in where I was, naturally, hit by a wall of sound./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Maddie my dear!" Molly exclaimed when she saw me open the door, barrelling towards me to envelope me in a huge hug./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Hi Molly" I told her with a big smile as she finally let me go and took me in (checking what I was wearing)./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""The twins told me where you've been. How was it?" she asked me, ushering me in and boiling the kettle to make me a cup of tea. I was about to tell her when Fred and George charged into the kitchen./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""You weren't long. How was it?" they both said together, as I got a duel hug from then./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I was just about to say. It went okay actually. He was really understanding and said he had started to feel the same way" I told them. Molly looked at me with concern in her eyes but Fred and George both looked relieved./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Well that's good then isn't it? I mean it's good that he felt the same, makes it a bit easier I guess" Fred rambled on, I could tell he thought he was going to hurt my feelings with his initial question and so decided to try and back track. I shrugged,/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I guess, yeah. Will take some getting used to but it's for the best, I think" I said, with a slight frown at the end. Molly came and gave me another hug before plopping a mug of tea and cake in front of me./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Of course it is my dear. Everything's better after a cup of tea" she said with a smile. I smiled back and had taken a small sip before Ginny came to find out why everybody had left her./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Maddie! You really are staying?" she exclaimed, coming to hug me when she saw me sat there./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Yes, why do you ask?!" I replied, slightly confused about her question./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I thought Fred and George had just stolen your clothes again" she said. At this, we all laughed, well apart from Molly but you know./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""What's all the commotion?" came a voice from the stairs, and looking up I saw Bill walking into the kitchen. "Well, well, if it isn't Maddie Holt. What happened to the young girl I used to know?!" he exclaimed as he moved forward. I stood to give him a hug./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Hiya Bill. She grew up, weirdly" I told him with a grin and he chuckled./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""You seem to have done a lot of growing up in one year" he said with a grin, and I flashed back to the end of last year when Bill was in the Hospital Wing after Greyback had attacked him. Bill had always been good looking and in truth, the scars on his face only now added to his edgy, cool appearance. "Fleur, come here a second" he yelled up the stairs. "You haven't met my wife to be yet have you?" he asked and I shook my head. Truthfully I had encountered her at Hogwarts during the TriWizard tournament but I doubted that she remembered me. A few seconds later and the most beautiful woman ever appeared at the foot of the steps./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Fleur this is Maddie. She's Fred and George's best friend and practically a part of the family" he told her and she beamed at me, almost glowing./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""It eez so nice to meet you, Maddie" she said, kissing me on each cheek./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""It's nice to meet you too" I told her with a smile./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Why did everybody just get up and leave me?" a voice interjected and we all turned to see Ron stood in the kitchen, frowning at us./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Oh, er hi Maddie" he said, blushing when he saw me. I rolled my eyes, used to this reaction from him./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Hi Ron" I replied with a smile./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Right come on, let's go and sit down everyone" Molly commanded and with much shuffling everybody made their way into the sitting room. I smiled happily as I picked up my cup of tea and cake, it was good to be at my second home./p
/div
/div
/div