Okay, you know the drill, all recognisable characters belong to their respective owners. Happy reading :)
Chapter 3
"My father's name is Rupert Weasley." She said. Rupert Weasley? Ron's Uncle? No, I... it couldn't be true... could it?
"Is Rupert Weasley Arthur Weasley's Brother?" I asked
"Yes, he is. He is the father of both me and my sister, Esmeralda, who starts Hogwarts after these summer holidays. He was also responsible for the decision to send her to a muggle primary school, to see how it might affect her upbringing."
"Whilst we're talking about you, what house were you in?"
"I was in Ravenclaw, and Esmeralda will be in Gryffindor. I know this because of Alice's vision of the sorting ceremony."
"Yeah, Granger. That makes her a disgrace to the Malfoy name."
"No, I'm not." She said whilst gripping Draco by the throat. I had to admire her for that. He deserved it more than that punch I gave him in our third year.
"So what surname does she use?"
"I believe Hogwarts have her down as Weasley, because of her father. I think my mother and father might still be together, they aren't married though, unless they've had a secret ceremony..."
"Why don't you go see them then?"
"Because it might bring back painful memories for them... and me..."
"Oh..." I thought it best not to ask her what those memories were.
There was an awkward silence then. And in that instant, I began to wonder what Harry and Ron were doing, if they knew I was even missing, and if they did, what they were doing about it.
Harry POV
I had been having a really great time at Ron's House. I was surprised that Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had agreed to me stopping there for the whole holidays. To be honest, they probably just wanted rid of me. Ginny, as per usual, was hiding from me, and Fred and George were working at their Joke shop, so they weren't at the Burrow much, and Percy, Charlie and Bill had all moved out, so compared to other years the Burrow was a little empty and boring. But that didn't matter, Hermione was going to come over the next day, and the summer was always so much more interesting when we were all together.
We went to Ron's uncle Rupert's that day, and his house was nice, but nowhere near as fun as the Burrow. We did find out a few weird things, though.
"Ah, Arthur, Molly, great to see you again!" He said. "Ginny, Ron, my how you've grown... and you must be Harry Potter, who I've heard so much about."
"Yes, I am, sir." I said.
"Now, I wonder... you see, it's difficult..."
"What's difficult, Uncle Rupert?" Ron asked.
"You see... My second daughter is starting Hogwarts this year, and I don't want her to go knowing nobody..."
"I didn't know you had a daughter, uncle Rupert, can we meet her?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, but before you do... you need to know something about her mother..."
"What?"
"Her mother is Lucius Malfoy's sister, Katrina, his younger sister. We've been together 21 years, and we've had a girl who'd be 20 if she was alive, Esmeralda, and a set of twin girls who are just 1 now."
"Your oldest daughter is dead?"
"She died 2 years ago, when she was 18..."
"Oh, that must have been hard... well, we want to meet Esmeralda, then, we can help her, even if she does end up in Slytherin..." I said. I was probably lying about if she was in Slytherin, I would do my best to help her though...
"Alright then... KATRINA, ESMERALDA! It's safe to come out now."
Then a small, strawberry blonde girl, and a lanky blonde woman came out from nowhere. Well, they were wizards, that didn't surprise me. What did surprise me was the fact that a Weasley and a Malfoy were so madly in love that they'd stay together for 21 years, and they didn't marry either.
"Katrina is finally my fiancée. I finally proposed."
"Yes, he did, after 21 years, you know... you're the first people, other than the children, we've ever told."
"When's the wedding?" Ginny asked.
"The third of January, you're all invited. I've invited my whole family except the ones in Azkaban..."
"Like your brother?" I asked.
"Ah, the famous Harry Potter. What an honour to meet you. Oh, and don't worry, I'm not going to kill you, like my brother would." She showed me her arms "See, no dark mark."
"so you're one of the nice malfoys?"
"Yes, and I'm a soon to be Weasley. Hence why Esmeralda is entering Hogwarts as a Weasley already."
"She seems kind of... quiet..." Ginny said.
"She's barely spoken since we lost Destaline... we were hoping that it'd change when she goes to Hogwarts, but we just don't know..."
Ginny approached her and started to speak to her.
"Hi, Esmeralda, I'm your cousin Ginny. I'll be going to Hogwarts with you this year."
She simply looked at me, then put her head down again.
"This is my brother Ron, and his friend Harry."
No reply.
"Oh, and your Uncle Arthur and Aunt Molly."
No reply.
"Would you like me to give you a nickname, Esmeralda?"
She nodded.
"How about... Emmy? Em? Ellie? Alda? Which one do you like?"
"I like Emmy..." she said, in barely more than a whisper.
"So, Emmy, are you excited about going to Hogwarts?"
She nodded again.
"Is there any house you want to be in?"
"Maybe Ravenclaw... like my sister was... or Gryffindor... maybe Hufflepuff... but not Slytherin."
"Well, every Weasley before has ended up in Gryffindor before you, so I wouldn't be surprised if you ended up in Gryffindor with us."
"Really? But my sister..."
"She was an exception to that, then, but still."
"I like you, Ginny..."
Katrina and Rupert looked at her in astonishment. It seemed that it really was the most she'd spoken in 2 years. She seemed like a really sweet girl.
A while after that, we went back to the burrow, except for Ginny, who had been invited to stay at her uncle Rupert's for the night to see if she could help Esmeralda talk more. I was glad it would really be just me and Ron for a while.
"Thank God she's staying there!"
"I see you aren't a big fan of your sister, then."
"Well, she's always all Harry this, Dean that. If I didn't know any better, I'd think she was going to marry the both of you."
"Ron, don't be stupid."
Mrs. Weasley soon interrupted us, to inform us that Fleur and Bill were coming to stay.
"Why are they doing that Mum?"
"Ron, your brother just proposed to her, and seeing as she will be an official part of the family in a year, Bill informed us that we are obliged to have them here for a few weeks. They will be arriving via the Floo network the day after tomorrow."
"Fine..."
Just then, Pig arrived with a letter addressed to Ron and I. Ron took the letter from him, and we both took a look at it. It said,
To Harry Potter and Ron Weasley,
I have some grave news to inform you of, and I wish there was a better way for me to explain this, preferably in person. Unfortunately, I am currently far too busy to be able to do it. Anyway, Yesterday afternoon, your friend Hermione Granger and her muggle friend Rosabelle Mason disappeared after a visit to the local cinema, and we suspect that He who must not be named was responsible, unfortunately, we do not have any leads to their whereabouts, and I, myself am thoroughly investigating but I can find no leads. I do not wish to alarm you, though I am afraid that by writing this letter I already have. Please do not attempt to investigate yourselves.
Yours,
Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
"Hermione's missing!" Ron and I said in canon.
"Oh no, that's terrible! I'll have to tell Ginny immediately!" she said, grabbing some parchment and a quill.
"I... I can't believe it..." I said. She was my best friend, and there was nothing I could do.
"Ok... we have to go looking for her harry..."
"No, Ron, that's probably exactly what Voldemort wants. And even though Hermione is my best friend, I can't give that... that monster that satisfaction."
"And so you shouldn't. Ron, you really ought to listen to Harry more."
"Yeah, I think Mum wants to replace me with you, Harry!"
"Thanks for giving me that idea, Ron. No, but we should try to be strong for Hermione... couldn't have happened to a nicer girl..."
I could tell Mrs. Weasley was hurt by the letter, and Ron was probably trying to hide his feelings. I found myself stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Hope you enjoyed the update, sorry its a bit short, but I've been ill. Were you surprised by my decision for who i made be Destaline/Rosalie's dad? Oh, and I cant find any of my Harry potter books at the moment, so I'm really sorry if I get this wrong. Okay, until next time :)
Kaisha :)
