Chapter Four

The journey was long and winding, though the car journey gave Rose time to wonder about her Aunt, Uncle and distant cousins. She patted her bag next to her, checking for the millionth time to feel the hard edge of her sketch pad. She was looking forward to the new surroundings The Burrow would bring.

Her mother had told her they kept chickens and had vast land stretching all around, Molly often wrote about how lucky she was in her letters, mum had always wanted to visit, but distance kept them apart.

Growing up, Rose had always pictured the vast fields she could run through if she lived there, the little hidey holes she could discover and tree's they could climb and leap from with her cousins, they sounded a fun bunch. She was close in age to Ron and Ginny, and Fred and George though slightly older, always sounded like a fun pair!

Now, she doubted they would be running and playing across the open fields, but instead she imagined they'd collect fresh eggs every day, she knew her twin cousins owned their own joke shop now and she'd love to look around and maybe bring home a few pranks to play on her unsuspecting step father.

She'd take her sketch pads and music to find some inspiration, she wondered if her cousins shared her creativity too.

Arthur's grinding voice suddenly snapped Rose out of her daydream with his repetitive update on how many miles there was left now.

"Signpost!" He and May shouted in unison, it would have been cute if it wasn't so annoying.

"Two miles to go!" Arthur announced, somewhat gleefully. Rose wondered if he was counting down how long to go till he was rid of her for eight weeks.

Prick. I thought, my eyes drinking in the scene through the open car window, there were definitely fields. She'd got that part right. They seemed to roll on and on, desolate almost in the distance.

I glanced to my left, looking through May's window, just roaming green fields. The sky was grey, I peered my head to look round the front of Arthur's car seat, trying to see anything different out the wind screen; nothing but grey and a seemingly endless narrow dirt track.

Mum noticed me looking.

"Quiet isn't it?" She asked, I nodded my head, trying to not let the disappointment show, in my mind this moment had been far more picturesque.

"Don't worry" mum spoke reassuringly. "It sounds like a full household. I'm sure that will more than make up for it!"

Arthur glanced through the rear mirror. "Still sure you don't want a trip of a lifetime? The offer still stands."

This time I didn't try to hide any emotion from my face; I fixed Arthur's reflection back with an icy glare.

"No thank you."

Mum suddenly broke the tension.

"Oh look! She's there! Hello Molly!" Sally waved frantically to her red haired cousin through her open window, as the car came to a stop.

"Oh, look at you!" Molly beamed and bounded over, she was Rose's third cousin she supposed, but Sally always referred to her as Aunt Molly.

Her wavy red hair bounced with glee as she reached through the open window to hold Sally's cheek; She was a plump lady, age etched at her face, she looked older than mum, though her rosy cheeks and warm smile made her complexion younger and brighter somehow. She was kindhearted, it shined out of her.

"Oh it's so lovely to see you Sally! Oh and look at your handsome man. Isn't he just lovely! Must be in the name!" She laughed. This was all through hand gestures, as Molly couldn't quite reach through the window to give Arthur the same squeeze on the cheek, though Rose was surprised she didn't give it a try, the woman was practically bouncing with joy.

Arthur came round the car to greet Molly, while Rose freed her grateful sister from her car seat. May leapt from the car with her usual grace, practically levitating to Molly with the same excitement.

Probably grateful to see a happy face! Rose thought, poor kid. The journey had been long and tiring.

"Oh and look! Aren't you absolutely beautiful?" Molly beamed at May, scooping her up for a fierce embrace. "And as light as a feather too bless, how are you petal? Tired I bet?"

Rose came round the car, quiet and a little nervous for her own hello; she doubted Molly would be as excited to see her. But Molly spotted her and placed May gently back to the ground.

"Oh Sally, look isn't she gorgeous?" Molly motioned to Rose to come over quickly. "And red hair too! Ha, she'll do just fine with us over the summer! How are you dear?" Molly hugged Rose with the same fierceness as her sister. Rose smiled; it was hard not too really, with so much positivity zipping around the air.

"Are you sure this is okay?" Sally asked Molly, chewing her lip nervously. "I feel awful sending her to you, but, well. I'll warn you now, Rose can be very stubborn."

Molly laughed, "You're not sending her away. She chose to come here! We'll have a great time. You just enjoy your holiday!"

Arthur wrapped his arms around Sally's middle in an effort to comfort her, "we can see she's going to be in good hands." He spoke softly.

"We're going on a plane!" May bounced around on the grass, "we'll be able to touch the clouds won't we mum? I want to bring Rose some cloud back! A baby one, to fit in my pocket."

Arthur rolled his eyes mockingly, "your heads always in the clouds, our little month of May. I'm surprised you haven't collected any sooner."

Molly chuckled and then seemed to snap into mother mode. "Well come on you lot, we can't stand in the middle of the road all day and you've got a plane to catch!"

Sally looked as though she was going to burst into tears, Molly sensing this ushered Arthur and May to the back of the car to collect Rose's things.

"Mum, don't..." Rose started but was cut off as she found herself pulled to her mother's chest.

"We've never been apart!" Sally fought her tears as she hugged Rose close to her.

"Mum, honestly I will be fine!" Rose, secretly glad she would be missed, rubbed her mum's back till she finally freed her.

"I will be fine!" She repeated again to her mother's doubtful expression.

"She'll be fine!" Molly squeezed Rose's shoulder. "Honestly Sally, where do you think you're sending her? We won't keep her locked up!"

"I know, I know." Sally rubbed her teary eyes.

"Come on mother, man up" Rose mocked, "I've never seen you like this. You don't cry ever."

"Fine" Sally grumbled, handing Rose her bag. "Be good. Be polite. Help your Aunt and cousins round the house. Remember, they didn't have to take you."

"We've got to get a move on." Arthur broke the mood, "come on girls."

May jumped at Rose, nearly knocking her flying. "Will you chill out as well!" Rose laughed.

"Bye!" May answered hanging off Rose's neck, legs swinging. Rose kissed her sister on the cheek. "Love you, don't forget my present!"

"Yes! Yes! A kangaroo, riding on a cloud!" May giggled bouncing to the car; Arthur scooped her up and strapped her in. He placed an awkward hand on Rose's shoulder.

"Be good. We'll text you when we land."

Rose didn't answer him, turning her attention to her mum.

"Love you" Sally hugged Rose for the last time.

"Love you too." Rose tried to swallow the lump that had appeared in her throat. She watched as her mum got back in the car. Sally and May waved until they were out of sight.

The lump in my throat seemed to get bigger as the car grew smaller, ironic really. I thought, watching as the car became lost in the clouds of dust and dirt it left behind. A bird call up ahead snapped my attention and I looked around me, there really was nothing here. No house, no noticeable pathway, just the narrow dirt track and grass.

My Aunt Molly seemed to notice my confusion.

"You grab your bags pet; I'll take your suitcase. Follow me!"

I hitched my backpack onto my back and followed my Aunt up the dirt path, I craned my neck trying to see anything habitable, but failing I frowned, had Arthur dropped me in the wrong place? No that couldn't be possible. Molly was here waiting wasn't she? Unless she was walking to the actual meeting point and was too polite to say?

I scoffed, typical Arthur, too prompt for every occasion. Now it meant I had to drag my luggage another few miles, he probably did this purposely. I bet he's laughing his head off right about now.

Molly noticed my visibly irritated face; she smiled, though it seemed strained somehow.

"Are you alright dear? I promise we've not far to go at all."

I tried to smooth my expression into a polite smile back; I didn't want her thinking I was irritated at her, or the walk for that matter.

Not wanting to let her in on the hatred for my stepfather either, for fear of her thinking I was just a moody cow. I tried to converse like an adult.

"No I'm fine, honestly. It's beautiful out here, nice and quiet. Do you get visitors often?"

"Here or the house love?" Molly suddenly seemed quite flustered. Then answered her own question.

"Well no, I suppose it is quiet usually here isn't it? The house can get very full, we have erm a lot of visitors from Arthur's work coming and going." She laughed. "My Arthur I mean, not yours! Though how lucky he is to have family abroad, and here you are stuck with us in an oversized barn!"

I moved my gaze back to the dirt track ahead, lost on what to say back really, Aunt Molly seemed a normal, together person when they first had their greetings. Now she appeared rather erratic. Unless she was nervous, I attempted to converse back.

"I'd take a barn over a trip with Arthur any day."

Crap. So much for not letting slip my resentment. Cue the questions.

But Molly appeared not to hear, Rose glanced at her. She seemed to be looking for something along the wooden fence that separated the fields from the track.

"Now where is it?" She mumbled. She'd set Rose's suitcase down, hands on her hips, eyes narrowed scanning for something…

"Erm, are you okay?" I asked, becoming slightly concerned. "Have you lost something?"

"Ah!" Shouted Molly causing Rose to jump back in alarm. "It's here!"

Molly paused. Now she'd found the portkey, she just needed to make this quick. Get them out of sight and answer questions later.

She'd gone over this moment in her mind over and over again, since receiving Sally's letter. She'd just ask Rose to reach for the bottle at the same time as herself and then answer any questions once they were safely back in the enchantments of The Burrow.

It wasn't the best start of revealing their magical world, but Molly was afraid that if she started jabbering away about magic and wizards and then ask her to reach for the bewitched bottle that would transport her to their magical home, Rose would run off screaming or refuse to come anywhere near her.

She couldn't have that could she? Not now Rose was in her care, especially as it was risky for any member of the order to be seen strolling about, especially in the middle of no-where with a muggle in tow. Molly had to make this quick, so as not to draw attention…