Chapter 4: Sleeping Arrangements
(Bella P.O.V.)
As soon as our feet touched ground, I released Dumbledore's arm and scrambled as far away as I could before falling to my knees and puking in the Weasley's lawn.
I heard footsteps behind me as Dumbledore spoke, full of concern, "Oh dear, oh dear." I felt my hair pulled to rest on my back as I took in some hard breaths, trying to judge whether I was done being sick or not. I wasn't. Harry's other hand that wasn't holding my hair, rubbed my back. "Don't worry Bells, happens to the best of us."
I snorted a little bit, while still breathing hard. I think I was at the end. "I'm never doing that again. How do people do this?" Harry chuckled, "That sounds like something you'd say after going to your first bar."
I smiled as I tried to stand once again, Harry immediately reaching out to help me. I could feel my face burning with embarrassment. Puking in front of my boyfriend and my headmaster. Real smooth Bella, real smooth. Dumbledore had now approached, handing me a handkerchief. I nodded thanking him and began to whip the puke off my face.
"Don't worry Dear, apparition in general takes some getting used to, but it's even worse when you are apparating as a passenger. You'll get it down eventually." He patted me on the shoulder and took back his handkerchief.
"I think I'll stick with travel by broomstick for a while, that's for sure." I whipped off the grass sticking to my legs and dress. Both of them chuckled
"Bella, why don't you go inside and allow Mrs. Weasley to put something back into your system. Harry and I will follow soon, I'd just like to have a quick word with him."
I gave Harry a confused look, but he didn't seem to know what was going on either. "Yes sir," I said as I turned and began walking towards a rather large, crooked home. It had seemed to start out as a regular sized house, and had been built onto from there, a bit unevenly. It was really quite charming, and very Weasley.
I knocked at the front door, and then glanced back at Dumbledore and Harry. They were now in the process of getting into a very small shed. My eyebrows furrowed on my face, and then I just shrugged. You come to expect the odd when Dumbledore was involved.
"Who's there?" Called a familiar voice from the other side of the door. Mrs. Weasley sounded a bit startled. "It's Isabella Mrs. Weasley. Harry and Dumbledore will be a long in a minute. Professor Dumbledore wanted to have a quick word with Harry in your broom shed, apparently."
There was a slight pause before she spoke again. "What did Sirius say to you the first time you met at Christmas?" The mention of Sirius's name and the question caught me off guard. "Sorry dear, got to be sure it's you with… well you know everything that's going on."
I bit my lip, "He said that he couldn't believe his sister had a daughter, and he was happy that she hadn't gotten the chance to mess me up." I felt a smile pull at my lips, but was stopped by the sadness I felt at remembering Sirius.
I heard the door unlock and Mrs. Weasley immediately pulled me inside for a hug. "I'm so very sorry dear, but that was the first question that popped into my head. Safety is so very important at the moment."
"Good to see you too Mrs. Weasley. And thank you so much for having me. Your home is lovely." I said hugging her back. Behind her, Tonks sat at the kitchen table, drinking a cup of tea. She looked much paler than the last time I had seen her, but I didn't think it was her changing her skin color. She looked exhausted, sick even.
"Hello, Bella, I hope you don't mind me saying so, but you look right awful." Of course. I was one to talk. I had just blown chunks out in the lawn. I probably look dreadful. Mrs. Weasley released me so that she could look at me better. "Yeah, apparition is defiantly not my favorite form of travel. I apologize for getting sick in your yard Mrs. Weasley, but I made sure to do it as far from the house as I could make it."
She opened her eyes alarmed, "Oh my word, you poor thing. You are looking a bit green. You just sit down and I will whip up something quick as I can. We need to get you something sturdy in your system."
I sat down across from Tonks. Despite the sad look in her eyes, she pulled her mouth up into a smirk. "Tossed your cookies on your first apparition, eh?" I Placed my head in my hands, "Please don't say apparition, it makes my head spin." She let out a half-hearted chuckle.
I looked up at her, again noticing just how sickly she looked. "How are you doing Tonks?" The smirk left her face, and she immediately looked down at her tea. "Alright. A bit tired. But I'll manage."
Just as I was about to say something else, a knock came at the door. Mrs. Weasley walked to the door to look out of the key hole. "Lemon Drops," Dumbledore enunciated from the other side. Mrs. Weasley rolled her eyes as she opened the door. "Really Albus, you could have come up with a better safe word, honestly."
"I'm as serious about my password choices as I am about my sweets, Molly, so I would think that it was only fitting. Oh Hello Nymphadora."
Tonks nodded towards the door. "'Ello professor. Watcher Potter."
Mrs. Weasley had pulled Harry into a very tight squeeze, and was now examining him, apparently trying to decide how malnourished he was. "Now you two have a seat. I'm already whipping up something. Should be done in a jiffy."
"I'm always tempted when it comes to your cooking Molly, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline this time. I must be off. I have to have a word with Rufus Scrimgeour." Tonks gulped down the last of her tea, and quickly got to her feet. "I should be off too Molly. Thanks for the tea." She nodded at Harry and I as she walked passed and then out the door. I heard the unsettling crack of apparition after she disappeared.
I heard Mrs. Weasley sigh. Her face looked worried. "Well, I will see you two at the start of term." I smiled up at him from my seat. "Molly," He nodded as he left, soon followed by another crack.
Harry took a seat next to me. His face looked a little troubled. I take it their conversation in the shed had been a heavy one. He placed his hand on my back and began rubbing in circles again. He looked at me intently, "How are you feeling?" I snorted, "Like I just puked in front of my boyfriend and my headmaster."
His mouth came up to form a smirk. A bowl with some deliciously smelling onion soup appeared in front of both of us, quickly followed by some bread that seemed to be slicing itself. I had forgotten how magical Mrs. Weasley's cooking was, figuratively and literally.
"Dumbledore should have known better than to take both of you at once. It's hard enough with just one person tagging along. If you ask me, underage wizards should not be apparating at all before they have the training. It can really make a person sick."
"So I've heard." I said taking a small bite of some bread. My stomach was still in knots, and as good as the soup looked, it still made my stomach feel uneasy. Harry however seemed to be having no problem at all funneling the soup into his mouth.
Mrs. Weasley washed her hands, even though she didn't even touch the food really, and then took a seat across from us. "I swear you all have grown so much this summer. Harry you and Ron both seemed to have spouted about five inches. Becoming quite the young men. And such beautiful young ladies you and Hermione have become. I just can't believe how old you all are." I saw Harry's ears turn a light shade of pink. "Thank you Mrs. Weasley, that's very sweet." I said patting her hand that lay on the table.
"Is Hermione here already?" Harry asked taking a huge bite of bread. No wonder boys grew so much. Mrs. Weasley nodded, "Got here yesterday. Everyone is asleep though. I'm sure they would have waited up, but we weren't expecting you until tomorrow morning."
Mrs. Weasley glanced over at a very odd clock that was propped up on the other end of the table. Instead of just two hands, this clock had nine, each with a different Weasley's name on it. Instead of numbers, locations were situated on the outside. Currently eight hands were pointed towards 'mortal peril' and Mr. Weasley's was pointed towards 'traveling.'
A crack sounded loudly outside, and Mrs. Weasley jumped to her feet. "Arthur is that you?" She asked, her hand placed on the door knob. "Yes, it's me," Mr. Weasley sounded as if he was just behind the door. Mrs. Weasley let out an exhale, and then began to turn the door knob. "No! Molly! You haven't asked the safe question first."
Now Mrs. Weasley looked annoyed. Rolling her eyes she said, "What is your greatest ambition in life?" Without missing a beat Mr. Weasley answered, "To figure out how airplanes stay up."
Mrs. Weasley opened up the door quickly. "No, Molly I haven't asked you yet. What do you like for me to call you when we are alone?"
Mrs. Weasley's cheeks turned a bright shade of scarlet, the same shade that Ron turned when he was embarrassed. "Honestly, this is ridiculous-" "Molly…" Mr. Weasley prompted. "Mollywobbles," Mrs. Weasley barely whispered it, but it still made its way over to us. My eyes met with Harry's, both of us smirking.
Mr. Weasley finally made his way into the house. "Ah! Hello Harry! Hello Isabella! When did you two get here? I thought you weren't supposed to get her until tomorrow?" He asked, sitting down across from us at the table.
"Just before you did dear." Mrs. Weasley answered for us, putting down a bowl of soup in front of Mr. Weasley.
"Ah! Thank you dear. Smells wonderful. Well I'm glad you two are here. Now everyone is accounted for." Mr. Weasley said, digging into his soup. "Yes, I like it much better when I can see all of my people and know that they are safe." Mrs. Weasley added, glancing over at the clock, and back over to me and Harry.
Harry let out a loud yawn next to me, which caused me to yawn as well. Mrs. Weasley didn't miss a thing, "I'm sure you're both exhausted. Bedtime! Come on, both of you."
"G'night Mr. Weasley" Both of us said at the same time, yawning again in the process. We followed Mrs. Weasley up a huge spiral staircase that seemed to never end. All along the walls, different stages of red-headed Weasley's smiled back at me. It was lovely to see a real home with a real loving family. A home that had memories in every room. First steps, first birthdays, first every things. It was so refreshing after being in that orphanage for so long.
We came to stop in front of a room that held the door open. It smelled slightly of the ash that was left after the explosion of a firework. "I've cleaned out Fred and George's room for you both. Normally I would have you both in separate rooms, but as fate would have it we are a bit full at the moment. I'm trusting you both. No funny business." She pointed a finger at us sternly, giving us her 'no sass face. Then her face turned quickly back to cheery, "So glad you both are here. Sleep tight." She thrusted empty pillows and blankets into our hands before walking back down the stairs.
I noticed Harry swallow quickly before walking into the room and placing the pillows on one of the beds. All of our things were already in place, including Hedwig and my tabby cat, Tink. She began walking in and out of my legs excitedly as soon as I entered. Harry gave Headwig a quick stroke, then ran his hands quickly through his crazy hair, "Well, do you want Fred, or George's?" I placed the blankets down on the other bed. "Doesn't really matter does it? Either one is bound to be booby-trapped. I'll just take this one." I picked up one of the blankets and threw it to him and he tossed me a pillow. We both got to situating our beds, then rummaged through our trunks for some night cloths.
"I'll… uh.. I'll go change in the bathroom so you can.. yeah…" He said before awkwardly exiting the room. I laughed under my breath before quickly changing into some comfy shorts and a huge t-shirt that almost went down to my knees. I grabbed my toothpaste and toothbrush, and began giving some attention to Tink. She rubbed her head excitedly against my hand. "Missed you too sweet girl." I cooed at her.
"Okay it's all yours…" Harry said walking back into the room. He had on a t shirt and some stripped pajama pants. He was staring at me too, curiously. His face seemed flushed. "Thanks, roomie," I said, walking past him ruffling his hair. I heard him chuckle under his breath as I went to brush my teeth.
I quickly brushed my teeth, and splashed my face with some water to wash away the long day behind me. When I got back to the room, Harry was stroking Tink affectionately. He glanced up at me when I walked in, but turned back to my car quickly, his face was still slightly pink.
"I think your cat likes me." I sat down beside her on the bed, crossing my legs. I could hear her purring loudly. "It sure seems like it. Take it as a huge compliment. She doesn't usually like boys very much."
Harry's eyebrows furrowed, "How many boys have you introduced to your cat?" I scoffed under my breath, "Oh you know, I lost count." I said sarcastically, "I live at an orphanage Harry, with other males." "Oh right. What's her name?" Harry had stopped petting her momentarily, and looked over at me. Tink obviously not happy with the loss of attention rubbed Harry's hand with her head forcing him to continue. "Tink, It's short for Tinkerbell," He looked at me confused, "You know, from Peter Pan?" At this he smirked, "You named your cat after a fairy in a children's story."
"That just so happens to be my favorite children's story, thank you very much." Harry chuckled again, "Well, I like you to Tink. And that's saying something considering I never thought I would be able to like cats again after Crookshanks."
I chuckled at him. The awkwardness seemed to have subsided slightly at both of us sleeping in the same room. He gave Tink one last pat, before turning to face me. He grabbed the side of my face, before gently kissing me on the forehead. "Goodnight roomie." He rubbed the side of my cheek before retreating to his bed, climbing inside. I did the same. Once under the covers, we both were turned inward facing each other.
Even after he flicked the light off, I could see the smirk on his face. "This is our first time sleeping together." This made me laugh again. "Don't get any ideas, Potter. Remember what your Uncle said,"
Now he began laughing, "'The last thing we need is for you to get some girl pregnant.'" He attempted to mimic his Uncle's porky tone. "Or Mrs. Weasley 'No funny business.'" I said, pointing at him in the dark. He chuckled again.
"Well, then you are might want to get some different sleeping cloths, because those are very distracting."
Now it was my turn to smirk, "In your dreams, Potter." I had flipped over to my back, and Tink had immediately curled up on my stomach getting comfortable. "Oh, I'm counting on that."
Ah so cute! Got to love Barry being adorable. Hope you guys liked this chapter! It was really fun to write! I would also like to apologize for any changes that I make to the story that alters the original. Some i do intentionally to fit the story, but I am sure I also make mistakes as well and vary from the original. But I hope you guys enjoy it! Let me know what you think by leaving a comment and follow to be updated when i post the next chapter! Sorry it is a bit slow right now, but I already have the direction that I want it to go planed out, and I promise you guys it's going to get very exciting, so just bare with me for a little bit! Love you guys so much! Thanks for all the support! stay magical!
LiveBreatheBooks
P.S. I don't own any of the original story line or characters, those belong to the great and talented JK Rowling.
