Chapter 4:

Silently, we sat down on my bed, grabbing the bubble-designed wrapped present. I looked at Jenna, who was smiling modestly, and then back at the present. Shaking, I reached for the light blue bow. As I was about to open it, Damion, Faye, and Helena came in, holding a camera.

"Go on, Michael! Its for you!" Faye chirped. "Happy five-month early birthday!"

Still shaking, I grabbed the bow and I pulled it. The wrapping paper unfolded as I did so, inside it was a small bronze key. I lifted it and looked at them. They were all staring at the trunk on the other side of the room. Slowly, I got up and approached the trunk, key tightly in hand.

I put the key in the small keyhole that I hadn't seen before, and I turned in to the right. A full 360 degrees, and it clicked. I then opened in with a very loud squeeeak! Inside, there were about twenty wrapped gifts, and on top of the pile was a gold envelope with silver writing on it Michael.

I picked it up, shaking even more now than ever. Slowly, I slid my finger under the sealed envelope, and it came undone. A card was sitting stiffly inside, and as I pulled it out, something fell from it.

I looked down at the floor to see a hundred dollar bill sitting there, lifelessly, but as though it wanted me to pick it up and hug it with all of my strength. I ignored it for a moment, opening the card. I read: Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, we're your family... to you, we're true. We'll always be here, just give us a call; we'll try our best to give you our all. Even though we're half the world away, we know we'll see you again someday. Just stay calm, and let patience rule, and be careful, we're begging you. If you need us, or need to get away, remember the money, we gave you this day. Save it, spend it, we don't care. But just remember, we'll always be there.

We love you, Michael. Love Always From: Uncle Damion, Auntie Helena, and cousins Jenna and Faye.

I fought hard to keep the tears from swelling in my eyes, so trying to distract myself, I reverted my gaze to the envelope, where I saw several more hundred dollar American bills. I couldn't help but appear shocked. I took out the bills, and counted them in my head. One... two... three... four... five... six... seven... eight... nine... the bill on the floor would be ten. They had given me a thousand dollars in American money.

"Just so you'll be able to afford to leave." Damion said simply. "Your uncle Ty, I mean... he's cruel, is he not? You deserve much better."

"He can be okay... he's been a lot better since I found out the truth..." I replied truthfully. He looked confused. "Umm... did Dad..."

"He told us nothing about Sarah, if that's what you mean. He simply told us that she wasn't the person he fell in love with." Helena said, confusion in her voice. "Is there... something else about Sarah, that we didn't know?"

I made an awkward squeak noise in my throat, realizing it was a good time to shut up. I avoided eye contact with them at all costs. "Oh... it must have just been a dream... Is it hot in here?"

I looked to Jenna, kind of hoping she'd understand my distress. She did. "It is hot in here, Michael! How about we go for a walk? I can show you the village! Doesn't that sound like a good idea, Mummy?"

"Oh... o-of course. G-go ahead." Helena said, obviously even more confused. "Here, let me give you some shopping money."

She handed some money to both of us, we thanked her, then ran down the stairs. "Thanks a bunch, Jenna." I said, as we entered the kitchen.

"Thanks for what, Michael? Why were you running in the house?" I heard Tristan ask. I turned to see him and May sitting at the table, playing a game of chess.

"Oh, I gave him an early Christmas present, Uncle Trist." Jenna replied. "Now we're going to go to the village and just hang out. If that's alright with you, of course. Mum and Dad said it's okay."

"I don't care. It could be some nice quality time for you two. But be back by three, alright? Mum put the roast in late, and that's around the time it will get done." Tristan replied, jumping about five of May's pieces. "Be careful. Oh, Michael, do you need money?"

"Nope. Mum gave us some." Jenna replied, as she grabbed our jackets. "See you later, Trist! See ya, May."

We slipped on our shoes and ran out the door. Ottery St. Catchpole was quite a small village, but I was amazed of how many shops there actually was. We went into the McHaggis Corner Store, and looked up and down the few aisles.

Mr. McHaggis was an awful, grumpy drunk in his sixties. He was short and round, with a long fatty neck. His nose was short and curled down at the end, and his teeth were rotting from all of the whiskey he drank.

"Whatta ya' doin' now, lassie? Ya' obviously up ta no good." Mr. McHaggis said, grumpily. "If ya'r not gonna buy somethin', get out."

"We're looking!" Jenna snapped. "Are you really going to kick your only customers out?"

"Not 'im." Mr. McHaggis flared back. "But ya', lassie, ya'r up ta no good."

Jenna picked up a bottle of perfume and slammed it on the counter in front of McHaggis. "You can't kick me out if I buy something, McHaggis." She then walked back to me and continued to look around.

"ALRIGH' YA GOTTA GET OUT NOW!" McHaggis screamed. "NABODY SASSES ME, LASSIE!"

"Angus!" we heard a woman's voice and a door slam. "What are you doing to these children?!"

McHaggis turned to see a tall, plump woman with curly black hair that went down to her elbows. Her nose was long and crooked, and her teeth were overlapping. She was wearing a simple, blue cotton dress, with a white apron.

"Doesn't concern ya', Nelly." McHaggis replied, his round face red.

"The hell it doesn't! Business has been down quite low lately, Angus! Normally, I'm out delivering for Mrs. Christman, but now I know why we've been losing business!" Nelly McHaggis shouted at her husband.

Nelly McHaggis was a kind lady with a fairly long temper-fuse. It usually took hours, or even days to get her angry, but sometimes, she could go from a sweet old lady to a vicious monster within seconds. This rare occasion happened quite often with her husband, of whom she didn't want to marry in the first place- their parents arranged their marriage from the moment they were born.

The two shopkeepers kept arguing back and forth, not noticing Jenna and I at all. I looked at Jenna uncomfortably, and she gave me a look of similar expression. I put the Rubik's cube I was looking at for May down, and I started to back out of the store. Jenna, however, approached the arguing couple.

"Excuse me, Mr. McHaggis," she began, the couple paused. "Michael and I are going to leave now. We may stop by later, so hopefully you'll be less grumpy, goodbye. And Mrs. McHaggis, have a wonderful day."

With that, Jenna walked over to me and we left the store together. I couldn't help but give Jenna a look of inspiration, and she laughed. "Weren't you scared when you approached them?"

"No, of course not!" Jenna replied, smiling. "Mrs. McHaggis scolds him a lot... I can't say I blame her... once, they didn't know I was in the store and Mrs. McHaggis got so upset with him, she smashed his whiskey bottles, and stalked out of the store. Of course then I was discovered, and she took me out of the store so Mr. McHaggis could erupt in peace."

"Holy... crap..." I breathed. "I wouldn't be able to do that."

"Yeah, but I'm used to it, remember? This is the first time you've ever been here." Suddenly, Jenna's name was being called. We looked over at a small ice cream shop, and saw a few girls waving her over. "D'you mind if I meet you at McHaggis' place at two thirty? I don't want them flirting with you."

"Nah, its fine." I said, my heart sinking. "I'll just... walk around."

"Okay. Have fun, Mikey! Here, take more money. I'm probably just going to get the unlimited refillable shake. Don't get lost... please."

"I won't." I said, as she walked over to her friends. I sighed and began to wonder around the village.

"No, no, no! This isn't right at all! Oh, where's the meat shop... umm... oh, excuse me, young man!" a plump red-haired woman called to me. I walked over to her, confused. "Hello, sorry to bother you, dear, but could you possibly help me?"

"Help you with what, ma'am?" I asked, putting my hands in my jacket pocket.

"Could you help me find the meat shop? Normally my... husband does the shopping, and I have no clue where anything is, and my daughter is nowhere to be found... perhaps, after you show me the meat shop, you could look for her, please?"

"I... uh... I guess I could help you." I replied awkwardly. She could clearly hear it in my voice. "I mean, I'd be honored to help you, ma'am."

"Oh, thank you, dear." the woman said, happily. "My name's Molly Weasley, what's yours?"

"Michael Wood." I replied, extending my hand.

"Well, I thank you again, Michael." she said, following me as I walked towards the butcher's shop I've just recently past. "Do you live here?"

"Oh, no... I'm only here for two weeks for my Christmas vacation." I replied. "I live over in the United States."

"I thought you'd say that. That's an unfamiliar accent you've got." she smiled at me. I blushed a little.

"Well here we are." I said, opening the door of the butcher's for her. "I'll go look for your daughter. Do you have any clue of where she may be?"

"Possibly searching for a produce shop... for chicken broth, dear. If you know any, I'd start there."

"Got it." I replied, and waved goodbye to Mrs. Weasley. I had an idea of where to find her daughter, whoever it was, but I hoped to God that it wasn't what I had in mind. I walked slowly down the street, checking my watch. One o'clock. I had plenty of time.

Unfortunately, I wasn't looking where I was going, and I was suddenly in the snow, on the ground. "Oh... sorry, sorry!" I heard a girl's voice. I looked up, and sighed a deep sigh. She was staring at me with big brown eyes, and she sighed as well. She mechanically extended a hand and I took it.

It was so soft, as if she had just put baby lotion on. "H-hi." I said, blushing slightly.

"Hello." she replied, smiling.

"Ginny!" I heard Mrs. Weasley cry happily. "I'm so glad I've found you!"

So that's what her name was... Ginny.