Chapter Seven

A Weasley Christmas

Dear Diary

Washing dishes really isn't that bad, and we're going to the Weasley's for Christmas, so I think I'll get a break. When I asked dad how he knew them, dad told me he works with Mr. Weasley at the ministry, and that Mr. Weasley talks about his family all the time. I'm sure mum won't make me do the dishes at their house, and she may even forget about when we return home. Well, it's lunch time, and after lunch, we'll be leaving to go the Weasley's, so I'll write when I get there.

Tina

I hurried downstairs to have the sandwiches mum made.

"Tina, I expect you to do the dishes when lunch is over," mum told me.

"I know, I know, you don't have to keep reminding me," I grumbled. I cleaned the dishes that day in record time, and we were ready to take the flo network to the Weasley's house. All Harry and I had to do was pack our bags and we could leave.

"I'm sorry, Sirius," I heard my dad saying. "You can't come with us.

"But –" Sirius started to say.

"I know Harry wants you to come, but the Ministry still hasn't cleared your name," dad said. I hid by the door at the bottom of the stairs listening intently. "Arthur works for, and is the head of, the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts."

"He doesn't have much power there," Sirius shot back.

"Did I mention he was the head of office? Of course he has a lot of power! We can't risk it, Sirius. Harry would want you out of Azkaban rather than risk it and go with us!" Dad said.

"Fine," Sirius said. "But I can give him my Christmas gift before he leaves, right?"

"Sure," dad said. I decided that it was time to 'come downstairs', so I left my hiding spot.

"I'm ready, dad!" I said excitedly. I'm not sure why I was so excited, I wasn't friends with Ron, but I guess it was a mix of the Weasley twins and not having to do dishes anymore.

"Good," he said. "Where's your brother?"

"How should I know?" I asked. "He's probably in his room."

"I'll go check," Sirius said. Dad and I stood there and watched him leave.

"How much did you hear?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked innocently.

"You know exactly what I mean," he said sternly. "Just because you're in Slytherin doesn't mean you have to act like one every second of the day."

"Um, it kind of does," I told him. "That's why I was put into Slytherin, I act like one."

"Your mother and I raised you better than that," he scolded.

"Obviously not," I said.

"Dad! Dad! Dad!" I heard Harry shout as he ran down the stairs.

"What is it, Harry?" Dad asked once Harry was in sight.

"It's a photo album! Sirius got me a photo album!" Harry was practically shoving the leather bound book into dad's face.

"Really?" Evidently, dad was surprised about this. There was a picture of Harry and I as babies, and a picture of mum and dad's wedding.

"Are those the only pictures?" I asked.

"Yup, I want Harry to fill it in with pictures of his friends," Sirius said. I looked up, surprised by his invisible entrance. Both he and mum came in the room without notice.

"Are we all ready?" Mum asked. Everyone nodded. "Okay, everyone take a pinch of floo powder and follow your father. Good bye, Sirius, have a good Holiday. Remus will be by to celebrate Christmas with you, so you won't be alone."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," he said. He didn't sound happy.

"We truly are sorry, Sirius," dad said, giving his friend a huge hug. "Okay, kids, follow my lead." Dad walked over to the fire place, stepped into it, and, as he dropped the floo powder, shouted "The Burrow!" and he disappeared. I went after him, and soon disappeared, too. I reappeared in a small living room and was immediately greeted by the twins. They led me into a small kitchen where Mrs. Weasley was cooking dinner.

"So, two days until Christmas," George said.

"Fred, George, please get out of the kitchen," Mrs. Weasley said. "Oh, hello, um, oh, I'm sorry dear, I forgot your name!"

"It's Tina," I said.

"It's good to see you again," she said politely. "Please, Fred, George, OUT! Go up to your room, or something!"

"Okay, okay, mum, you don't need to get all snippy," Fred said.

"Come on, Tina, we want to show you some stuff," George said. We headed back through the living room were dad and Mr. Weasley were talking about who knows what, and mum was just coming through the fireplace. Harry and Ron were having a conversation about quidditch.

The twins and I headed up the stairs. On the second landing, they pointed out their parents' room.

"This here is Charlie's old room, you'll be sleeping there, Charlie'll be with Bill," Fred said. We were now on the second landing.

"Here's Bill's room, he'll be staying there with Charlie, as we said," George said. We were still on the second landing. "And there's Percy's room"

"Now, Miss Potter, we take you to the third floor of the house," Fred announced formally. "This is our room, and there's Ginny's. Oh, hello, Ginny. Harry's downstairs." They held the door open, but I didn't notice, I was staring up the next fight of stairs.

"What's up there?" I asked.

"Oh, that's just Ronald's room," George said rather sadly. "Harry will be staying with him up there, poor bloke."

"I told you not to call me that," Ron grumbled from behind us. I turned to see Harry with his suitcase following Ron. Ginny, who stood in her doorway, blushed bright red.

"Hello, Ginny," Harry said politely. That seemed to scare her half to death. After nearly fainting, she rushed into her room.

"Ignore them," Fred said. "Come on, we want to show you some stuff." With that, I followed the twins into a boxed filled room, half wondering what they wanted to show me, half wondering how both of them fit in there. They were each holding a paper back and I looked in curiously.

A/N: Sorry to leave you hanging there, but I wanted to post this ASAP, so, in order to do so, you guys get a cliff hanger! Yay! Please review! Hope you liked it.