Chapter Six- "With a faery hand in hand"
A few hours later…
Ron, George and Freddie stood in the centre of the living room, watching the final seconds tick by on the clock. Ron had set the portkey to leave at nine o'clock, and the three were now waiting for the fateful moment to arrive.
As George stood with his hand on the key (which, this time, had been enchanted into a grubby muggle tea cup), he tried to stop himself from thinking too hard about what was to come. The last little while had felt like such a blur, and it was surprisingly easy to zone out and let the numbness overtake him.
He couldn't think about it…
He wouldn't…
It was too late to change anything now.
They were going home.
'Ding'
The clock struck nine, and a wide grin broke out on Ron's freckled face. "Ready then?" he asked as the clock chimed again. "Hold onto your luggage." He advised, looking down at his nervous nephew. "And you might want to close your eyes- it's easier that way."
The boy was about to reply, but before he could, a strange tugging feeling overcame them all. A few dizzying and terrifying seconds later, they had been transported from George's suburban home to a soft patch of grass in the English country side.
Ron was the first one to get back to his feet. He brushed off his dark robes, and looked around the area with a large smile.
"Ah." He said happily, breathing in the country air. "Home."
Trying to ignore his rapidly beating heart, George stood up before helping his disoriented son do the same. Having never travelled by portkey before, Freddie looked slightly ill, and it took a few seconds for him to overcome his shock.
"Were are we, exactly?" Freddie asked quietly as he looked around the abandoned landscape. There were no houses…or people…in sight.
"We're in Devon." Ron answered happily as he reached down to scoop up Freddie's suit case. "Which is in the south of England. Ottery St. Catchpole is over that way." He said, pointing to his left. "And the Burrow is straight ahead- just over that hill."
Freddie nodded, and looked over at his father for confirmation.
"Yes." George said quietly. "We're hom…I mean, here."
The man took a moment to observe his surroundings. They were only about a two minute walk from the Burrow, and he could remember many happy childhood days spent in these open fields. He was happy to see that little had changed.
It was just as beautiful as it had always been.
"Alright then, let's get going." Ron began again as the started his trek towards the grassy hill. "We don't want to keep everyone waiting."
Father and son quickly began to follow behind him, both looking slightly apprehensive.
"Who is "everyone"?" Freddie asked his father as they began to climb the hill.
George shook his head. He had been wondering the exact same thing. Ron had mentioned that 'the family' was anticipating their arrival, but he hadn't had the chance to ask him who exactly that would consist of. All of his siblings? Their spouses? Their kids?
"I'm not sure." He replied. "Your grandparents will definitely be there. As for everyone else…I don't know, but I'm guessing the house will be quite crowded."
Freddie directed his glance back down at the grass- he now looked even more nervous then he had before.
"Don't worry, mate." George continued, sounding more cheerful then he felt. "It may be a bit overwhelming at first, but everyone is really nice. They'll be very happy to see you."
"Alright…" Freddie replied, sounding less then convinced.
He paused for a moment before opening his mouth to ask another question- but before the boy could speak, Ron cut him off.
"There it is!" he exclaimed. "The Burrow."
Freddie's head snapped up, and he looked straight ahead to take in the new sight. The house had not been what he was expecting- it was the most haphazard building he had ever seen, and its strange construction seemed to defy the laws of physics.
"But…how…" the boy stuttered, pausing for a moment to stare ahead. "How does it stay standing?
"Magic." George answered quietly. His eyes were also fixed on the house, but instead of awe, his seemed to be filled with longing.
The sight had hit him hard- harder then he would have thought.
He hadn't realized how much he had missed it…and he was suddenly very anxious to get inside.
No matter what happened, and what life brought, George knew that this place would always hold a special place in his heart.
"Come on." Ron's voce urged from a few feet ahead of him. "We need to keep going."
Snapping out of their dazes, Freddie and George continued their trek, inching ever closer to their new lives.
When they finally reached the front gate, Ron turned around to address them. "Wait in the yard for just a moment." He said, still smiling. "I'm going to go in and tell everyone we're here. I should also…explain a few things. I'll come get you when everything is ready."
George nodded numbly, not thinking of any reason to protest, and watched as his younger brother bolted down the front path and into the house.
There were only seconds away, now…
As impossible as it had seemed only a few short days ago, he was home.
And it was time.
He turned to see how Freddie was holding up. Much to his surprise, the boy had wandered across the front garden, and was looking down behind one of the old gnarled tress with fascination.
"Oi, Freddie- what are you doing?" George asked, walking over to join him. "Is there something there?"
"I think I found some fairies!" Freddie exclaimed, his voice filled with awe. "I didn't think fairies even existed! This is beyond cool…"
George looked down at the sight which had captured the boy's attention and smiled. "Those aren't fairies." He explained gently. "They're pixies…and they can be nasty little buggers if you're not careful. They're much stronger then they look."
"Oh." Freddie replied, taking a cautious step back. "They're still cool though." He paused for a moment and looked around the garden, as if trying to see what other magical creatures might suddenly pop up. "Next you'll be telling me that giants and werewolves exist to." He chuckled, his tone suggesting that- despite his encounter with the pixies- he didn't think the other two could possibly be real.
George tried not to laugh, reminding himself that his son didn't know things that he had always taken for granted. "As a matter of fact…" he began, but before he could finish, a woman's loud shriek distracted both father and son away from their conversation.
They both turned in the direction of the noise, and seconds later the front door burst open and a plump woman with flaming red hair ran out into the garden.
She had a few more grey hairs then he remembered, but aside from that, Molly Weasley looked almost exactly the same as she had when George had left.
"Mum." George whispered, too shocked by her sudden appearance to move a muscle.
She ran towards her estranged son, as quickly as she could, and a moment later she had drawn him into a desperate and grateful hug.
"Oh George…" she said, her voice halfway between a sob and a scream. He could see the tears running down her freckled cheeks, and he felt his heart sink. He was responsible for her pain…he had done this…
"Hello Mum." He choked, returning her embrace with shaking arms.
Merlin, he had missed her…
"I'm so sorry…I should have never…"
"Shhh." Molly replied quietly, her head resting on his chest and the tears still pouring down her face. "I'm just glad you're back Georgie. My baby boy…" she trailed off, and gave a loud sob before grasping the back of his shirt even tighter then before…as if he would disappear again if she let go…
George didn't know what to do…what to say…
So he simply stood. Holding her tightly, and revelling in the comfort of her arms.
It felt so incredibly good to be back…
"Dad." A small voice beside him snapped George out of his daze. The man directed his gaze down to see a nervous Freddie looking back and forth between Molly and the crowd that was now beginning to gather at the door. It was clear that he didn't know what to do.
George, himself shocked by the sight of the crowd (Ron really had meant everyone), opened and closed his mouth several times, trying to come up with some words of comfort for his son.
Before he could offer and support however, his mother released him and redirected her attention to his apprehensive young son.
"Oh my!" she exclaimed, bending down to pull the boy into a tight embrace. "Is this Freddie!? You've grown so much…" He held him closely for several long seconds, before drawing back to take in his appearance. "Merlin, you look so much like your father did at your age. Such a handsome boy..."
Freddie blinked and looked over at his dad again. George merely shrugged and smiled.
"I…err…thanks." He said. "I guess you must be my Grandmother…" he paused- this was feeling more and more awkward by the second. "It's nice to meet you."
He could see the woman's eyes begin to well with tears once again, and he wondered if he had said something wrong. His heart rate increased- it had only been a minute, and he had already messed things up…
"Oh Freddie." His newly discovered Grandmother choked between sobs. "I've missed you so much."
Freddie didn't know how to respond.
He wished that he could say the same, but in all honestly he had no memory of his grandmother…or this strange world that he had, evidently, been born into…
Thankfully, the appearance of several more family members stopped him from having to say more.
An older man with thinning red hair and a sizable bald spot was the next to arrive at the scene. He too drew George into a tight hug, and Freddie supposed that it was safe to say that this man was his grandfather. He certainly looked quite a bit like his uncle Ron- while his father clearly took after Molly's side of the family.
Before he could contemplate matters further, the man stepped towards him, a wide grin on his face.
"Arthur- its Freddie!" Molly explained, an excited smile shining through her still-flowing tears. "Hasn't he grown?"
The man nodded, beaming down at his grandson with a look of unmistakable pride. "He certainly has." He confirmed. "And, I hear, he has learned quite a bit about muggles during his time away! You'll have to tell me all about it…"
"Oh hush, Arthur." Molly chided, shooting her husband a quick glare. "The boy has just come back to us, and I'm sure he has more on his mind then plugs and ekleticity- isn't that right dear?"
Freddie looked up at his grandparents for a brief moment, unsure of what to do. "I..err…" he began, looking towards his grandfather. "I guess I do know a lot about muggles. I thought I was one until yesterday…"
The two adults exchanged a look that Freddie couldn't quite read.
"Is that right…gracious, this must be quite the shock for you then." Arthur said quietly. "Ron mentioned that he'd found you two in a muggle suburb…didn't get around to telling us that you were actually living like muggles though…"
Molly frowned and glanced back towards George, who was now surrounded by several of his ecstatic siblings. "I'll have to have a word with him about that." She muttered quietly before looking back at Freddie and smiling again. "Well, it hardly matters now." She began again. "Come, let's introduce you to the rest of the family."
Freddie nodded, and seconds later found him self being dragged through the sizable crowd of people- most of which, he observed, had varying shades of flaming red hair. Ron hadn't been lying when he had said it was a family trait.
"Is that Freddie!?" he heard someone gasp. He turned around to see a woman with flaming hair starring down at him in shock. She was very pretty, and he could see traces of his grandparents on her pleasant face.
"It certainly is." Arthur proclaimed with a smile. "Freddie, this is your Aunt Ginny."
"Nice to meet you." Freddie said quietly, extending his hand for the woman to shake. Rather then taking it, however, she gave him a warm hug.
"Harry, Lily, over here!" she called as she released him. "It's Freddie!"
Before he knew it, Ginny was joined by a redheaded girl- who looked to be about his age- and a man with dark hair. Ginny introduced them as her husband Harry and her daughter Lily- their youngest child and the only one not currently away at Hogwarts.
"She'll be starting next year too." Ginny said happily. "And so will Hugo." She finished, glancing around the garden, evidently in search of the other eleven year old. "He's around here somewhere...I'm sure you'll meet him soon."
Freddie nodded and tried to smile.
It had only been a few minutes, and he already felt overwhelmed.
There were so many people…how was he ever going to remember them all?
Noticing the boy's apprehension, Harry gave him a sympathetic smile. "Don't worry mate." He said, hoping that his words would be of some comfort. "I felt completely overwhelmed the first time I came to the Burrow too- you get used to it quickly."
Freddie was about to reply, when the arrival of even more family members distracted his attention.
"Bill, Charlie." Molly said happily from behind him. "Come say hello to Freddie."
The two men both- evidently- his uncles, came over and shook his hand enthusiastically.
"Great to have you back, Freddie." The oldest one said cheerfully, his smile making the strange scars on his face suddenly less noticeable. "I'm your uncle Bill- and this is Charlie" he said, gesturing to the other man who, Freddie observed, looked quite a bit like his father.
"Hi." Freddie replied quietly.
"Ooo, is zat Freddie?" a third new arrival asked, coming up beside Bill and lacing her arm around his back. "Mon dieu! 'e looks like George!"
Bill chuckled. "Indeed." He paused and turned back towards Freddie. "This is my wife Fleur."
"Nice to meet you." Freddie said, for what felt like the hundredth time that morning.
The woman's eyes widened as he spoke. "What is zat accent?" she asked, turning towards her husband. "Where did Ron say zey had been staying?"
Freddie shifted uncomfortably, suddenly feeling very out of place. In all of the excitement, he had almost forgotten that everyone else in his family (with the notable exception of Fleur, it seemed) was unmistakably English. Although he had- evidently- been born in London, he had grown up across the ocean and certainly did not sound like the rest of the people present.
"I grew up in Canada." He said quietly, wishing his accent hadn't given him away. It was bad enough that he knew next to nothing about magic…he didn't need something else to make him feel even more distant from his newly discovered family.
"He'll loose the accent soon enough." Arthur pointed out, giving Freddie a reassuring pat on the back. "He's still young enough; it should only take a few months."
Freddie felt his stomach churn. He wasn't sure how he felt about that…it would be nice to fit in a bit better…but it also felt strange to turn his back on the past. He had spoken like this for as long as he could remember, and he couldn't imagine anything else. They were the ones with accents, not him…
The boy forced a smile. "I suppose…" he muttered quietly.
"Now…" His grandfather began, glancing around the yard. "Who else do you need to meet?" he paused, before catching sight of someone a few feet away. "Of course." He said cheerfully, gently leading the boy towards another group of strangely dressed people, Molly following close behind.
"Freddie." The man began again, gaining the attention of the excited looking group. "This is your Aunt Hermione- Ron's wife." He said, gesturing towards a woman with bushy brown hair. "And that is their son Hugo." Arthur stated, this time looking over at a boy with flaming red hair who clearly looked like Uncle Ron. "He's your age- just turned eleven a few weeks ago, isn't the right Hu?"
The other boy nodded, giving Freddie an appraising look. "Yep." He replied, smiling over at his Grandfather. "I can't wait for summer to be over so that we can finally go to Hogwarts. I'm sure we'll both be in Gryffindor, don't you reckon?"
"Hugo." Hermione cut in gently. "You have to remember that Freddie is just getting used to all of this. He might not know what Gryffindor is yet."
"Dad and Uncle Ron mentioned it last night actually." He replied, smiling at his aunt. "And I started reading a bit about in Hogwarts, A History. Thanks for that, by the way. It's a very useful book."
Hermione beamed and Hugo made a face. "I've always thought so." She stated. "Certain people refuse to read it…" she continued, shooting a pointed look at her son. "But I'm glad you'll be putting it to good use."
"I will be." Freddie confirmed.
"Well then." Another voice cut in. "It certainly seems like you haven't inherited your father's mischievous ways. Keep up with your studies, and you might make prefect by fifth year."
Freddie turned towards the speaker to see another tall man with flaming red hair. He was the only one present wearing glasses, and his demeanour seemed much less relaxed then the rest of the Weasleys.
"I'm your uncle Percy." He said, introducing himself. "And this is my wife, Penny." He continued, indicating the woman with curly blonde hair standing at his right. "Our children- Liam and Gwyneth – are both away at Hogwarts right now- but I'm sure they will both be more then happy to help you with your studies next year."
"Err…thanks." Freddie responded, making a mental note not to sit next to Percy at family dinners. He clearly wasn't the most exciting family member- although, he could tell that the man was genuinely pleased to see him.
"Freddie!" A familiar voice called from behind him. He turned around quickly, grateful to see a familiar face.
"Dad." He replied, happily as his father walked towards him.
"How are you holding up, mate? Met everyone yet?"
The boy nodded. "Almost- I think." He paused. "It's hard to keep track- there are so many people."
George chuckled. "You can say that again." He replied. "And this is with half of your cousins away at Hogwarts for a few more weeks…"
Freddie's eyes widened, he found it hard to imagine the family being even larger. He had always known that his father had an estranged family…but he never could have guessed that they happened to be an extremely large family of red-headed witches and wizards.
"They'll be so anxious to meet you when they get back." Molly noted, smiling down at her grandson. "I wanted them to come home for the weekend, but unfortunately they have exams coming up and the Headmistress wouldn't allow it." she gave a small frown, clearly indicating that she thought that family was much more important then exams. "But no worries, we still have a very exciting day planned for you. It is your birthday after all- and a special one at that."
Freddie tried to smile again. He wasn't sure if he could handle much more excitement…this had already been an extremely overwhelming experience.
"How about we get inside then." Molly continued, placing a gentle hand on Freddie's back and leading him towards the front door. "George dear, do you need help with the suitcases?"
"No mum, I've got it." he replied, pulling his wand out the pocket of his jeans and muttering a spell. Freddie watched in awe as their luggage levitated through the yard, passing by he and his grandmother, and whizzing through the door.
No one else seemed to think much of it, and continued chatting merrily as they began making their way inside.
Yes…
Freddie thought, still looking around at his surroundings with fascination.
This was definitely going to take some getting used to…
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A/N Phew, that was hard to write. It is difficult to have a reunion scene without making it too boring and simply listing off family members. I tried hard not to do too much of that. Tell me what you think, and I will continue to ignore my homework and write more!
Kerei Kitsune- thanks for the comments. I thought about the ear thing…initially intended to mention it, but then I thought I'd have to come up with an explanation for Freddie (he'd want to know how his father had lost an ear), and since I couldn't I ignored it. Naughty of me, perhaps…lets just assume George found a way to fix it. Muggle plastic surgery perhaps ;)
Thanks for all of the reviews last time! You keep me going!
