Roxanne Alicia Weasley

Born: June 30, 2003

Now: July 3, 2020

"You know, Roxanne," my cousin, James, said, taking a seat on the couch beside me. I looked up as he threw his arm around my shoulders, glaring at him a bit. He shot me a goofy look and laughed a little. I rolled my eyes, leaning against him and taking a sip of my butterbeer.

"What do I know, Jamesy?" I asked, earning myself a glare. Most of the other Weasley cousins, as well as several parents – my own included – were gathered in the living room of the Burrow, here for one of the many summertime family gatherings. They quieted down rather quickly, listening in on my conversation with James, no doubt.

"You're old enough now to date..." James started drifting off. I raised my eyebrow at the elder Potter boy.

"Yes, I am aware of that," I replied, leaning back to look at his face. We both knew I was aware of that, especially since he had walked in on me snogging quite a few ex-girlfriends – unfortunately, he also probably remembered when I had kissed his girlfriend over the school year. So what was he playing at?

"Which means you can bring those dates to the lovely Weasley family gatherings," he said, gesturing around him. I widened my eyes. There's his angle, that's what he was getting to, I see now.

But James knew exactly why I didn't bring my dates home. While the second generation was extremely tolerant of my girlfriends, and I wasn't the only one of us to fall for a girl – Dom had snogged the pants off of Lucia Thomas at James' birthday party – I was the only gay person in the room. And the older generation was still a little set in their ideas that boys should be with girls, and that is final.

I glanced around the room, and noticed that almost all of my cousins had the same shocked look on their faces. For weeks now, James had been bothering me about coming out to our family but like this? Not how I planned it in the least.

"Um, Jay," I whispered, tilting my head down, "You know I can't do that." My father chuckled.

"Smart girl," he said, a smile on his face, "She knows I'll beat up any boy who lays his eyes on her." My mother frowned, and swatted Dad gently in the arm.

"Be nice, George," she reprimanded, and then turned towards me. "You honestly don't expect us to believe that you haven't had a boyfriend, Roxie," she said, "Look at you, you're gorgeous and smart, I'm sure all the boys love you."

I turned beet red, thinking of my current girlfriend, Lexi, and her constant insistence of the very same thing.

"I, um," I stuttered, looking towards my brother for help. Fred pointed to himself, and mouthed something. I wasn't sure what, but I got an idea.

"Freddie has a girlfriend!" I announced, looking to him as he winced when everyone rounded on him.

"Oh that's lovely dear," said Grandmum, "Who is it, then?" He sent a look at me that clearly read I'm doing this because I love you, before answering.

"Emily Silver," he replied, "She's a muggleborn. Slytherin, fifth year." I sighed, leaning back into James' chest as the rest of the family exclaimed over Fred's girlfriend and how oh, she's so young, and why didn't you tell us sooner?

All too quickly, though, the conversation turned back to me. Uncle Charlie started in on how Dad and Uncle George had plenty of girlfriends when they were my age, and how I shouldn't be ashamed of having a boyfriend, and finally, I couldn't take it.

"The thing is, Uncle Charlie," I interrupted, "I haven't had a boyfriend. Just girlfriends." The room turned eerily silent. The adults in the room were still, obviously trying to take in the news, the kids were frozen, anticipating the explosion that was inevitable.

Uncle Percy was first to erupt. "You mean to say you're...but that simply can't be...you don't seem... Is it even right?" he stuttered out. I turned red, and slowly sank into the couch as he and Aunt Audrey – who, as loving and tolerant as she could be, had a line – sputtered out nonsense, as the other adults put in their two knuts, and as my parents stayed disturbingly silent.

"Leave her alone, it's not like it's her choice," said Rose finally from her spot on the floor. I looked gratefully at my younger cousin. She shrugged, smiling and brushing her red curls over her shoulder.

"You guys are adults, we shouldn't have to defend Roxie," Fred piped up, rising to sir next to me on the couch. The adults froze, staring at both my brother and I.

All of the younger generation in the room drifted towards me, surrounding me defensively. Each one put in their defence of me, and I sunk deeper and deeper into the couch with every word.

Finally, I stood up, staring around the room at my family.

"I can't take this," I informed them, sounding much calmer than I actually felt. "If you won't love me...I'm leaving." I ran out of the room, to the large fireplace in the kitchen, and threw floo powder into the brightly burning flames. The flames had barely turned green when I stepped in.

"Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, London," I said, and was instantly transported there. The moment I landed in our fireplace, I raced up the stairs to my bedroom, slamming the door behind me. Haphazardly, I tossed my most important belongings into a trunk, and grabbed my broom. I tossed my Hogwarts robe over my over my clothing, and threw my journal and a few other odds and ends into a bag, before throwing that over my shoulders.

When I opened the door, I nearly ran into my father. He took one look at me, with my bags packed, and his eyes widened immensely. He made to grab my arm, but I dodged around him, storming down the stairs and passed Freddie and Mum, who both looked terrified. I heard someone running behind me but didn't stop to look.

When I reached the fireplace, I threw in a handful of powder haphazardly, leapt into the emerald flames and yelled out Lexi's address. Just before I was swept away into the dizzying experience of the Floo Network, I spotted Freddie desperately racing around the corner, tear stains on his dark cheeks, and his auburn hair a mess.

"I'm sorry!" I called, but it was lost in the network, probably ending up in some random wizard's home, who would be very confused. I really was sorry, too. I was leaving my brother – but I needed to go somewhere I felt like I belonged.