"So, Allison, what do you do for a living?" asks one of Scarlet's sisters- I think it was Sienna- as we sit waiting for our orders to arrive. Scarlet insisted that I go to a dinner with all of the other bridesmaids so that I could get better acquainted with them. Especially considering the fact that I will have to spend a lot of time with them in the near future.
"I am CEO of McLaggen Industries," I reply. "The only person above me is Cormac McLaggen himself. And he really only steps in occasionally. So I get to make most of the decisions."
"Oh my goodness!" says Sarah—the youngest of Scarlet's sisters—her mouth falling agape. "I've been trying to work at McLaggen Industries for months!"
"Oh really?" I ask, raising my eyebrows, impressed. It's not often someone shows such enthusiasm to get a job at McLaggen. People definitely want to work there, but they usually don't seem so eager. "That's wonderful. What department would you like to enter?"
"Well, I would really like to work in the Fashion Department," she says shyly, messing with the rings on her fingers. "I'm really big on design. I've just always wanted to do it, you know?"
"Yeah I do, well I'm sure that there is room for you down in our design department," I begin. Sarah's face lights up. Scarlet smiles brightly at me as well. "Just owl me your resume and I will put you to work."
"Of course!" she says happily.
THE REST of dinner last night went very well. Scarlet's sisters, who all seemed skeptical of me at first, started to warm up to me. To which Scarlet seemed extremely grateful. We also started to plan when we would go dress shopping—for Scarlet's dress and our dresses—and ended up getting along quite nicely.
Now it is Sunday brunch at the Burrow and Draco and I are going with Stella. Draco was initially going to stay since he didn't figure Scarlet could go, but she insisted that he attend because it was my family. I appreciated that.
"We would like to tell you all something that we're very excited about," Percy says, taking Audrey's hand as the two of them stand up. All of us eagerly turn our heads to hear. "We are expecting a baby."
"Oh my goodness!" Aunt Molly beams, standing and running to hug her son and her daughter-in-law. We all add in words of congratulation and the rest of brunch is spent happily chatting about the great news. Soon though, the subject came to Draco and Scarlet's wedding.
"When is it happening?" Bill asks. I squirm uncomfortably in my seat on the couch as the questions about the weddings are asked. Of course to be fair, most of them don't know of my feelings for him. Only Hermione, Ginny, and Harry.
"I think we have decided on April the sixteenth," Draco replies. I double take for a moment as I process.
"That's only three months away!" Percy echoes my thoughts. Everyone seems shocked and Hermione and Harry give me sympathetic looks. Ginny is in the other room with the children.
"Yeah, Scarlet is really just ready to be married. Wants it as soon as possible," Draco explains, rubbing the back of his neck, a nervous habit of his.
"And what about you? Are you as eager as she is?" Fleur asks with a knowing expression. Draco looks down and begins to answer, but he is saved by the fireplace.
"We're back!" exclaims Angelina as she and George enter through the fireplace. Everyone seems to drop the topic of Draco's wedding as the gush over the newlyweds. Everyone except for Hermione and Harry, who look sadly at me as they go to greet George and Angelina, and Fleur, who pulls me aside.
"Are you okay about it?" she asks. "About the wedding?"
"I have to be, don't I?" I say. She shakes her head and takes my hand.
"That's not what I meant," she says. "I don't think you are okay about the wedding, and I don't think that he is either."
"Well whether he is ready or not, he is engaged to Scarlet," I reply. "And I have to get myself over him."
"It will work out, Allison," Fleur says, pulling me into a tight hug. "I know it will."
"Thank you, Fleur,"
AFTER BRUNCH, Draco and I got home and Scarlet's sisters arrived to plan Scarlet's bachelorette party. Draco was given the task to take Scarlet out and keep her busy while we planned. The party was to be a sort of sleepover type party, where we would all crash at Sienna's flat—her husband agreed to stay with his friend for the night of the party—and play lots of games, watch muggle films, and go out for midnight snacks. Scarlet didn't drink, and she really wanted us to all bond over the experience of planning the wedding. That's why we all knew this would be the perfect idea. We decided on the party being the following Friday night.
"I think that it is just brilliant," says Samantha proudly as we talk about the final details of Scarlet's bachelorette party. They all nod in agreement and I nod slowly, trying to hide any negative feelings. I really do like Scarlet and her sisters. The closest I ever had to sisters growing up were Ginny and Daphne. Now I also have Hermione and Fleur. And just having spent time with Scarlet and her sisters, I feel like I'm one of them in a way. It's comforting.
"It's very fitting for Scarlet," says Sarah in agreement. "But I think we'd better leave before Scarlet and Draco get home. He can only distract her for so long."
The girls laugh and I chuckle lightly as they gather their coats and I bid goodbyes. One by one, they enter the fireplace to floo home, and not even a minute passes before Draco and Scarlet walk in through the fireplace.
When I'm away and you can't sleep
Just know that it's the same for me
