I found that I have extra time today, and thought I would spoil you all with day early chapter, and as promised this post is a bit longer and will hopefully make up for the sad mood I left you all in. We finally got to double digits, 10! This chapter in an insight into the Weasley family- and it was one of the most entertaining and anticipated chapters for me to write. I simply love the Weasley family, and I hope you enjoy my take on them. That being said, I have a very important question for you all!
Since I started posting, I have realized that every other day posting is longer than I thought it would be, as silly as it sounds. So, I ask you, my dear readers; would you like for me to start posting every day? Please give me your answer! If no one revels their preference, I will be forced to assume you all like the every other day situation, and I will continue doing that. But yes, if you all would like for me to start posting everyday, please let me know, and I will be sure to do so! Again, thank you all so very much!
Fat raindrops leaked an unsteady path down the soaked window, mimicking the tears on Rose's face. She stared out, curled in a ball, silently allowing herself to break for a moment. Her shoulders didn't shake and her breathing wasn't ragged, but her mind was a storm, and her heart hurt like never before.
She sat alone in the quiet train compartment, shutting herself off from the rest of the world. Rose couldn't stop the image of Scorpius' blank face after confronting him, the way he seemed to be completely unaffected. She truly had thought he didn't care that she was a halfblood, or who her family was... but she was wrong. Rose felt ill, she felt like emptying her stomach, and she felt ashamed that the last thing she wanted to be doing was spending time with her family.
The train raced on, the heavy vibrations of the machine pulsing through Rose, reminding her of his electrifying touch. Thick tears jumped off her face, pooling on her shirt, staining the material. Her hands shook as she tried to bottle in the pain she felt course through her, wishing for nothing more than to be able to fall asleep and not worry about waking up.
A loud whistle rang out, threatening the ten minute mark. The sad girl sighed and stood, wiping her face and any traces of sorrow away. Grabbing her lightened trunk, Rose made her way out, tracking down her cousins and brother. It wasn't difficult to find the rowdy bunch, locating them in the 'Weasley' cabin. "Rosie," yelled Albus when the no longer gloomy girl walked in, a deceiving smile in place. "Where have you been, we looked all over for you."
"Yeah, I'm sorry," said the small girl, sitting next to her brother. "I forgot to tell you I had a Head meeting earlier. I didn't mean for you come looking." Rose bit her lip, shocked at her own ability to lie so effortlessly. She could feel Albus' knowing stare, and she made sure to look everywhere in the small room but into his eyes. Looking to Lily, she changed the subject, "are you excited to see James? I can't believe he was able to take a break from the team to come visit."
Lily shrugged, but Rose knew she was secretly thrilled to see her loving older brother. The train came to a sudden halt and the shouts of impatient families could be heard through the window. Looking over, Rose could see Hugo not bothering to hold back his thrilled smile. "Well, come on then, you lot." He said excited, grabbing his sister's hand.
"Hold on, Hugo, let's wait for everyone," Rose said laughing. Walking through the thick crowd, the Potter-Weasley clan made their way. As the witch stepped of the train, her head spun and ached uncomfortably when she caught a glimpse of the one of a kind white-blonde hair. Rose swallowed hard, but was unable to see anything more as the huge crowd of people towered over her, blocking her view. Pleasant butterflies erupted in Rose's stomach as she spotted the top of a tall ginger head. Unable to contain herself, she began running towards her father when he came into view, jumping into his welcoming embrace. "Daddy," Rose yelled joyfully, returning his hug with just as much love.
Placing a kiss atop her head, Ron pulled back, taking in the sight of his daughter for the first time in what felt like forever. "Rosie," the tall man said tenderly, embracing her one last time before allowing her room to breath. Turning to her beaming mother, Rose stepped forward hugged her with just as much passion. Squeezing her a second longer, the young girl breathed in the soothing familiar scent of her mother, enjoying the way she could feel her heart beat.
Turning back to the crowd, she noticed the others had finally made their way. Hermione stepped forward and placed a hand on her daughter's back, stroking her long soft hair as Hugo caught up with his father. After she was done welcoming her own children, her Aunt Ginny turned to the smiling girl, giving her sweet embrace. "Rosie," her Uncle Harry smiled and winked at her, causing her to giggle.
That night, after a laughter filled dinner with the Potters, Rose laid in her bed of the room that held all the memories of her childhood. The family dog, a large old golden retriever named Chauncey laid with the girl, completing his duty of protecting her from all evils. Rose absently mindedly stroked the soft fur of the loved dog, her brilliant mind betraying her as she thought of Scorpius.
So there she sat, in the middle of her large bed, wrapped up in his sweater which she had yet to return, breathing in his scent like a drug. Rose sniffled quietly as the endless tears dripped out, praying she could stay quiet enough to not wake her family. Chauncey turned to her, hearing a muffled sob, and leaned forward to lick the fallen tears off her face. "Oh, Chauncey," Rose said, laying her head on her aging friend.
A soft knock scared her out of her trance, and Rose sat up quickly, cleaning her face. "Rosie," Hermione said cautiously as she stepped into the dark room, "are you alright, darling?" Chauncey pressed forward, baring his teeth and growling when the older women walked towards her daughter. "Settle down, you," she warned, tapping protective dog on his nose. Sitting on the edge of her bed, Hermione reached out and stroked a piece of hair out of the girl's face. "I thought I heard something," she explained.
"Oh no, I'm fine," Rose lied, and her mother saw right through it. Silently noting the large, expensive sweater her daughter was wearing, Hermione nodded, smiling.
"Good," she paused, taking in how much Rose always seemed to change in her short leavings. "I've missed you terribly, you know," she informed the beautiful pair of ocean blue eyes, that she had fallen in love with years ago.
Those words broke her, and Rose crawled on her bed, into her mother's safe arms. "I missed you too, mum," she girl said, laying her head on her mother's breasts. Silent tears snuck from Rose, but Hermione said nothing when she noticed them, knowing it was best. Rubbing soothing circles in Rose's back, Hermione held her sweet daughter until she fell asleep in her arms.
"Upsy daisy," Ron's rough voice chuckled as he grabbed Rose's arm to prevent her from falling, after apparating. "Still got your two left feet," he said jokingly, knowing he was the reason she was so clumsy.
Hermione, who had just apparated with Hugo, walked up and smacked Ron on his arm. "Don't tease her, she can't help it. Besides, you were just as bad when you were her age." Ron silently thanked Merlin that all the Auror training he had gone through had solved that problem.
All the windows of the old creaking Burrow were lit up with warmth, and loud voices were heard fighting for attention inside. A delicious smell hit Rose, even as she stood a dozen feet away from the home. She couldn't help herself as she smiled hugely, hearing her grandfather try and calm her grandmother down about God only knows what. "Come on, Ro," whined Hugo, and Rose then noticed she was the only one still standing out in the spacious yard. Happily, Rose hurried into the warmth of her grandparents' home.
"Rosie darling," Molly shouted at her charming granddaughter, running forward and pushing people out of her way to squeeze the life out of Rose. The young girl laughed with what air she had left, hugging her grandmother back. "Look at you," Molly gasped, holding Rose at arm length, "do they feed you at school?"
Rose blushed thoroughly, feeling all eyes suddenly on her, examining her. "You're skin and bones, you are, Rosie. You've got to start eating more, or you'll wither away to nothing. You have too much stress on you right now-"
Arthur Weasley, observing the scene, decided then would be a grand time to step in. "Molly, leave the poor girl alone," he said sternly, tearing his wife off his embarrassed granddaughter. Once Molly was off, buggering someone else, he turned back to Rose and smiled. "Sorry dear, you know how she gets. I think you look perfectly fine. How are you, Rosie?"
"Oh, I'm fine, thanks," Rose said, embracing her savior.
"Good, good. That's very good. Well Fred, Roxanne, Lily, and Albus, along with your aunts and uncles are already here. The others should be coming along soon enough. I believe Molly II will be joining us tonight too. It's a pity; it feels like she hardly ever shows her face around here anymore. Never the problem though, we are all just so excited to see you all." Rose smiled, walking into the spacious living room with Arthur.
The Burrow had been redone after the war, still holding the same dozen rooms, all just twice the size. The happy house had been remodeled to fit in the huge Weasley family for all the gatherings. The fire was roaring and family was scattered all over the room on various couches and chairs, all chatting away. Walking in, Rose self consciously flattened the skirt to the dark dress she had worn, down casting her eyes as she slipped into a corner chair.
"Oh no you don't, you little sneak," the hidden Ravenclaw blushed when her closest female cousin, Roxanne, yelled at her from across the room. Springing up from her spot squished between Lily and Fred, Roxanne ran toward Rose. The short girl hardly had enough time to stand up before she was thrown to the ground from the force of the hug.
"Roxanne," the twenty year old was scolded by her mother, "be careful, you're going to hurt her." Angelina yelled at her grown daughter from her spot on a couch beside her chuckling husband. "You're no help, you know," she said with false anger, finally getting George to stop laughing at the scene.
Looking to his daughter, whom was still tackling her cousin with hugs, he said, "your mother is right, Roxanne, get off of poor Rosie." Finally the dark skinned girl rolled off Rose, allowing her to catch her breath. Roxanne suddenly bounced up, helping her cousin up too, all of a sudden in a rush.
Roxanne hugged Rose properly when they were both standing, "sorry, I just missed you, Little brain." Rose frowned at the nickname her older cousin had given her years ago, allowing herself to be pushed back into her chair. "Now, I need to ask you something before all the others get here."
The whole living room got very quiet, and everyone looked at the two girls, causing Rose to shrink back into her chair. "Is something wrong," Rose asked nervously, twisting her fingers together.
"No- well actually it depends on how you look at it. Dad thinks something is wrong-" Roxanne rambled on, her usual talkative self.
Fred II cut in impatiently, "just get on with the damn thing, Roxy. Dinner will be cold by the time you get it all out." Turning and sticking her tongue out at her brother, Roxanne rudely flipped him off in front of the room.
"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, I have a kinda important question I need to ask you. So you remember Ritchie, right," the exuberant girl paused, waiting for her victim to nod. "Good well anyways, he was being a major pansy the other day and decided we need to take our relationship 'to the next level.'" Roxanne motioned quotations in the air, rolling her brown eyes. "I thought that was total bullshit, I still do, but then he gave me this big old speech about how much he loves me and all that mushy stuff." The room laughed at the girl's obvious disapproval of affection. "Then one thing led to another, I don't really remember, I was kinda drunk you see. But anyways, long story short, I'm getting married!"
Rose jumped out of her chair, squeals of happiness and excitement escaping her. Hugging her cousin tight, she said, "Roxanne, this is wonderful! Oh I'm so happy for you." Looking around, she noticed no one else seemed as shocked as she was. "Do you all not like him," she asked nervously, wondering if she had done something wrong. 'No's were heard all throughout, except from a grumpy father and brother.
"Oh, I already told them, sent them all owls." Roxanne explained casually, and Rose suddenly felt very left out. "I wanted to tell you in person, because I was wondering if you would be my Maid of Honor?"
More excitement raced through her, and Rose felt tears of happiness leak out of her eyes. "Of course," she nodded into her cousin as they hugged again. Angelina and Hermione shared a kind smile, proud of their girls.
"Jeez, Roxanne, already got Rosie crying. What did she ever do to you?" Both girl whipped around to see James, fresh from the Floo, having just walked in. The tall and skinny handsome boy stepped forward to give each girl a small hug before they were almost both trampled by a running Lily. She yelled his name loudly, excited as she met him.
Everyone took their turn hugging the lanky man, all having missed him great while he was playing for the English National Quidditch Team. By the time everyone had their fair share of James, all the others had arrived. Charlie, Percy and Audrey along with Lucy and a rare Molly had turned up, Bill and Fleur along with Dominique and Louis had also made their appearance, and they were just waiting on the Lupin family.
The room was loud with voices, but the atmosphere was irreplaceable, everyone cheerful to see each other. "Dinner's almost ready," Molly said as she peaked her head back into the stuffed room. "Does anyone know where Victoire and Teddy-"
"We're here, we're here," a frazzled Teddy Lupin declared as he rushed through the Floo, Victoire two steps behind him. "Sorry we're late everyone, Whitney decided it would be a splendid idea to superglue the cat to the couch." Everyone laughed, all the parents sympathizing with the young father.
Whitney and Mariah, two identical twin six year olds ran from behind their mother, their jet black hair racing behind them. After several years of being unable to get pregnant on their own, Victoire and Teddy Lupin decided to adopt, lucking out with two beautiful girls.
Teddy was gone seconds later, chasing after his vibrant daughters, threatening their after dinner dessert as he did. Moments later Molly declared supper was ready, and a stampede of men all ages pushed past each other to get their food. Sitting between Albus and Louis, Rose settled herself in, waiting for all the others.
Conversation flowed easily between the huge group, and Rose watched everyone, preferring to stay silent and observe. "Still not giving up on the whole no meat thing huh, Rosie?" Rose looked at her Uncle Charlie who had asked the question, smiling and shaking her head stubbornly. "I thought it was a hoax when Hermione said you wouldn't eat meat as a baby. But here you are all those years later, meat-free and the most committed vegetarian I've ever met! I don't know how you do it," he said amazed, and a mouth filled Ron shouted his agreed opinion from down the table.
The food was delicious, and Molly beamed with every praise she received. After every last crumb of the meal was gone, the table all left, relocating in various rooms. Rose, along with her mother and Aunt Ginny, were the only ones that stayed to help Molly clean up. The young girl hummed quietly as she washed the dishes by hand, staring out through the window into the yard.
Her mother and aunt were wiping down the kitchen, talking quietly together. "How's your training going, Rosie," Ginny asked as she dried some dishes.
"Oh, very well, thank you. Madam Strout is letting me take students completely on my own now. She says by graduation, I'll have cut a year off my training." Rose said excitedly, Hermione beaming proud as she looked to her daughter. Ginny congratulated her, returning to her conversation with her mother. Rose, unknowingly, resumed her humming, observing the dark night. Her eyes looked all around the yard, stopping when she thought she saw a flash of blue light.
Hermione looked up at her daughter, watching her as she leaned forward, squinting out the window. "Sweetie, are you alright," she asked, standing next to her to look out the window herself.
Rose nodded slowly, blinking several times, "I just thought I saw… never mind." Hermione saw the well known fear Rose was trying to hide.
"You're safe here, darling. No one can get in," Hermione said soothingly, and they both knew she was talking about him.
Late that night, everyone was settled down, full from delicious desserts and pleased from good conversation. Whitney and Mariah laid passed out on their grandfather Bill's lap, chocolate still covering their faces. Most of the men were joined in on a massive controversial discussion on Quidditch, shouts erupting every now and then.
Rose sat in a comfy chair in the far corner of the room, hiding from all conversation. She was curled up, her mind far off in the novel she held, a tiny smile in place. Molly, who bounced from room to room, never settling from making sure her family was all happy, noticed the small girl. "Rosie you've been awfully quiet tonight," the older women observed.
A loud scoff was heard, stopping all discussions. "She is incapable of doing anything but shoving her nose up a book," Molly II said just barely loud enough for everyone to hear, quickly sending a nasty glare to her quiet cousin. Percy rebuked his daughter, but she simply rolled her eyes, returning to her conversation with Dominique.
Staring back down at her book, Rose felt her face heat up painfully, as eyes finally looked away. Waiting several moments to be sure no one was paying any attention to her, Rose silently slipped from the room. She sat in the empty kitchen, her book in her shaking hand, the rhythmic sound of the faucet dripping soothing her. Moments later her Uncle Charlie slipped into the room, sitting himself next to the girl without a word.
"Hey," he said when the silence became harsh. He bumped his shoulder with hers, causing her to finally look up at him. "Don't listen to her, she's a bitch." Rose looked at her uncle in outraged, but laughed when she saw his huge silly grin.
Biting her lip to keep herself from smiling, Rose said, "you shouldn't say that, someone could hear."
"Ah, but you don't disagree," Charlie was quick to tease, admiring his niece's ability to stay modest. "I got you something," he said, hushing her when he saw she was about to protest. "I was never able to congratulate you on becoming Head Girl." Pulling a wrapped bag out of his jacket pocket, the tough redhead smiled at Rose.
"You didn't have to," the sweet girl protest, but was thrilled when she opened the package. "Uncle Charlie," Rose exclaimed happily, observing all the different foreign chocolates stuffed into the bag.
"Your favorite, right," he asked, fully knowing the answer. Rose nodded, quickly standing and hugging her uncle, wishing she got to see more of him. The two sat there into the late hours of night; sharing various Romanian chocolates, laughing with each other until they could no longer breath.