Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in the Harry Potter series.
AN: Although the book came out tonight, I decided to hold off on diving into it so I could post this chapter for you. I doubt anyone's going to read the chapter right now since they'll be reading HBP, but enjoy! Please leave a review if you have some time. Thanks!
Chapter Nine
When Harry arrived home later that night, he found Ashlie sitting in the living room with no lights on, just the fire blazing away in the fireplace.
"Ash?" he asked, placing his broom in the closet. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," said Ashlie. Her voice was monotone.
"Did you talk to David?"
"Yep. Talked to him. He hates me."
"He doesn't hate you," Harry said, sitting down next to her. "He's just mad."
"Where did he get this damn temper from?" asked Ashlie. "If I wasn't so sure he's yours, I would have sworn he was a Malfoy."
Harry laughed. "I should hope not."
Draco Malfoy had been one of the meanest kids in school while they were at Hogwarts. He always seemed to have it in for Harry and his friends.
"He clearly doesn't want me to be a part of his life," said Ashlie.
"Ashlie, this was kind of a big shock for him."
"I know. I just didn't expect him to hate me so much."
"I'll talk to him," said Harry. "Why don't you go to bed?"
"That might be a good idea," Ashlie said, standing. "'Night Harry."
"Good night."
Ashlie headed up the stairs with Harry close behind her. When they got to the top, they went their separate ways.
The first thing the next morning, Harry and Ashlie loaded up the car Ashlie had rented with all of the twins' school things.
"We have to go and pick up Mari and then we'll be off to King's Cross," said Harry. He looked at Ashlie. "Are you sure you know how to drive this thing?"
"Of course I do," said Ashlie, starting the car. "I've been driving since I was eighteen."
They got to the house Fred, George, and their families were sharing in no time flat. Mari came running out of the house with Faye and Gina behind her. Another set of redheaded twins, this time boys, followed them out.
"Those are Fred's twins," Harry told Ashlie. "Greg and Frank."
"Are they anything like Fred and George?"
"Would you think anything else of them?"
"I guess not." Ashlie smiled.
"Mama!" Mari ran up to the driver's side of the car to Ashlie's lowered window. "Can we all drive to the train station together?"
"There's no room, sweetie," said Ashlie.
"We'll make room," Harry said, pulling his wand out.
An enlargement charm later and Ashlie, Mari, Harry, David, and a whole bunch of Weasleys were on their way to King's Cross.
"Are you sure you have everything?" Ashlie asked Mari, as they pushed their carts towards Platform 9 ¾.
"I'm sure," said Mari. "You already asked me three times since I got into the car."
"I'm just making sure you're sure," Ashlie said. "But if you did forget anything, send us an owl and we'll send it to you."
"We'll send it to you?" Mari asked, raising an eyebrow. "As in you and my dad?"
Mari still wasn't calling Harry just "Dad" yet. It was still "my dad." It was better than what David was calling Ashlie. Nothing. He barely acknowledged her presence.
"One of us will," said Ashlie. "If you forgot it in London your dad will send it to you. Otherwise I will."
"Okay, Mama," Mari said, smiling.
"Did your dad tell you how to get on the platform?" Mari shook her head. "You walk straight at the wall between platforms 9 and 10."
"WHAT? You want me to walk through a wall?"
"Just trust me," said Ashlie. "Watch your dad."
Mari turned just in time to see Harry walk towards the wall and disappear.
"You'll go with me?" she asked.
"Of course." Ashlie placed her hands on the handle of the cart next to her daughter's. "Ready?"
Mari nodded and they started towards the wall. Just before they reached it, Mari stopped. "Wait!"
"What's wrong?" asked Ashlie.
"I can't walk through walls," Mari said, "its not possible."
"How do you expect to go to Hogwarts when you can't even get on the platform?" David sniggered as he brushed past them and disappeared through the barrier.
"I really hate him, Mama," said Mari, staring at the space where David had disappeared.
"Just ignore him," Ashlie told her. "Come on. You have to get to the platform. Let's try again."
They backed up a little and started towards the barrier again. Ashlie saw Mari close her eyes tight as they approached closer and closer to the wall. A minute later, they were on Platform 9 ¾.
"I did it!" Mari grinned.
"Great job," said Harry, walking up to them. "Now let's get you on that train."
Mari and Ashlie looked at the large gleaming steam engine that loomed over them.
"Wow…" Mari said.
Ashlie remembered the first time she had seen the Hogwarts Express. It had seemed large and amazing then and after so many years, she got the same feeling again.
"Come on, Mari," Gina and Faye called, "Let's go find a compartment."
"Okay, coming," Mari called back. She turned towards her parents. "I'm going to go."
"Have fun," said Harry, tentatively giving her a hug, "Have a safe trip and a good school year."
"Thanks," Mari said, hugging him back. She then turned to her mother.
Ashlie felt tears well up in her eyes. This was her baby girl. And she was leaving her. She didn't think she'd have to go through this until Mari left for college. Ashlie threw her arms around Mari and held her close. "If you ever want to come home, just let me know," she whispered.
"I'll be fine, Mama," said Mari. "Don't worry."
After giving the girl a kiss on the cheek, Ashlie reluctantly let her go. She watched as Mari boarded the train with the Weasley girls and waved before disappearing into one of the compartments. David had already boarded after saying a quick goodbye to Ashlie and giving Harry a hug.
"She's going to be fine," Harry said, as Ashlie wiped tears from her eyes. "And she'll be back before you know it."
He reached over and gave Ashlie a hug. She turned and buried her face in his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of him. Then she pulled away and they watched the Hogwarts Express pull out of the station and grow smaller and smaller as it chugged away.