CHAPTER 9

Enola had stayed in her armchair, unmoved, with her cats sleeping on the rug as the children found out that their uncles were dead. After some crying and lots of hugging, Ginny had been the first to notice Enola still there. Ginny smiled at the older girl's curled up figure and like any child, asked the question that others wouldn't.

"Mum, are we keeping her?" she asked, excitedly bouncing up and down. She had always wanted an older sister and naïvely thought Enola would make a perfect one.

Molly and Arthur laughed lightly at Ginny's enthusiastic question and the confused expression on Ron's face. Albus smiled and answered for the couple (whom were unable to stop giggling).

"Afraid not, Miss Weasley. She's my daughter now. But I'll make sure that she visits from time to time."

This reply caused many reactions from the children.

Ginny, needless to say, was excited. Another girl around the house! She thought of all the possibilities as she was shooed earlier than the rest to bed. As she climbed the stairs with boundless energy, she was suddenly struck with a worry. What if Enola didn't like her? Ginny shook her head though and dismissed the thought. Enola had not shown any dislike for Ginny at dinner. In fact, she was quite kind to her. Forgetting the idea completely, she fell asleep thinking about how she'd teach Enola quidditch and how they could throw gnomes together.

Fred and George, though not admitting it, liked the sound of that idea as well. They had surprisedly seen the quiet gleam of mischief and amusement in her eyes at dinner. They thought this as the perfect chance for an apprentice. She was small and hid herself well. She could be useful for executing wonderful pranks. She'd not only be useful but she seemed intelligent. George was happy that maybe another person would be assisting him with creating the plans, since Fred was more of the performer. Fred, of course, was thinking the same thing about George.

Charlie was a quiet, unsocial person. Usually strangers irritated him and had decided that he would not really like this new person around. However, this was before he had noticed Enola's presence didn't upset his hermit-likeness; in fact, it matched it in some aspects. He decided that maybe she'd be alright, much to his astonishment.

Ron, however, was horrified. He was already extremely awkward around girls but this girl was 4x worse. She was pretty, in her own way. The light way she laughed made Ron blush and her eyes were blue like his but looked nice on her and were a bit darker. He had no idea how to behave around her. This wasn't very perplexing since he has grown up surrounded by more male influences than female.

This, thankfully, changed as time went on. They were to be best friends, to be close as brother and sister.

After the children were sent to bed, Albus had opted to stay for the night. He did not wanting to wake Enola and having seen how healthy it was to have her convene with this family, decided that she would visit as promised.

"Albus?" Molly asked, pausing her knitting. The three adults were still in the living room, each doing their own thing.

He chuckled and looked up from his book. "You want to know more about Enola, I suppose. Ask away as you please."

Molly nodded, "I don't even know where to start though, Albus! She's an orphan, no doubt. She's so very small. I am looking forward to getting some meat on that bone! Make her healthy!"

"Yes. She is indeed an orphan. Well, was."

Arthur stopped his tinkering to ask, "Are you sure you can handle raising a child, Albus? Not that you couldn't. It's just- I find it difficult to see how you will manage with all you have to do.

Albus smiled understandingly. "I am adopting her, though yes, I'm not sure exactly how to go about it. Legally, she has no papers. She is of unknown descent but as you know, she has done accidental magic-"

"I have never in all my days seen or heard of the kind she has done though, Albus!"

Molly said suddenly, "When we made eye contact... Albus, I saw... no I felt her past pain. How she was abandoned, the years she spent alone. But then I saw when she got those cats. They are all the family she has. Can an underaged witch do that? On purpose?"

Albus got a twinkle in his eyes, "What are you suggesting, Molly?"

"Albus," Molly said, cautiously, "She has irregularly strong magic... She's not... not an ordinary witch, is she?"

"No. And I'm quite afraid she was not born to have an ordinary life either."

THE NEXT DAY

Enola woke to the smell of fresh bacon. She sat up and took in the surroundings again. She was still on the small arm chair next to a dying fire, covered with a thick blanket. Molly was in the kitchen, humming, unaware Enola had woken. Enola smiled as she debated on what to do. She decided to just go outside and enjoy some fresh air. She went to the loo, changed to her clothes to her spare (the same consistency but with a brown shirt), and carefully slipped out without detection.

The sun had been long up by this time. Enola loved how it felt after being cooped up for so long. The cool air after the night of rain entered her lungs and renewed her. She felt fresh, she felt almost like a normal 9-year-old. Enola ran. She stopped a long ways away and looked back. The odd house was completely in her view now.

How is that even possible? The structure is so funny and it's no wonder that the Weasley kids all looked healthily in shape. There must be at least a mile, no TWO miles, of stairs! They are all very kind and loving for a family that seems to have some financial problems. The hand-me-downs were obvious but understandable. I've never seen a family like them before. They're so happy with what they have. Others would have been embarrassed. I like them. The last idea awed Enola. She liked them. Enola didn't move much as she analyzed what she experienced. Her conclusion ended as that maybe, just maybe, she was wrong about all people. Albus had been her first clue. Her distant thoughts were interrupted by some loud yelling inside.

"BREAKFAST TIME! GET DOWN HERE!"

Molly's voice. Enola giggled as she entered the house. The red heads were so busy eating and arguing that they hardly noticed Enola enter the house. Her hair was back to its more natural state; wavy, full, and a bit wild. Her glasses were at the very edge of nose, tilting dangerously. She was smiling fully, never feeling so happy with this many people around. Her eyes showed this happiness, lighting them up from their dark hues.

This change didn't go unnoticed.

Albus smiled gently as he watched Enola sit herself down. He watched as Molly fussed over her, fixing her glasses, filling a large plate (way too much for Enola), yelling at Ron for speaking with his mouth full. He noted this all down in his memory. For one of the first times in Albus' life he was to care for a child as his own. He was frightened slightly with the idea, remembering his family life growing up. Truthfully, he had considered leaving Enola with Molly and paying for her. But that evaporated as Enola smiled at him from the table. Her glasses were once again crooked, eyes lit up.

Albus decided that maybe it was time for him to not be completely alone.

Author's note

Thanks to all the new followers, favorites and reviews! Sorry for the long wait a few chapters back. Family was everywhere! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, it's slightly longer than usual so I hope I wasn't mumbling on. I tend to do that sometimes. Thanks again!

MickieD2468

oh and PS Happy Holidays and I hope that you guys have a great day :D