CHAPTER ELEVEN: Home

Annabel Malfoy's Pov:

I had travelled by floo powder numerous times before but this was one bumpy ride. Suddenly a grate flew past bearing the name 'The Burrow', I immediately lunged forward but flew into the next grate instead. I tumbled out of the fireplace and rolled to my feet in the crouch position. It was quite dark, even with the moonlight streaming in and all was quiet but then rushed movements above alerted me to someone hurrying around above. I jumped up and flung myself into a hallway and towards what seemed to be a front door. Ripping this open I fled into the front garden and jumped the small fence, hitting the ground running and pelting down the street. I kept up a constant pace and changed direction of my flight all the while trying to think ahead. I was headed for the Weasley's, I just had to hope that the magical house I had just flown into wasn't too far from their house. I suddenly scanned the shops that I was running past "Ottery St Catchpole Butchers", "Ottery St Catchpole Milk Bar", "Otter Catching Supplies", yep I was in the Burrow's neighbouring town. Relief rushed through me. It's what I'd dreamed of really. I should have asked Ginny if I could have stayed over the summer but I was too embarrassed, too proud. Now I had no choice. If my parents had found out that I was living at the Leaky Caldron, or run into me in Diagon Alley I would have been hurt either way, either by a new wave of rejection or by punishment for not returning home. No, for now it was better to run from danger, literally.

After continuing through the village for five or so minutes, I collapsed against the side of a building in a dimly lit street and welcomed the coolness the bricks offered to my searing body. My stomach gurgled in protest to its emptiness, as my chest heaved blissful night air unperturbed by exertion. I rolled my head to the side to cool my other cheek via the bricks and simultaneously opened my eyes to scan that end of the street.

"ARGH!", I yelped as I momentarily back up against the wall.

A tabby cat contently sat not but three metres from me in the middle of the street. I crouched down and cooed it to come over. It quickly rose to its feet and sauntered to the end of the street, then turned back to my dejected figure and meowed.

"I'm going to take that as a sign", I sarcastically narrated to myself.

I urged my tired feet on after the cat which was now galloping up another street. Eventually the tabby came to stop, perched on a low stone wall, on the edge of the village.

"Tired pus", I pant as I jog over to it.

Its ears twitched and its head turned upwards to a sign post and then out towards a path to the wooded. I surveyed the sign bearing 'Ottery St Catchpole', pointing to the village, and then scaned the woods.

"I suppose I take the road less travelled then pus", I joked to the tabby.

I momentarily froze when the tabby nodded in agreement. With a meow it pounced down and darted off back towards the village and was gone.

"Thanks", I offered to the retreating figure as a drop hit my arm. More drops continued to fall.

"Great!", I sarcastically whinged as I began to run down the dirt path.

My long hair clung to my back, through my thin shirt, as I silently thanked myself for finally being able to wear pants. Skirts and dresses never fared well in rain and storm, not that I was ever allowed outside in conditions such as these. I rounded a wind in the path and the last of my breath left me in a woosh. There in the storm and rain clad night stood a happily situated multi-storied leaning wooden house alight with little squares of golden light. The burrow. I was suddenly struck with a similar vision of the Gryffindor tower at night from the Hogwarts grounds. I began to shake in earnest. What if I wasn't welcome? I mean what had my family done to help theirs? Before I knew it I was at the foot of their stairs reaching out to knock on the weather beaten door. The door was cautiously opened a little and then flung open wide.

"What's this!", exclaimed a man's voice.

"A drowned rat by the looks of it dear", echoed a worried woman's voice. "Get her in, get her in", it continued.

I glanced up at both their concerned faces and registered that they were indeed Mr and Mrs Weasley.

"Hmm", started Mr Weasley as he led me to a chair, I wonder if it's, yes, Ginny's frie…".

"ANNA!", screamed Ginny as she raced down the stairs to my side. "You absolute idiot, why didn't you just ask to come and stay instead of…".

"Trying out for the swim team", snickered George from the nearby staircase.

"Ah George she just couldn't keep away, she's under our spell for sure", jeered Fred, leaning lazily over the banister.

"Boys!", yelled Mr Weasley.

"But Anna, where's all your stuff?", questioned Ginny.

"I had to vacate the Leaky Caldron unexpectedly, I, I left a note", I explained.

"You stayed at the Leaky Caldron!", chorused the twins.

"What do they put in the soup?", quickly questioned Fred.

"Why does Tom hav…", echoed George.

"Enough!", screamed Mrs Weasley. She turned to the twins and ordered, "Bed, now!". Then turned to Ginny and added in a softer tone, "Ginny dear, go make some space in your room so that I can add another bed in their in a minute".

"Yes Mummy!", she squealed as she gave me a glorious grin and flew up the stairs.

She then turned to Mr Weasley who turned to me, "See you in a minute Annabel". He retrieved his wand from his pocket and showed himself out.

"Now then", Mrs Weasley started as she lightly grabbed my shoulder and surveyed my face, "bit peaky".

"Mrs Weasley I'm sorry to intrude", I stumble with by brow a furrow. I had no case why she should even let me drip in her kitchen. I sniffed and brought my arms closer around my wet shirt.

"Dear you could never intrude", sternly objected Mrs Weasley as she waved her wand at me.

An odd sensation, like a dragon had quickly blown hot air directly at me, hit me as Mrs Weasley dried me off with her wand.

"No, Ginny's told us all about you of course, how you stuck by her even though, well even though that, that book was", stumble Mrs Weasley. She was clearly at a loss to express how He Who Must Not Be Named taking control of her only daughter had made her feel.

"Anyone would have succumbed to the power of that book Mrs Weasley and likewise Gin stuck by me when the school thought I was the heir", I added with a grin.

"Yes you would have been a favourite for the contention wouldn't you", she chuckled as she piled steaming mash potato onto my plate of sausages in front of me.

Just then Mr Weasley returned through the door with my trunk.

"Ah you're looking better already", smiled Mr Weasley.

"Yes we'll just have to see if she looks more recovered after the summer here", added Mrs Weasley with a gentle smile.

It was something in their eyes. I knew I was home.