August 30, 2026

Lucy paced around the kitchen table. She was not impressed. Dominique and Rose were obviously taking their sweet time just to annoy her. They could have been at the Burrow a half hour ago! Rose had been gone since who even knew when - had she even slept in her bed in the past week? and Dominique felt she had to finish all her potions before they went and so she was still up in her lab. Of all days to delay!

It was the family get-together and Lucy hadn't seen her parents in forever since her mum had gotten a transfer to Iran for the year. Lucy was always too busy with work and school to go properly visit. Perhaps her parents weren't even at the Burrow yet, but she wanted to get a move on things. She was ready!

Lucy had enchanted a letter and sent it up to Dominique to remind her that she needed to come down today. She sent it over half an hour ago and all the reply said was 'I'll be five minutes.' Obviously it had been more than five minutes!

Dominique's laboratory was on the roof of the apartment complex and because the staircase was directly outside their flat door, it was convenient for her to run up and down numerous times a day. There were super-sensory charms around the staircase that deterred anyone from going up, and the owner of the building 'conveniently' forgot he had a roof.

Dom had set up a well-ventilated potions house where she could brew without being disturbed. She also had built a small greenhouse beside it where she grew some of the more rare plants she needed. It was her sanctuary since she built it after Hogwarts when they all moved into the place. Dominique had been brewing like mad all week, trying to catch up in potions for relatives and friends before the school year started.

But Dominique was one thing. Lucy could understand why Dominique was running late. The thing was, she knew where Dom was and could go talk to her if need be. Rose on the other hand, well, it would not be wise to let Lucy get started on where the heck Rose was. She couldn't even say if Rose was in the country when she disappeared for hours at a time.

Lucy really didn't understand it. At all. When Rose first moved in, she seemed normal. She was reading textbooks like she enjoyed them, she spent a lot of time talking with Dominique, Lucy and Molly about everything – travels, Danny, what she did in the day – Rose was almost a different person now. Lucy didn't know how so much could change in a week. Lucy was hoping it was just some weird phase. . . and she would go back to being normal and carefree instead of quiet and secretive like she was now.

At first she thought Rose was trying to get a job, or doing something – perhaps illegal – to get money. But when Lucy asked if she needed money, Rose wouldn't take any; outright refused it actually! She said she was helping a friend find someone, yet when asked any other questions, they were deflected. She didn't think Rose would lie to her face, but Lucy wasn't dumb. Something else was going on.

She sighed loudly. What was taking them so long! She walked another lap around the kitchen table, and another. She even went to the loo and brushed her straight brown hair again. She did a few more laps. She had a glass of milk. She changed her shirt. She did everything she could possibly do standing up except wash the dishes, because she really wasn't in the mood for that. Lucy finally gave up waiting and walked to the couch. She stared at it for a moment, internally debating whether she should sit down or not.

She knew that the moment she sat down, she would have to get up right away. That was just how it was. She would relax, get comfy and somehow she would have to get right back up for something.

But she was so bored!

Eff it, sitting it is, she thought. She picked up the only magazine on the table and started flipping through it. She sunk comfortable into the cushions, letting herself relax for a moment.

She was just getting started on an article on zip-lining in Indonesia, when a letter fluttered in front of her face.

Luce, I'M SORRRRYYYYY! But I just finished. Come help carry down bottles.

Dom

Lucy growled. "Dominique Weasley!" She knew it, damn it; she knew she shouldn't have sat down.

After a moment of huffing to herself on the couch, she got up and left the apartment, pulled down the staircase and went to the roof.

Dominique's lab was a well ventilated wooden building. Shelves covered the walls and they were filled with all sorts of potions, ingredients, and supplies. Dominique had set up her work place so she could brew up to five potions at once and being Dominique, everything was of course quite clean and organized.

When Lucy entered she saw a flustered Dominique rummaging around with her head under a counter-top and her arse in the air.

"Dom!" Lucy called.

BANG. Dominique lifted her head and hit the underside of where she was working.

"Ouch! You could have knocked to warn me!" she exclaimed as she stood up and rubbed her head. "I dropped the stopper behind here and I can't find it. But I swear I'm done everything!"

Lucy rolled her eyes and stated, "use your wand dummy."

Dominique looked sheepishly at her. "Right. . . I was rushing and trying to finish the last potion and it completely slipped my mind." She turned around and grabbed her wand from the counter behind her before casting a spell to retrieve the stopper.

She turned to Lucy. "Okay, this box has our supplies in it, if you want to take it down. I was going to make Rose her own personal one since she's been injured a lot lately. . . but that can wait." She picked up another box off the floor and set it on top. "This is for Albus and Scorpius, this for Roxanne and Fred. Umm, Lily said she was good, none of the adults wanted any potions, Lovely Louis won't pay because he's cheap, James, Victoire. . . well they only wanted specific ones and those are all in this box. We can sort those when we get to the Burrow I guess. So! Start carrying things down."

Lucy raised her eyebrows. "Lovely Louis never wants potions from you because he knows you don't charge anyone else."

Dominique shrugged. "I had to live with him for seventeen years, I need some recompense!"

"You know Victoire always gives Louis some of hers."

"Well maybe Tory and Teddy won't be getting any potions this year then! Honestly, those two are too nice. And I'm surprised they can even find potions to give him, they usually lose everything they own."

Dominique stacked the boxes in Lucy's outstretched hands. "Give them a break Dom, they have four kids and both work part-time. Life is pretty insane for them."

"Tory's been that way her whole life. She was always the messy one! Now be careful walking down the steps, don't trip on anything!"

"I suppose," muttered Lucy as she walked to the stairs. "Hopefully Rose is here and we can finally go."

"She's still gone. . . ? What the heck is she up to? Did she tell you where she was going?"

"Not a clue Dom, not a clue."

There was no sign of Rose. Lucy resumed her pacing around the table after she set the boxes down. She refused to sit for the chance she would again have to immediately get up straightaway. Dominique scolded Lucy for not doing the dishes and then started washing them herself. At quarter to twelve, finally, the door opened and Rose came in rubbing her eyes and yawning. She pulled a black tuque off her head and her frizzy red hair seemed to spring up immediately and form a halo around her face as the loose pieces escaped from her ponytail. She pulled off her sandals and stood there for a moment, blinking rapidly.

"You're still wearing those god-awful clothes!" exclaimed Dominique.

"Where were you!" Lucy said, shushing Dominique.

Rose shrugged and avoided their gazes. She slunk to her room, declining to answer the questions. I'm protecting them, they can't know, she told herself. She didn't like it. She knew they didn't like it either.

She also knew what she was wearing was stupid, but she didn't know what else to wear while she was out looking for Canwood. She had spent the night out sitting in a tree outside a tavern and was in her 'night gear' as she was dubbing it. She was no longer able to wear the brown scarf from Lucy and so went thrift shopping to buy a cheap black tuque to cover up most of her hair.

Rose actually meant to be back a few hours ago so Lucy and Dom wouldn't be suspicious, but she had fallen asleep in the tree without realizing it. She had only woken up about an hour ago, even with the sun up and shining. Unfortunately she couldn't apparate from a tree; she found the position too awkward, and her back hurt something awful. She had tried waiting until there were no people around to climb down, but grew impatient when the streets didn't clear and so she tried to pretend it was something completely normal as she descended. Nobody really noticed. . .

"Just give me ten minutes," Rose called out to the kitchen from her room. She heard Lucy groan loudly.

When Rose returned, Lucy was still pacing around the table as Dominique tapped her fingers on the table.

Dominique stared at Rose critically. "Better, but still not great. You really need some different clothes, you've been wearing the same thing all week."

"Can we finally go?" Lucy exclaimed, shushing Dominique again when she turned around and saw Rose. She walked to the fireplace and picked up the can of Floo powder.

"I'm apparating," stated Rose.

"You're so difficult," cried Lucy as she walked to the door and opened it quickly. "Hurry up then, we've got six flights of stairs to walk down, an alley to walk to, and then a kilometre to walk because we can't apparate any closer to the Burrow." Lucy started walking down the hall and Dominqiue and Rose just heard her yell, "of course we can't take the easy way. That would be too easy!"

Dominique looked at Rose. "She's a tad grumpy in case you can't tell. I'll lock up behind you."

Rose took a deep breath, really wishing that today wasn't the day for the family get-together. She wasn't ready. . . but she had to suck it up; it was her family and even though she was tired, sore, and had a miserable week, she needed to go. She missed them.

The walk to the Burrow went quicker than normal because Lucy kept up a quick pace, forcing Dominique and Rose to keep up or get yelled at. There were clouds far off in the distance behind them and Dominique kept looking back at them.

"I really hope it doesn't rain," she murmured to Rose. Rose nodded absently, not really paying attention to Dominique. Her mind was suddenly caught up in some old memories. Walking in the long grass by her parent's home. . . her parent's voices on that day. . . it was summertime, right after Hogwarts, right when she was starting her new job -

Rose walked forwards towards the gold edged doors, trying to convince herself it was what she wanted. It was what people did after they graduated from Hogwarts, right? They went to work, or school. It was completely normal. Completely. Why was she dreading going into the building so much? Why was her heart beating fast and why did she feel like throwing up? This was important, this was the first day of the rest of her life. She desperately hoped she didn't screw it up.

Rose focused on the present.

"Freaking Stilettos, my feet hurt already. This is normal pace for you, but the two of you seem to always forget that my legs are shorter!"

Rose smiled. "Are you a little out of shape Dom?"

"Oh shut up!"

After they walked over the hill, the Burrow was in sight. Dominique didn't complain about her feet anymore and started picked up her pace in excitement.

"I haven't seen Nana and Granddad in forever!" Dominique was saying. "Or my parents! Are your parents going to be there Lucy?"

"Yes! Mum is back, finally."

She walked to the main desk and shyly told the lady her name. The fake smile immediately dropped from the lady's face and she seemed to almost glare at Rose. "Of course you're Rose Weasley." Rose stood there awkwardly as the lady gave her a once over and then sniffed the air pompously. "You're the one they practically gave the job to. I hope you enjoy your time here Poser, oops, I mean Rose. You can go to the glass doors at the end of the hallway; you will be instructed further there."

Oh the walk was so long. With a beating red face she walked to the end of the hallway. Why did everyone have glass offices? They all stared at her as she walked by. She could almost feel the derision rolling off all of their faces.

"Rose? Earth to Rose?"

"Oh sorry, I wasn't listening. What did you say?"

"Will your parents be there? And is Hugo going to be there?"

"I haven't talked to them in a while," Rose said shortly. "And I don't know about Hugo." She really had no clue, she wanted Hugo to be there because Hugo had this aura about him that was just happy and joyful and she loved him to bits. Last she heard though was that he was in Dublin doing an internship at a broom-making company. The last she had seen her parents was seriously four years ago. They had exchanged numerous letters, but Rose never told them she was in London and didn't go visit.

"How was your first day of work sweetie?" her mum asked as Rose walked in the door.

She avoided her mum's eye. "It was alright. . . kind of boring I guess."

"That's just because it was your first day. I'm sure it will get better though. Carrie is a wonderful Head of Department though, isn't she? I was talking to her last week and she seemed to think you'd fit right in with them all. It's a smaller department for the Ministry, but still important."

"Yeah. . . Carrie's nice I guess."

"You seem a little tired, why don't you eat a quick supper and then go to bed. Now that you've got a full time job, you've got to be up in the mornings and wide awake. I think you'll find you're going to start liking coffee. Sometimes mornings just seem to drag on and coffee will help."

"I don't think I'll ever like coffee mum. And I'm not hungry, I'm just going to go to bed."

Nobody was in sight the closer they got to the Burrow, but they heard dogs barking in the distance. All three girls looked at each other.

"Dogs. . . ? What the hell?" Dominique said. "Who would have gotten dogs?"

The barking was coming closer and closer and around the corner came a Siberian Huskie and an Irish Wolfhound; both were a dark brown.

"Holy hell, if they bite us. . ." Dominique said. Rose walked forwards though, kneeled to the ground and held out her palms. They came up and started sniffing and licking her.

"They're friendly you two, and just puppies. Look how small they are. Stay calm," Rose said, scratching behind their ears. She just wanted to hug them to her. They were so small, and forgiving. Entirely unselfish beings.

The days got worse and worse. She received hate notes on her desk, sometimes things would go missing from her cubicle, someone 'accidentally' spilled their hot soup on her one lunchtime. Nobody would talk to her. They all disliked her and she stopped bringing lunches so she wouldn't have to sit by herself in the lunchroom while they all talked among themselves, sometimes shooting barbed jokes at her. She hated it. She hated working. She hated the ministry. She hated being cooped inside the tiny cubicle, subject to meaningless and pointless work. She knew she wasn't wanted and she just wanted to get the hell out.

"You call that small. . ." said Lucy doubtfully, still standing. The husky came over to her and jumped up, placing his forepaws on her.

"Dog drool. Disgusting! Down dog, down!"

Rose whistled and the husky went back to her as Dom cracked up at Lucy's expression. "Hey you two. You two are real beauties aren't you."

"We've got the bloody dog whisperer over here. Never would have guessed. You don't think Fred and Rox have become animagi, do you?" asked Dominique.

"They have no time on their hands. They're off at training camps every second week. And I don't think the two of them have enough brainpower together to figure it out," replied Lucy.

Rose shot her a frown. Lucy sighed, "I still love them to bits and they are amazing Quidditch players but all I'm saying is that they don't particularly care about those sorts of things."

"That's not what you said!" Dominique pointed out with a smile.

"Whatever, it's what I meant. Can we make it to the house in this decade?"

"What do you mean you quit?" her mum asked her. "Carrie said you were doing wonderful, and that everyone looked up to you there!"

Rose shook her head. "Mum, it wasn't like that. I just. . . I just. . . the job. . . I need to leave. Carrie was barely there and I. . . " She trailed off. She didn't want her mum to know she was a failure at work and nobody liked her. She knew her mum wouldn't accept it.

"Rose, you were barely there for two weeks. What's wrong? Did someone say something to you? We can go talk to Carrie. . . Just tell me, please."

"No. . . everything's fine. I. . . I bought a boat ticket to France. And I'm leaving tomorrow. The ministry's not for me."

"France! What on Earth are you going to do in France! There are lots of other departments at the ministry, don't be irrational - we can try another department. There is honestly so many and they're prestigious careers!"

"Mum. No. I need to do something else. I'm not going to stay in England and try to be something I'm not. I can't do the ministry. I just need to figure things out. . . and so I'm leaving. There's honestly nothing you can say to me that will make me stay. I'm sorry. I'm going to go pack."

She could feel her mum's shocked stare follow her up the stairs.

Rose stood up. "Alright, let's. . . go to the Burrow."

The dogs trailed behind them as they finally reached the front step of the Burrow before they took off running around to the garden. Dominique and Lucy announced they were going to go around to the back because that was where everyone would be anyway. Rose felt this need, this sudden urge to go inside so she walked up the steps.

"Rose, Rose. . ." Rose woke sleepily and saw Hugo's freckled face in the doorway.

"Hugh, I'm tired. . ." she said. Hugo ignored her and sat cross-legged at the end of her bed. Rose blinked and stared at him through the darkness, slowly sitting up on her bed. "What?"

"Mum and Dad are arguing downstairs about you," he said.

Rose sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Why won't they give it a rest? What are they saying?"

"Mum doesn't want you to go at all. She's saying you're only seventeen, you've just graduated, you have no money and acting too quickly and not responsibly. Then Dad is telling her she can't hold you back and that they need to support you and all that."

"They care too much."

Hugo frowned at her. "They can't care too much. They're our parents."

"Yeah I know. . . I just wish. . . well, I don't know."

Hugo and Rose sat silently for a moment. Rose could just make out her parents voices from under her. Her dad's voice was rather calm, but her mum's, well it was certainly going off.

"How long do you think you'll be gone?" asked Hugo quietly.

"I don't know. . . longer than everyone thinks."

Hugo nodded. "Well, do you think you are going to go to Brazil at all?"

Rose looked at him curiously. "Brazil? Oh? That's really far away from here."

"I know you're going to end up on that side of the world, even if you say you aren't. But, if you go to Brazil, time it so I'm on summer holidays next year, or the year after I graduate. I want to go visit there."

"I'll try Hugh, I really will, but no promises. . . now you should go to bed. I'm tired."

Hugo crawled off her bed. "Alright, just be careful tomorrow. Mum's not going to let you go that easily, no matter what dad says to her. G'night Rose. Don't let the bed bugs bite!"

Rose laughed softly into her pillow at her brother as she laid back down. "I hope tomorrow turns out okay. . . goodnight Hugo."

Rose pushed the door open and peered inside. She was. . . she didn't. . . she really. . . All her emotions were conflicting. There were two faces she wanted to see more than anyone. . .

And then her Dad was standing before her. The smile that lit her dad's face was more than enough to send her barreling towards him. He opened his arms wide and Rose hugged him, squeezing so tight.

"I missed you little Rosie," he whispered in her ear. She squeezed tighter, burying her face in his shoulder. There was nothing more comforting than a father's hug.

"Your mum's upstairs. She'll want to see you too."

With amazing timing, Hermione descended the stairs. "Rose," she said breathlessly. Rose looked up at her mum. Hermione kissed her on the check. "I'm so glad you're here. You look so. . . tan."

"Hi mum," Rose said softly. The last time they were together they had had a huge argument. But none of that was evident on her mum's face. Her mum looked at her with a small smile and then enveloped her with a tight hug. Rose swallowed a few times to make sure she didn't start crying. As comforting as her dad's hug was, this just about made her cry. It had been too long. Way too long.

Her dad then reached his long arms around them both. "The only one missing is that rascal Hugo. We're glad you're here Rosie. Welcome home."

They stayed like that for a moment, together as a family. It had been four years since Rose had felt so much love and nothing felt better. She was able to forget all the bad for a moment and just enjoy being in the present.

Rose eventually made it outside and it was just another hug fest as everyone needed to come to her and talk to her of her travels.

"Craziest hairstyle you've seen?" asked Lily as she ran her fingers through Rose's hair. "Your hair is getting so long! And you really need a haircut, come visit the salon you crazy girl!"

The craziest hairstyle was perhaps a young woman sporting a three foot Mohawk that was coloured every colour of the rainbow, or it might have been on an old man with dreadlocks that were over ten feet long. Lily was awed.

Fred and Roxanne circled around her like hawks, inspecting her almost. "What's the craziest sport you did? Dad mentioned something about you climbing up mountains and jumping off with some crazy muggle contraption attached?"

"Of course we didn't believe him right away! We can't believe him half the time. . . But was it true?" asked Roxanne.

She told them it was true and that it was called hang gliding. That of course sparked about one hundred more questions.

Her Aunt Fleur had a sleeping granddaughter in her arms as she gave Rose a one-armed hug. "You look marvelous ma chérie, I 'ope you had a wonderful time. I wish to see pictures sometime, your uncle 'arry told me and Bill that you had excellent photos that Alboos showed him."

It seemed like Fleur wasn't the only one who had heard about some of the photos she took. Five of her relatives asked if she brought some with her, and when she said no, they asked to see them sometime.

Once in a while, a little girl would run by on all fours, grinding her teeth together and growling at everyone. Rose was informed that that was Nina, who was a sabre-toothed tiger today, and biting ankles - so she should watch out. However, nobody seemed too concerned about it.

Everyone seemed so happy to see her, her grandparents asking about her well-being, glad that she was on two feet in England again and not off in the wild galvanizing with wild animals and doing dangerous things. They gave her such a big hug, and she wrapped her arms around them, trying not to squeeze too hard. They seemed so small and so fragile.

Seeing everyone Rose was almost overwhelmed about how loud and talkative everyone was. It was almost non-stop interactions. She was reluctant to admit to herself but she missed them all dearly. Four years was a ridiculous amount of time to be gone. She honestly was surprised that no one was mentioning her long disappearance from family functions.

Wine was already flowing freely and Rose helped herself to a glass as she continued to walk around. Albus and Molly were bringing out some food they had been cooking all morning. "This is just snacks though," Albus told her. "The big meal is coming this afternoon. You'll be impressed at what we're whipping up!"

Even with an open invite, there were only a few faces floating around that she didn't recognise. The only family members she had surprisingly not seen were Hugo, Teddy, and James, who her dad told her went all went off mysteriously when Hugo showed up a few hours ago.

There were a few new additions to the family as well. Last time she had seen everyone, Teddy and Victoire had a small girl named Alexia. Alexia was now six with brown wavy hair and a boisterous attitude. The Lupin's had an addition of three more kids now; Nina, an almost identical copy of Alexia who was three, and then a set of almost two year old twins, Andromeda, who was called Andy and Léo.

Victoire had reclaimed her sleeping daughter as she talked with Rose.

"Andy was up all night, Teddy wasn't watching very closely and she got into the candy drawer. It was exhausting. Thank goodness she crashed now, she was getting intolerable."

Rose looked curiously at Andy and at her reddish-blonde hair that was a few inches long. "She's cute."

"She's a darling. Rose – Rose, watch out. Nina ! No biting!" Rose jumped when she felt some small teeth close around her ankle, she looked down and noticed a tiny brown haired girl gnashing her sharp teeth together. She grinned toothily at Rose and then galloped off on four limbs.

"Oh Merlin, that girl. I should run after her. . . but no. She hasn't drawn blood yet, it's all good."

Rose chuckled. "She looks like she's having fun!"

"Yeah, she can walk though, but somehow just prefers running around like that. She's convinced herself that she's a sabre-toothed tiger today. Yesterday it was a giraffe. I'd be more worried if she was fifteen and still biting ankles, but she's little and so why not let her have her fun."

They watched Nina run circles around Uncle Harry and Aunty Ginny who were warily looking at her before Ginny scooped her up to avoid the gnashing teeth.

"She's honestly adorable!"

Victoire shook her head smiling. "She's something alright."

"Are any of your kids metamorphagus's, like Teddy?" asked Rose.

"Well, Nina can change her eye colour from blue to brown but unfortunately that's about it. Andy, Léo, and Alexia haven't shown any signs. You should see Alexia though; she loves when Teddy does his changes. She squints her face up really hard and tries to change her appearance. Alas, she can't, though I'm sure if she keeps trying one day she might be able somehow figure it out!"

"She probably could. She'd have to practise intensely for a long time!"

"Well she can be pretty ambitious. Who knows though! Man Andy is getting heavy. I might lay her down on a bed inside while – Léo Remus Lupin what do you think you are doing!" Victoire yelled over Rose's shoulder at her son. "My kids are wild! Bloody hell! Okay, I have to get this one. Rose can you hold Andy for one moment! LÉO!"

She thrust Andy into Rose's hands as she ran off after Léo.

Rose froze.

She had a young child in her hands. Rose barely noticed Léo's white bum as he ran around on the grass just passed the drinks table. . . She was holding a sleeping girl! She was frozen with fear. What if Rose dropped Andy, or squeezed her too tight, or woke her up. . . She didn't know what to do! Was she supposed to hold her to her body, or keep her suspended, or hold her upright. . . ?

Luckily the weight was lifted from her arms by her Aunt Ginny. "Here we go, hello little Andy. All better now. How're you doing Rose? You looked a little uncomfortable there."

Rose ran her hands over her hair and took shaky breath. "Thanks. That was nerve-wracking. I just haven't been around many babies and held even less."

"It will come with time," Ginny said, as if it was completely obvious. "Victoire and Teddy are the only ones with kids so there aren't many chances. It's surprising; all you kids are now adults but no one else seems serious in settling down, or has a really serious boyfriend or girlfriend."

Rose gave a weak grin. It was true, nobody really seemed to be serious about marrying and settling down. James and Riley had been together since Hogwarts but they seemed to be about as far away from marrying and having kids as Rose was without a boyfriend. Lily was probably the closest, but nobody thought he would ask for a few more years since he was shy. Dominique and Fred had on and off again relationships. Louis was asexual. Molly just got a boyfriend and Rose was pretty sure nobody in the family knew about him. That was it.

Rose watched Victoire as she scooped up Léo's pants and tried to chase him down.

"The only person I know who can run with a two year old after having three children already. Where that girl gets her energy I'll never know!" remarked Ginny

"I have no clue. . ."

Ginny looked up at her. "I swear you get taller every year still. I still remember when you and Albus were in Hogwarts and it seemed to be overnight that you shot up so quickly. Hermione was talking about taking you to Mungo's because she thought you swallowed some Growth Potion."

"Ha! Oh, mother."

Ginny grinned when Rose rolled her eyes. "I think everyone's almost ready to go play Quidditch though. You didn't bring a broom right?"

"Ah, no I don't even know where my old one is. Probably at my parents."

"You can pull one from storage then; I must warn you though, they are getting on in their years! There's James, he was looking for you earlier!"

Rose turned and saw James striding purposely towards her. A conversation with James was one she wanted to avoid at all costs. She knew he was going to question her about the invisibility cloak. "Well gotta run Aunt Ginny! I'll talk to you later."

Rose took off, ducking behind Albus who was carrying a large casserole dish and raced inside. She ran up the stairs to the bathroom and locked herself in. Once she caught her breath she walked over to the window and looked down. James was still down there, good.

She smiled faintly as she looked down at her family. Louis and her dad were playing wizarding chess at one of the tables, Dominique and Lily were over by the drinks table, Lucy was talking with her dad, Victoire was kneeled on the ground and talking to Léo as he nodded solemnly at her, Albus, Molly, her grandmum, and someone she didn't know were carrying a few things outside and replacing food that was eaten.

She loved her family so much. Just watching them all, she felt a sense of peace and happiness.

She noticed Scorpius sitting at one of the tables with Alexia in front of him. When Scorpius raised a hand, Alexia raised a hand, when he poked her nose, she poked his back, when he made moose antlers at her she copied him again. She was mimicking all his moves and Rose thought it was insanely cute as Alexia was laughing hysterically before she realised she was connecting cute with Scorpius. Not acceptable.

And she never would have guessed he was good with children.

Rose really couldn't stay in the bathroom forever, even though she was sure she could watch her family for hours. There was just something about the dynamic of them that was so real and true.

She walked down to the kitchen and Molly gave her a frantic look.

". . . Molly? Are you okay?"

"Someone needs to stun Al and stick him in a closet somewhere! He's being ridiculous right now and it's driving me insane. 'Molly you're cutting the potatoes too thick,' 'Molly you're using the wrong knife,' 'Molly, Molly, Molly,' like are you kidding me!"

"Molly take a breather. Just ignore him and do your own thing."

"That's what Avani said too. . . alright though. I'm almost done anyway, I want to play Quidditch and so your mum said she'd take a shift in the kitchen."

Molly's eyes sparkled and Rose caught Molly's drift. "Poor Al, that's going to kill him," said Rose.

"It would almost be worth skipping Quidditch to see."

"It would be. Who's Avani by the way?"

"Oh! Is she. . ." Molly peered around the corner. "Darn, I don't know where she went. But it was her and Albus that opened up the restaurant together. They are co-chefs and co-owners. I guess they went to school together and all that. She's pretty awesome actually!"

"Oh, I've never heard of her!"

"You'll meet her quick enough, but I better go check the potatoes! I'll see you on the pitch."

Rose walked outside. The clouds that were off in the distance were slowly rolling closer to the Burrow. Rose paused on the steps before she noticed her mum beckoning her over. She started walking toward her and was about halfway there when her head was wrenched back from her body.

"OUCH! WHAT THE FUCK!"

She heard her mum from somewhere ahead of her yell, "ROSE, language!" but her attention was entirely dominated by the voice emanating from behind her and the pain radiating from her skull.

"Hey Rose! Still haven't brushed your hair I see. It's so knotty!"

There was more pulling at her head and Rose grabbed her hair, trying to stem the pain. "HUGO-ARTHUR-WEASLEY let go of my fucking hair!"

"I can't get my fingers through your hair at all! Too many knots!" He tugged again and Rose grit her teeth together. Brothers.

"ROSE, watch your language! It's inappropriate!" her mum yelled again. Rose was pretty sure all the attention was centered on her and her brother.

"MUM, he's pulling my hair!"

"Ron, go deal with your kids," she heard her exasperated mother say to her dad.

"My kids! Rose, just pull his hair back and end it. I'm about to beat Louis, I need to concentrate."

"What? No you're not!" replied Louis, surprised.

"Hugo you bloody arse, let go," muttered Rose. She managed to twist herself around through the pain on her head and lunged towards him, grabbing a fistful of his hair and yanking. Instantly Hugo let go of her hair and his hands went to his own head where he tried to get Rose's hands away.

"OWWW! OKAY, okay! I'm sorry! Let go!"

Rose still held on tightly though. "Doesn't feel very nice, does it?"

"Noooo! It doesn't! I'm sorry!"

Rose let go of his hair and he took a step back, grinning at her while he rubbed his head. "Hey Rose, how's things?"

"Lovely, just lovely," she said as she rubbed her own head. She looked around and saw Dominique walking towards them.

"And we're how old again?" she asked.

"I would pull her hair for that comment," Hugo told Rose, "but Dom is rather scary."

"If you touch my hair Hugo. . ."

"Well I saw her when she was hungover," said Rose. "She's nothing in comparison, you would be fine."

Dominique wasn't impressed.

"Whatever. Hugo pull up your pants. Nobody wants to see what underwear you wore today."

Hugo opened his mouth wide at her, gasped, and jutted out a hip at her. "You're not my mum!"

Then about five voices came from the peripheries, "Hugo pull your pants up!"

He sniffed loudly and pulled his pants up to his bellybutton and tucked his shirt in. "Is this better?" he asked Dominique.

Before she could answer a purple-haired Teddy slung his arm around Hugo's shoulders. "You look hot, mate. It's way better."

Dominique rolled her eyes. "You're all ridiculous!"

"You loooooove us still though," Hugo said exposing his large teeth and turning in his lips to leer at her goofily.

Dominique couldn't help but smile at him. "Not when you make that face. You look like a gopher."

"Oh!" said Hugo as he threw his hands up in the air. "Hey Rose, there is a special lady and gent I want you to meet! I wonder where they went off to. . ." Hugo raised his hands to his mouth and whistled loudly. There were barks off in the distance and then two dogs came racing towards them from behind the treeline off in the distance

"Why am I not surprised those things belong to you?" Dominique said.

"We met them on our walk in. They're very friendly!" said Rose.

The two dogs came up and Hugo bent down to pet them. "This lovely lady is Kiely," Hugo said pointing to the husky. "And this one is Flynn." The other dog was wagging his tail intensely. Rose let them smell her hands again and they started licking them.

"Where do you keep them when you're up in Dublin? Aren't you rather busy most of the day?"

He shrugged. "Me and the lads all take turns, and some of the neighbours are helping out. We found these two half-starved on the doorstep about two months ago and so I adopted them!"

"Aren't you just a hero in shining armour?" laughed Dominique.

"Hey! Nothing wrong with that!"

"Look," said Teddy. All three followed his finger. Harry was off in the distance, waving his arms around with a broomstick in one hand.

"I think that means Quidditch time. Race you!" Hugo yelled to Teddy and they both took off sprinting, the dogs racing with them before the wolfhound Flynn knocked Hugo right off his feet. They tumbled to the ground together and Hugo scrambled back up while Teddy was clutching his stomach from laughing so hard. Hugo gave his dog a kiss on his nose and then took off again, sticking his tongue out at Teddy.

"Our family really is a nutcase," Dominique muttered.

Rose punched Dominique lightly in the shoulder. "I wouldn't change them for anyone else in the world. Now let's go before we get stuck with the Cleansweep 7's!"

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