Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, I would be busy writing book seven. I'm not busy right now.
A/N: --She doesn't know what to write here, so she looks around and whistle a little, pretends she's not here in front of the screen…--
To Halo of Darkness: Thanks for beta-reading my chapters.
Going Home
"Tell me that you'll come back in one piece," Rachel said, sobbing on Emeric's shoulder.
"What do you mean?" he asked her, amused.
Platform 9 ¾ was quickly emptying as students were taken home by their happy parents. Emeric and Rachel stood in a corner, holding each other tightly, feeling that if they would have let the other go, they would have died. All the other Weasleys, and a couple of Potters, were on the other side of the station, sitting on their own trunks with annoyed looks on their faces as they glanced furtively at the couple. Harry should have been the one that brought them home, but he was quite late.
"You know what I mean. You have to come back Hogwarts with all your limbs still attached to your body," she said.
Emeric smiled. "I will. I swear that I will."
Rachel released him and looked into his eyes with her own teary ones. "Why aren't you afraid of what awaits you?" she asked him. "I would be scared at the very idea of passing two weeks with your father."
Emeric sighed. "Because I know that my mother won't let anything bad happen to me," he said, even if he wasn't so sure. "And because I have no choice."
"I don't want to go home," said Rachel in a childish voice, while big tears escaped her eyes.
Emeric wiped away her tears. "You'll be fine. All you have to do is relax and rest a bit."
"I can't!" she protested. "How can I relax when I know that you are – you are-"
"I'm at my house. Think that, will you?" he asked reassuringly.
She looked at him with her chocolaty eyes. "Promise me that you'll write," she said.
"I promise that I'll write," he answered. "And you promise me that you'll rest."
She bit her lips. She wasn't sure that she could have rested with the thought of him confined in what she had always thought of as a cold manor with his crazy parents. He took her chin into his hand. "Promise me. For the baby's sake," he said seriously.
She freed herself from his hand and as she kissed him, he tasted her salty tears. He tried to push her away gently. "Promise me," he repeated breathlessly.
"I promise," she said, while a sob escaped her lips.
Emeric smiled. "Good."
"Mr. Malfoy, your carriage has arrived," a tall hooded man with a creepy voice announced to Emeric.
Rachel looked at him taken aback by the abrupt interruption and suddenly felt uneasy next to that man. Emeric glared at him. "We have not yet finished," he snapped.
"I don't care," said the man, making Emeric's trunk levitate in front of him. "Your father told me to bring you straight home and if you were with a girl, to interrupt every conversation you might have been in and force you to move if it was necessary."
"It'll be necessary," retorted Emeric. But Rachel placed a hand on his face and made him look at her. "No, it's okay," she said, trying to sound calm. "You better follow him." She lowered her voice as she said, "I don't like him."
"I know," said Emeric hastily. "I can't wait for January," he added, kissing her one more time.
"I can't either," she whispered.
"Mr. Malfoy, your father is waiting for you," said the man.
Emeric glared at him, then turned his attention towards Rachel for the last time. "Wait for my letters," he said hastily before he walked away, following the man.
Rachel stared at his figure disappearing into the pillar that led out of the platform and walked sulkily towards the little crowd of her cousins and brothers.
"Some show you gave us, Rachel," said Matthew teasingly.
Rachel glared at him for a moment, then burst into tears and collapsed on top of her trunks. Matthew looked terrified at her. He rushed to her side, but before he could speak, his sister pushed him away and sat down next to Rachel. "Come on, Rachel," Phoebe said, hugging her. "January is not so far away."
Rachel looked at her and wiped away some of her tears. "It's not that," she whispered. "It's more the fact that I'm not sure if I'll see him alive again."
Phoebe smiled. "Now, now. I think that you are overreacting, don't you? He's just going home, not to Azkaban."
Rachel nodded wearily. "I guess so."
At that moment they heard some quick steps from behind them, echoing since the platform was now deserted.
"Dad!" said Wyatt, throwing himself into Harry's arms.
Harry looked at them and smiled. "Sorry for the delay, guys. Last time I checked my watch, it wasn't so late. So did you have a good term?" he asked cheerfully, holding Wyatt.
Allyson glared at her father. "You are always late," she said. "Why for God's sake can't you simply arrive on time for once?"
Harry's smile became bigger. "I assume that your term has been stressful," he said teasingly.
Allyson rolled her eyes. "Just a little bit," she growled.
"I know, my fifth year was hell too," said Harry, remembering the great amount of homework he had been given. "How is our little mummy doing?" Harry asked, pushing his way through the Weasleys and reaching for Rachel.
Rachel looked at him with her eyes red.
"She's just said goodbye to Emeric," explained Malcolm knowingly.
"Oh, well, didn't you say goodbye to him this morning at school?" asked Harry, confused.
Rachel shook her head and sniffled. "No, he's going home for the holidays as well," she whispered.
Harry looked at her with his eyebrows raised. "He is really brave," he muttered.
"What?" asked Rachel alarmed. "Why?"
Harry cleared his throat. "Well, because Hermione told me that Draco Malfoy was not very happy with the fact that you are pregnant with Emeric's baby, and I would be rather careful of him when he's not satisfied with what he has."
Rachel jumped to her feet. "What do mean, Uncle Harry?" she asked, concerned. "He can harm Emeric? Can't you prevent that?"
Harry sighed. "I don't think that he'll harm Emeric in any way. He's quite different from his father. But I can't do anything, anyway. By the way, I swear that if he does something to his own son, we'll send him to Azkaban."
"Oh thanks a lot," muttered Rachel. "Nice comfort, vengeance."
"Better than nothing," said Matthew cheerfully, gaining reproachful glares from everybody.
"We better move," said Harry, breaking the awkward silence that had fallen after Matthew's statement. "The Ministry's car is right out here. Rachel, I'll take your trunk."
"I can drag it by myself, thanks, Uncle Harry," she said politely.
"No way, sorry," said Harry, taking her trunk.
"Dad, if you want, you can take mine," said Allyson.
"No, thanks," answered Harry, smiling. "This way."
The little crowd of students followed Harry through the barrier and exited into the station. The car, magically enchanted, was parked right in front of the station. They climbed into it as some Muggles looked at them strangely while the eleventh boy climbed inside the car.
"Where are we going first?" asked Daniel as he arranged himself between Wyatt and Allyson.
"Diagon Alley, obviously," said Harry, starting the car.
They reached the Leaky Cauldron and Phoebe, Matthew, Alexis, and Thomas got out of the car. "See you on Christmas day at the Burrow," said Alexis to all the people left in the car.
"Of course," said Harry. "And tell your parents that the Ministry wants some other Daydream Charms."
Thomas nodded, smiling, and they disappeared inside the Leaky Cauldron.
"Leonard, where do you want me to leave you?" asked Harry to the eldest of the Weasleys, looking at him through the rear view mirror.
"Near the Ministry is fine with me," he said politely. "Thank you, Uncle Harry."
"Sure," answered Harry, turning into a small street. "Here you are."
Leonard thanked Harry and walked towards his house, a small cottage right next to the phone box that acted as the entrance into the Ministry of Magic.
Harry drove until Ron and Hermione's house and Malcolm and Daniel got off as well. Hermione exited in the garden when she heard a car stopping in front of her house.
"Hi Harry," she greeted him, leaning on the car's door.
"Hi Hermione, I've brought you your little angels, are you happy?" he asked sarcastically.
"Of course," she answered as sarcastically as him. Then she looked at her daughter still sitting at the back of the car. "Are you sure that you are going to stay at your grandparents' house?" she asked Rachel gravely.
Rachel nodded. "I've already decided. I don't want to meet dad," she said stubbornly.
"You'll see him anyway, on Christmas day," said Daniel.
"Yes, but only for a day, not for two weeks," she snapped.
Daniel shrugged and walked into his house.
"See you on Christmas day then," said Hermione, her voice breaking.
Rachel nodded, trying to fight back tears. She couldn't spend all her holidays crying, after all.
"Bye, Hermione," Harry bid her farewell.
Hermione waved goodbye as the car left.
"You know, I still don't get how you can pretend that staying at the Burrow is better than staying at your house," said Allyson.
"My father won't be at the Burrow.," said Rachel impatiently.
"Yeah, but there will be our annoying cousins," said Allyson.
"Allyson, don't talk about your cousins like that! They aren't annoying," Harry scolded at her.
Allyson snorted. "Mum doesn't hide the fact that she can't stand Aunt Fleur. Why I have to pretend that they are so nice?"
"Your mother likes Aunt Fleur. It's just that they don't get along very well," stated Harry.
"And I don't get along very well with my cousins then," she retorted.
Harry sighed. "Okay, I got the point."
Luckily, they reached their house at that point and Harry was pleased to see that Ginny was already at home because he still had to bring the car back to the Ministry. "Okay, we are home. Everybody get out, please," he said, smiling.
"What?" asked Rachel taken aback. "I thought you were going to take me to the Burrow."
"Nope, you'll use Floo Powder to get there. We have already alerted Molly. She is waiting for you," he said, levitating all the trunks into the house. "Ginny, we are home," Harry announced, entering from the kitchen door.
"Don't walk into the kitchen," shouted Ginny from upstairs. "I've just washed the floor."
Harry looked at the wet floor and stepped back, but, unfortunately, he was too abrupt and Allyson was too close to him, so he tripped over his daughter and fell on the floor, dragging Allyson and Wyatt down with him.
Ginny appeared on the door with a frown on her face. "What are you doing?" she asked, looking at her husband who was currently trying to stand up, but he kept on sliding on the floor. "If I told you to pass from the kitchen, would you have entered into the living room?" she asked Harry sarcastically.
"No!" he protested. "You should have told me earlier."
"The floor is all wet. Can't you see where you place your feet?" snapped Ginny.
"I'm in a hurry. I have to take the car back to the Ministry," said Harry, finally on his feet.
Allyson and Wyatt looked at their parents and rolled their eyes. "Can we come in now?" asked Allyson.
Ginny smiled at her. "Of course, Allyson. After all, your father has already spoiled all my work," she said, glaring at Harry.
Allyson and Wyatt passed by Harry and walked towards their mother. Ginny hugged them and then she turned her attention to Rachel.
"Oh, Rachel, dear, come in, please," she said, gesturing for her to enter.
"Are you sure, Aunt Ginny? Maybe it's better if I pass from the living room," she said unsure.
"Oh, no, no, come in," said Ginny warmly.
Rachel stepped on the wet floor of the Potters' kitchen and walked towards her aunt. "Hi Auntie," she said, hugging Ginny.
"Hi, Rachel. Come on, Grandma Molly is waiting for you," she said, guiding her towards the fireplace.
"Ginny, I'll be right back. I just have to take the car back to the Ministry," said Harry from the kitchen. "Rachel, see you at Christmas."
"Thank you for the lift, Uncle Harry," said Rachel.
"Sure," he answered, walking out of the house.
"Aunt Ginny, when are Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur arriving to the Burrow?" she asked trying to sound casually.
"Tomorrow," said Ginny, rolling her eyes. "You don't have to worry, you still have a whole day before they start to get on your nerves."
"Thank you, Aunt," said Rachel.
"Yeah, well, I heard that they aren't going to stay for all the holidays, just some days after Christmas, then they all leave for a trip to Egypt," said Ginny matter-of-factly.
Rachel's face lightened up. "Really?" she asked.
"Yep," answered Ginny, trying not to sound too happy. She picked up a small pot and gave some Floo Powder to Rachel. "Rachel, will you tell Grandma Molly that I haven't found any fairy to decorate the Christmas tree?"
Rachel nodded as she stepped inside the fireplace. "See you on Christmas, Allyson," she said, smiling. "Bye, Wyatt."
They all waved goodbye and she disappeared into green flames. When she reached the Burrow, Molly Weasley was waiting for her, seated in the armchair. "Oh, Rachel, dear, how are you doing?" she asked, sitting up and hugging her granddaughter at once.
"I'm fine, Grandma," she said, hugging her back.
"Come on, dear, let's go to your room," she said, standing up.
"Which room will I sleep in?" she asked, following her grandmother up the stairs.
"Your father's room," she answered. "Arthur! Rachel is here. Will you bring her trunk upstairs, please?"
"Of course," answered Arthur from his bedroom.
"Can I sleep in Aunt Ginny's room?" she asked slowly. "She is a girl and I like it most."
"Sorry, Rachel, but your father's bedroom is the only one available. Fleur and Bill and all your cousins are going to have the other rooms."
"Why?" she protested.
"Because I knew that you were coming only a couple of weeks ago, but Bill told me that they would have stayed here for the holidays last year," said Molly sweetly. "Here you are," she added when they reached the last bedroom at the top.
Rachel looked at the orange room with all the Chudley Cannons posters still hanging on the wall. She sighed deeply and sat down on the bed. "Thanks a lot, Grandma."
"You are very welcome," answered Molly smiling. "I think that you are hungry. If you come downstairs, I'll prepare whatever you want for you."
"I'll be right there," Rachel promised.
Molly nodded and closed the door behind her back. Rachel heard her grandmother walking down the stairs. When her steps faded away, she lay on the bed, placed a hand on her stomach, and stared at the ceiling. Her only thoughts were about a blond haired boy that, she was sure, she was going to miss very badly for the next two weeks.