Chapter 14

"So, how was your summer?" Asked Eliza as Fred pulled out of the driveway, Eliza didn't even know he could drive and she had no idea where the car came from, but right now she didn't really care.

"It hasn't started yet." Said Fred with a wink.

"Well it's been two weeks, how's business?"

"Booming, but I don't want to talk about it."

"Why not?"

"Because I want to talk about you."

"What about me?" Asked Eliza suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

"What is your favourite flower?" Fred asked with serious expression on his face, as if he had just asked Eliza if she had any contagious diseases.

"Umm… I haven't really thought about it, why?"

"I just thought it was something I should know, the amount of times I've visited you in the hospital wing and I've never bought you flowers! How is your back anyway?" Eliza smiled slightly, and laughed.

"If you were worried about my back you could have just asked, no need to be so sneaky." She replied.

"Well?"

"It's fine. So where is Professor Dumbledore taking Harry?"

"No idea, I thought best not to ask. How is Harry doing?"

"I'm not sure; he's not quite as dark as last summer but Sirius….he meant….Harry needed him."

"What about you?"

"I'm not sure, I always thought that Sirius…" Eliza trailed off trying to think how best to word how she felt, without sounding morbid.

"Sirius, what?"

"I don't know, I just always imagined that he…he wouldn't live through everything. Doesn't that sound horrible, forget I said it. How is everyone?" Eliza didn't want Fred to know that she spent nearly every night frantically thinking of the odds of everyone making it through the war. She didn't want Fred to know that she thought her chances were close to zero.

Fred looked strange but nevertheless let the Sirius matter drop and began a lengthy explanation about his various family members and how they were.

"Mom's going spare waiting to get you and Harry back, you better prepare for some serious spoiling and coddling."

"Harry might not appreciate it but it will probably do him good. Are you working this week?"

"Nope, I've booked the whole week off, it's about time we had a fun summer!" Eliza beamed at him.

"I really love you." She said looking at his face, he looked tired.

"I love you too, now come on…favourite flower, Miss Potter?"

"Are you having trouble sleeping? You look tired."

"Coming from you." Muttered Fred with a smirk on his face, seeing that Eliza didn't share his sense of humour he took one hand off the wheel and put his arm around her.

"I've done a bit of work with the Order, and I didn't sleep well last night."

"Why not?"

"I was too excited about seeing you again, weren't you?"

"Harry forgot to tell me; shouldn't you have two hands on the wheel?"

"It's charmed, don't worry. Now favourite flower?"

Eliza snuggled into his chest and thought carefully.

"Tulips." Fred kissed her lightly on the forehead and continued his questioning all the way to Devon (which took a remarkably short time).

"Last one." Said Fred as they pulled up to the Burrow.

"Go on then." Said Eliza stifling a yawn.

Fred put the handbrake on and turned to his girlfriend with a grin on his face.

"Favourite Weasley?" Eliza laughed.

"Oh that one's easy."

"Answer the question, Potter."

"Ron, of course!" Fred reacted faster that Eliza would have thought possible, he tickled her.

That was how Molly found them; she had heard the car and had put the kettle on before venturing out to greet them.

Molly smiled slightly and waited until the attack had subsided slightly before making her presence known, it was nice to hear them both laughing.

Eliza opened the door and climbed out still red in the face and smiling. She saw Mrs Weasley and ran over to her to give her a hug.

"Mrs Weasley! It's so great to be here."

"It's lovely to have you home dear, was the journey alright? You didn't go too fast did you dear?" She added looking over at Fred who also hugged his mother.

"Professor Dumbledore charmed the car mom, we were fine. Eliza hasn't eaten though."

"Come on inside both of you, the others have gone to bed but I've kept some soup back, Tonks is here too."

"Is Hermione here as well?" Eliza asked as they walked towards the house.

"Yes, didn't Harry tell you?"

"He didn't tell me anything, I didn't even know we were coming."

"Poor dear, such a shock." Muttered Mrs Weasley distractedly as she pushed the door open.

Tonks was sat at the table looking like she was trying to make herself appear more cheerful than she was.

"Wotcher Eliza, Fred." She said brightly without getting up to hug them, Eliza threw a worried look to Mrs Weasley who shook her head slightly. Eliza sat down next to Tonks and accepted the soup that Mrs Weasley passed to her. It was heavenly.

"So, how was your summer?" Asked Tonks with a transparent attempt at normal conversation.

"It was ok, how are you?" Asked Eliza blowing on the soup.

"Busy, Molly I better head off thanks for the soup." Without another word Tonks got up and left.

"Is she ok?" Asked Fred looking at the door that Tonks had just walked out from.

"She's having a rough time, with Sirius and work. The Aurors are bearing the brunt, she's forever on call. Eliza, have you heard from Remus at all?"

"No." Said Eliza slightly surprised by the sudden shift in topic. "Why, has something happened?" Eliza didn't rank Remus' chances of survival much above her own. She tried to push away the thoughts but they were never gone for long.

"No dear, don't worry yourself it's something of nothing. Now I've put you in Percy's old room because his bedroom is closest to ours so I'll know if you're having nightmares." Eliza blushed.

"There's really no…"

"Fred, have you got work in the morning?" Mrs Weasley asked, ignoring Eliza's weak attempt at trying to stop the maternal woman worrying about her.

"No, George is managing things this week; I'm taking Eliza on a picnic in the orchard."

Mrs Weasley stopped in the process of folding one of Ron's jumpers and looked at her son with surprise and a well hidden pride.

"That's a nice idea; I'll make you a basket…"

"No need I've already done it, I'll pick it up from the flat in the morning. You do want to go for a picnic, don't you?" Asked Fred turning to Eliza with a look of sudden doubt on his face.

"Of course I do!" Said Eliza with a slight laugh.

"Right well then, I'll make sure your father checks the wards before you leave, now up to bed both of you. Fred, I've changed the sheets and aired out your room but it still smells in there."

"I like that smell, it smells like home!" Said Fred indignantly.

"It most certainly does not, it smells like gunpowder!"

"Exactly!" Fred just managed to miss a well-aimed clip around the ear.