Chapter Twenty-six
"I think I'm big enough to get my own food," grumbled Ron as he picked at the grass.
"Me too!" piped up Ginny.
Cherub just smiled at them. "It sure smells good," he said trying to keep them focused on happy things.
Before they could answer a soft dreamy voice interrupted. "Hello, can I sit with you?"
Cherub looked up at a small girl with light blonde hair and wide, soft gray eyes. "Sure, I'm Cherub, and this is Ron and Ginny," he said politely.
"Luna," she replied dreamily. "Did you enjoy casting the circle? I really liked it. The energy felt so nice, and I am hoping we attracted some glimmer-gnomes, they love earth magic, you know."
Ron snorted, "I've never heard of glimmer gnomes."
Luna looked at the boy carefully. "Well I am not really surprised by that."
"Oi," cried Ron indignantly as Ginny giggled. Before things could get ugly the adults showed up.
"Here you go, Ron, Ginny." Mrs. Weasley said kindly as she handed each of her children a plate.
"Here you are, Cherub," said Vincent. Cherub smiled as he took the plate. His eyes widened as he saw all of the food piled onto it. "I wasn't sure what you would like so I go you a bit of everything."
"Everything is so tiny," Cherub said as he looked at his plate.
Mrs. Weasley laughed. "Most people make finger foods for the Solstice – it is just easier to eat them." Cherub nodded in understanding.
"Cherub," Vincent said, "we are going to be just over there with some of the other adults if you need anything, okay."
"Okay," he said. Mudiwa walked towards them and bent down in front of Cherub holding two glasses in his large hand. Carefully, Cherub took a glass and looking inside found it contained lemonade. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Mudiwa replied.
Soon the rest of the Weasley children were sitting down along with Cedric and several other kids Cherub hadn't met yet. While Cherub ate he looked around seeing several other groups of adults and children talking happily. Members of the troupe were scattered about the different groups, however the kids and new teenagers were sitting together not mingling with the magical children. He hoped it was okay he was sitting with the Weasleys; turning back to his plate Cherub picked a crescent pastry. Biting into it he moaned as a savory mushroom filling hit his tongue. Opening his eyes he looked into the startled sky-blue eyes of Bill and blushed.
Bill smiled, "I have never before heard anyone hum when they eat, and my brothers certainly enjoy their food." Bill tilted his head to Ron and the twins stuffing food quickly into their mouths. Cherub wrinkled his nose at their bad manners.
"Have you tried the little quiches?" Charlie asked as he pointed to a small tart on Cherub's plate.
Cherub shook his head and picked up the quiche. It was light and fluffy; Cherub hummed again. Charlie smiled proudly. "Our mum made those and the chocolate chip biscuits."
"They're very good," Cherub said picking up another one. As he looked around his eyes got wide as he watched one of the twins tip some dark blue liquid into Percy's drink. The liquid turned dark and then went back to the pale yellow color. Bill and Charlie chuckled darkly as they watched the other twin pour some into Ron's drink too.
"Act normal or they'll catch on," Bill whispered. Cherub nodded and went back to eating, absently humming as he watched. Within a few minutes both Ron and Percy had taken several sips of their drinks and began turning blue. It was slow at first – just a light blue tinge to their coloring – then it became darker until they both were bright blue, even their hair. Percy and Ron looked at each other and snickered seeing that the twins had struck again, then looking down at their own hands, they screamed. Everyone else began to laugh. Soon Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were standing there scolding the twins on their behavior. Fred and George argued that it was only Percy and Ron, so it didn't count as pranking a person, this led to more shouting.
Cherub wasn't sure what to do. He didn't like all this shouting, it scared him. Setting his mostly empty plate down he pulled his legs up to his cheek and curled up, making himself as small as possible.
Bill, who had been happily watching his brothers get into trouble, turned as he felt Cherub moving beside him. Seeing the small boy curled up into a ball, Bill wrapped an arm around him and explained, "We are a loud family. Don't worry, everyone will be fine. The twins will have their pocket money taken away for a few weeks, and most likely their room searched for more pranks, but that is it; nothing bad will happen." Bill smiled as Cherub uncurled himself and leaned into his side.
Mrs. Weasley had seen her eldest comforting the small squib boy and instantly toned down her yelling. "Well, this is supposed to be a fun evening, so we will discuss this back at home. You two will empty your pockets right now. Do you know how to turn your brothers back to their proper color?"
Fred and George quickly emptied their pockets, they'd known this was coming so it wasn't a big deal. "It will go away in half an hour," Fred said.
"Yeah, no harm done, mum," George said as he turned his pockets out showing they were empty.
"No harm done – I'm BLUE!" shrieked Percy. Ron wanted to agree, but wound up laughing as Percy's face turned purple in his anger.
"Well now you will be back to normal soon. If you are all done eating why don't you join the other kids in whatever game they're playing," Mr. Weasley said cordially trying not to laugh at his blue sons. The others popped up and took off. Percy went a bit slower grumbling about horrid younger brothers. Ron sat where he was, sulking. Cherub felt bad for him and walked over.
"Are you coming? It looks like they are playing hide-n-seek, and I bet being blue will really help you hide," Cherub encouraged not wanting Ron to miss out on the fun.
Ron smiled looking at the dark sky around them. "I bet it will help, thanks, mate."
An hour later Freja called everyone over to sit around the large fire. "Today is the longest day of the year. A day to celebrate the sun and earth and all they have given us. It is a day to celebrate what we have created in our lives, and show gratitude for all the abundance in our lives. Placed around the fire you will find parchment and quills; please join us in writing down the good things that have come into your lives in the past year: the things you have accomplished, the things you have grown, and the gifts and blessings the sun and earth have given you. Once you are done, come up to the fire and toss your parchment in. You can add a prayer, thank a specific deity or simply let the parchment go." Freja's voice was joyous and encouraging and everyone went to get parchment and quills. When they sat back down they sat in small family groups, laughing and talking as they fondly remembered the past year. Cherub sought his family; finding Naveen he quickly walked over and reached for his hand.
Naveen smiled. "Everything okay? Do you want to write something down?"
Cherub looked up; Naveen's eyes glowed like amber in the firelight. "I don't know how to write."
"Oh, well that is not a problem, you can either tell me and I will write it down for you, or you can draw pictures," Naveen explained as he walked to a stack of parchment and quills. Once they got their supplies they moved back a bit and sat down.
"Where are the others?" Cherub asked looking around.
"They usually walk around and help people figure out what kinds of things to write down. They will all migrate back here in a few minutes. So what do you want to put down? Or do you want me to do mine first, so you can get an idea of what to do?"
"You first please."
"All right then," began Naveen, "I am grateful for all the abundance that has come into my life, material, spiritual, physical, and emotional. I have had good health, and seen many wonderful places. I am grateful and proud that Ria and I have decided to expand our family and we will be having a baby in December. Let's see… I have read ten pieces of 'classic literature' this year, I am rather proud of that. Does that give you some ideas?"
"I think so," Cherub said looking thoughtful. "Is it okay if the stuff I am grateful for has only happened in the past two weeks?" he asked shyly.
Naveen wrapped an arm around the young boy. "Yes, that is just fine. You being here with us is one of the things I am most grateful for." Cherub smiled and blushed then turned to his paper and began to draw. As he was drawing the others joined them and quickly went to writing their own papers.
"I think I am done," Cherub said cautiously not wanting to have done anything wrong.
"Will you show us?" Freja asked softly.
Cherub blushed, "Okay, I hope I didn't mess up."
Freja smiled, "There is no messing it up. It is a personal expression, Cherub, there are no rules. No right and wrong."
Cherub nodded and held up his parchment. "I drew a bowl, 'cause I am grateful for all of the yummy food." He began pointing at the pictures one at a time. "The seal is for Jacob, Jaimie, and Miriam. The tomato is for the trip to the farm. The bus is for traveling. The shirt is for all my new clothes. And the fire is 'cause that is the first time I saw all of you." Cherub finished twisting the hem of his shirt with his free hand.
"That is lovely," Ria sighed.
"Very well done," Mudiwa agreed. The others nodded their agreement.
"If I may make a suggestion?" Vincent said carefully. "I think it would be nice if you draw something to show how brave you were escaping the Dursleys and finding us. That took a lot of courage and you should be very proud of yourself."
Cherub blushed and looked at his parchment, and chewed on his bottom lip. "How do you think I should draw that?"
"When you think of being here with us what image… what picture comes to mind?" Vincent asked.
Cherub closed his eyes, a frown marring his forehead. A few minutes later Cherub opened his eyes and drew a big sun with rays spreading out in all directions. Looking up he saw Vincent smiling at him.
After everyone was finished they all gathered in a large group facing the fire and one by one people got up and told stories. They told stories of creation myths, of adventures, of classical heroes and magical animals. Cherub was once again sitting in the middle of the Weasley children. The first stories were funny, but the third was scary and Cherub crawled into Charlie's lap. Feeling foolish he looked up and saw Ron and Ginny in Bill's lap and the twins in between Bill and Charlie. Smiling, he snuggled into the older boy and listened to the story. Cherub gasped in awe along with Charlie at the next story of the firebird, and a Chinese dragon myth. A particularly long tale of Hercules found Cherub leaning against Charlie's shoulder, eyelids drooping. It wasn't long before the small boy had fallen completely asleep.
Charlie smiled down at Cherub and turned to Bill, who had Ron and Ginny asleep on him. The brothers shared a smile. At the end of the tale, there was a pause for people to use the loo, get something to drink and for younger children to get home to bed. The stories would continue in half an hour.
Mudiwa walked over to where Cherub was curled up on Charlie. "Thank you for taking such good care of him," Mudiwa said as he picked up the precious bundle.
"My pleasure," Charlie said politely. "I hope we will see him again."
"Oh yes, Cherub is a permanent addition to our clan," Mudiwa answered.
Mudiwa walked over to their tent and lay Cherub down in their bed. The next week they would collect furniture for Cherub's new room; until then they would keep Cherub with them. Mudiwa carefully removed the boy's shoes, socks, shorts and scarf, then tucked him in. Cherub's eyes fluttered open, "Wha'?"
"Shush, you fell asleep, I'm just tucking you in. Vincent and I will be back in a little while, okay."
"'kay," he mumbled and snuggled into the covers.