Chapter 56: Family Reunion

Sorry about the really late update! Between my dance recital, and going on a vacation, I've been pretty busy! Hope you are all having a great summer! Thanks for reading!

"Brace yourself." Fred said seriously.

"For an overload of Fleur Delacour?" George sighed. I threw him a look.

"No, an overload of Mum." Fred said, opening the door to the Weasleys' home. "Knock knock."

I barely was able to take in my surroundings-a few balloons, a birthday cake for Harry- before I was knocked over by the force of Mrs. Weasley's hug.

"Ami, dear, it's so good to see you!" She squealed. Then she turned to Fred and George, "And you two! Haven't bothered to write or visit your poor mother in the past three months! Think now that you have jobs you can't come home for a bit? What have you been doing?"

"Oh I don't know. Running a rapidly growing business. Nothing important." George muttered.

Mrs. Weasley opened her mouth, but Fleur Delacour-who had recently got engaged to Bill Weasley-pushed past her. "Ami! Your 'air izn't pinned up!" She said as hugged me tightly.

"Er-I'm sorry?" I said. Ginny and Hermione appeared behind Fleur.

"'Ere. Look at my ring! Izn't it luvvely?" Fleur said happily, holding her hand out and showing off a beautiful, sparkling diamond.

Ginny made a gagging noise and Hermione rolled her eyes. I glared at the two of them pointedly. I knew neither of them liked Fleur, but I got along with her just fine.

Mrs. Weasley pulled all of us into the kitchen, where I wished Harry a happy birthday and helped myself to a slice of cake. Fred slid into the chair next to me and took my hand in his. The rest of the night was filled with fun and laughter and Harry getting a face full of cake-courtesy of George and Ginny.

The party came to a bit of a close when Fred stood up from his chair and said, "Well, congratulations on surviving another year, Harry. And Bill, congratulations on finding yourself a woman. But it's time for George and me to take off."

"What do you mean 'take off'?!" Mrs. Weasley screeched. "You just arrived!"

"Better leave while you still have all your limbs." I said quietly to Fred. He kissed my cheek, and he and George dashed out of the kitchen, followed by an angry Mrs. Weasley. I was to stay at the Burrow and go shopping at Diagon Alley with everyone else. As I watched the twins go, I was surprised to find that I was really depressed. I would see the twins soon, when we all visited the shop, but it was the first time in months of seeing each other every second of every day that we had been separated. It was like the beginning of what was to come this year while I was studying at Hogwarts without them. It was bad enough being without them for just a month last year.

But then again, maybe it would be nice to get away from them for a while. I was already starting to sound like a lonely, dependent little Chihuahua.

"I don't get how you can stand Phlegm for more than thirty seconds." Ginny said as she brushed her hair while sitting on top of her bed.

I threw my pillow at her. "It's not nice to call people names." I teased.

"It's also not nice to point out another girl's spilt ends." Ginny said, referring to when Fleur criticized her hair while she braided it.

"So Fleur can be a little blunt, but she's nice when you get to know her. And you are due for a little trim." I said.

She threw the pillow back at me.

"Well get used to it. She'll be your sister-in-law soon." I said.

"Not if Mum and I have anything to do with it." Ginny said darkly. Mrs. Weasley also didn't agree with the marriage of Bill and Fleur. She claimed that she thought they were rushing into things, but we all knew Fleur irritated her.

"Got some master plan, do you?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I'm working on it."

"Sure you are."

Walking through Diagon Alley left me with an ominous feeling. Several shops were boarded up and abandoned by the owners who feared Voldemort. Ollivander and Florean Fortescue had both already gone missing. There were also not as many people bustling through the streets, and those who were walked quickly with their heads down.

I wrapped my scarf tighter around my neck as the wind howled through the streets. It was the end of August, but today was an abnormally cold day. I gripped my bag of books with my bare, freezing hands as the Weasleys, Harry, Hermione, and I walked through Diagon Alley toward the shop.

The darkness of the line of empty shops was soon interrupted by the bright, colorful windows of Weasley Wizard Wheezes. One of our new slogans, 'U-NO-POO,' was right on display. I noticed Mrs. Weasley staring with narrowed eyes at the poster. It had never occurred to the twins and me that the sign would offend people. It was supposed to show a little humor about the war. Working in the shop had always made us feel separated from the dark situation around us, with all the color and laughter around us every day.

It seemed as if all of Diagon Alley was in our shop, as usual. A large crowd was rushing through the door ahead of us.

"Come on." I said to the Weasleys, and pushed through the crowd. I knew exactly how to weave past all the people and find the less crowded areas. When we were away from the crowd, I told the Weasleys to go ahead and explore while I looked for the twins.

I spotted Verity first. "Where are Fred and George?" I barked at her, for really no reason. But she, of course, just smiled her annoyingly bright smile.

"Oh, I last saw George at the counter-and I think Fred is in the back. Can I help you with anything?" She asked sweetly.

"No." I said without taking a second look at her, and dashing off to the counter.

George was there, and I said quickly to him as I walked by, "Your family is here. Go be nice."

I found Fred in the storage room. "Long time, no see." I said.

"It's only been a week, love." Fred said, raising an eyebrow at me. He put his arm around my waist, "Is the whole gang here?"

"Yup. We probably should go and make sure Ron hasn't broken anything."

"If you break it, you buy it." Fred muttered.

We spotted Hermione and Harry first. They were admiring the Peruvian Darkness Powder. I heard Hermione whisper, "This really is fantastic magic."

"Well, thank you very much, Hermione." I said, making her jump. I nodded toward the powder, "That one was my idea. But you should see the Wonder Witch products. Come on."

I grabbed her hand, and Harry and Fred followed. I heard them arguing about Harry paying for the products he picked out. Fred said he shouldn't pay, as he helped us get our start, and I completely agreed. But leave it to Golden Boy Harry to insist to pay.

Ginny and Mrs. Weasley were already admiring the Pygmy Puffs. Hermione's eyes lit up as well at the sight of the furry little creatures. We had had them magically altered for extra-special cuteness. But don't worry, no Puffs were harmed.

Hermione spotted the Love Potions quickly. "Oh?" She said as she picked one up. "How well do they work?"

"Extremely well, girls." Fred said from behind me. "We tested them on some street urchin outside. He's been following an old hag for the past few weeks."

When he saw Hermione's shocked expression, he added, "Only joking." Fred then whispered to Ginny, "It was a wrinkly old hag."

Ginny picked up the Love Potion bottle, but Fred snatched it up. "Oh no, little lady. We hear you are doing pretty well with the boys without this."

"Ah yes, are you or are you not dating a Dean Thomas?" George asked, appearing out of nowhere.

"Who told you that?" Ginny growled. Her eyes landed on me, and if looks could kill, I'd be dead. I shrugged my shoulders and gave her a sheepish grin.

The Weasley clan along with Harry and Hermione had soon purchased a good deal of goods and toys. Everyone hugged Fred and George and said their good-byes, but I stayed behind for a bit.

"Well this is it, then?" I asked the twins.

"Until Christmas." George said with a grin, but his eyes looked sad.

"Are you going to miss me?"

"Not as much as you'll miss our handsome faces." Fred said. I punched his shoulder lightly.

"But we do have a little going away gift for you, darling." George said, and with a last, sneaky look at Fred, they both walked off.

I sighed, and tapped my foot as I waited. In about ten minutes, Fred appeared alone, carrying a red box tied with a pink ribbon.

"Here you are, Miss Coy." Fred said, handing me the box dramatically.

I raised an eyebrow at him, "This is quite fancy." I lifted the lid slowly.

Inside the box was what looked like a bundle of fur. Mismatched fur. It was brown with tufts of white and spots of orange. I slowly took the bundle out of the box, and my eyes might those of a tiny kitten.

I let out a squeal and held the kitten closer. "What is this for?" I said, smiling widely.

"Just in case you get lonely at Hogwarts."

"This is too sweet!" I said, and looked at the kitten's tag. It read 'Scarlet.' I looked back up at Fred. "Was this George's idea?" I teased.

He shrugged his shoulders guiltily, and behind me, I heard a loud, 'SPLASH!'

I turned around, still holding Scarlet the kitten, and saw a pool of water and bits and pieces of a red balloon. The remains of a water balloon.

Fred looked up. "You missed! How could you possibly miss?" George was standing at the railing on the second floor, looking apologetic.

I laughed a little. "Just give up, Fred, love. You know it's never going to work."

With the kitten in one hand, I wrapped my other hand around Fred's neck and pulled him into a kiss.

A good-bye kiss.