Gwendolen

It was strange. Even though I knew there was absolutely no chance of it happening as I stepped of the train I still hoped to see my parents standing there waving at me.

They weren't.

As I looked around the platform James took my hand in his. He knew exactly what I was thinking.

He lead me over to where his parents stood with Lily. I smiled at the girl. She was so lovely and reminded me so much of Ivy. I hoped that Ivy wouldn't be mad at me for being like a sister to Lily. Hopefully she wouldn't mind.

"It's lovely to see you again, Gwen." Mrs Potter said to me.

"It's nice to see you as well, Mrs Potter." I smiled in return.

"Oh there's no need for any of that Mrs Potter business." She said to me. "Please just call me Ginny."

"Likewise, call me Harry." Mr Potter, I mean Harry, said to me.

I just smiled and nodded at them. I could never imagine my parents ever having been this welcoming. They had been so closed off.

It wasn't long before I saw Rose, Albus and Milla walking towards us. That's when something clicked.

"James, what's Carter doing?" I asked him. "Where's he staying?"

"Al said that he's staying with Scorpius." James explained.

I let out a sigh of relief. I couldn't believe that I'd forgotten about Carter twice already in this whole mess. I was supposed to be the older one. I was supposed to be the one in control. Yet it seemed like Carter was that in this situation.

"Are Mum and Dad not coming?" Rose asked Harry and Ginny.

"They both got caught up at work." Ginny explained. "We're just going to drop James, Gwen and Albus' trunks at home before we floo over to the Burrow. Mum wants to see everyone."

Rose just nodded.

"Milla, Dudley said Aunt Petunia wasn't feeling very well so he had to go see her." Harry explained to Milla. "You'll be coming back with us and staying with Rose tonight."

I tried not to laugh as Milla also nodded. The Potters had expanded from their three kids to having three extra children with them.

One by one we were ushered into the floo and were told to go to Number 12 Grimmauld Place. When we got there we dumped all our trunks. I was told to put my trunk in Lily's room for now and we'd talk more later that night.

After that we were sent into the floo again and reappeared at the Burrow. Stepping out of the floo into the Burrow was strange. The house although looked older it still seemed rather homely.

I cast my eye the room I was now in. It appeared to be a kitchen although it was all so crazy that there was no way I could work out anything. As I stood looking around James arrived and walked up beside me.

"Don't worry, you'll get use to the crazy." He whispered in my ear.

I looked over at him. It was strange to hear him call something crazy considering how crazy he was himself.

At that moment an older woman with the same crazy Weasley red hair as both Molly and Ginny walked in. All the others who had been at the Potter's place were there as well and this older woman began fussing over everyone.

"Oh Harry, Ginny, James, Albus, Lily and Rose." She yelled running around and hugging all the people she knew.

Milla and I had stepped back to allow the family to greet one another. There was soft chatter coming from the group that was greeting one another.

As the older woman, who I now assumed must be Mrs Weasley, Ginny's mum and the grandmother of all the hundreds of Potter and Weasley children, made her rounds a boy who was Lily's age and looked a little like Rose came in.

Eventually Mrs Weasley made her way over to where Milla and I were standing. She looked us over before smiling and pulling both of us into a hug.

"You must be Milla and Gwen." She said beaming at us. "I'm Molly Weasley, the first. It's lovely to meet you."

"You too." Milla said happily.

She had obviously wanted to be a part of this family for a while, since she had found out she was related to the Potters. I on the other hand was still a little in shock at the warm welcome I'd received. I hadn't expected it at all.

Before I had the chance to say anything Mrs Weasley bustled off and James came over to see what was going on.

"You alright?" He asked me.

"Yeah, it's just a bit strange." I explained.

"How do you mean?" He asked.

"I've never met my grandparents so I don't know what it's like." I told him. "And my family's so small. It's just strange to me."

"You should try to get use to it." James told me. "We spend a fair amount of time here. Gran really likes seeing us all."

I smiled at James before he lead me outside to where a giant table was being set up. There were a couple more Weasleys out here. I saw Victoire who I recognised from earlier years at Hogwarts. She was with Teddy Lupin who still stood with his instantly recognisable blue hair.

There was another older Weasley who I didn't recognise, probably one of James' many uncles and Mr Weasley, James' grandfather.

I watched Harry and Ginny make his way over to the two older men who were setting up a giant table. James dragged me over to where Teddy and Victoire were talking.

"Well, well, well, Gwendolen Smythe." Teddy said with a laugh upon seeing me. "Did James finally wear you down?"

"No, he'd like people to think that though." I responded.

"So what are you doing here then?" He asked me however his eyes were on James a confused expression on his face. "James stop waving your arms like a lunatic."

"James stop trying to protect me." I said turning around having realise what he was doing. "I'm fine now."

"I just don't want you to shut down again." James muttered.

Teddy and Victoire looked between us.

"My parents died." I explained. "I'm staying with the Potters now."

Neither of them said anything. We all stood in silence for a moment before I heard two people scream my name from behind me. I didn't have enough time to turn around before two body knocked me to the ground.

"Molly, Louis, you saw me less than an hour ago." I groaned. "Get off me."

Molly and Louis got off and stood in front of me. Fred had come over and joined us as well. He send a smile around to everyone. Thankfully he was calm enough not to bull rush me. Wow, never thought I'd see the day where I thought Fred was calmer than Molly or Louis.

"Come meet all the aunts and uncles." Molly said as she grabbed one of my arms.

I looked over my shoulder at James who just smiled at me. I was here with him and his family. Not Molly. I shouldn't be dragged around to meet all of the family with her. I was living with the Potters.

"Calm down Gwen." She said to me noticing my panic. "Your eyes are white."

I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths in and out before opening them once again.

"And now you look human once again." Molly stated before dragging me over to her parents. "Mum, Dad, have you met my friend Gwen?"

"Nice to meet you Mr and Mrs Weasley." I said to the couple.

Honestly there were so many Mr and Mrs Weasley's here it was going to be impossible to talk to any of them.

"You too Gwen." Molly's mum said. "You should really be calling us all by our first names though. I'm Audrey and this is Percy. The only ones you call Mr and Mrs Weasley are Molly and Arthur."

I nodded at Audrey. It was nice that she was willing to help me differentiate between the many pairs of Weasleys.

"Gwen's living with Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny now." Molly said quickly after noticing her dad giving me a strange look.

"And why would that be?" Percy asked.

"My parents died about a month and a half ago." I explained quickly before Molly could say anything.

I found it easier if I told people now rather than someone else doing it. It just made more sense to me.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Percy said before turning back to Audrey.

Molly dragged me off.

"Sorry about Dad." She whispered once we'd walked off a little. "He can be a bit of a twat sometimes."

"Talking about my prat of an older brother are we?" Another one of the many Mr Weasley's said.

"Uncle George." Molly said smiling. "Yes, we were talking about Dad. This is Gwen. Gwen, this is Uncle George, Fred's dad."

"Nice to meet you George." I said with a smile.

"You too Gwen." George responded. "So you're the girl James is obsessed with?"

"He's kind of my stalker." I joked. "Well, he used to be anyway."

"And now?" George asked.

"Now I live with Potters." I said.

George was a little surprised. I don't think he'd expected that.

"My parents died." I said quickly not wanting him to think strangely of me. "Well you know about Molly's dad, bit of a twat as Molly puts it. Louis lives in France and I don't speak French. I'm not all that close with Fred and Parker's a muggleborn."

"Ah, I see." George said. "Well, you're always welcome with us if James annoys you too much."

"Thank you George." I said.

"Oh, you have to come meet Ange." George said as he began to walk off.

I looked at Molly who indicated that I should follow. I dashed off after George. We headed over to where a woman who looked almost exactly like Roxanne was sitting.

"Ange, this is that girl James is crazy about, Gwen." George said to his wife.

"Hello Gwen, nice to meet you." She said smiling at me. "I'm Angelina."

"Lovely to meet you Angelina." I smiled in response.

I was glad I didn't have to explain why I was here to Angelina as Molly dragged me off to meet more people. Oh fun.

"This is Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur." Molly said as we reached the next couple.

I could tell immediately that these were Louis' parents. Fleur had the same blonde hair as Louis did however most of Louis' other feature were an exact replica of his father's.

"Nice to meet you Bill, Fleur." I said. "I'm Louis' friend Gwen."

They both smiled politely at me.

"We were very sorry to hear about your loss." Bill said. "Louis owled us to ask if you could have Vic's room if Harry was too stubborn. It's always open if you need it."

"Thank you." I responded politely.

I was glad Louis was thinking of me. It was nice that even though he hadn't needed to, he had still contacted his parents.

Molly dragged me away from Bill and Fleur over to the final Weasley who had been helping Mr Weasley set up. He was now talking to Teddy and Victoire. Oh fun.

"Uncle Charlie." Molly called out and the man turned around and smiled at her.

The man, whose name I now knew was Charlie, excused himself from the conversation with Teddy and Victoire and walked over to where Molly and I were standing.

"Hey mini Mum." Charlie said to her.

"Uncle Charlie, this is Gwen." Molly introduced me. "Gwen, this is my Uncle Charlie."

"Nice to you meet you." I said with a smile.

I swear I have said that phrase alone nearly a hundred times today. It was getting rather exhausting. I honestly didn't want to meet anymore people.

After the craziness that was dinner with all the Weasleys, I found myself being lead back to the fireplace and back to the Potter's house.

Ginny told me I'd be sleeping in Lily's room so I followed the younger girl up to the room I'd placed my trunk in earlier. Lily walked into the room and flopped straight down on her bed. I lay down on the other one and found myself fall asleep almost at once.

Meeting loads of new people and then being in the presence of a large and energetic family was really rather exhausting.

I was in the car. We were driving along the road I knew so well. It was the way to Aunt Hazel and Uncle Harold's place. It was really the only place we ever went.

I was sitting my same seat as always in the back although Carter and Ivy weren't by my side. I looked out the window as we drove down the main street towards our destination.

I watched as we drove past my favourite café. The one on the corner before you turn off to go down their street. I smiled as I looked at the café as we entered the intersection.

Then I heard a loud horn. I screamed. I watched as the side of the car was pushing in.

"Mum, Dad." I screamed.

There was no response. I kept screaming hoping someone would hear me.

I felt someone shaking me. I could hear someone saying my name. When I opened my eyes I saw James standing over me his eyes rather wide.

I looked up at him tears forming in my eyes. He sat down on the side of my bed and I threw my arms around him and just cried. It was so real. I couldn't imagine having actually been there. James just held me as I cried.

"Come on." He said to me trying to help me up. "Let's leave Lily to sleep. You can tell me about in my room."

I saw him look at his parents who were standing in the doorway. Harry just nodded at James. I think he was agreeing to me staying in James room.

I watched as my stuff was moved from Lily's room into James'. We sat down on James bed and I continued to cry. I could hear muttering from his parents in the doorway but I didn't have the strength to listen.

Eventually I heard the door shut softly and I realised we were alone.

"Do you want to talk about it?" James asked me.

I shook my head. I couldn't talk about it. I didn't want to relive it.

The next thing I knew James was helping me up and over my bed which had also been brought into his room. I lay down and he moved to go back to his bed.

"No." I said grabbing hid wrist. "Please don't leave me alone."

"I'm right over there." He said motioning to his bed on the other side of the room.

"Please." I whispered.

I watched him look over at the door quickly before crawling into the bed beside me. As I snuggled closer to him I closed my eyes and fell into a peaceful, dreamless sleep. Who knew I would actually feel safe with James Potter?