This bonus chapter is written for the Writing School portion of the IWSC! The following info is for judging purposes. Happy reading :)

School: Beauxbatons

Year: 5

Technique: Clarity in Writing (Group Scenes)

Word Count: 988

Chapter Summary: Josephine and Charlie have been dating for a few months now, and it's time for her to meet his family. She's nervous because not only does he have a huge family, but he cares for them deeply. Charlie brings her to The Burrow for a Sunday dinner, and she's welcomed with open arms.

.: Meet the Weasleys :.

Josephine ran a hand down the front of her floral-print dress for what felt like the hundredth time, and her breath stuttered in her chest. Her boyfriend, Charlie, stood next to her, his palm a steady weight on her back. Though they'd arrived outside his family home a full five minutes ago, he didn't rush her to enter.

Meeting the parents was a big deal in a relationship — not that she knew from experience — and Jo's hands were sweating at the prospect of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. She really wanted Charlie's family to like her because she knew how important they were to him. Charlie had assured her his family would treat her no different because of her Squib status, and she trusted his word, but warm welcomes from wizarding families wasn't what she considered "normal."

She took a final deep breath, shook out her tense shoulders, and gripped the bouquet of flowers tighter in her fist.

"Ready?" Charlie asked.

At her nod, he pushed open the door, and they stepped into The Burrow. Jo had all of five seconds to take in the home — the strange grandfather clock on the far wall, the mismatched furniture in a semicircle around a low coffee table, and the amazing smell of roasted ham — before the noise threatened to overwhelm her as every person in the room called out a greeting without even looking at who'd entered.

There were a lot of people scattered across the furniture. She knew everyone's names because of both the post-war Daily Prophets and Charlie's stories. There was George, with his missing ear; Percy, with his horn-rimmed glasses; Bill, with his facial scars; Fleur Delacour, whose long legs were draped over her husband's lap; Ron, whose pale arm was around the shoulders of a pretty dark-skinned woman — Oh my gosh, Hermione Granger; and Harry Potter, who spoke to a vivacious red-haired woman — definitely Ginny. Harry also held an adorably chubby baby named Victoire.

Jo beamed. She'd remembered all their names, but before she could greet any of them, a plump woman with a kind face and a wide smile rushed towards her and Charlie, wiping her hands on her apron as she moved. This woman's red hair was streaked with grey, but her face boasted only a few wrinkles around her sparkling eyes. Molly Weasley couldn't have looked more like a mother if she'd had a sign around her neck.

"There you are!" Mrs. Weasley greeted, cupping Charlie's face in her hands and looking him over. "Have you gotten taller?"

"I don't think so, Mum." Charlie grinned, and his mother dropped her hands. "This is Josephine."

"Ah, yes!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, turning to Jo. "The successful potioneer from Romania! It's lovely to meet you, dear. Arthur and I were so excited when Charlie said he was bringing you home!"

"It's so nice to finally meet y—" Jo was interrupted by a screech that only a baby could achieve, and she turned in time to see Harry's wince and subsequent befuddled expression.

Ginny pulled little Victoire into her arms with a cooing noise, but the infant's cries didn't subside. What happened next truly perplexed Jo, but it must be something that came with having a big family. Victoire was passed down the line of people like a hot potato — screaming the entire way — until she reached her mother and subsided to a quiet blubbering.

"Non…don't cry, ma chérie," Fleur implored as she cradled her sniffling daughter to her chest. Victoire snatched a handful of Fleur's beautiful blonde hair and started gnawing on it.

"Children!" Mrs. Weasley called, and though Jo didn't take her as a woman people regularly ignored, conversations continued. Jo looked between the matriarch and her brood, uneasy. Mrs. Weasley placed her hands on her ample hips and adopted a stern expression.

It took not a moment before Percy nudged Ron with his elbow, and people were clearing their throats. In seven seconds flat, the only noise in the room was Victoire's babbling and the dulcet tone of Fleur's soothing voice.

"Have any of you greeted our guest properly?" Mrs. Weasley asked pointedly. Jo blushed when all eyes landed on her.

"Holy shit, Charlie-boy!" George enthused as he shoved out of the armchair and stumbled over the corner of the area rug. "You brought home a girl!"

"Language, Georgie," Mrs. Weasley scolded, but her tone was fond.

"How come we've never met one of your girlfriends before?" George demanded.

"I've been waiting for the right one." Charlie shrugged as if what he'd said meant nothing, meanwhile Jo's heart galloped in her chest. She looked up at Charlie and blushed happily.

"Hoo!" someone crowed — Ginny, apparently, as she lumbered to her feet with a wicked grin. "Charlie's a romantic! Who knew?"

Charlie slung a proprietary arm around Jo's shoulders and said simply, "Everyone, this is my girlfriend, Jo."

"It's wonderful to meet you, Jo," Bill called from the couch. His hand shifted up his wife's calf. "I'm Bill."

"I know," she said. "Sorry — I mean, Charlie's told me about all of you. I'm happy to be here."

George stepped forward first, so she stuck her hand out to be shook, but George smiled and pulled her in for a hug instead, crushing the flowers between them. He dislodged Charlie's arm from her shoulders and lifted her clean off the floor. Then it was hugs all around — Victoire placed a drool-covered hand on Jo's cheek — and Jo had never been surrounded by so much love in her life.

As everyone filed into the dining room to take their seats for dinner, the only Weasley she hadn't yet met stepped out of the kitchen. Arthur Weasley was tall and skinny, and he slung a towel over his shoulder as he leaned against the doorjamb. He looked at her and smiled. "Welcome to the family, dear."

thanks for reading, i hope you enjoyed this little follow up! i was super excited to write this, but i didn't realize how hard it'd be to include everything in the confinements of the writing school's word count limit! i got sweaty while editing this bc of how much i had to shave down lol. i'd love to hear your thoughts, and thanks again for reading :))