Willow woke up around seven o'clock that evening. She sat up, stretching her stiff legs. Her father was laying in the bed next to her, out like a light. Careful not to wake him, she tiptoed past his bed and shut the door noiselessly.
Willow found her way down the stairs and into the Weasley's living room. Molly, Arthur, and the twins were seated at the kitchen table adjacent to it, along with several other redheaded children that Willow had not seen yet.
"Willow!" Molly exclaimed. "Did you sleep alright?"
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley," Willow replied shyly. "Thank you very much."
"Oh, don't thank me, dear. You've been through a lot today."
"Come join us, Willow!" Arthur invited. "We were just talking about the new school year coming up!"
Willow accepted gratefully and joined the family. She took a seat between a girl and a boy similar in age.
"Hi!" the girl greeted cheerfully. "I'm Ginny!"
"I'm Ron," the boy next to her added awkwardly.
Willow laughed. "It's nice to meet you both."
"You hear that, Ronniekins?" Fred asked.
"It's 'nice to meet you'," George teased.
"Boys! Stop it!" Molly scolded.
Fred and George snickered from across the table while Ron reddened.
"Alright, where were we then...Ah, yes! Did you get all of your things at Diagon Alley yet, Willow?" Arthur inquired.
"I did just yesterday, actually."
"Ron still needs to get a few things from his list, so we may go some time this week," Arthur said.
"Can we all go?" Ginny burst out.
"Yes, Ginny, we always go as a family," Ron groaned.
"I thought Diagon Alley was quite lovely," Willow remarked. "Since I was so unaware of most magic, it was amazing to finally find out more about it. I even met Harry Potter in Flourish and Blotts."
Arthur did a double take. "The Harry Potter?"
"Bloody hell, how did you get that lucky?" Fred asked.
"Fred!" Molly snapped.
"Sorry Mum."
"I still don't understand quite who he is, and I'm afraid he doesn't know his own backstory, either," Willow admitted.
"You don't know the story?" Ron gasped, incredulous.
"Well, we can exchange stories later tonight," Mrs. Weasley said. "For now, would you mind telling Willow here a bit more about Hogwarts, Fred? George?"
"Gladly," the twins said in unison. Willow sensed mischief in their voices.
"For one thing, you better watch out for those prefects," Fred began.
"Yes, they can be dreadful at times," George agreed.
"I'm right here, you dimwits!" an older boy complained. "I'm Percy, by the way, and I'm going to be a prefect next year. You don't need to watch out for us, unlike these two. Us prefects are supposed to help you, and we keep grievances within our Houses so that the professors don't have to deal with every little problem students like Fred and George cause."
"Why do you always use us as an example?" George whined.
"That's because you two are always causing trouble!" Ginny interrupted.
"It can always brighten your day when you stir up a bit of fun," Fred said, winking at Willow. Mrs. Weasley gave him a death glare that made him slightly shrink away. "Anyway, on with the rest of the pointers and warnings about Hogwarts."
"Watch out for the moving staircases. You'll be late for class if you miss your interval."
"Don't let the portraits or ghosts distract you; George and I missed an entire Charms class chasing after Peeves once."
"There's such thing as ghosts?" Willow asked. "And how could portraits distract you?"
Fred and George smiled. "For a pureblood, you sure don't know much."
"What Freddy means is that ghosts are witches or wizards that decide to take that route of afterlife, and portraits contain live, moving images of people," George explained.
"Wow!" Willow breathed. "I have a lot of catching up to do."
"Don't fret; there's plenty of Muggleborns that will be catching up with you."
"What's a Muggleborn?"
"A witch or wizard born into a non-magical family," Ginny explained. "They don't know magic even exists until they get their Hogwarts letter."
"I guess I'm a little ahead, then."
"Does anyone care for a fire tonight?" Mr. Weasley asked, standing up.
"Me! Me! Me!" Ginny shouted.
"Come on outside, then!"
Willow followed as everyone filed out the front door and headed into the backyard, where an enormous firepit surrounded by a circle of stone waited patiently. The late afternoon light reflected onto the small patch of woods nearby, bathing the treetops in soft, warm colors.
"Everyone needs to gather some logs. Can you do that for me?" Arthur asked.
"Sure!" Willow said.
"Why can't we use magic?" Fred and George groaned.
"Because it's illegal! End of story! Now, go on and find some logs!"
Willow followed the children as they headed into the woods, sticking with Ginny as they began splitting up. The girls found some fairly decent wood rather quickly.
"Are you a first year, Ginny?" Willow questioned.
"No, but next year I will be," she replied, bending over to pick up a log.
"Wait, that log is wet," Willow warned.
"What?"
"I mean, it's easier to burn wood that's dry, that's all," Willow explained quietly, looking at her feet. She cursed internally at herself. She needed to work on keeping her extensive knowledge to herself. Thankfully, Ginny didn't mind.
"Oh, thank you!" Ginny said. She picked up a different log. "Is this one good?"
"I think so!" Willow replied, picking up one of her own.
"So, why have I never seen you before?" Ginny started as they began trekking back to the Burrow. "Our parents seem to know each other pretty well."
"My dad is never home, but he works at the Ministry, so I'm guessing he works closely with your father?"
"I think he's mentioned working on projects with a certain Carlos before."
"Well, my dad never really bothered to explain what magic was to me, or took the time to tell me what a wonderful world there was of it."
"Do you not get along very well with him?"
"Oh, no!" Willow chuckled. "I love my dad. It's not his fault that he's so overworked and gone all the time. He constantly wishes that he could stay home with me instead. But sometimes I do wonder if it would have killed him to tell me something."
"Parents have their reasons for withholding things from their children. It happens all the time to me."
"I suppose that's true."
"What about your mum? Does she live with you?"
Willow closed down for a second, glancing over her shoulder in embarrassment. "My parents split up two years ago. She's not exactly much of a mother figure to me anymore."
"Oh, Willow, I'm so sorry," Ginny apologized, her cheeks flooding with scarlet. "I didn't mean...I didn't mean to- "
"It's fine, Ginny," Willow cut in, smiling sadly. "You couldn't have known, and I'm sure it's hard to imagine when you live in such a happy family. I'm mostly over it."
"That's good."
"So...what do witches and wizards do for fun?"
"Well, there's this wonderful game called Quidditch that I'll have to explain to you later, but other than that there's several magical games. Wizard's chess is fairly popular among those who are smart enough for it. When I was a kid, we would play hide-and-jinx, which is like Muggle's hide-and-seek with jinxing the person you find instead of making them the next person it."
"Those all sound right up my alley."
"What about you? What do Muggles do for fun, other than hide-and-seek?"
"All kinds of things! There's sports, board games, video games, music, dancing, and a lot more that would take me forever to remember."
"Wow! I didn't know that Muggles came up with so much. They must really like their entertainment. I suppose their life would be quite boring without out magic, though, so it kind of makes sense."
"That does, actually, now that I think about it."
"What exactly are sports?" Ginny asked, changing the subject. "I've heard they're like the Muggle equivalent of Quidditch."
"Sort of. A few examples are hockey, baseball, soccer, and basketball. All of them are variations of games that use a ball, but with different objectives, rules, and other factors. I'll have to teach you how to play soccer- that's my favorite one."
"They sound so interesting!"
"It really is quite fun to watch. I'm going to have a hard time not playing for my soccer club anymore. Maybe I can find time and space to play on the Hogwarts ground when I'm there during the school year."
"Why?"
"I've played soccer my whole life! I don't remember a day that's gone by where I haven't at least watched a soccer game on TV. It's basically my life, other than music and school."
"Maybe we should make a trade: I take you to a Quidditch game, you take me to a soccer game. Deal?"
"Deal!"
Willow and Ginny arrived back at the Burrow by this point. The three boys had already returned, throwing their logs into the firepit, and they learned that Percy had decided to hole himself up in his room for the night. It didn't matter that much to Willow. Percy seemed nice enough, but she thought he was kind of fake. Ginny and she threw theirs logs in, then stepped back and watched as Mr. Weasley set them on fire with a flick of his wand.
"Dad, I thought you were trying to start fires the Muggle way!" Ron scolded.
"I've tried, son, and creating it without magic is impossible! I just don't understand how they do it!"
"Willow probably knows how!" Ginny blurted out.
"I do?" Willow whispered to herself.
"Another time, Ginny." Arthur waved her exclamation away and sat down near the edge of the pit, tending to the flames with a large stick.
The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon at this point. Willow showed Ginny how to make shadow-puppets that spanned the entire side of the Burrow. Fred and George inevitably joined in, and it became an all-out war for who had the biggest and baddest creature. Ron simply watched, his cheeks ruddy from laughter. Willow went down in flames when Fred crushed her lion with an enormous dragon. The fun ended when the sun went all the way down, covering the landscape in darkness. It was about that time that Carlos and Molly made an appearance.
"Good evening, Carlos!" Arthur greeted.
"Hello, Arthur. Wonderful fire you've got going tonight!"
Everyone found a comfortable spot and placed themselves in a ring around the fire, allowing a comfortable silence to settle. Willow found herself relaxing while she watched the flames. The Weasleys seemed to her like a wonderful family, full of fun love. She thought, as she traced the flame's dancing patterns with her eyes, that maybe she would be well off when she began school.
"Well, now seems as good a time as any to begin storytelling," Arthur announced suddenly. "Would you care to share about your crazy day, Willow? Carlos?"
"I will," Willow said, eyeing her exhausted-looking father.
"Wait, did something bad happen to you this morning?" Ginny asked worriedly, furrowing her eyebrows.
"Sadly, yes," Willow sighed. "I was at my soccer game this morning when my dad apparently disappeared. Since I was playing, I didn't know until afterwards. A guy named Alex used some sort of potion to disguise himself as my father when he came to pick me up in my dad's car. I didn't know until he started acting weird while we sat in the parking lot an extra five minutes."
"Ah, that's probably polyjuice potion," Molly said. "It changes a person's appearance into another's when you add someone's hair to the brew."
"You're probably right. Anyway, I brought my wand just in case, since my grandparents taught me a few spells yesterday, only one of which I'm any good at. I grabbed it and took off running. Alex chased me down and thought he had caught me, but I used the stunning spell to distract him while I ran away. It didn't last long before he hit me with a curse that paralyzed my entire body."
"Good God!" Carlos exclaimed. "You failed to mention that part, Willow!"
"Sorry."
"Those two spells were probably the jelly-legs jinx and the Full Body-Binding curse," Arthur implemented.
"How come she gets to use magic and we don't?" George whined.
"Not now, boys," Molly scolded. "Continue on, Willow dear."
"Well...we apparated to my mother's house, and they took me straight to the dungeon. My dad was already in a cell, and Alex tried to put me in one, so I fought him. He may have beaten me, but he's horrendous at defending his open pockets. I stole our wands back and kept them hidden when my mom came down and...chatted with me." Willow glanced at her dad. "I got angry with her, so they threw me behind bars, too. But I gave my dad his wand, and we escaped through some now major foundational damage that we may or may not have caused."
Carlos smiled. "I wish I could've seen the look on Alex's face when we got him soaked. He probably went crying to his mum for more money to replace his brand-new dress shoes!"
Everyone laughed at that joke. When Willow was able to control herself enough to continue, she thought back to the strangest part of her tale.
"This is the part where it gets interesting," she began. "We still had a long way to go from the basement to the edge of the property, where the anti-apparation spells stopped. During our run, we were spotted and chased down via broomstick. They really started catching us in the final stretch. I began to fall behind because I was exhausted and out of shape. Right as I was about to give up, something weird happened: I heard a voice in my head."
"A voice? Could anyone else hear this voice?" Arthur questioned.
"No, as far as I know. It seemed old and insightful, and I have a feeling it was trying to help me."
"What did it say to you?"
"I don't remember the exact words, but it seemed to be coaching me on controlling my breathing, and reaching out my feelings. It was kind of weird, and at the same time...right."
"What happened after that?"
Willow hesitated a moment, wondering if she shouldn't reveal the next part. All eyes turned to her. She wanted to shrink into a tiny insect and fly away at that second, but shoved off the inclination and spoke.
"I don't remember how or when, but one second I was myself, and the next I was a four-legged horse."
Eyes widened in shock and surprise, even Willow's dad's. Ginny beamed uncontrollably.
"That's so cool!" she exploded. "I can't believe you can turn into animals!"
"I don't know about cool, but it did save my dad and I's lives," Willow remarked. "At the time, I didn't believe it either. What really drove it home was when we arrived here, and all the energy and strain I used as a horse transferred to my human body. I had no idea that shape-shifting was even a thing in the magical world."
"There is such a thing as an Animagus," Molly offered. "It's where a magical person can transfigure themself into an animal that corresponds with their personality, but it's at will, never uncontrollable or spontaneous. Witches and wizards have to register to become Animagi."
"I guess I'm just a mystery, then," Willow sighed.
Nobody noticed Carlos shift uncomfortably.
"Well, it's late," Molly concluded. "Off to bed, children. Willow, you can stay out here if you'd like."
"Oh, it's okay, Mrs. Weasley. I'm tired anyway."
"Alright. Goodnight, dears!"
"Night, Mum," the Weasley children echoed.
The five all headed into the Burrow, stars shining overhead. Ginny invited Willow to sleep in her room on the spare bed.
"Sure!" Willow accepted.
The girls headed into the room, then got in the beds and turned the lights out. Willow stared at the ceiling for a bit before Ginny broke the silence.
"Willow?"
"Yeah?"
"What was it like, being a horse?"
Willow smiled. "It felt like I was wild and free, and nobody could harm me, not even my family that was chasing me down. I was untamable; all I had to do to reach my dreams was run towards the horizon."
"That sounds amazing."
"It was."
"Can I ride you next time you do that?"
Willow almost laughed at that. "Yes, Ginny. I'll get a saddle made and everything."
Ginny giggled. "I'll hold you to it."
"Goodnight, Ginny. I'm glad to have met you."
"Me too. Night, Willow."
Willow found herself drifting off to sleep, listening to the gentle breathing of her friend.
"Wake up! Willow, wake up!"
Groaning, Willow opened her eyes. "What?"
"It's morning! We're going to Diagon Alley soon!"
Willow sat bolt upright. "I almost forgot!"
"Come on! Let's go!"
Willow shot out of bed, hot on Ginny's heels. They found everyone, including Carlos, up and rushing around.
"Hurry up and grab a bite!" Arthur urged, seeing the girls first. "We want to get there early before the big rush swamps the place!"
Ginny and Willow grabbed a few pieces of bacon and toast and rushed back upstairs, getting dressed in record time. When they returned to the main floor, they found that they were the only ones ready besides the twins, who were pestering Ron.
"Ronnekins, are you excited for your big day?" Fred teased.
"Our ickle first year brother, getting his first textbooks!" George lamented mockingly.
"Shut up, the both of you," Ron grumbled.
"Oi, Freddy, our dear brother is getting emotional already!"
"He's growing up too fast!"
"Stop it!" Ron said, slapping Fred.
Ginny and Willow giggled quietly, fueling the twins' jeering.
"Watch this!" Ginny whispered to Willow.
"He's already acting out!"
"I think our dear Ronnekins is going to find himself in detention!"
"What will Mum and Dad say?"
"Oi, but they won't have to say anything! A howler should do the trick!"
Ron's eyes widened. "You can actually get those in school?"
"Of course you can!"
"A few unlucky chaps get one every once in a while, eh, George?"
"They become the laughing stock of the school for weeks!"
Ron's eyes widened. His expression changed to terror. "You're kidding, right? I-I wouldn't be allowed to get yelled at in front of the whole school. Mum would never do that to me, right?"
"I wouldn't push your luck."
"It would make for a great pranking opportunity!"
"Wonderful ones, at that."
"I'd like to thank that last bloke that got the brunt of his Mum's anger."
"That one was one of our best yet!"
"Please don't let me get a howler!" Ron begged. "I'll never hear the end of it! I'll never make any friends, all the professors would hate me, Merlin's Beard, they might kick me out of the school-"
"Oh, please, Ron," Ginny interrupted, chortling. "No one has gotten a howler for years. They're messing with you."
Ron angrily turned to his brothers. "You absolute dimwits!"
Fred and George began cracking up. "You should have seen your face!"
"Save me, Freddy!" George quoted.
"I did not say that!"
"Did too!"
"Did no-"
"Boys! Will you stop tricking your brother?" Molly yelled.
"Sorry, Mum!" the twins said, not sincere in the slightest.
The rest of the adults filed into the living room. Molly moved herself to the fireplace, then grabbed a handful of ash out of a bowl nearby.
"Everyone ready?" she asked.
"Yes," everyone replied.
"Be sure to meet in Flourish and Blotts if anything goes wrong!" Molly turned to the fireplace. "Diagon Alley!"
She threw the ashes into the fireplace. Willow stepped back, startled, as the flames suddenly engulfed Mrs. Weasley. They returned to their normal size nearly as quickly as they grew, and Molly had vanished. Fred noticed this and smirked playfully at Willow.
"Never traveled by the Floo Network, eh?"
"What do you think?" Willow countered shakily, smiling.
Fred chuckled at that one. "I think we'll make a prankster out of you yet."
Arthur and Ginny went together, then the twins, leaving Willow, her dad, Ron, and Percy. Ron dragged his older brother over to the fireplace and floo traveled before he could say anything stupid. Willow turned to her dad.
"I like the Weasleys, but I don't like this Percy," she whispered.
Carlos smiled. "Add me to the club."
Willow stepped up to the fireplace, taking a handful of ashes, holding her dad's hand in her free one.
"Diagon Alley!"
The flames swallowed the father and daughter pair, picking them up, sending them flying through the network, and shooting them out the Flourish and Blotts fireplace.
"Blimey, Willow!" Fred exclaimed.
Willow opened her eyes and realized that Fred had caught her when she stumbled out of the fireplace. She stood herself up, brushing off her t-shirt.
"Sorry about that," Willow apologized.
"To answer your question earlier, yes, I think this is definitely your first time using the Floo Network." Fred winked at Willow. She giggled as she followed him to where everyone else had gathered in the corner.
"Alright, Ron, let's take a look at your list," Arthur said, fishing it out of his pocket.
While Arthur began showing Ron where to get his books, George whistled at Fred and Willow.
"Oi! Let's get out of here, Freddy!"
"One moment!" Fred said. He got Carlos's attention. "Do you mind if I show Willow around? I doubt she found the time to explore every corner."
Carlos shrugged. "I don't see why not."
Fred grinned. "Come on, Willow!"
Willow gleefully followed Fred and George into the main street of Diagon Alley. The Weasleys were right to arrive early- a large amount of witches and wizards were now spilling into the streets, filling up every square centimeter of available space. Fred and George seemed accustomed to this, however, and navigated the streets like pros. Willow stayed right on their heels the whole way. Soon, they arrived at a shop with several children goggling at a broom in the window.
"In here, Willow."
George opened the door for Fred and Willow, then followed them inside.
Willow was hit with the refreshing scent of sports equipment the moment she stepped through the door. She immediately felt at home, remembering the hours she used to spend running around Muggle sporting goods stores. Fred and George darted straight for the broomsticks, where yet another crowd gathered to admire it.
"Is this a Quiditch store?" Willow asked.
"What do you think?" Fred's tone was sarcastic and playful.
"I think yes, judging by broomsticks and equipment," Willow replied cheekily.
"Wow, look at that Nimbus!" George exclaimed, pushing towards the front of the crowds.
Fred was right behind his brother, his eyes wide in admiration.
"Wow! Look how smooth it is! The wood is perfectly polished! Maybe if the Gryffindor team had these, we wouldn't be pulling splinters out of our uniforms after every game..." Fred said.
"How do you balance on that?" Willow asked.
"You figure it out during flying lessons your first year," George replied, not taking his eyes off of the broom.
"The Nimbus is the fastest broom on the market right now," Fred continued. "Boy, I wish I had enough galleons for that!"
"I can't believe an entire sport is played up in the sky," Willow said.
The boys tore themselves away from the broom before they could dream up any plans to get it for free. Willow tagged along as they showed her helmets, pads, clubs, and various balls from the game.
"So, how does Quidditch work, exactly?" Willow asked.
"You've never watched it?" George raised his eyebrows. "I thought you were a pureblood...?"
"How did your father forget to explain the greatest game of all time to you? How could he never even mention its name? I mean, that takes all of two seconds!" Fred exclaimed.
"Well, he's never home," Willow admitted. "I guess being a pureblood doesn't always come with any perks."
George sighed. "We'd know all about that, ay, Freddy?"
Fred groaned. "Stupid Malfoys, those stuck-up snots..."
"Who are the Malfoys?"
"Just some pureblood rats that care too much about their blood status and parading it around to think about anyone else."
"Hopefully their son won't give you trouble. He's the same year as you, unfortunately."
"I'll punch him if he comes anywhere near me," Willow threatened. "He sounds exactly like that girl that tried to bully me when I was little."
"Wait, what?" Fred stopped short. "You went to Muggle school? And got bullied?"
"Yes, but not for long." Willow grinned. "She tripped me and called me names and sabotaged my homework. It didn't bother me until it affected my grades. The day after I found out, I found her at recess and punched her. When she hit me back, I kicked her off the play set and she broke her arm. She didn't come near me after that."
George snickered. "Is it bad that I don't question one bit of that?"
"Not at all, mate," Fred answered. "I did get the feeling that I shouldn't get on your bad side, Willow."
Willow smirked. "Watch your back, Weasley."
"Is that a threat?"
"What do you think?"
"Are you doing that again?"
"...Yes."
Fred stared at Willow for a second before they both burst out laughing. George playfully rolled his eyes and continued to browse the shelves. Fred joined him after a few seconds, Willow behind him.
"Quiditch has a lot of gear," Willow observed. "Is it dangerous?"
"Full-contact sport, if that's what you mean," George said.
"That sounds perfect."
"You hear that, George? Sounds like we have an apprentice."
"Is it kind of like soccer?" Willow asked.
"What's soccer?"
"Sorry, my dad is from America. We call it soccer in my house. Here, it's called futbol."
"Oh! I've seen that before," George said. "Yes, it's very similar to that."
"Except with more balls on the pitch at once, and in the air on broomsticks, and with more goals."
"I think I might be good at that," Willow thought out loud. "Would you be willing to teach me?"
"Only if we get to practice Beating against you."
"Um...Sure?"
Fred and George exchanged a knowing glance before saying, "Deal."
"I have a feeling I got myself into a lot more than I bargained for."
George chuckled. "You have no idea."
After a few more minutes exploring the store, the twins and Willow once again fought the crowd. They only spent a few minutes in the streets before the twins pulled her into a small store.
Willow instantly lightened up. "Wow!"
"This is Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment, where you'll find all sorts of magical items to get you through the year."
Willow stared at all around her in awe. There were signs hanging over piles of assorted items, grouping them according to their use. Immediately, Willow was attracted to the "Astronomy" section.
Fred and George wandered off on their own while Willow slowly soaked in all she was seeing. There were telescopes, portraits, starlight in a jar, and much more she never had imagined she could find in a shop like this. Something shiny caught her eye, and Willow touched it gently with her finger. It began unfolding itself automatically. Willow stepped back as it grew increasingly bigger. Eventually, it stopped, and Willow froze, stunned.
Before her was a moving map of all the constellations known. It seemed so real, and Willow only stopped herself from touching it again in fear that it would fold up. The stars were brighter than she had ever seen them in the sky. Each constellation was labeled, its outline traced into the shape it created. The planets and their moons slowly rotated in the directions of their orbits. It was amazing.
"Apparently touching potentially dangerous things is your specialty," George said, sauntering behind Willow.
"But this was worth breaking that rule," Fred retorted. "It's a cheat sheet for locating any star in the sky!"
"I love this!" Willow gasped. "It somehow folds itself up to pocket size! I didn't expect this out of what looked like a locket."
"You have a good eye for treasure, Willow."
"Thanks."
Willow tapped the map on one of its edges, and it rapidly folded itself into pocket size again. She caught it in her hand. It was surprisingly warm, and seemed to hum in her hands.
"Feel this, Fred," Willow said, handing it to him. He took it and gasped.
"It's freezing cold!"
"Really? It was super hot to me," Willow said.
"Let me try!" George insisted, taking the map from his brother. His expression changed to one of surprise.
"It's cold for me, too."
The twins turned to Willow, confused.
"What does that mean?" Willow questioned.
"I don't know. Maybe Professor Sinistra would know."
"Is she the astronomy teacher?"
"Yes, but a boring one at that."
"I'm sure Willow will find a way to liven her up," Fred assured.
Willow returned her gaze to the map. "Well, I think I'm going to get this."
Willow paid with the little bit of money she had taken with her, and they were on their way again. They found Ron and the others at the Magical Menagerie. Arthur was asking questions about caring for Ron's rat during the school year, while Ginny bounced up and down near a basket of fuzzballs.
"Please, Mum, please?" Ginny pleaded.
"Dear, Fred killed the last one!" Molly reminded her daughter.
As Willow neared her friend, she saw that the things in the bucket were actually alive. The sign on their container read, "Puffskeins- 7 galleons". Willow glanced at Fred.
"You killed your sister's Puffskein?" she inquired.
"Well..." Fred trailed off. "It wasn't exactly like that, but her Puffskein was being annoying, and I needed to practice Beating with George. We didn't have a bludger, so..."
"Willow! Look how cute they are!" Ginny exclaimed when she noticed her friend.
Willow bent down and gently began petting the fluffy creatures. "They are quite adorable."
"Please don't tell me you're thinking about getting one, too," George groaned.
"Oh, now I'm definitely getting one," Willow cunningly countered.
"George!"
"What?"
"We've gone over this several times!" Fred sighed. "Don't give them any ideas!"
While the twins bickered, Willow's dad caught sight of his daughter and walked over to her, giving her a hug from behind.
"How was it, pumpkin?" he asked.
"Great!" Willow replied, her voice muffled, as her father was a lot bigger than her and completely covered her smaller frame.
"Are you sure I can't get one?" Ginny implored her mother.
Molly sighed. "Alright, fine. If you can keep this one alive, you get to take it to Hogwarts with you next year."
"Yay!"
Ginny picked up one of the tiny creatures and nuzzled it against her cheek. The Puffskein licked her nose, apparently happy. Ginny giggled, rushing to the cashier to purchase her prize. Willow scooped up the Puffskein she had been petting and presented it to Carlos.
"Can I get one too? I have exactly seven galleons left!" she begged.
"But you already have an owl!"
"Please?"
Willow's dad sighed. "Fine," he relented. "But no more pets! You won't be able to keep up with them all!"
"Yes!"
Willow raced to pay for her new pet. Once it was hers, she and Ginny compared each other's Puffskeins, adoring their cute little faces and long, pink tongues. Fred and George sighed unhappily as they left the store.
"Did you have to get them?" George complained.
"Yes, just so I could spite you," Willow joked, beaming. "I do really like them, though."
"I'm going to name mine Snuffles!" Ginny announced.
"Merlin's beard, we're doomed!" Fred lamented.
Percy snickered at his brothers. "That's exactly what you get for causing the last one's demise."
Fred and George rolled their eyes. "Always throwing in his two cents. And with words that don't even make sense. Do you see what I did there, George?"
"I did, Freddy." George shook his head and stared after his older brother, who was swaggering away. "Percy and his stupid, tasteless fancy words-"
"Bandwagoning like you wouldn't believe-"
Willow giggled. "You know what, if you have any pranks in mind for Percy, I'll gladly help."
Fred winked at her. "Don't worry, we can only stand him for so long before we have to shake him up a bit."
The families decided to make one last stop before they left Diagon Alley. Willow was more than excited when she stepped into Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. They all ordered ice cream, then dispersed among the outdoor tables. The adults and Percy sat together while the twins, Ron, Willow, and Ginny gathered at a table far away from their parents.
"Well, how was Diagon Alley, Willow?" Ginny asked.
"There's so much here that I didn't even know about!" Willow exclaimed. "It's amazing, all of it! I can't wait to start flying lessons!"
"Oh no," Ron grumbled. "I'm going to hate that."
George grinned ear to ear. "Poor Ronniekins has never been stellar at navigating a broomstick."
"He always crashes into the fence."
"I do not!" Ron countered.
"Oh, hush up, you two!" Ginny said.
While the siblings fought among themselves, Willow stared back and forth between the twins, deep in thought. One of them was slightly different from the other, and in the most minuscule of ways. She smiled when she finally figured out a way to tell them apart.
"You know, I think I've got it," Willow interrupted.
Fred and George looked at her. "Got what?"
"A way to figure out which one of you is Fred and which one of you is George at any given time."
"Really?"
"Not many can."
"Well, I'm usually very good at telling twins apart. People at my Muggle school would come and challenge me to do it all the time. But, God, you guys are nearly identical. It was very difficult."
"Go ahead, then!"
"Well, Fred, your voice is slightly deeper than George's, and George, your hair is barely darker than Fred's."
Fred smirked at his twin. "I guess I'm more manly than you, brother!"
"You are not!"
"Yes I am!"
"Not again," Ginny sighed.
Willow allowed her Puffskein to lick the remains of her ice cream, then let it sit on the table for a while. Ginny did the same. Ron glowered at the fuzzballs, not liking them at all.
"Why would you keep them as pets? Their only use is in their fur. They're used to make potions."
"Oi, Freddy, did you hear that?" George interrupted.
"Ron has a brain!"
"Thank the Lord!"
"Maybe he won't have too much trouble with Snape."
"I'll have trouble with Snape regardless, if he's as bad as you say," Ron griped.
"Are all the teachers really as bad as you say?" Willow critiqued.
Fred and George smirked at the same time. "You'll see."
"Kids! Let's go! We'll pick up Ron's textbooks at Flourish and Blotts, then leave the way we came!"
Everyone got up and began heading in the direction of the lovely little bookshop. Willow made sure both of the Puffskeins were accounted for, then followed, a little ways behind the Weasleys and Carlos. They passed several shops, most of which were now bursting at the seam with customers. Willow stopped for a moment before one that particularly caught her eye.
"Twilfitt and Tatting's," Willow read aloud. "What kind of store would this be?"
"A boring one," a nearby voice sneered. "Don't you know anything about Diagon Alley?"
Willow shifted her gaze from the storefront to the bench right in front of one of its large display windows. A well-groomed, impeccably dressed blond boy rose to his feet, heading towards Willow.
"No, my father happened to neglect informing me about this part of the wizarding world," Willow shot back.
The boy wrinkled his nose. "You're a halfblood?"
"Why should you care?" Willow countered, raising her eyebrows.
"Nevermind," the blond boy sighed. "This is a high-end clothing store, unlike that other dump down the street. Only those with money can shop here."
"Oh, I didn't know that being a pampered, privileged wizard made any difference on where you could shop," Willow said, her voice heavy with sarcasm. The blond boy eyed her, seemingly deep in thought.
"Are you a first year at Hogwarts as well?"
"Yes."
"What house do you think you'll be in?"
"Um..." Willow trailed off. "My Mum's line has always been Slytherin, while my Dad's family was in North America as far back as I can remember, so...I have no idea."
The boy scoffed. "You don't know anything about the houses, do you?"
Willow shook her head. "Not really, no."
"Well, if you're a pureblood, as I assume, you should be Slytherin, where you belong," the boy said. "Only the greatest witches and wizards make it into that house."
Willow smiled deviously. "We'll have to see about that, won't we?"
"Willow!" Ginny called. "Where did you run off to?"
Willow glanced back at the blond boy. "I guess I'll see you on the Hogwarts train, then."
"Wait, what is your name?"
"Oh, sorry! How could I forget?" Willow held out her hand for the boy to shake. "I'm Willow."
The boy hesitantly shook it. "I'm Draco."
"Willow!"
"I'll be there in a second!" Willow called. "Bye, Draco! It was nice to meet you!"
Draco merely stared at her as Willow ran towards her friend, her dad a few feet behind Ginny.
"Willow! There you are," Carlos said. "Where did you go?"
"Sorry, I met a fellow first year at Twilfitt and Twiling's," Willow replied sheepishly.
"Oh, a rich kid, then?" Ginny guessed.
"Um, I think so- "
"Nevermind that," Willow's dad cut in. "The Weasleys are waiting!"
"Oh," Willow said, running after her dad and Ginny to the bookshop. The Weasley family had just begun traveling in pairs back home.
"There she is!" Arthur exclaimed.
"God, Willow, you disappear fast," Fred remarked.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to keep you waiting," Willow apologized, blood rushing to her cheeks.
"That's quite alright, dear," Molly said. "Let's get you home."
In pairs, the families dispersed through the fireplace. When they arrived back at the Burrow, it was already mid-afternoon. Willow wondered how so much time could go by so fast.
Ginny and Willow immediately ran upstairs to play with their Puffskeins. Willow put hers on her bed, Ginny following her lead.
"What did you name yours again?" Willow asked.
"Snuffles," Ginny replied, nuzzling her tiny pet.
"Hm..." Willow wondered what she should name hers. Then, a name popped into her head. "Achelous!"
"What the heck is that?" Ginny questioned.
"It's a river god in ancient Greece," Willow explained. "Hercules cut off one of his horns in battle and formed the Cornucopia, or the horn of plenty. It's a symbol of Thanksgiving these days."
"Oh! I see," Ginny said. "Your Puffskein practically eats everything you give it, so it's basically the reverse: you're providing it with plenty of food."
"Also, I don't finish my meals half the time, anyway, because I'm so used to saving a bit of food for my pets that we had when I was younger."
"What happened to them?"
Willow' voice grew quiet and hollow, remembering that terrible evening. "My mother slaughtered them all."
Ginny's face fell. "I'm so sorry, Willow. I wish you didn't have to go through that."
Willow sighed. "Well, it's the least of my worries now. I have two animals to take care of!"
"Wait, you have another pet?" Ginny cried.
"Yes, actually."
Willow opened up Ginny's window and whistled twice. A tawny owl flew in, landing on her shoulder.
"Wow!" Ginny exclaimed. "She's magnificent!"
"You think so?"
"Of course! All we have is a stupid, bloody Great Grey owl named Errol. He smashes into windows all the time."
Willow laughed at that one. "So far, Iris has been a great owl. I haven't sent a letter with her yet, though."
"Ooh! Maybe you can try sending me a letter from Hogwarts, and I'll send one back!"
"Perfect! That would be lovely to let Iris stretch her wings after a long train ride."
Ginny sighed. "I hate being the youngest. I want to go to Hogwarts already!"
Willow smiled. "It'll be here before you know it. I guess I'm lucky that I had no idea about it."
"Yes, you're very lucky."
The girls played with their new pets for a while, Iris trying to pick up the fluffy round creatures and toss them in the air. Willow sensed that the owl was merely playing, thankfully. That would have been horrible luck to lose a pet within 24 hours of purchasing it. Iris was taught to do a few tricks, with a little treat encouragement, and the Puffskeins learned to play leap frog with each other.
"Girls!" Molly called after about an hour. "Time for dinner!"
"Coming, Mum!" Ginny shouted down the stairs.
Willow walked to the window, hanging her arm out it. "Go ahead, Iris. I'll see you later."
Iris cuddled Willow's hand before flying off again. Willow raced after Ginny, thumping down the steps. They took their place at the table, everyone where they were before, except for the addition of Carlos. Willow enjoyed talking and laughing with everyone through the meal. Her day at Diagon Alley with the Weasley family opened up her eyes to what real friendship was like, and something else- something Willow hadn't felt in a long time. Willow felt like she was part of a family again. She was more confident than ever that she would survive her first year at Hogwarts, maybe even enjoy it.
After dinner, there was another campfire, and the evening was spent laughing, reminiscing, and chatting about the upcoming school year. Willow enjoyed the twins poking fun. She was more than happy about them teaching her quidditch, and hoped that she would become as good of a prankster as they were.
Eventually, the families went to bed, and Willow dreamed sweet dreams for the first time in years.