Christmas Day...
"Wow! Look at all the presents!"
Haley sat in the window seat as Ginny and Ron marvelled at the presents. She smiled, watching them start to hand out the presents to everyone. She looked out at the snow, watching the soft flurry dance down from the sky as she sipped the hot cocoa Molly had made for everyone.
"Haley, this one's for you."
She looked over as Ginny presented her with a neatly wrapped package. "For me?"
Ginny nodded eagerly. "We wanted to give you something too!"
Haley took the package. "Thank you."
Ginny beamed at her, then went back to handing out presents. She and Ron both set their own presents next to Haley and once they had all been handed out, the two children took their seats next to Haley on the floor and began unwrapping their presents.
While the children unwrapped their presents, Haley set her mug down and began to open her own present. Inside in the box was a beautifully knitted scarf of a deep blue and white with a snowflake pattern. She touched it, feeling how soft it was.
"Haley?"
She looked up to see everyone looking at her. "Hmm?"
"Is everything alright, sweetheart?" Molly asked. "You're crying."
Haley reached up and wiped away the tears, smiling. "Yes, I've just never received anything like this before." She stood and hugged Molly. "Thank you so much."
Molly smiled and hugged her close. "You're very welcome." She touched her cheek and chuckled. "Silly girl, I do hope those were happy tears."
Haley smiled and nodded. "They were." She stood straight. "I have a gift for you as well." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small glass marble she had found at the train station. She cupped it in her hands, focusing her magik into the marble.
The Weasleys watched as the small marble grew to four times its normal size, a soft white glow emanating from its core.
Haley looked down at the marble and smiled. "You have made me feel more welcome and accepted than I ever have before. I want to thank you with this." She placed it on the hearth above their fireplace and stepped back. "Within this marble is a spell that my family developed many generations ago. We call it 'Ethereal Blessing'. It will repel negative energies, and in times of great danger, it will create a protective barrier." She looked at the family. "I cannot begin to express my gratitude to you, so I hope this simple token will be enough."
Molly stood and hugged her, then stood back as Arthur did the same. "Haley, we will treasure this always."
Haley smiled, a little surprised to receive hugs from everyone, including George. When he hugged her, he said, "You're really something, Rosier. Maybe I was wrong about you."
Three days later...
As Fred and George said goodbye to their siblings, Haley stood with Arthur and Molly.
"Thank you for allowing me to spend time with you and your family over the holidays." She said, smiling.
"Of course." Molly smiled. "You'll always be welcome here."
"Yes, very much so. And thank you for your gift." Arthur said.
Haley smiled. "The Ethereal Blessing will always protect you, so long as it remains in tact. It can also act as an aura gauge. Everyone touched the marble, let it read their auras, so now when it senses a change in anyone's energies the light will change to the colour of their aura. This way, you always know what's going on with your family and know that they are safe." Then thinking of an incident that happened years ago in her village's history, her tone became more serious. "In times of danger, the Ethereal Blessing will create a protective barrier around your property and home. The greater the danger, the darker the light within the marble will be." She knew they understood when they nodded. "But no matter what, you will always be safe while this marble remains here and in tact."
"Thank you, Haley." Molly said. She looked at Fred and George as they joined Haley. "You ready to leave?"
They nodded.
Molly smiled and hugged them. "Good, now be safe getting back and let us know when you do."
Haley and the Weasley twins waved and got into the cab that would take them to King's Station.
Haley sat in the compartment she shared with the twins alone, staring out of the window. They were taking the Hogwarts Express back to the school and the twins had gone to start some mischief. A knock came at the door to the compartment and Haley looked to see an attendant holding her owl, Jaxie.
"Miss Rosier, your owl just arrived." He handed her the owl. "I must say, she's rather skilled to land successfully on the train without injury."
Haley smiled and offered Jaxie a piece of dried fish. "That's my girl." She looked at the attendant and thanked him before he left her alone, then turned her attention to the letter tied to Jaxie's leg. Setting her on her suitcase to perch, Haley opened the letter and smiled when she saw that it was from the youngest of her older brothers, Kaleb.
"Dearest sister, all is well here.
Mum, Dad, and our brothers are all well.
Hadrian, Jakob, and Myka have begun their fire magik training lessons with Leneth and Garyt has proposed to Elisa finally- their wedding is to be in the fall.
And me, well, I've actually started learning ice magik from the sprites.
It's very similar to the water magik the merfolk taught me. I will have to show you when come home to visit next."
Haley's smile grew as she continued to read.
"Haley, about this boy you've told us about... are you sure?
You know how wary our people are about outsiders and I worry that he'll just be like everyone else who has ever given you grief.
If you're certain, then you know you have my blessing but the others won't be so easy to please.
You're our baby sister, we're all protective of you. Just do be careful, alright?
Our best regards and love to you from everyone here, safe return to school. Write back soon!
Sincerely, Kaleb"
Haley smiled and tucked the letter into her pocket. She reached over and rubbed Jaxie's head, then turned her attention to the scenery outside passing by.
"Thank you for letting me join your family for the holidays." Haley said, smiling as she and the twins stepped off the train.
"It was great having you along." Fred said, smiling. "Glad to see you had fun. Would have hated thinking about you all alone on Christmas."
Haley smiled. "It's the first time I've ever celebrated it, but I had lots of fun." She looked to George and smiled before turning back to Fred. "Thank you." She turned to leave, heading towards one of the boats with Jaxie on her shoulder.
"Hey, Haley, wait!"
Haley turned, surprised that Fred had called her by her first name.
"See you in Herbology?"
She smiled. "Only if you don't fall asleep first!"
Fred smirked as she got into the boat and headed back to the castle. He turned to see that Charlie and Percy had joined them, ready to head back to the castle themselves. It was a new year, lots of adventures and pranks to be had before their first year at Hogwarts ended. He was excited to see where things would lead, even more so to spend more time with Haley Rosier.