Dark World
CHAPTER TWELEVE: FAMILY TIES
"Ugh!! I don't see why we can't levitate these!" I whined as Jill and I dragged our respective trunks down the stairs. Suddenly my trunk's handle snapped off. I shrieked as I watched my luggage case crash down the stairs. Jill left hers as we dashed off to find my luggage spilled at the bottom of the staircase. My robes spewed over the entrance hall along with my hats. I thanked God I had packed my underwear at the bottom.
Letting out a moan I slid to the floor and began to pick up my clothes. A few Syltherins walked by, some kicked the clothes across the hall, some snickered and pointed, and then Draco came from the lower level and saw me. He smiled and bent over to help Jill and I pick up the articles of clothing. He placed them carefully into the trunk.
"Is that all of them?" Jill asked. We looked around.
"I think so . . . Well, if that's the solution to get our trunks down quickly, I'll take the long way any day." I snorted glaring at the offending trunk. The other two stifled snickers as I kicked the trunk sending it skidding across the floor letting it hit a wall.
"Thanks for helping Draco." I smiled at the younger boy and turned to Jill. "Shall we go knock yours down the steps too?" I enquired. She shook her head with a smile.
"No thanks, besides, I think your first family is waiting." She pointed as we turned to see the Weasleys come down from a set of stairs near the Great Hall. Hermione and Harry followed them as two older boys lugged five trunks down the stairs.
"Oi! Sari!" Harry called waving. I smiled and we waited patiently as the crew of redheads made their way over.
"Morning." I smiled at them.
"Good morning Dear." Molly Weasley beamed back. The other men looked edgy around Draco and I noticed Hermione smiling shyly at him. I nudged Jill and got her aware of the situation. We looked at each other and giggled helplessly as the others looked curiously at us. Draco rolled his eyes.
"I pity you, Weasley." He said directing his words to Ron, "Happy Halloween everyone." He said and headed to the Great Hall. Hermione looked after him, I rolled my eyes.
"Go, Hermione." I told her and went to retrieve my trunk. I saw Hermione jog after Draco, I chuckled and pushed my trunk over the Weasleys and Jill. I turned to my best friend.
"I'll see you in a couple of days." I told her and gave her a hug.
"Sure, now if you'll excuse me I have a trunk to go fetch and curse at." She said walking up the steps to where her trunk had been left.
"Well, come on Dear!" Mrs. Weasley insisted, "I hope you don't mind if Harry spends the vacation with us." I shook my head.
"No, of course not." I said smiling at Harry. He grinned back, "Better than relatives eh, Harry?" He chuckled.
"Much."
"Now, I believe you know, George, Fred and Ron." Mr. Weasley said.
"And Ginny." I chimed in. He looked between us girls and nodded.
"But these are our other three sons, Bill," A tall young man that reminded me of a larger George in his squire costume smiled at me, "Charlie," A man with a long ponytail and a earring with a dragon tooth waved as he balanced three trunks on his shoulders, "and Percy." A younger man with glasses and a clean-shaven look nodded cirsply at me. I grinned, another 'Mr. FBI'.
"Hello." I smiled at them.
"Hallo, so you're the girl George carries on about-" Charlie started, before George stepped on his foot. Charlie almost lost control of the trunks and glared at his younger brother.
"Fred tells me you're exceedingly bright." I smiled at Percy a pink tinge covering my cheeks.
"Well, I do get good grades . . . But I'm not as smart as Hermione by a long shot." I said. Ron chuckled.
"Yea, well you stick your nose in a book as much as she does even Neville'd be smart." I rolled my eyes.
"She didn't get all her smarts from books, the ability to retain knowledge is a skill you obtain." I told him kicking my trunk along as we walked to the doors. George came over.
"Allow me." He said picking up the trunk and then looking at me surprised, "What to carry in here? Bricks?" He asked.
"No, clothes, make-up, other things." I explained. He grumbled as we walked towards Hagrid's hut.
"Hey, Hagrid! The portkey ready yet?" Mr. Weasley asked. Hagrid looked up from his garden.
"Sure is, Mr. Weasley. O'er there, that ruddy hat beside the stoop." He told us and we all crowded around the hat.
"Okay everyone get a good grip on somebody, also boys hold on tight to the luggage! Ready now?" I found myself held tightly by George, and his other arm clutching my trunk.
"One two THERE!" I grabbed hold of the hat and felt a sudden rush of wind before I buried my face in George's chest. As soon as it had started the wind was gone and my feet were touching solid ground again. My iron grip still clutched the hat as George's arm untangled itself from my waist.
"Home sweet home!" Ron sighed as he and Harry followed the anxious Percy into the house.
"Spent too much time at Hogwarts. I have so much work to get done!" Percy muttered. I raised an eyebrow.
"That's Percy for you. He's a workaholic." Charlie said as we carried our stuff in.
"George take Sari's things to Ginny's room. Ginny why don't you show her around?" Ginny nodded and she motioned for me to follow.
"So you're stuck in a house full of guys except for your mother?" I asked. She laughed.
"Yea, but it's not that bad. George and Fred are really funny. I'll miss them next year." She said as we walked around in the small herb garden.
"Why? Where are they going?" I asked.
"I don't know, they'll probably leave to start a joke company or something." She said as we walked into the small and busy kitchen. Food and culinary items flew through the air like missiles as we dashed through to the small creaky stairway.
"Oh, I see." I said as we passed the first floor of doors. One I supposed was Percy because I heard him cursing behind the door, something about leaky cauldrons. The next Ginny said was the parent's room and the next was Ron's and Harry's which George and Fred were now sharing as well. We climbed the next set of steps and found two doors on either side of a small hallway. Ginny said that the right room was normally George and Fred's room but now Charlie and Bill were sharing it, and then opened the left door.
It was a whitewashed room with two double beds at each end. One was covered in a pink pastel flowered print of covers and sheets. Teddy bears covered the head of the bed and an extra coverlet was at the bottom. The other bed was identical except the color was a pale blue pastel and there were stuffed bunnies on the head. A large dresser stood in the corner and a large white, woven rug covered the majority of the hard wood floor.
George was setting my trunk on the floor as we walked in. He looked up and blushed slightly for some odd reason.
"Get out George! I want to change and I bet Sari does too!" Ginny said. George smiled at us.
"Sure, I'm going. I'm going." He said. Ginny shut the door and rolled her eyes.
"He's lovesick." She told me. I raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?" I asked as if I really didn't care.
"Mm-hmm. That's how all my brothers get when they have a crush. George is worse than any other them have been." She said looking at the door oddly and then shrugged. She turned back to me.
"There's a changing wall over there." She told me, and pointed at a folded separator with an old Japanese print on it. I nodded and went to my trunk. Opening it I sifted through my robes and found the outfit I was looking for.
In a couple minutes I came out in a dark red knit sweater and a pair of hip-hugger flare jeans. I smiled at Ginny who had opted for a pair of white fleece pants and long sleeved blue shirt.
"So what shall we do?" Ginny asked. I shrugged.
"What do you want to do?" I asked. She grinned.
"I don't know, talk I guess. I never get to really girl talk around here." I smiled.
"Okay so what do you want to know?" I asked reclining on the bed she had designated as mine. I had placed my huge teddy bear in the middle of all the white bunnies and had set up my pictures and a few reading materials on the wicker bedside tables.
"How do you get your make-up on so well." I laughed and sat up.
"Let me show you." I said getting my make-up out.
"Ginny, what the?" Ron asked as we met the boys on the second landing to go to dinner. Ginny was wearing blue eye shadow and sparkly lip-gloss.
"It's called make-up, Ron. Girls wear it." She said rolling her eyes. I chuckled and looked at George who kept staring at me. I rolled my eyes. It must have been the second time he'd seen me in Muggle clothes. I smiled at him and grabbed his wrist.
"Come on, George!" I said, pulling him after the rest of the group. We hurried down the stairs and washed up in the downstairs washroom.
"Dinner outside!" Mrs. Weasley called. We hurried out onto the lawn and found lanterns hanging from strings and trees with a warm shield to keep the evening chill from around the table. We all sat down.
"To Sari, for joining us." Mr. Weasley said as we finished piling our plates with loads of delicious foods. I sat between George and Ginny and was able to witness all the activity.
"To Sari!" I blushed as they raised their glasses.
"Thanks for having me." I said, obviously embarrassed. The group dug in and talk circulated the table. I noticed Harry kept staring at Ginny through out the meal.
"He's looking at you." I whispered in her ear. She blushed and glanced over only to see Harry look quickly at Ron.
"Yes, well I couldn't say any less for that brother of mine who keeps ogling at you." I looked at George who kept stealing glances at me.
"So Sari, Harry here says you've got a high power ranking. What is it exactly?" Percy asked looking hungry for a teasing tool.
"Percy! You will not ask her such things!" Mrs. Weasley scolded. I smiled at the woman.
"It's alright, Molly, honest." I told her, I turned to Percy, "If you still care to know my ranking is a one-thousand five hundred and ninety-two." I said smugly. George grinned at his older brother whose mouth had dropped open slightly. Bill and Charlie had stopped talking with their father and all three stared at me mouths rather wide open.
"What?" I asked, "Ron got one thousand, three hundred and Harry's is one-thousand seven-hundred and forty-five." They all looked at Harry and Ron, who blushed, "And George ranks one-thousand two hundred and fifty seven." I looked at Fred and Ginny.
"You guys never told me your ranks." Ginny blushed and Fred shrugged.
"One-thousand two hundred and fifty seven, we're twins." Fred said simply.
"I got one-thousand two hundred and five." Ginny mumbled, I grinned and gave her an one-armed hug.
"See! That's great!" I smiled at her.
"Sari, you mean to say you and Harry have the ability of a sorcerer?" Mr. Weasley sputtered. I grinned.
"I'm a sorceress to be exact and Harry there could probably be an enchanter if he got proper training." I said placing a fork-full of salad in my mouth. They group gaped at Harry who grinned sheepishly.
"But hey, who has to live with the evil Muggles?" He asked. I chuckled. George grinned.
"That reminds me, Fred and I have some new stuff we'd like you to try out of Dudley. Just leave it around the house or something!" The boys laughed and while Ginny and I stared at each other confused.
"So what do you girls plan on doing tomorrow?" Mrs. Weasley asked. I shrugged.
"I dunno, whatcha wanna do, Ginny?" I asked.
"I'd like to go shopping." The boys rolled their eyes.
"That's sounds great!" I exclaimed, "Oh! My treat, I insist. It's the least I can do for staying here for free." I told them. Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley exchanged looks.
"I guess it's alright. We'll floo their in the morning. I have some errands I need to run anyway, I'll drop you girls off on the way." We grinned at each other and then back at Mrs. Weasley.
"Thanks!" We chorused.
"Of course we'd need male volunteers to carry our purchases." I said elbowing George in the sides.
"What?" He asked indignantly. I glared at him.
"We'll need someone to carry our bags." I said a threatening undertone evident in my voice. Charlie chuckled.
"They act just like a newly-wed couple." He whispered to Bill and I glared at the two snickering boys.
"So do you care to carry our bags?" I asked. They stopped laughing and shook their heads. Ginny giggled beside me. I looked pointedly at Harry who started to squirm under my gaze.
"Mobius." I muttered under my breath, concentrating my thoughts on Harry's arm. It shot into the air followed by my triumphant grin. Ron snickered at Harry's misfortune.
"You look like Hermione trying to answer Snape's question the first day!" He laughed. I smirked at the other orphan.
"So nice of you to volunteer Harry." I smiled my voice dripping with syrup.
"Okay, okay! I'll go! But can you put my hand down now." I grinned and said the counter spell, "Thanks." He muttered and rubbed his sore arm. Bill muttered something and I noticed his hand moving under the table. I looked were it was aimed at Ron was holding up his hand as well. I grinned.
"Thanks, Ron, you're a doll." I winked at him, which sent his face into a blush to make his head match his hair. I grinned at Ginny and we continued with our meal chatting over what we wanted to get.
"I need a new set of robes," She glanced a her mother, "but you know I can wait. I think I'll get some new ones soon and I want them to be in the latest fashion." I smiled at her.
"'If it's not to in, it can never be out.'" I said, quoting Kate Spade.1 I grinned and thought of my Merlin type robes, "Take my ancient Merlin style, for example. That's hasn't been in since the eleventh century!" She laughed.
"True, but they're elegant on you. You remind me of the Lady of RavenClaw2 when you wear them." I shrugged with a slight blush.
"I'd be English then." I told her. Ginny shrugged.
"They might have moved, you never know!"
"I can't believe it's snowing!" I shivered as we walked through the magic alley. I spotted Draco walking with his Lucius toward us
"Oh, look it's the Weasleys and their adopted family." Lucius sneered as we closed the distance between us. I jerked my head in recognition.
"Sup?" I asked. I wanted to hit my head with a 2x4, 'SUP'? What the hell was I thinking? Lucius must have been thinking the same thing.
"'Sup?'" He asked in a disgusted voice as I forced a smirk on my face.
"Yea, ever heard of it, Jerk?" I asked. The group collectively gasped and a few people stopped around us. Smooooth Sari, smooth. I inwardly groaned but smirked outwardly, "It's American slang." I informed him.
"What did you call me?" He seethed, not passing the 'Jerk' part.
"A jerk." I said standing up straight, "Got a problem with me?"
"I'd keep your soiled American mouth shut, Girl." Lucius spat.
"I'm sure the Ministry of Magic and the Council of Magic would love to here of Lucius Malfoy hurting the exchange student after her family was murdered and the terrorist scene is being investigated as a joint action from Voldemort." The crowd flinched.
"You little Upstart!" He snarled taking one step closer. I stood my ground.
"I may be, but you'll never be able to rebuild what I upset. I'm here to change this world, get over it." I told him and turned then turned halfway back towards the man, "I'm sure your wife accepts your apology." I whispered so only he could hear. His face flared into a raging red and I took Ginny's arm sharply.
"Come on, let's get going." I said. I turned and winked at Draco who glared back but when he turned sent a wink and a small smile back my way. I smiled triumphantly and walked towards the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron.
"What was that all about?" Harry demanded. I shrugged.
"We were due for a face off." I said nonchalantly, "He insulted me when I was waiting outside the office of transfers in the Ministry of Magic." I told them. As we headed for the bathrooms.
"Girls, don't take forever." Ron told us before we slipped into the bathrooms. We laughed but were out in a few minutes. Ron and Harry were wearing their school pants and they white collared shirts, they pulled their wool sweaters over their heads. Ginny and I wore jeans and snow boots, with ribbed turtlenecks, purple and red, respectively. Over those were my two large black winter jackets, one for Ginny and one for me.
"Okay I got about three hundred pounds from Gringotts, everybody ready to go shopping?" I asked grinning.
"YEA!" Ginny cried as we stepped out of the Leaky Cauldron and the boys groaned simultaneously.
"Is that everything?" I asked as we left the Leaky Cauldron to meet Mrs. Weasley in front of Gringotts. Ginny counted our fifty bags.
"Yup, that's it!" She announced.
"It certainly feels like it!" Harry complained as we walked towards the large bank. Strange looks were passed our way as we made our way through the crowd. The boy-who-lived and the American exchange student with the Weasleys and the former carrying bags for the girls no less! It was a sight for all to see and see it they did, whispers flooded the alley as we laughed and joked.
"Well, I was about to start worrying!" Mrs. Weasley said as we walked up to her. And then she spotted the boys, "My goodness! Is this all yours Sari?" She asked. I shook my head.
"Of course not! It's a new Muggle outfit for Ron, one for Harry and a couple for Ginny (and a new set of robes), Christmas presents for people – because I like to get things done early, new ink and scrolls for us all, Muggle candy, and some clothes for myself." I told her. She gapped.