A/N: . . . and Olive ARRIVES! Yep, yep.
Disclaimer: Need I say it again? I don't own Kari, Roka, Popurii, Ayre or HP . . .
Simply Roses
Chapter IV: But Crocus
12 Grimmauld Place
"Really?" Fred said to his aunt, "but I didn't think Hogwarts accepted transfers."
Agate just smiled. Instead, Ailin gave an answer. "Well," he said, "since Agate and I are doing – ah – services for the Order, Dumbledore made an exception."
The twins seemed to except this explanation and turned to the door. Then, at that moment –
"Aunt Agate! Uncle Ailin!"
"Ginny, how are you?" Agate cooed as she petted Ginny on the head. The Weasley girl beamed. "You've certainly grown. Last time I saw you, you were only ten. And Ron, you were gone at Hogwarts when I last visited. My, you've grown as well."
Ron flushed in slight irritation as his aunt petted him on the head. He swallowed the bit of pastry in his mouth and murmured, "Yah, I'm taller then Fred and George now."
"But he'll still be our little brother." Fred grinned as his younger sibling glared at him.
"Um," Hermione began hesitantly, "Miss ah-"
"-Agate. And what's your name?"
"Hermione Granger." She said. "You mentioned something about transfers. Hogwarts: A History says that Hogwarts hasn't accepted transfers for over one hundred years. The Ministry made it a law in 1880."
"We already explained it to Fred and George. I suppose you overheard; Dumbledore has made an exception for our services."
"But there would have to be a good reason or else-" Hermione started.
"Quite frankly, Miss Granger, it isn't your business." Ailin said. Hermione frowned at his blunt rudeness.
Deciding it was best to change the subject, Ginny asked, "What kind of services are you doing Aunt Agate?"
Agate laughed. "Well aren't you the curious one. Ailin and I were doing international communication with Ireland and the Order. Though, that's not really needed now seeing how the Ministry here in England has accepted the fact that You-Know-Who has returned. We've been repositioned here to do some indirect work with Jaye, Ange and Olive's parents."
Fred and George perked up. Both had completely forgotten that their aunt had asked them a favor. "So~o who are their parents?" Fred questioned.
Their aunt thought for a moment. "I've only met them a couple of times briefly, their mother is Ailin's sister see, not my blood relatives and they're always up and about, but I'm sure that their mother's name is Sheila. Their father's been in England for quite some time actually, last year and two or so years before. His name was, it think-"
"Aunty, Uncle," Interrupted a new voice, thick with an Irish accent, "can't you help me?"
George, who was nearest to the new comer, jumped. The arrival was a young girl, about Ginny's age or younger, with a brown hat on top of curly strawberry blonde hair, lugging a suitcase about half her size behind her. "Olive-dear," Ailin said, taking the suitcase from the little girl, "let me take that." Olive murmured something that sounded like a "thanks" as Ailin removed the luggage from her care.
Fred and George glanced at each other with identical grins. "So you're Olive huh?" The girl nodded.
"Glad to meet 'chya!" They both shook Olive's hand at the same time. The girl was petrified, gray eyes wide, hat fallen off her strawberry blonde hair.
"Um, hi." She managed to squeak.
"Boys, let the poor girl go before you traumatize her." – Molly Weasley was back.
The twins let go of the Irish girls hand and turned to gaze at their mother innocently. "Mum, what a pleasant surprise."
Molly frowned. "Go clean up for dinner." Grudgingly, they did as they were told.
"Um, you're Molly Weasley right?" Olive asked softly.
"Yes, that's right."
"There's a boy out there with a scary looking man with a blue eye, a witch with pink hair, and a couple of other people. The man with the eye requested to see you." She told Molly.
"Harry's here?!" Ron asked excitedly. Olive nodded, and Ron nearly leapt into the air. "Finally, it was getting so dull around here!" At a piercing look from Hermione, Ron's grin vanished. "I'm not saying you're not fun, Hermione, but you've got to admit it's a tad dull here without Harry." Hermione just rolled her eyes.
"The boy didn't look as if he'd brighten the place up at all," Olive said, directing her comment at Ron. "Because Jaye and Ange were too busy arguing to help me out I got a good look at the boy; he looked depressed."
A week later – 12 Grimmauld Place
Exactly as Olive had said, Harry's arrival seemed to only make 12 Grimmauld Place more depressing. He stayed in his room all day, only coming down for meals, which he only ate less than half of. Ron and Hermione had tried to cheer him up, but to no avail. Sirius's death had seemed to nearly completely clam their friend up. All they'd get him to say was "Hello Ron", or "Hello Hermione". None of Fred and George's jokes even got a chuckle out of Harry. No one had a clue what would make Harry smile anymore . . .
A week after Harry's arrival, Hermione woke up early. She was thirsty and decided to head to the kitchen for a glass of water. As she passed the ancestors of Kreacher, she wondered vaguely what it would have been like if Kreacher hadn't blabbed to Voldemort about Sirius. Would he still be alive? Would Harry be smiling? In the back of her head she concluded that the outcome of their fifth year would have been much better.
When she arrived at the kitchen, Hermione noticed Mrs. Weasley was awake as well. She was dressed as though she was about to leave and was holding what appeared to be their Hogwarts letters they'd received the day before. She was also placing a meticulously wrapped sandwich carefully into her purse. "Are you going to Diagon Alley, Mrs. Weasley?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, yes I'm getting your school things." Mrs. Weasley said .
Hermione passed Mrs. Weasley and poured herself a glass of water. Before she took a sip she remembered something. "Mrs. Weasley, can I go with you? I wanted to by myself a book from Flourish and Blots."
"But of course! Hurry up and get dressed though."
Hermione grinned and rushed out of the kitchen, pausing only to thank Mrs. Weasley.
Creepy, Scary, Possibly Haunted Hotel – Main Lobby
Roka had woken early. At a letter from Hogwarts and his mother, Roka was influenced into shopping for his school things. He had decided that it was best to do it earlier than later. That is, best for the owls. If his mother sent anymore letters, the poor great gray would probably collapse from exhaustion. Maybe, just maybe jumping into action would slow his mother.
Being so caught up in thought, Roka failed to pay attention to where he was walking . . .
. . . and ran straight into the wall.
"Ouch." Roka moaned, feeling his nose for bruises. "Just my luck."
"Are you alright young man?" asked someone from behind him.
Roka groggily turned to look at the speaker. It was an old man, short, with unkempt wiry aged hair. Most identifying were his golden cat like eyes. "Who are you?" He asked, noting the rude tone in his voice.
The man seemed not to notice how rude the statement was, as he answered quite cheerfully. "I'm the manager."
Roka twitched. A creepy hotel manger, in a creepy hotel; purrrrrrrfect.
The young American slowly backed away, muttered an "I'm alright" and rushed off to the fireplace.
Flourish and Blots
Hermione skimmed the shelves of books carefully looking for the book. "No, that's not it. I'm in the right section, it should be here." Hermione muttered under her breath. It didn't appear they had anymore of the book she was looking for. She shifted the weight of her school books in her arms and set off to the other side of the store. Next year maybe . . .
Hermione peered around her pile of books to make sure she was headed in the right direction. There was another boy, about her age heading straight for her. For this boy, books too were piled above his head. Hermione halted and called to the boy. "Hey, watch out!"
Too late, they'd collided.
"Oh my gosh, are you alright?"
A/N: . . . hello? Is anyone there at this untimely hour . . . wait it's a Saturday. Scratch that, how you all doing? I'm a tad tired right now, seeing how I spent all day on this chapter. Appreciate it please, and review.
