Chapter 10: Visiting the Weasleys

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"Mum, it's so good to see you!" Julia hugged her mother when she came in the door. Lavender smiled and said,

"It's good to see you too, sweetie. Brandon, Michael, how're my boys?" The two boys hugged their grandmother and said at the same time,

"Hi, Grandma."

"Where's Adriana?"

"She's at Lily's. I was originally planning on coming by myself, and then going back and getting the kids, but these two tagged along."

"Well, I'm surprised you're here. And there's a surprise waiting for you." Dread filled Julia's eyes, for she figured her mother meant Blake.

"Who is it?"

"Your son is here."

"He is? Why is he here?"

"He didn't want to go with his dad."

"Where's Blake?"

"You haven't seen him yet?"

"No."

"He went to Lily's."

"He did? Why?"

"He said he wanted to be with his family for Christmas."

"That's rich coming from someone who left his family."

"Julia, just stop. It's Christmas."

"Ok, is Dad here?"

"Yep, he's outside. He and James are setting up the garden and placing heating charms around it. Fred, George, and Ginny and their families are coming, and staying the night. Ryan is coming this afternoon, Seth is coming tomorrow, and the twins are coming the day after tomorrow."

"And what about Christmas day?"

"We're all going over to your grandmother's. She's preparing a huge meal, everyone is coming. Everyone except the Potters." Julia nodded.

"Well, I'm going to go outside and see Dad. Brandon, Mike, why don't you two stay here and help your Grandma?" The boys nodded and Julia left the house and went out to the backyard. She saw her father holding his wand out, a hovering chair above his head, floating over to the table. He repeated this process until all the chairs were set around the tables. James was spreading tablecloths, the muggle way, since he wasn't quite seventeen. James saw his mother, but didn't recognize her from far away. He said something to Ron, who turned and squinted to see who it was. Julia came down the stairs from the deck and into the backyard. She smiled and said,

"Hey Dad." Ron smiled and said,

"Julia! What are you doing here?" The two embraced.

"We came for Christmas."

"We?"

"The boys and me." Julia turned to her son, who stood frozen on the spot. Julia smiled sadly and said,

"Hi sweetie."

"Hey Mum."

"How's it going?"

"Ok."

"Do I get a hug?" James walked around the table and hugged his mother. Tears piled up in Julia's eyes.

"I missed you, James."

"I missed you too, Mum." Ron said,

"You said the boys came with you, what about Adriana?"

"She's at Lily's."

"She is? You just came from there?"

"Yeah."

"Did you talk with your husband?"

"No, I apparently just missed him. Nobody said anything about him this morning. Of course the only people I saw this morning before I left were Bree and Beth's friends, or one of them." James said,

"Those three new students?"

"Yeah. You've met them?"

"Yeah. They're all right. 'Cept the fact that they're hanging with Bree and Beth." Julia said scoldingly,

"James."

"Sorry."

"They're your cousins, James, you shouldn't be saying mean stuff about them."

"I'm sorry but I don't really care too much for my only aunt and her daughters."

"James, stop it. They're your family. They deserve some respect."

"Dad's family, he deserves respect too, Mum." Ron said,

"James, why don't you go help Grandma inside?"

"Yeah, James, Brandon and Mike are in there."

"Ok." He left, and as soon as he was out of earshot, Ron said,

"So, I hear things haven't been going so well."

"Yeah."

"Divorce isn't final yet."

"No, because Blake keeps sending back the damn papers."

"There's a reason why, Jules."

"Yeah, because he's trying to piss me off."

"No. It's because he still loves you. He still loves you, and doesn't want to get divorced."

"Well, he shouldn't have left then."

"There're a lot of things you shouldn't have done too. So, how's Lily doing with Will? Blake told me about her relationship problems."

"Dismal. She's trying to cope, still, but you couldn't tell to look at her that there was something wrong. She's taking it well, at least on the outside."

"How're Harry and Hermione doing?"

"Pretty good. You all should come back with me when I go pick up Adriana."

"Maybe we will."

"You know what, Dad?"

"What?"

"I never thought it would end like this."

"What would?"

"Me. I never thought that this is the way I turned out. I always thought that Blake and I would be together forever. That we would be Aurors forever, and we'd be happy. But ever since he quit being an Auror, and he had that row with his dad, he's been a different person."

"I know. I've noticed that. You can see it in his eyes."

"I miss him, you know? I honestly have to I say I miss him."

"That's understandable. He's your husband."

"If I could go back in time and do anything over, I would convince Blake not to quit his job. I don't even know what he's doing anymore."

"He's teaching."

"Really? What does he teach?"

"Defense Against the Dark Arts." Julia smiled. "Surprising isn't it?"

"That doesn't surprise me, considering his parents are both DADA teachers. Where at?"

"Durmstrang." Julia's eyes widened.

"You've got to be kidding." Ron shook his head.

"And he'll have to tell you the rest. It doesn't directly concern you, just your sons and daughter. He knows more about it than I do, and I don't think I should be the one to tell you."

"Alright."

"When are you going to get Adriana?"

"Tomorrow."

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A/n: Here's chapter 10 for you all. I've finally broken through my writer's block and I know exactly how this story is going to end! I'm so happy! Please review, the sooner y'all review the sooner I update!

Husker-fan-2006