It was Tirza's first night at the burrow. She had fallen asleep quickly, but her sleep was restless; the nightmares started. And not just any nightmares, THE nightmares. She started kicking around a little, and began whimpering. "Huh?" Ginny awoke with a start. Tirza was still whimpering and Hermione rolled over at the noise. "What's going on?" Hermione asked Ginny quietly. "I think Tirza is having a bad dream," Ginny whispered back. Tirza suddenly sat straight up. "DADDY!" she screamed, and then burst into tears. "Tirza what is wrong?" Ginny asked quietly as she ran over to her cot.
Tirza pulled her knees up to her chest, crying. A second later, molly and Arthur burst into the room. "What's going on in here?" Molly asked worriedly. "Something's, wrong with Tirza," Hermione said, sounding very concerned. Tirza hadn't noticed them enter and was still crying. "Tirza sweetie wakes up," Molly said as she gently shook the girl. Tirza awoke and looked around, trying to figure out where she was. When she did, the tears started to fall again and she began to shake.
"Tirza are you okay?" Hermione asked very worried. "Tirza would you like to talk?" Molly inquired when Tirza wouldn't say anything. Tirza found molly lion and squeezed her tight. "Molly, I think I'll let you handle this," Arthur said. "Come on girls, let's go have a snack," he said. Tirza nodded at molly's offer. "Please," she said softly through the tears. "We'll be right down the stairs if you need us," Arthur said as he shut the door behind them.
"I want my daddy," Tirza whispered. "I'm scared." "I know you do sweetie but can't Auntie Molly help" Molly said. "Maybe," Tirza said softly. She wanted to ask molly to hold her, but was too shy. "Okay," Tirza said, scooting a little closer to molly. "But it's bad and maybe you won't want me to come visit anymore." "Sweetheart I promise whatever it is I will never be mad or upset with you," Molly vowed.
"Are you really sure?" Tirza asked, finally scooting right next to molly. "Of course I'm sure," Molly said pulling Tirza on her lap. Tirza snuggled against molly. "well, I get really bad dreams because………" she paused to take a deep breath."Because somebody hurted me," she whispered. "Hurt you how?" Molly asked gently. "He...he...did things to me...that only adults are supposed to do," Tirza told her, looking down at her hands. "Please tell me that scumbag isn't still walking around," Molly seethed. Tirza shook her head no. "He went to jail," she told her. "Good because if he hadn't I would be talking to your father," Molly said sternly. Tirza shrugged.
"I'm sorry I woke everyone up." "Don't be sorry," Molly admonished "You needed to be comforted and I'm glad I could." Tirza nodded. "Thanks," Tirza said, her tears slowing down to the occasional sniffle. "Would you like some tea before you go back to sleep?" Molly asked. Tirza wrinkled her nose. "Maybe some milk?" she asked. "Of course" Molly said giving her one last hug as they headed toward the stairs.
Tirza was back to her smiling self in the morning. "Who was making all that noise last night?" Percy grumbled when he came down to breakfast. Tirza rolled her eyes. "Some people do TRY and sleep at night," Percy continued. "Tirza had a nightmare, Percy and she was upset. You leave her be," Molly said sternly. Tirza shot Molly a smile and finished her breakfast. "Who's up for a game of Quidditch?" George asked. The kids spilled out of the kitchen into the backyard after grabbing their brooms and homemade Quidditch balls.
"Harry'll be seeker, Fred and I are beaters of course, Ron can be keeper and you two," George said, looking at Tirza and Ginny. "Can be chasers. Sound good?" Everyone agreed to the positions assigned and Hermione agreed to keep score. Percy ambled outside to watch, out of pure boredom. Harry went after the snitch and Fred and George started batting the bludgers. "Not to close," yelled Ginny as a bludger whirled right by her ear. "Don't be a ninny Ginny it won't hurt you," George yelled as he batted it again toward Harry.
Tirza caught the quaffle and headed towards the makeshift goals and tried to throw it…… it missed "Good shoot," Ron said as he watched it miss the goal by only inches. "Thanks!" Tirza called. Ginny caught it next. "Watch out!" Fred called as Tirza came precariously close to George, who was trying to knock Ginny off course. Tirza ducked just in time, and was barely missed by George. "Good throw," Ron said as Ginny got her shot through the hoop.
"Yea Ginny!" Tirza shouted. "Yea!" Hermione called. Harry flew by, following the snitch, and her eyes followed him, not seeing the quaffle being thrown towards her. "Watch out!" yelled both Fred and George as Tirza was nearly knocked from her broom by the quaffle. Tirza yelled, but was able to hang on, barely. "Tirza, be careful!" Hermione called up. Tirza nodded, trying to keep a better watch. "Try again," Ginny said throwing the quaffle to Tirza who caught it and raced toward the hoops.
This time she made it in. "yea! Woo hoo!" Tirza was to busy pumping her arms to notice the bludger coming right toward her. When it hit her in the side it knocked her off balance and she fell off, screaming, but it wasn't more then four feet to the ground. She fell, knocking the wind out of herself. "Oh look the poor baby don't know how to fly" Sneered Percy as he approached her. She was gasping for air and didn't have the energy to retort. The twins flew down to her and molly ran out of the house, having heard the scream.
"What in the world happened?" Molly demanded as she appeared on the scene moments after the fall. Tirza was finally starting to get her wind back and George was helping her in a sitting position. "She fell mum, got hit by the bludger." Tirza tried to sit up and winced, reaching over to her side, where she knew a huge bruise must be forming. "I knew you shouldn't have played," Molly sighed "Mum!" Ginny exclaimed. "We were being real careful but Tirza scored a goal and she just kinda forgot."
Tirza nodded, still holding her side. "Can I look?" George asked, lightly touching her side. "No," Tirza answered quickly. "But you could help me inside." George smiled and picked her up, carrying her into the house. "Bring her into Ginny's room Fred," Molly said. "George," Tirza and George said at the same time. George carried her into Ginny's room and carefully set her on the bed. "Now all of you scoot; I need to check and make sure Tirza is alright," Molly said. "Yeah, or Snape'll kill us," Harry pointed out. Molly shut the door behind them and sealed it.
"Mum!" Ginny cried from outside "Why can't I come in?" "We'll be done in a minute so just wait outside," Molly replied patiently. "I'll be gentle dear," she said, pulling up Tirza's t-shirt. Tirza nodded, and then winced as Molly touched her side. "Well, you'll survive dear, just a nasty bruise. But it'll be sore for a while, so be careful." "Thanks," Tirza said, pulling her shirt back down. Molly opened the door and in tumbled George, Fred, Ginny, Ron and Harry. Hermione was standing in the hallway, shaking her head at the heap of kids. Tirza giggled as the kids struggled to get off one another and get back up.
"You gonna live kiddo?" George asked. Tirza nodded. "Can I get a ride to the living room from somebody?" she asked. "Of course" George said as he picked her and carried her piggy back ride to the living room she giggled and he plopped her down onto the couch. Percy looked annoyed. "Children," he said, shaking his head. "You were one once," Arthur reminded him. "yes, but not like THAT." he always considered himself much more grown up.
Tirza rolled her eyes. "But not like THAT," she mimicked to Ginny and the twins. "Really? And who was it that went streaking on his fifth birthday because mum wouldn't let him wear his blue cowboy hat?" Fred asked innocently. Tirza giggled so hard that she fell right off the couch onto Percy, whose face was beat red. "Get off," Percy said as he shoved her to the floor and ran back up the stairs. "Ooh cranky," Tirza commented as she got back onto the couch. "Think we hit a sore spot boys?" "I think so" Ron said, happily filing that little tidbit in the back of his mind for future reference. "Let's keep that in mind for blackmail," she whispered to Ron. "Of course" Ron grinned.
"Can I move this little castle dude here?" Tirza asked Ron. He had promised to teach her how to play wizard's chess and. The twins, Ron and Harry burst out laughing. "What?" Tirza asked, sounding confused. "That's not what it's called," Harry told her. "Not by a long shot," Ron added. Tirza stuck her tongue out at Harry and Ron. "Then teach me, smarty, and hurry up, I wanna kick your butt at this before bed," Tirza said with a giggle. "Good luck," Ron stated with a smile. "You can't even keep the names of the pieces right!" She stuck her tongue out at him again and giggled. Her chair suddenly tipped backwards and she rolled out of it and into Fred's arms. The twins began tickling her and Tirza squealed with laughter.
"Boys, stop harassing our poor guest," Arthur said with a smile. "Look at her Arthur," Molly said, smiling. "She adores the attention. I bet she's lonely being an only child." Arthur shrugged and watched as the tickling and giggles continued. "Our boys have certainly taken a shine to her," he commented. "Well really, she's as cute as a button," Molly replied. Arthur chuckled. "Poor Snape will have to beat the boys off with his wand when she gets older." The twins finally released Tirza, her face flushed from laughing. Arthur took the chair opposite Ron. "Come here Tirza; you and I will play together and see if we can't beat Ron." "I'll go get a chair," Tirza said. "I've got a chair for you," Arthur picked her up and set her on his lap and Tirza smiled.
"Now, what do you think our next move should be?" Arthur asked Tirza a half hour later. Ron snickered and pointed at Tirza. Arthur looked down to see her fast asleep. "Molly," he said softly. Molly looked over and smiled. "What a dear little thing," she said. "Come on, time for bed everyone." "Here, I'll take her," Fred said. Arthur smiled and handed Tirza over; the little girl never moved. Fred headed upstairs and Molly bustled in behind him. "Thank you Fred, I'll tuck her in." Fred nodded and wished the three girls goodnight. "She'll want her lion mum; her lion is named Molly too," Ginny pointed out. "Isn't that sweet?" Molly said, finding the lion. She put it in Tirza's arms and tucked the blankets around the sleeping girl and gave Tirza a gentle kiss on the forehead.
"We're going shopping! We're going shopping!" The three girls chanted the next morning. "Girls," Fred and George said in unison. They giggled and stuck their tongues out at the twins. "Hurry and eat now everybody, we have lots of things to buy today," Molly said, trying to hurry everyone up. Tirza was bouncing in her chair as she ate, excited to go school shopping. "Merlin Tirza, can't you ever be still or quiet?" Percy asked, clearly irritated. "Um, no," Tirza answered. "Percy, eat your breakfast and leave her alone," Molly admonished. Percy sighed and did as he was asked, but not without giving Tirza a glare first. Tirza easily shrugged off the glare; it was nothing compared to some of her father's looks!
"Okay now remember what I said," Molly spoke clearly into the fire and said "Diagon Alley." "Alright we're up," George and Fred grabbed some floo powder and said "Diagon Alley." "You next Harry and Ron," Arthur prodded and Harry and Ron did the same and disappeared. Tirza looked nervously at Arthur. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" she asked. "It's the best way to get there and you and Ginny can do it together," Arthur said "okay, but if I burn and die, my dad might kill ya, just to warn ya," she said with a wink. "You'll do just fine," Arthur reassured her. "Now grab some powder and off you both go," Arthur prodded.
They grabbed the powder and stepped into the fireplace. "Diagon alley!" they shouted. "Alright Percy it's just you and I," Arthur said as they both grabbed the powder and disappeared to reappear in the fire at the Leaky Cauldron. "Wow! That was a cool way to travel!" Tirza exclaimed. "We do it all the time," Ron said, giving her a silly look. "Alright you lot out we go," Arthur said as he held the back door open for the group. When everyone had stepped out into the courtyard and he tapped the bricks in the right order and the wall swung away.
"So where are we gonna meet my dad?" Tirza asked. "We're meeting him at Flourish and Blotts," Molly said, Tirza nodded and followed everyone, "This way" Arthur called out as he led them to Gringotts. "What's this?" Tirza asked, looking a little scared at the imposing building. "It's a wizard bank run by goblin's, but don't worry they aren't mean," Molly assured her, "oh yeah, I been here before! I came a long time ago with my dad." Tirza commented. "Percy please stay up here with the others while your mum and I retrieve some money," Arthur said as he followed a goblin toward the vaults.
Tirza was bouncing around, shifting from one leg to the other. She was anxious to see her dad and to shop and FINALLY get her own wand. "Tirza be patient," Hermione whispered as she watched her friend begin to bounce. "I'm trying, but it's hard," she responded, still shifting from foot to foot. "Tirza either stop or I'll tell your dad" Percy warned. "Tell him that I'm bouncy? He already knows that! Just leave me the hell alone already," she snapped back. "What did you say?" Molly said as she approached from the vaults.
Tirza paled slightly. "n-n-nothing," she said softly. "Mum she said a bad word," Percy whined. Tirza began fidgeting, her face getting slightly pink. "Tirza! I had expected better from you," Molly admonished her. Tirza looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "Apology accepted and please watch your language from now on," Percy snapped as he led the way out of the bank. Tirza nodded, and then fell behind to walk with molly. "I'm sorry," she told her again. "Are you going to tell my dad?" "No, everyone makes mistakes sometimes. But your teachers will not accept it, so you'd best try to watch yourself" Molly told her. "I know…… I get angry sometimes and it slips out, but I am trying, cuz daddy doesn't like it either," Tirza told her. "Good girl," Molly said as she gave her a hug.
"Tirza there's your dad," Ginny called from up at the head of the line. Tirza hugged molly, and then ran off towards Snape, beaming. "Have you behaved?" Snape asked as he caught her up in a big bear hug. "No," Percy snapped. Tirza just shrugged. "Mrs. Weasley has she been behaving?" Severus asked as he ignored Percy. "Yes, she was a dear little thing. Just one little slip, but nothing disastrous," Molly said with a wink in Tirza's direction. He hugged her tight. "I missed you," she whispered. "I missed you too" Severus said as he held her close. "Are you ready to get some books?" she nodded happily, glad that she wasn't in trouble, at least for now.
As they entered flourish and blots they ran into……… "Well well Severus, so nice to see you and Tia here. Shopping for school?" Lucius Malfoy asked. "TIRZA," Tirza interrupted. "It's TIRZA." "Stop being rude to my father," Draco sneered as he balled his fists. "well it would be nice if he at least TRIED to get my name right," she snapped at Draco. "Lucius how nice to see you again" Severus said, feigning congeniality. "Have a nice holiday?" "Lovely, just lovely, but we best be getting along. Goodbye Severus, tia." Lucius and Draco turned to leave. Tirza started to yell something, but Severus quickly put his hand over his mouth. Tirza frowned and licked his hand, then giggled at his reaction. "Tirza, that's disgusting," he said, wiping his hand. "But it works," she told him through her giggles. "We need to get your books and your wand. Here is the list of books we need to find" Severus said handing Tirza a piece of parchment.
"Cool," she said, scanning it. They heard a loud crowd at the front of the store. "What's that all about?" she asked. "I have no clue but we will check it out once we finish the list since that is where the payout counter is," Severus said. "Where do we find all these?" she asked. "This shop is divided into sections" Severus said pointing to the signs overhead. "We are in potions/herbology/medical at the moment." "Okay," she tried to climb one of the ladders and upon discovering that it could slide, slid down the bookshelf on it. "Cool!" she decided, attempting to do it again. "No, not happening" Severus pulled her down and dragged her off toward charms and transfigurations.
"We have all the books you need now except for your Defense against the dark arts" Severus sighed dreading the books she would need. "What's wrong? I like defense class," she said as they headed towards the front. "Your teacher is, how shall I say it, stuck up," Severus said searching for the right words. Tirza giggled. The crowd ahead was in their way. "I can't see," she said, trying to jump up and down to see better. "Up you go," Severus said hoisting her to his shoulder's Tirza patted his head and looked over the crowd to see a man in pink smiling and signing books. "Who's that loser?" she asked. "Your professor, Gilderoy Lockhart," Snape said with a groan.
"Oooh. DADA is gonna suck," she told him. "He's gotta be gay……… guy's just don't wear pink." "Do not say that to his face please," Snape warned. "Even if you don't like a professor you must be nice to him or her." "Maybe," she said. "But I don't like him. I want uncle Remus back." "Well you'll just have to make do" Severus sighed. "I don't like him much either but I ask that you try to get along because I will do the same." "I don't make promises I can't keep," she said, eyeing Lockhart. "But I'll TRY." "That's all I ask," Severus said. "Are you ready to leave?" "Yeah, I don't want him to sign my books." she picked up one of her books from Lockhart and started scribbling on the face.
"Severus what a pleasure to see you here," Gilderoy said strolling up to the departing snapes. "Aw tribbles," Tirza whispered. "Hush," Severus whispered to her. "Lockhart," Snape said with a sneer. "Aww come on, don't you want to get an autograph?" Gilderoy said to Tirza. "Yeah, I want an autograph like I want a hole in the head," she said sarcastically. Snape rolled his eyes. "American sense of humor," he told Lockhart. "Right, right," Gilderoy agreed. "Are you staying for a bit?" "No sorry we must be off to get her wand," Severus stated. "Thank god," Tirza added. "See you both at school," Gilderoy said to their retreating backs. "Daddy, do I have to take his class? He's really annoying," "Yes you do sweetheart," Severus said quietly. "I promise you though he won't last more than a year."