Hello and thank you for taking an interest in my story.
This is a Bill Weasley/OC fanfiction. I have nothing against Fleur, I just feel that Bill is underappreciated and I really love him.
Harry Potter was the very first fanfiction that I started reading and I always come back to it. I thought, 'why not write a Bill/OC fanfiction?' So, I have started one and am sort of happy with how it's coming along.
Ophelia is currently twenty-two in the story but will be turning twenty-three in November. She's the same age and Tonks and Charlie, having gone to Hogwarts with them. Bill is twenty-four but will be turning twenty-five.
My OC is from the Black family and is Sirius' sister - not his daughter.
I really do hope you enjoy this story and please tell me what you think either through reviews or PMing me if you wish.
I know this story has been neglected for a long time, but I have tried to recently make time to update and work all on my stories. I still feel like Bill is underappreciated and therefore will continue with this story.
The title has changed. It used to be called 'What Makes the Heart Beat? What Makes It Flutter?' but I've changed it to 'These Little Flutters' as I feel it fits the story a little better.
I am currently going through the seven chapters I have on here and updating them as my writing style has changed a little since this was first published and if I'm going to continue writing for this story then it will feel a little glitching from the first seven chapters onward.
I hope this story still has followers and that you all enjoy.
Please enjoy - thank you x Comet96 xx
Why did a knock at the door seem so frightening?
I guess with the news of Voldemort returning and the fact that a student was killed a couple of weeks ago upon his return, it was explainable why everything seemed frightening.
There was that dreaded feeling of the looming danger. I knew now that the next couple of years were going to be hard.
"Are you ready?" I looked up as a hand was settled on my shoulder and gave my brother a bright smile to reassure him that I was fine.
It seemed that Sirius didn't believe my show as he smirked, lifting a strand of my curly hair that was a glorious bright teal.
Huffing in annoyance at the smug look on his face, I ran my hand through my hair, watching as the blue faded away and turned into black. Unfortunately, it was my natural hair colour and made me look like my demented cousin, Bellatrix.
It was one downfall of being a Metamorphmagus, the constant changing of my hair because it was linked to my emotions. I was generally really good at controlling my hair but since the news of Voldemort, well, it seemed I had lost my ability to have it under control.
Over the last couple of weeks, my hair had been a dead giveaway for my emotions and Sirius found it amusing because he was one of the only people to understand what each colour meant.
The only other person that could read my like a book was our cousin Nymphadora, who also shared the ability.
Dora was practically my sister seeing as it was her mother that had taken responsibility for me when mother died when I was thirteen. It was either move in with Andie or the Malfoy's and no matter how much I love Narcissa, I was not spending the rest of my Hogwarts career under the thumb of Lucious Malfoy.
"I'm just worried," I told him as I followed him into the hallway when another knock echoed through the house.
"FILTHY BLOOD-TRAITOR! HOW DARE YOU STEP FOOT IN MY HOUSE!" We shared a look as the horrid portrait of our mother started yelling. I was hoping he'd take one for the team and sort her out.
"You can deal with it," he said, rushing out of the parlour and pushing me under the bus.
"You always do this," I huffed, sending him a glare as he smirked at me over his shoulder. Puffing out a deep sigh, I marched my way toward the stairs only to stumble over the bottom step. I was one hundred percent sure that Kreacher had magically tripped me, because unlike Dora, I wasn't that clumsy.
Looking as spectacularly cleaner than the rest of the house, mother's portrait was gleaming in the low light of the hall. It was clear what Kreacher spent most of his time cleaning in this house.
"Ophelia, sweetheart," she said softly, her eyes lighting up upon seeing me. It was no secret that Reg had been my mother's favourite, but I had been her only daughter and she loved me for it. No matter the amount of love she had for me, I hadn't liked her, not after the way she treated Sirius.
He had always been my favourite. No offence to Regulus.
"Mother," I greeted, rolling my eyes. "Pleasure as always." Silencio. With my nonverbal spell, Mother was silenced, and I no longer had to listen to future wailing and whining that was to be expected from her.
Hopefully the spell would last for a while and I could place a strong charm over the drapes to prevent anything from disturbing her.
"Cassie," Sirius called, using my middle name. It was always something that pissed mother off and if Sirius could piss her off he would. I glanced over to him as I stepped off the bottom step. Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall were standing slightly behind him. "Are you ready?"
"I guess we shouldn't wait any longer, right?" I muttered, giving a small, polite smile to the Professors.
"No, I don't see any point in postponing, Miss Black," Albus said, waving his hand towards the kitchen.
Sirius followed Dumbledore's silent order and practically bounced down to the kitchen like an overgrown puppy. Which was ironic considering his Animagus form.
As we sat around the table, I flicked my wand and the teapot from the stove came over, followed by teacups, the sugar bowl and a jug of milk. Dumbledore waited until everyone's tea was prepared before getting on with business.
"Thank you," the headmaster said, picking up his cup and sipping the hot tea. "You know why we came."
"Beside the fact that Voldemort's back, you mean?" I asked, ignoring the warning look Sirius shot me. "We offered the house to The Order to use as headquarters." I was stressed enough as it was. I didn't need Dumbledore trying to hint at why he was here. I'd rather he get to the point.
"For that to work, we need to add the Fidelius Charm to prevent unwanted guests from turning up," he stated, replying to my words.
It was reasonable. A few known Death Eaters had been to this house in the past. Bellatrix, Lucious, Narcissa were a few obvious ones. Protecting the house from unwanted guests seemed the way to go to protect everyone in the long run.
"Who's it going to be?" Sirius asked and I could see something swimming in his eyes. Was he thinking about the last time he was in this situation and he turned down being the Secret Keeper? That was something that would always haunt him. "Cassie, right? It is her house."
"The house isn't mine," I said, feeling surprised that he thought so. Sirius glanced at my hair before flicking down at my hands and I didn't even have to look down to know they'd be lime green. "It was left to me when mother died, but father had left the house to you in his will. We both know that you were father's favourite, even after mother disowned you." Sirius gave a small nod, knowing the love father had for him even when he ran away. "I asked Albus to help me sign the house over to you while you were in Azkaban. It's your birthright."
"You didn't have to do that," he said, a gentleness to his voice and eyes.
"Of course I did. You're my brother and you deserve to have somewhere to live, to have somewhere to call home."
As I seemed to calm down, my hair went to its usual state of ginger. I always loved this colour and I knew it was because Charlie Weasley had been one of my best friends since I was eleven. I was always jealous of his glorious ginger hair and always turned my hair to match his.
"Shall we move on then?" Dumbledore asked, a twinkle in his eyes.
"You'll be willing to be Secret Keeper, won't you, Albus?" I asked, knowing I trusted him above anyone else, excluding Sirius and Dora of course.
"I think it best if we have more than one."
"Is that safe?" Both Sirius and I asked at the same time. I was wondering if Dumbledore had all his marbles in his bag. Surely that wasn't safe?
"It'll be safer to have more than one. Sirius can't leave the house at the moment so it's ideal for him to be one as no one will suspect him. I'll be at Hogwarts for most of the year and I know Fudge has me under investigation so it will be harder for me to leave without suspicions rising. You, Miss Black, can change your appearance at will and can be hard to recognise. I think it is ideal for you to inform the rest of the Order."
"As long as it's safe," Sirius said, the concern in his voice clear. He wouldn't agree to this if it put me at risk.
"She'll be safe."
No offence to Dumbledore, but I wasn't sure if I could trust him. He wasn't a seer. He didn't know what my future held.
"Fine, let's do it," Sirius reluctantly agreed and I knew it was because he was allowed to step outside for a few minutes and I couldn't remember the last time that happened since he saw Harry at Hogwarts at the end of last year.
"Right then, shall we get on with it?" I rose from my seat, indicating we should hurry this a long already. It had already gone nine and it was only going to get later. If I knew Dumbledore, I knew he'd send me off to inform the Weasley's and I didn't want to be doing that so late in the night.
Dumbledore rose and led the way up the stairs and into the night of the street, Minerva and Sirius following like loyal dogs. Soon we were staring up at the house from the park across the street.
It didn't take long for Dumbledore to cast the spell, first on himself and then Sirius before turning his wand to me. It was like a cold chill washed over me and it felt like an intense pressure was pushing down on my shoulders before it all lifted and I felt free, as if the whole world had been removed from my shoulders.
"As I planned," he said, handing Minerva a piece of paper containing the address. Once she read it, the paper was quickly set on fire. "We'll be off for the night. I'll inform Kingsley and Alistair immediately, but I would be grateful if you could inform the Weasley's tonight, Miss Black." At my nod, Dumbledore turned to look at Sirius. "We'll be around tomorrow night at eight for the first meeting." The headmaster turned back to look at me and handed me a rolled up sheet of parchment. "If you could see that all these get informed about the headquarters before tomorrow please."
"Of course," I muttered, taking the scroll and tucking it into my coat pocket. You have got to love magic and the things it can do. I was glad about the extension charms I'd added to the coat a couple of years ago. It was always good to have the extra room on me.
"Goodnight, Albus, Minerva," Sirius waved them off before giving me a pointed look. "Straight to the Weasley's and then right back here."
"Alright, dad," I joked, giving him a hug of reassurance.
"Take it easy," he added as I waved goodbye and he made his way into the house.
Once I was sure he was inside the house, I turned on the spot, picturing The Burrow in my mind.