I opened one bleary eye as the pounding on the door continued. I groaned and sat up, shocked for a moment to see George lying in my bed.
"Damn you and your deep sleep, George," I muttered. I grinned and started to move to the end of the bed when the door was simply pushed open.
Reflexively I pulled the blanket up to my chest, covering myself when I saw who stood in the doorway. Ginny and Fred were staring in shock, while my brother, Paul, was looking utterly confused and a little upset. Fred's face cracked into a malicious grin, and he snuck silently over to the edge of the bed beside George. Ginny smiled broadly and rushed over to hug me tightly. Paul simply walked in and lifted a brow as he sank into one of the chairs. I looked over just as Fred smacked George across the face, causing George to jerk up right with a shout and swinging at his brother.
"Annabelle, maybe you and your guest should get dressed," Paul suggested, as he glanced over at George who was trying to salvage some dignity as he wrapped one of the blankets around his waist. Fred was sitting on the floor laughing hysterically while holding his nose, presumably trying to halt the bleeding.
"Paul, perhaps you should hand me my robe," I snapped, looking pointedly at the floor in front of him where my robe was lying from the night before.
Ginny suddenly started giggling like mad as she picked up the torn remains of my undergarments. I flushed deeply, and Paul lifted his brows as he handed me my robe.
"Had a little fun, did we?" Paul teased, before turning to face George. "Paul Calavierres, pleasure to meet you."
"George Weasley," He replied, offering his hand.
Paul's eyes suddenly flashed, and he punched George squarely in the nose. I laughed loudly, holding my robe in my hand still. Paul advanced malevolently on George, until Fred stood up, looking very serious.
"What is with everyone today?" I asked, a broad smile on my face. "Ginny, maybe we should punch eachother so we don't feel left out!" I cried, and we both burst into giggles.
"I'm going to go shower," George muttered, before he leaned over to kiss me. I nodded and watched him walk into the bathroom.
"All right, would y'all mind turning around so I can put this robe on?" I asked, smiling sweetly. Everyone obliged and I quickly yanked the robe on, tying it snugly around my waist. "All right, you can turn back around."
"So, had a lovely night, Annabelle?" Fred asked, waggling his eyebrows suggestively once we heard the water start running.
"Naturally," I replied, climbing out of the bed and walking to one of the bed tables where several letters were lying unopened. "What're y'all doing here?" I asked as I flipped through the letters.
"Well, we wanted to come by and make sure that George hadn't killed you since Fred never heard back from him last night. And we wanted to make sure that you were going to bring the girls and your family over to the Burrow for Christmas," Ginny told me. "Paul already said that he and his wife and kids would come with you."
I smiled warmly at my brother. "Thanks Paul, you're wonderful. What about Elizabeth and Jamison?" I asked, referring to my twin sister and our younger brother.
"I assume that if you and I are going, everyone else will follow," he replied, waving his hand. "They've always catered to us. Besides, I doubt Liz would pass up the opportunity to see her twin sister."
"Twin sister?" Fred asked curiously.
"Oh, yeah, not identical like you two," I replied, setting the letters from the girls on the bed and dumping the others back on the table. "Liz is this tall willowy redhead. She got married…six years ago. She has five kids and she's expecting two more in February," I added, glancing anxiously at the bathroom.
"Are you going to open those letters, Annabelle?" Ginny asked pointedly.
"Not until George gets back out here," I replied, looking over at her. "They're from the girls."
Ginny nodded, and Fred stretched out on the floor.
"So those bruises from Quidditch practice yesterday, or are they souvenirs from last night?" Paul asked bluntly. I shrugged not really bothering to look.
"Probably both," I replied, tapping the letters against my hand. The water had stopped running, so I assumed that George would be out soon. "Look, I fully plan on being at the Burrow with my girls for Christmas, so if that's all…" I trailed off, looking at them. Ginny grinned and Paul frowned in a brotherly fashion.
"Aww, we don't get to hear what the girls wrote?" Fred asked with a pout.
"I really think that the first time George gets to read letters from his daughters should not be with family members watching his every reaction," I said quietly. "I may have made a mistake eleven years ago, but I'd like to be able to start making up for it," I added, looking up at the three of them.
"Of course, Anna, we'll see you this evening for dinner, perhaps?" Paul said, standing up.
"Certainly. Is Brigitte cooking?" I asked hopefully.
"Naturally. How does seven sound?"
"Fabulous. Thanks guys, I'll set up some lunches or whatever with the rest of your family, Ginny," I added, looking over at her. She nodded, and everyone left fairly quickly. Once the door closed, I snuck over and turned the bolt, locking them out.
George walked out of the bathroom a few moments later, clothed and cleaned. I smiled and walked over to meet him. He gave me a kiss, and began looking for his shoes. I sighed and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Are you going right away?" I asked quietly. He looked up at me from where he was reaching under the bed for his shoe.
"I have to get back to the shop in Hogsmeade," he answered, fishing out the other shoe. "Why?"
"Oh, I just have letters from Gianna and Adele," I answered, and he literally dove for them, but I jerked them out of reach at the last moment. "Adele's always has to be read first," I explained calmly. "She always explains everything that went on, so that Gianna's letter makes sense."
He laughed loudly and sat beside me as I opened Adele's letter. I began to read:
'Hey Momma!
'This place is amazing. Why didn't you tell us about the sorting ceremony? It was really cool…except…Gianna's in Gryffindor,'
"YES!" George shouted, doing a little dance, and I snickered.
'And I'm in Ravenclaw--just like you! Gianna said that the hat wouldn't dream of putting a troublemaking Weasley like her anywhere except Gryffindor. What does that mean? We're Calavierres', so why would the hat call her a Weasley? Who are the Weasleys? I'm so excited, momma!
'Oh, and Gianna kinda got in a little trouble…she kinda got some of the older kids in all the houses to set off a whole bunch of fireworks right at the end of Professor Dumbledore's speech, and one of them ratted her out. It was an amazing light show…they were those Weasley ones, you know? So they were flying all over the castle afterward, and everyone was laughing. It was awesome, but now she has detentions with Mr.…Filch? Yeah, him. Anyway, I miss you a lot, and I can't wait to see you at Christmas! Love always, Adele.'
I laughed and looked at George, who was looking extremely proud, and kissed me firmly.
"That's my girl!" he cried, obviously pleased that Gianna had taken up where he left off. "I wish I'd seen it. Fred and I never bothered to try to bring other houses in on pranking the staff. That's bloody brilliant!"
"Wait, here's Gianna's letter," I said, opening her letter.
'Momma!
'Adele and I are in different houses! It sucks! I hate it! I don't have any accomplices that are trustworthy. Ugh, and I have this ridiculous caretaker out to get me, I don't like him. Who the hell are the Weasley's, and how am I one? Was dad a Weasley? Whatever, explain it all to Adele, I don't ever understand anyway. Don't send me a Howler, I'm getting punished enough. I gotta go; I have some plans to start working on, bye, Momma!
'Ticklishly yours, Gianna.'
I laughed and shook my head. George looked completely befuddled and glanced up at me for clarification.
"Gianna never likes taking time to write coherent letters, so she just scribbles down notes and then sends them, trusting that Adele is going to fill in all of the information so that you actually know what's going on," I told him, with a smile. I sighed deeply.
"Oh…I see," he replied, taking the letters out of my hands. "Do you mind if I have these?" he asked, looking at me hopefully.
"Of course you can have them, George," I whispered, looking at my hands. "You deserved every bit of the girls that you can get. I know I made a mistake eleven years ago, but I'd like to try to fix it," I said quietly, turning to look up at him. "Please let me try to make it up to you."
"Annabelle, I love you, but I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive you for what you've taken from me by keeping those girls a secret," he said quietly.
"I know."
He looked at me, and kissed me once more before walking out of the room. I stood up to go take a shower.