If only Arnold could talk

Reena woke up on a fresh autumn morning in September full of joy; it was her birthday, she had just turned fourteen. It was also the one year anniversary.

Getting up as quietly as possible so as not to wake Ralf the barn owl, she riffled through her wardrobe until she found her black robes. After pulling on the robes she faced the mirror, screwed up her face and 'pop' she grew waist length black hair and a cute button nose.

Clomping down the stairs she called "Mum, breakfast in ten minutes" promptly followed by her falling over the elephants foot umbrella stand. "Darn, I wish they wouldn't leave it there" snarled Reena as she hoisted the umbrella stand upwards "At least there isn't that horrid screaming woman on the wall anymore, she was driving me mad."

"Hey Reena, happy birthday" came a distant voice from the pantry as Reena appeared in the vast kitchen.

"Thanks James, you remembered" smiled Reena

"You sound like it's an easy thing to forget" replied James backing out of the pantry clutching a stone bowl.

"Where's Tarka? I thought she would be up by now"

"Yeh she was up ages ago, she's out in the garden talking to the snakes, as normal, at the moment. I mean they don't really say much just some garbage about mice and stuff not really that interesting, I thought she preferred the otters anyway." Now musing to himself "Personally I find the deer much more fun to be with; the wolves are a bit touchy and easy to disgruntle"

"Yeh well I'm afraid no amount of wondering will get breakfast ready will it" announced Reena. "James, hellooooo, earth calling James"

"What, oh yeh, breakfast, I like the sound of that" said James coming out of his daydream, giggling Reena started mixing the porridge.

"Remus, are we going to Diagon Alley today to see Uncle Fred and Aunty Angelina?" questioned Tarka.

"Erm, I don't really know, go ask Ginny, she will know when's best for us to visit them"

"Ginny" called Tarka loudly

"You looking for someone" asked James coming through the door

"Yeh actually, I was looking for your mum, have you any idea where she is? Remus said to ask her when we are going to Diagon Alley"

"No idea sorry"

Ginny was in fact in her room near the top of number twelve Grimuland Place; talking to Arnold, the only fully sympathetic listener.

"Why did it have to happen to him, it just isn't fair, I know I'm being silly and selfish and I should have known when I married Harry that he would probably die but it doesn't make it any easier on James or me does it?" Arnold emitted a noise which could have been taken as a sympathetic one. "Oh, how I wish piggmypuffs could talk" mused Ginny "you would have so much to say." Her thoughts were interrupted by a pair of feet rushing up the stairs. Quickly mopping up her tears Ginny was putting the final touches to her make-up a few moments later when Reena burst into the room.

"Are you ready to go Ginny? Everyone else is downstairs by the fire."

"Yeh ill be down in a minute" Ginny smiled inwardly as Reena rushed away "she becomes more like Tonks everyday but you can still see a lot of Remus I her. Just like Tarka, you can tell she is a true Weasley from the red hair and freckles but she has Hermione's brains and subtle charm" sighing Ginny straightened up and started to descend the stairs.

A few minutes later they were stood in the bustling main room of the Leaky Cauldron; before setting off to Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes.