Little Reminder: The fabulous world of Harry Potter does not belong to me, no matter how much I may want it. Thus, I credit JKR for her amazing work.
Chapter Four A Weasley Welcome
Jenny and Hermione stepped up to the front door of the Burrow hand in hand. As Hermione rang the doorbell of the Weasley's house, Jenny held up their linked hands. The engagement ring that Ron had given her mother glittered brightly in between Jenny's own fingers. The stone wasn't of the normal engagement type; in the center was a round cut sparkling amethyst that caught the light perfectly with two red hearts, the tops to the inside. Her father had told her that the stones that he and Hermione had picked out were called "Red Beryl." The ring was to symbolize faith and the rarity of what they had. As soon as Jenny had seen the ring she had known that is was something truly amazing. The door clicked open and Jenny looked up and up and up. A giant of a man stood in the doorway, his long red hair pulled back in a ponytail. His face was scarred and slightly aged but still good looking by any standard, even from the scrutinizing eye of an American girl-child.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Hermione Granger the British American," he flashed a huge grin, "It's been a long since you were here last. I take it that this is the little one my mother is speaking so highly of?" questioned Bill Weasley, the eldest of the Weasley children.
As Hermione replied to Bill she let go of Jenny's hand and stepped forward to give Bill a hug, "I don't know about what your mother is saying, but yes, this is my daughter Jennifer. Jenny, I would like to introduce you to one of your uncles. This," she paused dramatically, "is Bill."
At this, Bill stepped away from Hermione and picked up Jenny, holding her high in the air. Bill spun Jenny around a few times before setting back down the giggling child. As Bill began to talk he led Jenny and Hermione through the house, but as soon as she stepped in Jenny lost all interest in what her big uncle was saying.
The kitchen was a jumble with an assortment of children's art, small toys, plus pots and pans everywhere. The smell of fresh bread waited Jenny as she passed the oven and saw six loaves sitting on top to cool. They were large loaves to begin with, but six of them surely meant that there were a very large number of people here today.
As they passed though the living room, Jenny saw a big clock on the wall with all her uncles faces on it. All were pointed to "Up to No Good" with one exception; her aunt Ginny, who long deceased, was pointed at "Dead". At this point Jenny could hear the noises of the backyard: children laughing, booming voices from the Weasley men, female giggling and a few shouts of indignation. Jenny gulped and sent up a small prayer to the angel back in the ministry that she would make it though this day without being a complete fool.
Stepping back out into the sunlight in the backyard, Jenny's eyes took in all the activity and people. A collection of red haired men along with Harry stood by the big oak. Quietly observing the men, Jenny took them to be her uncles, as they stood grouped together chatting loudly about what Jenny believed was Quidditch. At the very large picnic table sat a group of women giggling and talking very animatedly about something involving "the good old days" while one woman attempted to scold the numerous children running around the yard.
This buzz of child activity was what Jenny finally focused on. As far as she could tell there were nine children with red hair that Jenny took to her cousins plus Brenna and a boy who looked to be about her age. In fact he was the only boy that Jenny saw there.
The boy had chocolate brown hair that looked almost black with rich green eyes. He was a good half foot taller than Jenny with a very lanky form with a wicked grin on his face. He was of a tanned coloring but he was definitely Brenna's older brother that she had heard so much about from her. Alan Potter was undeniably Harry's son and seemed to be working the only boy thing to his advantage.
'He may only be ten years old but he already thinks that he is all that. Great, Alan is yet another silly boy with cooties and a big head and just because of his father. Great, my day is now complete!'
"HERMIONE! Is that you? Oh my gosh, look everyone, the British American has graced us with her presence!"
Jenny looked over at the woman who had stood up and was walking over to Hermione, Bill and Jenny with her arms outstretched. She took Hermione into a great big hug as Ron walked over to them and picked up Jenny and spun her around just like Bill had done earlier putting her into another fit of giggles.
"I couldn't believe the news when I heard it! You and Ron, finally getting married after all these years. And no-one believed Ron when he said that he had his own child to look out for now, is this her? She is so precious. I can hardly believe it, you, a mother before me! Fleur and Bill can still claim first born grandchild, but this is truly amazing. And to think you did it all by yourself in the United States, job and all!"
The woman took a breath and Jenny took the opportunity to get a word in edge wise while she still could, "Who are you?"
The woman laughed loudly, "Forgive me, sweetheart, I'm your Aunt Penelope. You must be Ron's little girl, you don't look a thing like him. Except for a few things you look more like Hermione. Oh my, you are the first Weasley child born without red hair! There is some irony in this world! Come you must meet all the others." Jenny and her father were instantly surrounded by the group of children who looked up at her in her father's arms.
The only child who was older than her, Skylar was Bill's first born. Skylar was the first child Jenny met; she had red hair that was arrow straight and long that was braided down her back. She also had brown eyes but the woman behind hers features and was already at Hogwarts. Next was Adele the middle child of Bill whose red hair contained two silver blond streaks on either side of her face, while her brown eyes were silver rimmed, somehow she looked like her mother. Jenny was informed by Fleur, with still the slightest bit of her old French accent that Adele and Jenny were about the same age. The last of Bill and Fleur's children was Catherine, or more commonly Cat. She was about a year younger than Jenny, was the real gem. She had silvery red hair that almost glowed and her brown eyes held little silver flecks that seemed to dance.
The next set of Weasleys matched in looks; curly red hair and brown eyes. There weren't any traits to tell them apart, except their height and age, otherwise, they were the children of Percy and Penelope, the chatty woman. The eldest was Penny, then Padma, Paige and finally Paulina. All four girls looked at Jenny like she wasn't worth the effort or the space; Jenny already didn't like them that much.
The next pair looked almost like sisters but Jenny learned that Allegra was the only child of George and Alicia, while Lara was the only child of Fred and Angelina. The pair had almond colored skin with rich brown eyes and the Weasley red hair. Allegra's hair was long and elegant in nature while Lara's was short and disorganized, giving her an impish appearance.
The last pair weren't true Weasleys by blood, even though they were considered so by most there. Alan Potter was staring at her with a measuring look as Brenna gave her a warm smile and started to speak only to be cut off by Aunt Penelope.
"Alright, you lot, why don't you let Jenny join in the fun and games for a while and give the parents some time."
With an enthusiastic shout from the crowd of kids, Jenny was whisked off by Lara, Allegra and Brenna to join in a small game of broomless Quidditch.
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Hermione watched as Jenny was whisked off by her cousins to play and turned back to the crowd of adults that stood around her. Seeing their faces she could tell that as much as they had loved her before, this would be a steep climb back into the Weasley world.
"Come on, Hermione, dear, you can help with the…" started Molly.
"No. 'ermione needs to catch up with all of us Molly, not just you," stated Fleur calmly as she led Hermione back to where the women had already been sitting before. In a matter of minutes the females of the Weasley clan were around her wanting to hear all about Jenny, the United States and the upcoming wedding.
The chatting went on for almost an hour until there was a shriek from one of the children.
"Mummy! Mummy! Jenny and Alan are fighting!" shouted Penny loudly.
Hermione, Ron, Harry and his wife rushed over to where the two children were fighting tooth and nail. Hermione was astonished to see that Jenny was keeping up with the bigger boy without a problem, which scared her slightly. Hermione watched in shock as Alan grabbed Jenny's hair and spun her around so her back was to him. Jenny swung her elbow into Alan's chest, whipped around and slapped Alan across the face. As Alan reached out to grab Jenny's arm, her stomped on his foot and kneed him in the groin. It was then that Ron and Harry both grabbed children and yanked them apart. Alan pulled against his father's arms and Jenny kicked fiercely at her father both shouting insults.
"Take them in the house, discuss it there," said Mr. Weasley as he pointed to the backdoor.
Nodding to his father, Ron led the group into the house and put Jenny down on the couch. Harry followed suit but placed Alan in a chair, careful to make sure that the two children weren't side by side.
"You two better have a dead good explanation for what just happened out there," stated Harry, his voice deadly calm. Jenny's chin went up defiantly and Alan stared at his father, yet neither spoke up.
"If one of you doesn't speak up, Harry and I will have to resort to taking you home now and not getting to have Grandmum's good cooking. Now, speak up," said Ron, his voice matching Harry's. He looked quickly to Hermione to confirm this action and received the smallest of nods.
"She started it. I wasn't doing anything wrong…" started Alan, a slight whine in his voice.
"That's not true! I didn't start it you did. Alan was picking on Brenna for not knowing about Quidditch, and then I said that I had never seen a match, so then he started picking on me," interjected Jenny, looking ready to commit murder.
"Oh so it's my fault that you randomly attacked me over a Quidditch discussion. Honestly, the girl's a nightmare Dad."
"You said that Quodpot wasn't a real sport! It is too! It's just different than Quidditch! You can't understand that not everything revolves around Quidditch, though. There is more to talk about in this world, like school, or something…"
"That's enough you two. I can see that this wasn't really worth the effort. Jenny, you were raised to know that violence is not the answer. Now, apologize to Alan for hurting him and you are never to do it again. Do you understand," said Hermione before all hell broke loose. Looking at Hermione and then Ron, Jenny nodded and mumbled her apology to Alan.
"Well Alan, you aren't so lucky, young man. You never hit a girl out of anger. Ever. You are to apologize to Jenny for doing so and will be spending the next three weeks without your broom, and… learning the basics behind Quodpot," said Harry. Alan made a face of indignation and started to reply but Harry cut him off, "You know better than to behave like that, and for your information Quodpot is the second largest sport known to the wizarding world."
Both children looked at each other at the same time. Alan gave Jenny a glare that clearly said to stay out of his way while Jenny's could have killed him on the spot if possible. Alan decided that this wasn't worth his effort, got up and walked back outside to eat. Jenny's eyes followed Alan all the way and Hermione saw what the others had already figured out.
Those two are not going to get along this year. Or at all, for that matter.
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The rest of the day went well, save a few insults between Jenny and Alan that were mostly overlooked. The Weasleys absolutely loved Jenny and, save the fist fight, thought she was an angel. All the Weasley grandchildren wanted to know about the United States, and what it was like; Jenny was happy to oblige them with tales of back home with Miss Monee, the werewolf who visited a few years back and the Tibetan monk who had taught hands on healing to her mother and herself a little bit ago.
Food was served around seven, and served to be quite the feast. The bread Jenny had seen cooling earlier was spread across the two tables, child and adult, with butter and jams. There was chicken or turkey as well as mashed potatoes with light and dark gravy. Vegetables and salad were plentiful along with lemonade or butterbeer. The fruit salad was amazing and the cheese sauce was even and rich for the chicken. Finally, Grandmum brought out the masterpiece of the evening.
The three layer vanilla and chocolate marble cake, topped with whipped cream icing and cream filling. The Hogwarts Crest was placed dead center with Skylar, Jennifer, Alan and Adele written in scarlet around the edges. Everyone applauded for the creation and was thrilled when they tasted it. The cake was so big that there was almost half it leftover by the evening's end, and everyone took home some for later. Jenny and Ron both bet that there wouldn't be any by morning at any house.
The Weasley clan finally headed back to their homes, which were all over Britain. Jenny, Hermione and Ron returned to Ron's flat for a chat. When Hermione went to the loo, Ron complimented Jenny for standing up for herself, but hastily asked her not to mention it to her mother, ever. They also planned their trip to Diagon Alley together to go shopping for school, which was in four days. It was that night when Jenny was falling asleep that she realized that she was indeed going to Hogwarts and that life couldn't get much better than this.
Little did she know what the year held in store for her family…
Just to Let You Know:
The Tibetan monk's "hands on healing" is something I have had an interest in for ages and if you want to know more go to www. reiki. com a helpful site if you wish to know more. Also, the werewolf is no-one in particular, just someone that Hermione took pity on.
I know that Penelope is just a little chatty but she seems the most likely to be girlish in behavior and talk like that. After all she does have four little girls.
