Chapter 14

The little girl stood up and turned around. Her honey colored eyes were alight with joy as she looked upon him. Her strawberry blond hair flowed around her young face and her freckles reminded Harry of Ginny. The small child was dressed in a long sleeved, glittering, silver dress that gracefully touched her knees. Around her neck was a black leather choker with a black hematite stone hanging from it.

"My name is Starla," said the little girl with a warm kind smile. "I was that Phoenix you saw that warm summer's day."

"How old are you?" asked Harry.

"I'm six," Starla said stepping closer to him. "I know what you're thinking. I'm too young to be transfiguring myself into an animal, but I'm not."

"Your American, aren't you?" said Harry.

"Yes," said Starla.

"Are you related to Blythe?" Harry asked.

"Yes, she's my twin sister," Starla said with a smile. "I'm the older one though."

"Your not identical," pointed out Harry. "That must be nice."

"Our physical appearances are the only thing different between us," said Starla. "But everything else is the same. We are quick learning girls who have high goals in life. Mother believes that we will be very powerful witches and will achieve a lot in life."

"Was that letter from you or your mum?" asked Harry.

"Neither," Starla said. "But I cannot tell you who it's from."

"You sound more sophisticated then Blythe," Harry said.

"She doesn't believe in being older than we actually are," said Starla. "She'd rather be a child and grow up slowly like everyone else."

"So you're the older wiser side," said Harry, "and she's the younger child side."

"Exactly," Starla said. "Well I must be off. Today is very busy. Please, don't tell anyone that I was here. Mother would be quite upset with me if she found out."

"Don't worry I won't," Harry said.

"Well good-bye for now, Harry Potter," said Starla.

Before Harry's eyes, she transfigured herself into a large golden eagle. With two flaps of her wings she lifted off the ground and disappeared into the golden light of the morning sun.

Harry sat outside for nearly three hours before Charlie found him. Charlie stood there at the kitchen door watching him for a few moments before going outside to sit beside him.

"Mornin', Harry," said Charlie.

"Morning, Charlie," said Harry, not looking at him. "When did you get back?"

"Just a few minutes ago," Charlie said. "What are you doing out here?"

"Just thinking," Harry said. "It's nice to think when everything's quiet."

"Yes it is," said Charlie. "So what are you thinking about?"

"Things, people, life," said Harry. "I had a dream last night that got me started thinking about my life."

"I don't care for those kind of dreams," laughed Charlie. "They make me second-guess everything in my life. So what was your dream about?"

"My parents," Harry said. "I was at this house and they were sitting inside and then Sirius and Lupin showed up. Mum told us to go shopping and when we got back they had set up a surprise party for me. Peter Wormtail showed up and my dad sent me, Hermione, and Ron to my room where someone had put a room-sealing spell on my door. So we ended up going out the window and eventually ran into Voldemort and his Death Eaters. I guess Voldemort killed us cause there was this bring green light, but that's when I woke up."

"Wow," Charlie said. "That's definitely one of those dreams that gets you thinking. Have you told anyone else?"

"No," Harry said looking at him. "Please don't tell anyone. I'd rather not have them looking at me out of the corner of their eyes again."

"Sure," he said they heard a pair of feet walk into the kitchen. "Blythe's up or maybe it's mum. Let's go see."

"Okay," said Harry as they stood up and went into the house.

"Morning, Blythe," Charlie said as they watched the small girl look around the kitchen. "Sleep well?"

Blythe was an averaged height six year-old with waist long, jet-black hair and bright green eyes. Today she wore a pair of dark blue bell-bottoms and a cream-colored peasant top. Her waist long hair was braided into an upside down visible French braid, with the tail of the braid tucked behind the rest of her hair.

"Good morning, Charlie," Blythe said. "Yes, I did. Good morning, Harry."

"Morning, Blythe," Harry said with a smile as he looked at her bright green eyes.

"You two look like brother and sister," said Charlie. "Did you do that on purpose, Blythe?"

"Do what? This is my original appearance," said Blythe. "I just didn't feel like looking different today."

"Look mails here," said Harry pointing to the dark brown owl that had just flown into the room.

"Looks like your school lists are here," said Charlie as he took the letters from the owl, who immediately left. "Here you go, Harry, why don't you go wake the others and let them know that their lists are here."

"Okay," Harry said as he ran upstairs.

The first room he went to was Ron's. As he entered the room, he quickly looked to see if he's red headed friend was still asleep. Once he knew for sure that he was, he sneaked into the room and up to the bunk bed.

"Ron," Harry said in a normal voice. "Ron, wake up our school lists are here."

"What, Harry?" asked Ron rolling over onto his back.

"Our school lists are here," Harry said once again.

"What time is it?" Ron asked.

Harry looked at his watch and was amazed at how late it was. "It's almost ten," he said.

"Blimey," said Ron. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Harry said. "I've been up since sun rise which is seven o'clock."

"Ok, I'm up," Ron said. "Wonder where mum is."

"Don't know," said Harry. "She wasn't up when I got up. I'm going to go tell Hermione and Ginny."

"Okay," said Ron as he climbed out of bed.

Harry quietly climbed down the stairs and knocked on Ginny's door. When no one answered, he carefully opened the door. Both Hermione and Ginny were still fast asleep in their beds. Harry first went to Hermione and gently woke her.

"Hermione," he whispered in her ear. "Wake up."

"Hm," said Hermione as her eyes fluttered open. "Harry. What are you doing in here?"

"Our school lists just came," said Harry. "Oh, plus it's almost ten."

"Why is it so late? Mrs. Weasley should have woken us up almost two hours ago," Hermione whispered.

"Don't know where she is," Harry said looking at Ginny. "I'm going to wake Ginny before I leave."

"Okay," said Hermione as Harry kissed her cheek.

Harry quickly moved over to Ginny's bed and knelt beside her. "Ginny, wake up," he said. "Time to get up."

"Harry," said Ginny opening her eyes barely. "What time is it?"

"Almost ten," Harry said. "You need to get up. Our school lists arrived a couple minutes ago."

"Okay," Ginny said.

Harry hurried out of the room and back down stairs where the twins, Bill, Ivy, and Ron were already gathered around the table. "The others are awake," he said taking a seat.

"Where's mum?" asked Fred. "Usually she's got us up at eight."

"I'll go look at the clock," said George standing up and leaving the room.

"Something must have come up," Bill said. "Other wise she wouldn't have left without telling us."

"Well the clock says mum's at the Ministry," George said taking his seat.

"Wonder what she's doing there?" said Charlie.

"Where's mum?" asked Ginny as she and Hermione entered the room.

"She's at the Ministry," said Fred.

"Maybe she's visiting your father," Hermione said sitting on one side of Harry.

"Mum never visits dad at work," Ginny said sitting on the other side of Harry.

"Maybe she had something to do at the Ministry and didn't realize it would take that long," suggested Ron sitting next to Hermione.

"It's possible," Ginny said carefully slipping her hand into Harry's as she leaned against him.

As Ron looked at his little sister, he noticed that she was holding Harry's hand. "Hey, Ginny, why are you holding Harry's hand?" he asked.

"What?" Ginny said sitting straight in her chair.

"Blimey! She is," said Fred looking over the table edge. "Way to go, Ginny."

"So you two are going out now," said Charlie with a smile. "Congratulations."

"Be careful, Harry," said George. "She's a wild one. That's probably why she can't keep a boyfriend."

"No, that's not why," said Fred. "It's because those guys were all losers."

"But what happens if Ginny and Harry break up?" asked Bill.

"Then no big deal," said Fred. "If they don't last everything goes back to the way they were before. Only because we know Harry's a good guy."

"Exactly," said George with a smile. "You be a good girl, Ginny."

"Buzz off," said Ginny. "I'm hungry I hope mum gets home soon."

"What do we want for breakfast?" asked Ivy playing with her wand.

"Sausage," said Ron.

"With waffles," said Blythe.

"You always want waffles, squirt," Ivy said. "How about you guys try something foreign?"

"Okay," said Fred and George.

"Stuffed French Toast with sausage patties and Pink Ladies?" said Ivy looking at Blythe. "Any objections?"

"Not from me," said Charlie.

"Yummy!" laughed Blythe with a wide smile. "With whip cream?"

"You don't need that much sugar, brat," Ivy said to her young niece.

"Meany head," Blythe said. "I'm gonna tell mama that your being mean to me."

"What kind of filling do you want in your toast?" asked Ivy pointing to George.

"Chocolate," said George as a plate and glass appeared before him.

"Chocolate," said Fred and the same thing happened.

"Blackberry," said Bill, same thing happened.

"Blueberry," Charlie said as a plate and glass appeared before him.

"Raspberry," said Ginny, same thing happened.

"Chocolate," said Harry, same thing happened.

"Strawberry," said Hermione, same thing happened.

"Chocolate," said Ron, same thing happened.

Finally, a plate, with French Toast and sausage on it, and a glass of Pink Lady appeared before Ivy. Everyone began to eat their breakfast very carefully except Ivy, Blythe, Bill, and Charlie.

"Hey, Ivy," said Ginny.

"Yes?" Ivy said looking up from her breakfast.

"What's a Pink Lady made of?" asked Ginny.

"Two bananas and a handful of raspberries," said Ivy with a smile. "It's good for the body. Drink it, Blythe."

Blythe looked up sharply at her young aunt and frowned. She pulled out her wand and tapped the edge of the glass. The light pink liquid suddenly turned black. She quickly flashed Ivy a smile and began to drink her what use to be a Pink Lady.

"What is that?" asked Ron looking at the black liquid.

"A Black Shadow," said Blythe with a smile. "Instead of raspberries, it's got blackberries."

"I'm home," said a high pitched feminine voice.

"Welcome home, mum," said Bill. "We're in the kitchen."

"I'm glad to see that you're all up," said Mrs. Weasley as she entered the kitchen. "Hello, Shannon. Good to see you again."

"Wrong person, mum," said Charlie. "That's Ivy. Shannon's twin sister."

Mrs. Weasley looked closely at Ivy and said, "I'm terribly sorry. I completely forgot about Shannon talking about you, Ivy."

"It's okay, Mrs. Weasley," Ivy said politely. "Most people confuse us anyway. Would you like some breakfast?"

"No thank you, dear," Mrs. Weasley said. "I ate before I left. Sorry about not leaving a note or anything but I was running late this morning."

"Where'd you go?" asked Ginny, drinking the last of her Pink Lady.

"I had people to visit and things to buy," said Mrs. Weasley. "I see your supply lists came today. Once everyone's done eating we'll go to Diagon Alley."