In which Tabitha takes a ride to the countryside
Or
In which Tabitha rides a broom.
Chapter Two:
It didn't take us long to get out into the semi-middle-of-nowhere, and an even shorter time to get to their home.
We drove up and packed in the front of a wooden gate. There was a sign nailed crooked to the top rung of the gate that christened the building beside it,
"The Burrow"
I took "The Burrow" to mean it was the barn, and the main house was somewhere else. But the barn was almost literally falling to pieces! I could only hope that this was the oldest thing on the property, and that the house wasn't in any resemblance to this… thing. Half the building was leaning sideways on stilts, and so many different materials were woven into the structure, it looked like a demented patchwork quilt.
And right up until the point that R…R… Ron? Yeah, Ron. Right up until the point that he walked towards the burrow and said, "Come on, we'll take your stuff upstairs." Did I truly believe that the "Burrow" was their barn.
I never prayed much before, but boy did I then. I prayed that the house wouldn't fall on me, that It didn't leak, that it didn't move at night. Or any time of day for that matter.
I slowly walked into the house, expecting everything to be lop-sided and crooked. Quite the contrary. It was cozy looking, and the minute I stepped onto the threshold I felt as if this was where I was meant to be. It felt magical, but that sounds childish and cheesy.
It felt like I was home.
SO I just kind of stood there, with this look on my face that probably said,
"Oh."
Ginny lugged my suitcase up the first stair and smiled.
"Come on. You'll be sharing my room this summer."
I nodded, and followed her up the stairs, waiting for the stairs to fall in with each step I made. We stopped on the second landing, and entered the door to the right. A bright, semi-girlish room greeted me. A large window with swinging shutters took up the majority of the wall in front of me, and with the tiny space left, the headboard of a bed fit in-between the window and the intercepting wall. The footboard of the bed was shared by the other bed in the room, making the spot perfect for late night chats. The rest of the room was cluttered with a doorway, leading to the bathroom I presumed, a tall armoire, a desk, a radio, and two bedside tables.
"You can heave the left side of the closet," She said as she pointed to the armoire, "And I'll have the right. Me and Mum moved all my winter stuff upstairs for the time being, so you'd have room for your things and all." She said, almost regretfully.
"I'm sorry, you really didn't have too." I replied, starting to feel uneasy.
"No, No! It's fine! I didn't mean to get all sad on you or anything, a short flashback, that's all." She patted my arm, "Really. It's fine. Now don't go getting all nervous on me, I'm really glad you're here. We all are. And this fall, oh –wow- I just can't wait."
I nodded and gave her a small smile, she seemed nice enough, she deserved it.
I unpacked, took a nap, and by the time I woke up it was 'Dinner', even though I objected that it wasn't even dark out, and Ron looked at me and said, "I think your thinking of supper." And it was THEN that the whole concept of some cultures still using "supper" as…uh…well… the night meal, and calling 'lunch' 'dinner', came to me. But whatever. I was hungry and I didn't want to waste my time with a trifle like adjectives.
I greedily accepted a plate full of Shepard's Pie which I quickly commented that it 'Smelled wonderful, even though I have a stuffed up nose. Anything is better than airplane food at the moment.'
Mrs. Weasley just smiled and patted my arm, "But, eat up dears. Dumbledore's expecting to arrive at 1:00"
I nodded and turned to Ginny.
"Is there any other… unusual British meals I should be aware of?"
Ginny looked thoughtful, and finally decided just to tell me every meal they had.
"Well, there's breakfast, elevenses, brunch, lunch, dinner, supper, desert, and Tea. Not many people eat elevenses, or brunch, anymore, and we don't use the saying 'lunch.' We just use breakfast, tea, dinner, and supper. And If we're lucky, desert." Ginny finished, grinning.
I nodded, thinking this over.
"What about a snack?"
"A snack? Oh! You mean Tea! We'll get one when Dumbledore arrives."
There was that odd name again.
"Who's Dumbledore?"
Ginny faltered, stuttered, and tripped over her tongue, "Oh well, that's a good question." She finally answered, "But I think it's a surprise. I'm pretty sure we're supposed to wait him surprise you on his own."
I started to get a little worried. I mean, come on. I was in the middle of a foreign country, with no clue how these people were related to me, and a secret man was coming to "surprise" me. Uh, can you say freak-out?
Ginny apparently noted my uneasiness because she quickly assured me that they weren't out to kill or torture me "All will be revealed in time."
Ron, Fred, and George had left the table awhile ago, off to play a game called 'Quidditch.' I assumed it was a rather odd board game.
"Don't get too nasty boys! I don't want you sweaty and dirty when Dumbledore arrives!" Mrs. Weasley had called after them.
We were about to head upstairs to chat when Ginny paused,
"When are Harry and Hermione arriving then, Mum?"
"Oh, later on tonight. It'd be wonderful if you'd remind Ron to straighten up his room and set up the cot. I'm positive Harry doesn't want to sleep in that… mess." She smiled, winking at me, "Harry and Hermione are Ron's best friends from school. And once Ginny got there, they made a right foursome." She continued, winking at me.
Ginny groaned, "Mum! I TOLD you not to use that word in front of other people! This day in age it gives them the wrong ideas!"
"Oh GINNY! I'm sure that Tabitha wasn't thinking like that! She probably doesn't even know what we're talking about!"
And actually, I had a very clear idea of what they were talking about, but I wasn't about to let Mrs. Weasley know that.
Ginny rolled her eyes and dragged me up to her room. 'To get ready', She said.
We plopped down on our adjoined beds and giggled.
"So, what's up? You haven't talked much. Are you quiet all the time? Or are you just getting used to everything?"
I laughed. Me? Quiet. Ha.
Shaking my head I told her that it was the latter. "I'm just getting used to everything. But watch out, in a couple of days, I'll be talking so much you'll wish you never asked."
Ginny grinned, "I think we'll get along perfectly."
We never actually "got ready" because when the bell rang, we rushed downstairs still combing our hair with our fingers.
"Good afternoon Albus!" Mrs. Weasley said, inviting a medium sized, skinny man in. He had long white hair, and a long white beard. His eyes were a startling blue, and he wore the most interesting of clothing. A blue sky speckled with stars served as the pattern on his tall-dare I say it- wizard's hat, and his robes were layered with several colors.
He caught sight of me and smiled, "Ah, Tabitha! How was your trip?"
I nodded, "Fine. Thank you."
Mrs. Weasley motioned for him to sit on the couch and scurried off to the kitchen to get drinks, just as the boys came in.
'Dumbledore' sat down and gestured me and Ginny over to the couch opposite.
"Ron! Fred! George! Glad the summer's here, are we?"
Ron nodded vigorously. "Yes sir."
The twins came over to shake Dumbledore's hand.
"And how's the shop coming boys? Putting any aside to pay for my nursing house? Eh?" He chided, and the twins just grinned.
I got the feeling that Dumbledore was some sort of grandfather, but not by blood. An old family friend, maybe?
After a serving of tea and cakes, Mrs. Weasley shooed the boys out of the room and nodded at Dumbledore. "We waiting for the rest of them before we explain, then?"
Dumbledore nodded, just as the bell rung again. He smiled, "Not for long, I reckon."
A woman who I came to know as "Minerva" entered the home, along with a boy named Harry, A girl named Hermione, both who looked my age, and right before the door closed, a tall, lanky man with pale skin and dark hair swept into the room. Mrs. Weasley looked startled.
"Oh! Severus ! I didn't know you'd be joining us. I'll go pour another cup of tea."
'Severus' nodded his thanks and sat down in a single chair, eyeing the room suspiciously. His eyes caught mine, and he raised his eyebrows, while slowly adverting his gaze to the ornate lighting. I blushed, and turned to Ginny as she started speaking to me.
"Tabitha, this is Harry and Hermione. Harry, Hermione, this is Tabitha." She said, clearly rushing through the introductions.
I smiled and raised my hand to shake theirs, "Hello."
The boy offered a comforting smile and grinned, "Hey. Are you staying for the summer?"
"Oh Harry, don't start the 'I'm clueless' act. She'll know everything in a minute."
Harry looked startled and embarrassed all at once, "Oh? So soon? No… 'getting acquainted' time?"
"If you'd arrived earlier, you'd had plenty of time. Now sit down, and Hermione and I are going to follow Mum into the kitchen like good little girls."
She patted my hand, "Don't be frightened," She said as she got up, "Believe everything Dumbledore tells you, unless he's jesting of course, and trust Harry. I promise, everything will turn out for the better if you do. I'll be right inside the kitchen, so If you need to completely go crazy for a bit, excuse yourself to the loo, and we'll have a quick walk. 'Kay?"
I nodded and smiled, accepting the quick hug from Ginny, and returning the wave from Hermione, I settled back into the couch as Harry sat down beside me. As Dumbledore sipped his tea for a few moments, I pondered on how quickly I had become comfortable with Ginny. It was one of those feelings, like when you're in kindergarten, and you see a girl that seems to be saving a seat, and when you ask here if you can sit there, she smiles and says 'yeah', just like you're the one she's been waiting for, and you instantly become best friends.
Okay, so I'm over-analyzing things again, but, do you get the picture?
Harry interrupted my thoughts with a "This is a bit awkward, huh?"
I nodded, "just a bit." I admitted carelessly.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and set down his tea. Severus followed.
"Tabitha dear, I'm going to get straight to the point. The only reason we sent for you, was because your aunt was your only guardian, and we knew you weren't too happy there. If your parents hadn't passed away, they would've been the ones to tell you all of this, and furthermore, you'd have gone to an American school, not very different from the one your about to enter this fall. We're wizards. Harry, Severus and I. Mr. Weasley, Fred and George too. Mrs. Weasley? Ginny? They are also. But they preferred being called the female version of wizards, witches. The good kind, mind you. There are about 2 million of us, living here in Europe, if not quite a bit more. We live in secrecy. We've created our own world, and some of it's even inside the muggle world. Dear me, I'm sorry. Muggle is what we call 'non-magical beings'. We're still humans of course, but it's almost like another race. And Tabitha, you're a witch also. Your mother was, as was your father."
I was gaping. All this information at once? But it felt… right. As If I knew it all along.
Dumbledore continued, "When you arrived here this morning, you thought the burrow was falling sideways, did you not?" I nodded, "Well it is. As far as we know, it was built like that, but It's always been held up by magic. Would you like to see some now?"
I did my best to nod.
Over the next two hours, I saw Harry being lifted into the air, and learned many more things. Like the fact that we were in the midst of a war. And that I was thought to be important to the 'light' side of the war. I learned about Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and Hogsmede. I got a detailed summary of Harry, Hermione, and Ron's first 6 years at Hogwarts. And then I was asked a huge question.
"Tabitha, You have a choice. Well two, actually. Would you like to stay here in the wizarding world?"
I nodded.
"Alright then. Brilliant. Now, would you like to begin separately from Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny? Or would you like to start in their year with instilled knowledge of the basics you would have learned in your 1-6th year?"
I looked at Harry for advice.
He shrugged, "I'd love for you to start with us. I think you'd feel a bit awkward being the eldest of the first years."
I nodded, "Could I start out with Harry?"
Dumbledore smiled gently, "That was one of the choices, was it not?"
I grinned sheepishly.
"But, now, Ginny's only in her 6th year. That's because she's only 15, but Harry, Hermione and Ron are 17, therefore they are in their 7th year.. Normally, 16 year olds would go into 7th year also, but I'm going to give you a choice."
I thought this over. Being in 6th year would allow me to have more time at Hogwarts, and even though I was about to 'learn' the 6th year material, I'm sure It would do me good too…
"Could I go into 6th year?"
Dumbledore nodded, "I agree completely. Now are we ready?"
I nodded.
I was kneeling on the floor, sifting through all the information that had just been placed in my mind. Everybody else had gone to the kitchen, and I heard murmured conversations.
"She's taking this really well." Harry whispered.
"I imagine that the shock will come later on, Potter." A deep voice replied.
Silence ensued.
"Should we go back in?"
"we shouldn't leave her alone for too long, not yet at least."
Saving them from movement, I stood up and walked into the kitchen. Spying an empty chair beside Ginny, I sat down.
"So." I said, trying to start a conversation.
"Indeed." Dumbledore replied.
"Hagrid will be accompanying you 5 to Diagon Alley, just to get some things that Tabitha will need during her summer. He'll go with you again in August to get school supplies."
Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione nodded, and stood up.
"Is he waiting outside?" Harry asked, looking eager too see this 'Hagrid'.
Dumbledore nodded and I found myself being rushed out of the door by Ginny.
A very tall, very large man stood by a group of floating…brooms?
"Hagrid!" Harry called, waving wildly.
He was engulfed in a hug, as were the others, while I stood idly by the front door of the burrow.
"Hagrid, this is Tabitha."
The man stroked his beard and looked down at me.
"Tabitha, eh?" He stooped down to my eye level, "Glad to 'ave ya."
I smiled and nodded.
I watched as everyone climbed on a broom and turned around on them, silently looking at me.
I raised my eyebrows. Were they expecting my to get on one of those? A look of understanding crossed over Ginny's features, and she turned to Ron.
"Can she ride with you?"
Ron nodded and scooted back, helping me get up.
He slowly flew 5 feet upwards, and I clung to his sleeves.
I could hear the smile in his voice as he talked right beside my ear.
"Don't worry. Just lean forward and hang on." He assured me, and suddenly, all four brooms were in the air, followed by a flying motorcycle. Where had Hagrid hidden that?
I was freaked out beyond belief, but when I finally opened my eyes and saw the view, I gasped, "Wow."
He chuckled, "Like the view?"
I nodded as my mouth formed an 'o' as the city of London came into view.
Ron snorted, "Trust me, the city isn't all that amazing once you get on the ground. Filth and smut everywhere I tell you."
I shrugged, "As long as it looks beautiful from up here."
Ron seemed to think that over for awhile, because the broom slowed and I could feel Ron's gaze on the side of my face. He murmured something, but I was too intent on getting closer to the city to hear it.
