It was some ungodly hour for sure, I could tell by the colors on the horizon. They were just like those I saw when I accidentally read until the wee hours of morning. It wasn't quiet and serene though, there was a clanging and string of hushed expletives coming from outside. I headed down cautiously with an old cricket bat in hand. Once I had walked a lap around the first floor and realized that no one was there, I headed outside. The noise was coming from the garage and since I'd heard the distinct sound of words, I knew I was not dealing with an animal.
"Come out!" I yelled trying to be brave, "Or I'll bludgeon you?"
It wasn't supposed to be a question. I was mentally scolding myself. I let out a sigh of relief when three familiar redheads came out laughing their arses off.
"Ella," George was nearly choking on his words as he tried to contain himself, "Put the bat down."
"Merlin- You scared the shite out of me! I thought some muggle was breaking in or something! What are you doing out here at-" I looked off at the old dusty clock on the garage wall, "three in the morning?"
"Rescue mission, Mione and I haven't heard from Harry all summer and after hearing about his uncle last year, I promised her I'd go get him." Ron explained, "She thinks they'll try to keep him from returning to school."
"We offered to help." Fred said.
"Because I can't drive." Ron added.
"Can't even reach the petals!" George poked at Ron's ribs and Ron made a face like he was trying to stay mad but couldn't because he found it funny too.
"Well, be quiet about it! You'll wake mum!" I huffed and headed back off to the house.
"We're trying but the damn thing won't start." Ron pounded a fist against the hood.
I turned around and headed back over to the car, pulling up the sleeves of my shirt to keep the dust off. I told Fred to jump in and turn it on. He listened. It grinded and made all sorts of noise but didn't start.
"Did the dash light up?" I asked.
"No."
"Battery's dead." I told them.
I reached in the driver's side window and popped the hood. I sent Ron for the jumper cables while I dug out a magic battery and we hooked it up. After a few minutes I told Fred to turn the key again and the car started without issue.
"Have fun!" I told them as I detached the cables and went back inside.
"You aren't coming, Ella?" George asked.
"No, I'm bloody tired. Next time don't wake me up, bother dad."
"Yes, ma'am." the twins said with a mock salute.
"Bug off." I nearly slammed the kitchen door behind me as I headed back in the house. Ginny was waiting on the stairs.
"What were you doing?" she asked.
"Aiding the chaos," I didn't elaborate anymore and instead flopped face down into bed.
"Good night, El." she dropped my blankets back over me before falling into her own bed.
The next morning when I saw Harry Potter in our kitchen it all clicked and I realized what they'd done last night after I fixed the car. They'd flown that dumb car from Devon to Surrey and kidnapped the boy who lived. His lack of belongings, having only his school trunk and owl, was proof enough of that.
I sank into a seat across the table from him and started to grab some food from the serving dishes mum had set out. I had eggs, beans, and toast. I wanted a muffin, but stopped when I realized there was only one. I grabbed it anyway and put it on the plate beside me. Ginny would eat it when she came down. A few minutes later she did. Only then did Ron think it appropriate to introduce us to his friend.
"Harry, these are my sisters, Ginerva and Cedrella. They're twins like Fred and George. They're first years." he explained.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Harry Potter." he smiled at us across the table. I could see Ginny's ears flushing a soft red. Most people wouldn't notice that small of a change in her, but I always knew. She liked him. Cute.
"I'm Ella," I waved and then pointed next to me, "This is Ginny."
Ron had already introduced us, just never said which was which. Probably an important thing to know.
We all went back to eating until Dad came down ready for work and looked at us all. He was doing his usual mental headcount. He started doing it when we were young and Bill had gone off for his first year at Hogwarts. Empty seats at the table always made him wonder where his kids had gone. He usually remembered once he'd scanned the faces of the kids at the table. I hoped he wouldn't be too sad when Ginny and I left this year and it was just him and Mum in the mornings.
"Seven, dad." I told him when his eyes started darting around during his recount.
"Seven?"
"Harry's here, dear," Mum said and I pointed across the table.
"Ah yes, good morning, Harry, welcome! We've been expecting you!" He smiled and took a seat beside him.
"No we weren't!" Mum told him.
"We weren't?" Dad was confused and I had to stop myself laughing.
"Fred, George, and Ron took the car to fetch him last night. He needed a ride to school." I tried to cover for them.
"Good men, helping out a friend." Dad smiled proudly at the boys. I could almost hear Mum's eyes rolling as she put a hand to her head and muttered. I knew it to be the usual remarks about what she was going to do with her sons.
"Will you be staying with us until school starts, dear?" Mum patted a hand on Harry's shoulder and took a seat on the other side of Dad.
Harry seemed like one of those who 'didn't want to put anyone out' types from what Ron had mentioned of him over summer. With Bill and Charlie gone we had the space, so someone will insist he stay.
"Of course he will!" Ron cut in and gave Harry a look. His shoulders relaxed from their tense state and he seemed to accept what Ron was offering.
"If you don't mind me." Harry said, and then he started selling himself, offering to help with cooking or cleaning, saying his aunt had him doing that all his life.
"You'll do none of that here." Mum told him and I felt myself begin to smile. Harry had a rough go so far, Mum knew that. She wasn't going to let him be anything other than another one of her boys while he's here.
After breakfast, I settled into the den by the empty fireplace and started reading. Ron and Harry were carrying his trunk up the stairs and didn't have enough hands for his owl or broom. I grabbed both and followed them. I leaned the broom up against the wall in the corner, leaving his owl on the bureau.
"Thank you, Cedrella." he said and I snorted.
"No one calls me that except for our Great Aunt Tessie," I was trying to contain my laughter, "And sometimes my brothers when they're trying to get on my nerves. You can just call me, Ella. I recommend you not call Ginny, Ginerva, either."
"Understood, sorry." He seemed a bit embarrassed.
"No worries," I walked over to the window. We were high up in the house. "You could see the ocean from here on clear days. Bill's room has always had the best view, he got it because he's the oldest. Now it's yours!"
He looked like he was getting ready to offer to move. Harry was too kind to others, especially compared to how shit he is at accepting that same kindness from others.
"I hope you'll like it here, Harry!" I headed for the door, "Settle in and take a walk outside. Home is a great place to be."
"Home…" Harry seemed to be mulling over the concept. I wondered if he had ever felt at home with his Aunt and Uncle.
I closed the door and then opened it again.
"Harry, do be kind to Ginny. I think she's got a bit of a crush on you."
His face turned red and I bit back a laugh.
"Don't tell her I told you. Oh! And make sure to join the boys outside later, they're de-gnoming the garden. That's always an adventure with them."
"Okay…" he was still blushing, red as a tomato when I closed the door.
