Chapter 47 - At the Diggory's

As soon as I got home, Dad wanted to talk to me, I really didn't want to unless it was to hear an apology. I hoped he did apologize, I wanted to spend time with my little triplets and mum before I went back to Hogwarts, not that I wouldn't mind living with Moony and even Padfoot, maybe. I couldn't wait to see my godfather again, it felt strangely liberating to know a secret that no one but the six of us knew, seven including the headmaster.

I sat in my father's study in one of the big arm chairs that have always made me feel small in front of the big oak desk where my dad sat. He regarded me with an uncomfortable stare, my dad was never a really talking type.

"Aurora, I think it would be prudent if I apologised to you. It would seem, that last summer, your mother and I over stepped the mark last year. We cannot control who you are friends with and after I lost my temper, I said some not so nice things that were not respectable about your uncle. I apologised immediately of course but what I said can't be unsaid which I feel very regretful about. I also sincerely regret that you had to hear of your... Godfather's... escape, not where you knew you could be safe. Of course not that you couldn't be safe with Remus. And I understand that you and your friends have not been in any trouble this year, Professor Lupin has sent your mother and I regular updates about you and your studies as with your siblings." He paused and regarded me for my reaction.

"He is no longer Professor Lupin, Professor Snape let slip of the nature of his condition to the school. He won't be returning this year so the curse of the DADA Professor still reigns." I replied dryly. Dad 'hmmd' in thought. "I accept your apology Dad, I always enjoy staying with Uncle Remus and perhaps I can stay with him for the last week or so before the Quidditch Cup but I would like to get to know the triplets before I go back to Hogwarts."
"I am sure this can be arranged." Dad replied thoughtfully.

"May I leave?" I asked and dad nodded so I left Dad's dark yet warm office.

-.-

The next week was spent helping mum with the triplets which wasn't as fun as I'd hoped. They were quite boring actually, they always slept. We had Hermione sleeping at mine for my birthday weekend along with Hannah Abbott, Allie's best friend. We camped in the back garden and roasted marshmallows while Abe and Cedric told us scary stories, it was one of the best birthdays I've had. Probably made better by the boys being there, Hermione admitted she had a small crush on my bother as did Hannah, I just can't see it really. Now Cedric is another story, the day after we all played a small game of Quidditch, we even got Hermione on a broom which is something big on its own. She wasn't even that bad after she got over her nerves. We ended the day with a quick trip into Diagon alley, all six of us, and had dinner at the leaky cauldron followed by ice cream and Florence Fortescue's. I popped into see Vander to ask when he wanted me to start again, we decided on the following Monday and I'd get the day off to watch the Quidditch Cup. I was SO excited about it, I couldn't wait. And I learned that the Weasley's had got a booth from the Ministry with the Diggory's which me and Abe had been invited too, there was only two spare tickets for the Diggory's but the Weasley's had invited Harry and Hermione so we'd all be there. Mum and Dad had got some seats halfway down for Addy and Allie plus the triplets, they'd been booked ages ago, before Ari, Alec and Aston was born but they'd managed to book an extra ticket so all three of them could go.

Thankfully, my parents had no problem with me working at Ollivanders, I don't know why I thought they would, aren't parent's supposed to encouraging their children to earn their own money? Working with Vander is possibly the best thing that happened to me, it makes me actually enjoy my summer but I perhaps enjoy it more when Cedric unexpectantly drops in for a few hours, almost daily actually, I hate to think how much floo powder he's going through because he usually follows me home to annoy Abe while I relax after my hard days at work. I just love seeing all the cute little eleven year olds get their wand, some are so nervous, some bouncing with excitement and a few look like they haven't got a clue what's going on, they usually have parents that look the same, I didn't realise how easily you can tell a muggle-born apart in a crowd, it's quite interesting actually. Soon we were into August and as the 22nd approached the wizarding world was abuzz with anticipation about the Bulgaria-Ireland game, Vander and I had liberally decorated the shop in green and white in support of Ireland. I would also be staying with Moony after the cup until the start of school and Sirius would be there too as would Harry, it would be a taster of what's to come in the future when Sirius is free, just the marauders. Just as soon as bloody Pettigrew was caught, Sirius had been sniffing him out as much as he could since he escaped Hogwarts. He knew not to kill him now, we needed Wormtail to clear Sirius's name. From the letters I had received from Harry, I fear the search is futile, as Harry's dreams say that he's run to his old master. I still had the prophecy fresh in my mind, he's attempted twice to regain his body and strength, would this year be his year or will we have a quiet year this year. I just didn't know.

Rhia Diggory, Cedric and Cho's mother, picked me and Abe up on the evening of the 21st after I got in from work at Ollivanders. We then spent the evening in front of Amos's wireless while the adults drank wine and we had butterbeer, it was a really nice evening until we were sent to be bed ready for our early start to the Quidditch Stadium, the biggest in Europe, especially built to hold the final by the Ministry. I was so excited I just couldn't sleep, neither could Cho as it turns out so she suggested we sneak into the boy's room to see if they were awake.

"Shhh." Cho hissed quietly as I stood on a creaking floorboard as we tiptoed to their room on the next floor. We had to get passed Cho's parents room to get there so we had to go really stealthily. When we got up there, Cho nominated me to open there door and peak in. Sure enough they were both in bed with the lamp on. They jumped when they saw the door open and dived under the bed covers turning the lamp off making me and Cho giggle. Cedric peeked out first from under his Golden Snitch covers and glared at us playfully.

"Jesus, Ash, you gave us a heart attack." Cedric reprimanded.

"You should both be in bed." Abe continued with a raised eyebrow.

"And so should you." Cho replied dryly.

"Can we come in, we can't sleep, and we're too excited." I grinned at them. Cho squeezed in pass me and sat at the bottom of Abe's bed.

"Of course you can, just come right in." Ced looked at his little sister disapprovingly, I snorted with laughter before I entered and jumped onto Cedric's bed.

"Bulgaria is so going to win." Abe smirked.

"Yeah right!" Cedric replied as at the same time I said, "No way. Ireland is so going to win."

"Have you seen Krum play, you're nuts." Cho said exasperatedly.

"Unfortunately he's the only decent player on the team. Krum might catch the snitch but Ireland's Chasers are the best in the world." I replied.

"Bulgaria is going down." Cedric finished with a flourish. We spent the rest of the evening before the four of us steadily started to drop off. Cho at first into Abe's arms, I'd have to have a word about that. Then it was me and I moved up Cedric and fell asleep on his pillow, just as I was falling asleep I heard a quiet conversation between the boys. "We should go to sleep too." Cedric whispered near my ear to Abe.

"Yeah." He paused for a minute. "Ced, I know you like her, but if you do anything to hurt my little sister... you're screwed."

"I wouldn't expect any different." Ced replied. "The same goes for you."
"Understood." Abe whispered. "We could end up brothers." Cedric chuckled.

"Night Abe."

"Night Ced." I felt Cedric under his quilt next to me and his arm came around me. I snuggled in to him as I smiled. He likes me.