Part I

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and The Vampire Diaries. They belong to J.K. Rowling and L.J. Smith. I am writing this just for fun and no money is being made.

AN: Again… I apologize for the late update, but I've been busy and on top of that, I lost my motivation. These upcoming chapters haven't been easy to write as Damon interacting with Weasley's is new territory for me. I tried to keep it canon – not sure how successful I was though. Hope you like it.

Also, I do not have a beta, so I would like to apologize for my mistakes in advance. Please do not copy this story.

So, I want Damon to be part of the Weasley's… kind of… which obviously will take time and it's the reason behind such a detailed chapter. I've divided it into 3 parts, so Damon could actually see what's her world is like and at the same time work on getting forgiveness from the family… and maybe accept him by the time the wedding's over! Loads to do, but rest assured, it won't be easy for him. Let's see how it ends, yeah?

The Burrow

Damon groaned with his eyes clenched shut to will nausea away, deciding that no matter what, he would never like the wizarding form of travel. Athena had told him that they cannot apparate directly to London and had to take an international portkey. Apparently, it was a spoon and he felt himself whirling around as soon as he touched it, before Athena shouted at him to drop it and he had landed on his ass on the ground. While taking a portkey was much better than apparating, he couldn't say he liked it.

He looked up to see Athena biting her lips, probably to stop herself from laughing at him and he huffed as he stood up, brushing his hands down his leather jacket. There was a faint pinkish glow visible along the horizon, the edge of a brilliant red sun was gleaming through the trees and on the opposite side was a dark patchwork of fields and clumps of trees.

"We're in Ottery St. Catchpole," Athena informed him. "About 4 hours from London."

Damon nodded as he looked around and couldn't stop himself from gaping when his eyes landed on the house. It looked as though the rooms had been added here and there randomly until it was several stories high and was so crooked that it might fall with the next blow of wind. Four or five chimneys were perched on top of the red roof. A lopsided sign stuck in the ground near the entrance read, THE BURROW. Around the front door lay a jumble of rubber boots and a very rusty cauldron. Several fat brown chickens were pecking their way around the yard.

"How is it even standing?" he asked aghast, eyes glued to the building.

"It's held up by magic." Athena answered nonchalantly before they heard a noise and their eyes snapped towards the garden.

It was a fairly large garden, there were gnarled trees all around the walls, plants he had never seen spilling from every flower bed, and a big green pond full of frogs, but that's not what garnered his attention. He was focused on the 3 boys, who were bent double with their heads down the bushes. There was a violent scuffling noise, the peony bush shuddered, and they saw Ron straightening up as he pulled something out.

"Gerroff me! Gerroff me!" the thing squealed much to Damon's bewilderment. The thing was small and leathery looking, with a large, knobby, bald head exactly like a potato. Ron held it at arm's length as it kicked out at him with its horny little feet; he grasped it around the ankles and turned it upside down.

"It's a gnome. They must be de-gnoming the garden for the wedding." She must've seen his expressions because Athena told him offhandedly.

Damon stared as Ron raised the gnome above his head and started to swing it in great circles like a lasso. Then he let go of the gnome's ankles and it flew twenty feet into the air, landing with a thud in the field over the hedge. He saw as the two other redheads did the same and soon, the crowd of gnomes in the field started walking away in a straggling line, before disappearing into the hedge on the other side of the field.

George was the first one to look at her and he smiled, but Athena didn't miss the sadness in his eyes. He didn't wait and hugged her. She closed her eyes and savored the feeling, knowing that it wasn't easy for him to be here without Fred, but he was still trying. He pulled back and looked at her companion before asking with an arched brow, "Now, who do we have here?"

Percy was looking none too happy to see her but didn't say anything as he crossed his arms across his chest.

"Damon Salvatore."

"George Weasley."

Damon shook George's hand as they introduced himself and Ron stilled as soon as he heard the name. Athena took a deep breath when she saw how his ears were turning red and how his hand went to his wand in his pocket, hyperaware of the famous Weasley anger before he glared at her and asked through gritted teeth, "What is he doing here?"

She squared her shoulders and said slowly, "Uh… He's my plus one."

"Pl-plus one?" Ron spluttered, turning redder by the second before he bellowed angrily, "YOU BOUGHT A MURDERING BASTARD TO MY WEDDING AS YOUR PLUS ONE!?"

Everyone along with Athena winced at the volume, and she felt Damon going tense beside her. Well, this answered her question. Apparently, Hermione didn't talk to Ron like she was supposed to do, which was why she had asked the girl beforehand, knowing the situation could easily become worse.

"Ron…" she started, but just then, the front door slammed and Mrs. Weasley marched across the yard, followed by Hermione and Ginny. Athena gulped, knowing that what was coming and she gulped. She caught Hermione's eyes discreetly, who winced at her apologetically. Mrs. Weasley came to a halt in front of them, her hands on her hips, staring at Ron, who was busy throwing invisible daggers with his eyes at Damon.

Damon's gaze swept to the short, plump-faced woman, and instantly knew that she wasn't someone to be messed with; especially not, since he knew that she was a mother figure to Athena. He wasn't going to mess this up… whatever this was… at least not more than he already had. Mrs. Weasley was wearing a flowered apron with a wand sticking out of the pocket.

"RONALD WEASLEY!" she shouted. "YOU'RE GOING TO BE A MARRIED MAN SOON! YOU WILL NOT SPEAK IN THAT MANNER… NOT TO OUR GUESTS!"

Everyone flinched along with Damon, but Ron cried out indignantly, "But Mum…"

"FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!" Mrs. Weasley interrupted, "THERE IS NO NEED – I knew she was bringing him along. I trust Athena to know what she's doing! She would not put us danger and you know it! He's a guest just like others! We won't be discussing this any longer! AM I CLEAR?" She looked at everyone imploringly, daring anyone to say a word.

Ron didn't say anything else, but he glared at Damon and Athena, before turning around and rushing inside. Percy wasn't far behind as he threw a dirty look towards her and Damon and left with an angry huff. Athena flinched at the loud bang that came from the door, and Molly shook her head tiredly.

She turned to Athena and smiled lovingly and whispered worriedly, "Oh dear! You know how he can be sometimes. He'll come around soon. Don't worry."

Athena turned towards Mrs. Weasley and spoke softly, "Molly, maybe I should stay at Grimmauld Place…"

Molly cut whatever she was going to say and stated firmly, "Nonsense! Of course, you aren't staying at that horrid place again! You are family and this is just as much your home as it is Ron's!"

Athena blinked back to contain the sudden rush of emotions and nodded.

"Athena – You look a little worse for wear." Her eyes were full of concern as she stared at Athena, who was looking extremely disheartened. When it became clear that she was utterly despondent, Molly gave Athena one simple thing that she desperately needed – a hug.

Molly looked at Damon when she pulled back and unbeknownst to Athena, said with a tight smile, "You are welcome here, dear boy. You both could do with some breakfast!" As she ushered Athena inside.

Damon collided with the invisible wall as soon as he tried to enter inside and sighed before looking up. The first thing Damon noticed was the kitchen, which was small and rather cramped. There were a wooden table and chairs in the middle, and a dark-haired girl was sitting with a redhead, Percy if he remembered correctly. Both looked at him but made no move to invite him inside. The red-headed girl passed by him, ignoring him as she rushed inside, almost pushing him out of the way in her haste. Athena and Hermione were muttering something furiously to each other, while mama-bear was busy clattering around, cooking breakfast a little haphazardly.

So, he cleared his throat unnecessarily and all their heads snapped towards him in sync, frowning.

"Oh!" Suddenly Athena's eyes widened with realization and she turned towards Mrs. Weasley and said carefully, "Uh… Molly – He has to be invited in."

Damon noticed that the woman's eye twitched, but she smiled at Athena apologetically. "Oh dear! I forgot." She turned towards him, cleaning her hands and almost sang, "Come in! Come in! Let me show you the room, so you can get settled."

George and Ginny, who had entered the room, stopped to stare at their mother along with every occupant of the room, knowing that their mother was up to something. The food was still stirring itself and the utensils were flying throughout the kitchen as Molly stepped in front of the vampire.

Before Damon could say anything, Athena spoke, afraid that Molly was definitely going to hex him. "I can show him the guest-room, Molly."

"Oh no – don't you worry, my girl. You continue whatever talk you girl are having – after all, you've met after such a long time. It won't take long." Molly said hastily and gave Athena a convincing smile.

Athena looked at her anxiously before her eyes went to Damon, who was staring at her and gave a reassuring nod. The exchange wasn't missed by anyone, especially Mrs. Weasley, who narrowed her eyes at the vampire and interrupted, "We'll be right back." Snapping the two out of whatever silent conversation they were having.

Damon followed the woman with a parting wink towards Athena, more to put her at ease than anything else, but on the inside was another story altogether. He wasn't scared but was almost certain that the woman would at least threaten him if not hex him.

The room wasn't big, but it wasn't cramped either – A queen-size bed, a full-length mirror, an almirah, and a small love seat, but it had a small window giving a rather beautiful view of the vast expanse of the field behind the house.

Not wanting to beat around the bush, he turned around to face the woman, not a bit surprised to see that her eyes which had been filled with adoration when she looked at Athena, now gleamed dangerously at him. The door closed with a flick of her wand as the two stared at each other. Knowing this was coming, Damon arched an eyebrow at the witch, urging her to go on with whatever she wanted.

Her eyes never left her as she started, "Now – I might not know you, but I've heard enough to know that I'm not going to trust you in my house – not like Stefan… such a sweet boy, that one."

Damon clenched his jaw, but smiled, unwilling to show the hurt he felt at the mention of his brother's name. Of course, she would like Saint Stefan. Everyone did.

Unaware of his thoughts, she continued, "That girl down there – she might not be my blood, but she is as much my daughter as Ginny. None of this would've happened if my boy were still here. They would have been so happy." She sighed wistfully before turning her blazing eyes at him. "I'm guessing that she trusts you enough if she bought you here. Such a kind girl with a heart of gold – forgiving so easily."

Damon pursed his lips as he tried to rein his temper, his smile fell and he crossed his arms across his chest. Mrs. Weasley must've sensed his irritation because she braced herself and hissed angrily, "Athena has been through a lot in her short life and she doesn't need people like you to make things worse! Mark my words – the day she sees you for what you are, she'll be the one to throw you out of her life!"

He gave her a tight-lipped smile and said tersely, "Is there a moral behind this speech of yours? Because frankly, I don't give a damn about what you have to say about me. And let me tell you this – I am the bad guy and she already knows this!"

Molly's eyes tightened and she said threateningly, "Consider this a warning – If you hurt her in any way, there won't be a place on this earth for you to hide under!"

She raised her chin defiantly, daring him to oppose her words. Damon stayed quiet as she threw him a dirty look before leaving. He stayed where he was, filled with a strong urge to snap some necks and drain a couple of them dry.

Athena knocked on the door twice and opened it only after Hermione called. She had learned her lesson when she barged in on Stefan and Caroline. She didn't want a repeat, especially not with Ron and Hermione.

It was clear that the two had been arguing, but stopped as soon as their eyes snapped to hers. Ron clenched his jaw angrily, while Hermione shook her head at her apologetically.

"Ron…" Athena started, but he cut her out and hissed furiously, "WHAT IN THE MERLIN'S PANTS WERE YOU THINKING – BRINGING THAT MURDERER HERE, AND THAT TOO AT MY WEDDING?"

"I was…" Athena sighed, knowing that the mood he was in, he wasn't going to listen to her anytime soon. Maybe it had been a mistake. She shouldn't have bought Damon here. After he had confessed that he liked her, she wanted The Weasley's to accept him. She trusted him, but no one else did and she didn't blame them. They never had contact with any vampire before Stefan, who lived on animal diet and even though things could've been avoided, he had acted in self-defense. It took her some time to realise that he wasn't a human, hadn't been for nearly 150 years and it wasn't fair to expect something which wasn't in his nature. Every vampire she knew killed people left and right without remorse and as she thought more about it, she concluded that she probably wouldn't have cared if it was some stranger in place of Lavender. Now as she saw everyone giving him cold looks, it registered to her that they wouldn't understand.

"I'm sorry, Ron. I just…" she swallowed. "I can't ask him to leave now – but I can stay somewhere else. It's only for 3 days."

"I DON'T UNDERSTAND! HOW CAN YOU EVEN LOOK AT HIM? After killing one monster, how can you bring another into your home?" Ron demanded as he stood up from the bed and faced Athena.

"He's not a monster." She didn't realise that she had defended Damon until Ron gaped at her, and before he could shout again, she said pleadingly, "He didn't do it on purpose! I know she was under Imperius, but she tortured him and his brother! He did the first thing he thought of!"

Ron's eyes sparkled with anger and he asked incredulously, "YOU'RE DEFENDING HIM?"

"I'm not! I am really not! I'm just telling you what he told me. And he's not exactly a human, Ron. He doesn't think like us." she told him softly.

He looked at her disbelievingly and questioned, "And you trust him?"

Athena looked him in the eyes and whispered, "I do."

"BUT HE'S A MURDERER! I reckon this wasn't the first person he has killed! HE IS NOTHING BUT AN ANIMAL!" He said somewhat desperately, angry and confused.

She flinched, hurt by the choice of his words, but spoke softly, "So is my family… And so am I."

"You know what I mean! And you are nothing like him! You would never kill someone as he does! It's just a game for him! He doesn't care about anyone but himself!" Ron told her hotly.

She shook her head and said, "You're wrong. He's not as bad as you think! He's just… misunderstood."

"BLIMEY!" Ron gaped at her before whispering to Hermione, "She's gone barmy!"

"I know you don't believe me and I know that he can be – eccentric," Athena chose the word carefully. "…but he was the one who took a bleeding child to a doctor when he could've left like the others. He bought food for a child starving on the streets when no one else looked twice. Damon was the only person who showed me an act of kindness… and he was the only one to hug me until I was eleven. I'm not saying what he did was right… but I know for a fact that he isn't the monster people believe him to be."

Both her friends stared at her shocked, not knowing how to respond. They had known that Dursley's hated her, but apart from that, Athena hadn't shared much.

Hermione looked between the two, ready to interfere if things got out of hand as the two were locked down in a staring match.

"Why is it always you?" Ron said after some time as he slumped on the bed and asked tiredly, "Why do you have to go and fall in love with a slimy bastard?"

Athena gasped, even Hermione's head snapped towards her fiancée, both stared with wide eyes and jaws hanging open.

"I'm not as oblivious as you think, you know?" He looked at the two and snorted. "Mate, I've seen how you look at him."

"Ron – I don't – No…" Athena stammered, staring unbelievingly at her best friend.

He arched an eyebrow at her and stated, "I reckon you've liked him since the first time I met him."

Hermione and Athena were still gaping at him and he rolled his eyes.

"You should know that I don't like him. I'll curse him at the first chance I get!" he told her petulantly and Athena felt her lips twitching before he asked begrudgingly, "You need your eye tested, if you ask me. What do you see in him?"

"Maybe it's the striking blue eyes… or the finely chiselled features… or maybe it's his well-toned body – athletic and strong… or maybe the sexy "bad boy" smile!"

"GINNY!" Athena and Ron shouted simultaneously as soon as the red-head entered the room with a sheepish grin, though for different reasons.

Athena asked with narrow eyes, "How long have you been listening?"

"Long enough!" Ginny shrugged. "So, you like him?"

Athena turned red when she felt three pairs of eyes on her.

"You're allowed to be happy." Ginny said before she could reply.

"Ginny…"

"You've always been my best friend, and I wanted you to be my sister; you know? Ever since I heard the twins before my third year. Mum was over the moon when Fred bought that ring." Ron cut in and said quietly, and Athena's face crumpled. "But he's not here, is he? And he isn't coming back." His breath hitched, but he continued, "The vampire is a git and I would've hexed him if I hadn't seen how you look at him… Fred asked me to look after you before we left… He would want you to be happy."

Both Athena and Ron blinked furiously to will their tears away before he pulled her into a hug.

Athena wasn't there when he entered the kitchen. Now that he felt like he wasn't in imminent danger of being hexed by the witch, Damon looked around.

Even though small, the house seemed cosy and lived in, with a jumbled and cluttered array of furniture. The clock on the wall only had one hand and no numbers at all. Written around the edge were things like Time to make tea, Time to feed the chickens, and You're late. Books were stacked three deeps on the mantelpiece, books with titles like Charm Your Own Cheese, Enchantment in Baking, and One Minute Feasts.

Mrs. Weasley was clattering around, cooking breakfast a little haphazardly, throwing dirty looks at him every now and then.

The redhead who looked like he had a stick up his ass, kept glaring at him, looking skittish like an animal and ready to curse him at the first chance; while his wife was staring at him curiously, but with open disinterest.

He perked up when he heard Athena's voice whispering something furiously along with three others and turned around to give her a smile. The three went to the kitchen ignoring him, but she stopped right next to him and looked into his eyes.

"Everything alright?" she asked in a barely there whisper and even though he smirked, she could see how rigid it was and the tightness in his shoulders wasn't missed. She didn't broach the topic, but she was terrified of how things would turn out in the next couple of days.

"That's Percy's and she's his wife Audrey." Athena told him as she nodded towards the two.

Damon smirked as he walked towards them and purred, "Damon Salvatore."

He nodded towards Percy, but he took her hand and kissed it. No one missed the way Percy bristled, but Audrey smirked back. "Audrey Weasley."

"That's Ginny… and you know Ron and Hermione." Athena introduced.

Ginny looked up and down before smirking at him; Hermione tried to smile, but it was more of a grimace; Ron grunted without looking at him.

Damon took the first empty seat, right next to Athena, where Mrs. Weasley was fussing over her and looked around with interest. He had seen Athena's home in Mystic Falls, but this was nothing like that.

"Dad's home." George announced as he took the seat next to Ginny, at the same time Damon heard the roar of fire and turned at once towards the fireplace.

Green flames rose at once in the fireplace, crackling merrily as though they had been burning for hours. A thin man stepped out of the fire, wearing long green robes, which were dusty and travel-worn. He pecked his wife on the cheek before slumping on a chair.

"Are Bill and Fleur here?" he asked, groping for the teapot and took a long gulp of tea before sighing. "And Charlie?"

"They should be here soon. Fleur had an appointment at St. Mungos and Charlie would be arriving anytime this evening." Mrs. Weasley told him as the bowls filled with food flew and settled itself on the table. "Athena's here though." She added with a smile.

"Athena! I didn't see you there. It's simply splendid to see you again, dear girl!" Mr. Weasley said jovially as soon as he saw Athena before his eyes landed at Damon. He frowned before asking, "And you are?"

"Damon Salvatore." Said Damon, shaking hands with the man.

"Salvatore, you say? Stefan's brother?" Before Damon could answer, Mr. Weasley continued enthusiastically, "Good lad, that one. Pleased to meet you. I suppose you would know all about muggle technology?"

Damon was confused but smiled nonetheless. "Of course, Mr. Weasley."

"You can call me Arthur. I'll be back!" Mr. Weasley stood up hurriedly and rushed upstairs, but no one apart from Damon paid attention.

It wasn't long before he came back and dumped loads of pieces in front of the vampire and asked eagerly, "Here it is. All the pieces of the phone Stefan gave me… It didn't work even after hours, so I tried to fix it… Do you think you can make it work?"

"Stefan got you a phone?" asked Athena, surprised; at the same time Mrs. Weasley snapped warningly, "Arthur…"

Damon smiled at the man, ignoring the dragon lady and replied, "I can fix it, Arthur, and I'll show you how to use it."

"Really?" Mr. Weasley asked excitedly. "While you're at it, would you tell me about the machine with moving pictures inside it? How does it work?"

Damon blinked, unsure how to explain how a T.V. works to an over-enthusiastic wizard, who had already killed the poor mobile. He shared a look with Athena, who shrugged at him indifferently and went back to her food like the others, but before he could open his mouth, he heard the crackling of the fire and slumped with relief.

A man stepped out of the fireplace followed by a heavily pregnant woman. Now Damon had met hundreds of women in his immortal life, possibly thousands if he included the ones he ate, but this was a woman of breath-taking beauty - tall with long blonde hair, deep blue eyes, fair skin, and appeared to emanate a faint, silvery glow as she glided towards the table.

"She is Fleur, part-Veela." Athena whispered and he turned his head in time to see her stifling her laughter.

He narrowed his eyes at her, remembering that he had seen the woman, who was now and being fussed over by everyone, in Athena's memory and deliberately turned his attention towards the man, who was being hugged by Mrs. Weasley. The man was taller than him, one side of his face heavily scarred and Damon realized that he was the one that had been attacked by Greyback. He had red hair like the rest of the Weasley family and was wearing it in a ponytail. He noticed with interest that there was a fang dangling from his ear.

Mrs. Weasley was saying, "And your hair's getting silly, dear. I wish you'd give it a trim..."

"Athena – I 'ope 'ou are doing veel?" Fleur asked in a thick French accent as she kissed Athena on the cheeks.

"I am well, thank you," Athena answered with a grin. "How's the baby?"

"Ze baby 'ate me. I'm fat 'nd ugly." Fleur sniffled suddenly, much to Athena's horror and she didn't need to see to know that half the table was supporting expressions similar to hers.

Bill moved towards her before he knelt in front of his wife and whispered lovingly, "Of course, you're not fat, love, and you could never be ugly. You are the most beautiful woman I've ever met."

"'Ou 'ave to say 'zat! Zis –" she pointed towards her belly and yelled, "– 'ez 'our fault!"

Bill winced and everyone stared wide-eyed as she burst out crying. Athena exchanged a wide-eyed look with Ron, who looked pale and panicked more than anyone else. 'And was it her imagination or was he turning green?' she thought to herself, frowning.

Molly rushed to her side and pulled Fleur into a hug before adding softly, "Oh hush, dear! It won't matter how you look even when you are old. My Bill will still love you."

"I know. Zank 'ou, Molly." said Fleur as she wrapped her arms around her mother-in-law.

Molly rushed to the kitchen as soon as the pulled back and came back with a plate of homemade biscuits.

"Food makes everything better." She said, settling the plate in front of Fleur. "Eat up, dear."

Bill sighed and nodded at his mother thankfully before his attention went to the newcomer in the room. His sense went haywire as the smell of a vampire hit him. He wasn't a werewolf, but his senses had increased ever since the attack.

"Bill, meet Damon, Athena's friend from the States." Said George as he nodded towards the black-haired vampire.

Bill's eyebrows went up to his forehead as he looked between him and Athena confused, but he strode towards Damon, who stood up from his chair and shook his hand. "I am William Weasley."

"Damon Salvatore." He nodded at the man, wondering how many more people was he going to meet in a day.

Bill looked at him and Damon felt like he was being scrutinized and stared right back. It took him by surprise when the man nodded and introduced his wife affectionately. "This is my beautiful wife."

"Je – I am Fleur Weasley. Pleased to meet 'ou, Meester Salvatore." She said with a smile.

Damon smirked as he took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles softly, earning a giggle from the Veela. "Le plaisir est à moi, Mme Weasley."

Her eyes brightened as she asked eagerly, « Tu connais le français »

« Ma famille est originaire de Florence, Italy. Et vous ne pouvez tout simplement pas manquer un endroit aussi beau que la France si vous êtes en Europe. J'y ai peut-être vécu pendant un an ou deux. » He answered smoothly, much to the bewilderment of Athena and annoyance of Mrs. Weasley, who perused her lips and said briskly, "Come on! Come on, everyone! Finish your breakfast!"

Hermione shared a look with Athena, who shrugged. Breakfast was an odd affair. Mrs. Weasley glaring daggers at Damon, serving food to everyone but him. Athena noticed, oddly thankful, that at least Bill, Fleur, George and Mr. Weasley were talking to him normally, even though the others ignored him.

She was just thinking that probably bringing Damon here had been a mistake, when Ron looked up from his finally empty plate and said, "We didn't find anything unusual at the Dursley's when we went to inspect it… but they had injuries indicating that they've been tortured."

Silence met his statement as the spoon slipped from Athena's hand and landed on the floor as she stared at him stupefied. "Wh-what?" she stuttered.

Damon tensed as he looked at Athena, noticing the utter disbelief etched on her face. He hadn't known the Dursley's were dead or he himself would've loved to visit them and by the look on her face, it was clear that she had no idea either.

"You didn't know?" Ron asked, his mouth agape.

"When?" was all she managed.

Every member present stared between the two. Mr. Weasley looked anxious, Molly was concerned more than anything, while the others were similarly troubled, even though they had known about the incident.

"The last time you were here – I thought you knew, but you were going through so much…" Ron shook his head, clearly confused and said, "It was in the papers and I was asked to investigate by Kingsley, in case it was a Death Eater. How could you not know?"

Athena stiffened minutely, something which didn't go unnoticed by either Damon or George. As he was sitting next to her, Damon's hand went to her knee and she almost jumped as her gaze snapped to him. He kept his hand on her knee and squeezed it gently as if to assure her that he was right beside her. She drew strength from the contact and asked hesitantly, "They were tortured? Was it a Death Eater? All of them…?"

Ron shook his head again. "There was no trace of magical signature, so it couldn't be a wizard and your cousin was not there when it happened. Your uncle… uh… he was tortured extensively, but both your aunt and uncle died because they burned inside the house."

She swallowed hard and asked again, "And it happened when I was here?"

Ron and Hermione shared a look, but he nodded. No one said another word until they were done with breakfast.

AN: So, here it is. Thank you if you're still with me on this story and I hope you liked it. Positive criticism is always welcome. Thank You for all your reviews and sorry if I haven't replied. Tell me how it came out, or if there's anything else I should add!

French used in this chapter. (Thanks to our friend Google for the translation as I do not know French.)

"Le plaisir est à moi, Mme Weasley." – "The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Weasley."

« Tu connais le français? » – "You know French?"

« Ma famille est originaire de Florence, en Italie. Et vous ne pouvez tout simplement pas manquer un endroit aussi beau que la France si vous êtes en Europe. J'y ai peut-être vécu pendant un an ou deux. » – "My family originally comes from Florence, Italy. And you simply cannot miss a place as beautiful as France if you're in Europe. I may have lived there for a year or two."

Have a nice day everyone. 😊

July 25th, 2019