Saturday, June 19th
It's been less than 24 hours and I'm already in the swing of things. I convinced Hannah to let me help out around the Leaky on days when I don't have anything to do (so pretty much everyday), and in exchange she said that I have to join her, and convince my mom to come to Sunday brunch at the Burrow to meet and reunite with the Weasley-Potters. Apparently Molly Weasley started the brunches three years ago, when she finally had enough and decided that she barely got to see any of her children and grandchildren. From that point, every family member had to come to at least two brunches per month- or dare to face the wrath of Molly. And not just her children and grandchildren, apparently. The Longbottoms, the Scamanders, and Andromeda Tonks and her grandson, Teddy were all included in the list of people required to attend. Of course, the family sees it as less of a chore and more of a privilege, and therefore there's normally 20-25 every Sunday.
I'm excited to meet up with some of my childhood friends, who will hopefully be nice enough to hang around me a bit this summer so I'm not completely bored out of my mind, or stuck hanging out with Beth all the time. A real sweetheart when she wants to be, yes, but she's sassier than any thirteen-year-old I've ever known. And Emma at that age was the queen of sass. She still is, if we're being honest.
I glance around the pub, looking for new customers in the section that I'd been given to wait on. It was really only about five tables, since Hannah is so worried about overworking me, but it's enough to keep me busy.
I'm shocked to see that at one of my tables sits Dom and Fred Weasley, both reading over menus and looking as gorgeous as ever. Dom obviously has Veela blood in her, with her delicate frame, pale skin and defined features. Her strawberry blonde hair is stick straight and pulled up into a high ponytail, and she appears to be wearing a simple outfit of denim shorts and a flowy tank top. Fred, on the other hand, is darker skinned and has unruly red hair. I could see the freckles from miles away, and he appears to be wearing jeans and a plain shirt.
I take a deep breath before approaching the table. "Fred? Dom?" I begin.
"Yeah?" Fred answers, looking quite confused. Both of their eyes rake over me, and I can't help but feel self-conscious. I'm practically a giant, and my hair is tied up in a messy bun. I'm wearing the standard black shirt and jeans that the other waitstaff wear and look awfully plain next to the pair seated in front of me.
"I- uh, I'm Finn. Do you remember me?" I stutter out. What if they don't? This'll be very awkward if they still have no clue who I am. However, it was just six years, ago, I can't have changed that much, right?
"Merlin, Finn Abbott?" Dom repeats.
"That's me," I laugh awkwardly and both of their jaws drop. Two seconds later and they've both tackled me in a hug and are speaking rapidly.
"Finn, it's been what, six-"
"Why on earth did you stop-"
"You look gorgeous, wow, Calif-"
"I can't believe you're ba-"
I cut them off, chuckling and shoving them off of me. "Guys, chill out. Hang on, I'll go on break, do you guys want drinks?
"Sure, yeah, a butterbeer, please," Fred replies.
"Me too," Dom quips.
I head to the bar, barely believing what's happening. "I'm taking a quick break, Sal!" I shout to the bartender, filling up three glasses and carrying them back to the table, sliding in next to Dom.
"Okay, real talk, who knows your back?" Dom interrogates me.
"Uh, just the Longbottoms, I think, maybe your grandmother? I think Hannah mentioned to her that I'm going to the brunch thing tomorrow."
Fred gasps, "You're coming to brunch?"
"Yeah, I thought everyone went to that? I don't want to intrude of course, I can always tell Hannah that Mom and I-" I try, not wanting them to be uncomfortable with me attending a family function of theirs.
"No, no, it's not that," Fred laughs. "It's just that James is going to be there too, and he doesn't know that you're here."
"Talk about the reunion of a century," Dom adds, taking a sip of her butterbeer.
I feel myself go red, and I don't reply. I hadn't thought much of anything other than James since I'd arrived yesterday. It's going to be awkward, I know it, and our families will just make things worse. Things have changed, we've both grown up, and I don't remember the last time I've written or received a letter from him.
"Do you think he'll cry?" Fred snickers.
"Who knows? I wouldn't put it past him, he's been a bit of a wreck the past few months since Haley so I…" Dom looks at me, eyes widening. "Forget you heard that."
"Uh, okay," I respond. Haley? A girlfriend, maybe? Not that it's any of my business, but the thought of him having a girlfriend and me not knowing about it makes me sick. But I guess I really don't know anything about him. And it's probably my fault for being such a horrible friend.
"Anyway, just don't let anyone know you're here," Fred says, glaring at Dom but sending me a reassuring smile. "Even if he doesn't cry I'm sure his reaction will still be amusing.
I don't respond, but instead take a long drink of the beverage in front of me and try not to panic.
After a few minutes of the pair chattering on about their lives and Hogwarts (they had come home less than a week ago), they start asking me questions about my life, California, my friends, my mom. I fill them in on as much as possible, trying to catch up on things as quickly as I can.
"Okay, I've really got to get back to work."
"She sounds so American now, I love it," Dom says to Fred. I just laugh at them and stand up.
"Do y'all want to order any food, or just another round of butterbeers?" I ask, putting emphasis on the 'y'all'.
"Y'all!" Fred repeats, doubling over with laughter.
"Okay, I'm from California, not Tennessee," I defend myself. "If anything, I should've done a valley girl impression."
"Whatever. Go back to work, we'll see you tomorrow. Don't chicken out!" Dom calls as I back away. I send a wave over my shoulder and smile to myself, glad that I was able to reunite with my old friends in the short time that I've been in the country.