Chapter 2

Commotion at the Cauldron

Ten years had passed since Mrs. Weasley had awoken to find a small child on her doorstep, and those years could be seen in the changes at the Burrow. The Burrow now held just eight occupants; two of its earlier inhabitants having grown up and flown the proverbial nest. The many photographs dotted around the house, no longer showed only red-haired boys and girls. A flash of jet black could be seen flying around on a toy broomstick, or celebrating her older brothers graduations.

The photos were undeniable evidence that this girl was not a biological part of the family. In all of them she found herself surrounded by red-headed, freckled faces. However, resemblance was where the division ended. Anyone who spent more than five minutes with the Weasley family would tell you, with no doubt whatsoever. Elizabeth was a Weasley. The morning's situation, only went to further this belief.

"MUM… THEY DID IT AGAIN! " Percy Weasley ran downstairs clutching his hair. No matter how he tried to hide it the gentle curls of pink kept seeping through his fingers, as if mocking him.

Mrs. Weasley took one look at her son and understood his predicament.

"FRED… GEORGE… ELIZABETH… DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT OR YOU WON'T LEAVE THIS HOUSE TILL THE SCHOOL TERM STARTS."

Three heads poked out from behind the banister; innocent faces staring back at the fuming Mrs. Weasley.

"Explain yourselves!" Molly said, wondering to herself what well-rehearsed excuse they would throw at her this time.

"Well, you see…" began Elizabeth, her expression that of a guilty puppy covered in toilet paper, attempting to communicate the words 'I didn't do anything.'

Fred continued, "Our dear brother here just happened to be telling us… "

"For the hundredth time," whispered George from beside her, making her swallow a laugh that had been threatening to erupt since the second they walked into the room.

"That now that he has been made, Perfect Prefect Percy," Fred continued their hastily produced script, "that he would have to be memorable and stand out to make head boy."

"So…" George picked up where his twin had left off. "We being the spiffingly helpful siblings we are…" Elizabeth and Fred stood in the background nodding furiously to reinforce this comment, "put our heads together to come up with an idea to really make him pop. This was the result. So really…"

"We were just trying to help." All three intoned, in unison; batting their eyelashes at their mother. Nobody in the trio had any illusion that Molly Weasley believed a single word her children had just told her, but that sure as hell didn't mean they weren't going to try.

Mrs. Weasley glared for another few moments; opened her mouth, realised she had no words, closed it again and with a resigned sigh, gave up. "Percy I will solve this problem in a moment. You three get yourselves ready and wake Ginny and Ron; your father is meeting us in Diagon Alley in an hour. "The trio didn't need telling twice; they had got away with no punishment. This was unheard of in the Weasley household.

Their joy was short lived, however, as Molly's dulcet tones rang through the Burrow. "Oh and dears, don't think we have finished here, I'll deal with you when I am not running around like a headless chicken." Damn.

Elizabeth reached the top of the stairs in time to hear Mrs. Weasley saying, "Now, come here Percy. We can't well go to Diagon Alley with you looking like a stick of candy floss, now, can we dear? " The trio all exchanged a loaded glance and instantly burst into fits of uncontrollable laughter. Percy would never live this down.

An hour and a half later, all the Weasley's and Elizabeth were standing in a buzzing Leaky Cauldron. Elizabeth had been here many times and she'd never seen such a commotion. What could have caused this level of excitement?

"Potter… that's right… he's back… Harry Potter… came in with Rubeus Hagrid not fifteen minutes ago… isn't it exciting." She overheard Dedalus Diggle explaining the taverns current state to her father, Arthur Weasley, as he twirled his trademark purple bowler hat, excitedly, in his hands. Within seconds the eyes of every red head in the room turned to her. All their faces portraying different emotions.

"Elizabeth, my dear, your brother is here." Molly approached the topic gently with the eleven year old girl. For a moment Elizabeth just stood there; every time she ever mentioned her true name, it had always been "Potter… as in Harry?" or "What happened to your brother. Do you know him? Will he return to us?" No matter what Elizabeth did, to everyone, other than the Weasley's, she'd always be Harry Potter's sister, never just Elizabeth.

The Weasley's continued to watch her, expectantly, and all of a sudden Elizabeth had the perfect words to convey how, in that moment, she truly felt. "Yes Mum, they are. Come on, Gred, Forge; things to see, places to do, people to go… follow me."

And with that the trio headed out to Diagon Alley, abandoning the rest of the Weasley's behind them in a somewhat uncomfortable silence. One thing the Weasley's had concluded, was it was her decision, all they needed to do was wait for her to make it. It was a sure thing that Elizabeth's stubborn streak would make her ignore the situation even more if they pushed her.

No, she would come to the right decision on her own; when she was ready.

Disclaimer

You all know how this works; full disclaimer on previous chapter.

Please review any constructive criticism is welcome. Hope you are enjoying Elizabeth's misadventures so far. In the next chapter school shopping and bumping into a few familiar faces. x