**Disclaimer** I do not claim to own anything that's not mine (J.K. Rowling wrote these amazing things before I could even dream of them). I do claim my main character, Dee.
We sat facing each other at the table. She fidgeted with her hands beneath the table looking thoroughly ashamed. I felt a feeling of triumph well up from within. I deserved this moment of victory after all that I'd had to endure. Mrs. Weasley opened her mouth to speak but only a squeak came out at first but she continued.
"Deirdra, I'm so very sorry for the way that I overreacted. It's not like me to be so judgmental. I've just been so stressed out over the wedding. I'm very sorry. Please accept my apology." She pleaded with me. My heart softened toward her. George sat next to me and I saw, from the corner of my eye, a smile spread across his face.
"Mum, of course we forgive you. I knew the moment you started yelling that you didn't really mean what you were saying. I've heard your yelling all my life and I can tell when it's genuine and when it's just you overreacting." George told his mother but her eyes remained on me. I gave her an encouraging smile finally.
"It's ok Mrs. Weasley. I know you were just overreacting. I'm glad we are able to clear the air between us. It hasn't made things easier with all the tension about Voldemort and also the stress of the wedding." I told her, soothing her conscious. Con entered the room just as we were finished talking. We all turned and looked at her. She had a worried frown on her face.
"Have any of you seen Annie?" She asked quietly. Just then we heard a scream from outside. Jumping up, we ran outside. Ginny was racing from the garden looking terrified.
"Ginny! What's wrong?" Mrs. Weasley shouted as Ginny came near.
"Tiger… tiger… garden…" Ginny sputtered, trying to catch her breath. George laughed from beside me and his mum and sister both gave him deathly glares.
"Oh dear, I better go get her." Con said and started off towards the garden.
"Go get her?" Mrs. Weasley asked, confused, as she watched Con enter the garden.
"Yes, that'll be Annie. She's an animagus and she prefers the tiger form." I explained.
"Maybe she's making a brunch of those pesky gnomes. Quite tasty?" George said, with laughter in his voice. Ginny and Mrs. Weasley rolled their eyes at him. I flashed him a smile that he gratefully basked in.
A few moments later, Con and Annie came striding from the garden looking none too happy. Con continued into the house, ignoring everyone. Annie, however, stopped and faced Ginny.
"I'm sorry I startled you. I didn't mean to." She said, apologizing. Then she turned to Mrs. Weasley. "My mother tells me that I need to apologize to you as well for yelling at you the other day. I –" Mrs. Weasley cut her off.
"Please don't apologize. You were only defending your friend, justifiably. I am the one who was in the wrong and I've made my apologies to Deirdra and George. It was wrong of me to assume she was pregnant and start condemning her and their love for each other. Let's just put the whole situation behind us and focus on what's important right now, the wedding. It's tomorrow and there's so much to do…" She finished, her mind drifting off into the things still yet to do before the wedding.
B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~B
"We're off. Just stay here and I'll see you later tonight. I promise." George assured me with a charming smile. I looked up at him doubtfully. They were going to go get Harry. The plan was to use polyjuice potion to transform several people into Harry clones. George and Fred were two of them. I had offered to do it but Mad Eye thought it best for me to stay back at the Burrow in case my Death Eater uncle showed up or Snape. I still felt anger towards Snape even though I knew he did what had to be done. I also felt anger towards my uncle. So, for everyone else's safety, I didn't fight the issue of not going.
B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~B
"Is that them?" Mrs. Weasley asked anxiously as we heard a loud noise. We all got up and rushed out the door. Ginny ran ahead of me with Mrs. Weasley and I heard Con and Annie behind me. We saw two figures.
"Harry? You are the real Harry? What happened? Where are the others?" cried Mrs. Weasley. (C5B7) It was Harry, and he went on to explain what had happened. Mrs. Weasley ran back into the house for something strong to drink. My mind was reeling. Where was everyone? At least I knew that George and Lupin should be showing up at any moment. Suddenly a blue light shined in the darkness and two figures appeared. One, however, was leaning heavily on the other. Panic swelled in me and I ran towards them. Harry was with me and we saw that it was George leaning on Lupin. The moment I saw the blood, I screamed. Harry helped carry him inside, where we saw that his ear was missing.
Mrs. Weasley took great care of him but told me that there was no way that his ear could be re-grown. Con inspected the injury as well and confirmed the same. I was reassured that he would be alright, just missing his ear. It was little comfort though. He could have been killed. I shouldn't have let him go. I sat down on the floor next to the couch, where he lay, and held his hand. That's where I stayed as all the others showed up, well, not all. We also found out that Mundungus fled and that Mad Eye had been killed. My heart filled with sorrow at the news of the loss. I would miss Mad Eye greatly. One thing I was grateful for, though, was that George was alive and so was everyone else.
B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~B
It was a beautiful morning and I immediately made my way to see George. I hadn't allowed him away from me much after what had happened. He teased me that I was being silly. When I'd start lecturing him about how I was worried for his safety and that he was lucky he hadn't been killed, he'd turn his bad ear to me and plug the other one. That's when I'd grab him and kiss him roughly.
"Feel that?" I asked angrily. He'd nod dumbly. "That's me, loving you and caring about your safety. Don't forget it." I said sternly.
Today was the day before the wedding and we planned to have Harry's birthday party for him as well. It would be a beautiful, peaceful day, I decided with a smile as I found George and looped my arm around his.
B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~B
The day hadn't continued as peacefully as I had hoped. The minister had arrived, interrupting Harry's birthday celebration. First he wanted to talk to Harry, Ron and Hermione alone. I took advantage of my invisibility for the first time in a long time and snuck in to see what his visit was all about.
I felt almost gleeful as I became invisible. It had been too long since I'd actually had merit to use my special ability. I had started to feel normal… I had missed not feeling normal, surprisingly, when all my like that's all I had wanted to feel. I slipped inside and headed to the sitting room where I could hear their voices talking.
The minister had hounded them about my Da, asking questions about why he had left them stuff from his will. He left Hermione a book called; The Tales of Beadle and Bard. I remembered this specific book. Da had always had it lying on his desk in his office. I frowned, feeling slightly jealous that he had given it to Hermione. Then I thought better of it and realized he must have had a purpose in leaving it to her. Then Scrimgeour revealed that Da had left his deluminator to Ron. I was a little shocked by this but also put it to some purpose Da had planned. Then he informed Harry that he had left him the snitch he had caught in his first game of quidditch. I was again confused by the item and none of the three seemed to know any more than I about the purpose of the items left to them. The meeting had ended shockingly as Scrimgeour revealed also that the sword of Gryffindor was left to Harry but that it was not Da's possession to gift to him. This revelation led to arguing and anger as they didn't understand why they couldn't have the sword. Scrimgeour left them before they could argue anymore with him. I followed him out, leaving the three behind, eager to discuss the items.
"Mrs. Weasley, I see you have some extra guests than I thought you would have already. You wouldn't happen to have a Miss Deirdra Nadine Kendra Rashell Dumbledore in residence at the moment do you?" He asked politely. Panic surged through me. I still stood invisible behind him. Everyone looked nervously around at one another. I saw Mrs. Weasley gulp nervously.
"She was just here…" Annie started to say but trailed off as everyone turned and glared at her. She looked back confused and frowned. Fleur, however, was in the same boat as Annie and continued for her.
"She eh waz juzt here, yez. I don know wherez she mightev run off toz." Bill nudged her, causing her to fall slightly off balance but she recovered fast, sending him a glare.
"Ah, yes. Thank you ladies. Any idea where she might have gotten off to?" He asked pleasantly. George frowned at him, looking worried. I made myself invisible. I was touched by how protective they were being of me, but Da had warned me in his letter that they would find out about me after he died. I saw their anxious looks as they saw me appear. My heart warmed at their love but I ignored their concern.
"Hello Minister. I believe I'm the Deirdra Nadine Kendra Rashell Dumbledore that you are looking for. Though, I doubt there are many of us around." I said confidently. I knew I needed to present myself in the strongest way as possible so that he knew I wasn't going to be bullied into answering his questions. He spun around to face me. His eyes widened the moment they focused on me. I smiled.
"Yes, hello. I was just inquiring about your whereabouts. I'm glad you showed back up. I was worried I was going to have to demand a search of the residence." He said in an arrogant way that made my skin prickle.
"I don't believe that there would be grounds for such a thing. Anyhow, here I am. How may I help you?" I asked, all business. He grimaced visibly, not happy that I was demanding he air his business with me in front of the gathered group of people.
"Do you think there is anywhere we could retire to discuss our business more privately?" He asked politely and I smiled and shook my head no.
"I don't wish to hide any business that I may have with you from my friends and family." I replied. George got up from his spot at the table and walked over to me, putting his arm around my waist. The Minister scowled at George before giving his attention back to me.
"Very well…" He said in resignation. "It came to our attention at the death of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, that there was a new name upon our list of wizards and witches. This name happened to be yours. I'm not sure how you or Albus Dumbledore achieved this but thus, it has been done. Some powerful magic hid your presence from us. Am I to assume you are his daughter, or maybe a niece?" He asked.
"You're welcome to assume anything you wish Minister. It's very much like the ministry to assume many things; right or wrong." I replied. He glared at me. I smiled and I felt George's hand give me a slight squeeze on my hip.
"This is a very serious matter and the Ministry is going to launch a full investigation into this. It is not a good sign that someone's identification or even existence be hidden from the ministry and for such a long time. If it had not been for Dumbledore's death, I'm not sure we would have ever become aware of your existence. How are we to know some other powerful, evil wizards aren't as well hiding themselves in much the same way?" He asked, as if I had some good excuse to give him or a confession of "evilness" to reveal.
"You mean like, how Voldemort has been alive all these years and yet you guys didn't know until Harry Potter told you and even then you didn't believe him and then didn't believe until he was finally seen within the Ministry itself?" I asked with a glower. He frowned and didn't answer the question.
"It would make the ministry feel better about handing over the possessions indicated in Dumbledore's will if we knew to whom the possessions were really going to." He said, again going back to who I am. They must be worried that I am some evil witch. The image of Umbridge flashed through my mind and I laughed out loud. The Minister looked at me like I was mad.
"Minister, I am not an evil witch. Look within your Ministry to find that…" I commented. "Though I suppose I can give the ministry peace of mind and let you know that I am indeed Albus Dumbledore's daughter." I finally answered him. His eyes lit up as if he'd just won the lottery. He smiled a slimy grin.
"I am to inform you then that your father has left into your possession, all his worldly possessions besides those left to other people. The main thing left to you is his house and the rights to the funds within his vault at Gringotts." He pulled two keys out of his pocket and handed them to me. One I recognized as the key to our house, since I already had a copy and the other was the key to a Gringott's vault. I held up the key to the house and smiled.
"Ah, thank you, I needed a spare." I said, letting him know that I already held possession of the house before he gave me the key. He scowled.
"I would like to discuss with you more about your father and how you were hidden, but I can see that this is not a good time and that you most likely would prove to be uncooperative. However, I will warn you that the Ministry is starting an investigation and that you will be called to questioning." I nodded, agreeing with him about me being uncooperative and acknowledging that I was aware that the Ministry would want to question me. He seemed to be only more irritated. He turned and bade farewell to everyone, giving Bill and Fleur his regards for the happy couple's coming marriage.
"I'm so proud of you, my beautiful woman." George whispered in my ear as we watched the Minister disapparate past the barrier. I smiled and turned to him, giving him a soft kiss.
B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~B
I scowled at myself in the mirror. I look like an idiot. I thought to myself right before Annie's face popped into view behind me in the mirror. She smiled.
"You look beautiful Dee." She said with bright, genuine, eyes before moving on to finish getting ready herself. I continued to scrutinize myself in the mirror. My long dirty blonde hair was pulled halfway back with large curls spiraling down my back. I had used some make up and lined my eyes with a navy blue and mascara on my lashes. Ginny had loaned me a soft peach colored lip gloss to wear. The icy blue dress I wore sparkled, magically. I wore the bracelet Cedric had given me and the heart locket that George had given me. I had thought practically too though and also had my wand harness strapped to my ankle where no one could see it under my dress. I had decided on white, flat ballet slipper shoes, so that if for any reason I had to run, I wouldn't be running in heels. I detested heels anyways. Whoever invented heels must have had a sick pain fetish. Suddenly George's face popped into view in the mirror. He grinned. I spun and scowled at him.
"Hey, isn't it bad luck to look at a lady before a wedding?" I said, chastising him. He laughed.
"No, silly. That's just the groom isn't supposed to see his bride before the wedding." He corrected me. "Which I hope isn't true because Fleur and Bill are downstairs snogging. Mum will be furious if anything goes wrong." I laughed.
"Where's your partner in crime?" I asked, wondering where Fred was. George tilted his head towards the other side of the room. I looked over and saw him flirting with Annie. I raised my eye brows, amused and laughed. Annie seemed to pick up on it a little bit, but she didn't encourage it. Probably a good idea since he was technically her boss at work.
"You ready to head downstairs?" George asked, drawing my attention back to him. I turned and looked at him, staring deep into his eyes and also noticing how handsome he looked all dressed up. I smiled, slow, ornery. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down to kiss me. As our deep, sensual kiss ended, George acted like I'd just punched him in the gut, knocking the air out of him.
"Woman, you'll be the end of me. I love you." He said in humor but honestly.
"Let's go downstairs. I'm sure your extended family is just dying to meet me." I said sarcastically.
"If only we were so lucky that some of them would die, especially my aunt. She's a ripe, old, mean witch. Don't get me wrong, I love her, ya know, but she sure can be aggrieving." I laughed and George led me downstairs to the torture of smiling endlessly as I met everyone and had to explain to them who I was.
**A/N- 9/13/11- I realized today as I began writing the next chapter that I totally messed up in the original version of this chapter by leaving out Harry getting brought from his house to the Burrow and George's ear getting cursed off. Anything that happened to George in the story is vital to cover and at least show it NOT happening if that's what I wanted, but I don't want it to change. So I added more to the chapter and deleted the first posted version and reposting this. Sorry if you already read it and have to re-read. It didn't change hardly anything that was already written, just added more.
***Yeah! A longer chapter. I hope this chapter went better than some of my last few. I feel like I've gotten out of the good groove of writing. It might be because I feel rushed due to my busy schedule or it might be because I've been typing them up directly instead of hand writing them and then typing them up. Usually when I'd hand write them, I'd change things up and add more when I typed it up. I find, however, that I write faster when I type directly. Anyways, Hope you guys liked it. Please Review and let me know. I hope the way I portrayed the apology with Mrs. Weasley and Dee helped to even out the realisticness of Mrs. Weasley's reaction in the latest chapter of Tyger. Don't forget to read it too. I find that I'm having a hard time bridging the stories so that you guys don't have to read both. Sorry. Just go read it. The chapters for it tend to be shorter than chapters for this story. Mostly because this story is the main story. .net/s/7328033/1/Tyger