Chapter 5

Danielle sat in the kitchen of the Halliwell manor stirring her cup of hot coco.

"So how was school?" Phoebe asked sitting down.

"Great," Danielle answered.

"Meet any guys?" Phoebe questioned.

"A few," Danielle replied.

"Listen. I know you don't like Christmas that much but could you at least smile once?"

"There happy," Danielle said with a smirk.

"That was a smirk it doesn't count," Phoebe said pointing a finger at her cousin. Just then a little brown owl flew into the room and landed in front of Phoebe.

"It's for you," she sighed looking at the scroll. "Who's it from?"

"It's Ron's owl Pig," Danielle said and took the scroll of parch from the owls leg and opened it.

Dear Danielle,

How your holiday going so far? Mine could be better. I was wondering if you were doing anything the rest of the holiday. If not maybe you could come to my house for the vacation. Harry's here now and Hermione's arriving Christmas night. If not I'll understand.

Your friend,

Ron

"Who's Ron?" Phoebe asked once she read the letter.

"Just a friend of mine," Danielle said. "Can I?"

"Sure. Tell him you can be there the twenty-sixth," Phoebe said standing up.

Danielle went upstairs and grabbed a piece of parchment from her trunk and returned to the kitchen. She quickly wrote a response.

Dear Ron,

I asked my cousin and they said I can stay at your house for the rest of the holiday. I should be there the 26th at about five. I'll see you then. Have a great Christmas and tell Harry the same.

Your friend,

Danielle

She rolled the scroll up and tied it to Pig's leg and he took off.

"Good Morning!" Danielle said cheerily as she came down stairs the next morning.

"Morning," Paige mumbled and took a sip of her coffee. "You're wicked happy."

"I know," Danielle said and took a seat on the couch.

"Why?" Piper asked.

"Didn't Phoebe tell you?" Danielle asked.

"Tell us what?" Piper questioned.

"I'm staying at Ron's the rest of the holiday," Danielle answered.

"Oh. I have no problem with that," Piper said and handed Danielle a gift.

"Really!" Danielle stated.

"No. He seems like a nice boy. His parents are nice," Piper explained.

"Who are his parents?" Leo questioned.

"Molly and Arthur Weasley from the Order," Piper answered.

Danielle packed her trunk that night with new clothes and went down to the kitchen for some ice cream.

"Danielle. When did you say you were leaving?" Piper asked handing her a spoon.

"Late afternoon tomorrow," Danielle answered and got a bowl of ice cream.

"Could you leave earlier?" she asked.

"Sure. When?" Danielle questioned.

"Now," Piper stated.

"Why?"

"Dumbledore had to call an emergency meeting for some of the members of the Order and they're coming here," Phoebe explained.

"Ok," Danielle said a took a bite of ice cream and left the kitchen.

She was back downstairs in a half and hour.

"I'll see you at school,"Piper said and disappeared back into the kitchen. Danielle sighed, placed her hand on her trunk and shimmered out of the hallway.

"You what!" exclaimed Ron.

"I invited Danielle over for the rest of the holiday," Harry said.

"What am I going to tell my mother when some strange girl shows up at the door?" Ron yelled.

"I already asked her," Harry answered.

"How did she reply so fast?" Ron asked angrily.

"I kind of forged your writing and sent her the letter with Pig so she'd think it was you asking her," Harry explained.

"I can't believe you!" Ron stated and rolled over on his bed and fell asleep.

They both awoke the next morning to a pile of gifts at the foot of their bed. They opened them up and headed down for breakfast.

"So I heard you have a guest coming tomorrow?" Fred said as him and George entered Ron's room later that night.

"Yeah," Ron replied.

"Who?" Hermione asked appearing in the doorway.

"Danielle," Ron answered.

"When's she arriving?" Hermione questioned.

"Tomorrow," Ron replied. "Well good night."

Everyone left the room and Harry climbed into his bed.

"Night," Harry yawned and quickly fell to sleep.

'I can't wait until tomorrow' Ron thought to himself and fell asleep.

Ron and Harry woke up the next morning and headed down to breakfast.

Just then there was a knock at the door.

"Ron could you get that?' Mrs. Weasley asked from the table were she was pouring her, Ginny and Hermione a second cup of tea.

Ron sighed and walked over to the door. He opened it to find Danielle standing there.

"Danielle! What are you doing here?" Ron asked.

"I know. I'm sorry I'm early. My cousins kicked me out early," Danielle answered. "Nice pajamas."

"Come in!" Mrs. Weasley said appearing at the door. "You must be Danielle! Ron and Harry have told us so much about you. Sit down and have some breakfast. She pushed Danielle into a chair and started piling food onto her plate. Ron closed the door and tried to fix his hair before heading back to the table.

"How was your Christmas?" Harry asked.

"Great. That's enough thanks," Danielle said but Mrs. Weasley continued to pile food onto her plate.

"So Ron and Harry tell me you're from America!" Mr. Weasley stated.

"Yes," Danielle replied.

"And you live with Muggles?" he asked.

"Yes," Danielle answered and picked up a piece of bacon.

"How, then, does a laptop work?" he questioned.

'Uh...well...there's a chip and you press the keys and words appear on the screen," Danielle explained.

"Amazing," Mr. Weasley said softly just as there was another knock at the door.

"Ah, Dumbledore! It's good to see you! Come in!" Mrs. Weasley greeted.

"Hello, Molly," Dumbledore replied and turned to Danielle. "I see you arrived safely."

"Yes," Danielle said.

"Here's the list of dates for the meetings," Dumbledore said handing her a piece of parchment.

"Dates of what?" Harry asked.

"You haven't told them?" Dumbledore questioned.

"No," Danielle answered.

"I think now's the time to," Dumbledore stated and handed Mr. Weasley a similar piece of parchment.

"I shall see you then," Dumbledore said and left.

"What does he mean now the time to?" Hermione asked looking at Danielle.

Danielle looked at Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley replied by nodding.

"I...Dumbledore came to my cousins and me for help," Danielle explained."He told us about Voldemort and about the Order and how he needs more help. So my cousins offered to join and I joined. Although my job isn't with the Order."

"What do you do then?" Harry asked.

"I was asked by Dumbledore to attend Hogwarts and become friends with you Harry. He wanted someone who could have an eye on you all the time while he had to go off to meetings," Danielle explained. "I understand if you're mad and don't want to talk to me again. I wanted to tell you but I was sworn to secrecy."

"She really was," Mrs. Weasley said. "I've known Danielle since September. She told Dumbledore she had to tell you in order to gain your trust but he told her no."

"I'm not mad," Harry stated. "I know it was for something good and it was for something Dumbledore wanted done."

"Can you really do magic?" Ron asked.

"Yes. I can do more than you can. I went to a magic school where we use our minds and hands," Danielle said.

"Like Professor Halliwell?" Ron asked and Danielle nodded.

"She's your cousin isn't she? I asked McGonagall who the Charmed Ones are and she said they are three powerful witches named Piper, Phoebe and Paige. Are they your cousins?" Hermione questioned.

"Yeah," Danielle replied.

"She said they are three powerful witches who are half blood," Hermione said. "Are you?"

"No. I'm pure. My mother, their aunt, married a wizard," Danielle explained.

For another two hours Danielle sat through question after question until Mrs. Weasley ushered them out of the kitchen and suggested they show Danielle her room.

"So what kind of magic can you do?" Fred and George asked in unison as they entered Hermione and Danielle's room.

"See that book," Danielle pointed to one of Hermione's books.

"Yeah," the twins replied.

"Book," Danielle said holding out her hand as the book disappeared from its spot and appeared in her hand.

"You can do magic out of school?" Harry asked.

"Yes. How do you think I kill those demons I told you about in the beginning of the year," Danielle answered?

"Hold this," she said handing George the book. "Now hold it up and drop it.

George did as told and Danielle waved her hand. The book froze in place half way to the floor.

"Amazing," the twins said.

"I can also do this," she stated and walked over to Hermione and waved her hand. Hermione was suddenly still.

"Wow," Ron murmured and walked over to Hermione and waved his hand in front of her face. Danielle waved again and Hermione suddenly moved.

"What can you do?" she asked. "How did you get over here?"

Just then they heard footsteps coming up the stairs.

"Hello," Mrs. Weasley greeted as she entered. "Danielle. I know its not much but..."

"It's great," Danielle said before Mrs. Weasley could finish.

"Mum went mad cleaning when she found out Ron invited you," Fred stated.

"It's just. Your house is amazing," Mrs. Weasley said blushing.

"Apparently you haven't been in my room. My cousins take care of the house mostly," Danielle said.

"Well! Have fun kids," Mrs. Weasley stated and left the room.

"We've got to go to," Fred and George said and with a loud pop, they disappeared.