Nightmares and Sunday Dinner
"Stay here Fiona"
"No mum I need to help, I want to" I said desperately trying to convince her to let me go.
"They got Graham and James they aren't getting you too" my mother pleaded holding my shoulder in a tight grip.
"Fine" I sighed giving in"But be careful out there" My mother nodded in response and gave me a reassuring smile. After hearing a loud explosion she patted my cheek motherly and ran out of the old classroom into the corridor . Minutes later I was joined by Diane.
"Fiona come on! We need help out here!"Forgetting my promise I ran outside just to see a flash of green hit my mother squarely in the chest.
"MUM!" I scream at the top of my lungs. I suddenly become aware of my surroundings- I'm in my room, it was just a nightmare... but no it wasn't it was a memory one of my worst to date. I hear a loud thump outside my room and my sister comes swiftly through my door, walks across the room and engulfs me in a comforting hug, I feel moisture growing around my eyes and before I have the chance to blink them back they spill over and I start to sob. We have comforted each other many times like I said we both get these nightmares.
"Shh it's ok sweetheart it's ok..." Diane whispered soothingly rubbing my back and just letting me cry.
I continued to cry into her shoulder until they eventual dried up, I wipe my eyes and look at the clock it's 9am, I might as well get up. Reading my thoughts Diane pulls me up and walks down to the kitchen, me following behind her. Suddenly an awful realisation dawns on me...
"Oh god no no no no no!"
"What?" Di asked.
"It's Sunday! oh god I have to go to dinner and meet the Weasley family... What if they don't like me? No-one ever likes me..." I said starting to panic. Seeing me start to have panic attack Diane placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"Breathe fiona breathe, Don't worry I'm sure they'll love you"
"I can barely speak to strangers never mind persuade them to like me"
"Don't worry, now when is it?"
"I have to be there at 5 that gives me 8 hours" I said calming down
7 1/2 hours later
I look at myself in the mirror I'm wearing a long sleeved, knee length, black dress Diane told me to wear it because it seemed appropriate don't know how though. My shoulder length dirty blonde hair wavy and soft. I take deep breaths. Come on keep yourself together Fiona they're just a family... yeah George's family the man i'm going to have to spend the rest of my life with's family. Unlike muggle marriages we can't get divorced that's why people are so outraged by such a law. Only the other week a group of protesters staged riots outside the ministry entrance. Such idiots feel that instead accepting what has happened they make a huge fuss and some find themselves in Azkaban.I have to admit I'm not 100% happy with my match but i'm not going to throw away 7 years of non-stop hard work because of a stupid law.
5:55pm
I spin on the spot and feel the familiar feel of apparation as I arrive outside the burrow.
5.58
Well I might as well spend the next two minutes calming myself down I don't want to be early.
"come on Fiona you can do this you can do this!" I mutter to myself. I know talkig to yourself is the first sign of madness but oh well! I'm surprised I didn't turn insane ages ago.
6.00
Well here goes nothing...
I clench my sweaty hands into a tight fist and knock firmly three times on the door and almost immediately it is swung open by a redheaded girl whom looks several years younger than myself. She smiles warmly at me before extending her hand in greeting, I timidly take and shake lightly.
"Ginny Weasley, George's sister, you must be Fiona Richards"
"Yes that's me" I said skakily "pleasure to meet you Ginny"
"well come on in" she said warmly " well unless you want to freeze out here on the doorstep"
"Thanks" I smiled and felt more at ease with the weasley girl's hospitality.
"Just follow me" ginny said closing the door behind me "just warning you my family is the weirdest you could possibly come across, but they're harmless.. I think..." she joked. I laughed politely but inside I feel like I'm about to throw up."Oh! and welcome to the family fiona"
"I'm not a weasley yet..."I stated.
"You will be though"and with that she opened the door and a wall of sound hit me as well as the sight of tons of redheads. I stared wide eyed at the mass gathering of at least eight red heads, a frizzy haired witch, a raven haired man and a tall blonde witch. I can see George talking halfheartedly with mrs weasley. I was oddly attracted to him like the way his long red hair flip when he moved his head and the way his eyes sparkled slightly however I quickly pushed those feelings down. But what I exactly didn't want to happen, happened. I get noticed.
"Fiona dear so glad you could come! sit! sit!" Mrs Weasley exclaimed drawing everyone's attention briefly to me. Great now i'm gonna start getting self concious!. I sat in the seat mrs weasley gestured towards which was, unfortunately, next to George. I was so nervous, I was shaking I still have no idea what do, so I stay quiet and try to focus on the niceness of the kitchen with it's glowing warmth.
"George, be a dear and introduce Fiona to everyone will you" Mrs Weasley asked.
"Yes mum" he said grumpily the turned to the rest of the table as mrs weasley placed food on the table"HEY EVERYONE, THIS IS FIONA RICHARDS." he then turned to me "FIONA, THIS IS EVERYONE" I blushed deeply and without even another glance he turned towards his meal I followed suit and quickly ate everything. Still feelling embarassed I just stared at my lap and my clasped hands on it.
"Fiona?"mrs weasley said "This is my husband Arthur"
"Nice to meet you Fiona" an elderly man said at the end of the table.
"You too mr weasley"
"Please call me Arthur" I smiled at him. I didn't understand it. My whole life I'd been treated badly by people outside my family why were these people being so nice to me? I was brought out of my thoughts by a surprising voice.
"Will you come with me?" George asked without thinking it through I nodded surprised he'd actually talked to me"We're just going for a walk" he declared to mrs weasley.
"OK dear just don't be too long"
He took my hand (which surprised even more) and led me outside into the darkness.
"We need to talk" he said after a few moments of silence
"I agree"
"Well, my dad tod us about the properties of this law, one of the main ones was that when we got our letter, we got a charm put on us that makes us attracted to each other"
"Like a love potion,charm sort of thing?" I interupted
" Sorta we'll kinda start being attracted to each other and then... possibly fall in love, it's the ministry's way of making sure people aren't in a completely loveless marriage. However t dosn't make peoplefall in love, just makes them start fancyinfg each other a bit" he pondered.
" Are you starting to feel the effects yet?" I asked realising the feelings I'd felt for him were because of this charm and wondering if he'd felt it too.
"Honestly?... yes"he said looking me in the eye for the first time that day.
"Same" I mumbled then broke eye contact embarassed and still shaking nerves. I felt him squeeze my hand reassuringly.
"Calm down you look like you're gonna fall apart" He whispered in my ear and an unconrtrollable shiver ran down my body. This fancying thing's out of hand.
"I feel like I'm about to fall apart" I sighed this meeting and talking to new people was getting the better of me "You know how I was at Hogwarts always afraid to talk to people thats Why I never had any friends and also I wasn't the type of person someone would want as a friend".
"Now that's not true!" he exclaimed causing me to look back up to him in disbelief" you always had a great sense of humour when we played our pranks on you, you wouldn't storm off upset or angry. You laughed and enjoyed them. Now that's a quality of someone I would like to be my friend." Still facing forward he slid his arm over my shouder squeezing me to his side and I couldn't help but blush.
"I should go" I sighed reluctantly not wanting to leave the beautiful view of the moonlit lake and lush green trees but mostly (and more embarassingly) his warm presence. At those words, he stepped back and faced me, smiling slightly.
"Yeah it's getting late" We just stood there staring at each other for a moment until I came to my senses and started pulling him back towards the kitchen of the Burrow.
"Mrs Weasley!" I called half heartedly. She immediately appeared from behind a cabinet shocking me for a moment"I'm just leaving now"
"Oh, ok dear, George will you see Fiona out?" she asked and George nodded almost automatically"It's lovely to see you dear " was the final thing she said to me before I was being guided towards the front door. I was soon on the Weasley's doorstep looking at George intently, him looking at me as if he was almost fascinated.
"Well... 'night George " I said awkwardly. To my surprise he follows my words with a hug that challenges Mrs Weasley's.
"'night Fiona " he whispers in my ear sending more off those involuntary shivers down my spine. #
When we pull apart I smile lightly , apparate to the apartment , change clothes and go to bed but no matter how tired I am I can't get to sleep, instead the only thing I can think of is one George Weasley and really if opposites attract.
Ok I want to thank charlieboox, Avalon Music,PureAngelEyes, LauRa-ReaDinG-XoX and Kayomitsu(again) you guys are awesome!
I'm sooooooooooooo sorry for how long this chapter has taken to write but I hope the length makes up for itXD
Also I need a beta reader anyone interested? just send me a message if you are.
please send reviews I'd stopped writing until 2 wonderful human beings gave me the will to do it again by reviewing.
Oh! and give me your ideas and questions about anything! i'd love to hear them! =P
-Juliet xxxxxxx
