Notes and Disclaimers: This story is about Eileen Pierce's summer between "Father Figure" and "Eternal Knight", she visits several of her friends and learns some interesting things about them in the meantime. Each chapter of this story will be about a different person she's staying with and the secrets they indulge. The characters starring in this short story are: Eileen (of course), Cheryl and Gregory Applegate, Artemis Prewett, Lucas, Page, and Roderick Beowulf, Fred and George Weasley, Remus Lupin, and Severus Snape. Special thanks to Starr and Otaku for helping me find my inner New Yawkah! XD Enjoy and make sure you read it, some of this might be referenced in the next story! ~_^
Chapter 6: The Burrow
The next week in New York passed by quickly, Eileen spending every waking moment exploring the area with Cheryl and experiencing the foods and cultures of America until she had thoroughly soaked herself in it and bought enough souvenirs to go around. It was finally time for her to leave and head back over to England for her two week visit with the Weasleys at the Burrow.
As the trio gathered on a vacant street with Eileen's things, Cheryl beamed at her, clapping her on the back as she said, "Have a good trip! Don't get into too much trouble with those rascals!"
"I'll try not to, and thank you again for everything." Eileen bowed.
"Don't mention it, it was our treat, I'm just glad that my daughters been making such good friends at her new school." Mr. Applegate smiled kindly before producing a neatly wrapped box, "We thought you might like a snack for the trip back so we packed you a few things."
"Got yourself delicacies of America, stuff that makes UK food taste like crap, full of fat and tasty artificial ingredients!" Cheryl laughed.
"Thank you, I'll be sure to share when I get to the Weasleys. Their father will have a field day with this, no doubt. He loves Muggle stuff." Eileen chuckled, having learned of Mr. Weasley's adoration of Muggle anything and imagining him squealing like a schoolgirl when he saw foreign Muggle anything.
"Does he now? Then I bet he'll love this, here's a going away present to educate our UK friends on proper musical genius!" Cheryl handed her a small metallic device with a cord wrapped around it which she took gingerly.
Looking it over curiously, Eileen asked, "What is it?"
"It's a music player, I downloaded all the music off my computer and put it on there! I'm sure you can figure out some way to magically recharge it, but here's how it works..." Cheryl quickly demonstrated the use of the player as her father flagged down a Middy Bus.
Loading her belongings and new gifts onto the bus, Mr. Applegate smiled at the girls and said, "It's time to say goodbye, you'll see her again in a month!"
"Over a month!" Cheryl whined, already clinging to Eileen, "Seven weeks! Forty-nine days! One thousand, one hundred and seventy-six hours! One MILLION -"
"Alright, I get it, it'll be an eternity, you'll survive." Mr. Applegate rolled his eyes at his daughters display of mathematical abilities.
"I'll write to you, I promise." Eileen hugged Cheryl back before prying herself free and smiling.
Giving her a spoiled pout, Cheryl mumbled, "Okay, you better!"
"I will. Goodbye!" Eileen waved as she boarded the bus and was out of sight in seconds, to Cheryl's woe. A couple hours passed and Eileen hadn't touched her care package, too excited to see the Weasleys to bother thinking about eating. She passed the time writing letters to Snape and Lupin, pretty much identical save for personal messages she wished to share with them. The basic gist of each letter was:
"I had a great time in America, it's so bizarre! I went on a tour of the wizarding school they have there, it's smaller than Hogwarts and not nearly as old but fascinating nonetheless. The current headmaster is Mrs. Weasley's uncle, isn't that something? He was very nice, a bit absent-minded but still a good man.
New York City was so busy and full of culture, I could have stayed there for ages learning about Muggle life. I climbed to the top of the twin tower buildings and saw for miles, I also climbed to the top of the Statue of Liberty! It's this great big statue of a green woman in robes, kind of looks like a witch with a torch and spell book, which Cheryl and I found quite amusing.
Everyday we took something called a subway as transportation around the cities, its this great long car that flies through tunnels under ground, like a burrowing snake! It was so fast, I liked to stand up and see if I could keep from falling over when it stopped. There were wandering minstrels and shops in the subway too, it was almost like an underground city in itself.
I should be at the Burrow by the time you get this letter, I will be spending another two weeks there with the Weasley family. Should be fun, Fred and George have asked me for some help on some projects they have going on. Top secret business, can't tell you what it is!
I will do my best to write to you more often, I just keep getting caught up in the excitement and adventure all around me! I hope you are doing well, I look forward to seeing you soon!"
Before she knew it the Middy Bus had come to a halt at the end of a long gravel road that dallied down to the front doorstep of the Burrow. The rickety wooden structure was set back quite a ways from the main road most likely so passing cars didn't get an eyeful of magical business going on inside. It was a welcome sight as Eileen disembarked, collecting all her things on the curb with the help of the conductor.
"Thank you for riding Middy Bus, remember us next time you're in America!" The conductor cheerfully hollered.
"I will, thank you!" Eileen waved as the bus quickly drove off at the same breakneck speeds as the Knight Bus in the UK. Turning her attention once again to the house in the distance, she pondered how she would manage to get all of it down to the house. A brilliant idea popped into her mind and she closed her eyes to focus her thoughts on the twins.
I'm here, come help me with my bags! Eileen sent her message to into their thoughts and seconds later a pair of red dots could be seen peeking out of the doorway.
"She's here!" Shouts rung out in the distance and she giggled as the pair slowly came into focus, dashing down the long road to greet her.
"Hel-OOMPH!" She barely got a chance to properly greet them when she was tackled to the ground by the red blurs, finding herself beneath the grinning twins who clung to her like wet clothing.
"We missed you!" They exclaimed in unison, cuddling her lovingly as their father slowly brought up the rear.
"Honestly, you two, is that any way to treat a young lady? Where are your manners!" Mr. Weasley scolded them, brandishing his wand and threatening to use his magic if they didn't part of their own accord.
Scrambling to their feet and helping Eileen up, they began the process of carrying her things into the house, asking her about her trip to America as they went.
"And do they really have different plugs in America?" Mr. Weasley asked eagerly as he guided her luggage up to Ginny's room.
"Yep, and I brought gifts for everyone!" Eileen beamed as she dug through one of the bags she had carried in.
The family gathered around the kitchen table as Eileen pulled out items she had bought in New York with the Weasleys in mind. She produced a simple orange cord with a plug at each end and held it out to Mr. Weasley, saying proudly, "It's an extension cord!"
"Fantastic! Is there a purpose for it being bright orange?" He marveled at the rope-like cord, looking at both ends with great amusement.
"I suppose so you can see it laying on the floor?" Eileen reasoned, digging around more.
"How ingenious! Those Muggles think of everything!" Mr. Weasley chuckled, draping the cord around his neck a couple times before plugging each end together, "It even makes a fabulous accessory!"
The boys laughed at how ridiculous he looked while peering at the bag waiting for their gifts.
"Cheryl took me to a toy store in the city and I thought you guys might enjoy some Muggle gag gifts." Eileen produced a couple items like marked cards and goggle eye glasses, handing them to the wondering twins who eagerly tested them out with growing amusement.
"Just what they need, more jokes to use on people." Ron scoffed.
"I thought you might like these, they're like every flavor beans but nothing too disgusting." Eileen held out a jar of Jelly Bellies, surprising Ron greatly.
"You got me something? Wow, jelly beans!" Ron exclaimed, reading the label to see what flavors were in them.
"Oh, I wasn't sure if you'd find anything useful in this but I found this book on elaborate knitting patterns when we visited a bookstore..." Eileen pulled out a rather thick book and handed it to Mrs. Weasley.
"I'm sure it's wonderful, thank you, dear! You shouldn't have." Mrs. Weasley smiled kindly, perusing the book and looking curiously at the illustrations as if plotting how to go about them with magic.
"And last but not least!" Eileen pulled out an adorable plush bunny that looked more like a ball of fluff than a rabbit, a soft pink in color.
"It's so cute!" Ginny chirped as she took the plush toy and pet it, hugging it warmly.
Smiling at the happy faces at the table, she stowed away the rest of her gifts so as to keep them safe for her other visits.
Pulling her nose out of her new book, Mrs. Weasley said, "Eileen, dear, are you hungry? I can make something for you in a jiffy!"
"Oh no thank you, I actually have food with me. Cheryl sent me off with a care package of American food." Eileen displayed the rather large package full of goodies, "I haven't a clue what she packed but it smells delightful."
"Muggle food? From America?" Mr. Weasley's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he leaned forward in his chair, gazing expectantly at the package.
Giggling at his giddiness, she began to unwrap it, "Yes, they have wonderful food over there, Cheryl called it a melting pot of cultures."
"You don't say! Well let's have a look!" Mr. Weasley beamed with anticipation.
As she opened the package, she pulled out a box of cheese pizza that filled the room with its wonderful aroma.
"Oh, that smells divine..." Ron gazed dreamily at it.
"There should be eight slices to it, everyone can have a piece if you like." Eileen smiled, opening the box, "You have to fold them in half, they're a bit thin."
The family gladly dug into the pie and filled the house with delighted noises as more of the care package was emptied out. It produced a box of Oreos, a New York Cheesecake, a couple cans of an odd fizzy drink called "Mountain Dew" (which was promptly divvied out to everyone in glasses), a couple bars of Hershey's chocolate, and oddly enough, cooked bacon in a container.
"Bacon?" The twins marveled at it curiously.
"Yes, it's a lot different than the bacon we have here, its crispy and the fat isn't like chewing on a tire." Eileen popped the container open, nibbling joyfully on a strip. She had enjoyed it so much while she was with Cheryl, she must have made some while she was asleep for her to take home.
The family enjoyed the rest of the American delights as Eileen told of her exciting adventures in New York before it was time for bed. Following Ginny upstairs, Eileen got settled on the bed they had set up for her and went to sleep, eager to begin the next day as soon as possible.