Disclaimer: I'm working on my own novel, but unfortunately, this isn't it. Everything familiar belongs to Rowling.
I landed in a shabby yard, the grass worn down from numerous pairs of feet trampling across it and it took me a minute to gain my balance and composure. I wasn't used to travelling by portkey.
I stood in the shade of a tree for a minute, taking in the house all over again. It had changed a lot since I had been here last. The yard looked slightly more disheveled and the house leaned a little more than before, like it had taken some hard abuse. But from where I stood, I could hear laughter from the kitchen, then some yelling.
"Ronald! Give it back!" I heard and I saw a bushy haired girl chasing Ron into the yard. He laughed and tossed the book to me.
"Run Winny! RUN!" he shouted as he ran the other way. The girl froze, looking between me and him.
"I am not going to Ron," I said, shaking my head. I walked forward and gave the girl back her book. "Hi, I'm Winny, as the git pointed out," I said, sticking out my hand. I knew who the girl was from stories I had read in the paper and from ones I've heard from Charlie.
"I'm Hermione. Nice to meet you. And thank-you for giving me back my book," she said, shooting a dirty look at Ron, who simply laughed.
"Ron, Hermione. Get back in here! It's time for supper!" I heard Molly Weasley scold from the kitchen. I followed them inside and was enveloped in a hug from the short woman.
"Mrs. Weasley, it's good to see you again," I said. I couldn't help but smile brightly. No matter what, I always felt at home with the Weasley family.
"Please, call me Molly, dear. I'm so glad you agreed to come home with Charlie," she said and I bit my tongue while shooting her son a glare. If it was up to me, I would've been here sooner. She let me go, and her curly-headed son stepped up.
"So pleasant to see you again, Ms. Stuart," Percy said as he shook my hand. I snorted.
"Percy, you've known me since I've been working with Charlie. Call me Winny, or if you insist on being more formal, Rowyn," I said, grinning. He cast me a small, placating smile as he nodded. He was pushed aside by George, who smiled weakly.
"Hey, Whiny," he said, and I laughed. I had forgotten that the twins had given me a nickname last time I was at the Burrow. He stretched out his arms and I walked into them.
"I wish Fred was here to see you again," he murmured. I sighed softly.
"George, I am so, so sorry," I started before he let go and stepped away. He walked out of the kitchen and I looked around. It was now empty except for Charlie and me.
"Charlie, what the hell happened before you left?" I asked, trying to figure out what the peck on the cheek meant to him. He looked at me and a look of conflict flickered across his face before he shrugged.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said and I growled under my breath. "Come on, I'll point out the rest of the family to you," he said, pushing my back out into the yard, where tables were set up. The main one next to the house was sagging with the amount of food that Molly had cooked for us all. My mouth was watering already.
"That's Harry," Charlie said, pointing to the dark haired boy laughing as he listened to Hermione and Ron argue. "Hermione said she met you earlier. So I guess the only ones you don't know here are Fleur Delacour, who competed against Harry in the Triwizard and is now married to Bill; Andromeda Tonks, who was Tonks' mum; and Tonks' son, Teddy," he said, pointing the last two out.
I followed his finger to where a tall, regal looking woman sat with a little boy clinging to her legs. Her hair was long and light brown, although it had streaks of silver running heavily through it. The little boy, however, had turquoise blue hair that, as he cooed towards Harry, changed to Weasley red before turning black and messy, like that of Harry's.
"Harry's his godfather. He plays shy when he first meets you, but that ends quickly. As you could probably tell, he's a metamorphmagus and he adores Harry already," Charlie said, and I looked up to see a grin on his face.
"That's Tonks' son? He's adorable," I said softly. He nodded and smiled.
"Yeah, he is. He's a mess too though," he said. I grinned and headed over to introduce myself to the two.
"Hi," I said, sitting down beside Mrs. Tonks.
"Hello," she said, sounding slightly surprised. "Forgive me, but I don't believe we've met."
"We haven't! Sorry! I'm Rowyn Stuart, Charlie's friend. Most people just call me Winny though," I said, sticking my hand out. She shook it.
"Well, I'm Andromeda Tonks. And this is my grandson, Teddy Lupin. Say hi, Teddy," she instructed. He looked at me before burrowing his face into her calves.
"Hi Teddy… I've heard about you. That you were Harry's godson and very handsome," I said as I crouched down beside him. He peeked out and grinned at me.
"'Arry," he said, pointing up. I glanced up to see Harry standing above me, a broad grin on his face.
"Hey Winny," he said and I waved at him. "Andromeda, can I steal Teddy?" he asked. Teddy was already reaching for his godfather, and Andromeda nodded. I excused myself and headed back to Charlie.