Chapter 4: Settling In.
Willow was beyond enjoying herself. Fred and George spent some time demonstrating their inventions. They both found her awed expression quite amusing. She thought she heard the sentence, "Our first willing participant," escape Fred's mouth, grin still plastered in place. Why did the word "willing" bring wonder to its opposite, unwilling? Why was Ginny looking a combination of anger, worry, and amusement, the last being the little Fred and Georges inside her? Ron looked, well quiet frankly, relieved it wasn't him.
Then Ron showed her wizard chess; she was relieved not to be a piece. He also started the story of his heroic first year. He couldn't finish, or rather chose not to, until Harry got there. She was a little put off with chess from then on to say the least.
Percy started his "nothing more vital than academics" speech. Ginny rolled her eyes. A lot. She seemed to replacing the periods of his sentences with the rolls of her eyes. He bragged about how he would follow in the "respectful parts" of his older brothers' foot steps. However, from Willow's perspective Bill and Charlie sounded awesome, nothing like Percy.
She knew a lot more about the Weasley offspring after that night. She did her best to keep them up for as long as possible; begging them for stories and such. She was dreading going to sleep, the nightmares were sure to return. She was out of luck when Ginny fell asleep against Fred. As she laid down to go to sleep, she could not shake the feeling of terror. Not even asleep yet, and her nightmares were troubling her, she thought before finally closing her eyes.
"Run dear! We'll hold him off!" he turned to defend her, but he had no wand. She ran, away from her family, their troubles, and her hurt. She cried the tears that wouldn't stop. She sank down to her knees, crying until the darkness engulfed her.
She awoke to the now common burning of her eyes. She blinked back tears, a mixture of pain and sadness from her dream. She didn't want to think about it, but it haunted her. She wanted to be able to be happy with just the Weasleys, but that would never repair the hole left by her deceased family.
She walked downstairs and was immediately suspicious. No one was down there, not one. Mrs Weasley was always downstairs cooking, cleaning, or telling someone off in her wonderfully strict manner. She went back to Ginny's room; empty. And the same was repeated in the twin's room, Ron's, and the Weasley parental's. She looked out the window into the field slash quiditch pitch and the garden; no luck, still completely vacant. Now this was just ridiculous. She tore through every bathroom, the living room, and Charlie's old room; still nothing. She reached the last room: Bill's.
She opened the door to a loud burst of, "SURPRISE". She screamed bloody murder, jumped three feet into the air, landed unbalanced, and fell backwards out of the doorway; damn her clumsy ways. Before her stood the entire Weasley clan; even Bill and Charlie. They all seemed extremely amused and Willow scowled, but grinned all the same.
She looked at the table everyone was assembled around. Her eyes began to water and she quickly wiped away the moisture. There was a large cake in the shape of a fox, her favorite animal, sitting back-to-back with a family of nine weasels. She knew it was symbolic; the fox had entered the family of the weasels as Willow had entered that of the Weasleys. There were also seven small boxes. It was a birthday party; she had been asleep on the actual day.
She hugged everyone, stopping to learn the difference between Bill and Charlie. They sang a quick chorus of "Happy Birthday", Fred and George altering it as they see fit. Mrs Weasley cut the cake and everyone dug in. Willow took the time to talk to Bill and Charlie; they were obviously the protective brother type. Both, at completely different times and not in each other's company, warned her about boys and what they would be compelled to do if they were jerks to her. She made a mental note to never discuss boy problems in front of them.
After all the cake was gone, it was present time! The first was from the twins, there was a plush fox and a plush weasel that when brought together played a song; Willow believed it was a Muggle song. Then she got her own chess set from Ron and a book entitled, "The Scholars Guide to Study Skills" from guess who. Then she opened Charlie's gift, it was two small rectangular cards. One started to glow and became a small pyramid, it recited data to Willow, "This card is redeemable for fifteen galleons at Madam Jane's Outfitters. Presented to Willow Noxa Bryden from Charlie Weasley." The second remained the same and Charlie explained it was a Muggle one, for thirty dollars anywhere.
"I thought you might want your own clothes instead of Ginny's?"
Next she opened Bill's. It was an amazingly beautiful owl. It was relatively small, maybe a foot tall, but that's not why he was so cool. He was jet black on his tail feathers and markings on his face and body, but the rest of him was a shockingly familiar shade of purple; that of Willow's eyes. He was the owl meant for her and she winded Bill with her bear hug.
The second to last was a locket from Ginny. No. It was the most beautiful and breathtaking locket Willow had ever seen, and it was from her best friend. The pendant was a navy blue oval, it had intricate trimming in black that weaved around it to form small roses and vines. Inside were two pictures, one was taken only the day before, it was she and all of the Weasleys, and they were all talking and laughing, just having a joyful evening. The second made Willow's breath get caught in her throat. It was the man and woman she had seen in only her nightmares and scarce memories, her parents. They were standing in a garden; her father was hugging her mother, his chin resting on her shoulder. She was patting her slightly rounded stomach because she was pregnant with Willow. Both were grinning from ear to ear, and Willow tackled Ginny with a hug. She cried and smiled, it may have been a picture, but it was them! Solid, visual proof of those vacant faces she missed.
The last was from Mr and Mrs Weasley. In it was a small box of squares, all different colors and shades. "Pick your favorite one." Willow found a pretty grey and the famous purple. She couldn't decide and seeing her thoughtful expression, Mrs Weasley took both. She and Ginny consulted for a minute, but then she took out her wand and with a flick the room changed. The once blue walls were now her purple, and the desk, wardrobe, bed, and window were the grey. On the bed was a plaid blanket that matched perfectly. All of her things, even if there were only two, were now on the desk instead of in Ginny's room.
"Well it's official, you are no longer a guest. Willow, you are an Honorary Weasley. Welcome to the family!"