I looked over at the clock it was about seven. I had just finished making dinner for my father and me and for Leeal. She came up behind me with a warm smile as she always did. Whenever I made anything for my dad and me, she always smiled at me and wanted to help me so much, mostly because, after my mom died he just stayed in his study all the time unless he was at work. And after she had died, he didn't even come home for Christmas or anything. And, anytime I ever tried to spend time with him, he just stormed off.
"Why doesn't Princess get something nice on, then get father. Leeal will set the table for you." Leeal said to me. I nodded and went to my room to change; I put on a nice pair of straight-legged jeans and one of my dress tops: it was white and had three quarter sleeves and buttoned up. After getting dressed, I headed out of my room and to my fathers' study. Softly knocked on the door, I waited for a reply. When he didn't answer, I let myself in.
"Dad? It's me." I opened the door. He was sitting at his desk just writing something down and looked up at me all of the sudden. "I made dinner for us. You said that tonight you'd come and have dinner with me. Leeal is setting the table." He nodded and got up.
"Very well then Elladora, I'm coming." He followed me out of his study and we sat at the dinning room table. Leeal had also set the plates with food. My father picked up his fork and took a bite of his food. He sat there and chewed, then swallowed, and then he got up and just left. I sat there shocked; Leeal came up next to me. I looked down at her.
"Leeal, what did I do?" she shrugged and I looked down at the table. I told her I was not hungry anymore and got up to put everything away. She stopped me and said she hasn't done enough today so she would do it. I gave up and let her, after dinner or when I got frustrated, I went for walks. This was the time I needed it most. I ran to my room and put on one of my dark grey hoodies. Running down the stairs, I grabbed my black converse and sat at the front porch putting them on. My I-pod lay in my jacket pocket. Leeal came up to me and looked worried.
"Tell my dad I'm out if he asks I'll be back in a few hours." She just nodded. I pulled out my I-pod and put a muggle band called Skillet. I walked to my right; I didn't care where I was going I just couldn't be in that house with him right then. I turned it on to the song 'the last night' and started to sing.
"You come to me with scars on your wrist.
You tell me this will be the last night feeling like this.
I just came to say goodbye didn't want you to see me cry I'm fine
But I know it's a lie
This is the last night you'll spend alone
Look my in the eyes so I know you know
I'm everywhere you want me to be
The last night you'll spend alone
I'll wrap you in my arms and I won't let go
I'm everything you need me to be." I sighed, I couldn't sing anymore. He couldn't understand, my father. Ever since my mom died, he just thought of himself. It started thundering. But I didn't care; in fact, it made me walk slower so I could walk in the rain for a bit. In a matter of seconds, it began pouring. I turned up the next song; it was 'Those nights', my hood stayed down. I crossed my arms under my chest and kept walking. I smiled to myself listening to the background of the rain hitting the ground. I'd been walking for another three or four hours when I heard my name being called.
"Ella! Ella!" I looked from where the yelling was coming from. There was a house to my right; it was tall and crooked. Out of it came a pair of red headed twins I'd met earlier. Fred had been calling my name, George ran just a little bit behind him.
"Ella," began Fred, "what are you doing out in a thunderstorm?" he looked at me for a moment. George also looked at me for a while then spoke.
"Have you been, crying?" I looked at them then touched my face. And, when I pulled it back to look at it, my fingertips were covered in my running make-up. Fred took a step closer to me and roughly wiped away what he thought was tears with the palm of his hand; he was never very gentle at moments like this. If only he knew it was actually rain on my face, I didn't stop him though; mainly because I knew that even though they weren't tears, they should be. My eyes couldn't look at his; I closed them and let him wipe my face clean of my running make-up.
"Don't cry, especially in the rain. You're gonna catch a cold if we don't get you inside soon." He said; George spoke after him.
"I'll go tell mom we have a guest," he turned to me and I reopened my eyes, "she'll be absolutely thrilled to see you again!" then he ran back toward the house and threw the front door. I stayed in front of Fred and after a while I finally looked up at him. His eyes wouldn't break from mine until I finally said something.
"So," I began still gazing at his eyes, "did the car run okay?" he burst out laughing, the rain poured harder and we were getting soaked to the bone. I laughed with him and we just continued to stand in the rain.
"We've been standing here for about five minutes, and all you can think about is the car? Not even the fact that you walked to our house or that it's pouring and we're both soaked, but the car?" I smiled at him.
"Well, what were you going to say? You just stood there!" I laughed and playfully shoved his shoulder with my hand. He smiled warmly down at me and I returned the gesture. Just seconds later, came out and yelled "BOTH OF YOU GET IN THIS HOUSE RIGHT THIS INSTANT!" Fred and I laughed and walked up to the house, where was waiting at the font door. She smiled warmly when she saw me and glared daggers at Fred, as we finally got to the door.
"Oh it's so good to see you again deary." She said escorting me away from Fred. "Oh Merlin, you're soaked right through the bone." She continued while pulling part of my hoodie. I stood there awkwardly dripping onto her floor, Fred stood next to me and George came down the stairs in pajama pants a t-shirt.
"You two finally came in, good! I was just about to yell out to you lovebirds." He smiled and I started laughing. Fred spoke up to his mother.
"Mom, it's dangerous for her to walk back home and Dad's already gone to work. Maybe she should stay here?" he suggested, more toward, asked his mother if I could stay. She gasped and grinned widely at the idea.
"That's a wonderful idea George!"
"I'm Fred."
"Oh pish-posh! But first, she needs some clothes. Mine will be a bit big, and Ginny's are far too small for her!" she stood there thinking until I butted in.
"Um, ? Besides our height, I'm actually about the same size as the twins. Well, aside from the whole being a girl thing, but really I think we're about the same size." I moved my arms around myself awkwardly, "If it helps any." George looked at me, as did . And I could feel Fred staring at me as well.
"Actually my dear that does help." She started with a big grin. "George," she looked toward the twin on the stairs, "Go get Ella a pair of pajama pants and a jumper." George went up the stairs to his room to get me the clothes while Fred and I stayed with his mother. Fred took my arm and turned toward him, his hand gently ran down my arm and to my own hand. He began walking up the stairs, 'Must be taking me up stairs so I can change in the bathroom.' I thought. I stayed behind him as he pulled my by my hand. 'Fred is so cute! Wait, what am I thinking? I just met him! I don't even know anything about him! Plus, how old am I?' I sighed and decided I was just going crazy. We had gone up about three flights of stairs until we reached a door with a sign on it that read: Beware: twin boys live here. I laughed at it and thought it to be appropriate. He opened the door and I followed about an arms length behind him. We came in to see George going through a dresser, I was starting to get kind of cold so I released my hand from Fred's and started rubbing my arms to try to keep myself warm. I was still dripping from my hair and clothes so I grabbed the pajama pants that were lying on the bed in front of my and started changing. Fred began talking shocked almost.
"Ella! What are you doing?"
"Changing out of these soaking clothes, why?" I asked unzipping my jeans. I looked back to them. "Can you guys turn around or something? Or cover your eyes?" they both turned and kept their faces toward their closet (which was on the other side of the room). I quickly exchanged my sopping wet jeans for a pair of black sweat pants. They were a bit long but very comfy.
"George do you have a shirt for me?" he handed me a grey tank top and I took off my button up top and camisole in exchange for the tank top. My dark hair was still sopping wet, so I used a hair band I kept on my wrist to put it up in a messy bun.
"Guys it's okay to look now." They turned and I sat on the bed my pants were once on, I shivered it was even more freezing now.
"Ella, heads up!" I heard one of the twins call out. I looked up to see a home knit jumper being thrown at me. It had a big 'F' on it.
"Fred's I presume?" they nodded, "thanks guys." George pointed to his brother and I just smiled and chuckled to myself. I pulled the cozy home kit sweater over my head and stood up again. I went up to George and gave him a big hug; he squeezed my in return. Fred was next, even if he was still dripping wet. I wrapped my arms around him; I felt so very comfortable around the twins. It's something kind of hard to explain.
"I'll be downstairs so Fred can get redressed." They nodded and I headed back downstairs to thank for letting me stay while the storm was going on. I made it down the three flights they were up on. greeted me in the front room with a great big hug.
"I'm glad the boys found something for you to wear." She said pulling away from me keeping an arms length while just looking at me pleasantly. "Not to be rude but, why were walking all by yourself in the rain?" I just sighed and told her what was going on.
"Well, I always take a walk after dinner. But, tonight my dad was just kind of acting strange today so I left earlier than I normally do."
"So I can assume it wasn't raining when you left?"
"No, but I like to walk in it anyway so I just kept walking." I smiled at her, "By the way thank you so much for letting me stay while the storm passes."
"Oh, it's no trouble deary. You're a pleasure to have over." She looked me up and down. "But, you're much to thin, why don't I fix you up something nice and warm to eat."
"Uh, no that's okay I'm not very hungry. Thank you for the offer though." She looked at the clock on the wall.
"Well, dear it's kind of late why don't we get you to sleep." She took me over into the front room once more.
"No, that's fine I was just going to wait the storm out and then head home."
"Oh nonsense, we'll just set you up in the living room since Ginny's room is somewhat small and I won't have you staying with any of the boys." She put rather large pillow on one of the ends of the long couch in the front room. "Just stay right there I'll go get you a blanket." And with that, she was off to find me a blanket. I took a seat on the couch and sat with my legs crossed. While waiting for her I grabbed the pillow and held it in my arms much like a child holds a teddy bear. Someone came down the stairs but I just stared at the ground in front of me.
"Well there you are! We were wondering where you'd ran off to." a familiar voice semi-yelled to me from the stairs. I knew it was one of the twins. He came down and sat down next to me he put his arm around me and I knew it was George. Mostly because a little after he put his arm around me, he squeezed my shoulder like a half hug.
"I'm doing fine, there's no need to worry George."
"What are you talking about huh? I'm Fred."
"No you're not you're George."
"You can tell us apart? Our own mother can't tell us apart."
"There's just something different about you that's not the same as Fred. It's hard to explain." I heard 's voice as she came in.
"Fred dear, let the girl get some sleep."
"That's five times today mom, I'm George." She pushed him off to bed and he went upstairs.
"Here's that blanket deary, now you just get yourself comfortable and get some rest. I'll be making breakfast bright and early tomorrow."
", if you don't mind, I would like to help you make breakfast tomorrow." She just looked at me, wide eyed; I suppose her children didn't offer much to help. "You know, as a sign of my gratitude for letting me stay on such very unexpected and short notice." She smiled warmly at me and agreed to let me help her with breakfast the next morning. She headed upstairs herself and I drifted into a warm sleep thanks to her blanket, and Fred's sweater. It was from that point on I had always been welcome in the Weasley home for now, and for a very, very long time to come.