Today was August 20th. Today was the day I would be reunited with my brother. The entire night before I had such difficulty going to sleep, for several reasons:
Unbelievably happy about seeing my brother for the first time in thirteen years.
The prospect of dating Fred relatively soon.
The marvelous day and evening I had spent with Fred. He had sweetly held my hand all the way to Ginny's room and had given me a goodnight kiss on the cheek.
And of course, there were Ginny and Hermione interrogating me on what had happened.
I learned that nothing around here stayed secret for too long. When I walked down for breakfast everyone looked up, then back at Fred who was sitting at the kitchen table with an innocent look on his face. The knowing looks came from everyone, including two new ginger heads, who I assumed were the older Weasley sons, Bill and Charlie.
"Catherine, do sit. We've got eggs, bacon, pancakes, muffins-"
"Enough to feed a small army." Interjected Fred, earning a scathing look from his mother.
"Ah, Rin, You haven't met my two eldest. Bill, Charlie, this is Catherine Potter. Rin, Bill and Charlie." Introduced Mr. Weasley. Bill and Charlie, though brandishing the typical Weasley hair and freckles looked quite different. Bill for instance, was dressed in rather impressive travelling clothes, dragon hide boots, and surprisingly an earring. He was tall and lanky, much like the twins, and grew his ginger hair down to his shoulders. Charlie on the other hand, had more of an average sized build, like Ron and Percy. In fact, he looked like a much better looking version of Percy. He had a kind face, was well built- from taming dragons I assumed- and, I noticed, his hands were covered in a few blisters, another gift from the scaly beasts.
"Nice to meet you, Rin. Didn't know Harry Potter had a sister." Said Charlie shaking my hand.
"Yeah, let alone one Fred thinks is within his league." Teased Bill shaking my hand next.
"Oh, ha-ha." Muttered Fred. I threw him a smile before sitting next to him at the table.
"It's nice to meet you both. So, what's on the agenda for today?"I asked taking a serving of eggs and a couple of pancakes.
"Well," said Mr. Weasley getting settled, "you kids should start on your packing for the World Cup. Pack lightly, only necessities. Leave behind any robes or cloaks, and conceal your wands. Remember we're dealing with muggles. Anyway, at around five in the afternoon Fred, George, Ron, and I will go and collect Harry."
"Why so late? He does know about me, doesn't he?" I asked a little worried. Fred held my hand under the table for reassurance.
"Oh yes, Dumbledore and Gwen told him a couple of days ago. Dumbledore sent me an owl yesterday informing me that Harry was very pleased and eager to meet you. You should be receiving a letter from your aunt sometime today. But to answer your question, we're not going until five because we're waiting for your aunt and uncle's house to be connected to the floo network." Answered Mr. Weasley. The rest of breakfast went on pleasantly. Most of the talk was about the upcoming school year, the World Cup, and Quidditch. It was agreed that around one we would meet outside for a friendly game. All through breakfast Fred and I couldn't help but hold and caress each others' hands under the table. It was really very sweet. Nobody had ever given me butterflies like this before. And I'd been in a couple of relatively long term relationships before. Sad notion.
"So, excited?" asked Fred when we walked into his room after breakfast. It was a quarter passed noon as we stretched out on his bed, staring up at the ceiling.
"Yeah, I really am. I mean…thirteen years. I can't wait. I keep picturing my little baby brother. I wonder if he still looks like my dad. God, I don't even know what he looks like, what his interests are…if he'll even like me." I said looking over at Fred.
"How could he not, Rin? I've known you five days and already I can't get enough of you." He said smiling sweetly, kissing me on the nose. I smiled, rolling over to give him a hug.
"How do you do that?" I asked nuzzling my head into his chest.
"Do what, love?" he asked stroking my hair.
"Make all the worries and bad stuff disappear." I said softly.
"It's all been practice for this." He said chuckling. Then a thought occurred to me. I sat up and looked at him, cocking my head to the side.
"Fred?" I cooed.
"Yes, Rin?" he asked propping himself on his elbow.
"These muggles…these relatives of mine, exactly how badly do they treat Harry?"I asked.
"Well, the best example I have is when we had to rescue Harry two summers ago. This house elf was causing problems for Harry and trying to stop him from going back to Hogwarts. The muggles thought Harry was causing all the problems, so they locked him in his room, put bars on his window, and were practically starving him. So we flew this car my dad had tinkered with out to Surrey and sprung him" Said Fred, looking for any sign of my temper to start flaring. I imagined the look on my face was quite unreadable. The thought of someone treating my baby brother like that infuriated me to no end. I wanted them to suffer for thirteen years of hell they had caused him. I looked over in the corner of the room at the chest I knew housed various Weasley's Wizard Wheezes products and inventions, and an idea came to mind.
"Fred?" I cooed again, "Do you test your products on anyone other than yourself and George?"
"We'd have to pay someone for the risk or find someone thick enough," he eyed me suspiciously, "why do you ask?"
"Well, just out of curiosity, have you ever wondered the effects of a ton tongue toffee on a muggle boy, say about…oh…fourteen?" I asked with a mischievous grin. Realization dawned on him, and a grin to match mine spread on his face.
"Come to think of it, maybe George and I ought to think outside the box concerning who we test our products on. I mean…wizards shouldn't have all the fun."
It was 4:50 when the quidditch game we had ended. Charlie caught the snitch, ending the match in our favor, 220:60. The teams had been split, George, Ron, Ginny, and Bill vs Fred, Charlie, Hermione, and myself. We were for the most part evenly matched. Fred and George were both equally skilled beaters. Ginny and Charlie fared well as seekers. Ron and Hermione both struggled as chaser and keeper, while Bill and I excelled as keeper and chaser. I loved being a chaser, and I was good at it. It was always something I felt connected me to my dad, and so it was something I actually strived at.
"That was fantastic! Did you see Rin fly?" exclaimed George.
"I've never seen a chaser move like that on a broom before," said Charlie as we all walked to the broom shed, "Gryffindor would be lucky to have you."
"She'd have to beat out Angelina, Alicia, or Katie. Oooh I'd love to see the look on ol' Johnson's face." Said Ginny as she threw her Cleansweep inside the shed.
"Yeah, it's bad enough she's a better chaser than Angie. Another to be dating the guy she's still hung up on." Commented George.
"What?" I asked leaning on my falcon racing broom. Fred threw a scornful look at his twin.
"Thanks for that," he turned to me, "I was dating this girl, Angelina Johnson, for a couple months this past year. It didn't mean anything. She was more of a friend or teammate than anything else so I broke it off, but she took it rather…badly."
"It can't be worse than what I told you about my ex," he stayed quiet, "can it?"
"Oh yes it can." Added Ginny.
"Well, she kind of bewitched my face." He said looking uncomfortable.
"Yeah, it read 'Property of Angelina Johnson' for the better half of two weeks. Took us that long to find the counter jinx." Said George.
"Well, that's rude of her. Maybe I will get her spot on the team. Because I want to, and partly for spite." I said as we walked back to the house. By now it was only me, George, Ginny, and Fred. Hermione and Ron had run off to prepare Ron's room for Harry's arrival, while Bill and Charlie were getting cleaned up for dinner.
"She's pretty good. Not as good as you were just now in a friendly match, but she's good. The likelihood is that you'll probably knock off Katie Bell." Said Ginny as we approached the back door. Mrs. Weasley came bolting out of the house.
"Where have you two been? Your father has been waiting! The floo network connected Harry's home ten minutes ago! You'll be covered in soot so there's no point in getting cleaned up!" she screeched ushering us all into the Weasley's living room. Bill and Charlie sat patiently in the kitchen, while Percy, I assumed, was still upstairs and upset working on his cauldron paperwork for Mr. Crouch- whom Percy basically worshipped. Ginny went to join her eldest brothers while the rest of us gathered around the fireplace.
"Alright, I'll go first, just to make pleasantries and speak to Harry's relatives. Fred, George, you follow to get Harry's trunk, and Ron you come last to help Harry with anything else he needs." Said Mr. Weasley methodically. We all stood back as Mr. Weasley hopped into the fireplace and shouted, "Number four Privet Drive, Surrey!"
A moment later Fred hopped into the fireplace, winked at me, and did the same. George followed, and then Ron. Five minutes went by. Then ten minutes. Three minutes later Fred came bounding out of the fireplace. He strolled over to me nonchalantly and nodded. I knew I could count on him to set off a little mischief. It was after all Fred and George. George came soon after with the trunk, giving me and Fred a knowing grin as soon as he spotted us.
"What are you three smirking at?" asked Mrs. Weasley, not missing a step.
"Nothing." We all said simultaneously. She lifted her eyebrow just as Ron came shooting out of the fireplace. I was growing more and more anxious. Just a couple more seconds…Just a couple more seconds. A couple of seconds turned into a couple of minutes before another boy was spit out of the fireplace. But this boy was not like the rest. No…this boy…this young man, I should say, had jet black, messy hair, glasses, and vibrant green eyes that stood out as soon as he looked at me. Those vibrant green eyes. Our mother's eyes.
"Harry…"