Chapter 2: Toffees and Surprises.
Voldemort clutched Harry around the collar of his cloak. His finger tips dug into Harry's flesh and his lightning bolt scar was searing with pain. It was going to be the end without a proper fight, without a little bit of hope on the horizon. Harry closed his eyes and prepared to join his family in the life after death. Mum was the last words on his lips before the familiar green sparks erupted from Voldemort's wand. He was dead.
"Wake up! Come on Harry..." Ron yelled, shaking Harry enough that it was lifting him off the bed.
"Ron, you are going to hurt him..." Hermione squeaked nervously.
"Let me..." a silky voice joined in.
"Potter...Potter. revenir" the voice said slowly. Harry opened his eyes, fully aware that his dream had been the worst one yet. It felt so real that he didn't want to move but the curtain of reddish brown hair that was over him made him jump up suddenly. He was handed his glasses by Hermione who sat next to him on the bed, her eyes redden as though she were about to cry. She finally attacked Harry with both arms, fastening them around his neck.
"Don't you ever scare me like that again." She hissed in his ear before standing up, slightly embarrassed at her own reaction.
"We've been trying to wake you up for almost an hour, mate." Ron informed harry. Olivia stood by the door with her wand in her hand, looking out of the window.
"You didn't do magic, did you?" Harry asked her, ignoring his friend's panicked looks.
"Nope. I spoke to you in French...seems to be the only way to get a reaction out of you." She responded laughing.
"How about we go down for Lunch...then play a bit of Quidditch? Liv here is a beater...No doubt she'll make the Gryffindor team." Ron said as if to change the subject. Olivia opened the door and everyone left, leaving Harry to get changed and meet them.
Under the hot sunny haze, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Olivia played Quidditch. Harry realized that Oliva too had a firebolt clutched in her hands as they took to the garden, lazily throwing the quaffle around for a warm up. The rest of the Holiday went the same way. Tonks would show up in the evenings quite often and talk to Mrs. Weasley while Ron explained that she was Sirius's cousin...and that he and Hermione thought that she had taken his death hard. Olivia never said much more about her family or herself but took to spending time talking to him about sports, even defense against the dark arts. His outstanding in the subject prompted it and he was surprised to find that she too had taken the O.W.L.s, especially since the Beauxbatons weren't supposed to have the exam until this year. The night before they were due to take a trip to Diagon Alley, The twins showed up around midday, announcing that they were to stay for dinner. Olivia and George stood underneath an oak tree in the yard talking while Ron gathered the Harry and himself a drink.
"George is smitten..." Ron said darkly, handing Harry a glass of pumpkin juice.
"Really? The twins are never around, how does he even know her?" Harry asked.
"Before you turned up he was here a lot...shut down for a week holiday when there was all those disappearances at Diagon Alley. Apparently George met her through Bill, because she and Fleur are close. They caught up with each other and then poof...George has been following after her like a lost puppy." Ron explained.
"Bill and Fleur are coming by tonight too, aren't they?" Harry asked, ignoring Ron's sudden hatred for his brother.
"Yeah. Then tomorrow Lupin, Tonks, Scarlett, and Paige will be here for our guard. You'll even get to meet Olivia's sister...well we all will anyway." Ron said, returning to his frown. Harry had a sinking suspicion that Ron liked Olivia a lot more than he let on but he wasn't go to say anything.
"At least we will get out of the house...And maybe our minds off of the prophet." Harry mumbled to himself.
"It's going to be worse there. Mum wanted to keep us all here while she did the shopping but Dumbledore said we couldn't be cooped up at the Burrow for eternity...that the guard would be fine to keep us safe. Dad worked on her and mum caved in...but still. I heard Diagon Alley is in a state..." Ron said to himself.
Olivia headed toward them as George walked straight for the house. Her hair was out of it's usual braid, flowing in the wind as a soft breeze traveled across the yard. She smiled as she approached them, grabbing Harry's pumpkin juice out of his hand and taking a sip for herself. The two of them had gotten close, no doubt, even though neither had said much to reveal themselves. He liked the friendship they had made, however. She wasn't constantly nagging about his scar or dreams that took over his sleep. It was like he never was Harry Potter with her. She reminded him of a sibling he wished he had.
"So Quidditch Captain...Think I have a spot on the team?" Olivia asked for the tenth time since he heard the news that he was in the most desired spot of his school career.
"Possibly...I'm not giving you a definitive answer. Where is Hermione and Ginny?" Harry said, searching for them on the sunny grass.
"Upstairs. Ah here comes George again...and oh no...I'm in trouble." Olivia said sighing. Fred followed George out to them, stomping the whole way with an unmistakable look of absolute annoyance on his face. George was smiling brightly, his hands shoved deep in his pockets and a notable skip in his step. If anything this exchange was going to make Harry bellow with laughter or he would have to pretend Hermione was calling on him. Either way he wasn't going to move until he found out.
"I sent George out here ten minutes ago to tell you that this relationship wasn't going any farther than friends..." Fred started.
"Yup, I heard that bit." Olivia responded cooly.
"He came in and told me that he asked you out instead. You told him yes didn't you?" Fred kept on.
"Well, I am getting a bit old and my memory is going dim, but I believe that was my answer." Olivia stated, her words dripping with sarcasm.
"DO YOU KNOW THIS GIT HAS BEEN UTTERLY ANNOYING SINCE HE MET YOU? HE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY CHEERFUL AND NOT AT ALL CUNNING."
"Pity." Olivia said shaking her head.
"Break up with him right now." Fred demanded.
"Fred will you shut up. She just helped me finish our flesh eating bacteria toffee. That's why I've been cheerful, I've finished the damn recipe." George yelled.
"I won't take credit for that, My sister gave me the idea. So...Fred. I think you should be saying something to me." Olivia replied curtly.
"Thank your sister for me." Fred stated simply.
Harry watched Olivia's face scrunch up and as her mouth opened, nothing came out in English. Harry had no clue what she said in French but she glared at Fred the whole time while moving her hands furiously. Her sentence finally cut short and she went into the house, not bothering to even look back at anyone. Harry saw Fred crack a smile like he had won the battle but George stomped his victory out.
"Fred, I will sneak so many joke toffees into your food, not to mention the diarrhea toffee if you do not quit making her angry. She obviously hates your guts so let the handsome twin smooth things over." George said, following after her.
Fred stayed with Ron and Harry until dinner. Bill and Fleur showed up just minutes before, taking a seat by Mr. Weasley. George was seated next to Olivia and they were discussing pranks that they had both thought of but didn't have the guts to carry out. Fred joined them in conversation finally, apparently forgiving the pair and getting along with them instantly like nothing happen. Harry found Hermione and tucked himself into the table next to her. Her hair was now in ringlets, her makeup making her face glow. Harry had to do a double take as his stomach lurched forward but he was having a difficult time proving to himself that it was because he was hungry.
The serving plates filled instantly and Harry wasted no time taking his share. He listened to Bill describe his last run in with a death eater while Fleur winced with concern. Every now and then Olivia would turn to Fleur and speak with her in French which pleased Fleur greatly. Fleur could speak English but it looked as if it bothered her when she was trying to tell a story in great detail. Harry figured that there was nothing more pleasant than finding someone who could relate to you even if it were only for a second.
"Where are you two staying tonight?" Bill motioned at the twins with his fork.
"Going back to our flat." George said instantly.
"Could have mentioned that earlier." Olivia mumbled under her breath.
"Ah well. I think that would be best. Fleur was telling me that you've finally found a girlfriend. Wish you would have found Fred one...he gets a bit unbearable in the summer months, needs to cuddle with a girl a reckon." Bill joked. Olivia dropped her fork and it hit the floor with a thud. Fleur looked at Bill like he had said something completely wrong. George had gone pink in color.
Harry just looked at the scene in silence. He was certain that every family had this sort of thing happen but it wasn't often that real problems or funny little secrets were witnessed by him. It felt like this would happen if he had siblings at his home with his own parents. It would be those little moments in time where you'd forget they happened, but they were still important anyway, well at least to an orphan boy like himself. Olivia was under the table still scrambling for her fork and Harry hoped he could change the subject before Mr. Weasley could inquire further. He, however, was too late.
"Girlfriend...Who George?" said Mr. Weasley with a smile.
"Um, someone I met in London. You wouldn't know her." George quickly covered.
"Well no need to be coy. You are a fine young lad." Mr. Weasley pressed. Harry watched as Fleur leaned over to whisper something in Bill's ear, in which he looked at Olivia for a few seconds and then laughed.
"Nevermind Dad. No sense in pestering him. You'll find out soon enough." Bill said winking at George.
"Yeah sure...when I want a werewolf to come find me." George muttered.
"Shut up." Olivia snapped.
"Um so about our guard for tomorrow..." Harry interrupted. Olivia looked as if she could kiss him for the change of subject, Ron was still scowling slightly in the corner. The end of the dinner went swimmingly and the house emptied soon after. Harry climbed into his bed, grateful that no matter how terrible Diagon alley looked that he would soon have a nice change of pace. He fell asleep quickly and as the morning greeted him he rushed downstairs to meet up with everyone else. He could see three cars out of the window each with two people standing outside. When they had all emptied into the driveway, Harry saw Scarlett making a bee line for him with a blonde in toe. They stopped a couple feet away from him and Scarlett smiled, motioning for the woman next to her to look at Harry. She, too, smiled at him and for the first time in Harry's life, her eyes did not once flicker towards his scar.
"Mum, where is Riley?" Olivia said, walking around Harry toward the blonde woman. Harry looked at her again and back at Olivia, unable to make a connection. She looked nothing like her mother, not even in the faintest light. It was surprising really that no feature was common between them, but Harry soon saw a younger girl approach the group who did look like Olivia's mum. Her grey eyes mirrored her mother's perfectly, the simple slope of her nose , and thin line of lips was a definite match. The family looked almost perfect.
"Harry come over here. This is my little sister Riley.. Oh and this is Paige, my mother...and you've already met Scar." Olivia said quickly.
"Nice to meet you." Harry said, glancing around at the group.
"Pleasure is mine Harry dear." Paige answered affectionately.
"You should ride in the car with us to London. I'd be fun to introduce you guys further." Olivia offered.
"Yeah sure." Harry agreed.
They all piled in the car and Harry immediately wished he has went with the Weasley's. He wasn't sure exactly what he was going to say to these people, most of whom he didn't know from a rock in the sand. He relaxed a little and leaned back against the seat as Olivia poked his leg. She smiled brightly and looked out of the window, the trees splaying across the sky like an oil painting. Scarlett drew in a breath and turned toward Harry.
"So, Harry, I've heard plenty about you from Liv in her letters...The two of you have gotten along smashingly." Scarlett spoke with a smile playing at her lips.
"Yeah, We have a lot in common." Harry replied, not sure of what to say. He was hoping this wasn't some kind of intervention where they were sizing Harry up because they thought something was going on. They would have to know that things were not like that between the two of them, after all, she was with George and he...well he was thinking of someone else at the present moment.
"You work as an Auror?" Harry asked to break the silence of the car.
"Both Paige and I do. Funny thing is my friends use to joke with me all the time that I'd be perfect at it because I was just as crazy as the law breakers. They said Paige would never be able to handle it, but just goes to show you that they got her wrong. Fun job, it is, until Voldemort shows up on your doorstep. Can't joke about that." Scarlett replied.
"Yeah well, I wanted to do that but Professor Snape won't let me into potions unless I had an Outstanding..." Harry muttered to himself.
"Oh that little greasy hair git. Hasn't changed one bit since school has he? Of course he'd be like that to you, hated James like his life depended on it. Of course, mind you, James was absolutely rotten to him. Sirius as well." Scarlett scoffed. Harry looked at Scarlett wide eyed. She knew his parents, he was certain by the way she spoke about them. It was another connection, another way to satisfy his thirst to truly know them. Paige looked on at Scarlett as if she had let something too much slip. Olivia hadn't bothered to even move from staring out the window and her sister was lost in a magazine. It was Harry's chance to find out more, and he was going to take it.