Motherly Advice

Lily woke me the next morning at an ungodly hour. If she was not so sweet about it, I would have woken with fist flying. Instead, I grumbled some German aimed at the early hour and maybe Merlin's mother. I kept it away from the Potters because they were graciously letting me stay at their house for almost three weeks. Their kindness did not merit swearing in their general direction unless it was James. His prankster ways made him a target, but he did not wake me. So, he was safe for now.

Lily shuffled me down to the kitchen and there were pancakes waiting for me. I cringed inwardly so I would not offend anyone and set to drowning the awful taste of the fluffy air. I hate pancakes. They are disgustingly sweet and deceptively filling. My mother used to make them on the first day of school every year and I always hated it. I would slather butter until it was dripping down the sides. I would smear peanut butter an inch thick on the tops of each one she would shovel onto my plate. I would drizzle syrup until my plate was swimming in it. I hate pancakes.

After choking down two of them, I took a glass of milk and chugged it. Secretly. I did not want to anger Ginny since she had woken up early to make them. I am a polite person. Too polite as my mother would say. Did she ever think that she may have been the one to drill it into my brain to accept what I have been offered without complaint? No. She just assumed it was my quiet disposition and my good heart. Truth be told, I was fearful of her stern hand that would have struck me if any parent ever told her I was a picky eater. So, I got pretty good at eating without tasting. It normally involved drowning my food in any condiment within reach.

Take that, stupid taste buds.

After placing my dishes in the sink, I turned to Ginny and saw her clearing away her children's plates. Sometimes I wonder why the hat placed me in Slytherin. I am so unlike the others in my house. I saw her bustling about in the kitchen and did not think that my job was done. I only thought that she must be tired from cooking four hungry teenagers breakfast. So, I buckled down on the urge to leave the kitchen and plastered a pleasant smile on my face.

"I'll take those and clean them." I said to the silence. Ginny started, probably believing me to have already left with the others. A surprised expression was fixed on her face.

"Oh, no thank you, dear. I'll just use magic to clean them." she replied, still collecting dishes by hand. I smirked as she turned back to her task.

"I can wash them and you can have a cup of tea. That's what my mom does when I clean the dishes at home. It's my chore and strangly, I find I miss doing them." I said as I brought both of my hands up to accept the tableware in her hands. She studied me skeptically.

"Calesta dear, you are our guest. It would be bad form from me to let you do the cleaning." Ginny said as she bypassed my outstretched arms and placed her stack of dishes in the sink.

"I would make a terrible houseguest if I let you clean up after me all the time." I countered. Oh, that is why I am in Slytherin. I manipulate people.

Ginny smirked as she shook her head in amusement. She examined my eyes and I hoped she did not find the thrill I was having at finding my calling. My soft voice and pretty face made it easy to sway any vote in my favor. With Ginny looking at me so intently, I could tell she was contemplating having that relaxing cup of tea before whatever she needed to do today. She really did not want me to do the dishes because I was her child's friend over for holiday. But I knew that adults found the hot liquid to be a great comfort. She was also the mother of three kids. She needed a time to relax to herself every now and again.

"I'll make you a deal. You do the cleaning, this morning, and you'll not make a fuss this afternoon. I have a lot of shopping to do today and it involves the children." her tone was even and I felt fear rising in my chest. Her cinnamon eyes were stern.

"Yes, ma'am." I promised. She nodded her head and set to make some tea.

I did not take long to finish the dishes. Ginny watched me and chatted with me the whole time. She was most intrigued by my hair. I felt horrible for telling her the whole truth, but I was just that kind of person. Roxanne knew I did not blame her for my multicolored stands, but Ginny still had an expression of amused crossed with anger. I heard her mumble something about children performing spells they had not practiced thoroughly. I kept my mouth shut and promised to make sure that I explained to her how it was no one's fault and I really loved the color in my hair.

"Y'know, James used to write about you at the beginning of the school term. He would tell me about a pretty girl with light blonde hair and ice blue eyes. I could tell that he found you interesting. But his letters have been holding you in a sibling light lately. He likes to tell me how you come to him for advice and comfort." she took a deliberate sip of tea as I dried my hands, "I have a feeling that he has adopted you as his blonde headed step sister." I smiled at that.

"In a way." I replied, "He and Scorpius like to keep tabs on me. Neither one is far from me."

"He told me about you." she said flatly. Her eyes were dripping with concern. I felt my heart stop beating and I had to fight to remember how to breathe, "He wanted some advice about how to handle you." I would not cry. I would not cry.

"How considerate." I said quietly.

"Yes, he can be. I think he did the right thing. I wouldn't dream of telling anyone without your expressed permission, but have you discussed it with your parents?" her tone was soft and motherly. I will not cry. I will not cry.

"They helped me file the police report." I replied looking down at my hands. They were worrying a corner of the dish towel.

"This will be the last I say of it, but I think you should talk to them about it. Not just filling a police report with the muggle cops. It doesn't help to keep things like assault bottled up." I glanced at her eyes and they were dry.

"Thank you." I said quietly before placing the towel down and exiting the kitchen.

Fuck! Now I am crying.

I had to take a shower to ease the red from my eyes. I changed into muggle jeans and a dark green sweater. I did not feel like towel drying my hair, so I french braided it up and out of my face. After a quick check in the mirror, I joined James and Lily in the den. Lily smiled at me and I tried to return the gesture. It was hard though. I had a head full of thoughts clouding my emotions. James gave me a funny look and I just shook my head. I was not ready to discuss anything with him at the moment.

I knew he was in the right to ask for advice. You do not really run into someone with some of the issues I have. Most seek help to learn to live with the reprocussions or the leftover trauma. I had told my parents I was fine and knowing that he was in a hospital bed with casts on half of his limbs was comforting. I did not even think about after he would leave the bed and start walking again. I did not even think about seeing him at school the next year and knowing what he almost did and what I had done. By that time came around, I just wanted to deal with it on my own. But I did not really deal with it; I just pushed it from my thoughts until I got brushed in the hallway or a guy would look at me.

I took the cowards way out.

"Are we ready?" Ginny's voice called out from the kitchen. A chorus of yes' came from the three of us, "ALBUS!"

"COMING!" I heard him bellow from the second floor.

"Honestly, that child of mine." I heard Ginny mumble as she entered the den.

Suddenly, the fireplace roared to life. I spun around to catch a glimpse of a stream of red heads, all shades, coming out of the flames. I looked curiously on as the Weasley children shuffled their way into the den. Ginny had a twinkle in her eyes. She was excited for all of this. I wondered what was going on as Albus entered the room. He peered into my eyes and a dark expression crossed his features. I turned away. He knew I had been crying just by looking into my eyes.

"Now that I have everyone, we are going to Diagon Alley for dresses and dress robes." she said over the chatter of the many cousins and siblings. I glanced around and saw faint smiles and pale faces. It was a mixed reaction to needing fancy clothes, "I want a younger child with an older one. Lily, get one of your brothers."

I felt a hand slip into mine and I glanced over my shoulder to see Hugo smiling shyly at me. I gently squeezed his hand and gave him a sweet smile. I guess I had my younger kid. James stepped in front of me, shaking his head.

"Oh no, Hugo. Calesta gets beat up when she is around you. Go find Rosie or Freddie." he ordered.

"I can take care of both of us." I said sharply, "Want me to demonstrate breaking someone's nose?"

"I feel sorry for you, Hugh." James looked to his cousin, "She's fiesty today." and he backed away to find another cousin to buddy with.

The trip through the floo was normal. Waiting for everyone to arrive was normal. Not being told what was happening was beginning to be the norm. Feeling confused was growing on me. I found that I just wanted to go with the flow. So, I followed our huge group of children to a shop called Weasley Wizard Wheezes. Now, I may not claim to be the brightest witch of the century, but I am sure that this where a Weasley parent works. I might be wrong, but I think I am right.

When we entered, I caught a glimpse of a red-orange mop of hair and then I knew I was right. I was staring up at Fred's father, George Weasley as all his nieces and nephews chorused 'Hi Uncle George!' as Roxanne and Fred waved up at him. His smile was warm and inviting. I did notice that he was missing an ear and I felt a shiver run down my spine. He had a reminder of the suffering from over two decades ago.

"George! Come down and meet Calesta Manslayer! The one I told you about staying with us for the holidays!" Ginny called up to her brother.

"Coming right down, Gin!" his voice was light and playful. Now I see where Freddie got his silliness from. George Weasley was a born prankster. Just by looking around his shop, I could tell. And Fred was right, his dad's products were much better than the ones at Zonko's.

"Ah! My she's lovely! How much are you selling her for, Ginerva?" a playful lilt met my ears. I paused my browsing to look up into the clear blue eyes of Mr. Weasley, "What happened to her hair?"

"Roxanne happened." Ginny replied with a smirk.

"Yes, well, I can't claim I haven't had a hand in that." he said sheepishly, "Welcome to Weasley Wizard Wheezes, Miss Manslayer! I am George Weasley, only hard working soul in this place." his voiced dropped to a mock whisper, "I blame the dreadful help."

"Oy! I heard that! You stupid git!" an offended voice called from somewhere around the shop.

"That's no way to talk to your boss, Lee!" George called back and winked at me. I had to stifle a giggle with my hand.

"It is very nice to meet you, Mister Weasley." I said after swallowing the laughter. Oh yes, Fred is just like his father.

"Pleasure is all mine!" another wink and he focused his attention to his sister, "Here for to bleed me dry again?" Ginny rolled her eyes.

"If you are talking about the money that was collected from all the parents, then yes, I am here to bleed you dry. Honestly, can't you be serious?" Ginny replied as her brother crossed to the counter. I saw a blonde woman working the register. George exchanged a few words before pulling out a coin purse full of money.

"Sometimes I want to hex him thrice over. He doesn't mean anything about selling you, dear." Ginny said to me as she watched her brother crossing back to our group. I shrugged my shoulders.

"I've been told that I'm the kind of kid that if I were to be kidnapped, the kidnapper would return me three hours later with or without ransom money." I said and was met with a round of laughter from those who heard.

"Well, if you did their dishes, they wouldn't want to return you." she stated with a sideways glance.

"I think I would rather kiss a troll than do the dishes for my imaginary kidnappers." I returned the glance.

"I think I agree with you." she turned to her brother and extended her hand to accept the offered purse, "Thank you, George."

"Now, don't spend it all in one place!" he ordered with a mischievious grin. That was the Weasley Mischievious Grin!

What have I gotten myself into?