I Caught Myself- Chapter eleven

Percy's POV:

I had officially found the perfect place. It was a small, detached, four bedroom house with a two car garage and a large garden. I loved it the second I laid eyes on it. I could already picture myself growing old in the house with Amilie and Perrie and maybe another two or three children.

"Amilie, honey, come take a look at this place," I called, scrolling through the pictures again.

A moment later, she appeared in the doorway, looking hurried and sweaty, with Perrie safely in her arms.

"Sweetie, I'm trying to clear up a little, you can't keep calling me every time you see a house in London," she whined, wiping away a bead of sweat that was rolling down her forehead.

"I know, I know, but I think I've found the one I want," I told her excitedly, patting my knee for her to sit down.

"Fine, show me," she relented, sitting down on my knee.

I scrolled through the photos, telling her what each room could be and what colours we could paint it, until I got to the end of the album. I silently looked to her for approval.

"Well? What do you think?"

"Percy...I love it!"

"You do? That's so great!" I exclaimed, kissing her softly.

"But it's very expensive...I don't know if I have that much," she said nervously, chewing her bottom lip.

"Amilie," I said, easing her lip from between her teeth, "I'll pay for the house, don't worry about it."

"No. It is too much, Percy."

"I'm getting that house, Amilie."

She sighed and got up.

"I need to finish the house work."

"I'll take Perrie for a while then," I said, slipping the baby girl from her arms.

"Thank you."

I settled on the double bed that I shared with Amilie and rocked Perrie slowly.

"You're a gorgeous little baby, aren't you? Yes you are!" I cooed gently.

Perrie gurgled happily in response, blinking up at me with her big, blue eyes.

"Your granny is going to love you so much," I told her, thinking of how Mum would fuss over her.

"And so is your papa," I thought fondly, "he works for the Ministry of Magic in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office, unlike Granny, she doesn't work. Then there's your Uncle Bill, he's the eldest of the Weasley kids. He has long, red hair that he keeps in a pony tail and a ridiculous earring. Uncle Bill is, or was, married to your Aunt Fleur Delacour, who is part Veela and she is the mother of her and Uncle Bill's daughter, Victoire, who also is part Veela. I expect you two will get on well.

"Then there's your Uncle Charlie...he's not very well, so I don't know if you'll ever meet him. He has a big, scary job. He works in a place called Romania and he works with dragons, that's how he got unwell. He was battling one of the most fierce dragons there is and he was the only one that managed to control the dragon, but it hurt him. He's in a big hospital called St. Mungo's right now.

"After that, we have me, your daddy, and after that we have Uncle Fred. He's eighteen and very funny. He wants to open up his own joke shop with his twin brother and then see where it goes from there. He isn't married and doesn't have a job but I heard he'll be going back to Hogwarts this year. Hogwarts is the school that you'll be going to. That's where I made some of my happiest memories. I think Fred will end up with Hermione Granger, but we'll get to her later.

"Uncle George is Uncle Fred's twin brother. They are very, very close. He is also mischievous and funny but we love him anyway. He's going back to Hogwarts this year too, because him and Uncle Fred left early, which nobody approved of. It was the talk of the Ministry for weeks! Uncle George likes boys, not girls, but that's okay because it's a part of life. It doesn't make him a bad person, and it doesn't make him disgusting and it doesn't make him weird, because it really doesn't matter if he likes boys or if he likes girls. As long as he's a good person and he's happy, that's all that matters.

"It's the youngest Weasley boy next, your Uncle Ron. He isn't around right now, he has been captured by Death Eaters, but you're too young to know about that yet. Nobody appears to be doing anything but I got word that Granny and Papa went to the Ministry, so it'll be okay. If I know the twins and your Aunt right, they'll have their own plan, so there is no need to worry. Uncle Ron is also part of the 'Golden Trio' but I'll come back to that as well.

"The very youngest of all us Weasleys, is the only girl in the family, your Auntie Ginny. Ginny is like Fred and George, although she is ten times scarier. She is fierce and smart and bold and fearless but she is also funny and sweet and kind and caring. You'll love her and she'll love her. I couldn't ask for a better sister. She takes the mince out every one of us...mostly Ron and I. Her favorite brother is Bill, but she thinks Charlie is cool and she is very close to Fred and George, but that doesn't mean she doesn't like Ron and I. She is close to Ron as well. She'll definitely marry Harry Potter.

"Harry Potter is 'The Chosen One'. He is the only survivor of the killing curse, which is one of the three unforgivable curses. His parents died to protect him, much like what Mummy and I would do for you. I won't go into details about him, in case it gives you bad dreams, but he loves your Auntie Ginny and he is best friends with your Uncle Ron and Hermione Granger, your Uncle Fred's soon-to-be girlfriend. She's the brightest which of her age. She and Harry will also love and care for you."

I looked down and Perrie, who was staring up at me with her big, blue eyes, clearly transfixed.

"That was lovely, telling her about your family," Amilie said from the door, tears in her eyes.

"I was only preparing her. My family can be quite a handful," I smiled.

But that's exactly why I love them.

Harry's POV:

Ginny Weasley, what in the world am I going to do with you? I thought as I remembered our argument the night before. I knew we would have to resolve it before The Plan. We only have today, tomorrow and the day after that, and then we leave.

I rolled out of bed and stumbled towards the door, hoping to speak to Ginny before anyone else could. Just as Ginny's bedroom door came into view, Fred stepped in front of me.

"Morning, Harry," he said. But I knew this wasn't a 'good morning' just by the tone of his voice. He spoke in a dangerous whisper, telling me that I'd done something wrong.

"Umm, morning, Fred," I stammered.

"So I spoke to Hermione last night...She told me you and Ginny had a fight. That's why Ginny was crying," he said, cracking his knuckles threateningly.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm just going to see if she's up now," I smiled and tried to walk past him. But he stuck out a largely, muscled arm and stopped me.

"Potter, I like you, you're a good guy. But anyone who upsets my little sister...pays for it."

Shit. This is how it ends.

"Listen, Fred, there is no need for violence, it'll all be sorted in fifteen minutes," I pleaded.

"So you think it doesn't matter if you upset my sister because it'll 'all be sorted in fifteen minutes'?" Fred exclaimed angrily.

"That's not what I meant I just -"

"Fred? Harry?" Ginny poked her head out the door.

"Morning, Gin," we said together, giving her sheepish grins.

"What are you two doing out here at," she checked her watch, "half past seven?"

"Nothing," we said, again together.

"It didn't sound like nothing. It sounded like you were trying to hit Harry," she growled, looking towards her brother.

"Well, I, umm, it wasn't, umm," he stammered.

"Everyone has their ups and downs, Fred, but that doesn't matter if two people love each other like Harry and I do," she said gently, wrapping her arms around my neck.

I smiled, putting my hands on her waist, and kissed her, her lips parting slightly for me.

"Okay, okay, eww," Fred said, trying to pull us apart.

"Sorry," she blushed.

"Harry, if you ever hurt her again -"

"Fred, it was my fault, not Harry's," Ginny cut in.

"Sure," he scorned.

"I said I didn't know if I wanted to break up with Dean or not," she mumbled, her eyes filling with tears at the memory.

"Hey, hey, come on baby, it's okay," I whispered, wiping the tears away.

"You said what? No wonder the poor bloke's upset! Ginny, you little git!" Fred exclaimed.

"It's alright," I told her again.

"Sorry, mate," Fred said, holding out his hand for me to shake.

I took it gratefully and told him it was all good.

"Gin, is 'Mione up yet?"

"No, want me to wake her?"

"Nah, leave her asleep, I'll go downstairs for a bit," Fred sighed and headed for the stairs.

"Harry, I'm so, so sorry," she said, looking into my eyes.

"It's fine, I promise. Like you said, when two people love each other as much as we do, the ups and downs don't matter."

And I was speaking the truth. The ups and downs don't matter. Because this is a love nobody can break.

Mrs Weasley's POV:

I thought about what George told me yesterday. He's gay. I don't believe that for a second. George is a handsome, young man and the attention he gets from females is unbelievable! Sure, as his mother I'd rather not think about that kind of attention, but it's true.

I knew I'd have to get up and make breakfast sooner or later but it's eight in the morning and I'm tired.

"Mum? Mum, wake up, Tonks is here," Ginny called through the door.

"Just coming, Ginny dear, make Tonks some tea and tell her I won't be long."

I got ready in a hurry and bustled into the kitchen, apologising for not being up.

"Sorry for coming by so early, Molly, but I really, really needed someone to talk to," she sniffed.

It was just then that I noticed the tears that were rolling down Nyphadora's cheeks.

"Tonks, sweetheart, what's the matter?"

"Remus...He doesn't want me," she began to sob uncontrollably.

"Darling, I'm so sorry. Perhaps he will come around?" I suggested numbly.

"Remus? As in Professor Lupin?" Ginny asked, eyes wide.

This just made Tonks cry harder.

"Hush, Ginny," I said, stroking Tonks' hair.

"Is there anything I can get for you?" Ginny offered, looking quite alarmed.

"N- no, b-but thanks for the o-offer."

"Ginny, could you get started on the breakfast please?"

"Sure thing," she said and she began to cook.

"Mum, have you saw my old-" Bill started, coming through the kitchen door.

"Nymphadora? Nymphadora Tonks?" he said, his voice getting higher.

Tonks looked up.

"Don't. Call. Me. Nymphadora."

Her hair turned an alarming shade of red.

"Sorry, I forgot you always went by Tonks," he grinned.

"You remember me?" she asked, looking up at Bill who was towering above her.

"Yeah, you were that kid who would always change her form to prank people. I had a lot of respect for you," he smirked.

"I never knew you'd noticed me," she admitted shyly.

"How could I not? You and Charlie were inseparable for ages."

"You knew Charlie?" Ginny piped up, the bacon slipping from the pan and landing with a smack on the floor.

"Ginny, watch what you're doing!" I screeched, cleaning up the food with my wand.

"Yeah, we were best friends."

"Tonks! How could you not tell me?" Ginny asked, wounded.

"Are you part of the Order?" Bill said, clearly ignoring Ginny.

"Yes, I don't believe our paths have crossed yet," Tonks grinned.

"Maybe they should more often," he flirted, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"Okay, Bill, sit down, breakfast will be out in a moment," I instructed.

"Actually Mum, Tonks and I are going out for breakfast," he smiled, putting his arm out for Tonks to take.

"We are?"

"We are."

A smile tugged at my lips. Tonks and Bill would be a great couple. And they've already taken a shine to one another! After the heartbreak the two of them have been through, hell, they both deserve a little happiness.

"Okay you two, have a nice time."

"We will," Bill smiled.

A moment later, they had Disapparated, leaving Ginny and I in the kitchen alone.

"Do you think they'll end up together?" Ginny asked, cocking her head to one side, as though she was mulling the idea over in her head.

"I don't know," I admitted.

"They'd be good for each other."

"I know."

"Who would be good for each other?" George asked, sitting down at the table, closely followed by Hermione, Fred and Harry.

"Tonks and Bill," Ginny gushed.

George merely nodded before starting to eat the toast I'd put out.

Fred's POV:

I felt bad for the misunderstanding with Harry this morning. I didn't actually want to hit him, but if anyone hurts my baby sister, they will pay for it, whether they're sixteen or sixty.

I ate my toast in a hurry, eager to have some alone time with Hermione. I wanted to talk to her about The Plan. I'd been thinking about it last night when I realized that there was a large mistake in it. George and I are eighteen. We can do magic outside of school and not worry about it. Ginny, Harry and Hermione can't. She is going to kill me when I tell her.

"Fred Weasley, I have been talking to you for five minutes and I'm still waiting for an answer," Mum huffed.

"Yes Mum, I'll do it tonight," I sighed, taking a drink of pumpkin juice.

"Good boy."

"What did I just agree to?" I whispered in George's ear.

"You're going to adopt a panda and create an evil army of grapes," he answered without missing a beat.

Sarcastic prick.

"Great, now I have a good reason to shoot grapes at you," I said, grabbing a handful of them from the fruit bowl in front of me and repeatedly firing them at everyone seated around the table.

"Fred, shove off."

"Don't be such a moron."

"There's a grape in my Cherrios," Harry said, looking at me like I'd just kicked a puppy.

"That's how you want to play it? Oh, it's on big brother, it's on," George said, clumping me on the side of the head with a peach.

"BOYS," Mum screeched, coming back in the back door.

"Yes Mother?" I replied sweetly, batting my eyelashes at her.

"Nevermind," she sighed, too tired to bother.

"So, Mum, you were at the Ministry yesterday?" Ginny tried to steer the conversation.

"Yes darling, about Ron," she bit her lip, taking another drink of coffee.

I don't think my mum's had a proper sleep since Ron has went missing. I know she's worried but she's trying to hide it from us. I hear her and Dad arguing constantly and then I hear him storming out and not coming home for hours and Mum crying, mumbling Ron, Charlie and Percy's names over and over again.

"How did it go?"

"They believe nothing," she spat out, "because that damned Lucius Malfoy has them all wrapped around his little finger."

"Aren't they at least going to give an inspection?" Harry frowned.

"No, they say that they are constantly at the Manor and there is nothing going on there. So I asked for the address and they said it was confidential information!"

"Bullshi -"

"Language!" Mum cut me off, but I saw a small smirk play around with her lips.

"You kids don't worry about it. Your father and I will have it sorted whilst you're all at school."

George nudged me and leaned over to whisper in my ear.

"I'll get rid of Mum, Gin and Harry so you can get some alone time with Hermione."

This, is why I love my brother.

"Mum, we haven't packed yet. Could you help us?" George asked casually, indicating to Harry and Ginny.

"You kids! Can't you all for once just do as you're told," she grumbled, but she got up and told George, Ginny and Harry to follow her. As they got up, George threw a wink over his shoulder at me and disappeared up the stairs.

"I've missed you, 'Mione," I smiled softly, looking at her from over my cup.

"I've missed you too," she blushed.

"Have you told Ginny about us?"

"Oh Fred, I'm so sorry. I didn't think before opening my mouth. I was just so excited and desperate to tell someone that I was going out with the famous Fred Weasley that I forgot to think about your feelings."

"It's alright, love, honestly," I leaned across the table and moved a strand of hair from her face.

She grinned back at me cutely and made her way over to the sink, beginning to wash the dishes so Mum wouldn't have to.

"'Mione, love?"

"Hmm?"

"There's a nice little Muggle park not too far from here. Come a stroll with me?"

"Sure thing, just let me change," she replied excitedly, running up the stairs.

I sat back in the chair with my hands behind my head. I could see me and Hermione getting a lot closer. So much closer that one day we would get married.

Our children would be perfect! We're both amazingly good-looking, and I'm hilarious, she's a genius, my kissing skills are spot-on and she's a genius.

I got up after getting a little restless and took the basket from the top shelf in the kitchen cupboard. With a wave of my wand, the basket was filled with all types of sandwiches, biscuits, fruits and juices so I closed it over and shrugged my old black jumper on.

"I'm ready," she said, reappearing breathlessly dressed in a white, lace, strappy top that hugged her perfect curves and brought out the best parts of her with deep, red jeans, finished off with white, wedged heels.

She looked absolutely stunning. Breathtaking, actually.

"Wow. You look, well, gorgeous," I admitted, placing my hand on her waist on kissing her gently on the lips.

"And your kissing skills are very satisfying."

She always knows how to make me smile.

Hermione promptly took my arm and I side-Apparated her to the romantic little park that I had always planned to take a special girl to.

Hermione's POV:

We landed beside a small pond filled with lily pads and baby ducklings. Fred told me about the time that his whole family was here and Percy threatened to tell their mum that George had tripped him up and Fred got so angry that he shoved Percy as hard as he could into the pond. He was grounded later, but he was determined that it was worth it.

We strolled along the sandy path until we came to a split-roads. Fred automatically went toward the path on the right, which had a large set of wrought-iron gates at the end. He tapped the lock three times and twisted the handle four times clockwise and once counter-clockwise and the gates sprung open. The breath hitched in my throat. It was one of the most beautiful scenes I'd ever seen. The sandy path had turned to one of white pebbles and the long, green, grass that was at either side of the path had been replaced by all different kinds of flowers. One of the patches were filled with a mixture of Hydrangea and baby-pink Amaryllis while another was filled with Daffodils and white Roses.

"Fred..."

"Beautiful, isn't it," he said, looking around.

He had an expression that I haven't seen him wear very often. It was one of pure awe and admiration, but also one of sadness and sorrow.

"I've never seen anything as breathtaking," I told him, honestly.

"I thought that too. But then I took a proper look at you," he said quietly.

He put his hands on my waist and kissed me, passionately but gently. It was unlike any kiss we'd ever shared.

"That was so cheesy," he laughed.

"But it still made me feel good," I smiled.

We grinned at each other and he took my hand once more.

"Come on, I have the perfect place in mind for where we can have lunch."

He lead me up the path again, taking a few turns every now and again until we reached another set of gates, identical to the first pair. We left through them and as soon as we did it was obvious that we had entered the place that the left path would've took us. It was a forest. There were logs and fallen tree trunks positioned around several small camp-fires and tents but Fred took us past them all until it all went dark.

"It's okay, 'Mione, we'll be out in a sec," he murmured softly to me, obviously having felt me tense up.

I just nodded, not wanting to spoil the moment.

We walked over twigs and leaves in a dark part of the forest until we came to yet another majestic view. This time, the path was made of pure cobblestones and pink and white Blossom trees stood towering above us. We followed the path until it split into two, both side curving round to make a circle. The inside of the circle was freshly cut grass, but we were shaded from the blinding sun by a large tree.

"It just keeps getting better and better," I whispered, awe-struck.

Fred chuckled and leaned against the trunk of the tree. He patted the ground next to him, gesturing for me to sit and began rummaging through the picnic basket. He passed me a plateful of food that I'd never tried before. I looked at it with great apprehension, decided that I trust him and took a big bite. It was some of the most amazing food I'd ever had in my life. I felt my taste-buds erupt with pleasure. We ate and talked and laughed for about an hour, then Fred packed the basket back up and lay down. He snaked his arm around my waist and pulled me down too, so I was resting my head on his chest and he was cuddling me close. I felt my eyelids droop. It was an exceptionally warm day and the beauty of this place really tired me out, so I allowed myself to drift off a little. Moments later, I felt Fred's breathing getting heavier, indicating that he'd fell asleep. I lay beside him peacefully, enjoying the sound of his heartbeat gently thudding against my ear, letting me know he was okay. Listening to Fred's heartbeat is the last thing I remembered as I drifted off into sleep, just enjoying the moment.

Author's Note: Hello everyone! Not as good as I would've hoped, but it was slightly longer than my usual chapter! The next chapter will be them setting off for The Plan. I'm very nervous about writing The Plan because I've never had to do anything like it and I'm not very good at making things adventurous. I've got a few ideas in mind but I don't know how long I want them to be searching for the Manor for or how long I want the story to last, so any suggestions will, of course, be welcome.

Also, this week, I started admining a page on FB so if you like Harry Potter pages, PM me :)

F and F please guys and don't forget to feed Jim Bob!

-Beth x