Jade's POV
"I have a couple of basic questions for you Jade, don't worry, it won't take too long." Said Miss Jones smiling at me. She was talking as if I was five, but to be honest, it was hard to concentrate right now so I was really thankful she kept it on a level of kindergartener.
"Your full name is Jadelynne Larkspur Mraz. Correct?" she asked and I nodded, as I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep my voice steady.
I wiped my sweating palms in my pants. I was so nervous and confused. What happened? Did I do something again? Social workers came to my life only on days when I got into trouble and they had to find me yet another family or on days when new family was found and they had to introduce me and make sure I'll behave.
Next question was somehow unusual. No one really asked it before.
"What do you like to do in your free time?"
this one caught me off guard. Why was she asking? Was it some kind of a test? Maybe if I confessed I loved to climb trees they'd simply classify me as too wild and give Weasleys reason to send me away?
I opened my mouth but didn't know what to say.
"I'm only asking to make a little profile for your dossier. There are quite few questions here which aren't filled and they should be." Explained Miss Jones and looked at me encouragingly.
"Well, I like to fly?" it sounded more like a question but I couldn't help it.
Flying should be a safe answer – all their kids liked to fly and I really enjoyed the one and only time I've done it.
"And.." Miss Jones waited for me to continue.
"I like to climb trees?" wow another question? What's wrong with me?
"Ok, is there something else?"
What was she waiting for? Was I supposed to give her a list of all my activities?
Oh yeah, I love to read and write and draw and I'll run for hours if I get a chance, I love making friendship bracelets and cut out little things out of wood, I love playing with animals and dreaming and…
I had no idea what she wanted to hear so I just shrugged.
She asked a couple more questions which I answered the best I could.
She finished filling out the questionnaire and said: "That's all for this time, your can go now, we have lots of papers to fill with your mom so I won't keep you from playing any longer."
I nodded and looked to Mrs. Weasley, waiting for permission to leave the table.
Molly smiled at me and squeezed my hand: "why don't you go upstairs and change into shorts? It's getting hot outside. Then you can take a book from coffee table in the living room, I found one which you might enjoy."
I raced upstairs and quietly closed my bedroom door behind me and released the breath I didn't know I was holding.
That's it? Just a couple of questions which weren't answered in my file? Why did no one ever bother to fill them?
I changed into shorts and quietly crept down the stairs, hesitating a little couple of stairs from kitchen. Should I go through there and disturb them? That pile of paperwork looked important.
I was about to turn around and hide in my room when I heard Miss Jones:
"You know Molly, she was going from one family to another for all those years. You can't imagine how happy I am to finally find a family for her. Of course she'll have to stay in foster care for a while, there are too many steps to go through and ton of paperwork. I'm just happy I was able to pull a couple of strings at the ministry and she can stay with you instead of going to some orphanage for the waiting period."
What does she mean? Is there some family who's willing to take me forever? So Weasleys are in fact just another foster family, another short stop, before I have to move again.
I knew that, from the very beginning and I'm used to it so why does it hurt so much this time?
I should be happy that this is the last foster family before I find a forever one. But I didn't believe that. There is no such thing as forever family, they were going to kick me out eventually, that's the only think I was sure about.
I knew I wasn't going to stay, but somewhere deep in my heart I hoped I could somehow…
I liked it here, I loved Ginny and Ron and I was starting to love Molly and Arthur too, they looked like the first pair of trustworthy adults I've ever met.
Yes, I wished they would love me back and love me enough to keep me. Apparently that was just my wish.
I felt hot tears falling down my cheeks as I ran down stairs, not stopping anywhere, just flying through the garden, jumping over two or three garden gnomes who tried to trip me. I didn't ran this fast for a long time and my legs started to protest, but I didn't slow down, I never wanted to stop, if I could run forever I would but one can only ran a short distance with eyes filled with tears and full nose.
Nobody followed me. Molly thought I was just running outside to join her kids playing in the orchard and they didn't see me turning to the left, taking the path leading to forest.
I slowed down and eventually stopped under the biggest tree I've ever seen.
I climbed up, with bare feet it was easy to find little cracks and bumps to support myself and when I reached the branches it was much easier.
I climbed high, far above all the other trees and the branch which I picket as my sanctuary was still really wide.
I sat down and hugged my right knee, and started to cry. I didn't want another family, I wanted Weasleys but if they didn't want me, then I was going to ditch them first, there was no way how I was going back.
Adults always thought they knew what's best for me, always said things like – you will be happier with your new family, you will fit in there much better.
But I was happy here! And for the first time in my life I felt like I was fitting it.
It was way past the lunch time and I was starting to be hungry. Actually sun was almost setting down, I'm sure Mr. Weasley is already home from work. I lied down on the branch and it was surprisingly comfortable position to lie there with my feet hanging down from each side and my hands hugging the branch.
Meanwhile in burrow.
"Arthur we've searched every bit of the garden, village and even the path to Luna's house! She's not here!" cried Molly, sitting on the chair in her kitchen uncontrollably sobbing into the handkerchief Arthur offered her.
"Calm down honey, we'll find her. I'll call Lovegoods and Diggorys and Bells down from the village and we'll search the grounds again." Said Arthur with strict voice and threw a handful of floo powder into the fireplace.
Molly was staying with Ron, Ginny and little Luna at Burrow, because Arthur said someone had to stay, just in case she came back home, and also because he didn't want her to run around absolutely desperate and getting lost herself.
"We'll search the grounds again, each of us taking one direction and then walking that way. If you find her, send red sparkles up in the air. Thank you for coming, we really appreciate it." Said Arthur hanging his head down and discreetly wiping his eyes.
They started the search.
Garden and the House were checked by Molly again and Arthur with his friends checked the rest. Quidditch pitch, village, pond (which was the scariest part for Arthur and he was actually relieved they didn't find anyone in the water), they checked the road, the forest and Lovegood's grounds, but didn't find her.
Jade was sitting on her tree when Arthur walked beneath and called her name. For a brief moment she felt cold satisfaction knowing that everyone searched for her and she was so well hidden that no one could figure out where she was.
Once again, she had control of over her life.
Arthur seemed angry when he called her name over and over. His voice almost scared her but then she realized he won't find her. Never.
He continued, in the direction of the darkest part of the forest and just before she lost sight of him, he called her name one more time and his voice broke into sobs.
And that scared her more than all of the angry men she's ever met combined.
Jade wanted to jump down from her sanctuary and ran to him, and let him punish her and yell at her, it didn't matter, she just couldn't see him cry. He wasn't supposed to cry, he should be brave and protect his family.
But it was too late. He was gone and the sound of her name was replaced by dead silence of the forest.
Jade was lost. No one will ever find here, she was sure.
But as she was ready to climb down and run even further from home, Jade realized she was no longer alone.
There was woman standing by the tree, long strawberry blond hair and freckles on her cheeks, looking up straight into Jade's eyes. And she had the most beautiful blue eyes, exactly the same as Luna.
"can I come up?" she asked quietly, loud enough just for Jade to hear her.
The girl nodded. Did she had a choice? IT didn't matter right now, nothing mattered for Jade, she didn't even cry anymore, just sat there with terrible silence in her heart.
"you know, I'm actually quite happy you ran away from home." Said Mrs. Lovegood as she sat down on the branch next to Jade. She didn't look her in the eyes, just stared at the stars, silently smiling.
Jae had a speech prepared, how she was not going back how no one could force her but this? She certainly didn't expect hearing someone was happy she ran away.
"Molly is crying her eyes out you know? And Arthur is running around the forest right now and I'm pretty sure he's crying too. You ruined them." Continued Mrs. Lovegood, saying hard truth as if it was the only thing she could say in that situation.
"Why are you happy I ran away?" asked Jade after finally finding the strength to speak.
"I was making some experiments with spells tonight, just before your dad called us to help him search for you. Xeno said I had time to finish one more spell before we went. I knew Molly would be devastated, and as I imagined my own Luna getting lost, I knew there wasn't time for any spells. We left the very same moment Arthur called us. And on the way here…" Mrs. Lovegod smiled dreamily, "on the way here I realized that spell could have gone terribly wrong, there was one aspect I didn't consider before and…you see, it could have one terribly wrong. What would then happen to my Luna? And my Xeno? How could they go on without me? That's why I'm quite happy you decided to run away tonight."
Jade just nodded, not knowing what to say.
"They had to do something terrible, I assume?" continued Luna's mom.
"Who?" asked confused Jade.
"Molly and Arthur of course, I'm sure they've done something awful if you ran away."
"Well, yes. Yes they did, or at least they are going to do." Said Jade coldly. "They're sending me away. Miss Jones found a family for me, I heard her saying that to Mrs. Weasley this morning. How happy she was she finally found a family for me. Forever family."
"Oh, and why is that so bad? You don't want to have a family honey?" asked Mrs. Lovegood sadly.
"But I already have a family! And I loved them and thought they loved me back! But apparently I was wrong! But I don't ever want another family!" yelled Jade and new tears started to fall from her swollen eyes.
Luna's mom hugged her with one arm. "I'm pretty sure Molly would never make you leave if you didn't want to and if they could keep you they'd do everything to make it work but sometimes it's just not possible. I'm not sure though, why would they send you away, Molly told me how much everyone already loves you at the BBQ. I'm sure this is just one big misunderstanding, but you'll have to talk to them. Let's go home."
After a little hesitation, Jade climbed down the tree, with a tiny hope that maybe, just maybe they loved her enough to keep her here.
When they were safely on the ground, Mrs. Lovegood sent a beautiful red fireworks to the air, and before Jade could realize what was happening, Arthur was standing in front of her hugging her tightly and shaking her lightly. Then he held her a little bit away from him and looked her straight into the eyes.
"You can never do this again young lady understood? Never again!" he said strictly but when another silent tear fell down on Jade's cheek, he hugged her again and silently thanked Luna's mom for finding his daughter.
They walked hand in hand back home.
No one has ever seen Molly Weasley so furious, happy and relieved at the same time.