After putting the photo of her parents between the pages of her journal, Jade went downstairs to get some lunch. She felt strangely at peace. After crying for half an our on Molly's lap and looking at the faces of her parents, she realized self-pity won't help and she was sure her mommy wouldn't be proud of her if she spent the rest of her life locked in her room crying over her parents.
Jade knew they were watching over her from somewhere, and sometimes when she knew something, it was true.
Jade didn't remember anything from the first few years of her life, but she knew she always felt alone. And that's what she missed the most – someone who could take care of her and let her be a child.
Now she had Molly, and Arthur, and they said it was forever and even started the adoption process, and suddenly the tiny little seed of hope, which was hidden deep inside Jade's heart started to grow. It grew slowly, and it will take years until she'll be able to trust them fully, but for how, this little bit of hope was more than anything she ever had.
Don't get your hopes up, there's still the possibility of adoption disruption after all. She told herself and promised herself she would do her best to finish all her chores in time and never do anything bad.
Lunch was fine, no one questioned where Jade and mom were all morning because they knew Jade was supposed to study hard this summer if she wanted to go to Hogwarts this September. Twins ran inside the kitchen just in time for the soup which was served with garlic bread.
"Mom, dad called through the floo and said he stopped by Paul's house and his parents said it would be ok for Paul and Bruno to come tomorrow if we're still going to have the pick-nick outside." Announced Charlie and smiled when he saw how happy Jade was when she heard news about her friend.
"Sure, tomorrow would be great, here Ginny, send and owl to Lovegoods and invite Luna" said Molly and passed Ginny a piece of parchment and a quill.
Jade spent afternoon with twins and Ron who were searching for new ingredients because the fireworks they were preparing for the b-day party still smelled terribly, although, the smell changed now to sulphuric red smoke which lingered in twins' room for three days until their mom discovered it and threw everything out. That was a week ago, and boys have decided it's safe to try again now.
They didn't talk much because it was hot again, sun was beating on their heads and no one felt like keeping long conversations.
When sun was setting down, Fred and George returned to their room with bag full of new samples for their experiments while Ron, Ginny and Jade stayed behind swinging in the hammock, tired after the hot sunny day.
There was just a little bit of purple clouds left on the horizon when Arthur returned home. He worked long hours to earn a little bit more for all the school supplies they'll have to buy soon.
Molly greeted him at the door and after quick kiss she sent him upstairs to wash his hands.
"Jade, Ginny, Ron!" she called the little ones. "Dinner's ready!"
Three of them jumped out from the hammock and Ginny almost fell down, but she was too tired to protest or get angry.
Charlie came downstairs with Percy, passionately discussing some international matters and clearly they both agreed about stupidity of the newest international law about transport of magical creatures out of the Europe.
Molly shushed them and served everyone huge portion of baked potatoes with bacon and cheese. As diner was later than usually, because Molly always wanted to wait or Arthur, everyone ate really fast and most of the boys asked for seconds.
Just before everyone went upstairs to get ready for bed, the owl knocked on the window and delivered a note from little Luna, saying how excited she was for tomorrow and how she would bring her new necklace she made with her mommy today.
With a promise of wonderful tomorrow everyone went to bed and even though Molly was still worried about tomorrow and about Jade and all the bags Fred and George were hiding in their room, the rest of Burrow's inhabitants doze off fast, including Arthur who was starting to snore.
Next day started late and it was complete chaos. At first the alarm clock didn't ring at 5:30 like every morning, and while Arthur tried his best to pull on his work robes and tie his shoes, Molly burned his toast and instead of sugar, she put salt into his coffee.
She never knew of course, because Arthur bravely swallowed the drink and kissed her on the way out. It was almost eight and kids started to shuffle to the kitchen.
Molly quickly put bread on the table and one jar of this year's strawberry jam. Percy yelled at Ginny for spilling apple juice on the newspaper before he had a chance to read it, Charlie was scribbling some note to his friends who invited him for some kind of reunion and incidentally dipped his quill into the butter. Ron was asleep again, drooling on the table and Fred poured last bit of milk while George had the last portion of cereal in his bowl. Thank Merlin they compromised and had half of the milk and half of the cereals each.
It looked like it's going to rain and Ginny was sadly looking out through the kitchen window.
"Don't worry, you can still have the pick nick lunch inside if it rains, and we'll just pretend you're in the restaurant." Tried Molly, but it didn't cheer Ginny up.
She wanted pick-nick outside because it was the only kind if pick nick that counted.
Molly couldn't put up with all the whining and arguing so she sent everyone upstairs and told them to read or clean their rooms or whatever.
She would normally make them all help with the lunch preparation but the truth was, she could have in all done faster if there were no eager little hands wanting to help.
The menu was simple, Bolognese sandwiches, cucumber salad and sweet lemon pie with whipped cream.
Plates were ready as well as big jug filled with watermelon strawberry flavoured water.
Molly pulled out big table sheet with blue and green flowers and set it in top of the pile of comforters which she had ready for the pick nick outside.
It wasn't even 11 yet, but first rays of sunshine peaked through the clouds and air went from pleasantly chilly to heavy and hot in a couple of seconds.
Molly put the drink back in the fridge and when she turned around, she saw Paul with Mike and Jacob walking up the hill. There was also one boy she didn't know, it had to be Bruno, but he kept his distance and silently followed the group of boys.
Molly was about to pull out few more plates when boys reached her kitchen door but Paul stopped her.
"Good morning Mrs. Weasley." He said politely.
"Hi Paul, it's nice to see you, I didn't know you'll bring more friends, but – the more the merrier – right?" she said and put two more plates on the table.
"Well, we won't be staying for lunch, Jake is going to play Quidditch with his brother so we'll go with him, but Bruno's going to stay if that's ok." Said Paul and pushed Bruno forward. The boy smiled shyly and looked at his shoes, finding them very interesting all of the sudden.
"Well, of course he can stay, does your mother know you'll be going with Jacob?" asked Molly a little bit worried. She thought it was quite rude from Paul to leave his cousin with someone he didn't know, but she didn't mind at all. Bruno seemed like a very nice and well behaved boy, she was sure they'll manage without Paul.
"Yeah, mom said I can go as long as I bring Bruno with me, but then he explained he'd like to go here and so mom said I have to bring him to your house first, and then pick him up later." Said Paul and nodded towards his cousin.
"Good bye Mrs. Weasley, I hope you won't have any trouble with Bruno, he doesn't do much, just give him some book to read." Said Paul and followed his two friends.
Molly looked down at Bruno who was still staring at the ground. She hugged him with one hand and patted his shoulder reassuringly. She led the way inside and called Jade.
"Jade honey! Bruno's here!" she said and soon there was someone running down the stairs. Molly pointed to the staircase and Bruno looked up just in time to see Jade jumping from the last step right on him and giving him a bear hug, something she learned from Weasleys.
It was quiet reunion, no one said a word but both kids were signing really fast and both of them laughed, Jade with bubbly laughter of pure happiness Molly didn't her from her before, and Bruno with quiet but clear laugh.
Molly just smiled and handed Jade one comforter, telling her to go put it outside on the bench so it would be ready for lunch.
Jade took it but Bruno snatched it from her arms and gestured for her to go first, such gentleman, thought Molly and turned to the stairs to call the rest of her kids down, but she stopped herself and decided to give Jade some time to catch up with her friend.