I'm so sorry I let you wait for the update this long... thanks for the reviews and for adding my story to your favorites.
you're the best!
in the next chapter we'll have sorting - what house Jade'll be in? any ideas?
I know there isn't much action right now, but I'd like to write this story about Jade - an "ordinary" student at Hogwarts - I'll follow J.K.R's plot but look at it from Jade's point of view and show you how everyday's life is at Hogwarts...Jade's still dealing with the emotional issues and she doesn't need any big action moments right now but they'll come - inevitably - as Voldemort gains more power and second war will start because it affected the "ordinary" people the most...but that's far in the future...
here's another chapter enjoy!
Everyone gathered in front of the large fireplace at Burrow, dressed in casual clothes, mostly (Ginny found the opportunity appropriate to fully dress up, complete with bright pink ribbon braided into her hair and Jade followed suit, only dressed more subtly in her dark blue dress and thin little ribbon tied around her hair like a headband).
There weren't many occasions to dress up at the Burrow and sometimes even the most tomboy-ish girl felt like having a girly day.
They arrived to the Diagon alley without problems and Jade was excited to have a look at all the shops she didn't see last time they went shopping but that would have to wait.
"Jade, honey, while we're here, we need to take care of the issue at Gringotts' and have your account signed over to you, so you could only use it once you're of age." Said Molly still wiping ash off Ron's tee.
"Alright." Agreed Jade, happy to oblige and make the Weasleys happy. The judge explained that having all the money "frozen" until Jade's legal adult so no one could use it till then, was one of the conditions of the adoption.
Arthur grabbed Jade's hand and after everyone promised to meet by the Quidditch shop later they hurried up the street in direction of huge white building.
"Now, there's nothing to be worried about, the goblins will just request my signature and we'll have to hand over the key, I'm only taking you with me, in case they have a few questions for you, but they shouldn't." Arthur squeezed Jade's hand reassuringly and they climbed up the stairs together.
"…of course, we're happy to transfer all the rights over to Miss Mraz, once she's of age, but there was one special request made by her parents when they included her in their family vault. Her father specially requested that we deliver her enough money to pay for her first wand at the age of eleven. We are bound to give you that amount now Miss Mraz…" the goblin addressed Jade directly," …it was a contract signed by the person opening the vault which has higher importance that the contract we signed now. Here is the money Miss, and make sure you'll use it to buy your wand, as there is a spell which will vanish it in case you try to buy something else – as requested by your father. You may keep the change if there will be any."
The goblin bowed and with one tap of his finger on the table, all documents disappeared.
Jade and Arthur left with a small leather bag filled with few galleons.
Molly and the rest of the kids were waiting in front of the sports shop.
"Oh, good you're finally here, we didn't start shopping yet, I was waiting for you to come back." Announced Molly and started to push twins in the direction of Madame Malkin's shop.
They left with numerous packages. Twins needed new pants and shirts and robes for school, Jade got new skirts and knee-high socks and a pair of stockings and one white blouse (they had few small white dress shirts at home which fitted her quite well). Percy needed new robes and pants and sweater. Of course The clothes weren't really new. There was a section in the store with slightly used school uniforms, still in good shape, but much cheaper and that's where all the Weasleys' kids got the uniforms.
They visited the bookstore – adding few books which were missing from the collection they had at home and Molly went to buy few kits of potion ingredients and impressive supply of quills and parchments – on which she got a discount because she bought 4 year-lasting kits and some blank parchment for home.
Once all the shopping was done, Arthur took the boys plus Ginny home while Molly and Jade headed over to Olivander's to get her the first wand. Molly was awfully happy when she found out Jade got the money for it already, that meant she could get a brand new wand.
Half an hour later they walked out of the store, leaving very exhausted-looking Olivander behind.
Jade couldn't have been happier. Feeling her own magic flow through the wand, sending a jet of golden sparkles all the way to the ceiling was the best feeling ever and somehow it reassured her that yes, indeed, she was a witch. (Deep down it her heart there was a fear that it was all a mistake and she wasn't magic at all, and she was sure she'd be sent away if Weasleys found out she was a muggle).
"Sweet Merlin!" Exclaimed Molly after coming back to the Burrow to find a kitchen table full of clean socks, her two youngest trying to sort them and Arthur at the stove cooking his famous macaroni with cheese. Percy was in the living room, putting away all the spare school stuff they won't be using this year back to the boxes and twins were out in the garden de-gnoming the garden again. It was a job that needed more repeating than cutting the grass.
"Oh, thank you darlings, you're so sweet to help with the Burrow." Smiled Molly and after calling all the kids inside she started to unpack all they bought.
Each kid was sent upstairs with a handful of new school robes, writing supplies and potion ingredients to put them in their trunks and check the items off the lists.
Next day was free. No more packing or going out to buy stuff, only one load of laundry for Molly and lazy attempt to cut the grass in the front yard on Arthur's side.
Jade wandered around the veggie garden with Ron and Ginny in the tow. The path was dry, although it was really humid and hot outside, clear sign that the rain was coming later that day.
They marched through the rows of green leaves, picking late strawberry here and there, enjoying the sensation of dry soil on their feet.
Lazy summer days like this were the ones Jade still remembered years after. There was a loud thunder and raindrops huge like gold balls started to fall, effectively soaking the children who didn't have enough time to run back inside.
In the kitchen there was Percy, silently cursing as he held a soaked letter in his hands, waiting for mom to dry it magically so he could send it to his girl…just a friend from school.
Ron and Jade tiptoed across the kitchen, heading up to their rooms to change but Ginny stayed downstairs curiously watching her mommy who put down her sewing just to get her wand and help Percy out.
Under Molly's gifted hands, there was newest doll being born, because Ginny's Harry and the Ginny-doll needed smaller doll-child to care after. So there was a little baby-doll with a tuff of black hair and brown eyes being stitched together as not so secret gift for Ginny. There was a big Welsh-green plush dragon already finished in Molly's sewing basket, waiting for Ron.
Molly always made sure that younger kids who didn't go to school yet, felt included and got something new and exciting when they siblings left for Hogwarts.
They only had a couple days left before 1st September and although Molly claimed those days were free for her kids to enjoy the last bits of summer, she always found something that needed to be done.
She went over the list of one child every day and checked they've packed all they'll need, because sometimes one of them forgot to pack ridiculously essential item like cauldron, or the essay they had to finish during the summer, or in case of Fred and George – socks. There was huge amount of socks the two boys needed between them and every year Molly brought them a laundry basket of clean, carefully paired and repaired socks to pack, and almost every year they lay forgotten in the corner of their room, making Molly to forcefully stuff them to the sides of the trunks as the space designed for socks was already occupied by twin's strange collection of what they swore to be extra potion ingredients but turned out to be a part of the pranks that professor McGonagall described in various letters during the year.
The afternoon before the day of the departure was hectic. Everyone got a long bath or at least hot shower, every kid's feet were checked if they scrubbed them well enough (Jade thought her heels were never this ping before), if they had nails clipped, if they washed their necks and behind the ears, if their hair was clean enough, if they've packed two sets of towels, etc.
They got to bed at 11 o'clock and it was the first night when Jade fell asleep straight away, without a fear of nightmares because she was just too exhausted to care.
Molly woke them up at 6 a.m. Last toothbrushes were packed, last holes in the shoes fixed and soon, they were all standing in front of the fireplace, flooing straight to the special waiting room for wizards at the King's cross station. It was half past ten when they finally made it.
"All you have to do now, is walk straight to the wall between the platforms 9 and 10." Announced Percy importantly and did exactly what he instructed Jade to do.
"Show off" murmured Fred just before Percy disappeared behind the barrier.
"Jade, honey, I'll go with you." Offered Molly and together with scared Jade they pushed the trolley straight to the wall.
Jade squeezed shut her eyes and waited for the collision, but it never happened, and when she opened them again, there was big crimson train standing in front of her and hundreds of people all around them.
Molly pulled her to the side just in time to make room for George and Fred racing to the platform. They yelled "see you in a bit mom!" at the same time and run off to reunite with their friends who were waving at them from the other side of the platform.
Arthur who was pulling Ron and Ginny on either side hurried over to them.
"Let's find you a compartment Jade, it's getting late."
He went in front of them looking through the windows and after a while he finally pointed out an empty compartment in the middle of the train. Arthur pulled Jade's trunk up the stairs with Ron hanging from the top handle in an attempt to help.
All was set.
There was a trunk full of magical items with Jade's name on it. There were twins saying good-bye to their parents and nervous Percy trying to fight his way through them and say proper farewell to his mother. Ginny was holding her dad's hand as if her life depended on it while Arthur had a death grip on Ron's collar trying to prevent him from sneaking away.
This was it. Jade was going off to school, finally a place where she'll know what's going to happen, a place where she'll have her life in her own hands, where she'll take care of herself like she always did. Place where people might understand her, because it was a place where no one knew about her past and she could start over, but suddenly Jade wasn't sure if it's such a good idea.
She missed Burrow already, and she even wondered for a while what would Molly say if she asked them to take her back with them and just wait one more year before she went to school.
"Nervous?" whispered Arthur leaning closer to her.
Jade just nodded yes.
"Don't be. It will be the best time of your life.
Jade was about to say she highly doubted it and she opened her mouth to ask if she can stay but Molly pulled her into a bear hug in that very same moment and whispered how proud she is of Jade.
"You'll be fine, just try your best and don't get into trouble. We'll send you a letter soon and you can write as much as you want, just ask boys where the school owls are." Said Arthur hugging her one more time.
"And before you know it, you'll be back home for Christmas." Said teary-eyed Molly and kissed Jade's forehead.
Jade just nodded again and with a huge lump in her throat and a little help from Arthur she climbed the stairs just in time, before the Hogwarts' express moved.
"Don't worry mom, we'll take good care of her!" shouted twins as they leaned out of the window hugging Jade from both sides.
"With us three away at school, you'll get the double amount of letters this year from Dumbledore!" they added and Jade laughed, wiping away the tears she didn't realize were falling down her cheeks.
"Take care, and write as soon as you arrive! I love you all!" yelled Molly and let go of Ginny and Ron who run beside the train.
"We love you too!" yelled Fred and George back and this time Jade joined them.
It felt so good to say it out loud that Jade had to repeat it again and make sure the Weasleys heard her. "I love you!" she yelled trying to be louder than the train.
Together with her brothers they waved out of the window at Arthur who finally caught up with his two youngest and was now holding crying Ginny in his arms.
She had red eyes and shook with hiccups but still blew kisses until the train disappeared.
"We'll be back later to check on you…" started Fred
"…but we have to go find out friends for now. Will you be ok on your own for a while?" asked George, with one foot already in the aisle.
"Sure." Agreed Jade, trying to sound as brave as she could.
"Alright, see you in a while." They called at her and run off.
Jade sighed and sat down close to the window. She was alone again.
As she watched the London drift by the train and big business buildings started to change into smaller suburban houses the door of the compartment opened…