CHAPTER SEVEN

FAMILY MEETING

When I got to the Room of Requirement, only James and Louis were already there. We have this special room for our little family meetings that we have personalised over the years. It started of just a room with enough chairs to fit us all. The the chairs turned into armchairs and stools so we each have our own. One Winter, when we were cold, Molly came up with the idea of a fireplace and when Al was in desperate need of a pee, a door leading to a bathroom appeared. We have a bookshelf for Rose, and Dom (who is very artistic) painted a picture of us all on the wall. And I don't think you can come across a wooden surface or a corner without someone's initials engraved. When I get in Louis is sitting on his beanbag and James is sitting in the throne (yes, a throne). The throne is where the person who called the meeting sits. All the seats are in a circle shape around the table, but angled towards the throne. James is scribbling away on a sheet of paper and Louis is enthralled in a quidditch magazine. They don't notice me walk in. I walk over to my big, red armchair (similar to the one in the Gryffindor Common Room) and curl up.

Over the next five minutesthe rest of my family arrive. After me Fred and Roxie rush in and instantly rush over to James, eager to tell him about whatever prank they've cooked up. Then Al struts in. Behind him though is a boy I don't know. One of his friends. I think it's his best friend, since I recognise him from seeing him hanging around with Al a lot.

"Who's this?" James asks rudely. I hate the fact that he is being rude to someone he doesn't even know but I do know why he's mad - Al is breaking the rules.

After a few meetings in this room, we (well the others did - I just listened) decided to make some rules. There are loads but just a few of them are:

Rule Number 1 - If you call a family meeting you must invite every member of the family (currently at Hogwarts) - even if you are having a fight.

Rule Number 2 - We shall vote on all plans/schemes/ideas - majority wins.

Rule Number 3 - Never invite anyone other than a Weasley/Potter family member into our meeting room - it's a secret!

Rule Number 4 - Never repeat anything said in the meeting to someone outside the family.

The fact that Al had invited a strange boy into our family meeting room was a major rule break. And James looked pissed.

"Al, you know the rules." He says, through gritted teeth. Al sighs.

"I knew you'd act like this, James. Look, I haven't exactly had the best day if you hadn't noticed. That is why you called this meeting, right? Well, none of my other friends are even talking to me right now. Whether they believe what that cow said or not, I don't know, but I think they don't want to be seen with a "sister-beater". Caleb is the only person who will hang out with me and because of that he's getting hassled too. He asked where I was going and I wasn't going to leave him with those vultures alright?"

"Look mate, I know you're having a hard time with it. Hailey fucking Frockler is a bitch, that's why we're here. But you know our rules, no outsiders! I can't believe you would invite someone here - only friend or not." James sits back down, sighing.

"Look" The boy speaks up. His voice is rough and deeper than anyone I've ever heard. It sends shivers to my spine, "Don't blame Al. I practically begged him to bring me here. He asked me not to. I'll go if you want."

"You're here now, no point leaving. You can stay, but never repeat anything you here said in this room and never bring anyone else here. Ok?"

"Deal" Says the boy. He waves his wand and conjures a mini sofa out of thin air, across the circle from me, for him and Al to sit on. The minute they sit down they are deep in conversation about something. I look at the boy. He is tall about 6"2 but not lanky. In fact he's quite muscular. He has black hair that flops down over his eyes. And his eyes - oh - they are the most amazing colour of eyes I've ever seen. They are violet with grey flecks. And they swirl and sparkle. Suddenly, as if sensing my gaze, his eyes shoot up and lock with mine. For a split second I feel as if he's looking into my soul, then I quickly look away, feeling my cheeks turn red.

Suddenly Rose and Dom burst into the room chattering away about nothing, they stop dead when they spot the boy with the violet eyes.

"Oh - erm - hi. I'm Rose, this is Dom. Who are you?" Asks Rose, not rude but genuinely curious.

"I'm Caleb." He answers, giving a little wave. Rose glances questioningly at James but he just shakes his head as if saying I'll-explain-later. Rose just shrugs and her and Dom go to sit down. Then Lucy enters, grabs a book off Rose's shelf and sits down quietly. Hugo bounds in next, smacking on chewing gum loudly and blowing bubbles. It's irritating but no one else seems to notice, all too involved in their own conversations. It suddenly becomes clear to us all, almost similtaniously, that Molly hasn't arrived yet. Al is the first to mention it.

"That's weird. Molly isn't here yet, she's always on time to everything." But just as he finishes speaking in she bursts, in a rather un-Molly-like fashion. Her arms are full of books and parchment, her glasses are practically falling off her face and she has bags under her eyes. I guess all her work, being a prefect and trying to be perfect are finally cathing up with her.

"Hi, sorry I'm late. Was working in the library and I lost track of time. Hope you don't mind but I'll have to do homework while we talk. So much to do. So much to do." She mutters to know one in particular. She walks swiftly over to her chair (that resembles a chair from a classroom) and dives right into her homework.

"Er-right." Says James, clearing his throat. "Everyone here? Good. Well as you all probably know there was an untrue article published about Al in The Hogwarts Weekly today. This definetly wasn't the first time Hailey Frockler has published false stories about our family and they seem to be getting worse. Many times we have asked for retractions and re-prints but do we ever get them? No. So I suggest we stop this bitch now before things get worse. Now obviously asking her doesn't work, and we can't physically hurt her so anyone have any plans?" There is a long silence while everyone thinks.

"Why don't we go to McGonagall or Uncle Neville and get her taken off the paper. She won't be able to print anymore shit about us." Suggests Rose.

"I-" I try to tell them about her threats this afternoon but I am interrupted, as usual, by Fred.

"We can't go running to teachers everytime we have a problem Rosie-poo. We have to sort this out by ourselves."

"And what exactly is your idea of "sorting it"? Threatening her? Pranking her?" Scoffs Molly, without even looking up from her homework, "All that'll do is get us into trouble and piss her off more."

"Not if we do it discreetly." Argues Roxie, "A few little pranks, leading up to bigger better ones. She'll suspect us and know that we're after her, but there'll be nothing to lead back to us." Her eyes light up just at the mention of a prank.

"Discreet?" Laughs Rose, "You guys wouldn't know discreet if it bit you on the arse. You'll be caught for sure and we'll all be in trouble ... I won't let you idiots ruin my perfect record. I've never had a detention."

"Look." Intterupts James, "Something needs to be done and I for one think pranking the bitch is a good idea. Karma. So any other ideas? No, Ok, Let's put it to a vote. All those in favour of telling a teacher." At first only Rose and Molly raise their hands but then Rose gives Dom and sharp nudge in the ribs and Molly shoots Lucy a look that very clearly says "Do-it-or-I-tell-Dad". Reluctantly the two of them raise their hands. Rose gives Hugo the same look and he to raises his hand. James, Fred and Roxie's smirk falters.

"All those in favour of pranking." James, Fred, Roxie, Al and Louis raise their hands high in the air. James counts it out in his head a few times, trying to make sense of the numbers but Rose and Molly already understand. Slowly, it dawns on everyone else and they turn to look at me. It's 5 against 5 and I'm the only one who hasn't voted. It's my call.

"Lily, which do you choose?" Asks James. I look around as if I'm suddenly going to not have to make this choice. Right now would be a great time to really be invisible.

"I- I- erm. I don't want to choose."

"You have to Lily. Now just pick a damn side." Sighs Dom.

"I-erm- I ch-choose." I look around for an idea, anything. I say they first thing that comes to mind, "I choose to give my vote to Caleb." I point to him, then run into the bathroom before they can make me choose for real.

Even though I'm used to being invisible, I'm hurt when nobody comes after me. After ten minutes I walk back out. It's as if I'm not even there. I sit back down and over the rabble I hear James.

"Ok so we're agreed? Pranking it is." I look at Caleb, wondering if he pranks people often. I'm surprised to find him already looking at me.

"They don't listen to you, do they?" He asks, no one hears him over the chatter. Stupidly, I check behind me to see if he is really talking to me. He chuckles and I blush. I shake my head. Suddenly everyone starts to leave until it's just us left.

"Nobody notices you. It's awful." I shrug.

"I'm used to it."

"You shouldn't be. It's strange, with your hair and how, like, your basically famous, you would think people would pay you the attention you deserve. But it's like you drift in quietly and nobody notices." I shrug again, "Well, almost nobody." And then he's gone.