CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

HOME SWEET HOME

We don't go to our house, there's no point, we spend the whole of Christmas break at the Burrow anyway. So that's where we go. The Burrow. When all my Aunts and Uncles started having kids, Grandma and Grandad added more and more bedrooms. My whole family can stay here at the one time. I've spent more time here than at my own house. I love our house in Godric's Hollow, don't get me wrong, but I feel more at home here - where it's noisy and crowded and full of my family. When we go home it always seems so ... lonely and quiet. Sure enough, the second we walk through the door, the sheer loudness hits me like a ton of bricks. We are the last ones here by the sound of it. There is the sound of the radio from the sitting room, something smashing upstairs (probably Fred's fault, though he'll blame someone else), my Grandma welcoming us in, the kettle whistling in the kitchen and my cousins yelling:

"Daddy! Where did you sit my bags?" That's Dom.

"I'm not sharing a room again. I did it last year!" That's Lucy, who always has to share a room because she's the youngest and doesn't need as much privacy.

"What's for dinner?" That's James from beside me. He asks it the second after Grandma stops hugging him. Always thinking with his stomach.

"Crap, I forgot my favourite jeans." Roxie.

"Mu-um, tell Hugo to give me back my bag!" Rose.

"Louis, hurry up, I need the toilet." That's Victoire! Yay, Vic and Teddy are here already.

After hugging the life out of my grandparents I run into the livingroom and see Teddy, sitting on the sofa reading a book. Though he was raised by his grandparents, Teddy practically lived at my house as I grew up. He was there all the time. He's like another brother to me.

"Teddy-bear!" I squeal. Yes, I know it's a stupid nickname but it was cute when I was five and it just stuck.

"Hey, Lily" He grins, standing up, and pulls me into a massive Teddy-bear hug. Get the pun? Nevermind. He picks me up and spins me round and round, "How can it be possible that you've grown again."

"Have I? I don't see it. Maybe you're shrinking." I smile and he shakes his head.

"Nope you've grown. Or maybe you just seem more grown up... I wonder why that is." He says a little too innocently. I play along.

"I have no idea. So how's the wedding planning going?" I ask.

"Nuh-uh don't change the subject. We were talking about you. So ... what's been happening at Hogwarts."

"Oh just the usual. My best friends are both going out with my family members, articles are getting published about us in the school paper, James' parties have been getting wilder ... the usual, like I said." It might shock you that I told Teddy all that but I trust Teddy. We tell him everything - he's one of us. Besides, who do you think held the parties before James and Fred?

"Oh yeah, totally normal. Anything else? Anything ... boy-related." Like James, Teddy is totally over-protective. The way his face changes is hilarious. His cheery smile fades and his face screws up, like the words taste wrong in his mouth. He's gone all serious so I don't play with him anymore.

"Yeah, I do. I have a boyfriend." I tell him, with one eyebrow raised. I'm acting as if his opinion doesn't matter but in actual fact I really want Teddy to approve. He's quite for a long time and then he groans loudly, looking very young suddenly.

"There's really nothing I can say to put you off is there? Ugh, aren't you too young for a boyfriend or something?"

"You were 12 when you kissed Vic for the first time!" I laugh at his poor attempt.

"Yeah ... but we didn't go out for years and- Wait, Now there's kissing involved. Merlin, now I have to go kill this kid."

"Well, what did you expect I was doing." I grin.

"I don't know ... holding hands and ... talking. At least I was hoping." I laugh hysterically at this while Teddy tries to get his head around my growing up. Then Victoire walks into the room.

"Hey Lily, what's so funny?" She says, hugging me. She takes one look at Teddy's face and grins. It's like she can read his mind, "Ah, telling him about your boyfriend?" I nod between laughs.

"So what's he like? What's his name?" She asks me as we all sit down on the sofa. I don't quite know what to say. I would rather tell everyone at the same time and I don't feel ready just yet. Luckily Teddy interrupts.

"No, no, no. We are not talking boys. Or kissing. Or "Oh he's sooooo dreamy". No. I do not need to hear this." Vic and I crack up again. But then I nod, seeing an escape route.

"Yeah, he's right. We can talk about it later. So, tell me about the wedding." I say enthusiastically. Too enthusiastically but they don't notice.

"Well, it'll be during the Summer. So that everyone can be there. It'll be here, outside, just like Mum and Dad and I'll have 6 bridesmaids. Dom - maid of honour, of course, Molly, Lucy, Rose, Roxie and you."

"Me? Really?" I ask, touched.

"Of course, Silly. And Aunt Angelina will be designing the dresses, with my assistance. So if you have any ideas ..."

"No. Whatever you think is fine." Teddy had gone back to reading his book and I looked at him, "You have any ideas Teddy?" I joke.

"Actually, yeah, but not about the wedding." He says, looking up from his book with a mischievous smirk, "You know the New Years party? I think you should invite this boyfriend of yours." The New Years party. Where practically every single person we know, or our parents know, comes. Everyone gets tipsy and Uncle George always tries to get a karaoke started and everyone stays up really late. It's also my birthday ... but not everyone always remembers.

"Oh yes, that's a fantastic idea." My Mother's voice from the doorway scares me and makes me jump. I feel like groaning when my Mum runs out the room to tell everyone that "Lily's boyfriend is coming to the New Years party". The funny thing is that Caleb will be coming anyway. We are all allowed to invite our friends too, so I always invite Mel and Rikki. Obviously Al will be inviting Caleb.

Teddy, seeing my discomfort, grins to himself and goes back to his book. I yank it out of his hands and hit him on the head with it.

"Ouch. Awww, look, now I've lost my place." He moans. Sometimes he can be so childish. I leave the room, grab my bags and start up the stairs to right a letter to Caleb. It's so stupid, but even though I saw him a couple of hours ago, I miss him. But on my way up the stairs I'm stopped by Molly.

"Hey Lily. Listen, I managed to get the bedroom with the two single beds and the bathroom. So, I'm sharing with you, is that OK? It's just I'll probably be up and down being sick and stuff and I didn't want anyone to get suspicious so I thought ... you don't mind do you?" She whispers.

"No, of course not. I'm just gonna take my bags into our room. If you need to talk ... you know where I am." She just nods.

I run up the stairs and into the room. I quickly unpack my bag and put all my clothes in the wardrobe. Then I look around the room for some parchment and ink but there isn't any. I check in all the drawers and even the bathroom for some stupid reason. Nothing. I decide to wait until tomorrow and then find some and ask Rose if I can borrow her owl, Posy.

I wander around the house, hugging my relatives and telling them what I've been up to, avoiding questions about Caleb and changing the subject. Always changing the subject. Eventually we are called to dinner. And it's delicious. My Grandma's food is the best in the world - even better than Hogwarts food. Well, she has had loads of practise.

Everyone is talking, laughing, sharing stories. And every now and then they bring up my boyfriend. I open my mouth to say something - it's the perfect time, everyone all gathered together- but I keep changing my mind. Keep thinking there'll be a better time, a better moment. But, thinking about it, there'll never be a perfect time to tell my brother I've been secretly dating his best friend for months. But I keep waiting, needlessly waiting.

Christmas morning arrives sooner than expected.