***Chapter 16***
"BOOM!"
A small sigh sounded.
"BOOM!"
The smell of strawberries filled the air as black hair swept by in the wind.
"BOOM!"
The small body shifted next to his.
"BOOM!"
Ron Weasley was sure nothing looked more pretty then the small girl beside him, and he was even more sure that those beautiful eye's put these fireworks to shame. If there was one thing Ronal Weasley knew more than anything in the world, it was that there was no way possible anyone was more beautiful than Brooke Potter.
"Stop staring." The voice behind him sounded, never once taking her eyes away from the sky.
Ron chuckled, "I'm not staring!"
Green eyes turned, the fireworks reflecting in them as she smiled at him, "You haven't even watched the fireworks!"
He shrugged, throwing an arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer and leaning down into her ear, "You are a thousand times prettier than these fireworks."
A giggle sounded at his words. "Who ever knew Ron Weasley had such a way with words."
Ron scoffed at the comment, "Nobody ever bothered to listen."
Brooke rolled her eyes, "Oh is that so?"
"Yes." He said, "Between you and Hermione I am lucky I even got a word in edgewise."
She hit him lightly on the arm, grinning as he pulled her even closer.
"Just think what would have happened to you had you not met Hermione and I!" she laughed as she place a hand along his thigh and let him scoot her closer; "You would be stuck with Seamus, Neville, and Dean."
"They aren't so bad."
Brooke just hummed, relaxing into Ron's arms.
"Are you seeing what I am seeing?" Arthur whispered into his wife's ears.
Mrs. Weasley looked across the backyard at the all the groups of children. The twins were laughing as they continued to set the fireworks off. Ginny was pointing out all of the fireworks, trying to get Hermione to at least look up at one of the fireworks; however it didn't appear to be working as Hermione had yet to look up from the book she was reading. Then there was Ron and Brooke, who were sitting off to the side lost in the world of fireworks, crickets, and young love.
Molly sighed, a smile forming across her mouth, "It is nice to see young love again, it has been a long time."
Arthur grinned, wrapping a strong arm around her, "Now it doesn't seem so long that was us and-"
"Lily and James…." Molly squeezed Arthur's hand, "They remind me a lot of them."
Arthur nodded, "Young, fearless, madly in love…"
"I wondered how long it would take them to realize it."
"You do realize that Remus and Sirius will not be fond of this….Especially Sirius."
Molly shrugged, "Those two need something to be happy about, and especially after the year they had."
Arthur sighed, "You do realize what this means right?"
Molly stiffened, before nodding, "It wouldn't make a difference…they have always been friends…the outcome would have been the same…"
"What if-And I am not saying this will happen…but what if something were to happen to Br-"
"MUM DAD look at this one!" Ginny yelled as she pointed towards the sky.
Thousands of fireworks in the shape of snitches flew through the sky much to the delight of everyone below.
"Don't finish that sentence Arthur Weasley!" Molly warned, her eyes shifting back to Ron and Brooke, both of whom had not even been fazed by the fireworks, too lost in the world of fast heart beats and stolen kisses to have a care in the world.
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Brooke had soon gone home when Sirius and Remus returned from their mission. She had missed being only a bed room away from Ron, and sleeping alone in her bed made her feel very very small in a very big bed.
Of course it wasn't all bad, she got to see Ron every day, and Remus and Sirius only somewhat seemed on edge about the whole things. After all, Brook had pointed out that they had been young and in love at some point in their life.
Brooke's days were filled with laughter, swimming, kisses, and fast beating hearts, never once regretting the feeling of falling head over heels in love with her best friend. At first she thought it was just a typical teenage phase where one would fall in love with her best friend and be over it shortly, but not she and Ron. When she lived at the Dursely's she had spent many nights reading about Romeo and Juliet, Johnny and June Cast, and Ally and Noah, but never in her wildest dreams did she ever think that it would be she who could fall so madly in love. Sure she and Ron could disagree on things, and sometimes he could be downright stubborn, but that was Ron and she wouldn't change that for anything in the world.
Brooke propelled down the stairs that morning, her hair done up in a ponytail, and her long legs shown off by a pair of shorts.
Remus gave her a bright smile, while Sirius gapped at her very revealing outfit.
"How did you even put yourself together so early?" Sirius asked, his eyes still taking in her outfit.
She shrugged as Remus passed her a cup of coffee.
"Well what do you have planned today sweetheart?" Remus asked, kicking Sirius hard under the table as he was about to interrupt.
"Ron and I are going to his Aunt's house; apparently she lives right on the beach in some cottage!" Brooke said, her eyes twinkling, and the familiar look of young love washed across her face.
Sirius fought the urge to gag, only because Remus gave him a hard look, "Don't you think you have been spending an awful amount of time with Ron, maybe it would be good for you to spend some time apart?" he tried, scotching himself just out of reach from Remus; foot yet again.
Brooke laughed, patting Sirius' hand gently, "Don't worry Sirius I will spend time with you guys tomorrow, Ron has to degnome the garden with Fred and George, so I am all yours tomorrow!" she said sweetly, quickly standing and grabbing her bag, "I'll be home later on tonight, maybe we can eat dinner together, I'll let you know!" she said in a rush as she kissed them both on the cheek goodbye, and just like that she was gone.
Sirius whined low under his breath, "It's like she forgot about us Mooney!"
"Somebody sounds jealous!"
Sirius glared, "She was ours first!"
Remus rolled his eyes, "You remember how James was when he first fell in love?"
Sighing, Sirius teetered up on the hind legs of his chair, "Yes….but Brooke wasn't supposed to be like that, she is suppose to be a little girl forever!"
Remus laughed loudly at the declaration, "We had this discussion last summer if I do remember, and as we both said Brooke is not the little girl we like to think she is."
"I suppose…."
Remus just hummed under his breath.
"Now who is going to entertain me all day?" he complained once again, turning to give Remus a wicked look.
Remus flushed at the comment, "Sirius Black!"
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Brooke relaxed back into the beach chair as she took a deep breath of the warm salty air. She couldn't remember a time that she had such a fun day with not a thought of Voldemort crossing her mind once. Though she supposed it was hard not to have fun with Ron by her side, whether they were best friends or he was her boyfriend, he always seemed to make her have a good time.
Ron sighed loudly as he plopped down beside her. "Fred and George are trying to enchant some crabs to attack Percy."
Brooke rolled her eyes as she stretched out on her chair, "Wait till your Mum finds out."
He cringed at the thought, "Sucks to think we will be going back to school sometime soon."
She hummed in response.
"DO you think it will be different?"
"What?"
Brooke rolled onto her side, so she was facing Ron, "School, do you think it will be different…for us?"
Ron's ears turned red at the comment. Even after a month of dating, or whatever it was that they were calling it. After all Ron never once asked Brooke to be his girlfriend they just sort of went with it, he still went red at the mention of the two of them.
"Wel-we-well on-only if you want it to." Ron finally grumbled out, refusing to turn and look her way.
Brooke chuckled as she moved into a sitting position, leaning over and running a hand through his hair.
His eyes snapped to hers, his cheeks bright red, and his eyes held a sort of insecurity that Brooke didn't quite understand.
"NO silly, I mean I wonder what wonderful name Malfoy will certainly call us!" she laughed, "Or maybe the rumor he may start as to how we got together, or certainly maybe that you, me, and Hermione may have sort of secret love triangle!"
Ron let a full belly laugh at her comments, grabbing her hand tightly as she grinned at him brilliantly.
"Ahh just the girl I was looking for."
Brooke and Ron turned their head sharply at the sound of their Headmaster.
"Professor what are you doing here?" Ron said in a hurry looking every bit like a young teenager getting caught by their parents doing something terrible.
"Just enjoying the lovely salt air with your parent's for a bit Mr. Weasley, I do apologize for the unannounced visit, especially knowing I am interrupting young love on a beautiful beach day, but I came to steal Brooke away for a bit."
Now it was Brooke's turn to stare in shock at his words, "What?"
Smiling again, he gestured for her to come stand beside him, "We need to go visit a friend of mine, and I need your assistance."
Still looking dumfounded, Brook just started dumbly at him.
Ron nudged her gently, signaling for her to get up and go off.
"Can Ron come too?"
Dumbledore gave her a knowing look, "I wish he could, however Molly needs him here to help out, besides, I have instructions to drop you off at the Weasley's after, you are going over there for dinner." Dumbledore added, casting her a wink. "Come Miss Potter we need to get going."
Standing up, he gave Ron one last hesitant smile before grabbing onto Dumbledore's hand and vanished.
Apparating was one of Brook's least favorite ways of traveling, she always felt like she was being melted over a hot stove and when she emerged to her destination she felt sick to her stomach.
A cool breeze brought her to examine her surroundings, an old neighborhood with huge houses, it was dark and deserted reminding Brooke much of her street when it was past 8 in the evening. Feeling the breeze kick again, Brooke was thankful she wore a long sleeve beech jacket, however wished she had a pair of jeans on instead of shorts.
"Come now Brooke," Dumbledore said, walking down the dark street with the young Potter at his side.
"Where are we?" she asked quietly, looking around for any clue as to where they were, "Blacksmith Row-" she read aloud as she spotted the sign, "Isn't this a Muggle Community Sir?"
Smiling down at her as they continued to walk down the path he nodded, "Correct."
Sighing, she wrapped her arms around herself as she followed beside him.
"Sorry I did not tell you to dress warmly, it was a last minute decision."
Brooke laughed, "No big deal Sir, though don't tell Remus I said that, he told me to bring a warm jacket for the nighttime at the beach."
The two remained silent as they turned onto a sidewalk that led to a front door hanging halfway off its hinges.
"Sir?" she asked unsure as Dumbledore pulled out his wand, and she copied his movement.
"You stay beside me Brooke, and if I tell you to leave you do, understand?" he said, his voice stern as his eyes peered into the dark house.
Nodding as she agreed, the two crept into the house, looking around cautiously at the ruined house. She stepped around ruined picture frames and glass that covered the floor. As the two walked around the house for a few moments and didn't find any life or other findings they made their way into the living room.
"Odd Professor don't you think?" she questioned, her eyes falling on an old chair that seemed completely unharmed.
"Good eye Brooke." He commented giving her a wink as he pocked the chair hard and a loud yelp emerged, causing Brooke to jump back in panic.
"Merlin Albus!" Horace Slughorn complained as he reappeared in human form.
Dumbledore looked giddy as his friend uncrumpled his clothes, "That was a great disguise Horace, in fact I might have missed you if Miss Potter didn't point you out."
Slughorn turned to eye the young girl, "Horace Slughorn." He grunted, thrusting his hand into hers and shaking it roughly.
Brooke smiled politely, "Brooke Potter."
"Blimey it is you." He said, an awe edging his voice, "I knew your mother quite well, beautiful and smart woman she was!"
Smiling at the praise of her mother, Brooke couldn't help but ask, "You knew her?"
Nodding, he directed her towards the pictures on a dresser. It took her a moment before her eyes fell onto her mother's beautiful face, young, happy, carefree. Brooke's heart ached a little at the sight.
"Wonderful woman your mother was."
Brooke nodded in agreement.
"I will be using the restroom Horace if you don't mind?" Albus said, who was standing quietly in the corner of the room.
"I hope you aren't here about the teaching position Albus, I already told you my answer!" he yelled after his old friend.
"Teaching position?" Brooke asked curiously, eyeing the man who turned to stare at her.
"Yes Albus has asked me to take over potions for Professor Snape since he is transitioning to Defense Against the Dark Arts." He explained.
Brooke started open mouthed at him.
"I told him I wasn't interested, have more important things to be doing then parading around Hogwarts."
Brooke narrowed her eyes slightly, "Teaching the next generation doesn't sound like parading around Hogwarts to me, in fact it sounds like a great opportunity."
"Well the safest-"
"The safest place is Hogwarts, nowhere is safe right now." She commented.
Horace gave her a look, "Obviously, that is why I trashed this house hoping any wonderers would leave me alone."
"You mean Death Eaters?"
Turning to stare her straight in the eye his hard exterior softened slightly, "You do look just like your mother…"he muttered looking thoughtful, "You are courageous and outspoken like her as well."
Brooke stayed quiet, her eyes meeting his own.
Sighing and running a hand through his hair he waved his wand to fix their surroundings.
"You're scared aren't you?" she asked quietly.
"Everyone is scared right now Miss Potter, Death Eaters are recruiting like mad and they aren't very nice about it."
"And yet Professor Dumbledore is here asking you kindly, and really he isn't even recruiting you, he is offering you a safe place to stay and be out of all this madness." Brooke restored, folding her arms across her chest.
Rubbing at his eyes he sighed again, "You're wise beyond your years Potter."
Smiling slightly, Brooke turned to see Dumbledore reentering the room.
"Well Miss Potter we should be off." He said, smiling at Horace, "Goodnight Horace it was terrific seeing you!"
Brooke turned, waving a goodbye as she followed Dumbledore out.
"Alright Alright I give in!" Horace said, practically chasing after the two, "I accept the position!"
Brooke grinned, watching as Dumbledore explained when he should arrive at Hogwarts tonight.
Bidding another goodbye Brooke followed Dumbledore down the dark street once again.
"You asked me to come with you to get him to say yes Professor?"
Dumbledore smiled knowingly at her, "I figured I would show him somebody he would want to catch."
Brooke gave him a questionable look, "Catch?"
"You'll understand soon enough Brooke." Was all he said before the two disappeared into the night once again.