"I wish I could keep you," Grace sighed sadly as she leaned against the cool brick wall in her back garden, softly petting the black dogs head. The dog whined as he looked up at her. "I wish I could take you to Hogwarts with me too," at this the dog's ears twitched. "I feel like I should give you a name," The dog lifted his head and stared up at her, his mouth falling open and she knew that was his doggy smile. "You'd like that wouldn't you? A name?" The dog barked and she laughed.
It's been a month since she's met the big, black dog, and since her mother let her stay home by herself again, and she has been able to do so since. She was a little sad that she couldn't spend time with Remus, but he had told her that he was offered a good job for once and needed to start preparing for it. That bit of loneliness was now being filled with the dog that was currently laying on his head on her lap.
Whenever her mother would leave for work, she'd open the front door and always saw the black dog sitting across the street, almost as if he was patiently waiting for her. The first thing she did was bring him to the back and gave him a nice good bath, and used her old hairbrush to brush his fur. Then she gave him a nice meaty meal while they stayed outside so he could dry off. Ever since, he always waited patiently at the park, or, would hide in their hedges at night during the week. Now, there was only a few days left of summer holidays.
"What about Max?" She asked, and the dog gave an unamused huff. "Okay, what about Buddy?" the dog whined and covered his eyes with his paw, making Grace laugh. "Let me think," she started and pursed her lips. She was horrible at naming anything, even as a child she would ask her mother or Remus, or even one of her cousins to name something. She remembered one time when she was very young and stayed over at the Weasley's and showed Ron her ginger cat.
"What's that?"
"It's my cat!"
"It's not a real cat! That's a toy!"
"So? He's my friend."
"You can't have a friend that isn't real."
"He's real! His name is Snuffles!"
"Why did you name it Snuffles? That's stupid."
"It's not stupid! It's his name! It's always been his name!"
"Snuffles…" Grace whispered, and the dog's head perked up. She smiled at the memory. Snuffles was the name of her stuffed ginger cat. It had always been it's name, she doesn't even know where the name came from. Remus had told her once that her father had given the stuffed toy to her when she was a baby, but even he had called the cat Snuffles before she did. "Do you like that name?" She asked and the dog barked. "Alright, Snuffles it is!" Snuffles barked again, moving to stand up then he began licking her face. Grace laughed loudly as she tried to move her face but each time she moved, Snuffles moved too and soon she found herself laying on the grass.
"I'm really gonna miss you Snuffles," Grace sighed sadly once she calmed down and caught her breath. Snuffles whined as he lay beside her. "If there was some way I could sneak you onto the Hogwarts Express, and sneak you into Hogwarts I would… You'd love it there, Hogwarts," she started. "Theres some much room for you to run free, a great big lake that you could swim in, and you'd love Hagrid and Fang!" Grace turned her head to look at Snuffles, who was staring at her with a strange look. She couldn't quite place what it was, but it reminded her of the look Ron would get when they passed the Quidditch shop in Diagon Alley. It was the same kind of look that Harry had when he looked in that Mirror in their first year. It was the same look she had when she watched Uncle Arthur with Ginny. It was the look of longing.
"I don't suppose there's a way for you to get to the Scottish Highlands is there?" She asked and Snuffles whined softly. "You'd make my year at Hogwarts so much better, you know… It won't feel as lonely if you came with me," Snuffles whined, and bumped her cheek with his wet nose. "I mean…I have friends. I'm friends with Harry, and Hermione… Neville is probably my best friend, and of course I have my cousin Ron… but…" Grace sighed heavily. "I don't know, I always feel like I'm just…there, you know?
"I'm nothing special," she continued and Snuffles growled quietly. "I'm not! I mean, I'm okay at Quidditch, but the team is full… I play the piano and sing well, but there are loads other students more talented than I am that I'm sure would make the Frog Choir," she started. "I do really well in all my courses but I'm not as clever as Hermione, nor do things come as quickly to me as it does for her… I'm not witty, or pretty like Ginny, or like Lavender and Parvati… I'm just… Grace." Snuffles whined, then licked her face again, making her smile. Grace and Snuffles stared at each other, and she couldn't quite explain it, but there was something in his eyes that warmed her heart. It was as if he was saying, in his own canine way: "I like just Grace."
"Are you ready?" Helena asked and Grace only shrugged. "Seriously? You'restillnot talking to me?" Grace looked down at her shoes. "How long is this going to last?" Grace ignored her as she took a handful of floo powder from the bowl with one hand, and pulling her trunk into the fireplace with her other.
"Diagon Alley!" Grace exclaimed, throwing the powder to the floor and green flames erupted around her. Seconds later when the flames died away, she stepped out into the The Leaky Cauldron. Scanning the large room, she grinned when she noticed a hoard of red hair. "Aunt Molly!" She exclaimed happily, running toward her aunt. Molly Weasley turned around and smiled as Grace crashed into her, wrapping her in a tight hug.
"It's good to see you too, Grace," Molly replied, returning the hug. When she was about to let go, Grace squeezed and she knew that the girl was not yet ready to let go. "Have you been brushing your curls out again, you silly girl?" Molly scolded lightly when Grace pulled away. The girls face turned pink, and she smiled sheepishly. "No matter, I'll fix them for you," the woman whispered softly as she pulled out her wand, flicked her wrist. Looking down, she smiled at the smooth, defined curls. "You have a head of hair that could make any woman envious," Molly smiled as she held Grace's face in her hands.
"Thanks, Aunt Molly,"
"No problem, dear."
Grace saw Ron over her aunts shoulders and pulled away. "Ron!" She ran to him, and nearly knocked him over with a tight hug. He exclaimed in surprise as he stumbled back, then looked at his cousin with bewilderment.
"Good to see you too, Grace," he replied slowly, as he returned her hug awkwardly.
"Don't ever leave me alone with my mother this long ever again!" She whispered before pulling away.
"That bad?" He replied quietly, looking over her shoulder at his mother and his aunt nervously.
"You have no idea. With Harry here, my uncle busy the past few weeks, she's beenunbearable!" Ron grimaced. He had a love-hate relationship with his Aunt Helena. While she was the fun aunt, who often let all the Weasley children get away with anything, and would often go out of her way to buy them a few new things here and there. However, he hated how different his aunt would treat him and his siblings than Grace. It didn't go unnoticed by anyone that Helena Prewett was harder on her own daughter, and often put her second to the Weasley children. "She won't even let me go to Hogsmeade!"
"What?!" Ron exclaimed. "You're bloody joking!"
"No," Grace shook her head. "I've asked her everyday and she keeps saying no!"
"That isn't fair! You're going to be the only one in our year not going!"
"I washoping, ifyouasked her to sign it, saying howyouwant me to experience Hogsmeade withyou, then maybe she'll sign it! She does everything you ask!"
"You think she'll say yes?" Ron whispered, Grace only shrugged.
"It's worth a try, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I suppose," Ron nodded then took a deep breath as they made their way to their mothers.
"Hello, Ron," Helena greeted with a soft smile and pulled the boy into a hug. "Did you have fun in Egypt?"
"Yeah, I had loads! I really wish Gracie could've come, she would've loved it!" Ron nodded, and Grace nodded next to him. Ron may not have been the most subtle, or smooth boy in the world, but the two of them have been manipulating their parents since they learned to talk. "I'm excited for us to explore Hogsmeade this year though!" Helena's smile fell and she gave Ron an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry, Ron, but Gracia won't be going to Hogsmeade this year."
"What?! Why not?!" Ron asked in feign offense.
"'Lena… you can'tnotlet Grace go! It'sHogsmeade!" Molly gasped.
"Until Sirius Black is back in Azkaban, Graciawill notbe going to Hogsmeade. I'm sorry, Ron, but you'll just have to show her around Hogsmeade next year."
Both Ron and Grace opened their mouths to protest but Molly quickly jumped in and changed the subject, forcing Helena's attention back to her older sister. Grace glared at her mother, and took Ron's arm and started dragging him away. "She is so unreasonable!" she hissed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I've basically been on house arrestall summer!"
"Well, we'll be going back to school here soon."
"Yay," Grace replied dryly. "There's Hermione," she nodded her head to Ron, making him turn around. "What is that she's holding?"
"Looks like a monster," Ron muttered. Hermione found them and smiled widely as she made her way over.
"Finally! I've been waiting forages!"
"Not bloody likely," Ron muttered, causing both girls to glare at him. "What isthat?" He asked, nodding to the orange furry creature in Hermione's arms.
"His name is Crookshanks!" Hermione replied, her smile growing as she held up the furry beast. "I just got him yesterday as a birthday present! I was going to get an owl, but I saw him and fell in love!"
Grace and Ron both shared a look. Gracelovedanimals… but Crookshanks didn't look like a normal animal. She couldn't tell if it was a cat, a small bear, or a tiger; maybe it was a mix of all three. "Whatishe?" she asked carefully.
"He's a cat, and he's precious."
"If you say so," Ron muttered under his breath as the cat jumped from Hermione's arms and started scurrying around the room.
"How was your holiday, Grace?" Hermione asked, turning her attention to Grace.
"Horrible. The first half was alright, Harry made it better but then well…" she answered, her voice dying.
"Surely it couldn't have beenthatbad…"
"You try living with my mother for two months," Grace replied dryly. "Actually, never mind, she'll treat you like a princess. You two would probably go on holiday to Greece or something."
Hermione opened her mouth to reply when a loud feline growl was heard, and then Scabbers and Crookshanks came bolting from the stairs. "Scabbers!" Ron exclaimed Scabbers ran straight to Ron, who bent down to pick up the old rat, and Hermione bent to pick up the cat. Ron's eyes narrowed at the orange cat in Hermione's arms. "I'm warning you, Hermione! Keep that bloody beast of yours away from Scabbers or I'll turn it into a tea cozy!"
"He's acat,Ronald!" Hermione rolled her eyes. "What do you expect? It's in his nature," she defended as she tried to restrain Crookshanks from attacking Scabbers. Grace eyed the cat warily and took a step away. She looked up, hoping to find someone to distract the two when she spotted Harry coming down the stairs. His eyes caught hers and he grinned.
"A cat! Is that what they told you? Looks more like a pig with hair if you ask me."
"That's rich coming from the owner of that smelly old shoe brush," Hermione scoffed as she held Crookshanks tighter and started stroking the cats head. "It's all right, Crookshanks. You just ignore the mean little boy."
Ron went to retort, but Grace cut him off. "Hi Harry!" she greeted, smiling at the boy, who smiled back. Both Ron and Hermione whipped their heads and smiled.
"Harry!" They greeted in unison.
"When did you lot get here?" Harry asked once he reached them.
"Not that long ago," Grace replied.
"Yeah, we were wondering where you were. I think Mum was about to send someone up to go look for you," Ron continued. "We'll be leaving soon," he added as the four of them made their way to the table. Grace spotted her mother talking to Hermione's parents as she took a seat on Harry's other side.
"Can't believe you went to Egypt!" Harry started as he stared down at the newspaper clipping of Ron and his family. "What's it like?"
"Brilliant!" Ron started, his face lighting up as he grinned. "It's got loads of old stuff, mummies, death masks, tombs-"
"You know," Hermione started, cutting him off. Grace's face dropped, and Harry hid his smile behind his hand. "The ancient Egyptians used to worshipped cats."
"Yeah, as well as thedung beetle," Ron retorted with a glare before turning back to Harry.
"Not flashing that clipping again, are you, Ron?" George asked, coming up on Hermione's left.
"I haven't shown anyone!" Ron glared.
"No, not a soul," Fred started, coming up beside Grace. "Unless you count Tom."
"The day maid," George added.
"The night maid."
"The cook."
"The bloke that came to fix the toilet."
"The wizard from Belgium-"
"Hello Harry, nice to see you," Percy spoke up, breaking up Fred and George's bouncing banter.
"Hello, Percy," Harry replied, trying to contain his laughter at Fred and George, who were both pretending to polish an invisible badge on their shirts.
"I hope you're well?" Percy asked, holding out his hand for Harry, who took it.
"Very well, thanks-"
"Harry!" said Fred, who pushed Percy out of the way with his elbow, then bowed mockingly. "Simplysplendidto see you, old boy-"
"Absolutelymarvelous," George added, pushing Fred aside and taking Harry's hand. "Spiffing-"
"Oh that's enough now!" Mrs. Weasely spoke up.
"Mum!" Fred greeted, taking his mother's hand and dramatically shaking it. "How really corking to see you-"
"Now I said, that is enough," Mrs. Weasely narrowed her eyes at the twins. Then she saw Harry, and gave him a warm smile. "Hello, Harry dear. I'm sure you've heard our exciting news?" She asked, pointing to the prefect badge on Percy's chest. "Second Head Boy in the family!" She said, smiling with pride.
"And last," Fred muttered under his breath beside Grace, causing her to snort.
"I don't doubt that!" Molly said, glaring at Fred. "I notice they haven't made you two prefects."
"What do we want to be prefects for?" George asked, looking disgusted at the thought. "It'd take all the fun out of life!" This caused Grace and Ginny to laugh.
"You should want to set a better example for your sister and cousin!"
"There are others in the family that can set a better example for Ginny and Grace," Percy spoke up. "I'm going to say hello to Aunt Helena," with that Percy walked away.
"We tried to shut him in a pyramid," George said with a deep sigh. "But Mum spotted us," and for the first time, in what seemed like days: Grace laughed loudly.