Hello again! I'm back with another update for you to hopefully enjoy. I shan't keep waiting any longer, on with the show!
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Chapter Twenty Four
By Rosa241
Bill POV:
"There they are!" Finally seeing my siblings through the crowd I can't help but sigh in relief. Something inside me settles as we slowly make our way through the growing spread of people. Ever since I found out about this whole mess with that…that man…I've had this horrific knot in my stomach. I've felt like something in me was tearing apart the longer that I stayed away. Don't get me wrong I love my job but being so far away has its disadvantages. When something bad happens I can't be there for them. Shaking those thoughts away I can feel a smile grace my lips as we get within hearing distance.
"Oh for merlins sake will the two of you give it a rest! Does it actually matter?" Percy huffs as he gazes towards Ron and Fred, the latter of whom surprises me by actually listening to Percy for what has to be the first time in years. He rolls his eyes but says nothing which shocks me further. Am I actually seeing this?
"Yeah yeah alright. I was just saying." Fred responds as he rolls his eyes. Percy meanwhile turns his attention towards another red head. "And George I swear if that bloody fake spider doesn't go back in your pocket right now you will never hear the end of it."
At the word spider Ron jumps violently in the air, wheeling away from the prankster and shifting closer to Percy. George meanwhile has the good grace to look somewhat sheepish as he pockets the black mess of rubber.
"Bill! Charlie!" Ron rushes forward as he catches sight of the two of us and a burst of happiness explodes in my chest as I wrap my arms around him. At last.
"You finally noticed us then, you were all wrapped up in your own little world I was feeling abandoned!" Charlie jokes as he's engulfed by the twins. That knot in my stomach settles slightly but doesn't fade entirely. No doubt it'll be quite some time before it disappears completely. As I greet Fred and George my eyes drift over to Percy whose gaze is focused on a face I don't recognise.
"This must be Harry then?" I aim my question to Percy but my eyes are glued to the dark haired youngster who's basically hiding behind my younger brother now. Mum and dad had warned me that Ron was inviting a friend for Christmas but I got the feeling that there was more to it. Something in her voice didn't sit right with me when she talked about it. I hadn't thought too much on it after finding out the person was Harry Potter but now…
"Yeah. Bill, Charlie this is Harry, Harry this is Bill and Charlie." The kid offers us both a small smile but says nothing. Nervous no doubt. "You've actually already met Charlie."
"Diagon Alley." He says after a beat. They'd told me about bumping into him of course, well Charlie had, Percy had remained strangely quiet on the subject.
"Well it's nice to meet you Harry. Mum mentioned you were going to be stopping with us for Christmas." I'm about to say more but a look from Percy stops me. "Right you lot lets get off this platform, it's mad out here."
As we make our move towards the barrier I can't help but sigh in relief. It's good to have them back.
Harry POV:
It shouldn't have surprised me that Bill and Charlie looked so much like the rest of the family but to be honest it did. I suppose it's because I've spent so many years around all of the Dursleys friends, most of them only have one child, sometimes it still baffles me that Ron has so many siblings. Something in me clenches at the thought. I'll never have that, I'll never have any brothers or sisters. Shaking my head at the dark thought I focus my attention on keeping up with the others.
Eventually the whole group of us manage to get off of the platform in one piece and back into Kings Cross station. It takes more effort than I thought it would to keep up with Bill and Charlie as we scuttle through the crowds on the platforms. Eventually though they slow down as we reach an area that is less busy. Looking round at the surroundings I can't help but feel saddened. Leaving Hogwarts behind, leaving the only place that's ever really felt like home took more effort than I thought it would.
Don't be stupid it's not like you're not going back. At the reminder that I'll be returning to Hogwarts soon I find the sadness drifting away.
"Right are we all here?" Bill says as he looks round at the group in front of us. "Good."
"How are we getting back?" Percy questions as he shoots another glare at George the latter of whom quickly slips the rubber spider back into his pocket. "Please don't tell me we're using apparition?"
Apparition?
Making a metal note to ask Ron about it later I refocus back on the conversation in front of me.
"No! I am in no way being responsible for that clear up when the lot of you decide to throw up all over the place." Throw up? Why would we throw up? "Dad's meeting us outside with cars. Speaking of which we should probably get moving no doubt he'll be here soon."
As we finally make our way out of the station I can't help the nervousness that settles in my stomach. What if they don't like me being there? What if they send me back to the Dursleys? What if the Dursleys don't want me back? Where would I go if-
"Harry!" A voice calls out bringing me out of my mind. "Keep up!"
"Coming." I call out as I grab Hedwig, Charlie having already taken the rest of my things, and dart towards the group trying desperately to ignore the nervousness within me.
Molly POV:
Gazing at the clock for what has to be the thousandth time since the boys left I can't help but sigh. Out of the corner of my eye I see Ginny roll her eyes at my actions but I let it slide for now. Until all of those hands are pointed securely at home I don't think I'll be able to relax for a minute.
Having the whole family home for Christmas just feels right. Since Bill left there's been an empty space in the house that Arthur and I have been desperately trying to ignore. When Charlie left we were forced to confront the fact that the house was only going to get emptier as the children got older. It had been that thought that had prompted Arthur to suggest we visit Charlie over Christmas. I know it had taken him a lot of overtime in order to save up the money and changing my mind about going did feel like throwing that back in his face. Ultimately though after the boys found out about that man there was nothing on this earth that could have stopped them from coming home. I'm fairly certain that Bill would have quit his job if he'd been denied the time off.
"Right George that's it! Give me the bloody spider now!" The sharp voice of my third born brings me out of my thoughts and back to the present. Ginny darts out of the door first, despite her attitude she's just as keen to see her brothers as I am. As my boys come into view a sigh of relief leaves me.
"Oh Perce lighten up it was only a joke." George whines as he hands over a rather suspicious looking object to Percy who huffs as he pockets it.
"Yeah and I told you in the car that if you got it out again it was going in the bin but you didn't listen. Hi mum." Percy's words alert the others to my presence and I can't help but smile as I wrap each of my children up in a tight hug.
"Mum." Ron moans as he's engulfed in my arms. Despite his complaints I can still feel the squeeze I get in return. As Arthur steps out of the car and my family is finally complete a weight I wasn't aware I was carrying slips off my chest. Smiling wide I turn my attention to the new addition to the group in front of me.
"Hello Harry dear." He manages a sharp blush as well as a quiet 'Hello Mrs Weasley'. "Nonsense dear. Call me Molly."
"Can we call you Molly?" Fred and George chorus. A slap on both of their heads, curtosy of Bill, breaks the tension that seems to have settled on the group and causes a laugh to burst out of the small boy in front of me.
"Right I think it's time we all head inside and grab a spot of lunch." Arthur's words are met with a round of agreement.
"What they don't feed you lot at school?" Charlie grins as he shoves the twins towards the house.
"Hey you know Hogwarts has got nothing on mums cooking." Another round of agreement sounds out as Ron grabs Harry and ushers him inside.
For a moment as I watch them go I can feel a wave of happiness reach over me and the cloud of worry that has been settled over us for too long lifts slightly.
"It's good to have them all back." From the sound of his voice I can tell Arthurs just as relieved as I am.
Yes, yes it is.
A thousand apologies for the insane delay in updating. Work, family crisis' and sheer laziness got in the way.
Until next time.
Bye Bye x