Mischief not so Managed

24: The Burrow

Lia:

I dusted myself off, looking around.

"hello" I called out, no reply. A most unusual grandfather clock stood in the corner. It had arms with names written across them. Pointing in different directions. Ron and Ginny in school, Arthur, Percy, Bill and Charlie in work and the twins pointed at Diagon Alley, thank fully not in the section that said Askaban.

"Lia dear" Molly's voice floated in from the stairs, "welcome" with a pop my trunk and bags appeared on the floor.

"hello, I didn't know I was coming, I apologise"

"oh, nonsense dear" she said brushing the last of the soot off my coat. "we sent for you". A crack outside, more visitors.

"you're house is beautiful" I smiled. A home. This is what this place was. A home.

"lia" I turned.

"Mum" I wrapped myself around her as quick as lighting. So much had happened since last I had seen her. Remus and Tonks stepped into the kitchen behind her. He smiled widely at me.

"oh darling" Mum looked at me "you look so grown up all of a sudden" she grabbed my hands, feeling the scars. "what happ-"

"nothing we couldn't handle" I smiled at her. Tonks stole me away for all the school gossip, as Mum and Molly fawned over me. I told them everything that Umbridge had done since Dumbledore had left.

"she's vicious" I said to Remus as Molly poured my third cup of tea, insisting I needed the strength. "she's on another level of cruelty" I swallowed. He held out his hands. I held out mine letting him look at the scars. Tonks ushered my mother and Molly away, as if she knew this would be tender.

"does it hurt?" he asked running a finger along the white scar.

"it did then" I said quietly "now it's just a painful memory". He let go of my hand.

"I can get rid of it" he offered.

"no" I said with a certain element of pride "it's part of me now"

"funny" Remus smiled "George said the same thing". I felt my cheeks redden. I stepped out into the cool afternoon air. My Mum following me out.

"so" she smiled "George Weasley", she had that teasing tone in her voice.

"be nice, Mother" I laughed, "he's good to me"

"oh, I know, we've talked about you". My jaw dropped almost out of my mouth.

"Mum!" I exclaimed "excuse me!"

"I was just checking that he was good enough" she laughed, "much nicer than that McLaggen prat" I shuddered with laughter, "you did well sweetheart"

"I know" I smiled. Then I told her everything. Every moment over the last four months. She smiled and laughed and looked at me like I was a new person. As, I supposed, I was.

Night fell. Remus and Tonks stayed. Their first night off in weeks apparently. "Thank you for dinner" My Mum said as she stood, she was heading back out to wherever she was. I hugged her tight. She wasn't one for goodbyes. I ran upstairs with my things to Ginny's room as directed. This house was spectacular, the best I had ever been in. I stopped outside a door that had a familiar W on the outside. I smiled running my finger across it. I pushed he door open. Identical beds, Qudditch posters. As if they had just been here and left the whole place in disarray. I walked slowly down the stairs taking in every little part of it. It was getting late. Remus and Tonks passed me on their way up the stairs. I bid them both good night.

"I'm heading to bed dear" Molly said pulling her apron over her head. "but stay up as long as you would like"

"molly, why am I here?", her face turned slightly grey.

"You want to join us, Dumbledore knows that and he needs you now, rather than in a few months" she looked down.

"have they?"

"no" she smiled "Fred and George haven't. not yet" I nodded, "I don't know if they'll be home tonight, but you can wait for them. if it goes past eleven don't wait any longer"

"goodnight Molly". She smiled walking up the stairs. I dropped onto the couch looking at the several family photos hung around the room. Happiness, happiness was at the centre of this house.

A resounding crack woke me up at 10 pm when two sets of laughter rung outside. I stood up rubbing my eyes, as the door opening and Fred and George came clattering through. "there's people trying to sleep" I said bracing my hands on my hips. George's face fell open with shock.

"when did you?" he didn't finish, I already had my arms wrapped around his neck. Absorbing every smell, every feeling, every little bit of him. "hello trouble". He whispered pressing a kiss to my cheek.

"get a room you two" Fred said closing the door. I ran at him next, giving him a hug.

"thank you for keeping him alive"

"it's a hard task" he laughed. He winked at us. "I'll be in Ron's room" and he disappeared up the stairs.

"hi" I choked out before he had his lips on mine. I could taste every part of him. I could feel our need to be as close to each other as possible mixing together. A crack and we were in the room I had seen earlier, his room. I felt this sudden nervous energy pulse through my body. He traced his finger across my hairline and tuck my hair behind my ear. I didn't care about how scared I was. I wanted this. I wanted all of it. Every bit of it. I kissed him. A deep kiss, the kind of kiss you only get when you need it. The kind of kiss you could get drunk on in a second. The kind of kiss that you never want to end.

"are you sure?" he broke off. I nodded.

"are you?" he smiled against my lips.

"100%" he kissed me again "just tell me if you need us to stop", he had this nervous energy about him.

"you've never done this either, have you?"

"that obvious?" he asked, gripping my waist with his strong hands.

"we're both on the same page here" I laughed standing on my tip toes to kids him. It deepened, he pulled me back until he sat onto the bed. My jumper disappeared onto the floor somewhere. I felt this self conscientiousness washing over me. And as if he could read my mind I feel his hands at my neck. I looked at him.

"you're beautiful" he whispered. That was it. I was over. Every doubt, every worry every part of me that said no. suddenly, said yes.