𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐷𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦 𝐺𝑖𝑟𝑙 - 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑊𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦

Chapter Twelve

Three months later

Christmas decorations were being put up around Hogwarts, and the people that were going home for Christmas would be leaving today. Fred, George and I would all be going to the Burrow, so we were in the middle of packing.

"Well, this term has been fun, we've done loads of pranks and blown up a couple of classrooms!" George said brightly, closing the latch on his trunk.

"Yeah, not to mention now we finally get a break from all that schoolwork and studying!" I agreed, carefully placing the Marauders Map in the top of my trunk and closing the lid.

Fred wrapped a scarf around his neck as we all headed towards the dormitory door. Lee had already gone down, and was meeting us in the Entrance Hall.

***

We heaved our trunks off of the train and onto Platform 9 3/4, walking over to Molly, who was already standing with Charlie, who was holding a Golden Snitch he had nicked from his last Quidditch game (versus Ravenclaw, which Gryffindor won, of course).

We reached her and she brought all three of us into a large hug. "It's great to see you, dears! Do you know where Percy's gone?" she asked, looking around.

"He's somewhere on the train." said Fred. "Let's get him and go home, I want to see Dad, Ron and Ginny."

An hour or two later Molly drove up the gravel driveway and Charlie, Percy, Fred, George and I all leaped out, eager to see Arthur, Ron and Ginny.

We ran in the front door and to the kitchen table, where they were all sitting. Ron and Ginny jumped up and started hugging us all. Arthur stood up and hugged us too, then Molly came in and started busying herself in the kitchen and the five of us went to get our trunks from the car.

Once we had our trunks, we all lugged them up to our rooms, then Fred and George came into my room.

"We need to convince Mum to let us go to the village." stated Fred.

"Yeah, and that good-looking Hufflepuff boy Diggory lives somewhere around here, I think!" I said enthusiastically.

The twins looked at me blankly. "The second-year, light brown hair, tall and good-looking? You don't remember?" I asked them.

They shook their heads. "Whatever." I scoffed. "Let's go ask Molly if we can go, then!"

We ran downstairs and asked Molly if we could go into the village for an hour or so, and she let us go until dinner at eight o'clock! We had three whole hours!

We ran down the driveway and cut through a few paddocks, then we were in the village. We headed towards the park, where we saw two familiar-looking girls, one with ocean blue hair, the other with ginger hair.

I realised where we had seen them before. At Hogwarts, they were in our year. I remembered their names and called out to them.

"Hey, Amber! Lyra!" I shouted, waving and going over to them.

"Do we know you?" Lyra asked.

"We do know them, silly!" exclaimed Amber to her sister. "They're from Hogwarts! Marlene, right?" she asked me.

I nodded, shaking her hand. "You can call me Mar, if you like."

"That's funny, Marlene is my middle name!" said Lyra. "My mum called me that after her friend from school."

"Oh, cool! Who's your mum?" I asked.

"Jenna Potter. She's dead though, and our father was framed and put in Azkaban, he's Sirius Black."

"That explains the last name 'Black', then." said George, smiling at Lyra shyly.

"I think Georgie's got a crush!" I whispered to Fred. We both snickered, and George, having heard me, gave me a kick in the shin.

"Ouch! Rude!" I said, pulling the middle finger at him.

Amber grinned over at her sister, then said, "You seem like a good person to be friends with." she said to me.

"Why thank you." I said. "Seeing as George here doesn't think so, do you want to be friends?" I asked.

"Yes, please!" replied Amber excitedly.

"Sweet!" I exclaimed, looking at Fred and George, who seemed happy with the idea (especially George).

"Do you guys want to come to our house for dinner? If we cut through some paddocks it's only ten minutes away from here." suggested Fred.

"Sure, we'll just go ask Remus, he's looking at newspapers!" said Amber. "He's our guardian, and godfather, we live with him on a farm, which is also like ten minutes away."

We all followed Amber over to the newspaper stand were a man who looked to be in his thirties was standing, reading a newspaper. He had scars on his face, and his jacket was a bit battered, but I didn't mind, seeing as I knew far better than judging people by their appearances.

"Remus!" said Lyra, causing the man (presumably Remus) to look up.

"Yes, Lyra?" he asked patiently, looking over at Fred, George and I before returning his gaze to Lyra.

"Can we go to their place for dinner? They're our new friends, they invited us! They go to Hogwarts, too!" she added quietly, so no Muggles would hear.

Remus looked a bit surprised. "I'm Marlene Dursley." I said. "This is Fred Weasley, and George Weasley. We live nearby, about ten minutes that way." I pointed in the direction of the Burrow.

"You wouldn't happen to be Molly and Arthur's sons, would you?" Remus asked the twins.

"That we are!" they said together.

"And you would be their adopted daughter?" he asked me.

"Yes, sir. Would you, Amber and Lyra like to come to the Burrow to have dinner with us tonight?" I offered.

"Yes, well, I suppose if it's alright with Molly and Arthur, then yes, please." he said.

"Follow us then, sir!" George said, and the rest of us followed him.

After ten minutes or so, we reached the Burrow.

I ran inside to Molly. "Molly, our friends live nearby, they're here now with their godfather who they I've with. Anyway, can they stay for dinner?" I begged, going on my knees.

"Of course, dear! Anytime!" she smiled at me as I got up.

I ran outside. "You can stay for dinner!!" I yelled happily.

Fred, George, Amber, Lyra and I all jumped around, celebrating, then went inside after Remus.

While Molly and Remus were talking, I led both sets of twins up to my room where we all sat down and relaxed.