Forever... Always

Summer - Home

The week at Cedric's was amazing, the time that we didn't spend sleeping, eating or on one of Uncle Amos's adventures, we spent in Cedric's pool. We were always wrinkly like prunes before Uncle Amos could even try to convince us we should get out. My freckles had become super dark, having spent so much time in the sun in the last month and a bit and my mom made a point of noticing them when my parents picked me up from the Diggorys.
    "Oh wow honey, your freckles! They're so lovely."
    "If you had red hair, I could almost mistake you for a Weasley." My dad added.
    "Almost?" I asked, a little confused.
    "You are my daughter, I'd have to forget that and have your mom nowhere insight, after all, you get your freckles from her side of the family."
    "I guess I didn't think of that." I said while we loaded my trunk into our car.
    I guess I was extremely tired from late nights and early mornings because I fell asleep in the car and only realized I'd fallen asleep because when I opened my eyes, we were home. My parents decided we should get take-out for dinner and while we waited for our food, they asked me about my summer so far. I felt a bit bad that they didn't really know what I had been up to, solely because I never found the time to write them more than a couple letters telling them where I was, that I was still alive and having fun. I told them about 'exploring' at the burrows, of course actually being our adapted quidditch, our talk about quidditch and how I'd like to try out to be a Hufflepuff Chaser in the fall. I shared with them the letter from Sage and how Georgie comforted me, along with the letters I received on my birthday. I then shared about my time at Cedric's, that we spent probably around 50% of our time in the pool and how Uncle Amos told us our free spirits would be lost if we joined the ministry and stopped living for our hopes and dreams.
I left out the part where Georgie and I slept together and he cuddled me, along with the part where Cedric fell asleep with his arms around me. I left it out because my dad had told me on my 12th birthday that soon, boys would start to notice me and fancy me and that he'd rather I don't get involved with anyone until at least my third year. He defined getting 'involved' as such: holding hands, flirting, cuddling, kissing and then I told him I understood. He told me that hugging wasn't part of his definition of being 'involved' with someone because he knows I'm an affectionate person and my favourite way of showing people I care is hugs. Although my dad wouldn't want Cedric or Georgie, or any boy for that matter, to have their arms around me, I couldn't keep it a secret, so I told my mom while we had some Mother and Daughter time after dinner.
"Aw, Sweetheart, that's adorable. That was incredibly sweet of Georgie and Cedric." She said, almost bursting with joy. "I know your dad told you no boys till third year if possible but I don't think that'll be possible."
"What do you mean?"
"I think Georgie fancies you and Cedric might too."
"No way mom, Georgie was cuddling with me to make me feel better and Cedric, again, no way, he was probably dreaming and it just happened." I said confidently.
"If that's what you like to believe, I'll stay behind you but if either of them tell you they fancy you, don't be surprised. Also, I'm sorry to cut our time short but we need to get up early tomorrow, me and your dad have something to show you."
"Ok mom, goodnight." I said as we headed upstairs and into our rooms.
There is no way that Georgie and/or Cedric fancy me, we're best friends, right? Best friends don't care for each other like that, though that thought didn't stop the memory of Georgie cuddling me come back to me as I fell asleep, plastering a massive grin on my face.
In the morning my mom had made us a nice, yet large breakfast. This was her way of telling me she had a big, exciting surprise that she was going to reveal that day. As we grabbed our plates, my mom's smile got bigger and bigger and I could tell she would give me some sort of hint on what the surprise could be any minute.
"Well Hun, I guess I can't contain myself anymore, while you were at the Weasleys, your dad and I made an expensive purchase." She said, grabbing my dad's hand to help her keep the surprise, well, a surprise.
"And today, we're going to go to where it is to show you." My dad added.
After hearing that I couldn't wait to go. I finished my breakfast and even washed the dishes for my mom and then ran to my room to get dressed. I decided that I'd wear a nice pale yellow shirt with a blue jean skirt, putting a clip with a daisy on it in my hair. Before we left I grabbed my walkman and headphones and slipped on my black runners. We all jumped in the car and were on our way to the surprise.
The car ride wasn't too long, I brought Daisy along with us to keep me company in the back seat. I spent most of the ride petting her, looking out the window and listening to 'The Beatles', English rock band and a newer band that my mom likes called 'The Tragically Hip', a canadian rock band that just debuted. One of my mom's cousins moved to Canada and when we visited them, they shared the band's music with me. I was starting to zone out listening to The Beatles song 'Strawberry Fields Forever' when I felt the car stop.
"We're here." My parents said as I stopped my music and removed my headphones.
"Now, before we show you, I need you to put this blindfold on and then we'll walk you to the surprise." My mom said as I got out of the car.
The last thing I saw before putting the blindfold on was a beautiful wood walkway that led somewhere in a heavily wooded area.
"Ok Rayne, we're here here, are you ready to see it?" My dad asked.
"I can't wait."
"I'll take the blindfold off in 3... 2... 1!"
There in front of me was the beautiful cottage-like house my parents had been hoping to buy. It was even more beautiful in person than in the pictures. It was perfect for us, there was more room, but not enough to make me feel lonely.
"Shall we?" My dad asked while opening the door.
My mom and I followed him into the house and we all fell deeply in love with this house and all the memories we had yet to make in it.
"Daisy, what do you think?" I asked her as she landed on my arm. She squawked and flew around a little before returning and giving a nod of approval.
"Seems she likes it as much as we do." My mom said.
"So when are we moving in?" I asked, hoping it'd be soon.
"We're moving in the last week of summer, so we won't be fully unpacked by the time you go back to Hogwarts but we'll leave your room for you to do when you come home for Christmas break." My parents told me together.
"Sounds great!"
On the way home, just like the ride to our new house, I listened to The Beatles and The Tragically Hip while I pet Daisy. Once we got home, we started to pack up some things, only stuff we wouldn't need in the next two weeks. After that I sent a letter to George and Fred and one to Cedric as well.
'Dear Fred and Georgie,
I hope you've been having a great couple days since we left Cedric's, I have huge news that I'm sure your parents already know. Georgie, why don't you tell Fred about the house I told you my parents were thinking about buying? Why, you might be asking, well... WE GOT IT! My parents bought the house some time while Cedric and I were at the burrows and we'll be moving in in two weeks. I know my parents already asked yours to help us move so I hope to see you two then.
                            Warmest regards, Rayne :)'
As Daisy disappeared into the night to deliver the letters, I got my pajamas on and decided to lay down. I tried to wait up for Daisy, but I ended up falling asleep not too long after lying down.
My dream had been a roller coaster to say the least. It started that I was at the burrows, which wasn't unusual, but it soon was odd because no one was inside the house, you'd think with 8 to 9 people living there someone would be in the house. I searched every room, not a soul and I decided to go outside to the garden hoping someone would be there. To my delight and surprise, the only person I found was Percy, I was happy to find anyone, but I had also wished it could have been any other Weasley.
"What brings you here?" He asked me, sounding surprised I found him.
"Uh, well, I searched the whole house and no one was there, so I came out here to look for you guys."
"Don't you remember?" He asked, saying it as if I was supposed to know.
"I suppose not, what's going on?"
"We got left behind, all the parents of the wizarding world had to go, all the other children are in the field."
"Where'd they go?"
"How am I to know Rayne? All we know is they're gone and we don't know what they'll be back."
"Shouldn't my mother still be around then? How did I get here?"
"Apparently all parents that are wizards and witches and/or married to have left and I would assume your parents brought you here last night, I would assume Cedric's parents did the same because he's in the field with the others."
"I guess that's all I can ask of you, thank you Percy." I said while turning to the field to meet the others.
For whatever reason, I walked and walked, realizing that I should have already made it there for how long I'd been walking. My patience had been worn thin at this point and in letting my frustration take over, I started running. Finally I got to the field to find Charlie, Fred, George, Cedric, Ron and Ginny, Percy was still in the garden and Bill was off on another adventure of his. George, Fred and Cedric ran over once they saw me and pulled me into the tightest hug ever.
"What's this about?" I asked as they let me go.
"We didn't know you were here." Cedric said.
"We're happy to see you." Fred added.
"We're also glad to know you're safe." George added, pulling me into yet another tight hug.
"Why wouldn't I be safe?"
"Well, we don't know what's going on yet but from what I heard it's not safe to leave our houses, especially now that all our parents have gone." Charlie bud in.
"According to this letter, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back and more powerfully than ever." Percy told us.
"Percy, when did you get here? Where'd you get that letter?" Charlie barked.
"Just as I heard you tell Rayne it's not safe to be out and I found it in the mailbox, where all our ministry letters go."
"We need to get inside, now." Ginny said, we all looked at her, a little surprised she was taking charge. No one moved except Ginny and I.
"You heard her, if that dark wizard is back, we need to stay inside in shelter. Let's go." I said forcefully, no one dared question.
Once inside, all the Weasleys went to their rooms and brought as much stuff as they could down to block the doors. Cedric and I moved the couch in front of the front door and once all the doors were blocked we sat in the corner of the living room the furthest from the doors all together. I was squished between Cedric and Georgie when we heard high winds hitting the house. Then, in the matter of seconds, it was silent. The silence was the scariest part, until the house caught fire and we had no way out. Ginny was crying into Charlie and I began to cry into Georgie's chest. The last thing I remember from my dream before I woke up was that Fred, Cedric, Georgie and I were all hugging each other while we told each other how much we loved one another.
I shot up from my bed in a cold sweat. That was awful, I hope that never happens. I decided a shower would help me calm down and wake up. It was odd for me to have nightmares, I only really got them when I had big changes. I guess it makes sense because I got a nightmare after starting at Hogwarts and now that we moved into our new house. I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts, even after just one year it's become a home away from home for me. Don't get me wrong, I love our new house, I just need something normal to set things back in order, which is now perfect timing to go back to school. Only one more day till I'm back on the Hogwarts Express with Goergie, Cedric and Fred heading to Hogwarts for our second year.

So apparently my chapters are getting longer. (Yay for you all!) (please vote and comment, I'd like to hear feedback...)