Dramione ~ 20 Years Later

Weasleys and Worrying

Annabel flew through the crowd of people, hardly taking a second to appreciate the hundreds of silver table cloths draped delicately over the huddles of small circular tables at the edge of the room; ignoring the slow quiet music coming from the front of the hall where a bunch of 6th years played various instruments having been able to successfully beg Professor MsGonogall into letting their newly formed band perform; flying past the hundreds of ex-students draped in vibrant fabrics that rippled as they spun delightedly around the dance floor.

Annabel only cared about finding her dad and was more than happy to appreciate all the stunning decorations afterwards.

Al and I followed Annabel's lead as she weaved through the huddles of parents greeting their children. As we rushed past said huddles I noted there was two kinds of parents: those that immediately started doting on their precious offspring, and those that instantly found something they could scold or criticise ("Tie up your laces", "Wipe that smudge of dirt on your nose", "I got an owl about you not completing a piece of Potions homework last week"). I rolled my eyes at all of them.

Stupidly, I only realised we'd finally reached Fred Weasley himself once I'd ran straight into Al. To his credit, Albus quickly recovered from his stumble and only gave me an amused gaobce before returning his gaze to his uncle and cousin.

I followed suit and watched as Annabel threw her arms around her dad's middle with a delighted squeal of laughter. Immediately, Fred crouched to be on eye level with her as he gently grasped her hands and began excitedly asking how she was, and if she'd enjoyed school so far, and if she'd managed to commit any crimes yet- y'know, the usual dad stuff.

As if a switch had gone off in her head, Annabel ceased answering Fred's questions and turned to look at me and Al.

"Oh, Dad! I wanted you to meet my new friend, Scorp," she grinned cheerily as she grabbed my wrist and extended my arm forward in an offering of a handshake to her dad.

"It's nice to meet you, Scorp," Fred gave me a kind smile as he shook my hand, "and it's always nice to see you too, Al," he adds as he turns to give Albus a cheery wave.

Al returns the wave with an awkward smile and a quickly spoken, "Hi Uncle Freddie."

"How's Slytherin house treating you? I always figured it'd be freezing and dreary down in your dorms- what with them being in the dungeons and everything," Fred looked at Al with vague concern for his nephew.

Albus only shrugged, "It's actually not as cold as it would appear, I think it's actually enchanted to maintain a warmer temperature in all the rooms."

This caught my attention, "Really?" I imagined my face had a very puzzled look right now, "My dad said it was always frigid down there and he had to sleep with two extra blankets in the colder seasons. If there's an enchatment like you say, it's new."

A new voice appeared at Fred's shoulder, "10 Galleons say that's Minnie's doing, I wouldn't be surprised if Dumbledore was enchanting the place to be colder," Ginny Potter wore a bright smile as she grabbed her poor son by the elbows and forced him into a hug. She pulled away quickly to give him a peck on the forehead and adjust his robes.

Fred gave an amused snort that he seemed to quickly regret when Ginny turned a sharp glare his way.

"How are you, my dear baby sister?" He said with a nervous smile, hoping to cool her temper.

It didn't work of course. She chose to ignore him and turned back to her son, "I think you ought introduce me to your new friend, Al"

I stiffend under everyone's faze as the focus of conversation turned toward me. Al cleared his throat. "This is Scorpius. He's in Gryffindor with Anna," Mrs Potter smiled gently at me as I stuck my hand out to shake hers.