𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝑋𝑋𝐼.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮-𝙤𝙣𝙚

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

THE NEXT AFTERNOON, Caroline and Jacob had been dropped off at The Leaky Cauldron after saying their goodbyes to Eloise and Andy. With their bags, trunks and animals in hand, the two Jones siblings made their way to one of the numerous enchanted fireplaces used for wizard transportation. "Let's get going, Jacob." Caroline said, pushing Jacob into a fireplace.

"What is this?" Jacob questioned, holding a handful of Floo ashes.

"It's the Floo powder. All you have to do is say very clearly where you want to go, and then drop the powder. I'll be right behind you." Caroline explained, stepping out of the fireplace.

Jacob nodded. "The Burrow!" he yelled, dropping the powder, green flames surrounding him before he disappeared.

Caroline dragged her belongings into the fireplace, patting Penny from her place inside Caroline's bag. She picked up a handful of Floo powder. "The Burrow!"

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

CAROLINE STEPPED OUT of the fireplace at The Burrow, immediately being wrapped in a hug by Mrs. Weasley before she could even open her mouth. "Hi, Mrs. Weasley!" Caroline smiled.

"Oh, hello, Caroline!" Mrs. Weasley greeted, patting Caroline's cheeks. "Come, I'll have Ginny take you to your room."

Ginny rounded the corner, giving Caroline a quick hug. "Where's Jacob staying?" Caroline asked. She left her trunk downstairs, putting it with Jacob's.

"Fred and George offered to take him." Ginny answered. Caroline would staying with Ginny in her room, just the two of them, because Hermione wasn't arriving until the next morning.

The girls arrived in Ginny's room. Ginny sat on her bed, and Caroline plopped down on the other bed that Mr. Weasley conjured for her. Penny crawled out of Caroline's bag, deciding to leave the room. "Where is everyone?" Caroline questioned. The house was scarily empty.

"Well, Charlie's in Romania, Bill, Percy and Dad are working, Ron's outside with Fred and George who took Jacob with them." Ginny answered. Caroline nodded, taking her jacket off.

"Is Harry here yet?" Caroline asked. Ginny chuckled, smirking, and Caroline rolled her eyes. "It's just a question, Ginerva."

"Not yet. Mum said Dad's picking him up before dinner." Ginny finally answered, standing up, walking to her dresser.

Caroline stood up too, walking over to Ginny's window that overlooked the backyard. She saw Ron, Fred and George teaching Jacob how to fly a broom. Jacob looked like he was having far too much fun for Caroline's liking. But she didn't have the heart to tell him no, so she backed away. Jacob was her responsibility again this school year, but the school year hadn't started yet.

"What are you doing for Christmas?" Ginny asked, brushing out her red hair in front of her mirror.

Caroline suddenly grew red when she remembered the conversation she had with her mother the day before. "Uh, I'm going home. Mum wants me to ask Harry to come spend the holiday with us," she saw the way Ginny's face lit up. "Just because she and Dad want to meet him, and so he doesn't have to go to the Dursley's. That's all."

"Whatever you say, Caroline." Ginny winked.

"Why are you winking, Ginny? Stop." Caroline said, and Ginny smiled. She had ten galleons on Caroline and Harry getting together this year, and she didn't want to lose to her brothers.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —