In the end can they just pretend?
Ronald Weasley had hit rock bottom, his life as he knew it was over. He had lost everything. Well not everything, but it felt like the life he had imagined for himself was over. And his family wasn't helping him. Th...
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The next morning, Claudia didn't think the dinner table could be any more awkward. Nobody seemed able to look in the direction of either Ron or Claudia as they joined. Whilst Ron did not seem bothered by this development, actually he was waiting for someone to approach him with some sort of reference to the night prior, Claudia felt as though she was back at square one. The same spot she had been when she had first met everyone. When they were walking on eggshells to prevent her feeling awkward, or trying to pretend they were interested in getting to know her when it was the exact opposite.
"Auntie Claudie." Claudia could sing the praises of young Victorie Weasley in that moment as the little girl took her attention away from the thoughts of which had been running through her brain that morning.
"Good morning beautiful." Claudia was quick to pick the girl up and place her upon her lap, making it so the little girl was able to sit facing the table still. But Victorie did not want that and turned so that she was facing Claudia properly.
"Auntie Claudie, mummy said you were sad last night. Are you happy now?" Claudia knew she couldn't lie to the little girl for Victorie seemed rather knowledgable for someone so young and therefore she gave her a small half smile in response.
"I'm just not feeling very well, I'll be better soon."
"Good because you're my favourite Auntie and I want you to be happy." Claudia cooed at the words finding a true smile break out at them. And as she slipped into the usual conversation one would have with a small child she tuned into the arm of which was casually thrown along her shoulder. The smell of his aftershave present from his wrist gently floating through the air in her direction. It was something so basic but in that moment it was exactly what she needed, as she gained a sibilance of fitting in somewhere to the family.
Claudia was aware of the original plans for the day, that they were supposed to be separating and having a little 'girls day' at the spa just a few houses down. But she was unsure whether it was going to go ahead after the evening beforehand. Or if it did, if she would be asked to stay back to avoid another blow out. Not that she would mind being asked to stay behind after how everything worked out. It was probably safer to spend her afternoon sat around the pool just relaxing. But Lady Luck was not in her favour as Claudia had been, reluctantly, informed by Molly herself that the afternoon at the spa was still going ahead.
And that was how she found herself stuck in one of the little gowns and flimsy slippers taking advantage that for some reason this spa had an open bar. An event that she usually enjoyed over the years she had been going to spa's, since her mother had taken her to one when she was 12, seemed completely spoiled. Actually, Claudia was unsure she had ever been to something so awkward, nothing in high society ever felt like this. Her family had never feuded so openly like this either. It felt as though she was walking on uncharted land. Therefore, she found herself staring blankly at the champaign glass unaware of the seat beside her becoming occupied. A clearing of someone's throat would gain her attention.
Claudia looked over in the direction of the sound to see Audrey sat beside her. She was possibly the person she knew best out of the group. There was a gentle smile waiting for Claudia to notice and the older woman seemed to want to provide some more comfort though unsure of exactly how to do so. Rather Audrey reached towards the champaign bottle Claudia had left slightly ahead of her on the bar desk before pouring a glass for herself and topping the younger woman's glass up.
"Bit of a disaster isn't it." Audrey's words were a statement rather than a question and she titled her head. The rest of the group had fractured off slightly but it was clear that most of them were avoiding the two original woman of the family.
"Bit is a bit of an understatement." Claudia agreed though did not want to overstep by saying much else.
"Yeah every holiday is a cluster fuck." Audrey had taken half of her glass in one large swig at her last statement and Claudia could not help but respond to the statement raising an eyebrow and hoping to not let the surprise fully take over her face. "Yeah this is the biggest fight for sure, but everyone leaves miserable." Audrey paused for a moment.
"Percy wanted to skip this one in general after the last one. Ginny insulted our girls said they were ugly. But I insisted we come to give you support."
"She did not."
"Yeah." Audrey sighed her distain for her sister in law pretty obvious.
"Oh wow that's so out of pocket. Your girls are perfect." Claudia was the one to reach over to give support to the older woman fighting the urge to say something worse loud enough so that Ginny could hear it.
"Thank you. I couldn't not come knowing what you were in for."
"They do this to everyone?" Claudia clarified despite knowing the answer. She had been prepared by the rumours by Ron but having it confirmed properly by one of the people it had happened to was cementing it as a fact.
"But Harry yeah." At Audrey's words Claudia rolled her eyes, the clear favouritism obvious and completely unnecessary.
"How ridiculous. How about we finish these drinks and make use of the hot tub?" Claudia offered before getting a grin in response. As she came to realise she might just have found a comrade in the battle that was the extended Weasley family.
