A Single Rose

Chapter Eight

"A sister?" I ask again.

"Yes. She was the same age as your father. Although they weren't close friends at school, I do think that they were friends. Her name is Lara."

"Where is she now?"

"Well... I haven't talked to her in years, but last I heard, she was working at Hogwarts in fact."

"What subject?" Charlie asks.

"Ancient Runes. She loved it, last I heard. Anyway, even though your letter is missing the booklist, since you probably don't know what classes you are taking, there are a few things you need to buy before heading off. The school will lend you books, but you'll need a cauldron, a set of phials, a telescope, brass scales, robes, protective gloves, a winter cloak, an optional hat, and a wand. For those, your father left me with some wizarding money to buy such things when the time came."

"I already have my wand," I tell her, taking the stick out of my jacket pocket. I lay it in front of me on the desk.

"With what money...?"

"Oh, Mr Ollivander didn't make me pay. He said he knew my parents."

"Ah... Well, I'm sure you'll have the chance to go to Diagon Alley again before school starts?" She turns to Charlie. "And what family are you from?"

"The Weasley's," he says with a smile. Her eyes light up at that.

"I knew your parents! Or at least my parents knew Molly's parents. The Prewetts, correct?" He nods. "Molly was five years older than I, and the twins seven years older. But... they died in the war, didn't they?"

"Yes ma'am. My younger brothers, Fred and George, are named after them. Their uncles that they never met. My older brother, William, and I did get to meet them when we were young. Percy, the twins, and Ron - my youngest brother - were all too young to remember them."

"Six children? I never knew Molly and Arthur had so many!"

"Actually, my youngest sibling is my sister Ginny. She's twelve." I'm looking between the two of them in partial shock. It's strange seeing someone I've known most of my life know about a world I had no idea about until a few hours ago.

"Wow! That's really lucky. It'd be nice to have a big family, I always cherished the idea. But I haven't found anyone for me, and honestly, I am okay with that. Besides, I have the all children I could possibly want right here." I smile at that. "Now," she says, turning to me. "I know that this is all a lot, I could never imagine how you're feeling right now. Whisked into a whole new world... I'm not sure how much you know, but term starts September first. Departs from platform 9 and ¾ at exactly eleven am. You're allowed to bring a pet; either a cat, toad, or owl. Although, my sister often talked about seeing a dog wandering the castle, so perhaps someone snuck one in during her time there... There's a wizarding sport called Quidditch, you fly on brooms - which I know sounds crazy - but is the biggest hype. There's new broom models every year, sort of think of them as cars. You should get a rundown of Quidditch once you get there, but it's a whole lot of catching, throwing, dodging, and scoring. But... in the air."

"That's... a lot."

"There's only more to come. Based off of what I know about you, I'm sure that you'll love Herbology and Potions." I grin.

"George and Charlie were telling me about the classes, and I am most looking forward to those ones!" She smiles kindly.

"Did they tell you about the houses?" I nod. "Now, despite what they told you about house prejudice..." She glances at Charlie. "Doesn't mean you have to act the same way. My mother was in Ravenclaw, my father in Gryffindor, and my sister in Hufflepuff. Most of the houses get along fairly well with one another... but there's one-"