The Forgotten Secrets of Nicolette Weasley

Decisions

“You don't have to think he likes you because I know he does. You should see the way he looks at you! I swear, every time he sees you it's like a blind man seeing the Sun for the first time. His whole face lights up.” I stared at her with my jaw hanging slack. I closed my mouth and raised my left eyebrow.

“You need to stop reading my Muggle romance novels, Gins. Like, seriously, they're getting to your head. You can believe what you want, but I won't embarrass myself by asking him if he likes me. I do want to keep my dignity for as long as possible living in this madhouse. End of conversation. You excited about coming to Hogwarts this year?”

“Yes! I can't wait. When do our letters come? I've been watching the sky for owls all summer.”

“Closer to September I suppose. I'm sure it takes forever to get all those letters ready and then send them all. What house do you want to be in?”

“Gryffindor. I'm sorry, but I think I'd die if I was in Slytherin,” she said, looking sincerely apologetic.

“I understand. I thought I was going to die. If it hadn't been for Draco, I probably would have been crying every night. Don't worry, you'll be in Gryffindor. You've got all the qualities.”

“So do you, but you were put in Slytherin!” I hadn't told anyone about why the Hat put me in Slytherin.

“Yeah, but I'm just weird. You're going to be in Gryffindor. I promise.” She nodded and picked up a book from the floor. I read the title. “Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. Ginny! Are you serious? You need to stop reading my books. They're going to give you a twisted view of reality and love. You are already taking them way too seriously! I haven't even read most of them yet. Those are called young adult fiction for a reason. Give it here,” I said, holding out my hand. She closed the book and placed it in my hand. “You can have it back when you're older, or at least when you can understand half the words in here.” There was a tapping at her window. We both looked up to see a solid black owl with yellow eyes staring at us.

“That owl is creepy. Whose is it? I don't know it,” Ginny said. I stood up off the bed and walked to the window.

“It's Draco's.” I opened the window and let the owl swoop into the room. I pulled the letter off of the owl's leg and read it aloud. “He writes: 'Hey Nikki. I miss you. You haven't written in a while. What have you been up to? Do you like your broom? Do you think you could come to my house for a short stay next week? My mother wants to meet you, since you're the only friend I have she doesn't know. I know what you're probably thinking. You probably don't want to meet her, knowing what she thinks of your family. But, she is a lot kinder than my father or I, at least she can keep her comments to herself more. So just let me know if you want to come. We could meet in Diagon Alley or something? Hope you can. Really would like to see you. Sincerely, Draco Malfoy.'”

“Malfoy? As in the Malfoy that Dad is always coming home grumbling about?” Ginny asked me.

“I guess. Draco's father is probably who Uncle Arthur is talking about. I've told you about him before. He isn't the nicest to many people, but he's a good person when he wants to be. Can I borrow some things to reply to him?” She pointed at her desk. I walked over to it and sat down and started a letter:

Hey back. I miss you too. It's only been a few days since I wrote you last. You make it sound like it's been weeks. I've been spending time with my family and learning how to cook from my Aunt. I go to a piano lesson, a singing lesson, a ballet and modern contemporary dance lesson, a poem writing lesson, and a hand-to-hand combat lesson every week in London. Two lessons on Mondays and three on Tuesdays, not at the same time. That would be even crazier. My Uncle takes me on his way to work. My Mom used to take me and I wanted to keep going. Need to learn as much as I can before I leave for school, since I won't be able to go then. I love my broom. I fly a lot with my friend. I'm pretty fast now. I don't think I can come to your house this summer. Maybe next? I'm still getting settled in and I want to make sure I'm ready for school and everything. But I'd love to meet your mother sometime. Maybe we can meet up in Diagon Alley when I go shopping with my family for school supplies? I think we're going the week after we get our letters. I'll write you with a specific date when I know for sure. I'll see you soon. And here's another phrase for you to learn: Come và? Meaning: 'how are you?' Hope we can have a whole conversation in Italian when I see you again! ☺

Until next time, ♥Nikki

I folded the letter in half and wrote Draco Malfoy on it. Handing it to the owl, I looked up at Ginny. She was making a face. “What?” She looked up at me with a look of confusion and I shooed the owl out of the window.

“Huh?”

“You were making a face at me or something. What was that about?”

“I don't get it.”

“Get what?”

“How you can have friends that are Slytherin.” I sighed.

“Gins, I'm a Slytherin. I can't just be antisocial at school. We spend most of our time either in class or in the common room, and in both my whole year of Slytherins are there. Would you rather I just hide away in my dorm?”

“Yes,” she said, completely serious, “but you won't have to this year because I'm going to let you into the Gryffindor common room, so you'll be in there all the time.”

“We're not supposed to do that,” I said, knowing what some of the Gryffindors and Slytherins will say.

“We're not supposed to, doesn't mean we can't,” she said, looking a lot like Fred and George when they are planning to “bend” the rules a “little bit.”

“You spend way too much time with your brothers,” I giggled. She laughed to and wriggled her eyebrows, knowing exactly what I was talking about. We talked about many things until Aunt Mol called us for dinner.

I had just sat down when Leon flew in through the open garden door. He landed on the perch next to a wheezing Errol and screeched loudly. “Can I check him? He's just back from Harry's,” I said pleadingly to Aunt Mol, knowing she didn't like anyone getting up once dinners begun. She looked irritated, but nodded her head. I hopped up and went over to the owl. I opened the pouch on his legs and reached in. It still felt full. I closed up the pouch and sat back down at the table.

“Anything from Harry?” Aunt Mol asked while dishing out steamed vegetables to everyone.“No,” I said too quickly. She gave me an odd look. “I mean he said he was really busy and he'd, erm, write us later. And he said thanks for the gifts.” She looked satisfied with my answer. I sneaked a look at Ron and the twins and gave them a signal that I needed to talk to them. They all discretely nodded their heads and got down to eating. I finished before everyone else, so I picked up Leon and went up to my room. When I was in there, I set Leon on the perch next to his cage. I removed the pouch from his legs and carried it to my bed. I took a seat on my bed, slid to the middle, and dumped the contents of the pouch out in front of me. I had just picked up the wrapped book I sent, when Fred, George, and Ron busted through my door.

Fred took a seat at my desk and Ron and George sat next to me on my bed. “Sure, come on it and make yourself at home. You don't have to ask,” I said, my voice heavy with sarcasm. Fred rolled his eyes and grinned at me.

“What did you need to talk about?” George asked me. I pointed to the presents in front of me.

“Harry didn't even get any of these. Something's up. We're getting him out of there. Soon.”