Summer Nights | Fred Weasley (o.h)

Chapter Five

Giselle opened her eyes the next morning, wishing that the last twenty-four hours was only part of a horrible dream but as her eyes landed on the suitcase, neatly packed and placed at the end of her bed, it was certainly not a bad dream.

This answer was only confirmed when Jacqueline Durand rushed in throwing back the covers on the two girls, exposing their bodies to the cold air.

"Mum!" Claudette whined.

"Up! Up! Up!" Jacqueline shouted, gesturing wildly. "We don't have any time to waste. I can't wait to get away from this slimeball and back to France."

"Yes, Mum," Claudette responded.

"Giselle?" Jacqueline demanded an answer.

"Yes, Mother."

The Durand family had gathered in the living room of their borrowed apartment, luggage in tow, minus Corentin, who according to Jacqueline was completing a final sweep of the house.

Giselle looked around the living room as her mind soon flickered to her new friend, Fred Weasley and how much she wished they had swapped addresses so they could stay in contact but it was really just easier this way. 

Corentin finally entered the room again without his luggage. Taking a deep breath, he said the few words that would fracture the Durand family forever.

"Giselle, Claudette, Mason, I'm not coming back to France with you," Corentin said, pausing a few moments to let the news sink in. "Your mother and I are separating. I'm staying here in London but I'm sure I'll see you all soon."

"Alrighty, we've got to go, otherwise we will miss our portkey." Jacqueline started, trying to move her children out of the door, clutching onto their arms with her firm grip, denying them a goodbye with their father.

"No, mother!" Giselle exclaimed, breaking from her mother's grasp, Jacqueline's long nails scratching across Giselle's arm, drawing long thin lines of blood. 

"What do you mean, Giselle?" Jacqueline asked staring daggers at her eldest daughter.

"I mean that I'm staying here with dad." Giselle clarified. 

"You can't make those kinds of decisions," Jacqueline exclaimed, in shock at her daughter's sudden defiance. 

"Are you sure about it, Gi?" Corentin chimed in, not wanting to force his eldest daughter to make any rash decisions because of him. 

"Last time I checked, I'm seventeen and I'm more than capable of making my own decisions."

"Fine!" Jacqueline gave up, throwing her hands up in the air. "Enjoy your life with your father, I expect to see you soon at Beauxbatons."

With those as her final words, Jacqueline strode out of the room, Mason trailing behind her with Claudette making rude gestures towards Giselle as her form of a goodbye. The door shut behind them with a slam and a crack following not too long after.

"Are you alright, Gi?" Corentin asked, observing his daughter carefully.

"I can't believe I just did that." Giselle breathed.

"I am proud of you, Gi. Your mother can be a bit scary sometimes and I'm proud that you stood up to her. But are you sure that you want to stay with me?"

"I've never been more sure about something in my life. I am completely positive."

"I'm glad."

"But dad, I'm just worried about Claudette and Mason."

"I'm sure that they will be fine. After all, they will be back at school soon."

"Yeah. Are we going to stay here in this apartment?"

"I guess, is that alright with you?" Corentin asked, kissing his eldest daughter on the top of her head. "It's just easier to stay here than get another place."

"Of course," Giselle said before falling into silence. "Dad?"

"Yeah, Gi?"

"I don't want to go back to Beauxbatons. I don't want to see my  mother again."

"What about your siblings?"

"They will be okay," Giselle said, her attitude towards her siblings changing substantially in the past two minutes.

"I'm sure I can ring in a favor with an old friend."

"That would be great, Dad."

"How do you feel about going to Hogwarts, Giselle?"

-