black and white ✰ g.w.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Fred, George, and Olivia remained in the twins' bedroom thinking up ideas until they heard multiple pairs of feet bolting down the stairs.

"Is something going on?" Olivia asked.

"Probably not," Fred said. "They run up and down the stairs all the time at home."

"Our sisters are incapable of sitting still," George said.

Olivia eyed the two. "I can see where they get it from," she said.

"We can sit still!"

"Really?"

"Yes!" they both answered.

"Do it, then, if you're so confident in yourselves."

They managed to sit perfectly still for a good ten seconds before wiggling.

"That was uncomfortable."

Olivia chuckled. "Of course it was. Come on, let's see what all the ruckus is about."

The trio left the bedroom and made their way to the first floor landing where Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Evelyn, Faustus, Fraser, and Duncan were all standing, watching the people file out of the kitchen and into the hall. Olivia spotted her great-aunt Elizabeth, who she hadn't seen since she left home and moved into 12 Grimmauld Place.

"I'll be right back," she told the twins before descending the stairs and meeting Elizabeth.

"Oh, hello, dear. How have you been?" Elizabeth said once she saw the brunette.

"Fine, you?"

"Just the same. I hear your boyfriend is staying here, too." She raised her eyebrows at her great-niece. "How's that been?"

"Yes, he is. It's been... interesting. Very eventful."

"Not getting into trouble, are you?"

"Of course not."

"Not yet, anyway."

"Well... you better hope for Oliver's sake I don't come across any dungbombs. Anyway, I just came down here to ask you about the cats."

"Oh, don't you worry about them. They're just fine. Though, they do seem a bit upset with the fact that you all left home so early."

Olivia frowned. "Poor babies."

"I'll say it again, Livi, they're fine. They'll just be a bit happier to see you when you come home next summer. And since you'll be a Hogwarts graduate, you'll get to spend as much time with them as you please."

"Oh, don't remind me."

"Do you not want to graduate?"

"It's not that I don't want to, it's just... it's all gone by so fast, you know? It seems like just yesterday I was a little carefree fourth-year. And now I've got the N.E.W.T.s."

"And you'll pass them with flying colors, because that's what you do. Don't worry about it too much, Livi, you'll just make it worse for yourself. Try to enjoy the time you have left. I'm sure that I don't have to tell you that it'll be over before you know it."

Before Olivia could say anything more, Helena's voice was calling over, "Beth! Come on, we've got to go!"

"Just give me one second, dear sister."

"I've given you many seconds, Elizabeth! It's past time to go!"

"She's only two years older than me, but she acts like she's my mother," Elizabeth muttered to Olivia.

"Where are you two going?" she asked curiously.

"I can't tell you where or what we'll be doing, only that it's Order business. I should be going now."

"Okay, I guess. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, darling."

Olivia watched as her grandmother and great-aunt left through the front door. She sighed before rejoining her friends and family members on the landing.

"What was that about?" George asked her.

"Nothing really," she answered. "Come on, let's go back to your room. We need to figure out what's going on in those meetings."

[word count: 595]
[written: 6/17/20]
[published: 7/1/20]