Migraine // draco Malfoy

Thirty-One

It was strangely empty, she assumed the twins would be there since they no longer attend school but they weren't

The girl cautiously stepped out of the fire place and looked around, slightly flinching when she heard the sound of pans drop from behind her

She slowly turned around, revealing her face to who ever was behind her

"Alex? Is that really you?" Molly said as she rushed to give the girl a hug

The two stayed like this for a moment, in each others embrace, molly having to wipe away a few tears now and then

After the pair pulled apart molly sat down, pulling the girl down with her

"I couldn't recognize you from behind! You've lightened and cut your hair, oh god you truly did love your dark long hair" the older women said as she ran one of her hands through Alex's short hazel hair

Molly was right, Alex use to take great pride in her hair, it was part of who she was. And it pained her deeply to have to change it

"You left us!" The Weasley women then shouted out of no where as she grabbed the rag she had in her hand and hit the girl across the arm with it.

"I know, I'm sorry molly. I really am" the girl pleaded as she grabbed the towel from the older women's hand

Molly nodded her head and pulled the girl into another hug

"So tell me everything" she commanded once she pulled apart

So Alex did, she told her about Jo and Chris and how lovely they treated her. She told her about her walks in the park and how she joined the order. She also mentioned how they were going to use her as a secret weapon if another battle were to break out, which molly wasn't to happy about

Then molly informed her about how Hermione, Ron and Harry had gone on some heroic quest, and how the twins were back with Ginny at the school, making sure she stayed safe.

She then mentioned how Dumbledore was dead, which surprised the girl. In all her years at Hogwarts she started to believe that he was immortal, that he couldn't die.

But then the girl thought back to one conversation she had with him, about how neither of them were afraid of death. But she couldn't help but wonder if he was afraid in his last Moments on earth.

"It's quite where I stayed" Alex said after a few short moments of silence

Molly shook her head, "you never liked the quite before"

Alex smiled at the small detail the older women remembered about her.

Molly knew better then anyhow how much Alex hated the silence, she couldn't stand it.

The two talked for a few more minutes, catching up on everything that had happened, but then their conversation was cut short by an owl flying in through the open window

Molly grabbed the letter from the owl and fed him a snack

"Well ms popular you've already got mail" she said as she handed the piece of paper to Alex with a smile

The girl smiled back and opened it

Dear Alex,

It's been a few hours and you still haven't returned, so I dismissed the meeting. Remus figured this is where you would go first. So if you've found anything, send it back with this owl.

Signed, Kingsley shacklebolt

Alex folded the paper and took the book out of her pants and handed it to the owl

"Get this back to Kingsley, be very careful" she instructed, and with one last owl treat from molly the bird was off.

"Are you here to stay? Or is it a matter of business" the ginger asked once the owl was out of sight

Alex didn't know how to reply, she had only came back because Kingsley instructed to. But she wanted to stay, she simply just didn't know if she could. So she told molly what she knew the older women wanted to hear

"I'm here to stay"

For the rest of the day it was just the two talking amongst themselves until Arthur came back from work

Molly had instructed her to hide so she could pop out and surprise the older man, and once she did, he pulled her into a hug and shedded some tears just like molly did many hours before.

"You've changed" Arthur said to the potter girl as the three sat outside on the porch drinking pumpkin tea molly had made earlier

"It's her hair" molly pointed out to her husband, who shook his head in disagreement

"Sure she looks different, but somethings changed from within" the older man stated

Molly then looked closely at the girl, who didn't seem to be listening as she stared off to space

"You aren't the same" molly then said, finally catching Alex's attention.

Her fear had come true, but she should've known, if anyone was going to see right through her it was going to be molly and Arthur

"I'm still Alex potter" the girl reassured them as she took another sip of her drink

She loved pumpkin tea, especially when molly made it, but right now she was in desperate need of a coffee.

"No you aren't. You've lost the spark in your eye. She always had this little twinkle didn't she Arthur?" Molly asked as she turned towards her husband, who nodded in agreement

Alex shrugged her shoulders, "I've been gone for ten months, people change"

The older man shook his head, "not this much tho, I can tell. I don't know what it is yet but you've changed."

Alex was angry, she felt like getting up and walking away.

But that's what old Alex would've done, new Alex was no longer capable of holding in her emotions, so she snapped

"Of course I've changed! My daughter died! I moved away and tried to heal but all that happened was that I grew bitter! I'm sorry if I'm not miss little sweetheart anymore, I'm sorry if I don't have this so called twinkle in my eye after watching my daughter die! You two will never know the pain of losing a child! So I'm sorry if I no longer live up to your expectations, but guess what! You'll just have to deal with it!" She shouted at the two

"There it is molly, she finally grew the courage to speak her mind. I told you it was bound to happen" Arthur said, completely unfazed with Alex's outburst

Molly nodded, "yes you did honey. But she didn't cry when I told her about Dumbledores passing, so maybe she's grown numb. Horrible thing to be dear"

Alex shook her head, "I think I've done enough crying for a life time"

Arthur nodded, "well I suppose you have. It's getting quite late, let's head off to bed"

After the molly and Arthur got up the girl stayed seated, she didn't know where she was supposed to sleep tonight, she guessed she could find place safe enough if she started looking now

"Are you coming dear?" Molly said as she stepped outside, interrupting the girls thoughts

"Oh I wouldn't want to be a burden" Alex said as she looked back at the older women, who scoffed and grabbed the girls hand, pulling her inside

"Don't be ridiculous dear, you're home"