On Whom the Pale Moon Gleams

On Whom the Pale Moon Gleams

Ch. 1: Life´s Little Surprises

"I will not have her staying with Lucius Malfoy, Arthur!"

"But Molly! We don´t have any space here."

"We fit Hermione and the boys in the Burrow last summer. And it´s only until she´s off to Hogwarts!"

"Who´s off to Hogwarts, Mum?" Ron walked into the kitchen for breakfast. Harry trailed in after him, rubbing his glasses on his pajama shirt.

"Uh....erm...never you mind, Ron," Arthur Weasley, Ron´s father, mumbled. Mrs. Weasley banged pans on the stove in a huff as she fixed sausages for their breakfasts. The loud whacks of the pans brought down the rest of the family.

The twins were heard instantly on the stairs, sounding like a herd of elephants. They collapsed into their chairs at the table. George droopily rested his head on his hand, while Fred stared longingly at the sausages frying noisily in the pan. Percy almost skipped into the kitchen, fully dressed and drowned in aftershave.

"God, Percy, what´s that you´ve got on?" George wrinkled his nose at the offensive smell.

Percy gave him a pointed look and replied, "Penelope is meeting me for lunch at the Ministry this afternoon." Ron rolled his eyes at Harry. Penelope Clearwater was Percy´s old girlfriend from school. Ginny finally straggled in, coughing as she neared the table. Fred giggled uncontrollably.

"Percy, dear, maybe you do have a big much on," Mrs. Weasley suggested. Ron´s head bobbed up and down in agreement. Harry, on the other hand, hardly noticed. He was preoccupied with ascertaining whom Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had been arguing over. He noticed that Mr. Weasley seemed to be mulling it over as well.

"Kids, everyone...I have an announcement," Mr. Weasley voiced delicately, standing up.

"Yeah Dad?" George´s head perked up and Ginny stopped rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Heaving an enormous breath, Mr. Weasley rushed, "If everybody agrees to it, we´re going to house an American witch until her parents get here. She´s Harry and Ron´s age and was transferred to Hogwarts from an American school, Mystiic, because Hogwarts is more advanced, and---"
"Arthur, slow down! You´ll have a heart attack, and I´m not taking you to the hospital this early in the morning," Mrs. Weasley interrupted. "It´s only for the remainder of the holiday."

"An American witch?" Ron sounded skeptical. "I don´t know."

"Oh, shut up Ron," Ginny argued, her voice pitching an octave in anger. "YOU don´t know anything." To her mother: "Mum, we have to take her! It´s sooo dull here with only brothers. They always tease me. I need female companionship. Need it! It´s been so lonely this summer, with Hermione on vacation with her parents."

"You shut up, Ginny," Ron muttered. Any mention of Hermione was enough to make him glower. A cloud passed over his eyes and remained there for the rest of the discussion. Harry shook his head. Ron should just ask her out and get it over with. He slipped a small smile to Ginny, who´d lost most of her reserve toward him. She no longer stuttered or blushed at the sound of his voice or put her elbows in any food dishes. He was actually quite proud of her, when no one was around to notice.

"The only other family that will take her are the Malfoys," Mrs. Weasley added.

"But Malfoy´s a Death Eater! He works for Voldemort," Harry bellowed, ignore the shared grimace. Most of the Weasleys still weren´t used to the Dark Lord´s name.

"Mum, we can´t let one of You-Know-Who´s most loyal supporters get at her," George said. He looked strangely worried for the unsuspecting American. "Especially not now."

"Now, George," Mr. Weasley chided. "We don´t know that Lucius is one of his most loyal supporters."

"Come off it, Dad," Ron snapped. "His worthless git of a son goes on about it all the time. How do you think Malfoy learned how to be so cruel?"

Mrs. Weasley tutted. "Call the Ministry, Arthur," she said solemnly. "Tell Fudge we´ll take her." Mr. Weasley nodded, raised his wand, and Disapparated.

Harry thoughtfully chewed on a mouthful of sausage and waited for Mr. Weasley´s return. He´d seen some American witches at the World Cup last year, but they weren´t his age. He hadn´t met them. He wondered how she would act, if anything would be different about her, or if she´d be exactly like Hermione and Ginny. Or what if she´s like Lavender and Parvati? He shook his head.

Ron nudged Harry and pointed at George, who was starring dreamily into space. Ron snickered. George´s plate remained untouched. Fred waved a hand in front of his face. When George didn´t respond, Fred shrugged and speared the uneaten sausages on his fork. Mrs. Weasley tossed a concerned glance at George.

They continued with breakfast. George moved about as if suspended in a pool of jell-o. His actions were slow and viscous. He only chimed in when Fred cracked jokes about Ron and Hermione, and only one minor insult was hurled to Percy as he left for work. Fred was worried his twin was losing his touch. Suddenly, Mr. Weasley popped back into the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley raised her eyebrows.

"Fudge´ll bring her by tomorrow at 8:00 a.m., sharp."

"Eight in the morning?!? I don´t wanna get up that early," Ron whined. Mr. Weasley´s look shushed his complaining quite effectively.

"Almost didn´t get the girl," he explained. "Malfoy arrived just as I had finished signing the papers. He was furious."

"Probably going to torture her for information," George murmured darkly. Everyone except Mr. Weasley looked shocked. It was the first complete sentence George had spoken in over an hour.

They spent the rest of the day straightening the Burrow. Harry helped Ron clean his room, much to the disapproval of Mrs. Weasley.

"You´re a guest Harry! You don´t have to help with the housework."

"Really, Mrs. Weasley, don´t worry about it," Harry assured her. "It´s all I do at the Dursley´s. I´m used to it." Harry quite made up for Percy´s absence, although he couldn´t believe Percy still went to work despite the excitement. Of course, so did Mr. Weasley. Harry kept forgetting just how old Percy was. After the scandal with his boss, Mr. Crouch, he´d looked like a disappointed little boy. Harry couldn´t shake Percy´s let down expression from his mind.

As they were all quite dirty when they´d finished, the tub was filled with warm water and everyone had a bath. This took some time because there was only one bathtub. Mrs. Weasley had decided Harry should go first. There were times when Harry loved his guest status at the Burrow, and this was on of them. Harry grew drowsy as he soaked in the tub. He lazily pulled his pajamas on when he´d finished, and even more lethargically had climbed the stairs to the room he shared with Ron.

Harry was so happy Dumbledore had finally allowed him to come stay with the Weasleys. Since Lord Voldemort´s return in his fourth year, Harry hadn´t been allowed visit the Weasleys for the summer for safety reasons. Eventually, when there was a month of the break left, he´d been allowed to do so.

"Harry, I´m tired. Let´s go to bed," Ron said as he walked in the room, his red hair three shades darker and dripping water. "I haven´t worked so hard since I de-gnomed the garden. This girl better be worth it."

"They always are, Ron," George stated, sticking his head into Ron´s room. "And Mum says to go to sleep anyway." Harry and Ron glanced at each other and snickered. George scowled. When did George get so much experience with the worth of women? Harry turned his head into his pillow to hide the loud laughter now dancing from his lips.

"G´night then," Harry intoned. George nodded and sauntered off to the twins´ room. Harrying took a last gaze at the sleeping Chudley Cannons in their posters before snuggling beneath the blankets covering him. His eyes drooped close as he reveled in his happiness, and he was asleep.

"Boys! Boys, wake up," Mrs. Weasley hollered. Her shrill call awakened Harry and Ron at 7:20 the next morning.