Aurora and the Boy Who Lived

Chapter 2 The Beginning Pangs of Friendship

That night Aunt Molly and Uncle Arthur invited Dad and me over for a little reunion dinner. I knew the entire Weasley clan would be there and was very nervous about meeting them for the first time. Hey, it's a big family. Who wouldn't have been? But I should have realized Aunt Molly would think of that. When we arrived she immediately put us at ease with a huge hug and introduced Bill, Charlie, Percy and their wives. Bill was even cooler than I'd pictured him to be. He was tall, good looking, and had his shoulder length red hair pulled back with a strip of black leather. Fleur, his wife, was beautiful with long silvery hair. Charlie and Rena looked exactly like I thought they would: slightly crispy. (They work with dragons in Romania.) Percy and Penelope each had a look of knowledge and slight boredom about them. After chatting for a few minutes Aunt Molly led everyone to the back yard where we would be having supper. Unknown to the guests of honor she had invited a few friends of the family to join the celebration. Uncle Arthur introduced us to his friends who also worked for the Ministry: Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Tonks. I felt an immediate kinship with the young woman sporting the hot pink spiked hair. When Aunt Molly introduced her, she tripped over her feet, and almost pulled Mr. Moody down with her. Ron and Ginny rescued me from the grown ups a few minutes later and pulled me over to a table to talk.

"Aurora, Mum said she was going to talk to Uncle Riddick to see if you could spend a night," Ginny excitedly said.

"Er, I wouldn't want to impose."

"You wouldn't be."

"Hermione and Harry are staying over too, until school starts. They should be here any minute. They're going to floo over," explained Ron.

"Well?"

"Umm."

"Ron, could you let us talk alone for a minute?"

"Sure."

"Aurora, is something wrong?"

"No. There're just so many people. It's kinda overwhelming me, I guess."

"Oh. I'd forgotten about that. Sorry."

"It's okay."

"Have you heard from Shawna lately? How's Australia?"

"I got a letter yesterday. Her mom is planning on meeting with the local Aborigine medicine men soon."

"That's interesting. You know, it has been over a year. Don't you think it's time you made some more friends?"

"What do you mean?"

"Aurora, don't think I haven't noticed how you held yourself off from everyone this morning."

"It's hard for me, Ginny." I was starting to get annoyed. I knew she meant well but it was my life, wasn't it?

"You can't go through life alone."

"I know, I know. How about if I promise to try? Will that placate you?"

"Yes it would."

"Good. Do you think Aunt Molly will miss me if I go for a walk?"

"Probably not. Want me to go with you?"

"No, but thanks. I just need a little fresh air."

When I returned fifteen minutes later Hermione and Harry were sitting at the table with Ron and Ginny. Ginny looked at me in concern and I gave her a small smile in return. The walk had helped clear my head. I had made a conscious decision to overcome my monumental shyness. Ginny, as if she could read my thoughts, forced me to join in the conversation by asking me several questions.

"Hey who's up for some Quidditch?" Charlie came up and asked.

"Me!" everyone but Hermione yelled.

"Let me get my broom, hold on. Accio broom!" Ten seconds later the new Cleansweep was in my eager hands. Everyone had turned around to stare.

"What? Did I break a window again or something?"

"No. It's just that was a pretty quick return on that spell," Bill said.

By now I had started to blush. I hated being the center of attention and said quickly to cover the embarrassment, "Are we gonna play or what?"

We all ran down to the pitch and divided into teams: Charlie, Ron, and Ginny against Bill, Harry, and me. Hermione said she'd keep score. We played for an hour before Harry ended the game with a dazzling catch of the Snitch right from under Bill's feet.

"Wow, Harry that was a great catch. You have some mad Seeker skills," I told him as we were sitting down to eat.

"Er, thanks?"

"Sorry, American expression. It just means you played great out there," I said lamely.

"Oh, thanks. My Co-captain and I were watching you too. We talked it over and if you are put in Gryffindor, we want you as our new Chaser."

"No way! Really?"

Ron and Harry laughed.

After much food and laughter Dad announced it was time for us to be going. Ginny begged me again to stay the night.

I took a deep breath and rushed out, "How about if y'all spend the night with me? Dad?"

"Fine by me."

"Good idea! Let me go ask Mum." Ginny came back and announced Aunt Molly had given them permission.

Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Ron ran inside to pack overnight bags and we walked to the house. Dad had managed to find a really nice 4-bedroom home within a short walking distance to the Burrow. I would be able to see my cousins any time I wanted to. When we got to the house I showed the gang around and we settled into the sunroom with cokes and popcorn. Dad announced he was going to bed and told us not to have too much fun.

"So, what should we do now?" Hermione asked.

"Let's play Truth or Dare," Ron replied.

"Yeah!" Ginny seconded. "Aurora gets to go first since it's her house."

"Let someone else."

"No, you have to."

"Fine. Ginny, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Are you really dating Neville Longbottom?"

"Yes. And shut up Ron. You know I started liking him last year. He asked me to go out with him right before summer holiday. Hmm. Harry, truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"I dare you to strip to your boxers and floo to your house and back." Ginny had told me how the four of them had rescued Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, from a Death Veil the year before. Harry now lived with Sirius and Remus Lupin, another friend of his late parents.

"Okay, but this in under duress." Harry blushed, stripping off his shoes, shirt, and pants.

'Wow, look at that bod. Not bad.'

"The socks stay on. This floor is cold!" With that said he grabbed a handful of floo powder and shouted, "Number 12, Grimmauld Place," before disappearing in a flash of green fire. A minute later he was back, laughing like crazy.

"What?" Ron asked him.

"Sirius and Remus were both home. They took one look at me and said 'Dare?' Of course I had to tell them whose idea it was. Remus goes, 'Not sweet little Ginny Weasley.' If they only knew. Anyway, Ron?" Harry said pulling his clothes on.

"Truth, no, Dare."

"I dare you to...go in the closet with Hermione for two minutes of Heaven."

"What!" Hermione yelled.

"Hey, it's the way the game is played, Herms. You'll get your chance to get back at him," Ginny said.

"Fine." She grabbed Ron before he could even open his mouth and pulled him into the closet.

"That went well. Maybe he'll finally get up the nerve to show her he really likes her." Harry said quietly.

The three of us sat talking until Hermione and Ron came out. They both were wearing goofy grins and holding hands. They sat. Harry and Ginny smiled.

"Okay Aurora. Truth or Dare?" Ron challenged.

"Truth."

"Who was your first crush?" he asked.

"Jeff Norman. He was the Seeker on my school's Sky Ball team. He had black hair, blue eyes, very dreamy. Hermione?"

"Truth."

"Did Ron kiss you?"

"Yes," she replied, both of them turning the color of Ron's hair. "Ginny?"

"Truth."

"Have you kissed Neville?"

"On the train before we got off." She turned to look at Harry.

"Truth."

"Are you and Cho still dating?"

"No. I found out she was seeing Michael again behind my back."

"Sorry."

"That's okay. Ron?"

"Truth."

"Was the kiss any good?"

"Definitely."

Hermione grinned at this.

"Herms."

"Truth."

"Did you mean what you said in there about liking me since third year?"

"Of course! Aurora?"

"Truth."

Hermione looked like she was thinking hard. "Do you watch Muggle movies?"

"Love 'em."

"What's your favorite?"

"Pirates of the Caribbean." I have an obsession with pirates. I admit to seeing P o t C at least twenty times. That Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom are just too sexy for words.

"I'm getting tired. Let's go to sleep," Ginny yawned.

"Sounds like a plan. Night everyone." I allowed myself to fall into the sleeping bag but couldn't get to sleep. I lay there wide-awake, thinking about the day's events. It had been awhile since I'd laughed so hard and had that much fun. 'Could it be this easy to make new friends? Did I want to? Could I handle making friends only to lose another?'

The next morning the smells of bacon and eggs frying woke us up. We stumbled into the kitchen, Ron still rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Morning honey," Dad said.

"Morning." I gave him a kiss on the check just like every other morning. It was a ritual. Like I said before, his job was dangerous so we always made sure to show how much we loved each other because you just never knew what could happen.

"So what's the plan for today, pumpkin?"

"I'm not sure yet."

"Well I've got to be going in a few minutes. They need me at the Ministry to finish filling out some paperwork."

"Okay, Dad. Don't worry about us."

"Yeah, Uncle Riddick, we can keep her busy," said Ron

"That's what I'm afraid of. Between her and your two prankster brothers I'm sure you lot will be into mischief in no time."

Ginny and Ron laughed while Harry and Hermione merely smiled.

"I need to leave. Bye, sweetie, love you."

"Love you too, Dad. Have a good day. Be careful." He left.

That day and the next I noticed Ginny seemed pretty focused on pulling me out of my self-inflicted shell. Hermione agreed to help the new girl by filling me in on Hogwarts life. She was thrilled to discover that not only had I read 'Hogwarts, A History,' I also owned a copy. Ron, Harry, and Ginny put me through Quidditch Chaser tryouts and found out how good I really was. By the end of the second day spent together I had even started teasing Ron back when he picked on me. It was nice.