Chapter 12
Fred opens the door to the house. Laughter and voices fill my ears. The feeling here is a lot different than my house, where the smallest whisper will be carried at least a couple feet.
"Welcome to the Burrow," Fred said, motioning me inside.
Everything about this place was welcoming. The colors alone, even if there wasn't a bunch of laughter and talking, would be inviting. But, I don't think I'd be welcomed anywhere.
"Freddie?" a woman calls from another room. "Is that you?"
"Yeah, mum," Fred calls back. "Brought a friend."
I give him a glare. Great, now everyone knows I'm here. I could just leave, find a payphone and call Draco… but I don't think we have phones at the house. I never got that far in exploring. Does any of the wizarding world have telephones or is it just Muggles?
I follow Fred into the other room. The kitchen table was crowded. People were, what looked like, spilling over into one another laps. A red-haired woman stands behind a red-haired man, laughing at a joke of someone with blonde hair. I'm guessing the red heads are Fred's parents.
There were a couple more red heads. One had a scar over his right eye and was sitting by a blonde. Another - which was the only girl red head besides Mrs. Weasley, so that must be Ginny - sat opposite of a blonde haired woman who Mrs. Weasley was talking to and next to another black haired man with round glasses, which looked like Harry Potter from the newspaper. George, who I only know because he looks like Fred minus an ear, who sat next to a woman. But even then, that's only nine of the fifteen people sitting in the cramped kitchen.
The woman who was talking to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley looks up at us when we walk into the room. Her soft eyes lock onto mine. The brown haired man sitting next to her stares at me with some sort of knowledge that I don't fully have. I quickly break contact.
"Hello dears," Mrs. Weasley says, walking over to us. "Have a seat. We can make room."
"No it's fine," I say. "Fred should be taking me home anyway."
"Nonsense," she says. "You must eat first."
She pulls up chairs between a man who was wearing a sweater over a shirt and a man who was wearing some kind of sports shirt.
I sit down, seeing no way out of this one. I'm just going to start going with the flow and hope it doesn't end badly.
"What did you say your name was?" the brown haired man asked.
I look at him. He searches my eyes as if he is trying to learn all my secrets. The entire room goes silent waiting for my answer.
"Calypso," I say.
"Is there a surname that goes with that?"
I look over at Fred. He’s too busy looking at the food piled onto the table to even realize that I'm struggling over here.
"Malfoy," I say in barely a breath.
"Sorry," the man next to me says, "didn't quite catch that."
"Calypso Malfoy," I say louder. I could practically hear everyone stop breathing. Mrs. Weasley has a look of shock on her face. "I told Fred it wasn't a good idea, but he pretty much appeared us here or whatever it's called."
"Apparated," Fred finally joined in.
"Oh," Mrs. Weasley finally said. "Anyone is welcomed here if friends with Fred. Now, let's eat!"
Everyone went back to talking. I felt the man in the sweater/shirt stare at me. I look up at him. He had the most beautiful hazel eyes. I have never seen hazel eyes stand out as much as his does.
"Is it true you're related to the Malfoy's?" he asks me.
"Yeah," I say with a tight smile. "Narcissa is my mom, Lucius is my father, and Draco is my brother."
"Oh," he says, "I'm Neville Longbottom. I went to Hogwarts with Draco."
"Really? What was he like?"
"So, Calypso," the man next to me says before Neville got the chance to answer my question. "How are you related to the Malfoy's?"
"As I was telling Neville." I point to Neville. "Narcissa is my mom and Lucius is my father."
"Well then," the woman sitting next to Fred says. "That must be fun."
I look at her. "Yeah… It’s interesting."
Harry scoffs. I stare at him. He still has a look of distrust dancing in his eyes.
"Tonks Lupin," the woman next to Fred says, reaching over a hand to shake. I gently return the favor. "May I ask why you have an American accent when the Malfoy's are your parents?"
This is getting really awkward. I'm meeting way too many people. Draco is going to kill me once he finds out that not only have I met a Weasley, but I met his whole family plus Harry Potter.
"They had to give me away," I say. "Said they were protecting me."
"Strange that they did that to you but not Draco," Harry laughs.
"How do you mean?"
"Nothing!" Tonks chimes in. "Thank you for the dinner Mrs. Weasley."
"Anytime, Tonks," she says with a smile.
Everyone starts eating again. Fred finally tells me who everyone is after I ask him. His brothers, Bill, Ron, and George - all the redheads - plus his brother in law, Harry Potter. Then of course Ginny, Molly, and Arthur - the other redheads. Then his sister in laws, Fleur and Hermione. Then Neville, Tonks (whose actual name is Nymphadora but she doesn't like it when people call her that), and Oliver who I've already gotten to sort of know. Plus George's girlfriend, Angelina. Then Teddy. And Luna and Rolf Scamander. Fred also told me he has two more brothers - Charlie and Percy - but one is in Romania and the other died.
After dinner everyone starts pairing off to leave. Tonks and Teddy were the first ones to go. Teddy was starting to fuss, so she took him home to bed. Hermione and Ron went soon after, followed by Bill and Fleur. A couple minutes later Geroge and Angelina leave, then Ginny and Harry.
Soon it was only Luna, Rolf, Neville, Fred, both Weasleys, and I left. Needless to say it was a little awkward. Mostly because I could feel every single one of them stare at me. I should've pushed harder for Fred to take me back home, but I didn't think there would be this many people in this place. The whole house looks like it will collapse with one strong wind.
"I do hope we see more of you," Mrs. Weasley says, breaking the silence.
"I don't think that's wise.”
"And why's that?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"Would you stop interrogating the girl!" Mrs. Weasley says, slapping him across the arm. "So what if she is related to the Malfoy's. The war's been over for two years! Get over it."
Mr. Weasley rubs his arm. I don't think I would’ve thought Mrs. Weasley would have such fire in her, but never underestimate people. The nice ones always have the most fire.
"I should probably take Calypso home," Fred finally says. "She's only been asking since we got here."
I stand up and say my goodbyes.
"I should go home too," Neville said, "I have a long day at the Ministry tomorrow."
"You work for the Ministry?" I asked, amazed. "Seems like everyone I know works there."
"Well," Mr. Weasley starts. "That's how us wizards make our money."
Fred guides us out of the house, I keep saying my thanks to Mrs. Weasley. The food was splendid and I never felt more at home than at the Burrow.
As we walk further out in the fields, my heart starts racing. What is going to happen when I get home? Is Draco's cover story enough to explain why I was gone this long? What is Draco going to say once he finds out I broke our promise? I don’t want to hurt him…
Fred holds out his arm, waiting for me to take it. I do, and the same feeling as before comes back. I focus again on holding his arm, ignoring everything else going on around me. My feet hit the ground of the shop. My head spins but not as much as the first time, though my stomach still didn't agree.
"You have a nice family," I said after our whole journey. "Your mom seems to have so much love in just one finger."
"That's mum for you," he says. "Look Calypso. I'm sorry I made you come with me. I know you probably had a good reason not to and I apologize. I just wanted to show you that life isn't dull, which I think you need to know because living with the Malfoy's? Yikes."
"Don't worry about it," I say, waving the apology off. "Draco has me covered. Though I should get home."
"Take my fireplace." He led me up towards his apartment.
I didn't get a good look because he was pulling me along towards the fireplace. He pulls down a pot that has his own Floo powder inside. I grab some and step into the fireplace.
"Don't be a stranger, mysterious girl," he says.
I smile at him. A glimmer of happiness shines in his hazel eyes, making me want to melt under his stare.
"Malfoy Manor," I say, dropping the powder.
I still had a smile on my face when I found myself in the Floo room. Facing Father, who has a hold of Blinky. My heart drops.