occurremus iterum

On the train back to London for Christmas break, Zinnia was in the Slytherin compartment. She had sent three letters to George and had not heard back in time before break.

“Ok well if I don’t see you, have the best time in America! I am going to be stuck at Malfoy manor all holiday, kill me now.” Lyla told her as she hugged her goodbye.

Lyla’s family was close with the Malfoy's and she was now exclusively dating Theodore Nott, who happened to be one of Draco’s best friends.

“I’m sure you will have lots of distractions with Theo, love you Lyla.”

They left the train and Zinnia found her mother waiting for her. She looked more starved and sleep deprived than when she left.

“Hi honey, how are you? Are you ok? I heard about Arthur.” She hugged her tight.

“I’m fine mom. Have you heard any updates on him? Can I go see George?”

“We have to get to the portkey in a few hours. No Zinnia. With the holidays we have no chance for a backup slot.”

“Mom, please I will make it quick, I need to see him before we leave.”

“I am not repeating myself.”

“Fine.” She was going to see him without her mother’s permission. She was 17, in the wizarding world that was legal age.

Once they got back to the flat Zinnia told her mom, “I’m just going to shower and make sure I have everything packed!”

She went to her room and turned on the shower, hoping the sound would drown out the loud crack of her disapparating. She arrived at the Burrow, her mother was there at her side.

“It will be five minutes please!”

“They aren’t here,” Her mom told her, she grabbed her hand and they arrived back in London. On a street she didn’t recognize. George was there on the street corner. She ran to him and he met her half way on the sidewalk.

“Are you ok?!” She breathed into him, he held her tight in his arms lifting her up. He lowered her feet back to the ground but kept her in his embrace.

“I’m ok, dad's ok. We are all ok.” He reassured her. She breathed his scent in. He smelled sterile, like a hospital. “They released him so he could be home for Christmas tomorrow.”

She pulled back, “Home? I was just at the Burrow, no one was there.”

“We’re, um, staying in London now.” He leaned to whisper in her ear, “We’re at the safe house. He is too fragile to travel far.”

“Oh, ok. Ok good. I’m so happy he is ok. I’m so happy you are ok.” She didn’t know where the safe house was but she was happy that he was being as honest as he could.

“How are you? Are you ok? Are you going to be ok in New York?”

“I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”

“Zinnia, we need to get going. Thank you George for meeting us. I’m pleased to hear your father is ok. Happy Christmas.” Her mother was at her side.

“Thank you Ophelia. Have a happy Christmas for me Z, ok? I love you.” He kissed her.

“I love you, I will see you soon.” She turned and her mom apparated them to the portkey.

“Ok, Hugo will pick you up when you arrive. I love you.” Ophelia told her daughter.

“What the fuck are you on about? You are seriously shipping me away to America and you aren’t even coming?”

“I have to be here for work. I will be there with you for New Year’s Eve and then we will come back together.”

“No, no you can’t do that. Mom, what could they possibly need you for on Christmas Eve? This is bullshit. You’re lying.” Zinnia could see the guilt in her mother's aura, seeping into the fear and sadness that had already taken over her true aura, normally fierce and loving.

Her mom’s eyes filled with tears. She was the most emotional person Zinnia ever knew.

“Mom, it’s fine. Just let me stay here with you. We can celebrate here together. Mom, I don't want you to be alone on Christmas.”

This made Ophelia cry harder. Zinnia tried her best at occlumency to see what her mom was actually crying about. Ophelia was too experienced and pushed her right back out.

“Zinnia, I can’t let you see. You have to go. Please. Please. For me?”

“Fine.”

She hugged her mom and touched the portkey.

***

She waited an hour after arriving then asked the guard overseeing the portkey back to London if she could use it. He informed her that because of the holiday, they were on a strict schedule and would not risk her splinching someone.

“Fine, I’ll take a plane.” She replied.

“No more flights for the next three weeks, I’m sorry ma’am, ‘Tis the Season.’” was basically what every desk told her at JFK.

“Even to anywhere in Europe? I could fly in and get a train to London.”

“Nothing.”

She stormed out and Hugo, her mom’s best friend, grabbed her bag.

“Happy Christmas Zinny.” He said with a cheery smile. “Were they backed up at the portkey? I was expecting you hours ago.”

“Hi Hugo. Come on, can we please go back to London? Your whole family is there!” She had found out that Hugo’s brother was George’s father. Hugo Weasley had begged to transfer to Ilvermorny after his first year at Hogwarts. He wanted a fresh start, so many Weasley stereotypes had been thrust upon him and he wanted so badly to escape it. That’s how he met her mother in America.

“I am looking at my favorite family member right now. Let’s go get some Christmas breakfast.” He told her and they got in the car.

She looked out the window as they drove into Manhattan. The city was right where she had left it, glittering and snowcapped. She smiled to herself, at least she was home.