July 31st.

The middle of the warm season, Harry's birthday, and the day I leave for the burrow for the remainder of summer.

"I don't want to leave but I want to see them," I complained to Draco as he watched me gather all of my stuff.

"I'm going to miss you too," he joked.

I stopped what I was doing, sent an apologetic smile his way, and continued packing.

Blaise and Pansy arrived at the Manor a few minutes later and walked up to the guest room where most of my things were placed.

"Hey," they both greeted.

I simply waved to them and then substantially sighed when I finished stuffing my things in my large trunk.

"I love you all so much and I'm going to miss you lots. You have to write to me," I urged.

"We will!" they all groaned.

I smiled contently at them and initiated a group hug. They were hesitant but once they saw my pleading face, they gratefully gave in.

Draco helped me take my things down the stairs and to the front porch where Mr. Weasley would be picking me up — not to the pleasure of Lucious, but he'd get over it.

Narcissa was waiting by the door with Lucious next to her. I have her a light hug and said goodbye. She nodded and opened the door for all of us to walk out. I then turned back, waved to Lucious and he gave me a quick nod.

Arthur Weasley pulled up outside and I walked out with my three friends behind me. I placed my stuff in the car with a few passengers that I couldn't make out quite yet.

"Love you, Blaise," I whispered while hugging him and receiving a firm hug right back.

I then turned and hugged Pansy. "Make sure the boys owl me."

She nodded while squishing me firmly to which earned her a sad giggle from myself.

I finally turned to Draco and engulfed him in a long hug.

"I wish I could stay forever."

"Handshake?" he questioned to which I nodded sadly while also slightly laughing at this peculiar departure.

We performed our handshake that was supposed to be for quidditch games — this was an exception.

He pulled me in for a goodbye kiss and it lasted for a what felt like a few minutes before Blaise and Pansy coughed awkwardly.

"Okay, okay!" I defended while pulling Draco into one last short kiss. "Bye, write me."

"I plan on it."

I smiled and finally turned to get into the car. In the passenger seat sat Fred Weasley. The back of the Ford Angela had some sort of extension charm that helped fit Ron, Ginny Hermione, Harry, and Percy Weasley.

"Thank you guys for having me," I said to Mr. Weasley and practically the whole family.

"No problem," Arthur began. "Do you know the function of a rubber duck?"

"Not exactly," I said while laughing and sitting in between Percy and Harry while Ginny, Hermione and Ron sat in the very back.

I waved goodbye to my three Slytherin friends who were standing dolefully outside of the car. They waved back and Arthur took off for the burrow, gliding through the air smoothly.

"What are your plans for a future job?" Percy questioned, similar to Lucious.

"Oh — well, I think it'd be cool to be a professor, auror, or even work at the ministry."

"The ministry? Well that's fascinating! If you do end up working at the ministry, I plan to be there for in the future as well."

I nodded and Harry nudged me to get my attention.

"Happy birthday," I said while turning to face him.

"Thanks. How have you been?"

"I've been great. How has your summer been so far?"

"Terrible with the Dursley's. I'm lucky to be here because they are very against me going anywhere with wizards lurking around."

"If they don't like you then they should be grateful that you're gone," I muttered, already annoyed by the people Harry is obligated to call family.

"That's how I feel."

"Hello!" Ginny sung from behind, her expression that of an extremely angry and sarcastic girl.

I turned to face her then smacked her hands that were set on the back of my seat.

"Don't be rude," I said. "I was getting to you."

"Is there any particular order? I was waiting for my greeting as well," Fred bantered from the passenger seat.

"Hi, Fred. How are you today? And why are you here without your twin? You guys are usually connected by the hip."

"George didn't want to come but I thought a trip would be fun. I had to come see my favorite fourth year student."

I rolled my eyes playfully while grinning widely. From the back of the car, Ron shot Fred an evil grin while Harry raised his eyebrows.

I then turned back to the three people in the back of the car.

"Hi, ginny. How are you?" I properly greeted after she flicked the back of my head.

"I'm great."

"Ron and Hermione how are you?" I questioned.

"We are great but Ronald is still upset over Scabbers being gone — and a human," Hermione stated.

I sent a sorry smile and caught up with the rest of them all while inching closer to the Weasley household every minute that passed.

•••

We arrived at the burrow a few hours later and I was instructed to stay in Ginny's bedroom where her and Hermione had been camping out.

Harry and Ron helped me carry my belongings up the stairs and I got settled in quickly.

I decided to rush downstairs to meet the rest of the family.

"Hi, you must be Mrs. Weasley!" I greeted politely while holding out my hand to shake the plump ladies hand.

"Don't be silly, dear," she said while pulling me into a strong hug. "Please, call me Molly."

The hug was warm and more delightful than I have ever experienced before. A hug from a mom is something I never got much; this moment was extremely special to me.

"You don't seem like a Slytherin!" she said as we synchronously pulled away from the hug.

"Not all of us are mean."

She nodded and told me to sit down and wait for lunch to surface on the table.

"And you are?" another tall yet older Weasley asked while sitting across from me at the table.

"I'm y/n l/n. Ron and Ginny's friend. Percy is also quite fond of me for some reason."

"Oh you're the one who hurt Ron and George," he said cooly.

"Oh — you all know about that?"

"It's not a big deal," he replied calmly. "I'm Bill by the way, oldest of the eighty kids."

"Pleasure."

I shook his outstretched hand and Harry came down the twisting stairs, sitting next to me along with Ron and Hermione following suit. Percy scoffed once he saw my friends surrounding me so he sat diagonal from me to still, somewhat, join in on my conversation.

Fred and George sat towards the end but still on the sides of the table. Molly and Arthur were to sit on the ends.

Once lunch was served, we all dug in and complimented the person behind the delicious meal.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Harry asked.

I nodded eagerly while George shot me a few glares from across the table. I was extremely confused with his feelings. He went from wanting to break up, to wanting me back, to being visibly sad, to resentment again.

Once lunch ended I stood up and grabbed George while hauling him up the steps. The whole family looked uneasy at the pair of us but I ignored them and continued dragging a confused George up the large staircase.

I shoved him into his room and closed the door behind us.

"What is wrong with you?" I asked, trying my best to look immensely annoyed, as it would reflect my feelings flawlessly.

"Me? You just stomped all the way up here to ask what is wrong with me?" he unbelievably questioned.

"Yes! You went from wanting me back, to feeling sorry for yourself at breakfast, and now you look angrier than I've ever seen you!"

He sighed dramatically. "Why'd you come here?"

"I want to hang out with my friends, is that an issue?"

"Yes, you didn't think about how this affects me!"

"I honestly don't care. We are over. I shouldn't have to avoid you anymore. I wanted to be friends but all you ever wanted was a relationship with absolutely no friends involved in my life whatsoever and I hope you learned your lesson and I really hope you feel the heartbreak that I had to go through."

He rubbed his hands on his face and a stressful expression was written all over. I sighed and pulled him into a hug, though still experiencing some of my own resentment towards him. He hugged back tightly and for a few minutes we rocked back and forth, his scent no longer intoxicating me like it used to... just simply there.

"I've been trying to move on but you are hard to get over," he whispered.

"I know I am."

He chuckled and we let go of each other and stood there, staring into each other's eyes, reading the blank emotions within.

"Friends?" I asked.

He nodded and grabbed my shoulder with one of his hands and led me out and back down the stairs to eat a large cake for Harry's birthday.

•••

"Do you have your brooms?" Ginny shouted.

Harry, Ron, and I nodded as the twins scurried over and grabbed their brooms as well for a backyard quidditch game.

"Harry, if I stop then please distract them," I whispered and he nodded confusedly.

I pulled him over to briefly explain after seeing his confusion and also his obvious overthinking to what my problem was.

"I killed my sister playing backyard quidditch. I don't want flashbacks."

He nodded sincerely and we walked out onto the grassy backyard and mounted on our broomsticks in the mid-June morning.

A conversation about Ginny's upcoming birthday occurred.

"Harry did you enjoy your birthday two weeks ago?" Ron asked dumbly, just a little late.

"It was brilliant, thanks," Harry replied.

"Y/n, when is your birthday?" Ginny unexpectedly asked as we flew around carelessly.

"I'm celebrating it on September first because Blaise will only celebrate his if I do it with him."

She simply smiled mischievously at me and we divided into two teams. Fred, Harry, and I on one and George, Ginny, and Ron on the other team.

Fred was begging Hermione to ref for us but she stubbornly notified us that her book was more important than a 'silly game.'

"Percy come ref," I shouted as he walked around the backyard, weirdly searching for something in the grass.

"I don't know too much about quidditch," he respectfully declined.

"I'll let you tell me anything about the Ministry of Magic if you ref!"

He jogged over and whipped out a whistle quickly and I smirked at my ability to control people.

The game began on his whistle and we all flew around messily while laughing as Fred and George made hilarious faces when whizzing past us on their withered brooms.

"Fred! I'm going to fall if you make me laugh again!" Ron screeched.

I chuckled nervously at Ron's comment and the game continued. Harry passed me the quaffle several times and we scored in the invisible hoops on the lawn.

By the end of the game, we were sweaty and all decided to hop in the shower.

I ran to the bathroom in Ginny's room and hopped in. Someone opened the door and I peaked my head behind the curtain.

"Ron! What are you doing?" I questioned while pulling the curtain back and hiding my face from his view.

"I thought you were Ginny! She yelled at me to bring her a towel! She must be in the twins room," he said while fumbling with the doorknob and attempting to get out.

I heard the door shut explosively and silently laughed at his accidental actions.

The rest of the night was calm and we rapidly fell asleep due to the excess strain we put on our muscles throughout the day, simply playing mini-quidditch.

•••

I awoke on August 21st to three letters sitting on my bed. Hermione was up and reading but Ginny was still sleeping peacefully in her own bed.

I sat up, said hello to Hermione, and eagerly opened the letters.

Dear Y/n

I miss you lots! I noticed you haven't written so we decided to take initiative. I hope you're having an amazing time at the burrow and not sulking too much over Draco. He is pretty upset, but we've been cheering him up — at least to a certain degree. See you September 1st to celebrate Blaise and your birthday.

Miss you terribly, Pansy

I smiled at the letter from Pansy and wrote back before reading another.

Dear Pansy,

I'm sorry that I haven't written. In all honesty, it slipped my mind due to all the fun I've been having. George and I have had some sort of breakthrough. I'm on good terms with all the Weasleys! Let me know if anything important happens while I'm away. Miss you.

Much love, Y/n

I smiled at the parchment and folded it into the unripped envelope that she gave me. I then began reading the next letter.

Dear idiot,

You yelled at us all this time and we ended up being the ones to write you first — unbelievable. However, we forgive you and hope you are having fun — not too much. Anyways, love you, miss you, and all that jazz. See you for our celebration!

Your favorite friend, Blaise

"What are you smiling about?" Hermione asked while peeking her eyes over her book for a brief moment.

"I got a letter from Blaise, he's just so sweet," I sarcastically said while writing back to Blaise.

Dear bald baby,

Love you too. I can't wait for you to ruin our celebration with your presence! Just kidding — kind of. Give Draco a big kiss for me along with a hug. You guys better miss me as much as I miss you. Have fun and be prepared for when I come back; I'm just as crazy as you remember.

Much love, Y/n

I cleanly opened the next letter while smirking at my sarcastic words directed at Blaise.

My dearest imbecile girlfriend,

Mum has been pestering me about you. She wants to know every detail of our relationship and I can't stand it anymore. You're good at the parents stuff — it's a good thing I don't have to deal with that. I realized that was rude — sorry. Anyways, I miss your lips and you in general. I've got plans to go to the Quidditch World Cup on August 22nd. If you go, I hope to see you there. Don't forget to write us back you hypocritical ginger-licking git.

D.M

I gasped at his harshness throughout the letter and began writing my own.

Dearest arrogant boyfriend,

You're very rude for a man who wants to kiss me. Nevertheless, I still like you! Also, I take no offense to the obvious insult about my parents — rather the lack of, or the name calling, or even that you don't want to talk to your mother about me. I would like to inform you that Ginny has mentioned the quidditch cup multiple times but I'll definitely see by tonight, given that it's tomorrow. Thanks for finally writing after weeks of dread and loneliness. Goodbye you greasy terrible-kissing twig.

Much love, Y/n

I borrowed Hermione's owl, with her permission, and sent the letters away to my three friends who I had been too distracted to write to myself — yikes.

I rushed down the stairs for breakfast with Hermione. Percy, Hermione, Molly, Harry, and I were the only ones awake.

We sat at the dining table while waiting to be served with Molly's delicious breakfast.

"I like the pajamas," I said to Harry, causing him to shift and cover up his pants out of pure embarrassment.

"Shut up," he retorted.

"Draco wears plaid pajamas, but don't tell him I told you."

Harry smirked at the power he held over Draco at the moment and I shook my head at his triumphant and dangerous expression.

"Did Arthur break the news to you yet?" Molly asked while waving her wand to flip the cooking food.

"What kind of news?" Hermione asked while respectfully setting her book down to engage in conversation.

"The Quidditch World Cup is tomorrow and he was planning on taking all of you."

"He is?" I asked curiously while becoming excited.

"That's what he told me! I'll ask him to make the announcement at dinner though; Ron's been sleeping past noon and probably won't be awake for lunch."

Hermione scoffed and Molly disappointedly went back to cooking while thinking about her pathetic teenage son.

I smiled the rest of the day, waiting for the exciting news to become a reality.

"I've got some bad news," Arthur spoke at the dinner table.

"What kind of bad news?" Fred and George asked at the same time.

"We've got to take a portkey tomorrow," Mr. Weasley spoke while groaning.

"Whats tomorrow?" Ginny asked, obviously knowing the answer but wanting to hear it aloud.

"The quidditch cup?" Ron questioned with a profusion of food falling from his large mouth. "The Irish versus Bulgarians?"

"Ron!" I groaned as one of his half-chewed pieces of chicken flew in my direction.

"Oops!" He whispered while closing his mouth and putting his head down shamefully.

Mr. Weasley nodded excitedly at Ron's previous statement while informing us that we had to get up extremely early for the game.

We headed to bed early and Hermione instantly fell asleep while hitting the pillow. Ginny and I, on the other hand, weren't used to going to bed early.

We snuck into Harry and Ron's room. The two were sitting on the floor, eating candy, with Fred and George at their side.

"Hey," I whispered while sitting in between Harry and Ron.

Ginny sat in between Fred and George and I snatched a piece of candy from the pile in the middle of us.

"Don't eat that," Harry whispered to me.

"Why not?"

"Fred and George tampered with the candy."

I nodded at him and slickly placed the candy back on the ground while reaching for a different one. I turned to Harry for approval as I picked up a usual piece of chocolate.

"Thanks," I whispered to which earned me a no-problem nod.

I ate it and Harry grabbed the wrapper from me and tossed it in the trash can, making it easily.

"You should play quidditch," I joked.

"Not my thing."

I laughed and we continued talking within the circle until late in the night. George stuck to his agreement to be friends and we all got along fairly easily. I felt myself dozing off on Harry's shoulder and finally I stopped fighting the urge to stay awake.

The next thing I knew, I was being shook awake with a candle right above my face.

I looked around and noticed I was in my own bed, comfortable but terribly tired.

"Y/n, up! It's time for the quidditch game!" Hermione said. "Breakfast is ready."

I jumped up and got dressed along with a sleepy Ginny at my side.

"Ron get up, your mother said breakfast is ready!" Hermione shouted from down the hall.

When I finished getting dressed and ready, I walked into Harry and Ron's room.

Harry was slipping out of his pajamas and I covered my eyes, although not moving in my position in the doorway.

"I'm sorry!"

"It's fine," he mumbled. "You can look now."

I uncovered my hands from my eyes and walked over to Ron who was sleeping peacefully in his bed with his blankets piled up against on his body.

"Ron get up," I whispered while shaking him hostilely.

He groaned and I tore off his blankets, ruffled his hair, then proceeded to help him up.

He sat on his bed looking discombobulated. I sighed and grabbed clothes from his drawers and threw them at him.

"Get dressed and eat," I ordered.