A/N: This I guess could be considered a sequel to Truth about Crows, but it really isn’t, so you don’t have to have read that to understand this one.  I had a song for this, but there are so many I don’t know where to begin.  As always please review, it not only helps my story get better, but it makes me love you, which is always a wanted and welcome addition to your life!  Oh, this is in an AU, so things kind of went differently.  For example since I didn’t feel like writing a dark story, there will be no Voldemort issues.  Hehe, I’m wearing my voldemort shirt right now.  Laughs alone in her basement, in the dark, with only the computer screen for light Ah, sad little world I live in, isn’t it?

Disclaimer:  Despite what I like to believe, Fred and George aren’t REALLY mine (oh, but they are mine J) in the sense that I didn’t create them, nor the other characters from J.K’s books.  But Nyki and the others I did.  I’ve always found it rather pointless to put a disclaimer, but just felt like it on this one.   So on with the show.

Weasley Family Vacation

Chapter One

                Mrs. Weasley’s fine cooking sent its scent drifting through the house.  As all the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione sat down to eat dinner; they talked excitedly about the World Quidditch Cup, which would be starting soon.  The Chudley Cannons had made it, and would be playing against a team whose name Hermione couldn’t recall.  It didn’t really matter though, as it was bound to be as much fun as last time.  She hoped that things wouldn’t be so dramatic this time though, as she didn’t want to have to worry about Death Eaters more than she already had too.  Mr. Weasley had somehow gotten excellent seats again, which he was now discussing with Bill.  Staring around at the others, Hermione and Ginny were the only ones who were silent.  That was fine, she and Ginny had reached a point in their friendship where they had nothing to say to each other, and so it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence.  Fred and George were talking excitedly in hushed voices as always, their backs to everyone else.  Harry and Ron were arguing about something, a quidditch magazine spread between them.  Mrs. Weasley was fussing over at the stove, and Hermione tried not to show her dislike as a pie was placed in the center of the table.  Not that she didn’t like pie, but she and Ginny had eaten about 3 buckets of berries that afternoon, and there was NO room left for pie or anything else.  She watched, trying hard not to make a face, as everyone else but she and Ginny filled their plates up with the pastry.  As soon as the last piece of pie was eaten (Ron had fought aggressively with Fred for it, and in the end won only by use of fork) Mrs. Weasley’s face turned serious. 

“All of you up to bed at once, you’ve got an early day tomorrow, and I don’t want to have to drag anyone out because they stayed up late talking.  Yes, George, you too.  Just because you are of age doesn’t mean you don’t have to listen to your mum!”  She swatted them upstairs before returning to clear the dishes without help. 

                Upstairs in their room, Ginny and Hermione said nothing as they changed into their nightclothes.  Climbing into the fold-up bed next to Ginny, she folded her arms over her chest as she stared up at the dark ceiling.  Shouldn’t I be excited? She thought, with only the silence as her answer.  The boys had taken some time getting up to their rooms, she could hear Fred and George’s loud happy laughter from somewhere up and right.  A little quieter and farther left she could also hear Ron and Harry’s voices, obviously they didn’t care about being tired when they got up.  She flipped on her side facing Ginny, who was already asleep, her mouth slightly open.  A peaceful breeze ruffled the curtains, the air warm and sweet, just the way summer nights ought to be.  As the curtains blew towards and away from the window, Hermione got glimpses of the big black sky, stars sparkling delicately above the English countryside, long grass waving gently in the wind.  Slowly the voices quieted, and eventually the house lulled into silence as everyone fell asleep.     

 The sun had only just began to peak weakly over the horizon, filling the sky with soft yellow and green. Mrs. Weasley’s voice boomed through the stillness of early morning.

“Everyone needs to be down here NOW!  We are going to be late.  The portkey for America leaves in just a few minutes.”

Hermione jumped suddenly. They were going to America?  Somehow the fact of where the WQC was being held had seemed not important enough to share.  As she stared out at the room, everything appeared, to be packed.  Frantically she grabbed a bit of scrap parchment and scribbled something down on it.  Ginny watched her interestedly, but rushed down the stairs as her mother’s shrill shouts started again. 

Dragging her trunk down the stairs to where Ron and Harry were just leaving, she grabbed at Pig. 

“I just need him for a moment.”  She added as Ron began to protest.  Sending her trunk down with them by a simple following charm, she rushed to the open window in Ron’s now empty room.  Tying the parchment to the owl’s leg, she urged Pig out, and whipped down to meet the rest.  Her trunk had already lodged itself onto the cart holding everyone else’s things, and she came into step next to Ginny as they began their walk up the hill. 

                The sun was progressively rising higher into the sky, but it was still cool from the night.  The grass glistened in all its dew-covered glory, and everyone’s feet had become wet from it.  The walk was still quiet, the early start had caught up with them already, and everyone appeared to be only half-awake.  George had his hair still in a mess from sleeping, Fred it appeared had not even bothered getting dressed.  Why they hadn’t apparated was a mystery, but Hermione had a feeling it had something to do with the fact they had never apparated so far before.  Harry at least appeared somewhat awake; he and Ron were at it again.  The magazine, though now rolled in Ron’s hands as he waved them around, was obviously still part of the discussion.  Mr. Weasley was whistling as he walked with a happy bounce in his step.  He was wearing red plaid capris with a doctor’s scrub shirt under his bomber jacket.     

“Who was that letter for?” Ginny whispered, looking ahead instead of at Hermione.

“Oh, just-” She began, ready to explain.  They already reaching the portkey cut her off.  Everyone stared at the broken trampoline, and reached out a hand to grasp it.  Feeling herself get pulled in, it was over quicker than she had remembered.    

A/N: So, what did you think of it so far?  Please review (I don’t like to beg, but I will plead and make pouty faces.  I can also do very good puppy eyes, if that will help anything J)  If you do review, I will post the next chapter up as soon as I’ve finished it (before the end of the week).  Oh, and I’ll love you for ever if you review.  As a bonus (which we all love, no?)  I will put up reviewer thanks in my next chapter.  I’d never done them before my last story, and found it was really rather fun, so I hope I will have reviewers to thank for this one!  As always, Tom Felton is hot, so is Rupert Grint, but the characters they play are even HOTTER! 

sigh, those weasleys are so fine  I couldn’t resist saying that, I have this thing about Arthur, along with this joke with my sister about him in his bomber jacket, so I HAD to throw it in!