A/N: This is still in draft form and will likely have some canon-compliancy issues that'll need to be worked out at a later date. Also, since I've done very little editing, there will be mistakes here and there. If the mistakes are too unbearable, message me or leave a review. (:
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The rest of Lindsay's first year at Hogwarts' passed uneventfully. She went home for Christmas break and returned inconspicuously to her studies after the holidays. All of her teachers followed a strict fast-paced curriculum except for Dumbledore, whose lessons seemed to jump from topic to topic. Oddly, Lindsay seemed to grasp the material better when it was presented in a haphazard fashion. Her nervousness sometimes got the better of her when she knew what was coming. The novelty of her presence wore off most of the students, and she became just another face in the crowd to many of them. Lindsay's school year ended at the beginning of the rest of the student body's Easter break.
Back at home, Lindsay found herself longing for the noise and companionship at Hogwarts. She quickly resumed her habit of spending as little time at home as possible.
Immediately after tem ended, Lindsay received a letter from Fred and George inviting her to meet their family. She accepted immediately and found herself dressing for dinner at the Weasley home that very evening. She waited nervously in front of the fireplace in her dining room. She'd never traveled via Floo before so the twins offered to fetch her. Fred was the first to exit the fireplace and Lindsay practically flung herself at him. Fred returned her embrace and declared to George, "I told you I was her favorite."
"In your dreams," replied George as he wrapped his arms around Lindsay and planted a friendly kiss on her cheek. "Don't tell me you're nervous about meeting Mum and Dad?"
"No, of course not," replied Lin. "I'm just happy to see you, and I hate being in this big empty house by myself."
"Mum's still whipping up a masterpiece," said Fred. "We've got time for a tour if you're in the mood."
"Yes, of course," replied Lin. She led them into each room and described in detail the repairs that had been done and which rooms were still awaiting renovation. The twins showed great interest in the patio area and large swimming pool. She left the cellar for last and only took them down there to ask them to choose a gift for their parents from the collection of alcoholic beverages that were stored there. She led the twins directly into two large, climate-controlled, adjoining rooms; one contained a great assortment of wines and meads, and the other was filled with variously sized casks of ale.
"You've got a lot of booze for a non-drinker," declared George as he scooped up three bottles of wine, one red, one white, and a blush.
"It came with house," replied Lin. "The former owner was a collector."
"And you kept it?" said George.
"It belonged to Mr. Roberts. It was important to him, so it's important to me." George smiled and nodded, and declined further commentary out of respect for Lin's feelings. He knew how fond she was of Mr. Roberts as she'd spoken of him once or twice before.
Fred wasted no time shifting the subject a little. He picked up a small cask of Belgian ale. "This is all Muggle stuff? Dad will love it."
"Oh, I hope so," said Lindsay. "I have no idea what to get them, and it was such short notice."
"You don't have to give them anything," said Fred. "Mum and Dad are happy with good company."
The party of three trundled back upstairs laden with spirits and stopped in front of the dining room fireplace. George shifted the wine bottles to one arm and threw in some Floo powder. Fred entered first, carrying the unwieldy cask of ale. George's free hand grasped Lin's. "Ready?"
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be." She gripped George's hand tightly and kept her elbows close to her sides as she entered the emerald-green flames. George declared "the Burrow" quite clearly and Lindsay felt herself being propelled at an astonishing rate of speed. She glimpsed images of unfamiliar rooms zooming past her eyes until she and George's travel came to an abrupt stop.
"Ladies first," said George and Lindsay stepped out of the fireplace into a large, warm, and welcoming kitchen. Numerous mouth-watering aromas filled the air and the table was half-filled with plates and bowls overflowing with components of the evening's meal. An assortment of homemade desserts and confections graced the countertops. Mrs. Weasley was the first to catch Lindsay's hand, shaking it vigorously.
"Hello, dear, I'm Molly."
"Lovely to meet you, I'm Lindsay."
A tall red-haired man rose from the table and took Lindsay's hand. Lindsay recognized him immediately. "I'm Arthur."
"I remember you," said Lindsay. "You helped me change a tire. You must be the one who told Dumbledore about me."
"Guilty as charged," replied Arthur.
Fred had just placed the ale cask on the table when Arthur stopped him and demanded that he empty his pockets. Fred pulled a small bottle of mead from each trouser pocket and set them on the table. George had moved past Lindsay and set the bottles of wine he was carrying on the table next to the ale. He turned quietly in a failed attempt to exit the kitchen without being noticed.
"Pockets, George," said Arthur and George also pulled out two small bottles of mead from his trouser pockets and set them on the table.
"That was my idea," piped Lindsay. "I thought you and Molly might like some Muggles beverages."
"How very thoughtful of you, dear," said Molly as she patted Lindsay's hand. "I thought we might have dinner in the garden. How does that sound?"
"It sounds lovely," said Lindsay.
"Wonderful, I'll get the table set," said Arthur cheerfully. "Fred, George, go de-gnome the garden."
"We did that this morning," replied Fred.
"Do it again," said Molly sternly.
"Would you care to join us," said George, offering his arm to Lindsay. Molly was about to launch a protest when Lindsay pleasantly accepted. Fred and George led her outside.
"Well, here it is," said Fred, "the family vegetable patch. I hope it's everything you were expecting it to be."
"It's beautiful," said Lindsay. The garden was sprawling and chaotic. It was full of life and color, and was obviously tended to regularly. Ornamental plants were mixed haphazardly with vegetables giving the entire garden a somewhat wild and pleasingly rambling feel. The culinary herbs that Molly used were closest to the house, and their place was the neatest part of the garden.
"Over here," whispered George. He leaned over a clump of overgrown weeds, which he parted when Lindsay stood next to him. She bent over and peered into the shadow overgrowth. She saw movement and looked at George, who put his finger to his lips to silence her. Seconds later a couple of large potatoes floated by and disappeared farther into the garden. George began to laugh and Lindsay thought he'd charmed some actual potatoes to prank her. Fred joined them and began to whistle. The potatoes reappeared, and Lindsay realized that they were actually the heads of creatures with full bodies and moving limbs.
"These are garden gnomes," said George. Lindsay reached out a hand to touch one, but George caught it. "They've got a nasty bite."
"They're so ugly, they're cute," said Lindsay.
"Aw," said Fred as he gently bumped his shoulder into hers. "Is that what you tell Snape when he wants a cuddle?"
Lindsay rolled her eyes. The Snape jokes were getting old. "You're really pushing it, Fred."
He shrugged his shoulders. "It's what I do." Fred straightened up. "Now stand back and George and I will show you how to properly de-gnome a garden."
She stepped back and watched as the twins each grabbed a gnome, swung them around, and flung them over a hedge. Behind her, Arthur had collected a couple of mismatched wooden tables and draped tablecloths over them. Around the tables sat a large grouping of mismatched chairs. A third table would be used as a buffet setting.
Molly announced that dinner was ready and exited the house with a large grouping of steaming plates and bowls. The rest of the Weasley clan appeared and the meal formally began. Fred and George sat on either side of Lindsay and were piling food onto her plate. Conversation was as plentiful as the confections Molly had prepared, and the mood was cheerful. By the time dessert had passed, the conversation had changed from general information about each other to stories of the First Wizarding War.
It was late in the evening when Lindsay returned home. There were two letters waiting for her; one from Remus stating that he'd visit at the weekend with a friend, and one from Neville saying that he and Professor Sprout would begin work on the garden the following week.