As soon as I was turned the right-side-up, I looked into the deep brown eyes of Ronald Weasley. I was surprised to see him there at my house. I didn’t even think that he knew where I lived. I didn’t get a chance to ask him because he pulled me into a hug, one that was much too close as he breathed a sigh of relief. I smiled and pulled away from him as the invisibility cloak sailed gracefully in between us. It’s silvery glow giving me an eerie feeling.
“Court,” he smirked as he reached out and grabbed the cloak before it could hit the ground and throwing it over me and Adeline. “Run,” he whispered and pointed in the direction of the woods. “They’re coming.”
I looked over his shoulder and up the hill to where the Malfoy Manor stood, and sure enough, there was some black figures running down towards my house; one of those with flying, wild hair that terrified me to my very core. I, reflexively, reached up with my free arm on the shoulder where the mouth-shaped scar still ran cold through my veins. Ron, of course, couldn’t see that I was still standing there. He was staring up at the hill, wand at the ready. Adeline then cooed softly in my ear, bringing me back to reality. I let go of my shoulder and turned and ran in the direction that Ron had told me to. After a few moments of running, I turned to see that Ron was close behind me and the dark figures where surrounding my house.
“What the bloody hell?” Ron asked when he ran into me for I had been standing in his way. “Court, what are you doing? Move it!”
I made to move, but he was standing on the cloak, which caused it to uncover me. I looked over my shoulder to scold Ron for being dimwitted, but I stopped as soon as I saw my house burst into flames. One of the death eaters must’ve hit it. Tears pricked my eyes. My childhood home – the one that I had so many memories with Draco in – was burning down right before my very eyes.
“Court,” Ron said more gently. “We need to move out of You-Know-Who’s range of power. Then it’ll be safe to apparate without him knowing where we’re going.”
I nodded and moved with his even more gentle touch. He offered to carry Adeline for me, but I reclined. I was the one that had to make sure that she was safe, that she was protected. It wasn’t anyone else’s job. My mom asked me to take care of her, and that’s exactly what I was going to do. I clutched her closer to me as Ron picked the cloak back up and covered us once more.
“Get to the Myers Day-“
“Park, down by the crooked bridge,” I said, remembering all the times Draco and I had raced down there with me winning every time. I think that he just let me win. I didn’t have time to remember it fondly though because Ron was tugging me in that direction.
I followed Ron through the trees, getting scratched by branches and briers on the way. Adeline was starting to fuss. I was really hoping that she wouldn’t cry or make any loud noises as we made our getaway. I shushed her as we ran, trying not to cry myself. I then stopped abruptly as I saw a figure standing by the bridge just at the edge of the forest. Ron must’ve heard me stop – or he sensed it – because he stopped and turned in my direction.
“It’s all right, Court,” he said. “That’s just Marcus.”
I breathed a sigh of relief as Ron reached out towards me, offering his hand. I silently slipped the cloak off and tucking it around Addie before taking it. The warmth from his hand seemed to warm me, and I didn’t even realize I was shivering until he put his arm around me. We walked in silence the rest of the way down to the destination that we were trying to reach only to see my brother with the biggest grin on his face.
“It’s nice to see that you’re all in one piece, dear sister,” he said, his grin turning into a smirk.
I shook my head. “Our house is not.”
“Who cares about that damn house? I was never truly happy there,” Marcus sighed, “and neither were you, Courtney.”
I didn’t know how to respond to what he had just said, so I didn’t. He just ignored it as he took Adeline from me before throwing a nod towards Ron. My little sister and he disappeared with a popping noise, leaving Ron and me alone. I gulped, all of a sudden getting nervous as I heard branches breaking. Ron pulled me close to him before the sensation of being pushed through a rather tight tube came as fast as it went. When I pushed myself way from him, I turned to find myself outside a quaint little house hidden behind some willow trees. I smiled to myself because I knew exactly where we were. Alex always had been simple with her decorating.
“Now this looks like home,” Ron said, slipping his hand into mine. “Let’s go.”
I nodded and let him lead me up to the door, which opened before we reached the house. Alex stood there with her long, red hair hanging down around her face, which was broken into a smile. I untwined my fingers from Ron’s as I headed straight for her and hugged her tightly. Vanilla scent swept into my nostrils and left a smile on my face. It was Alex’s sent, the only one I knew that carried that sent naturally. She pulled away from me, her green eyes searching my face.
“How I’ve missed you,” she exclaimed before pulling me into the house but leaving the door open for Ron to follow suit. “So, tell me. Who are you in love with?”
I was stopped in my tracks at that question. “W-what kind of question is that?” I asked, my face becoming rather warm.
“I can tell that you have some sort of glow around you, and I didn’t have that until I found Marcus. So,” she asked, sitting me down at the bar in the kitchen as she opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of wine. “It’s not a secret is it?”
“Um,” I didn’t know what to say as I watched her pour two glasses of the red liquid and sliding one over to me. “What’s this for?”
“Well, we have something to celebrate, don’t we?”
I shrugged and looked behind me to see Marcus chatting with Ron in the sitting room. His eye caught mine through the door way and gave me a little wave. I waved back before turning back to Alex, who was looking at me oddly.
“Is it Ron?” she asked, giddy excitement filling her eyes.
My eyes widened. “What? W-why would it be him?”
She smirked. “It is, isn’t it? The way he was holding your hand was not the way that he would hold the hand of a friend, Court. Open your eyes and smell the love. It’s in the air, and it’s between you two.”
I nearly choked on the small swig of the wine she had given me. “Ron’s like a brother to me. There’s no way he feels that way about me. He said so himself.”
She shrugged. “Marcus used to tell me the same thing, back when I thought I was in love with Ryan Williams. Ryan was my first love, but eventually I fell into the right man’s arms. You will too. You might think that you’re in love with this other guy that you’ve been thinking about, but Ron just might be exactly the right person for you.”
“Ron would be the wrong person for me,” I said after a few seconds of taking what she had said in. “I know for sure that I’m in love with-“ I cut off before I could say it. Marcus would be able to hear, and I don’t want him to be angry with me for going back to him after that crying fit I had last Christmas. “Ron and I will never happen, Alex. It won’t happen.”
She shook her head. “Never say never.”
“Court,” said Ron as he came into the kitchen. “I’m heading back to the Burrow now,” he pulled me into a hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I titled my head a little as I looked at him after pulling away. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“For Merlin’s Sake, you do know that your brother is in the Order, right?” he laughed at me. “There’s a meeting at my house tomorrow. You and I will be the only ones there, besides Ginny and Astoria of course.”
“Where’s Kam? Isn’t she staying with you?”
He shook his head. “She’s staying with her father at St Mongo’s to spend time with him before we head off after Harry and Hermione meet up with us for the wedding.”
I nodded. I had forgotten that Hermione and Harry both went home for the summer. I didn’t know that Kam was staying with her dad though. Poor Kam. She had to go through so much with her father going mad.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” I smiled at him before he shook his head at me and headed out the door.
Marcus came in to the kitchen all smiles. “Ron really is a great kid. Don’t you think, Court?”
I shrugged. “I guess so.”
“You and him would make a great couple, don’t you think?” And there it was. I figured the reason he was asking me was because he would want to get Ron and I together. Draco broke my heart once already, so he wouldn’t want me with him of course. Ron was his best pick I reckon.
I rolled my eyes. “Not you too,” I said, pointing at Alex. “Did you guys talk about this before or something?”
Alex giggled. “Of course we have. Ron would be the best for you.”
“I’m tired,” I declared fairly quickly. “Where should I sleep?”
“The guest room is all fixed up for you. You remember where it is?” Alex asked, taking my barely touched glass and handing it to my brother.
I nodded. “If not, I’m sure I can find my way.”
I tucked myself in that night with thoughts of what Marcus and Alex were saying. It lulled me into a light sleep, where I was in a wedding dress. There were two aisles in front of me. One was leading down to Draco, which made my heart flutter, and the other was down to a goofy red-head that took my breath away in an odd way. Draco called to me, but I couldn’t move. Ron waved to me, and I waved back. I was supposed to choose, but how could I? My dream self thought it was the hardest decision in the world. No matter what I thought, I stayed frozen to the spot. That’s when Alex’s face appeared before me with a smile that would put the Cheshire cat to shame.
“Ron just might be exactly the right person for you.”
Her voice didn’t help as she handed me a bouquet of red roses. What was I supposed to do? I couldn’t choose. It was an impossible task. One was the one that knew me through and through, and the other had supposedly the love of my life. The flowers dropped from my hands, and I turned and ran for it. I was out of both of the boys’ sights before they even hit the floor.
A/N: I know. Shocker! Marcus and Alex are just getting into her head…or are they? Please don’t be angry with me. It’s just a dream! Or is it? Haha. I love being the evil author that I am. xD But anywho…the winners of the contest were released! First place winners:
Cover/Banner – Impedimenta (The cover is amazing, right?)
One shots – VivaLaPotter (used to be known as mjgpotterhead713) She wrote about what it would be like if Courtney had gotten in Slytherin. It was amazing!
Trailers – Awkmatsu (Just check out the video in the side and see why she won!)
Also, next chapter is going to be in Draco’s POV! I’m sooo excited for that one. :3 As well as you all should be! I love all of you and hope that you all will keep reading xD
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