I crumple up George's latest letter and throw it at the wall. Words cannot express the level of frustration I have with him at the moment. After promising to visit over the summer, he's now "unable" to even meet in Diagon Alley for a coffee. But he won't tell me why. Oh no. It's all secrecy and "I'll fill you in later".
It's making me feel destructive and violent. Which is not particularly nice. I huff and pace my room for a few minutes before picking up his letter and reading it again.
"UGH!" I throw it at the wall and stalk out of my room, slamming the door. I'm in half a mind to go find him now and demand answers.
"AURELIA!"
My father comes stomping down the stairs after me.
"Do you HAVE to make such a racket?" he demands, "SOME of us are trying to SLEEP!"
"Sorry," I snap, "but in case you haven't noticed, the world is going to shit!"
I throw the just delivered edition of the Daily Prophet at him. It has a picture of Dumbledore emblazoned across it, saying he's been stripped of his ranks. My father glances over it briefly, then sighs.
"I know this is worrying," he says, "but Dumbledore just puts his trust too much in that Potter boy. You-Know-Who isn't back and Dumbledore isn't going mad. That happened a long, long time ago."
I sigh and sink down onto the sofa.
"I'm just really worried," I say, "George is being really distant and he promised he'd visit..."
"Well, I told his father we'd have their family over for dinner," Dad says, "maybe it's time we invite them."
I look at Dad apprehensively.
"I don't think this is the best time to tell him what we are," I say. Dad closes his eyes and sighs.
"Fine," he says, "we'll humanise the house and meal. I'll send them a note in the evening. Now, can I get back to sleep?"
"Sure," I nod. I follow him upstairs and go into my room to send George a note to prepare him.
This is a really big thing for my parents, we never have guests unless they're family. I write, I hope I'll see you soon and we can talk.
I send the note off and sit down to read a book, feeling slightly calmer.
We get a reply from the Weasleys a few days later accepting the invitation for a week's time. I spend all day every day leading up trying to make sure there's not a hint of vampirism in the house. The library was so crowded with books on it that I decided it would be easier just to lock the door and hide the key until the night was safely over. Despite everything, I couldn't quite feel excited about the night. Not nervous, either. Just looking forward to yelling at George. Talking to! Talking to George.
Finally the day arrived. Mum and Dad got up a few hours early to oversee the decorating and cooking.
"Aurelia, isn't it time you got dressed?" Mum asks, coming downstairs to where I'm fidgeting with flower arrangements.
"I am dressed!" I say, looking down at my robes, "what's wrong with this?"
"Oh, nothing," Mother says quickly, "you look lovely."
I sigh and stomp upstairs to change. I hear the doorbell and nearly trip over our cat in my haste to get downstairs. I skid to a halt next to Mum just as Dad opens the door.
"Come in," he says grandly, "welcome."
"Thank you," Mr Weasley says, "I don't believe you've met my wife, Molly."
"Charmed."
"And our sons, Fred, George and Ron," he says, "and our daughter, Ginny."
"My, what a lovely family," Mum says, "such beautiful hair! Please, come through to the dining room."
"Hey," George says, leaning in to hug me. I hold him off.
"I'm going to murder you," I tell him, "this was my father's idea. I have got a bone or two to pick with you, mister."
I sweep after the others and into the dining room. I sit down beside Fred and George sits on my other side.
"Aurelia, please, listen," he whispers, "I can explain everything."
"Fred, could you please pass the potatoes?" I ask loudly. Fred hands me the bowl, a smile twitching at his lips. I think he's quite enjoying the torture his brother is going through.
"I've wanted to tell you everything," George continues, "but Dumbledore made us promise not to put it into letters."
"Dumbledore?" I ask, confused, "what's he got to do with this?"
"Everything," George says quickly, "he's setting up the Order of the Phoenix again, they were the ones who-"
"I know who they were," I interrupt.
"Right, well, he's trying to get them together again, those who are left and some new members, to fight You-Know-Who."
"Yeah, but why?" I ask. George looks flabbergasted.
"You know why," he says, "because You-Know-Who is back."
"That's not possible," I say, "he's dead. You can't bring people back from the dead."
"He wasn't dead, he just lost all his powers," George says.
"What, and now he's figured out how to get them all back?" I ask.
"Yes!"
"And we're all meant to believe this because Harry says so?"
"Yes!" This time Fred, Ginny and Ron join in.
"Everything alright?" Mum asks.
"Yeah, fine," I nod, smiling.
"Maybe we should talk about this later," Fred mutters.
"Fine."
After dinner our parents go into the sitting room and the kids go up to my bedroom.
"Look," I say, "I just don't see how it can be true."
"You're calling Harry a liar?" Ron demands.
"No, I'm just saying maybe he saw something and thought it meant something different," I say, "I mean, maybe someone killed Cedric and Harry just put You-Know-Who's face to them."
"Or maybe You-Know-Who is back," Fred says.
"It's not possible!" I exclaim, exasperated, "can someone tell me on what planet a human could survive a direct hit from a killing curse?"
"He was dabbling in dark magic we can't even imagine," George says, "who knows what he found?"
"All we know is that there's a war coming," Fred says.
"War?" I shake my head, "no way."
"Look, you haven't been at the Headquarters, you don't know what it's been like," George says.
"Have you seen him, You-Know-Who?" I ask, "actually seen him?"
"No-"
"And what about disappearances, like last time?"
"No, but-"
"And random murders, any of those?"
"Well, no-"
"So there has been absolutely no evidence other than the word of a fourteen year old that he's back?"
"Maybe because he's trying to keep hidden!" Ginny interjects.
"Or maybe because he's not back!" I shout.
The four of them stare at me for a moment.
"We should go see what Mum and Dad are up to," Fred says quietly, "come on Ron, Ginny."
They step outside, leaving George and I facing each other across the room.
"How can you distrust Dumbledore?" he asks.
"How can you put blind faith in him?" I counter.
"Aurelia, I know it's scary, but you have to realise it's happening," he says, walking over to me, "I'll see you at school."
He kisses me on the cheek and walks out. I can't find it in me to go downstairs and say goodbye. I slide down the wall, feeling shocked and shaken. A few minutes later Mum and Dad come to check on me. I briefly tell them what happened and they offer soothing words that don't reach my ears. After they go I undress and get into bed.
"It's not possible," I whisper to the darkness, "it's not."