• • •
Family is the most precious
thing a broken child could ask for.
• • •
ROSE'S POV:
Since I wasn't spending christmas at Hogwarts, it seemed like I was now obligated to write to my parents. I tried to argue with Charlie about how my parents haven't even answered my first letter, but he threatened to sit me down on a chair in the common room, and stand in front of me until I wrote something to them.
I was currently sitting in the common room, parchment in the table, quill in my hand, the twins cracking up beside me, and Charlie in front of me. Yep. I refused to write anything, but apparently Charlie's threads weren't empty.
"Come on Rose, you know we can't take you home without telling your parents about it." Charlie complained, after sitting in a chair on the other side of the table for nearly forty minutes.
"I don't want to write to them!" I declared, anger bubbling in my skin.
"Red!" Fred announced. "You are angry, I believe red for anger."
"Whatever, I am not writing a letter. You can not make me." I said stubbornly.
"Well until you write to your parents, none of us are getting up from this table." Charlie orderend. The twins opened their mouths to protest, but Charlie quickly shut them out. I sighted, admitting that I was not getting away until I wrote something, and started writing.
Dear mum,
Recently I discovered a new ability, I am a metamorphmagus. That means that my hair and eyes change color depending on my emotions. My friends here are helping me discover what each color means. However I have no control over my eyes, only my hair. Sometimes when I am to distracted, my hair will change its color to match my eyes. It is quite fascinating to be honest.
Either way, this is not the reason for my letter. As you may know, christmas holidays are approaching. My first thought was to stay here since you didn't respond my letter, so I figured you were still upset. But now, my friends have invited me to their household for christmas. Remember the Weasley family, mum? I will be spending holidays with them, don't worry though I will see you in the summer.
Happy christmas, Rose L.
I finished my letter and handed it over to Charlie so he could send it. He smiled gratefully and took of to the owerly. I sighed and looked down to my hands. I wondered what my parents would say about it. Whatever they had to say, they wouldn't be fast enough. By this time tomorrow I would be at the burrow.
---
I woke up and immediately took a shower, I changed into a big fuzzy sweater and boots. I looked out the window, and saw snow outside. I grabbed my trunk and headed to the common room since today we were heading to the burrow. Down in the common room, was Percy and Charlie clearly waiting for us.
"Good morning." I greeted the redheads.
"'Morning!" They said together.
"Are the twins not down yet?" I asked them as I sat on an armchair near the couch they were sitting at.
"No, and if they don't hurry we are losing the train." Percy said annoyed. I found that a bit amusing.
"Don't worry, Perce, the twins will be down at any minute now." Charlie told his brother, but he was staring at my eyes.
"Is something on my face?" I asked him.
"I still find your eyes changing color entertaining." Charlie told me while grinning. I smirked at his words. Charlie was about the only one who didn't ask me to change my hair color or my appearance, well Percy didn't ask me about it either but I doubt he even took notice, he is always doing homework, or telling the twins off.
The twins finally came down stairs, and we started to walk to the station in Hogsmeade. We had already missed breakfast, lucky for me Charlie went on a quick muffin run and gave them to Percy and I. I noticed Fred glance at me various time while walking. When he noticed that I caught him, he cleared his throat loudly and said:
"The blue eyes look good on you, ya know." I felt myself blush as the boys laughed.
"Yeah, and the pink hair looks nice too." George said, I instantly shook my head and my hair turned back to dark red. I glared at the twins all the way to the platform. Once we got in the train, we found a compartment with Lee. Percy and Charlie went over to their own friend. All the way back the boys talked about quidditch and pranks, I just slept the whole ride.
FRED'S POV:
Even though she is going to the burrow with us, Rose was still upset about her parents lack of response. I noticed because when she is not concentrating or when someone else talks about their own parents, her eyes flash grey with sadness. She is getting better at controlling her hair. But now that she is sleeping peacefully against my shoulder, her hair is a true blue color. Not ice blue, or dark blue, or the blue she gets when she is tired even though that looks more like green. This blue is just that, blue. She decided this blue ment she was relaxed and calm. I must've been staring at her for too long because we were now at King Cross. I shook her shoulder lightly once the students started to descend.
She opened her eyes, and both, her hair and eyes, were yellow with confusion. As fast as her hair turned yellow, it turned back to her normal red. Her eyes still yellow.
"We are here." I announced. She yawned and nodded her head before getting up, her eyes light blue.
Rose's POV:
We were descending the train with Lee. I began looking for the redhead of Mrs. Weasley, I started to feel nervous. Lee spotted his family, and said his goodbyes. Finally we spotted Mrs. Weasley on her own, I thought she would bring her other children. We came close to her and she drew us all in hugs.
"Mum, where are Ginny and Ron?" Charlie asked once she finished hugging us all.
"They're back home with Bill dear." Mrs. Weasley informed him, while turning to me.
"Bill's here?" Charlie asked, the enthusiasm big on his voice. Mrs. Weasley nodded.
"Rose dear, we are all so pleased to be having you for christmas. Ginny is ecstatic." Mrs. Weasley told me. I felt relieved at her words and her eyes widen.
"Oh right," Fred started once he saw this. "Mum, Rose is metamorphmagus. Her eyes change color with her emotions, she can't control them." He explained.
"That is just wonderful dear." Mrs. Weasley smiled. I smiled back at her and she explained that we were getting back by Floo. Since I had never traveled by Floo powder, Charlie took me alongside him. In an open and close of eyes, and after feeling like I was going to be sick, I was at the burrow's living room.
There was a couch and a coffee table. Everything looked so homey, and welcoming. Charlie pulled me out of the fireplace just in time for the twins to step out of it. As soon as Mrs. Weasley stepped out of the fireplace, a little girl ran down the stairs. Her fiery red hair reached her mid-back and she was covered in freckles. She had big brown eyes, and she looked like the tiny girl version of the twins. 'Ginny' I thought. I remembered her from the day at Diagon Alley, but right now she looked taller.
"Fred! George!" Ginny yelled in happiness when she saw them. She launched herself at the twins and giggled as they tried to push her back, I had to recognized she had a strong grip. She finally let the twins go, and turned to hug Percy instead. Percy hugged his sister lightly, as she buried her head in his body. Finally she turned to Charlie and without missing a beat, he swooped her up her feet and began spinning her in circles as she laughed.
Ginny then turned to me and smiled, I smiled back.
"Hi, Rose!" Ginny said.
"Hello Ginny, how are you?" I asked her politely.
"I'm good. How is Hogwarts? Did you get to fly a broom? Did you see a unicorn? Did you fought a troll?" the girl began to bombard me with questions, while everyone else laughed. I looked around nervous, and Ginny gasped in surprise. I turned to look at her in confusion and her eyes immediately lit up.
"Can you change your hair to any color?" Ginny asked amused.
"I think so." I answered uncertainty.
"Can you do purple?" Ginny asked me with so much hope, that I couldn't say no.
"Ginny!" Mrs. Weasley warned her daughter.
"Er, I think." I told Ginny. I looked at her, and willed my hair to turn purple. Ginny jumped in excitement. She gripped my arm tightly.
"Do green next!" She urged me. I looked over at the twins and they were cracking up. I turned to Charlie and he had a smile in his face.
"Ginny leave her alone, she is not a show animal." Charlie told Ginny. The little girl scold.
"Ginny go get Bill and Ron, quickly." Mrs. Weasley ordered. Ginny ran back up stairs yelling and knocking on doors.
"Rose you will be staying with Ginny, you just tell us if she gives you any trouble." Mrs. Weasley told me.
"It doesn't bother me, Mrs. Weasley. I think it's cute that she got so excited." I told her. Mrs. Weasley then left to the kitchen. I looked to the twins to see them pouting my way. Charlie and Percy had gone upstairs a while ago.
"What's with the faces?" I asked the twins.
"Oh, so Ginny can do loads of hair colour petitions but if we asked you, you go mental." Fred declared. I laughed at their jealousy.
"Boys, Ginny is a little girl. You shouldn't get jealous because I complied to her petitions." I told them, still amused.
"Well can you do blue next?" George asked hopefully, giving me puppy dog eyes. I willed my hair to turn to a blood red color, they both took a step back since they related that color with anger. I laughed and allowed my hair to turn violet with happiness.
---
We were about to have dinner. I still hadn't met Bill, and I spended all the afternoon with Ginny turning my hair to different colors. The twins were hanging out with Ginny and I, but they were constantly telling Ginny to go play with Ron. Ginny ignored them when they suggested since she said that she rather spend time with her new best friend.
"Come on, Gin. Rose is our best friend, not yours." Fred began to fight with his little sister.
"Rose is my best friend too." Ginny replied stubbornly.
"No! I met her first!" Fred yelled at her.
"Only because you crashed into her!" Ginny yelled back. George had given up fighting with Ginny an hour ago, so we were both sitting in Ginny's bed watching them fight.
"You know what? Why don't we let Rose decide who her best friend is." Fred told her, and they both turned to me.
"Oh no, Fred Weasley. You are not putting me in the middle of your fight!" I told the boy. Eyes turning orange. They were about to argue some more when Mrs. Weasley called us.
"Children! Dinner's ready!" Instantly, sounds of footsteps sounded all over the house. Without missing a beat, Fred gripped my wrist and pulled me downstairs. Ginny yelling in the distance. He ran all the way to the kitchen and forced me to the seat besides him, George on my other side. Soon the dinner table began to fill in. Charlie was in front of me, Percy on his side, Ron on his other side, and Ginny on Ron's other side. Then, a tall young man with messy hair and a fang earring sat next to Fred. He looked as if he didn't even notice me, I guessed it was because of my hair. Normally my hair was a tad darker, while the twins' was lighter and more towards the colour of fire, but I changed it to look exactly like Ginny's who's hair was the exact same shade as everyone else in her family.
Fred and George glared at their older brother until he turned our way. Fred nodded his head on my way, and who I assumed was Bill, widened his eyes in surprise.
"Hello there, i'm Bill." He told me as he extended his hand for me to shake.
"Rose Lightbourn." I told him as I shook his hand. His eyes were slowly studying mine. I looked into his eyes and watched as he almost fell out of his chair. My hair and eyes were now emerald green with mischief. I began to laugh with the twins, Ginny, Charlie, Ron, and even Percy was laughing. When Bill processed what was happening, he began to laugh as well.
"That's our best friend!" The twins said at the same time, while swinging their arms around my shoulders.
"So you are Fred and George in girl version?" Bill asked amused.
"Not really, i've just been hanging out with these two for too long." I told him. My eyes and hair turning pink. Ginny was watching me with stars in her eyes. There was a loud crack outside, and Fred nudge my shoulder. The twins were planning on playing a prank on their dad. I shook my head and my hair went back to red, my eyes were emerald green with mischief. I kept my head down when the door swung opened.
"After noon, Weasleys!" Mr. Weasley exclaimed. There were loud greetings from each of his children, my head was still down. Mr. Weasley then did a mental headcount. At first he looked okay with the number of people in his table, but then his eyes snapped in my direction.
"And who are you?" Mr. Weasley asked me. Before Mrs. Weasley or I could answer, Fred and George gasped and choked on their drinks. Mr. Weasley turned to them instead.
"Who is she?!" Fred asked surprised.
"What do you mean who is she?" George asked him. Mr. Weasley stood there in shook, as he looked towards Mrs. Weasley, Ginny and back at me.
"That's Rosie of course." Charlie said, now joining our prank. Everyone else nodded their heads.
"Come on dad, next you are going to tell us you don't remember Brian?" Bill told his father. Mr. Weasley's eyes widened.
"Or Gerard?" Ginny said.
"Or Rae?" Ron told him.
"Or Christina." Charlie commented.
"Or Freya" said Fred.
"Or Gianna." George managed to say, he was trying to control his laughter.
"Or Phebe." Percy now joined in the prank. I was surprised Mrs. Weasley let this go so far.
"I-I-um..." Mr. Weasley stammered. No one could contain it any longer, everyone burst out laughing. Mr. Weasley stared at us with confusion. I was practically gasping for air at this point. Everyone finally settled down, I stood up and walked over to Mr. Weasley.
"I'm not your daughter Mr. Weasley. My name is Rose Lightbourn, i'm friends with the twins." I told him as I shook his hand. My hair went back to its normal color, and Mr. Weasley's face turned into understanding and realive.
"The other prankster?" He asked me once we were all sat in the table.
"Sometimes." I responded and everyone laughed.
"Oi, Rose!" Charlie said. I turned to him.
"Oliver said he watched you on your flying lessons. I'm captain of the Gryffindor team, next year i'm losing some of my chasers. He says you are really good, do you mind if I watch you do some laps tomorrow?" He asked me.
"You mean, like a try-out?" I asked him with slight panic. I didn't even know quidditch. Sure the game I had been to were fun to watch, and I was getting better at understanding the game. But playing? For the team?
"Yeah. Wood says that you really are the best in your class. If you don't like quidditch i'm not making you play, but what do you say a quick game tomorrow? Just to test you? And if you like it, and you are as good as Wood says, you have a guaranteed spot on the team next year." He stated. Everyone's eyes widened when he said that. Fred and George were asking him how come they didn't have a guaranteed spot, but I tuned them out.
"Okay." I said suddenly. Everyone's jaws, but Charlie's, were wide opened in surprise. The twins looked ecstatic.
"Great, tomorrow after breakfast." Charlie informed me. I nodded. Slowly everyone began to eat again.
After that we all went to sleep and when I reached my bed, I slept like a rock.
---
I woke up to the smell of bacon the next morning. I rolled over on my side, and saw that Ginny was no longer in her bed. I glanced around her bedroom, but there was not a single watch in sight. I got out of bed and walked towards the bathroom to get ready. I was wearing Fred's Gryffindor jacket with a pair of girl trousers, I also put an extra sweater under the jacket and a pair of gloves. I walked down the stairs towards the table. Mrs. Weasley was cooking breakfast, Charlie, Ginny, and the twins were eating what she had prepared.
"Good morning." I greeted everyone. All heads turned to me, and they greeted me back.
"Help yourself breakfast dear. There is plenty for everyone." Mrs. Weasley informed me. I happily complied and served myself a big plate of bacon, sausage, and scrambled eggs. When I finished I offered to help Mrs. Weasley do the dishes, but with a move of her wand they washed themselves. Charlie grabbed my wrist and pulled me outside, the twins hot in our heels. Charlie reached over to a cupboard, and pulled three broomsticks. He handed me one of them.
"Rose, you are using Bill's old broomstick. Fred, George which of you is going to help me?" Charlie asked the twins. Fred and George shared a glance, and Fred sprinted to Charlie snatching the broom he was holding. George stood there scolding at his brother. Fred stood there proudly.
"Rose when I say 'go' you are going to fly over to the hoops over there." Charlie instructed, while pointing at three hoops. "I will play as keeper, and Fred is going to try and take away the quaffle. You okay with that?" He asked. I nodded.
"Great so mount for broom." He told me. "Go!" He yelled, and I dashed through the air.
Charlie was already at the hoop. So spearing one glance over my shoulder, I sped over to the hoops. I could feel the adrenaline in my veins as I sped faster on my broom. Fred was right behind me, he was trying to take away the quaffle. Out of nowhere, I spinned in the air, catching both Fred and Charlie off guard and threw the quaffle through the ring on my left. Charlie was dumbstruck.
"Can we go again?" I asked him.
Fred's POV:
Charlie was already at the hoop. Rose speared a look at me and she sped over to the hoops. I was right behind Rose, her hair was violet-blue with concentration before rapidly shifting to green, mischief. 'What is she planning?' I thought inside myself. Then she spinned in the air, catching us in surprise and concern. In mid spin, her hair turned to a light shade of red I had never seen before. This shade didn't look like anger, it look like passion. And sure enough, she scored. Charlie was dumbstruck, and I couldn't believe what I saw. Charlie was the captain of the team, and he was beat by an eleven year old?
"Can we go again?" Rose asked Charlie, her eyes never changing back to their normal green. It took a minute for Charlie to process what she just asked, but when he spoke I was the one dumbstruck.
"Rose Lightbourn, you have a guaranteed spot on the team!" Rose's hair turned light purple with excitement.
ROSE'S POV:
We played everyday after that. I decided to accept Charlie's proposal on the team. The more time I spend on a broomstick, the more I liked it.
---
Today was Christmas morning, I was awoken as someone smacked me with a pillow. I opened my eyes and saw my two favourite twins standing with identical grins in their faces.
"Morning Rosie Posie!" They yelled in unison. I quirked an eyebrow, my hair turning yellow. I figured that since Gin and Ron, not to mention the rest of the family, absolutely loved all the colours my hair could change, I would just let my hair change at its own will while I was at the burrow.
"Rosie Posie?" I asked them with amusion. My hair and eyes turning a light shade of pink.
"Fred came up with it." George said, Fred jabbed his brother in the gut. I laughed at their antics.
"Al right, leave so I can get changed." I told the twins.
"Fine. Just hurry up, we want to open presents." Fred said as they left through the door. I felt happy at the fact that my two best friends were waiting for me to open presents. I changed into a pink jumper and jeans. I went down the stairs, and saw the whole Weasley family sitting near the christmas tree waiting for me. I stood shooked, there really was no need to wait for me. But I guess this is the way things are done in the family.
Mrs. Weasley handed everyone a box, including me and ushered us to open it. In the box, was a green jumper with a golden 'R' in the front. I looked around, and noticed everyone was puttin on their own jumper with their initials in it. I was at lost of words, I didn't even know what color my eyes or hair was. My parents didn't even sent me a letter, but Mrs. Weasley had known me for about two weeks and she had knitted me a jumper. A jumper that was exactly the same as all her other children. I slid the jumper on and smiled, I still couldn't utter a word. I got up from my seat on the floor, and walked over Mrs. Weasley.
Everyone was looking at me curiously. I was now in front of Mrs. Weasley. Without a word I flung my arms around her shoulders and hugged her tightly, I felt a couple of tears run down my cheeks but I didn't bother wiping them of. 'What is it with these people and their comforting hugs?' I asked myself. I muttered a few thank you's and finally let go of Molly.
I opened the rest of my presents, which were a box of candies from Honeydukes from all the Weasleys. There was a big box, a small box, and a letter in front of me.
I grabbed the letter and gasped when I recognized the letter. It was my mum's handwriting. Fred was on my right side and I leaned on him for support, my hands were shaking. Fred looked over at me confused and I showed him the letter. He understood what this meant and excused us both to the kitchen.
"Should I open it?" I asked him once we were alone.
"I don't know Rose, do you want to open it?" He asked me.
"I'm curious but i'm also scared." I told him honestly. I took a deep breath and read the letter out loud. Fred listening closely.
"Rose,
Your father and I read your first letter and decided to ignore it. I must say, I do not understand anything about the color changing eyes or hair. For that reason when you return home on the summer, you better keep it under control. Your father and I have also decided on investigating who your real parents are, and if they are wizards like you-" I choked on the last sentence, but willed myself to continue.
"Once we find out who your birth parents are, you are free to go with them. I must also say, your father is livid about you spending your holidays with that family. He says he will have a talk with you once you come home. I warn you to not step over the line Rose.
Enjoy your christmas, your mother."
At this point I was in tears and my hair was grey in sadness and hopelessness. Fred quickly pulled me to him, and allowed me to cry on his shoulder. We stayed like that for a couple minutes, Fred rubbing circles on my back while trying to comfort me. Once he let me go, I wiped my eyes on my jumper.
"Sorry." I apologized to Fred. He stood confused.
"What are you sorry about? About rightfully crying? I don't think so Rose. Don't apologize, that is what friends are for." He told me, smiling comfortably.
"About not telling you I was adopted." I murmured softly, yet loud enough for him to hear.
"That is your business. I have no right to be upset. Now come one, you still have to more presents." He said as he ushered me to the living room once again.
FRED'S POV:
"What are you sorry about? About rightfully crying? I don't think so Rose. Don't apologize, that is what friends are for." I told her, smiling.
"About not telling you I was adopted." She said softly. Her hair was switching between cloud grey and white. I had no idea what white meant though. I would have to figure it out.
"That is your business. I have no right to be upset. Now come one, you still have to more presents." I told her, it was true. She had her reasons for not telling me she was adopted and I wasn't going to push it. I didn't ask her if she was alright, I knew she wasn't. Instead, I took her to the living room. Once we entered once again everyone shoot me confused glances but I shook my head at them.
"Open the big one first." I told Rose. She opened it and her eyes shifted to lime green, before turning violet. George and I had thought on giving her a charm bracelet. That way we can help her fill it every year with new charms. This year we got her a rainbow charm, representing her eyes, and a lion charm, representing Gryffindor.
"It's beautiful." Rose said. Her hair was now purple with excitement. She put it on and smiled. She then opened the next present, I thought about getting her a pocket mirror. That way, she could carry it around everywhere and figure out the colors of her eyes. She flung her arms around my neck and I hugged her tightly.
'Yup' I thought 'All in all, it was a good holiday.'