It didn't feel like home yet. This new, strange house. She had lived in London for most of her life. This little place felt too small. Fred Weasley had been right. She was indeed living two doors down from Harry Potter. The first week back, she and her mother had gone over to meet them.
A tall, thin woman had opened the door. Petunia, she said her name was. It was a strange meeting. They were invited inside where her very overweight son was sitting behind a television. All he had done was hold up his hand.
His mother treated him like he was the reincarnation of God or something. She met Harry briefly when she went to the toilet and ran into him. He had asked her what she was doing there, and after she had explained that they had just moved 2 doors down, he had looked at her and said "Don't tell her you're a witch." "Why not?" Avalon asked
"Simply because they hate my guts for being one. They think their Muggle-ness makes them superior, they hate magic and oh yeah, they think only my cousin is a good kid." He had explained.
After spending some time with them, she couldn't help but feel sorry for Harry. they didn't talk about him if they could help it. and when they did, they talked about him as if he were either mad or a dangerous criminal. They even dared to warn Jolene not to let Avalon near him and his "dangerous ideas".
"Maybe Duddy could take Avalon for a walk around the neighbourhood so she can explore a bit, wouldn't you like that, Duddykins?" said Petunia Dursley. Her son groaned. "But mum," he said. It sounded like her "duddykins" didn't want to take her around town. "Please duddykins, your sweet new neighbour doesn't know the sights like you do." Petunia said, trying to persuade her son.
Harry seemed to find this very amusing and every so often managed to stifle a laugh into his mug of hot chocolate. "Please Mum, do I have to?" Dudley said, clearly not wanting to get up from behind his television. "I'm sorry for what I'm about to do." Harry said in a whisper. "I could take her around." Harry said.
"Absolutely not!" Petunia screamed. "Have you filled a sweet, innocent girl like her with your dangerous ideas? No Duddy darling please take her around the town." Petunia said, pleading with her son. With what appeared to be great effort, Dudley Dursley peeled himself from the sofa. "Fine Mum." He said. "Take her to your little friend Pier's house, sweetums." Perunia said. Avalon had to do her best not to burst out laughing. This was something she would definitely tell Luna and Ginny when she saw them again.
The so-called tour of the town was not much more than taking her to a street called Wistiria Walk. "How long have you lived here Dudley?" she asked. "Hmm my whole life." He said, sounding a little thick. "Why don't your parents like your cosin?" she dared to ask. She knew the answer but thought it would be funny to make Dudley say it. "Because he goes to that special school." He said, suddenly looking at her,
"Be careful around him. You look like a nice girl and all, but he is dangerous. Him and his friends." He said with a little shudder. "I'll keep that in mind," she said and walked a little further away. She saw Arabella Figg coming out of her house, "AVALON!" she called. "You know her?" Dudley asked, looking very puzzled. "Yes, she is a good friend of my mother's." She added.
"Avalon dear, what are you doing here?" she asked. "Oh that's right, I forgot, you and your mum have moved in on Privet Drive, I'm so happy you're living nearby now." She said as she stroked one of her cats.
"Hello Dudley. Showing your new neighbour around, how nice of you." Arabella added. "Mums make me." He said. "Well you two kids run along. Ava, sweetie, ask your mum if she wants a cup of tea tonight." Mrs Figg added. Avalon nodded at her and tried her best not to laugh.
At the end of the street, Dudley rang the doorbell. A boy about his age answered. "Big D!" he said enthusiastically. His eyes fell on Avalon. "And who is your friend?" he asked, looking into Avalon's eyes.
"New neighbour girl Evian I think." He said. "Avalon." She corrected, "yes that one." Dudley said. "Well hello." The boy said. "I am Piers Plotkiss. And welcome to our neighbourhood." He said, blushing slightly, not taking his eyes off her. "Why don't Big D and I show you our favourite spot?" Piers asked, taking Avalon's hand and kissing it.
Dudley looked. Obviously a bit annoyed that he had to do more walking. Piers grabbed his coat and offered his arm to Avalon. "And this is the duck pond where all the loser kids hang out," he said as he led her past a few places. "Ah, and here we go. Our favourite haunt." Piers said. Dudley didn't seem to like the idea that Avalon knew their little spot.
It was nothing more than an old looking playground with a merry-go-round you had to push by hand, a couple of swings, an old Theeter totter and an old looking slide. Next to it was a small field with football goals, but it looked as if it had not been used for many years.
"Sometimes Dudley's useless Harry hangs out here." Piers said. "But you don't need to know much about him. You are far too interesting to find him even slightly interesting." Piers said. He was obviously very close to Avalon, something Dudley didn't seem to like.
"Come on Piers, let's just take her back to her mum and go out and have some fun." Dudley said. "Huh what?" Piers said as if he had not heard a word that Dudley had just said. "That I want to take her home so we can have fun. We only have 2 weeks of summer left!" Dudley shouted. "Yeah shure we will." Piers said distractedly.
"Can I escort you to your palace fine young lady?" Piers said. Avalon really had to try hard not to laugh at him. She didn't like the idea of being on his bad side. So she let them take her to the Dursley house.
"I'm counting the seconds until we meet again," Piers said. "Don't be stupid, Piers!" Dudley bit at him. "Let's get inside," Dudley said, pulling Avalon with him. "Did you kids have a good time?" Petunia asked Durdley as soon as they came in. "It was OK." Dudley said, dropping back in front of the television. "Going to have tea with Piers later Mum." He said. "That's fine Duddykins." She said as she sat down at the table.
"I think it is time for us to go. Thank you Mrs Dursley for your hospitality." Jolene said. "Yes of course, don't be a stranger, I think Duddy will enjoy spending more time with his new neighbour, won't you Duddy?" Dudley grunted something that Petunia seemed to interpret as a yes. "Well we were off then." Jolene said. I was hoping to invite my friend Arabella over for tea," Jolene added, pulling Avalon behind her.
As soon as Jolene closed the door to her new house, she started to laugh. "She was just trying to convince you that Harry Potter is dangerous. Oh dear, if only she knew." Jolene said laughing. "Wait till I tell Arry Shell have a cow." She went to the phone and punched in a number. A few minutes later Mrs Figg knocked on the door. "Arry, you wouldn't believe the afternoon we've just had." Jolene said as she led Mrs Figg into the living room.
Halfway through the tea, the fire in the fireplace turned green. Mrs Figg seemed unimpressed. "AVA!! Luna yelled. "What are you doing here?" Avalon asked as she hugged Luna. "We came to pick you up silly, daddy said we would stay at the campsite for a few days before the finals start," Luna said enthusiastically.
"What finals, sweetheart?" Mrs Figg asked. "Oh no, have I given away too much now?" Luna asked. "Oh of course not dear. I am a Squib." Mrs Figg said. Luna relaxed again. "But tell me, dear, what final?" she asked again. "The Quidditch Final Miss." Luna said. "Oh I wish I could go, you girls have fun!" Arabella said.
"We have to leave soon, so maybe you should pack?" Luna said. "Oh don't worry I have everything ready." Avalon said, who had been waiting for her friend to pick her up for a few days. She ran upstairs to get her backpack. And quickly ran back downstairs.
"Oh honey before you go I asked Professor Dumbledore to arrange for all your things to be collected for school and for your new books and other things to be bought and delivered to school, he let me know in a letter that your cute little owl brought me that its all taken care of so have fun." Jolene said.
Luna stepped into the fireplace followed by Avalon. Luna took some floo powder from her pocket and threw it into the fire. A few minutes later they arrived at Luna's house.
"Ah, welcome," said Xenophilius Lovegood. Would you like a nice cup of tea?" he asked. Avalon smiled and excused herself.
She heard Xeno banging around in what she assumed was a kitchen downstairs. She and Luna sat down. Entousiacally, she began to tell about the afternoon she had just had. Halfway through her story, Xeno had brought the tea, she had no idea what it was made of and it didn't taste good at all, but she was too polite to say anything, so she drank it.
"Ah Luna, my dear, I want you to get ready, we are leaving for the campsite soon." Xeno said. Luna nodded and went upstairs. "Would you like to see my bedroom?" she asked Avalon. Thankfully, she did not have to drink another cup of that horrible tea and joined Luna in her bedroom.
It had no door. It was an open room once you came up the stairs. On one side was Luna's bed, next to a window that looked out onto a lake. On the other side was her school Trunk, which looked packed and ready to go.
On her bedside table was a picture of her, Luna and Ginny, and like all pictures in the wizarding world, it was moving. In this picture, the 3 of them were playfully pushing each other, trying to get each other out of the picture.
Luna went to her wardrobe and started shoving clothes into her backpack. She also managed to fit in a huge soft toy that Avalon recognised as Luna's favourite teddy bear. After another hour, Luna's father called out that it was time to go. Laughing, the girls walked down the stairs.
"How are we going to get there?" Luna asked. "Oh, we have about a 10 minute walk up to that hill over there. There is a Portkey waiting for us on that hill." Xeno explained. "Maybe we will meet some gnomes or even Nergels." Xeno said, "What is a Portkey?" asked Avalon. "It's a means of travel that we wizards use, my dear. It's a Muggle object that's enchanted to allow us to travel faster." He explained. "And it can be anything as long as Muggles see it as rubbish and leave it alone." He explained further.
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"But the Portkey leaves in about half an hour, so we better go." He said, leading the girls out of the house and over to the hillside. She noticed. Xeno was carrying two bags and a rucksack. "What is that you have with you sir?" Avalon asked as they walked up the hill. "Our tents love," he said. They seemed to be very small bags and she had no idea how 2 tents would even fit in them, but she had learned to trust magic by now.
About 10 minutes later they reached the top of the hill. Xeno walked around for another 15 minutes and then quickly returned with an old newspaper still rolled up. "This is our Portkey, I will quickly explain how it works, we have 5 minutes," he said. A few seconds before the Portkey is due to leave, you will notice that it will give off a small glow when you place your finger on it, one finger will do. It will transport us to the campsite when the time comes," he said. Mr Lovegood had barely finished his explanation when the paper actually began to glow.
"Quickly put your fingers on it." Xeno said. Luna and Avalon did as they were told and about ten seconds later it felt like a hook had been placed on her bellybutton and she felt herself spinning faster and faster every second. It felt like she was being squeezed through a tube. She felt like all the air was being squeezed out of her lungs, but just before she felt like she was going to suffocate completely, it was over.
She felt herself fall to the floor and gasped for air for a second.
"3.30 Stoadshead Hill?" she heard someone ask, looking up to see an older looking balding wizard holding a clipboard. "Yes indeed. " Xeno said smiling as he threw the paper into a bin that said 'used portkeys'.
"You are on field 6 which is a 5 minute walk from the stadium." The man said as he handed Xeno a map. "Well girls its about a 20 minute walk lets go." He said. They quickly made their way to the campsite where they were stopped by a Muggle.
"Name please?" he said. "Oh yes Lovegood 2 tents." He said smiling broadly. "Ah yes 7 to 10 days I see." He said. "Yes. Indeed," Xeno replied. "Payment in advance please," the Muggle said, Xeno smiled grabbing the bundle of coins the wizard with the clipboard had given him.
"I think that should be enough. And what do they say again?. keep the change?" he said, looking at Avalon. She nodded at him. "Yes, keep the change." He said again. "Thank you, enjoy your stay." The Muggle said. They quickly made their way to where they were going to pitch their tents.
"Xeno opened the two bags, grabbed his wand and waved it around. Within seconds, two old dome tents were standing in front of them. "I think you girls will be very comfortable in the red one," he said to them as he went into the blue one on the left.
Avalon and Luna quickly entered the smaller red one. She was pleasantly surprised when she pushed aside the canvas of the tent.
Inside it looked like a cosy 2-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen and a nice cosy living room with a fireplace. "Oh look, we have our own rooms." Luna said, quickly putting her bag down on the bed in the left bedroom. "This is better than camping with my mum." Avalon said. "There the tents are as big as they look outside and you either have to sleep on a field bed or an air mattress." Avalon explained. "That sounds horrible," Luna told her.
The next morning Luna and Avalon explored the campsite. There were still gaps where tents could be pitched. But there were also a lot of people already there.
In front of one tent, a little girl sat and made sparks appear with a wand. Suddenly, her mother came out of the tent. “Angelica, wie oft muss ich dir noch sagen, dass du papa’s Zauberstab nicht nehmen sollst?” the women said. "Was that German?" Luna asked.
"Yes, she was telling her daughter off for taking her father's wand," Avalon said. "You speak German?" Luna asked sounding impressed.Avalon smiled as they made their way back to the tent.
A few days later, Ginny, her brothers Hermoine and Harry passed by their tent on their way to their own campsite, which was just a few tents beyond the treirs Harry smiled and waved to her. She felt friendlier towards Harry than she had in the last two years. Ginny quickly invited them to join her in the tent she and Hermione shared.
"So you've been here almost a week?" She asked. "Yeah, it's been fun," Luna told her best friend. "Harry told me about the dinner you had with his aunt and uncle." Ginny said grinning. "Oh that's only half the story." Avalon started as she told her best friend about her walk with Dudley Dursley. "that piers sounds totally smitten to me." Ginny said. "Yeah, but I don't like him." She said. "You can do better I think." Ginny said giggling.
The final was to be held that evening. According to Arthur Weasley, the stadium was just beyond the woods at the end of their campsite. As night fell, Xeno told them it was time to go. They walked from the campsite to the stadium.
The path was lit by magic lamps. It looked amazing. Luna and Avalon found Ginny and the other Weasleys. Even the two brothers, Avalon and Luna, had never met. Charlie looked handsome with long hair and wore dragon leather jackets. Bill had chin-length red hair and looked a lot like Ron. But they were nice and cheerful. The Weasley twins seemed very fond of Charlie. Percy seemed a bit casual. He kept checking his watch. And muttering things about a Mr Crouch.
As the stadium came into view, she couldn't help but be impressed. It was a huge building, it seemed like the whole wizarding world could fit in there. A bored looking witch was at the ticket office. "Tickets please?" she said as Xeno showed her her tickets. She looked. "Up the stairs and to the left." She said, sounding very annoyed. For the next 5 minutes they climbed stair after stair to get to the top of the stadium. To their surprise, he was in the same box as the Weasleys and Harry Potter. Much to her dismay, Draco Malfoy was there with his parents.
A few minutes before the match was due to start, a blonde man wearing an old Quidditch uniform walked in. "OK, is everyone ready?" he asked. He held his wand to his trought and began to speak, announcing the players for both the Irish and Bulgarian teams. The Bulgarians seemed to be the most popular.
"And now I give you the mascots' dance!" the blonde man said. And from the other side of the stadium came what looked like a giant shiny leprechaun. But when Avalon looked closer, it was hundreds of tiny leprechauns. They were making patterns in the sky, at one point they were writing Go Ireland Go in the sky. And before they left the stadium they made it look like they were making fireworks, but instead of sparks it rained gold coins.
The Bulgarian mascots looked like blonde ballerinas, and when they started dancing, something seemed to happen. Most of the boys in the stadium started acting strangely, the Weasley twins danced around the box, waving their T-shirts around.
Harry Potter had his foot on the railing. Ron Weasley tore up the souvenirs he had bought to support Ireland.
Hermione Granger and Ginny looked amused at the strange things the boys were up to. "Those are Veela young ladies. They make young hormonal boys and men go a bit gaga when they want to. Arthus explained, also enjoying the boys' antics.
When Harry climbed onto the railing, Arthur pulled him back. "I don't think your parents would like it if your obituary said Death by Veela, my boy. Arthur said as Harry seemed to come out of a trance. The veela stopped dancing. As soon as they did, all the boys stopped acting strangely. Fred and George Weasley put their shirts back on and looked very embarrassed.
"And Mum wouldn't let me bring the camera." Ginny said grinning. "Good thing she didn't," Fred said. "If you say a word about this in school I will have you expelled," George said to his sister. "Oh, I won't say a word," she said. "That's a good girl," Fred told her. She leaned over to Luna Avalon and Hermoine. "I can't say the same for you." She said winking at them. Grinning they looked back at the field.
They heard a whistle blow. "And there off," said the blond man, calling out the names of the players who had the quaffle. And in an instant the Irish team had scored 100 points. They were nothing more than green specks in the sky. Not that the Bulgarians gave up without a fight. They too were nothing more than a few red stripes in the air. Within minutes the score was level. But 10 minutes later the Irish were 200 points ahead. The Seekers were flying around, sometimes even making dangerous moves.
"I can't wait to practice these at Hogwarts." She heard Harry shout at Ron. "I think he saw something. "Ron shouted a few minutes later. When they looked at Victor Krum, the Bulgarian Seeker seemed to be chasing something. It was impossible to tell if he really saw something or if he was bluffing. But not long after, he was clutching something with small golden wings in his hand.
"What did he do that for? They were 200 behind." Ron shouted. "They would never have made up those points. Ireland is too fast." Fred said. "So the game ended on Bulgaria's terms," George added. "It was the best the Bulgarians could get out of it. "Fred filled in.
"Did the lovely ladies enjoy themselves?" For a second, Avalon and Fred's eyes met. Suddenly she felt a warm sensation. But before she could think about it, the presenter spoke again.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the new Quidditch World Champions, Ireland!" the blonde narator shouted. The team captain came into the box, shook everyone's hand and took a trophy from the presenter. He held it up. The stadium erupted in cheers.
Then the stadium emptied. "Why don't we have a party in our tent?" said Arthur Weasley. Their tent looked like a normal Muggle tent. At least from the outside. Just like Luna and Avalon's, the inside was much bigger.
"Butterbeers?" Arthur called out, handing out bottles. "You can all say Ireland was better, but I swore Krum was the artist of the match," Ron said. "Oh really?" said Ginny. "The Irish Seeker had no chance." Ron said. "Sounds like you're in love, Ron." Ginny said. "Oh, shut up." The twins got down on one knee in front of Ron. "Victor, I love you!" Fred began. "Victor I do." George added. "Wherever you are, my heart beats only for you." Everyone in the tent finished before they all burst out laughing.
"I think I seeing the time. That it is time to go to bed," Arthur said. "Ladies." George said, bowing to Luna and Avalon as he took their hands one by one and kissed them."It's been an incomparable pleasure." Fred added as she did the same. Avalon noticed that her heart skipped a beat as soon as Fred's lips brushed her hand. Giggling, Avalon and Luna made their way to their tent.
They were awakened by the sound of explosions. When Avalon was fully awake, she heard muffled screams. "Luna!" she said in a loud whisper. "Luna!" she whispered again. She looked over at at the bed in the room acros from her. Luna looked back at her. "What's going on?" she asked. "I don't know, let's get dressed in case we have to run." Avalon said quickly and stood up. Another explosion was heard. Xeno came in. "Come on girls I'm all for free speech but we need to get out of here." He said as he led the girls outside.
A few tents away there was another explosion. "Luna run," Xeno said. Luna grabbed Avalon's hand and they started running. As they rounded a corner, they faced a horde of wizards dressed in black with silver masks. A few people were hovering above them.
Before the wizards saw them, Avalon felt a hand on her shoulder. "Stay still and run." It was Fred Weasley, pulling the girls with him. Outside a small patch of woods they saw George and Ginny waiting for them. "What are they?" Avalon asked, "Not now." Fred said still holding on to her hand and pulled her and Luna further into the forest. All the while her heart was pounding against her chest.
After about 10 minutes, the explosions sounded far away, so they stopped. "What are they?" Avalon asked again. "Death Eaters." George replied, sitting down on some rocks. "The last time we saw them we were three," Fred added. "Yeah, but I remember them like it was yesterday." George said. "Can you tell us?" Ginny asked. "
"I don't remember much." George began. "But Charlie and Bill told us a lot abotu that time to." he added. "It was all very scary," Fred said. "According to Bill, you could trust no one. Sometimes not even your own family." George added.
"You know who had spies everywhere?" Fred said, "My mum's brothers were part of the Resistance." George continued. "Hardly any one survived. We were too young," Fred said, "all I remember is that Mum took us to see Uncle Fabian. And he was dead." George finished for his brother. "The dark mark was over his house. Mum should have known." Fred added. "I'll never forget the way she cried when she found him," George said, sounding serious.
"The fear that followed was even worse. We didn't understand. I doubt Charlie understood everything," Fred continued. "One day we were out in the woods near the cave, playing with Bill and Charlie. We were all children." George filled in. "And there they were. Death Eaters. A whole camp of them." Fred said, his eyes showing fear.
"I don't think any of us remember how we got to safety. But we were all still here, so we must have been saved. "George finished her story. "I'm glad you were saved. "Avalon said. She blushed when she realised she had said it out loud. "Yes, so are we," Fred said smiling.
"Otherwise none of us would have met." He said grinning. The explosions and screams seemed to stop. Further along the forest they saw a light coming out of the trees. Soon it turned into a Skul with a snake coming out of its moth, winding itself into a figure of eight. Screams could be heard all along the forest.
Fred and George had a look of terror in their eyes. "Are you okay?" Avalon asked. "That's the dark mark." Fred said. "You know who's Mark." He added. "Usually it means someone has been killed." George added. "Wouldn't we have seen or heard something then?" Avalon asked.
"I don't know." Fred said, looking frightened. "I'm taking you girls away from here." He said taking Avalon's hand. It felt to her like an electric charge went through it. George took Luna's hand and told Ginny to take both Avalon's and Luna's. A few seconds later the same sensation as the Portkey began. And about a minute later they found themselves back on the hillside. Not long after they were joined by Harry, Ron, Hermione and Arthur Weasley.
"Where are Bill, Charlie and Percy? Are they?" George asked. "They're fine. They went to help the Ministry, I want all of you to go to the Burrow. Xeno and I will go to the Ministry and see what we can do to help," Arthur Weasley said. "Tell your mum that everyone is all right, will you?" he said.
Fred nodded. "Thank you boys." He said and disappeared.
Silently they walked down the hill towards the old shed that was the Weasley's house. It was once a small stable but many, many rooms had been added to it and it was so crooked that it had to be held up by magic. Mrs Weasley ran out of the door. "Oh, my goodness, you are all right," she said as she threw herself at the twins. "I never would have forgiven myself," she said, sobbing. "If anything had happened to you and you thought I didn't love you anymore, oh my poor boys."
She said, holding them close. "Mum and the twins had an argument just before we had to leave." Ginny explained. "Where is your father, Percy, Bill and Charlie?" she asked, sounding slightly frightened.
"They are fine Mum. Dad asked me to tell you that they are all at the Ministry, seeing if they can help. And Xenophilius asked if Luna and Avalon could stay with us for the rest of the summer." Fred replied. "Yes, of course. Come in. sweet hearts, I am so glad everyone is safe and sound. And the summer only lasts 2 more days anyway," Mrs Weasley said. as she led everyone into the Burrow.