Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Green-Eyed Orphan ❯ Chapter 3

Chapter Three

 

Christiana stared at Percy completely dumbfounded. She had not exactly expected to be offered a job right away. She had maybe expected an interview and perhaps them offering to get back with her once they had reached a decision, but it seemed that these red-headed fellows made decisions more quickly than that. Her mouth hung open at the prospect of having a job and a place to stay even before ten in the morning, this being the same morning she had lost her place to stay.

“You'd best close your mouth before something flies in and decides to make nest,” George pointed out with a sly grin. Christiana did not realize that she had just been standing there open-mouthed until just then. She flushed scarlet. “If you don't want the job, we'll understand. You can still stay at our place as long as you pay your share on time. Of course, if you work here, we can just take it out of your pay.”

“Yes!” Christiana almost screamed. “I mean, yes, I want the job,” she said in a more composed voice.

“I just hope you can handle living with three guys,” Charlie said with a small smile.

“I can certainly handle living with you,” she blurted out then clapped her hand over her mouth. Her face turned redder than it had ever done in her life and she put her hands over her face to hide it. Percy and George just looked at each other smirking. Charlie turned a bit red himself.

“Well—uh—I have to get going,” Charlie said. Then he muttered something about picking up more supplies from London for the shop and walked out the door. Christiana wondered about this considering he had just told her he didn't work with George and Percy, but she imagined that her comment had embarrassed him beyond belief.

“It's okay to speak your mind,” George reassured her, seeing she was quite upset.

“I just can't believe that you would offer all of this to a complete stranger. I mean, you don't know anything about me, yet you are offering me a job and a place to live.”

“Don't worry—erm—I don't believe I caught your name?” Percy asked.

“Oh, I'm sorry!” she exclaimed, realizing her bad manners. “My name is Christiana Dalton. I would be honored to work for you. I just want to make an honest living.” She smiled, even though she knew she must look a fright with a shiner on her eye.

“Good,” George said. “I'm going to get Percy working on something and I'm going to show you how to run the shop when we're not around to help you.”

*

It was about three hours later, and Christiana was efficiently running the register and knew where every single product was supposed to go, what it did, and how much it cost. There was a list of inventory with this information under the counter just in case someone asked about something and she couldn't remember. George and Percy had to go pick up some things for the store, so George gave her the rundown on how to lock up since they wouldn't be back by closing time. She was just getting ready to turn off all the lights when a flash of that familiar red hair blurred by the door. Suddenly, Charlie's face appeared in the doorway. Christiana was just getting all the lights out. She headed to the door to go out and lock it. Charlie backed up to allow her enough room.

While she was locking the door, he said, “Mum said to invite you for dinner.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and stared at a spot somewhere above her head. She held back a giggle.

“You told your mother about me?” Christiana asked, finishing up the lockdown. She raised her eyebrows in surprise.

“It wasn't me!” he exclaimed, looking like he had just been accused of highway robbery. She did giggle at his reaction. “I swear!” he continued. “It was George. He told Mum that I had found him a new employee and she asked about who you were and—”

“It is fine, Charlie,” Christiana said with a broad smile. “I would be delighted to have dinner with your family.”

“Really? I mean, you would?” Charlie stammered. Christiana turned to face him.

“Of course I would. You, Percy, and George are so amusing. I couldn't imagine what the rest of your family would be like. And besides, I've never had much family to spend time with.” She'd let out that little secret without even realizing it. She'd noticed that when Charlie was around, she tended to say these things without thinking about them beforehand. She didn't feel the need to censor herself around him for some odd reason.

“Why is that?” he asked, but she was not ready to reveal to him why her seclusion from their world had been so important. Although she had gone to a wizarding school, she had not had any friends to spend time with. She had never gone back to the Daltons for Christmas. She had only gone for the summers. Usually, they were at work all day, and she would only have supper with them. She suddenly became conscious of what a lonely life she had led thus far. She could tell by looking in his eyes he really wanted to know why she was so lonely, but she just shook her head. Thankfully, he let it go.

“Let's go, Charlie,” she said, wishing to be in a place with more people and more rooms that she could possibly escape his stare. It made her heart flutter wildly—it was unnerving, in fact—and she wasn't so sure she liked that feeling. He grasped her arm for side-along Apparition, since she had no clue where his home was. She hated that squeezing feeling. She usually just used the Floo network or a broom. She had already had to use Apparition once today, and it had not been particularly pleasant, especially considering the fact that she had brought her unwanted guest along with her.

When the darkness of Apparition receded into the twilight, Christiana noticed that she and Charlie were standing in a field just beyond a rickety-looking house. It was a bit spooky, because there weren't any other houses in sight, and no lights but the ones from the windows of the house. She felt Charlie grab her hand and pull her toward the house.

“Just keep holding on to me and you won't trip over anything,” he muttered. Her feet were dragging a bit and she tried to pick up her pace, but she was so afraid something was going to come out of the shadows. As they neared the house, she saw a small gnome chewing on something in the garden. At the sight of them, he scampered away out of sight. The lopsided house was intriguing, and it was hard for Christiana to enter to doorway, because she was still trying to get a good look at the outside.

“Come on, Christy,” Charlie coaxed. “You can see it again in the daylight some other time. It will still be here, I promise. It's reinforced by magic, so it's not going to fall down anytime soon, despite its appearance.”

Fifteen minutes later, Christiana was convinced that she was seeing the most red-headed people at one time than ever before in her life. There was Charlie, of course, and George and Percy that she knew. Charlie introduced her to his mother, Molly and father Arthur. They had entered the kitchen just as Arthur Weasley came in through the fireplace. George and Percy were taking up space in the kitchen and Molly was fussing at them telling them to get out. Charlie led her on toward a living area where another boy with red hair who was probably two years younger than she sitting on the couch snogging a slender girl with rather bushy hair. Suddenly, another couple appeared behind them.

“Hullo, Charlie,” a male voice said from behind them, making Christiana let out a little yelp and jump a bit.

“Bill!” Charlie exclaimed, giving this newcomer a hearty hug. “Where's Fleur?”

“She's still in the kitchen with Mum. You know she enlisted her help as soon as we arrived.”

“Bill, this is Christiana. She's staying with me, Percy, and George, and working at the joke shop. Mum insisted I bring her home for dinner.”

“Nice to meet you,” Bill said, making a little bow at her. She quickly took in his appearance, trying not to show her shock. He had a wolfish quality about him, long hair pulled back in a ponytail, and an earring in one ear. He was congenial, though, and she supposed if he was part of this family, he was probably all right, as were all the other brothers she had met thus far—well, excepting that one kissing the girl on the couch. She supposed Fleur must be either Bill's wife or a sister or some distant relative. “My wife, Fleur, will be along shortly.” Well that solved that mystery, Christiana thought to herself. Another red head, this time a girl, appeared behind Bill.

“Ugh, Ron, would you two get a room if you're going to do that? Honestly, we know you're married, but save it, please!” she said, putting on an expression of pure disgust. Ron was the boy on the couch, because he disentangled himself from the bushy-haired girl. Both of them had red, swollen lips from kissing for too long at once. Christiana fought the urge to giggle girlishly. She had never been kissed—had never even had so much as a love interest—due to her status as an outcast for so long. The bushy-haired girl turned a bright shade of scarlet and rushed up the stairs. Christiana hoped she would come back. She was eager to get acquainted with everyone here. They all seemed so interesting and she didn't feel like so much of an outcast here. She felt like she had friends for once in her life. Ron's ears were bright red, clashing with his mussed hair, which he was hopelessly to smooth down. The girl who had told him to get a room stepped over to Christiana.

“Hi, I'm Ginny Weasley. I'm the only girl out of seven siblings, so I tend to act like them. Please accept my apology ahead of time for anything I may do or say that would embarrass you.” She grinned mischievously and stuck out her hand. Christiana took it with a warm smile of her own and shook.

“It's so nice to meet you. I'm Christiana Dalton, but you can call me Christy. I work at the joke shop as of today and live with three of your brothers. I'll try to take care of them for you.” At this statement, Ginny burst into laughter.

“They don't even let Mum take care of them, much less someone else. They're pretty independent, but if you like to have a good time, then they're good roommates. Oh! How embarrassing!” she exclaimed, and Christiana looked rather confused.

“You didn't do anything embarrassing,” Christiana replied, looking around for someone doing something to cause her to comment.

“Oh, no, it's just that I introduced myself as Ginny Weasley, and I'm Ginny Potter now. You see, I just got married a few days ago, and I'm still not used to the idea of having his last name yet.”

“Potter?” Christiana asked incredulously, not knowing if she wanted it to be Harry Potter one and the same or not. She wanted to pray that it wasn't, because she could then prolong meeting her half brother, but at the same time she wanted to pray that it was, because she could at least meet him and get to know him.

“That's right, I'm married to a celebrity,” Ginny sighed. “I could have done much worse than Harry Potter though. Speak of the devil himself,” she said looking over Christiana's shoulder at the doorway that led into the kitchen. Christiana suddenly noticed that Bill and Charlie weren't anywhere to be seen. She hadn't even noticed them leave. The boy named Ron that Ginny had yelled at had also disappeared and they were quite alone in the living room. Christiana felt isolated again, and very scared. She was about to meet her half brother for the first time. He didn't even know she existed. He didn't know they were related. She didn't think she was quite ready for him to know that yet either. She tried to swallow down the fear that was threatening to consume her. She was hearing a sound like a freight train screaming in her ears, and she really thought she was going to pass out. She felt herself sway on the spot, but a strong arm caught her.

“All right there, Christy?” Charlie's voice whispered low in her ear. His voice had a wonderful calming effect on her, and she regained her footing and consciousness.

“Yes, I think I'm just a bit hungry,” she replied, smiling. All the same, his hand was still on her arm holding her up as Ginny pulled away from kissing her husband and towed him over to meet her newfound friend.

“Harry Potter, this is Christiana Dalton. She works at the joke shop and lives with Charlie, George, and Percy. Christiana, this is my husband and national wizarding celebrity, the Dark Lord Vanquisher, Harry Potter!” She gave a mock wave at him like she was showing off what was up for grabs on a game show.

“Really, Ginny, must you introduce me like that?” Harry's tone showed a fair bit of annoyance with his wife.

“Sorry…” she replied, and turned a bit red. She hurried off toward the kitchen, and Christiana was certain that those were tears in her eyes.

“You can call me Christy,” Christiana heard herself say, although she really wanted to go after Ginny and calm her. Charlie still had a firm hold on her arm though, and she was pretty sure that she wasn't going anywhere without him for a while. But not more than a second later, he departed from her side, leaving her quite unaccompanied with Harry.

“So where are you from?” Harry asked her, saving her from fishing for a subject to talk about.

“France,” Christiana replied. “I attended Beauxbatons.”

“Oh, well then you must know Bill's wife Fleur?” he asked.

Suddenly, Christiana put two and two together. The Veela, Fleur Delacour, that had gone off to that Triwizard thing at Hogwarts was one and the same as Bill's wife! “So you were in that competition together!” she exclaimed out of nowhere.

“You mean the Triwizard Tournament? Yes, we were. Charlie is the one that brought in the dragons for one of the tasks.” Christiana was feeling like she had just stepped into a whole family of celebrities.

“Madame Maxime wouldn't allow me to attend and put my name in the goblet. She said I was not yet ready.” Christiana frowned. She knew the real reasons, but she did not want to disclose them as of yet. She flashed back to the end of August of that year. Her father had come to visit her before the start of term

“Can't I just go and not put my name in the goblet?” Christiana had whined.

“You would just be taking up space then,” Snape had replied, and Maxime had nodded.

“No one is going who isn't entering the tournament,” Maxime said gently. “Besides, Severus, wouldn't that put her in more danger of discovery on Potter's part? She would be safer here at Beauxbatons whilst we attend this tournament.” Christiana had tears of frustration running down her cheeks.

“It's not fair! He gets to do whatever he wants and he doesn't know anything about me. If I showed up, how would he know? Who's going to tell him?! If you don't let me go, Daddy, I'll hate you forever!” Severus frowned.

“I'm sorry, Christy, but I just can't allow you to attend,” he had replied, slight disappointment at her behavior showing in the crease between his eyebrows.

“Then I hate you!” she had screamed and stomped off.

“What's wrong?” Charlie asked, seeing tears filling her eyes in the present moment as he came back into the living room. “What did you do to her, Harry?” he joked.

“We were just talking about the Triwizard Tournament and she got all teary-eyed! I swear, I didn't do a thing.” Harry crossed his arms across his chest.

“It's not him,” Christiana agreed, exonerating him from blame. “I just had a memory of my father where I was telling him I hated him…”

“My father just died,” Christiana whispered to them. Harry nodded his understanding.

“Both my parents are dead, too,” Harry said, as if this would make her feel better about her situation. “So, I guess that makes us both sort of orphans?”

“Yes,” Christiana replied, realizing he really did understand her pain even better than she understood it. After all, he had never had his parents. She had at least had one of hers for part of her life.

Molly stuck her head in. “Dinner's ready. And do call upstairs for Hermione and Ron. I don't want them to be late to the table again!”