RP: Let's get this party started

[pb_bill]

Characters: Weasleys and guests
Date: 25 January 2000
Location: Shell Cottage
Status: Semi-private (if a Weasley would have logically invited you, jump in! Add your tag as you join, please.)
Summary: Redheads throw good shindigs.
Completion: Closed. (group thread)

Comments

[pb_ron]

Ron was excited and nervous about arriving, and had apparated to the the front gate, Megan next to him. He was excited about seeing Bill; he thought highly of his oldest brother, and knowing he was back and about was brilliant. And Ron was nervous as well, for Megan's sake. It was her first Weasley event as the holidays had sort of fallen through, what with almost half of the sibs being in the hospital, and her little boy being sick. So, it was the first official Weasley sponsored affair that he had brought her to, as his official girl should anyone ask. He had made an apple pie that morning at the flat, carefully practicing the steps he'd learned a few weekends before from his mum (she knew he was bringing it, so he hoped there'd be some room for it) and he held Megan's hand firmly in his.

He looked at her, and kissed her cheek for confidence or luck and had moved forward through the gate to the house. He reached the door, and let go of Megan so that he could push it and hold it open for her. He was more than excited to be here again, even if the last time had been less than a happy event. He'd take some time at some point to go visit Dobby's grave, he knew, and the memory of all of it was more tangible than he'd thought. It seemed like another lifetime ago, when they had escaped here, to find Dobby dead. And then it had turned around as they'd headed off to Gringotts, to break into that place of all things. Ron glanced at Megan, knowing at some point he'd like to share all that he was thinking with her, so that she could better understand him. He hoped that they'd have some time today, but he wasn't too sure. He flashed a quick reassuring smile at her and then called out, "Hello? Bill? Any Weasleys about?"

[pb_bill]

"Another Weasley!" Bill popped his head into the room and nodded towards the door. "Quit lingering indoors, Ronniekins. We're out on the beach. Leave the kitchen to Mum, would you?"

He started to disappear again, then re-popped. "'scuse my manners, miss," he said, looking at the girl beside his youngest brother. "Hi and how are ya? He sucker you into visitin' the clan?"

[pb_megan]

Megan was nervous, which was uncharacteristic of her. Then again, she'd never really been in this sort of position before. When she was meant to spend part of the holidays with the Weasley's, she'd been on edge enough, but now she was even more nervous because after putting it off the first time she'd had more time to let the anticipation and anxiousness build. Meeting Ron's family was a big deal to her. She already knew George from visiting Ron's flat, and she knew Ginny through the Harpies, and knew of Charlie through her father's business with dragons, but this was entirely different. It was one thing to greet someone in passing, and another entirely to go to an event put on by the family itself. It was a big step in her and Ron's relationship too, in her eyes at least. She also knew by reputation how tightly knit the Weasleys were. If they didn't like her, it could be problematic. Fortunately it seemed that the few she had met liked her well enough.

She tried not to let her nerves get the better of her, and tried to keep her posture relaxed. If she was nervous, they'd surely know, and that could lead to uneasiness all around. She kept close to Ron as they made their way up to the door and then clasped her hands together in front of herself while she waited as Ron knocked on the door. She was appreciative of the kiss to her cheek and her smile showed it as she met Ron's eyes once before the door opened, then she saw his older brother standing there and smiled at him.

"Hi," she said. "Yeah, he managed to convince me by telling me how cool his older brothers were."

[pb_ron]

Ron said, "Hey!" and he put the pie on the counter and moved towards his oldest brother, to give him a large hug.

"Bill! You look fantastic! This is Megan Jones. I did convince her to come, using some sort of persuasive arguement about how great all Weasley men can be," and Ron moved back over to take Megan's hand, "How does it feel to be back, Bill? Is everyone here already?"

He had a slew of questions, and was ready to follow Bill, where ever he would lead.

[pb_bill]

"Welcome, Megan." Bill patted Ron on the back and nodded to Megan, grinning wide as always. "Feels great, everyone's having a ball. Out to the beach with your bird, kiddo. Try not to fall in the fire!" He bounced off to steal more biscuits from Molly and go harass his family some more.

[pb_megan]

"Thank you!" She called after him as he bounded off to wherever he intended to go. Megan bit her lip and looked up at Ron. "That went.. all right, yeah?" She smiled a little and took hold of his hand again.

Curiosity had started to break through the nerves and she was actually becoming more excited about this gathering and meeting more of his family. "Should we go then?"

[pb_ron]

Ron grinned, "Okay," and he paused, "Can we go look at something? While it's still light outside?" he asked. He wasnt' going to drag her with him if she was more eager to go down to the beach, but he had to see the little grave that was here, just outside of the fence. It had been that long since he'd been here, and he wanted to show her as well. He wanted to share all of his life with her, all of the little memories and adventures; he wanted to make some new ones as well.

[pb_megan]

Megan smiled and nodded. "Of course we can. Whatever you want to do, Ron," she replied. She was still quite curious, and wanted to see everything before they left. If there was something in particular that Ron wanted to show her, then she by all means wanted to see it. Any part of his life that he wanted to make known to her, she thought she was ready to receive it. It scared her a little, to be ready to share so many things with someone else, but she'd dove head first into this relationship with Ron and she wanted to see it through. "Lead the way."

[pb_ron]

He turned and looked about, and lead them back to the door they'd entered. Out on the walk, with the light changing, he took her hand and moved to the outside of the little fence that surrounded the cottage. There were the two bushes, on the opposite side of the house from the path that led down to the beach.

He stopped at the bushes and looked down at the ground, "He's here. A free Elf," and he bent down, to move the debris that had collected off of the stone, showing her. He looked up from his squatting position, "He helped us. He really saved us at the Malfoy Mansion. They were going to kill us and he got us out of there. But he died in the process."

He looked down and sighed, frowning, "It was another lifetime ago. It feels like it happened to someone else, not me. Certainly not me," and he rose to meet her gaze, "I wanted to show you, for you to see," he said, not sure how to explain the rest to her.

[pb_megan]

Megan laced their fingers as they walked. She had no idea what he wanted to show her, but she was open to whatever it was. When he began the story, it certainly wasn't anything she would've guessed he was going to say.

They stopped at a little grave, where he informed her that resting beneath was an elf. He went on to say that the elf had helped to save his life. What happened to Ron during their schooling years wasn't something Megan had been a part of. Everyone knew about Harry Potter, Ron, and Hermione. She doubted anyone but the three of them fully understood what they'd gone through, and she wasn't going to pretend that she could. But if Ron wanted to talk to her about it, she'd listen. There was no questioning that.

She met his eyes, and she too was unsure of what to say. Words weren't her forte anyway, and this was something she had no real way to relate to. "What's his name?" She asked. That was the first thing that came to mind. She referred the elf in present tense on purpose; just because someone passed on, their name was still alive. That was how Megan saw things, anyway.

[pb_ron]

"Dobby, his name was Dobby," and he was grateful she wanted to hear about this, "He was really looking out for Harry. Harry managed to free him from the Malfoy's and he got work at Hogwarts, in the kitchen. I never thought of them as intelligent beings. We never had one, at our house, but I don't remember my parents ever, well, liking them or talking about them like they..mattered much. Hermione was the one who saw them as individuals, and Dobby was the one who interceded between her and their world. Man, he was a character," Ron said, rising and brushing the dirt lose from his hands, "He was given clothes, a sock, and that started this huge sock collection for him. And Hermione tried to sneak clothes to the school house-elves all of the time, in the trash, so Dobby would collect all of these knitted hats. He couldn't stand to hurt her feelings and explain that they did not want to be liberated. In the end, we were trapped in the Malfoy Masion, and he could apparate us out of there where we couldn't. Bellatrix Lestrange killed him," and Ron moved to put his arms around Megan, looking out over the hill and then back at the grave, "That little house-elf made me change my mind about loads of things," and he turned to look in her face, "He made me realize that more than just wizards and Muggles were at jeopardy during the war. All beings needed to join together to fight. All creatures were at risk. And so, they did, they fought with us in the last battle, but not Dobby. He died before that victory. He never knew how much he helped change things," and he gave her a weak smile, "I'm such a sap, I know. But I've been thinking about my present and it was what I did in the past that has led me to this point, to this moment right now. Where I am going from here, I am not so sure," and he met her blue eyes, "But I know I see you there, with me, Megan."

[pb_megan]

She listened quietly as he talked about the elf, Dobby, and let him tell the her the story. Megan had never really asked him about the adventures he had with Harry and Hermione. She didn't want him to think that the only reason she was interested in him was because of that. That wasn't who she was. But if he ever want to talk to her about it, as he was now, that was fine with her.

She didn't say anything at first, just leaned against him and soaked in his words. The last part was a little intimidating, and yet it felt .. oddly right, to her. It scared her, but it was exciting, too. "You know, Ron, I'm not going to pretend for a minute that I can understand all of the things you went through. I.. I can't even imagine." She laid a hand against his chest, just to rest it there. "I'm happy to be here, with you. I think you're pretty great."

[pb_ron]

Ron sighed, "It started this fire in my belly, this determination to help people, protect them. That was why I went into the program. That's why I am there," and he took a big sigh, "I'll stick with it. I know that people need to feel safe, knowing there are people who care, who are watching out for them. I care, very much so. I have to tell you, Megan, Anthony's really onto something these days. He's got these fantastic ideas of ways to help," and Ron paused, "Suits and devices that protect them. The ideas are so exciting to me, almost more so than the actual program."

He looked down at her face, her hand on his chest, "I've learned so much about myself in the program. I feel better about my abilities and skills, and every day I get stronger and a little bit faster. But I am not quite as sure as I used to be, Meggie. Maybe the world doesn't need another auror. Maybe that is not what I am supposed to be doing with my life."

He shook his head and then put his forehead to hers, "I'm sorry. I get with you, and I start thinking very serious thoughts, grown-up thoughts. I want to be a good man to you, Megan. I want you to be proud of me, and what I do with my life. And I'm not sure, right now. I used to be so confident that this was the right path for me to be on," and he sighed, "I think I am thinking too hard. And look at you," he said, starting to smile down at her, "Your pretty eyes on me, like a little owl, probably going, Whoa! He's lost some of his marbles."

[pb_megan]

Megan was a little surprised by all this. She'd never really had anyone confide in her like this, or have her opinions and thoughts be held in such a high regard. He was such a good person, and Megan didn't really think that much of herself. She didn't really do much for anyone else, save for her son. It was hard for her to know what to say, so she mostly just listened to him. Sometimes, she knew, that was actually more help than if she was talking. It would allow him to get his thoughts out.

She smiled back at him and lifted a hand to lightly rest against his cheek. "I don't think that at all," she finally said. "I think you're pretty great, Ron. You want to help so many people, people you've never even met. That's very admirable. I am proud of you, but it's not because of your occupation. I think you're amazing. I'm not sure what it is you see in me, honestly. I feel really lucky, to have you in my life."

Her own words surprised her as much as his had. She'd never gotten this close to someone before, or valued a boy she dated. But Ron was so different than anyone else she knew, and none of the same rules she had applied to him.

[pb_ron]

"Well, just so you know, you seem to make me want to think more, be more mature," and he gave her a small smile, "I can't explain it. Heck, maybe it's the fact that you have Mattie, and you've been through so much yourself. I mean, I know I've had some fairly wild experiences in my life, but what is the end product? No little boy to look at. He seems to be a far more valuable result of the things you've gone through in your life."

Ron stepped back, and slid her hand into his, ready to lead them down the cliff to the beach below, "I'm sorry, Megan. I think if you asked any of my brothers they would profess that I am not the serious type, not in the least. In fact, they'd probably be as shocked as hell. I'm sort of the 2nd baby of the family, at least in their eyes, you know? The youngest brother of the bunch, never expected to amount to much," and he let them pause, looking back at the grave, "They don't know me as well as they used to. Maybe George does," and he paused, "And Percy," and he sighed a little.

He stepped closer to her, and pulled her to him, and this time, he kissed her, letting himself get lost in her smells and tastes for that moment, as if fortifying himself before he faced his family. He pulled back, feeling loads better, "Thanks," he said, smiling.

[pb_megan]

Megan shrugged her shoulders. She didn't think she'd been through anything too terribly traumatic. Nothing life threatening, heroic, or tragic. She didn't change the world, or anything like that. Of course, she'd changed her own world by having a baby, and he was very special to her, but that wasn't the same thing.

"I think the fact that you've been through so much and you're not completely jaded and serious all the time is wonderful. It'd be so easy for you to just dwell on all the hardships you've had to endure, or soak up the fact that you've been a hero and hold it over everyone. But you're so down to Earth, and just a really, really great bloke."

She smiled as he pulled her to him, and closed her eyes when he leaned down to kiss her. She returned it, pressing her hands against his chest to brace herself as the kiss lingered. When he broke the kiss, she was still smiling. "Anytime."