"Hi."
No one knew what to do. They collectively held their breath afraid that the smallest movement would spook Ava.
Arthur was the first to speak, "Ava, baby girl, how are you feeling?" He figured if she was beginning to feel anxious it would be best to know immediately so they can take her back to where she felt safest, even if that meant taking her back into her room.
Ava didn't seem to be paying attention to Arthur though. She was more interested in the people she didn't know. Two of the redheads were very large and quite intimidating. They made her slightly nervous.
Bill and Charlie both realized that they were the ones making her uncomfortable. They were both fit and tall men. They had no doubt that Ava was comparing them to the other men she had the displeasure of meeting in her short life.
Molly also saw how her daughters eyes kept flickering to her two eldest brothers in discomfort so she decided to try to calm her fears by introducing them first.
"Ava, sweetie. This is you eldest brother Bill and second eldest Charlie. They aren't going to hurt you. I promise. In fact they just want to make you happy."
Bill nodded and gently said, "Ava, if you ever need anything all need to do is ask. Charlie and I would do anything for you. I vow to always protect you." There was a couple gasps as some of the stronger witches and wizards felt the magic of the vow take place. "Do you know what a vow is?"
Ava shook her head negative.
"It's a promise that I can never break. No matter what. And I would never want to. I will do everything in my power to make sure you aren't hurt like that ever again."
"That goes for me as well," Charlie jumped in. "No one will ever hurt a hair on you head if I have any say."
Ava looked at these big men with a cocked head. If she understood them correctly they were like Master but... the opposite? They were big and powerful like Master and could easily hurt her if they wanted but they didn't want to. Instead they would use there bigness and power to make sure she didn't get hurt. Ava thought she liked that thought. Having the big people on her side for once sounded nice.
"You nice to Ava?"
The two of them nodded. "Yes, we'll be very nice to Ava."
"Ava brothers."
They nodded again and Charlie continued, "And these are your other brothers. The funny looking one is Percy. He's a little annoying but nothing to fear." Percy rolled his eyes at the description.
Bill cut in, "And those two are Fred and George. Don't worry if you can't tell them apart. Neither can we and we've known them for thirteen years now."
"They think themselves funny but they won't pull any jokes on you," Percy said giving the twins a look saying they better not anyways.
"Of course not," one twin said.
"But if anyone is ever mean to you..."
"... just let us know."
"We'll make sure they never want bother you again," they finished together.
Charlie continued, "And that one is your twin brother, Ron. He's missed you very much." Ron hadn't moved a muscle since Ricki rolled Ava out. He didn't know what to say or do. He just stared at her trying to keep the horrified look off his face. Bill and Charlie had already seen Ava but the other five had no idea just how bad she would look. Percy and the twins had been able to get passed her appearance enough to keep calm so as not to startle their tiny sister. Ron however was not as prepared as he thought he was earlier that day. Ava, his twin, the other half of his soul... She looked like death. She was so skinny that it made his stomach twist. He had always complained that they were so poor and he couldn't have everything that he wanted and the whole time his sister just wanted food and water.
Bill saw the emotions crossing Ron's face and quickly moved on, "And that is your only sister, Ginny."
Ava lifted her lion, "You give?"
Ginny nodded. She to was not ready for the actual sight of Haley. She knew she had been hurt but she couldn't comprehend how bad off she truly was. How can one human do that to another? Let alone a child! Weren't children special? Isn't that what mom had always said? That a child was a precious gift and needed to be protected? Why would someone hurt one? And from such a young age? Question after question flooded her mind but she answered her big sister's (in years only) question first. "Yes, I gave you that."
"Thank you," Ava said gratefully as if it was the greatest gift ever.
Ricki decided to speak up, "And the lady with pink hair over there is Tonks."
"Rescue," Ava said from memory.
Ricki nodded, "Very good, Ava. She helped rescue you and has protected you since you arrived here. She wants you safe as well."
Ava shyly waved at the pink haired lady.
"It's very nice to finally meet you, Ava," Tonks said croaking.
"Pink," was all Ava said to her.
Tonks chuckled and twirled her hair in her fingers inspecting it. "Yep, it is. Weird isn't it?"
"Like."
Tonks laughed again, "Well maybe one day you can convince your mommy and daddy to let you have pink hair."
Ava slyly smiled while Molly playfully groaned, "But I love her beautiful red hair."
"You all have the same red hair," Tonks teased.
"And I love it on all of us."
Ava rocked uncomfortably in her chair.
"What wrong, Ava?" Ricki asked.
"Back."
"Does it hurt?"
Ava gave a small nod.
"Would you like to lay in bed for a while?"
Ava nodded, "Mommy and Daddy come?"
Arthur stood up first, "Of course we'll come with you."
Ricki pushed Ava's chair back into her room followed by her parents. When the door closed behind them Ron collapsed to the floor.
"Ron!" Bill rushed to his side as did Tonks.
"She looks..." Ron couldn't continue.
"I know, Ronnie," Bill held his baby brother.
"I thought they said she was getting better."
"She is Ron but it takes time. Ava has already come a far way from when she first arrived and given enough time she slowly get even better."
Ron stared at his brother, "You mean a few weeks ago she was worse than this?"
Bill sighed and held Ron even tighter, "It was really bad, Ronnie."
"How could people do that?" Ginny whispered.
Charlie crouched in front of her, "Not everyone is good GinGin. The people that had Ava were as bad as they come. They were sick and barely qualify for the title of human."
"But Mum said kids were special."
"And they are! They should always be protected so these things don't happen to them but sometime the bad people are to tricky."
"Will the bad people do that to me?"
"No!" Bill cried, "We will not let anything happen to you Gin!"
"But everyone let it happen to Ava."