Chapter One

A New School Year Begins

Tera Howell smiled as she made her way across the garden in the back of her countryside home. The sky was blue with fluff cloud coverage and the birds were chirping. Today was turning out to be a fantastic day. She smiled as she remembered the last visit of her two red-headed best friends, they had come over for a weekend in the middle of July and boy did they have fun. The boys had been over the moon when Tera had taught them a few useful little Muggle tricks, one of them being how to pick a lock, "Never know when you'll need to get out of somewhere but can't do magic." she had told them with a bright little smile once they got the hang of it.

Now the twins were planning on 'borrowing' something from their dad to go and see Harry later that same day with their younger brother Ron. They had told her to make sure to be out back and that they'd stop by to see her for a few minutes before heading to Harry's. It was now only ten minutes before they were suppose to arrive and Tera was bored, she watched a dragonfly hover around and smiled, if they were going to be here for a bit she might as well entertain herself. With that thought Tera got up and started dancing around the garden, humming a light little tune and smiling like a small child with a new toy.

Seeing as how she had lost track of time she didn't notice when an old turquoise car landed behind her and two tall red-headed twins piled out, followed closely by their younger brother. As Tera kept humming and dancing, her eyes closed and her smile radiant, she started to hear clapping and laughing behind her. She gasped, her eyes flying open as she bumped her nose against someone's chest. She looked up and saw the smiling face of none other then Fred Weasley looking down at her.

"Hello love, having a bit of fun are we?" he asked with a playful smile.

Tera blushed lightly, looking down at their feet. "How... how long have you been standing there...?" she asked quietly.

"Oh not long. Just a minute or two really" George answered with a chuckle.

Tera just shook her head and looked at the car behind them, walking towards it a bit. "How in the world did you get that back here?" she asked with confusion.

"Oh that? Yeah dad enchanted it to fly." said Fred with a laugh.

"Ah okay... well its nice to see all of you." she said with a smile, tilting her head in confusion when Ron came up and gave her a hug then shuffled back with a blush.

Fred walked closer to her and whispered into her ear. "He's developed a tiny bit of a crush on you over the summer, love." he said with a small laugh.

"Why in the world would he do that?" she asked back with a whisper, a confused frown on her face.

"I dunno, maybe cause he thinks your cute?" Fred said with a shrug, and poking her in the side.

"Yeah right. I'm cute and your a two headed monkey." she said while rolling her eyes.

Fred just smiled at her as George came up behind him and they acted like monkeys, their heads lined up to look like they had one body.

Tera giggled and shoved them playfully. "You two are so silly. So what are your plans for the day?"

"Well we figured we'd hang out here until just a bit before sundown then go and see Harry." said George while moving a bit of hair out of his eyes.

"Alright that's fine. Why don't you guys come in for something to eat? I made cookies just a bit ago and there is some left over stew in the fridge I can reheat for you." she said with a small smile, leading them towards the house.

The Weasley brother's all followed her into the house, their stomachs rumbling and mouths watering. When she placed the food in front of them, she laughed. They inhaled it as fast as possible then looked at her like pitiful puppies wanting more. She just shook her head with a smile and fed them until they were full.

"I swear, you boys would eat me out of house and home." she said with a laugh, shaking her head while she cleared off the table. Fred smiled a bit, getting up to help her clean the dishes while the other two nearly fell off their chairs from being so full and sleepy.

"Thanks for the food love, it was great. You'll make someone a lucky man someday." he said, giving her a playful shove.

Tera blushed lightly, a bit of hair falling in her face to hide her eyes. "Maybe... I doubt I'd find someone who could handle me though." she said lightly, shaking her head somewhat sadly.

"You'll find someone Tera. And when you do I hope you'll be forever happy with him." said Fred while focusing on the dishes, missing the small tender glance Tera had looked at him with. "And hey don't forget that Ron has a crush on you!" he said with a laugh, Tera smacking his shoulder.

"I could never look at Ron that way! Besides, he's not my type and there's someone else who I think might be interested in him and better suited for him too." she said while putting the dishes away.

"Wait a minute! Who likes Ron?" Fred asked with a mischievous smile, looking over at his younger brother and wondering who would have a crush on him.

"Sorry Freddie but that is a secret!" she replied with a laugh, flicking his nose playfully and running to the living room where the other two where sitting, playing a game of exploding snaps.

"Get back here!" yelled Fred with a smile as he chased after her, tripping over the rug and falling on his face. "Ouch.."

They all laughed and Tera turned on some music to listen to while she brought out a deck of cards to play the boys a game of poker. Soon the sun was setting and it was time for the boys to get going, Ron was the first one to hug Tera, holding a second longer then was comfortable then walking away with his ears a bright crimson.

George pulled Tera into a hug and told her to stay out of trouble and to maybe come visit at The Burrow before school starts and Fred just smiled and kissed her forehead. "See you around love." he said as he got behind the wheel and started the car, putting it in gear and taking off into the sky.

"Those boys.." said Tera with a laugh and shake of her head, turning and going back into the house and up to her room, laying down on her bed and smiling at her wall and the collage she had there. All across the wall was random pictures of her friends, all smiling at her, in the middle was a picture of the twins waving at her then pelting Professor Quirrell in the back of the head with snowballs. To think, they were actually pegging Voldemort in the face... what a laugh. "I think I'll go over for a visit the day after tomorrow. I get the feeling Mrs. Weasley will need a bit of cool down time after the boys get home.." with that said she changed into her pajamas and curled up in her bed.

When the day finally arrived that she'd be heading over to The Burrow Tera packed up a black berry pie, a plate of cookies and some of her grandmothers fresh baked sticky buns, into a basket. She covered them all up well and stepped over to the fire place.

Grabbing a pinch of Floo powder and tossing it into the fire. "The Burrow!" she shouted, closing her eyes and mouth to avoid getting soot in them, the spinning feeling accompanied by the sense of being pulled down the drain. She let out a sigh as her feet finally hit solid ground again and stumbled out of the fire place of the Burrow. "Hello? Anyone home?" she asked as she dusted off and placed the basket on the table, glad that the soot hadn't soiled it.

"Hello dear!" said Mrs. Weasley as she walked into the kitchen, her arms loaded up with laundry. "The boys are all out practicing right now but they should be coming back in pretty soon."

"Here let me help you with that." said Tera, grabbing half the clothing from Mrs. Weasley and making quick work of folding them up and sorting them into different piles. "There you go." she said with a bright smile as Mrs. Weasley too finished up with her folding.

"Your quick at that my dear, you'd make quite the house witch." Mrs. Weasley said with a small laugh.

"I like helping my nana and mum around the house when I can." Tera replied with a small smile, walking over to her basket and holding it out to Mrs. Weasley. "Here I brought a few baked goods over for everyone."

"Oh you shouldn't have dear.." said Mrs. Weasley as she took the basket and looked inside. "But thank you none the less." she then placed the basket next to the fridge and called out the door to her children. "BOYS! LUNCH TIME!" she then shooed Tera into a hidden spot in the corner so she could surprise everyone.

Ron and Harry came in first, followed closely by Fred and George.

"So whats for lunch mum? I'm starving!" said Ron as he flopped down in his usual chair, Harry taking a seat next to him. The twins both looked over at the basket and tried to take a peak inside.

"And just what do the two of you think your doing?" asked Tera ask she came out of her hiding spot and gave them a playful yet stern look.

"Tera!" they both shouted in surprise, Ron turning to look so quick he nearly fell out of his seat.

Tera smiled at her boys with a small laugh. "In the flesh." she laughed even more when Ron tried to hug her but was knocked out of the way by the twins."Whoa easy! One at a time boys!" she teased as she hugged George and Fred, Ron looking slightly out put so she gave him a hug too, but she kept it brief so he wouldn't get any ideas. She then turned to Harry and smiled at him. "Hello Harry."

"Hey Tera." he said with a smile as he got up and hugged his cousin, smiling from ear to ear.

"How have those awful Muggles been treating you?" she asked as she went over to the basket and brought him back a few cookies and a plate with a sticky bun on it. "You look like they haven't been feeding you properly." she said with a frown as she set the goodies in front of him and told him to eat.

"Yeah well they haven't. I'm just glad this guys came and got me when they did. I was going mad being stuck there, locked in my room." said Harry as he wolfed down the sugary treats.

Tera frowned, hating how the Dursley's treated her dear cousin, as though he was a prisoner in the very house he had no choice but to grow up in. "Well its good they did. If I had known I would have came and got you myself"

"And how would you have done that, your not allowed to use magic outside of school and I was locked inside my room on the top floor." said Harry while shaking his head at how overly protective that Tera can get at times.

Tera smirked lightly and shrugged. "I have my ways dear cousin. I have my ways.."

Harry just laughed and shook his head, finishing off the last few crumbs on his plate. "So how long you staying for Tera?"

"Uhm... I'm not sure... mom had to go to a pretty bad medical case out in France and wont be back until the day after tomorrow and nana took Callum with her to go see her sister, our great aunt Silvia. She's a bit nutty the one, but we love her all the same." said Tera, her eyes staring off into space for a few moments, remembering something then shaking her head.

"So your home alone? Then you can stay here with us!" said the twins with big smiles, standing on each side of her with and arm around her shoulders. "Right mum?" George asked with a smile.

"That's fine. At the very least stay for dinner" Mrs. Weasley said with a kind smile at she put out the food for lunch.

"Thank you, I'd very much appreciate that." Tera said with a big smile, her eyes lighting up a bit. "Is there anything I can help you with Mrs. Weasley?"

"Nothing really dear, Magic does most of the work and your too young to do magic outside of school without getting in trouble." she said while shaking her head.

"Yes but I know how to do things the Muggle way. I can peel and cook potatoes at the very least. Would that be alright?" Tera asked imploringly, wanting very badly to help out.

"Well if your sure you want to help dear.." Mrs. Weasley said with uncertainty.

"Of course. Just tell me what you need help with." Tera said, smiling brightly while handing Harry another cookie.

A few hours later had Mrs. Weasley in awe of Tera. This young witch could keep up with her in the kitchen and help with chores without using magic. And unlike her own boys, she didn't complain about it but instead hummed lightly and smiled through out the work.

As the two of them set the tablet the boys all charged down the stairs, knowing it was almost time for supper.

"What's cookin' good lookin'?" asked Fred and George in a playful way as they both looked over Tera's shoulder.

"Its a surprise, now go sit down before you do something to make it stick to the ceiling." she said with a laugh, shooing them away and muttering to herself about cookie dough stuck to the light in her kitchen still.

The twins laughed and sat down, knowing that Tera was still confused by how the cookie dough had gotten in the dome the protected the light bulb in her kitchen.

"Okay! Dinner is ready!" Mrs. Weasley said as her and Tera places all the food within reach of everyone and sat down themselves just as Mr. Weasley can in the door. "Hello dear."

"Ah Molly my love, dinner smells wonderful as usual." Mr. Weasley said, giving his wife a peck on the cheek.

Molly blushed lightly and smiled at the bit of affection. "Well I had wonderful help." she said with a nod to Tera.

"Ah! Tera how are you dear girl? I haven't seen you since your birthday."

"I've been fine Mr. Weasley, thank you for asking." Tera said pleasantly.

They all ate dinner and chatted pleasantly, Tera occasionally checking her watch and clicking the 2nd button on it. After dinner Tera gathered up her things with a sigh, she had been having a grand old time and really didn't want to head home.

Hey Tera... why don't you stay here?" asked George who had noticed Tera's down and out mood. "You don't have to go home to an empty house." he said kindly, knowing that she had been checking her watch to see if anyone was home yet.

"I wouldn't want to impose on your family, you all have been so wonderful letting me stay for dinner... I couldn't possibly be more of a bother then I already have.."

"Ter... you are not a bother, in fact you have been more helpful then most of us kids who live here. You helped more do the dishes, laundry and cook dinner. We all complain about it but you, you seemed to enjoy yourself. So trust me when I say you are not a both." George said with a kind smile and a hug. "Your like a sister to me and I hate to think of you going home to a empty house while your family is away."

Tera sighed and smiled up at him, nodding lightly. "Alright you've convinced me, let me just go ask your mother if its okay and then Floo over to the house to get a few things, like jammies and such." Tera said, walking off to talk to Mrs. Weasley then going back to her house, grabbing her nightgown, tooth brush, pillow, her old stuffed rabbit her mum and nana had given her and her favorite fleece blanket. She then Flooed back to the Burrow and set herself up on the couch, insisting that it would be fine when Mrs. Weasley tried to fuss over her.

The twins smiled at her from the stairs, saying their good nights and blowing her kisses playfully, her smile and light blush making them laugh as she too said good night. Ron who had been trying to get Tera's attention all day huffed when she gave Harry a good night hug and only told him good night with a small smile, but that smile made his ears redden none the less.

Tera shook her head and sighed, not understanding why Ron was acting so weird around her as she flopped down on the couch and curled up under her blanket, letting sleep claim her, her dreams being sweet for a few hours before them morphed into horrible nightmares that made her scream out in her sleep. As she wiped at the tears streaming down her face she shuddered, the room felt freezing to her, the air felt like it was smothering her and she couldn't sleep in this room anymore. She gathered up her things and blindly made her way up the stairs in the dark, knocking lightly on the door in front of her and standing there, shivering and feeling rather pathetic.

Fred opened the door and looked around with bleary eyes before he finally saw her, looking down at her shivering form in show. "Dear God, what happened to you love?" he asked as she fell into his chest and held on to him for dear life.

"I h-had a ho-horrible nigh-nightmare... can I st-stay up he-here for the ni-night...?" she asked between light sobs, the nightmare having taken a toll on her nerves.

"Of course, come on." he said while leading her over to the bed, laying down and taking her in his arms, holding her tightly as her small form shook with fear, tears soaking through his shirt as he rubbed her back soothingly. "Shh... your alright love, your alright.."

George grumbled in his sleep and turned over, wondering what all the noise was about then saw his brother holding Tera who looked like she was pretty shaken up. "W-whats going on...?" he asked in a groggy voice followed by a yawn.

"Tera had a bad dream and didn't want to be alone. Go on back to sleep George, she'll be fine once she falls back asleep." Fred said without looking up from the young girl in his arms.

"Alright..." George said, smiling slightly at how protective his brother was being over the little Hufflepuff.

Tera buried her nose in the crook of Fred's neck, after about half an hours she had calmed down and fell into a dreamless sleep, a content sigh escaping her lips.

Fred wiped the last few tears off of Tera's face and smiled, to think their tough little Hufflepuff had nightmares so bad they'd make her seek him out in comfort. He just shook his head and kissed her forehead lightly. "Sleep well Tera, lord knows you need it." and he pulled her just a bit closer as he too succumbed to the blissful call of sleep.

Tera yawned, snuggling closer to the source of that wonderful warmth, her nose buried in soft fabric as she breathed in a comforting and slightly familiar smell, while she tried to place where she knew that sent from she she stretched out, a small groan escaping her as her back popped. She moved to sit up but felt something around her waist, holding her in place, she slowly opened her eyes but all she could see was hair. And it was far to red to be her own which confused her greatly.

She wiggled in an attempt to break free from whatever it was that had her pinned and heard a groan of protest. With a small gasp and a bit of effort she sat up and looked down at the sleepy yet smiling face of Fred Weasley.

"Morning love. Did you sleep alright." Fred asked, his sky blue eyes glowing with kindness.

"How... when... what...?" she floundered, looking completely confused.

"You had a nightmare last night and came up here cause you didn't want to be alone, don't you remember?"

Tera thought about it hard for a few minutes then nodded, smiling shyly at him, a blush on her cheeks. "Sorry about that... I guess I was looking for someplace I would feel safe enough to fall back asleep.." she mumbled, somewhat embarrassed.

Fred just smiled and kissed the end of her nose playfully. "No worries. Hell you hardly took up any room at all on the bed and I was perfectly comfortable." he said with a smirk.

Tera's blush brightened to crimson and spread across her cheeks like wildfire, clashing horribly with her hair. "Well I be-better get go-going before e-everyone else wa-wakes up..." she muttered, pecking him on the cheek quickly then nearly running out of the room. When Tera got to the living room she gathered her things and jumped into the fireplace, throwing down some Floo powder at the same time, then walking out of her own fireplace, the blush still fanned across her face as she headed upstairs to change into some regular clothes.

As Tera walked downstairs, having calmed her embarrassment her mother told her not to worry. She had already picked up all of her supplies for school and since she hadn't gotten any taller had her new robes made to the same measurements as her last ones.

"Well then... I guess now I just have to wait for September 1st..." she mumbled to herself as she sat down to read one of her Muggle romance novels. This school year should be interesting indeed.