CHAPTER TWELVE - THE GARDEN PARTY

By the time Saturday morning had fully become underway, Claudia was just a tiny bit nervous. She tried to pry herself on never feeling nervous, that she had gone through a lot more that was scary, enough to rattle someone's bones then just meeting new people. That in reality she had met people a lot more terrifying than a family of non-conformist pure bloods. But she had never met a family as someones 'girlfriend' before. That had never ever been something she had done. And if all rumours regarding the Weasley family were correct then she had a reason to be afraid. For by the sounds of it the time she had met Lord Voldemort was going to pale to the meeting of Molly Weasley. 

The matriarch of the Weasley family was not known to be an overly welcoming person. She wasn't known to make an effort to be kind to her children's partners yet get to know them. And even though at the end of the day, Claudia wasn't really a partner, she was just as scared as if she was. There had been stories passing around the Ministry for a few years now of how Molly had treat her daughter-in-laws upon meeting them. How she had been incredibly cruel to Fleur ,a woman from high society, who she had believed was only marrying her son because of his good looks. How she had refused to talk to Audrey for months because she wasn't the person she had suspected Percy to marry. And the ongoing rumours that even though she knew Angelina well, that because George hadn't been the child she expected the girl to marry that she hadn't been the nicest to her either. So who knows how the older woman would react to Claudia. Claudia who was clearly from another walk of life to them. Claudia who's family was clearly aligned with the opposite side during the war. Claudia who was completely different to Ron's last girlfriend. 

"Claude you don't have to worry too much about my mum. She's not going to like you either way don't do anything to impress her. She doesn't deserve it." Ron had been trying for about half an hour to convince Claudia she didn't need to bring anything to the family dinner. He was firmly happy he had turned up early that morning and caught the younger girl in a state of confusion as to what to bring with her. Used to always bringing a gift for the host. 

"But it's not common theme to not bring something."

"Not for my family Claudie, it'll be fine I promise." Ron's words were slowly cracking through the resolve she had been stuck in, and as he watched her finally place the bottle of wine she had been so hell-bent on bringing down he felt himself let out a sigh of relief. He knew from when Fleur had first come around that when she brought a bottle of wine it only gave his mother more to complain about. 

"Only if you're certain." Claudia seemed to move from her kitchen counter over to him.

"I'm certain. Because no matter how amazing you are, which you really are. Nothing we do will get my mum to like you except for time." Ron gave her a little rub on her upper arm in support. He could only imagine the immense pressure she was feeling. He had felt nervous upon realising he was meeting her family but they had been much more welcoming than he had ever known his family to be. A complete contrast to what was expected of both families. 

And Ron was right, for when Claudia introduced herself to his mother, Molly Weasley wanted nothing to do with her. She had ignored the girls outstretched hand of greeting and turned directly to her son. And the look the older woman sported upon being told that Claudia was her son's new girlfriend, that was something that should have been framed on the wall. Because it was truly comical. Claudia was sure she had never seen such a facial expression, to the point where she couldn't truly describe it nor replicate it herself. 

"So how did you two meet?" It was a simple question, one they had a good clear answer to but Ron had turned more to Claudia for an answer, nervous of his own mother she could see that. And therefore, her hand went to his left arm, like it had started to do so often as she prepared to answer. 

"Ronald and I both work quite a lot together. He often has to bring some of the complaints over to my department. We struck up conversation with one another after having enough of the polite greetings and it's grown from there." Claudia's words and obvious silver spoon way of speaking would usually win over even the most of stuck up people. Yet it wasn't enough for Molly who would only tut in response, before moving on. 

"You're younger than my son? Couldn't you find someone your own age?" Molly started and Ron didn't want to hear any more as he started to lead Claudia away, nothing gentle about it. As he didn't want to see her upset by his mother's harsh words. 

"Sorry Claude." He whispered before pulling on his usual face and making his way over to some of his siblings, hoping to have a smoother introduction. He thought it would be best to bring her over to the sibling who she might already know of best. Percy and Ron's relationship had improved greatly over the last 6 or so years, it was never perfect but Ron was unsure whether it truly was. With having such a large family it was difficult to have a close bond with them all, but Percy continued to try and therefore so did Ron. 

"Perce, Audrey this is Claudia." Ron introduced and Claudia immediately recognised them both, Percy was the personal assistant to the current minister of magic and Audrey worked in the courts. She knew Audrey quite well at work. 

"Claudia, I should have known it was you. You two seem well suited." Audrey's words were kind, and Claudia let out a small smile, something she hadn't expected to do. It was nice that she wasn't immediately despised by all of Ron's family. She expected the hostility, that was very much something she would be stupid to not expect, especially when her family's previous actions were taken into place. 

"Thank you Audrey, I'd like to think the same thing." Claudia replied before the two women slipped into easy conversation. Audrey's office worked closely with Claudia's own and therefore, they could discuss work in a way which it would prevent an awkward silence falling. Percy would pipe in so often, but it was clear he was slightly uncomfortable around the younger woman. Especially considering he had no real experience of either of the Parkinson siblings at school unlike the others in the room. 

Before she knew it, Ron had moved her around the room introducing Claudia, properly, to the rest of his siblings. Claudia liked to think that she was good with names and faces, but the extended Weasley family was a good example of the word 'extended'. With six, living, children Claudia expected it to be big, that would be silly to assume otherwise but the family was incredibly big. With grandchildren also present, she was unsure how easy it would be for her to remember everyone's names and partners. She would have to just work on it if they were going to sell their agreement well. 

Eventually the evening would drag on and Claudia would find herself spending most of her time around the younger section of the family. She supposed that this would be the place she would best fit in, considering these were the people closer to her in age in general. That and the fact that Ron's best friend was dating his younger sister. Something she would never have wanted to occur for herself, but she supposed the man was used to and accepted. Or at least put up with if it made both his best friend and his younger sister happy. Therefore, Claudia sat waiting for the only daughter of the family to blow up on her. 

The rumours when they spoke of how Molly treated her prospective daughters-in-law also included the only female heir to the Weasley name. Ginevra or Ginny Weasley was not known to be nice to anyone her older brothers brought home. Rather she had started multiple nasty rumours and attempts at smear campaigns for every single girlfriend any of her older brothers had. It had been the reason that Audrey and Percy had even met considering she had successfully scared the previous girlfriend away after having done nothing but spread rumours for months. Ginny was relentless in her bullying and Claudia supposed she was either to put up with it, and let the girl run wild or she would show that that was not the proper way to act. That it would only create a bridge between Ginny and her older brothers. 

It must have been 8 or 9 o'clock in the evening when Ginny finally turned her attention properly Claudia's way. By this point Bill and his family had left, and many of the others had broken into smaller groups. The small group of four which consisted of Claudia and Ron, Ginny and Harry were located still outside the main house building. They were sat in the garden around a small table. By this point, they had all been drinking for a little while, Claudia had been reserved about how much she had consumed wanting to remain making a decent impression on the other family members. But the same could not be said for the other three around her. 

"So Claudia." Ginny had finally started and Claudia felt almost relief in knowing the thing she had been waiting for was finally about to start.

"Yes Ginevra?" Claudia started off strong knowing her words were going to irritate the slightly older woman, that was her intent. 

"Why would someone of your calibre, who is clearly out of my brother's league pick him of all people?" Ginny words wouldn't have bothered Claudia at first, considering there was some sort of backwards compliment there but the fact that she was putting her own brother down to take a swipe at Claudia was not settling well. No matter how often Claudia and Pansy argued, which was almost constant, Claudia could never imagine putting her sister down to take a charge at her sister's new partner. 

"I am failing to see your point. I personally believe your brother is quite a catch." Claudia found herself shifting closer to Ron as she went to not only use her reactive hand of support but also take his other hand into her own. She wouldn't let Ron become the but of the joke, or the insult which seemed to be something the man was rather used to. 

"I mean, my brother has no money, no real career to his name. Surely that is everything that goes against what you were taught to look for in a man."

"Firstly, money is not an issue to me. If I wanted to your brother would never need to work again and I could quite comfortably fund a life for both of us of my wages alone. But I won't because that would not be your brother's wishes." Claudia paused as she rolled her eyes at Ginny's horrible attempts, all the other girl was doing was prove to Claudia that she cared not for insulting her brother's feelings. "And secondly how dare you insult your bother and claim he does not have a career. He has a perfectly fine career. Just because you got your own by using your boyfriends connections does not mean the same for everyone else." Claudia decided to start firing the insults back. Ginny let out an audible scoff at the younger woman's words as if she had never been challenged back.

"I did not use my boyfriend to get my job."

"Could have fooled me, you seem to awfully use him for everything else." Claudia could feel Ron squeeze her hand perhaps in warning, she took his warning, and was aware that she was going to insult his best friend if she was not careful. She would tone it down a little but she would still not allow Ginny to walk over her. 

"You awful bitch."

"Such kind words. It's quite horrible when someone speaks like that to you is it not?" Claudia's voice took on a bored tone as she waited for Ginny's further reaction. 

"I do not like you." Ginny seethed and Claudia could only give a sarcastic grin. 

"You don't have to like me. The only person here who has to like and put up with me is your brother. He is the only person who's opinion really matters. And as long as I continue to make your brother happy you will just have to put up with me. And I'll do the same. Understand?" Claudia watched as Ginny seemed to deflate a little, having obviously realised she couldn't continue to rise to such a challenge. 

Claudia waited for Ginny to say something else to her, it was clear that this was not the end of the struggles between the pair of them. If the rumours were anything to go by Claudia was sure that by morning there would be some rather nasty things being spread about her, but she supposed she would just have to wait and see. And if that was the case she would then have to show the older woman that it was a very stupid thing to do, not just against her but against anyone. And as she sat there waiting for something else to be said Claudia felt as Ron locked their fingers together, she chose not to say or do anything in response. Rather she acted as if nothing had changed or occurred only give him a squeeze back and try to remain composed as he rested his head upon her shoulder. 

Try to ignore those butterflies which bubbled in her stomach as they started to blend into one person.