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chapter twenty five | cruel summer

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KAYA AND FRED were both entirely useless, and so, when the time came and they both left to go home, neither of them had spoken about their feelings for each other.

Jaeden thought he could speak for everyone they knew when he called them both pathetic when he visited Kaya for a day.

"Piss off!" she'd said in return, playfully shoving him. "We're both rubbish at that sort of thing, that's why it's taking forever,"

"Okay, but it is actually starting to get stupid now," Jaeden said. "I don't understand what's taking you so long - he likes you, you like him, where does it not add up?"

Kaya paused before shrugging.

"I don't know..." she began. "I feel like he might be holding out in case I say 'no' because, I don't know, he might think with all the stuff that's happened with... with Cedric..."

Jaeden's face softened at the mention of Kaya's close friend.

"...he might think I might tell him I'm not ready... I know I wasn't ever with Cedric in that way, but he might think I want to heal before I get into any relationships,"

"Has he told you this?" Jaeden asked.

"No, I'm just trying to think of reasons why it might be taking so long,"

There was a short silence.

"How are you, with the Cedric thing, anyway?" he asked, slowly, unsure if he was supposed to. Jaeden didn't know how to comfort people very well - if they were crying, it was easy, he could just hug them, but grief was a whole other thing. Was he supposed to bring it up? Was he supposed to ignore it? He had no idea.

"I'm okay," Kaya replied quietly, her eyes moving downwards towards her hands, twiddling her thumbs. "I honestly think it's gonna be worse when we're back at school. Not many things around here remind me of him..."

"...Well, it might be shit, but it'll get better as time goes on, I promise," Jaeden said awkwardly, neither of them making eye contact. They weren't used to being serious with each other, it was weird. "Plus, you have Maisie going through the same thing, and then, like five boys to cheer you up, so you've got the dream team to help you,"

Kaya let out a gentle chuckle.

"I do," she nodded, before straightening herself up, again. "Let's talk about something else,"

"Okay, when are you getting with Fred?"

"Something else!" Kaya emphasised with a laugh, hitting Jaeden lightly.

"Alright, woman!" he said, putting his hands up in surrender. "Put some of your muggle mixes on, so you can show me some new good music,"

Jaeden knew having Kaya put some of her music on would immediately put her in a bright mood. His idea was justified at the sight of her face lightening up, before jumping off of her bed.

"I found some new ones at the start of summer," she rambled happily. "Some are quite old in date, but they'll be new for us!"

She ended up playing a big mix of songs, Jaeden taking a liking to one in particular, 'This Charming Man' by 'The Smiths'. Kaya had replayed it over, and over, until they both had learned the lyrics off by heart, and jumped around her room singing and dancing to it, when they were interrupted by one of their parents calling them from downstairs.

"Tea's probably ready," Kaya said casually, turning off the music. But as she and Jae made their way down the stairs, and caught sight of the entire family standing around in Kaya's living room, they weren't too sure that was the case.

"What's going on?" Jaeden asked. Cher was the one to speak first.

"We've been called in by a friend of ours, from work," she began. "To an organisation. The Order of the Phoenix, it's called,"

"Why?" Kaya asked bluntly.

"Well," the woman explained. "In the First Wizarding War, it was made as a sort of undercover secret society that fought against You-Know-Who,"

Jaeden and Kaya exchanged wide-eyed, baffled expressions, wondering where on earth this was going.

"Obviously, we weren't in it the first time," Jaeden's Dad added.

"Yes, well, since the Ministry are in denial of his return, the Order could use some extra help from a few trusted friends. So they asked us,"

"And you're going now?" Alfie asked, he and Jeremy leaning against the wall.

"We're going now," Cher said, glancing towards her husband, Jack. "In fact, we'll be staying at its Headquarters from now until... well, we're not sure, yet,"

"What?!" Jaeden said loudly. "Why?"

"We need to stay there for easy access to the Order," Jack took over the explanation. "You-Know-Who is unpredictable, at the moment, so we need to be able to help as soon as possible, if we have to,"

"Right," Kaya sighed, crossing her arms. "And we're involved in this because... of a work friend?"

"Arthur Weasley, from the Ministry," Jack said. "He and his family are also staying,"

Kaya froze, in contrast to Jaeden who bounced a few times with excitement and nudged the girl several times. Cher gave her daughter a smirk, Alfie bobbed his eyebrows up and down at his older sister, and Kaya looked anywhere that wasn't making eye contact with them.

"I think that would be really, really, nice for us to go," Jaeden said, ignoring the look Kaya was giving him. "You know, show we care, and to play a part in helping Harry and... the others,"

"...Right," his dad said slowly, frowning slightly at his son. "Oh, yeah, Maisie and Milo's families will be there too. They know someone else in the Order, I think, so they were also asked to join,"

"We'll be leaving soon, and we need you to pack some things that will last you until the end of summer. Obviously we can take trips back here if you forget anything, so don't worry too much,"

"We'll meet you there, Cher," Jaeden's mum said. "Jae, Jer, come on, we're off home to pack,"

"This is gonna be brill," Jaeden muttered to Kaya with a grin, who rolled her eyes in return.

"Yes, very lovely,"

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Fred Weasley was trying his best not to react too extremely when the news came that the Bennetts would be arriving (joined by the Ezras, Stenbergs, and Jontels). His siblings - mainly Ron and George - had both turned to him with mischievous grins at the mention of the surname 'Bennett' and he'd shaken his head at them, his lips curving upwards.

He wasn't entirely sure how to feel about Kaya staying with them for the rest of the summer, but there was no doubt that he did feel a little bit of excitement. Who knows what could happen throughout the rest of their time off school?

The Bennetts and the Ezras had arrived together - which was no surprise. Jaeden was busy serenading his best friend with another chorus of 'Summer Nights' from 'Grease', ecstatic about the fact that Kaya would be spending the rest of her summer in the same household as Fred Weasley - and he'd be able to stalk them as much as he wanted.

"Summer sun somethings begun, but oh, oh the summer nights!"

It hadn't really processed for Jaeden and Kaya the fact that all this change was happening because a dangerous wizard had returned, they were just going along with what they'd been told to do. Of course, it hit the brunette girl every now again, when she thought about Cedric. And it sent chills down her spine every time - but she didn't want people to know she was scared, so she'd just simply pretend she wasn't. Besides, being scared of him was only going to give You-Know-Who and his followers an advantage - so she ought to learn to toughen up. Cedric'd had the bravery to face him - so she should learn a thing, or two, from him.

They were greeted by Remus Lupin - Kaya and Jaeden recognised him as their old Professor - who led them down a long hallway, lit with gas lamps and a large overhead chandelier. It was gloomy, riddled with cobwebs and had peeling wallpaper - not to mention the worn carpet. Grimmauld Place for sure didn't give off the best first impression - Kaya was a bit uneasy at the thought of having to live here, but she was sure she'd get used to it.

A mumble of voices sounded from the brightest room furthest away from the many doors lined up down the hallway.

"We're just in the dining room," Lupin explained to them, as they walked. "Molly's making dinner, for after the meeting, you'll love it, she's an excellent cook,"

He opened the door and many heads turned their way as they walked in, the Bennetts and Ezras immediately beginning to scan the faces around the room.

"Jack, Cher!" A man with red hair Kaya could only assume was Arthur Weasley said gleefully, walking over to his colleagues (and friends) with a jolly expression. "How are you? How's everything?"

"Good, cheers Arthur," Kaya's dad replied, mirroring his grin. "How're you?"

"How's your family?" Cher added.

"Good, good, this is Molly," he gestured to his wife - the familiar, kind face Kaya had seen at the end of the school year. The woman walked over, with a beam.

"It's lovely to meet you both!" she said to Kaya's parents, before turning to the children. "And you must be Kaya?"

Kaya nodded, giving her a smile.

"I've heard all about you! You're in Fred's year, aren't you?"

The girl couldn't help but notice how Molly had said 'Fred' and not 'the twins' and flashed back to Fred talking about his interrogation from his mother before he'd met up with her. Hopefully she was in Molly's good books. She'd have to watch her mouth and try not to swear as often - which wouldn't be too hard, because she didn't usually swear in front of adults anyway, because she didn't want them to dislike her. Plus, she'd get a scolding from her parents.

"Yes! It's nice to meet you," she said to Molly, ignoring the gentle kicks Jaeden was giving her leg.

"And you're...Alfie? Just finished your first year?" The woman said, turning to the small dark haired boy standing next to his sister.

"Yep!" The twelve year old said with bright eyes and a nod. Kaya had always wondered how her little brother could be so confident in front of adults, when she was a nervous wreck.

Then again, maybe she felt a little uneasy because she was meeting Molly Weasley - not just any random adult.

She couldn't help but wonder where the rest of the Weasley children were, for none of them were currently sitting in this room.

"This is the rest of the Order," Arthur Weasley gestured, after greeting Jaeden's family, as well. The parents sat down, and Molly turned to the four children still standing, unsure of what to do.

"All the others are upstairs somewhere, I'll call them for you. You know Fred and George, don't you? They can show you your rooms," she said kindly, before opening the door and bellowing the twins' names.

In a flash, they appeared, clearly making the most out of passing their apparition test. Kaya couldn't blame them, she'd done the same. She and Jaeden'd played a game of tag (once he'd finally passed) using apparition - it was difficult, but fun, all the same.

"Alright mum?" George said, causing Molly to jump and give them a short, quick telling off for 'using magic when it was unnecessary'

And that was when they realised who they were currently standing in front of. George flashed them all a smile, and Fred tensed up a little once he'd made eye contact with Kaya. She flashed him a smile, completely unfazed. He returned it, and Jaeden mimicked them, turning his head from one to another. Alfie and Jeremy exchanged glances.

"Could you show this lot to their rooms?" Molly said. They nodded in sync.

"Yes, mother," Fred sang.

"The meeting'll be starting soon, dears, so we'll call you when to come back down when dinner's ready,"

"Yes, mother," George repeated.

Molly sighed, and rolled her eyes.

"Off you go then!" She told her children, before smiling at the others. "It's lovely to have you here," she added, before closing the door.

"The Bennetts and the Ezras!" George said, as he and Fred began to lead the way up the steps. "What a treat,"

"I know, you lucky lot," Kaya replied.

"Lucky Fred, more like-" Jaeden began with a smirk, receiving a harsh thump from Kaya to shut him up. George shot the girl a teasing grin, and she scoffed.

"How long have you been here, then?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Since-"

They were interrupted by a shriek from a lady in a painting they were passing. Jaeden and Kaya jumped so hard they nearly fell over the banister.

"Filthy scum, blood traitors! In my house!"

Alfie and Jeremy walked back down a few steps, furthering themselves away from the painting.

"Who's this bitch?" Kaya asked. George let out a laugh.

"Walburga Black," Fred said. "Extremely lovely, and kind woman, aren't you, Walburga?"

"Filthy blood traitors!"

"Fortunately, she's stuck here forever, thanks to a Permanent Sticking Charm!" George said, sarcastically.

"Wonderful!" Jaeden said, before he and Kaya sniggered, pushing their brothers in front and ignoring the painting, carrying on walking up the stairs.

"Is Maisie coming?" George asked. "And Milo, of course,"

"They're supposed to be, we're not sure when though,"

"I think Harry's supposed to be turning up tonight," Fred said. "This is your room, K,"

They stopped, opening a door to a room with a large, four poster double bed, one mattress and a single armchair.

"You'll be sharing with Maisie, I expect. That's Hermione and Ginny's room, next door..."

"Lush,"

"This is our room, Jae - you and Milo have the luxury of sharing with us," George said, pointing to the door opposite Kaya and Maisie's room.

"Brilliant, I'm going to die in an explosion," He said.

"Even better - you'll be one of our test subjects,"

"Excellent," Kaya sniggered, winking at Fred, who grinned and winked back.

"And-" Fred begun, but paused at the sound of the door opening, followed by some footsteps and the rumble of many new voices. "-That must be Harry,"

He was correct.