Today my father flew over from the US to London. He actually needed to be here for business, but decided to make some time for me as well. So tonight we went out for dinner at a fancy restaurant. Contrary to what you might expect, I didn't fly into his arms at the airport. If you've only seen each other 8 times, you're just not that close.
'Wow Belle, you've grown again.'
'Hi dad.' I used to call him by his first name, because my mother did, but he thought that sounded too unnatural. So now I have to call him dad, although that sounds even more unnatural to me.
'I really found the best restaurant for tonight, it just opened.' I didn't need all that fancy stuff. But my father always wanted the best of the best when he was here.
'Come on, I've hired a Camaro z28. A real American muscle car .' My father loved fast cars, I had no idea what a camaro z28 was.
'Sorry I can't stay with you all day, by the way, but that meeting is really important.'
'No it's alright, I'll manage myself.'
'Okay, I promise I'll be on time this evening. About that... would you like something new to wear tonight? I'll give you some money to buy something nice, if you like to'
'Oh, don't worry, I still have pretty clothes myself. You're already depositing too much money.' He paid me about £ 1000 every month, which was almost four times the normal amount of alimony. He dropped me off at home and left for his meeting. Here I was again, all alone.

For dinner, I put on my green dress. But I left out the gloves and the snake in my hair. Instead, I put on a denim jacket. At exactly the agreed time, the Camaro honked at the door.
'I told you I was going to be on time', my father grinned. He was wearing a fancy suit that was probably very expensive.
'I didn't expect anything else', I grinned back.
'Nice dress by the way, where did you get that?'
'At Twilfitt and Tattings'
'Where is that?'
'In the Diagonal Alley '
'Ow' My father had expected it to be some popular London boutique. He didn't like all the wizarding stuff, but decided to gently broach the subject anyway: 'So... how's your new school going? Have you made any friends already?'
'Yes, Hogwarts is great, it's so big and there are so many people. I've already learned a lot in one year.'
'And what you learn then... that's not math or English or anything?' He didn't like the idea of me being a witch, but really tried his best for me to accept it. He just had a hard time with it and somehow I understood that in terms of experiences with my mother. So I didn't start about which subjects I did have, but just said dry: 'yes.'
'I can arrange a math course or something for the summer if you want, so you can keep up.'
'No dad, you really don't have to.' He hoped that I could take over his place in the business world, but feared that was not possible.

The restaurant was indeed very chic. My father ordered something exactly like that. I decided to stick to pasta scampi with white wine sauce.
'Sure you don't want anything more special?'
'This is special, isn't it?'
'Yes, of course. You haven't visited your mother in the past year, have you?' I cringed at those words. My father saw it and immediately apologized: 'Sorry Belle, I shouldn't have brought it up. Of course you don't.' With moist eyes and my mind confused, I shook my head no. After a while he managed to cheer me up again and I still had a nice evening. Too bad he had to leave so soon.

Not long after he left I received an owl from Charlie. I was able to spend the two weeks before school started with him. I was so happy that I wasn't alone all holiday long.
Because my fireplace was not connected to the fuel network, I took the Collectebus to the Burrow. As for the bus experience, Charlie was absolutely right: it was horrible.

I was warmly welcomed by the Weasley family. The little twins Fred and George immediately started teasing: 'Oh Charlie has a girlfriend!'
'Uhm... we're just friends', I said, blushing.
'Shut up!' Charlie called back at the twins.
Although Mr. Weasley didn't like me being in Slytherin, he was extremely friendly and had a lot of questions about muggle devices. Ginny and Ron were super cute and Mrs. Weasley made the most delicious food. Bill had also invited two friends: David Harris and Nyphandora Tonks - short Tonks - who was a metamorphmagnus .

'Charlie is going to try to get in the Quidditch team this school year', came up at the table. 'Phew... that's never going to happen', Charlie sulked.
'Of course it is! I've seen you flying, you're amazingly talented,' I encouraged him.
'Yeah, but not with just a shooting star. I need to have at least a Cleansweep 6 to make the team.' 'We can't afford that Charlie, brooms are expensive', Mrs. Weasley said sympathetically. 'Otherwise I'll pay that Cleansweep, I've got too much money anyway and Charl really needs to join the team.'
'Oh no child, don't do that! Keep your money to yourself, you're going to need it later', Molly protested vehemently.
'No really, I like to. Then Charlie got his present for the holidays', I insisted. In the end, I was able to convince them to let me pay the money that a Cleansweep cost more than a Shooting Star.
'If there's anything we can do for you, say so. But we can't pay it back.'
'That is not necessary. The point that I am welcome here is more than enough.'
'Oh child, you will always be welcome here', Mrs. Weasley smiled fondly.

The next day the whole family traveled with floo power to the Diagon alley. Even the youngest wanted to join buying Charlie's broom. First we went to Gringotts to change my muggle money and to drive to the Weasley's safe. Unlike my mom's that I used to go to, this one had a key instead of a goblin lock. That was not necessary because of the small amount of money it contained. Then we went to buy books at Flourish & Blotts, where I scanned the shelves for occlumency guides. In the end I couldn't resist buying a copy that I hadn't found in Hogwarts library yet. Only after lots of other things we went to the Quality Quidditch Supplies for a broom. Everyone was looking forward to the latest brooms. Ginny had fallen in love with a pink glitter toy broom and nagged off Mr. Weasley's ears. I ended up buying her a simple but durable toy broom so Ron could fly on it too. Although he claimed he was too old for that. Ginny gave me a big hug in thanks, while Mrs. Weasley chided her that she shouldn't have taken it. Charlie's Cleansweep sparkled with newness. He held it proudly in his hands.
'Belle, I can't thank you enough.'
'Thank me by making it into the Quidditch team.' Finally, I wanted to treat everyone to an ice cream at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, but the Weasleys insisted they pay for it themselves because I had already given them way too much. If only they had any idea how much they gave me just with this moment.