Chili

Leah stepped back in the kitchen, smelling the aromas of dinner being made. The kitchen was empty expect for Hermione that was muttering curses under her breath as she tried to peel and slice sweet potatoes. She took the seat next to her and held out her hands.

"Care for an extra pair of hands?"

"Yes! I'm completely helpless in the kitchen." She laughed. Leah smiled as she took over her supplies. She started peeling and cutting in a top pace, much to the amazement and amusement of Hermione and Fred.

"How?"

"My grandmother taught me to cook." She shrugged. "I quite enjoy cooking, but I can't imagine doing it every day for such a large family."

"It takes some getting used to." Mrs. Weasley said as she watched Leah work from the kitchen door. "But magic certainly helps." She smiled.

"I never cook with magic. My Nan was a muggle, so she taught me without it. It's a habit I can't shake." Leah smiled as she stood up with the board full of cut sweet potatoes. "I have to say, Mrs. Weasley. This smell amazing!" She said smelling the damps that came from the pot.

"It's my famous chili." She smiled as Leah tossed in the sweet potatoes.

"Did you put in cumin?"

"I did. You really have a nose for it."

"The nose of a hound dog." She grinned tapping the side of her nose. "Can I try something?" She asked holding up a ladle. Fred was shocked that his mother so easily agreed, feeling the warmth spread across his chest as they got along so well. Leah scooped up some chili with the large ladle and took a vial of cinnamon powder from the rack.

"Cinnamon?" Fred's mum asked surprised.

"Trust me." Leah winked before she shook the vial over the ladle. "Try it."

Mrs. Weasley took the ladle over from her and carefully brought it to her lips. Her eyes wide as the chili slides down her throat. Fred and Hermione both on the edge of their seats, waiting for her reaction.

"Oh my... Leah, this is incredible."

"It's nothing, I just added the cinnamon, you did all the hard work. But you should try my veggie lasagne, it would blow your mind!"

Suddenly Mrs. Weasley dropped the ladle in the pot and gave her a bone crushing hug. Leah didn't expect that and looked panicked at Fred and Hermione, who grinned back. "I wish I could've seen you with Fred together." Tears starting to fall down the older witch's cheek. "I miss him so much."

Leah's eyes started to prickle again as she held the witch tight to her chest. "He loved you so much. He was so proud he could call you his mum."

The crying started to become heavier as Leah calmly rubbed her back. The kitchen door opened again, but she couldn't see who entered because her back was to it. Then Mr. Weasley appeared next to her, giving her a small smile. "I'll take her."

Leah let her arms drop from Mrs. Weasley's back. "Let's go upstairs." He whispered to his wife. When they exited the kitchen, she took in a deep breath and straightens her back as she looked around the kitchen. Bill, Ron and Harry had entered the kitchen too and were all looking at her.

"Uhm. Hi." She said uncertain before sitting back next to Hermione. The rest took the seat across from them. Fred rearranged himself as he sat down next to Leah.

"I went to get Arthur. And they overheard, so they followed us in." Hermione explained.

"I thought she was doing better. She hasn't cried in a while." Bill said.

"That's not true, she's just better at hiding it." Hermione countered. "When she thinks no one's here, she sneaks off to the twins' room and cries herself to sleep."

Leah reached her hand under the table to Fred as she saw him tremble in the corner of her eye. When Fred saw her hand, he took and gripped it tight. It surprised him he didn't go through her hand; his hand was clamped around hers. Leah looked to him in surprise as she felt a light pressure on hers, even though if Fred was alive, he may have broken her hand. His tremble subsided as he looked back to the others, his hand still clasped around Leah's.

"So, Leah." The boy with raven black hair, named Harry started. "Any new games coming out?"

"I'm actually working on a game of my own. It's still in the early stages, so it's going to take while. But if you want, I could get you an early release."

"Brilliant, then I only have to buy a PlayStation." Harry grinned, making Leah chuckle.

"If you aren't planning on playing much, you could use mine."

"Thanks!"

"I heard you recently finished Auror training." She said looking between Harry and Ron. "How did it go?"

Ron started talking excitingly about the training he had with Harry, explaining in excruciating details what they been through. Bill explained a bit more about his curse-breaking career, which sounded very interesting to Leah.

When the three men departed to the living area to play a game of exploding snap, Leah turned to a silent Hermione.

"I explained what happened. Just give him time. He'll come to you." She said placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Thanks." She gave her a smile. "I thought we were getting a step further you know..."

"He cares for you, a lot. You should hear how he talks about you."

"Really?" The bushy haired girl asked surprised.

"Yes, you can't be surprised, can you? I've seen you two times now and I already figured out how amazing you are."

"I can say the same for you."

"Thanks." Leah smiled as she glanced at her watch. "What time do you usually eat?"

"About now actually. Ron's probably going to burst back into the kitchen any minute now."

"Do you think Mrs. Weasley is going to mind if I finish dinner?"

"The way she reacted earlier; I don't think so. I will call the others so they can help me set the table in the meanwhile."

They both rose from their seats as they walked in opposite directions. Leah took her place in front of the stove as she stirred the pot. Fred hopped on the counter next to her, watching her work.

"You are truly a wizard in the kitchen."

"A witch." She pointed her spatula at him. "How are you? First me, then your mum and then what Hermione told us."

"I feel -" Fred stopped when the kitchen door flew open at the others walked in.

"No wands!" Leah called out. The others looked at her in surprise, then to each other.

"You heard the woman! She has immense power, wouldn't want to get on her bad side." George winked as he opened the cutlery drawer next to her.

The others shrugged and opened the cabinets and gathered everything they needed to take outside.

"Oh, George. Wait up." She stopped him by the elbow. She waited until the rest had walked in the garden. "Since there will be a whole Weasley judge outside, try this." She held up the ladle. "Freddie, isn't much help." She teased.

"Alright. That's great!" He said licking his lips. Leah also tasted the chili but frowned. "What?"

"I don't know..." She smacked her lips. "It needs more salt."

"Whatever you say, chef." George saluted before heading out.

"So, you were saying?"

"I feel guilty, I know we promised Minerva to keep it quiet until we know more but it's breaking my heart seeing them like that."

"I know, I feel the same. You have such a wonderful family." She said biting her bottom lip.

"Can you stop doing that?" Fred asked suddenly, looking at her lips.

"What?" She asked surprised, jumping back from the pot of chili.

"Biting you lower lip. It drives me crazy." He said, looking from her eyes to her lips. "And I can't do anything about it." He groaned.

"If you stop running your hands through your hair, when you feel nervous or shy." She teased as she bit her lip, standing between his legs, looking up in his eyes.

"The first chance I get to touch you, I-"

The door of the kitchen opened again and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley entered. She turned to the older couple and smiled sweetly. "I've finished the chili; I hope you don't mind?"

"With your culinary abilities, of course not."

"High praise coming from Molly." Mr. Weasley smiled, his eyes caught something in the kitchen window. "What are they doing?"

"I told them to set the table... the muggle way." She grinned. "You shouldn't rely on magic all the time." She shrugged. "Why don't you two go outside, I'll bring out the chili."

When Mrs. Weasley passed, she gave her another bone crushing hug. "Thank you."

Dinner was loud and crowded but things were different than before. Everyone had their own conversations at the table, they weren't focused on her anymore. So, she could talk to Fred or George in peace without raising suspicion. Fred even managed to slip a few notes to his twin, which made George laugh, getting curious glances around the table. But the looks didn't last long as they knew George could get in his own little world and could start laughing at something that had happened a few years ago.

After dinner they all went inside, the boys sat together as they played a game of exploding snap. While Hermione sat in her corner reading at book, and Ginny took a seat next to her. They talked about quidditch and Ginny's future career with hopefully the Holyhead Harpies. Leah saw Hermione steal glances as George played with his brothers. When George looked up to Leah, she shot him a pointed glare as she nudged her head to Hermione, who had her head back in the book again. This got him moving as he stood up and asked Hermione if he could have a word.

It was nearly nine when George came back in and suggested they should get going. Feeling tired from the long day, she quickly agreed and shot up from her seat, while Fred came out of his daze as he looked at his family.

"You come to visit us soon, alright? We can make your vegan lasagne together." Mrs. Weasley said as she padded her cheek.

"I would love to Mrs. Weasley."

"Call me Molly, dear." The matriarch smiled as they stood in front of the fireplace.

"Thanks for a lovely day, Molly. I'll see you soon."

Molly padded her cheek once again before she walked in the fireplace, George on one side, Fred on the other. George threw the floo powder to the ground and they were gone.

"I'm dead." Leah sighed as she dropped herself on the couch in the twins flat. "Sorry, Fred." She grinned when he appeared in front of her, his hands on his hips.

"That's okay, love. But you better scoot over before I'll hold it against you for the rest of your life."

"The rest of my life, huh?" She said as she pulled her legs back. "You're planning on sticking around?"

"One way or another." He grinned, sending her a wink.

"Hey, Leah." George said coming out the bathroom in his pyjamas. "You're spending the night; I don't want you to walk all the way home."

"Fine by me. I'm getting more and more comfortable here by the day." She smirked. "But you should really get you a TV."

"I was actually thinking of getting one."

"For romantic movie nights with a certain muggle born?" Leah teased nudging his leg with her foot, making Fred laugh loudly at George's red-stained face. "You two should get a new reputation. As the notorious blushing twins."

"I could make you blush!" George challenged.

"Oh, really? Try me." She sat up straight and looked at George with a challenging smirk. Fred rubbed his hands as he leaned forward, wanting to enjoy the spectacle.

George tried; he really did. He tried charming her, tried dirty jokes, naughty dreams, complimenting her lady parts, making intense eye contact, tried to use his famous flirting skills from back in Hogwarts but nothing did the trick. She only retaliated harder, starting with dirty muggle jokes, then intense eye contact as she flirted with him, coming closer to where he was sitting, making George turn so red he looked like a tomato. Fred in the meantime was laughing so hard, he even fell from the couch, clutching his side from the pain that started there.