As the soft m sunlight touched Eda's face, she woke up from a restful sleep. She had slept well through the night.

  Ginny was still asleep, showing no signs of waking up, and Eda didn't try to rouse her.

  Young people always need plenty of sleep, and sihere was nothing pressing to do, it was better to let her sleep a little longer.

  Eda walked dowairs, still feeling a bit groggy. In the small kit, Mrs. Weasley was busy, g around as she prepared breakfast. The dishes in the sink were washing themselves, making a soft king noise, which seemed much more effit than a regur dishwasher.

  Mr. Weasley was enjoying his breakfast, with today's edition of the Daily Prophet by his side. No one else yet, so the kit was quiet, with only the couple present.

  "Eda, e down a," Mrs. Weasley said as she saw Eda, while she was frying sausages. "After breakfast, you and Arthur will go to London."

  "Good m, Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley," Eda greeted as she ehe kit, pulling out a chair at the table and sitting down.

  "You really are a handful, Eda. At ye, staying at home to study would be best, but you insist on w in Diagon Alley," Mrs. Weasley said with .

  Eda chuckled lightly, not wanting to tihe discussion with Mrs. Weasley.

  Both of them had valid points; they just saw things from different perspectives.

  Mrs. Weasley believed that students should focus on their studies and not worry about other matters, especially since Hogwarts provided Eda with an annual stipend to help her plete her education. This was why she didn't fully support Eda's decision to work.

  "I think it's fine. Eda is so smart that even w won't affect her studies," Mr. Weasley said, finally looking up from the Daily Prophet. "And Dumbledore hasn't asked her to quit her job, either."

  Hearing that even Dumbledore approved, Mrs. Weasley didn't say anything more. She pced two fried eggs a or nine small sausages on Eda's pte, filling it to the brim.

  "Eat more, and don't work too hard at Flourish and Blotts. There are plenty of employees there, so it won't matter if you're not around," Mrs. Weasley reminded Eda. "I've already prepared your lunch, so don't fet to take it with you when you leave."

  Sg off at work was something that people naturally learned on their own, and Eda was quite skilled at it.

  She didn't really need Mrs. Weasley's reminder.

  After finishing her breakfast, Eda went upstairs to wash up and ge clothes, leaving Mr. and Mrs. Weasley alone i.

  "Molly, I tell that Eda doesn't want to burden us, which is why she's so determio work. It's also why she didn't write to Fred and Gee," Mr. Weasley said, putting down his neer.

  He uood the situation well.

  "I know, but it's just that this child has had such a tough time," Mrs. Weasley said softly as she sat down. "She's so mature for her age, and it's heartbreaking to see."

  Mr. Weasley took his wife's hand and said gently, "It's precisely because she's had it so tough and because we feel for her that we o take eveer care of her. We o make sure she never feels alone again."

  Mrs. Weasley's tears were no longer tent to stay in her eyes. Last night, Mr. Weasley had shown her Dumbledore's letter, and she had learned about Eda's tragic past. As a mother of seven children, this only made her feel even more protective of Eda. (A/N: I wonder...)

  "Let's not tell the other kids about Eda's past. Let them titing along as they are. A child like her is often very sensitive inside..." Mr. Weasley reached out to wipe away his wife's tears.

  "Do you really o say that?" Mrs. Weasley pyfully swatted away his hand.

  When Eda came back downstairs wearing a dark blue robe, she had no idea about the versation the couple had just had. She also didn't notiy signs on Mrs. Weasley's face that she had been g.

  Mrs. Weasley handed lunch moo both Eda and Mr. Weasley, then watched as Mr. Weasley stepped into the firepce first. Ohe fmes turned green, Mr. Weasley vanished with a whoosh.

  "See you this evening, Mrs. Weasley."

  Eda hugged Mrs. Weasley goodbye, then pinched a pinch of glittering powder from the flowerpot. She threw the powder into the fmes, which immediately turned a bright green. Eda stepped into the fire and said "The Leaky Cauldron" before disappearing from the Burrow.

  "Ug..."

  Traveling by Floo Powder was a disorienting experience for Eda. She felt like she inning rapidly, with a deafening roar in her ears. The endless spinning tinued as she saw a blur of firepces fsh by. Finally, she arrived at the Leaky Cauldron.

  Mr. Weasley and Tom were standing by the firepce, chatting. When Mr. Weasley saw Eda emerge, he smiled and asked, "How was your first Floo Powder trip?"

  To be ho, couldn't wizards e up with a more normal way to travel?

  While Floo Powder was ve, the dizzyiion was something Eda couldn't easily get used to.

  "Ugh.. Not great... at all.. Haah~ If I had spun around any longer, I would've thrown up my breakfast," Eda replied, her face a bit pale as the dizziness still lingered.

  After handing Eda a gss of water, Mr. Weasley left the Leaky Cauldron to head to work at the Ministry of Magic. Sihey were already in Diagon Alley, there was no need for him to apao Flourish and Blotts before leaving.

  Eda spent the entire m busily w at the bookstore. A steady stream of orders arrived by owl, and Eda had to fetch the requested books one by one. Some of the owls were difficult to deal with and even pecked at her, but Eda wasn't oo be easily bullied. Any owl that dared peck at her would find itself missing a few feathers! Hmph!

  At lunchtime, Eda ate with a few younger witches and wizards who worked at the store. Mrs. Weasley's salted meat sandwiches were delicious and plentiful. The sandwiches quickly revived Eda, washing away the fatigue of the m.

  W at Flourish and Blotts didn't really teach Eda anything particurly useful. Most of the books sold in the shop could also be found in the Hogwarts library. There were many books iore, but Eda couldn't just read whatever she wanted—she was only allowed to retrieve books listed on the orders.

  If it weren't for the fact that the owner of Flourish and Blotts was the first person to offer her a job, Eda would have quit already and focused on being a promising and iing bartender instead.

  Around four iernoon, Eda walked into the Leaky Cauldron with a smile, and a few of the regurs greeted her.

  "Miss Eda, you're a bit te today."

  "Yeah! I thought you weren't ing today—I even drank one less pint!"

  The regur patrons of the bar had a good impression of Eda. When they didn't see her around, they naturally asked Tom about it. The bar owom, had expihat Mr. Weasley had taken Eda home.

  The ers who came to the Leaky Cauldron were mainly there to drink. They weren't particurly ied in what retionship Eda had with the Weasleys; they just assumed she was a distaive of the Weasley family.

  The Weasley family was one of the most known families in the wizarding world, with many members, and Arthur Weasley was just one of them. It wasn't surprising that people assumed Eda was reted to them.

  Eda tinued her usual routine behind the bar, warmly greeting the ers, chatting with familiar faces, and preparing their regur drinks.

  However, today was different—Eda didn't stay to help out in the Leaky Cauldron for as long as she usually did. After just over an hour, she left the bar.

  Although the ers were a bit relut to see her go, no oopped her from leaving to have di home. As Eda stepped into the firepce, the ers raised their gsses to bid her farewell.

  Using Floo Powder for the sed time, Eda was better prepared, so the dizziness wasn't as overwhelming as it had been the first time. She no longer felt like she was going to empty her stomach.

  Upourning to the Burrow, the first thing Eda saw was the Weasley family gathered around, sitting together. She smiled and greeted each member of the family.

  The feeling was stra f.

  After p the Floo Powder she had bought on her way bato the flowerpot, Eda walked over and sat down, waiting for Mr. Weasley to return so they could start dinner.

  A short while ter, Mr. Weasley arrived, looking a bit tired from the day. As he pushed the door open, he greeted everyone, "Good evening, children!"

  """" Good evening, Dad! """"

  Eda also responded with a smile, blending in with the Weasley children, though she didn't call Mr. Weasley "Dad."

  __________

  12 Chaps ahead

  Patreon./Dragonel