Never be ashamed of a scar. It simply means you were stronger than whatever tried to hurt you -- Summer 2008

My little girl was out playing in the pool on the hot summer day in her bathing suit.  She was nine years old and I thanked my lucky stars every single birthday that she was still with us thanks to Bill.  I knew that this was one of the first years that she was starting to get a little interested in her looks -- she was not quite yet at puberty, but it was coming at a nice pace.  Something Charlie did not like to think about.  Either way, she wanted a two piece bikini to be outside in and she was becoming more aware of her body in general.  I walked out and had a couple of glasses of lemonade in my hands.  "Honey?  WHy don't you come up to the house and have something to drink?  Take a bit of a break," I suggested to her.

I looked up towards my mum and smiled, swimming to the ladder, climbing out of the pool.  I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around mself so I was not entirely dripping wet when I got onto the porch where my mum was waiting for me.  "Thanks Mum!" I said to her, taking the glass of lemonade.  "This tastes yummy!"

I chuckled at Quinn.  "I'm glad that it's yummy," I said to her, roughing up her wet hair.  "Why don't you let me wash it before it gets tangled up?"

I nodded, sitting in front of my mum while she combed through my red hair.  I stayed silent for a little bit, but decided I wanted to ask her about something.  "Mum... I can ask you anything, right?" I said, turning slightly to look into my mum's eyes.

I was combing through Quinn's long, red hair and looked down into her brown eyes.  "Of course you can," I assured her.  Charlie and I always told her she could come to us about anything.  And she was not quite old enough yet to be self-conscious about what she talked to us about.

I took another sip of lemonade and then asked, "I was really sick before wasn't I?" I knew that was partly why Dad hated me getting out in the cold without proper protection and everything else.  "Is that where this scar came from?" I pointed to the small, slightly faded scar I had.

I continue brushing her hair and sighed.  "Yes, that's exactly why you have that scar," I said to my daughter.  "It's also why your dad can be a pain sometimes."  I wanted to add a little humor to everything.

I turned around and grinned at my mum.  "Dad is a pain, isn't he?  But it's because he doesn't want me sick again, huh?" I clarified, turning once more so mum could continue to detangle my long red hair.

I laughed at Quinn and continued untangling her long hair.  "Yes, that's exactly why he is a pain," I said to her softly.  "You had gotten sick and Uncle Bill helped you.  That is why you have matching scars..."

I smiled, turning to look at my mum.  "Is that why Uncle Bill calls me his special girl?" I questioned.  Then I frowned slightly.  "Why didn't you or dad help me?  Why did it have to be Uncle Bill?"  I was always curious.

I nodded at my little girl.  "You're right, that's exactly why," I replied easily.  The second part of what Quinn was asking was a bit harder to explain -- especially to a young girl her age.  "We tried; your dad and I weren't matches to you... and it needed to be a match or else you could have been really injured or worse."

I looked at Mum and could tell that she was a little nervous about this.  I smiled t her.  "Oh, okay," I said simply.  "Will the scars ever go away?  What if I get made fun of because of them by a bunch of boys?"

I smiled at my beautiful daughter.  "Well, if a bunch of boys tease you, you have a whole army of Weasleys at your command," I assured her, continuing to brush her red hair.  I sighed.  "And the scars will fade, honey, but I'm not sure if they'll ever completely go away."  Some things just could not be fixed by magic alone.

I giggled.  "Oh, right, I'm sure that everyone would love to beat up little boys," I laughed as I spoke.  "And that's okay, I guess.  It'll just be something me and Uncle Bill have in common then."

I smiled and was pleased at Quinn being so okay with everything.  "Ah, yes, you and your uncle will always have that in common," I assured her.  "And just don't worry about it that much, dear.  I mean... by the time you actually start liking boys it won't be a big issue."