Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and Whatnot

The next morning, I woke up early next to George. It had become a habit of sneaking into their room after Mrs. Weasley was in bed and then waking up and going back to Ginny’s room before she got up.

I shifted just slightly so as not to wake him up and watched him sleep for a couple minutes. All the doubts were starting to come back. I knew the answer, but whenever I was with George, my mind kept asking why am I leaving? Whenever he wasn’t around, I could be rational and practical about everything, but when he was there, I just wanted to stay forever in his arms. And what would happen while I was gone? None of us knew how long it would take us...it could even take years. I knew Harry had broken it off with Ginny, but I wasn’t strong enough to do that. Maybe I was selfish for wanting to keep George while we were apart, but I didn’t really care. We were in love right? So it shouldn’t matter how long we’re apart. On the other hand…what if it did take years? I shouldn’t make him wait all that time, he should have the freedom to move on with his life. As I was thinking, I began subconsciously tracing patterns on his chest, which woke him up.

“Hey” he said groggily.

“Hey” I kissed his cheek and tried to give him a genuine smile.

He knew me better than that, though.

“Is something wrong?”

“No” I said quietly, shaking my head, “I was just…thinking”

“What about?”

I shook my head again, not meeting his gaze, “It doesn’t matter”

“It’s bothering you, of course it matters” he tucked some hair behind my ear.

I sighed and he tightened his arm on my waist, “Come on, tell me”

“What if it takes a really long time?” I whispered.

“What if what takes a really long time?”

“The…mission thing, Harry’s plan”

“Then I will really miss you”

“But – “

“Caroline, I know what you’re trying to get at, but we’re not Harry and Ginny right?”

“If we’re gone for years, I want you to be able to go on with your life”

“And I will, I’ll still be working and everything, but I will also be waiting for you to get back. I don’t care how long it takes”

Staring into his eyes, I knew he was completely serious, “I don’t deserve you”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because I’m leaving you for God knows how long with barely a promise of returning, and you just say you’ll wait for me”

“Well, of course I’ll wait, what else would I do?”

“I don’t know, meet another girl who’s smart enough not to skip out on you for some adventure and marry her, start a family?”

“I don’t want that, at least not yet and certainly not with anyone but you. I love you. Plain and simple. So I’ll wait”

I kissed him and murmured, “You’re too good to me”

“Guess you got lucky” he smiled and kissed me again.

“I swear to God if you guys are snogging over there…” Fred mumbled.

I giggled and slid out of George’s bed.

“See you guys later” I whispered before slipping out the door and going back to Ginny’s room.

This afternoon was when the Delacours were arriving. We were all feeling a little resentful towards Fleur’s family at that time, but when they arrived, they turned out to be rather good-natured and pleasant.

Mrs. Weasley was bustling about more than ever, even though the Delacours had offered to help with wedding preparations. She was also busy trying to put together a small party for Harry’s birthday. He was the last one to turn 17, other than Ginny of course.

On the day of his party, everything was going fine. That is, until Mr. Weasley sent his Patronus ahead of him saying that the Minister of Magic was coming with him. When they arrived, everybody just sat awkwardly, waiting to hear why the Minister had come.

“Sorry to intrude” said Scrimgeour “Especially as I can see that I am gate-crashing a party. Many happy returns.”

“Thanks” said Harry.

“I require a private word with you. Also with Mr. Ronald Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger.”

When they had gone into the house, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley began whispering nervously.

George, who was sitting next to me leaned over and said “I wonder what that’s all about?”

I shrugged “I really don’t know.”

“Quite the party crasher that one” Fred said on my other side.

“Weird” I said quietly and they just nodded.

About twenty minutes later, they came back out with objects apparently left to them in Dumbledore’s will. All three objects didn’t seem to have much purpose, at least not for Harry and what he was planning on doing. They were passed around the table, then we ate and that was that. The party mood had been shattered by Scrimgeour’s arrival.

I saw Harry whisper something to Hermione; then as he passed my chair, I heard him whisper “Meet us upstairs later.”

I nodded my head slightly.

I snuck out of Ginny’s room with Hermione after she was asleep. Up in their room, Harry and Ron were examining the objects they got from Dumbledore.

“Muffliato” Hermione whispered when we got inside.

“Thought you didn’t approve of that spell?” said Ron.

“Times change” said Hermione.

“Yeah, she’s become quite the little rebel don’tcha know?” I said.

She rolled her eyes at me then said “Now show us that Deluminator.”

Ron demonstrated it, but no one could figure out the purpose Dumbledore might have had in giving it to him. Then, we examined Harry’s snitch. In his first ever Quidditch match, he had caught it in his mouth, so he pressed it against his mouth now, and at first it seemed nothing happened, but then we noticed writing on it.

I open at the close

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Harry said.

Hermione and Ron shook their heads, looking blank.

“More riddles, that’s so like Dumbledore” I sighed.

“And the sword. Why did he want Harry to have the sword?” Ron asked finally.

"Gryffindor's sword?" I asked and they nodded.

“And why couldn’t he just have told me? It was there, it was right there on the wall of his office during all our talks last year! If he wanted me to have it, why didn’t he just give it to me then?”

“And as for this book” said Hermione “The Tales of Beedle the Bard…I’ve never even heard of them!”

Ron and I took turns explaining the children’s tales from Beedle. We had both grown up with magical parents, whereas Hermione and Harry had had muggle guardians.

I took the book from her to examine it. “Well you were right about translating runes Herms”

We heard something creak downstairs and decided it best to go to sleep now. We wouldn’t want to miss the wedding tomorrow now would we?