This is a series of one-shots concerning a morning breakfast at the Weasleys. This morning takes place a few days before school begins when Bill is entering his seventh year at Hogwarts.
*Disclaimer* I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters in this story. The credit belongs to J.K. Rowling.
I apologize for any errors in canon or grammar.
Please, if you can, review. Thank you! Happy reading!
Sausage Toast and Pumpkin Juice Part One
"Boys, breakfast," Mrs. Weasley sent two plates of toast towards the kitchen table. Ginny and Percy were already seated. "Ginny, Percy you can get started," she gestured for Ginny and Percy to begin eating. Two figures came running down the stairs. "Morning, Mum," the taller greeted Mrs. Weasley.
"Morning," she answered. "Everything's on the table, Bill, dear. Where are Fred, George, and Ron?"
"Don't know," Charlie answered taking a sip of pumpkin juice. "Didn't hear much out of Fred and George's room this morning. Maybe something's up."
"Maybe they escaped," Bill laughed.
"Please," Ginny begged under her breath.
"I'll get them, Mum," Charlie excused himself from the table and jogged up the stairs calling out Fred's, George's, and Ron's names. Minutes later, George and Fred scurried down the steps and raced directly to the table. They grabbed their normal double helping of sausage and began eating only taking one second to raise their eyes from their plates, which were met with a curious expression on Bill's face. He knew they were up to something. They attempted to keep straight faces, but grins broke out. To avoid laughter, they began shoving as much sausage as possible into their mouths.
"Ron, calm down," Charlie called from the upstairs. Ron bounded down the steps charging at the table. Seeing his expression Fred and George stood up laughing uncontrollably. "I'm going to kill you," he leapt for George. In response George stuck out his hand ready to receive Ron's head and making him unable to reach George's body; however, before any fight ensued, Mrs. Weasley swept Ron away into her arms. "Sit down!" she ordered Fred and George with a stern motion of her hand. Still smiling Fred and George took their seats and continued eating.
"Ronald, dear, what happened?" she asked kneeling down to his level.
"T-they," Ron stuttered angrily. His ears were turning bright red, "They tied me up in my sheets and set a dungbomb off in my room!" Charlie stifled a laugh. Mrs. Weasley's cheeks were rapidly changing to match the color of Ron's ears. "Oh well, I suppose you've already planned your day?" she stood up placing her hands firmly on her hips turning to Fred and George whose laughter has lessened considerably in response to her tone. "Ron, please go eat," she gave Ron a small push towards the table. He took his seat next to Fred shifting his chair as far away from Fred's as he possibly could while still being at the table. "Clean out that mess in Ron's room?" she turned back to Fred and George who had decided to keep their backs towards her.
"Oh, mum, it wasn't a real dungbomb—only a half hour effect. George and I invented them," Fred answered proudly. "Really, mum, it wasn't too bad when I was up there. Ron probably got the worst of it earlier," Charlie interrupted which seemed to calm Mrs. Weasley a bit. "Still…" she paused to think of a suitable punishment, "You should clean up the room."
"Well mum, we can only get the smell from the dumgbomb out," George stated. "To fix the other smell, you'd have to do something about him," he smirked at Ron. Bill shook his head at George's insistence on causing trouble. It never got him anywhere. "Well then," Mrs. Weasley spoke gently smiling at George, "I guess while I'm figuring out what to do with Ron, after you both clean his room, you can do his share of de-gnoming the garden today." Ron smiled. George and Fred shrugged. De-gnoming the garden on some occasions could be fun, but not when they were being forced to do it.
"Honestly, I don't understand you," Percy fixed his glasses which had slid down the bridge of his nose. "Why do you spend your time tormenting everyone, when you could be something valuable with your time?"
"Oh what, like reading 'Five Hundred Ways to Put People to Sleep?'" Fred replied. "Step one, tell them they can do better things with their time," he sipped his pumpkin juice. Percy ignored the comment and continued talking. "I'm just saying you could be doing something productive with your time. You aren't really as thick as you act. There's still some hope for you."
"Hope for us to what, sit in our rooms all day practicing being a prefect?"
"Practice never hurts," he replied. "And it beats doing extra chores," he took his plate to the sink. "Thank you, Mum, may I please return to my room?"
"Yes, Percy dear," she flicked her wand making the rag on the counter wash the dish.
"Well we wouldn't have to do that if Ron weren't such a baby," Fred murmured. A second later he winced because Ron kicked him to which he responded by nonchalantly shoving himself into Ron. The silent battle continued for a few moments before George and Fred, as always, double-teamed, and ended up forcing Ron off his chair and onto the floor.
"Oh honestly!" Mrs. Weasley slammed her hands on the counter.
"You alright, Ron?" Bill got out of his chair and help Ron to his feet. Ron glared at Fred.
"You're lucky I didn't hex you," Fred informed him.
"You don't even have a wand," Ron yelled, "and even if you did, you wouldn't be able to lift that plate off the ground. You're not of age. It's against the rules."
"Oh and when's that stopped me?" Fred argued.
"Well I am of age and I'll hex all three of you." Bill grabbed his plate and took it to the sink. "Thank you, Mum."
"Of course…oh," she took a look a Bill's hair. "Oh, now can you please cut your hair? People will think I let my children look like wild people," Mrs. Weasley fingered the ends of Bill's hair, which as a result of growing it out during the summer, fell to the back of his neck.
"No, Mum, I like it this way," he jerked his head away. "Everyone does."
"Why can't you keep it like Charlie's?"
"Truthfully, Mum, I only keep it like this so it's out of my face for Quidditch," Charlie answered finishing his sausage. "Speaking of which, I should get practicing. I've got to be on my game this year if I want captain next year."
"Can we go with you?" Fred and George looked at him.
"Are you going to try out for Quidditch when you get to Hogwarts?" Mrs. Weasley smiled.
"Not the first year Mum," George answered. "Everyone knows first years never make their house teams," Fred said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, well pardon my lack of Hogwarts Quidditch knowledge," she laughed. "Finish you breakfast first…and Ron's room and de-gnoming the garden. Thought I forgot did you?"
"No, Mum," Fred and George answered in unison.
"Good," she smiled. "Now, does anyone need to go with me to Diagon Alley for anything? I have to go to Madam Malkin's and see if she can fix your father's dress robe for work. That stain just will not come out. I could get it out of course, but I'm just tired of looking at it. Maybe she could change the color too. It clashes so much with his hair, but he does love that blue. Anyway, I need to go. Does anyone want to accompany me?"
"I'll go!" Ginny leapt up from the table, plate in hand. "I love Diagon Alley!"
"Alright," Mrs. Weasley smiled. "Go get your cloak and meet me by the fireplace."
"Anyone else?"
"No, thanks. I've got some Runes work I have to start," Bill pushed in his chair.
"Seriously, Bill? School hasn't even started yet," Fred questioned.
"I've got a lot of classes," Bill answered. "I don't want to fall behind."
"What are you trying to do, get O.W.L.s in a twelve subjects?" George laughed.
"It wouldn't hurt anything would it?"
"It'll hurt us," Fred said. "You're head boy and going to get twelve O.W.L.S, what will Mum be expecting from us?"
"I think she'd just be happy if you didn't get expelled your first year," Charlie answered half-way out the door. "Bye, Mum, I'll be in the orchard."
"Be careful dear. Fred! George!" she caught Fred and George trying to sneak out the door after him. "You have jobs to do. Charlie, do not let them touch a broomstick until they've finished their punishment."
"Alright, Mum."
"Bill, would you mind watching Ron?"
"I have a lot of work, but sure."
"Well, I suppose I could ask Percy," Mrs. Weasley looked towards the stairs. Ron's eyes widened.
"Mum, please no. He'll make me recite the Hogwarts rule book and give me speeches on curfews like he tries to do to Fred and George," Ron pulled at her cloak to which she looked at Bill.
"Alright, Ron, come upstairs with me. I have to work, but as long as you're quiet, I don't mind. You can read my book on Chimaeras."
"Oh Bill," Mrs. Weasley looked disgusted.
"Or…Clabberts," he suggested to Mrs. Weasley's approval. Ron was just happy he didn't have to spend time in Percy's room.
"Well, alright I'm off then. Tell Percy where I've gone, maybe he wants to go."
"Oh I doubt it," George laughed. "He's probably too busy…" he cut his remark short realizes the reddening of Mrs. Weasley's cheeks. "He's probably busy with school work and stuff."
"Probably, he is so dedicated," Mrs. Weasley added admiringly walking towards the fireplace, where Ginny was already waiting with the flowerpot of floo powder. "Won't be surprised one bit if he follows in your footsteps, Bill. Well, we should be back soon—not too many errands," she offered her hand to Ginny. Taking a handful of floo powder, she stepped into the fireplace and chanted, "Diagon Alley." She and Ginny disappeared in a burst of green flame. "Don't mess up anything in my room," Ron warned Fred and George.
"Oh yeah, like we're going in your room," George laughed heading out the kitchen door.
"No," Charlie grabbed his collar. "If you don't do what you're supposed to, it's on me. I don't have time to deal with you, or Mum yelling to me about you. Do it, or I'll get Percy to encourage you." George and Fred glared at him.
"Merlin, Charlie, we practically idolize you and this is how you repay us. That hurts." Charlie smiled shoving George's head. "Go, then I'll let you practice with me. If you don't tell Mum, I'll let you practice with bludgers." Fred and George smiled mischievously and took off up the stairs. Charlie turned towards the door feeling accomplished.
"Oy, Bill!" Charlie called to Bill as he and Ron walked up the steps. "Keep an eye on them. You hear any explosions make sure they haven't blown a whole in the ceiling. Actually, you should probably check if you don't hear anything. That's probably more dangerous." Bill nodded in agreement before disappearing up the stairs. Charlie headed out of the door. For a few brief moments, the Weasley house was silent.