"Oh shut up!" Molly said jokingly, flicking the top of George's head with a wet tea towel.
George, who was crying with laughter, simply ducked out of the way, years of Quidditch sharpening his reflexes.
"I'm just saying Mum…"
"That these potatoes taste like Kreacher's fingers?" Fred said, hooting with laughter.
'Like Buckbeak's claws?" Sirius suggested.
"Like Lockhart's hair potion?"
Another wave of laughter hit the table. Molly, who was at the butt of the joke, looked slightly put out.
"Okay, calm down. I won't try the recipe again. But if someone cleaned the oven?" She looked sternly at Sirius.
"I'm busy," he retorted through a mouthful of sausage. "Get one of the kids to do it."
Molly turned her gaze fell on Ron and Hermione. "You two are always skipping off after meals."
"Muuuum," Ron moaned. "It'll take us hours. But Fred or George could do it with a quick flick of their wand."
There was a crack and George had apparated to the door.
"We could little bro…"
A second crack saw Fred by his brother.
"…or we could just watch you do it very slowly instead."
"Sit down boys!" Molly said loudly. "You are the least responsible of age wizards I have ever met. How you passed your apparition test will never cease to amaze me!"
"Just got to remember Mum," Fred said, flicking his wand so his plate flew through the air and landed with a crash by the sink. "The three Ds..."
"...Destination, determination and deliberation..." George recited.
"...And then you're all set to go..." Fred grinned.
"No need to tell your Mother that," Arthur said, helping himself to a large scoop of raspberry ice cream. "She was the smartest witch in our year. First person to apparate successfully. Wilkie Twycross didn't shut up about it."
"Oh stop it," Molly giggled, blushing a deep beetroot. "Have some more ice cream Hermione."
The doorbell rang.
"Can you get that Ginny?" Molly said. "And don't wake up that flipping painting!"
Ginny sighed and walked down the gloomy corridor, trying not to trip over the junk that littered the hall. It must be one of the members of the Order. She hoped it was Tonks – she was by far the most fun to have at dinner. She opened the door, letting in a gust of freezing air, and there, scrunched up on the doorstep was Harry Potter.