Chapter 1

"Breakfast! Come on everyone! Up, up, up! You too, Ronald, come on!" Molly Weasley's shrill voice shrieked throughout the Burrow.

"Ughh." Ron let out an exasperated sigh. Why did breakfast have to come so early, and why was his mum's voice so loud in the morning? Even though she was five floors down it sounded as if she was right next to his ear. Ron lazily dragged himself off of his bed and his feet immediately hit the cold wooden floor below. He sluggishly went to grab at his door handle, but right before he could it swung open.

"Morning Ron!" Said George.

"Better hurry up and get downstairs," Fred added.

"Or you could stay up here," George continued.

"More food for us!" They said together as they ran down the stairs.

"For some reason the twins are especially annoying in the morning," Ron thought to himself as he started his trek down the five flights of creaky stairs. "I hate these stairs in the morning… wish I could just apparate down them…" Ron muttered to himself.

When Ron finally reached the bottom of the stairs the rest of the Weasley family was already seated around the long wooden table with mounds of food on their plates. Anyone looking at the table could tell that they were all family. Every single person had bright red hair and a nice batch of freckles sprawled across their faces. At the end of the table sat Molly Weasley, Ron's mother. She was a plump, jolly looking woman with bright eyes, frizzy hair, and a contagious smile. On her right sat Ron's father, Arthur Weasley. Arthur's hair was cut short to show off his receding hairline. He worked at the Ministry of Magic; Ron didn't know exactly what he did but his father always brought home muggle things so Ron figured it must have something to do with them. On Molly's left sat a small redheaded girl, Ginny. Ginny was seven, one year younger than Ron. She was very quiet and very sensitive. Next to her sat Fred and George, Ron's twin brothers who were two years older than him. They were known for getting causing the most excitement at the Burrow with all of their experimental booby traps. They vowed that someday they would sell their little trinkets and would make a fortune so their family wouldn't be so poor. Across from Fred was Percy, who was four years older than Ron, and was Ron's least favorite brother. Percy had neatly done hair and was always wearing iron-pressed clothes and ties. He had a very pompous attitude and always walked around with a snooty attitude as though he was looking down on the family. He always sat next to Arthur and asked loads of questions about the Ministry. Next to Percy was Bill. Bill was the oldest Weasley brother. Nine years older than Ron, to be exact. Bill was tall and lanky and liked to keep his hair long and dressed with a certain type of style that fit his personality perfectly; cool and casual. Bill had many achievements and perfect O.W.L's, but he never bragged about it once. He was really easy to get along with and Ron looked up to him a bunch. Next to Bill was Ron's second favorite brother, Charlie, who was two years younger than Bill. Charlie more resembled his mother because he was short and kind of thick and had tight, frizzy, curly hair. Charlie loved the outdoors and most of all he loved magical creatures. "My family is probably the most unique and odd wizard family," Ron thought to himself as he quietly took his seat next to George.

"Mother, when are we getting our book lists from Hogwarts this year, Professor Flitwick said I was first in his class last year and I'd like to maintain that –"

"Oh, you were first in his class," Fred exclaimed

"We never knew, when did that happen?" George finished, sarcastically.

Ron chuckled to himself. Percy had in fact been talking about it all summer. He was always bragging about one thing or another. Molly loved it. She was always so proud of him that she never saw him as annoying and would be gleaming with joy while everyone else was rolling their eyes.

"Bill should be the one to be bragging! Did you forget that he was the one who got Head Boy this year?" Charlie said while patting his big brother on the back. Charlie was always looking up to Bill and aspired to be like him.

"Yeah, well, you're following in my footsteps, don't forget, you're a Gryffindor Prefect this year!" Bill replied. Even though he was Head Boy and top of his class, he never really bragged or boasted. Ron didn't mind him as much as Percy.

Molly could not look more proud, and Ron struggled to hold back vomit. He was happy that summer was almost over because he didn't know how much longer he could listen to his brothers boasting about everything. When Bill, Charlie, and Percy go off to Hogwarts the house will finally be quiet. Minus Fred and George causing some havoc somewhere, of course; Ron actually didn't really mind that, especially when they hid Ginny's toys or set booby traps for their mother.

"Oh, I couldn't be any more proud of all of my wonderful boys." Molly said while gleaming and passing around another basket of fried bread.

"Oh, Bill, dear, I do wish you would cut your hair though…" Molly said as plopped two pieces of bread on Bills plate.

"Oh mum," Fred chipped up.

"If you're upset about his hair," George said.

"Just wait until you see what he plans on putting in his ear!" The twins finished together.

"What?" Molly asked?

"Oh, nothing mum, it's nothing…" Bill answered while glaring at the twins who were suppressing laughter.

"Well, I'm sure whatever it is you'll be sure to ask me first" Molly said. Her tone had completely changed as she glared at Bill.

"Erm… Fred, George, I've gotten some new muggle tools that I think you'd get a kick out of, after breakfast why don't you come and look at it with me?" Arthur Weasley piped up, sensing the sudden change in atmosphere. Fred and George looked at each other and then said together, "We're done, let's go!" and then ran out the door like bullets.

"Mum, can I help you with the gardening?" said a small voice belonging to Ginny Weasley, Ron's youngest sibling and only sister.

"Of course you can, Ginny dear," Molly replied with a gleaming look back on her face as she took Ginny's tiny hand and led her out the back door to the garden.

"Hey, Charlie, let's go practice Quidditch. Maybe I can show you a few tricks of mine." Bill said as he got up from the table, flicking his wand so his plate flew into the sink and started washing itself.

"You've been telling me that since you were twelve and you haven't taught me anything yet!" Charlie chuckled as he got up to go after his brother, attempting to do the same spell but instead ended up throwing the plate out the window.

No one needed to ask Percy where he was going. He spent most of his time locked up in his room reading about the Ministry of Magic. He didn't like the outdoors as much as the rest of the Weasley's. He always talked about landing a big job in the Ministry so he needed to start studying as much as possible.

The kitchen turned dull and silent very quick, and Ron was very used to that. Fred had George, Charlie had Bill, Percy had himself, Ginny had Mrs. Weasley, and his father had his work. Ron got up, took care of his plate, and headed out the rickety back door.

"Think fast Ronny!"

Ron ducked just in time to see a softball whiz above his head with Charlie chasing after it. Bill ran up laughing and grabbed his little brother in a one-armed hug. "I think it's about time you got yourself on a broom," Bill said.

"Wha-what?" Ron Stammered. "Mum and dad said I'm not old enough yet."

"Mum's in the garden and dad's in the garage, come on, it'll be fun," Bill answered as he led Ron towards the shed where they kept their old brooms. Ron was excited. He'd always wanted to ride a broom. The way Charlie and Bill did it made it look so easy.

Charlie came swooping down and hopped off his splintery old broom. "Alright, Ron, let's get you in the air!" Charlie said with a devilish smile.