Cedrella Weasley watched out the kitchen window as she finished washing dishes. She knew, of course, it would be easier to do this with a wand, sometimes it is just more fun to do things in the muggle way. There were times that she would use magic, it came in quite handy after a large party or family dinner; but if there are just a few dishes from her, her husband Septimus, and her son, Arthur, she would do them by hand.

A smile spread across her face when she spotted the two men coming from the shed. Cedrella and Septimus had been married eighteen years, but the sight of his slightly pudgy form, but broad shoulder, and bright red hair pulled back at the nape of his neck in a ponytail always made her heart skip a beat, and then speed up at the idea of being in his embrace once again.

Arthur Weasley had turned seventeen just a month before, he was a mix of everything good about her and Septimus. Arthur was unlucky enough to get Cedrella's height, so he only stood about five foot eight, but she had hopes he would still grow a little more. She also hoped he would inherit the Black family body type, which was more lean, than the pudgy, although attractive, form of her husband. Cedrella loved that her son had gotten her husband's red hair. Arthur had also chosen to grow out his hair to look more like his dad. As the boys walked into the house Cedrella grabbed a towel to dry her hands.

"Ella, your boy is following in your footsteps," Septimus said with a smile and a kiss on her cheek.

"What do you mean?"

With a laugh Septimus sat at the table, "Your son loves anything to do with muggles."

Arthur sat at the table too, "Come on Dad, they come up with some weird stuff to live without magic! They use auto mobiles on four wheels to get around, they even have mo toes skyles on two wheels. I just want to know how it works."

Septimus gave an accusing look to his wife, but the smile couldn't be hidden. Cedrella gave Arthur a knowing grin, "Well we can wonder those things later, look what came while you were messing around in that stuffy shed." She was holding out an envelope was thick and heavy, made of yellowish parchment, and the address was written in emerald-green ink.

Arthur took it, ripped it open and read the letter…

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Arthur Weasley,
Please note that the new school year will begin on September the first. The Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross Station, platform nine and three-quarters at eleven o'clock. The current school year's book list is enclosed.

N.E.W.T (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test) practice tests are available from your HOH (Head of House)

Quidditch try outs will be set by the team captain

Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

The look on Arthur's face, and his slight shade of green concerned Cedrella. She snatched the letter and quickly read through it. She handed it Septimus with a knowing look. Cedrella rubbed Arthur's back, "Honey, you will do just fine on the NEWTs. You have studied all summer and you got seven OWLs in your fifth year, remember?"

Septimus scowled at his wife, "When are you going to stop babying the boy? He is a full grown wizard now." Arthur's dad gave him a look, "If you studied, you have no fear, if you didn't, you will need to fix that before the tests. Now, what do you need from Diagon Alley?"

Arthur loved when his dad would just put something so plain, close the discussion, with no more than a look, and no more mention was made of NEWTs. Arthur had studied, even studied hard, but he wasn't in the silly Slug Club and Slughorn tended to ignore him and always was good for an grade lower than Arthur thought he deserved. But the NEWTs weren't here yet, and a trip to Diagon Alley always made him smile. He tore out the second parchment and read off two books he would need.

"Dad, can I send an owl to Fabian, see if he is going too?"

Fabian Prewett was Arthur's best mate, they were in the same year and had aspirations of careers as Aurors. Both had that plan taken away by none other than old Slugbug himself in their fifth year, when they took their OWLs. Ordinary Wizarding Levels were bad enough without the added pressure of Slughorn's stupid group. They spent many hours raking the professor over the proverbial coals. Until Molly, Fabian's kid sister, butted in to tell them they were both too stupid to be Aurors no matter what grade Slughorn gave them. After that Molly made herself scarce anytime Arthur came around.

No sooner had Arthur's dad gave the okay before Arthur wrote a quick note to Fabian to meet Arthur in Diagon Alley the following day. He ran over to Milliphutt, their tawny barn owl, to attach the letter to her leg. "Take this to Fabian, Milliphutt."

The owl hooted as if to say any letter Arthur attached was obviously going to the Prewitt home, and then spread her wings and took flight.

It wasn't until Arthur turned back and caught the look on his father's face, and the list haphazardly laying on the table, that Arthur realized money was more of an issue than he thought. "Dad?" Arthur was treading on thin ice; he didn't know just how to handle this.

He had overheard bits and pieces of talks between his parents about money, but they had never argued. Arthur thought it was just adult stuff and never worried much about it, but he was an adult now too, and needed to help if he could.

Arthur stepped back to the table, "Dad, you just said I am a full grown wizard, and if you meant that, then I am a man and should be allowed to help with things if I can."

The look of fear registered across his Mom's face, but not his Dad's, to Arthur's relief his Father was smiling. "You are most certainly my son, never judge, simply stand up and be a man."

Septimus patted the table, "Sit, and we will talk."

They sat and talked for just over an hour, Arthur had no idea the costs of living in the world. It did make sense, after his father explained it. They were far from wealthy, and very close to poor, but they had what they needed and made do with what they didn't. The issue tonight were the two books that Arthur needed to complete his final year at Hogwarts. Arthur offered to sell his Cleansweep since he never rode it anyway, but as his Dad pointed out, it wasn't worth much when he himself had gotten it.

"What about this," Arthur ventured, "Bob Ogden offered me a job a few weeks ago. He said it would just be a couple days a week till school started. Maybe I should go see him, you think he was serious? If he was, I could buy my own books, maybe even my robes?" Arthur proposed. He had never mentioned it because he did think Mr Ogden was just having a joke, and he hadn't really noticed their lack of money until now."

Cedrella finally stepped in, "I know this is a talk between men but I must interject here. I do not want you working when you are supposed to be studying for you Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests. They are hard enough without interference. We have always made ends meet and we will this year too."

"I think she said Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test for impact, what do you think?" Septimus said smiling. Arthur readily agreed.

"Fine, NEWTs, is that better…. Still, I don't want him working!" Cedrella said.

Arthur stood up, "The 'him' is right here, and I can make this choice on my own. I just would like your support if I chose this." Seeing his mother getting upset he went to her and put an arm around her shoulder, "Mom, I would only work a month, I wouldn't do it during school. I just want to help, and the best way I can is to do this and earn my money for my own stuff."

Arthur realized she still wasn't convinced, and tried humor, "Besides, I will have to get an advance from you guys since I am meeting Fabian tomorrow. I don't know much about jobs, but don't you have to actually work before they pay you?"

This finally did the trick, his mother was laughing and knew her little boy still needed her.

The next day, after Arthur's Dad left for work, Arthur used the floo network to get to Diagon Alley and then apparated to the Ministry of Magic. He didn't want his parents to know that he was already going to talk to Mr. Ogden about the position. Arthur knew that Fabian would understand him being a bit late to Diagon Alley. After all, the Prewitt's weren't wealthy either, and understood the need to help out.

The visitor entrance to the ministry was just a simple phone booth, Arthur's dad had joked about a muggle accidentally dialing the wrong number. The problem was that his dad never actually said what that right number was, or how to do what he was supposed to do.

A sudden banging startled Arthur, he turned to see a disgruntled muggle, "You going to make a call or just look at the thing? So of us have actual calls to make!" the man bellowed.

Arthur stepped to the side so the muggle could see the out of order sign that hung on the telephone hook. The man turned, disgusted but looking for another payphone. Arthur picked up the receiver, "H-h-h-hello?" He asked unsure.

Silence greeted him, Arthur tried again, "I'm a wizard…"

Again there was only silence, now getting worried Arthur tried again, "I need the Ministry of Magic."

"Try using magic," came a voice just outside the door causing Arthur to jump again.

Arthur wanted off the bloody street, it made him far too nervous. Standing just outside the phone booth was Arthur's older brother, Bilius. The young man was twenty-two just a mere five years older than Arthur. Bilius had the same bright red hair, but had their father's height. As far as big brothers went though, Arthur thought he had got the best there could ever be. Arthur was never treated as a bratty little brother, that he was sure he was. Even when Arthur started Hogwarts; Bilius was in his fifth year, but made sure to help Arthur. The best part about his big brother was his sense of humor.

This however, was not one of the times Arthur liked it, "What do you mean try magic? There are muggles all around and I can't just whip out my wand."

Bilius started laughing, "Better to whip that out, instead of,,,"

"Bilius!" Arthur quickly silenced his brother, as he looked around.

"I meant to dial magic… you know 62442" Bilius said still laughing.

Arthur looked back at the phone, reaching unsure for the handset, "Really?"

Before Bilius could reply Arthur dialed the number, and heard a female voice sounded from all around the booth, not from the receiver "Welcome to the

Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."