"Alexis! If you don't get up this instant, you're going to be late." A dark-haired girl bolted out of bed, her hazel eyes wide with surprise. She ran around the room quickly throwing anything she could grab into her trunk.
"I'm coming mum, I'll be down in a moment." Today was the day Lexi was going to leave for the burrow. Her two best friends, Fred and George had invited her to attend the Quidditch World Cup with their family. She would also be staying the rest of the summer in what would be the already packed house.
Lexi threw on the first outfit she saw, and with one last glance around the room she walked to the kitchen. Her mother was standing there with arms crossed, a grown displayed on her face as breakfast magically cooked itself.
"Lexi, you knew that you had to be up early. I'm already upset that you'll be leaving me a few weeks early, I don't need you rushing out here without a proper goodbye."
Rolling her eyes, Lexi plopped into the nearest chair. "Come on Mum, haven't you gotten used to saying goodbye already? It's not like I don't spend most of the year away from you anyway."
"That's my point Alexis. I barely get to see you the way it is. I cherish the summers I get with you." A plate of eggs, bacon, and toast floated towards the table as a hungry Lexi eye-balled them. As soon as the plate landed on the table, she was already devouring the hot food.
"I.."
"Don't talk with your mouth full." Lexi stopped stuffing her face and swallowed the food she had already chewed.
"I know you don't like me being gone all year. But it's not my fault Hogwarts chose to be like a bloody boarding school. And it's not my fault Fred and George live so far away."
"Don't speak to me in that tone young lady. You won't be going anywhere if you keep it up."
"Muuum.. Don't be like this again. Please. I've always wanted to see the burrow. In the six years I've known the boys, I've never been there."
Lexi's mother sighed softly as she turned away from her daughter. "I know darling. I'm just being overprotective. You'd better finishing eating, it's almost time to leave."
Lexi quickly finished up eating her breakfast before running into the living room where their fireplace stood. The plan was that she would use floo powder to arrive at the burrow today and then go to the World Cup with everyone tomorrow. Her mother followed her into the room and the two hugged tightly.
"I've already sent your things ahead of you, please be safe darling. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you. Write me as soon as you leave for the match and as soon as you come home. Is that understood?"
"Yea mum.. I will. I really got to go. They'll be waiting for me." Lexi struggled out of her mothers grasp and grabbed a hand full of powder. The fire came to live blazing green as she quickly stepped into the fireplace.
"The Burrow." Her mother quickly faded from sight as fireplaces started to swirl past her. Lexi had to close her eyes to fight the nausea that filled her insides causing her to nearly miss her stop. Falling out of the fireplace, she barely had enough time to compose herself before being tackled to the ground by a pair of red-heads.
"Fred! George! You get off that girl this instant! You're suffocating her." Lexi laughed as the boys quickly stepped away from her, sheepish looks on their faces.
"Sorry Lex.."
".. We got a little excited." Lexi laughed again as she pulled the boys into a tight hug.
"It's alright you ninnies. I've missed you too." As she let go of her best friends, Lexi found herself being pulled into another hug. This time by Mrs. Weasley, who'd always loved Lexi as if she were her own child.
"It's so good to see you again Alexis. You're looking awfully thin again, what does your mother feed you at home. No bother, I'll fix you something right now." Before Lexi could protect, Mrs. Weasley was already busying herself in the kitchen.
"Come one Lex, we'll show you where your sleeping." Fred grabbed her by her arm, practically dragging her up the stairs.
"Naturally we volunteered for you to sleep in our room, but of course Mum nearly threw a fit. So …"
"You'll be sleeping with Ginny and Hermione." The boys smiled at the grimace that flashed across Lexi's face. It wasn't that she disliked the two girls, but for some reason they just never got on very well. Apparently something about her rubbed the girls the wrong way. Fred and George always insisted that it was because Ron and Harry fancied her, but Lexi felt that it was something more.
"But of course, you'll be spending most of your time with us. So it won't matter who's room you sleep in." George put his arm around Lexi, pulling her away from Fred's grasp. "Now I do believe a tour is in order, seeing as you've never been to our fine home before. Don't you agree Freddie Ole boy."
"I dare say I do Georgie. Where shall we start?" The twins exchanged looks, that Lexi knew meant there was trouble coming.
"Shhh you'll give our position away if you don't stopping laughing Lex." The three were currently hiding out around the corner from the boys' elder brother, Percy's room. After giving Lexi a quick tour of the house and outside, they had all decided to pull a prank on the dear boy. Their plan was to get Percy to come out of his room long enough to through some Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder down. Then once Percy was left in the dark, they would throw one of the garden gnomes into his room.
Their plan so far had been fool proof, but for some reason the excitement had thrown Lexi into a fit of giggles. "I can't help it guys. It's been so long since I've been able to pull a prank. It's not like I have any siblings or fellow wizards and witches living around me. I live in a muggle town with my mum, who would kill me if I pulled a prank on the muggles."
Fred laughed softly as he nudged her around the corner. "Well in that case, you get the honor of knocking on the door and throwing the powder. Just be quick about it Lex." Sticking her tongue out at him, Lexi crept slowly to the door. Gripping the powder tightly she knocked on the door.
"Just a moment." Percy's voice sounded muffled as if he had been sleeping. A smirk found it's way to Lexi's lips that matched the smirks the twins were giving her from the other end of the hall. She sidestepped away from the door when she head footsteps. The door inched open and Percy stepped out right as the hallway went dark.
There was a yelp, a loud thud and a scream as the gnome latched itself to Percy's leg. Lexi and the twins ran to the boys' room trying to control their laughter. However once the door shut, they collapsed on the floor with tears streaming down their faces.
"Did… did you hear him scream. Like a little girl." Yelling filled the house for several minutes and the three knew what was coming. They tried to make themselves look as innocent as possible right as Percy came flying into the room holding the gnome by it's feet.
"You!"
George looked up from the book he was holding upside down with a look of curiosity. "What's the matter Perce.." Fred turned away from the wall he was staring at and finished his twins sentence. "..Something getcha in the leg?" Lexi erupted into another fit of giggles that only infuriated Percy more.
"I swear I'll murder all of you!"
"Percy what is with all the yelling!" Mrs. Weasley came into view in the doorway with a look of concern. "And why are you holding one of the garden gnomes?"
"Because Fred and George and their little play toy.."
"Hey! Low blow." Percy only glared at Lexi before turning back to his mother.
"They put this thing in my room and it attacked me mum."
The look Mrs. Weasley was giving the twins at the moment even made Lexi flinch. Fred and George smiled sheepishly at their mother, then dropping their heads in defeat.
"Percy get that thing out of my house. And you two are in big trouble…" Percy smiled in satisfaction as he walked away still holding the gnome by it's feet. "That was the most irresponsible thing you've ever done! I can't believe you would not only do something so horrific to your brother, you would drag poor Alexis into something like this."
"Oi Mum!"
"We didn't draw Lex into anything.. She was a willing participant."
"I won't hear any of that nonsense George.."
"I'm not George!"
"..Er Fred!" Lexi tried to fight off a laugh as smirks grew on George's face.
"I'm just kidding Mum, I am George." This time Lexi did laugh when Mrs. Weasley lunged at George so fast he barely had enough time to roll off his bed. Her and Fred could hear him laughing as she chased him down the stairs and out of the house.
"George Weasley! I will murder you!"
"Awh Mum, come on it was just a joke."