Chapter 7
Molly Weasley had six sons and one daughter and it was hard to let a trick pass her. She'd seen it all: sneaking out late at night, smuggling Firewhiskey up into their rooms, all the pranks Fred and George played, the dangerous Quidditch moves. Besides a penchant for rule breaking, one thing each one of her boys had in common was the fact that they failed miserably at keeping their crushes a secret.
Molly knew about Bill's first crush before he had even mentioned the name of the girl off-handedly in an owl home. Charlie had turned practically purple whenever Bill brought up the girl Charlie fancied. Percy managed the longest to keep his girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater, a secret, but Molly had seen it coming anyway. Molly wasn't sure who Fred fancied, but she was positive George fancied Angelina Johnson from their Quidditch team.
Out of all her boys, Ron was both the most obvious and the most oblivious.
Molly watched as Ron jumped from his seat the second Errol arrived and ran over to the kitchen window.
"Who's that from, Ron?" she asked, already knowing what the answer would be.
"Hermione," Ron said, his ears turning red.
"That's nice," Molly said, trying not to smirk. "What does it say?"
"She just wants to know how I'm doing. And Ginny too," Ron added quickly, his ears turning even redder.
"That's lovely of her," Molly said, smiling at her youngest son. "Please tell her we say hello."
"Sure, Mum," Ron muttered before scurrying up to his room.
Molly smiled. Hermione Granger was a smart, kind, and pretty girl and someone she could definitely see Ron ending up with. Visions of small curly, red-headed children filled Molly's mind and she sighed blissfully. Sure, that would be many years from now but a mother can never be too prepared.
Just then, Molly heard the pop of Apparition and looked out the window to see Arthur with a wide grin on his face. She hurried out of the kitchen to greet him.
"Hello, my love!" Arthur exclaimed, leaning down to give his wife a peck on the lips. "I have wonderful news!"
"Really?" Molly asked, smiling up at him. "What is it?"
His smile widened even more. "I got enough tickets for all of us to see the World Cup! In the Top Box! We even have another extra ticket too, so one of the kids can invite a friend!"
Molly couldn't help but smile at his excitement. She had never really been a big Quidditch fan, but the look on Arthur's face when he was this excited never failed to make her heart flutter after all these years together.
"That is wonderful! You can tell the children at dinner," Molly told him as they walked into the kitchen together. "I'm sure they will be thrilled."
As they entered the Burrow again, they heard the sound of multiple heavy footsteps pounding on the stairs. In an instant, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny were standing before them.
"You got seats in the Top Box?"
"Are Bill and Charlie coming?"
"An extra ticket?"
"Do you have a tent yet?"
"Can Lee come?"
"When can we leave?"
Molly looked up at Arthur with a smile and shrugged. It was impossible to keep secrets in this house.
"One at a time please," Arthur said, grinning. "Yes, we're sitting in the Top Box and yes, Bill and Charlie are coming. I already arranged for a tent and there's an extra ticket."
"Only one?" Ron asked, frowning.
"We can talk about who gets it at dinner," Arthur said, sending stern looks to all four kids.
Fred, George, and Ginny began talking to each other all at once as they made their way back up the stairs and Arthur walked into the kitchen, but Ron remained standing there, looking down at the letter clutched in his hand. Concern filled Molly as she watched him frown and furrow his brow.
"What's the matter, darling?" Molly asked, causing Ron to look up and blush again. "You look worried."
Ron's blush darkened. "I'm not worried, Mum," he muttered, looking down at the ground.
"I'm you mother," Molly said sternly. "I know when you're worried. What's the matter?"
Ron let out a big sigh but didn't look up from the ground. "It's just that—I mean, Dad said there's only one extra ticket, right?"
Molly frowned, trying to follow. "Yes, dear."
"But…but I have two best friends," Ron said, still frowning.
Molly's mouth opened to say something but she closed it again, unsure of what to say. She had just sort of assumed that Ron would want to bring Harry, as Harry was his best friend and loved Quidditch, but she hadn't expected Ron to consider that Hermione might want to go too. Part of her wanted to fuss over how sweet he was being but a larger part was worried about how it would all work out. There was only one extra after all…
Molly reached out and patted Ron's cheek gently. "We'll work something out, dear," she told him softly.
"Okay, Mum," Ron replied, smiling gratefully before going upstairs.
Molly watched him go, frowning thoughtfully. There was already one ticket, so they just needed one more for Hermione to go to. Hermione going would out work out fabulously. Molly was aware that Ginny thought of Hermione like an older sister, so Ginny wouldn't be hurt that she didn't get to choose a friend, and she knew Fred and George were fond of her as well.
"What's that look on your face for?" Arthur asked as Molly walked into the kitchen.
"I have an idea," Molly told him, smiling mischievously.
"I can't believe I didn't get to go," Ginny complained for the hundredth time. "She's my best friend too."
"I told you could go once you cleaned your room and you didn't," Molly said firmly. "They'll be back soon enough."
Ginny continued to pout as she stared at the fireplace. "I can't believe you gave up your ticket for Hermione," Ginny said. "I mean, I know you don't like Quidditch, but neither does Hermione."
"I am aware of that. But now you and Ron can both spend time with Hermione and I needed to get your things from Diagon Alley anyways," Molly explained. "It worked out splendidly."
Just then, the fireplace lit up and Ron stumbled out with Hermione's luggage. Ginny jumped out of her seat to stand next to the fireplace, anxiously awaiting the arrival of her best friend. Ron dragged the luggage into the living room, smiling.
"Hey, Mum," he said. "Where should I put these?"
"I'll get them, dear," Molly said, smiling at his eagerness and waving her wand to send the luggage upstairs. "You give Hermione a tour when she gets here."
"But I wanted to show her around!" Ginny whined, glaring at Ron, who looked at her smugly.
Molly sighed and barely refrained from rolling her eyes at their bickering. "You can both show her around," she said as the Floo lit up again.
Hermione walked out of the fireplace with a smile on her face. Ginny practically tackled her with a hug the second she appeared and Molly watched as Hermione hugged her back.
"I missed you so much," Hermione told Ginny.
"I missed you too," Ginny said. "I'm so glad you're here!"
Hermione pulled away from Ginny and smiled at Molly. "Hello, Mrs. Weasley," she said kindly. "Thank you so much for letting me stay here."
Molly gathered Hermione in a tight hug. "It is our pleasure, dear. All of us are so glad you're here."
"Come on, Hermione!" Ginny said. "I have to show you around."
"And me!" Ron added.
Hermione pulled away from Molly, giving her another smile, before being pulled away by Ron and Ginny. She heard Fred and George yelling Hermione's name in greeting as they ran downstairs to hug her. Molly watched with a soft smile. Hermione was good for her family and Molly sincerely hoped that someday she would be able to call Hermione her daughter.
