A kitchen tradition

House: Gryffindor

Year: Seventh

Category: Short story

Prompt: Stealing from the kitchen

Words: 1543

The Golden Snitch second anniversary:

Colour Prompts, Golden Yellow (Gold), crimson, cream

Dreamcatchers:

Tradition

Centaurus, Aurora.

Au, most likely

Weasleys, as a general rule, were extremely nice, bubbly, and warm people who accepted anyone and everyone. Any Muggle-borns who came into the Wizarding World always said they liked the Weasley family, and they were great at making them feel welcome. However, no matter how they tried to hide it, the Weasleys had a slight mischievous and rebellious streak in them, especially when it came to food.

They had hearts of gold, were loyal to the end, and had a bit of fire to help defend themselves and friends, but they also had a weakness for three things: Gryffindor colours, broomsticks and flying, and food.

If you were ever to have a peek inside the current Mr and Mrs Weasley's bedroom, (Molly and Arthur as they're called,) you would be greeted by a sea of crimson and gold (or golden yellow, as some called it). It covered everything from the wallpaper to the carpet on the floor. They were a little obsessed with Gryffindor.

You see, they didn't want to seem obsessed about Gryffindor and its colours, so they chose similar colours that they liked. Now, some argued that the golden yellow was just gold, but Arthur and Molly usually won the argument that it wasn't.

Broomsticks. Despite the lack of funds, they were all keen flyers, and every Weasley must have a broom, even if most of them were passed through the family. It was the thought that counted, they told themselves, and Molly and Arthur did a lot by that thinking—a lot more than the Weasleys before them; they had less money, so they had to make up for it somehow.

Now, food. Yes, all Weasleys were extremely hungry and adored food. The times when someone could ask one if they wanted to eat something with them, and them saying no (assuming they were a friend or at least someone who they didn't dislike) is countable on a hand. Though, some say that never happens.

In the darkest hours of the night, there is often a little thief who would sneak down, after a late-night snack. They have to be careful, though: Molly Weasley had keen hearing and was a very light sleeper. After the first few times, William Weasley learned that, and remembered it for next time: eventually, he had mastered sneaking downstairs to a fine art.

The young boy knew funds were low, so out of meal times, they had to save food, but he was so hungry! He had to sneak out and steal food from the kitchen. Then there was the thrill! All Weasleys liked thrill and adventure; it was why they were Gryffindors.

In Bill's younger years, he snuck down into the kitchen to steal food a lot of times. But then he got older and more responsible, so he stopped. That didn't mean he wouldn't let anyone else do it; Bill passed on what he had done to Charlie, and the next late-night food thief was born.

Charlie adored his older brother, so if Bill did it, he would do it, too. Plus, a whole lot more. He was a great guy, but Charlie was a little more troublesome than Bill and did more things while sneaking out. It meant the stealing from the kitchen wasn't so much to satisfy hunger, it was more to just do something naughty that he wasn't supposed to do.

Another difference was Bill preferred boring and plain colours, such as the base colours and cream. He, for some reason, really liked the cream colour. Charlie didn't know why; it was so close to white, and white was boring, so cream was too! No, Charlie liked the colours his parents' room was decorated in. So, every year, his mother would make him something from crimson wool, or gold, depending on what it was: socks would be gold, and jumpers would be red or crimson.

Charlie, thinking it should be a tradition, shared what Bill had shared with him with perfect Percy. He passed on the precious art of stealing food from the kitchen, and whatever else he wanted. He was a little dubious that Percy would use it, but it was worth a try.

Percy, after much thought, decided he was hungry enough during the night to go out, and risk being caught, just to get some food. He was a goodie-goodie child, even more so than Bill, but, he thought it was worth a go; it might be fun, anyway.

First trip down was a success; Percy got a bit more relaxed about it. He did it more times after that, especially when he was studying late into the night. He did it a bit after leaving school and while working, too.

Percy thought that a little stealing every now and then wasn't a bad thing, and it added personality. Now, for the people who knew him well, they would know he was perfect, with a hidden streak of rebelliousness way down hidden within.

Percy was not going to pass the knowledge onto Fred and George, but after Charlie bribed him to do it for some notes Charlie had on dragons, he agreed. Percy loved dragons, and would often beg Charlie for some notes for Care of Magical Creatures.

Fred and George loved it. They stole food and some things needed for various pranks they were making; it was all in the kitchen, or thereabouts. Their mother did suspect them, but she didn't have any evidence, so she never brought them to task.

Stealing food was always a fun thing to do, but they never took too much. They both knew money was tight, so they didn't want to cause trouble. They needed supplies for pranks, too, but that was about it.

They then passed it into Ron. They both thought their brother was rather dull, so they gave him something to make him more interesting. Fred and George sniggered; their mum would still probably think it was them—Ron would never do something like that!

Ron loved food. He never could get enough of it; some of his older brothers would often joke he was a black hole taking form as a human. Weasleys ate a lot, but Ron was even more of a guts. So, when the twins taught him the skills and art of sneaking into the kitchen to steal food, he jumped at the chance.

The first few times, he got caught. Not actually in the act, but there was one time he never got down the stairs. After a while, he thought the twins were having him on, but then he succeeded. Ron knew then it was an actual thing.

Ron was a little more greedy than his older brothers, but he didn't take everything in sight. Contrary to popular belief, he did have a brain and knew that eating everything would get noticed.

He eventually passed it into Ginny. Ginny was shocked and blamed their poverty on her brothers for stealing food, but she soon realised that was silly because they were poor before that. She did use the art of stealing from the kitchen though. she used it to be able to be alone and for doing fun things. Ginny liked playing with a crimson lion statue, that her parents wouldn't normally let her touch, thinking she could hurt herself.

One night when all her brothers were staying over, Ginny heard footsteps: someone was coming! It wasn't her parents, which was a slight plus, but she was going to get caught! And she didn't know if they would tell on her.

The next second, Bill appeared in the doorway. He looked around before seeing Ginny at the table. Bill smiled then, and Ginny, being against her better judgement, relaxed and smiled back. She wondered what would happen now.

"Did it get passed on to you? I'm glad," Bill asked amusedly. He walked over and quietly sat across from Ginny.

"What? I'm not in trouble?" Ginny asked.

"The ways of sneaking. And no, you're not. Since I used to do the same thing, I would not tell on you," Bill said simply.

"What?" Ginny was even more confused.

"I used to like trying to sneak down for a late night snack, but Mum and Dad kept catching me until I worked out how to do it. Then I passed it into Charlie, who I think passed it onto Percy," Billy said.

"Then he passed it onto the twins, who passed it to Ron who passed it on to me? God, it is a tradition then!" Ginny guessed.

"Basically; it's an unwritten one between us siblings," Bill nodded.

"Well, thank you, Bill. I don't normally sneak out for food though. I went into Mum and Dad's room the other day—they're really crazy about Gryffindor, aren't they? I know it is kind of an honour all of the Weasleys ending up there, but still!" Ginny quietly exclaimed.

"But they would tell you it is crimson and golden yellow. Remember that argument with Aunt Muriel? The only one I remember that old woman losing!" Bill said brightly.

"And red and gold are completely different," Ginny said, rolling her eyes. Shortly after that, they both turned in, with Bill promising to share some of his food stealing adventures.