"Any word?" asked George, as he and Ron ate their lunch.
"Nope," said Ron, his mouth full of coronation chicken. "They're probably eating lunch."
"Hopefully not!" said George. "Muggle train food is ghastly - Freddie practically emptied his stomach the last time we were on a train..."
Before George finished his story, both heard a loud thud from the shop and jumped out of their chairs to investigate the commotion.
Ron and George stood at the top of the stairs leading to the shop and looked on in horror as two dozen or so darkly dressed Ministry employees were opening containers, putting merchandise into boxes, and deactivating any theft charms placed around the store.
"EXCUSE ME!" roared George in a volume that frightened Ron and all the Ministry employees.
"Can we help you?" asked a smug male voice belonging to Zacharias Smith, a former classmate who matured from a haughtiy Hufflepuff to an equally cowardly wizard.
"What in the bloody hell do you think you're doing, Smith?!" exclaimed George charging down the stairs towards Zacharias.
"This property belongs to the Ministry," responded Zacharias, waving a piece of parchment in front of George's fuming face.
"On what grounds?" demanded Ron, as George snatched the paper from Zacharias' hand.
"The Wizard Wartime Act," said Zacharias. "Any property deemed essential by the Ministry may be confiscated for defensive purposes."
"Tell me then, what does a joke shop have to do with war?" demand Ron.
"I don't have to answer to you," sneered Zacharias.
"OI! Don't touch that!" cried out George as some employees took apart the displays.
"So the Ministry can take anyone's property?" asked Ron incredulously to Zacharias.
"Well," smirked Zacharias. "If I was you Weasley, I'd be concerned."
Ron surveyed the room as the Ministry ransacked the twins' dream, but it was the comment from Zacharias shook Ron to his core. While George ran around the store like a madman, Ron crept away to one of the empty storage rooms to make a phone call.
Meanwhile, Hermione was cleaning the kitchen while Hattie watched Babbity-Rabbity's Tales on the television and Ruby bounced in her harness. When she noticed Ron's name appearing on her mobile screen, Hermione answered her phone.
"Hello, darling," said Hermione. "Is everything alright?"
"No!" blurted out Ron. "The Ministry, they're taking over the shop."
"What?" exclaimed Hermione.
"That miserable little git Zacharias Smith claims that the Wartime Act allows the Ministry to take the shop..."
"Why is a joke shop necessary for war?!" asked Hermione.
"My thoughts exactly!" said Ron.
"But the property has to have a necessary function relevant to war!" explained Hermione.
Ron's head was full of fear and uncertainty to the point where he no longer listened to Hermione explaining the Ministry's incorrect application of the law. Ron's worst fears were realized once Hermione expressed her doubt over the joke shop being used for defensive purposes. With Charmer in charge, the Ministry could take any property without reason or consequences.
"Ron? Are you still there?" asked Hermione, noticing his silence.
"Yeah," said Ron, coming to his senses. "I was just thinking...it may be nice to go on holiday while the weather's still nice."
"What on Earth are you talking about?" asked Hermione, concerned her husband had gone mad.
"I said, let's go on holiday, just to get away from the house a bit," said Ron slowly and clearly.
For a moment, Hermione stood in the kitchen in disbelief at Ron's suggestion, especially since the had just moved into this wonderful cottage. Then, Hermione gasped when she decoed the incognito message.
"I think a holiday is a brilliant idea," said Hermione.
The trio decided to walk to Loom'r rather than risk splinching so far from home to an unfamiliar place. However, an hour into the idyllic walk through the Welsh countryside, the trio realized they overestimated the length of their journey.
"Are we there yet?" asked Scorpius.
"I swear, Scorpius," said Rose, sounding annoyed. "If you ask that question one more time..."
"Oh bloody hell, look!" said Albus, pointing towards the dark clouds forming over their heads. In a blink of an eye, the sky opened and drenched rain on the trio.
"Over there!" yelled Scorpius, pointing to a tree with a large canopy of branches and leaves. Scorpius, Rose, and Albus ran through the downpour and the already soaked dirt to get some shelter. Once under the tree, the three began to wring out their soaked clothes to avoid catching cold.
"Still think this was a good idea, Rose?" sneered Albus through his teeth.
"C'mon, Al," responded Scorpius. "It's not her fault."
"Whatever," said Rose, who wasn't bothered by Albus' comment. She knew he was cold, tired, and frustrated with today's events. Frankly, Rose reached her breaking point today as well. If she wasn't shivering from the dampness, she would be boiling over with rage. It was only the first day, and already Rose questioned these decisions.