"Why am I the one who's always passed out for the interesting bits?" I whined, letting my head slump down onto Fred's shoulder.
"Just lucky, I suppose," Harry sighed, looking annoyed.
"Oh yeah, says Mr. Interesting," I rolled my eyes, kicking my feet idly.
"Less bickering, more walking," Arthur fussed, picking up the pace.
We walked back to the Burrow quickly, all but tumbling down the grassy hill as we approached the property. The morning dew stuck to everyone's shoes and made the air feel wet, and for once I didn't mind getting a piggy-back ride.
"Oh, I'm so glad you got back safe," Molly burst out as soon as we got through the door, throwing her arms around Fred and George. "I shouted at you before you left, it's all I've been thinking about."
"Yeah, yeah," the two smiled, hugging her back.
"Oh, dear," Arthur mumbled quietly from the kitchen table, already pouring over a newspaper that had been published that morning on the incident. "This is not good."
"Has Hedwig gotten here yet?" Harry chimed in from across the room.
"I'll have to go into the office, this will need some smoothing over."
"Ah, not yet dear," Molly replied sadly.
"I'm waiting on a letter, from-ah, well, let's go to Ron's room." Harry turned to his friends and they scampered up the stairs.
"Ah," I sighed, plopping down on the couch, "I forgot how noisy it gets in here sometimes."
"I would think you've gotten used to it by now," Fred sat down next to me as George threw himself onto the armchair.
"Yeah, it's not like it ever stops," George agreed.
"Mm," I hummed, closing my eyes as I sunk into the soft cushions.
"I think we ought to go back to sleep," George yawned, "Only two hours is not enough for me."
"We're growing boys," the two mocked their mother, laughing lightly.
"C'mon, up you go, Soot," Fred dragged me up with him as he stood, causing me to let out a grunt of protest.
"Just leave me here to rot," I murmured as I was dragged up the stairs, stumbling a bit as I looked at them through blurry, half-closed eyes.
"You can rot later," George retorted, kicking open their bedroom door and tossing his backpack in a random corner before jumping face down onto his bed.
"Oh, goodie," I mumbled, sluggishly walking over to Fred's bed and not even bothering to pull the covers back.
Arthur was spending more and more time up at the Ministry, Percy following behind him like a little duckling all the way.
The rest of August flew by, with Arthur barely at home and Percy mimicking him. With two less Weasleys, things were a bit quieter and a bit more roomy, but that also might have been the result of rumors swirling around.
"Do you think he's really back?" I asked Fred as we unpacked school supplies Molly had gotten us. I rummaged around in a shopping bag and flinched when my fingers brushed over a soft fabric.
"I don't know, not just anyone can cast those things in the sky like that," he replied nervously.
I pulled the fabric out to reveal a striking set of deep emerald green dress robes, the coat being made of felt. The shirt itself was the normal white but the vest was a soothing green color that made me eager to run my fingers over it...smooth like satin.
"Wow, those are nice," Fred whistled, "Wish I had ones like that."
"I could buy you some," I looked at him out of the corner of my eye.
"No need, mine work just fine," he smiled, gesturing to a smooth black robe hanging in the wardrobe. "Now Ron might want to take you up on that offer."
I grimaced as I continued to pack away the supplies into my suitcase, remembering the horrid flowery print pattern and bright pink lace.
"He won't be getting a date that'll match him, that's for sure."
"He could always take a grandmother's couch, I suppose."
"At this rate no one else would accept," I giggled, folding the dress robe carefully before laying it in with my other clothes. I'd make sure to pad it with a sweater or something.
"Speaking of which..." He trailed off, looking a bit nervous. "Would you go to the ball with me?"
"Of course," I murmured, feeling my cheeks heat up, "Why wouldn't I?"
"Mm, yes," he hummed happily, "Why wouldn't you? I sure am a catch."
"A catch that tries to expose Ministry officials for gambling," I mumbled, shooting him a teasing look.
"Well, in my opinion he had it coming."
"In your opinion, everyone does."
The train ride was just as it was before, me and the twins sitting in a train car waiting on Glinda to find us. We sat and chatted for a while, I even bought us some candy from the trolley, and Glinda still hadn't showed up.
"Do you think she got lost in- Oh, where did she go this time?"
"I think it was...Greece? Or maybe it was America..."
"Move," we heard grunted from the door, where a familiar blonde was heaving around at least 20 gift bags.
"Oh-" George's eyes widened as he realized the heavy load was coming toward him, and he jumped toward the window just in time to avoid being crushed by cheap souvenirs.
"Hello boys, miss me?" Glinda spoke breathily, still recovering.
"Oh, surely," George drawled, pushing falling bags off of him. "What's all this about?"
"I got you all a few little somethings," she rummaged around in the pile and pulled out a few bags for each of us, still leaving at least 15 bags pooled on the ground.
"No peeking until you're in your dormitories, though," she said, smacking the twins' hands away from the ribbon tying the tops shut.
"I hate gifts with rules," Fred rolled his eyes, laughing when he earned himself another smack.
"So, Tommy, my boy," she sat across from me, "I'll expect you got up to some naughty naughty while living with your husband, hm?"
"Glinda," I hissed, immediately feeling my ears tinge red as Fred and George shared knowing looks and silent laughs at my expense.
"Ah, they're laughing, which means you definitely did. I must spend a summer at the Weasley's to be a witness."
"We could possibly arrange that," George contemplated, seemingly counting the places to sleep in the Burrow, "We just might have space for you next to the garbage can."
"On second thought," she followed, not missing a beat, "Perhaps we're visiting the Bahamas next year. Ooh, sorry."
"A damn shame," George smiled, leaning back in his seat.
"A damn shame indeed, Weasley," Glinda countered.
"Speaking of a damn shame," Fred piped up, catching a mischevious glint in his eye, "I've heard the Goblet has an age limit."
"What? Goblet?" Glinda asked, crossing her legs.
"The Goblet of Fire, it decides the champions?" George clarified.
"Champions?"
"The TriWizard Tournament?"
"Oh," she whispered, eyes wide, "Oh no, are we hosting that this year? I didn't buy a dress or anything."
"Ouch, you'll have to go shopping soon," I commented, suddenly grateful Molly managed to find me some decent dress robes.
"When do they come?"
"I'm pretty sure around winter, start of winter maybe?"
"Agh, shit," she looked out the window and bit her lip, seemingly in deep concentration.
"Aside from that," Fred interrupted, "I was thinking more along the lines of: How are we going to bypass the age limit?"
"How are you going to do what now?" My nervousness increased tenfold.
"Well, we've got to enter our names," George smiled, "Don't we, Fred?"
"Of course, George," Fred agreed.
"Merlin's beard," I muttered, purposefully looking away as they turned to me.
Sixth year promised a world of trouble and it hadn't even began yet.