Chapter 9
Each girl first put the boys napkins in their laps, then helped them position their silverwear in their hands correctly. "Watch how Mr. Weasley, your father does it." Mrs. Weasley said. All eyes were on him. Mr. Weasley carefully cut a piece of waffle, put it into his mouth, wiped his mouth with his napkin, and placed his fork and knife on the edge of his plate. "Now it's our turn." she said. The girls helped the guys to properly cut their waffle into little bites; where to put their silverware when not being used; wipe their mouths properly; etc. This went on for atleast an hour. During that hour, Bill and Charlie came downstairs, Percy already being at work. Bill was wearing black flannel pants with skulls on them and a black t-shirt that had the Wierd Sisters on it with just socks on his feet, his hair in a ponytail. Charlie was wearing plain black flannel pants, and a white white t-shirt that said 'I've got a wand. . .' with a wand on the front, and on the back it said '. . . and I'm not afraid to use it!', with dark green slippers. "What is this? Manners school?" Charlie said. He and Bill laughed their heads off.
Later on that day, after manners school, Harry, Fred, George, Katie, Ginny, and Charlie had gone out to play Quidditch; Mrs. Weasley went to Diagon Alley; Mr. Weasley went to take a nap; Bill had gone to visit Percy at the Ministry; Hermione and Ron stayed inside, working on homework in the den. Hermione caught Ron staring out the window, where everyone was playing Quidditch. "You miss it, don't you?" she asked. Ron nodded, looking back down at his essay he was halfway done with. It was an essay from Snape, Ron's and Harry's least favorite Hogwarts teacher. "Cheer up, we'll be going back to school in no time! Then Madame Pomfrey can fix your arm and leg." Hermione said. "That's just it! I'm looking forward to going back to school, and I'm dreading going back to school! I'm looking forward to it cause I'll get my bones mended! I'm dreading it because we'll have to start lessons again, and I won't get to play quidditch for fun!" Ron said, panting because he had said each sentence in one breath. "Catch my drift?" he said in an obvious tone. Hermione nodded. The door burst open, all six quidditch players coming in, hot and sweaty looking. Fred and George were discussing jokes, Katie was carrying her's, Harry's, Ginny's and Charlie's brooms, and Ginny and Charlie were helping Harry into the house. "Harry! What happened!" Hermione exclaimed. "Twisted my ankle. Was turning around to help Charlie up, when my foot just got caught on something in the ground. Don't know what it was, so don't ask." he said, Ginny and Charlie laying him down on the couch next to Ron. "Gotten much done, mate?" he asked, breathing deeply. Ron nodded, handing Harry his essay. He scanned it, then handed it to Hermione. "Doesn't look like there're many mistakes, if you ask me." he said, while Hermione scanned it. She beamed handing the essay back to Ron. "He's right, Ron! No mistakes!" she exclaimed. She shot up from where she was sitting, went over and hugged Ron tightly around the neck. "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! It's just an essay. Chill out." Ron said, rubbing Hermione's cheek with his thumb. "Oh, and I have a little piece of news that might cheer you up." she said with a smile. "And you, Harry. This piece of news might cheer you both up." she said. "Well spill, already!" Ron exclaimed. "Well, I was up about half the night trying to figure it out, with Ginny and Katie's help, obviously. But, I figured out how to mend broken bones." she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "Well do it, already! I wanna walk, use my arms, play Quidditch, for God's sake!" Ron exclaimed. Hermione pulled out her wand and cleared her throat, pointing her wand at Ron's leg. "Ferulaia!" she exclaimed. The bandages whipped off Ron's leg. He felt it. "Bone! Holy crap it's a mira-" "Ferulaia!" Hermione exclaimed. "Another miracle! Holy crap, I'm saved!" he exclaimed, throwing down his crutches. Ron stood up and picked Hermione up, hugging her very tightly. "Hey, hey, I've still gotta fix Harry up." she said. Ron put her down and sat back down, going into a sarcastickly relaxed position. "Right." he said. Hermione held her wand near Harry's ankle, clearing her throat again. "Ferulaia!" she exclaimed. Harry's ankle was twisted back into it's proper place. "Thanks, 'Mione." he said, giving her a smile. The door burst open, Mrs. Weasley coming in. She had three bags in her hands. She set them down on the table, dumping out the contents of each bag. "Find your stuff and bring it all up to your rooms. Oh, hold on!" she exclaimed. She went over to where she did laundry, pushing over eight baskets full of clean, folded clothes. "Put away your clothes, too. And make sure your room is clean!" she exclaimed. Then she began bustling around, making dinner. "Mum, what's up?" Charlie asked. "Percy's invited his boss to dinner. I met up with Percy in Dervis and Banges. Told me Mr. Crouch is opsessed with clean! Told me the house must be spick n' span! Now pop to it!" she exclaimed. Ron went first, grabbing his new pajamas and slippers; Fred and George grabbed their joke stuff shipped from Zonkos; Charlie got his new jacket and tie; Harry got his new glasses case and broom servicce kit; Hermione got her new set of quills from Dervis and Banges; Katie got her new skirts and hair ribbons; and Ginny got her new sheets. All eight kids each picked up their basket of clean clothes, and trotted up the steps. The girls all leaving them on the third floor, and the five boys going into their rooms. Fred and George went into the bathroom to shower, while Harry and Ron went into Ron's room, and Charlie going into his and Bill's room, Bill's old bedroom. Ron and Harry had been eating lots of leftover candy and had wrappers and their school stuff scattered everywhere. "Percy said that Mr. Crouch inspects every room of every house he visits, so we better tidy up, like mum said." Ron said, beginning to pick up wrappers, while Harry began making the beds. "Does your mum expect us all to eat in the kitchen." Harry asked, pulling up the comforter on his bed. "Oh, no! We're gonna eat outside, cause there ain't enough room for all've us to fit at the kitchen table." Ron said, throwing all the wrappers into the wastebasket.
Later on that eveing, all the men, not including Percy and Mr. Weasley, were sitting in the den, watching t.v. They were watching wizarding cartoons. Charlie was wearing black dress pants, a white, long-sleeve button down, the sleeves rolled up to his muscles, and his new white cowboyboots. Bill was wearing the same thing, except his boots had black designs, and his shirt was short-sleeve. Fred and George were wearing brown dress pants with short-sleeve tan button downs and brown slacks. Ron was wearing black dress pants, black slacks, and a short-sleeve button down shirt that was red and gold and said quidditch. Harry wore black dress pants, black slacks, and a short-sleeve button down that was lime green with a glowing wand on it. The girls were wearing the outfits they had worn when Katie arrived, except their skirts were full length, and they had curled their hair and worn the top part in two pig-tails. Mrs. Weasley wore a black skirt, the nicest one she owned, and an orange turtle neck, with her black pearl necklace, an anniversary gift she had gotten from Mr. Weasley, and black flats. There was a knock at the door. Percy and his boss, Mr. Crouch, came in. "Good evening, everyone. I'd like to introduce you all to my boss, Mr. Barty Crouch." Percy said. Bill and Charlie came up and shook hands with Mr. Crouch. Mrs. Weasley did the same, while saying "We're very happy that you could join us for dinner. Please, make yourself at home." she said, motioning towards the den. Mr. Crouch went over by the fireplace and scanned his finger across the mantle. "Hmm, not a speck of dust. Impressive." he said. He went around the den and kitchen, inspecting every corner, finally making his way upstairs. Fred, George, Bill, Charlie, and Katie had begun to help Mrs. Weasley put things outside for dinner. "Who does this guy think he is? Just coming into our house and inspecting every inch of the house to make sure it's clean!" Ron retorted. "Yeah! Mum's got enough on her plate, without having to deal with Crouch being here, inspecting her cleaning. Honestly." said Ginny, sounding disgusted. Hermione and Harry nodded in agreement, as Mr. Crouch and Percy came back downstairs. "I find your house very impressive, Percy. Cleaner than I thought it would be, to tell you the truth." Mr. Crouch said, looking over at the four. "Ah, and these must be the fine brothers and sisters of yours that you've told me about." he said. "Actually, Mr. Crouch, only two of them are my brother and sister. The red-heads, Ronald and Ginerva." Percy said. Mr. Crouch came over and shook hands with the two, as they said "Actually, I go by Ron -" "And I go by Ginny." Ron and Ginny glared at Percy, who gave them a I'm-supposed-to-call-you-by-your-real-names-around-my-boss-look. "And these are my two good friends, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter." Ron said. "Charmed." Mr. Crouch said, shaking both their hands and starting outside, when he stopped in his tracks and spunaround. "Harry Potter, did you say? My, my, how lovely it must be to be best friends with the legendary Harry. Potter." he said, going back outside. "Impressive man, isn't he?" Percy asked with dignity. "Amazing. A real thrill." said Ron.