Chapter 3- An Unexpected Inspection
As Molly threw open the door, Percy stopped shortly and then gave a small nod, "Hello, Mother."
Mrs. Weasley threw her arms around her third son and her eyes became shiny with tears.
"Percy, how are you?"
"I'm fine, Mother, but I cannot stay long," Percy stood rather stiffly and did not embrace his mother back. "I've only come to inform you that your residence---" his eyes glanced up at the Burrow swiftly. "is subject to a Ministry inspection. The department should be arriving shortly under my supervision."
"Inspection?" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, outraged. "Inspection of the Burrow? For what? We have no Dark Arts objects here, young man and you know that!"
Percy seemed to have jumped a fraction, but he recovered himself quickly and not meeting his mother's eyes, he answered, "There are suspicions of illegal tampering of Muggle devices on the perimeter."
Another four cracks were heard and four wizards proceeded into the Burrow, each of them nodding at Percy in greeting.
"Ohh!" Mrs. Weasley said grumpily. "A search of the Burrow!"
She immediately followed the wizards into the house. "Don't you dare mess up any of our possessions!" She pointed her wand at a wizard who was tampering with the fireplace, trying to see if there were any loose bricks hiding things.
"Not to worry, Mrs. Weasley," the wizard answered. "All of your possessions should be in their exact original state after the inspection." He paused. "Unless we find it fit to seize any illegal ones."
"We do NOT possess any illegal objects!" Mrs. Weasley bellowed. "How DARE you accuse me----" she stopped as she saw two wizards walking outside with a trunk full of plugs and Muggle radios, a computer and a skateboard.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Mrs. Weasley rushed over and tried to seize the trunk out of the wizards' hands.
"Mrs. Weasley, please!" one of the wizards said helplessly. "This is our order! All of these Muggle devices have been enchanted! What would happen if a Muggle happened to
have found one….I mean, a skateboard that can ride upside down and turn the rider invisible? It's risking exposure of our world!"
"This is my husband's----it's his hobby, he doesn't mean anything by it!" Mrs. Weasley argued, pulling the trunk away. No matter how much she disliked Arthur's hobby, she knew that he loved it and even though she disapproved, she did not want the ministry to be involved in seizing things!
"Mrs. Weasley, try to be reasonable!" the wizard replied. "You will give me no choice if you do not cooperate!"
But Mrs. Weasley was not listening and instead, pointed her wand over to another wizard carrying what seemed to be an airplane's engine. The engine flew out of his hands.
"Mrs. Weasley, you've given us no choice, I am truly sorry." The first wizard pointed his wand at her and cried, "Petrificus Totalus!"
Mrs. Weasley suddenly stopped moving although her face was a fury of anger.
After the wizards finishing collecting everything that was under suspicion, they released Mrs. Weasley and immediately Disapparated when she came charging after them, her wand raised.
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Dear Mother,
I am enjoying Hogwarts immensely. The lessons are interesting and the library collection is fantastic. I am receiving top marks in all of my classes. It is my goal to be Prefect my fifth year and I've already begun to work towards it. It's nice to be able to read and work in peace although Charlie did interrupt me yesterday by pestering me into watching Quiddich practices. I reckon he just wants to show off his flying. I hope everyone is well. Please say hello to Father, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny for me.
Percy
Mrs. Weasley sniffed and wiped her eyes. How was she to know that Percy would someday leave the family? He had always caused no trouble, always following the rules and always serious. However, Molly never expected him to walk away and never return! And to command the search of his own family's house! Last night, Arthur returned home in a rage. He could not believe that his own son would follow the Ministry to search the Burrow. He also missed his Muggle devices immensely and was quite sad to find his collection of sparkplugs gone.
Fred and George had appeared at dinner that night and told a detailed story of how they managed to jinx Percy on his way to work and also to have tampered with his apartment's locks so that when he unlocked his door he will be squirted with swelling ink (the twin's latest invention). They were retelling the account of Percy's nose swelling up to the size of an orange when Mrs. Weasley sharply told them to stop and then burst into tears. The rest of dinner was carried on in an awkward, quiet silence. It did not help that Bill also Apparated into the Burrow and announced that he managed to disorganize Percy's encyclopedias, which was sure to drive him nuts. Molly did not want to hear any more of Percy.
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Dear Mum,
This will probably be my last letter to you from Hogwarts. Graduation is next week and I can't wait to see everybody! How's the family? Charlie secured the Quiddich Cup again this year. Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw's game ended 200 to 60 due to Charlie's superb flying. I've gotten a job offer at Flourish and Blotts and I'm going to take it until I can find something that pays better (and with more excitement). I'm still trying to secure a job in either Egypt or Africa breaking ancient curses. Anyway, can't wait to see you and everyone else.
Love,
Bill
At that moment, Bill Weasley had just gotten his final exams scores back and found himself graduating at the top of his class. This wasn't too unexpected, as Bill was Head Boy and had always done remarkably well in school. The only subject he needed help with was Care of Magical Creatures which Charlie often assisted him in.
When Bill Weasley received his Hogwarts diploma from Dumbledore, Molly wiped her eyes and Arthur squeezed her shoulder. It was the first of the Weasley graduations. Ginny laughed and pointed to Bill, saying, "That's my brother!" Fred and George thought to celebrate the moment by setting off some wet-start, no heat fireworks which caused considerable distraction to everyone at the ceremony and things settled down only after several staff members (including Dumbledore) stopped the explosions in which fire already caught on to an unsuspecting student's robes and Mrs. Weasley yelled herself hoarse at the twins for misbehaving on such an important occasion.