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Chapter 4 Eric's Birthday
Eric woke up on his eleventh birthday happy as can be. He quickly dressed and headed downstairs. He knew what the owl post was going to bring him today and we wanted to get to it first thing.
His mother would already be awake. She always woke up first to make breakfast and get the family ready. His Mum was the head of the household. It was well known through the family.
Eric headed down the stairs resisting the urge to slide down the banister. His mother had caught him doing that the day before and gave him the usual lecture about breaking his neck. It seemed like everything he did was going to make him break his neck. Yet she was willing to face a three headed dog over a trap door. He wondered how his own first year would go.
In the kitchen he saw his mother cooking.
"Morning Mum." He said when he came in. He gave her the usual hug.
"Happy Birthday Honey." Hermione said. "You're up early."
"I wanted to get the post." Eric answered.
"It's right there on the table. The one you're looking for is on top." Hermione answered.
Sure enough there was an envelope made of yellow parchment with his name in Emerald Green ink. He turned over and saw the purple wax seal. The one he had been looking forward to for a long time. The H surrounded by a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake.
He had his Hogwarts letter.
He opened up the envelope. Even though he knew what the letter said, he still read it.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmisters Minerva McGonagall
(Order of Merlin, Second Class, International Confed. of Witches)
Dear Mr. Weasley
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours Sincerely,
Professor Flitwick
Deputy Headmaster
"Did you send a reply letter?" Eric asked excitedly.
"Already sent it off with Merlin. I think Professor McGonagall knew that you would already attend though." Hermione said with a slight chuckle.
After reading the letter again he put it down and scooped up some of the eggs that his mother had just put on the table. Soon he heard the twins coming down the stairs.
Molly and Elizabeth were identical all the way down to their clothing. The only way anyone outside the family could tell them apart was by their hair. Elizabeth had hers cut in a slightly different style than Molly. But Molly was the one who spoke for both of them.
Both were wearing the blue sweaters that their grandmother had made for them.
They sat next to each other at breakfast.
Right behind them was their father, still in his shirt and boxers.
Eric was always told how much his father and he looked a like, but he never quite saw it.
"Good morning." Ron said taking his seat at the head of the table. "Happy Birthday Eric."
"Thanks Dad." Eric said. "I got my letter from Hogwarts this morning."
"Got accepted then." Ron joked. Ron had known since Eric was a baby that he would be going to Hogwarts. It was only a matter of which house he would be put in. He was a Weasley so the sorting hat should put him in Gryffindor.
"We will need to buy everything this weekend." Hermione said. "The children have school this morning and we have work, but tonight we will celebrate."
Eric and the twins attended a local Grammer school.
Hermione wanted the children to be in a school atmosphere, despite Ron thinking that they should be home taught like he was. She had argued that they did not have enough time between them to home school and neither wanted to quit their jobs.
The school that she found was one designed for Wizarding Children. A few of the teachers there had graduated from Hogwarts themselves and the staff was aware of the Wizarding world. Eric's teacher was a squib who still tried to keep ties to her world.
Eric seemed to like her enough and Hermione had no complaints about performance from her or Eric.
"All of you have to go to school today." Hermione said. "So hurry up." She started clearing the table with Ron's help.
"Everything is set up for tonight?" Hermione asked.
"Yes it is. He's going to have a good birthday."
"Yup the first Weasley grandchild to go to Hogwarts." Ron said proudly. He gave his wife a kiss on the cheek.
Upstairs Eric got ready for school. He had been looking forward to going to Hogwarts for as long as he could remember. His Grandfather had once told him that he had naturally taken to the Wizarding World. He was a pureblood after all both of his parents were wizards, even if his mother was a Muggle Born.
The one thing Eric knew for sure was that his mother was a powerful witch. He had figured out the family secret when he was younger.
He knew about the famous trio that had destroyed the dark lord, Voldemort. He knew the name because he overheard Harry saying the name that nobody wanted to say.
On his way out he grabbed his blue book bag and went downstairs. Eric and his sisters left for school on the floo network. They landed in the foyer of the school. Standing around were other Wizarding students.
Eric saw his friends Michael and Shawn. Both were from Wizarding families and would attend Hogwarts with him. He hoped they would be in Gryffindor as well.
"Happy Birthday." Shawn said to him. "Did you get your letter yet?"
"Yes." Eric said. "I will be attending Hogwarts. My Mum's getting the party ready for tonight."
They all went to class and right to studying. Eric could barely stay concentrated on his math and language studies. He was too excited about tonight.
After school Eric went home with his sisters. They flowed together to their house and dropped their bags off in their room.
Hermione had set up the kitchen for after school homework. She wanted the kids to develop good study habits for when they left for Hogwarts. The twins had gotten to work on theirs immediately.
Eric didn't have any homework at all. Probably has a birthday present. Eric hung around the house reading some of his comics waiting for the evening party.
At about dinner time he flooed over to Harry's house.
When he came in through the fire place every Weasley was in the room, all of his Uncles and cousins.
"Happy Birthday." Everyone shouted when he came in.
Eric did like having his family around. Even if the one that he was closest to was his Uncle Harry.
Whenever he had gotten in trouble he had always gone to his Uncle Harry's.
His grandparents were there and he gave them hugs as he welcomed them.
After a wonderful dinner and cake huge enough to be for a wedding they started giving out the gifts.
Eric was half expecting them to be giving him school supplies, but that was not how it turned out so much.
His Grandparents had given him an owl, his own snowy owl. Just like his Uncle Harry's.
"Thank you," Eric said happily looking at the beautiful bird. He was gorgeous all white with a very noble looking face. "He's perfect." Eric said stroking his feathers.
What came next was from Percy and Penny, it was a gold designed birdcage. Eric saw on it where his name was engraved on it. He could not have been happier.
"There is a space there for when you pick a name." Percy pointed out just above Eric's name.
The next came from his Uncle Charlie and his Aunt Caroline. A pair of Dragoon-hide boots with gloves. "That is from the Hungarian Horntail." He said looking over at Harry.
Eric laughed a bit. He knew about the Dragon that Harry had faced during his fourth year at Hogwarts.
Bill and Fluer were next. They had given him a couple of magic books on Egypt. That was where Wizards were first started to use magic. Eric did enjoy books, just like his mother. He couldn't quote them as well as she could.
Harry's present was opened last. It was a long wooden box.
Eric opened it excitedly. He had already expected what it was.
A Nimbus 2002 broomstick.
"Wow." Eric said looking at one of the best broomsticks in the world.
"Harry!" Hermione said looking at it. She knew he had something planned but couldn't believe that he would by that.
"First years still are not allowed their old brooms. But I don't see a problem with you getting started over the summer, and then you can take it to school with you the next year." Harry said.
"It's wonderful." Eric said again looking it over. It was brand new with a high polish.
"I figured we could get you started on flying." Ginny said.
"Harry this is too much." Ron said.
"He is my Godson and so I do have a right to spoil him a little bit." Harry answered. "This is a good starter broom for more advanced flying."
Eric enjoyed the rest of the party. His father was going to give him flying lessons tomorrow at the Burrow.
It was a happy day, and he had only the summer until Hogwarts.