A/N: Editing done to chapters 1-5. There is only minor changes to the previous chapters. I am now uploading all of the stocked chapters that I'd been holding back even.
Chapter Five: We're off to Hogwarts
Bill headed to Egypt for his first Curse Breaking experience February 1990. Victoria was extremely twitchy with him so far away and four siblings in Scotland. He found a way that helped her cope with her 'separation anxiety' (as the Twins had taken to calling it) by making and sending her a communication mirror for her 10th birthday. He still sent her letters once a fortnight, but he was able to talk with her face-to-face up to three times a week.
Bill didn't come home until August, and even than he only came home for a week to help Charlie. Charlie had graduated Hogwarts with O's in Charms, Defence Agents the Dark Arts, Astrology and Care of Magical Creatures, and EE's in History, Arithmancy and Transfiguration which meant he was accepted at the Dragon Reserve in Romania that he had applied to (without telling anyone other than Bill and Victoria). He had turned down a job offer with the English Quidditch team and the Ministry. Molly was angry that another one of her children wanted to leave the country and she was trying to use Victoria as a leverage against Charlie. When Molly brought her into this, Victoria called in Bill as reinforcement.
It was mid-day and everyone had sat down for lunch when Bill walked into the house.
"Bill!" Victoria called in greeting, jumping the table to reach her older brother faster and tackle him in a hug. Only Charlie and her had known that Bill was coming home for a week, and she had been squishing her excitement (not wanting to alert anyone) since she felt him arrive in Gringotts, London. Since he was so much closer than before, she felt the strain on her connection to him lesson slightly.
"Hay Little Princess," Bill greeted with a laugh, catching Victoria's flying hug and spinning her around.
"Looking good Bill," Charlie greeted, clasping Bill's shoulder.
"Charlie's right Bill," Fred agreed, standing to hug his brother.
"The hair," George continued, grabbing Bill when Fred released him.
"And the earring,"
"Suits you."
"You just need a leaver jacket to complete the look." Percy agreed, getting his own hug from Bill.
"You didn't say you were coming home." Ron greeted, allowing Bill to pull him into a hug with Ginny.
"What have you done with your hair William?!" Molly demanded sharply when she finally got a good look at her son through the sea of her children.
"I grew it out mum." Bill answered.
"It frames his face, making him more attractive." Victoria interjected before Molly could go into a rant. Bill shot her a thankful look before swiftly making to change the subject back to the reason he had taken a week off work.
"Besides, I came home for a reason. I heard Charlie had gotten a job."
"Finally, you can talk some sense into him. It's bad enough that you've headed off to Egypt, I can't have Charlie heading off too. What will that do to your sister?" Molly said loudly.
"Victoria needs to learn to live her life without us. She manages to adapt, first to us heading off to Scotland, and then me heading off to Egypt. We have ways of helping her that doesn't demand our continued presents in the country. Charlie is 18 years old, an adult, he is more than capable of making his own decisions. I know that you just want us to be safe, and close to home but that's not what we want. Charlie has always wanted to work with Dragons, and now he's been given an offer to work with them that also allows him to get his Masters in Care of Magical Creatures. We're happy with our chosen careers, despite the fact that it takes us so far away from family." Bill said bluntly, standing shoulder to shoulder with Charlie who had been trying to convince their mother to let him go for more than a month now.
"Besides, I've already accepted the job. I leave August 27th." Charlie added onto the end.
"And, unlike me, Charlie has more holiday time contracted. He'll be able to take time off to visit if he wants to." Bill tagged on the end.
"Besides mum," Percy finally spoke up, coming to stand by his brothers. "You know that Bill and Charlie would never be able to fit in at the ministry. They just don't have the personality to like working there. Perhaps, the closes to a happy lifestyle they would have is as Aurors or Hit Wizards, but you would have thrown a fit if they decided to go into such work because you still aren't happy with Uncle Fabian and Gideon."
"Percy is the only one of us who is happy to go into the Ministry," Fred picked up.
"The only one of us with the personality that would allow him to enjoy it." George added.
"I think it's time you accepted that your dream to have all eight of your kids in the ministry isn't going to happen." They finished together.
"It's our lives mum, shouldn't we be allowed to choose what we think is best for us?" Victoria finished. There was a high chance that Victoria's future was in business, which would have her interacting with the ministry but for the moment she wouldn't actually be working in the ministry. As for Ron, Victoria wasn't sure what her brother wanted to do but, she did know he became an Auror in the fictional world she had read about. As for Ginny, well she had far more options open to her then she would have in the fictional world and it was unlikely she would enjoy working in any position in the ministry because she didn't like 'stuffy offices and paperwork'.
"I just want you all to stay together. To be safe." Molly sighed in defeat. With all but Ron and Ginny speaking up against her (and they weren't old enough to be comfortable challenging their mother), she had no choice but to accept Bill and Charlie's decision. Especially since Arthur was proud of Charlie and Bill's achievements and was happy to let them lead their own lives. She was out numbered and out argued. If she continued to push, they would just go off without her permission, leaving her alienated from her children.
"It's not like we're nether going to be together again." Charlie pointed out.
"He's right, once we've got our Masteries it will be easier for the two of us to take time off work at the same time and come and visit." Bill agreed.
"And maybe, once I'm comfortable with my place I'll ask to be part of the six-month rotation with the Welsh Dragon reserve." Charlie offered.
"Oh… I'm going to miss you." Molly said, fighting off tears as she pulled her second eldest into a hug.
A year after Charlie left, it was finally time for Victoria and Ron to head off to Hogwarts.
Arthur and Molly had decided that since they had been able to afford Bill and Charlie's things new, and Percy and Victoria didn't mind using legacy books, they would buy robes new for each child, as well as their wands. Books were a bit harder to buy all of them new, which was why Fred and George ended up sharing a brand-new set, while also having access to Charlie's texts if the teachers complain. Ron had Fred and George's first year text books (the ones they had brought new while the twin's kept Charlie's old texts). Bills books were passed to Percy, who in turn passed them too Victoria. It was done this way because Percy took better notes than the twins from both the books and the lessons, while the twins only took their notes from lessons.
The most important item they brought new was the twins' wands; Ron's wand was 9 and a quarter inches, chestnut with the heart string of a Chinese Firebolt. Victoria's wand was 11 and a half inches, Aspen with a tail feather of a phoenix. Their school robes were brand new, but Ron still ended up with his casual robes being second hand (mostly what Percy and the twins had outgrown), while Victoria's second-hand clothes had come from a combination of charity shops in the muggle world and second hand shops in the wizarding world. Since trunks were very expensive, Ron ended up using Charlies, while Victoria was using Bills. Fred was using Gideon's, while George was using Fabians and Percy had their fathers. When Ginny went off too Hogwarts, she would be using Molly's.
Arthur was grateful that he had been able to buy all of his children a brand-new wand and school robes. The wands were necessary to succeed at school, while the robes would help them avoid open ridicule for being poor. Buying the new wands and robes was something he would have never managed to do if it wasn't for the money that Victoria gave them, and later Bill and Charlie.
Bill and Charlie both gave their parents 10% of their income, which they had decided to do until Ginny graduated her final year at Hogwarts, at which point their parents shouldn't have to financially support their children (assuming they all got jobs straight out of Hogwarts). Being in an entry position, which takes three years to advance from, Charlie earned about 800 galleons (g) each month (more than a normal entry position due to the dangerous nature of his job), which meant he could give his parents 80g a month (20g a weak) without impacting his own savings since he didn't need more than 250g for his daily living expenses each month. Bill, having advanced quickly from intern to master ward breaker in the three years he had been working at the bank earning a standard of 995g a month, plus any bonuses he got for particular treasure finds. He sent his family 100g each month and put the rest of his money into savings unless he needed to buy new equipment that wasn't covered by the standard company costs. In a normal month, Victoria easily earned 250g with her produce, of which she had to put 20g back into her supplies which couldn't be home grown (for example the glass tubes for her candles, although she cut back costs in this area with a recycling/reuse system), and since she gave her parents 50% of her income they received an average of 115g from her each month.
Which meant from their children, each month, they got an average of 295g. Arthur earned 597g, 5sickles (s) and 14knuts (k) every month. Growing the majority of their fruit and vegetables at home cut back on their food bill, which meant they only spent roughly 8g a weak on food stuff instead of the 21g it had been before Victoria had her idea. Various other expenses such as Molly's wool, their cloths (which they continued to get second hand), potion ingredients (for the family's stock) and school equipment each year came to roughly 66g (which went up by 5gallons for each additional child that went to Hogwarts because of school equipment).
The biggest impact on the family's finances was schooling. Hogwarts's cost 3277g 5s 8k for each year that they attended. Fortunately, Bill was able to go on the loan scholarship for five years and then a full academic scholarship for the last two years. A loan scholarship meant that the Weasley's only had to pay for half of the academic costs and he had twenty years to pay it back. A full academic scholarship meant that due to Bill's exceptional grades of 11 OWLs at O level they didn't have to pay for his last two years of school, a part time academic scholarship would have meant he paid half the fees. Normally, the loan scholarship only lasted the first five years since an OWL was mandatory. Since the NEWTs were not necessary, a loan scholarship at this point wasn't an option and if you can't get an academic scholarship you have to pay for the full price, which was why privet schooling or self-study for NEWTs was more popular than completing the last two years at school for families who weren't willing or able to shell out the money.
Charlie had gone through on a loan scholarship for the first five years, and a part time academic scholarship in his final two years, while Percy was predicted to be granted a full academic scholarship once he sat his OWLs. Since Bill had sat them all down and explained how the scholarships worked (behind his father's back) the twins had decided to not slack of and were also aiming for a part time academic scholarship, as was Victoria since she didn't know if she could get the full academic scholarship although she was hopeful. Ginny was also aiming for the part time, and if possible full, academic scholarship. Ron knew his own strengths didn't lie in theory, and knew he would be extremely lucky if he could get five OWLs at an O or EE although he thought he might be capable of getting 9 passes at OWL level but it was a minimum requirement for part-time academic scholarship for the student to have 5 O's at OWL level and the rest of their nine subjects at EE. The full academic scholarship required 9 Os at OWL level, with 8 Os at the end of sixth year (as a predictor for NEWT outcome)
So, if they achieved the grades they were aiming for, it would cost 81,925g (if you round up the knuts and sickles) to put them all through Hogwarts; but if Ginny could only get the part-time academic scholarship it would cost 85,198g (with knuts and sickles rounded). However, Arthur was currently operating under the expectation that he would have to pay the full loan back for all his children currently at, or about to attend, Hogwarts because he doesn't know their plans to get part- or full-time academic scholarships. Which meant he thought he would have to pay back 108,137g.
He had a standing payment going into a second bank account each month of 600g (which was the entirety of his own pay, plus a small amount of what the children gave him), but before April 1991 he only transferred 300g a month into this vault. He had been saving since Bill was born 22 years before. Therefore, the vault had managed to accumulate 54,300g over the years. He had already payed back Bill's tuition fee of 8,192g 4s and 19k and Charlie's tuition fee of 11,469gs, 4sand 19k. Once Percy had graduated, he would have the total cost of his tuition and be able to pay it (unless he also managed to get a full academic scholarship, in which case Arthur would pay it when Percy started his sixth year). Which meant if he continued putting aside 600g each month he would be able to pay off all the children's tuition each time they graduated or it was confirmed for their last payment and still have some money left over in the saving's vault.
In regards to the main vault, Arthur was very careful to never spend more of the money then absolutely necessary which was why the children generally received second hand books and the majority of their robes were also second hand. However, he did reward the children for their accomplishments. When Bill had received the prefect badge, he got brand new day robes of his choosing; for headboy he had received some new rune etching tools that were engraved with his initial on the handle. For getting on the Quidditch team Charlie had received a new broom (a Comet 260 which had decent speed and manoeuvrability suited for a seeker) since Arthur didn't believe it was safe for someone to play games at such a level on second hand brooms like the ones in their shed. For becoming Quidditch captain he had been given knew protective gear. Percy had just received the prefect badge and also gotten knew robes of his choosing (Arthur decided to be consistent with the rewards matching for the same achievements). When Fred and George both made beater for the Quidditch team they also received brooms (a cleansweep five each, which was the second best on the market after the cleansweep six, decent speed and very sturdy which was suited for their positions).
The night before they were to leave for Hogwarts, Victoria had everything packed – double checking her candle, make-up and lotion supplies were secured in the trunk. She then spent a few hours going through the check list and instructions that she was leaving for Ginny. The next morning Percy, Ginny and Victoria sat at the kitchen table enjoying their breakfasts while Fred, George and Ron ran around the house looking for their things, being shouted at by Molly to hurry up.
Since she knew the train journey was long, and she didn't want to spend any of her money on sweets, Victoria also made some sandwiches and a salad for her and the others. In previous years Molly would have been making them, but with so many children heading off and being so busy running after the children, Victoria decided to remove that stress from her.
Eventually they were ready to head to platform nine and three quarters. Since they couldn't afford the premium access, the family floo'd to the floo centre that was set up in a building across from King's Cross. For this reason, none of them were in their school robes. It was a bit of a chore to manoeuvre five trunks, Percy's owl (which was a birthday gift from Bill and Charlie who knew Percy had contacts outside of the Burrow he wanted to talk without tiring Errol out or preventing his family from sending any message they needed to; the only people the twins talked to outside of the burrow was their friend Lee and they could simple respond using Lee's owl) and six children but they succeeded. Since they could only grab three trolleys, Ron ended up pushing both Victoria's and his own trunks while Fred was pushing his own and Georges' and Percy was pushing his own trunk.
Victoria dropped to the back of the group, her eyes scanning the platform for the boy she had wanted to meet for years. They were nearly at the platform, and Molly was reminding the others on how to get through the barrier, when she spotted him. He was tinny, around the same height as her (and she was shorter than Ginny), wearing clearly second-hand clothes that didn't fit him. His hair was black and messy – she would assume he had purposefully tussled it if she hadn't known the truth. He was stood awkwardly next to his trolley which had a brand-new trunk on, and Hedwig – the beautiful snowy owl.
Separating from her family without being noticed, she approached Harry.
"Hi," Victoria greeted brightly. "I'm Victoria Weasley, a first year at Hogwarts."
"Um, hi." Harry blinked his green eyes at her startled. "I'm Harry Potter, also a first year."
"What you doing on this side of the barrier?" Victoria questioned curiously, choosing not to comment on the boys' name. He was going to get a lot of hero worshiping soon, he didn't need her doing it too.
"I, um, don't know…" Harry stammered out, a blush covering his cheeks.
"Oh, didn't the professor tell you?" Victoria asked. "You just have to walk through the wall separating platform nine from ten. It's an illusion," Victoria explained.
"Really?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, look, my older brother's going through." Victoria pointed to Percy as he ran at the wall and disappeared. "It doesn't hurt or anything."
"Oh, okay." Harry muttered unsurely.
"We can go through together if you like?" Victoria offered, sensing Harry's doubt and uncertainty.
"I would like that," Harry swallowed thickly as they watched first Fred then George go through the barrier.
"Come on," Victoria placed her hands on one side of Harry's trolley. He placed his hands next to her's and together they pushed the trolley forward.
"Victoria, there you are. You're next." Molly informed her briskly.
"Can I go through with my new friend?" Victoria questioned.
"Of course, you can dear." Molly smiled, offering a mothering smile to Harry who was looking at her cautiously.
"Thanks," and with that, Victoria directed Harry at the barrier and they went through together.
"Wow," Victoria and Harry breathed together. The train they were to board was painted a brilliant scarlet and had the Hogwarts logo painted on the side of every third cart. There were hundreds of people around the platform, children running to greet their friends and a canopy of noise.
"Victoria," Percy caught her attention. "Are you okay, I noticed you weren't with Ron?"
"I'm fine. I decided to go through with my new friend," Victoria motioned to Harry. "Harry, this is my third oldest brother Percy. He's a fifth-year prefect." Victoria introduced proudly. "Percy, this is my friend Harry."
"It's nice to meet you Harry. Do you need a hand with your trunk?" Percy questioned.
"Uh, yeah. That would be great thanks. And it's nice to meet you to." Percy lifted Harry's trunk while Harry carried the cage with Hedwig. Once they had found an empty compartment, Victoria dashed off to where Ron was stood with their mother and Ginny. His trunk was already gone, but hers was still on the trolley. "Fred, George," she caught the twins as they appeared. "Could you help me get my trunk to the compartment I've found?"
"Sure thing," George agreed.
"We've stashed Ron's with ours," Fred explained while grabbing one end of the trunk.
"But if you want your's with you,"
"We don't mind." They finished together.
Victoria led them back along the train to where Harry was now alone in the compartment.
"Percy said he needed to go check something before he said goodbye to your mother." Harry explained when asked about Percy's location.
"Okay. Harry, this is my nearest eldest brothers Fred and George." Victoria made sure to point at the right twin when introducing them to give Harry a better chance of knowing who was who and to reinforce the fact that she could tell the difference. Of their whole family, only she and Bill could do it all the time. Their father could normally do it unless he was really distracted by something or tired. Their Uncles Fabien and Gideon could do it when they spent a couple of consecutive days with the family, but would have to relearn every time they go weeks without visiting.
"It's nice to meet you." Harry greeting, shaking hands with both twins at once.
"Welcome to the Weasley band of crazy." George greeted cheerfully.
"Once we've got hold of you," Fred picked up.
"We don't let go." They finished together in a very solemn tone.
"Hay. Don't scare him off before he knows me better." Victoria pouted at the two of them.
"But if we wait that long,"
"The poor boy won't stand a chance,"
"No one can escape your cuteness." They descended on Victoria and began to tickle her mercilessly. Victoria burst into giggles, begging Harry for help but he was far too busy laughing at them to try.
They were interrupted by their mother's shout: "FRED, GEORGE, VICTORIA!"
"Ah, thy foul witch summons us," George placed a hand over his chest, acting like he was trying to resist a great pull.
"We must respond," Fred agreed, moving like his legs were going forward while his body was fighting against the action.
"I'll join you in a few minutes." Victoria promised Harry before grabbing a hand from each twin, "Come on. We've got to make sure Ginny will be okay without us."
Jumping down from the train, Victoria grabbed Ginny in a hug. "Remember to write to us, let us know how you're doing. Don't let mum keep you inside all the time. Go and visit Luna as often as you can."
"I will," Ginny promised, returning the hug as tightly as she could. "You'll make the others write to me? And tell me everything that happens? I want to know what your friends are like, what your house is like, everything."
"Of course." Victoria promised, before she released Ginny and distracted mum from attacking Ron with a handkerchief by hugging her. "I'm going to miss you and dad."
"I'll miss you too, sweetheart. Now, remember to write to us. We have permission to come and visit you on medical grounds if you start having trouble." Mum whispered in her ear so that the families around them wouldn't be able to hear. It was unusual for any student to have something that would allow parents to visit on medical grounds, and since it wasn't known about her connection, other families may take offense thinking that Dumbledore was giving them special treatment because they were a well-known light family.
"Where's Percy?" Mum asked when she released Victoria, who jumped onto the train in front of George. Ron was still stood on the platform, because he knew that if he joined them in the doorway of the train compartment Fred would grab him in a hug, in the same way that George was doing to Victoria because there wasn't enough room for them to stand side by side.
"I'm here," Percy emerged from the crowd. He had gotten changed into his school robes and attached the prefect badge to his robe.
"Percy, you'll look after your brothers and sister?" mum requested.
"Of course. And I'll make sure they all remember to write home." Percy promised, pulling mum into a quick hug.
"I'm going to miss having you all at home." Mum sighed before beginning her last minute instructions.
"Fred, George I don't want any letters home saying that you've blown up a toilet or…" Mum began her normal rant at the twins in regards to their pranks. She ranted at them every time they came home from school, and also via howlers. They had gotten very good at ignoring her, and cutting her off before she got going. They knew when they were in the wrong, and when to accept punishment, but they also knew that pranks and having a good laugh wasn't harming anyone.
"Blow up a toilet." George cut her off excitedly.
"Great idea, though thanks." Fred infused.
"It's not funny. And look after Ron." Mum reminded them. For some reason, she seemed to think that the twins would look after Ginny and Victoria without prompting, and Percy would try looking after all of them, but the twins needed reminding to look after Ron. What she didn't notice or seemed to not realise was that they did try and look after Ron but they didn't do it in the same manner they did with Victoria because he was a boy and he didn't actually want their help.
"Don't worry, ickle Ronniekins is safe with us." They promised together.
"Shut up," Ron muttered, his ears turning as red as his hair. He hated that nick name. Their mum had used it once a few years back, and the twins had picked up on the term, using it for all three of their younger siblings. Victoria was Ickle Victikins and Ginny was Ickle Ginnikins. Since Ron generally reacted negatively to the term, they were more likely to use it when addressing him, then when addressing the girls who just took the new nick name in stride.
"Did you get the name of the boy you were helping, Victoria dear?" mum questioned.
"His names Harry, he's a first year." Victoria answered.
"What like Harry Potter?" Ron asked excitedly. Everyone knew how old Harry was, and so they all knew that he was going to Hogwarts that year. The prophet even did a couple of articles about it in the run up to his birthday and the new term.
"Can I go and see him?" Ginny asked just as excitedly.
"Even if he is Harry Potter you shouldn't be gawking at him. He's just a kid." Victoria frowned at them. She didn't understand why everyone had started celebrating and cheering Harry's name, even right after Voldemort's defeat. Since the books were cheap, the Harry Potter child series were normally the stories mum would get to read to Ginny and Ron which meant they had grown up seeing him as a hero. Fortunately, dad used other bed time stories so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.
"She's right, I don't want any of you bothering the poor boy. Or asking him any questions. Am I clear?" Mum told them sternly.
"All right, keep your hair on." Fred said, brushing her off. They didn't even know if the kid was Harry Potter so there was no point being ranted at.
A whistle sounded.
"Come on Ron, Percy," mum shooed them on the train before shutting the door. They all leaned out the window for her to kiss them good-bye (Fred lifting Ron so he could reach, and Percy lifting Victoria so she could reach). Ginny started to cry as the reality of them all leaving her at home alone for so many months.
"Don't cry Ginny, we'll send you loads of owls." George promised.
"And we'll send you a Hogwart's toilet seat." Fred said jokingly, getting a surprised laugh out of their youngest sister.
"George!" Mum shouted disappointedly.
"Only joking, mum," Fred rolled his eyes, deciding to not correct the name.
The train began to move and they all waved out the window until they could no longer see Ginny who had run to the end of the platform, laughing and crying.
"Ron, do you want to join me in my compartment?" Victoria offered.
"Nah, I'll go see if I can find somewhere else to sit." Ron said uncomfortable. He didn't want to make friends with the same people as Victoria, he didn't want to be tarred with the same brush as her like Fred and George were. He wanted to be his own person, and the easiest way of doing that was by making friends with other people.
"Alright, you can join us if you want to." Victoria offered.
"Or you can join me," Percy offered.
"Or us," Fred and George.
"I'll be alright," Ron muttered before heading down the train.
"See you in a bit," Victoria told the others happily, grabbing the three of them in a quick hug. She had discovered that in this life she was very tactile. Always grabbing one member of her family or another for a hug. When she let them go, she dashed down the train to where Harry was sat so he didn't think she had abandoned him.
Harry was sat looking out the window when Victoria slipped in.
"Hi," she greeted him happily.
"Hi," he returned with an awkward smile.
"So, are you from a non-wizarding family?" Victoria questioned. She of course knew the answer, but it was an opening to the conversation.
"My parents were magical, but I grew up with my aunt and uncle who aren't." Harry answered, "What about you?"
"We're all magical," Victoria answered. "Do you have any questions about the wizarding world?" She figured that she could help him work out the ins and outs of his new world long before he did in the books.
"Do you know anything about the school and the teachers?" Harry asked, his eyes lighting up excitedly about Victoria's offer for information.
"Yeah, my older brothers have told me lots. There are four heads of houses. Professor McGonagall is the head of house Gryffindor. Bill said that she's extremely strict but fair. You don't want to be caught doing mischief by her. However, Fred and George say that she does enjoy a good prank if you aren't caught and it's something everyone can laugh about. She's been teaching transfiguration for the past thirty five years, and has been head of house for thirty years. She became Deputy Headmistress two years later when the previous one retired after only two years of services. She also has an animagus form of a cat."
"Animagus?" Harry repeated.
"It means a witch or wizard who can turn into an animal. It's a very advanced transfiguration skill that not many people have." Victoria answered.
"And she turns into a cat?"
"Yeah. She'll demonstrate it in our first transfiguration lesson, and then explain it completely in third year."
"How do you know when she'll introduce it?" Harry asked confused.
"Percy, Bill and Charlie told me about their lessons. Percy's in fifth year and the other two have graduated."
"How many siblings do you have?" Harry asked with wide eyes.
"Seven. Bill's the oldest turning twenty-two this year. He's in Egypt at the moment working as a Curse Breaker for Gringotts. Charlie's next and is nineteen, he's been working at a Dragon Reserve in Romania for the last year. Percy is next and has just turned fifteen. He's a prefect and is looking to go into the ministry. If you have any questions about your subjects then he's the one you go to. Then there's the first lot of twins Fred and George who are entering their third year. They're pranksters through and through. If they bother you, just let me know and I'll talk with them. Normally they're quite good at recognising individual barriers. Then you have my twin brother Ron. If you end up in Gryffindor, you'll get to know him really well. Finally, there is the youngest and my only sister. Ginny will be joining us next year."
"Blimey. I've never met someone with so many siblings." Harry admitted.
"Yeah, and we're one of the few in the wizarding world with these kinds of numbers. Normally Pureblood families have maybe two children. It's rare that they'll have three children. My family's very unusual."
"Can you tell me about the other teachers?" Harry requested, releasing that he had accidently diverted the conversation.
"Right, so the other three heads of houses are Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick and Professor Snape. Professor Sprout is the head of Hufflepuff, and teaches Herbology. She's extremely kind and fair. She rarely gives detention and she understands that people don't really like her subject but she still tries to make it fun. When there is a particularly messy lesson, or it's during the day when the students have a follow-on lesson, she will end it early so they have time to get cleaned up. But if you harm the plants, or she catches you bullying she won't hesitate to give you a detention or take points.
Professor Flitwick is the head of Ravenclaw and teaches charms. He's really small, his grandfather was a goblin. But he used to be the world Duelling champion for five years, so don't underestimate him. He is really good at his subject, and doesn't mind answering questions after lessons or during his office hours. It's one of the few lessons we'll start casting spells in straight from the go, similarly to with transfiguration but we'll learn more spells quicker.
Finally, Professor Snape teaches potions and is head of Slytherin. He's very strict, and unfair towards the other houses. However, if you can get his respect with your dedication to learning potions, he'll probably ignore you instead of shout at you. Bill and Charlie told me he's better with teaching the older years, since they've proven themselves dedicated to his subject which is so dangerous and he finds it easier to explain potions to these students because of their majority level and the experience they already have with brewing. He won't stand bullying of any kind and is very protective of those in his house.
The other teachers are Binns, a ghost who teaches History and bores everyone to death; Professor Sinistra is a very young professor whose only been teaching Astronomy for five years; Hooch is the flying instructor and referee; Prince is the librarian; Madam Pomfrey is the matron in the hospital wing; Filch the caretaker, he hates all the students and Hagrid is the Keeper of Keys and Grounds.
Finally, you have the teachers for the subject you get to choose in your third year. Professor Burbage teaches Muggle Studies; Professor Kettleburn teaches care of Magical creatures; Professor Trelawney teaches divination; Professor Vector teaches Arithmancy and Professor Bagshot teaches Ancient Runes." Victoria finished her run down, having to count off the teaches on her hands.
"I haven't had time to read through more than a couple of chapters off each book. History of Magic is the only one I've read all the way through." Harry admitted.
"I'll help you study until you can catch up. But even reading a few chapters is better than reading none. Ron's not read anything yet despite mine and Percy's best attempts." Victoria reassured him.
"Thanks."
"Do you enjoy reading?"
"Um… I think so. I've not really been able to." He admitted.
"Well you'll have plenty of time to get re-aquatinted with books and I'll help. I love reading, normally non-school related books and I've heard great things about the library."
"Is the library big?" Harry asked, a spark of excitement in his eyes that Victoria was relieved to see. She knew that in the books he didn't do more than get by with his education, but if he was interested in reading then he could do so much better than the Harry of fiction.
"Huge. It's the biggest known library in Britain." Victoria answered. "Although some of the Pureblood libraries may have rarer books since they aren't restricted by ministry regulation. The Headmaster has to remove books into the restricted section or the hidden library whenever the knowledge within it has been restricted."
"Is there a fiction section?" Harry bounced slightly in his seat causing Victoria to laugh.
"Yeah. I think so. We can ask the librarian." Victoria answered after a pause for thought. Percy was the only one who really read fiction books, and he mentioned something about there being a couple of shelves for him to read from.