Chapter 9

"Fred! George! The OWL-results are here! Percy! The NEWT-results are in!"

The shrill voice of Molly Weasley yelled at them from the bottom of the stairs.

"I feel sick," muttered Fred, who was laying on his bed while holding his belly. "I don't want to know our future."

Fred and George's room was one big mess. Pieces of parchment and candy wrappers were laying on the ground. Two small beds were crammed in the room, only separated by one big chest of drawers. Yellow banners of the Wimbourne Wasps, Fred and George's team, were hanging on the wall.

"Come on, Fred." George hastily opened the door, missing Percy's face by half an inch.

"Oi, Fred, can't you look out," Percy said irritatedly. He re-adjusted his horn-rimmed spectacles.

"It's George," corrected George out of habit. Percy mumbled something under his breath and thundered past.

George followed his older brother in a slightly slower pace into the kitchen. Next to the open window, three owls were waiting on the kitchen table.

The Burrow breathed a very homely atmosphere. On the stove simmered fresh soup, while a knife was cutting meat in the corner. The radio just played a song by Celestina Warbeck on the Wizarding Wireless Network. The round kitchen table had some burns in it, but it was very clean.

"Ah, George, dear." Molly looked at her son. She was wearing a white apron and had her red curls pulled back into a messy bun. Percy was already busy trying to undo his own letter. His hands were shaking so badly that his whole owl shook with him.

George took a deep breath and opened the envelope addressed to him. He heard how Fred entered the kitchen.

"Mother, we already know our results. We two deserved Exceeds Expectations for everything because we actually showed up at our examinations …"

George didn't listen and unfolded his letter.

ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS

Pass grades:

Outstanding (O)

Exceeds Expectations (E)

Acceptable (A)

Fail grades:

Poor (P)

Dreadful (D)

Troll (T)

George Fabian Weasley has achieved:

Astronomy P

Care of Magical Creatures P

Charms E

Defence Against the Dark Arts E

Herbology E

History of Magic D

Muggle Studies E

Potions O

Transfiguration E

George read the parchment through several times, his breathing becoming easier with each time. He had done it! He had achieved "Outstanding" at Potions.

Their plan for the joke shop was still on. He felt how a big balloon was being pumped up in his belly.

Behind him, he could hear his mother looking over Percy's shoulder.

"Well done, Percy," said Mrs. Weasley proudly, ruffling his hair. "Ten NEWTs, that's amazing news. You can write Mr. Crouch for that job opening, I heard from your father that he desperately needs …"

"How did you do," whispered George at Fred.

"Better than expected," Fred gave his results to George. His eyes shone with expectation and hope.

"We did it," smiled Fred, while he looked at his brother's results. George glanced a look at Fred's results.

Fred Gideon Weasley has achieved:

Astronomy A

Care of Magical Creatures O

Defence Against the Dark Arts E

Herbology E

History of Magic T

Muggle Studies A

Potions T

Transfiguration A

"Six OWLs each, boys," said Mrs. Weasley surprised. "I am so proud of you. I knew you could do it if you set your mind to it."

"Mum, are there any more of those sausages?" asked Fred, who looked around.

"Of course, dear. George, I need you to help me write a letter to Harry's aunt and uncle. I want to invite Harry to watch the World Cup with us and to spend the rest of the holidays here at the Burrow."

"Father has obtained tickets for the World Cup?" asked Percy, who sat at the kitchen table writing a letter.

"He did," said Molly. "He even got hold of a camping ticket, so you can all stay the night."

"Wicked," said Fred, while he put a piece of sausage in his mouth. "George, are you up for some Quidditch?"

"No, there is no time for Quidditch. Your brothers Charlie and Bill arrive home within a few hours and we need to clean the house for them. You two will sleep with Ron, in his room," interrupted Molly in a stern voice.

"Mum," groaned Fred, but their mum had already put a mop in their hands.

"No Mum. Start with cleaning out your rooms. I need them for Charlie and Bill. And please, clean out your mess. No Fake Wands or Ton-Tongue Toffees," she looked at the twins very sharply.

Their mother was still angry with the twins after discovering the order forms for their plans of the joke shop and their collection of magical candy and fake wands. The fight had escalated very quickly when Fred had told their mother that they didn't ambition a career at the Ministry. Luckily Arthur had calmed both sides, sons and wife, down by saying to wait for their OWL results to arrive before discussing any further plans.

Fred sighed and averted his look. "Yes, Mum."

When Charlie and Bill arrived at the Burrow a few hours later, the Burrow was spick and span.

"Hello, Mum." Charlie was the first one to enter and pressed a kiss on his mother's cheek. "We're home."

"Oh, Charles," sniffed their mother, who hugged him tightly. "I am so happy to see you."

Charlie looked happily around him. He was short and stocky, with muscled arms. His face was so much covered with freckles that he looked tanned and was weather beaten from working outdoors with dragons.

At a slower pace followed Bill Weasley, George's older brother. Bill was tall, thin and handsome. He wore his red hair long and in a ponytail. In his ear dangled a ring with a fang.

"Oh, William, dear." Their mother finally let go of Charlie to hug Bill.

"Hey, Percy, Fred, George," greeted Charlie their brothers. "Where's Ron and Ginny?" he asked, before sitting down next to Percy.

"Cleaning their rooms," said Percy stiffly, who watched the window impatiently. George knew his brother well enough to know that he was waiting eagerly to hear from Bartemius Crouch, his future boss.

"I am hurt that the welcoming committee didn't consist of our youngest sister," smiled Bill, who finally was free from his mother's grip.

"How were Romania and Egypt?" asked their mother, before she waved her wand at the teapot to make some tea. With another wave, cookies came flying from the cabinet and dinner service placed itself on the table.

Bill told them stories about his job as a Curse-Breaker in the pyramids of Egypt. It had been just a year when they all visited him in Egypt, but apparently they found a new tomb that had belonged to a very powerful Egyptian pharaoh.

Charlie didn't want to be second to his brother and told them about the dragons he treated and studied in Romania. He had just gained supervision over a Norwegian Ridgeback called Norberta and he was very proud of that particular dragon.

"But how are things here?" asked Charlie, after his fourth cookie. "Percy, gained your ten NEWTs?"

"I did, brother," said Percy. "I applied for a job with Sir Bartemius Crouch, the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. Normally, I should have an answer this afternoon."

"It is a very important position," said Molly affectionately. Percy blushed.

"And you boys," asked Bill the twins. "Passed your OWLs, discovered the other sex?"

"We passed our OWLs," answered Fred. "And why the sudden interest in our love life, Billius? Afraid we might surpass your long list of conquests?"

Bill laughed, while their mother looked severely at the twins. "Frederick Gideon, please behave."

Fred grinned widely. "I always behave, Mum. It is the girls who don't behave around me."

Even Percy had to fight back a smile while the entire kitchen table burst out in laughter.

The only one who didn't laugh wholeheartedly was George. His mind was far away, thinking of one particular Slytherin who was at the exact moment awoken by her Muggle staff.

"Lady Eleanor. Your mother is waiting for you in the drawing room."

Eleanor groaned and put her pillow over her head. "It's morning, Alfred. I sleep in the morning. I don't want to wake up to receive a sermon from Mother. Please."

"Your exam results have arrived, Lady Eleanor. Your mother wants to see you."

Eleanor opened one eye. Alfred looked at her expectantly, his livery in the colours of the house of Seymour freshly pressed.

"I am coming, Alfred. Tell my mother that I'm getting ready for her. You're dismissed."

"Thank you, Lady Eleanor."

When Eleanor came down, dressed in soft pants and a white shirt, her mother was already waiting for her on the floral couch from the time of Queen Victoria. On the coffee table, a Hogwarts owl sat waiting for Eleanor.

"Ah, Pleione. Please, don't keep me in suspense." Astraea gesticulated to the owl, which hooted softly.

Eleanor untied her letter and unfolded it. Her hands shook slightly. The large barn owl ruffled its feathers before taking off through the open terrace doors.

ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS

Pass grades:

Outstanding (O)

Exceeds Expectations (E)

Acceptable (A)

Fail grades:

Poor (P)

Dreadful (D)

Troll (T)

Eleanor Anne Seymour has achieved:

Arthimancy O

Astronomy E

Care of Magical Creatures A

Charms O

Defence Against the Dark Arts E

Herbology E

History of Magic E

Potions O

Study of the Ancient Runes O

Transfiguration O

"I passed," said Eleanor. The grip on the letter relaxed a bit, and she smoothed out the parchment.

Astraea held out her hand and reluctantly Eleanor handed over the parchment.

"Hmm. What went wrong with Care of Magical Creatures? And why didn't you score higher on Herbology? Last year you obtained an O." Astraea's fingernail tapped on the parchment.

Eleanor kept silent. She had no answer that would satisfy her mother.

During Care of Magical Creatures, she had been distracted by the fact that only Fred Weasley had showed up. It was only after the practical examination, when she overheard Fred speaking to his friend Lee Jordan and heard him mentioning that George was still asleep after the Potions examination, that she felt at ease.

Before getting angry with herself. Why did she care so much about George Weasley?

Sure, he was kind. And he had very nice biceps, which had been showing during the practical examination of Herbology, while he was repotting Fanged Geranium and had taken off his cloak.

"I don't have an excuse, Mother. I will do better this year," Eleanor said.

"Stop mumbling, Pleione. Articulate, but in a soft, delicate voice. Have I taught you nothing?" snapped Astraea, while she rang for tea.

"This came this morning." Her mother leaned back and tapped the Daily Prophet, the wizarding newspaper.

SIRIUS BLACK HIDING IN THE SOUTH OF SPAIN? SPOTTED IN ANDALUSIA

Eleanor didn't bother to read the article. "He escaped Hogwarts past June. It is plausible, Mother."

Alfred came in with a serving tray with tea and freshly baked scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

Thankfully Eleanor took a saucer with a scone. Astraea took a cup of tea and gestured that Alfred could go.

"I don't think so. Sirius is too smart to be sighted when he doesn't want to." She took a sip.

Eleanor kept silent and spread clotted cream over her scone.

"It is a diversion. He was in Spain, but has returned to England."

Astraea looked thoughtfully while she took another sip. With her other hand she readjusted the midi dress she wore.

"But why? Why would he take such a risk?" Astraea looked at her daughter and her dark eyes narrowed.

"He hasn't opened any of my letters I sent him. They all returned unopened. He doesn't know the truth, or he would have showed up by now," Astraea said.

"It was rumored at Hogwarts that Harry Potter had something to do with Sirius Black's escape," mentioned Eleanor, after she had finished her scone and had poured herself a cup of tea.

"Harry Potter?" asked Astraea, her voice surprised, before she was absorbed in thought.

"Sirius was best friends with James Potter. I never believed he was the one to sell them out to the Dark Lord. Sirius despised Dark Magic," Astraea thought out loud.

"But Harry Potter … I know for a fact that Sirius was the best man of James' wedding and he was made godfather after the birth of Harry, since James didn't have any immediate living relatives, after the horrible death of his parents. Could he have returned for the boy?"

Astraea's dark eyes blinked at Eleanor and Astraea sat up straight, while she snapped out of her thinking.

"Good. Pleione, you are excused. Please wear something more appropriate to the Yaxleys today. I need to write some letters." With her hand she dismissed her daughter.

"Please give Isabeau Yaxley my best, Pleione. Don't forget to be perfectly polite to Corban Yaxley."

"Of course, Mother." Eleanor fought the impulse to make a curtsy for Astraea and just nod her head in acknowledgement.

"You're a darling."