Life is a series of vignettes all tied together, so make sure your performance is at its best.

Welcome to "River Talk."

The Wizengamot is trying to put forward a new law banning magical creatures from entering the chambers unless approved of by a majority vote by the panel. This new law stems from the most recent case of wild creatures running amok and terrifying the Wizengamot members, although it would probably be easier to just have some common sense and not bring a cockatrice into the Ministry of Magic.

Summer is ending in a week, and that means that everyone needs to get their last minute summer to-do's finished. And that includes heading to Diagon Alley to do some last minute shopping. Remember to be kind to those shop owners; I haven't seen the people at Flourish and Blott's this stressed since Rubeus Hagrid ordered The Monster Book of Monsters. And while you're at it, stop by Weasley's Wizard Wheezes for those last minute products to keep you entertained as we head into fall. I know, I know, shameless self-advertising, but do you expect any less? We've got some new products that are sure to thrill and excite. And if you're the parents of small children or a professor – I apologize in advance for the headache.

Next up, we've got the Gryffinpuffs, an up-and-coming folk rock band whose songs have been coming across the airwaves these past couple weeks and whose single ("Charms and Trickery") is topping the charts. I know it's been stuck in my head this week! But before that, I take you, dear listeners, to the weather…

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Lee looked around the yard next to whose fence he had just apparated. He could hear the sharp cracks that meant that Bill and Charlie were no doubt trying to duel with the outside furniture again. He craned his neck, trying to catch a glimpse over the house, but the Burrow was far too tall. He heard Molly Weasley's ringing voice shouting them down, and grinned. It had been a few weeks since he'd come to dinner, about which he was sure he'd be getting an earful. Thankfully, though Molly had practically adopted him the moment she met him – that sticky, sweltering June day on that busy train station platform where Fred and George had dragged him, one pushing, one pulling, towards their mother to crow in unison that this is our best friend, Lee Jordan, an' can he come stay with us for a bit over summer, can he Mum, can he? And he had swelled with pride, because although he had just met them the September previous, and he considered the twins his best friends now, it was a different thing altogether to hear the shiny, new title aloud. She had smiled at him and when he had praised her Christmas pies, adding that Mum didn't know how to bake, she had crushed him against her chest in a hug and said she'd whip them up and send them to his house, and that had been that – she remembered that he did has his own parents to have Sunday dinners with, and so he was not required to be at the Burrow every week. And if he had already had his once-a-month dinner with his family a fortnight ago, and spent last weekend having the freedom to walk about the flat in the buck without his roommate walking in (even though, in actuality, he spent the entire time clothed and powering through a new novel he had bought a month before and hadn't had time to read), well then, Molly need not be any the wiser.

Lee walked in through the front door and weaved his way through the minefields of discarded trainers that littered the front hall, glancing in as he passed each room. It was just as he was turning the corner that he heard a telltale creak and shot out his arm just in time.

"Acting like a bunch of children!" Molly huffed as the door she had just flung open - into Lee - bounced off his hand. She looked around and gasped, closing the door quickly behind her. "Oh Lee, dear, I didn't even know you were there. I'm so sorry. How are you? Oh I'm so glad you came; we have a large group tonight - everyone's going back off to Hogwarts, you know, so they're coming back to get one last Weasley dinner in. I don't know what it is, but half of them always come back thinner; I swear, I don't know what those house elves are putting in their food, but all my boys are towering over me, and the girls have caught me up as well!"

"Can I help you with anything, Molly?" he asked while she finally took a breath, leading them into the kitchen.

"Oh thank you, dear. That would—" He eyes narrowed as she looked at someone over his shoulder who had just come in through the back door. "What now?" she asked suspiciously.

"What?" asked an innocent voice. "I'm just offering my assistance for setting the table." George looked over and grinned at Lee, nodding his hello.

"Is it back on the ground now?" she demanded.

"Yes, Mum."

Molly bustled around the kitchen, collecting things for them to bring out, muttering under her breath all the while. "Battering tables around, acting like they're 20 again. Never mind Bill's got his own child now. Why Fleur lets him get away with such nonsense is beyond me. Going to wake the children and I will not tolerate temper tantrums at the table; I had enough of that those for a lifetime."

George spread out his arms just in time as plates started soaring across the room, arcing gracefully in the air before stacking themselves against his chest. With one hand, Lee picked up the basket lying on the counter, into which silverware had just finished placing themselves. With the other, he grabbed the large pitcher of lemonade Molly had been mixing. They headed out to the yard, the back door opening for them and a few tablecloths swooping past them, cuffing them each on the back of the head before soaring towards the three large tables Charlie and Bill were lining up.

Lee looked around at the people collected in little groups around the backyard, all lit up by the late afternoon sun. Hagrid's booming voice could be heard over everyone else as he chatted with Kingsley Shacklebolt about his new exciting creatures he had for the students this year. Lee shuddered to think what dangerous creature he had found cuddly and adorable now. Harry was talking with Ron and Oliver, probably about the national Quidditch rankings again, while a little ways away, Hermione chatted with Neville and Dean Thomas, whose burn-covered arm – after the War, he had surprised everyone by joining Charlie up in Romania – was draped around Luna Lovegood, who was shooting him fond looks whenever he spoke up. It took a few moments, but finally, Lee's eyes fell on a head of mousy brown hair that had been carefully gelled back.

He elbowed George. "Why am I not surprised he's talking to Percy?"

George snorted. "Whenever she brings him, those two are joined at their boring personalities."

Lee watched as Alfred Dunn turned his head, the light catching on his weak chin and prominent nose as his mud-colored eyes sought out his girlfriend. As far as Lee could see, Hermione did not notice this or take any care to check on him. It wasn't much, but it seemed like a good sign.

"So, the usual tactics of divide and annoy?" asked Lee. He could see the decision warring across George's face. "You prat! This is what we do! You can't flake on me because of the bet."

"Alright, alright," conceded George. "But mostly because I love watching him turn colors."

It was after they had deposited the table settings and were headed back toward the kitchen that George stopped and pulled him to the side.

"I'll make you a deal. I know you're all, No George, don't bother them. I can't flirt with her; she's got a boyfriend. No, George; that's morally ambiguous," he said, putting on a whiny voice.

"I don't sound anything like that."

"You do in my head when you say bollocks like that."

"You have no assurance that they're going to break up." George suddenly looked shifty-eyed, which intrigued Lee. "You do have assurance?" He looked around to make sure the coast was clear before asking, "Ginny?"

George beamed. "I'm not saying you need to jump in and sweep her off her feet. I'm just saying that maybe no one will mind much if we tease him a bit," he said carefully. "So here is my deal—"

"The infamous, aforementioned deal."

"Yes. Shuttup. I'm hatching a plan. So my deal is that I'll help in any small way I can to, ahem, show his flaws to our dear, sweet Hermione—"

Lee snorted, which earned him a look, probably because he was interrupting again.

"But once she's single, you're on your own and the bet goes into full-effect. Sounds fair?"

"Deal."

"What are you two doing hidden away from everyone else? Things like that make people think you're up to something," asked a female voice behind Lee, a hint of amusement in the tone.

"We're talking about a bet we've made," replied George with a grin.

Hermione looked between them interestedly. Lee tried to figure out if there was a subtle way of elbowing or stepping on George right now. There wasn't.

"We're looking to see how long it takes the Dream Team over there," said George, gesturing with his head to Percy and Alfred, "to make people try to escape the conversations about their boring work stories."

Hermione bit back a grin and glanced over at the two men, giving Lee a perfect moment to stomp hard on his best friend's foot.

What? mouthed an innocent-looking George.

You know what! he mouthed back before they both turned in unison and smiled easily at Hermione, who had just looked back at them.

"Be nice," she said reproachfully.

"What are you talking about?" asked George in a shocked voice.

"We're always nice," finished Lee.

Hermione snorted indelicately. "Yeah," she said dryly. "Sure."

"Fine," sighed Lee. "We'll play nice. But only for you, Hermione," Lee said, grabbing her hand lightly and curling his fingers around hers, raising it as if to kiss it.

She blushed ever so slightly as she laughed it off and pulled her hand away, giving Lee a little shove on the arm. "You two," she huffed as she walked past them into the house.

"Smooth, man," George said.

"Oh shut up," Lee muttered, watching her go, thinking…

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He was on his way back from the loo when he heard a creak from above him. That was odd; everyone should be outside talking. He hadn't noticed anyone missing from the yard, all lounging about, sleepy from food and mellow in the light of the fireflies in the purpling dusk. No one would miss him for a few more minutes if he investigated, right?

He tiptoed up the winding stairs, jumping the creaky ones. The landing was pitch black, but the door to the attic was slightly ajar. He pressed his fingertips to the door, which swung open, the noise muffled by the dust that blanketed every surface and caught the light that filtered through the circular window in the eaves. On instinct, he looked down. There, on the once-forest green floor, was a trail of footprints. Chuckling, he followed them, weaving through the teetering piles of Weasley and Prewett family heirlooms, until he saw a figure sitting on an old trunk, backlit by the window that looked out onto the backyard.

"Hello, Hermione," he whispered, though it carried like a shout in the silent room.

She started guiltily and turned around. "Oh, hello," she said nonchalantly, as if she had just passed him in the hall instead of just caught hiding behind a mannequin bedecked with 17th century robes and a big pink confection of an Easter hat, complete with fake baby chickens.

"You know," he said in a breezy tone, "I, too, find that the best way to spend time with family and friends is to stare creepily down at them from high above, like a hunchback in a bell tower."

"Oh, you know that muggle story?"

"I went through a phase," he replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. "You're deflecting." The corner of her mouth flicked up. "Why are you hiding up here? You know the ghoul left years ago."

"Shame. I was planning on chatting with him about how to decorate my attic."

Lee watched her as she spoke, not to him, but to the window. The light outside was fading and the oncoming dark made the window reflective. In it, he could see the frown pulling down her face. He sat down next to her on the old trunk.

"Hermione, are you okay?" he asked gently.

She didn't say anything; just glanced at him, eyebrow crooked up.

"I know I'm not your first choice to talk to - I'm not Harry or Ron or Ginny—"

"That's actually a good thing," she said.

"Has something happened? With them? With Alf?" She huffed in amusement. "I won't make light of it, I promise. I'm not that much of a jackass."

"I don't think you're a—" She made eye contact with him and grinned. "Alright. Not all the time." She heaved a sigh as Lee waited patiently. "I just needed to get away for a little while. I love that Molly invites me, but sometimes it can be a little stifling. It's not that there's anything wrong; I've just got a lot on my mind."

"Such as? I know I get my pay from talking at people all day, but I've been told I'm a very good listener."

"You know he hates it when you call him that, right?" she said, her lips pursed as she tried not to grin.

Lee widened his eyes innocently at the non-sequitur.

Hermione laughed. "Don't you dare. You know what I'm talking about."

"I don't understand why? Alfie is a perfectly adorable name."

"For a toddler!"

"But yet it doesn't suffice for a man-child? I mean, the bloke plays with toy boats all day."

"He builds model boats inside glass bottles! It's a very delicate and difficult task. It requires a lot of—"

"Stop," said Lee with a grin, wrapping a hand around Hermione's wrist, which had been gesticulating as she spoke. "Now think about what you just said. You're defending a man who gets off on building tiny boats with tweezers. And his favorite member of the Weasley family is Percy the Prat. There's clearly something wrong with him."

Hermione smacked him on the arm. "You said you wouldn't tease me."

"You're right. I did." He held up his hands in a placating gesture. "And really, what do I know? Maybe playing with toys makes the girls really want to shag you."

"Well, you would know, wouldn't you?" she replied, smirking.

"Touché, Granger." He let the silence fall.

"I just don't know if I'm ready to go back tomorrow. I mean, I know I have no choice, but I just have so many things unfinished or that I'm in the middle of and I'm worried about starting school and it all falling apart."

Lee hummed in understanding.

"Everyone keeps telling me I'll be fine and that I'm brilliant and have nothing to worry about, but that doesn't help. It almost makes it worse because I'm worried that everyone expects too much of me." She finally looked away from the dark window and a guilty expression took residence on her countenance. "And I've been sitting here complaining to you and keeping you away from everyone. I'm sorry, Lee."

He smiled at her and gave her shoulder a squeeze, interrupting her. "No need to apologize, Hermione. I offered to be the sounding board, after all. And for the record," he said, shooting her a sideways glance," I think you've had enough years of being perfect. It must be time now for you to act like the rest of us mortals."

He was proud that this got her to laugh.

"Well, we best get back downstairs," she said, standing and straightening the wrinkles in her clothes.

"Maybe I should let you go first. We don't walk to go out together and have dear Alfie thinking we were having some kind of tryst," he said, nudging her lightly with his elbow.

Hermione laughed as she headed out the door. "Come on, Lee. Who would think that?"

The smile on Lee's face slid off as soon as Hermione had walked away. He had a tough job ahead of him.

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Remember, everyone, to cherish your time with your family before everyone goes off for school. It's only when we lose something that we realize how important it was.

I've been losing sleep lately, so I think it's time for me to reacquaint myself with it.

Good evening, listeners, and good night.