2. WELCOME TO CHICAGO…
It was three days before the start of term. The kids were used to having their school things packed and ready, but they hadn't bought any school things. They were preparing to move to their new Muggle home on the outskirts of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. The kids had all heard of Chicago, sure, but they knew it was a Muggle city and none of them expected to visit anytime, ever.
The entire Order would stay in one house, a large one at that, and wouldn't be allowed to use any type of magic except for undetectable protection charms around the house. It could be detected by the Ministry, which was suspected of having Death Eater relations and infiltrations.
In addition to moving somewhere so far away, it would be hardest to get used to living like a Muggle- no magic. At all. The entire Order would have to get used to it. The kids would all be enrolled in the same public high school and live like Muggle teenagers.
Today was the day the Order would be moved to the new house. The leaders of the Order had organized numerous Portkeys to transport them to the States. It was early morning, and everyone was up and ready with their things.
Molly Weasley cooked a quick breakfast, and they were off. They separated into their respective groups, and before they knew it, they had left Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, and had arrived their new home. The house was bigger than any of them could've imagined, like a mansion, almost.
"Well, go inside," Arthur Weasley said, ushering the kids inside. Harry looked up at the spiral staircases on each side of the entrance hall and at the grand glittering chandelier. Hermione let out a gasp, a smile on her face.
"Amazing," she whispered.
"Bloody hell," said Ron.
Fred and George were thinking about all the things they could do in this big house, you could almost hear the gears turning in their heads.
"Hey, we'll let off the last of our dungbombs and each run up a different staircase," Fred said, elbowing George. George sniggered.
"No you won't," Ginny said, glaring at the twins alongside Molly.
Within minutes, the entire Order of the Phoenix had assembled themselves in the large lobby with the staircases to read off room arrangements. As they figured, the older Weasley boys, Bill, Charlie, and Percy, would room together, and the younger Weasley boys and Harry would room together. Hermione would room with Ginny. None of them stayed long enough to hear the rest of the arrangements.
Nameplates were on the outsides of their doors, probably there by magic. Harry read the nameplates as he walked down the hallway: Remus Lupin /Sirius Black/Mundungus Fletcher, Kingsley Shacklebolt/Mad-Eye Moody, Nymphadora Tonks/Hestia Jones, Hermione Granger/Ginny Weasley, Arthur and Molly Weasley, Severus Snape/Aberforth Dumbledore (he couldn't help but laugh at that one), Fred/George/Ron Weasley/Harry Potter, and Bill/Percy/Charlie Weasley.
He wasn't laughing, though, when he noticed that his room was next to Snape's. He would probably bark at them to be quiet every waking moment, much like he did in Potions class.
"Everyone, get back down here!" Molly Weasley shouted in her screeching voice. She must have meant the kids, because when they all arrived, the rest of the Order was assembled in the lobby of the house.
"There are things to be discussed," Mad-Eye Moody said, eyeing every last one of them with his whizzing blue eyeball. Harry shot a look at Ron, who simply shrugged.
"First of all, absolutely NO MAGIC will be allowed in this house. The only magical privileges are to be reserved for Kingsley Shacklebolt and myself for the good of the inhabitants. Your wands, please," he said, opening a metal safe that stood upon a wooden bench.
Each member of the Order grudgingly gave up their wands, ushering the kids to do the same. Harry regrettably handed over his wand, wondering how he was going to live without magic.