Chapter 2

Bill Apparated into the alley behind the cottage and hoped he wasn't too late for breakfast. He had come home Tuesday night to a letter from a reporter at the Cairo outlet of the Daily Prophet, requesting the Weasley family come in for a photo no later than today. Dad had given an interview when the Grand Prize Galleon Draw winner had been announced, and the paper wanted to run the article with an accompanying photograph this weekend. According to the letter, they had a variety of popular tourist spots to use as backgrounds, so there was no need to go on location.

Bill ducked as an owl swooped low overhead and pecked at a window. Crossing the tiny courtyard, he opened the back door and waved the bird in, then followed it. It flew through the sitting room, into the kitchen (where he was pleased to see the family was still gathered for breakfast), and landed on the table in front of Percy.

"It's from Hogwarts!" Percy untied the letter and struggled with the seal, trying to peel it back in one piece.

"Here, Perce." Bill slit the wax with his wand and handed the heavy parchment back. Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny didn't have letters, which must mean. . . .

" 'Dear Mr. Weasley,' " Percy read aloud in an excited voice, " 'we are pleased to inform you— ' "

Fred and George groaned.

" '— that you have been selected as Hogwarts Head Boy for the 1993- 1994 school year! Enclosed is your Head Boy badge and a list of preliminary responsibilities to be completed by the start of term on September first. Congratulations on a well- deserved honor.' It's signed by Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore!"

"Oh, Percy!" Mum pushed back her chair and threw herself into his arms. Percy jerked his left arm, which was holding the precious letter, out of the way. "Congratulations, dear! I knew you would be selected."

Percy beamed. "Thanks, Mum."

"Well done, son," Dad said.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Fred muttered.

Mum rounded on him. "You would do well to take a leaf from Percy's book. I don't see any prefect letters for either of you!"

George looked horrified. "What do we want to be prefects for?"

"All your brothers have been prefects, and Bill was Head Boy— "

"Mum," Charlie protested.

"Leave us out of this," Bill said. But he rested a hand on Percy's shoulder and squeezed. "Well done, Perce. Congratulations."

Percy smiled up at him, and Bill saw a flash of the little boy he had been. "Thanks, Bill. I'm going to write Penelope and tell her the good news." Percy hurried out of the room, still clutching his letter and badge.

Bill took his chair, cleaned Percy's plate, cutlery, and glass with a quick Scourgify, ignored Ginny's upturned nose, and began to serve himself.

Mum returned to her seat at the other end of the table, and Dad returned to his paper.

"Well, there goes this year," George said quietly. "Percy will be intolerable."

"Do you think if we destroyed his badge, they would choose someone else?" Fred said.

"That's too much to hope for," Ron said.

"Honestly, you three. There is no reason Percy being Head Boy should ruin your school year unless you're actually planning to break the rules."

Charlie, Fred, George, and Ron looked at him incredulously, and then they all started to laugh.

()()()()

Amy Green stood in the Weasleys' guest cottage and tried not to let her shock show. Five. Bill had five brothers— and a sister. How had she missed that? She had heard him talk about his family, of course, but she'd never actually added up the names. How was she going to transport nine people— ten, including herself— halfway across the country? She'd planned on side- along Apparating the younger ones, but ten people?

"I'm thinking a flying carpet with a Disillusionment Charm."

Bill's voice was low and smooth in her ear. Damn, she hated when he did that— or rather, she hated that she loved it.

"But where are we going to get a big enough carpet on such short notice?"

"Well, you might not have known there were ten of us, but I did. It's out back."

Amy couldn't help the grin that spread over her face. She'd never ridden on a flying carpet. They were illegal in America, but wizards in Egypt had been using them for millennia and weren't inclined to change.

"We'll have to land in the Apparition point and then reverse the Disillusionment Charms one by one. And hope that no one else is Apparating at the same time. . . ." Amy glanced over the crowd again.

"Sounds like fun." One of the twins grinned at her.

"All right, everyone line up in front of an adult," Mr. Weasley said, "and let's get going."

Amy was not surprised when all five brothers lined up in front of her, jockeying for position. Bill rolled his eyes, yanked Charlie out with instructions to Disillusion himself, and started at the back of the line with the youngest boy. It was eerie, following someone she couldn't see, as they exited the cottage and approached the carpet. Amy spotted the problem immediately. How were they supposed to avoid sitting on each other when their outlines barely shimmered in the sunlight? They should have waited and done the Disillusionment charms after they were settled.

"Ouch, that's my hair!"

"Ron, geroff!"

"It wasn't me!"

"Ginny and Ron, you two get on the inside— no, not here, I'm here!"

No way was she diving blind into a pile of six single wizards.

"Here, Amy." Bill's wand floated in midair at the very back of the carpet. She circled it and stepped forward, and warm hands landed on her bottom.

"I'm not that short, Bill." Amy jerked the hands up to her waist.

"Actually, that was me." Charlie's voice.

"Boys!" Mr. Weasley called over the unmistakeable sounds of scuffling. Amy kicked out indiscriminately, making a space. "Everyone sit still and keep your hands to yourself!"

"Where's the fun in that?" Stereo— must be the twins.

"Which way, Amy?" Mr. Weasley cast the charm to Disillusion the carpet itself, and it began to hum and lift off the ground.

"Just fly south for now. We'll work out the rest when we get there."

()()()()

Thebes

Amy turned around, making sure all nine Weasleys were following her to the next site. She needn't have worried. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were walking hand- in- hand, and the boys, with Ginny tagging on Bill's arm, were right behind. They hadn't been more than a couple steps from her all day, and she had to admit the abundance of attention from six good- looking males was a lot of fun, and more than a little flattering. All right, so Ron and the twins, at thirteen and fifteen, were awfully young, but Percy was essentially of age (he had lost no time in informing her his seventeenth birthday was less than a month away). And Charlie's outrageous flirting had Bill glowering at him, which, given Bill's sanctimonious speech about not wanting to lead her on after their most recent "sleepover" a month ago, was nothing short of triumphant victory.

She had already given her spiel about polytheism in ancient Muggle Egypt, their worship of nature from the dung beetle to cats to the sun, the role of Pharaoh as a descendant of the gods, and their beliefs about the afterlife. Her little band was a good group, listening politely and even asking questions (although that was mostly Percy and Mr. Weasley).

Watching the siblings interact was fascinating. All four of the younger boys clamored for Bill's and Charlie's attention, and the older ones gave it in turn, usually with a healthy dose of sarcasm, which was often accompanied by roughhousing. She had learned that Percy was prefect and Head Boy (which she gathered was some sort of student leadership position), that Fred and George's antics were the bane of Percy's existence, and that nothing seemed to make the twins happier than insulting Percy or Ron. Ron was a bit shy with her but very sweet, even if he did have a rat for a pet. He reminded her of Bill in his more charming moments. And Charlie was nothing but a flirt, and a very good flirt at that. She hadn't flipped her hair this much in— well, since seventh grade, at least.

Ginny was clearly the baby princess and never far from Bill or Charlie (unless she was waiting with someone else outside a tomb). Amy supposed Ginny saw enough of Percy, Fred, George, and Ron at school and at home. But although her eyes glowed with humor and interest, she neither joined in her brothers' teasing nor asked any questions. Nor had she ventured inside any of the tombs, despite the brotherly goading. Either Bill had lied about his sister's sparkling personality, or something was very wrong.

Amy turned around outside the entrance to KV5 and smiled kindly at Ginny.

"You're going to want to come in this one, Ginny. It's the biggest of all the tombs, with over 121 hallways and chambers. At least six sons of Ramses the second are buried here, although it's suspected that there are more due to the paintings on the walls. And there's a beautiful columned chamber too." Amy carefully avoided Bill's eyes. The first time he kissed her was up against one of those columns.

Ginny stepped closer to her mother and didn't answer.

"Okay, Mr. Weasley, ready with the torch?" Everyone had stared blankly at her the first time she'd asked about a flashlight. The main sections of the tombs were lit, but she liked extra light to visualize the details.

Mr. Weasley held it up. "Fred, it's your turn to stay with Ginny."

"I'll do it."

Amy automatically looked at Bill when he spoke, then wished she hadn't. His blue eyes were staring straight into hers, and suddenly she was in the shadowy tomb again, pressed between an immovable object and the irresistible force that was Bill Weasley.

Charlie cleared his throat. Amy jumped and he smirked. She tossed her hair over her shoulder. Again.

"Come on, Ginny. I'll go with you." Ron was trying to coax his sister into the tomb. Amy would say this for the boy, he was persistent. "Percy, give us the torch."

Percy was carrying a flashlight too, but he kept it in his hand. "You know, Gin- Gin— " the girl scowled at the pet name Amy had heard more than once today, "if I hadn't seen your Sorting myself, I would think you were a Hufflepuff."

Amy had no idea what a Hufflepuff was, but it appeared to be a relatively insulting remark, for every Weasley, including the adults, froze and waited to see what Ginny would do. Much to Amy's surprise, the girl shrugged off her mother's arm, snatched the flashlight from Percy's hand, and stalked into the tomb. Everyone followed.

Unencumbered by his baby sister, Bill shoved Fred— George?— a twin— out of the way to walk beside Amy.

"The columned room is beautiful, huh? Can't say that I noticed."

"It was dark."

"And I was busy with . . . other things."

Amy frowned at him, tilting her head toward Ginny and Percy ahead of them, but he just grinned at her and leaned in close.

"Know any other side chambers?"

Amy shivered at his breath on her ear and hoped he wasn't close enough to notice. There had been other people in the columned chamber that day, and when they had started to attract their attention, Amy had led him through the maze of corridors to a deserted side chamber still cluttered with debris from flash flooding. And then they more than kissed.

Concealed in the semi- darkness between Percy at the front of the group (who had taken the flashlight back from Ginny) and Mr. Weasley at the back, Bill slipped a hand across her back, around her waist, over her hip, and pulled her against him. Amy stepped away.

This is why they didn't work, why she refused to go over to his place (well, most of the time), why she couldn't get over him. It wasn't fair, the way he pushed her away and then pulled her back. She was tired of being jerked around, and this— today— this possessiveness was about Charlie.

"You'll see multiple types of decoration here, including graffiti, paintings, and raised relief. . . ."

()()()()

Cairo

"Mum is going to invite you for dinner, and you're going to say yes." They had arrived safely— barely, thanks to Fred and George— back at the guest cottage, and Bill pulled Amy aside. She had been avoiding him ever since he made that pass in KV5, but he wasn't going to let her be rude to his mum.

"Don't worry. I have no intention of snubbing your parents, just you." She jerked her arm away and followed Ron into the cottage.

"Nice."

He hadn't even noticed Charlie standing there. Bill clenched his jaw, then walked away.

Okay, so he had let Charlie's flirting, and Amy's apparent interest, get to him. When she had mentioned the columned room, all he could think about was how incredible that had been, making love in quasi- seclusion, with more than magic flowing over his skin. She was incredible, beautiful, smart, talented, experienced. . . . Bill shook his head, trying to clear the memories. Amy was incredible, and she deserved better than being felt up in a dimly-lit corridor because he was jealous of his little brother. He waved his wand, and the carpet rolled itself into a tube and leaned against the back of the cottage.

Flying the carpet had been fun. It was the first time he had seen a full- fledged smile on Ginny's face all week. She had been positively beaming when Dad undid the Disillusionment Charm. She loved to fly, had always begged and begged him and Charlie to take her up with them on their broomsticks. And she would have had lessons at Hogwarts last year, so Mum couldn't complain about her being too young any more. He hadn't got her birthday present yet, hoping she would mention something while they were together, but maybe he could do something else instead.

()()()()

Bill managed to maneuver himself beside Amy for dinner. She was sitting at the corner of the table next to his mum, and the two witches were deep in a conversation about shopping. Maybe Amy would volunteer to take Mum to the souks, and he could get out of that chore altogether. A piercing whistle sounded.

"Ron, would you put that away! I can't believe you wasted your money on such a rubbish souvenir."

Ron had bought a Pocket Sneakoscope for his best friend's birthday present and insisted on displaying it on the table. Ever since Mum served the soup it kept going off for no reason, much to the twins' amusement. Percy was getting a head start on the school year by lecturing Ron and Ginny, who were sitting on either side of him, on the behaviors that would lead to their being chosen as prefects. Bill leaned towards Charlie.

"Please tell me I wasn't that obnoxious."

"No can do, big brother. Besides, I'd bet you a week's worth of chores your badge is still in your treasure box under your bed."

That was the thing about brothers; they knew all your secrets.

"Troll."

"Swot."

The two engaged in a (mostly) friendly tug of war for the last of the butterbeer.

"Spill that and I'll make you both sorry," Mum warned.

He gave an extra pull and the pitcher slid out of Charlie's hands. Bill smirked.

Dinner continued with the usual chaos, punctuated by the Sneakoscope's whistling, Percy's lecturing, and, most enjoyably, Ginny's yelling. She put Percy in his place much the same way she had done to Bill four days ago in Giza, and Ron gave her half of his dessert.

Everyone was just settling into a sleepy stupor when Amy began stacking her dishes.

"Mrs. Weasley, that was the best dinner I've had in months. Can I help you clean up?"

"Oh, no, dear, the boys can do it, thank you."

"All right. I'm going to head home then. It was nice to meet all of you."

Everyone chorused their goodbyes, and Bill stood with her.

"I'll see you home."

"There's no need. I'm going to Apparate."

"Don't be stupid. It's after dark."

Amy's eyes narrowed. Why did girls always do that after you had said the wrong thing, when it was too late to take it back?

"And I'm a big girl. I'll be fine, Bill."

He heard her silent reproach: I've left your flat a lot later than this, and you've never offered to see me home.

"I'll follow you." He was trusting she wouldn't make a scene in front of his parents, and he wanted to apologize for this afternoon.

She turned from the hall, slung her bag over her shoulder, and glared at him.

"I'll take you," Charlie said.

"We'll all go," Fred said cheerily.

Amy's posture relaxed, and she smiled at his brothers. "That's sweet of you" — why wasn't it sweet of him? He had offered first!— "but I'm used to getting around the city by myself." She turned to Bill. "I'll send my Patronus when I'm home, okay?"

Bill realized it was the most he was going to get. "Okay. Be— careful." He sighed. She had already turned on the spot and disappeared.

"Ginny and I cooked, so you boys wash up," Mum said, swiping her knitting bag from a corner and walking out of the kitchen.

"Not it!" All six brothers spoke at once. Bill, Charlie, and Percy glared, and Fred, George, and Ron began clearing the table.

Bill pushed open the door and headed outside. Charlie followed him. They had just sat down on the back stoop when a silver blur streaked down the alley, formed into a cougar, and faded out.

"I'd say the friends thing is iffy, and you can forget about the benefits," Charlie said.

No kidding.