Lottie (Charlotte Lupin x Fred Weasley) [Book 2] -> remastered @cherrywine_x

7.| Rumours That Fly

The end of the summer soon arrived. Charlotte sat under the tree in the garden reading her book while Fred and George practiced their Beating. As she watched them, she thought about starting her third year. She was looking forward to getting back to Hogwarts - third-years could choose their lessons now - but her month at The Burrow had been wonderful as always. She was almost jealous of the twins' life because it was hard living how she did - half her family were in Azkaban and her father transformed into a hideous monster every month, which was hard to keep from people.

On their last evening, Mrs Weasley conjured up a sumptuous dinner which included all of Charlotte's favourite things, ending with a mouthwatering treacle pudding. She assisted Fred and George in rounding off the evening with a display of Filibuster fireworks; they filled the kitchen with red and blue stars that bounced from ceiling to wall for at least half an hour. Then it was time for a last mug of hot chocolate and bed.

It took a long while to get started next morning. They were up at cock-crow, but somehow they still seemed to have a great deal to do. Mrs Weasley dashed about in a bad mood looking for spare socks and quills, people kept colliding on the stairs, half-dressed with bits of toast in their hands, Charlotte tripped over George's broom which sent her flying down the final flight of stairs and landing on Percy, and Mr Weasley nearly broke his neck, tripping over a stray chicken as he crossed the yard carrying Ginny's trunk to the car.

Harry expressed that he couldn't see how nine people, seven large trunks, three owls and a rat were going to fit into one small Ford Anglia.

"Not a word to Molly," Mr Weasley whispered as he opened the boot and showed everyone how it had been magically expanded so that the trunks fitted easily.

When at last they were all in the car, Mrs Weasley glanced into the back seat, where Charlotte Harry, Ron, Fred, George and Percy were sitting comfortably side by side, and said, "Muggles do know more than we give them credit for, don't they?" She and Ginny got into the front seat, which had been stretched so that it resembled a park bench. "I mean, you'd never know it was this roomy from the outside, would you?"

Mr Weasley started up the engine and they trundled out of the yard and began talking.

"We need to do more prank planning on this train journey," Charlotte said.

"We could use some of our fireworks," Fred suggested.

"Fireworks!" George gasped. "Stop the car, I've forgotten something!"

Mr Weasley stopped the car abruptly and George jumped out, returning five minutes later with his box of Filibuster's fireworks.

"We could wind Oliver up with these," George laughed. "Especially in Quidditch practices."

"Quidditch!" It was Fred's turn to gasp this time. "I've forgotten my broom!"

They skidded to halt and Fred ran back to the house to get his broomstick and when he returned, he was holding something else.

"You left your book there yesterday," he said, handing Charlotte the thick book.

"Oh, I forgot about that, thanks."

"Can we go now?" Mrs Weasley asked.

"Yes," everyone said.

Mr Weasley pulled away from their house and just as they were about to hit the motorway, Ginny shrieked that she forgot her diary. By the time she returned, they were running very late and tempers were running high.

Mr Weasley glanced at his watch and then at his wife.

"Molly, dear -"

"No, Arthur."