Chapter 3
‘Have this place been this messy?’ Ron complained in his head as he furiously scrubbed the stain on the kitchen counter. His shoulder length hair that he has maintained since last year are tied up in a sloppy bun and a headband to prevent any strains of hair to distract him. If only he was a year older, he can use magic like his mum to settle this work.
Ron didn't even notice Ginny had sneaked up behind him to stealthily place her used mug in the sink. Too caught up in his own thoughts and task at hand. She only announced her presence when she spoke, “you look like a proper housewife, is the minister of magic coming?”
“Har har.” Ron gave his sister a glare before dropping his tools into the sink and proceeded to wash everything in the sink, including Ginny's mug. He's too much in a good mood, and stressed to be bothered by any of Ginny’s jokes. “You know who's coming today.”
“I reckon it's the infamous one?”
“Not him, you troll! I meant Anthony, and you know that.”
“Oi! Who are you calling a troll?” Ginny snickered good heartedly, finding amusement in the face of her brother's misery. “What's the big deal? it's just your boyfriend.” Ginny nudged Ron’s shoulder with hers, flashing a reassuring smile when Ron finally looked at her. “Of course, it's not like you're introducing him as your boyfriend to mum and dad right away. Just to get them used to him around.” Although Ginny didn't mention that besides those who attend Hogwarts currently, nobody in the burrow is aware of Ron’s sexuality (nevermind his relationship).
Ron sighed, “It's not just that. I'm worried for him.. Traveling at times like this is just risking death eaters to notice you." Because of the current state of affairs, many had been on edge about the increasing death eaters and the looming war. Tension has been high all summer, and Ron is having a second thought of inviting Anthony to meet his family.
Imagined a sixteen years old half-blood, on his way here where Harry Potter is currently situated. Ron's not blaming his best mate in any way, his brain just realized how dangerous the idea is for his boyfriend to travel here. He can't believe Anthony went along with it, he's supposed to be the smart one among them.
“Oh, he'll be fine. Hermione got here safely didn't she? so did Dad and Bill whenever they went off for work.” Her voice dropped an octave, “Phlegm is still here every time too.” Ron rolled his eyes at the name calling as she continued. “It's not like he's going to stay for a short while, then leave at night. He's spending the night here and leaving with us to Diagon Alley tomorrow, isn't he?”
Ron hesitated before nodding and Ginny clasped both of his shoulders with a grin. “Then there's nothing to worry about! Save your worries to yourself instead.” She patted his shoulder, thanking him for washing her mug before leaving him to finish up the kitchen alone. “Oh, and you don't have to clean the whole place up just because he's coming!”
Ron closed his eyes in annoyance as his sister yelled from the stair, clearly announcing his troubles to the whole burrow. He shook his head, already feeling exhausted with his sister's antics, not the cleaning itself. While wiping his hands with a dry towel, Ron admired his work with a satisfied smile. It is after all a bunch of chores he had done without being asked.
He then went upstairs to wash up, already planning to spend the rest of the day until Anthony's arrival with his best mates. The ravenclaw informed him he'd be on the way after lunch with his family, and at the moment it's only past breakfast for the burrow, there's still plenty of time for Ron.
Although he didn't expect that spending time with Harry and Hermione is equivalent to O.W.Ls revisions, courtesy of one Hermione Granger. Ginny would've join too, especially now that she'd be taking O.W.Ls this year, if she wasn't such a sneaky git. Rereading his notes, and taking account on what he most likely answered wrong on his exams, couldn't ruin his mood. However when lunch come, it couldn't be said the same.
Ron watched with a slightly slack jaw at the mess his family made. “I've just clean this table.” He muttered under his breath, and Harry on his left who overheard, smile behind his spoon. Ron took a peek at the kitchen, where dishes slowly piling up in the sink. Didn't he just told his mum not to cook more dishes than usual just because a guest is coming? She agreed, but he guessed she didn't mean it.
He suddenly shook his head aggressively amidst the conversation at the dining table, earning weird looks but was brushed off. ‘It’s okay.’ he comfort himself, ‘mum will clean it up with magic. it's meal time, it's supposed to be messy nonetheless.’
After taking the last bite, he excuse himself from the dining table to the kitchen. He was washing his own plate, when his dad comes in. Arthur took note of the sponge in Ron's hand and a plate in the other, and he brightened. “Are you doing the dishes, son? Thank you, dear.” without hearing Ron's protest, his dad kissed the crown of his head while putting his plate in the sink. Contributing more to the pile. Ron gaped as he watched his dad's back leaving, before throwing his head back and letting out a quiet groans, praying for lady magic to bestowed him patience.
Ron was halfway through all the dishes, everyone already finished their lunch, when he noticed a figure approaching the front door from the kitchen's window. He squinted to get a good look, before his eyes widened when he recognised him. “Mum!” he called out, just in time for a knock on the entrance door echoed him. “It's Anthony!”
His mum called out for someone else to get the door, as Ron looked down at his hands. His hands are full of bubbly soaps (he forgot to wear dish gloves) and at the smaller pile of dishes below. Great, his boyfriend will see him in all of his glory.
“He’s back in the kitchen.”
Ron turned around just in time Anthony entered the kitchen. The ravenclaw grinned as he took note of the state his boyfriend’s in. When he reached the other, he took a peek over his own shoulder before giving Ron a noisy smooch on his cheek, earning a yelp from him. “Bloody hell, Ant. I'm a mess.”
The grin never left Anthony's face, “A hot mess, actually.” When Ron gave him an unimpressed look, he quickly added, “Good kind, I meant.”
Footsteps can be heard approaching and they both backed away from each other as Molly Weasley walked in. “Oh good, you found him.” She gave Anthony a warm smile, “Have you eaten, dear? Come, we have a bunch of food left.” She proceeded to usher him to the dining table.
“Mom, he already ate before coming here.” Ron grumbled as he washed the soap off his hands.
“Ah, actually I'm pretty hungry. I traveled early without having lunch. Thank you, Mrs weasley.” Ignoring the looks his boyfriend sent him, Anthony let himself ushered out by Molly.
“Oh, nonsense! Call me Molly, dear.”
Ron returned to see the whole house is still sitting at the dining table, seemingly accompanying Anthony eating his lunch. So unnecessary. Ron was so eager to be alone with his boyfriend, but at a full house like a burrow, it's almost impossible. Not to mention plenty of his brothers are not even here, yet it seems like others just make up the number.
“Were you traveling alone? And arriving so quickly?” Bill questioned as his face hid none of his skeptical thoughts. Beside him, Fleur rubbed his arm as if she could sense his animosity.
“Er, no, my dad apparated with me, and left. I know it's not safe to travel right now.” Anthony shifted in his seat, clearly sensing it as well.
Ron would've snorted bluntly at the ridiculous situation his boyfriend landed himself in if he wasn't bothered himself. At the very least, his family seems to have welcomed him well. They proceeded to have an amiable conversation before everyone gradually left the table for their job, or to entertain themselves somewhere else, except for Molly, Ron, and Anthony.
Molly collected the dishes on the table, charming Anthony's place out of his reach as he insisted on washing it. “Ron, show Anthony the way to your room. You don't mind sharing a room with him, don't you?”
“Of course not, but Molly-” “Leave it.” Ron interrupted him as he intertwined their arms, dragging him upstairs to the fifth floor despite Anthony's protests. “She's stubborn. That's where some of us got it from.”