Let’s Check in on the Others
Albus Dumbledore’s POV -
Albus walked around Hogwarts with a huge grin on his face. He looked like he just won the lottery. Albus entered the staff meeting room. All the teachers looked at him as he entered.
“Good afternoon, apologies for being late. I was held up at the Wizengamot for longer than I anticipated,” he said with a fake smile. “Everyone is done with their preparation for next year, correct?” Various methods of “yes” went through the room, coming from each teacher. Albus smiled. “Then I hope everyone has a wonderful break and I will see you all next year.” Albus got up to leave.
“Wait, Albus!” Fillus exclaimed from behind. Albus turned around.
“Yes?” He asked.
“We were wondering who the new DADA teacher will be seeing as Qurines has decided to leave us,” Fillus explained. The other teachers nodded along. Albus smiled.
“Of course. It has been decided that Gilderoy Lockhart will be taking up the position,” Albus said before leaving. Ignoring questions coming from his staff.
He made his way to his office. Up the stairs, past Fawkes, and to his desk. The floo flared. Albus got up and went over to it, and saw Molly in the fire.
“Molly, why are you calling me?” Albus said in the fakest nice tone.
“ALBUS!” She whined. “Nothing is going according to plan! My sweet Ginny hasn’t even seen that boy and my Ronniekins hasn’t been able to guide him towards the light. He even says that he is being bullied by those awful snakes! And that boy! That boy ruined everything! He hasn’t spoken to me once and sent back all the letters I sent him! He avoids me! How are we going to get rich off him if he acts like we don’t exist? Nothing is working!”
“Molly,” Albus said placatingly. “I’m sure everything will work out, we just need to be patient and more direct with our persuasion. The moment he steps back into Hogwarts, I will make sure he is the person we need him to be. Even if he has to do it begrudgingly.”
“Of course Albus,” Molly said. “What do you need me to do?”
Ron Weasley’s POV -
~About a month later, in early July~
~3:00 PM~
“MOM!” Ron yelled from his bedroom. He was still in bed, having just woken up. Thumps could be heard from someone going up the stairs.
“MOM!” He yelled again. His bedroom door swung open.
“Yes, dear?” His mother asked.
“I’M HUNGRY!” He whined.
“I’ll go get your lunch,” his mother said before closing the door. Thumps could be heard going down the stairs. A few moments later, thumps could be heard going back up the stairs. The door to Ron’s bedroom swung open again.
“Ronniekinns, for your lunch, I made your favorite,” his mother said sweetly. Ron looked up and saw the glass of butterbeer she was holding as well as a plate full of mac and cheese. He immediately made grabbing motions towards the food as his stomach rumbled. “Dearest, be careful, you won’t want to get any on your pajamas,” his mother warned. Ron ignored her in favor of shoving as much food into his mouth as possible. Only stopping to take a sip every now and then. His mother eventually left the room.
Ginny Weasley’s POV -
Ginerva “Ginny” Weasley has a major problem. She didn’t know what dress to wear to go to Diagon Alley! I have to wear something nice. But! It can’t be too fancy cause then I’m over-dressing and it can’t be too simple because then people will think I’m poor. It can’t be too sexy cause people will think I’m a flirt but it can’t be too modest because people will think I’m basic. And it has to be stunning cause A. I want to make people jealous and B. because I might run into Harry and he has to fall for me at first sight. I should go for something cute just to be safe. Ginny ends up wearing a dark red dress with a skirt just above the knees. The dress had gold accents and a gold belt around the waist with a bow on the back.
"Ginny dear, we are about to leave! Are you ready yet?” Her mother asked.
“Coming!” She yelled back. Running down the stairs, she slipped her shoes on before meeting the rest of her family at the fireplace. She glanced around and saw her mother in her house clothes. Ginny has to stop herself from wrinkling her nose in disgust. Fred and George had casual looks which Ginny supposed was acceptable. Percy looked normal and her awful brother Ron looked like he just got out of bed, which Ginny supposed wasn’t inaccurate. Ginny was ashamed to be standing near most of her siblings and her mother.
“We’re all here?” Her mother asked. Everyone nodded. “Then, let’s go. Remember to say Diagon Alley clearly.”
Moments later, the entire Weasley clan, except their father and the two oldest, were in the Leaky Cauldron.
“All right, let’s go to the bookstore, I need to get all of your Lockhart books for DADA.” Her mother said before leading them to the store. Said store was packed full of people. They were standing shoulder to shoulder with another person. Ginny pushed her way to the front of the store. There she saw someone, but not just anyone Lockhart! Ginny immediately went to her mother.
“Lockhart is here sighing his books! I have to get his signature!” She demanded.
“Of course dear,” her mother replied.
Her mother grabbed a set of Lockhart books and pushed her way to the front, where Lockhart was. Ginny followed swiftly after.
“Yes, yes, it is I! Gilderory Lockhart, the slayer of an entire werewolf pack and 13 vampires!” Lockhart exclaimed loudly.
Draco Malfoy’s POV -
Draco glanced to the right and saw Hadrian roll his eyes.
“I see myself and my family aren’t the only ones who think he’s a fraud,” Draco commented. Hadrian nudged Draco to the left. Draco looked at him before looking at where he was pointing. “Weasleys,” Draco snarled. He saw their iconic red hair moving through the crowds.
“Oh my! If it isn’t the Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter!” Lockhart yelled before pulling Hadrian to his side. Hadrian immediately pulled out of the pseudo-hug and glared at Lockhart.
“My name is Hadrian Peverell-Potter. Not Harry Potter in case you haven’t heard,” He said.
“Come on now! We should get a picture taken for the front cover! And of course, I have to give you a set of my books, all signed of course.” Lockhart shoved a collection of books at Hadrian who immediately gave them to the person next to him.
“Do all of us a favor and give them to someone who needs them,” Hadrian said still glaring at the buffoon. Lockhart had a forced smile on.
“Ah, the Boy Who Lived always putting others before himself. So nice! But, you still need my books! After all, though you may be the person who defeated You-Know-How, can you kill 20 vampires and 5 giants?” Lockhart asked self-righteously as he handed Hadrian another set of books. Hadrian just sighed and moved to leave the area, and probably the store. Or maybe he’s going outside to throw those books in the nearest bin, who knows? Draco left soon after Hadrian.
Ginny Weasley’s POV -
Harry’s here! Harry’s here! Oh, I have to meet him. After all, how else will we fall in love if he doesn’t know I exist?
“Mom!” She yelled. Her mother turned to her.
“Yes, sweetie?” She asked.
“Harry’s here! And he just left! I have to follow him outside!” Ginny exclaimed before leaving her mother, who took a moment before following after. As Ginny left the store, she looked around the alley. “MOM! Where’s Harry? I saw him go outside!” She whined.
“I don’t know sweetie. I’m sure the two of you will see each other very often at school. You should wait til then,” her mother said. Ginny pouted but otherwise accepted that reasoning. Her mother sighed.
Antonin Dolohov’s POV -
Antonin was enjoying a nice steaming cup of tea when an owl flew in from the window with a letter attached to its leg. I hope this is something important. Most of my clients know I have the weekends off. He took the letter off and went to the cabinet to get something to feed the owl. Antonin fed the owl who was still sitting on the windowsill and looked at the wax seal on the letter. From the Malfoys huh? Must be important if he’s sending something to me. Antonin broke the seal on the letter.
Dear Antonin Dolohov,
Myself, and two others would like you to come to Malfoy Manor in two weeks at 2:00 PM. If this is not acceptable for you, please let me know.
From,
Lord Lucius Malfoy of the Noble House of Malfoy.
Antonin sighed and took a sip of tea before getting up and penning a response.
Fred Weasley’s POV -
~The next day~
Fred and his twin, George were hauled up in the room again to avoid the incoming tantrums of their two youngest sibling. Well, that and to make more prank products. Fred, like his twin, was ashamed to be related to the brats who responded to the names Ginny and Ron.
Ron couldn’t ever wake up at a reasonable time and as a result, they were almost always late to planned outings with their family. Ron was also a horrendous player in Quidditch. He says he want’s to be a keeper for the Gryffindor House Team but sucks at it because he always avoids the ball. And Ginny took forever to pick an outfit despite having an entire walk-in closet full of clothes organized by color.
The worst part about having them as siblings is that they get everything they want. Ron wants a new broom despite having one that's only a year old, sure! But if either of the twins wanted to replace their brooms, which were probably older than their house, nope! Ginny wants another 5 ball gowns despite having never worn a single one, sure! But if George wants a new pair of pants when his current ones have holes in them, he has to wait until their birthday!
“Hey, George, what do you think of a candy that makes people have the symptoms of being sick, but they aren’t really. You know, so they can get out of class. And once they are out of class, they can take a cure,” Fred asked his twin.
“That’s a great idea!” George exclaimed.
“BUT MOOOOOOM!!!” A voice yelled from downstairs. George gave his twin a knowing look. “I NEED TO LOOK PERFECT FOR WHEN I MEET HARRY!!!” Their sister yelled. Fred snickered.
“But moooom!” He mimicked their sister, “I need to look perfect for when Hadrian ignores me!” George burst out laughing. Fred joined in.
“I NEED TO GET THIS DRESS!!!” Their sister whined even louder than before.
“AND I NEED THIS JERSEY! ITS AN EXCLUSIVE FROM THE CHUDLEY CANONS!!!” Their youngest brother yelled. George rolled his eyes.
A few moments later, the waterworks were turned on. You could hear the two youngest of the Weasley clan crying from 5 stories up, which was where Fred and George’s room was.
“Watch mom cave to their demands’ Fred said, “In five, four, three, two, one.”
Loud sniffles could be heard, and a tiny “really” as well.
“Called it,” Fred commented.
“It's a miracle Dad’s not bankrupt yet. I wouldn’t be surprised if we lost the house with the amount of money Mom’s gonna be spending on their latest shopping trip,” George added.
“Anyway, why don’t we start planning our newest product?” Fred asked his twin with an evil-looking grin.
“Why not? We even have two volunteers to test it out,” George replied with the same smile.
Ginny Weasley’s POV -
Out in Diagon Alley, Ron and Ginny Weasley had a shudder pass through them. Must be the wind.