The Queen of Vipers || Fred Weasley

II.I

"Whose owl is that?"

Ginny looked to the window over the sink, the very one her mother was peering out of. In the distance she could spot the brown and white speck making a beeline for the house.

Across the table, George jumped from his seat at the kitchen table, throwing his toast onto his plate in a haste, without a care that he splattered marmalade across the table —to which Ginny retorted with a "Hey!"— and dashed for the window. Nearly pushing their mother to the side, he opened the window and stepped back.

The barred owl soared through the open window. Percy ducked his head and covered the papers he'd brought down to breakfast, as the owl came to a beating stop on the back of George's empty chair. Fred made a muffled sound of surprise, choking on his chai tea and setting his cup on the table with a rattle as he coughed. Their mother scolded him. That was her favorite china.

The owl stuck its leg out with a small folded piece of paper attached with twine. Ginny watched Fred untie it as George moved to stand behind his chair. He reached for his plate and ripped a piece of his toast off and fed it to the mysterious owl. It hooted in thanks and without another moment to spare, flapped his wings and jumped off the chair and back out the window.

Ginny watched Fred with narrowed eyes as he unfolded the note. George threw himself back into his chair, watching Fred with as much interest as Ginny. They'd never gotten any owls back... Have they finally found an investor?

Fred chewed the insides of his cheeks, which Ginny knew was what her older brother did when he was lost in his own thoughts.

Their mother huffed in annoyance. "Care to share with the table?"

"Not particularly, no," said Fred lazily, folding the note back up. He was hit around the head with a floating dishtowel.

"I've seen more owls coming and going from this house than ever," their mother exclaimed. "What have you two been up to?"

"Just correspondence, mum," said George, taking the paper from Fred's hand under the table eagerly. His eyebrows shot up the moment he opened the letter. Ginny very stealthily rose from her seat.

"With whom?"

"Friends," answered Fred, before popping a blueberry into his mouth.

Their mother waved a wooden spoon at them. "I don't ever remember either of you writing to your friends over holiday." She wasn't wrong. Fred and George had plenty of friends, but Ginny had only ever seen them write to them at the end of the summer holiday to coordinate meeting in Diagon Alley. Other than that they never really seemed to need anyone other than themselves.

This summer was different.

They ignored their mother. George seemed to read the letter over at least three times as Ginny slowly rounded the table, when he exchanged a quick glance with Fred. Fred raised his brow in a quick motion at his twin before focusing on his tea, a look of disinterest trained on his face, but Ginny knew better.

George's face wasn't as disciplined as his twins as his lips curled up at the corners.

Now she really needed to see that note. She quickened her step and before George could stuff the paper in his pocket, she snatched it masterfully. "Hey!" Ginny danced out of Fred's grasp, who rattled the table, causing his tea to spill and splash on Percy's papers. "My report!" Percy cried. He quickly gathered his report and fled the kitchen as Ginny tore the letter open.

"Ginny, wait!"

It was a simple letter, written in a pretty script, and not at all what she thought she'd find.