Harry Potter shifting scenarios // blurbs

Weekend at the Burrow

brief list of characters: Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Fred and George Weasley, Arthur and Molly Weasley, Ginny Weasley

"Honestly, Ron," Hermione huffs, "You Weasley boys have been a horrible influence on y/n. She never slept in this late before she started spending her last few weeks of summer here." Her feet are clomping up the warmly lit stairs of the Burrow, the Weasleys' cozy home. The noise begins to drag you out of your sleep, shaking you loose from dreams that your mind had been deeply buried in. 

"Oh, like hell Hermione!" Ron scoffs, scrambling behind her on the stairs in order to keep up with her indignant pace. "You've been around me for ages and you still wake up before the owls start delivering the post!"

The sound of footsteps ends at the foot of your bed, which had been pushed up against the other small spare bed Hermione had been using. On the other side of the room was Ginny's bed, which was empty. Almost immediately, Hermione begins to shake you lightly. 

"Really, y/n, you must get up if you hope to even have scraps for breakfast! All the boys have beat you down there. Ginny and I have been listening to you snore for ages." 

"Well good morning," you grunt, sitting up and stretching. 

"Good morning." Ron smiles, still looking a little tired himself. "Don't worry about eating scraps, you're mad if you think mum wouldn't have saved you a plate." 

You grin and start pulling away at the pile of Molly's handmade quilts you'd been sleeping with, swinging your feet onto the floor once they were free. 

"She can't trick me, Ron, I know Molly loves me." You grin back, shooing them out so you can change. "Tell everyone I'll be down in a moment." 

After changing out of your pajamas and brushing your hair, you make your way downstairs to the main floor of the Burrow. You had been here for the last two and a half weeks, and had loved every second of it. All the rooms were lit in a warm, yellow light, which made the atmosphere warm and welcoming. Each room was decorated according to the Weasley flair that you had come to know and love. To some, it may seem cluttered and disorderly, but there was beauty in that. You found comfort somewhere in the chaos of this stuffed, overflowing house. Not only was it overflowing with knick-knacks and knitted clothes and Weasleys, but it was also overflowing with love and hospitality. 

Another great thing about the Burrow was that the smells were amazing. Molly is a true mother and hostess, and you would know that by stepping one foot into her kitchen. As you came in to sit down at the full table, you could smell faint whiffs of coffee, cinnamon, and maple. You squeeze into an open chair between Ginny and George, and across from Harry. 

"Good morning dear," Molly says sweetly from the head of the table, standing and preparing Arthur's plate. "I hear you got off to a sleepy start." Ron, Harry, and the twins were already devouring their breakfast. Ginny ate hers slowly, while Hermione politely waited for you to join her. 

"Good morning Mrs. Weasley," you reply cheerily, then lean over to ask Fred to pass you the coffee. As you're pouring a cup, you tell Molly, "I'll take the next plate, please." 

"Good morning," Harry mutters to you as you settle into your chair. You tell him good morning back. 

"What's on the to-do list today?" You ask quietly as Molly hands you your plate, but she doesn't seem to hear you. She's already back at the head of the table, conversing with Arthur about something on the front page of the Daily Prophet. 

"Mum and dad are planning on taking you lot to Diagon Alley today to pick up your supplies," George answers, a mouth full of toast. He swallows. "I'm not sure what they'll do for Ron and Ginny. Give them Fred and I's hand-me-downs, I suppose." 

"Which we got from Percy and Bill," Fred chimes in, smirking. 

"Oh, how lucky." Ginny sighs sarcastically. 

"Well, look at it this way," you chime in, nudging Ginny with your elbow. "They'll at least have to buy you some new robes. You haven't got an older sister." 

"Unless they're cruel enough to make you wear mine." George snickers, teasing his sister. "Do you think they'd fit?" 

You weren't sure why, but the thought of being wrapped in George's robes made you blush slightly. You cleared your throat and finished the rest of your coffee. 

As you ate, the Weasley house was filled with it's normal chatter. Arthur talked about work, Molly was expecting a letter from Percy today, Harry and Ron talked about Quidditch, and Fred and George talked slyly about what professors they might have this year and what pranks were in store for them. 

Before long, breakfast was finished and Molly was assigning clean-up work. You, Ginny and the twins were told to clear the table of the dishes and wash them. 

"Are you nervous?" Ginny asks as you're both standing at the sink scrubbing plates. "For your second year?" 

You and Ginny were the same age, but unlike her, you were born of Muggle parents. You had no magical siblings to pave the way for you, and you had been a clumsy, anxious wreck through most of your first year. You had no idea how Harry and Hermione had transferred into life at Hogwarts so smoothly, and you definitely didn't understand how Hermione could memorize spells with such ease. 

So yes, you were definitely nervous. But even that couldn't outweigh the pure excitement you had to have been given this opportunity. You allowed yourself to remember how you felt when your Hogwarts letter had arrived at your house. Puzzled, at first, by its simple elegance. However, as you unfolded the parchment and read those words, your letter of acceptance, you were thrown into an entirely different world. It was a whirlwind of exhilarating joy and wonder, and you could hardly sleep for a whole week before you had to board your train, so strong was your curiosity. 

"Nervous that Snape will be lurking around every corner, waiting to thump me upside the head, sure." You smirked. "In all seriousness though, I really am hoping to do better this year. To feel like I deserve to be there." 

Suddenly you feel a hand on your shoulder. It's George's. You look up at him.

"Oh, y/n, you'll do fine. Hogwarts isn't a school where you have to earn your place, like Malfoy wants you to think. Hogwarts is home. No matter what blood is in your veins." 

"He's right," Ginny chimed in. "It beckoned to you. They didn't send you that letter for nothing." 

"And besides," George finished, leaning around you to grab a towel to dry his plates. "If you need anyone to study your spells with, you can always come to me." He gives you a wink and turns back to the table to grab more dishes. 

"As if," Ginny scoffs, too focused on the bubbly water to see your fierce blush. This year, you were now hoping, would be much more exciting for you.