Unexpected | Bill Weasley

~31~ O.W.L.S

I woke up the next morning to find the bed empty. Bill must be at work already.

I quickly got ready and went downstairs to find Mrs. Weasley cleaning up some dishes.

"Morning Mrs. Weasley." I said.

"Morning, dear."

"How was your night?" I asked, making myself some tea.

"It was fine, and yours?"

"It was good."

Mrs. Weasley raised her eyebrows. "And by good you mean?"

"I mean I slept well." I said with a chuckle.

Mrs. Weasley smiled and Hermione came downstairs with a large bruise on her eye.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Fred and George's invention." she said.

Hermione sat down and Mrs. Weasley quickly left and came back with a copy of The Healer's Helpmate open at "Bruises, Cuts, and Abrasions.

We kept trying to remove Hermione's bruise, but it wouldn't budge. After ten minutes Harry and Ron came down and Mrs. Weasley and I were becoming anxious.

"This has always worked before, I just can't understand it."

"It'll be Fred and George's idea of a funny joke, making sure it can't come off," said Ginny.

"But it's got to come off!" squeaked Hermione. "I can't go around looking like this forever!"

"You won't, dear, we'll find an antidote, don't worry," said Mrs. Weasley soothingly.

Hermione jumped up and started walking round and round the kitchen, twisting her fingers together.

"Mrs. Weasley, Fawn, you're quite, quite sure no owls have arrived this morning?"

"Yes, dear, I'd have noticed," said Mrs. Weasley patiently. "But it's barely nine, there's still plenty of time..."

"I know I messed up Ancient Runes," muttered Hermione feverishly, "I definitely made at least one serious mistranslation. And the Defense Against the Dark Arts practical was no good at all. I thought Transfiguration went all right at the time, but looking back..."

"Hermione, will you shut up, you're not the only one who's nervous!" barked Ron. "And when you've got your eleven 'Outstanding' OWLs..."

"Don't, don't, don't!" said Hermione, flapping her hands hysterically. "I know I've failed everything!"

"Don't worry I'm sure you all did...." I began, but my words were drowned out my Hermione screaming.

Hermione was pointing through the kitchen window. Three black specks were clearly visible in the sky, growing larger all the time.

"They're definitely owls," said Ron hoarsely, jumping up to join Hermione at the window.

"And there are three of them," said Harry, hastening to her other side

"One for each of us," said Hermione in a terrified whisper. "Oh no...oh no...oh no..."

She gripped both Harry and Ron tightly around the elbows

The owls were flying directly at the Burrow, three handsome tawnies, each of which, it became clear as they flew lower over the path leading up to the house, was carrying a large square envelope.

"Oh no!" squealed Hermione

Mrs. Weasley squeezed past them and opened the kitchen window. One, two, three, the owls soared through it and landed on the table in a neat line. All three of them lifted their right legs.

Nobody in the kitchen spoke as the three friends opened their letters. Ron and Harry looked fairly happy as they read, but Hermione was very silent.

"Only failed Divination and History of Magic, and who cares about them?" Ron said happily to Harry.

"It's as if I'm not even here." I said loudly.

But they didn't hear me.

"Here...swap..." Ron said to Harry.

They switched their grades and looked at them.

"Knew you'd be top at Defense Against the Dark Arts," said Ron, punching Harry on the shoulder. "We've done all right, haven't we?"

"Well done!" said Mrs. Weasley proudly, ruffling Ron's hair. "Seven OWLs, that's more than Fred and George got together!"

"Hermione?" said Ginny tentatively, for Hermione still hadn't turned around. "How did you do?"

"I — not bad," said Hermione in a small voice

"Oh, come off it," said Ron, striding over to her and whipping her results out of her hand. "Yep— nine 'Outstandings' and one 'Exceeds Expectations' at Defense Against the Dark Arts." He looked down at her, half-amused, half-exasperated. "You're actually disappointed, aren't you?"

Hermione shook her head, but Harry and I laughed.