Harry Potter and The Secrets he Kept

Chapter 8

Molly Weasley stood in her kitchen, scrambling some eggs for breakfast when the Daily Prophet owl swooped in through the open window and dropped the paper onto the bacon.

Arthur came down stairs, just as the owl left again. "Oh, the paper's here," he said. "Remus told me that there is going to be a very interesting article in the paper today. He said it would probably be on the front page." The red haired man smiled and pecked his wife on the cheek before pouring himself some coffee and picking up the newspaper. He flicked it open, and as Molly turned to place the bowl of eggs on the table, she saw the smile fade off of his face, replaced by a stern and angry look.

"Get the kids," he said solemnly.

Molly placed the bowl on the table, and ran upstairs, ordering the children to be at the table in five minutes or suffer her wrath.

Ginny was already awake and brushing her long, shiny red hair when her mother barreled up the stairs to her door.

"Ginny, dear, hurry downstairs immediately. Your father wants all of you down," the flustered mother said.

"Yes, Mum," Ginny replied, standing up from her spot on the bed, and dropping the brush onto her bedside table. "Water works best on the twins when you're in a hurry," she said as she slipped past her mother.

Ginny hurried downstairs and saw her father holding the newspaper in one hand while his head was in the fire.

Arthur pulled his head out of the flames and breathed a sigh of relief before turning to see his daughter seated at the table and nibbling on a piece of toast with marmalade. He smiled fondly at her and said, "Bill and Charlie will be here in a few minutes."

Ginny looked up at him, glowing with joy. "Oh, that's wonderful! I've missed them."

"I know you have, which is part of the reason why they will be staying for the rest of the weekend," Arthur said, smiling down at his only girl.

At that moment, two things happened. Percy came downstairs, still in his pajamas, and the fire turned green and out stepped Bill.

"Ginny!" he cried, as he dropped a large black bag on the floor.

"Bill!" she yelled, leaping up from the table and running into his arms.

Bill caught her and swung her around in the air before putting her back on the ground. "Well, Ginny, you're all grown up, aren't you?"

"Well, you have been away for two years," she responded, hands on her hips.

He chuckled and said, "Yes, I guess I have. Hello, Percy." He smiled at the bookish Weasley.

"Hello, Bill," the younger male said, yawning behind a hand. "Any idea what this is all about?"

"Nope, all Dad said was that it was a family meeting," he responded, as he sat at the table and started dishing up some eggs.

The flames turned green again, and a man that was shorter and stockier than Bill stepped out.

"Hi, everyone!" Charlie greeted, dropping his green bag next to Bill's black one before joining the table.

Molly and the twins, whose hair was plastered to their heads, entered the room just then. "Ron will be down in a minute," Molly said.

Fred and George glared at Ginny as they sat down. "Thanks a lot, Ginny!" Fred said sarcastically.

"Yeah, you had to spill the beans to Mum," George added.

Ginny smirked in response, and looked very smug as she bit into a piece of sausage.