Silvermade || Draco Malfoy x Reader

Chapter 39 - Platform 9 3/4

After much begging to my Mum and Dad, I stayed with the Weasleys for the rest of the summer break just like how I originally planned.

They were understandably worried and beside themselves when they found out about what happened at the Quidditch World Cup. I had to placate them through letters and were only finally convinced when Mrs. Weasley herself wrote to them, assuring them that I was perfectly okay and that she will make sure that I aboard the Hogwarts Express train with not so much as a strand of my hair out of place. I had thanked Mrs. Weasley tremendously for that.

Mr. Weasley and Percy were not at home much for the week that followed since The Ministry was still in mayhem at what happened at the World Cup. On Saturday night, just before we were to leave for Hogwarts the next day, Percy had arrived early while we all sat on the living room.

"It's outrageous at the office." He said as soon as he Apparated inside the Burrow. "People kept sending Howlers all week, and of course if you don't open a Howler right away it explodes. I've been putting out fires all week!"

No one really paid any attention to Percy, as he continued to rant about his troubles since we were all preoccupied.

I was sitting on the floor, helping Ginny who was mending old school books of Ron's from the third year with Spellotape, Bill was playing wizard's chess with Ron, Hermione was reading The Standard Book of Spells: Grade 4 that Mrs. Weasley had bought for us when she went to Diagon Alley to shop for the supplies we all needed. Charlie was mending a hole on his fireproof baclava, Harry was polishing his Firebolt, while Fred and George were by the corner of the living room with quills, scribbling away on a piece of parchment, their heads together as they spoke in hushed voices.

"What are you two up to?" Mrs. Weasley said to the twins, darting a sharp look at them.

"Homework." Fred answered nonchalantly.

"Don't be ridiculous. It's still summer break." Mrs. Weasley said, her eyes squinting at the twins now.

"Yeah, we've left it a bit late." George smiled, trying to pass off as innocent as he could but he was fooling no one.

"You're writing down a new order form aren't you? Planning to start up Weasleys Wizard Wheezes again by any chance?" Mrs. Weasley voice raised a little higher.

"Mum," Fred started as he looked up to his mother with a pained expression on his face. "If the Hogwarts Express crashed tomorrow and George and I died, how would you feel when the last thing we ever heard from you was an unfounded accusation?"

We all laughed at this, even Mrs. Weasley.

A few moments later, Mr. Weasley came in to join us in the living room, a plate of dinner in his hands as he sat on the couch with an exhausted sigh.

"Rita Skeeter has been all up our business this week. Now she's found out about Bertha Jorkins going missing, so I'm positive that would be the headline tomorrow on the Daily Prophet." Mr. Weasley said as he shook his head. "I told Bagman to send someone to look for her ages ago."

"Mr. Crouch has been saying it for weeks and weeks." Percy interjected.

"Crouch is very lucky Rita Skeeter did not find out about Winky." Mr. Weasley said irritably as he glared at Percy. "Rita Skeeter would have a field day, and the Ministry might be in more trouble if it had been known that it was Crouch's house-elf holding the wand that conjured the Dark Mark."

"I thought we were all in agreement that the elf, while irresponsible and disobedient, did not conjure the Dark Mark?" Percy said fiercely.

Hermione stood up from her spot, the book she was reading now tossed aside. "I think, Mr. Crouch is very lucky no one at the Daily Prophet knows how mean he is to house-elves!"