falling ; hp

─── sixteen

"FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!" screamed Molly. "THERE WAS NO NEED - I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS - JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE ALLOWED TO US MAGIC NOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO WHIP YOUR WANDS OUT FOR EVERY TINY LITTLE THING!"

"We were just trying to save a bit of time!" said Fred, hurrying forward and wrenching the bread knife out of the table. "Sorry Sirius, mate - didn't mean to -"

Willow laughed as she used her hand to cover her face.

"Boys," Arthur said, lifting the stew back into the middle of the table, "your mother's right, you're supposed to show a sense of responsibility now you've come of age -"

"- none of your brothers caused this sort of trouble!" Mrs. Weasley raged at the twins, slamming a fresh flagon of butterbeer onto the table and spilling almost as much again. "Bill didn't feel the need to Apparate every few feet! Charlie didn't Charm everything he met! Percy -" Molly suddenly paused as she looked at Arthur.

"Let's eat," said Bill quickly.

"It looks wonderful, Molly," said Remus.

"It tastes even better," Willow commented as Molly smiled genuinely.

Opposite to Willow, Tonks was entertaining Hermione and Ginny by transforming her nose between mouthfuls. Willow chuckled slightly as she ate her dinner. Suddenly, she choked on the food when she felt someone's hand on her thigh.

"Have some water, Willy," Remus said as he passed water to her across the table. Willow's cheeks went red in embarrassment as she nodded her head and side glared Harry, who was focused on having dinner.

Willow quietly pinched his hand as Harry winced, taking his hands off from her thigh.

"What's wrong, Harry?" Sirius asked as Harry shook his head while glaring Willow, who was genuinely focused on eating.

"Nearly time for bed, I think," said Mrs. Weasley on a yawn.

"Not just yet, Molly," said Sirius, pushing away his empty plate and turning to look at Harry. "You know, I'm surprised at you. I thought the first thing you'd do when you got here would be to start asking questions about Voldemort."

"He did," Willow answered as Harry nodded his head.

"I did!" said Harry indignantly. "I asked Ron and Hermione, but they said we're not allowed in the Order, so -"

"And they're quite right," said Mrs. Weasley. "You're too young."

"Since when did someone have to be in the Order of the Phoenix to ask questions?" asked Sirius. "Harry's been trapped in that Muggle house for a month. He's got the right to know what's been happen -"

"Hang on!" interrupted George loudly.

"How come Harry gets his questions answered?" said Fred angrily.

"We've been trying to get stuff out of you for a month, and you haven't told us a single stinking thing!" said George.

" 'You're too young, you're not in the Order,' " said Fred, in a high-pitched voice that sounded uncannily like his mother's. "Harry's not even of age!" Willow sensed the tension arising in the room.

"It's not my fault you haven't been told what the Order's doing," said Sirius calmly. "That's your parents' decision. Harry, on the other hand -"

"It's not down to you to decide what's good for Harry!" said Molly sharply. Her normally kindly face looked dangerous. "You haven't forgotten what Dumbledore said, I suppose?"