𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐈𝐀 → hermione granger

21: the whomping willow

THE END OF SUMMER VACATION came too quickly for Raven or Harry's liking. They were looking forward to getting back to Hogwarts, but the month at the Burrow had been the happiest of their lives. It was difficult not to feel jealous of Ron when he thought of the Dursleys and the sort of welcome they could expect next time he turned up on Privet Drive.

On their last evening, Mrs. Weasley conjured up a sumptuous dinner that included all of Raven and Harry's favorite things, ending with a mouthwatering treacle pudding. Fred and George rounded off the evening with a display of Filibuster fireworks; they filled the kitchen with red and blue stars that bounced from ceiling to wall for at least half an hour. Then it was time for a last mug of hot chocolate and bed.

It took a long while to get started next morning. They were up at dawn, but somehow they still seemed to have a great deal to do. Mrs. Weasley dashed about in a bad mood looking for spare socks and quills; people kept colliding on the stairs, half dressed with bits of toast in their hands; and Mr. Weasley nearly broke his neck, tripping over a stray chicken as he crossed the yard carrying Ginny's trunk to the car.

Raven couldn't see how eight people, six large trunks, two owls, and a rat were going to fit into one small Ford Anglia. Harry had reckoned to her, of course, without the special features that Mr. Weasley had added.

"Not a word to Molly," he whispered to Raven and Harry as he opened the trunk and showed him how it had been magically expanded so that the luggage fitted easily.

When at last they were all in the car, Mrs. Weasley glanced into the back seat, where Raven, Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and Percy were all sitting comfortably side by side, and said, "Muggles do know more than we give them credit for, don't they?" She and Ginny got into the front seat, which had been stretched so that it resembled a park bench. "I mean, you'd never know it was this roomy from the outside, would you?"

Mr. Weasley started up the engine and they trundled out of the yard, Raven turning back for a last look at the house. She barely had time to wonder when her and Harry would see it again, when they were back  because George had forgotten his box of Filibuster fireworks. Five minutes after that, they skidded to a halt in the yard so that Fred could run in for his broomstick. They had almost reached the highway when Ginny shrieked that she'd left her diary. By the time she had clambered back into the car, they were running very late, and tempers were running high.

Mr. Weasley glanced at his watch and then at his wife.

"Molly, dear—"

"No, Arthur—"

"No one would see—this little button here is an Invisibility Booster I installed—that'd get us up in the air—then we fly above the clouds. We'd be there in ten minutes and no one would be any the wiser—"

"I said no, Arthur, not in broad daylight—"

They reached King's Cross at a quarter to eleven. Mr. Weasley dashed across the road to get trolleys for their trunks and they all hurried into the station.

               
  "Apollo!"

Raven, Harry and Ron running over with their trolley's making him smile. Ron's family were close behind, packed with bags and owls.

"What a surprise to see you here." Harry said, making Apollo only chuckle at how awkward he was being.

"Mr. Lupin, you look quite ill." Mrs. Weasley commented, making the man beside Apollo only hum tiredly. "If you'd like, we can drop Apollo off onto the train."

"That would be brilliant." Remus sighed as he crouched down.  Apollo carefully wrapped his arms around his father, loosening when he winced before Remus stood up and ruffled his son's hair. "I'll see you for Christmas holidays.