Courage

-41-

Book: Courage
Chapter 41
Word Count: 6567

A/N: Just to clarify for those who don't know, Cedric is two years older than Layla and is 16 at the start of the year but he turns 17 at the start of October so he is still able to enter the Goblet of Fire. He is in the same year as Fred and George, but since the twins' birthday is in April, they are still 16 at the start of the tournament so can't enter. Again, Cedric turns 17 before the tournament starts but is 16 at the moment!
-Lunamalfoy06 ❤️

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Layla felt as though he had barely laid down to sleep in Ginny's room when she was being shaken awake by Mrs Weasley.

"Time to go, Layla, dear," she whispered, moving away to wake Hermione and Ginny.

Layla sat up. It was still dark outside.

"Oh, and Layla?" said Mrs Weasley, walking back over to Layla's bed once she'd woken up Hermione and Ginny. Mrs Weasley held up a letter. "This arrived for you this morning." She then left the room.

Layla grinned when she noticed her boyfriend's neat handwriting, opening the letter.

Layla,
I remember you saying in your last letter yesterday that you were staying at Weasleys' home for the rest of the holidays so I hope I got the address right.
Are you looking forward to the Quidditch World Cup? I'm sure it's going to be an exciting game.
I have good news! My father spoke to Mr Weasley and guess what I found out. I never knew this until now but we live not far from the Burrow! The lot of us will be taking the same Portkey to the World Cup! That means that I get to see you before the match :)
I can't wait to see you! I've missed you a lot.
With love,
Ced

Layla's smile widened. She would be seeing Cedric soon! Not seeing the need to reply to his letter since she'd be seeing him in an hour or two anyway, Layla got up to get dressed. She was suddenly wide awake, unlike both Hermione and Ginny, who were yawning and stretching as they changed.

The three of them headed downstairs into the kitchen.

Mrs Weasley was stirring the contents of a large pot on the stove, while Mr Weasley was sitting at the table, checking a sheaf of large parchment tickets. He looked up as the girls entered and spread his arms so that they could see his clothes more clearly. He was wearing what appeared to be a golfing sweater and a very old pair of jeans, slightly too big for him and held up with a thick leather belt.

"What d'you think?" he asked anxiously. "We're supposed to go incognito — do I look like a Muggle, Hermione?"

"Yeah," said Hermione, smiling, "very good."

"Where're the boys?" said Layla.

"Harry, Ron, and the twins are getting dressed. They should be down soon. Bill, Charlie, and Percy are apparating there," said Mrs Weasley, heaving the large pot over to the table and starting to ladle porridge into bowls. "So they can have a bit of a lie-in."

Apparating meant disappearing from one place and reappearing almost instantly in another. Layla understood that it was very difficult.

"So they're still in bed?" said Ginny grumpily, pulling her bowl of porridge toward her. "Why can't we Apparate too?"

"Because you're not of age and you haven't passed your test," said Mrs Weasley. "And where have those boys got to?"

She bustled out of the kitchen and they heard her climbing the stairs.

There were footsteps down the passageway and Mrs Weasley came into the kitchen, followed by Harry, Ron, Fred, and George, all of them looking pale and drowsy.