Flourish and Blotts//George Weasley

2 ~ Specialization

Sunlight filtered through the Weasleys' kitchen window. Aurella stretched her hands above her head, moving around the cleaned kitchen island to the cupboards. They had arrived late last night and had been sent to bed. Aurella, still mentally an hour ahead from being in France all summer, had awoken before everyone else, although she did not doubt that Mrs. Weasley would be joining her soon. 

Her bare feet shuffled over the worn wooden floor until she had reached the cupboard. She popped it open and leaned back. It was the tea cupboard, but she knew that Molly kept a tin of coffee grounds around somewhere. Her fingers brushed the edge of the container on the top shelf and she groaned, stretching higher. She only succeeded in shoving it farther back. At least Molly hadn't moved it. The routine was nice.

She grumbled. She'd have to go back and get her wand from Ginny's room. Aurella wasn't sure she wanted to try. Ginny was a light sleeper and was always cranky when woken up too early. 

Aurella spun, leaving the kitchen and turning the corner down the small hallway. Ginny was the only Weasley that slept on the first floor. She skipped the third plank near her door, not wanting to wake anyone from the squeak, or set off the ghoul that lived in the attic. She slowly opened the door. 

Ginny was still inside, sprawled over her bed. Aurella crept in and snatched her wand off the table, tucking it into the pocket of her pyjama pants. A chill ran through the room and on second thought, she picked up her Beauxbatons sweatshirt and tugged it on. The picture of the Holyhead Harpies Quidditch team flickered behind the bed. A second cot was set on the floor for when Hermione-- one of Ron's friends-- arrived later in the day. 

As quietly as she could, Aurella exited the room and closed the door behind her. Exhaling a sigh of relief that she wouldn't be dealing with a cranky Ginny, she walked away, heading back to the kitchen.

She turned the corner and collided with George, who had just hit the bottom of the tall rickety staircase. His hand was still wrapped around the wooden railing, and he wore a matching set of striped pyjamas, one of Molly's knitted sweaters over top. 

She hesitated for a second, before brushing around him with a grumble. "Watch where you are going."

There was a scoff behind her, but she didn't wait to see his reaction. Instead, she entered the kitchen and flicked her wand at the cupboard. The jar of coffee grounds floated off the shelf and down to the counter. She pushed the wand back into her pocket and opened the drawer, ignoring the sound of a chair being pulled out from a table and George settling into it. 

Aurella had just managed to get the kettle boiling as Molly Weasley came bustling into the kitchen, already dressed in long robes and with her flaming hair tied up. Aurella smiled at her.

"I see you've found the coffee grounds, love," Molly said, moving around the kitchen island to hug her. The older witch turned, flicking her wand. Eggs flew from the fridge and cracked themselves into a pan on the stove, which was already flaming. "I also see you've passed your NEWTs."

Aurella smiled to herself. The only witches and wizards allowed to use magic outside of school were those who had passed their NEWTs. Aurella had taken hers a year early to apply for specialization. 

Her smile dropped when she heard a mumble of know-it-all from George at the table. Stupid fool. She spun away from the coffee grounds, ready to snap back at him, but found Molly had beat her to it.

"Your father and I already spoke to you about this behaviour and I will have none of it," Molly pointed a finger at George, who had plastered an innocent expression on his face. One that had Aurella frowning. "Besides, you could take a page out of her book. I don't know how you expect to get anything done with those silly jokes you and Fred are making."