High Hopes {h.granger}

Six

Breakfast was slightly less tasty than the meal they'd had yesterday. Porridge ladened with as much honey as Nora could get away with putting on it. She was also actively trying to keep her appetite as Mr Weasley taught Harry the basics of splinching.

The younger girls finally joined them. Ginny was in the process of tying her hair into a ponytail whilst Hermione decided to pretend to be a zombie. Nora had never seen the younger girl more tired. Hermione had managed to dress properly, no clothes back to front. Her hair hadn't been bound in any intricate style, just left in wet curls.

Even with wet hair, she looked adorable. Nora had to restrain a snort as Hermione sat herself between Harry and Ron, accepting the bowl Ron offered her and the jar of treacle Harry placed in front of her. Looks like those three worked like a well-oiled machine, just like George, Nora and Fred.

"George!" Everyone bar Mr Weasley jumped as Mrs Weasley's sharp voice cut through them.

Nora had managed to knock George's arm causing him to drop his spoon. Said spoon had hit the edge of his bowl but Fred had caught it right before it hit the floor. Well-oiled machine.

"What?" George asked, attempting an innocent voice. Nora winced, George's voice was slightly higher than normal.

"What is in your pocket?" Mrs Weasley called, deadly calm. No one reached for their porridge. Mrs Weasley could be incredibly scary when she wanted to.  Both she and Fred knew not to look at George, specifically at the inside pocket of George's jacket where a handful of sweet prototypes resided.

George refused to meet his mother's gaze. "Nothing!"

"Don't you lie to me!"Mrs. Weasley looked formidable as she pointed her wand at George's pocket and said, "Accio!"

The colourful prototypes flew out of George's pocket and Nora scrunched her eyes shut. Fred inhaled a sharp breath from beside George. George attempted to catch them but failed miserably. Nora had opened her eyes and wished she hadn't as she witnessed that. He shouldn't have tried.

They landed in Mrs Weasley's outstretched hand and everyone flinched. "We told you to destroy them!" said Mrs. Weasley furiously and Nora saw her cousin's eyes widen, he recognised them to be the Ton-Tongue Toffees. "We told you to get rid of the lot! Empty your pockets, go on, both ofyou!"

Nora almost cried with relief. Mrs Weasley didn't suspect Nora of being a part of the twins' business. She was saved the humiliation of emptying her jean pockets and didn't have to face Molly Weasley's disappointed gaze. However, Mrs Weasley didn't stop there. She went on a tirade, using her summoning charm on their bags, jackets and socks (Fred had stuffed three in each sock). The four sweets in Nora's back pocket burned as she did her best to innocently finish off her porridge.

The atmosphere was tense as they said their goodbyes. Nora leapt into Charlie's arms as he outstretched them. He squeezed her tight and whispered in her ear "Cheer the twins up, I know you kept some sweets.", prompting Nora to grin into his shoulder.

Nora pulled back and playfully hit him on the chest. "Next time, tell me you're apparating so I don't have to slum it with a portkey." She playfully huffed as Charlie chuckled, his blue eyes twinkling.

Charlie shrugged his shoulders. "You'll be learning how to apparate soon, you'll be the one apparating me around, you know, with my old age and all." His lips pulled into a smile that dazzled Nora for a moment before she rolled her eyes.

"Whatever, old man," She waved him off and started to turn away before turning back around again, a finger raised. "Tell Bill he's a lazy arse and he owes me a burger at the match." Charlie gave her a solute and a promise that he'd pass the message along as Bill was still sleeping, something that Nora was sure Mrs Weasley was going to rectify soon.