Where Your Loyalties Lie

Chapter Seven: Flourish and Blotts

THUD.

"Did you guys just hear that?" I asked my parents. It was nearing the end of July and we were cleaning up from our outdoor dinner we had just finished eating. The weather was beautiful outside so my dad had decided we should eat outside on the patio. As we were bringing the dirty dishes back into the kitchen, a loud noise had sounded from the living room.

THUD.

There it was again. Dad grabbed a baseball bat and told us to follow behind him quietly to see what was happening. We snuck around the corner towards the living room. Inside, we found two gingers stepping out of our fireplace and dusting themselves off.

"Ron?" I said.

The pair looked up. "Katie, there you are! Ready to go?" Ron asked.

"Um, go where?"

"To stay at my house, of course! Didn't you read my letter?"

"What letter?"

The older ginger turned towards Ron. "Ronald, you told me that you informed her that we would be coming to pick her up today," he said.

"I'm sorry, Dad! Errol must have gotten lost."

"Errol?" I asked.

"Our family owl," the older man explained. "Apologies, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Ron's dad, Arthur Weasley." Introductions were made between my family and Ron and Arthur. "Sorry for intruding. We thought you knew we were coming."

"No worries. It just took us by surprise, is all," Dad explained to them.

"Well anyways, would you like to come stay with us for the rest of the summer, despite the late notice?" Arthur asked me.

I turned to my parents. "Can I please?" I begged.

Dad looked at Mom. "Well I don't see why not," he answered.

"Yay! Thank you!" I hugged both of my parents. "I'll go pack my stuff!" I told everyone. Before I left the room, there was another thud that came from the fireplace.

"George, what are you doing here?" Arthur asked as one of his other sons came climbing out of the fireplace.

"Mum told me to come see if you needed any help carrying luggage," he explained.

"George!" I cheered, running over to embrace him. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ron scowling. I introduced him to Mom and Dad quickly and then began to head upstairs to pack.

"Want help?" George called after me.

"Sure!" I called back. He quickly caught up to me and I showed him to my bedroom. I grabbed my trunk and flung it open on the bed. "My school stuff is on my desk. Just toss it all in," I instructed him. I went to my closet and began taking clothes of hangers and throwing them into the trunk. We had everything packed and ready to go within ten minutes. I grabbed Claire's cage and she hooted at me excitedly. I went to grab my trunk, but George beat me too it.

"I can carry this for you," he said.

"Aww thank you, George! You're such a gentlemen!" I teased.

"You're welcome, lil' lady!" He laughed, tipping an invisible hat.

We made it back to the living room and I gave my parents one last hug. Arthur explained floo powder to me and then had George go first so I could see how it worked. George took some powder from Arthur, shouted, "The Burrow!", and then threw the powder down. Green flames surrounded him and he disappeared out of sight.

"Does it hurt?" I asked with a nervous gulp.

"Oh no, don't worry. It's very safe as long as you pronounce the words clearly," Arthur assured me.