The Oldest Weasley (Bill Weasley love story)

Chapter Five

"Your father hasn't had to go to the office on weekends since the days of you-know-who," Mrs. Weasley said one evening as everyone was gathered in the living room of the burrow. "They're working him far too hard. His dinner's going to be ruined if he doesn't come home soon."

"Well, father feels he's got to make up for his mistake at the match, doesn't he?" Percy said. "If truth be told, he was a tad unwise to make a public statement without clearing it with his head of department first-"

"Don't you dare blame your father for what that wretched Skeeter woman wrote!" Mrs. Weasley said.

"If Dad hadn't said anything, old Rita would have just said it was disgraceful that nobody from the ministry had commented." Said Bill as he played chess with Ron. "Rita Skeeter never makes anyone look good. Remember, she interviewed all the Gringotts' Charm Breakers once, and called me 'a long-haired pillock'?"

Asphodel, who was laying on the floor next to Bill and Ron, started to laugh.

"It's not funny!" Bill huffed.

"Oh calm down, you long-haired pillock." She joked, reaching up and twirling a strand of his hair around her fingers.

"I am not a long-haired pi-"

"Well, it is a bit long, dear," Mrs. Weasley said gently. "If you'd just let me-"

"No, mum." Bill said.

Mrs. Weasley then turned to Fred and George, who were sitting in the corner whispering over a piece of parchment. "What are you two up to?" She said.

"Homework." Fred said.

"Don't be ridiculous, you're still on holiday." Mrs. Weasley said.

"Yeah, we've left it a bit late." Said George.

"You're not by any chance writing out a new order form, are you?" Mrs. Weasley said, "You wouldn't be thinking of restarting Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, by any chance?"

"Now, Mum," Fred said as he looked up at her, "If the Hogwarts Express crashed tomorrow, and George and I died, how would you feel to know that the last thing we ever heard from you was an unfounded accusation?" Everyone, even Mrs. Weasley, laughed.

"Oh, your father's coming!" She said suddenly as she looked up to a magical clock that showed where all of the Weasleys were. It soon showed he was home and they could hear him calling from the kitchen.

"Coming, Arthur!" Mrs. Weasley called as she rushed out of the room. A few moments later, Mr. Weasley came into the living room, looking exhausted and carrying his dinner on a tray.

"Well, the fat's really on the fire now." He said to Mrs. Weasley as he sat in an armchair and began to eat his dinner. "Rita Skeeter's been ferreting around all week, looking for more ministry mess-ups to report. And now she's found out about poor old Bertha going missing, so that'll be the headline in the prophet tomorrow. I told bagman he should have sent someone to look for her ages ago."

"Mr. Crouch has been saying that for weeks and weeks." Said Percy.

"Crouch is very lucky Rita hasn't found out about Winky."Mr. Weasley said, "There'd be a week's worth of headlines in his house-elf being caught holding the wand that conjured the dark mark."

"I thought we all agreed that that elf, while irresponsible, did not conjure the mark?" said Percy.

"If you ask me, Mr.Crouch is very lucky no one at the daily prophet knows how mean he is to elves!" Said Hermione.

"Now look here, Hermione!" said Percy. " A high-ranking ministry official like Mr. Crouch deserves unswerving obedience from his servants-"

"Then why don't you go and be his servant?" Asphodel said.