Child of Hogwarts: Part I

Chapter Fifteen - The Flying Ford Anglia

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The Flying Ford Anglia

Two mornings later, the Weasley household was in a frenzy as everyone prepared to depart for Hogwarts. Mrs Weasley spent much of the morning darting up and down the stairs carrying stray socks from the laundry, misplaced quills she'd found in the drawing room, and various last minute reminders. Mr Weasley helped Harry and Ron haul their luggage out of the house, while Fred sat on George's trunk, trying to close the lid on it before their mother caught sight of the plethora of prank paraphernalia they'd so far managed to hide for two days. Ginny was quiet and subdued much of the morning. Having already packed her trunk into the car, she sat in a corner of the table with a cup of tea, scribbling madly in what looked like her diary. Harry returned from the front garden after loading Ron's trunk and his carry-all into the boot, wiping sweat from his brow. He heard Mrs Weasley shout from the stairs for everyone to get outside, or they were going to be late. Harry darted quickly to the basin, gulping down a hurried glass of water before hustling outside again.

He, Ron, Percy, Fred and George all fitted easily into the back seat. Mr and Mrs Weasley sat up front, with Ginny between them. Mrs Weasley looked around approvingly. 'I'd never have thought it was so roomy from the outside,' she said. 'I suppose Muggles do know a bit more than we credit them for.'

Mr Weasley gave Harry a wink in the mirror, and Harry looked away to hide his grin. Mr Weasley had admitted to him earlier that morning that he'd added undetectable extension charms to the interior of the car, so the family would be able to comfortably fit inside.

Without further ado, they pulled away from the Burrow. Harry felt a little bereft at the leaving – he'd loved his stay there, despite his early reservations. While he had missed Hogwarts, Dumbledore, McGonagall and even Hagrid (though he'd seen him briefly over the week-end), he also enjoyed the bustle and excitement of the Weasley household. It was a different sort of family home.

He'd barely had time to miss the Burrow, however, before they were back. Fred Weasley had forgotten a box of his wet-start fireworks.

Several minutes later, they returned once again for Ginny, who'd left her diary in the kitchen.

By the time they reached the motorway, they were running very late indeed. Mrs Weasley's lips were pursed so tightly Harry thought it was a miracle she hadn't split them open on her teeth. Mr Weasley shot a furtive look at his wife.

'Molly, dear, perhaps if we just –'

'No, Arthur!' Mrs Weasley said firmly.

'But there's an invisibility booster – look – right here,' he indicated a small silver button on the fascia. 'I could initiate it, and we'd be up in the sky without anyone the wiser.'

'I said NO!' Mrs Weasley insisted, causing Ginny – seated between them – to wince as her mother bellowed right in her ear. Harry looked at Ron, confused.

'Dad's enchanted the car,' Ron said in a low voice, so his mother wouldn't hear. 'He's charmed it to turn invisible, and to fly. Fred and George have sneaked it out a few times, and I drove it once myself.'

Harry grinned. It was such a typical Arthur Weasley thing to do. Though Mr Weasley worked in the Mis-use of Muggle Artefacts Office at the Ministry and – strictly speaking – ought to be enforcing the law against things exactly like this, he was mad about anything Muggle related. Harry had seen him tinkering with numerous Muggle objects in the big shed behind the Weasley house, taking them apart and 'improving' them as he built them back up again. He supposed Mr Weasley had done something like that with this car.