Harry Potter Volume 1

Crows and Letters

Croak.

What's that sound? Ron thought as he pulled up the blanket over his face. Croak. The sound was loud and that was annoying.

After counting almost twelve more croaks and squeaks, Ron was wide awake. What the hell is that sound? He kicked off the blanket and rubbed his eyes. Then he opened and squinted. Not even morning. But the sounds continued. More than annoyed now at the prospect of sleep lost, he climbed off the bed, stretched himself and walked down the creaking old stairs to find the source of the croaking. Perched upon the kitchen windowsill was a bird. A black one. A stupid crow?

He turned to the clock and his anget became rage. Three in the morning?! To Hell with you! Ron swatted the crow away. It gave a louder croak but refused to move. 'C'mon! Move!' he hissed at it. It just stared at him and croaked again. Ron took hold of a pan and threw it at the window. It clattered too loudly in the too calm house making him cringe. Merlin's Beard! What's with this bird?

He just stared at it and it stared back at him. 'What's with you, eh?' Ron muttered to himself as he put the pan back into the shelf.

The crow looked at him with those black glassy eyes and flew away. Ron, for some reason, breathed free. But that's when the real trouble started.

'RONALD!' Came his mom's yell. 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE KITCHEN AT NIGHT?!'

He was pretty sure the whole house was up now. I'm mental!

He just ran upstairs to his parents' room. A small room with a small bed and his snoring dad and livid mom. He mumbled apologies and told her what happened. Still angry, she said, 'Just because of a crow! Now get to bed!' and shooed him away. He just went back to his room, wondering, What's with the crow?

.

He can't breathe. Gasp. Water. He opened his eyes in panic, only to watch another bucket of water hitting his face and he gasped, jumped out of bed, spluttering and coughing. Fred and George just laughed. You dare!

'Good Morning, Ron!' both of them said cheerily as he muttered curses under his breath. Idiots! I'll kill them!Ron was about to race downstairs and complain to his mom but was stopped by Fred who handed over an envelope with a big H on it. Hogwarts. 'Now be careful Ron! You have to tolerate the whole year with us!' Fred said.

'Assuming he's in Gryffindor!' added George.

'I'll be in Gryffindor!' Ron defended himself.

'Fine!' said both. 'Now come along down for breakfast, Ron. You couldn't even imagine Mom's excitement,' and so both of them ran out of the room.

Mom's happy at his achievement. Dad promised a new wand to him while Ginny just congratulated him and as usual, with Fred and George making a ruckus. Ron sat in his room for the rest of the day, enjoying himself, thinking of all the stories he was told about Hogwarts. Here I come!