Muggle | 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑊𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦

Chapter 165

Throughout the next week, even though the Daily Prophet hadn't said anything about the Muggle-born registration commission yet, I kept my wand closer to myself than ever, just in case the Death Eaters — or rather, the Snatchers — decided to pay a visit to the shop and take me away to the Ministry.

     But all my fears became true one day when the copy of the newest Daily Prophet came by.

      "Listen here," I said as I walked down into the shop from the flat, where Fred and George were.

      I opened the copy of the Daily Prophet with a grimace and started reading through it,

     "The Ministry of Magic is undertaking a survey of so-called 'Muggle-borns', the better to understand how they came to possess magical secrets. Recent research undertaken by the Department of Mysteries reveals that magic can only be passed from person to person when Wizards reproduce. Where no proven Wizarding ancestry exists, therefore, the so-called Muggle-born is likely to have obtained magical power by theft or force."

     "Rubbish!" Fred exclaimed, but George was just gaping down at the paper grimly.

     So I went on,

     "The Ministry is determined to root out such usurpers of magical power, and to this end has issued an invitation to every so-called Muggle-born to present themselves for interview by the newly appointed Muggle-born Registration Commission."

     I finished reading the article and lowered the paper, feeling my heart beating fast and a rush of fear running all through my body.

     "Well, that was cheerful," said George after a pause.

     "People can't just steal magic!" Fred retorted. "Otherwise the Squibs would've had a laugh, wouldn't they? Take Filchykins, for example."

     I opened my mouth to reply, but I was cut short when the door to the shop opened for the first time all day and someone came in.

      Looking over at the door, we saw that it was Bill.

     "Bill! What a lovely surprise!" George said mockingly.

     "Okay, firstly," Bill started, "you need to have protective enchantments around this place —"

      "Yes, because we wouldn't want the customers to get in," said Fred sarcastically.

     "— and secondly," Bill went on, "you can't just plainly assume that this is me. I could easily be a Death Eater undercover. You have to ask me questions."

     "Honestly, I don't think if a Death Eater wanted us dead, they would stand by to have a chitchat with us and answer our questions," said George.

      Bill gave them a look.

     "Oh, all right." said Fred in defeat, and then he went on in mock-sweetness, "Hello, Potential Death Eater! Please, do tell us more about yourself! How was your day?"

      Bill rolled his eyes eyes before saying, "I'm William Arthur Bill Weasley. I was attacked by a werewolf named Greyback and I'm married to Fleur Delacour."

      George scoffed and then turned to us, muttering, "As if a Death Eater couldn't have known any of that already."

      "So what is it, Bill?" I asked before Fred and George could drive him crazy. "Is something wrong that you're here?"

     "You could say so." He nodded. "Have you read the Daily Prophet today?"

     "Yeah," I said bitterly.

     With a sigh, Bill took out his wand and waved it at the shop's door to cast a few protective charms so we wouldn't be overheard, and so he turned to face me again.

     "They are rounding up Muggle-borns, and you're one of their targets," said Bill and by those words, I felt a shiver run down my spine. "We need to take you to safety."

     "But — what about the others?" I questioned anxiously, glancing worriedly back at Fred and George.

     Even though I already knew they'd be safe, I still worried. I had changed a lot for simply befriending them. What if the Death Eaters came here for me and gave them trouble to find out my whereabouts?

     "Well, they think that our family ghoul is Ron with who's just really ill, Ginny's gone to Hogwarts a few days ago, and the rest of us are safe for the time being," Bill explained. "Although, we all might have to go into hiding at some point. We're targets too, being so close to Harry all those years."

      "Yeah, and not to mention we're the biggest bunch of blood-traitors to have ever walked this earth!" said Fred dramatically and proudly, grinning.

     "The point is," Bill continued, "you're a priority, Lexi. Not only because you're a Muggle-born —" Fred and I shared a quick knowing look at that "— but also because the Order thinks that it's lethal if they capture you. You know too much."

     "B-but... where would I be sent to?" I questioned apprehensively.

     "To our Aunt Muriel's."

     I saw Fred and George grimace at the mention of the name.

     "We've made it a safe house. We've even put the Fidelius Charm around it. Dad's the Secret Keeper," Bill explained. "Fleur and I are going to Shell Cottage; it's protected by the same charm, only I'm the Secret Keeper there. Unfortunately it doesn't have much space, so the rest of you will have to go to Muriel's house."

     "Then why wouldn't the rest come as well right now?" I asked with a frown. "The Death Eaters might come here after me and go through bad measures to question Fred and George about me."

     "Look, they can't all come right now because it would look suspicious if these many Weasleys went missing from their house, wouldn't it?" said Bill. "First we'll be moving you, then after a month or two Fred and George, then Mum and Dad —"

     "Woah, hold your Hippogriffs!" said Fred, shaking a hand at him impatiently. "I'm not letting Lexi go there alone!"

     "Yeah." George nodded with a grin. "She wouldn't last a day with that old bat, Muriel."

     "She's not going there because it's fun," Bill said firmly, "it's for her own good. It's safer there."

     "That wasn't my point!" said Fred. "Look, either we all go, or none of us go. I can't go one or two months not hearing from her, like you said."

      "Yeah, we could go there all together and even send the customers' order with Owl delivery from Muriel's house." George suggested with a shrug.

      Knowing that Fred and George were originally supposed to move in to Aunt Muriel's house eventually, whether I was there or not, it made me feel a bit calmer.

      So turning to Bill, I said, "Look, like you said, we all have to go there eventually. I doubt going there only a month earlier would make much difference. I'm sure it'll be fine."