Inglorious Bastards [Theodore Nott]

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Carina was the first when morning came by the sound of Mrs. Weasley opening the door of Ginny's room. Mrs. Weasley greeted her with a nice smile and then urged her to get up and get ready for the day. She then went to wake Maisie – by pushing her cousin off the bed – and then Ginny and Hermione by throwing her pillows at them. Neither of the three girls appreciated the wake-up call.

"Time to get up," Carina yawned as she grabbed her clothes, towel, and toothbrush and went straight to the bathroom.

Everyone went to take a quick bath and gathered at the Burrow's living room. Carina chuckled at the sight of Maisie's bobbing head and slight drooling, and as well as the sound of sleeping groans of the boys as they descended the stairs.

"Why so early?" George asked.

"Because we're going to have to walk a little to get there," Mr. Weasley said. "Everybody here?"

After saying their goodbyes to Mrs. Weasley, the large group started their walk. Most of them still half-awake as they went through the cold morning. Carina held on to Roman's backpack while she slouched and dragged her feet, looking more like a zombie. Behind her and Roman, Maisie and Ginny were arm in arm as they tried to balance on each other and held on to Fred's backpack, too sleepy to open their eyes as they walked.

"You better close that mouth of yours, Rina, you don't want to catch flies – or drop the leaf," Roman said.

"I'm up!" Carina jumped, she automatically had her tongue check the leaf, and sighed as felt it still inside. "You know what would be a good idea?"

"Tell me, Black, what good idea ever sprout out of you? I believe every "good idea" you had landed our arses in detention."

"Like your ideas didn't – if you look at our statistics, it's most of your plans that got us cleaning Hogwarts," Carina pointed out.

"Where's your evidence?"

"It's in the planner – in my bloody bag, do you want me to bring it out?"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who were listening to Carina and Roman's little conversation had their brows furrowed at the realization that the two kept a record for their pranks.

"You record the pranks that get you in detention? Why?" Harry asked.

"To see which on of us are incompetent planners," Carina answered.

"And, who is it?" Hermione asked.

"Roman – he made a home run when we "accidentally" blew up the bathroom that Malfoy was about to shit at – Snape got us a month's detention for that."

"Oh, I remember that – that was just last year! Merlin, Malfoy really got a beating from you two then – first the exploding breakfast, then the black eye, the duel, and then an exploding toilet," Ron chuckled as he recounted the events.

"Malfoy holds the pedestal of best reactions," Roman yawned.

"Roman, please, I beg you! Listen to this plan I have! It's for this year's Quidditch match!" Carina swung her arm around Roman's neck.

"What?" Roman asked, finally listening.

"Just give me your bag, I'll carry it on my back, and then you carry me! That way you get the exercise and muscle!"

"Ha. Ha. No," Roman grumbled. "Besides, Dad said I have to lay off with the muscle-building – my uniform is popping already."

Harry and Carina didn't want to admit it but every year it seems Roman was growing not only in height but also in his muscles, it was like he's been training all summer. And for some odd reason, Harry thought that maybe he should also buff up – get a bit of meat in his body, do some weights.