Chapter 37 - Hunting Time 1
The first thing I did after Aunt Molly finishes dusting my robes is to look around the Burrow's living room. It was exactly like the books described, but now that I was standing inside it, everything felt more alive. The room as cluttered in a comforting way. Things were stacked on top of other things, every corner filled with movement or colour. A teapot stirred itself on the stove. A pair of knitting needles clicked together by the window, working on a half-finished sweater sleeve. A clock with hands labelled "Home," "School," and "Mortal Peril" ticked lazily on the wall.
It was messy. Crowded. Many objects were tilted slightly to one side or the other. But it felt like a home filled with love which got to me immediately.
Percy cleared his throat to get my attention back, "My room is upstairs. You can look at the notes there."
Aunt Molly waved her hand at us, "Go on, children! I'll bring something to eat. You boys can have a chat while I make something fresh."
Percy nodded in his stiff, proper way, "Come, Arthur. Mind your step, the stairs are a bit crooked."
We begun climbing. The Burrow's staircase looked like it was nailed together by different people who didn't speak to each other about the measurements. Each step was a different height. One creaked loudly, the next didn't move at all, and the banister wobbled like jelly. It was perfectly imperfect.
Halfway up, we heard a muffled boom.
Percy froze for a moment. Then he sighed, long and full of untold suffering. "That would be my brothers. Fred and George. The twins."
Another small explosion rattled the wall. Something rolled across the corridor upstairs.
Percy pinched the bridge of his nose. "They are… a lot. Idiotic, reckless, and completely lacking in sense."
I smiled a little, "They're just mischievous then."
He gives me a firm look. "They are far from just mischievous. They lack respect for rules. They lack discipline. They even lack… basic survival instinct."
Another explosion proved his point and I agreed with him.
We kept climbing.
Percy said, "Let me explain my siblings properly. It might help you understand the noise level you'll hear here."
I nodded as he explained.
"My eldest brother is Bill, he graduated this year and now works for Gringotts. Very responsible. Then there's Charlie, who's the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain. After Charlie, there's me." He lifted his chin slightly at that. "Then Fred and George, the troublemakers of the highest order. Then Ron. Then Ginny, the youngest."
"You have a big family," I remarked honestly, "A very big family."
Percy puffed up a little, "Yes, we do."
I can't help thinking how rare this must be. In the wizarding world, fertility is low. Most families have one or two children. Some have none. But the Weasleys… they have seven. Seven children in a single magical family.
The other ancient families must be furious with envy and jealousy.
We reached Percy's room. The door has a nameplate written in neat handwriting.
P. Weasley - Prefect in Training
He opened the door proudly. The room was neat, tidy and arranged with a certain seriousness. A small bed, a clean desk and a few shelves filled completely with books. No junk. No mess. It looked a stark contrast to the rest of the house.
"Come in," Percy invited me and stepped aside.
I sat on the edge of the bed as he went to his desk. The bed was firm and the quilt is neatly tucked. Even the pillow sat with purpose.
Percy pulled out a stack of notes which were thick, well-written with colour-codes.
"These are my notes for the entire year. You may take what you need. Or all of it."
My eyes widened in surprise, "All? But you worked hard on them. You shouldn't just give them away so easily."
Percy waved a hand, "I've already memorised them. They're of no use to me now. But you should keep them safe. I'll need them next year to pass down to Fred and George."
"I can give my notes to them instead, if that helps."
Percy reacted instantly, "Absolutely not. They already have three sets from Bill, Charlie, and me. That is more than enough. You should keep yours for your younger brothers. Or sell them with old books. Or give it to someone who needs them."
I nodded, "I will. I promise."
Percy sat at his desk and began asking me questions about the topics covered in first year. Charms theory, simple transfiguration logic, basic potions ingredients. They were hard questions. Harder than what professors asked. But I answered confidently. I studied deeply last year, more than any first year needed to.
I answered everything correctly.
Percy looked impressed.
"Very good, Arthur. Your dedication is admirable. You will do well in Hogwarts."
"Thank you, Percy."
While answering, I let my eyes wander around the room. I was trying to spot Scabbers, Peter Pettigrew. A rat in a cage would've been ideal. But I don't see one. No cage. No rat. Nothing at all.
Where was he?
He should be here. He must be here.
But I have not sensed him through magic. Not dark magic. Not nervous magic. Nothing rat-like at all.
So where was that traitor hiding?
We went on like this for nearly an hour. Then Aunt Molly's voice floated up the stairs.
"Lunch is ready! Come on now, children!"
Percy stood, "Come. Mum doesn't like waiting."
We headed down the same crooked stairs. On the way, I tried listening for any rustling sound, anything that could be a rat. But I only heard Ginny laughing faintly, Ron groaning, and the twins talking loudly in overlapping sentences.
When we reached the ground floor, I saw the Weasley family gathered around the big wooden kitchen table.
Ron sat hunched, blushing furiously while the twins teased him about something. Ginny hid half behind her mum but kept peeking at me with wide, curious eyes. Fred and George waved when they see me.
"Is that Percy's new study friend?" Fred asked.
"Looks like it," George answered.
They grinned in perfect sync.
Ron muttered, "Leave 'im alone."
Aunt Molly clapped her hands, "Alright, everyone! Sit, sit! Lunch is warm and ready!"
The table was full of homemade dishes with steaming stew, fresh bread, roast chicken, potatoes, and something that smelled sweet cooling on the counter.
The whole room felt like magic, but not the spell kind. The warm kind.
Bill and Charlie were not here, and Mr. Weasley too. But everyone else was. Their laughter filled the whole house. Their voices overlapped like a choir.
It was overwhelming. And wonderful.
I sat between Percy and an empty chair that I assume was Bill's usual place.
Ginny sat across from me but keeps her eyes fixed on her plate, face pink. Ron bumped her lightly and whispered something. She elbowed him in the ribs.
Fred and George immediately imitate the elbowing in exaggerated slow motion until Aunt Molly gave them a glare.
Percy sat straight, already eating politely.
The Burrow feels alive. Too alive.
And somewhere in this house is the rat I've come to find.
Scabbers. Peter Pettigrew.
I tried to look around every corner, under every chair, and at every shelf while pretending to admire the Burrow's decorations.
---
End of Chapter 37 - Hunting Time 1