PENNY

Penny was jumping up and down in front of the mirror, tightening her red hair in a braid. Her cheeks hurt because she was smiling so much; she hadn't stopped since the letter arrived.

"Have you done it already?" Penny could see Ron's reflection in her mirror. She had always shared the room with Ron. Their room was the highest of all of their brothers', and she loved to wake up early to watch the animals and the light mist surrounding the Barrow, her family's house. Her and Ron's room was very cute, according to her: it was perfectly divided in two; the right side was Ron's, and the left side was Penny's. On her side, there was a little bed with purple flowers painted on the wooden headboard. They weren't pretty, Penny had painted them herself and drawing wasn't her main skill; but she liked them anyway. Not far from it, there was her little wardrobe, and at its side, her desk with a little mirror on it. The flower pattern was present on each of her furnishings. On Ron's side, there was his bed and his closet, and on his bedside table, there was always something to eat. Their walls were painted orange because of their favorite Quidditch team: the Chadley's Cannons. Ron was mad at them, and over his bed, there was a poster of the flying team. 

"Just a moment," she said, finishing braiding her hair. Ron scoffed, looking back at the cards in his hands. 

"You make me wake up early, and then you are the one who's late. I'll never get you," he complained without looking at her. 

"I'm not late," she answered, smiling, fixing her skirt. "Mom hadn't called us yet."

Ron shook his shoulder before bending over to take a chocolate bar from his bedside table. "You want some?" Penny nodded with the smile never leaving her face. She sat down on Ron's bed, moved away his cards to make room for her, then split the sweet in two and gave her a piece.

"Mom said we'll get an owl," she exclaimed enthusiastically.

"No," Ron corrected her, "Percy'll get an owl."

"So, what are we going to get?" she asked, frowning.

"Scabbers," he stated, looking over the cage put in his closet. Scabbers was Percy's old rat and he was really old, since she could remember things Scabbers has been there. He didn't do much, just eating and sleeping. She liked to play with animals, but he really didn't seem into it. 

"Oh," Penny nodded. "That's why he is here. You didn't notice him, didn't you?" Ron snorted, looking at her, and shook her head."You are so distracted."

She smiled at him, who looked down, still laughing lightly.

When their mum called for them, they ran down the stairs after being sure that their mouths weren't dirty with chocolate. In their small living room, there were all Penny's siblings and their mother. Her father wasn't there; he had to go back to work that day. The moment she stepped into the room, she heard Fred saying, annoyed, "Even a new robe, mum? Really?" 

"Now we know who is your favorite son," George said, nodding his head.

"Don't be stupid," she heard her mother answer. "Percy'll be a prefect; he has to be at his best."

"Percy, the perfect prefect," the twins said at the same time, but their mother ignored them, turning to Ron and Penny.

"Oh good! We are all here," she said, taking a little bag of Floo Powder.

Penny liked using Floo Powder because it was easy and fast, and she always felt like she could go where she wanted. All it took was saying the name of the place where she wanted to go, and in a few seconds, she was there.

Diagon Alley was where all wizards did their shopping, and there was the most delicious ice cream that Penny had ever tasted. 

"All right," said Penny's mom. "First the robes, then books and parchment." They all nodded, following their mother to Madam Malking, where Hogwarts students bought their clothes. Percy was getting a new robe; Penny was getting a black skirt and a white shirt because she would be wearing George's former robe. They couldn't spend too much money, and there were a lot of them. Penny really wanted an ice-cream but she really didn't ask, school's stuff was more important.

They then went to Flourish and Blotts to buy their books. That shop was really cute. Reading wasn't something Penny did often, except for her favorite book 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them', but she liked to see books on the shelves. There were lots of colors in there.

"I'll go take the books," said their mother. The Weasley siblings all nodded and started to look around them. Penny gasped in joy when she saw a copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. She took the book in her hands and started to leaf through it.

"You've read it hundreds of times," said Ginny, laughing lightly.

"Oh yeah," Penny answered, laughing. "Look how beautiful it is." The one she had at home was Charlie's. They used to read it together in the gardens during summer, and before leaving for Romania, her brother had given it to her. She usually read a chapter or two before going to sleep, so her copy was a bit ruined now.

"Sorry, could you help me?" a soft voice made Penny and Ginny look over their sibling. George spun so fast that it made the two red-haired girls look at each other.

"Fay, hi!" he exclaimed happily. 

"Hi, George. Fred," the girl said. She was pretty short, with long, wavy brown hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a light green dress and smiling sweetly at the two boys.

"What did you need help with?" George asked while Fred looked at him with knowing eyes.

"Can you take that book for me, please?" she asked politely. "I can't reach it."

"Sure!" he exclaimed, turning to the book quickly. Penny looked over to Ron, who looked at her with a frown. George was acting strangely, while Fred seemed to be doing everything not to laugh.

"Here you go," George said, giving the girl the book.

"Thank you," she answered with a smile, looking down at the book. Penny saw Fred nudging his twin, who shook his head, earning another nudge from Fred.

"So!" exclaimed George, startling everyone, "How's been your summer so far, Fay? All fine?" 

"Yes, thank you," she answered with her kind voice. "How about yours?"

Penny looked at her brother talking with the girl, and she couldn't help but frown. George never spoke to anyone like that; he was giving this girl a lot of attention. Who was she? 

"I'm accompanying my brother and sister with their shopping for school," George said. "They'll be starting their first year." Penny frowned harder; he didn't even want to come.

"It's that them?" Fay asked.

"What?" asked George distractedly.

The girl smiled. "Are they your siblings?"

"Yes, they are," said Fred, eyeing his twin and shaking his head.

"Hi, I'm Fay," she said, waving to them.

"Hi, I'm Ron," said Ron, nodding his head. "These are Ginny and Penny." The girl smiled at them. 

"These flowers are real?" asked Penny, looking at the white flowers on the girl's hairband.

"Oh yes," she said, smiling. "I like flowers." Penny nodded, studying the girl. Why was George so distracted by her? Who was this girl?

"Good luck for your first year," then she turned to Fred and George. "I'll see you at school then. Thanks for the help, George."

"Anytime," he answered back. The moment the girl went away, Fred burst out laughing.

"Shut up, Fred!" George exclaimed.

"Why do you have that face?" asked Ron, looking closely at his sister.

"What face?" Penny answered, closing the book in her hands and putting it back in its place.

It was early afternoon when the Weasleys had finally finished their shopping. Penny's feet hurt while she was walking hand in hand with George. She couldn't wait to go home and lay on the grass to play her harmonica.

"Fred, George!" at the sound of that voice, Penny's heart bit fast, and an even wider smile than usual appeared on her face when Oliver Wood appeared in front of them.

Oliver Wood was the captain of Gryffindor's Quidditch team. Penny had met him at home the first time; he had come to the Barrow when Charlie was still at Hogwarts. At that time, Charlie was the captain of the Gryffindor team, and frequently, he organized practice during summer. One of those times, Penny met Oliver. She couldn't help but blush and giggle when he was around. She was pretty sure she had fallen in love with him.

"Hey, Wood," Fred greeted him.

"Have you seen the new Nimbus 2000?" Oliver exclaimed happily. One thing that Penny had come to know was that Oliver Wood was absolutely mad for Quidditch. Penny liked to play Quidditch with her brothers, and she was always happy when Oliver went to the Barrow, and they started to talk about their favorite teams.

"Wow," said Ron, looking at the beautiful broomstick in the shop.

"It's the fastest broom in the world," George said, his face pressed on the glass of the shop window.

"Oh, wow. Really?" Penny exclaimed with wide eyes. She wondered if it could fly as fast as a dragon.

"Absolutely," Oliver answered, nodding his head. "I wish I could have one. The Slytherins couldn't win like this."

"They won't anyway," Fred scoffed, shocking his shoulder.

"Of course, not with the practices at which I'm already working." The twins looked at him with wide eyes.

"Already?" they asked together.

"Of course!" Oliver answered confidently. We are going to win this!" Penny nodded. She had seen him play; he was an excellent keeper.

"I have to go," Oliver said. "I'll see you at school." Then he turned to Penny and Ron. "Good luck with your first year, guys."

"Thanks," Penny said, watching Oliver walking away, trying to see him behind the crowd.

"I don't even want to know what he has in mind," Fred said, shocking his head.

"Why do you have that face?" Ron's voice made her turn.

"What?" Penny asked, still wearing a wide smile.

"That face?" Ron asked suspiciously with a frown.

"I don't know what you are talking about," she said, jumping to her mother, the hurt of her feet long forgotten.