Prefect

"Are you sure, Chris, you're really going to take all this Dark Arts books to Hogwarts?" Ginny said. "It won't be good, if someone saw you with these books in school."

It was the last day of the holidays, Chris and Ginny were packing their trunks; and Chris was smuggling seven books from the Black Library to Hogwarts.

"Oh Gin, people will judge you no matter what. So why worry about them?" Chris said smiling. "But have you seen the books I'm taking?"

Chris waved a book in front of Ginny.

"This book explains how we can trace other's magic and how we can erase out magic traces completely, even the Ministry won't be able to find us, if the ritual is performed correctly. It's really useful." Chris said and put the book into her locket.

"Well... when you put it like that..." Ginny smiled. "It really sounds useful."

They giggled together when Hermione entered their bedroom carrying a couple of envelopes.

"Hogwarts letters" she said, handing two envelopes to Chris and Ginny. "Oh I was so anxious. They usually sent them early. But of course, Dumbledore is busy this year and he had to find a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher with the Order of the Phoenix work."

Hermione was practically glowing, as she tried to open her letter. But she was fumbling with the letter, looking a little anxious at the same time.

Chris and Ginny looked at each other.

"You ok Hermione?" Ginny asked.

"Oh yes. I'm fine." Hermione replied without looking at them and tore open the envelope.

Chris and Ginny watched as she gasped and clapped her hands over her mouth, while scanning the letter.

"Well, that's doesn't look fine." Chris said jokingly. "Are you expelled from Hogwarts or what?"

"Prefect. They chose me as Gryffindor Prefect." Hermione said, looking up at them. She looked very happy, her cheeks were red. "Chris, Ginny, I'm a Prefect."

She pulled Chris and Ginny into a bear hug, giggling.

"Er... that wasn't unexpected Hermione." Ginny said. "You're best in your year. Of course they would've chose you."

"Agreed. Congrats." Chris said.

"Oh my God! I've to tell Harry and Ron." Hermione said, pulling back from them.

"Congratulations." Ginny said. "Where's the badge?"

Hermione pulled out the badge. A large P was superimposed on the Gryffindor lion.

Ginny's expression changed as she saw the badge. Chris knew why, the badge reminded them of Percy. But Hermione was too busy to notice their expressions.

"Harry must be the other Prefect. He's also great among Gryffindors, isn't he? We should check, C'mon."

Hermione ran out of the room, Chris and Ginny followed.

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"Did you — did you get — ?" 

Hermione shrieked as she noticed a similar badge in Harry's hand.

"I knew it!" she said excitedly, brandishing her letter. "Me too, Harry, me too!"

"No," said Harry quickly, pushing the badge back into Ron's hand. "It's Ron, not me."

"It — what?"

"Ron's prefect, not me," Harry said.

"Ron?" Chris, Ginny and Hermione said together. They all were surprised.

"I . . ." said Hermione, looking thoroughly bewildered. "I . . . well . . . wow! Well done, Ron! That's really —"

"Unexpected," said George, nodding.

Ginny and Chris chuckled.

"Well Congrats, Ron." Chris said looking at Ron, smiling. "Honestly, I'm really happy. It's too good that you and Hermione are Prefects. You'll not report us for anything, will you Ron?"

Before Ron could reply, the door behind them opened a little wider and Mrs. Weasley backed into the room carrying a pile of freshly laundered robes.

"What's going on? Why're you all gathered here like this?" she said, glancing around at all the envelopes as she made her way over to the bed and started sorting the robes into two piles. "O, your Hogwarts letters have arrived? Good. Now if you give them to me I'll take them over to Diagon Alley this afternoon and get your books while you're packing. Ron, I'll have to get you more pajamas, these are at least six inches too short, I can't believe how fast you're growing . . . what color would you like?"

"Get him red and gold to match his badge," said George, smirking.

"Match his what?" said Mrs. Weasley absently, rolling up a pair of maroon socks and placing them on Ron's pile.

"His badge," said Fred, with the air of getting the worst over quickly. "His lovely shiny new prefect's badge."

Fred's words took a moment to penetrate Mrs. Weasley's preoccupation about pajamas.

"His . . . but . . . Ron, you're not . . . ?"

Ron held up his badge.

Mrs. Weasley let out a shriek just like Hermione's.

"I don't believe it! I don't believe it! Oh, Ron, how wonderful! A prefect! That's everyone in the family!"

"What are Fred and I, next-door neighbors?" said George indignantly, as his mother pushed him aside and flung her arms around her youngest son.

"And what about me? I don't think I'll got one." Ginny said in an undertone. "Not that I want."

"Wait until your father hears! Ron, I'm so proud of you, what wonderful news, you could end up Head Boy just like Bill and Percy, it's the first step! Oh, what a thing to happen in the middle of all this worry, I'm just thrilled, oh Ronnie —"

Fred and George were both making loud retching noises behind her back but Mrs. Weasley did not notice; arms tight around Ron's neck, she was kissing him all over his face, which had turned a brighter scarlet than his badge.

"Mum . . . don't . . . Mum, get a grip . . ." he muttered, trying to push her away.

She let go of him and said breathlessly, "Well, what will it be? We gave Percy an owl, but you've already got one, of course."

"W-what do you mean?" said Ron, looking as though he did not dare believe his ears.

"You've got to have a reward for this!" said Mrs. Weasley fondly. "How about a nice new set of dress robes?"

"We've already bought him some," said Fred sourly, who looked as though he sincerely regretted this generosity.

"Or a new cauldron, Charlie's old one's rusting through, or a new rat, you always liked Scabbers —"

"Mum," said Ron hopefully, "can I have a new broom?"

Mrs. Weasley's face fell slightly; broomsticks were expensive.

"Not a really good one!" Ron hastened to add. "Just — just a new one for a change . . ."

Mrs. Weasley hesitated, then smiled.

"Of course you can. . . . Well, I'd better get going if I've got a broom to buy too. I'll see you all later. . . . Little Ronnie, a prefect! And don't forget to pack your trunks. . . . A prefect . . . Oh, I'm all of a dither!"

She gave Ron yet another kiss on the cheek, sniffed loudly, and bustled from the room.

Fred and George exchanged looks.

"You don't mind if we don't kiss you, do you, Ron?" said Fred in a falsely anxious voice.

"We could curtsy, if you like," said George.

"Oh C'mon you two." Chris said as Ron looked more red.

Chris felt pity for Ron. She knew Ron always went through some major insecurity issues and; Fred and George's behavior didn't help with that at all.

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