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Chapter 900: Great News
🕑 Added 2023-10-28 21:19:11 +0000 UTCAt that moment, the door behind Evan and Hermione opened a little wider.
Mrs. Weasley backed into the room with a smile on her face, carrying a pile of freshly laundered robes.
"Oh my God, I can't believe it. I heard from Arthur. He sent an owl specially. What just happened is really great news!" she said excitedly, with a slight tremor. "How could they do that? I heard that Dumbledore fought for it, and the Board of Governors would agree. Minerva will come over to announce it. We should celebrate tonight. I never thought of..."
"Oh," said Fred, annoyed, covering his eyes with his right hand. "I knew it would be like this."
"Even Professor McGonagall’s coming?" said George, with a surprise in his voice. "I know it’s incredible, but isn’t it too exaggerated? Charlie, Bill and Percy never enjoyed this kind of treatment back then."
"This is different. After all, there has been no such thing for many years. Whoever hears about it will feel it amazing and incredible," said Mrs. Weasley, putting the robes on the bed, "Arthur told me that the last time this happened was three centuries ago, when..."
They all blinked. What was Mrs. Weasley talking about?
They’d thought she was talking about Ron becoming prefect, but it didn't seem to be the case.
Instead, she was talking about a wizard of more than three hundred years ago, and furthermore it had to be specifically approved by the Hogwarts Board of Governors...
"Mum, what are you talking about?" said Fred. "I don't understand."
"Yes, I’m so excited; after all, this is great news. No … no … I can't tell you the news for the time being, at least it shouldn't be told by me. After all, Minerva hasn't come yet, and things are not certain. Anyway, it’s up to her to announce it," said Mrs. Weasley.
She took a deep breath, and it could be seen that she was trying to restrain her desire to speak out.
They glanced at one another, their eyes full of curiosity. Mrs. Weasley didn’t often look like that, which showed that what she knew was indeed very interesting. It was a great piece of good news. That’s why she behaved like this.
"Is Hogwarts holding the Triwizard Tournament again?" Fred guessed.
"It may be a similar event. I’ll be seventeen years old this time. I must become a champion," said George.
"What are you talking about? This event is held every five years, plus this incident that happened last year, I bet the reopening of the Triwizard Tournament may be postponed indefinitely!" Hermione said. "Besides, now is not the time to hold this kind of exchange event."
She, too, looked curiously at Mrs. Weasley, but the latter was obviously planning to keep this secret completely.
This kind of situation was the most tormenting time. She said a little and aroused everyone’s curiosity, but refused to tell what was going on. They could only make a blind guess here. What was Dumbledore going to do? What was going to happen at Hogwarts?
Evan blinked, and this time he didn't even have a clue.
"I can't say, you will know it tonight. After all, today is the last day before school starts. By the way, I should prepare more food. Everyone should celebrate in the evening," said Mrs. Weasley, even her voice trembling, as she started sorting the robes into three piles, "Okay, Ginny said the booklists had come at last. If you give them to me I’ll take them over to Diagon Alley this afternoon and get your books while you’re packing. Hermione, do you have any special needs?"
"Thank you, I bought everything last time I went to Diagon Alley with Evan!" said Hermione. Her small face turned red again, as she remembered the scene of herself and Evan going to buy underwear, and what they had done in Diagon Alley...
"Oh!" Mrs. Weasley continued. "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.
Although he didn't know what Mrs. Weasley was talking about, she obviously didn't know the news that Ron became a prefect.
“Match his what?" Mrs. Weasley said absently, still thinking about what was in her heart, and 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 other things.
“His … but … Ron, you’re not…?"
Ron held up his badge, finally showing a smile on his face.
Mrs. Weasley let out a shriek just like Hermione’s.
“I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it! How is that possible? This is even more shocking than the news just now, how could they do that?" Mrs. Weasley burst into tears. "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.
“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 two things 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, desperately trying to push her away.
She let go of him and said breathlessly, “Well, what will it be? I'll buy it for you when I go to Diagon Alley this afternoon. 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? Or a new cauldron, Charlie’s old one’s rusting through, or a new rat, you always liked Scabbers..."
