(August 6th, 1995) Esme's POV

It's been about three weeks since the Weasleys and Hermione came to live at Grimmauld place. We have done a lot of cleaning in that time. And I mean a lot and we are not even half way done with the house. Mrs Weasley has kept us so busy, I've barely spent anytime with George and or been able to be bored. But I still hate cleaning. We'll be doing the drawing room next.

George and I make the most out of whatever time we get together. Talking about our past, exchanging stories. While also talking about the future. He and Fred have apparently put in an offer for a premise in Diagon Alley for their joke shop. With money they'd got from Harry. He'd given them his Triwizard winnings, he hadn't want a knut of it.

Apparently, Fred and George thought about not returning to school this year. For their final year. But decided to, to help promote their business more and George said he wanted to spend more time with me. As well as see our magpies.

I got to spend more time with the girls as we share a room. We talked about school and boys. Ginny and I made a bet on if we'd have a witch or wizard for our new defense professor. I said wizard, she said witch. Hermione and I helped Ginny do her homework. Well we checked it, Ginny actually did it. Ginny and I teased Hermione about Viktor, who she was still writing too. I started teaching Ginny and Hermione French. Hermione knew a little already, but Ginny is a quick learner.

Anyway, a few days ago we overheard that Harry had been attacked by dementors in Little Whinging. Using Fred and George's extendable ears. We over heard their plan to bring him here. Which is happening tonight. Speaking of, it's my birthday today and Mrs Weasley is making my favourite for dinner. But first there is an order meeting.

I am standing on the first landing when Harry arrives with his guard. Nine witches and wizards had volunteered to go get him. One of them being Remus. Anyway, Mrs Weasley hugs Harry tightly as the guard go to join the meeting. "Bit peaky, but I'm afraid dinner will wait until after the meeting's finished" I hear her tell him lowly. So as not to wake Mrs Black's portrait.

"Come on Harry" I call lowly and they look up at me. He smiles brightly. "I'll show him to his room Mrs Weasley" I assure her.

"Thank you dear, remember stay quiet in the hall way" she reminds me. I nod my head. Harry comes over to me.

"Happy birthday Esme" he says.

"Thanks" I say with a smile. "Come on, the others are dying to see you" I tell him.

"How come you never wrote?" he asks me.

"Dumbledore, all will be explained" I assure him. I lead him to his room. "Ron and Hermione are inside. I'll go let the others know you're here" I tell him. He nods his head and goes into the room. I go look for the twins and find them on the second floor landing. "Eavesdropping again?" I ask them.

"Aren't we always?" George asks me and kisses my cheek. "Was that Harry we heard arrive?" he asks.

"Yep, he is with Hermione and Ron now. No doubt they are filling him in" I state.

"Shush you two, I am trying to listen" Fred tells us. So we stop talking and join him. Trying to hear the meeting. But all we hear is Harry yelling. I guess he is upset about being kept in the dark. George holds his hand out to me.

"Hold still" he tells me. I nod my head and he apparates. Taking me along for the ride. I admit the first time I did this with him, I nearly vomited. But I've gotten used to it now. We land in Harry's and Ron's room with Fred beside us. "Hello Harry, we thought we heard your dulcet tones" George states.

"You don't want to bottle up your anger like that, Harry, let it all out" Fred tells him. "There might be a couple of people fifty miles away who didn't hear you" he adds.

"You two passed your Apparation tests, then?" Harry asks.

"With distinction" Fred says proudly.

"It would have taken you about thirty seconds longer to walk down the stairs" Ron grumbles.

"Time is Galleons, little brother" Fred tells him. "Anyway, Harry, you're interfering with reception" he states holding up the extendable ears.

"They are extendable ears, great for eavesdropping" I tell Harry.

"We're trying to hear what's going on downstairs" Fred adds.

"You want to be careful, if Mum sees one of them again" Ron tells him.

"It's worth the risk, that's a major meeting they're having" Fred tells him. Just then Ginny appears. I wonder where she's been? She says hello to Harry.

"It's no-go with the Extendable Ears, she's gone and put an Imperturbable Charm on the kitchen door" Ginny tells the twins.

"How d'you know?" George and I ask. We then smile at each other and he pecks me on the lips. I giggle snuggling into his side.

"Get a room you two" Fred tells us. "Just stay off my bed" he adds. The others laugh while I blush. Ginny comes to my rescue though.

"Tonks told me how to find out" she states. "You just chuck stuff at the door and if it can't make contact the door's been Imperturbed. I've been flicking Dungbombs at it from the top of the stairs and they just soar away from it, so there's no way the Extendable Ears will be able to get under the gap" she explains.

"Shame. I really fancied finding out what old Snape's been up too" Fred says with a sigh.

"Snape? Is he here?" Harry demands.

"Yep" I tell him.

"Giving a report. Top secret" George states.

"Git" Fred says.

"He's on our side" Hermione reminds him.

"Doesn't stop him being a git. The way he looks at us when he sees us" Ron snorts.

"Bill doesn't like him, either" Ginny adds.

"Is Bill here? I thought he was working in Egypt?" Harry says confused.

"He applied for a desk job so he could come home and work for the Order. He says
he misses the tombs, there are compensations" Fred explains with a smirk.

"What d'you mean?" Harry asks.

"Remember Fleur from last year?" I ask him with a smile. "She has a job at Gringotts now, to help improve her English" I tell him.

"And Bill's been giving her a lot of private lessons" Fred adds.

"Charlie's in the Order, too" George states. "But he's still in Romania. Dumbledore wants as many foreign wizards brought in as possible, so Charlie's trying to make contacts on his days off" he explains.

"Couldn't Percy do that?" Harry asks.

"Whatever you do, don't mention Percy in front of Mum and Dad" Ron tells him.

"Every time Percy's name's mentioned, Dad breaks whatever he's holding and Mum
starts crying" Fred explains. They then explain about what had happened between Mr Weasley and Percy. Then brought up the Daily Prophet, and told Harry how the prophet has been soiling his name & Dumbledore's. Just then we hear someone on the stairs.

"That'd be your mum coming to collect us for dinner" I state. George kisses me.

"See you soon" he says and apparates away with Fred. Seconds later, Mrs Weasley appeared in the bedroom doorway. Saying the meeting was over and to come down for dinner. Ginny goes to wash her hands and I head downstairs with Mrs Weasley.

"Want me to set the table Mrs Weasley?" I ask as we enter the kitchen.

"That'd be very helpful dear" she tells me with a smile. "And I your favourite cake for dessert" she adds. Soon everyone joins us and we have dinner.

A/N

Picture above of Harry with Mrs Weasley.