After breakfast, I went downstairs with Fred and George as they explained to me how things worked around the shop.

While they worked on their new products, I spent an hour or two on studying the shelves and memorizing the products' places and prizes so I could be an assist to their customers.

      "How are you keeping up, Miss Hooper?" Turning around, I saw Fred walking toward me, but I snorted as I saw his hair standing straight as if he had just been electric-shocked.

      "What happened to you?" I asked, still sniggering.

       "Oh, it's nothing. New product went wrong." He shook a hand carelessly and smirked. "You should see George. He's worse."

      "Not that I don't like to go and make fun of him, cause I do," I started mockingly, "but today's been my first chance of being alone with you."

      Fred's grin widened at that. "Now, now, Miss Hooper. Don't be such a sinner."

     "Sinner?" I repeated, scoffing. "Is it a sin to want to spend time with my boyfriend whom I hadn't seen properly ever since he dramatically left school?"

      "Of course nothing's wrong with spending innocent time with your boyfriend," he said cheekily. "But something in your eyes tells me there's nothing innocent going on in that mind of yours."

      "Oh, so you're a mind reader now, are you?" I said in a mock-impressed tone. "And what am I thinking right now?"

       "It's too dirty to say out loud." He winked at me.

       I laughed, shaking my head at Fred while I walked toward him. I yanked his collar to pull him closer to me. But before our lips could even touch, we heard footsteps from behind and immediately jerked apart from each other.

      I didn't hold back my snort as I saw George walking inside, his face looking as of someone had splashed gunpowder all over it.

       "Those new products are not going too well," said George with a frustrated sigh, walking toward one of the shelves and organizing them.

       "Wait till he gets a girlfriend," Fred mumbled bitterly, glaring daggers at his brother from afar. "Oh, I'll get him for this."

      "Well, it is kinda your fault." I shrugged.

       "My fault?" He turned to face me. "How is it my fault?"

      I grinned. "Because this could've all been avoided if we had just stayed in bed."

***

For lunch we went out to the Leaky Cauldron, but on our way back, we saw many people from the Ministry in Diagon Alley, putting up posters of wanted Death Eaters on each wall.

     The atmosphere was gloomier than ever as we walked back to the shop and saw people glancing worriedly at the posters.

      But I hoped to brighten it up a bit as I said, "Do you realize what it means now that I'm a witch?"

     "What?" said the twins together.

     "The Ministry can't Obliviate me anymore." I smiled, walking inside along the with them. "I have every right to stay here."

     "There were other ways to stop that from happening if you actually were a Muggle," said Fred. "I mean, the Ministry wouldn't Obliviate a Muggle who marries a wizard after they're of age."

      By those words, George and I turned on him with raised eyebrows.

     "I-I'm just stating a fact." He shrugged briskly, trying to be as casual as possible.

"Anyway," I said, clearing my throat. "Should we get going now? To the Burrow, I mean."

"Yeah, yeah," said George, nodding. "I'll just have to go and take a quick shower before we go."

"Take your time." I grinned, causing George to make a silly face at me as he went upstairs.

"So..." Fred started, walking around the shop with me as I was still observing the shelves. "Your birthday's close."

"Ah, yes," I smiled. "Sweet sixteen."

"What?" He raised a curious brow at me.

I giggled. "It's just something us Muggles call it."

"Well, then you shouldn't call it that, cause you're not a Muggle anymore," Fred said with a grin and my stomached lurched happily at those words.

"I'm still not used to it," I said earnestly. "I don't feel too different, to be honest. I mean, I do feel a warmth in my hands each time I hold my new wand to observe it. I didn't use to have that before."

"You must be really excited, then. You know, to try new spells when you go back to Hogwarts."

"Of course! I even slept with my wand's box laying on my nightstand last night." I chuckled. "And every once in a while I woke up and looked at it and smiled, before sleeping again."

"Never thought I would say this, but wish I was here at school with you this year," he said, giving me a sad smile.

"Me too." I smiled back and went on tiptoes, kissing him on the cheek.

"So, anyway," said Fred, putting his hands casually in his pockets. "What would you like for your birthday this year?"

"From you and George?" I scoffed. "Nothing, please."

"Why not?" He grinned and I gave him a look.

"In case you have forgotten, you two blew up the cake in my face last year!"

"Oh, yeah. That was hilarious." He laughed at the memory.

***

We waited for George upstairs in their living room and when he finally got ready and came out, we used the Floo Network and got ourselves to the Burrow.

Bill wasn't there yet, but soon after we had arrived, Mr. Weasley came inside with a copy of the Daily Prophet in his hands.

"Well, it's official now," he said, dropping the paper on the couch as he joined us in their small hall. "Fudge has been sacked. We're pretty sure Scrimgeour is going to take over as the new Minister."

"Rufus Scrimgeour?" Mrs. Weasley repeated, coming out of the kitchen as she took off her apron. "The Head of the Auror office?"

"Oh, yes." Mr. Weasley nodded firmly. "He'll be a lot better, at least. Knows what he's doing, as he's taking Dumbledore's suggestions."

"Oh, I certainly hope so."

"Anyway," Mr. Weasley sighed, laying back on the couch. "Dumbledore said it's alright if Harry comes to stay with us earlier this summer. Probably in two weeks. We'll be needing to put up all sorts of protections around the house. And we have to disconnect our fireplace from the Floo Network."

"Arthur, is that really necessary?" Mrs. Weasley mused. "What should we do about the transportations of the kids? They're still underage!"

"We will have Ministry cars when Harry arrives, Molly, dear."

"But what about Lexi?" Fred questioned.

"Yeah," George nodded. "How's she gonna come to work every day if you disconnect your Floo Network?"

"I think the solution's easy," Fred started with a grin. "We're coming back to the idea of her staying with us."

I giggled, looking amusingly at Mrs. Weasley as I excitedly awaited her sharp reply.

"Don't get your hopes up, Frederick," Mrs. Weasley snapped. "If anything, that gets us back to the idea of her not working at all."

"Say what now?" My head snapped up at that, my smile vanishing. "But... why?"

"Because it's dangerous," said Mrs. Weasley. "You can't go there every day if there's no Floo Network."

"Well, I suppose we can only connect it to Fred and George's flat," Mr. Weasley suggested and I suddenly felt more relieved.

But just then, we heard two people Apparating outside the house and soon, the door opened up and entered Bill. And to everyone's shock — except for me — Fleur Delacour followed him right behind.

Ginny frowned at her sight and Ron's lips slightly parted at her beautiful and glorious manner.

     "'ello," she beamed down at everyone in the room as they all stared between her and Bill, waiting for an explanation.

     Oh, this is gonna be good, I thought to myself with a grin as I watched the scene from the corner.

     "Well, Bill?" Mrs. Weasley started anxiously. "What's the big news?"

     Bill smiled and took Fleur's hand in his, saying, "We're engaged."