"You two, go straight up to bed, it's very early," Mr Weasley says. George mock salutes.
"Where will I sleep?" I ask.
"Oh, you can share with Fred and George tonight, we'll move you in with Ginny tomorrow so you'll have more room but for now you mustn't wake anyone," Mr Weasley explains.
George takes my hand and leads me to his room.
"Georgie! Millimetre!" Fred welcomes.
"Eldred!" I say to Fred. That's my nickname for him; don't ask. He takes out a camp bed and sets it up on the floor. "Thanks."
I lay down and wait for the boys to fall asleep. Only once I am positively, doubly sure that they are asleep, do I let sleep come.
I wake up to George yawning. I sit bolt upright and look over at the twins. Fred is soundo and George is so asleep that I know I haven't been pranked. I walk down the stairs to the smell of breakfast.

Mmmmm.

"Morning, Emily," Mum calls. Yes, I call her Mum. Well, as my mum's dead she's as good as.
"Morning, Mum!" I say brightly. "What's cooking?"
"Oh, nothing special dear," she says. "I'm just doing bacon, waffles and eggs. I hope that's okay."
"Sounds lovely! Thanks for having me," I say.
"Oh, it's a pleasure dear!" she says warmly.
I enter the kitchen and embrace Mum. I turn to her, "Do you need any help?"
She briefly looks over at the mess and then turns back to me with a set jaw, "I'm fine but thanks loads for the offer, dear."
"No, seriously, I want to help!" I insist.
"Oh, are you sure? Would you like to lay the table?" she asks uncertainly. I nod so she hands me some cutlery. I set the table for all eight of us. Bill and Charlie aren't here at the moment so I won't give them cutlery. Obviously.

Fred and George trudge down just as Mum serves up. I then see a girl. I run up to her and lift her off her feet. I spin around.
"Ginny!" I yell.
"Emily!" she yells back, just as excited. We go to sit at the table and eat our breakfast. I giggle with Ginny as we catch up. Ginny is three years younger than me but she's my best friend in the universe. Suddenly our Hogwarts letters fly through the window. Ginny's face falls, and I put a comforting arm around her. I know she's longing to go to Hogwarts.

The youngest Weasley brother, Ron, squeals like an excited little girl. He's Harry's age so it's his first year at Hogwarts this year. My letter lands in my outstretched hand. It feels heavier than last year. I open it up and see all the normal stuff but there's also a slip to be signed. It's for visiting Hogsmeade. I wonder if it being signed by the Weasleys will count. Probably, I mean they are my guardians this summer. I grin at George who grins back. I still have my arm around Ginny. When I look back at her, I realise that her eyes are red and puffy.
"Next year, Gins," I soothe her.
"Yeah," she says dreamily, giving me a watery smile.

Mum looks over my shoulder to read the list.
"Right, uh, I'll go get the floo powder ready," Mum says cheerily although I see straight through her act and notice her wobbly smile, the list isn't cheap. We quickly eat our breakfast and then head over to the fireplace.
"Emily, you first," Mr Weasley says. I've only travelled like this once, I can't say it was a comfortable feeling. I shudder at the memory. I collect some floo powder from the pot and go to stand in the fire. I drop the powder.
"Diagon Alley," I say with perfect pronunciation. I turn up in one of the shops and hurry outside to wait for the others.