CHAPTER THIRTEEN
PREFECT BADGE
[13]

song: Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? by Arctic Monkeys

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Hermione hugs Harry after Mrs Weasley does.

"They have to let you off Harry. You were defending yourself. I checked the laws." I tell him.

"Thanks, Lin."

"What does he get a hug for?" Ron asks Hermione.

She replies cooly, "When you have to go to a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic, I'll hug you too."

"Oh sure, that's why." Ron says sarcastically. Any decently smart person can see the jealousy seeping through.

Hermione laughs, "Ronald Weasley, are you jealous?"

Ron glances at Ginny and his mum, who are smirking and so am I. "Me? Jealous? Of course not, it just doesn't seem fair that you hug one friend more than the other, that's all..." He realizes he only specified Harry and corrects it quickly, "Lin doesn't count, she hates affection."

"Would you like a hug?" Hermione asks him.

Ron is miffed, "No, I'd hate to force you."

Harry and I shake our heads.

"Well come on Harry." Mrs Weasley tells Harry. "It's time to go."

"Bye." Harry waves at us before he and Mr Weasley depart from 12 Grimmauld Place.

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I stand in the kitchen with everyone when Harry comes back from his hearing.

"I knew it!" Ron shouted, punching the air.

Ginny and the twins start dancing to a strange jig. They sing, "He got off! He got off! He got off!"

Fred dances to me and twirls me around then dances back to Ginny and George. He got off, he got off, he got off.

Hermione hugs Harry again and Ron glowers at her. I pat Harry on the back twice.

He got off, he got off, he got o—

"SHUT UP!" Mrs Weasley roars.

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Hermione and I barged into Ron and Harry's room, an envelope in each of our hands.

I asked, "Did you get—?" Hermione spotted the badge in Harry's hand.

"I knew it!" Hermione said excitedly. "Lin got one too!"

"Not me." Harry handed Ron the prefect badge back. "Ron's prefect, not me."

"Ron?" Hermione's jaw dropped. "But... are you sure? I mean—"

She turned red when Ron gave her a defiant look.

"Congrats Ron." I told him.

"You too, Lin."

"You're a prefect, Lin?" Fred asks me. I nod. "Maybe we can get away with more pranks." I think he's flirting?

"Depends on the prank." I say mischievously.

George smirks. "You're so obvious, mate." George says out loud to his twin.

Mrs Weasley entered the room. "Ginny said the booklists arrived. If you give them to me, I'll take them over to Diagon Alley this afternoon and get your books while your packing." She turns to Ron, "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." George says, smirking.

"Match his what?"

"His badge." Fred says. "His lovely, shiny new prefect badge."

Mrs Weasley gasps. "His.. but.. Ron, you're not?..." she sputters out.

Ron holds up his shiny badge.

Mrs Weasley lets out a shriek. "I don't believe it! Oh Ron, how wonderful! A prefect! That's everyone in the family!" Uh-

"What are Fred and I? Next-door neighbours?" George asks his mum.

Mrs Weasley just ignores him and goes to hug Ronald. "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! What a thing to happen in the midst of all this worry, oh Ronnie—"

Fred and George both make loud retching noises behind her back. But she doesn't pay attention to them, Mrs Weasley just keeps hugging and kissing her youngest son.

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

"W-what do you mean?" Ron asks.

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

"We've already bought him some." Fred said sourly. He must be regretting that decision right now.

"Or a new cauldron. Perhaps a new rat, you always liked Scabbers—"

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

Mrs Weasley's smile faltered slightly; brooms were expensive.

"N-not a really good one! Just a new one for a change." Ron said quickly.

Mrs Weasley hesitated, then smiled. "Of course. I better get going if I've got to buy a new broom too now. I'll see you all later!" She gave Ron another kiss, sniffled, then left the room.

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

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

"Oh shut up." Ron growled.

"Or what?" Fred smirked. "You going to give us detention?"

Hermione stands up for Ron. "He could if you don't watch out!"

"Hermione, drop it." Ron mumbles to her.

"Looks like our law-breaking days are over." George sighed dramatically. With that, they apparated away.

"I'm going to go write to my parents." I tell them.

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Dear Mum and Dad,

I've had lots of fun staying with the Weasleys. Thank you again for letting me stay with them. Today I got my Hogwarts letter... I'M A PREFECT!
I've attached a polaroid of my badge. I'll write to you again once I'm at Hogwarts.

—Lin

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Dear Lin,

We're happy you're having fun with your friends. And I told you that you could stay there for the rest of the summer if you keep maintaining good grades. So you better keep it up. Congratulations on being a prefect. I expected just that.

With love,
Mum and Dad