Side Story: George II Weasley

My name is George II Weasley, and my family was overjoyed when I was born—except for one person: my uncle, George Weasley. He was the only one in the family with a child older than me, my cousin Molly Anna Weasley.

My dad is a fun guy. He loves carrying me around under his arm, claiming it's his third favorite activity. His second favorite is hearing me call him "Dad," and his first favorite… well, he refuses to say, but Mom always rolls her eyes when he gets that look.

My mom is an amazing Quidditch Chaser. Her club won the English Quidditch Championship once—before I was born. Grandma Linda told me that when Mom was pregnant with me, she wanted to keep playing, but Dad carried her out of the arena. The club owner didn't dare argue because she was my aunt, Flami Weasley. Oh, Aunt Flami is incredible—she's the money-making goddess of the Weasley family! Cousin Anna takes after her. She once traded a leprechaun's gold coin for my favorite broomstick model when I was three. I didn't figure out the trick until I was ten!

But back to Mom. She's obsessed with Quidditch. Can you believe she strapped two-year-old me to a broom and flew around just to "train my bravery"? Grandma Linda was so horrified she took me to her house for two weeks. I didn't want to go back!

Today is my parents' wedding anniversary. They dropped me off at the Burrow early in the morning and left me with Uncle Ron. They won't be back until dinner. I'm used to this routine by now, though I still wonder where they go every year.

Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione live near the Burrow, so I can bounce between the two houses. It's great! Aunt Ginny is mad at Uncle Harry again because he got another love letter. Honestly, I think Uncle Cedric is handsomer, but Aunt Cho never gets upset about stuff like that.

When I shared my thoughts, Uncle Ron smirked. "That's because you haven't seen the bite marks on Cedric's arm."

Grandma Molly soon appeared, wagging her wand. She's still mad about the time Uncle Ron helped me hang from a tree all afternoon while Mom and Dad cheered below. Grandma's so scary when she's angry—she even broke her wand once!

"Ron, where are you taking George?" Grandma Molly asked, tapping her wand in her palm.

"Nowhere dangerous!" Uncle Ron raised his hands. "We're just catching garden gnomes."

"Not on the roof?" Grandma Molly raised an eyebrow.

"I swear!" Uncle Ron said solemnly.

Grandma Molly kissed my forehead. "If he puts you in a tree again, I'll spank him myself!"

Uncle Ron kept his word. We spent the afternoon chasing gnomes. Those little gray creatures snarled and snapped at me, but I threw them over the fence like a pro.

"George, you've got a Beater's arm!" Uncle Ron said, impressed. "You're only five, and you can throw that far? If you're not on the Gryffindor Quidditch team someday, I'll eat my hat!"

"Your hat doesn't look tasty," I said, just as Mom and Dad returned early. Dad opened his arms. "George, come here!"

I ran to him, noticing Uncle George's sour expression. He hates that I'm named after him but look more like Dad. "Flami's definitely having a son," Uncle George grumbled. "My Fred's son!"

"Then I'll enjoy being called 'Dad' a few years before you," Dad said smugly.

"Yes, Dad!" I chirped, counting the times I'd said it today. Uncle George owed me a silver Sickle for each one.

Aunt Flami was inside with Grandma Molly. Her belly was huge, and Cousin Anna said the baby inside kicked. I wanted to feel it too! I wriggled out of Dad's arms and dashed inside.

"Where's the baby? I want to touch it!" I shouted.

Cousin Anna blocked me. "My brother's sleeping! Don't wake him!"

"Why's he sleeping before dark? Get up and play with me!" I tried to push past her, and we ended up wrestling on the floor. The adults just laughed and cheered us on.

"Anna, pick his nose!" Uncle George called.

"George, pull her hair!" Dad shouted.

"If you lose, no dinner!" Mom added.

Grandma Molly finally broke it up, whacking Mom, Dad, and Uncle George with her wand. "Are you even parents? Look at these two! No more fighting, or none of you eat tonight!"

Cousin Anna and I made up quickly. We both got to touch Aunt Flami's belly, and I felt the baby kick. It was amazing!

"Mom, when will you have a baby in your belly?" I asked later. "Can I have a sister?"

"You can't choose that, George," Mom said, patting my butt. "Besides, I want to win another championship!"

I was sad, but not long after, Mom's belly started to grow. She chased Dad around for days, yelling, "It's all your fault! I could've won this year!"

My sister was born the day the Weasley Wizards won the English Quidditch Championship. Mom cried more than the baby. Dad was thrilled, though. He held the little red bundle and kissed her.

"She's so ugly," Cousin Anna and I said. "Uglier than Fred."

Oh, right—Uncle George's son Fred was born seven months before my sister. Dad was grumpy for weeks.

"She'll grow up pretty, just like me," Cousin Anna said, packing up her dolls for my sister. I was a little jealous, even though I don't like dolls. Anna was clearly favoring my sister.

Grandpa Luther cried, saying my sister looked just like Mom. I didn't see it—Mom's way prettier!

But Anna was right. My sister, Miffa Linda Weasley, grew up beautiful—and trouble.

"Merlin's beard, I never brought a girl home!" I protested when she tattled on me. But Miffa was a master manipulator. She'd burst into tears whenever I yelled, and everyone believed her. How was she in Gryffindor? She should've been in Slytherin!

"You swindled my pocket money!" she hissed, pinching my arm. "That magic ball you sold me for five Galleons was worth ten Sickles! I'm taking it all back!"

Headmaster Snape caught us arguing. "Mr. and Miss Weasley, sneaking out again?" he drawled. "Twenty points from Gryffindor."

"I didn't go out!" I argued.

"Ten points for going out, ten for arguing. Gryffindor still loses twenty," Snape said, smirking. "Any objections?"

I didn't dare argue. Snape hates Gryffindors—everyone knows that.

And that's my life so far. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to write to my girlfriend and explain my sister's latest prank. Wish me luck…