Through the Pages of Time: Joey’s Hogwarts Tale

Fred declared that the couple whose families approved of their relationship was the happiest couple in the world. He brushed his teeth happily that morning, grinning at his reflection in the mirror. "Hey, you've got a girlfriend!" he said to himself.

George leaned against the doorframe, raising an eyebrow. "Are you talking to me?"

Fred threw his toothbrush at George's head, laughing. "In your dreams!"

Fred's good mood stemmed from the fact that, after weeks of tension, Luther had finally given his approval. The previous day, Fred had rushed over to Joey's house after Ryan tipped him off about Shafik's visit. Seeing Shafik leave in a huff had been a relief, though Fred wished Joey had sent him off with a bit more flair.

Luther had taken the opportunity to grill Fred about his intentions. After a long conversation, Luther had finally said, "If you truly care for Joey, don't give anyone else a chance to interfere. My daughter is stubborn, but she's also loyal. I hope you'll treat her right from the start."

Fred had sworn on the spot that he would cherish Joey for the rest of his life. The Weasleys, after all, were known for their loyalty.

Today was Harry's birthday, and Sirius had invited everyone to celebrate. Joey had woken up early, thrilled to finally leave the house without Luther breathing down her neck. She'd even written to Flami, joking that she must be under some kind of spell to miss Fred so much. Flami's reply—that Joey was under the ancient spell of love—had made her laugh.

When Joey arrived at Sirius's new home, she was amazed. Sirius hadn't been exaggerating when he said he'd bought all the houses around the Dursleys. Each one bore a sign reading "Potter's House," and Joey couldn't help but imagine Uncle Vernon's reaction. She was sure he'd be fuming.

The Weasleys were already there, and Fred rushed over to hug Joey the moment she stepped out of the fireplace. Luther had finally returned to work, and Linda was on duty, so only Ryan and Joey had been able to come.

Sirius was in high spirits, though he kept calling Ryan "Reggie" by mistake. Joey began to wonder if her brother had secretly changed his name.

Harry and Ron were whispering together, and Joey caught snippets of their conversation, including the name "Dobby."

"Is Hermione not here?" Joey asked, looking around.

Harry shook his head. "She's on vacation with her parents. She couldn't make it."

Joey noticed how much healthier Harry looked compared to the previous year. His hair was neater, his clothes fit better, and he seemed stronger. "Sirius has been taking good care of you," she remarked.

Harry smiled. "Yeah, he has. These houses are all mine now. It's... amazing."

Ron chimed in, "I can't believe I've got my own room here! Well, sort of."

"Unless your brothers get married, you're not getting your own room anytime soon," Joey teased.

Ron shot back, "Well, you and Fred can get married soon, and then I'll have more space!"

Joey lunged at him, but Fred caught her arm, laughing. "Ron, I've decided to get you a new robe for Christmas!"

Sirius and Arthur were tinkering with a strange device called a "TV" that hung above the fireplace. They kept pressing buttons on a remote, causing the screen to flash and emit loud noises.

"This is more interesting than a wizard photo!" Arthur exclaimed, poking the screen.

"Don't touch it! You might get sucked in!" Sirius warned, though he looked just as fascinated.

Harry watched them with a smile. He'd never imagined he'd have a home where he could invite friends over. It felt like magic.

Joey and Fred, meanwhile, were distracted by a chubby boy across the street who kept peering at them. "Who's that?" Joey asked.

Harry glanced over. "Oh, that's my cousin Dudley."

Dudley was quickly dragged back inside by a tall, thin woman who glared at Joey and the others with obvious disdain.

"She doesn't like you?" Joey asked, sensing the woman's hostility.

Harry shrugged. "She doesn't like wizards much."

In truth, the Dursleys' attitude toward Harry had shifted from outright hatred to wary avoidance after Sirius's dramatic entrance at the start of the summer. Sirius had turned their house into a zoo, and it had taken four members of the Ministry's Reversal Squad to fix the damage. Sirius had also paid a hefty fine for the incident.

Joey was disappointed she hadn't been there to help. "Sirius should've called me! I've been practicing my Transfiguration!"

Molly soon corralled everyone into helping with the meal. Harry and Ron were put on dish duty, while Ryan was tasked with peeling potatoes. George suggested Fred handle the radishes, but Molly chased both boys out of the kitchen.

Fred and Joey found themselves alone in the study. Fred pulled Joey into his arms, kissing her deeply. When they finally broke apart, Joey was breathless.

"Do you know how to cut radishes now?" Fred teased, his lips brushing her ear.

Joey pushed him away, her face flushed. "If you're so good, go cut some radishes right now!"

Fred laughed, holding her close. "You're the only radish I'm interested in."

Their moment was interrupted by George and Ginny knocking on the door, and Joey spent the rest of the meal trying to ignore the knowing looks from everyone at the table.

The celebration was in full swing when two house-elves suddenly appeared in the living room, fighting. One was old and grumpy, while the other looked pitiful.

"Kreacher! What are you doing here?" Sirius yelled. "I didn't tell you to leave Grimmauld Place!"

The old house-elf, Kreacher, bowed mockingly. "The little master bought these houses with the mistress's gold. Kreacher must protect them, even if the little master is a traitor to the Black family."

Sirius rubbed his temples. "Who's the other one?"

Kreacher glared at the second elf, Dobby, who was banging his head on the floor. "This intruder was sneaking around, warning of danger at Hogwarts. Kreacher thinks he should be beheaded!"

Harry quickly intervened, explaining that Dobby had tried to warn him about a threat at school. Sirius, however, was skeptical. "Hogwarts is the safest place in the world. Don't trust him."

Dobby, terrified, disappeared with a sob, leaving everyone uneasy.

As the party continued, Joey couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. But for now, she pushed her worries aside, focusing on the joy of being with Fred and her friends.