Chapter 903: So It Was (Patreon)
Content
Pent-up emotions were spreading, and curiosity was accumulating.
As the long time passed slowly, everyone came to accept the fact that Ron had become a prefect.
After the initial shock, Ron also began to get used to the change of identity brought by the prefect.
As Percy once did, he began to show off his prefect badge, and kept moving it around, first placing it on his bedside table, then putting it into his jeans pocket, then taking it out and laying it on his folded robes, as though to see the effect of the red on the black.
He tried his best to get everyone’s attention. Only when Fred and George dropped in and offered to attach it to his forehead with a Permanent Sticking Charm did he wrap it tenderly in his maroon socks and lock it in his trunk.
Mrs. Weasley returned from Diagon Alley around six o’clock, laden with books, food and gifts for Ron.
“Never mind unwrapping them now, people are arriving for dinner, I want you all downstairs to help,” she said.
After some busy work, down in the basement Mrs. Weasley had hung a scarlet banner over the heavily laden dinner table, which read CONGRATULATIONS RON AND HERMIONE — NEW PREFECTS. She looked in a better mood than they had seen her all holiday.
“I thought we’d have a little party, not a sit-down dinner,” she said, looking at the banner with satisfaction. "It looks good, doesn't it? I’ve prepared another one. I can't take it out until the news is announced."
"So, what on earth is that news?" Fred asked, and Mrs. Weasley ignored him.
It was not easy to get a word from her. She didn’t give them a chance at all.
"Your father and Bill are on their way, Ron, I’ve sent them both owls and they’re thrilled," said Mrs. Weasley, beaming as Ron entered the kitchen. "Minerva will come with them, and we’ll get detailed information from her."
Fred rolled his eyes and made a motion that he was about to faint.
"Did you hear what Mum said?" said George in a low voice, as Mrs. Weasley went back to look after the fire. "She said there’s another banner. Where do you think it would be hidden?"
"Probably in her room," said Fred, looking around. "I can't go on like this. I'm going to be depressed and crazy. We must determine what the news is."
"When we sneak into Mum’s room, you should stay here to attract her attention," said George.
"You can't..." Before Hermione's words were finished, the twins had Disapparated.
Evan didn't know if they could find the banner, everyone was curious about it.
At that moment, Lupin, Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt arrived one after another, and everyone hurried over to greet them.
A few minutes later, Mad-Eye Moody stumped in. He hadn't been here for a long time!
“Oh, Alastor, I am glad you’re here,” said Mrs. Weasley brightly, as Mad-Eye shrugged off his traveling cloak. “We’ve been wanting to ask you for ages ... could you have a look in the writing desk in the drawing room and tell us what’s inside it? We haven’t wanted to open it just in case it’s something really nasty."
While cleaning the old house, the writing desk had kept shaking.
Lupin thought there was a Boggart inside, but to be on the safe side, Mrs. Weasley thought it was better to ask Moody to take a look first.
"No problem, Molly…" Moody’s electric-blue eye swiveled upward and stared fixedly through the ceiling of the kitchen.
“Drawing room …” he growled, as the pupil contracted. “Desk in the corner? Yeah, I see it... Yeah, it’s a Boggart... Want me to go up and get rid of it, Molly."
“No, no, I’ll do it myself later,” beamed Mrs. Weasley. “You have your drink. We’re having a little bit of a celebration, actually...” She gestured at the scarlet banner. “Fourth prefect in the family!"
“Prefect?" growled Moody, his normal eye on Ron and his magical eye swiveling around to gaze into the side of his head. "Well, congratulations, authority figures always attract trouble, but I suppose Dumbledore thinks you can withstand most major jinxes or he wouldn’t have appointed you..."
Ron looked rather startled at this view of the matter, and the smug expression on his face faded instantly. Just then, he was saved the trouble of responding by the arrival of his father and eldest brother.
Professor McGonagall was accompanying them. She was wearing a very strange Muggle suit; her face was as serious as usual, even more serious.
"Minerva, has the news been confirmed? Mrs. Weasley asked hurriedly.
"Confirmed … Dumbledore has just left the Board of Governors. He asked me to announce it. To be honest, I didn't expect..."
Everyone looked up at Professor McGonagall, eager to know the important news she was about to announce.
Evan had the illusion that Professor McGonagall, Mr. Weasley, and Bill had been staring at him since they came in.
Their faces were beaming with joy, and the big news about to be announced seemed to have something to do with him.
With a crack, Fred and George suddenly appeared out of nothing, flustered, with a look of extreme shock on their faces.
They seemed to have seen something incredible. They were thrilled, holding a scarlet banner in their hands.
"Oh, Merlin, Evan, I can't believe it..." Fred said.
"Look at what we found, it's incredible. How could they do that?!" George shook the banner in his hand vigorously.
Everyone in the kitchen looked at them in astonishment, still not figuring out what was going on.
The next second, Fred and George said at the same time, "Evan, you’ve been elected Head Boy!"
What, Head Boy?!
Evan was stunned for a moment before realizing what they were talking about, and hurriedly turned around to look at Professor McGonagall.
How was that possible, that was simply incredible!
"Yes, Dumbledore specifically sought the school board, Evan!" Professor McGonagall also smiled, very happy for him. "After a few days of discussion, they finally agreed that you’ll become the new Head Boy, the youngest elected candidate in nearly a thousand years..."
After a brief silence, the kitchen suddenly became lively, and everyone came to congratulate Evan.
That was simply a miracle. They had never heard of a fourth-year student becoming the Head Boy.
The ceiling of the entire kitchen was almost overturned by the sound of celebration. Compared with this news, Ron and Hermione becoming prefects was nothing. It was a matter of course, and it was far less shocking than the fact that Evan became the Head Boy...