*****

"Incoming!" shouted Fred Weasley as two owls flew through the kitchen window of the Burrow.

The first of the owls, an elderly one named Errol, perched tiredly on George Weasley's shoulder, and dropped a letter into the red head's lap. The other owl simply started circling the kitchen as if waiting for something. That went unnoticed for now, as the two brothers were discussing something else.

"Ooh, George got a letter ." Fred said in a sing - song voice. "Wonder if it's from Angelina Johnson-" He grabbed the letter from his twin and noted the feminine looking script on the envelope. Errol hooted softtly with indignation at being disturbed and flew upstairs, probably for a drink of water. "I bet it is."

"Give me that!" George protested, turning a little red. "It wasn't addressed to you, was it?"

"Aww...don't be embarrassed." said Fred with a little laugh. "It's quite obvious she fancies you."

George's mouth just hung open a little as he tried to think of something to say to his brother.

At this, 11 year old Ron Weasley came into the kitchen. "Is there an owl for me?" he asked, ignoring the twin's bickering. He'd been expecting his acceptance letter from Hogwarts any day now. They sent all the new students who'd turned 11, or would turn 11 by October, their letters in the last week of July. Today was July 26th.

"Well," George stated and looked up, "maybe that owl is from Hogwarts."

Sure enough, the owl fluttered down and dropped a letter into Ron's hands. Shaking slightly, he opened the letter and read out loud.

" Dear Mr. Ronald Weasley,

We are pleased to inform you of your acceptance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all neccessary books and equipment.

Term begins September 1st. We await your owl no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress"

"Proof positive they let anyone in that place" Fred remarked, then suddenly became serious. "And so the Weasley tradition continues. Congratulations, Ron."

George smiled "Yeah, congraulations." Then he cast a glance at Fred. "Do you think we should warn him - about the Sorting ceremony?"

"You mean about the - troll?" Fred asked with a shudder.

Ron looked up wide eyed from attaching his reply to the owl's leg. "Troll?"

"Yeah," said George. "That's how they figure what house you should be in."

Fred laughed. "You've got to wrestle a troll. In front of the whole school. How well you do against it determines what house you get put in. Gryffindors are the ones who did better than anyone else. Piece of advice - don't let it catch you, because if it does, it'll hurt - A LOT."

Ron pursed his lips togther. No duh, it would hurt a lot. They had to be joking. They had to be. Fred and George were always making stuff up. "Rubbish. You two are joking."

Fred grinned rather wickedly. "You''ll see."

Ron sent the Hogwarts owl out the window. Yes, he would see, in 5 weeks.