Society Gossip

"George, George, where are you? Come and look at today's Daily Prophet headlines!" Fred's shout rang through the kitchen.

"First thing in the morning, stop howling like a lunatic!" Mrs. Weasley, who was feeding the chickens in the yard, planted her hands on her hips and glared at her unruly son.

"Mum, look at today's Daily Prophet headlines!" Fred excitedly thrust the newspaper in front of his mother. "Albert actually won the Barnaby Finley Gold Medal for Excellent Spellcasting Technique. Do you know what kind of award that is?"

"If only you boys could be as worry-free as Albert." Mrs. Weasley took the newspaper with an expression of disappointment.

"You should compare your precious son Percy to Albert instead." Fred curled his lip. "George and I were just picked up from the flowerbeds."

"You still dare talk back? Are you trying to make me furious?"

Mrs. Weasley watched Fred vanish in a flash, then lowered her gaze to the newspaper in her hands. The headline read: The Youngest Recipient of the Barnaby Finley Gold Medal for Excellent Spellcasting Technique in History Is Born.

Beneath the headline was a photograph of Albert holding a trophy in both hands, a medal hanging around his neck, a confident smile on his face.

"Mum, have you seen today's newspaper?" Percy's voice came from the kitchen.

"It's here. Fred just brought it out." Mrs. Weasley walked to the kitchen window and slipped the newspaper inside.

Percy took the paper, shot George a vicious glare when he noticed him snickering nearby, then caught sight of Fred turning into the kitchen.

"Well, you really ought to stop mentioning Albert in front of Mum." George gleefully reminded his twin brother. "She always likes comparing us to him, going on about how wonderful other people's children are."

"We should've