Rhapsody of a Veela

Part 48 - No.93 Diagon Alley

After the events of the anti-climatic Road-trip to Dover, Summer suddenly had a somewhat bitter taste to it. It was as if you had fallen of a high, where you had briefly – optimistically -come to believe that while things were different, they would ultimately turn out all-right. The encounter with the new Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, had reminded you of how little control you were in. Even if you tried to convince yourself otherwise, more innocent people would fall during the impending fight against the The Dark Lord and his fanatic followers, just as day turns into night it was a fact.

Next time it might very well be, yet again, someone you love. Whereas Cedric had not ever even gotten the chance to consider the risks of being with you, dying before the truth ever came out, Fred did know. But he did not care.

He was so foolish where he laid next to you, gazing into your eyes completely worriless. The way he looked at you was as if you were the single most fantastically wonderful thing in the whole world. In fact there was not a single regret hiding behind those lively brown eyes, he would've gladly fallen in love with you all over again even if you had introduced yourself up front as the unfortunate heir of the most evil - most hated man in the Wizarding World.

It had also become apparent that if you did not play your cards right the Ministry might very well yet again, decide that it would be better to lock you away and throw away the key. Then you would not be able to fight at all, you would not be able to even try to protect Fred from the dangerous fate you had put him under with a single kiss.

"What are you thinking about, Darling?" Fred whispered,

"What colour of parchments to buy tomorrow" you lied quickly, knowing he could perfectly tell, he was still never one to dig if you did not feel like putting all your chaotic thoughts into words. Thankfully.

"Regular white parchment isn't spectacular enough for you?" he chuckled softly, bending forward to kiss your cheek.

"I was thinking more like pink... or perhaps lavender"

"Rose scented too?"

"Well obviously" you frowned, "What do you take me for? Some simple bog witch?"

Fred had just pulled you closer into his arms when it started pounding on the bedroom door,

"Oy! Lovebirds!"

"I need you downstairs in the shop Fred!" George called from outside, and Fred sighed defeatedly.

"To be continued" he whispered into your ear with a cheeky grin, kissing you before he got out of bed. Watching him dress up into his fancy pin-striped suit you could've almost taken him seriously if it had not been for the blinking tie.

It had been two weeks of just you and him, well and George, at their flat above their newly opened Joke shop in No.93 Diagon Alley, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. The moment the Road-trip to France had been blown of, you had decided to spend the rest of summer here instead of at the Burrow. Today however, you were to meet the rest of the Weasley's for the annual Hogwarts supply trip, and tomorrow it would be time to leave for King's Cross Station. The fact that you had spent the entire morning in bed was just to drag out the time, wanting to be together for as long as possible.

It took you another hour to get up and get ready, eating a simple breakfast alone in the tiny kitchen while you heard the wild ruckus of the shop finally opening downstairs. Every morning crowds of children would gather outside to get in first, only proving the great success and popularity of the shop, much to Fred and George's delight. Although it was clear that no days could quite compare to those before the Hogwarts Express would leave for Hogwarts, no young wizard or witch could possibly resist stopping by Weasley's Wizard Wheezes while shopping for school supplies in Diagon Alley. Luckily, the boys had even somehow managed to cover that too with a whole line of peculiarly mischievous quills that were spell-checking, self-inking and smart answering, sometimes a bit too smart.

You walked down the circular stairs into the locale, which was somehow even more crowded than the day before. It did not take long before you spotted Fred and George happily entertaining all the customers, making it seem that the products they sold were really, only half of the experience.

"Y/n, there you are dear!" you heard Molly call out, turning around to see that the whole family was there, still of course except Percy. So you went to greet them, carefully passing by strange moving toys and trinkets, merely ducking out of the way of a raging Umbridge-on-Unicycle toy, balancing on top of a tightrope with two buckets while shrieking;

"I WILL HAVE ORDER!"

"I REALLY HATE CHILDREN!"

"It's good to see you again, Mr & Mrs. Weasley" you smiled, hoping they were impressed by the clear success of Fred & George's business. Arthur Weasley indeed seemed absolutely delighted, immediately setting his eyes on a shelf of Muggle Magic Tricks. Ginny gravitating towards the section of adorable and adoptable Pygmy puff's.

"You too dear" Molly smiled weakly, before moving on with a frown, franticly pointing towards the entrance of the store.

"Did you see that horrendous sign outside?" she hooted,

"U-No-Poo? Have they lost their minds?, they're going to get killed!"

Indeed only a few days ago, Fred and George had put up a new advertisement outside the shop for their newest invention, reading,

"WHY ARE YOU WORRYING ABOUT YOU-KNOW-WHO?

YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT U-NO-POO —

THE CONSTIPATION SENSATION THAT'S GRIPPING THE NATION!"

It may seem a little risqué, but the product had immediately gotten in high demand. You even found it quite amusing yourself, as you had never figured humour could be weaponised this way. There was nothing you could do but smile apologetically before seeing your escape in the arrival of Hermione, Harry and Ron.

While Fred had left in the middle of the spring semester, it still felt incredibly strange to travel to Hogwarts without him. You always used to sit together in a private compartment, but now who would you sit with?

Still you entered Kings Cross Station hand in hand, running through the portal to platform 9 ¾. It was funny, how you had never before dreaded to leave for Hogwarts as much as now. How you would somehow even inevitably end up missing how Hogwarts had been during the Umbridge-Ministry infestation, as at the very least Fred had been there.

The platform was smoke-filled, the atmosphere somehow less tense than it had been before summer. Perhaps people had gotten used to the idea of The Dark Lord being at large again, or perhaps they were just putting all their trust into Hogwarts for their children's safety.

From a distance you saw Draco Malfoy enter the train with his goons, you found yourself hoping that he had somehow found healing during the summer. That perhaps he would be his usual self: the arrogant, annoying little puppy chasing you around the halls of Hogwarts, pleading for you to forgive him for whatever the last foolish thing he had done were.

Yet by the mere sight of Narcissa Malfoy's pale face, you knew that would not be the case.

Saying goodbye to Fred always felt like the most impossible task. It's not like you were crying, more so you could not make yourself let go within a reasonable time during the hug, at all. Standing there on the middle of the platform glued together probably looked rather silly, but to you, frozen in time, you wished you could just stay that way.

"The train is leaving soon" Fred whispered,

"I don't care" you mumbled, your voice muffled by the collar of his suit.

"Come on now, the very first Hogsmeade weekend we're up" Fred grinned,

"It won't be too long at all darling" he kissed your hand, and the engagement ring.

You reluctantly parted ways, and you hurried on to the train at the very last minute. Just before the door closed behind you however, Fred appeared and quickly pressed a roll of Lavender coloured parchments into the palm of your hand.

"And don't forget to write me, you little Bog Witch" he grinned widely, somewhat pleased with himself for having remembered such a little detail.

As the Hogwarts Express started rolling out of the station, and you lost sight of Fred you brought the roll of parchment up to your nose.

It smelled just like fresh roses.