Gideon Drake and the Fire Within (Harry Potter Sequel/Spinoff)

Chapter Forty-One: Season's Greetings

'Sorry, Gideon, looks like you're on the cover again,' Ruby announced as she left the store with the latest edition of the Daily Prophet in her hands.

'I saw,' Gideon replied, thumbing at the news rack in the shop window. 'Let's ignore it for now and just try to have a good time.'

'How about visiting Weasley's Wizard Wheezes next, then?' Talia suggested.

The Hogwarts branch of the wizarding joke shop was a little smaller than the one in Diagon Alley, but it was no less colourful—or busy. Gideon, Ruby and Talia had to queue to get inside, and even then, it was hard to move about with so many other customers. Fortunately, his recent notoriety meant the tide of students tended to part for him somewhat upon noticing his presence.

Still, the problem, Gideon realised, was that it wasn't just a Hogwarts weekend, it was the last Saturday before Christmas, so Hogsmeade had more witches and wizards visiting to do their shopping than at any other time of year. This shop even had decorations up. Gideon hadn't given much thought to Christmas, but he supposed he would have to soon.

Suddenly, Talia let out the most uncharacteristically girly giggle, shaking Gideon out of his reverie.

'Cheer up, young lady! How about one of our patented Perk-up Pokers?' said a tall, red-haired man that Gideon recognised as Mr Weasley, the shop owner. He was wearing a white suit today with glittery red and green baubles embroidered all over. Gideon presumed he had come up from the main store for the busy period.

'Let me tell you what you can do with your Perk-up Poker,' started Talia dangerously before Ruby guided her away with an apologetic smile.

'Ooh! I like her!' the man said to Gideon with a wink before moving on to the next customer in a puff of smoke.

After half an hour or so of browsing and playing, they had each selected some items to buy and approached the register separately to pay. Behind the counter was a plump, frazzled-looking witch whose red hair was streaked with grey.

'Honestly... Don't see why I should have to work the till!' she muttered under her breath. 'Hello there, dear!' she said brightly with a kind smile as Gideon nervously placed his items on the counter. Then, reaching for a piece of paper she had to squint at, she added in a forced monotone, 'Can I interest you in any of our Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Skiving Snackboxes, including our new Warty Whirls, Coughing Candies and Jaundice Jellies?'

She looked to Gideon for his answer with a hint of embarrassment. 'Err, not today, thanks,' he said.

'Right. That'll be fourteen Sickles and five Knuts, please,' the woman said as her smile returned. She took Gideon's money and placed it in the till, when she let out a loud shriek, 'Argh! Oh, George! Will-you-fix-this-blasted-thing!' she cried while hitting the till repeatedly with a nearby foam Beater's bat.

'What's the matter, mum?' said Mr Weasley, smiling through gritted teeth.

'It almost took my hand off! AGAIN!' She told him. 'Your change, dear.'

'Huh?' Gideon said, lost in the drama. 'Oh, right. Thank you.'

'Come again!' said Mr Weasley, and as Gideon made his way toward the exit, he heard the man and his mother continue to bicker, 'You're doing it wrong, how many times do I have to show you?'

'Don't you take that tone with me, George Weasley!' the woman responded, 'When you said you needed a hand with the Christmas rush, you conveniently forgot to mention it was also a Hogwarts weekend! Just wait until your father hears what a slave driver you are! Can I help you, dear?'

Ruby and Talia soon joined Gideon outside and they took off while discussing the mother and son bust-up. Talia was delighted to share that by the time she had been served, the woman had got a hold of Mr Weasley's Perk-up Poker and had jabbed him with it until he was curled up on the floor in hysterics.