𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, fred weasley

˗ˋ 82

CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO
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-: seventh year :-

── IN WHICH DEALS ARE MADE

. . .

Fred and George had pulled her over to a more secluded area of the kitchen, which was just out of MMrs Weasley's eyeline. They had dragged her over to where Mundungus Fletcher wass stood in wait, the coats of his pockets bulging and one even wriggling suspiciously. 

"Don't worry Dung, she knows everything." Fred grinned at the girl and pulled her a little closer to his side when he saw just how the man was eyeing her. "And she's my girlfriend."

"Right - course she is." The man grunted, pulling out a slightly grubby hand out of his pocket. "'m Mundungus Fletcher, but ladies like yourself can call me Dung."

"Everyone calls you Dung." George wrinkled his nose. "And with any look, Ellie won't be haviing to refer to you at all."

"It's alright." Elodie swallowed back her nerves and managed to shake his hand. "So.. what's with all this? You know the whispering.. meetings with - creepy - guys?" 

"Mundungus is our supplier. With the winnings Harry gave us we managed to get a few things, but some ingredients are harder to come buy." Fred began to explain, reaching for the Beaumont girl's hand and wiping it gently on his sleeve..

"Dung can get us any type of ingredients - mostly any type anyway - and for a much cheaper price." George continued on. "And with your experience in potions.." He trailed off, clearly thinking back to the various incidents with Professor Snape whilst at Hogwarts and the looks laced with disdain that the man always had on whenever he saw the girl (Ellie was very surprised to find that he was a member of the order). 

Well we were hoping you could check over whatever he brings us - make sure it's good." Fred finished, clapping his hands together. "Right then, what have you brought us this time?" 

"Venomous Tentacula seeds." Mundungus was still watching Elodie, whether it was in a wary fashion or something much stranger. He reached into his pocket, had returning clenched together in a fist, unfurling it in front of him.

Flat on his palm laid an ingredient that Elodie hadn't had too many brushes with - in fact, she had more experience with the actual plant that they came from. The seeds resembled shrivelled black pods, vibrating and bouncing around his gloved palm. 

The girl almost bent in half to come level with his palm, refusing to breath through her nose and tilted her head as she studied the seeds. "Right.. I see." She straighted up again, reaching into her pockets and pulling out a small bottle of what looked like handcream, which she rubbed into the skin of her palms. "It has a protective charm cast over it. Just in case these aren't good" She explained to the curious twins. 

"Are you saying that I've bin bringing you duds?" Mundungus's nostrils flared, the glare covering the French girl's pretty features shutting him up. "...just get on wiv it, alright?"

"Gladly." Elodie replied coldly, picking up one of the seeds and holding it up as far as she dared without the possibility of Mrs Weasley seeing it. "Are you planning planting them?" She looked up at the two boys, who shook their heads. "Good, you'll never be able to grown anything out of them. They're good for potions though."

"Perfect." George beamed. . "That's a big help for the Skiving Snackboxes." The twin continued, taking a handful of the pods and examining them.

"I went to a lot of trouble to get 'em - mind you." Mundungus was telling them. "Really, almost got caught by that ministry witch - wots-her-name.. the one who works with the minister. She were sniffin' around Knockturn and.." The man trailed off, his eyes setting on someone.

It was Harry, Fred winking and beckoning the Potter boy over. "It's okay." He told Mundungus, "We can trust Harry, he's our financial backer."

"Look what Dung's gotten us." George said, holding out his hand to Harry, showing him the shrivelled black pods. A faint rattling noise was coming from them, even though they were completely stationary. Harry looked up from the pods to the group, eyes sliding over Elodie - not entirely surprised that she was involved.

"Venomous Tentacula seeds." Elodie began her explanation when it became clear that the twins were waiting for her. "We need them for the Skiving Snackboxes but they're a Class C Non-Tradeable Substance so Fred and George have had a bit of trouble getting them. I wouldn't pay him a Knut over ten Galleons, mind you."

"Ten?  Wiv all the trouble I went to to get 'em?" Mundungus repeated, his saggy, bloodshot eyes stretching even wider. "I'm sorry, lads - and lady of course-" He added hastily, "-but I'm not taking a Knut under twenty."

"Dung likes his little joke," Fred turned to Harry.

"Yeah, his best one so far has been six Sickles for a bag of knarl quills." George said.

"Twenty Galleons boys." Mundungus repeated, gaze drifting over to Elodie once more.

"Be careful." Harry warned them quietly, George stopping Fred from saying something about Dung's wandering eye.

"What?" Fred asked, gritting his teeth. "Mum's busy cooing over Prefect Ron, we're okay."

"But Moody could have his eye on you," Harry pointed out.

Mundungus looked nervously over his shoulder. "Good point, that," he grunted. "All right, lads and lady, ten it is, if you'll take 'em quick."

"Cheers Harry!" Fred said delightedly, when Mundungus had emptied the rest of his pockets into the twins' outstretched hands and scuttled off toward the food. 

Then, the group of three would slip off from their successful endevour at the party with plans to finish packing their bags for Hogwarts, now that they had their final ingredient.

The next day was approaching quick and quicker, and Elodie was just getting more and more impatent as she waited. She was so close to getting to go to Hogwarts, only a single night to go.

No idea that it would be nothing like she had predicted from the previous year.

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