Sketchbook ~ George Weasley

Chapter 39 - Fred and Paige Adventure Time (part 2)

After walking for what felt like forever, we had made it to a hatch that Fred didn't hesitate to open and walk through, holding it open and waiting for me to do the same.

I made it up right after him and looked around at our surroundings. We were in a grimy, dimly lit cellar with barrels and boxes lining the concrete walls. In the corner, there was a steep spiral staircase leading up to a dingy wooden door.

"If you wanted to take me somewhere to murder me, couldn't you have chosen somewhere with a shorter walk?" I ask.

Fred didn't say anything but simply placed one finger over his mouth and slipped his other hand into mine, pulling me towards the staircase. He creaked the door open slightly to peek through, revealing a cute bustling shop full of parents trying to control their children and colorful candy lining striped walls. Fred pulled me through the door, and we slipped into the chaos without notice. When we did, he dropped my hand and motioned around in a way that said, "Ta Da."

"Is this Honeydukes?" I ask.

"Ah, a woman of culture," Fred says.

"I don't think we're supposed to be here," I say. "We could get into a lot of trouble."

"Ninety percent of the things that we do together, we aren't supposed to do and could get us into a lot of trouble," Fred replies. "That's what makes it fun. Alright now, come on, pick what you want. It's on me today."

"You don't have to do that," I say. "You two are saving up for your joke shop and everything."

"I want to," Fred says. "When I meet your muggle brothers one day, they'll kill me if they knew I didn't take care of you. That's just the bro code."

"I don't think that's what the bro code is," I laugh.

"Whatever," Fred waves me off, walking deeper into the store, picking up pieces of candy and loading them up into my hands. "I still stand by what I said."

With every item he had piled into my hand, I put it back onto the shelf where he picked it up, waiting for him to stop and notice. He turned to place a chocolate frog on the pile he was forming until he realized there was nothing.

"Where did everything go?" Fred asks, chocolate frog still in hand.

"Fred, I don't need all that," I say.

"Well, at least let me get you this," Fred says, motioning to the chocolate frog. His eyes looked almost sad as he looked at the one item.

"Okay," I say.

We check out and head out of the store, Fred handing over the chocolate frog to me.

"I just wanted to make you feel better, you know?" Fred asks. "I know there's been a lot going on with you lately that I don't know anything about, yet you still always found time to hang out with George and me, helping us with stupid pranks and fixing our shop ideas."

"Fred, I do that because that's what makes me feel better," I say. "Hanging out with you guys doesn't solve my problems, but it certainly helps me get my mind off them. You've done more than enough."

"Well, speaking of pranks, I still need to get supplies for the one we're gonna pull on Ron," Fred says.

"Zonko's?" I say.

"Read my mind," Fred says, already heading in the direction of the shop. "We needed to pick up some supplies anyway since we were running low. George and I were gonna plan a trip soon, but might as well get it done now since we're here."

The store was lively, with children running around and exasperated parents not wanting to buy anything for them.

"Okay, so for Ron, Hiccough sweets or FrogSpawn soap?" Fred asks, picking up each and weighing them in his hands.