Confident | Fred Weasley

Chapter 71 | Fog

August came to a close with students returning to Hogwarts. There was a partial lull in footfall at the shop, but Fred and George were still raking in the galleons from postal delivery.

Sarah had been spending a fair amount of her time at the shop as the new month began. She'd filmed the music video for her debut single, which left her with nothing to do until they were both released on the 12th of September.

Sarah was perched on a seat at the tills wearing magenta robes. There were a few customers wandering through the shelves in awe, but not nearly as many as during the summer.

Sarah pressed The Daily Prophet into the counter, unfolding it with a crinkle.

Beside her, Verity shot her an odd look, "I don't know how you can read that these days. It's so depressing."

Sarah might've agreed, especially considering the title of the front page read - MINISTER RUFUS SCRIMGEOUR URGES MAGICAL COMMUNITY TO PRACTICE PATRONUS CHARM AFTER DEMENTOR ATTACK IN WATTFORD

Still, a variety of Fake-Mad-Eye's advice rang around her head.

"It's good to stay connected, to know what's going on. Keeps you prepared," Sarah told her.

Verity shot her a concerned look. Sarah refolded the newspaper and tossed it in the bin under the counter.

"I've got a potion going downstairs. I'll be back in a second," Sarah said.

Verity hummed in assent as Sarah headed down the rickety staircase into the basement. Immediately, Sarah was consumed with a rancid scent.

Sarah gagged, putting a hand over her mouth. She hurried towards the cauldron with her potion. It was a disgusting, lime green colour.

That was another failed potion, then.

Sarah heard a yell of disgust from the staircase. Quickly, she waved her wand. The potion vanished, but the scent still remained.

George appeared at the bottom of the stairs, eight hand clasped tightly over his mouth and his left hand clutching the handrail.

"What is that smell, Sarah?" George demanded, eyebrows furrowed. His voice was muffled.

Sarah wished she was prepared for situations like this. She knew her flatmates weren't idiots. Soon, they would realise she was up to something. For now, she would have to make up a web of convincing lies and try not to feel too guilty about it. Especially after the order meeting and her argument with Fred.

"Oh, I left the photo solution boiling too long. All those chemicals, you know, make a terrible stench," Sarah told him.

The photo solution did smell horrible if left to boil too long. Sarah hoped this excuse would fly if George was suspicious and went to confirm it. Still, Sarah worried. Some of the most advanced textbooks noted that the smell of over-boiled Photo solution was distinctively acidic. The scent in the basement smelled more like rotten corpses. Sarah wondered about the extent George would research if he was suspicious of her.

George raised a brow, "That's not like you."

Shit, Sarah cursed to herself.

Sarah hung her head to hide the shame at her next words, "I know. I know. I just - I've been so distracted lately and - well, I haven't been sleeping well either - "

Had she really got to the point of using her nightmares and lack of sleep to excuse her suspicious excursion to create a potion that brings one back to life? Apparently, she had.

Sarah knew she was protecting them from Voldemort's wrath. The mere idea of this potion was too dangerous, let alone the active creation of it. Sometimes, Sarah wondered why she couldn't let go of what happened to Sirius as a one-off, a happy mishap. It'd make her life a lot easier, that's for sure.