Summers at The Burrow - Fred Weasley

Chapter Two - Gringotts

We were going to Diagon Alley today to get my books. Mrs. Weasley had Percy to shop for as well so hopefully we could slip away and get some dung bombs before she finds out.

My mother had asked me to extract a large sum of money from the family vault as well as some for my books. I didn't want to go in with the Weasley's because they were poor and I wasn't.

Mr. Weasley was coming with us and said he would take me to my vault since he could tell I was uncomfortable with the topic of visiting it. It was mostly because my family liked to flaunt their noble house of Black all over the vault. I didn't want the Weasleys' to know my father was a murderer or even that I was associated with that family in any way.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Percy, Fred and George and I all clambered into the family car and began driving to the Leaky Cauldron. The car had magically stretched to fit Percy in the front seat along with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley while Fred, George and I got shoved in the back. I was stuck between them since I was the smallest.

I was playing with my vault key in my pocket out of nervousness. I shouldn't be feeling nervous but I was. When we entered Diagon Alley Mrs. Weasley took the other three into Ollivander's while Mr. Weasley escorted me to Gringotts. When we entered I walked up to the goblin who always took care of my family business and handed him the key to my vault.

I took a deep breath knowing I would have to say my full identity now. "Chloe Black. The Black family vault please. The vault number is on the key tag." I breathed out quickly and glanced up at Mr. Weasley hoping he didn't have a disdainful look on his face but he looked indifferent.

"Follow me." The goblin said as it walked over to a cart gesturing for us to get in.

We rode the cart all the way down and the goblin opened my vault allowing me to enter. Mr. Weasley stood by the cart waiting. I felt self conscious as I pulled out the case my mother gave me. I filled it with coins then closed it feeling the weight of it as I moved it out of the way. I pulled out a small pouch and slid a few galleons in my pocket before filling the pouch up till it could barely close.

I stepped out of my vault and the goblin closed it. We rode back from the vaults of Gringotts and into Diagon Alley where we found the others waiting for us.

"There you two are. Chloe, darling, I picked your books up for you so now all you need to do is get your wand." Mrs. Weasley said showing me a large stack of books.

"How much were all my books?" I asked as I pulled my money pouch out of my bag.

"Don't worry about it." Mrs Weasley said waving me off.

"No. I need to pay you back." I argued.

"We won't accept it." She fought back.

"If you won't take it I'll give it to Fred and George." I said. Anything with Fred and George in it was a dangerous threat.

"Oh, well fine then. You can give it to Arthur." She agreed finally.

"Molly, let's leave the twins and Chloe to have some fun while we take Percy to do some more adult stuff." Mr. Weasley said as he took the money from me and walked over to them.

The three of them walked away leaving Fred, George and I alone to get up to any shenanigans.

"Let's get my wand then we can go get me an owl. After that we should go get some ice cream than check out that joke shop over there." I said pointing at the shop as I slipped money in each of their pockets.

"We don't have any money though." George said quieting down slightly.

"Then what's that in your pockets?" I asked with a big grin spread across my face.

They reached into their pockets and pulled out the money I slipped them. They looked shocked before they realized what I had done.

"Thank you so much Chloe!" They said in unison as they wrapped me in a group hug.

"Your welcome. Now let's go get me a wand." I said as we walked over to Ollivander's.

"Don't you need robes too?" Fred asked as we stepped into the shop.

"My mother brought me here months ago to get me my robes. She had to get new ones herself so we got me some as well." I explained as I walked up to Mr. Olivander.

"Ah, Chloe its nice to see you again. Here to get your wand?" Mr. Ollivander announced.

"Yes." I turned to Fred and George ready to explain how I knew Ollivander. "My mother and I spent some time in the leaky cauldron a few years ago and I would come visit Ollivander to keep him company when sales were low."

"Why were you staying at the Leaky Cauldron?" They asked.

"Just a spot of family drama." I said. It wasn't a lie as they were on the hunt for my mother but eventually they gave up looking.

"Well now you can buy your wand." Ollivander said as he pulled out the wand I had chosen all those years ago when I used to test all of them. Technically the wand chose me but that didn't matter.

I handed him the money then took my wand box wishing him a good day as we exited. We headed straight for the owl display when we entered the shop and I greeted all the owls.

"Let me guess, your friends with all these owls too?" Fred questioned.

"Wanna bet?" I said as I flicked a sickle at him and opened the cage pulling out a barn owl I had named Bob years ago.

"You just keep getting better the longer we get to know you." George said happily.

"Just you wait." I said with negative connotation. though, I don't think they noticed.

I purchased the owl and all of the accessories then we walked over to Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlor and I bought each of us large ice creams.

We talked deliberately about our plans with the dung bombs once we got to Hogwarts as we ate our ice cream and once we were all finished we all walked to the joke shop.

Mrs. Weasley wouldn't have let us inside this shop but she wasn't around to stop us so we stocked up on dung bombs and other joke products as well as an assortment of candies that do peculiar things to the consumer.

We arrived at the counter and placed everything on top to be purchased. Fred and George each slipped the money I had given them onto the counter but u pushed it back at them and paid for the stuff quickly.

"That money is for when I'm not here. If I'm around, I'm paying." I said sternly as the twins shrunk back.

The cashier put all our stuff in a bag and I handed it to the twins while I collected my extra coins. I sighed as we left the store being satisfied with our purchases.

Mrs. Weasley rounded us up after a few more minutes and we got back into the car to head back to the Burrow. It was a successful trip if I do say so myself. If only I didn't have to go home. I would much rather stay at the Burrow.

When I did eventually return to my actual home I set the case of coins on the kitchen table in front of my mother and she quickly opened it.

"Thank you for retrieving this. Make sure you don't let them figure out who you are." My mother said without even looking in my direction.

I simply scoffed and ran up to my room to get ready for bed. There was no use trying to get her attention. I was just a tool when needed and a waste of space when not. At least the Weasleys' care.