The Space Boy and The Red Head

12 - Suspicious Beans

Thursday - 1st February 1996

Apollo was acutely aware of the ache in his bones. It had almost been a full lunar cycle since his return to Hogwarts. However, right now that didn't matter.

The four boys were sat in front of the common room fire. The homework they had been meaning to complete long since forgotten. The ink blots well and truly dried into the material by now. Fred was sat on the sofa, a mug of tea in his hands and small pile of digestive biscuits balanced on the arm of the chair. He was deep in his retelling of the story of when he and his twin had tried to prank Percy, one of their older brothers, over the summer before their second year. It had been one of the last peaceful years at Hogwarts as Harry Potter was enrolled the following year.

Obnoxious and loud laughter filled the common room once more. Lee was grabbing his sides which had cramped in pain from all the laughing. He was sat cross legged on the floor by the fire place, a selection of Honeyduke's sweets in front of him. He was trying to separate Bertie Botts beans into safe and non safe piles based on smell. Occasionally trying to discreetly ask Apollo for assistance, making out it was only as he was closest. He trusted the ones Apollo sorted the most. He knew the boys senses were most likely heightened at the moment so would be able to sniff out the spearmint from the cabbage. He was too busy laughing however to notice which pile he'd picked up a bean from. Popping it straight into his mouth only to immediately spit it back out. Discarding it in an old chocolate wrapper.

"Urgh, cat food" he said in disgust. This brought on another hysterical bout of laughter.

George leaned further into the opposite end of the couch that Fred was sitting on. An empty mug of tea sat discarded by his feet. Like his brother, George also had a small pile of biscuits of his own. Though he had helped himself to custard creams. He was currently pulling the two halves apart to lick out the filling whilst Fred continued on with his storytelling. George was definitely the less talkative one out of the twins. Not because he was shy or anything, more just because Fred never seemed to stop talking. George tried to scoop the inside of his custard cream out, something Mrs Weasley never let him do at home. When he looked back up from his biscuit he found Apollo watching him and biting his lip to hold back laughter. George was quite confused at this, raising an eyebrow as if to silently ask what was so funny. Apollo tried to very subtly scratch his nose, making out as if he was brushing something off his face. George immediately understood what was so funny, now very embarrassed he quickly wiped the cream off of his nose. Playfully scowling at Apollo as he did.

Apollo, like Lee, was sat on the floor. Though he was sat with his back leaning against the couch by George's feet. His legs stretched out towards the fireplace. The warmth it was emitting was helping to ease the stiffness in his muscles. He felt more content in this moment than he had felt for a while. His hot chocolate had long since been finished. He wished he'd brought some more chocolate with him as the one chocolate frog earlier didn't last very long. So, to help keep himself entertained, every time Lee seemed distracted Apollo would switch some of the jelly beans from the bad tasting side into the good. He'd used his increased sense of smell to already find all the chocolate flavoured ones. He'd stashed them in his pocket and was eating them when no one was looking. George had seen the initial jelly bean switch and kept glancing over at Lee whenever he took a new bean. Hoping he'd fall for one of the bad ones.

Apollo stretched his back out. It was getting sore from sitting in one position for so long. Turning ever so slightly and adjusting to lean up against George's legs instead. He felt comfier now. And tired. The warmth and the atmosphere would soon lull the boys to sleep if they weren't careful. Students were forbidden from sleeping in the common rooms so they would have to head to bed soon like the rest of their housemates. Most of whom had gone to bed hours ago.

Apollo must've been more tired than he had thought because he drifted off to sleep fairly quickly. George, whose leg he was still leaning against, hadn't noticed until Lee had mentioned they should keep their voices down.

"Shhh! I think he's coming down with something again. We should let him rest" Lee hushed Fred who was still speaking loudly.

"What? How can you tell?" Fred asked.

"I think sharing a room with you three for so long has made it pretty easy to tell. He's tired, he hasn't said anything but you can tell his joints ache AND he's gone through more chocolate than usual." Said Lee.

"And he's paler than usual too." added George. Fred raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe I'm not that observant" he thought out loud.

"You have no idea" laughed Lee quietly. This confused both of the twins but Lee quickly gave them a look as if to tell them to drop the subject.

The other boys soon also grew tired. Fred and Lee returned to the dormitory first. George had insisted on waiting for a while, letting Apollo rest. Eventually George could feel himself beginning to drift off so decided he better finally move the pair upstairs. He stood up and scooped his sleeping friend off the floor. Carrying him up the stairs to the shared bedroom. He knocked on the door and hoped one of the others would come let him in. Eventually Fred did. After settling Apollo into bed, only removing his school tie and shoes to allow him to be a tad more comfortable, he soon made his way over to his own. Putting on one of Mrs Weasleys knitted jumpers and an old pair of pyjama bottoms he soon fell into a peaceful sleep.

Later when all the boys would awake they found themselves well rested, the evening before having been like medicine to the mind and soul. But for now they all slumbered, exploring their own dreams.