As the Second Wizarding War ended, many students decided to go back to Hogwarts to finish their studies. Anne-Leigh Conway was one of them.
While she attempts to come to terms with what's happened, she gets entangled in an effort set forth by Headmi...
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Chapter 25: Pygmy Puffs
She kept her word, and came over to visit the shop without waiting another month, and he kept his word; he made her hot chocolate.
She was moderately nervous the first time she decided to pop over, but soon realised there was nothing to be nervous about. Taking up the offer to study there, she had brought her notes and a pile of books, and subsequently received an amused look from Fred once she entered through the door. George was still in Diagon Alley for business, and Fred seemed content enough that he finally had some company.
Leigh had sat down downstairs by the couches they had sat in before, surrounded by that magical light created by the sun hitting the countless number of colourful bottles of liquid. Except there was no sun this time, and the colours were bleaker, darker, but beautiful nonetheless.
She had to admit that it was nice to have a separate, quiet space. Even though the library had become her safe haven across the years, even that was filled with sounds: echoing chatter from students in the corners of the space, books accidentally being dropped, and the sound of wandering footsteps of students trying to find that one specific book they were searching for. Here it was just her.
Well, and Fred. Although thankfully it seemed like he had one of his less annoying days today.
He had quickly taken the hint, and avoided annoying her, at least this time, instead letting her sink down onto the couch, watching her plop the pile of books down beside her.
Despite the chilly temperature outside, the inside of the shop was pleasant. Still, Leigh was grateful once a cup of hot chocolate was delivered to her, and she reddened profusely as she thanked Fred, who gave her nothing but a small smile in return.
Immediately, that smell of the hot chocolate, the warmth of the cup, and the smoothness of the drink when it touched her lips made her feel like she had really made the right decision coming here after all.
After delivering her hot drink, Fred had stood himself by the counter, closing up and sorting out some paperwork after the last customers had left.
Once that was completed he had gone upstairs, only to come down moments later with a stack of papers and his own cup of hot chocolate, sitting down on the other couch by Leigh and starting to work through whichever documents he had brought with him. The night darkened outside the windows.
Leigh had bit her lip to force back a smile, looking at Fred discreetly across from her from beneath her eyelashes. His gaze was set on the papers in front of him, and his quill worked diligently.
He had moved down from the office space to here just to have some company. It was sweet. She had attempted to focus back on the essay in front of her, but her gaze kept flickering over to him as he sat completing his work. His eyebrows furrowed in focus, his hand's firm grasp of the quill, his hair. Once she left that evening she had gotten quite a bit of work done after all.
