Letters To A Friend (Draco Malfoy Fanfiction)

IX.

It's Saturday afternoon, and the castle is unusually quiet, the usual hum of students replaced by the distant chatter of those visiting Hogsmeade. I seize this rare moment of tranquillity to settle by the lake, a book cradled in my hands. The gentle breeze rustles the pages, but I'm so absorbed in the story that I don't notice Fred and George approaching.

It's not until one of them, grinning mischievously, presses a Pumpkin Pasty into my hand that I finally look up. Blinking, I take in the familiar faces of my brothers. Fred's grin is as wide as ever, while George's eyes are gleaming with the sort of mischief only they can conjure.

"Thought you might need a snack," Fred says, leaning casually against a nearby rock.

"And we figured you could use some company," adds George, plopping down next to me without waiting for an invitation.

I raise an eyebrow, though a smile tugs at my lips. "What's the occasion?"

"Just a break from our usual chaos," George replies, nudging Fred with his elbow.

"We thought we'd spread a bit of cheer," Fred continues. "Can't let you sulk all by yourself."

I roll my eyes, but the warmth in their gesture touches me more than I care to admit. "I wasn't sulking," I protest, though my tone is more playful than defensive.

"Sure, sure," Fred says with a wink. "You were just... deeply engrossed in your book."

George chuckles. "Which, by the way, looks incredibly dull. What's it about?"

I hold up the cover for them to see. "It's not dull. It's a historical account of magical creatures."

Fred snorts. "Sounds riveting."

"Oh, don't be so cynical," I retort, though I can't help but laugh. "Besides, it's a nice break from all the madness."

"Fair enough," George agrees, taking a bite of his own Pasty. "But if you need a real distraction, we're always here to provide."

Fred nods enthusiastically. "Or at least until we have to head back and face Mum's latest attempt at making us behave."

I take a bite of the Pumpkin Pasty, the warm, spicy flavour contrasting pleasantly with the cool afternoon air. After a moment of enjoying the peacefulness, I glance at Fred and George, curiosity getting the better of me.

"So, how's the research for the Joke Shop going?" I ask, my eyes twinkling with genuine interest. "Found any new tricks up your sleeves?"

Fred and George exchange a look, their expressions turning conspiratorial. Fred's grin widens. "Oh, it's going quite splendidly. We've been working on some new products that we're certain will knock everyone's socks off."

"Like what?" I prompt, leaning forward eagerly. "Any hints?"

George chuckles, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Well, we've been experimenting with some new types of Skiving Snackboxes that we think might just become a must-have for every student."

"And," Fred adds, "we've also been working on a new line of fireworks that we're planning to unveil at the next Weasley family gathering. Mum won't know what hit her."

I laugh, imagining the chaos that would ensue. "That sounds brilliant. Mum might not be too pleased, though."

George winks. "That's half the fun."

"And the other half?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

Fred leans in, his tone dropping to a playful whisper. "The other half is knowing that we'll have the best joke shop in Diagon Alley. People will come from all over just to see what we've come up with next."