Mine Forever ( a Harmione fanfic )

Chapter 17

As George opened the doors to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, the crowd outside erupted into cheers, eager to step into the legendary joke shop once again. The initial excitement, however, quickly turned into chaos as people tried to rush in all at once. George, realizing the situation was getting out of hand, quickly cast a charm on the door to allow only two people through at a time.

"Hold on, everyone!" George called out, his voice amplified by a Sonorus charm. "I know you're all excited, but please, let's be considerate of each other. There's plenty of time for everyone to enjoy the shop, and I'd prefer not to be run out of business on the first day back! So please, no pushing, and try not to take everything off the shelves at once!"

The crowd laughed, the tension easing slightly as George continued, "Welcome, one and all, to the grand reopening of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes! Come on in and enjoy the magic—but remember, mischief managed, alright?"

With a grand gesture, George threw the doors open, and the crowd began to file in, two by two. Inside the shop, the Weasley family stood waiting, exchanging nervous yet excited glances. George gave them a reassuring nod and turned back to face the incoming customers.

But as the first few people entered, the press surged forward, cameras flashing and journalists shouting over each other in a frenzy to capture the moment.

"George! Over here! What inspired the reopening after all this time?" one reporter yelled.

"Harry! How does it feel to be back after the war?" another shouted, their camera lenses trained on the Golden Trio.

As the chaos grew, Mr. Weasley stepped forward, raising his hands to calm the crowd. "Please, everyone, let's not make a fuss. We want the customers to enjoy their visit. Journalists are welcome, but we ask that you don't cause any inconvenience to our guests. We all want this to be a special day for everyone."

Despite Mr. Weasley's attempt to calm them, the photographers continued to focus on Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, their cameras flashing incessantly. Harry, seeing Ginny and Hermione struggling to avoid the blinding lights, instinctively stepped in front of them, Ron doing the same.

Harry, feeling the need to address the situation, squeezed Hermione's hand for reassurance and stepped forward. "Hello, everyone," he began, his voice strong but polite. "I know you all have a lot of questions, and updates you want to get from us. That's why none of us have been out and about much over the past half-year."

He took a deep breath, his green eyes scanning the crowd. "We're asking you, respectfully, to let us be. Please allow the customers to enjoy the shop without too much fuss. We all feel a lot after the war, and we're not really up to talking about it. I hope you understand that, as much as you want a story, we want peace of mind. Respectful conversation is encouraged though."

Harry's words had a noticeable effect. Some of the photographers lowered their cameras, the bright flashes fading as the press took a step back.

"Today is about family and the grand reopening of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes," Harry continued. "So let's focus on that. If you want to make it your headline, feel free. After everything our community has gone through, laughter and happiness need to find their way back to us. Let this shop be the start of that. A bit of fun is what everyone needs right now."

With that, Harry stepped back, earning appreciative pats on the back from the Weasleys and a warm smile from Hermione. The crowd began to disperse more calmly, with customers moving eagerly toward different sections of the shop.

As the doors finally swung open wide, people rushed in, heading straight to the various sections they were most excited about. The Weasleys, along with Harry and Hermione, quickly spread out, taking their places to assist George.