Novus Orbis | Fred Weasley x Insert | ON HIATUS

Chapter 29 - Run Me Through

Y/n can't keep much track of the next couple of weeks–again, it's all a blur of excitement for the next task and the stress from the N.E.W.T. preparation homework. Snape no longer seems very intent on keeping up with whatever her latest nightmare was, instead being very irritable in the halls and, in fact, retracting ten points from Gryffindor when she finished a potion too early one day.

"Well, at least he's treating me like everyone else for once," Y/n says to the boys as they walk out of the dungeons that day. "It's nice to feel normal."

-

There is one more Hogsmeade trip in the middle of March, and the weather is so nice that by the time they're halfway down the path from the castle, their jumpers are all off and hung over their shoulders. The trio is finally all together again, and they chatter away about their growing funds for the shop.

"Bill says that the shop we're looking at in Diagon Alley is still up for sale," Fred says, waving the letter he received from his brother in the air.

"It's nice that it has living quarters above," Y/n says. "I'm not going to lie–I kind of can't wait for this year to be over. It's been so stressful, even watching the tasks."

The boys agree in unison.

"If it weren't for the fact that it's–well, Hogwarts," Fred says, "We probably wouldn't be here anymore."

"Dropping out is not a very favourable option, if you want to run a shop," Y/n reminds them.

They wander around the village, not having any particular goal other than to visit their usual haunts and end it all, of course, with a nice butterbeer. They go to Honeydukes, purchasing a bag of sweets, and then walk up the path past Dervish and Banges and out of the town a little ways. "You know, I'd swear I saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione come up this way earlier," Y/n says. "Following a stray dog or something."

"They're always up to some sneaky rubbish, you know," George says through a mouthful of pumpkin pasty. "Not worth the bother anymore."

"Unless we catch them at something, of course."

The day is relatively uneventful, consisting of them walking from shop to shop and then topping it off with their regular visit to the Three Broomsticks.

When they visit the kitchens that night to nab a couple of snacks for the common room, they're met with a rather unpleasant surprise–Winky, the house-elf from the World Cup, is sitting on a stool with a most dismal expression. Dobby greets them cheerfully, telling them all about his wages and how kind Dumbledore is, before noticing their stares and explaining that after Crouch had freed her, she was given a home at Hogwarts.

"She doesn't look very happy at all," Y/n comments, gazing at the little creature that sits next to the fireplace. She's so filthy that it takes one a moment to distinguish her from the smoke-blackened brick behind her, and her clothes are ragged and unwashed. She clutches a bottle of butterbeer, nearly empty, and sways a little on her stool.

"Winky is getting through six bottles a day now," Dobby says to them quietly.

"But it's not very strong, is it?"

"Very strong for house-elves, miss," he says, shaking his head. A loud hiccup comes from Winky, and they look over just in time to see her nearly fall off of the seat. Several elves returning with their washed vegetables give her hard looks as they pass. "She is pining, sirs and miss; Winky wants to go home," Dobby goes on. "Winky still thinks Mr. Crouch is her master, and nothing Dobby or anyone else says will persuade her that Dumbledore is her master now. Not that any of the other house-elves are wanting to talk to her," he adds with a glance around the room.