Brontide

Chapter Sixteen

January moved steadily into February, which soon became March. The weather was still pretty cold but became windier and wetter as the month went by. The shop was doing well for itself, and occasionally Tonks would stay over at the flat because she was worried sick about Remus. He'd been doing undercover work in a werewolf commune and was trying to persuade them away from Lord Voldemort's side. It was a dangerous mission without a doubt, but Dumbledore saw that it was essential.

On one particular day in March, Ron's birthday to be exact, Fred and George decided to surprise him by showing up for their Hogsmeade weekend. Alternately, they were also looking into buying Zonko's Joke Shop so they could have a Hogsmeade branch, so Rae and I were left in charge for the day. Granted, I really had wanted to go and see the castle again but the shop needed to stay open, so with reluctance, I stayed behind and helped Rae get through the bustling lines of customers. The day dragged on and on, and when seven o'clock rolled around we locked the doors and cleaned up, shutting off the lights and dragging our feet up the spiraling staircase.

When we reached the flat, I half expected to see Fred and George lounging around on the sofas, rubbing their bellies and asking about supper, only they hadn't returned from their trip yet. Rae and I exchanged looks of slight confusion. They should've been back a long time ago.

"What do you think happened?" Rae asked as she pulled her work robes over her head.

"I dunno," I said thoughtfully, doing the same, "I just hope everything's alright."

Neither of us felt like making anything to eat so we brought home two bowls of stew from the Leaky Cauldron, curling up by the fire in our pajamas. I tried not to worry about Fred and George as I ate my dinner, but soon it was past nine and we still hadn't heard anything from them. It was after we'd finished eating and were drinking hot cocoa that they finally contacted us.

"Hello?" Rae and I jumped in surprise, looking around to find where the voice had come from. "Cassie? Rae? Are you both there? Is this thing working?"

It was coming from the fireplace. The two of us crawled toward the hearth, making out the outlines of two shaggy heads in the stoking embers. It'd been Fred's voice that we heard.

"Yes, we can hear you," Rae said back, "what's going on?"

"We're up at the castle," George said, sounding evidently tired, "Ron's been poisoned."

"What?" we said at the same time, wearing matching looks of shock.

"Is he alright?" I asked, my voice full of panic.

"Yeah, he'll be alright. We're lucky Harry was there because he saved Ron's life. Would've really put a damper on his birthday if he kicked the bucket," Fred said.

Rae had a hand over her heart. "Who would want to poison Ron?"

"They don't think the poison was meant for him," George said quietly, "they reckon it was supposed to be for Dumbledore."

I felt relieved that Ron was okay, but that didn't mean my worries were put to ease. "Is Ron awake? Could you tell him I'll be sending his birthday present soon and that he isn't allowed to clock out just yet?"

"Oh, he isn't conscious," Fred half-laughed, "he's been out cold for hours. I reckon he deserves it after the day he's had, first accidentally drinking a love potion and then getting poisoned something awful. He might not have a girlfriend when he wakes up, either. He was mumbling Hermione's name in his sleep and I think Lavender heard him."

"Since when does Ron have a girlfriend? And why is it Lavender Brown of all people? That girl has some issues to work out. If he was dating anyone I would've thought it'd be Hermione."