Dysfunctional

22 - The Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes

Saturday, August 24

Sirius and Harry were heading back to Flourish and Blotts when Harry was pleasantly surprised to see a group of people with the tell-tale red hair moving towards them. Harry raised his hand in greeting as Ron hurried forwards, grinning and clapped him on the back. "How are you, mate? And you, Sirius?"

Sirius smiled in greeting when Harry said, "We're good. Where's Hermione?"

Just then, Hermione appeared from behind the Weasleys along with her mother, beaming. "Harry! It's so good to see you!"

She hugged him enthusiastically, then turned to greet Sirius.

"Harry dear! How lovely to see you!" said Mrs. Weasley as she too hugged him. After pleasant exchanges of greeting with Mr. Weasley and Ginny, Ron was saying, "We really must visit Fred and George's new joke shop! I heard its brilliant and they're raking in the galleons!"

Mrs. Weasley said, "We'll leave that for last. It's best we be off to Madam Malkin's first-"

Mr. Weasley interrupted, "That will take too much time, Molly. Let's just divide into groups. The kids can go together to get their robes and we can get their books from Flourish and Blotts."

"I've already got my robes," said Harry, then indicated Sirius. "We're going to Flourish and Blotts too."

"Oh, okay then," amended Mr. Weasley. "Molly, you can go with the kids to Madam Malkin's and I'll get the books..."

Sirius added, "Tonks can go with them too."

Tonks nodded as she and Mrs. Weasley ushered Ron, Hermione and Ginny who promised to meet up at the joke shop.

Sirius offered to wait outside the crowded bookshop as Harry and Mr. Weasley purchased the new books. After they had finished, Mr. Weasley lead them to a building at the end of the Alley which turned out to be the wacky shop of Fred and George.

Harry and Ron led the way inside as they took in the shelves piled high with joke shop products. He noted Sirius looked somewhat awed and he shook his head. "They really mean business, don't they?"

Hermione was reading the information on the back of a box bearing a highly-coloured picture of a handsome youth and a swooning girl who were standing on the deck of a pirate ship labelled 'Patented Daydream Charms'. "You know, that really is extraordinary magic."

"For that, Hermione," said a voice behind them, "you can have one for free."

A beaming Fred stood before them, wearing a set of magenta robes that clashed magnificently with his flaming red hair.

"How are you, Harry?" They shook hands. "And you, Sirius, mate."

"This is amazing, Fred," said Sirius warmly, a youthful smile lighting up his face.

"Thanks," said Fred, grinning. "Come on, I'll give you the tour."

oOo

After the quick tour, Sirius turned to Harry. "I'll be waiting outside, Harry. I have some things to discuss with Tonks. Don't wander off."

Harry nodded and Sirius set off outside the bustling shop.

It wasn't that he was not interested in seeing the twins' shop - it was like his thirteen-year old self's dream come true to look around the place with its dizzying variety of joke products. But Sirius was painfully aware that he wasn't as interested in buying it, as he was when he was a kid. Merlin's saggy Y-fronts, was he getting old?