Belladonna

Olde Mac's Potions

Belladonna 37

Olde Mac's Potions

17 December 1994

Ana ducked inside the potions shop just as a howling wind threatened to blow her away. When Sev asked her to pick up some supplies, boomslang skin, bicorn horn, and lacewing flies, in particular, Ana wanted to say no. But, she needed some supplies too and thought it would have been rotten luck to run into him on her free day. So while Sadie was fawning over the latest beauty charms, Ana decided to duck inside Olde Mac's Potions.

The bells on the door jingled at her arrival. She stomped her feet and brushed the fresh snow from her cloak as the shopkeep came around the corner.

"Ah, goo' mornin' to ya, Ana."

Mac, or Flynn Macintyre, was an older wizard in his forties or fifties. He was Irish born but his family moved to Scotland in his early childhood, so his accent was an odd mixture of the two.

"Morning, Mac? It's past noon," Ana replied with a smile.

"Tha' may be, but its mornin' somewhere, I imagine."

"Well, we're not in somewhere. We're in Hogsmeade."

"Aye, but Hogsmea' is somewhere to someone."

Ana rolled her eyes playfully.

"What can I get for ya?"

"I need some supplies," Ana said as she handed over a list. Mac reviewed it carefully before raising a brow in question. "Some of it is for Sev too."

"Tha' explains it then. While I get this together, why doncha check out my latest shipment of gillyflower. They're all the rage somewhere."

"Don't mind if I do; I've been looking for something new to play with."

Fred's breath caught in his throat the moment he heard Ana's voice. He knew she was alone; if her friends had been with her he was certain he'd have already heard Carrow or Baldock complain about the smell. A potions shop, a good potions shop, always carried an odor; it was inevitable really, with all the ingredients they stocked. A stronger odor was usually indicative of a better supply.

Fred remained hidden in the aisle, while Ana talked to Mac. He could hear the smile in her voice. And her laugh... oh! It was the sweetest sound. If he closed his eyes, he could see her beauty as though she was standing before him. If he inhaled deeply he could smell her fragrance as though she was standing beside him.

"You know, just because you stand perfectly still and quiet it doesn't make you invisible."

Fred's stomach dropped. It smelled like she was standing beside him because she was standing beside him.

Okay. Don't panic, Freddie. Play it cool.

"Bugger! And here I thought I'd mastered that technique." Fred grinned and opened one eye to look at her; she was smiling too but her eyes darted around quickly.

"George's not here," he said.

Ana's shoulders relaxed slightly. "Oh. Good. I.... I mean... I didn't..."

"It's alright. I know what you meant."

"Impressive, because I'm not sure I knew what I meant," Ana said.