Chapter 35 – Preparations and a gift

The day after the brilliant party, Fred, George, Ginny, Hermione, Harry and Ron all returned to Weasleys Wizard Wheezes to continue with their cleaning of the shop. Alicia and Lee met everyone there to give them a helping hand.

The shop and flat were both soon clean enough for it to open again and for Fred and George to move back into their flat. However they did have the small matter of products to make before they could re-open as they didn't have enough. They knew that they'd be in demand as they had already started receiving letters from their keen customers, looking to see when the shop would be open again. They had to stop their Owl orders when they went into hiding while on the horcrux hunt.

"Should I make a start on these Owl orders?" Lee asked, picking up the pile of letters from the cash desk.
"Yes. You and Alicia could do that." Fred replied. "Take Harry and Ron with you, they can give you a hand."
"What are the rest of you going to do?" Lee asked.
"We'll be in the back room making a start on more products." Fred answered. "Ginny can help George and Hermione can help me."
"What products do you think will everyone be in desperate need of?" George wondered.
"Maybe we should incorporate the dreamless sleeping potion into a sweet for those who are having bad nightmares after the war." Fred suggested.
"That would be a really good idea Fred. I'm sure we're not the only ones who've suffered from terrible nightmares." Hermione answered.
"How about a sweet dreams sweet?" Ginny suggested. "It's a sweet that gives you nice dreams, a bit like the sweet dreams potion."
"You are brilliant Gin." George grinned.
"Good to see she takes her brains and ideas after us." Fred grinned.
"How about something to help relax people?" Hermione suggested. "In the muggle world people have baths with lavender oil to help them relax, so how about some lavender bath salts?"
"Like a muggle range?" George asked.
"I'm sure the bath salts would benefit us witches and wizards just as much as muggles." Hermione answered. "We could do a lavender sleeping spray that you spray on your pillow which relaxes you and helps you sleep."
"Keep these ideas coming girls." Fred urged, taking a quill and piece of parchment to write all these ideas down.
"The bruise remover was a real money spinner, as was the pimple remover." George said.
"What about a cream that helps scars to fade?" Ginny suggested.
"Brilliant Ginny and yes George, we need to make more of those." Fred answered.

All four of them got their thinking caps on as they thought long and hard about new product ideas for the shop. All the old products would be on sale again, expect for the ones which didn't make them much money.

"I think you should cancel the You-know-poo sweets." Hermione said.
"I think so too Hermione. They didn't really get us much money." George replied.
"I think Hermione and I should make a start on the sleeping potions. I think a simple sleeping draught should do the trick." Fred stated.
"Well we'll have to make it stronger if you're wanting people to sleep for about 7 or 8 hours. A simple sleeping draught will only last for about an hour." Hermione answered.
"This is why we need your brains Hermione." Fred grinned.

Hermione jumped down from the bench where she was sat and moved to pull out a potion book from the bookshelf.

"I'm sure we can alter some of the ingredients. It shouldn't be too difficult." Hermione said, flicking through the book.
"Hermione you managed to brew Polyjuice potion when you were 12, so I am not at all worried about you not managing a suitable sleeping potion." Fred said.
"I think we should add more lavender into the potion." Hermione stated, ignoring Fred's comment.
"Let's get to work then." Fred grinned, clapping his hands together.

Fred and Hermione left and went into the back room which was where Fred and George made all their products. There were two large tables which each had a cauldron sitting on them. There were shelves filled with potion ingredients and potion books and sitting on a stand was a large brown leather bound book which had a large 'W' engraved on the front of it. This, Hermione knew was the book where Fred and George wrote down all their product methods in. There was a smaller red leather bound book which had the word 'Ideas' written on the front of it. There were boxes of products, parchment and quills lying around too.

"Hermione you make a start on the sleeping draught. I'll have a flick through some potion books to see what else I can find." Fred stated.

Hermione did as she was asked, searching for the required potion ingredients then switched on one of the cauldrons to heat.

Meanwhile George and Ginny had already made a start on the bruise remover and pimple remover in the other room but paid Fred and Hermione visits to get the correct ingredients. All four of them worked endlessly throughout the morning making products and potions while Lee, Alicia, Harry and Ron worked on owl orders from the main shop. Lee and Alicia had disappeared into the stock room for a short while for a snogging session but were rudely interrupted by Ron looking for some punching telescopes. They used both Hedwig and Ron's owl Pigwideon first to send some of the owl orders but then Lee went to get his owl too.

"I think Fred and George should get their own owl for the shop." Alicia said.
"Why don't we go and get them one?" Harry suggested.
"That would be a good idea." Alicia replied with a smile.
"Ron and I will go and get them one from Eeylops. I have some money in my pocket which should be enough." Harry offered.
"Maybe Alicia and I should go in case you get hounded by reporters from the Daily Prophet. I saw some lurking around the Alley earlier." Lee said.
"Yeah that's probably a good idea." Ron answered.
"Yeah I don't fancy being pestered by reporters." Harry said.
"Have you got enough money Lee?" Alicia asked.
"Yes I should have enough." Lee answered.

Lee and Alicia left the room and walked down the alley to Eeylops Owl Emporium.

"What sort of Owl should we get them?" Alicia wondered, looking around a wide range of Owls.
"Preferably one that's good at flying long distances and won't be like that blasted Errol." Lee answered.
"Is that owl still alive?" Alicia asked with a slight giggle. "Last time they used it to send a letter to me, it collapsed on my bed and wouldn't move for days."
"If they have any sense they won't use it." Lee laughed.
"Hedwig is a beautiful owl, so how about a white one like her?" Alicia suggested.
"Yeah or how about that grey one there?" Lee asked.
"Grey one then?" Alicia asked.

They asked the cashier if they could purchase the beautiful grey owl that had a white stomach. The woman put the owl in a cage and accepted the money which Lee had given them. Alicia got the owl some treats, food and a little water bottle.

"They better appreciate this." Lee stated.
"Oh they will. They always appreciate gifts from people." Alicia answered.
"Do we need anything else while we're here?" Lee asked.
"I think we're alright. We can come and get things if we need them." Alicia answered. "Maybe we should get everyone some lunch."
"Yeah. I'm starving so lets go to The Leaky Cauldron and get some sandwiches." Lee suggested.

They went to The Leaky Cauldron next to get everyone some lunch then returned to Wizard Wheezes.

"Where did you two disappear too?" George asked.
"We went to get you and Fred a little gift and to get some lunch." Alicia answered, showing George the owl.
"Is this for us?" George asked, his blue eyes wide.
"Yes. We thought you could use her for your owl orders." Lee answered.
"Wow. Thank you so much. She's brilliant." George grinned, accepting the owl from Lee.

They all headed back out to the staff room so that George could show Fred the owl.

"Fred, come here a second." George called.
"What's up?" Fred asked, emerging from the room.
"Lee and Alicia bought us a gift and some lunch." George answered.

Fred wiped his dirty hands on a towel then entered the kitchen were Alicia was already sorting out the sandwiches she had brought everyone.

"Look Fred, our very own owl." George grinned.
"You're kidding me?" Fred gasped.
"Nope. This is our very own owl from Lee and Alicia." George said.
"Well Alicia said that you should have your own owl and then Harry suggested that we go and get you one." Lee explained. "It's a 'she' by the way."
"She's lovely. What are you going to call her?" Ginny asked.
"If they have any sense, they won't let you name her. You're the one who named mine Pigwideon." Ron stated.
"What about Wheezy?" Lee suggested.
"That's a daft name for an owl." Ginny stated.
"Not as daft as Pig." Ron said.
"Do you want green hair?" Ginny questioned, giving Ron the evils.
"Hermione, is there any famous owls in those books you've read?" Fred asked.
"Muggle books?" Lee wondered.
"Well there's Wise Owl from the Winnie the Pooh series but that's not a very good name." Hermione answered.
"How hard can it be to name an owl?" Lee laughed.
"How about we eat our lunch first then try and come up with a name? We might be able to think better with some food in us?" Alicia suggested.
"Good thinking Alicia. I'm bloody starving." Lee answered, rubbing his stomach.
"You're always hungry." Alicia giggled.

They all sat down around the table and tucked into the sandwiches, washed down with ice cold butterbeer.

"What about Albus, after Dumbledore?" George suggested.
"The owl is a female." Ginny giggled.
"Darn it." George said. "It's grey feathers made me think of Dumbledore for some reason."

The others burst into a fit of laughter with Lee nearly choking on his drink.

"How did you come up with name Hedwig?" Fred asked Harry.
"I honestly can't remember. It seems so long ago." Harry answered.
"What about Dolores after our favourite Hogwarts professor?" Lee suggested in a sarcastic tone.
"You best be joking Lee!" Fred stated.
"Of course I'm joking." Lee answered.
"What about Duchess?" Hermione suggested.
"That sounds very posh." George answered.
*****

So what will Fred and George call their owl?