Disclaimer: These amazing characters are not mine. They belong to JK.
Enjoy!
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Chapter 2
Diagon Alley was bustling once more with excited chatter as witches and wizards walked to and from shops, gathering supplies for the fast approaching school year. The sun shone down on the pavement and casted a warm glow over the scenery.
In one corner of the alley, George Weasley walked with his twin, Fred, their arms holding stacks of books they would be needing for their seventh year in Hogwarts. After almost 3 years since their fire cracking exit in Hogwarts and the war just a year ago, they both decided it wasn't a bad idea for them to properly finish school. Their joke shop was quite successful and with their brother Charlie on a break from his job in Romania and Bill who was staying at the Burrow with a heavily pregnant Fleur, they need not worry about it. Charlie and Bill had volunteered to take over the shop for a year while they finish school.
Their parents, especially their mum, was tearfully ecstatic to hear their decision and was greatly supportive, which is why they found themselves in Diagon Alley that August morning. She had insisted they go early and gather their supplies. They had already gotten their books and a set of new dress robes and so they were on their way back to their flat.
As they walked into their shop and nodded to Verity who was currently working the register, both their stomachs grumbled.
"Let's hurry and go meet the others, I'm starving already," Fred said as they ascended the stairs to their flat.
Once their things were settled, they walked back to the Leaky Cauldron, where the rest of their family was spending the remaining days before school officially starts. The bell jingled as they entered, immediately the scent of beef stew welcomed their senses and made their stomachs grumble once more.
"There they are!" Charlie said aloud, opening his arms for them. Molly Weasley ushered them to a big table near the window where Ginny and the others are already sat, plates of various dishes waiting for them on the table.
Fred sat beside his girlfriend, Hermione, who gave him a warm smile while George sat down beside his sister, who looked at him with a secretive smile.
"What?" he asked, suspiciously.
Ginny shrugged and with a smile, placed a generous amount of mashed potatoes with gravy onto her plate. Thinking nothing of it, he helped himself with some beef stew.
And as he was enjoying his food, laughter came from the staircase and he watched, curious, as a group of students came down and settled down a few tables away. He was about to look away from the group when he caught sight of a raven haired girl.
. . . . . . . . . .
"Max would love that," Philbert said softly.
She was perched on the edge of the bed, watching her best friend try on his dew dress robes. There was sadness in her voice as she looked at him through the mirror.
Jackson ran his fingers across the ash colored bowtie, his stormy grey eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"I really wish he was here," he whispered, catching her eyes in the mirror.
She looked down at her lap, her own eyes tearing up. "Me too. I miss him so much."
A choke came from Jackson before he sat down beside her and engulfed her in a tight embrace. "It doesn't feel right going back to Hogwarts without him. I can't even face his parents wihtout breaking down."
Philbert wrapped her arms around him. One hand rubbing his back and the other running through his hair. The same way she had held him that night as they said goodbye to Max. No words escaped her. What could she say? Despite it being a year ago, the pain was still there and it was hard on all of them, so much more on Jackson. They had all lost a very dear friend at the hands of the Death Eaters that night.
It felt like only yesterday when he was standing beside them, wand in hand, ready to fight a world he had only discovered when he was 11 years old. How his deep blue eyes had searched for them among the crowd when everyone had though that Harry was dead. How he had hugged them so tightly as if they were the ones he drew his strength from. And how he had looked at them with a warm smile on his chapped lips, right before he had left to help defend the west side of the castle.
Suddenly, a knock made them let go of each other and hastily wiped their eyes.
"Hey guys, we'll meet you downstairs. Okay?"
Jackson sighed and asnwered his cousin.
"Alright, Laurena. We'll be down in a minute."
He stood up and pulled Philbert up. They held each other's hands. He gave her a teary smile which she returned. The she pulled her hands away and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Max wouldn't want us to continue like this. He would want us to be happy. He would want you to be happy, Jackson."
Jackson squeezed her shoulders. "And he would want you to finally go up to George Weasley and tell him you love him."
Philbert pushed him away, a glare on her face. This made him laugh. "Go get changed, Jackson."
Wiping his face free of the tear stains, he changed back into his regular clothes and folded his dress robes and placed them back into his trunk.
The made their way down to the dining area where witches and wizards were having lunch.
"But seriously. That crush of yours has been around since what, the Yule Ball? Come on, Phil. Who are you trying to convince by saying you are over him?"
"I am. I mean, I am over him." She crossed her arms.
Jackson snorted. "And I'm straight. Yeah right, Philbert."
Philbert was the first one to see him and she stopped for a split second in her tracks before she cleared her throat to signal Jackson to stop talking. But he ignored her and walked over to their table.
"Weren't you so happy the last time you saw him in their jo– OW!"
Philbert had hit his leg with her chair. She leaned close to him and whispered, "Lower your voice."
Jackson glared at her before looking to their left and said "Oh."
Once they were settled down, he whispered, "You didn't have a to hit so hard, you know. And besides, you should thank me cause now he is trying to be discreet but it's pretty clear he's staring at you."
"No he's not," she said, not even turning around to see for herself. "Now, can you please pass me the chicken pesto?"
. . . . . . . . . .
"Why the bloody hell is Blaize with them?" George suddenly found himself blurt out as he and his twin closed up the shop for the night.
"Didn't Ginny say Philbert is friends with him?" Fred said from the cashier.
"She can't be from Slytherin, right? I mean, look at her. She looks so...pure."
"You know George, you've been going on and on about her these past few months and yet you still haven't asked Ginny what her house is. Our darling sister will obviously gladly help you out."
George seemed to not hear him because he just kept on ranting as he double checked the storage room.
"And who was that guy sitting beside her? They seem pretty close. Too close in fact."
Rolling his eyes, Fred finished up in the cashier and joined his brother in the storage room.
"Look Georgie, you'll see her again soon. Maybe you could ask her then."
And Fred left his brother to his worries. Besides, the day after tomorrow, they'll be leaving for Hogwarts already. George would be able to keep a close eye on her then.
. . . . . . . . . .
The train honked once more as Philbert settled down on the compartment, Munchkin, the pygmy puff, sat comfortably on her shoulder. Beside her, Jackson conjured up a neck pillow and placed it around his neck. Across them sat Leo, their friend from Gryffindor, who also happened to be Max's best friend. Laurena and their other friends are already settled in the other compartments.
Jackson was just about to drift off to sleep when the compartment door slid open and Bethany, also one of their friends, plopped down beside Leo.
"Blaize beat me in the other compartment."
They all laughed and enjoyed the trip. Once in a while a snore would come from Jackson or Leo would hit his head on the window or Philbert would drop her head from Jackson's shoulder or Bethany would unconsciously snuggle closer to Leo.
About a few hours later, they had all woken up and waited eagerly for the lady with the trolley to come by. And once she had, they all got various patries and sweets to enjoy for the rest of the trip.
"Oh wait, I forgot to buy couldron cakes!" Philbert stood up and went out of their compartment to catch up with the trolley witch.
Just as she was about to tap the witch's shoulder, the nearest compartment door slid opened, startling her.
"Merlin's beard!" she huffed, hand on her chest. A squeak came from the tiny fluff on her shoulder.
"Philbert?"
She froze and looked up slowly to see George Weasley staring down at her.
"George! Hello!"
"What are you doing here?" Behind him, Fred was about to step out of the compartment as well but George, still looking at her, slid the door closed. "Hey there, Munchkin." He reached out to pet the pgymy puff.
"Oi George!" They heard Fred exclaim from inside.
Geroge ignored him and instead looked at her with a big smile.
"Oh I um, I was running after the trolley. I forgot to buy some couldron cakes. It's just, you scared me when your door suddenly opened.
"Sorry about that. Hold on just a second." And he walked right up to the trolley and got the pastries for her.
"Here you go."
"Wait, George. You didn't have to."
George shook his head and held out the pastries to her. And when he saw her reach for some coins in her pocket he stopped her.
"And don't worry about it. My treat."
Philbert looked at him strangely. "What for?"
He shrugged and held up the pastries.
Philbert slowly took them but handed back four to him. "You should have that. It is your money and besides, isn't Fred with you there?"
And right on cue, Fred came out of the compartment, glaring at his twin. "Thanks by the way, George."
"Hey Fred." Philbert said, causing him to look at her in surprise.
"Oh hey Philbert! What are—"
She raised the pastries for him to see.
"Got some cauldron cakes. Well, I'll see you guys later. And thank you, George."
George gave her a big smile and as she retreated back to her compartment, he mumbled distractedly, "My pleasure."
"Hufflepuff," Fred said suddenly.
"What?"
"Her house, Georgie. She's a Hufflepuff."
"How did you know?"
Fred rolled his eyes and snatched the pastries from his hands. "Her robes, dimwit." And he went back inside th compartment.
George groaned and smacked his forehead.
"I didn't even notice."
"Of course you didn't, you lovesick fool," Fred answered from inside the compartment.
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AN: Thank you so much for reading this after so long. Don't worry, I'm already starting on the next chapter. Hugs and kisses, everyone!
