Love Lost is Love Gained
Chapter 7: The Chapter You're About to Read
Remus and Artemis walked inside a brightly lit and multicolored store, which was filled with children around Artemis's age, looking at shelves and shelves of boxes and bags wrapped in brightly colored wrappers. It was very crowded, so Remus and Artemis had to squeeze through a large group looking at a display that was labeled 'Skiving Snack Boxes'.
"Lupin, is that you?" asked a tall red headed boy from behind the counter, "What are you doing here? We're not in trouble are we?"
"No, not at all Fred, Artemis just wanted to look around in here."
"Artemis? Who's Artemis?" he looked at her and said, "Are you Artemis?" she nodded, and he introduced himself, "Hi, I'm Fred Weasley, owner and founder of this store." He looked around and yelled, "Oi! Midgets the store's closed get out in the next ten seconds or I'll get the security! Out!"
On command the mass of kids began to clear out of the store, some with agitated grumbles, and others with more vocal complaints.
"Fred," said another boy who was identical to Fred, was standing near a large display of fireworks, "I was just about to make a huge sale. We're never going to sell anything if you keep kicking people out."
"George," said Fred, "This is Artemis....sorry, but I don't know your last name."
"Oh, it's Black." Lupin looked at her as if he was surprised that she had taken to using her birth name so quickly. Fred looked at Remus and asked, "As in Sirius?" Lupin nodded and said, "It's his daughter."
"Sirius had a daughter?" asked the boy called George who had walked over to them. "I didn't know that."
"No one knew that," Lupin said, "Well, at least no one knew she was still alive," he turned to look at Artemis, "Everyone thought you had died."
"Yeah, Dumbledore told me. Did you two know my father?"
"Yeah, we spent last summer by his house." George said as he walked over to the door and flipped the sign that said 'Open' to 'Closed'. Author's Note: Hello and welcome back to Love Lost is Love Gained this is chapter seven, which is cleverly entitled "The Chapter You're About to Read". Before you continue I would very much appreciate if you would take the quiz that my partner and myself had made on I don't know what the exact URL is but you can find it at Thank you for your time.
"You two own this store?" she asked.
"Yep, family owned and operated since about 3 months ago," said Fred.
"Did you two create everything in here? I mean all the props and stuff."
"Yep, we've been creating these since about our first year at Hogwarts."
"What house were you in?"
"Gryffindor," said George, "Are you going to go to Hogwarts? How old are you anyway, you look to old to be a first year, and to young to have graduated."
"I'm almost sixteen, and this is going to be my first year at Hogwarts. Dumbledore told me I'd have tutors for the rest of the summer to help me catch up. How old are the two of you?"
"We're eighteen," they said in unison. Author's Note: Aaaah! My stomach hurts so bad! And I Love The 70's is on, isn't Hal Sparks adorable? Aaaah...the pain.
"Oh, then you've left Hogwarts?" she would be a little disappointed if they said yes, they were very nice.
"Yeah," said Fred, "we left last year." He walked out from behind the counter and asked Lupin if he could have a word with him in the back; so he and Remus walked away from Artemis and George, speaking in whispers.
"I wonder where they're going," mused George, "Oh well," and he shrugged it off. "So," he said again, "why did you want to come in the store?"
"Oh," said Artemis kind of surprised, "I have a younger brother and I promised him that I would get him something."
"Okay, want to help me to help you look for stuff?"
"Sure if you want to." 'Wow,' she thought, 'the Wizarding world has a lot nicer guys than the regular world. Not to mention better looking, George's kinda cute, too.' Author's Note: They are hot! The twins in Prisoner of Azkaban, they are so hot! She and George walked around the store and looked at the different magical prank items; George kept a running commentary on how everything was created, and what everything did. Artemis was amazed at the products. She couldn't believe that two eighteen years olds made all this. But they weren't even eighteen when they started making it, they were eleven.
"This stuff is insane," Artemis commented while examining the display of fireworks. "How long did it take you to make these?"
"Well, we used our whole supply a few months ago, so it took around four months to make all the ones here."
"Wow, how do you make them," Artemis asked, looking at a box labeled Basic Blaze Box.
"Ah, I'm not allowed to disclose that information. It could ruin our business, and aside from that Fred would kill me."
"Are they dangerous? I don't want to send anything to Paris, that could, you know...kill him..."
"I think anything in the store might kill someone. It's our particular favorite variety of products," George said happily.
"Well, what would happen if one of your products did kill someone? I mean, what kind of warnings do you have, none of these fireworks have any warning labels. I mean, isn't it illegal to not warn people?"
"What fun is warning people?" asked Fred, walking by Artemis and George, "Warning them takes the surprise out of it."
"Yeah, but it's incredibly dangerous, not to mention you could be sued by the family."
"That's where you mistaken, dear," Fred said, "All our products are perfectly designed to be as close to death without actually dying. No one has ever died from our products, and we have guaranteed that no one ever will. It's fool proof."
"Are you certain they can't kill?"
"We're positive," they said in unison.
"Well, I guess if you're certain they won't kill my brother. Can I get the Deflagration Deluxe? And what are the Skiving Snack Boxes?"
"Ah," said George, "our most popular product. They're candies that make you sick."
"Why would you want candy that made you sick?"
"Well, not seriously sick," added Fred, "Only sick enough to get you out of class when you fancy it. They're color coded, so you eat one half you get sick, you eat the other, and you're better. It all works out."
"Okay, that sounds cool. But I'm not sure if it would be smart to get something like that, he might abuse them." She said. "Oh well." She picked up the box of fireworks and several bags of the Skiving Snack Boxes, and made her way toward the counter.
"Miss Granger...you do understand what I am asking you to do, correct?"
"Yes Professor," she replied, "I completely understand." She and the Dumbledore were sitting in the Leaky Cauldron, discussing the plan that Dumbledore had for Hermione.
"Now, Miss Granger, I have arranged for Miss Black to have other tutors aside from yourself. Would you like to know the names of your colleagues?" Hermione nodded. "Last night I was able to get certain teachers to agree with teaching her. You understand that you are not to reveal Miss Black's true nature to anyone? And you understand that you are not allowed to be in contact with anyone but your parents and that also means that you cannot be in contact with Mr. Potter, and Mr. Weasley?" Hermione nodded again. "The people who I have gotten to help this student are Professor Snape, though he can only help on certain days, otherwise it interferes with his business for the Order; Professor McGonagall; Professor Flitwick; Charlie Weasley; and Professor Lupin; and Professor Vector. I have those professors for the more complicated classes, and as you understand, I need you for subjects such as History of Magic and Astronomy. I have arranged rooms for the both of you, as well as meals. You shall stay there until the start of term, correct? Any questions?"
"Well Professor, I was just wondering, why must we do all of this to prepare one student? I mean it seems like a lot to take all this time from all these people, it doesn't really make sense to me."
"Miss Granger, as I have explained about her past, I have not told you the total story. You see, Miss Black is in immediate danger because of her heritage."
"Her heritage? You mean because of Sirius?"
"No, from her heritage on her mother's side. You see Miss Black is a half Elf. Her mother was Aiedail Ĭlitiaien, an Elven maiden from the land of Evelon. I trust you know about Evelon?"
"Yes I have read several books on the subject." Said Hermione proudly.
"Well, her grandfather Lord Aerune is recorded as the current ruler, and high priest of the Elves. Which would make Miss Black-"
"Which would make her the heiress, correct? So, she's going to be ruler of Evelon?"
"Yes, Miss Granger, but do not tell her this yet."
"Why not, wouldn't she want to know all this?"
"Of course she would, but in one night she found out that she was adopted, and an orphan; along with finding out that she is a witch, and in grave peril. I couldn't bring myself to add this to her worries."
"Yes, that makes sense. Does anyone else know this?"
"The only other living people who are aware of her Elvenhood and of her royalty are Voldemort, and Remus Lupin, along with you and myself of course. You do understand why I chose you to do this, don't you?"
"I'm not really sure to be honest."
"Well, I feel you to be my most prepared pupil, and the most responsible in Hogwarts. I am trusting you to keep Miss Blacks secret, and to understand the peril that she is in. Also, the risk that agreeing to do this puts on yourself."
"I completely understand. When will I be able to meet her?"
"Remus took her to buy all her supplies, and unless they're stuck somewhere they should be arriving within the hour. Ah, Thom, can we get two more butterbeers here?" The bartender was walking past; he nodded to Dumbledore and returned a few minutes later with two glasses of butterbeer.
Remus and Artemis walked out of Fred and George's store with several bags adding to the burden that Remus took upon himself to carry.
"Are you sure you don't want help?" asked Artemis watching Remus struggle under the weight of her bags.
"No," he groaned, "I'm doing fine."
"You're a wizard, why don't you just do something to make the bags lighter?"
"I forgot my wand, it wasn't one of my smarter moves, I don't need to bewitch them, I've got a handle on it."
"If you're trying to be chivalrous or something you don't have to, I'm capable of carrying my own bags." He tried to shake his head, but was having difficulty, his face was very red, and he was beginning to sweat. "Come on," she said, "Let me help you, you're going to get a hernia or something."
"No, it's fine. We're almost there anyway."
"It's not fine, at least let me take some of the books. I mean six years worth of books aren't light. I can handle something."
"No, a woman shouldn't have to do things like this." Artemis sighed with annoyance; Remus was too much of a gentleman to make her carry anything.
"Fine, do what you want. It doesn't bother me." She picked up the pace and left Remus struggling in her wake. It gave her a sense of grim satisfaction to watch him struggle, but she immediately felt sorry, as she realized that she didn't know where she was going. She looked back at Remus who was making his way slowly down the street, and rushed back to meet him.
"Come on Remus! Just give me one of the damn bags!"
"No," he gasped.
"Come on, stop being so stupid. You're going to hurt yourself if you keep going on like this. You're not exactly strong." She pulled on the bag closest to her. "If you hurt yourself, I don't know what I'd be able to do to help. Just give me a b-!" As she gave a hard pull on one of the bags, Remus with the mountain of bags came tumbling down to the ground, knocking down Artemis on the way.