Ok, I made a mistake; it happens. Apparently Fred and George opened their shop in Diagon Alley. This chapter says that the shop is in Hogsmeade…whoops. Let's just assume for my sake that the shop was moved to Hogsmeade, ok? Thanks to Rella DuGrey for pointing it out! See how lovely reviews can be after all?
Chapter 13: Hogsmeade
It was Halloween; the trip to Hogsmeade had arrived. Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way to the Great Hall, eager to get out to the only all-wizard dwelling in Britain. Neville and Ginny were already at the gates getting their names checked by Filch, the caretaker of Hogwarts.
"Hey Ron, what do you think of Neville?" Hermione asked.
"He's okay," Ron said. Harry and Hermione smiled, Ron appeared to have accepted Neville for his little sister.
As the line slowly moved forward, the trio could hear Malfoy talking behind them.
"Mother says that my father will be out of Azkaban in no time. The Dark Lord would never let one of his top men rot in a horrid place like that for long. Soon enough, he'll get the weapon and get rid of all the filthy Mudbloods and muggle-lovers," he sneered.
Harry placed a protective arm around Hermione, keeping an eye on Malfoy. Soon enough, they were walking down to Hogsmeade.
"Where do you want to go first?" Ron asked. "Oh! I know! Fred and George's shop…you haven't even seen it yet,"
The group walked down the street until they came upon a shop with a sign reading: Weasleys Wizard Wheezes. They opened the door to find the shop bustling with activity. Other students from Hogwarts were already raiding the store, while children not yet old enough to attend the school were there as well with their parents. Harry and Hermione looked around the shop and Ron went to find his brothers. The shelves were packed with an assortment of candies and other joking supplies. There were bins of Ton-Tongue Toffees and cabinets of Skiving Snack Boxes. Harry could see dummy wands, Canary Crèmes, and things he had never seen before. Fred and George were suddenly by his side.
"Want the grand tour?" Fred asked. Fred and George led Harry and Hermione around the shop; Ron was now buying candies. "We have a bunch of new inventions, mate. These here are Tripping Shoes, just replace a friend's pair of shoes with them and the shoelaces with keep tying themselves together so your friends will fall on their faces all day! This is one of our newest inventions Harry, inspired by your last Quidditch match: Slipping Gloss. Put it on a broom and whoever tries to ride it will keep slipping off it. Funny, eh?" Harry laughed as he imagined the Weasley's inventions at work. Fred and George finished Harry and Hermione's tour a few minutes later.
"So I take it that business is good?" Harry asked.
"Oh yes, it's doing splendidly," George said.
"Marvelous," Fred added. "Would you like to see the Inventing Room? Get Ron, and we'll show you!" The group was led into the back room, where the extra supplies were kept. Fred then pulled down on a rope that brought a secret staircase down, "Follow me," he said. There was a corridor on the top of the stairs, "Over there are our rooms, and down here is the inventing room," he said, leading down that way. He opened the door and Harry was awestruck at the room that lay before him.
It was a rather large room with many tables, all covered in unnamable items. There were multi-colored fumes coming from various pots that were lying about on the floor. Other pieces of inventions were hanging from the ceiling, some were squeaking or making other noises. Loud bangs erupted from unseen places from time to time. All in all, Harry thought that the room was not only amazing, but also hazardous.
The sound of the door opening alerted Lee Jordan, who was busy working on something that was lying on one of the tables.
"Fred, George! I think I almost have it; look!" he said, holding up a bottle of what looked like butterbeer. He then took a drink from it and immediately began burping out bubbles. Soon enough, the entire room was filled with them. They opened all the windows, and eventually the bubbles were gone. "Still a bit too strong, I think," Lee said.
"No it isn't!" Fred and George said in unison. "It'll be for sale by next month, we should run a few more tests, y'know, make sure the drink is harmless,"
The group went back downstairs ready to start buying items.
"Oh Harry, a quick word if you please," Fred said. Harry joined him and George in the storage room. "Splendid job at the Quidditch match, Harry, I would never have the guts to jump from a broom," Harry knew that there was something else. "We have a little something for you," George handed him a pouch. "We can pay you back now," Fred said with a smile. Harry opened the pouch to find a thousand Galleons shimmering in his eyes. "Don't even think about trying to give it back to us,"
"I don't need this money…"
"Neither do we, take it…we wont take no for an answer," George said. Harry nodded and tucked away the pouch into his cloak. "There you go, Harry. Why don't you go buy Hermione something nice, eh?" he added with a wink.
Harry returned to the front of the shop to see Ron and Hermione mischievously looking at the Slipping Gloss.
"I hope that's not for me," said Harry.
"Of course not! It's for Malfoy!" Ron said, picking it up and bringing it to the register.
After everyone had finished making their purchases, the group headed back outside.
"Where to now?" Ron asked. "The Three Broomsticks?" he offered. Harry and Hermione agreed; the October air was chilly. They entered the Three Broomsticks, which was as always packed with students. They found a tiny table in the back; Harry paid for a pitcher of butterbeer.
"Fred and George's shop looked amazing," Hermione said.
"Yeah, it's more popular than Zonko's now!" Ron said cheerfully.
Harry's eyes were wandering around the pub, he suddenly saw Hagrid sitting at the bar. Harry called him over to join them.
"'Arry! 'Ow are ye? 'Ermione, Ron," he greeted as he sat down.
"Hey Hagrid, how are you?" Ron asked.
"Been doin' good, actually. My classes are goin' good," he said.
"Seen Madame Maxime lately?" Harry asked.
"As a matter o' fact, I have," he said, blushing, "She's been comin' by me cabin every so often." Ron looked disgusted at the thought of what Madame Maxime and Hagrid would be doing in his cabin. "Y'know, I should get goin', I got a new batch o' flobberworms fer the class," he said rising from his chair. "Good seein' y'all again, come by me cabin if yer need anythin'"
Once Hagrid had left, Ron gave a noticeable shudder.
"Urgh, Madame Maxime still comes to visit Hagrid…in his cabin, no less?" Ron said.
"Ron, you are so immature," Hermione said.
"Excuse me, I er, got to go to the bathroom," Harry lied; he wanted to take George's advice and get something for Hermione.
Harry slipped outside when he was sure Ron and Hermione weren't looking. Now that he was outside he had no idea what he should get her. He started to aimlessly walk down the road, not sure where he was going. A book would seem to be the most probable gift, but it seemed like the easy way out of thinking about it. What else did Hermione like? She loved house elves, but she wouldn't want to own one. Harry probably wouldn't even have the character to buy one. He strolled by Zonko's; jokes weren't sincere gifts, he walked by Honeydukes; candies weren't good gifts for people like Hermione either. Maybe jewelry? No, Harry wanted to have some thought in this. Harry continued to walk until he came upon George at a small outdoor restaurant, apparently on his lunch break.
"Hey George, what do you get a girl that you really like?"
"Jewelry," he said shortly.
"But that's too easy…"
"Oooh, you're going for the thought in the gift, eh? That's pretty tough. Let's see…well, what does she like?"
"Books…and the liberation of house elves," said Harry.
"Um…gee, Harry, I don't know," George said, surprisingly serious. "See, what you've got to do is either find something she didn't expect you to know she'd like or find a way to put both of those interests together." Harry wracked his memory, trying to think of something Hermione might've mentioned casually as something she liked. Thinking of nothing, Harry looked back to George and shrugged.
"I don't know what to tell you, Harry, I really don't," George said. "I got to get going back to the store, just remember Harry: think," and with that said, he left. Harry was left alone on the crowded street thinking about what he could get for Hermione.
"Couldn't help but to overhear your conversation, Harry," Dumbledore said from a table behind him. "Mr. Weasley is quite correct in his advice, but it looks to me like you're still having trouble. Might I suggest that you do look in the bookstore; there is always something there for Ms. Granger."
"Thank you, sir," Harry said, heading for the bookstore. Harry arrived in the bookstore and started to look around. He didn't even know where to start. What was Hermione interested in? Harry thought of Hogwarts: A History, but she had read it numerous times. Harry thought back to the day he started Legilimency; Hermione had said she was jealous. Harry browsed the shelves looking for a book on Legilimency. One in particular caught his eye: Legilimency and Other Mysterious Magic; Harry smiled; it was perfect…for now. Harry had another idea, but it would have to wait, and he was going to need a lot of help. On the way back he stopped by the Post Office and sent a letter to someone who could help him. If this worked, Hermione would love it. Harry was walking down the street when Ron and Hermione ran up to him.
"Harry! We thought you died or something! Where were you?" Ron asked.
"Out getting some things done," Harry said vaguely.
"Don't do that without telling us, mate! We had no idea where you went, we were getting worried," Ron said.
"Sorry, wont happen again," said Harry. "Let's get back to school,"
The Halloween feast was splendid, as it always was. After the feast, when Harry and Hermione were alone in the Common Room, Harry gave Hermione the book.
"I know it's not much…but it's all I could think of," he said. Hermione looked at it and back up at him.
"I love it," she said before kissing him.