Chapter 11: Don't Be Falling in Love

"Are we really going to Hogsmeade, Mum?" Nick asked as we walked to the Great Hall together.

It was early December, 2008, and Nicholas had been living with me for two years now. Minerva had welcomed him to Hogwarts with open arms, which was a major relief. On July, 3rd, 2006 Nick's seventh birthday, I took him to the Ministry of Magic to officially adopt him. Nick's birth parents were there as well, just to sign the paperwork. In order to keep Nick's lycanthropy a secret, I had paid them to say that the reason they were giving Nick up was because they couldn't afford to take care of him anymore. They happily agreed. They talked to Nick and me as little as possible, and Nick refused to make eye contact. Anyone could see how much he despised them.

"Yes, of course. You'll like it."

"Okay." Nick said with a smile.

It was my job to lead the Hogwarts students to Hogsmeade, and Minerva had allowed me to bring Nick along with me. When Nick and I got to the Great Hall, the students were buzzing with excitement, especially the third years, who would be making their first trip to Hogsmeade. Once we arrived, I would let the students go off on their own, while Nick and I would meet Jason outside the Three Broomsticks, just as we had agreed.

"I need all third-years' permission slips!" I called over the noise of the students and was immediately surrounded by a swarm of third years. Once I had everyone's slip in my hand, we left for Hogsmeade.

Jason was already waiting for us when we got to the Three Broomsticks.

"Hi, Jay!" Nick called. He really had grown fond of Jason in the past year or so. Jason was already like a father to him, and I was glad my son had a positive male role model to look up to.

"Hi Nick!" Jason exclaimed. "How do you like Hogsmeade?"

"It's so big!" Nick cried. He'd never seen anything like it.

Jason smiled and turned to me. "Where should we go first?"

I thought for a moment. "How about Honeydukes?" I suggested. "Nick would like that."

"Sounds good to me." Jason said, and we set off.

Nick loved Honeydukes, as we had expected. He came out with all of the sweets I would allow him to buy. After Honeydukes, Jason and I took Nick on a tour of all the important buildings in Hogsmeade, including the the Shrieking Shack.

"Why's it called the Shrieking Shack?" Nick asked.

"Do you want to hear a story?" asked Jason. Nick nodded eagerly, and Jason began his tale. "Long ago, people used to hear horrible screams coming from the shrieking shack. They thought it was haunted. But really, it was being used by a young boy named Remus Lupin. Do you know why?"

Nick shook his head. "It was because Remus was a werewolf, just like you." Jason explained. "Remus was attacked by Fenrir Greyback, just as you were, except back then, there was no wolfbane to calm him down during full moons. When he transformed, he was a danger to everyone around him, without meaning to be. His parents thought there was no way for him to go to Hogwarts, but Albus Dumbledore, who was Headmaster of Hogwarts before you were born, had other ideas. He planted the whomping willow tree just for Remus. There was a tunnel inside of the tree that led to the shrieking shack. That's where Remus stayed while he was transformed, so he could never hurt anyone."

"Wow, that's so cool!" Nick exclaimed. I think he was surprised to find he wasn't the only good werewolf in the world.

Jason smiled. "It is kind of cool, isn't it? But you must remember Remus's transformations were very painful for him, because he didn't have wolfbane. Because there were no humans to bite, he would attack and wound himself. I'm sure he found the shrieking shack to be anything but cool, don't you agree?"

Nick nodded. "Now," Jason said. "Who wants lunch?"

"Me!" Nick cheered. We went to lunch at the Three Broomsticks, where Nick experienced his first butter beer and loved it.

"Where to next?" I asked after we had finished eating.

"I'd like to look around Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. I'm sure Nick would like to, as well." Jason said.

"What's that?" Nick asked curiously.

"It's a joke shop." Answered Jason with a smile.

"Awesome!" exclaimed Nick as he jumped up from his stool and ran toward the door.

"Wait!" I laughed. "We have to pay the bill!"

Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes was filled with all sorts of jokes, pranks and "magic tricks". As Jason and Nick began to explore the store, I walked over to a sign that had caught my attention. It said:

Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes was started in April of 1996, by Fred and George Weasley. Funding for the store came from the great Harry Potter himself, after he donated 1,000 galleons to the twins. With the money, Fred and George set up Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes at Number 93, Diagon Alley.

Due to the second wizarding war, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes was forced to close for a short period of time, starting in the summer of 1997. In 1998, Fred and George both fought valiantly during the Battle of Hogwarts, and, tragically, Fred was killed. George struggled with the loss of his twin, but he continued to go after the brothers' life-long dream.

After years of saving, George Weasley had acquired enough money to open a second store. In December 2007, George used his savings, along with some money he had gotten as a Christmas present from his five siblings and parents, to buy Zonko's Joke Shop, located in Hogsmeade Village. Today, George and his wife, Angelina, run both stores very successfully. George's younger brother, Ronald Weasley, plans to join George in his business after he retires from his current position as an Auror. Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes hopes to expand even further in the future.

"Mummy, come look at this!" Nick exclaimed pulling on my arm. He dragged me over to a display of Trick Wands and demonstrated. Then, something else caught his eye, and he abandoned the wands to go look at it. Jason and I watched with smiles on our faces as Nick ran from one display to the next. In his haste, he nearly collided with a red-haired young man in his early thirties.

"Hello," the man said. "George Weasley's the name, owner and co-founder of Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. And who might you be?"

"I'm Nick Pasen." Nick said, as if he had never been called anything else.

"Good to meet you, Nick." Said George, shaking Nick's hand. "Where are your parents?"

"My mum's over here." Nick answered and led George to where Jason and I were standing.

"This is George, Mum! He's the owner!" Nick introduced.

"Pleasure to meet you M'am." George said, shaking my hand. He turned to Jason and shook his hand as well. "And you too, sir."

George's eyes were still filled with a child-like playfulness, yet something was missing. It was as if half of his soul was gone. He seemed incomplete without his twin.

After searching around the store for a few more minutes, I agreed to buy Nick a few things from the store. When we finally left, it was about two o'clock in the afternoon. We spent a few more hours at Hogsmeade, and then decided to eat dinner at home.

Once back at Hogwarts, I sent Nick into the dungeons to wait for me, while I said good night to Jason at the top of the stairs. Most of the students were still at Hogsmeade, so the hallway was completely empty. We were alone.

"I had fun today." I said. "Thanks for hanging out with Nick and I. I think Nick really likes you."

"And you don't?" Jason asked teasingly.

"Oh, Jay, you know I do." I answered with a laugh. "I'm just glad Nick has such a positive male role model in his life."

"Yeah… I am too." Jason said absent-mindedly. I knew there was something on his mind.

"Is something wrong?"

Jason blinked. "No, nothing's wrong. It's just… can I ask you a question Luci?"

I stared at him in confusion. "Anything, Jay."

Jason hesitated. "There's something I've been wanting to do for nine years, and I was wondering if I can do it tonight."

"Do… what?" I asked slowly, still confused.

"This." Jason replied. He took a deep breath, and before I knew it, his lips were touching mine. At first I was surprised and didn't know how to react, but then I found kissing Jason came naturally to me, and I just went along with it. It was then that I realized I had been waiting a long time for this moment, and it was finally here. I didn't want the moment to end, but it had to, because we both were running out of air.

"You have no idea how long I've waited to do that." Jason said when we broke away.

I smiled. "I'm glad you did."

Jason looked surprised. "Really?" he asked, and then he laughed. "I wish I did it sooner, then! This isn't easy for me to admit, Luci, but I love you, so much. I'm glad I'm finally, after nine years, able to admit my feelings to you."

"I love you, too." I replied, and pulled Jason closer to me for another kiss. It was true. Although I didn't want to admit it, I did love Jason. When did that happen? I asked myself.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then." Jason said.

"Yes." I replied, even though it was a statement, not a question. "See you tomorrow."

As Jason walked away from me, my heart was beating as fast as one would play a snare drum in a marching band. What was I doing? Love was painful, didn't I know that? Plus, Jason was a Gryffindor, and I am a Slytherin, and those relationships almost never lasted, or at least none of the relationships that I had heard of did. Stop it! I told me heart. Don't be falling in love. It will only cause you trouble. Would my heart listen? I seriously doubted it.