Disclaimer: I do not own anything, any and all influences from other books/stories belong to their prospective owners, and I just twist them to make it fit!
A/N: So it might be a while before I can get the next chapter up, as work is starting Monday! I will try to not make it too long of a wait, so for now enjoy!
Chapter 7: The Labyrinth
"We can choose to be lost in the labyrinth of our emotions or use these trails to harness our inner strength, but one thing remains constant in our lives—we have the sun in our hands."- Dodinsky
George was unnerved. It had been over a month since he had last heard from this mysterious proprietor. Between the contract with the ministry for his darkness jewelry, and the newly minted Multi-Tasking Fountain Pen that were a hit with office personnel, business was booming. Yet, no word from the card in his pocket, a lightly decorated window front in the store. George just didn't get it. What did this guy want?
George had gone out to lunch that day and decided to sit on the bench across from Defiantly Devious. It had once been his and Fred's favorite store. Gambol and Japes Jokes and Jolly's was one of the main inspirations for open their own store. They had done their research comparing the top product from both Gambol and Japes and Zonko's store, which was when they knew they had to stretch things a bit further, or else run the risk of being another novelty store. It was Fred that had come down with a pretty bad fever in school that got him excused from class. In his time in the hospital wing, was when the two started to devise potions that could feign sickness, but knowing that drinking a potion in class would more than likely earn you a week's detention with Snape, George was the one that came up with the idea to mix the potions with sweets.
When that retched woman decided to run Hogwarts in their seventh year, they knew that they had to come up with more items to help their fellow students keep their spirits up. They needed to remember to laugh and enjoy their time at school, no matter how horrible that toad tried to bring them down. They knew that their ideas were doing well when one of Umbridge's decrees officially banned their products. It only made them work harder to prove that it was time for that woman to get what was coming to her. And boy, did they love a challenge.
A challenge…it had been a challenge to even get out of bed in the morning right after the battle. Knowing that his other half wouldn't be rolling out of bed around the same time, fighting with him about the amount of water he used in the shower, switching breakfast plates when mum would give him Fred's waffles and he would get his oatmeal. Yes, they still went home for at least one decent meal. Now he was home for all of them. He knew eventually he would have to go upstairs and face the fact that he would have to live alone in the flat. Merlin knows how much dust had accumulated over the last few months. But that was for another day. Right now he needed to go home and shower.
Locking the shop and apparating home took a little longer than usual, he seemed more tired today than he had in a long time. He slumped his way through the front door of the burrow and made his lead legs carry him up the stairs. The shower helped, especially now that there was hot water later in the day. He felt the stress of the day melt off his shoulders and down the drain. He changed in his room, as he could smell the finishing touches his mother was putting on the food.
With his hair still slightly wet he made his way down to the kitchen to find it completely empty. He could hear voices coming through the screen of the backdoor. It was a particularly arm night out for fall, it seemed as though summer wanted to hang on a bit longer. He saw his parents setting the picnic tables and shaking their heads with a smile at something in the back yard.
George stepped out and was greeted by Harry who was standing in the middle of the yard. George stood beside him and blinked.
"What…the hell…is that?" He asked the dark haired boy.
"A hedge maze." He answered. "Ginny bought it at that shop."
That shop. He didn't even have to specify, George was already glaring at one side of the enormous hedge that took up most of his mum's yard. He could hear a few other voices coming the maze, but could not see anyone.
"Who's in there?" George asked.
"Ginny, Hermione and Ron. I think Ginny's the furthest along, and Ron's been swearing most of the time, so I figure he's lost." Harry explained.
"Did you finish first?" George asked.
Harry shook his head. "Never went in. The last time I was in one of those I got transported and watched a dark wizard come back to life. I'm fine just watching."
George nodded and went to get closer to the maze. From what he could tell the hedge seemed to erupt from the ground and each section of the wall was interconnected with the next. It was covered with beautiful ivy leaves that made it incredibly thick and hard to see through to the other side. Before he realized he was walking into the maze inspecting the walls and ivy arches. At one point he thought he heard Ron on the other side of the wall to his right, so he decided to see if he could catch up with his younger brother to help him out. He took a sharp turn to the right and practically collided with a shorter brunette.
"We really need to stop meeting like this, Granger." He said as he reached out to keep her from falling backwards.
She took a deep breath and brushed the hair out of her face as she righted herself. She looked very muggle today. Over the last few years he had grown so use to her wearing her school robes, and even after she left Hogwarts and began her career she seemed to tailor her ways of dressing towards robes. But today she was standing before him in a plain white t-shirt, blue jeans, a pair of flat white sneakers, all topped off with a white and light blue striped scarf around her neck.
"When did you get here?" she asked.
"Just a little while ago, then I found this monstrosity in mum's garden, so I figured I would check it out." He explained.
"Oh, well it's quite a challenge actually. It seems that when the person that is furthest along gets to a checkpoint the maze changes, making it harder for the rest of us to find our way out, but easier for the person in the lead." Hermione explained.
"Interesting. Ginny's in the lead then?" George asked.
"For now." She answered with a smirk and a raised eyebrow as though challenging him.
George laughed as he took a step towards her and leaned to put his mouth by her ear.
"Lead the way then, Granger." He whispered.
"Try to keep up." She whispered back as she took off down the pathway.
Although he was much taller than her, and he thought that keeping up with her would hardly be a challenge, George had forgotten that he literally spent a year on the run. Her shorter stature made it easier for her to cut corners faster, making her far more agile. After nearly catching her the walls began to shake and suddenly a blockade was formed in the middle of the pathway he was running down, causing him to stop suddenly.
George heard Hermione sigh on the other side of the wall.
"Looks like Ginny made it out. You and I are now in the lead." She said.
"For now." George responded before he began running again.
He knew Hermione was actually ahead of him, but not by much. She had hit another checkpoint and he saw the walls begin to shake and twist. But his quick instincts and long legs allowed him to hurdle over a newly forming wall and continue in his chase. After another minute or so he saw sunlight coming from an archway on the left, he knew he had made it to the end. As he approached the exit he saw her. Hermione standing under the archway with the sun setting behind her with a small smile on her face. George, knowing that as soon as he was close enough, would again attempt to feel her lips against his. Yet, just when he was within reaching distance, Hermione took a step back, exiting the maze and causing it to transform. George was stunned into silence as an ivy leaf brushed the end of his nose. He could hear her laughing on the other side.
It wasn't long before he escaped the ivy madness, leaving poor Ron to fend for himself. He walked around the edge of the maze to find his mother preparing the outdoor tables for dinner. He elected to sit across from Hermione, giving her a lighthearted glare, to which she returned with a chuckle.
"Ginny dear, please release your brother from that…that…game, supper is ready." Molly said as she pointed at the atrocity that was suffocating her mums.
Ginny popped a cherry tomato in her mouth and grabbed a mason jar off the table. As she walked towards the maze, George watched the intricate wand movement as the maze suddenly seemed to shrink into the grass, leaving behind a single ivy leaf. Ginny picked it up and placed it inside the jar. Once she was back at the table he watched as she screwed the silver top back on the jar, and reached over to pluck it from her hands.
Like all the other products from that he had received, it had a small label attached.
The Labyrinth
Just when you think you're at the finish, you come around the bend to find yourself further from the truth.
George sighed and placed the jar back in front of his sister. He then pointed further down the table.
"Pass the rolls, please."