Chapter 11
I decided that I'm going to Diagon Alley today. I never sent a letter back with Fred's owl mostly because I wanted to talk to him in person. I wanted to see his expressions and his body language. Maybe I could get some answers to my questions from him.
I warned Draco earlier that day that I was planning on going out tonight. That night would be the easiest way to keep my promise of not meeting new people considering the Alley should be closed around the time I want to go.
I make my way to the Floo room - that's what I dubbed the name to be - hoping not to be caught along the way. I made sure that I wasn't wearing anything that could possibly make noise yet still stylish enough to not look dumb in front of Fred.
"Mistress Calypso?" Blinky calls from behind me.
I looked around in a panic, hoping no one heard this stupid house elf talk… Oh great, now I'm sounding like Draco.
"Blinky," I say, "no one must know you saw me."
"Why not, ma'am?" he asks.
"Because I said!" He flinched back. I didn't mean to raise my voice. "Blinky, I mean it. No one must know. A lot is riding on this."
"Yes, ma'am. Blinky won't tell a soul, just as Mistress Calypso commands it."
"Thank you."
With that Blinky disappears allowing me to focus on my original mission.
I get to the Floo room without any issues (besides Blinky). I grab some powder from the pot above the mantelpiece, and step inside.
"Diagon Alley!"
Everything was the same as my last visit. Barely anyone. All the shops are starting to close their doors. Coming now was the perfect time.
I walk down the street. The night air steadied my heartbeat. Trying to sneak out of that house is easy, but also scary. Like what if I actually do make a noise? My first spell - which backfired - knocked me halfway across my room and everyone still heard it. If Father did find out, how would he kill me?
I think about how Draco is possibly coving for me while walking towards the orange. Fred opens the door to the shop, showing two laughing girls out. Back at it with his flirting no doubt.
He waves at me. I roll my eyes, fighting back a smile.
When I pass Fred, the same homemade pie smell goes up my nose. I'm starting to think he either always smells like that, or he truly bakes a pie every morning.
"So," he said, shutting the door. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again."
"I can make that possible." I smile at him. He laughs. "No, you're the only person I know outside my…"
Can't really talk about my family, though he already knows. If he picked up on it last time I was here.
"Your family," he finishes. "That's okay. I'm sure your family is great!"
My hand finds my wrist by impulse. Luckily Fred didn't see this and went about walking around his shop. I follow close behind.
"You should've written," he says. "It would've been nice to hear from you, but I understand if you didn't want to."
"I was busy," I say, picking up a box that says portable swamps.
"That's a great product! I used it on Ron once. Mum got so upset, but it was worth it.”
"Your mom must usually be annoyed with you.” I laugh.
"What? No, never. She loves me so much. I'm her favorite child, you know.”
"I find that hard to believe.”
"Ah, so much sass in such a little body."
"So much trouble in a tall one."
"Thank you, I pride myself on mischief."
I laugh and put the portable swamp away. I look around some more, ignoring the looks I'm getting from Fred. Then it clicks. He has a twin brother, but I haven't seen him once.
"Where's George?" I ask.
"Oh, the lesser," he says. "He goes home to his girlfriend an hour before closing."
"Shouldn't you be getting home soon?"
"No, I live here. Above the shop.”
I nod. It makes sense that he goes home to his girlfriend. Gives them time to spend together. Not that if he was here until closing they wouldn't… Why are my thoughts spiraling so bad?
A small, repetitive chime grabs both our attention. I have no idea what's going on, maybe another person walked into the shop?
"Oh no!" Fred said frantically. "I forgot tonight I have to be at dinner." He looks at me. "Come with, mum won't mind. Everyone is going to be there."
Everyone? I promised Draco not to meet anymore people! I absolutely can not go to that dinner!
"No," I say, trying to think of something. "It's your family dinner. I should get home anyway."
"Nonsense," Fred said. "We are having friends over too, not just family."
He grabs my arm. Before I could protest, my whole body got tugged in every direction at the same time. Every limb being twisted in weird directions, though it didn't really hurt. I focused on Fred's hand instead of what was going on.
The ground slaps my feet. My head spins around, my legs trying to regain some balance. My stomach doing fifty flips all at once, making me feel like I need to vomit.
"What was that?" I question, taking deep breaths to calm my stomach.
"We just apparated," Fred said.
My stomach stopped its flips and I got a good look at where we were. In a field that goes on for who knows how long, with a house at the center.
"Fred," I say, shocked at what I'm seeing. "You need to take me back. Now!"
"Come on. Live a little."
"Fred no, I'm not supposed to be here -" I say but he just walks off towards the house.
I looked around for anything that could get me back home, but saw nothing. I follow Fred off towards the house. Silently cursing myself.
"I'll be dead before I can 'live a little,'" I mumbled to myself, glad that Fred was further ahead.