Where The Sage Shrubs Grow,

Chapter 98

Third Person POV:
The sun shone brightly as parents waved their kids goodbye. The Hogwarts Express pulled out of Platform Nine and Three Quarters with a drag. Sage sighed looking out the window longingly. Everyone knew this year would be very different without the Twins but none more than Sage. She had just lost her boyfriend and one of her best friends.

"Hey, it's going to be alright. It's not like they're dead flower." Lee comforted
"I know, but they still aren't here." She sighed
"Hey guys." Hallie smiled entering the compartment
Everyone greeted her warmly as she found a seat. Eventually everyone started to chatter about their summers and what they did. Hallie exchanging an excited smile whenever Apollo and Serenity's wedding was brought up, reminded that they were related now.

"I saw some girl talking to Fred when I visited their shop. I thought for a split second it was Claudia!" Clementine laughed
Sage's face paled at her statement.
"What's wrong?" Lee asked "Are you sick?"
"What if he finds someone else while he's working." Sage responded "He could start going with some other girl and I would never know. He meets lots more girls now." She whispered

"That's likely." Lee mumbled
"Compared to other girls, I'm a spec."
"Stop it." Lee smacked her head "That fool is in love with you. Hell he's bloody obsessed. He's not going to start going with some other girl. He's not like that anyway, he would break up with you properly."
Sage's eyes widened in fear "He would-"
"No! That's not what I meant! He's not going to break up with you, calm down."

The train pulled up to Hogwarts and everyone got out. The group all piled into a carriage and headed for Hogwarts. All the students trickling into the great hall.
"There's a new professor." Sage pointed out
"Sure enough." Hallie mumbled
Dumbledore made his announcements including of the new potions professor Slughorn. He seemed like a rather odd man. The feast ended and everyone headed to bed, Sage doing so somewhat silently.

Fred's POV:
The song kept circling in my brain. The lyrics replaying in my mind like a broken record. I couldn't sleep, I could barely focus.
"Are you really going to let some silly muggle song bother you like this?" George asked the next morning
"Yes! Because it had a very valid point!" I replied

When her eyes are beggin' for affection
Don't put her off, don't make her wait
Don't try to give her that worn excuse about being tired and workin' late

"You're barking." George mumbled
"I haven't seen her in so long!" I whined
"Did you two not have a major argument over staying together or not? Or did I fever dreaming when I thought I was eavesdropping?" George replied
I froze "You heard that?"
"Of course I did you tosspot. She owned you in that argument I might add." George smirked taking another sip of your coffee

A woman needs love just like you do

"You really think that after all the work you two have had to put into your relationship she's just going to leave? And if she was just in it for the sex and to use you, then the question would be: do you want to be in a relationship like that in the first place?"
"If she's the one using me!" I replied before I could keep that thought to myself
"Fred! What the hell!"
"It's not like it's mindless sex!" I defended

"Oh really? Then what do you call it?" George spoke
My mind flooded with images of her beneath me cupping my face in her hands as she gently moaned out how she loved me. How she would always tell me she meant it after.
"EW ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT YOU TWO HAVING SEX?" George shrieked
"Please! Drink your coffee George!" My cheeks tinting pink
"If you love her so much, why don't you marry the woman." George rolled his eyes
I set down my mug, standing up and grabbing my work coat "You know George, one day I think I will."

I headed down into the shop, swinging my keys and getting ready to open.
"I better be your best man!" George shouted from the flat
I laughed shaking my head. I got everything ready and counted the money in the till, five minutes till opening and George finally decided to head down.
"A new shipment of supplies should be coming in today." George spoke
"Alright. Don't forget about the new Pygmy Puffs." I responded
"Right."

The store filled up quickly with parents trying to get early shopping done. Even younger kids were there, the ones not old enough to attend Hogwarts yet. Everything was running smoothly. Despite the appearance of chaos everything was going perfectly, I was proud of this place.
"Excuse me." A small voice spoke from the side of the counter

I turned to see a small girl, tears welling up in her eyes. I was taken back for a moment, she looked like a mini Sage. Wild curls, big brown eyes and freckles scattering her cheeks and nose. My own girlfriend is haunting me. I came out from behind the counter and crouched down in front of her, trying to appear less intimidating.

"I lost my mum." She choked trying to hold back small sobs
"Well we can't have that can we?" I smiled "Why don't we go find her?"
She nodded, rushing into my arms as she cried quietly. I picked her up, settling her on my hip as she gripped onto my work shirt.

My heart broke for the small girl. She looked so fragile and helpless. I wanted to fix everything, although I knew her only problem right now was missing her mum.
"What does she look like?" I asked
"T-tall, and brown hair." The little girl sniffed
"Hey, what's going on?" George asked noticing the little girl on my hip
"She's lost her mum." I spoke
"Well well, that's no good." George said tucking one of the girls locks of hair out of her face "You know you look like someone I know." George smiled trying to cheer the girl up

"Tell me lovely, are you married?" George joked
The small girl giggled as I scanned the crowd for anyone fitting the description of tall and brown hair.
"Is that you my darling?" A woman cooed walking up behind me
She was in fact tall with brown hair. Something was off about her though, she sent a chill down my spine the instant I made eye contact.
"Mum!" The small girl smiled

Something didn't sit right with me, and apparently George felt the same way based off the concerned look we exchanged. I reluctantly handed the girl back to her mum.
"Thank you so much for finding her-" She spoke holding out her hand
"Oh uh Fred, Fred Weasley." I responded shaking her hand
"Fred, thank you, so much." Her eyes seemed to light up upon hearing my name
Something really wasn't right here.

She started walking out of the store and I turned to return to work when it hit me. She looked like Rosemary Jackson. Of course how had I not noticed before. I spun around rushing out of the store and into Daigon Alley. The woman and her daughter were gone without a single trace. There was no doubt about who I had seen. Shit was getting crazy. I think I just met my girlfriend's crazy mother.

1257 Words