Muggle | 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑊𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦

Chapter 90

I took one last breath before opening the door to the wand shop and walking inside. The place was seemingly empty and I thought it was rather gloomy, with shelves filled up with boxes all over it.

The moment Fred followed me inside and closed the door behind him, a man approached us from the back of the room. It was for sure, Mr. Ollivander.

"Well, hello," he smiled at the two of us. "Mr. Weasley... I remember you coming to me for your first wand around seven or eight years ago. Knew from the beginning that you and your brother would be trouble makers, telling from the wands that chose you. What can I do for you?"

"Actually," Fred started, placing an encouraging hand on my upper back and pushing me slightly forward, "we're here to get a wand for her."

"Oh, I see," said Ollivander, his eyes traveling towards me. "I've never seen you before. Who did you get your previous wand from?"

"Er... Gregorovitch," I said the first and only name that came to my mind, and watched him turn a bit disappointed.

I couldn't tell him the truth about being new to performing magic, and I kept hoping that he wouldn't figure it out.

But I became more and more nervous then as Ollivander kept watching me warily as he asked for my wand arm and started to measure it.

When he pulled away, he kept his eyes on me for a few more seconds before he said, "Now let's see what wand will suit you best."

And with that, he went to the back room and came back with a box in his hands. He then took the wand out of it and carefully handed it to me.

      That clearly wasn't the one, so he gave another. And then another after that. As he gave me a fourth one and didn't work once again, I started to get anxious.

But the moment I held the fifth wand in my hand, I felt a sudden warmth through my fingers. Smiling to myself, I gave it a small swish and a beautiful jet of light shot from the end of it.

      I could fly from excitement as I stared down at it, knowing that this was the one. But my happiness was short-lasting as the wand maker spoke again.

"Yes, yes. I thought so," Ollivander muttered, grinning to himself. Then turning to me, he said, "You don't happen to be related to the Black family, do you?"

"N-no," I said hesitantly, putting down the wand. "Why?"

"So much resemblance... both in you, and the wand that chose you. Walnut and dragon heartstring; very popular in that family."

"Well, I'm not a Black," I said firmly, taking out the money which I had earned from helping Fred and George in the last year.

With that, I thanked Mr. Ollivander and took the box, leaving the shop briskly. Fred quickened his pace to catch up with me and said, "What was that all about?"

"Nothing," I said, sighing.

"Look," Fred started, walking in front of me and stopping, blocking my way. "I know you're still hung up on Sirius. But Lupin saying that your eyes are like him and Sirius knowing your mother doesn't mean anything."

"W-well," I cleared my throat awkwardly. "It's not just that..."

"Then what?"

"It's — it's something that Kreacher said." I gulped and then told him all about that night, and how Kreacher had said I was 'his master's daughter'.

"Oh, don't be ridiculous," Fred scoffed. "That house elf is nuts. Don't tell me you've been caught up on something he had said."

"Don't underestimate him."

"So, what now? You think Sirius is your... you know..."

"I honestly don't know what to think!" I huffed, pulling at my hair in exhaustion. "I mean... it could be a possibility."

"But Sirius was in Azkaban all those years," he tried to reason. "Him and your mother couldn't have —"

"Actually, they could," I sighed. "I thought the same thing, but if my calculations are correct, by that time Sirius had already escaped Azkaban. The time-line makes sense."

"Well... when did your parents marry?"

"A few years before I was born," I answered. "They were in their twenties when they got together. But so what? That doesn't mean anything."

"Lexi, I think you're lovely, don't get me wrong... But you're crazy!"

I chuckled, giving him a look.

"Listen," he started again with a grin. "by saying these, you're accusing your mother of cheating on your father, accusing your father of not being your father, and saying that Sirius is your father. See how stupid that sounds when you say it out loud?"

I laughed again, shaking my head. "You're probably right," I sighed again. "I think I'm going as crazy as Kreacher at this point."

"My thoughts exactly," said Fred cheekily, before pulling me into a hug.

I smiled, resting my head on his chest as he held me close, hearing his calm heartbeat.

"Alright, now change of subjects," he said, slightly pulling away and looking down at me in his arms. "Since when should we be expecting you to show up for work, Miss Hooper?"

I giggled, but then cleared in my throat and said in a tone of mock seriousness, "I'd like to start tomorrow, right away, Mr. Weasley."

"Good, good," he said, trying to look formal as he pulled away. "Now I want you to be on time, Miss Hooper. I cannot tolerate tardiness. Time is Galleons."

"Ugh, you're gonna boss me around, aren't you?" I groaned playfully.

"Well, that's one of the pros of being your boss." He winked.

"And what are the rest of the pros?" I raised a brow at him teasingly.

"Well, for one, you'll have a strikingly handsome boss, and in return, I will have a pretty employee."

I chuckled. "And what are the cons?"

"My beauty can be a distraction to you. Trust me, it's a curse," he said with a regretful sigh, making me laugh. "And of course, there's the distraction that you'll cause me."

"Now why's that, Mr. Weasley?" I asked challengingly, grinning.

By that, he came forward and pulled me back to him again, leaning down and pressing his forehead against mine. "Because I'd want to kiss you all the time."