Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 247: Stocking Up

The three of them slipped away to the fireplace.

Mrs. Weasley, also known as Molly, was busy in the kitchen, humming a tune.

The magical radio was playing music, and the Weasley twins swayed their heads to the rhythm.

"Great Mr. Green, do you know what song this is?"

Fred gave him a look that said, "Ask me and I'll explain."

"Oh no, we have to hurry, we're getting to the high notes!"

George hurriedly reminded him.

"It's too late—George, put earplugs in Green."

Fred put an earplug on George, and before Sheen could react, his own ears were covered as well.

He looked towards the kitchen, somewhat puzzled:

Mrs. Weasley tilted her head slightly, as if gathering her strength. With a flick of her wand, potatoes automatically peeled and leaped into the basin, while carrots lined up and jumped onto the cutting board, skillfully slicing into even pieces. The stew pot bubbled on the stove, and beef simmered in the broth, releasing its rich aroma.

"Oh, my poor heart, where has it gone? It has left me, hooked away by magic... And now you have torn it apart, please give my heart back to me—!"

Sheen heard nothing; the earplugs seemed to be under a spell, but he saw even the glass tremble.

"There are always a few days a month..."

Fred, who had also put on his earplugs, shrugged.

"The reason is probably that even if Dad's ears bleed from listening, he'll still say Mom sings well..."

George has already stepped into the fireplace.

Not far in front of the fireplace stood an old but clean sofa, and Sheen stood on the other side of the sofa.

Diagon Alley!

He saw that George had been burned away by the flames.

“If my mother’s male idol was Gilderoy Lockhart, then her female idol was Setina Warbeck. She has loved listening to Setina Warbeck’s songs since she was young, and she has been listening to them for more than ten years.”

As Fred spoke, he gestured for them to proceed in front of the fireplace.

“Great Green, we should go, but keep it down.”

This was the first time Sheen had used a normal fireplace for teleportation, since the portable fireplace at the Alchemy Conference couldn't really be considered normal.

He paused briefly, letting himself think about the name of Diagon Alley, making sure he wouldn't be teleported to Knockover Alley.

That place is a gathering place for dark wizards, and for a junior wizard... well, it's a bit dangerous.

Diagon Alley.

Sheen took some Floo Powder from the bucket, and soon he disappeared too.

When I came out again, all the shops in front of me had their corridor lights on.

"Let's go!"

George excitedly led the way.
"Ah, coming here as a shop owner is much better than being a customer!"

“I don’t think anyone can deny that.”

Fred also emerged from the flames.

The Weasley & Grimm's Magic Trick Shop has been renovated, and above the shop door is a clown taking off his hat. When he takes off his hat, a white rabbit pops out of it.

The crowd had thinned out, and the queue was long over, but occasionally a young wizard would still walk by, then look at the adult beside him with disappointment and ask:

"Is it not open yet?"

So Sheen and the others had no choice but to sneak in through the back door.

"Twenty Peruvian stealth smoke grenades ready, George?"

Fred asked.

"Of course, thirty fat tongue toffee candies?"

George checked it skillfully.

"Everything is ready—"

"So—what about sixteen reindeer biscuits, twenty-three squirrel biscuits, one hundred and thirty-six civet biscuits, and three hundred sets of strange wizard chess?"

A faint voice came from the unlit shop.

Sheen slowly turned his head, and above him was Gert, the shopkeeper with extremely dark circles under his eyes.

"Is it that much different?!" Fred jumped up.

Manager Gert turned on the lights, and the window display that Fred and George had arranged attracted people's attention like a fireworks show. Before long, several obsessed wizards gathered in front of the shop.

“Mr. Green, if you don’t make up some money before the opening, I’ll have to resign. You’ll see what a mad wizard is capable of—especially in Diagon Alley where magic can be cast at will.”

Miss Gert said wistfully.

"I'll handle it."

Fred looked serious.

"And I."

George was unusually serious.

"oh oh?"

Miss Gertt was now in high spirits. She rubbed her dark circles and sat down next to a row of dazzling pink products, waiting for the show to begin.

It's a pity there's no popcorn or anything like that... she thought with a little disappointment.

What happened next completely surprised her.

"Let's do some! Great Green!"

Fred howled without hesitation, almost howling right into Sheehan's ear.

"Great Green—"

George squeezed his eyes frantically, but not a single tear came out.

Sheehan was no longer surprised by the Weasley twins' behavior.

He struggled to push Fred away from his legs and took out many cookie tins from the seamless extension bag Professor McGonagall had given him.

The bizarre wizard chess set was also shrunk down and placed inside.

"Have you always been like this?"

Miss Gert asked, bewildered.

……

Back at the Burrow, Fred and George were still preoccupied with their business plans.

"The rent for a shop in Diagon Alley is 700 Galleons, and we can earn the rent for more than ten shops in six months, and that's before we even open... Do you know what that means?"

Fred crawled out of the fireplace.

Sheehan looked behind him, where Mrs. Weasley was fuming.

"Shh-"

George whispered a reminder.

"George, what did you say? That's strange. It clearly means we can drive all over Britain—Mom!"

Fred turned his head stiffly and said in what he thought was a light and charming tone.

"Good evening, mother."

Do you know how anxious I was?

Mrs. Weasley said in a chillingly low voice.

"I'm sorry, Mom, but we have to—"

Mrs. Weasley's two sons were both taller than her, but they trembled with fear when her anger erupted.

"The room is empty! No note left! The person is gone... and with Green in tow... I'm frantic... Did you even consider this?"
...I've never done anything like this in my life... Just wait and see how your father deals with you when he gets back. Bill, Charlie, and Percy have never done anything like this before..."

“Model Percy”.

Fred muttered.

Mrs. Weasley stepped forward and pulled Sheehan out of the fireplace.

“Poor kid, Fred and George are never reliable. Don’t listen to them next time.”

"Oh, Mom, we have to tell you a sad truth: if there has to be one who listens to the other, then there will only be one voice—the great Green—"

Fred made a gesture as if to bow.

"You dare to shift the blame onto little Green?!"

(End of this chapter)