Chapter 230

Chapter 230

Hogsmeade was quiet on the day after the crowds had gone. Three young wizards crept suspiciously into view outside Honeydukes.

Suer emerged from the shop in high spirits, carrying several bags printed with the Honeydukes emblem. Fred and George followed him, exchanging glances with expressions too complicated for words.

No wonder he had needed to return to Hogsmeade. The strange delicacies he had bought were hardly the sort of things one purchased while the village was full of other pupils.

“Giving Suer the Marauder’s Map was the right decision,” Fred murmured.

“Absolutely.” George nodded with deep conviction.

Zonko’s Joke Shop was a little farther along the road. Fortunately, it was still open. George and Fred rushed inside and swiftly selected everything they wanted.

“One Galleon and six Sickles.” Zonko beamed at the twins.

Fred searched his pockets and froze. George reacted at once, tugging at his sleeve and whispering, “Fred, I think these few should last us until the next Hogsmeade weekend. What do you reckon?”

Fred looked at the joke products spread across the counter and hesitated. Empty pockets, however, left him little choice.

“Which ones should we keep?”

The twins began muttering together. Suer, who had followed them throughout, heard every word.

“Here’s the money. Would you pack everything for me, please?” Suer said with a smile, placing one Galleon and six Sickles on the counter.

“Suer, this…” Fred opened his mouth, but Zonko had already swept the money into the till and deftly wrapped the purchases.

“Let’s go.” Suer picked up the parcel and walked out of Zonko’s Joke Shop.

Fred and George exchanged another look behind him, then had no choice but to follow.

“Let us pay you back.” Fred dug into his pocket. “I have eight Sickles and sixteen Knuts. How much do you have, George?”

“Only two Sickles.”

“There’s no need.” Suer thrust the parcel into the arms of the nearer twin, who happened to be George. “Call it an early Christmas present.”

“No. This is far too expensive.” George hurriedly clutched the bag and shook his head.

“Exactly. What sort of Christmas present costs a whole Galleon?” Fred agreed.

“I know you bought these for research. If accepting them feels wrong, then call it funding for your experiments. I’d be delighted if you shared some of the results with me.” Suer waved aside their objections.

“Besides, the Marauder’s Map is worth far more than one Galleon, and you gave that to me without hesitation.”

Fred and George looked at each other. Neither was inclined to make an unnecessary fuss.

“From now on, you’re our very best friend.” Fred returned the coins to his pocket.

“We were already friends, weren’t we?” Suer asked with a smile.

“Of course. Fred, that was very wrong of you. Young Master Bones has always been our friend,” George said solemnly.

“Oh, my mistake. I must apologise to young Master Bones.” Fred gave Suer an exaggerated bow.

“Since your apology is so very sincere, I shall forgive you,” Suer replied with equal gravity.

“Thank you for your generosity. If we achieve greatness in the future, half the credit shall belong to you.” George bowed as well.

“And now, the generous young Master Bones must return to the castle.”

The three of them staged their little performance in the middle of Hogsmeade. Suer was the first to break down and laugh. Fred and George exchanged a glance, then joined him merrily.
Their laughter carried a long way down the quiet street.

“Of course, before we return to the castle, haven’t you forgotten to buy something?”

“What?” Suer looked at Fred in puzzlement.

“Drink, obviously. You can’t come to Hogsmeade without buying some. Isn’t that what you came for?” George added.

“I only came to buy sweets.” Suer shook his head blankly. “Besides, the Three Broomsticks won’t sell alcohol to underage wizards, will it? Apart from Butterbeer.”

“Not the Three Broomsticks.” Fred shook his head with an air of profound mystery. “We know somewhere much more suitable.”

“The Hog’s Head, at the end of this street,” George explained. “We’ve bought from them plenty of times. They’ll sell you as much as you want. It costs more than at the Three Broomsticks, but the advantage is that the barman doesn’t care what you intend to do with it.”

“We bought a bottle of Firewhisky cocktail yesterday. We found out it’s Hagrid’s favourite, which is why we’re a little short of money,” Fred said with a sigh.

“But if it persuades Hagrid to reveal where the Acromantulas are, we’ll earn it back many times over,” said George.

“Certainly.” Suer nodded. “A pint of Acromantula venom is worth a full hundred Galleons.”

“We have to succeed, Fred.” Gold seemed to gleam in George’s eyes.

“We must, George!” Fred nodded fiercely.

“Don’t forget to take me with you. We’ll go together. Spider legs are a great delicacy.” Suer recalled the previous school year, and the savoury taste seemed to dance once more upon his tongue.

Fred and George appeared to see the Galleons beckoning to them too. Then a cold wind carrying fine drops of rain roused the three boys from their foolish grins beneath a streetlamp.

Fred shuddered violently.

“Come on. Let’s buy some hot Butterbeer first. George and I are paying this time.”

…

By the time the three of them returned to the castle carrying their purchases, curfew had already begun. Hogwarts was utterly silent save for the wind howling outside and rattling the windows.

A soft rustling came from behind the statue of a humpbacked, one-eyed witch halfway along the fourth-floor corridor.

“Suer, open the Marauder’s Map and see where Filch is,” said Fred.

“All right… hic…” Suer pulled the parchment from inside his robes, his eyes unfocused. “Hic… I solemnly swear… hic… that I’m up to no good.”

He said the words correctly, but the parchment did nothing.

“What’s… hic… wrong?” Suer stared in bewilderment at George, who was holding his illuminated wand aloft. “Is it broken?”

“You forgot your wand,” George said, speechless. “You’d better do it, Fred.”

A few minutes later, the parchment rolled itself up again as Fred spoke the closing words.

“No problem. Filch is in his office,” Fred said. “Now’s our chance to get back to the dormitories.”

“Can you manage by yourself? Shall George and I take you back?” Fred looked at Suer with concern.

“Hic… no… no problem.” Suer stuffed the parchment Fred handed him into his robes, waved carelessly, gathered up his sweets and staggered out of the passage.

Fred and George exchanged a look.

“All we can do is hope Merlin protects him.”