Going Round in Circles (Summer 2012)

Lucy Weasley was lost. And not just the sort of lost where you found your parents again in just a few seconds, where you just thought you'd lost them when actually they were only stood just behind you. No, she was really lost. One minute she'd been looking up at all of the owls outside Eeylop's Owl Emporium, and the next she'd turned around to plead with her mother to let her buy one, but she wasn't there...

Diagon Alley was extraordinarily busy that day, and so even though it had only been a couple of seconds since she'd last seen them, Lucy couldn't see her parents at all. Knowing that they couldn't be fair she tried to push her way through the stream of people making their way down the street, but she still couldn't see them anywhere. Eventually she burst through to the other side of the street, but looking around she had absolutely no idea where she was.

She leant back against the wall behind her and kept scanning through the crowd. There had to be someone she knew here somewhere...

[Fred Weasley II]

Fred Weasley II was learning that boredom was a rather common thing among children who were stuck in Diagon Alley for long periods of time, especially when those long periods of time equaled up to months and possibly years. There were always different times during the week that he would be forced to join his father at the shop because whoever was supposed to be babysitting him either had something to do or (in the cases of the new ones hired) decided that they didn't like having to babysit the trouble-making child who tended to cause their lives misery while in his company.

That just so happened to be why the red head was currently wandering around the streets of Diagon Alley in search of something interesting to do. His last babysitter had quit in the middle of the day -they normally lasted at least til the end of the day- and had floo-ed up George Weasley and informed him that they quit before sending Fred to his father. Not that the seven year old was complaining because he hadn't been to fond of the other either. He sighed as he shoved another person out of his way and looked around.

"Let's see," he muttered, "what is there to do?"

Lucy's eyes were beginning to fill with tears as it became apparent that her parents weren't just going to suddenly appear and whisk her away. If that was going to happen then surely they would've come by now? Not just leave her here waiting..? No, she was properly lost this time, and she had no clue what she was supposed to do. She considered trying to find her Uncle George's shop, at least then she'd be somewhere familiar. But she wasn't even sure which way the shop was, and she didn't want to get herself even more lost!

Instead she returned to letting her eyes sweep through the crowd, lifting a hand to wipe her eyes so that she could see more clearly. There simply had to be someone she knew in all of these people! Suddenly, her eyes fell on a small red-headed boy and before she'd even checked who it was properly she was walking forwards towards them.

"Fred?" she called out, sounding a little tearful, "Fred?!"

[Fred Weasley II]

He had found something to do! A couple of gossipy women were chatting at one of the tables in front of the cafe and they made the perfect targets. It helped that there were so many other children hanging about at the moment because it meant that he wouldn't get blamed for it...unless someone recognized him as his father's child which wasn't very hard to do at all. Shoving that thought out of his mind Fred quickly felt around in his pockets for something he could use to mess with the women and came out with some dungbombs and some of his father's test products. That was the perk of being George Weasley's child, you always got to test out his products before he started selling them.

The boy pulled out a few small, spider like items and a handful of what looked to be gumballs and was just starting to sneak up to the table when someone called his name. The red head jumped and quickly shoved his hands in his pockets to hide his items as he looked around guiltily. If his dad had come looking for him or Merlin forbid his mother or some other relative he would be in a load of trouble. It was when his name was called out a second time that the tone hit him as well. It sounded like whoever was calling him was crying or something, which meant it wasn't his mother or his father.

As Fred turned around his brown eyes landed on a girl not much younger than himself with the same red hair. He knew her! "Lucy," he exclaimed surprised as he rushed to meet his cousin half-way, "what are you doing here? Where's uncle Percy? Or aunt Audrey? and Molly?" As he asked this he was looking around as if expecting the three mentioned members to just appear out of nowhere.

Lucy breathed a sigh of relief as the boy turned round and she could see that it really was her cousin. She'd been so worried that she'd just mistaken someone else for him and that she would still be alone, but she picked up her pace once Fred had turned around. "Fred!" she called out again, having to resist the urge to jump into the elder boys arms, she was just so happy she'd found someone that she knew. Instead she briefly wrapped her arms around him, as if to prove that he was really there.

She stepped backwards and looked up as he spoke, lifting a hand to wipe a tear from underneath her eye. She shrugged and looked behind her again, hoping that Fred had looked around because he'd seen her parents. He obviously hadn't though, as they weren't there. She sighed and looked around again.

"I- I don't know where they are," she explained shakily, "I was just looking at the owls, and then I turned around and they were gone. And now I can't find them anywhere!"

[Fred Weasley II]

He was a bit taken aback when Lucy was suddenly wrapping her arms around him, but he quickly returned the odd hug. The child wasn't to sure why his cousin was hugging him since Lucy normally tended to avoid such close contact with him. Brown eyes looked worriedly at the younger girl when she wiped tears from her eyes. Had something bad happened to his aunt, uncle, and other cousin? Fred's mind didn't get a chance to really start worrying before Lucy was answering all of his thoughts and questions.

"Alright Luc," he whispered as he moved to wrap an arm around her shoulders no longer interested in the prank he was getting ready to pull, "we can head back to dad's shop and wait for them to show up. That's probably the first place they'll go once they realize that you've been misplaced somewhere."

He was silent for only a moment before a frown came over his face and he looked at the girl. "Why haven't you already made your way to dad's shop?"

Lucy sniffed and lifted a hand to wipe her eyes again as Fred put an arm around her. She leant into his side slightly, now that she'd found someone there was no way she was going to risk losing them again - even if they were only a cousin that was just two years older from her. She didn't even want to let go of Fred in case they somehow became separated, after all she'd been stood right next to her parents when she'd lost them.

She nodded at Fred's suggestion to go up to his Dad's shop. She knew that it had been the right thing to do, she'd just been scared to leave the spot she'd found. "Do you think they'll already be there?" she asked hopefully, if it was so obvious that she should've gone there then that should have been the first place they went to.

She then shrugged at Fred's question, "I - I don't know. I wasn't even sure where it was." She then pushed her thumb into her mouth to suck it comfortingly. She'd dropped the habit around a year ago now, but hey... she'd been scared.

[Fred Weasley II]

He had been expecting Lucy to shove him off or something when he wrapped an arm around her, but when she just leaned against his side he realized just how upset she was. The two kids were attracting the attention of some of the adults standing around, well mainly the still teary little girl currently leaned against his side. Fred knew that he needed to get Lucy back to his dad's shop before one of these adults recognized him and sent word to his father, who would then come hunting the boy down. He really didn't want to think about what would happen if someone told his dad that he had made a girl cry-even if it hadn't been his fault.

When the other red head agreed that going back to Weasley Wizard Wheezes was a good idea Fred used the arm around her shoulders to start leading her down the street in the opposite direction she had been going. "Of course they'll already be there," he assured with a firm nod of his head, "or they'll only be a couple seconds behind us. You know uncle Percy has noticed you're no longer with them and is probably freaking out just as much as you were."

He gasped in a rather dramatic way when she admitted that she didn't know where the shop was. "What? How could you not know where the greatest shop in the whole area is?" he added a dramatic tone to his voice as he placed his free hand over his heart. The boy wanted to lighten his cousin's mood and his usual antics (minus being mean to her) should be enough to do it.

Lucy really did hope that her parents were already waiting at Uncle George's shop, and then this would be over with just as soon as her and Fred got there, which she was sure wouldn't be too long. Although for some reason there was this small part of her which wondered whether they'd even realised that she was gone! After all, she hadn't wandered away from them - quite the opposite in fact.

Lucy had to pause for a moment, wandering who this 'Uncle Percy' was that Fred was talking about. She was sure that she didn't have any uncles named that... then again she had so many uncles that it wouldn't have been that much a surprise if she couldn't remember them all. Then it dawned on her that it was her Dad she was talking about, and so she bent her head sideways to look up at her cousin. "Are you sure he's noticed?" she asked in a small voice, before continuing in an even quieter voice, "What if he hasn't?"

She left her head arched upwards as Fred continued speaking, a small giggle escaping out of her lips at his large gasp. She'd always found Fred funny. "Best shop in the whole world more like!" she exclaimed. She did love her Uncle's shop, it was just so big and colourful and fun!

[Fred Weasley II]

Fred glanced down at the girl next to him when she inquired about her father noticing if she was gone in such a small voice. "Of course he's probably already noticed," he assured her with a grin, though the grin fell just a little at the other question, "if he hasn't then dad'll just send him a message telling him that you're safe and with us. Don't worry Luc. You'll be back with them soon."

He gave a firm nod at Lucy's addition to his words and squeezed her shoulder gently. "That's right! The best shop in the world! People come from miles around just to get a glimpse of the amazing Weasley Wizards' Wheezes!" the boy was now making dramatic gestures with the arm that wasn't wrapped around Lucy's shoulders and gaining a few adults attention to his antics, which wasn't unusual.

One woman looked like she had been about to come say something to them, until she heard the name of the shop then she turned around and walked away. Of course Fred had caught the woman as she suddenly turned and watched her walk away curiously. "I don't think everyone likes dad's shop," he muttered with a sad tone.

Lucy watched Fred closely as he spoke. Not only just to pay attention, but also so that there was absolutely no chance of her losing him again. Even though that would be impossible with the way that he had his arm around her, she wasn't risking anything now. All she'd done was look away for a second and she'd lost her parents, it could so easily happen here with Fred too! Not if she kept watching him though, she thought.

She gave a small sigh at Fred's response, "I hope so," she muttered. However her face brightened at her cousins next comment, she hadn't even thought that Uncle George would be able to send him a message. "Good point," she replied, nodding at the idea.

She then giggled as Fred flailed his arm around, he really did look silly. Not in a bad way though, in a funny way, at least in Lucy's opinion he did. Her attention was then caught though by the woman walking towards them, Lucy looked up at her expectantly and then frowned as she walked away. "Well... she just doesn't know about anything!" Lucy replied, nodding her head, "Anyone who's been to Uncle George's shop would know how amazing it was!

Abraxis Binx was wandering aimlessly down the streets of Diagon Alley. His parents had needed to make a trip to Knockturn and Abraxis had asked to tag along in hopes of running into one of his friends or something. The newly turned seventeen year old let out a quiet sigh as he walked, looking in different store windows and noting some of the things that seemed interesting. His attention was drawn to two kids who were obviously younger than himself. The girl looked like she had been crying and the boy just seemed to be making an idiot of himself.

The teen rolled his eyes as the woman just turned and walked away from them before looking at the girl when she made the comment about the shop. He was well aware of the joke shop in which the two were talking about because his parents knew the owner...well knew of the owner. Apparently the owner was a blood traitor. He stuffed his hands in his jeans before walking over to the two. "What are you two kids making such a fuss about?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

[Fred Weasley II]

Fred didn't really notice Lucy watching him closely because he was rather used to people keeping a close eye on him. It came with being the son of a known prankster and the fact that everyone knew he was just like his dad. He was glad to see that Lucy was brightening up just a little at the mention of being able to contact her dad if they needed too. Though really Fred was sure that uncle Percy and aunt Audrey already knew that their daughter was missing and were either heading back to the last place they had seen her or making their way to his dad's shop at the moment.

He smirked at Lucy's words and nodded as if to confirm them. "You know what? You're right. She doesn't know anything." He blinked brown eyes up at the teen who suddenly approached them and gently pulled Lucy just the smallest bit behind him in case the teen tried anything. "I'm not a kid," he snapped, "I'm six!" Who did this person think he was? Just randomly coming up and calling them kids. He was almost seven though. Just another month and he'd turn seven. He wasn't a kid.

"No she doesn't!" Lucy agreed firmly, even she knew how cool her Uncle George's shop was, and even as a five year old it was clear that Lucy wasn't going to be the coolest of her cousins. Even at this age she didn't like the idea of pulling pranks or getting into trouble, but mainly she just found the products at her Uncle's shop funny. Funny to look at, but she didn't think she'd ever want to use them at all.

She frowned slightly as Fred pulled her behind him, she opened her mouth to question him when she spotted the teenager that had approached them and instantly she shrunk behind her cousin's legs even more. She would've also protested about how they weren't kids, (she was five!) but she figured Fred had pretty much already said all there was to be said. She especially thought that Fred wasn't a kid any more though. He may only be a year older than her, but to Lucy that difference was huge! Fred definitely wasn't a kid, this teenager obviously didn't know what he was talking about. Not that she said anything, of course, she wasn't brave enough for that.

Abraxis watched as the girl shrunk against the red head boy. He hadn't done anything to make her fear him...yet. Perhaps she was just one of those shy people that he had been told about? It would make sense he supposed. She didn't seem to say anything and she was hiding behind the other person. He chuckled when the boy exclaimed that he wasn't a kid. "Of course you're not," he replied sarcastically, "six year olds are obviously considered adults in the world since they know oh so much."

His blue eyes then looked at the girl. "And what about you? Are you not a kid either? You're what? Three? Four?" he asked her with amusement written plainly on his face. He thought the kids were hilarious, especially the boy who he had noticed pulled the girl just slightly behind him as he approached. Though he did hold a small bit of respect since the kid was obviously trying to protect his sister. Or was it his cousin?

[Fred Weasley II]

Fred hadn't noticed Lucy moving a little bit closer to him and putting distance between herself and the strange boy in front of them. The red head frowned when the male in front of them started laughing at his claim of not being a child. Nothing he had just said was funny and yet the boy was laughing. "What's so funny?" he demanded as he folded his arms in front of his chest in hopes of making him seem even more grown-up like.

He smirked when the boy agreed that he was an adult and even complimented his knowledge. "Glad to see that we agree on something," he told the boy with a nod. Though when the teen turned his attention to Lucy and started asking about her age and all Fred frowned again. He looked at his cousin figuring that she'd want to answer the questions on her own. Really looking at her Fred couldn't figure out how the taller male believed her to be three or four. She didn't look that small.

Lucy didn't know this teenager, and that was probably what scared her the most about him. She didn't know what to expect, or whether she could trust him at all. She stepped even further behind her cousin, sure that he would be able to protect her, even though he was only a year older. Although a year was a great difference to the younger girl, and Fred was really cool anyway, she'd be okay as long as he was here and did all of the talking.

Although just as she'd managed to reassure herself, the teenager questioned her directly. She poked her head out from behind Fred, glancing up at the boy. She wasn't supposed to talk to strangers, but she thought perhaps it would be okay if Fred was here, and it was only a small question. "No, I'm five and a half," she answered in a meek voice, almost instantly moving back to hide behind her cousin again.

The teen frowned when the red haired boy asked what was so funny in such a demanding tone. When he was this kid's age he would never have demanded something like that from the adults that were around him. Then again he knew that most of the adults around him weren't people to take demands from others, no matter the age. He folded his own arms over his chest, creating a much more intimidating look that the small male. "Watch the tone boy," he said, the 'or else' unsaid, but clearly ringing in the air.

He found it amusing that the kid didn't catch onto his sarcasm very quickly or if he did then he played along with it. In some ways this kid was reminding him of himself at that age. Protecting those he found worth protecting and playing along with what other people said to him. It was rather scary how much the kid reminded him of himself. When his attention moved to the girl he was expecting either for the boy to answer for her, the girl to step out and defend her own age, or for her to just cower behind her brother.

"I was close," he told her with a grin and a shrug. The fact that she moved right back behind the boy had him rolling his eyes. "Come on kid," he said with a sigh, "I'm not going to hurt you. There's no point in hiding behind him because if I wanted to do something to you -which I don't- he wouldn't be able to do much to help you."

[Fred Weasley II]

Fred wasn't to happy with the tone that the teen spoke to him in after he demanded to know why the older was laughing. Instead of heeding the warning he just glared harder and lifted his chin to show he wasn't afraid. "You don't scare me," he told the older, "and I'll talk to you anyway I want. Now tell me what was so funny." If he wasn't trying to put on a brave front for Lucy he probably would have quickly apologized when the older male first told him to watch it, but he didn't want Lucy to think he was afraid (even if he was terrified) of this kid. It would make her think he couldn't protect her or some such nonsense.

He was glad to see his cousin step up to answer the question about her age, but also glad that she didn't start trying to stand up to the man. Himself getting beat up because he ran his mouth was fine. His cousin getting hurt because she thought it was cool not fine.

Abraxis' words about Fred not being able to do anything if he suddenly decided to hurt Lucy caused the red haired child to frown. "Don't underestimate me," he snapped towards the other male, "if you try to hurt her I'll hurt you first." He wasn't going to let anything happen to Lucy. She was his responsibility right now because he was the oldest and she was lost and had no idea how to get back to the shop and he had to get her there and reunite her with Uncle Percy, Aunt Audrey, and Molly. Letting this boy hurt her was out of the question and he refused to allow it to happen.

[ Click for OOC Comment ]

I know it was probably just a typo, but 'Uncle Person' really did make me laugh :L

Lucy flinched away slightly at the elder boy's tone towards her cousin. She didn't like how he was talking to Fred (or to either of them really), but at the same time she was too afraid to say anything. However it seemed that she really didn't have to worry - Fred was perfectly capable of standing up for himself. Even Lucy was a little surprised about how Fred spoke up to the elder boy - her cousin was even braver than she'd thought! There was no way anything bad could happen to them - Lucy was even more sure of that fact now that she'd seen Fred begin to stand up for himself.

This certainty faltered a little though as the conversation turned towards her again though. She slowly leant sideways to look past Fred up at the elder boy, still staying very close behind her cousin's back. "I- I want to say here though," she muttered, determined that this boy wouldn't be able to say what she did. She was going to stay stood behind Fred; that she was certain about. "Yeah, Fred will get you!" she agreed, with a firm nod of her head. This show off would be no match for her cousin, Fred would be able to beat him!

The first time it had been the slightest bit amusing to watch the kid try to stand up to him. The second time it rather annoyed him. His glare intensified (if that was even possible) and he frowned at the kid. Just where did this brat get off with trying to demand things of him and was he stupid? Normal kids tended to back down when it was obvious that they were outmatched. He'd never met a kid who still tried to stand up to someone that could obviously do them harm. The fact that the kid actually came out and told him that he didn't scare him gave him credit in Abraxis book. Even if he did wind up having to put the kid in his place. "You," he replied to the kid, "you were what was so funny." Perhaps the kid was just trying to see brave for his sister? That seemed to be the most logical explanation since it was a little obvious by looking in his eyes that he wasn't as brave as he was putting on.

When the girl mentioned wanting to stay behind the boy Abraxis wanted to laugh. Was she really that shy? He'd never met a girl that hide when someone was trying to talk to them. Again mostly because the females he was around were the kind that scared most males away once they got to know them. As the boy spoke up once more standing up to him Abraxis laughed. "I would love to see you try," he told the other kid. A smirk stretched over his face as the girl stepped up to agree with the boy about hurting him.

"I'm sorry to inform you kid," he spoke towards Lucy, "but this brat couldn't protect you from me even if he wanted to. I give him props for being brave enough to try, but he wouldn't be able to do much. I'm an adult wizard so with a word I could have him out of the picture for the few moments it would take me to take you or whatever."

[Fred Weasley II]

Fred didn't remember anything he said being funny. His mind quickly ran over everything he had told this older kid and nothing was popping up as being funny. Maybe it was just an old people thing? That made the most sense in his mind. When Abraxis made his comment about seeing him try the red haired boy glared. "I could," he assured the other, "and you wouldn't have any idea about what was going on."

As he started talking to Lucy Fred didn't know what to do. How was he supposed to handle this situation? Of course he knew that he would never be able to actually do much of anything if he decided to try and hurt Lucy. All he might be able to do was scream and hope someone took pity on them. Then again they were in the middle of a crowded street. What was he really going to do? If he started trying something all Lucy had to do was scream and the adults around them would protect them. They had too.

"You won't hurt her," he hoped that he sounded a lot braver than he felt at the moment. The only thing he had going for him was his words that nothing would happen to Lucy.

Lucy remained stood behind Fred, occasionally peeking out from the side to steal glances up at Abraxis. She didn't really know how to act around him - she'd never spoken to someone she didn't know before, unless it was one of her parent's friends, and then she didn't really have to do any talking. She didn't really like how he was talking to her cousin, but she didn't have anything to say to him in return. He was a lot bigger than her, and that made him very scary in Lucy's eyes. She'd been terrified enough just because she'd lost her parents, but this was so much worse now.

She moved her head back behind Fred as Abraxis addressed her instead. She had complete confidence in her elder cousin that he'd know what to do should this big person turn really nasty. She didn't know what Fred would do, but he'd definitely be able to do something! He'd known what do after Lucy had gotten lost, so he'd surely know what to do now. She just had to trust him, and trust him she certainly did.

However, she really didn't like how this guy was talking to Fred, and finally she stepped out from behind her cousin. "Hey, don't be mean about Fred!" she exclaimed, her small face wrenched into a frown. Although as soon as she said it she regretted it, but she fought the urge to hide behind her cousin again - she'd already gone and said it now.

Abraxis just rolled his eyes at the boy when he continued to argue that he'd be able to take him on without problems. Merlin he even implied that he could win in a battle against Abraxis. Of course if the kid was older and they weren't stood in the middle of Diagon Alley he might make the kid eat his words, but since he didn't want a reputation of beating up little kids he just kept silent. Better let the kid keep his little ego he had going. One day someone would put him in his place. Abraxis just hoped he was around when it happened.

He was actually getting rather bored of messing with these kids. They had been amusing at first, but now they were just getting a bit repetitive. Letting out a bored sigh he slipped his hands in his pockets as the little girl stepped out to defend her brother. Blue eyes flickered over to the girl for a moment, a smirk on his face, before he shrugged. "Whatever you two," he said, "I'm bored with this conversation so I think I'm going to head out. You might want to get to wherever you were heading before someone comes looking for you."

Then as if he hadn't just stood there and spoken to them he turned on his heel and walked away.

[Fred Weasley II]

Fred's jaw dropped when the boy simply decided that their conversation was boring and he was going to go away now. Seriously? That's all they had to do to make him leave? Make themselves seem boring? Why had he not thought of that in the first place? The mention of someone coming to look for them made Fred roll his eyes. No one was going to come looking for him because his dad was at the shop and knew Fred would return whenever he got around to it. The older kid did have a point though. Lucy's parents were probably worried sick over her. As soon as the boy was gone Fred looked at his cousin. "We should get you to the shop," he agreed.