บท 23: Alchemy and Old Bonds
Although I'd done my best to avoid speaking with my younger brother, I'd unfortunately been forced to run into him a couple times. He wasn't much fun, and his distaste for me hadn't faded in the years since father's death.
I did my best to pretend I missed the brat, though, and sat down to a nice, home cooked meal.
"Pork chops and garlic mashed potatoes," I said happily as I saw what Wisteria Hunch had made for me.
"Your favorites," she said softly with a small smile.
Conversation was limited to small talk during dinner, and we mostly just chatted about minor things, such as changes in price in potion ingredients, what sort of blunders the Ministry had done recently, and other issues, letting me stay up to date with the Wizarding World.
"Here," she said, passing me a book when dinner was done and Inky teleported the dirty dishes away. "I know you've been doing self-study with Runes, Arithmancy and Potions, so I thought you might like this."
"'A Beginner's Guide to Alchemy?'" I said, reading aloud the title of the book. "By… Nicholas Flamel?!"
"Yes, it used to belong to the Kettlepokes. Consider it a gift from Nana and myself," she said with a grin, seeing my stunned expression.
I looked at it in awe. It was over a hundred years old, and the knowledge within was priceless. Alchemy was something that was like a more advanced form of Potions, like how Transmutation was an advanced version of Transfiguration, and Enchanting was the superior branch of Charms.
Alchemy was incredible, as it didn't just create liquid substances. Solids and gases were also possible to be synthesized. Like the legendary Philosopher's Stone, although that was an extreme example. Unique metal alloys, magically charged crystals, as well as a method to turn potions into pills were all included in what was known to magical folk as Alchemy.
"It's incredible, thank you, mom," I said with genuine cheer in my voice.
After a bit more time hanging around my old home, I gave my mother a hug, and tucked her gift under my arm. Then, instead of being apparated out, I left Lumpkin's Patch and went out into Ottery St. Catchpole. A couple minutes later, and I was at the Burrow's front door.
I'd only knocked on it once before it was flung open and two pairs of hands reached out and yanked me inside.
"Woah, there! Watch where you're grabbing, Fred, George!" I scolded as the twins dragged me through the house and into the kitchen.
"Heh, sorry for messing up your fancy suit and tie," Fred said in a sing-song manner.
"But that's what you get for not visiting for nearly a whole year!" George replied, and I flinched, feeling a bit guilty.
I'd done my best to keep up with the Weasley's over the years, but it was hard. We lived too far away, now, and owls were not exactly inconspicuous. Nor cheap. And, as a Squib, I couldn't own one anyways. Another incredibly stupid rule from the wizarding world. The owl the Weasley's owned was a wizened old thing, and the Muggle mailmen didn't deliver to houses that they couldn't see. That meant letters were infrequent, and I only really got to see the red-headed family during holidays and birthdays.
'The last time I saw them was at New Years,' I thought to myself, feeling a bit morose at that fact.
As I was brought into the dining room by the twins, I hid my thoughts behind a smile upon seeing the rest of the Weasleys. They all greeted me with a barrage of smiles, and Ron and Ginny both shouted "Happy Birthday!" as loud as they could.
I looked around at all of them, smiling widely as I did so. All of the red-heads looked hale and healthy, which was a load off my mind. There were a few missing from the house at the moment, though. Percy and Charlie were at Hogwarts, while Bill had graduated last year and was busy working with Gringotts already.
Ron and Ginny looked excited, though I had to wonder how much was because of me and how much was due to the giant cake on the table. The twins had mischievous grins like always, though this time their smirks were likely due to the fact they'd snuck out of school using the floo to attend the party, and a moment after entering Mrs. Weasley crushed me in a hug. And last but not least was Arthur Weasley who was wearing a pastel green Hawaiian shirt that had yellow and orange ducks on it.
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