His Favorite Customer Pt. 1
F.W. Mini-Series Word count: 1.4k
✧.*Pairing: Fred Weasley + fem!Reader
✧.*Content warnings: Slowburn and a clueless Fred
✧.*Summary: Y/N constantly visits Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes after graduation. Fred insists she's only there for the products. George knows she's there for Fred.
It started with a simple smile in your potions class in 4th year. Just one smile would completely bend your daily routine for the rest of your life, even after graduating from Hogwarts. That same smile would twist your heartstrings to point towards the eldest Weasley twin for years to come.
You had graduated a few months prior, coming up on a year. The Weasley twins had dropped out of Hogwarts despite their mother’s disapproval to open up their famous joke shop, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes. It didn’t take long at all for their shop to blow up—just like what they did to Umbridge right before they dropped out.
The twins had made it big! They were constantly working on new ideas for the shop, coming up with new candies that made feet swell, vials that steamed in the shape of an ugly face, and so much more.
Even after graduating, growing up, becoming independent, and now training to become an Aurologist, you still had a certain ginger boy on your mind. You figured it was just some schoolgirl crush that would have faded after the reality of the real world hit you. However, the same boy you thought you would forget about became a part of your weekly routine. Who could blame you? The Weasley twins constantly had a lineup of girls waiting on hand and foot for one of the twins even to look their way.
Rain thudded against the windows of each shop in Diagon Alley. New first-years were seen scattering around the cobblestone roadway to get the essentials for the new year at Hogwarts. You smiled softly as you watched, reminiscing on the times you had in the same shops.
As you made your way through the shouting kids and confused parents, you walked into the shop you now knew best. Every shelf was engraved in your mind, and you knew the entire catalog by how often you showed up.
You would typically come in on Thursday mornings when training was about an hour later than the rest of the week. It’s not exactly that you wanted to shop there. I mean, their products were genius, don’t get me wrong. However, no matter how hard you tried to pretend to read various labels and act confused about certain charms just to linger a bit longer, all that information went in one ear and out the other when you could be listening to Fred instead.
The familiar ringing of a bell rang through the shop. Giggles were heard from every direction, even some squeals of children figuring out the products.
You walked through, eyes scanning the shop. Your eyes settled on the front counter, the familiar tall red-headed boy restocking some candies. A faint smile laced your lips as you walked towards the counter.
“George got you doing the restocks now?” You teased lightly.
Fred looked up, the faint annoyance on his face turning into a soft smile.
“Well, isn’t it our most valued customer?” He teased back. A mischievous grin laced his lips as he placed an elbow on the counter, setting his chin on top of his closed fist. If it weren’t for you keeping it in the back of your mind that you and Fred were merely friends, you would’ve melted right on the spot at his stupid little face.
“Got anything new yet?” You asked back, head tilting slightly.
“Not yet. We have been working on a new product. Should be ready next week if our favorite girl wants to come back into the shop for a little look and maybe a test?” He laced the question with a faint hint of puppy dog eyes, almost begging for you to test it out.
“You’re too desperate that it’s concerning,” you shot back. “You’re probably gonna turn my hands purple with sprinkles or something.”
“Well, now we have to think of a new product.”
A faint snort of laughter left your lips, shaking your head and your hand lightly covering your mouth.
Before you could reply, you heard a crash of boxes to your left. You and Fred both turned your heads to look for the noise. As if he knew too well how good you and Fred were getting along, it was George. He had managed to knock over an entire display of Puking Pastilles, splaying them across the floor. A sheepish grin laced his lips before he performed a charm, cleaning up the mess almost instantly.
“Fred, why didn’t you tell me our favorite customer had walked in? Got me looking like a terrible owner.”
“Co-Owner,” Fred corrected.
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever pleases your pretty little head.”
“Aw, you think I’m pretty?” Fred teased, poising his hands beside his cheek like a prissy little schoolgirl.
A faint giggle left your lips as you looked to George. “I heard there’s a new product in the works. Blow anything up with it yet?”
“No,” he shot back. That was a one-time thing!” George defended as he looked to his brother. “You can’t tell this girl anything. One wrong move and she will hold it against you even in your grave.”
“She makes us look busy. I think it’s worth it,” he replied with a shrug laced with a faint wink.
George rolled his eyes playfully. “Anyways, Sunshine. You looking for anything or just another visit?”
You simply shrugged, eyes glancing around. “Mainly just a little visit before I go on for training. Wanted to see if the place was still holding up or if it was on stilts.”
“Fred, we’re banning her for life,” he joked.
A small smirk laced your lips before you heard the bell ring once more, signaling more customers coming through. You glanced at the clock on the wall, numbers displayed chaotically. If it weren’t for the twins teaching you how that clock worked, you would’ve guessed it was 4 pm.
A small sigh left your lips. “I think I have to head out. I have to be at training in forty minutes, and who knows if the train decides to show up on time,” you said with a reluctant smile.
George picked up some more boxes from behind the counter, smiling as he slowly started walking off. “Good luck!”
Now, it was just you and Fred again. The nervousness bundled back up into your body as you both looked at each other. A small breath left your lips, trying to find words again.
“So, you’ll be back next week?” Fred seemed to ask hesitantly.
“Where else would I rather be?” You asked with a small smile.
A small smile laced Fred’s lips as he gave a faint nod of approval. He hesitated before bednign down, grabbing something behind the counter. Curiosity filled you before he popped back up, holding a small bag of chocolate chip cookies. A faint smile laced your lips.
“What’s with the bag?”
“Mum said I should give you these on her behalf. She says hi,” Fred mentioned a bit nervously.
Your smile widened ever so slightly. Molly truly was one of the most thoughtful women you had met in your time at Hogwarts.
“She remembers me?”
Fred hesitated, the back of his neck creeping pink. “She loves to hear about you and what you’ve been up to.”
A faint rose covered your cheekbones.
They talk about me…?
You reached over and gently took the bag. His slender fingers ghosting yours for a moment before pulling away abruptly. You noticed his eyes dart away, glancing over a small paper on the countertop. The boy across from you cleared his throat before speaking again.
“Yeah, so, I’ll see you next Thursday.”
You gave a faint nod, cookies now in your bag.
“I’ll be ready to test the new famous product.” You said a bit playfully, hoping to return the earlier mood.
Fred’s lips grew wide with a nod.
“I’ll have them ready for our favorite.”
Fred and george pov
George made his way towards the counter once more, wiping his hands with a cloth.
“You're good for business, yknow?” George nudged Fred with his elbow, still glancing at the front door.
“What do you mean?” Fred’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, his eyes finally tearing from the door you had left through.
“You know she only comes in here to see you.”
“No, she doesn't. She just likes settling down before going into training,” Fred defended. You only ever thought of him as a friend, right? I mean, if you were ever going to make a move, it would have been the countless times Fred practically forced you to be his partner in potions whenever George would skip class or be sick.
“Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that.”
