It's Better If You Do

Bellamy made her way slowly back to the shop, slightly looking forward to spending the rest of the day completely alone. Well, as much as she could. She didn’t know how long it’d take for George to get the rest of his errands done. It seemed the Diagon Alley had grown even more crowded in the time that she spent with George at the ice cream parlour, and she had to walk slowly. She didn’t mind it much because it gave her the time to look around at the shops and her feet agreed with it much more. A large globe suddenly caught her eyes in the window of a shop and she let out a small gasp; her jaw dropping at the sight of a model of the Milky Way Galaxy, contained within a simple glass sphere.

She stepped toward the window and leaned in as close as she could without pressing her nose to the glass. She could have stood there for hours just staring at all the movements of the planets and stars. The alley could have crumbled around her and she would not have cared. People were rudely bumping into her, brushing her with their cloaks and purchased objects, and at one time a street vendor rammed his car into the back of his leg, but she dare not pull her eyes away from the model. Bellamy was completely in love with the microscopic--in comparison to the real one--galaxy, but knew that she hadn’t the means to afford it. Her parents had only allotted so much for them to spend on getting settled in England and after that they would have to make ends meet by their own means. This didn’t mean their parents wouldn’t help if they got in a pinch, because they had galleons to spare. They merely wanted to teach their daughters the importance of managing money well.

“Miss,” a small, reedy voice got her attention and she looked over to the mouse-like man who she supposed was the keeper of the shop. “If you’re not going to buy that thing, I’ll need you to move along. You’re blocking other potential customers from seeing it.” Bellamy had half a mind to tell him off, but merely pouted at him and walked away. She had been staring at it for an awfully long time. The sphere stayed on her mind but she knew, despite the fact she desperately wanted it, she would get no real use out of it. However, just in front of the shop, there was a street vendor’s cart parked and selling an array of plants.

These, she thought, will come into great use. Picking out the pink-flowered plant known as dittany, she handed over the five knuts needed to purchase it to the old witch who peddled the cart. Bellamy quickly entered the shop, lest she find anything else to distract her and cost her money. The bells on the door gave a musical jingle as the door shut behind her. For a few moments, she stood just past the doorway, looking up at the colorful, and uncharacteristically quiet shop. Her eyes drifted across the boxes of items and products that she would soon have to learn and try to sell. However thoughtful these items were, the shop was rather dusty and the floor looked like it hadn’t been properly mopped in weeks.

With a resolute nod, she set off to the flat, in search of what she deemed “casual and comfortable” clothing. She passed by the books and groceries that George had brought and made a mental note to be sure and figure out what she was going to make for dinner before moving the items to her makeshift kitchen. Letting out a sigh, a small smile worked its way onto her lips. She climbed the stairs to the flat and pulled open the door. She took a quick glance around the room and decided that once she was done cleaning the shop, she would clean the room as well. Of course, she wouldn’t move anything, or be like someone and invade the twin’s privacy in the process. The room was just a bit dusty and could do with some straightening up.

First things first, she walked her little dittany plant over to the window sill and set it down on it, so it’d get enough sunlight. Bellamy then pulled open all the windows of the room, letting in a pleasant, mid-May breeze. She let out a pleasant sigh before slipping off her heels and digging around her trunk for the only pair of flat shoes she owned, a pair of slightly beat-up, grey sneakers. She then rummaged through her things for a pair of light pink, patterned shorts that fit loosely and a silky blue tank top. Taking her time, she walked into the bathroom and shut the door, not wanting to risk either of the twins coming home and catching her changing into different clothes.

Soon enough, she was at the downstairs level of the shop, mopping the floor thoroughly. She had enchanted a few dust cloths to delicately dust over everything, but every thirty minutes or so she had to repeat the enchantment. While she was letting the floors dry, she set a few of the dusters to the flat, to dust over that room while she figured out what she was going to make for dinner and for how many people. She thought it over and decided that if she only made dinner for her and George, it would leave Fred and Rose to go out and fetch dinner, thus prolonging their day together. If they even came back at all, which she was hoping they wouldn’t.

Rose deserved a chance at happiness and Bellamy knew that if she had to continuously tend with her moodiness and distrust in others, she would never find it. She felt that if Fred was as genuine as she though, combined with her not-so-subtle threats, Rose would have happiness to spare…as long as he didn’t go about saying the wrong thing. As she flipped through one of the cookbooks and settled on a dinner and dessert, she knew that she was doing all she could to ensure that Rose would be happy…even if it meant dealing with George nearly twenty four hours a day.