╰┈➤ ❝ [𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑃𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝑇𝐻𝑅𝐸𝐸] ❞ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ-
⁺⤾·˚.⃗.  [ᴀ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅʟʏ
ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ ғɪʀsᴛ ʙɪʀᴛʜᴅᴀʏ] 𑁍ࠜೄ ˊˎ
﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋

The Burrow
Village of Ottery St Catchpole
- Devon, England
( July, 1995. )

                                    𝑶nly moments after she cleaned up, a knock sounded at the door. Molly spun around, her expression instantly transforming into a warm smile. "Oh, that must be Lucille and Edward!" she said brightly, walking toward the door. "And Achilles!"

The four teens breathed a collective breath, excited as ever to see which cake Achilles chose.

They all eagerly hunched toward the door, as Molly opened it to greet Cassie and Olympia's parents, Lucille and Edward Harrington, along with Achilles, the guest of honor. Molly enveloped Achilles in a big hug, beaming. "Ah, the birthday boy! Big twenty-one! My, my, how you've grown."

Achilles chuckled, patting her back. "Thanks, Mrs. Weasley. It's good to see you again."

Lucille and Edward stepped in, exchanging warm greetings with Molly as the teens hovered awkwardly in the kitchen, watching the adults. Molly, ever the gracious host, turned back to the group. "Now, what's this I hear about cakes?"

Cassie and Olympia stepped forward, their strawberry cake held proudly on a platter. "We made this for Achilles," Cassie said, her voice laced with confidence.

Fred and George followed suit, holding up their chocolate masterpiece. "We did, too," Fred added, grinning. "A little friendly competition."

Achilles raised an eyebrow, clearly amused as he looked at both cakes. "A competition, huh? Alright, let's see what you've got."

They quickly set the cakes on the table, offering Achilles a fork for each. He dramatically rubbed his hands together, his grin widening. "Alright, let's give these a try."

First, he tried the strawberry cake, chewing thoughtfully as the group watched him with bated breath. Then, he moved to the chocolate cake, taking a bite and nodding slowly.

"Well?" Fred asked, leaning forward eagerly. "Which one's better?"

Achilles looked between the two cakes, his expression unreadable. "Hmm," he said slowly, rubbing his chin. "They're both... terrible."

The kitchen fell silent, the four teens staring at him in shock, their jaws practically hitting the floor. "What?!" Olympia exclaimed, her hands flying to her hips. "We worked so hard on these!"

Cassie gaped at her brother, her face a mix of disbelief and outrage. "You're joking. You have to be joking."

Achilles held his serious expression for a beat longer before his grin broke through. "Of course, I'm joking," he said, laughing. "They're both great. Honestly, I like them equally."

The four teens let out a collective groan, half-relieved and half-annoyed. "You're the worst," Fred said, shaking his head but grinning nonetheless.

"Agreed," Olympia added, rolling her eyes. "You just gave us all heart attacks."

Achilles shrugged, taking another bite of the chocolate cake. "What's the fun of being the birthday boy if I can't mess with you a little?"

Molly clapped her hands, clearly delighted. "Well, it sounds like you four did an excellent job, even if my kitchen paid the price."

Lucille smiled warmly at her daughters. "I'm proud of you two. Achilles really does love strawberries, and chocolate, after all."

Edward chuckled, taking a slice of each cake for himself. "And who doesn't love a good bake-off? I'd call it a draw."

As everyone began serving themselves slices of cake, Fred leaned over to George, smirking. "A draw, huh? I still say chocolate won."

The room filled with laughter and the clinking of forks on plates, the earlier chaos forgotten as they all enjoyed the fruits of the teens' labor. The Burrow, as always, was full of love, laughter, and just a little bit of mischief.

As the laughter from the kitchen settled, the sound of the front door opening drew everyone's attention. Arthur Weasley's cheerful voice boomed through the house as he and Percy stepped into the Burrow, both looking a bit worn from their long day at the Ministry.

"Ah, there's the birthday boy!" Arthur exclaimed, beaming as he walked into the kitchen and clapped Achilles on the back. "Twenty-one! My word, where does the time go?"

Percy followed closely, his tie slightly askew but his posture still stiff and formal. "Happy birthday, Achilles," he said, offering a polite smile.

"Thanks, Mr. Weasley," Achilles replied warmly, shaking Percy's hand before exchanging a firm handshake with Arthur.

Arthur turned to the rest of the room, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the two cakes on the table. "Well, what's all this then? A feast fit for royalty?"

"Fred and George insisted on a bake-off," Molly said with a fond roll of her eyes. "It got a bit out of hand, but both cakes turned out wonderfully."

"Of course they did," Fred said, grinning. "Our chocolate cake is a masterpiece."

Cassie snorted. "And the strawberry cake is a classic."

Arthur chuckled, grabbing a plate. "I'll have to try both, then. Can't let good cake go to waste."

As Arthur helped himself, Percy took a seat at the table, his gaze scanning the room before settling on Edward. "Mr. Harrington," he began, "I don't see Atlas here. Is he coming later?"

Edward shook his head, a proud smile spreading across his face. "Oh, no, he couldn't make it. He just started an internship with Thaddeus Quirk."

The room paused for a moment, the name carrying weight. Thaddeus Quirk was a renowned wizard inventor, known for his groundbreaking magical innovations and for being notoriously selective about who he took under his wing.

Percy's jaw dropped slightly, his normally composed demeanor slipping for a brief moment. "Thaddeus Quirk?" he repeated, his voice laced with surprise. "Atlas is working with him?"

Edward nodded, his chest puffing slightly with pride. "Yes, he's been there about a month now. He's always had a knack for invention, and Quirk took notice of it. It's a great opportunity for him."

Percy's face tightened for a moment, his jaw clenching ever so slightly before he schooled his features into a polite smile. "That's... impressive," he said, his tone carefully neutral. "Good for him."

But anyone paying close attention could see the flicker of emotion in Percy's eyes. It was a mix of surprise, hurt, and something deeper-resentment, perhaps, or regret. Atlas had once been his best friend, a constant companion through their early years at Hogwarts. They had shared everything, from ambitions to personal secrets. But now, they hadn't spoken in nearly a year. Not since the Quidditch World Cup.

Olympia, seated across from Percy, caught the brief crack in his composed mask, and her gaze lingered on him for a moment before she turned her attention back to her cake.

Arthur, oblivious to the tension, clapped Percy on the back. "Isn't that something, Percy? Atlas always had an eye for magical mechanics, didn't he?"

"Yes," Percy replied, his voice clipped. "He always did." He took a sip of water, his fingers tightening around the glass as he kept his expression calm.

Olympia exchanged a glance with her sister. Percy's reaction wasn't just surprise; it was something more. It was strange to see Percy, so often self-assured, shaken, even if he hid it well.

The conversation shifted as Achilles began recounting a funny story from work, drawing laughter from the group. But Percy sat quietly, his smile plastered on but not reaching his eyes. The news of Atlas's success lingered in his mind, a stark reminder of how much had changed between them-and how much it still bothered him.

The long dining table in the Burrow was packed with delicious food, laughter, and conversation as everyone gathered to celebrate Achilles' birthday. Plates were piled high with roasted vegetables, pies, mashed potatoes, and Molly's famous treacle tart. Achilles sat at the head of the table, Cassie and Olympia on either side of him, while Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny filled out the rest of the table with the Harringtons and Weasleys.

Ginny was mid-eye roll at one of Fred's jokes when she turned to Olympia and Cassie. "How do you willingly hang out with these two all the time? It's like living with overgrown toddlers."

Cassie smirked, stabbing a piece of roasted carrot with her fork. "Oh, we've learned to tune them out. Selective hearing works wonders."

"Oi!" Fred protested, grinning as he tossed a bread roll to George, who caught it effortlessly. "You love us, Cass. Admit it."

"Love is a strong word," Olympia quipped, earning a laugh from Ginny.

"You're just jealous of our wit and charm," George added, winking at Olympia, who rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling.

"Charm?" Ginny scoffed. "The only thing charming about you two is how fast you can clear a room when Mum's yelling."

Ron, seated between George and Ginny, snorted into his pumpkin juice. "For once, I agree with Ginny. You two are the reason Mum's voice carries through the entire house."

"Ah, but it's a gift," Fred said, grinning widely. "We keep things interesting."

Achilles chuckled, watching the exchange with an amused smile. "You lot never change, do you?"

"Why would we?" George replied, leaning back in his chair. "Perfection doesn't need improvement."

Cassie laughed, shaking her head. "You're both impossible."

Across the table, Ron turned to Olympia, looking curious. "So, do you and Cassie get into trouble as much as these two?"

Olympia raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "We prefer to call it adventure. But no, we're not as chaotic as Fred and George."

"Not even close," Cassie added, earning a pair of mock-offended gasps from the twins.

"Betrayal," Fred said dramatically, clutching his chest. "And after we've been such delightful company."

Ron rolled his eyes but grinned, while Ginny leaned over to Olympia. "They're ridiculous, but they do keep things entertaining. Just wait until Mum catches them sneaking more dessert later."

"Oh, I have no doubt," Olympia replied, laughing as she caught George sneaking an extra slice onto his plate.

Just as the laughter filled the room, the front door opened with a creak, followed by the sound of boots thudding against the floor. Before anyone could react, a familiar voice rang out.

"Surprise, surprise!"

Atlas stepped into the room, followed by none other than Bill Weasley. Achilles turned in his chair, and the second he spotted his little brother, his face lit up with joy.

"Atlas!" Achilles exclaimed, standing so quickly that his chair scraped against the floor. He moved to his brother in an instant, pulling him into a tight hug. "What are you doing here? I thought you couldn't make it!"

Atlas grinned, patting his brother on the back. "Had a last-minute change of plans. Thought I'd surprise you."

As the brothers embraced, Fred and George froze for a split second before their faces split into identical grins. "Bill!" they shouted in unison, jumping from their seats and running toward their eldest brother like little kids.

Bill barely had time to brace himself before the twins tackled him into a tight hug, laughing as they grappled him. "Alright, alright!" he groaned, though his laugh betrayed his joy. "Holy shit, you blokes are taller than me now!"

"Language!" Molly scolded from across the room, her hands on her hips. "You may be an adult, but you're still my child."

"Sorry, Mum," Bill said, grinning sheepishly as he pried himself free from Fred and George's grip. "Force of habit."

Fred and George stepped back, looking up at Bill with wide grins. "It's been too long!" Fred said.

"Way too long," George agreed, clapping Bill on the back. "And you're still trying to rock that ponytail, huh?"

Bill ruffled George's hair in retaliation. "And you're still cheeky as ever."

The room filled with laughter as the Weasley and Harrington families welcomed Atlas and Bill into the fold. Molly quickly set about getting more food for the newcomers, and Achilles pulled Atlas into another hug, the two brothers grinning from ear to ear.

As the laughter and chatter filled the Burrow, plates of food being passed around and glasses clinking, Atlas and Percy finally locked eyes from opposite ends of the room. The energy between them shifted almost imperceptibly, but for those who knew them well, it was undeniable.

Once upon a time, they had been inseparable. As boys, Atlas and Percy had spent nearly every waking moment together-studying, exploring, and dreaming of their futures. Atlas, with his quick wit and boundless curiosity, had been the balance to Percy's seriousness and ambition. They had been a team, always pushing each other forward, always understanding one another.

But now, like stated before, they hadn't spoken in about a year.

The weight of their last argument still hung between them, a ghost neither had yet exorcised. The fight had been intense, born of stubbornness and unspoken frustrations. Percy's desire to adhere to structure and rules had clashed with Atlas's more free-spirited and inventive nature. Words had been exchanged-cutting, personal words that had driven a wedge between them.

Percy's jaw tightened slightly as he looked at his former best friend, who now sat beside Achilles, laughing with ease as though nothing had changed. But Percy knew better. He could see the flicker of tension in Atlas's eyes when they met his, the brief hesitation in his smile.

For a moment, the room's noise seemed to fade, the echoes of their last fight filling the silence between them instead.

Atlas finally broke the gaze, turning back to Achilles, who was gesturing animatedly about something. But Percy remained frozen for a moment, the smile faltering ever so slightly as he lowered his glass to the table.

Ginny, sitting beside Percy, noticed the subtle change in his expression. "You alright, Percy?" she asked softly, her brow furrowing.

"Of course," Percy replied quickly, his voice clipped. "Just... a lot of noise."

Ginny didn't look convinced, but before she could press further, Fred and George called out to Atlas, dragging him into their banter about the bake-off. Percy took the opportunity to excuse himself from the table, stepping toward the window and gazing out into the twilight.

Atlas glanced back toward Percy once, as though he felt the weight of the unfinished business between them. But he didn't follow. Not yet. For now, the unspoken tension remained, a quiet thread pulling taut between two former best friends who had yet to find their way back to each other.