Author's Note: Written for…

Amateur Divination Game Challenge. Prompt: ice cream

"It's so fluffy, I'm gonna die!" Challenge.

Open Category Competition 2. Category: Next-gen

Roxy Road

Roxy had spent every weekday morning and afternoon in her father's shop since she was two, and it had quickly become her favorite place in the world. George often joked how the six-year-old was his best salesperson, luring unsuspecting customers into the shop with her cuteness and demanded that they buy all of her father's latest concoctions.

Today was a Friday, which usually mean a trip to Fortescue's after work, but the shop was busier than usual and Roxy knew if they didn't leave soon Fortescue's would close before she got her treat.

She sighed and tapped her fingernails on the tabletop. Freddy gave her a look.

"I'm trying to concentrate, Rox, do you mind?" She stopped tapping.

Uncle Ron had brought Rose and Hugo in to work today, so Freddy had challenged Rose to a chess tournament. They'd been at it all day without break and Roxy was bored of watching Rose beat her older brother.

"Why don't you go see what Hugo's up to?" Rose suggested, noticing the younger girl's restlessness. "Make sure he's not bothering any customers while we finish up here."

"Okay." Roxy dutifully hopped off her chair and headed out into the store. She resented being treated like a babysitter for her little cousin, but at least it gave her an excuse to get out of the backroom.

The shop was still packed, as it had been all day. George and Ron were still hard at work behind the counter, and the little witch doubted either of them would be taking a break for ice cream any time soon. Which meant it was up to her to get it herself.

She made sure to check on Hugo before she left. He was demonstrating the effects of a skiving snackbox to some older kids, and she knew he'd be there for a while.

It was easy to sneak out of the shop with so many customers demanding attention. No one paid any mind to her strolling out the door. She got a few waves and smiles from other shopkeepers – friends of her dad's that she'd known all her life.

She reached Fortescue's a few minutes before closing time. Her regular waitress, Callie, was washing down tables outside and grinned when she saw Roxy.

"There's my best customer! I've been waiting all day for you to show up," she said, pulling out a chair for Roxy to sit. "Where's your dad?"

"He was too busy to leave the shop, so I came by myself." Callie shook her head.

"And I don't suppose you have any money with you, huh?"

Roxy pulled a small handful of sickles out of her pocket – just enough to get a single cone. "Nobody wanted to come with me, so they don't deserve any ice cream."

"I'll be right back with your usual," Callie told her and went inside.

"Roxanne!"

Roxy turned at the sound of her name being called and saw her father running down the alley toward her. He was panting when he reached her – out of shape from too many years off the pitch.

"What do you think you're doing?" he gasped out, hunched over her table.

"You were working. I thought you forgot about ice cream," she explained, smiling sweetly up at him. "I didn't want to bother you."

Callie came back then, carrying two large trays of cones and sundaes.

"I sent an owl over a few minutes ago and asked them to bring over ice cream for everyone," George explained. "It was supposed to be a surprise."

Roxy gulped. "Sorry?"

George rolled his eyes and sighed. "How about we don't tell your mum about this and you help me sweep the store later?"

"Is that the best deal I can get?"

"I can handle your mother's wrath if you can."

"Okay, okay, I'll sweep!"

Unfortunately for both of them, Angelina was waiting for them back at the shop and had already been filled in on her daughter's disappearing act.

"No harm, no foul?" George tried, offering his wife a chocolate cone with sprinkles.

"You're just lucky she doesn't have a twin," she muttered, watching as their daughter ran off to show off the Muggle Magic collection to a few kids admiring them.