Shadow Brothers
A/N: You know, I'm in the middle of another of my infamous mindblocks, and while I sit here trying to find a way around it (through it seems impossible) I noticed that there aren't that many Fred and George fics out there. And me being the odd personage I am, once again I drift off into another direction of Fanfiction., hoping for some kind of success. And if anyone actually finds this AND reads it, Enjoy!
Oh yeah, this one's for you, Pam/Pal!
READ CLARIFICATION!
Clarification: Everybody is a muggle, and this is mainly focused on Fred, George and Lee, so therefore all the other Weasleys and the rest of the Harry Potter Crew are non-existent in this. Sorry if that disappoints any of you.
Summary: Five years have passed, George has finally become the famous movie star he promised to be, and Lee hopes to find his old friend in the city of dreams. But what if his old friend is long-gone and a shadow remains?
Woah, that summary actually turned out pretty good. There's a first.
Disclaimer: Yes people, I am J.K. Rowling, everpopular author of Harry Potter. Now you know how rich people waste their free time. And yes, Harry will grow up safely and marry you someday-NOT! But there's also the problem of me still being under 20. . . let's turn back time, like Cher! (no, I don't own Harry Potter if you haven't figured that out yet)
Oh, and I've never written a POV before, so have patience!
Flashback
Both boys were only eight, young, innocent, and with a promising future. Or the only kind of future you can expect growing up on a farm.
George and Lee were sitting behind one of the barns, George having a crying fit.
"Lee! They took my brother away!" he managed between sobs, consistently rubbing his eyes. They were a stream of tears, his hazel eyes shimmering with unshed grief. "Everyone is talking about it! About how they gave him away! Now I truly am alone!"
Lee put a hand on his shaking shoulder, trying to offer him some kind of comfort. "You still have me, you know," he said gently, not wanting to start crying as well. "I'm always going to be your best friend."
George shook his head, steadying his breathing. "But we're not blood- related." He wasn't bawling anymore, but he wasn't close to ending his sadness, either.
Lee sat in silence next to him for a moment, looking around for something. "Here we go!" he said, as he pulled out a carving knife from under the haystack they were sitting on. He grabbed George's right arm, causing him to gasp in surprise.
"Ow! Hey, what are you doing?" George looked close to tears again, until he saw Lee do the same to himself.
"I got it out of a movie," he mumbled as he held his bleeding arm towards George's. "There. Now we are true blood-brothers!" he exclaimed, grinning to hide the burning pain of the wound coming in contact with free flowing blood.
George looked at him, down at the wound, the back up at him again. "Blood- brothers?" he asked in amazement, unsure of wanting to grasp something that seemed like too-promising a dream.
Lee just smiled, then ran over to the water barrel and grabbed a bucket to plunge into the water and bring it back to their sitting area. George moved to get some towels for them to clean their blood on the ground, so no questions would arise.
This was their secret promise, and this would keep them connected for life.
End Flashback
Twelve Years later, Lee Jordan stood in the middle of New York, staring up at the Billboard advertising the movie 'Sweet Dreams' starring George Weasley.
"Hey buddy. I finally made it", he said, smiling up at the picture.
Shadow Brother- Chapter 1
Frozen Fire
Lee took a taxi over to George's agency, hoping to finally see his oldest friend again. 'It's been so long', he thought to himself, looking at awe as skyscrapers passed by him on either side.
He remembered when that creepy Snape came to their little country- town (A/N: For the sake of entertainment, Snape's the derived Director), looking for a star.
Flashback
Five years ago, at their little theatre, they had been in the middle of performing "A midsummer's Night Dream". He had entered just as Oberon and Titania began to argue about the little boy.
Everyone was amazed at his presence, whispers and rumors spread within the hour of his arrival. He had approached George in a private meeting, the look in his eyes sending Goosebumps up Lee's spine.
"Would you like to be the star of my next movie?" was all Snape had asked him, but it was something in the way he had asked him that made George consider.
Two days later he told Lee he had accepted the offer and had already packed to fly to New York.
Everyone had sounded so excited for him. Only Lee had been horrified. "You can't just up and go like that! You don't even know anything about the guy!"
"I know he's going to make me famous!" he had shot back, angry with Lee for not understanding his dream.
"How many famous twelve-year old stars do you know? And he's probably gay!"
George looked hurt, disappointed. "I thought that at least you would understand." The look in his eyes made Lee's gut clench.
Lee couldn't take it anymore. Something ached inside him, something being caused by the sight of his best friend and bloodsworn brother. Without thinking once, he ran from him, turning only to answer George calling his name. "Do what you want!" It wasn't until later he knew that it was pain deep in his heart, a pain known as betrayal.
Three days had passed without them seeing each other once, only that on the day George was to depart, his father had locked him in his room.
"Dad! Dad, let me out!" He was in tears again, frustrated, angry, scared of missing his life's biggest chance. "I'm going to become a star! You can't take this away from me! Dad!"
"Quit your yammering." Lee had sneaked up into his room with the ladder, holding out his hand towards his friend to show that he supported him all the way.
Barely down on the street, Mr. Weasley, who became a weight-lifting drunkard after his wife's death, nearly tore the door off its hinges in his haste to stop the boys. "George, you get back here this instant!" His face was red from drinking and fury at being disobeyed. He looked murderous.
"Damn!" Lee shoved George out onto the street, out of reach of his crazed father. "Take this and go! Hurry!" Lee dropped all of his saved allowance into George's clenched hand, still trying to hurry him off.
"But Lee-" George began to slow his pace, and Mr. Weasley just about had caught up to them.
"George, get back in that house!" his words were lost in most of the spit that came from him, barely having any self-restraint left under so much influence of cheap wine.
Lee Jordan gave George one last good push, then dove in front of Mr. Weasley to keep him from his best friend a few moments longer. "Pay me back when you become rich and famous!" he had called out to him, unshed tears shimmering from his eyes. "And don't even think about coming back here before you've made it!"
George looked back once, grinned at him, and ran on towards his new hope in life.
End Flashback
Lee's POV
Stepping out into the cool air, I looked around at this huge city. The sounds, the lights, the gagging smells, I took it all in.
I turned around to give the cab driver his money, his expression showing impatience at probably losing customers as I searched for some last bills. I finally pulled out enough to pay him off and he zipped away in his yellow car, running red lights along the way.
Shaking my head, I looked up towards Durmstrang Inc., the office building where George was making his life now. I made my way through the sliding glass doors, amazed at how bright it is inside. The bottom floor was almost empty, all the polished marble shining. People were standing around in groups, muttering things I couldn't understand. The only person not busy is the lady behind the reception desk, who seems bored out of her mind.
"Good evening", I greeted her, trying to sound as casual as possible. She didn't look up until I was right in front of her, and even then it took her a moment to react.
She's startled, her bushy hair shaking with the surprise of my sudden appearance. "Um, can I help you?" She managed a smile. Cute.
"I'm looking for Mr. Weasley, if he's in at the moment." I leaned in a little closer, trying to play it off smoothly like you see other actors do.
She blushed slightly and started to flip through papers, a disturbed frown taking the place of her sudden rosiness. "I'm sorry," she said, tilting her head slowly so as not to have any unexpected contact with me, "he's out at a dinner party at the Crystal Palace down Hogwarts Boulevard-"
"Thanks," I interrupted her, leaning over to give her a quick peck on the cheek, which she doesn't seem to mind at all.
"But you can't get in without-"
I didn't bother listening to the rest of her warning, I just pulled my coat closer around me as I step into the evening and start to run.
Crystal Palace
I might be out of breath, but hey, I made it in without getting caught.
Amazing how nobody in this crowd noticed me, the only one dressed in jeans and a muscle shirt while the rest are fancied up in their capricious suites. I must blend in with a pool-boy or something, though I still get some winks as I pass by the ladies. I'm obviously not that bad-looking.
Almost ten minutes later I finally found you, freckles, and still a mop of flaming red hair. But the tuxedo and piercing, tan muscular body and green tinted brown eyes, how you have changed, my friend. It truly has been too long.
At that moment I can only think and act on instinct and I disregard any differences we might have, I'm just so happy I've finally found you.
I ran up to you, hold you in a headlock, joy filling me. "George, old buddy! How long has it been?"
At first you seem shocked, which wasn't more than what I expected. But then the quick, echoing, resonating sound of you slapping my cheek, disgust written plainly on your face. Everyone stopped to look, to turn and see what's happening. A girl even jumped to her feet in bewilderment.
"Who the hell are you?" You stared at me like I'm some kind of freak, a stranger, not your best friend, your loyal buddy. All I could do is look at you in pure amazement.
"George, don't you recognize me?" I finally found my voice, though it seemed useless. I grab your shoulder, make sure it's not an illusion, that it's not a dream. "George, it's me, Lee! Lee Jordan!"
All my pleas, my questions fell on deaf ears as you called security to take me away.
"George, you bastard!" I yelled after you as strong arms grab me from either side, barely giving me the chance to struggle.
You slowly turned towards me, tilt your head, "You should get a new tone to address me in, Lee."
Landing hard on the concrete, I can hear the guard laughing at me. "Go back to your farm, you country bumpkin." What a suggestion. I would do that if I had the money to return. I sat there a few moments longer as realization hit me like a tsunami. 'You should get a new tone to address me in, Lee'. The realization of you having known who I was. The way you spat out my name, Lee, as if it were some kind of filth stuck in your mouth.
I heard footsteps, but disregard them, too furious at your looking down upon me like some advertisement past it's date. "You Jackass!" I shouted in anger, startling the person behind me. I turned around to see the girl who had moved to her feet inside at the party.
"I'm sorry," she seems a little befuddled, "I just wanted to bring you your coat." She held it out, carefully folded over her arm.
I blushed somewhat under my dreadlocks, embarrassed at having sworn in front of such a beauty. "Um, thanks, I guess." There is an awkward silence between us until she spoke first.
"You're George's friend, right? I'm Alicia Spinnet, George's Girlfriend." I gasped, unable to do anything more than stare at her, trying to figure out how he managed to get this jewel out of the lot of phonies. "Why don't you come over to my flat? We can get out of this cold air and talk some more."
I having no other place to stay I can only accept her offer, still fascinated with her beauty and gentle feminine expressions.
Alicia's Flat
I felt a little guilty, sitting here in her home. It looked like any other I've seen, to be very honest, but something about it made me continuously swallow. Is it because it reminds me somewhat of my home? Of what used to be our home?
"George," I began, staring down at the cup of cocoa she offered me. "He has changed since I last saw him."
She was quiet, nodded her agreement, though. "I think he became like this after our first movie-shot together. He used to talk a lot about you two. Of all your adventures."
I turned to her, curious to know how much she had seen of the real George, not this aristocratic spit in my best friend's body. Her expression changed to one that looks tearful. 'Please don't cry', I silently begged, 'please don't.'
Someone must have heard my prayers, for she kept her composure and went back to drinking her tea. Alicia glanced up at me, her eyes questioning. "Did you need more milk for your chocolate?"
I blushed again, having forgotten all about it. This is the second time in her presence, and I'm definitely not getting any more used to the feeling of embarrassment. "Um, could you tell me where he lives?" It's time to renew old acquaintances.
End George's POV
Crystal Palace
Snape watched George exchange niceties with the last of the guests before they left, then pulled him over to one side for a moment.
"Who was that?" he whispered fiercely, making it clear he was very displeased.
"Who was who?" he shoots back, to make his point in showing he wasn't in the mood.
Snape took a deep breath, tempted to start a scene, but that would be bad for publicity. "I mean", he started slowly, not wanting his temper to flare, "who was that country-boy?"
"Oh, just an old friend." George moved towards the coat racks to get his from the boy holding it for him, digging out some change.
"Who's friend?" his tone became frosty, but not affecting George as much as the boy.
George turned around once, barely sparing Severus a glance. "Mine, of course," he said, sounding as indifferent as before, "George Weasley." He made to leave, but was stopped as Snape grabbed his arm.
His gray eyes were colder than ever before, a dark menacing flame
flickering in their depths. "He isn't a danger, is he?"
George struggled to free himself from Snape's Vice-like grip. "No, he's not. He probably left already. Now good night!"
Severus watched his retreating back out into the chilled welcoming night. "I hope he isn't a threat", he mumbled, glancing once at the coat boy, saw him move back in surprise as well. He thanked him, then following the other guests' lead, strolling down the sidewalk in the cold evening air, not minding it one bit. "This isn't a game, and for your sake, I hope you're right."
A/N: Miraculously, I already know what happens, so therefore it shouldn't be too long until I post the next chapter of this little ditty. Yes, I wrote 'Ditty', now get on with your lives for Pete's Sake!