For the Star Gazers' Club's Challenge at The Golden Snitch.
Prompt: Vega — Write a story about George Weasley (the fifth child of Arthur and Molly Weasley and younger twin of Fred Weasley) without Fred, either before or after his death.
Bonus prompts: (word) double; (dialogue) "Now you see me" / "Now I don't"; (word) flash; (emotion) frustrated
George loved muggle card games. He liked the feel of the plastic–covered card sliding between his fingers as he proved himself superior to the muggle boys who came to see him perform.
George was in the middle of a trick, his eyes focused on the eyes of the other boy who, in turn, was staring at the cards. George knew he was the only one who could discover the trick. But he would never see the magic behind the cards.
"Is this your card?" George asked as he took out the wrong card; an ace of spades.
The other boy —George believed he was called Frank— grinned smugly.
"My card was the ten of diamonds," he said, looking at the rest of the kids and taking the money they had bet. "The redhead isn't enough of a devil to trick us!"
George smirked as the kids laughed. Frank raised an eyebrow.
"Let's make it double," George proposed. "I bet I can get your card right this time."
Frank hesitated.
"Do it, Frank!," said a boy.
"Alright," Frank said and put the money back, adding another pound. "There you go, Red. Amaze us."
"Sure thing," George said, smiling once again at the feel of the cards as he shuffled them in his deft hands.
In the back of each card, shining with ink invisible to muggles, was the three of hearts. George made a show of shuffling them in different ways.
"Now you see me," he said, presenting the deck to his opponent with both hands. The boy took the top card, saw it and smirked.
"Now I don't," he said, trying to sound cool as he showed everyone the King of spades. "This isn't my card either."
George didn't like that kid. That's why he focused all of his accidental magic (not so accidental, thanks to Charlie's useful tips) and made the next top card levitate in front of the kids. It was the three of hearts.
"Devil!" one of the kids said and pointed at George before running away, surely to tell an adult.
"Sorry to leave so soon, gentlemen," George told the boys who looked at him and at the card that fell to the ground as soon as George said that.
Frank was getting frustrated and he grabbed George's wrist forcefully before he could grab the money on the box. "You cheated!"
"I didn't!" George grinned before he threw the cards into the air, distracting Frank and the boys, grabbed the money and ran to the hills without looking back.
As soon as he entered the Burrow, glad for the muggle repelling charms, George said: "Mum! I lost my cards again."
Mum shook her head and absentmindedly waved her wand, summoning George's cards. He waited outside the door until he saw them all flying towards him.
He only wished he could have seen the look on Frank's face when the cards moved on their own.