Title: Fireworks
Author: Emmylou
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all its characters and concepts, are the creation of JK Rowling.
Rating: PG
Summary: Angelina and Fred's relationship is tested when they travel to Egypt on business for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.
ooo
There were two ways to get to Egypt. The first was to Apparate into Diagon Alley, squeeze into the tiny Travel Agents and step around the crowds of witches browsing for 1940s themed Holiday's in the Bermuda Triangle, then take a Portkey to some dry forgotten flight strip in Egypt, Floo to the British Consulate and collect their Foreign Apparition Permits, before finally Apparating to their desired location in central Cairo.
The other was to get a plane and land in Cairo, get a taxi to the Consulate and be on their way. Sometimes Angelina thought that Muggles really had got things right.
Fred seemed to like doing things the hard way. She'd been in the country almost three hours, most of which had been spent signing forms for their permits, and already she longed for their cool, far-away home. He, however, was bouncing around as though it were all a day at the beach.
"Never met Donkor in the flesh– he's going to be vital if we want to crack the American market."
Bariti Donkor – Fred had been talking about him for weeks. Angelina calculated that Fred had spent more time talking about Bariti sodding Donkor than he had even spoken her in the past month. Donkor's fireworks we're legendary apparently- the only reason Zonko's had rated at all was because Zonko had once worked for Donkor. Donkor had made fireworks Egypt's chief magical export. Weasley's Wizard Wheezes could take over the world with Donkor's support.
"So why am I here?" she asked as they slid out of the backstreet they had Apparated into and began to make their way up a crowded street. "I don't work for Weasley's Wizards Wheezes."
Fred shrugged. "Thought it would do you some good. A little holiday after your accident. Cheer you up. George couldn't come – someone has to look after the shop, besides, his teeth haven't recovered from the Chattering Toothpaste we were trying out."
Angelina looked around at the dingy street, packed with shouting and sweaty people. Her leg ached worse than ever and her tongue was papyrus in her mouth.
"Two weeks in this horrid country listening to you and some insane wizard talk about fireworks day and night. That's supposed to cheer me up is it?"
"You'll feel different later on, I promise," he said. Her sceptical expression didn't change as he grinned at her and sauntered away. She adjusted her bag and stomped after him.
ooo
The door was thrown open the minute Fred knocked and a middle aged eastern gentlemen in a fez and sand-coloured robes burst out, pulling Fred into a bear hug.
"Weezley! You are here at last!"
Baniti Donkor was nothing like Angelina had pictured. He was a fat, hooked nosed man, with dark piggy eyes and an accent so strong it was almost comical.
He released Fred and pressed him into the arms of a curvaceous woman who had appeared at the door.
"Pili will show you to your room, and – oh." He noticed Angelina, and from his expression she was an unwelcome surprise. "And you bring a friend!" he said with a cheery, but put-upon, tone.
"That's my girlfriend Angelina," said Fred, who wasn't making much effort to wriggle free of Pili.
"Your friend is my friend, of course," said Donkor quickly. "Pili – their rooms."
"You are Angelina Johnson," said Pili instantly. "You play for the Tornados!"
"I did," said Angelina crossly. "I got banned for a year."
Pili opened her mouth to speak but was hushed by Donkor. "Enough – do as you are told. Take them to their room!"
Pili meekly gestured for Fred to follow her and Angelina, cross to be left out, stalked after them with barely a cursory glance to Donkor.
The inside of the Donkor's home spoke of faded greatness. The ceilings were low and the furniture was lush. Gold frames surrounded mirrors on the walls, the furniture looked to be expensive and imported. But everything also seemed crammed together too, the stairs were barely feet from the front door, and they were so narrow that two people could not have passed one another on them. They were led up two floors to a crampt corridor that was as narrow as the stairs and they were forced to follow Pili in line formation.
They moved around large fern plants and huge pictures and tapestries on the walls. A Persian Rug shook dust as them as they brushed past it. Finally they reached a small door. Fred, who was by no means tall, had to duck to get inside and Angelina was surprised to find herself having to do so as well.
Inside, provision had clearly been made for one. A pair of male robes, similar to Donkor's, was lying on the bed. A selection of potions and scents for males was littered on the dresser, and a jug and bowl for washing was filled with permanently steaming water, charmed to remain hot all day long.
Like the rest of the house, there was barely room to move between the dresser and the bed.
"Ah, lovely," said Fred, seemingly genuinely. "Reminds me of my school dorm, very cosy."
Pili smiled beautifully and told them in a tremulous voice that she would make arrangements for clothes for Angelina and told them that dinner would be in an hour.
"I've got clothes," said Angelina tetchily. "I don't need-"
"She'd love some nice robes," said Fred quickly.
Angelina glared at him. Pili nodded and fled.
"What did you say that for?" hissed Angelina.
"Come on Angel, when you're in Rome…"
"-dress like a twerp? Is that what you're saying?" snapped Angelina.
"Aww, come on, you could do the dance of the seven veils for me later…"
Angelina dumped her bag onto the bed and began rifling through it, pointedly ignoring him.
ooo
This is my first fic in ages, I've had a lot of block and so this is the first I've managed. The new chapter will be up soon. If you've got time, a review will make me squee; I don't mind a little crit.