Summary:

Alternate Universe. Severus Snape defeated the Dark Lord, married Lily Evans and has a son named Harry. Marriages in the wizarding world are arranged for magical boys at age three, but Lily can't accept that. The day before going back to Hogwarts for his sixth year George attends the annual Snape Bash with his family. There he unexpectedly meets a cunning witch. She has a proposal for him that could be just what's needed to launch the Joke shop. Should he accept? Most importantly, could life ever be the same after dealing with a Slytherin? Read and review :)

Note: This story can be read on its own, but it started as a side story to the Breaking Tradition Fic (my long fic with Ron/Hermione as main characters).

Chapter 1: A Meeting and Business Proposal

The Snape bash had been great, as usual. Good food, good people, even some new faces around, but they were on a mission and ready to spice things up a bit. George followed Fred's lead and casually approached the Swansons' table. They knew Percy had gotten a seat there specifically to talk to Ralph Swanson about his position as an Unspeakable.

Fred began to talk to Percy and soon had everyone at the table distracted. It was time to get to work. George got the puking pastille out of his pocket and began crushing it in Percy's cup. Suddenly, he felt someone watching him. He looked up and noticed the intense blue eyes of a witch giving him a knowing look. He knew her. She was a Slytherin. He'd seen her in the hallways before but never stopped to pay attention. He had never looked straight at her face. She was really pretty. He swallowed and stayed still, regaining composure quickly. Then George put his finger against his lips, pleading for her to stay quiet. She gave him a smile and looked away.

The twins left the Swansons' table, and within a few minutes Percy drank his pumpkin juice and began throwing up everywhere. Fred and George laughed mercilessly as they saw their brother puke right on Ralph Swanson.

As agreed, when they heard their mother scream, "Fred and George Weasley!" they fled, allowing the effects of the pastilles to last as long as possible. While they ran to get inside the Snapes' house, George looked back. The blue eyed girl was laughing with no restraint and her mirth was uniquely charming. Then he saw Mum getting closer and he used all his energy to get away.

"What is wrong with you two? Get your brother back to normal immediately!" screamed Molly Weasley as she chased them. After entering the house, Mum got hold of Fred's ear and dragged him outside to mend Percy. "Don't think you'll escape without punishment, George Weasley! I'll be back!" threatened his mother from a distance.

He sat on one of the couches, still snickering. "Definitely a successful test, worth whatever punishment Mum gives," George said to himself.

"A test of what?" he heard a soft voice ask. He turned and there she was. The pretty Swanson girl was quietly walking into the house.

"A test of… of…" he uttered nervously.

"I had a stutter when I was younger. It's alright. Taking a deep breath helps," she said with a smile.

"I don't have a stutter," he said, embarrassed. "And the test was of one of our products, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Haven't you heard of them?"

"I think my cousin confiscated something that sounded like that in Ravenclaw last year, a sort of sweet. A student gave it to him because… well, Ely was a right pain when he got his prefect nag on. He got an awful fever and it took Mel and me ages to figure out a spell to get the fever down. Then Ely confiscated them all."

"Fever fudge! You actually ended the fever without our antidote!"

"Shush... yes, I reckon we did. It was tricky, but a cooling charm with-"

"The simple addition of water cures it."

"Exactly," she finished.

"I'm George, George Weasley," he said, extending his hand.

"Estella Swanson," she answered and shook his hand. "So these Wheeze things, do you give them away for testing, or just because?"

"No, we sell them, my twin and I. We are starting our own business, a joke shop."

"Ingenious. So, how much for teaching me how to make those puking things?"

"I can't tell you that. It's part of a business's success to not give away the secret spells."

"I'll make it worth your while. Meet me in the greenhouses Tuesday after dinner," she stated.

"What? I told you, I -"

He never got to finish denying her request because Estella ran off and was soon surrounded by her family. George looked towards her in disbelief.

"Ella, I can't believe you laughed so hard. That was disgusting," he heard Estella's cousin say.

"Alright Ely, I agree. It was absolutely disgusting. But hilarious!" she answered. Then she turned, looked at George and gave him a wink. He felt annoyed at her audacity and cunning behaviour, but also curious about her offer. She definitely was a Slytherin, trying to trick him into giving away their secrets, but appearing lovely while doing it.

I'll meet her all right, and pretty or not, I'll tell her no!

His thoughts were interrupted as his mum appeared at his side. George knew what was coming. He and Fred had dealt with her anger plenty before, probably more than any of their siblings. But still, it was embarrassing to have her give them a piece of her mind in front of everyone. First, their mother outlined all the chores they had to complete tonight. Then she scolded them for their lack of respect and because they hadn't even packed for school even though they were leaving tomorrow. And of course she went on to talk about their OWLs. How long she would hold that against them? Merlin! It sucked to have everyone, including the pretty Slytherin, hear about how his and Fred's combined scores were barely half of what some of the older Weasley boys had gotten.

Just wait until we have the shop. Mum will change her mind about us, George thought.

It was Tuesday night and George arrived in the greenhouses to find Estella waiting in her Slytherin uniform.

"Hello."

"Look, I don't know what games you are playing, but I can't give you our secret spells and jeopardize the business," stated George with resolve.

"I never said anything about jeopardizing your business. In fact, this might help you. So please sit and listen."

George looked at her sceptically, but his curiosity won out and he sat on a stool.

"Well then, I would like to learn more about your products and how to make them. In exchange, I'll pay you ten galleons for every spell or potion recipe you teach me. I'll also help you test and perfect any incantations that you are working on and I'll keep everything a secret. Seems like more than fair pricing. Plus, your eyes sparkled at the sound of money. You really are a businessman."

"How do I know you won't steal everything and use it to your benefit?"

"Oh, I'll use everything I learn to my benefit, to trick some daft arses I know, most likely. But that's it. I won't start selling them or competing with you, if that's what you're worried about. Business ventures are not me. I want to be a healer, so running magical experiments is always fascinating. That's why I'm interested in your products, nothing more. As for a guarantee, I have a magical contract outlining the conditions."

"What?"

"A magical contract. We both sign and are bound by its conditions which include me giving payments, support and silence and you sharing information and ideas. I hope you know how contracts work if you want to be involved in any business."

"I know about contracts!" he answered. I'm bloody bound to get married by one, he thought. Remembering the fact that when he was three his parents had signed a contract agreeing who he would marry was never pleasant. But right now, it somehow was worse than usual.

"Think about it. I heard that you were involved in some bets to get enough money to set up your business and now you are selling these. If you accept the offer, it would make your goal a lot easier to achieve. I'll wait right here for your answer," she said.

"You want me to decide now?"

"Yes, I don't have time to sit around waiting for you. Plus, if you say no, I need to think of a way to get in contact with your brother."

"You don't even know him! He'll be outraged at the thought of sharing our secrets with a stranger."

"I didn't know you a few days ago, but here we are. I reckon your brother might be disappointed to hear that you cowered from an opportunity for money like this one. I guess I'll just have to ask him. Though I'd rather work with you, since I put this much effort in already. His name is Fred, right?"

"Fine, I'll do it."

"What was that?" she asked in a teasing tone.

"I'll do it. Just let me read the contract and don't mention this to anyone."

"Good choice, Fun Man," she said, smiling.

"Fun Man?"

"That's what you are, the man that works on fun and pranks."

"Right."

"Read on, Fun Man. I'll stay busy with my charms book."

After a good fifteen minutes, George was done inspecting the document. "It looks good. How did you get the Ministry's endorsement seal?"

"There are plenty of Ministry goons more than happy to bend the rules for me as a bit of a favour."

"Wonder how a gorgeous lass like you pays for favours like that," he murmured sarcastically, thinking she wouldn't hear.

"Hey! If you have something to say, then say it to my face. And for your information, my uncle is an Unspeakable and extremely rich, so I have my ways! Men might find me attractive, but I'm not a whore! You, on the other hand, have had more girlfriends in the last two years than there are spells in this book," she answered in annoyance, shaking the charms book in her hand.

"That is none of your business, and you are exaggerating. Wait- how in hell do you know that?"

"It's called research. Or gossip, I guess. I wasn't about to spend my time and money without knowing who I was dealing with. Now, you and your brother might be players, but I hear your products are good and you can be fun and decent as long as I'm not a girl chasing after you for any sort of serious relationship. Which, I am not."

"Good. Because all I want is the money and your silence."

"Perfect. Because all I want is to run some tests and learn some spells. So just sign and we can begin," she stated while George signed the contract.

"Just to clear things up, I actually got your prim and proper brother in the Ministry to stamp this with the endorsement seal."

"What?"

"All I did was send an owl promising a meeting with my uncle and it was done within a day. I guess he's not so by the book when he has something to gain, and now he can't tell anyone because he'd be the one getting in trouble. Good thing my uncle likes me, so he agreed to lunch with my new and dear friend Percy."

"Really?" he asked, impressed at her ability to get Percy to break rules.

"Yes, really. Now, do you have any products with you?" she asked.

"Actually, I didn't think about it before coming here. Let me check," he said, pulling a box from his pocket, "Wait, I think I got something."

"Let's see it," she said, filled with curiosity.

"These are fainting fancies. We haven't released them yet. Dare to try one, Slytherin?" he teased.

"Give me that," she answered, giving him a glare and ready for the dare. She put one in her mouth and was soon unconscious. He stepped in to prevent her fall and looked at her intently while she was in his arms. The girl was completely helpless and her shiny black hair perfectly framed her pretty face. As he held her, he could feel the curve of her waist and he looked at the rising and falling of her chest.

"I see why men find you attractive, but I reckon your eyes are better open," he whispered. His fingers grazed her soft lips as he began to put the antidote in her mouth. Then she began to stir.

"Whoa… How long was I out?" she asked.

"Maybe a minute, I put the antidote in your mouth right away. That was actually kind of brave of you."

"I'm a Slytherin, not a gutless twit," she said sarcastically, but grinned anyway. "Anyhow, what's the secret behind how these work, Fun Man?" she asked, slowly separating from him.

"Payment first, Gorgeous Lass," he said teasingly.

"Right," she answered, pulling a small velvety bag from her robes and then handing him the galleons.

He explained in detail the secret behind the fainting fancies and she began suggesting improvements, like maybe creating a version that didn't need to be chewed but simply inhaled, that way the antidote didn't need to be shoved in your mouth. It was fun to exchange these thoughts with someone that quickly understood the work, besides Fred of course.

She took some of the fainting fancies from him and said she'd test them in Slytherin to check on some ideas. The exchange got their hands to touch for only a brief moment, but it was nice. Her hands were warm.

They kept sharing ideas and laughing at the wheezes for another hour. Then she told him she had to leave.

"I can meet you back here on Thursday if you're game. Just make sure to bring products."

"Alright," he said.

Then they each went to their own houses.

Plz R&R