Disclaimer: George, Fred, Ron, Hermione, Harry & co. are not mine, but the
lovely and talented J. K. Rowling's.
A/N: This fic is set in Harry and Ron's fifth year, although I suppose sixth year would do just as well. I wrote this fic before book 5 came out.
Don't Bet on Love
Chapter One: The Reluctant Partner
George wasn't convinced. Fred was using all of his persuasive powers, including threats of unknown pranks and mischief, ("I'll get you in your sleep, I will!") but it still seemed like a BAD idea.
"But it just doesn't feel right! I mean, they're just kids!" George protested lamely, knowing his twin was winning the argument.
"Kids who are desperately in love and don't know it." Fred pointed out. "All we're doing is giving them a nudge in the right direction!"
"And profiting from it!" his brother said indignantly.
"Hey, I didn't hear you protesting when we put Slow-Down Spells on the Bulgarian Chasers' brooms last year! Or when we slipped McGonagall that Sleeping Draught so she missed collecting that major essay we forgot about-- we profited quite nicely from those (or, in the case of the World Cup, we sure thought we would) and you didn't have such a conscience then!" Fred said "conscience" like it was a dirty word.
"But--this is different!" George tried to explain.
Fred crossed his arms. "Different how?"
"They--they could really get hurt if we mess it up."
"Once again with the hypocrisy!" Fred exclaimed, throwing up his hands in frustration. "Do you think the Chasers and McGonagall weren't hurt? She said she hadn't missed a class since before Mum and Dad were students! Besides," he added slyly. "we won't mess it up."
"But he's our brother!"
"And that didn't bother you a bit when we turned his hair pink for a week and left Dungbombs in his bed." Fred looked at the still doubtful look on his twin's face and sighed, changing tactic. "Look. The terms of the bet assume the inevitability of those two getting together. Do you disagree with that?"
"Of course not, it's so obvious..." George trailed off.
"So, you see, we're not going to make them do anything they're not already dying to do. The thing we bet on was WHEN, not how or who. We're leaving the most important bits up to them." Fred looked at George, who was still unconvinced. Fred leaned low, speaking in their conspiratorial tone in his ear. "George, I just bought out blocks for the next two weeks; every day until the 21st of this month is ours. And when you add to that the long- shot odds I just got on our dear brother making the first move--do you have any idea what the jackpot has grown to?"
George shook his head.
"Nine hundred Galleons."
George's jaw dropped.
His brother went on. "It's been going for more than 3 years! I'm sure every single Gryffindor except the two in question has added at least a Knut. At least. Quite a few Hufflepuffs too, they like a good bet. And together we've probably put in at least fifty Galleons." Fred lowered his voice. "You know how much we need it for the newest project." Fred's eyes shone at the very idea of the new and expensive product they were developing, one they both were sure would make the Weasley name more famous than Zonko's.
George returned the mischievous look, unable to help himself. He sighed, giving in. "So what's the plan? How do we get him to DO something?"
"That's what I've been having trouble with, O Partner in Crime." Fred admitted. Their every scheme was a perfect collaboration; no prank had ever worked without input from both twins. They both knew this and utterly respected it. It had grown to a superstition between them; neither would ever dream of acting without the other's help and support.
"All right, let's think about this. We need to talk to him soon. Tomorrow?" George asked. Fred nodded. They got down to business and began plotting the details.
A/N: Next chapter, Ron, Harry, and Hermione in a (quite dangerous) Care of Magical Creatures lesson. Thanks for reading, please review!
A/N: This fic is set in Harry and Ron's fifth year, although I suppose sixth year would do just as well. I wrote this fic before book 5 came out.
Don't Bet on Love
Chapter One: The Reluctant Partner
George wasn't convinced. Fred was using all of his persuasive powers, including threats of unknown pranks and mischief, ("I'll get you in your sleep, I will!") but it still seemed like a BAD idea.
"But it just doesn't feel right! I mean, they're just kids!" George protested lamely, knowing his twin was winning the argument.
"Kids who are desperately in love and don't know it." Fred pointed out. "All we're doing is giving them a nudge in the right direction!"
"And profiting from it!" his brother said indignantly.
"Hey, I didn't hear you protesting when we put Slow-Down Spells on the Bulgarian Chasers' brooms last year! Or when we slipped McGonagall that Sleeping Draught so she missed collecting that major essay we forgot about-- we profited quite nicely from those (or, in the case of the World Cup, we sure thought we would) and you didn't have such a conscience then!" Fred said "conscience" like it was a dirty word.
"But--this is different!" George tried to explain.
Fred crossed his arms. "Different how?"
"They--they could really get hurt if we mess it up."
"Once again with the hypocrisy!" Fred exclaimed, throwing up his hands in frustration. "Do you think the Chasers and McGonagall weren't hurt? She said she hadn't missed a class since before Mum and Dad were students! Besides," he added slyly. "we won't mess it up."
"But he's our brother!"
"And that didn't bother you a bit when we turned his hair pink for a week and left Dungbombs in his bed." Fred looked at the still doubtful look on his twin's face and sighed, changing tactic. "Look. The terms of the bet assume the inevitability of those two getting together. Do you disagree with that?"
"Of course not, it's so obvious..." George trailed off.
"So, you see, we're not going to make them do anything they're not already dying to do. The thing we bet on was WHEN, not how or who. We're leaving the most important bits up to them." Fred looked at George, who was still unconvinced. Fred leaned low, speaking in their conspiratorial tone in his ear. "George, I just bought out blocks for the next two weeks; every day until the 21st of this month is ours. And when you add to that the long- shot odds I just got on our dear brother making the first move--do you have any idea what the jackpot has grown to?"
George shook his head.
"Nine hundred Galleons."
George's jaw dropped.
His brother went on. "It's been going for more than 3 years! I'm sure every single Gryffindor except the two in question has added at least a Knut. At least. Quite a few Hufflepuffs too, they like a good bet. And together we've probably put in at least fifty Galleons." Fred lowered his voice. "You know how much we need it for the newest project." Fred's eyes shone at the very idea of the new and expensive product they were developing, one they both were sure would make the Weasley name more famous than Zonko's.
George returned the mischievous look, unable to help himself. He sighed, giving in. "So what's the plan? How do we get him to DO something?"
"That's what I've been having trouble with, O Partner in Crime." Fred admitted. Their every scheme was a perfect collaboration; no prank had ever worked without input from both twins. They both knew this and utterly respected it. It had grown to a superstition between them; neither would ever dream of acting without the other's help and support.
"All right, let's think about this. We need to talk to him soon. Tomorrow?" George asked. Fred nodded. They got down to business and began plotting the details.
A/N: Next chapter, Ron, Harry, and Hermione in a (quite dangerous) Care of Magical Creatures lesson. Thanks for reading, please review!