Disclaimer: I don't own them, I'm just borrowing for the time being. (And no, I won't give them back!)
"Fred! You are impossible, utterly impossible!" I exclaimed, opening the door to Weasley Wizarding Wheezes and stepping up into the joke shop. Fred was right behind me, laughing at my annoyance. I couldn't believe that my boss had actually made me come over here and work with Fred. No one on earth annoyed me as much as he did.
I was a successful business witch, I had my own flat and I was well on my way to becoming a manager at the Ministry, yet he still managed to make me feel like a frustrated fifteen year old prefect. I mean, he was my friend, I loved all the Weasley's, and Fred could be a lot of fun. He was funny as all get out, and brilliant to boot. He also could argue with me like no one else, but he was so annoying!
"Come on, 'Mione, don't be a stick in the mud." He jibed, stepping in after me. He closed the door, flipping the sign so that it read 'closed' instead of 'open.'
"George!" I called. Maybe he'd be there and I wouldn't have to work with Fred. I hadn't even started the paperwork yet and I was already near the snapping point.
"Oh, Granger, that hurts!" Fred said, grabbing his chest and pretending to be hurt.
"George, if you're here, please, please, come down." I called again, refusing to give up hope. Fred just laughed as he walked behind the checkout counter. He leaned against the wall and smiled at me, his ginger hair falling in his eyes. His eyes were sparkling with mischief as he glanced up the stairs that led to his and George's shared flat.
"I doubt he'll be coming down. I'm pretty sure he's out with Katie." Oh god, I really was stuck with just Fred. He practically glowed with excitement at the prospect of annoying me for an entire day. Darn Ministry, darn boss for making me come down here.
"Fine." I said begrudgingly, pulling my briefcase out and setting my paperwork on the counter.
"Just why are you here anyway?" Fred asked, his smile slipping as he stared down at the paperwork with distrust.
"You know where I work, right?" I asked, pulling a quill and ink out of my briefcase.
"Yeah, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, why?" He asked. I was actually surprised he did know. He studied my face for a moment before frowning slightly. "You really didn't think I would know, did you Granger?"
I flushed, feeling embarrassed suddenly. I didn't know why, I just felt guilty suddenly. He looked genuinely sad that I had doubted him. I decided to ignore his question, because I really didn't know the answer. "Yes, well, anyway, I've been sent because you need to renew your license for breeding Pgym Puffs."
Fred's eyebrows shot up and his mouth dropped open in surprise. "Pygm Puffs?" a smile lifted his lips and he looked like he wanted to laugh. "The ministry sent you all the way over here for Pygm Puffs?"
I flushed again, feeling more embarrassed and slightly stupid. "Y-yes." I stuttered, hating the way he made me unsure. I gave myself a mental shake and stood straighter. "Yes, for Pygm Puffs. You've neglected your paperwork."
"Are you going to help me do it?" He asked, waggling his eyebrows at me. I giggled nervously and nodded my head.
"Yes, I'm going to help you." I paused, setting the quill down next to the ink pot. "Mainly because I want it done right. I'm not coming back here for Pygm Puffs for another year." He grinned at that before shoving himself off the wall and stepping forward towards the counter.
"All right, where do I start?"
"Paragraph two, section one, line three." I said, pointing it out. Fred nodded his head and read the question aloud.
"Is the creature in question magical?" He looked up at me with a raised eyebrow. "Would I be filling this out if he wasn't?"
"I didn't make the questionnaire Fred."
"Okay, I'll just answer the questions." He looked back down at the form and scribbled something down before reading the next question. He scribbled something else down and then looked up at me. "Aren't you supposed to be helping me?"
"Let me know when you need it."
"Care to fill this in for me?"
"No Fred, that's your job."
He sighed and continued to fill in the blanks. He looked like I was torturing him, like filling in this paperwork was actually hurting him. He filled in another answer and I leaned against the counter, staring at the paperwork.
"Know any spells to magically complete this?" he asked off handedly, not moving his eyes from the paper.
"Nope." A bell sounded behind us and I jumped in surprise, spinning around and facing the door. I expected to see George coming in, or maybe Ron. It was neither, it was a tall, pale man wearing black robes. I stared at him for a moment, an uneasy feeling washing over me. I recognized him, but I couldn't place where I recognized him from.
"I'm sorry Sir," Fred said from behind me. "We're closed. You'll have to come back later, we open at nine." He kept walking forward, his long black hair swooshing behind him. He stared at us with his cold, blue eyes and stopped a few meters in front of us.
"Sir, we're closed." Fred said more firmly, putting his quill down.
"Good, it's about to be permanent." My eyes widened and he raised his wand. I acted on instinct next. I pulled my own wand out and jumped backwards, sliding over the counter and falling off the other side. I pulled Fred down at the same time that an explosion sounded above us. Fred's eyes were wide and shocked. He pulled his wand out and we both faced each other for a moment.
I nodded my head and we both stood at the same time, screaming out spells. Another bell sounded and another figure walked in as the first one deflected our spells. We sent more spells at them, diving to the side as more spells flew at us. I ran towards the aisles and ducked behind one as I barely dodged a blue spell. I could hear Fred still yelling behind me as I shot another spell at the three figures.
Three? When had another one gotten here? What's more, who on earth were they?
'BOMBARDO!" the first one yelled, the shelf I was hiding behind exploded and I dived backwards before slamming into a wall. I bit back a yelp of pain and turned back around. I needed to stay calm above all else. I shot another spell at the group of figures and realized there were now six. My spell hit one of them in the stomach and he crumpled to the grown.
They were multiplying, and they were doing it fast. I dove behind another aisle, barely avoiding a flash of purple light. I screamed another spell out, and then felt my arm explode in pain as I was hit by a jet of red light. I fell to my knees in pain, and my world began to spin. I heard Fred call my name out distantly, and then I fell forward. I hit the floor with a jarring thud, and I knew no more.
A/N: This takes place about a year after Deathly Hallows in case anyone is curious. Ron and Hermione are not dating, neither are Fred and Angelina. I'm not sure how long this story will be, at least ten chapters, possibly more depending on plot ideas.