Chapter 2: Fred
Harry almost loses his nerve as he steps onto the Hogwarts stairs with Ron beside him. It's not that Ron's company wasn't great, it was that the other company they kept was, well, annoying. Hogwarts students didn't bother to hide their stares as they watched Harry and Ron travel the distance from the boat to the castle, which was impossible by apparition. They were ordered back by Snape's replacement after a devious Slytherin had tried to come up and challenge Harry. Ron had had a laugh about that. Harry had a permanent scowl on his face by the time they got up to Headmistress' McGonagall's office.
McGonagall stood as they walked in and Harry swore she had a knowing glint in her eye. Were they that obvious that the only reason they were here was to see Fred? Looks like it. Ron's mood lifted dramatically since Harry had proposed going to see Fred with him, and he knew he would be doing great things for George's mental health if they managed to send the message to Fred- well, Fred's portrait. "Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley. How nice to see you two again." Harry nodded and Ron held up a hand in greeting. "I'm guessing you got our Owl?" Ron asked informally. "Of course. Fred Weasley is currently on the second floor. I hope you two remember this, but school rules still apply."
Two stairwells later, Ron and Harry finally found Fred's portrait. The portrait was anything but simple, as expected, with zany colored tapestries and Fred's list of various offenses while at Hogwarts in colored quills hung proudly at the center of the back wall. The chair was red, by custom, and occupied by Fred himself. He hadn't noticed them yet, or had pretended like he hadn't, because he was fondly looking at a hung up picture of the WWW before the location was moved. A gold plaque stated The Daring Troublemaker. Fred Weasley. 1 April, 1978 - 2 May, 1998. "Fred?" Ron asked, voice soft.
Ron had gone to see Fred a couple of times before this, but Harry knew it still stung to see a person you knew was dead look alive and well in a frame. Seeing him now was like looking in the Mirror of Erised; another dimension that simply didn't exist. But seeing Fred still proved sweet as Fred turned with his signature mischievous smile intact. "My sweet brother Ron! And Harry! Harry, how have you been, mate?" Harry smiled brightly, grateful to see that Fred's personality was still the same. "Hullo Fred. I've been swell, made a couple of good friends happy, including George." Ron gave him a weird look, no doubt wondering why Harry chose to bring up events of the years before.
"George? Have you heard from him lately? He hasn't come to see me yet." Even Harry could hear the hurt in the portrait's tone. Crazily enough, instead of what Harry and Ron both feared, George had ignored the installment of Fred's portrait and hadn't even talked about it at family dinner. The whole family had wisely decided not to comment on it. Molly, however, had excused herself and Harry to tell Harry to watch out for both George AND Ron, voicing her concern over what might happen if they get too attached to the portrait. But Harry didn't worry about Ron much. He was a Auror with family morals now, and he had Hermione.
George, on the other hand, took to mourning in a different approach. He was very absorbed in his business and the success of the championships hadn't changed that. The WWW was bustling with people whenever Hogwarts released kids for the weekends. "He's busy with work, he's making the Weasley's Wizard's Wheeze's very successful." Fred hesitated, but gave a impressed smile. "That's good then. Tell him he can come see me when he's not so busy." Fred answered shortly. Harry could tell this was going nowhere fast. "He does miss you, you know. He just has a hard time of showing it." Harry told, exasperated by the situation. Fred blinked slowly. "I know, Harry." He sighed.
~.~.~.~.~.
Draco wiped away sweat from his forehead and continued to work on his report. The last lab was unsuccessful, and the potion had splattered everywhere except where it was supposed to. He had spent most of his free time since then meaninglessly doodling on his lab report, and knew his boss would have his head when he found out. But his doodle of Harry's eye was a good one. All in all, he thought he deserved his pay. Especially on his first day. Draco sneakily ripped off a piece of parchment, and quilled a letter to Harry while he waited for inspiration so he could finish this boring report.
Harry,
You would laugh if you could see me now. I'm not so good at inventing potions as I am at writing down formulas for them.
Draco, covered in stray potion liquid.
Draco smiled at his letter before he hurried the note off before the man-in-charge could notice. He hoped it could get through Hogwart's wards, he hadn't bothered to send it with a Owl. He managed to write a few more lines on what he could have done better before a yawn escaped him. He had been cramming the rest of his homework before work, and now that he was actually here the adrenaline had deserted him. He half-wished he was up at Hogwarts with two Weasleys and brat-kids instead of doing his dream job. He just wished training for his dream-job wasn't so boring sometimes. Thirty minutes later, a formal paper was dropped off at Draco's desk, by a stern-looking Owl.
Draco,
Headmistress McGonagall let me use one of her Owls to write you back. She was quite amused when I asked. She wishes you well. I think you're mad brill at potions. Fred, if you cared, is doing fine, but has caught on to George ignoring him. We should talk after, pick you up?
Harry.
Draco snorted at Harry's lack of order. He shooed away the owl just in time for one of the potion makers to floo in and ask him for a sample. Once he stood up, he found out how much his arse ached, and resolved that he should clock out soon. He even got a Owl from Greg asking if he wanted a pint with him after his apprenticeship. He wrote back, politely asking for a raincheck and to meet up the next morning (because Greg never asked Draco to meet up unless he wanted to vent with food and beer near him) before grabbing his coat. He figured it'd be a while for Harry to actually show up, so he forwarded another note to Harry, cursing himself for hastily shooing that owl away.
Harry,
Yes, pick me up as soon as you can. The kneazles here smell like George's old socks.
Draco.
Harry picked him up in record time about ten minutes later, complaining about how Ron had wanted to talk more about their situation. To Harry, the problem seemed to be only to get George to come and talk to Fred, something that he said was going to be 'easy enough.' Draco disagreed. If he knew that annoying oaf, it would take a lot more than convincing to see his dead twin brother inside a talking portrait. Harry, the muggle he was, however, didn't seem to get that. "Did you see Snape?" Draco asked, changing the subject before Harry could start ranting about his best friend.
"Oh, no, as a matter of fact, we didn't." Harry responded, looking confused. "I almost forgot he was even there. He must have been in another portrait." Harry wondered aloud. Draco laughed, and his broom tapped Harry's as they flew close together. "I think so too. I doubt my godfather would be able to let you and Weasley walk past his portrait without saying something." Harry made a face and scratched his curly hair. "Oh yeah. For once I agree with you." Harry grinned and pecked Draco's cheek, mid-flight, dangerously careening on his broom without a care in the world. "How was your apprenticeship?" Draco smiled. "It was alright."