A/N: Look, I a weetch but finals are worse. I am not happy with this chapter it's too cheesy for me. Ah well the next should be better. (Yes, I did say the NEXT one)
Fred stepped into Helping Hand, like all Wizarding establishments, the outside never reflected the inside. Rich wood paneling decorated the wall, hardwood floors echoed with footsteps, past good Samaritans adorn the walls, and the hallway that Fred was currently in looked as if it would go on for eternity. He looked at the portraits; the newest one was the woman who Fred saw answer the door. The plaque below read Natalie Kirkwood.
"It's amazing isn't it?" A slim, young, tall woman stood beside Fred. She smiled at him and offered her hand.
"Hang on," Fred said taking her hand as he moved his head from side to side, "Where's that old lady who answered the door?"
"I have no idea what you mean; I answered the door." The woman smirked, and looked Fred up and down. "The name's Lisa Dimsley."
"Okay…Fred Weasley." Fred looked at the door again half-expecting the old woman to appear.
"Come on let's get you signed up then." Fred nodded and gave one last look at the door. With her back turned, Fred did some looking of his own. This woman was extremely beautiful; she wore her hair in a French twist that went down to the middle of her back. She wore a simple pink tank top and a denim mini. As they walked up to the reception desk, their footsteps clattered against the floor. Fred couldn't escape the feeling of committing some horrible sin by walking on these pristine floors.
…
"There you are. Go over there to that desk-do you see it?" She motioned toward her far right. An old musky desk was huddled in the corner with a candle in the middle. Fred peered over the large stack of papers Lisa had handed him and nodded. "Good--what are you waiting for? Shoo." Fred stumbled slightly as he made his way to the desk.
After he settled down, Fred began to look through his papers. He stopped with a sudden feeling of de'ju vu. Fred was spiraled back to the time of the horrible accident.
Fred stood at the counter of W3. It was barely evening but it already had been a long day. Business was so good that now a new branch had opened in Canada. With so many customers, it was logical for the new manager, Daniel, of W3 Diagon Alley branch to get overwhelmed and call in Fred to help. George had come in as well but there was still so much work.
When the new manger's head appeared in the middle of their Sunday breakfast begging Fred to come, he knew that they really needed him.
"Sorry, honey, I got to go." Fred put down his napkin and got ready to get up. Lex held his chubby little arms to Fred.
"Daddy, I wanna go!" His big amber eyes widened. "Pwease."
"Well…I dunno maybe if you're mum-" Fred ran his hand through his hair..
"Yes-go" Fred raised his brows.
"Oh, I see trying to get out of taking him to W-O-R-K." Angelina feigned shock.
"Why, Freddy dear I thought that you and your son would enjoy some quality time." Fred waved his hand in front of him.
"Don't put that on me, sweetness."
"Darling, I took him yesterday."
"Love, I'm pretty sure Lex won't touch anymore priceless statues of some professional beater-"
"Honey bunny, that statue was of my predecessor. I know you still don't like Cassidy, but that statue was extremely expensive."
"Sugar lumps-"
"Mummy what does ex-expe-"
"Expensive"
"Yeah...what's that?"
"It means a lot of money, baby love."
"Oh." Lex said quietly putting his head in his hands.
"Sweetie, it's not your fault. They didn't reinforce it." Angelina sighed looking suddenly tired. "If you want to come with me you can…" She gave Fred a hard look.
"Okay-okay come on, son, I'll teach you how to make your mummy's ears turn green." Angelina shook her head warily.
"Yay!" Lex cheered, jumped down from his seat..
"Bye mummy!" Lex then kissed Angelina on the cheek. "Feel better."
"I'm feeling better already."
Fred studied Angelina. "You should really take a day; you've been working too hard."
"Fred, I'm fine." She snapped then softened up. "I'm sorry, I'll take Monday off. I just really want to get this Anderson thing finished."
"All right, I'll take Lex tomorrow as well. Love you."
"Come here." She wrapped her arms around him and trailed kisses from his forehead to his chin. Lex scrunched up his nose at his parents' show of affection.
"Wow, I'll take him for a week for that." She giggled and gave him a little push.
"Go before your customers begin to revolt."
"Fine."
……..
They arrived at the store not a moment too soon. Pushing his way through a hoard of people, Fred managed to find a stool to sit Lex on.
"Lex stay here okay-I'll be back."
"Noo daddy, I wanna go with you!" Fred wasn't in the mood to argue.
"All right come on." He picked up his son and took him into the back. A variety of cauldrons surrounded George; different colored smoke wafted from above his head.
"Hey George!" George resembled their old Divination professor beneath his goggles. The site of his brother in the goggles coupled with the serious expression he wore made Fred laugh loudly. George narrowed his eyes.
"Ha, ha make of the working twin why don't you? Hey, Lex-Fred I need you to help Brian bring in the products from the back. Daniel's got Cherrie to come in and work the front."
"I know, I know-just watch Lex okay?"
"Sure Fred I have nothing to do right now…"
"You suck a sarcasm bro…come on buddy let's help daddy unload."
They had made record time with unloading that is until…
"Mr. Wesley? Mr. Wesley? Are you finished?" Lisa waved her hand in front of Fred.
"What? Oh, I'm sorry I must have zoned-um," Fred looked down at his now finished papers, "Yeah-yes I'm finished."
"Good, may I ask why you want to be a big brother?" She waved her wand across the papers. They emitted a faint reddish glow that indicated they were processed.
Fred began twirling his quill.
"I-I think it would help…I just think it might be fun." He gave an unsure smile and Lisa looked at him with a blank expression. Before she could ask anything more, the papers that were previously processed flashed a bright pink and turned into a small rectangular pierce of parchment. The parchment landed in Lisa's out stretched palm.
"Okay …this says that…" her pretty brows knitted in confusion. "There seems to be a mistake here…"
…………..
Fred was outside a small cottage on the outskirts of Chedtington Village. He stood there a moment longer deciding on whether to skip out on meeting his 'little sister' or to ring the doorbell and meet this little hellion. From what Lisa had told him, this girl had swept past five big sisters. She made one big brother swear on his grandfather's grave to never have kids and joined a monastery. Just what caused this revelation is still unknown but he heard a vague mention of something about a toothpick, soap, and a very large very angry squirrel. Fred smirked at this. This girl reminded him of himself and George when they were four. Fred shook his head before knocking. He braced himself for whatever demon would appear. The door creaked open to reveal an extremely angry bushy head, a small body followed after.
"Well, what'd you want?" The figured stomped her white stocked foot and put her hands on her hips.
"Hello-um-my name is-"
"Kelsie James! You come here right this instant!" The girl, Kelsie, looked unfazed as she sighed and walked into the house.
Fred looked around while scratching his head. "What in the world?"
"Talking to yourself—not a good sign." Fred turned to see a petite redhead leaning against the door jam.
"Oh hi my name is Fred Weasle-"
"You're the big brother right!" The girl jumped up, grabbed Fred's hand, and shook it roughly; "I'm Shelley, and you will not believe how happy I am to see you! Here let me get her—KELSIE YOU'RE BIG BROTHER'S HERE!"
"Well whoop-de-doo. Let's see how long this one lasts." She suddenly appeared her wild child hair tamed and held back by a purple scarf that matched her purple dress. Now that her hair was out of her face, he saw that Kelsie had big gray doe eyes, a slight olive skin tone, and a mass of curly light reddish brown hair. She was actually looked cute and harmless when she was smiling as she was right now. "Hello Mr. Weasley." She gave a curtsey.
"Er—hello Kelsey."
Shelley looked between the two before picking up Kelsey, who still stood on the threshold, and put her in Fred arms. "Well you two have fun don't come back until—well—whenever. Behave Kelsie bye now." She then rushed inside the house and slammed the door behind her.
"Wow…er that was-"
"Let's get this straight, Weasley, I'm not some stupid little four year old. I don't like puppies or kitties and I don't believe in Santa; if you even think about taking me near any kids my age I will make sure you die a very slow and painful death got it?" Fred nodded not knowing what else to say. "Good now put me down I don't like being touched." He did what she had asked for.
"Oh okay what do you like to do?" The grin on her face made Fred wish he were still in England.
……….
"You know for a girl who doesn't believe in Santa Claus I'm surprised that—"
"Yap yap yap…just put it on."
"Listen this is stupid you know I own a joke-"
"Yeah—now put it on."
"Fine." Fred trudged into the dressing room and came out five minutes later."
"I feel so stupid…"
"Whatever now turn around."
Fred sighed and turned around when he faced his image in the mirror, he couldn't help but get a picture of himself as a woman—a very ugly woman.
"You look fantastic!" She sat with sales clerks who were trying to keep the smiles from their faces. "Don't you think so…um…Tina?"
"Yes yes…fansniffle tastic. The blue really brings out you um—eyes, sir." Fred rolled said eyes and went back into the dressing room.
"I hope you're having fun."
"Oh yes ever so much—I think you should try on the peach now."
"No, that would clash with my hair—crap I can't believe I just said that….Time for some manly things to do."
"Oh please."
-…
"Ok this is a bludger…."
