Author's Note: I loved the last chapter, because I tried so hard to make it emotional, which I think I did. Anyways, I think that this chapter might be short, but I could be wrong...
No new reviews (that I know of) yet, but please keep doing that!
Chapter 3: Ducks, Curls, Thunder, And School
Fred's Point Of View
After Mum dragged me back home, I went straight to my room. No one came in at all, luckily for me. I lay down on my bed and stared at the wall. After a while, I fell asleep, and I had a strange dream.
I'm walking in the Burrow, but I turn to say something to George, who is apparently drowning- in a pond that I've never seen before in my life.
You're weak, pathetic, and arrogant. You weren't even strong enough to live without me. You're worthless- I can't believe that I have to have you as a brother.
I walk back in the Burrow, with George screaming back at me. I run up to my room, and tear down all of George's things on the walls, break whatever's his, and start to make everything of his disappear.
Worthless brother.
That echoed a bit, and then I woke up, gasping for air.
George- the dream- oh my Merlin...
I realized that the dream I had was probably the ending of his dream- his nightmare. I look outside to see that it's morning, so I get dressed and I rush downstairs.
Mum, can I please go see George now?
Honey, you really can't. Students aren't allowed to apparate by themselves on school property, you should know that-
I know, Mum! Why can't you or Dad take me?
Dad has work, and I have to go to Diagon alley with Ron. Have you gotten all of your and George's school supplies?
Yea- I think Ron can handle Diagon alley by himself, Mum. He's fifteen years old!
As I recall, you and George were terrible at it. Causing a scene at Gringotts- I swear I don't know where you two get your ideas...
Mum, please?
Hmm, well- I guess I could get Bill to go with Ron...
Could you, please?
I'll ask him, but in the meantime, go get you and your brother's things ready, please.
I nod and hurry up the stairs, smiling really big. I grab my and George's bags from our room, and something falls from George's bag. It's a picture frame with a picture of us when we were little. It was the day that George broke his right arm when he fell of the roof of the tool shed. It was one of the few memories that I remembered, however, but the picture was taken when we were at the Burrow... what a memory.
It was in the summer of 1985, and Bill, 14, Charlie, 12, Percy, 9, and me and George, 7, were all outside, thinking of ways to have some fun. Well, not so much Percy- he was outside, but reading a book. Anyways, Bill was telling us about Quidditch, a really fun game.
-And there are three hoops, which the quaffle goes through. The keeper tries to keep the quaffle out of the hoops, and the beaters try to guard their team from the bludgers, nasty buggers they are- one beater hit one in the stands once, almost hit me, if it wasn't for this second-year Nymphadora. She yelled at me to duck, which I did, and the thing flew right over me. If it wasn't for her, I'd probably be with the Headless Hunt right now. Anyways-
Where are you getting with this, Billy? Here, I'll make it simple: There are seven people, two beaters, a seeker, a keeper, and three chasers. The beaters try to protect the team from the bludgers, and the keeper tries to catch the golden snitch. The chasers try to get the quaffle into one of three hoops, while the keeper tries to block the quaffle from getting through. When the snitch is caught, the team gets 150 points and the game is over. Was that so hard?
Charlie, how'd you-
I'm the seeker for the Gryffindor team; of course I'd know the simple way of describing the game, Billy.
Well, can we play the game?
Yea! I wanna play!
Bill looked at Charlie, and Charlie looked over at Percy, who was now sleeping.
Well, Fred, George, since we are your brothers, and we'd never let anything hurt you; I guess we could play a game.
Me and George smile, but then I look over at Bill.
Wait- they're only four of us, how can we play?
Bill then again looked over at Charlie, who was sighing and looking at his feet.
I guess I could get Tonks to come, and someone could wake up Percy, but we'd still need at least one more person on each team. Any ideas?
Well, last fall, me and George met a couple of kids in Diagon Alley...
Who?
Some Patil girl, but she said that she has a sister. They are both about a year younger than we are- come to think about it, I don't know why they were there in the first place...
Maybe they have a wonderful older brother, like me.
Yea right, Will.
Only me and George called our older brother Bill, who was twice our age, Will.
We could floo them over here, but we'd have to do it when Mum's not around...
Boys! I'm going to- a meeting. Dad will be in here if you need him!
-And, my dear Charles, that is what we call a good sign.
Georgie, I've lived with you for seven years now, I think I know what your definition of a good sign is. Last time, it was when Dad brought you guys some ice cream for your birthday.
Don't call me Georgie.
Yea! Only I can do that!
Exactly, Freddie. Anyways, Charles, you and Will go and floo the Patils and Tonks, while me and Fred go and-
Wake up Percy.
I swear, how you and him do that talking thing, I don't know...
It's a twin thing.
After confused Bill and Charlie walk back to the house, George and I exchange evil smiles.
So, my dear Georgie, how shall we wake our older brother Percy?
Hmm, how about spraying him with the muggle thing that Dad calls a, 'hose'...?
Nah, Mum said earlier not to touch it because the ducks chewed a hole in it.
Wait a sec- say that again.
Mum said not to touch it?
Further.
There's a hole in it?
Back up a bit.
The ducks? What are we gonna do with ducks?
Fred, we can do many things with ducks. Remember that time Dad brought home some muggle, 'duck tape'?
George, I pretty sure people can't make ducks into tape... But we can use them to wake up our dear brother from his sleep.
Exactly.
So, after we made sure that Percy was still asleep, we crept over to the duck pond, where there were some ducklings.
Fred, you can grab one while I go make sure that one of the chickens don't go and peck Perce's eye out- or something.
Truth is, George is somehow terrified by ducks. I remember the one time that Bill picked up one and put it on his head- let's just say that George had a sore throat for the next week from all of his screaming. Anyways, after I carefully grabbed a cute, small, white duckling, which I call Topper (the one that Bill placed on top of George's head), I run over to where Percy was sleeping- next to the pigpen.
Okay, did any of the chickens peck out his eye?
Nah- hey, wait a second-
What shall we do with Topper?
That demon duck has a name?
Is that important at the moment?
No- let's put it on his face or something.
So after I placed Topper on top of Percy's head- or side, technically, she started to pull at his curly hair, which George and I thought was hilarious. If it wasn't for the book that Percy's head was lying on, his face would also be covered in mud, apart from duckling feathers. Percy moaned for a couple of minutes before his hand reached his head, and his eyes shot open.
Fred! What is on my head?
Topper.
A what?
Topper is the name for the demon duck that Fred put on your head.
A duck?
I shrugged, while Percy was pulling at Topper, who was still pulling at his hair. Eventually he got it out, but now he was pulling her feathers out of his hair.
We were told to wake you up, so we thought we'd make it fun.
Who told you to wake me up?
Will and Charles- we're gonna play a game of Quidditch.
Can you stop calling William that? I'm starting to forget who you're talking about.
So you can call him William-
While we can't call him Will? You know what, Fred, let's start to call him Billy like Charles does.
See, was that so- wait, Quidditch? I hate that game! And there's not even enough people to play- unless you're getting Ginny and Ronald to play.
It would still be an odd number-
And they're too young anyways. Charles is getting his friend Tonks-
While Billy is going to get Fred's friend Parvati, who has a sister, so we're told.
She's your friend too!
I never met her, Fred.
Well- anyways, you're going to play, or we'll go get Topper's friends to teeth on your hair.
Ducks don't teeth, because they don't even have teeth. But anyways, I guess I can play- as long as I get to be keeper. I'm not going to be chasing around- you know how easily I get dizzy.
Yea, yea.
Fred, go put the demon back into the pond before its demon mother comes and chews a hole through you.
Fine, but you have to help Percy get its, 'demon feathers', out of his hair.
As long as I don't have to touch the duck.
Luckily for George- and Percy, there were only a couple of feathers in his hair that he couldn't get out. After George pulled the last few from Percy's hair, Percy asked him a question.
George, who's idea was it to put the duck on my head?
Well, I told Fred to put it on your face, but he put in in your hair, so technically, it was his.
Well- wait, what?
I, luckily, didn't get to answer his question because Bill and Charlie came walking out with a group of girls. Charlie pointed to the girl with bubblegum pink hair and introduced us.
Fred, George, Percy, this is Nymphadora Tonks-
DON'T CALL ME NYMPHADORA!
-Who only likes to be called by her surname only.
Percy smiles, and tips his head a little to the side.
Well, I like your name. I'm Percy, by the way.
Well, Percy, since you are adorable, you can call me Nymph.
George and I snicker a little at Charlie's friend calling Percy adorable.
Nymph? Well, I still like that.
Thanks- but do all the kids in this family have red hair?
Come to think about it, yea.
Do you all have the same colored eyes, too?
Nah, me, Fred and George have blue eyes, while-
Charles, Billy, Ron, and Ginny have brown eyes.
Seriously, how do you do that?
It's a twin thing.
But I'm not your twin!
Well, with that sentence, we were guessing that you were going to mention the rest of us, so-
We finished for you. Your welcome!
Tonks' hair turned our Weasley-red hair, and her eyes changed to a deep blue to match ours.
Whoa, how do you do that?
I'm a Metamorphmagus- I can change my eye, hair, and skin color.
George and I exchanged looks.
Wicked.
Tonks walks over to where our family keeps the Quidditch stuff with Charlie while Bill walks back inside to get his wand to make the hoops- which leaves Parvati and her sister with me- George went inside with Bill.
Hi, Fred! This is my twin sister Padma- she's younger than me, though-
Only by like four minutes!
Anyways, where's your brother?
I have 5 brothers, so which one would you like to meet?
The one you were talking about in Diagon Alley.
Oh, George- why were you in Diagon Alley anyways?
Our mother works at The White Rose, a potion shop, and our father took us there to see her. Her name is Semanti, and-
Okay, sorry for interrupting, but Fred, why are we here, again?
We want to play Quidditch!
'We'?
Me and my brother George- we're twins.
Identical?
Yep. Cool, huh? Do you know what Quidditch is?
Yea, our Dad told us what is was- we're pure-bloods.
Cool, so are we.
I didn't know we have so much in common.
Me neither.
George walked out with Bill, who ran over to a big empty field and, with a wave of his wand, created three different-sized hoops.
Okay, Fred. Where's- am I seeing double or are Parvati and her sister identical twins?
Yea, they're Parvati and she sister, Padma, are twins- should have mentioned that-
But, Fred, I didn't-
It's okay. George, this is Padma and this is Parvati- right?
The other way around.
Now I see how annoying that gets...
George didn't respond to my comment, he was too busy staring at one of the girls- I couldn't tell which, but after Parvati tells us who is who, he was staring at Padma.
Hello, Earth to George- Are you okay?
Wha- Yea, sorry there.
I snicker, and George hits me.
Ow, what was-
Fred, George, girls! C'mon!
After we reach the field, Bill assigned us to teams- him, Padma, George, and Percy on one while Parvati, me, Charlie, and Tonks on another. I wasn't happy about being on a different team as George, but he was too busy talking to Padma to care- I kept sniggering at them though, which George's ears kept turning red, something that happens to only him when he's embarrassed. When I'm embarrassed, my cheeks turn red instead. On our team, anyways, Charlie was seeker, Tonks was chaser, Parvati was keeper, and I was beater- Percy didn't like the fact that us seven-year-olds got to go against bludgers, but after he offered beater, he wasn't too hesitant. On George's team, Bill was chaser, Padma was keeper, Percy was seeker, (unlucky for him and his unfocused eyesight), and George was beater. I thought it was cool having the twins play the same position because it would confuse people, but, after a couple of minutes, Padma and Bill's positions were changed around. George and I flew on our uncles' old brooms, which we had for our yearly family game of Quidditch, which we weren't able to play in before. Tonks brought her Mum's broom, and Padma and Parvati flew on Charlie and Bill's old brooms. Percy, strangely enough, just ran back inside and brought out our broom which we use to sweep the kitchen, not without bringing back Dad with him to supervise the game.
OoOoO
After a couple of hours, our team won, although Percy, somehow, caught the snitch. The score was 170 to 150- although our team had a keeper that was eight years younger than George's team's chaser. George and I escaped with minor injuries- him a bruised leg and me a small cut on my cheek. Percy, Bill, Charlie, Tonks, and Padma escaped with no injuries- George wouldn't let Padma get hurt. Parvati got a small scratch on her ankle, which I apologized for. I wasn't shocked when George was sad that Padma and Parvati left, and Charlie that Tonks left. Before Dad went back inside, he came over and talked to us.
You guys are pretty good beaters- you should try out for the house team when you go to Hogwarts in a couple of years- when you're second years, of course.
Really? Thanks Dad!
You're welcome- George?
Fred.
So close!
We snickered a little before he left, and when everyone went back inside, not including Percy, who went for a walk.
Do you think he really meant that, George?
I think so- and I'm surprised that Dad didn't stop us when you almost hit Percy in the head with the bat.
Hey! That was an accident!
Yea, an, "accident".
I made air quotes with my fingers to make my point, but George just shook his head and smiled.
What-ever. What're we supposed to do now anyways? Not that Quidditch wasn't boring- actually, it was probably the most fun that Percy had, too!
I don't know- I kind of wanna go fly on some brooms again, but Billy always locks up the tool shed with the Quidditch stuff and brooms in it- that little git.
And it'll be too noticeable if we try to take the one in the kitchen...
But Billy told me that he and Charles never lock up their brooms in the shed with the rest, but they hide them so we don't try to break them. But I'm not stupid, I saw them hide their brooms-
Where?
I was getting to that! I saw them hide them on top of the tool shed, where no one can see it.
Those two...-
Aren't as smart as us?
Exactly!
We smiled, then walked over to the tool shed, where I raised George up on my shoulders. He lifted himself up on the roof and reached for the brooms.
I found them!
Well, toss them down here before Billy and Charles come out here, or before Percy comes back!
Alright!
Just then, a major clap of thunder roared. Bright flashes of lightning are seen in the distance. Clouds covered the sunlight-filled sky, and the flashes of lightning came closer.
Fred, I-
Just come down- forget the brooms!
But he froze. He always hated thunderstorms, it made him tense up- sometimes to the point of where he doesn't move at all. Then it started to rain, which made matters a bit better.
George!
Rain always calms him, so he started to move. I hoped that he doesn't fall, but for some reason he grabbed Bill's broom.
George, what're you doing? Just come down! Forget the brooms!
But he didn't listen. Just then, Percy came along, though.
Fred! George! What're you doing?
We- we wanted to fly on some brooms, but- thunder- lightning- it all came too fast- he won't listen-
Fred, it's going to be okay. Don't panic, or he'll freak out- you should know that by now.
Bill- Charlie- they're going to be mad-
That doesn't matter now, I'll think of something that won't get you in trouble, as long as he doesn't get hurt- ow! George, what was that for?
I snickered a bit, because George just threw down Bill's broom and the end hit Percy, some of the bristles getting stuck in his thickly-curled hair.
Why is it always my hair?
Thank goodness it wasn't the other end that hit your head-
Another clap of thunder interrupted my sentence, but Percy's sarcastic smile and his rapid pulling at his hair made me forget what I was going to say, and made me giggle instead.
What's going on with George?
Remember the last time there was a thunderstorm? Just before, you told him to spray me with a hose because I got chicken feed in my hair. After the thunder, he still did, even though I was soaking wet from the rain.
So?
So, the thunder does something to him- it tenses him up and scares him, so he just does what he last remembers hearing.
I told him to get the brooms, but-
So he's getting the brooms. Just make sure he doesn't fall and die or something. It won't take him too long. Meantime, I'll be inside, making sure that William or Charles doesn't come out.
Okay- and Percy?
Yea?
Thanks. A-a lot
Your welcome- and on a totally unrelated matter, just make sure that no one pranks me for the next month, kay?
I snigger a little, and then I snort, which makes even Percy laugh. Just then, George shakes his head.
P-Percy? Why're you laughing?
George! Percy, what'd you do?
I laughed because you snorted- it was funny when you think about it-
Well, if you two don't mind, I'll be coming down now.
George, still holding Charlie's broom, quite quickly stepped up to the top of the pointy-shaped roof and carefully slipped down. Unfortunately, it wasn't careful enough.
George's left foot slipped, followed by his right. He grabbed the top of the roof to avoid falling, but his hand slipped free of the rooftop. Still holding the broom, he slipped off of the roof screaming, and to make matters worse, he fell off the 10-foot-high shed and onto our worried older brother, who also screamed. And to make matters even worse, an even more worried Bill came running out, followed by Dad, who left Charlie to watch Ron and Ginny.
OoOoO
Ugh...
George leaned up, and he was lying next to Percy, who was unconscious at the moment. The scene didn't look good- George and Percy lying down next to the shed with Bill's broom lying beside Percy, and Charlie's snapped broom somewhat underneath George.
What happened? Dad and I were just talking about our game and we heard you two screaming!
Billy, it isn't what it looks like- Percy was trying to help, but- George slipped, and-
Yea, right. What it looks like is that Percy and George were trying to get our brooms- for whatever reason. I don't know what you did to Percy, but I'm still mad at him for stealing my wand, so whatever harm you did, just move so me and Dad can take them inside. Mum'll be so disappointed...
Bill picked up George, while Dad scooped up Percy. Percy groaned a bit from the pain, while George just let his left arm dangle and he gave me a pained look over his shoulder.
When we got into the house, Charlie was worried while Ron and Ginny looked like they were about to cry when they caught sight of their older brothers in pain.
Daddy, what happened to George 'n' Perce?
They fell, Ginny dear. It's getting pretty late now, why don't you and your brother go upstairs to bed.
Okay, Dad.
After Ginny and Ron went to bed, Dad made me go up to my room, to wait until Mum got home. I did go up to my room, but I didn't go in it. I waited on the stairs, waiting for someone to talk about George's injuries.
How do you think he is, Dad?
I don't know, Bill. Out of all the reckless pranks they pulled, this one involves Percy- I can't even imagine what was going on through their minds...
Just then, I could hear Percy's moans again.
It- it huuurts...
What hurts, Percy?
My- my ribs, and- and my shoulder...
Uugh...
George, what's wrong with you?
It's kind of funny seeing Bill and Charlie play doctor, but this time- this time includes my twin, so it's not entirely funny.
My arm and my ankle- well, I can't really feel my arm, but-
George, move your arm a bit.
Why?
Just to see something- now do it!
I- I can't.
D'you think your arm's broken?
I think so- but I can move my ankle- well, I can feel it.
Then move it.
Alright!
George twists his ankle around, but all I heard was his pained groans for a couple of seconds. But all I felt was a pain in my heart. To know that my twin was downstairs in pain, lying on the couch that we used to relax on, but from what I hearing, George is doing anything but relaxing.
Alright! You can stop twisting your ankle.
Dad!
Yes, Bill?
From the condition Percy is in, I think that he has a few broken ribs and a strained shoulder- not broken, but it could be cracked.
Charlie? What about George?
Right arm, broken, and left ankle, definitely cracked.
Just then, I heard Mum walk in, her voice slowly fainting.
What- Arthur, why're Percy and George here?
Listen, Molly- the boys were outside and they fell, Percy broke a few ribs and maybe cracked his shoulder, while George broke his arm and cracked his ankle. I know it's bad, but there's no reason to-
My boys!
-make a big deal out of it...
Not to make a big deal? I'm now used to George getting hurt, but now Percy is in this too!
As I heard my mother's voice, I hurried downstairs and next to George, kneeling at his side and holding his wrist. The only one's up now were Mum, Dad, me, and Bill- Charlie went to bed.
Fred! Do you know what happened?
Well, yes- but you won't believe me, too.
I know you won't lie when it comes to George getting hurt, so get talking, mister.
OoOoO
-And that's when Dad and Bill came and took them into the house.
I did leave out the Quidditch game, though, because I didn't want to get Bill, Charlie, George, and Percy into more trouble than George is probably going to be in.
Well, since Percy and George are hurt- and George being hurt will probably hurt you more than him, I guess I'll let this slide- but I never ever want you two on brooms until you're at least twelve, and thank goodness that's a while away.
Billy- I-
It's okay, Fred. George will be okay-
Can't Mum and Dad do some spell or something to help him?
Sorry, but no-
Well, why not?
Fred- it's not that simple- They have broken and cracked bones, you can't just wave your wand and fix that, it'll take some time.
Hmm, fine- but I'm sleeping down here, tonight.
Do whatever you need to do- I'm going to bed.
G'night Billy.
Good night, Fred.
And with that, I made up a bed right next to the couch that George was on.
G'night George, g'night Percy.
I fell asleep, but Mum must have found something cute, because when I fell asleep, she came downstairs and she quickly found her camera, and took a picture.
As I'm looking at the photo, I smile. My seven-year-old self was sleeping with my hand slightly stretched out, while George's hand was hung off the couch and very loosely holding my wrist. My eyes fill with tears, but I quickly blink them away.
George'll be fine, you'll see...
I find it hard to believe that thought, but I do. I put the picture back carefully in the bag, and go downstairs to meet our mother.
Okay, Mum, I'm ready.
Our trunks are already downstairs, and Mum wanted to bring Errol with us, too.
Alright- I'm just going to bring you there, and then I'm coming home- Bill didn't want to bring Ron because he had work to do at Gringotts.
Fine, let's just go- the faster I leave the faster I get to see George.
Okay, now be good this year, okay?
Yes, Mum.
This year's going to be different now-
Okay! I get it!
Keep an eye out for George, too!
Goodbye!
After a hug, she apparated away. I run into the Hospital Wing, yelling.
George! George, I-
But George isn't anywhere to be seen. Madam Pomfrey, though, is making beds and cleaning up.
Madam Pomfrey? Excuse me, but where is my brother? George?
Oh, Mr. Weasley left earlier today with another student. They'll be wandering around the school, probably.
Okay, thank you.
I leave the Hospital Wing, and walk into the school.
Why didn't I keep the Marauder's Map?
Mum was right- this year is going to be very different. George is hurt, we're back, and lots of first-years are on their way. I smile a bit- George is probably hanging around with Lee. I walk around a bit, but then I see George walking and smiling a lot with a younger kid.
George!
He turns and smiles, and the younger kid just looks at me and smiles a bit, too. I recognize him to be the school's pyrotechnic, as I've remembered of.
Seamus Finnigan. Why in the world would George be hanging around with Seamus Finnigan?
Sorry it's so long- I'm not so good at shorting things up... The Semanti/White Rose thing- look it up, you'll find it kind of cool... Sorry for using so many - and ...
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