A/N: This is just a fun idea I got while in the hospital. Let me know what you think and anything you'd like to see, okay?
Woke up and wished that I was dead
With an aching in my head
I lay motionless in bed
The night is here and the day is gone
And the world spins madly on
George's head was pounding, which really wasn't anything new, and he was lying in a pile of leaves, which also wasn't new. He was lying on his stomach, completely naked, (still not new, sadly) and he was covered in dirt and bits of nature.
George got his hands under himself and pushed up a bit, ignoring the protest of his muscles as he looked around. He sucked in a breath through his mouth and nearly gagged at the taste of fur.
Oh god. What had the wolf eaten? George spit the fur out and let out a sigh of relief when it was brown and not red. At least Fred was safe.
"Georgie?" Fred, in his natural form, came up to George and draped a robe over his shoulders. "You okay?"
"All my limbs are accounted for." George replied, and ouch, his voice was worse than it had been yesterday. It sounded raw and it felt raw as well. Fred wrapped an arm around his chest and draped George's left arm over his shoulders. He lifted up and pulled George to his feet, fully supporting all of George's weight. Which was a good thing because George was not up to holding his own weight.
"Is that rabbit fur?" George asked slowly, staring down at the spit out fur.
Fred glanced down and nodded his head. "Yeah, sorry about that. I think he was irritated at you for not eating meat and decided to take it out on the local bunny population."
George stared at the fur for a moment before returning his gaze to Fred. His twin looked tired and a little haggard. George would have to make sure he napped in the store today. Speaking of which…
"What time is it?"
"Seven am. We have two hours before the store opens. Just enough for shower, massage, and breakfast." George nodded his head and Fred adjusted their weight. "Do you think you're ready to apparate?"
"Yeah." Fred twisted into the air and George felt them get sucked into the compression of apparition. His overly used muscles complained but before it could get truly painful they were back.
"Alright, you go onto the shower and I'll fix breakfast." Fred ordered. He helped George to the loo and deposited him on the toilet. "Don't forget to scrub behind your ears." And then he left for the kitchen. George turned the water on as hot as it would go and looked at himself in the mirror while it heated up. His hair was a scraggly mess and matted with blood, dirt, and bits of leaves. His face was scratched up and he had dirt everywhere. The scars from his werewolf attack were nearly white against his paler than usual skin and his eyes were completely bloodshot. He looked like he had gotten drunk in the woods. The charm George placed on the water went off, letting him know that it was to temp and George stepped under the spray gratefully. His tolerance for heat had increased dramatically and it made his aching body feel a bit better.
If George could figure out a way around this pain every time he transformed, he really would not mind being a werewolf in the least bit. But this part really, really sucked. Even the wolf agreed with him on that regard. He got why it hurt, his body was changing shape, but it didn't have to hurt. It didn't hurt to change into an animagus after all. He'd have to do a bit of research into why that was. Maybe they could use it for transformations. That would sell like hotcakes. Hell, George would pay a load of money for that.
George turned off the water spray and performed a drying spell before donning a loose robe and slippers. He felt better but his muscles were still sore and his skin still tender.
Without being aware of doing the action, George felt his nostrils flare and smelt the scent of bacon and fruit. It was an odd mix, but it made him and the wolf happy. His mouth began to water in anticipation.
"Hold on," George ordered himself as he slowly left the bathroom. "You had a rabbit last night. You're not going to starve."
"You're talking to yourself again, Georgie." Fred called out happily as he flipped the bacon. George grumbled in reply and ignored his twin. He set himself at the bar and rested his head in his hands. They only had a bit before they'd have to get the story ready and open. Why couldn't transformations only take place on Saturdays? But no, the moon had to get all full on a Wednesday.
"Breakfast served! Cheer up Georgie." Fred dropped the plate in front of George and took a seat next to him. George lifted his head to look at his meal and snorted. Fred had shaped the meal into a smiley face. He raised an eyebrow at Fred before returning his attention to his plate. He ate the bacon first in hopes the wolf wouldn't complain too much about the fruit afterwards.
Fred munched on a bit of bacon and a slice of marmite (yuck!) covered toast. "So, we have the sale on today."
"What?" George set his fork down and gave Fred his attention.
"I know," Fred rolled his eyes, "We're idiots. We set a sale for the day after a moon. On the plus side, I have energy potions!" He inflected the word with as much as enthusiasm as was possible and he waved his hands excitement but George stubbornly remained frowning. "Strawberry flavored energy potions?" Fred added after a moment. George shook his head and turned back to his meal again. "I'll throw in some chocolate if that helps." Fred bargained, and George grinned. God, he loved his twin. If he didn't have Fred… Well, wolf or not, George would have just stopped. He'd have stopped trying, stopped caring, stopped living.
George decided to change the subject and his thoughts before he could get too morose.
"Did you send the package yesterday?"
"Yeah, after you got them I sent them with the daydream charm." They'd boughten a pack of Sugar Quills and sent it to Hermione with a daydream charm. She hadn't been around since Harry's party and they didn't want to give her a chance to close in on herself. Ron had stopped by and told them that he was okay with everything and didn't want Hermione to cut herself off either. So, even if he was a bit of a prat, he was at least a well-meaning one.
"Think it'll work?" George ate the last of his fruit and sent his plate to the sink. George did the same with his plate and toast and hopped off his stool.
"Nope. It'll be a start though. You know Hermione. Most brilliant witch of her age and a complete dunderhead about herself."
George grinned as he swallowed his orange juice.
-o-o-o-
"Sweet, merciful Merlin. I reiterate my earlier point. We. Are. Idiots." Fred flopped against the cash register George was working on and buried his head in his arms. "I'm so tired!" He whined.
"Thanks for Shopping at Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes!" George handed the customer he was handling her change and she bustled off. The next witch stepped up and handed her products over.
"Yeah, well that's mostly because Verity quit on us." Fred's head shot up and his eyes narrowed.
"Don't mention that turncoat. I can't believe she went to Zonko's. The heartless traitor. We made her."
"That'll be ten galleons." George told the lady. "We should just hire someone else."
"Who else?" Fred cried and dramatically threw his arms out. He knocked over a display of candy lightning bolt scars that read: Give them to a friend for a real shocks! George barely caught them. "There is no one else for us out in this great wide worl-Lee!"
"No," George shook his head and handed the woman her change. "Lee works for the Prophet. He won't switch."
"No," Fred smacked his arm, "I mean, Lee." He pointed and George turned to see their best mate stepping up to the front register.
"Hey, Lee. What's up in your neck of the woods?"
"Please don't tell me you're here to pick up the candy scars. I don't know why we had a sale on them today." Fred hopped up onto the counter, knocking the display over again. George let it fall.
"Excuse my twin, he's testing a product that turns him into a three year old." George told the elderly witch he was checking out. She looked mildly worried about Fred's antics. Apparently she didn't shop here to frequently.
"I resent that. I'm at least four." Fred crossed his arms over his chest and pouted spectacularly.
"Shut up. And we have the sale because, hello, Harry's birthday. Lee, what brings you to our mad house? Visiting hours start at five."
Lee laughed and Fred looked ecstatic. "You joked! Lee, you got to witness his first joke. Our little Georgie is grouchy when he misses his sleep."
"Here's your change." The elderly witch took her money and fairly near ran. She wouldn't be back. "No, I'm grouchy when I eat rabbits."
"You ate a rabbit?" Lee wrinkled his nose in confusion and then shook his head. "Oh, yeah, full moon last night."
"Yeppers." Fred rocked back and forth upsetting another display, this one of Day Dream Charms.
"Seriously though, what brings you in at lunch?" George asked, ignoring the messed up displays. That wasn't his department.
"Oh, you don't know? You haven't been told?"
George looked at Fred who looked right back at him just as confused. Nope. They didn't know. Whatever it was. "Nope, we don't know." They said together.
"Well, it's-" A large crack distracted them. Harry appeared in the middle of the shop and quickly cut through the crowd to the front. A large portion of the crowd started squealing in excitement and pointing at the famous boy who lived. Harry came around the back of the counter to block the crowd.
"Can I talk with you two?" He asked George and Fred.
"Sure thing." Fred answered. "Lee? Watch the shop." He hopped off the counter and lead Harry to the back room where they stored products and tested new ones. This wasn't the first time Harry had dropped in to tell them something or ask a favor. The twins were at a heavy traffic area, they could spread word easily and keep an eye out for wanted wizards and witches.
George shut the door and cast a muffliato charm on it. "Thanks." Harry said before sitting at their work bench. George stood while Fred sat on the table.
"Firstly, I wanted to thank you for reaching out to Hermione. Neville's been trying, but she won't talk. Something really messed her up with Ron, and I can't figure out what. I've heard the entire story from Ron, and it sounds like it really was mutual. I can't get anything out of her, and she hasn't even talked at the office. You're gift made her smile though, so it's something."
George nodded his head. That was nice to know. "However," Harry added, "That's not the reason I'm here." He swallowed and looked between them both.
"There's been an attack at Hogwarts." Harry now had George's full attention, and Fred's as well. His wolf, which was normally silent the day after the moon was instantly alert. "Last night at around three am, a second year snuck out of his dorm and went to the Forbidden Forest."
"How did he get out undetected?" Fred interrupted.
"He had an invisibility cloak. Apparently an older student had given it to him. He was attacked by a werewolf. Hagrid got there before he could be bitten, thankfully."
George had to grab the table behind himself to keep standing. Fred moved minutely closer without actually touching him. George was grateful, he didn't want to appear weak in front of Harry.
But it was a werewolf. One of George's kind. A werewolf had attacked a helpless child. God, he couldn't be more than twelve, thirteen at the utter most. He was a baby. Why was he even in the woods? They were forbidden for a reason. It was one of the only allowed places for werewolves.
"So how bad was it if he didn't get bitten?"
"He got hit across the back."
"Like clawed or actually hit?" Fred asked, furrowing his brow in confusion. George didn't really see why it mattered.
"Actually hit. I'm here to ask if I can put up a wanted poster for him." George barely heard the words, but his wolf latched onto them. A wanted poster? They wanted George to help catch a werewolf? The wolf did not like the thought of capturing one of its kin.
"Of course." George replied, ignoring his wolf.
"Wait, why?" Fred cut in, looking serious.
"Because he attacked a child."
". It sounds like he just knocked him. Werewolves don't just knock, they're vicious when they attack. That was more of a warning. And the child was in his territory"
"Not anymore. The ministry is going to cut the Forbidden Forest off the allowed list."
"They do realize there are three forest on that list. Right? They can't cut that one off without adding another." Harry stood up and narrowed his eyes. George was just feeling confused. His wolf was furious, Fred was fighting, and he George hurt. He didn't want to fight, he wanted to sleep.
"They're trying to protect children."
"I get that. I'm saying that unless you give them someplace else to go you are not allowed to hang that inside our store. The ministry has the rights to the front, go to town there, but not in here. I'm sorry, Harry. I'm not supporting any further restrictions on werewolves. The amount of restrictions that Kingsley has removed from Scrimegour's rein is, frankly, insulting. Somebody at the ministry needs to wake up and realize they're causing the werewolf problem."
"That's out of line." Harry tried, Fred didn't let him continue.
"It's really not, and it's been a long time coming. Unless there is something else you need, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. We're really swamped today and we need to get back."
Harry looked from Fred to George for a moment before nodding his head. "Right. Well. I'll see you both later then." He left without another glance back. Fred watched him go with a painfully serious face. It was full minute before he spoke again.
"Georgie? Go take a nap. I've got the store. Lee can stay and help. He owes me for the scoop I gave him about that chick dating Krum."
"Fred, I don't need-" Fred turned abruptly and offered him a smile that didn't come close to reaching his eyes.
"I'm good, George. Go take a nap. I need you back full strength. We have to finish the self-solving parchment tonight." Fred had the tone and stance he always took when he wasn't going to let George argue. George admitted defeat and nodded his head. "Alright."
He turned to leave and pretended he didn't hear Fred deliberately knock over another lightning scar candy display as he trudged upstairs.
A/N: Don't worry, Harry won't be hated. :) It's all to get the actual plot started with. I actually really do love Harry, and the relationship he has with the Weasleys/Hermione. Also, Hermione will make another appearance next chapter. ;)
I'm glad no one thinks I'm completely mental with how I picture werewolves. What is your favorite werewolf representation? (I won't judge you if you say Jacob from twilight, though he is technically a shape shifter.)