Title: Being Helpful
Characters: Angelina Johnson, Fred and George Weasley, Lee Jordan, Alicia Spinnet and mention of other minor character.
Summary: Sometimes help can be a good thing, sometimes it's bad. Angelina finds herself being helped in several ways.
Warnings: Vague allusion to sex, Schmoopy happy love, random plot points. muggle abuse.
Rating: PG13

Chapter 4

The Results of Helpfulness

Weasleys' Wizardly Wheezes, November 1996

"So that's the reason why you haven't acknowledged each other's presence over the last few months? Because Fred tried desperately to get this gorgeous girl over here to pledge herself to him forever, and she said no, because he's obviously a prat?" Lee had eventually found his way back to his seat on the counter.

Lee leaned over and smacked George, who was leaning against the counter next to Lee, arms crossed and looking somewhat put out.

"Ow, What was that for?"

"For being an interfering ninny, that's what." Lee rolled his eyes at his best friend. "In case you haven't noticed it, neither Fred, nor Angelina is 5 years old. If they were, I'd think we'd have been a whole lot more concerned about the number of times they must have shagged each other's brains out over the last few years."

George snickered. Angelina's face got hot but she just glared at Lee and Fred finally was able to come up with words. "Oi! That's enough Jordan. You really are rather rank and perverse."

Lee sighed. "It's because I'm not getting any." He leaned back against his arms again looking somewhat put out. "It's been a slow few months. Noone wants to shag a lowly sports copy-writer." He pouted.

Angelina snorted and couldn't help but glance at George, who unlike her, couldn't hide the fact that his entire face had gone red. She'd keep that one to herself for a little while. Some people just deserved to be tortured.

"So, can we just get on with the making up?" Lee sighed and stared at the two of them.

Angelina shook her head at Lee. "It's not just that easy Lee. We've all been through a lot these last few months…" she paused as she felt Fred's hand on her back. She glanced over at him. He gave her a wry smile.

"I was a bit of a prat, and overly presumptuous and I did make assumptions about your life and what was best for us. But I have missed you… and I'd like to be friends again, at least for now."

She had looked at him and honestly, she didn't even have a chance to make up her mind as Lee had jumped off the counter and dragged them, himself and George into a tight group hug.

Lee beamed at them all. "Oh I love being helpful!"

Angelina wiggled her way out of the hug and huffed at Lee while trying to fix her head wrap. "Yes, we know you do. Now can you please stop trying to mess with my hair."

Fred, who now had his arm around Lee's shoulder while George was on the other side, looked at her with an amused expression. "I dunno AJ, I sorta like your hair like that. It's different…"

"Yes, but I can't fly like this. It'd get in the way." She pulled her hair back and tied it neatly under the wrap again.

She sighed. "Alright Lee, you got what you came here for, we are all good friends now. Are you happy?"

Lee gave her a meaningful look. "Oh, this wasn't why I brought you here, although I was curious." He looked back and forth between Fred and George. "I actually wanted to tell her about the team. I think she'd make a good addition… I wanted to know if you had a way of talking to him about it."

Fred's face was unreadable for a second. "I don't see why that would be a problem. We can send a message to him about it tonight."

Angelina looked confused. "The team? What's this team you are talking about?"

George grinned at her. "Oh, just the first and last line of defence for all of us in these dangerous times."

Lee thumped George on the back. "Oh you do like your spy metaphors."

"But, how can I help?" Angelina asked. "I'm just a dumb Quidditch player… I can't possibly be of any help."

"Remember when you joined the D.A. We were fighting against tyranny then. This is the same thing. AJ, we've got so much to show you and tell you about."

Angelina found herself grinning at Fred like a dumb fool. "Well, I guess there's no time like the present for you to start."

"We should head into the back where the workshop is. We can talk there." Fred held out his hand to her and without hesitation she took it. "George, can you send the message to him?"

"No problem bro."

And that said, Fred had lead Angelina through the curtain and once again she made a decision that changed her life forever.

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Grimmauld Place, June 1997

The meeting had finally come to an end and most of the Order members had disappeared. Angelina and Lee however had ended up in the kitchen, volunteering to clean up after the meeting. They had finished cleaning and were sitting at the table, chatting about Dumbledore and what an awesome leader he had been, and how much they'd miss him when they heard the front door open and footsteps approach the kitchen.

The identical faces of Fred and George appeared at the door and after some very quick movement and an upturned chair, the lovers were reunited and quickly disappeared from the kitchen to say "hello" much more intimately. They left Angelina and Fred in the kitchen, sniggering to themselves. The relationship between the two was actually rather new, after a bit of helpful nudging from Angelina's end.

"I swear, those two are the randiest buggers I've ever met." Fred came over to the table and sat next to her.

Angelina sighed happily. "I know. I don't feel at all guilty about not telling George that Lee has fancied him for years."

Fred smirked and ran his hand through his hair, leaning back in the chair and looking at her. "You are rather devious and might I say observant. I don't think I would have noticed it on my own. I seldom really pay attention to the details, you know."

Angelina reached over to him and took his hand. "You pay attention when it matters," and she smiled at him and then released his hand and sighed. "Although I must say, I still haven't divined what use I've been so far to the Order. It feels all so futile. Dumbledore's dead… Snape betrayed us… It's really a lot to take in."

Fred shook his head, "Dumbledore wanted you here as much as George and I. We need people like you here who can see the truth through the shite… plus, you do have a rather nice right hook, are nicely commanding and bossy, and are almost unbeatable on a broom."

She grinned at him. "That I am. But I was so distracted today when you didn't show up for the meeting. I was worried about you… and George."

"Ah, yes, we were off taking care of something at Harry's Muggle house. Mum doesn't like to leave them all alone so we drop by ever so often. This time there was a bit of an… incident…involving Harry's Uncle. Poor thing. I think he'll be purple polka-dotted for quite some time to come." Fred looked smug.

Angelina snorted. "You two are too much. One of these days you'll get yourself into a sticky situation and won't be able to find your way out. Then what will I do? After all, I do intend to wait for you forever."

Fred's expression changed immediately. "Are you saying what I think you are saying?"

Angelina pursed her lips. "Perhaps? What do you think I'm saying?"

Fred stood and pulled her up as well, wrapping his arms around her and looking up at her.

She petted him on his head. "My little midget."

Fred scowled. "It's not my fault you're so bloody tall." And he pulled her down into a rather chaste kiss. A few seconds later he had pulled away and started fingering the tight curls of her hair. "Have I told you how much I like that you leave it like this when you don't have practice or games?

Angelina smiled and self consciously patted her hair. "It's good to let it rest from the braids sometimes." She swayed with him and couldn't help but smile like a loon. "Can you believe we haven't done this in over a year?"

"Why did we wait so long again AJ?"

"Dunno, but this seems right doesn't it?"

"I guess it's all about the timing. You know… I somehow came into the possession of a pair of knickers. They looked familiar so I kept them"

Angelina's face looked horrified.

"Don't worry, I got the houseelves to wash them before I left Hogwarts."

She looked a little less horrified.

And he kissed her again, but this time there was nothing chaste about it.

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The End…