"George!" I called out, seeing him across the street, staring into Zonko's joke shop.

He looked up with a never face that I would never dare to call a duplicate of his brother's. As I've mentioned before, I can always tell the two of them from each other.

He made a dash at me, embracing me and lifting my feet several inches off the ground. "I've never been so happy to see you!" His words were genuine. I smiled as he placed me back down.

"Should we go in then?" I gestured towards the pub.

George nodded. "Or we could go anywhere, really. I'm paying though. Like, beyond paying." He laughed slightly.

I tilted my head. "It's not about the money, George." I glanced up, seeing the peaks of Hogwarts castle in the distance.

The two of us began to walk towards the pub. "Did you get the money we sent? Or did the bank notify you or however Bill did it?" George held open the door for me.

I nodded. "There's actually a lot more money than I started with…" My bank account had gone up to 230 galleons, which I knew was far beyond what I began with.

"Are you sure?" George looked confused. "I know we paid back the fee times two, that's how you make the overdraw null so it doesn't show up as part of your record."

"Yeah, but that was only a few galleons." I shook my head as the door slammed behind us and one of the shrunken heads sighed us on.

George shrugged.

The woman who stood at the podium couldn't have been much older than the two of us. She straightened, and excited look on her face as her eyes fixated on George. I felt a twinge and protectively wrapped an arm around him. He reciprocated and the woman's face fell. "Seat yourselves anywhere," she stated, glum.

George didn't let go of me as we continued on to the nearest open table, only releasing me to pull out my chair. George had always been the one who picked up the manners, out of all the Weasley boys.

"Is it weird being back in Hogsmeade?" I asked as we both glanced over menus.

George glanced out one of the nearby windows. "Yeah, I guess." He looked back at me. "Do you ever regret leaving?"

I thought about it for a long moment, not looking up.

Another woman came over to take our orders, similarly eyeing George as the woman at the front desk had. I quickly held out a hand to grab his, still not looking up.

The woman sighed, and asked. "What can I get you?"

I looked up. "Just whatever soup you have and a butterbeer." I smiled slightly, not letting go of George.

The waitress smiled back, seeming to be moving past it. "Are you sure?"

I nodded.

George rolled his eyes at me. "I'll have the calamari as an appetizer, and you might as well get two of the chicken and bacon clubs. And some chips."

As he said it, I realized that I did indeed want all of those things. I grinned, looking down.

"Is that all?" The waitress asked, her quill pausing on her order pad that floated in mid air beside her.

George looked at me for a long moment, as if scrutinizing me. "Make it two butterbeers… And a glass of milk."

I squeezed his hands, trying to hold back a laugh until the woman walked away.

George was grinning ear to ear.

"Since when did you learn Occlumency?" I eyed him suspiciously.

"You aren't talking to Fred over here." George put up his free hand in surrender. "I listen to things." He nodded assuringly. "I know you well, Ryebread." He glanced at the hand I held. "However, I do not know why you are doing that." He gestured.

I pulled away, turning red. "The women are eyeing you, George." I made my eyes popping wide. "It was life or death, I had to step in."

"Claim me as yours?" George's look was smug, though I knew he was only kidding with me.

"So, Hogwarts." I changed the subject back quickly. "Do you regret leaving?"

George shrugged. "I think we grew out of it."

"You two did or we as three?" I questioned.

"I don't know." The waitress returned, placing our drinks before us. "That's why I'm asking you." George was staring me down, in a way. I could tell he wanted an answer, his eyes were fixated on mine. However, his eyes showed a very nonchalant attitude, his mouth laying in a way that he wanted truth, no bullshit.

I wracked my brains for his answer, looking out the window and again at the peaks of Hogwarts castle.

The food came fairly quickly, a grand feast placed before us. No, not a feast; Hogwarts was the only place for feasts. Goddamn, did I miss Hogwarts?

"If it's taking you this long…" George trailed off.

I shook my head. "Hogwarts is great, but you guys made my life there what it was." I stared at him. "A Hogwarts without you guys… Is a Hogwarts without me."

George nodded. "Us or Fred?"

I was surprised at his question. I tilted my head, thinking, analyzing him with my gaze.

All of a sudden, it clicked. I took in a sharp breath. "You think you're Fred."

George's eyes turned down. "Correction, the lesser Fred."

I shook my head and reached out for his hand again. "George, look at me."

George reconnected eyes with me. "What?"

"There is a line." I took my free hand and made an invisible line. "You are here. I am here." I pushed my finger past the invisible line. "Fred is here."

George leaned in, intrigued.

"Fred has no problem crossing lines. You actually give two shits about people's feelings. And, I'm not just saying that because of all the crap. I'm saying it because this is what I know." I stared him straight in the eye. "You are George Weasley. And anyone who tries to tell you different isn't worth the time." My free hands reached out and pressed against his chest. "In there is George Weasley, identical twin or not."

George smiled. "Riley, I love you."

I smiled, too. "I love you, too."

"Let's eat?" He asked as I pulled my hands back.

"Let's eat."

"One rule." George held up a finger. "No leftovers."

I laughed and nodded.

xxXXxx

We found ourselves again, outside of Zonko's joke shop looking in.

"Do you think they know they inspired us?" George whispered.

I whispered back. "Do you think they know how bad we're kicking their ass?"

George's eyes widened, and he looked at me. "We? You mean you're still part of the shop?" I could feel the hope and excitement radiating off of him.

I looked back in the window. I pointed. "See that?"

George looked in. "The book?"

"It's a disappearing journal." I nodded. "Whatever you write in it goes away. Good for hiding your feelings, wretched for taking potions notes." I scrunched my face at the memory.

George laughed slightly. "And?"

"I'm tired of things disappearing. My whole life has been some huge disappearing act." I shrugged. "My names still on the damn lease, right?"

George nodded.

"And you obviously need my help."

He nodded again.

"Why not we then?" I asked. "You guys aren't just ink on a page." I held out my left hand in a fist. "In case you forgot." The scars still remained, 'Fred and George' neat and white on my skin.

George took my hand gently and brought it too his lips. "Please come back…."

xxXXxx

"Damn." George jiggled the handle. "I don't know how the hell…" he shook his head. "Fred's been lying in bed all day. I don't know when he would've locked the door." He pulled out his wand, pointing it at the door knob. "Alohamora."

I shook my head, laughing. "George, do you think I'm that dumb?" I reached into my messenger bag, digging around for the key. "I'm the one that puts the protection over this place. Alohamora…" I scoffed, quickly unlocking the door.

George opened the door for me again and I stepped into the kitchen; however, I immediately stepped back out.

"What is it?" George asked. He stepped in. "Fred?"

"What?" Fred snapped back.

I began back down the back stairs quickly.

"Who's with you?" Fred demanded.

Verity and Susan. Verity and fucking Susan. Perhaps that was where it all went a wrong, a couple of dumb witches and we were all broken up.

"Ryebread, come back." George's hand grabbed my arm.

I stopped, taking a breath. It just wasn't everyday that one walked in on Fred Weasley snogging anyone… God, I hoped it was just kissing. I'd kill for it to just be kissing.

I laughed slightly, turning back around. "This is familiar, isn't it?" I asked quietly.

George looked concerned. "Look, I'll make her leave, okay?"

I shook my head, pushing past him and stepping back into the kitchen, standing strong.

Fred's eyes brightened.

"Hey, mate."

"Riley, you're back!" He smiled, stepping towards me. "You got my letters." He opened his arms as if to get a hug.

"Be quiet, I'll deal with you in a second." I pushed him aside, pulling out my wand.

Verity didn't seem phased. "Oh look, big bad maid is back."

I stepped up to her. "I'm pretty sure I fired you." I pushed my wands to her chin before she could reply. Fear replaced her smugness. "That aside, you ever," I raised my voice on the one word, and she flinched, "come into this household again," I pressed my wand harder into her skin. "I'm a mudblood from east bum fuck nowhere. I promise you that no one will find your body."

Verity's mouth fell open and she began to shake slightly.

"Get the fuck out." I stepped back, and she darted out the open door faster than I'd ever seen anyone run.

I laughed slightly to myself. I looked at George, who shut the door quietly.

"What the fuck was that?" Fred exclaimed.

I grinned. "Don't you remember?" I tilted my head. "The time I was snogging someone and you bust in and mucked around with that?"

Fred had no response, though I could see in both of their faces that they knew exactly what I was referring to.

I took a deep breath. "Good to be home." I turned and headed down the hallway. "Good night, boys."

xxXXxx

I padded into the bathroom a few mornings later and looked at the disaster that was my hair.

Sighing, I merely took my toothbrush and began to scrub my teeth.

Fred appeared in the doorway.

I spit in the sink. "If you've got to piss, go ahead. I'm not interested in looking."

Fred shifted his weight, not answering. He walked over to the john, and I focused on my reflection in the mirror.

"Ick, I look horrific."

Fred finished and washed his hands. "I know you do."

I swiftly grabbed the toothpaste and squeezed it at his face.

He closed his eyes and calmly shut off water. "Mature, Riley. You done?"

I pressed my hand into the glob that was on his face, rubbing it in and making sure to get some in his hair. "Yes, I'm done."

He smirked. "Lovely."

Before I could react, he grabbed a bottle off the counter, unscrewed the top and dumped it on my head.

I flipped my hair, splattering it on his shirt. "War then, eh?"

I grabbed the hand soap. He grabbed the face wash.

I ripped off the cap and splashed it at him. He squirted the top, then finally grabbed the toilet paper roll and threw it at me.

I ducked, falling on the ground. I grabbed sunscreen –of all things to be in the loo, these two have sunscreen?- and sprayed it at his legs, coating them with white.

He knocked it out of my hand and grabbed the shampoo bottle.

I stood quickly, and he missed me by inches. I slipped on the mess on the floor and fell into him.

We both wound up on our knees in the bathtub, wrestling. I turned on the faucet and the tub began to fill. I lost my balance and slipped.

He somehow managed to stand and turned on the shower.

The water was freezing and the faucet made a loud noise.

"Turn it off it's cold!" I shouted.

He fumbled with the handle. The water got colder. "It's stuck!"

"Fred!" I reached his hand and together we pulled the stubborn handle until the water stopped.

I shivered. I was wet, freezing and covered in gunk. Fred looked just about the same.

I flipped my hair out of my face.

Fred began to laugh.

I gave him a once over and began to laugh as well. We were laughing so hard, we didn't even notice George appear in the doorway.

"What. Did. You. Do?" George demanded.

Fred and I glanced at each other, and then looked around the bathroom.

"Clean this up, George. I can't believe you left such a mess," Fred finally replied.

"Me?" George asked, astonished. "You're the bloke covered in tooth paste."

I licked a bit off of Fred's face. "Indeed it is toothpaste. We should go clean you up Fred."

Fred nodded. "You as well. Let's go." He took my hand and pulled me out the door.

"I am so not cleaning this mess!" George started.

I looked at him with big eyes and quivered my lower lip. "Please?"

George sighed reluctantly. "Fine. But you two are buying whatever crap we need to replace."

Fred pulled me down the stairs and into the kitchen.

"We should get your hair fixed."

"What about your face?" I asked.

He looked taken aback, not realizing I was referring to the toothpaste.

I licked his nose. "Minty fresh."

He smiled slightly not moving away.

"This is real toothpaste right?"

"Oh yeah, completely normal," he replied softly. "It might not fight gingivitis, but it's safe."

"Good," I stated. "Would hate to explode or become invisible or anything…"

"Of course not. That would be potentially problematic."

"I'm sorry about all those things I said…"

"I am too…" I shivered slightly.

"And I'm sorry about the money…" He shifted his weight, looking at the ceiling. "I don't know if George told you or anything, but anything that you made, we gave you money from it." He pulled a box from his pocket. "It's soaked now, but look." He handed me the damp cardboard.

Scrawled in the corner was a logo that pronounced 'A Riley Adams Production' under the usual 'Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes'.

I looked up at Fred. "We or George or you?" I demanded lightly.

Fred still didn't maintain contact with my gaze. "My idea…."

I nodded. This was the extra money. This was a final recognition, Riley truly was a part of the tight clique that was Fred and George. I smiled at Fred.

"Hey, Fred?" George called down the stairs.

"Neither of you got the stuff in the blue bottle on you, right?"

Fred glanced at my hair. "No."

I didn't care about whatever George was inquiring about, or that Fred had lied, I was just happy when Fred pulled me in close for a hug, as I was freezing. "Look, Fred, can we just-"

"Good, because it's hair dye."

We pulled away and shouted in unison. "Hair dye?"