Chapter 10: Letting Go
There was never such a stranger thing than Draco actually trying to be nice to a Weasley. A dead one, at that. In a portrait. In Hogwarts. Harry knew he had to give Draco some respect for his stern, if not wavering, politeness. "How are you doing... Fred?" Draco asked, unsure of how to address Fred. It was the first time when Draco had asked anything of Fred without Harry first instigating it. Fred mostly avoided Draco for Harry, which had irritated Draco to no end. "I'm fine. Life doesn't change much when your only visitors are old people and the young." Fred reacted with a grin.
Draco didn't catch the joke and continued on. "We've got to talk to you about George." Draco nodded to Harry and Harry nodded affirmatively, trying to stand a little straighter. "What about him? Going to tell me how you communicated with the dead before? Because George already told me about that. He doesn't believe it'll change anything." Incredibly, Fred flexed his painted fingers into air quotes. "Incorrect. Communicating with the dead, necromancy or not, can increase your chances of letting go as a wizard with a bond." Snape, the great bastard, had taken the opportunity to slide into the conversation without asking. Harry hadn't even noticed he was there.
"And what do you know about it, you old bat? Just because you were my old Potions professor doesn't mean you know more shite than my brother." Fred antagonized. Draco looked conflicted on whether he should step in and further the argument or just stay out of it. Harry decided to act on his Saint Potter instincts. "I think we should get back to the subject at hand." He shot a glare at his old-enemy-turned-savior. He was still a prat when the situation called for it. "Your brother needs to get his priorities straight, young man. And Mr. Malfoy, I don't know why you keep company with this Weasley fellow."
Draco scoffed and inched closer to Harry. "No advice needed, godfather." Harry smiled and squeezed Draco's hand before he could fight it off. The more squeamish he could make Snape, the sooner he would leave. it worked. Snape quickly excused himself and went into another frame. "Thank Merlin he's gone." Harry hunched his shoulders back. Draco rolled his eyes at Harry's display and spoke up again. "Fred, the only way to get George out of his funk is to maintain contact with him and tell him to move on. For real this time." Draco pointed a finger at the portrait as though that would convey the message.
"I'm aware of his... funk. But he just doesn't want to talk to me. I don't see how I can change that, being inanimate and all." Fred gestured back into his larger-than-life portrait. Draco cringed and changed his tactic. Harry knew he had to step it up somehow. "I know George only has one ear, but he can still listen to you." Harry wheezed and stepped in front of Draco. "What he means is, we can change his mind. If we work together this time. We just need to set up something." Harry finished. Draco gave him a look but Harry stared defiantly back. They needed all the help they could get.
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Draco thought Harry was acting like a huge git. Which wasn't new, but it was crucial to their latest 'mission' that they use a Slytherin approach to get George to stop acting like a whiny git and tank the WWW before it even truly began. And besides, did Harry really think two butt-headed Weasels would be able to solve their own issues with a talking exercise? No, they needed something more than that. And it involved a lot of wit and training, Harry in particular for the training part. Fred gave Draco a raised eyebrow and Draco seethed inwardly. What did that bastard know about puns?
"I just don't know how'd we do that, Harry. Have you talked to Ron about this? He's just as skeptic as you. But he doesn't think a confrontation is the answer." Fred told Harry sincerely. It was true, Ron knew George like the back of his hand and knew that just pestering George wouldn't make him move on, as he was very hard-headed and a all-around rebel. But there was no over option than to follow Draco's plan, and Harry just hoped it would work like the way he said it would. "Draco's got a plan. We know it'll work. We just need you to help us. And actually be pleasant with your brother for a change."
Fred scoffed. He wasn't pleased with the direction George had taken their company. Fred thought George was just hogging the spotlight, or PR. He thought their inventions should be used for fun, not commercial gain. He was definitely not pleased the first time he heard of the Championships. Ron had heard a lot from Fred about not being 'nosy when we actually need you to be nosy.' Harry had gotten off with just a shake of the head, which Ron had ignored him for a single day for. Being 'Saint Potter' had its downsides. Hermione had told him it was best to interfere when necessary, which was why he was here as a happy medium.
"I'll try. But he has to be nice to me too." Draco rolled his eyes and Harry elbowed him. Now was not the time for maturity comments. "I saw that. Just because I'm a portrait doesn't mean I'm stupid, lads. But I'll tell you what. You get a decent plan off Draco, I'll hear ya." Draco winked at Harry and stood up straighter. "Oh I've got a plan. It just needs a few twinks... and George needs to get ready to see the world past life and death." Harry gave him a look. Really? That's how he describes his plan? What a bastard. Harry almost laughed. It seemed Draco never changed when it came to getting attention for a dramatic effect.
"Well that's a crude way of saying you're going to travel with him. But I don't get how this involves me." Fred waved his hands around. He looked tired for a portrait. Harry wondered if he ever slept. If sleeping even did anything. "We're going to take you with us." Harry told him, excited. Fred looked at him in disbelief. "How will you be doing that? I'm attached to the walls." Fred told him. Harry looked at Draco for this, he wasn't the scientific type. "We'll be using a little thing a old friend showed to us." Draco reached into his pocket and brandished his wand. "Jeez dude! Why you using that for?" Fred asked. "Because we need a spell. One that can make you into a mirror."