The remaining two weeks dragged by impossibly slowly. George received another owl from Angelina, this time declaring that she would be back right on time and that, no, a Pumpkin Pasty that had gone moldy did not constitute a vegetable and under no circumstance should he eat or even go near it. She was supposed to be back sometime today, and George found himself looking at his watch more and more frequently as the day wore on. The shop was jam packed. April 1st was approaching (and with it, George's birthday). Partly because April Fool's Day was the biggest draw of the year and partly to commemorate Fred, George and Ron had put together a wide array of new products and were previewing them today. Young witches and wizards were packed in, some standing so close to one another it was hard to tell where one person began and another ended. Lee, George and Ron were standing on a raised platform to debut the products. Lee, who had stopped in and reclaimed his position as right-hand man, was simultaneously hosting the event and broadcasting it on his new radio show. Ron was demonstrating the newest product, a line of joke candies for enemies that looked like Hogsmeade products but actually caused all sorts of troubles like dying the consumer's hair a horrible shade of puce, turning their skin into a variety of animal patterns and causing hair growth everywhere. Ron had just swallowed Mint Meows, which caused the eater to be unable to make any sound short of a purr or hiss for the remainder of the hour. There was much applause as Lee brought out ordinary-looking school-supplies (quills, erasers, backpacks) that transformed into radios that only you could hear, thereby allowing you to listen to music or Quidditch matches at your leisure in classes. These had been an idea of Angelina's, a fact that made George's thoughts turn immediately back to her.
As the customers roared in approval that tonight, at midnight, they would be able to purchase what they saw before them, George nervously checked his watch again. Angelina had said that she would be in before 6. It was 5:50 now. He expected she would go home to change first. George fidgeted nervously, earning him a curious look from Ron, who mewed his concern.
The crowd roared again; Lee had just brought out Toilet Water, a spin on the French word and a male counterpart of Wonder Witch products. The amber liquid was housed in a toilet shaped container, but actually made the wearer more attractive to the opposite sex (there was also a joke product: a gold liquid in a handsome crystal bottle that repelled witches). Lee smiled brightly as he was swarmed by giggling females, shooting George a wink over his shoulder.
"Bloody brilliant, George. We're going to have to use some of this when we go out tonight…" his praise was cut off by a young witch throwing herself into his arms. George thought Lee was lucky Alicia wasn't here to see it. A hiss at his elbow brought his attention to Ron. He was glaring at George, clearly not amused by the Mint Meows, which George only told him lasted an hour after he swallowed it.
"Sorry, little brother. Can't give you the antidote with all these people around. It would ruin the joke." Ron made an angry sputtering sound and stalked away, George laughing after him.
It was 5:58. A wizard from the daily prophet had corralled George into answering a few questions. At first the topic was mainly the products but then it turned to Fred.
"How do you feel now," the grizzled old wizard was asking, "that your shop is so successful? Do you feel guilt perhaps, that your twin is not here to share it?" George's neck turned almost as red as his robes. He opened his mouth to retort but was cut off.
"What kind of an idiotic question is that?" Angelina had apparated in front of the door and stalked in, her eyes flashing, snow still melting off of her robes. "He'd proud, I expect, that he and his twin created something so amazing. And this shop is a testament to Fred's memory. And that question, frankly, was rather rude." The wizard flushed, but turned to George.
"Couldn't have said it better myself, mate," he grinned appreciatively at Angelina. The wizard huffed, but thanked him for the interview. He posed for a picture in front of the store with Ron before heading back inside. Angelina was now prying girls off of a dazed Lee with the help of her wand and Verity. Lee was forced to apparate home early to change after acknowledging that perhaps he had laid the cologne on too thick.
Angelina was still laughing as Ron and Verity assured George that they could handle the shop for tonight and that he should go out for his birthday. George managed to escape upstairs, Angelina in tow.
"So, how was your trip?" he asked once they were safely locked in his flat.
"It was great!" Angelina was shrugging out of layers now, revealing a simple long sleeved t-shirt underneath. "I got your gift," she continued, "But I want to give it to you where it's a little more…private." George felt himself blush at her words. He could think of a lot of things the two could do in private.
"Alright," he said, snapping himself out of it. "So, where are you taking me?" he grinned at the thought of his birthday.
"Well," he noticed for the first time that Angelina was carrying a bag. She set it down on his bed. "We thought it'd be a laugh if we took you to a Muggle club. Or at least, you wouldn't have prats like that Prophet bloke asking you stupid questions…" George laughed. Angelina reached into the bag. "But that means you have to wear Muggle clothes. So here, is an early birthday gift." She pulled a pair of jeans and a casual, green button down shirt out of the bag. "Ta-da" she said with a flourish.
George smiled. "Green, eh?"
Without looking up Angelina responded, "I thought it'd bring out your eyes. Plus you know, with red hair, green is always a nice choice." She was wandering into his bathroom, bag in tow.
"Yeah, Ange, you can change in my bathroom," George shouted sarcastically after her, pulling off his robes.
"Shut up you!" her voice leaked through the door. "I'll change wherever I want to Weasley; you owe me that much." George just laughed. His laughter soon died, however, when Angelina emerged.
It was all he could do not to drool. She looked stunning. Her hair was back in a sleek ponytail, so perfect it had to have been done by magic, she had on black pants that hugged her curves and a shiny gold top. She obviously knew what she was talking about when it came to matching clothes for your complexion. But George didn't think his outfit had anything on hers.
"Wow," he found his lips uttering the word without his permission.
"Oh, well," she smoothed her hair nervously. "You know, the Muggle women like to dress up for the disco, so I thought when in Rome…" she trailed off.
"You look great. I don't think the Muggle women will have anything on you." George complemented her honestly and she grinned.
"You clean up pretty nice yourself," she complimented back. Ten minutes later they were linked arm in arm, walking out of Diagon Alley to the nearby club. Lee, Katie, Alicia and Oliver Wood were supposed to meet them there. Angelina insisted on paying the cover charge, saying that it was his birthday and she'd curse him if he kept arguing.
The club was packed. There were flashing colored lights protruding from every surface of the ceiling, spinning and twirling and likely to give its occupants a seizure. They found the other with little trouble and before George knew it, they were all heavy into a bottle of what Muggles called "Patron," and what Lee and Angelina insisted would change their lives.
George was plenty buzzed as he enjoyed his birthday shots and gifts from all of his friends. Katie and Alicia gave him a handsome set of gold gobstones; Wood gave him an autographed photo of nearly every Quidditch team in the league, and Lee gave him a hearty pat on the back and a promise of a guest spot on his radio show to advertise his new products. George was pouring over his gifts he got when the girls gathered around Angelina, shooting him covert looks and trying to prod her into doing something.
"You ought to ask Angie for a dance," Wood slurred next to him, his eyes trained on a pretty Muggle blonde a few feet away. The girl winked flirtatiously at Wood and beckoned him to her. Her got up straight away. "You tell him Lee," he instructed quickly and was off.
Lee laughed with George for a moment. "Must be the Toilet Water," George mussed.
"Or maybe Wood just has animal magnetism," Lee teased as well. The laughter died though, and Lee took Wood's command to heart. "So when you gonna ask old Angelina out, huh mate?" George looked alarmed at him.
"C'mon, Lee, she's-"
"She's head over heels for you, that's what she is. And I know you've liked her practically since we all met her. Hell, we all did. But you held on the longest. Longer than Fred even." Lee paused to take a sip of his kamikaze.
"She dated Fred." George said somewhat lamely.
"For what, a month? Just ask her for a dance. It can't hurt. And you might get something out of it." Lee winked, but then was pulled away by Alicia and Katie, who was wrapped around some tall, tan, brunette Muggle.
"Just do it!" he shouted over the music as he was dragged into the throng.
It soon became apparent that George had no choice. Wood was tongue deep in the blonde; Lee and Alicia were pressed tightly together somewhere in the middle next to Katie and her boy toy. And George and Angelina were left sitting there, George feeling increasingly more awkward. He looked over at her. She was sipping her drink prettily, her legs crossed and swaying a bit. He opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off.
"Angelina!" an unfamiliar voice broke through the crowd and with it came a tall, husky looking Muggle in jeans and a rather tight t-shirt. He was smirking cockily at Angelina, who looked shocked to see him.
"Sean!" she said in surprise. "How…nice to see you." She stood up and was immediately crushed in a hug by the boy called Sean. George felt himself become rather hot under the collar as he watched the display unfold.
"Haven't seen you around in class for a while, beautiful. Where you been?" Sean was distinctly cockney and talked far too loud, even for a club. George took a moment to appraise him. He was tall, built like a footballer, with sandy brown hair and tan skin. It took George all of a minute to decide he didn't like him.
"Oh, er, yes. I've been busy-"
"C'mon then. Give me a dance!" Sean ignored George completely and pulled a little on Angelina's arm. She looked over at George, silently pleading with him to do something, but he felt he couldn't move. If he stood up, he'd be sure to curse this bloke into the New Year. He knew who he was: the dance class idiot. And right now, he had his hands all over Angelina.
"All right," she acquiesced reluctantly, "just one-" but George couldn't hear the rest of her words as Sean had just pulled her into the crowd.
Fuming, George sat at the bar until a petite bottle-blonde that was much too top-heavy touched his arm.
"Care for a dance?" she asked seductively. George looked up to see Angelina, wrapped in that bloke's embrace, though admittedly struggling to get free.
"Sure," he took the girls arm. She conveniently led them to a place right in view of Sean and Angelina. George made a show of wrapping his arms around her. Behind him, Angelina's eyes widened to saucer proportions and she redoubled her efforts to get away.
"What brings you here?" the girl was whispering in George's left ear now.
"My birthday," he shouted back. Despite his original intentions, he was beginning to regret accepting this girl's request. Her skin had some sort of sheen on it and was almost sticky to the touch. He longed to pull away.
"It's your birthday?" the girl ran a finger down his chest. He shuddered, though not from being aroused. "Then I think you deserve a birthday present…" She leaned in and planted a wet kiss on his lips.
It was revolting. She tasted like gin and cigarettes and cheap perfume. George tried to pull back but the girl leaned in, trying to get closer. George struggled a bit, trying to work out a way of escaping without having to push a woman. He never got the chance. Angelina and Sean spun into them with frightening speed and accuracy, sending the girl spiraling off balance. George looked up to see fire blazing in Angelina's eyes so brightly, he thought it was likely she might ignite the whole room.
"Having fun?" she asked icily through her teeth.
"You?" he retorted just as coldly. Angelina glared at him, and then turned to Sean.
"I'm going to take a turn with my friend now," she said in a tone that dared him to beg differently. And with that, she seized George's arm and wrenched him away.
"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" she snarled.
"Having fun on my birthday," George shook off her death grip, and she loosened her hold a bit. "Like you were having fun with that big bloke there," Sean was already dancing with the blonde, looking far too cozy for public.
Angelina rolled her eyes. "I already told you I didn't fancy him. But you have to go get all jealous and-"
"Who says I'm jealous?" George's tone was sharp.
"You may be dense, George, but I'm not. Every time I mention that bloke, you get all defensive and hurt. I told you I didn't want to date him, but you wouldn't even save me from dancing with him. Instead you grab the first…bimbo in sight and grind on her!" it was lucky the music was so loud because their dance was beginning to escalate into a full-blown fight.
"I don't know what you're talking about." George denied.
"You do," Angelina was seething. "And for once I wish you'd just be man enough to own up to it."
"To own up to what?" George was beginning to raise his voice now too.
"To your feelings for me!" She snarled.
"I don't have any!" he shot back before the consequences of his words could reach his brain. Angelina shut her mouth, her expression first one of sadness, then of searing anger.
"Fine George Weasley." She snapped. "Tell yourself that! But one of these days, I'm going to settle for someone like Sean, since you're too thick to do anything about it! Enjoy the rest of your party," she pried herself from his grasp and was off before George could even do anything about it. He tried to chase her, already regretting his untrue words, but she wound through the crowd quickly and disappeared into the ladies' loo. He waited for ten minutes before it was apparent that she was not coming out. She probably disapparated straight out of the stall. George sighed and went back to the bar where Lee was waiting for him.
Lee glanced at George's expression. "Where's Ange?" he asked. When all George could do was looking down guiltily, Lee too, sighed.
"Ah, George, what the bloody hell did you do?"
George wished he knew.