Weasley and Weasley, High Street, Hogsmeade
"Fred ! George!" Ginny barged in, calling out to her brothers.
"Oh, look who we have here, dear brother! It's our dear little sister", Fred stepped out from the storage room, into the retail section, calling out to George.
"Hey you're not allowed near that section!" He called out to Ginny who was at the WonderWitch counter.
She picked up the box of Love Pills from the WonderWitch section in one hand and stepped in front of them, waving it, another hand on her hip, that made her closely resemble her mother.
"Pray, tell us, WHAT THE HELL is this abomination, you've created."
"Great Godric Ginny. You insult our talent!" George put in dramatically.
"What you call an abomination is the embodiment of Love young lady. Not just infatuation. It's pure love", Fred said taking the box from her and looking at it fondly.
"Love Pills, also available in powder form for those who prefer to drink it up. Genius isn't it?" He added.
"Genius shmenius, my ārse! What the hell is it!" Ginny was furious now. It looked like she was about to hex someone to oblivion.
"You mean to say you managed to manufacture Love?" Blaise asked, now genuinely surprised.
"Of course not, genius! No one can manufacture Love. Don't they teach you useful things at Hogwarts anymore?" George said impatiently, to the Slytherin.
"The Love Pill simply decreases inhibition of the consumer towards a person they love and increases their desire to be with them drastically", Fred explained.
"Like multiplies their love. About ten times", George added.
"Works best if both the partners have consumed it", Fred continued for his brother.
"The more people try to pry the lovers apart, the more they'll want to be together", George put in.
"And the best part is, unlike the Love Potion the consumer still retains the ability of thinking and free will", Fred informed them.
"They'll use all their cunning and resources to get what they want. Genius isn't it?" George added.
"Amazing.." Luna said, staring at the dangerous pink box, wide eyed. "I want one of each, pill and powder."
"Sure, as long as you don't share it with our sister", Fred said handing her the box. "Five galleons please."
"What's so amazing?" Blaise muttered to himself.
"What in the world possessed you to create this monstrosity? How did you even get the idea.." Ginny asked horrified.
"We took our inspiration from muggle drugs. Don't worry, wizards aren't as strongly affected by them as muggles, so technically what we're doing isn't illegal", Fred replied coolly.
"Of course, we're just matchmaking, you know. Just giving people some introspection on their true feelings", George explained.
"Do you know how many people never confess their love?" Fred sighed.
"A lifetime of regret", George sighed longer.
"Brothers fighting brothers. Lovers fighting lovers", Fred said dramatically, although a smile was tugging at the corners of his lips.
"But not anymore!" George announced triumphantly.
"Enough! Did you ever think of what would happen if the person taking this loves a person who doesn't love them back?" Ginny interrupted their dramatics.
"Well, we did actually. That's why we tried to make an antidote", George tried to justify.
"But alas, true love has no antidote", Fred sighed dramatically.
"Okay, enough with your dramatics. How long do the effects last?" Ginny asked them.
"About a couple of days to a week. Depends on how much the consumer is already in love. People with a minor attraction will probably muster just enough courage to confess and that's about it", George told her.
"The pill is harmless really unless there's an overdose. The pill should be taken only once a week", Fred informed them.
"What happens when there's an overdose?" This time it was Luna who asked.
"Well let's just say, it brings down a lot more inhibition than intended", Fred said darkly.
"Oh stop being dramatic, and tell us straight up!" Ginny snapped at them.
"Well, we're not completely sure but we have noted stalking tendencies, sleeplessness and mild jealousy, to name a few side effects of a continuous overdose over a long period of time. Nothing serious", George assured them.
"And what is your definition of serious?" Ginny asked suspiciously.
"You know insanity, self harm, suicidal tendencies. We tested it for all that. It checks out", Fred reassuringly told them.
"It just makes people already in love a little more in love, Ginny. You know, give them a boost to get a relationship started or fixed, resolve a couple's quarrel, sibling rivalry gone berserk, that sort of thing. It's really harmless", George spoke in support of his twin.
"You know we could have really used it when Perc walked out on us", Fred reminisced.
"Or with Lupin and Tonks", George winked at his twin, they both smiled at the possibilities mischievously.
"How long has Pansy been buying this?" Blaise asked worried.
"Oh, she was one of our first customers. She's been buying this since early November", Fred informed him.
"But Ron has been talking to her for only about a week. Don't tell me she stocked it up and stuffed him with it", Ginny was now horrified.
"It doesn't work that way, Ginny. It takes a continual overdose for over a month for the side effects to show. An overdose for a week will just result in headaches and sleeplessness", George calmed her.
"Yes, our little brother was already a git long before that. We've heard his stories", Fred spoke knowingly.
"Can you give us the exact date she started purchasing?" Blaise pleaded.
"We'll have to search through our scrolls. We can mail you the information by tomorrow" George said.
"I'll take what I get." Blaise nodded and then added to the two girls, "We'll have to leave now."
"I'm not done with my brothers just yet", Ginny replied scathingly.
"Weasley there is no time for this. The damage has been done. We need to find a way to fix it. Let's go", Blaise ordered.
"I'll see you two around", Ginny warned them before turning away to leave.
"More often than you think lil sis", they spoke in unison with a wink.
The three of them returned late that day so they went back to their dorms.
They had prepared to reveal the truth to Draco and Hermione at the Christmas feast, but nothing had prepared them for the scene that awaited them.