The Golden Age: The Nineteen Years
Chapter 36: Babysitting
Disclaimer:…
"We'll be back after dinner time tonight…you sure you can take care of the kids?"
George rolled his eyes, trying not to smile. Angelina wouldn't have left if he had, mostly because it wasn't just Fred and Roxanne he was looking after. Instead, she smiled.
"I'm sorry Harry and everyone had to work today…but…you know, you do have the most lenient job. And I did promise my sister-in-laws a shopping trip."
"See you later, darling. "
As soon as the door shut, George turned to the kids sitting on his living room floor, all under the age of ten. James, Albus, and Lily Potter, Fred, Roxanne, Hugo, and Rose Weasley. At least he hadn't had to take care of other kids. As it was, James was old enough to start teaching about the joke shop.
For a while he allowed them free range of the house, not fussed about them eating any of his joke products, his workshop was locked and so was the door to downstairs, and as far as he knew his twins hadn't brought anything edible up from either place beforehand. Still, it was the sort of chaos he loved.
"Uncle George! I found your- EEK!"
George strolled in, grinning, to find little Rose hiding behind a giggling Fred and Roxanne, with a rubber mouse on the floor. He picked her up, lifting her casually on to his shoulders, grinned. "It's just a fake wand, not really mine. Don't worry about it. "
He felt her relax and wrap her little arms around his next, leaning her head on his messy orange hair. At the sound of a crash from another room he left Fred and Roxanne with Hugo trying to turn the rubber mouse back into a wand, and left with Rose.
Walking in, he discovered Albus and James hiding behind the couch with his real wand. He paused for a moment, struck dumb. He and Angelina had gotten a kitten a few years back, once they were convinced the twins wouldn't pester the poor thing, and it was now about ten times larger.
"We didn't mean to, we just found your wand and waved it…" Albus said, stumbling over his words pleadingly. George laughed, while Rose jabbered "Uncle George, your kitty! What happened? Can you turn it back?" With a simple wave, the confused cat was back to it's normal size and promptly hid under the couch.
They're ready pranksters. He thought, despite Albus and James cowering for fear of retribution. Instead, George led the two of them to the couch, and sent Rose off to play with the twins and Hugo.
"Are you angry with us?" James asked nervously.
George sighed, and shrugged. "A bit. You two really shouldn't mess with wands before you learn to use them." Then he grinned, just slightly, and mischievously. "Your parents certainly shouldn't know. They also wouldn't be happy to hear the stories I'm going to tell you."
The worry vanished from both of their faces as they leaned forward eagerly.
"What are you going to tell us about?" Albus asked with unrestrained curiosity.
"Something you can't repeat. Tales of the Marauders, but, more famously, the Weasley Twins. "
"But Uncle George, how'd you do it all? I heard that Filch was like one of the ghosts, and Mrs. Norris was like a shadow! They'd catch anyone!" James and Albus were wide-eyed at the tales of the teenage boys, wreaking havoc and yet being the stars of the school.
George winked, casually leaning against the back of the couch. "Ahh, trade secret. But I guess it wouldn't hurt to mention…" He paused dramatically, trying immensely not to burst out laughing at the eager looks on their faces. "It was a little thing called the Marauder's Map. Simple tap, solemnly swearing you were up to no good, and you could see the whole layout of the school. Everything, everyone. Then another tap, mischief managed, and it'd just look like a blank sheet of parchment!" He paused again, sighing. "Haven't seen it in ages. "
Both boys gasped. "What? You didn't lose it, did you? " James exclaimed. "What happened to it?" Albus said in a worried tone.
George chuckled. "No, boys. I wouldn't have, couldn't have, done that! I gave it to your father, he made fairly good use of it too, I think. No clue what he's done with it, though I'm sure he's got it somewhere."
James and Albus looked at him, disappointed, then back at each other.
"Oh. Wonder where it is…"
George shrugged, then left them to themselves. Grinning, he went to make sure the others hadn't destroyed the kitchen, knowing Harry would hex him if he found out what he'd said.