"Is that all you've got?" Harry screamed at the Weasley boy, rebounding his curse back at him.
"I'm trying!" Fred boomed back, casting a hex that was again blocked and shot back at him.
The pair had sweat dripping from their bodies, their shirts lay forgotten in the grass of the backyard. It was too hot outside; Fred felt the sun burning his pale skin as his body moved furiously, eager to get out of the way of his rebounding spells Harry was manipulating with such ease.
Ginny was watching anxiously from a lawn chair, sipping some cold water. She had insisted on coming outside to ensure that her brother or her lover weren't injured. Her brown eyes were intensely focused on the duel and gradually more and more Weasleys came out to watch the two men fighting.
Ron lounged next to George, who feared for his twin as he was hit by a particularly rough round of curses sent by Harry.
"Easy now!" George said, earning a glare from both the wizards.
"Stay out of this!" they both barked, then snapping back into the heat of battle, trying to catch one another off guard.
Three days earlier, Fred had stumbled downstairs for the first time in weeks to eat breakfast with the family. His mother had turned with a full plate of eggs and dropped them after uttering a horrified shriek at the sight of her son.
Everyone that day had conceded that their brother looked like a million hippogriffs has stomped on him. Dark circles rimmed his eyes and wrinkles were appearing on his forehead where he spent all his time furrowing his brow in concentration. His mother had magically bared access to his room, forcing him to do something other than hole himself up.
His family was happy to have him back, Fred had made a conscious effort to attempt and reintegrate with his surroundings. Besides, the study break was much needed.
Harry had proposed the dueling as a form of practice, that way Fred wouldn't torment himself with not being able to study as much. Remus was in no rush to drag them back to Grimmauld Place, stating that they were really doing well and he was more interested in spending time with Tonks than them.
This was where they were found now, in the present situation, shooting curses and hexes at each other in a vain attempt to prepare and brush up on their skills.
"Fucking hell!" Harry swore as he was hit with a charm that threw him off of his feet and into the garden.
Fred collapsed onto the grass, breathing heavily. If Harry managed to recover and pick himself up from the turnip patch than he deserved to win more than the Weasley, Fred was much too tired to carry on with the heat persisting so strongly.
"Harry? Are you okay?" Ginny asked, standing, her hands on her hips.
"Yeah, I'm fine, a little scratched but otherwise unharmed." Harry announced, Fred lifted his head feebly to see the Potter brush himself off, thin angry lines raking his bare chest.
"You're both idiots." His little sister scolded, but relieved to see him okay.
"Ugh, pick a new song to sing Gin Gin, you're boring me." Fred moaned melodramatically and in reply to this, a mystery person threw a rock that hit him rather hard in the stomach.
"I stand corrected, Fred, you're an idiot." Ginny replied hotly.
"Eh, not your most creative effort but it'll have to do for now." Her brother teased, flashing her a crooked grin.
George was watching his twin carefully, but upon seeing that he was merely winded, smiled and went to go help him up, offering him his hand. "That was brilliant Freddie." He said to him.
"I try my best." His twin responded cockily.
"Hey now," Harry spoke up. "Rematch before dinner, best outta three."
"I don't know mate," Fred said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "I'm wiped out, I'm not sure how much more of this I can take."
"It's good for you." Charlie spoke up from Helga's side. "Gets you out into the fresh air, am I right?"
The relationship progression of the pair had been quite interesting, going from awkward acquaintances to close friends, eventually to even closer… whatever they were. Charlie sat presently with his hand intertwined with Helga's, his cheek pressed against her hair with a smile playing on his face. Fred's future sister-in-law looked blissfully happy to be there, murmuring things to his brother that made his grin expand more and more.
Ron chose this moment to stand, making Fred's eyes flit to him, and they locked gazes for a moment. Fred had yet to forgive his brother for what his actions had warranted and Ron knew this. His younger brother averted his eyes and strode quickly inside the house.
Bill poked his head outside when Ron opened the door to enter the Burrow. "Right you lot, inside, Fleur's made some lovely French drink thing for you all. It's rather hot outside you know." He said brightly.
The Weasleys (plus one Potter) all began shuffling towards the door, laughing and talking. George was thrilled to find his twin back in good spirits and they were clasping each other around the shoulders, talking animatedly about nothing at all.
Fleur looked up from her spot at the kitchen and smiled at all of them as the group huddled around the kitchen table. "Je vous ai fait quelque chose à boire!" she said with a warm smile, tossing her blonde head and quickly going to set drinks in front of all those gathered around.
"Thank you my love." Bill murmured, catching her about the waist and planting a kiss on her mouth.
"Ew, Bill!" Ginny squealed. "Not while I'm ingesting, you're going to make me throw up." Harry snorted into his drink and coughed, laughing while he furiously sputtered and tried to catch his breath.
Fred smiled at his little sister's antics but it was quickly replaced with a frown when he saw the Daily Prophet lying on the table. "I thought mum cancelled the subscription?" he asked George.
His twin shrugged. "I dunno, with old Xeno Lovegood dead it's really the only news source around without the Quibbler." He said, sipping the cold French treat Fleur had prepared for them.
The table chatter carried on as Fred idly scanned the headline (something about another missing family) then began flipping through the pages.
That's when he saw it, and he choked on his beverage in surprise:
Malfoy-Lovegood Wedding Social Event of the Season!
We all know how lovely weddings can be, but some are saying that the Malfoy-Lovegood wedding will be something that wizards and witches will be talking about months after the ordeal has been said and done.
Jubilee Elam got the scoop on the upcoming wedding scheduled to take place a week from tomorrow to alert us that it very well may be a critical facet in wizarding society. Narcissa Malfoy, the mother of the groom has been planning the wedding for a little more than a month and a half, but it is really starting to look like it will be the headline event of the Prophet.
Sources say the most expensive entertainment has been booked and that the guest list includes notables like the Minister of Magic himself. (continued F3)
"Luna and Draco are getting married?" George said, voice rising slightly, causing all others to fall silent to hear.
"You didn't know? They were paired by the Marriage Law." Bill said, looking at his brother with a raised eyebrow.
"No I know they were paired it's just… them getting married, and making it a public event too. Malfoys, do anything to get their names in the paper, poor Luna." George scoffed, taking another sip of his drink to soothe himself.
"We should go." Fred said, looking up to meet the eyes of those crowded around the table.
"Are you mad?" Harry said. "The Malfoys are housing Lord-,"
"Harry!" Bill cut in. The Potter glared at him but respected his wishes.
"Fine, You-Know-Who at the Manor." Harry said, green eyes glinting. "There's no way that they'd let you in."
Fred raised an eyebrow, mind whirring rapidly. "If You-Know-Who's at the Manor then who else do you think will be there?" he murmured. George's eyes widened in understanding.
"You think Hermione's there?" Ginny said her eyes wide and voice lowered.
"She'd be right where they all could keep an eye on her." Fred muttered, raising his eyes to Bill.
"They won't let you in Freddie, as if the red hair wasn't enough, you'll stick out like a sore thumb." His older brother said, sipping the drink that Fleur had made them.
Fred's eyes glinted mischievously, almost as if the old Fred had returned to them for a brief second. He turned to Harry with a smile. "Tell me Potter, how're your glamour charms?" he said pleasantly.
Harry gulped and pointed his wand at Fred, muttering a few words and everyone gasped as the Weasley's trademark hair turned a stark shade of black. George smirked. "Well, there's a start, but I'm not about to let my brother pull off the greatest heist on the Malfoys in history while I sit at home reading rubbish books on map making." He announced.
"Oh right," Ginny said, rolling her eyes. "You might have black hair but two of the same person? You might as well wear a shirt that says 'Weasleys Incognito'." George laughed but knew that she had a point.
"Wait," Ron said, making his presence known. "I'll go."
The table went silent as heads turned to look from Fred to Ron. "Why?" Fred challenged, eyes narrowed.
"Because, I played a part in getting her there, I might as well get her back." His younger brother said humbly. "I'm sorry Fred, I really am."
Fred rose from the table and Ron flinched, expecting a blow or a shove but instead was warmly embraced. "I don't think I could stay mad at ickle Ronniekins for long." He murmured into his brother's shoulder.
"So Ronnie's going with Fred? That doesn't help; someone at the wedding is bound to recognize your faces. Slytherins from your years are sure to be there." Bill said pointedly.
Fred glared at his brother, running a hand through his (now) black hair. "Geez Bill, we're working on it." He snapped.
"I'd prefer you not to be Avada'd within the first five minutes of entering the facility." Bill remarked, tightening his grip on his wife.
"Polyjuice potion." Ginny spoke up. Harry brightened.
"We could track down the people on the guest list!" the Potter said, excited.
"How?" Fred muttered. "The guest list is in the place we're trying to infiltrate."
"No, no," Charlie said, examining the paper. "We know one man who's attending." He looked up at them, pointing to the words.
"The Minister of Magic?" George said, eyes wide as Charlie grinned, leaning back and taking a smug sip of his drink.