Title: Empty Wallets, Full Hearts
Rating: PG-13
Summary: [sequal to Fred and George or Gred and Forge?] u kinda need to read that first to understand this... anyway, chpt 1 up: more Alicia/George- someone finds about about their *secret* romance... oh, and i put a quidditch game in here too just for fun: )
Disclaimer: plot mine, characters (except Flatthery and McCraney) JK Rowlings's
Author's Note: I'm so glad you guys liked my first story!! : ) I don't know where this one will lead, but I hope you like this one just as much...
The Hermoine Granger Fan Club: Flatterer! : ) Honestly, you pamper my vanity.. thanks, I really appreciate your reviews; i'm glad u find my story amusing- I'm not usually very good with comedy
Cassiopeia: thank you so much for reviewing my poems!! No one ever reads poems and its a shame 'cause I write lots of them... : ) thanks!
All right, all right... on to the story!
Chapter 1: Blackmail
"Look at them."
"Wha- I don't know-"
"My God, JUST LOOK AT HIM!"
The other boy raised his eyebrows so high, they disappeared behind his blonde bangs. He glanced at where his dark-haired peer was pointing. Realization crept in, and he quietly replied, "Well, that's usually how, you know-"
"No, I don't know."
"Well, how, how c-couples act."
"Couples?"
"Yes, couples."
"But Katie said there was nothing between them- absolutely nothing," he stressed every syllable.
"People change," the other shrugged, catching several muttered words of "stupid Weasley" and "prat.." from the latter.
Silence. Then-
"You would think she would open her eyes," he burst out, "And just- just look around her for some other-" he stopped still glowering. "He's using a love potion, I know it-"
"Love potions are banned from the school," the blonde boy cut in delicately.
"Exactly," the other replied, eyes gleaming in savage triumph. "He'd do that, I know he would, it be the kind of thing he would do, stupid... womanizer... prat...."
"Well, I think they look a bit..."
"A BIT WHAT?!"
The blonde boy cringed visibly. He wondered if he dare go on and risk the wrath of a pathetically love-sick boy, nevertheless a pathetically lovesick stronger and older boy than himself. He dared. "Well, a bit nice... together... like that."
"Nice? Nice? Look at him with his bloody arm around her!"
"She obviously likes it-"
"No, she doesn't! That's just an act- look how shy she's acting!"
"But.."
"But what?"
"Nothing..." the boy looked away, ducking his head as if in defeat.
"Oh, and, Summers?"
"Yeah?"
"This conversation never happened."
________________________________________________________________________
GEORGE's POV
I peeped at her from the corner of my eye, oblivious to the fact that Lee had been trying to get my attention for the past minute or two.
"George!"
"Huh?" I snapped back to his annoyed face.
"Nevermind," he muttered, shaking his head, "I'm going to bed, you coming?"
"Er- you go on up, I have to finish this," I replied gesturing to the pile of parchment and books surrounding me but glancing at a certain curly-haired girl.
"All right, then," he shrugged, bounding up the stairs. I fancied a small sigh of relief coming from the scarlet couch across the fireplace and grinned. Extremely concious that the Common Room was finally empty, I picked myself up from the rug and made my way noiselessly to the warmth of the fire. A flower patterned quilt strewn around her small shoulders, Alicia was staring into the flames flicking merrily before her, her eyes dancing in time with the music of the inferno.
Without a word, I seated myself next to her and enveloped her petite hand in my large, coarse one. Alicia was small for her seventeen years, the top of her head quite a way from my broad shoulders. From the beginning, her stature had always had an affect on the opposite gender- from teasing her at first, to this feeling of wanting to protect her. Not that she actually needed protecting; she was so damn independent and took care of herself, thank you very much.
"Do you think anybody had found out about... us?" she broke silence.
"What about us?" I teased. She rolled her eyes. I sobbered and frowned. "I don't think so.... Alicia, why do you care so much about people knowing? I know I'd probably throw a fit -or a dungbomb- if Fred or Ron or Ginny started teasing me, but..."
"Oh, George," she sighed lying her head across my shoulder. I let go of her hand and encircled her waist with my arm. "It's- just that- my family.. they're..."
"Traditional."
"It's more than that," she shook her head. "Some of them can be rather- rude."
"Rude? I don't think I can imagine someone like you coming from such a family," I smiled seeing her cheeks cast a faint color of pink at the compliment.
"It's really my mum," she reasoned. "Dad won't make too big a deal, but mum has this crazy notion of...." she trailed off, avoiding my eye, her cheeks flushing even more dangerously that I guessed it had nothing to do with my previous compliment. "It's crazy... and embarressing as well."
"I won't laugh," I murmured, kissing her cheek in comfort. "Well, I can't really promise you I won't, but go on."
"Oh, it's not embarrassing for me, but for them," she sighed. "My parents are in financial debt and- and my mum's family is rather- aristocratic... she's rather ashamed to admit herself into poverty."
"Who wouldn't?" I urged her on as she paused.
"Oh, she wants me to marry into a-a..." My eyes widened in comprehension.
"A rich family," I said quietly, feeling my face burn. She wrapped her arms around my waist and burried her face in my shoulder. "And if people found out about us- if your sisters found out about us and owled your mum, you'd be ashamed-"
"No." She had brought her head up from my shoulder, eyes staring into mine with an expression of hurt and anger. "I would never be ashamed of you, George, the only thing I would be ashamed of is how my mother would treat you if she ever found out. She has been trying for ages to pair me up with some snobby son of one of her wealthy friends, but it hasn't worked and will never work. I try to be friendly with them since my mum makes me feel so guilty afterwards. Now- now I think she's making plans with one of my dad's investors about getting me "hitched" with his son. Going on about how this match will do a lot for Dad's company as well as the family. I'm sorry, George, but I'm afraid to tell her, she'll be so angry with me." I studied her face so full of guilt that my heart went out to her.
"Shhh, it's all right, don't worry about it," I murmured, running my hand up and down her shoulder.
"No, it's stupid! Goodness, I'm only seventeen! Plus, I'm a Gryffindor, for heaven's sakes! I shouldn't care what she'd say!"
"Stop it." I put a finger to her lips. "She's a mother, it's their job to make you feel guilty," I added with a grin. "Trust me, with seven kids, my mum's probably the best at it. Like the time when she caught Charlie sneaking out to see his girlfriend; wouldn't look her in the face for a month," I snickered.
"Does it work on you and Fred?"
"Not a chance." She laughed then sighed fretfully.
"Would your family approve of me?" she asked as I brought her closer, wrapping both my arms around her.
"Of course they would," I murmured, nuzzling her neck. "You're in Gryffindor plus you're a prefect. Mum would probably have kittens if I had fancied a Slytherin-" I shuddered at the mere thought of me having some sort of attraction to a Slytherin. Disgusting. "Anyway, who cares what they'll say?"
"You'll get teased a lot-"
"Yeah," I said wistfully. "It was a hard decision.. my reputation or my girl?... my reputation or my girl?... I think I may be regretting my choice." She shoved me away playfully, but I grasped her to me, muffling her retorts with kisses, not realizing the portrait door swing open.
"Oh my-! Ahem." I pulled away and blushed as Fred and Angelina stared at us with extremely amused faces.
"I'm sorry, were we disrupting something?" Fred smirked, not seeming at all surprised, though his hazel eyes twinkled merrily.
"Yes, you have, dear brother," I replied in a serious tone, "Can't you see I'm doing a taste-test for the house elves?" I licked my lips and furrowed my eyebrows in mock concentration. "Tasty... needs more sugar ...and very.. juicy." Fred burst out laughing- at my vivid descriptions or Alicia's red face, I know not.
"George! You're horrid!" whined Angelina as she plopped down next to Alicia, putting an arm around her. Alicia blinked, looking apprehensive until Angelina whispered something in her ear that sounded a lot like "sorry". Her face brightened up as she enveloped Angelina in a hug.
"Women," Fred rolled his eyes as he dropped next to Angelina.
"How was detention?" I said quickly after seeing Alicia's scowl.
"Er- not bad."
"Not bad?" I eyed Fred's arm snaking around Angelina, trying hard not to smile.
"Had to get some plants in the Forbidden Forrest," Angelina shrugged.
"And that wasn't bad?" Alicia raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you're feeling all right?"
"Yeah, she's feeling great," Fred grinned as his hand sneaked across Angelina's God-knows-what. Angelina's eyes widened as she slapped him away.
"You dirty prat," she hissed, though her eyes danced mischievously.
"Mmmm, yes, I love you, too," Fred smiled -fondly?- at her. She rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to us.
"Well," Alicia muttered, looking extremely vexed yet pleased at the same time, "Its about time!"
"Yeah, I owe you one, Angelina," I grinned. "Now I won't have to listen to poor, ickle-Freddie-kins whining and moaning in his sleep 'Ohhh, Angelina! Angelina, I-I love you! She'd never have me, never!'" I was pleased to see Fred's red face contorted with fury.
"And what kind of dreams do you have about Angelina, Fred," Alicia batted her eyelashes innocently.
"Pervert."
"That's my girl," I beamed. Fred looked smug.
"Your girl, huh?" I snuck a look at Alicia who was looking quite nervous.
"Fred-"
"Both of you- you can't tell anyone about this."
"Why not?" Fred demanded, "No one will tease you... well, not that much, anyway. I reckon a few times every hour."
"My mum... she won't... a-approve," Alicia stuttered, "You have to keep it a secret!"
"Come off it, Alicia-"
"No," Alicia answered in a shrill voice, "You don't know what my mum's like, please, it's better this way." Her eyes pleaded with them while she squeezed my hand remorsely.
"Please, it's really important. Not a word?" I asked as they nodded their heads, though a look of confusion still etched across their faces.
"Our lips our sealed."
"Good." Silence crept in after that. It was already late, but I wasn't tired at all, though I could hear yawns being stifled from Fred and Angelina's end of the couch. I felt the soft pressure of a small forehead across my shoulder. I closed my eyes, drinking in the fragrance of Alicia's hair that was extremely soft against my cheek.
"Let's go to bed," Angelina murmured and I felt the couch stir and springs creak as a body or two lifted themselves up.
"Yeah, I'm going to bed, too," came Fred's voice from across the room. A light padding of feet up rickity stairs then an unmistakable sound of skin hitting lightly, but firmly, against skin.
"You go to your bed, dear," Angelina's voice dripped with natural sarcasm. I heard a giggle escape from Alicia's lips and I couldn't help but smile at my outrageous, though peverted, twin brother.
"Very well," Fred sounded greatly put out. "Good night, then." Those words were whispered and barely audible. A few moments of silence when I dared not turn to catch my brother in a middle of a snog, then-
"Goodnight, Fred," a quiet whisper, full of meaning. A soft patter of feet down the staircase and up the adjacent one- then silence again. A comfortable silence. I shifted, drawing her closer.
"George, I'm glad you're not as impudent or- or audacious as Fred," Alicia's words cut through the silence and sent a pleasant chill through me.
Instead of saying "Don't you insult me and my hard-earned reputation" or something cocky, I smiled and kissed her forehead lightly. I lay my cheek down on her head as her curls tickled the tip of my long nose. "That's nice to know."
************************************
"And here are the Gryffindors!!!" Lee boomed as the Quidditch field erupted with cheers...and, of course, boos from the Slytherins. "Captain Weasley, Johnson, Spinnet, Bell, Potter, Weasley, and Weasley!" I grinned at Fred, looking very serious as he eyed the Ravenclaw team. Ohhhh, you can fool around in Potions class, slip Filibuster fireworks in Mrs. Norris's cat food (now wouldn't that be an interesting sight?), or set dungbombs in the corridors, but when it comes to Quidditch- watch yourself! Captain Fred Weasley is a natural Oliver Wood, Jr. You better believe it.
"Weasley, Davies, shake hands," Madame Hooch nodded as we piled onto the center of the field. I scowled at Davies who was in turn scowling at Fred. We Gryffindors had always gotten respect from Ravenclaws, but suddenly Davies had been treating us crudely. Nothing but dirty looks towards Fred and I for a whole month (though mostly Fred, I suspect, since he couldn't tell us apart).
"Bloody hell," Fred hissed as he took his position beside me, "Prat almost broke my arm off! What the hell's wrong with him?" I shrugged.
"Maybe it's that time of month."
"That's for girls, George."
"That's my point, Fred."
Phhhhhhtttt!! The whistle blew and -darn it- not even a laugh to squeeze in.
"And Ravenclaw Captain Roger Davies has the quaffle first, zooming across the field, passes it to Jonathan McCraney- ooohhh! Interception by Katie Bell!! Whoa, that was quick! Nice catch! Ducks the bludger sent by Thomas Johanson- nice turn! Almost drops the quaffle there, but bends to get it- would ya look at that- must say, she's got a reaaally nice butt-"
"Jordan!"
"Sorry!" Lee looked rather sheepish as a shout of laughter rang among the stands. "Anyway, Katie Bell has the quaffle- nope! Now it's a Alicia Spinnet- not a bad arse herself- just kidding Proffesor- going for the goal- she shoots!! All right!! 10-0 Gryffindor!"
"It's Ravenclaw in possesion again, Gabriel Flatthery has the quaffle- avoids the Bludger sent by one of the Weasley twins, dodges Chaser Angelina Johnson- passes it to McCraney, he shoots- yes! A spectacular save by Gryffindor Keeper Ron Weasley!" I gave my brother a thumbs up and he grinned back.
The game went on nicely- that is, as "nice" as Quidditch ever got. There were several fouls one which involved an angry (and red) chaser, ripped robes, and a whole lot of hoots from the male population. I will not tell you what Lee said after that. Anyway, I must say, the highlight was definitely Roger Davies' face when Fred pelted a bludger at him, hitting him right in the stomach, and made him drop the quaffle in the awaiting hands of Angelina. ("If looks could kill..." Lee laughed.)
No forget that, the best part was at the end. Harry made a spectacular dive for the snitch and we won the game 190 to 30, securing our place for the Quidditch Finals yet again.
"Great dive, Harry!" I punched him in the arm, grinning.
"Not so bad for your second Quidditch match yourself, Ron," Fred said airily, though I could tell he was positively beaming with pride.
"Not so bad?" Hermione looked scandalized, turning from Harry and Ron whom she was congratulating. "He did a ruddy brilliant job, and you know it. That save from Roger Davies's shot was absolutely amazing!" Of course, I couldn't help but notice how pink our little Ronniekin's ears had gotten after such a compliment from Hermione. Looks like my devilish counterpart did as well; we grinned looking from a red-faced Ron to a "I-know-that-look-Don't-you-dare" expression on Hermione. But before we could say a word, Alicia cut in.
"Yes, he did," she gave us a look that locked my lips together, "You ought to give more credit to your brother, you know."
"All right, all right, geez," Fred held his hands up. "Good job, mate, you were awesome," he added as I ruffled Ron's hair fondly.
"Yeah, yeah," he shoved my hand away, though I caught a grin on his face. We made our way up to the castle still relaying the game's best parts.
"Weasley," a hiss came from the shadows of the bushes. "Captain Weasley," it added mockingly.
I stopped and Fred looked around to who was calling. The rest of the team were climbing up the steps, oblivious to the voice. Fred walked cautiously to the bush. He whispered for a while with a tall figure, a look of anger growing on his face. Curiosity got the best of me and I inched closer, wondering who it was. I couldn't catch much of what the figure was saying, but I heard "don't really like her" and "she doesn't really like you". But it was the last sentence that caught me, though.
"My parents are a good friend of the Spinnets you know.... If you don't do this, Weasley, I swear I'll tell everyone about your brother and his girlfriend Alicia... her mother included."
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well? can you guys guess who this person is?? its the same person who was part of the little interlude in the beginning- did that part seem confusing to u? i really don't mean to be vague...... i have a feeling this first chapter wasn't very interesting : { ....please review AND NO FLAMERS! thanx : )