A/N: Sorry I didn't thank my reviewers until now, but I was in a rush to post the chapters I had written, because I know I don't like to start stories that only have one chapter up, so I'm going to take this opportunity now to thank everyone for their encouragement and compliments.
thedominator - Thank you, thank you. -bows-
Alexandra5 - I do proofread, but I guess I missed a couple of things. Thanks for telling me.
mm4ever2gether - Soon enough?
LadyLuck321 - Thank you.
Pauly-85 - Thanks. Here you go.
Ehlonna - I like him too.
invisible2u - I know. Isn't he great? -sighs-
stellar3 - I hope I can keep your admiration when you notice that I can't update quite as often as I did in the beginning. At least not all the time! Some weeks I have more time to write that others. Sorry if the plot seems a bit slow in the coming, but it will come!
Lady Emily - Thanks. There will be some F&H action soon. Sit tight!
dracos hottie27 puzzled look- Is that good or bad?
AimeeK - This fic will be primarily about Hermione and Fred, but I may do a Ginny Draco continuation in another fic.
superuki - Here you go. Did you forget it yet? You're from England. Cool. I'm American.
Jamie Girl - When I was a teenager, (Yes that means, I am no longer one.) I had a couple of 'adopted brothers' myself!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. All Characters and names belong to J K Rowling.
AND NOW, (drumroll) PRESENTING (drumroll) WITHOUT FURTHER ADO (trumpets)
Chapter 4
Deep Talks
Bill flopped down onto the lumpy blanket.
"Oomph," grunted the lump.
Bill bounced up and down a few more times while whistling Dragon Love cheerfully. Charlie swore violently from under his blanket. Bill laughed.
"C'mon Charlie. Get up. I want to talk to you before I go on duty. That leaves me..." Bill paused as he checked his watch, "One hour."
"Leave me alone," muttered Charlie groggily. "I hardly slept a wink last night."
"Bad night?" asked Bill sympathetically. Charlie finally opened his eyes halfway.
"Best I ever had," he answered with a smirk.
Bill chuckled. "Who's the lucky lady?"
"None of your business."
"Oooooh! This is sounding more interesting by the second."
"Bill, get your own bloody life."
"I have one. I'm going on a date next Sunday," said Bill smugly, trying not to laugh.
"With who?"
Bill paused for effect. "Hermione Granger."
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?" yelled Charlie, leaping out of bed to face him.
"No, But I finally got you out of bed," laughed Bill.
Charlie blinked. "You were joking?" he asked warily.
"No. But there's a lot more to the story, which is what I wanted to talk to you about. You get dressed. I'll talk. I'm on duty for the Order in an hour, and we have to pay a visit to the Wheezes," (The Wheezes was the Weasleys' nickname for the twins' store.)
Charlie gave a weary sigh and started climbing into his clothes. Bill quickly filled him in on their mission. Charlie shook his head, as they headed downstairs for breakfast.
"Ginny's going to be furious when she finds out you tricked her."
"Speaking of Ginny, Ginny and I spent a long day together yesterday. Our baby sister is becoming way too manipulative for me. She dragged me out for a long talk, complained about missing lunch, and when I snuck her out to Hogsmeade for a bite, she dragged me around until nearly midnight."
"Midnight! Where on earth did you take her?" Charlie asked, aghast.
"Don't ask," muttered Bill, fixing himself a coffee.
"Are you out of your mind?"
"We seem to be getting repetitive. No. She threatened me," answered Bill mildly.
Charlie looked at him doubtfully. "Really."
"If you'd have been there, you'd have done the same," Bill assured him. "I promise."
"What did she threaten you with?"
"We're getting off the topic."
"We had a topic?"
Bill laughed. "Ginny's main topic of concern was Ron."
"What's wrong with Ron?"
"He's celibate."
Charlie nearly choked on his toast.
Bill pounded him on the back cheerfully. "Something wrong Charlie boy?"
Charlie glared at him. "Don't give me that innocent act. You're did that on purpose. Ron's allowed to be celibate. He's only sixteen."
Bill rolled his eyes. "You'll have to explain that to Ginny, Charles. She wants me to take him to a strip club or something."
"A strip club," said Charlie faintly. My baby sister wants her brother to go to a strip club." You'd better start from the beginning.
Bill grinned. "Well, Ginny's concerned about Ron's dating life, or lack thereof. To start him on the quote 'path to a healthy social life' end quote, she wanted me to take him to a brothel."
Charlie spit his coffee out, spraying Bill in the face. Bill laughed and waved his wand, muttering a cleaning spell on himself.
"When I flat out refused," he continued his eyes twinkling "and she couldn't talk me into it, she said she'd settle for a strip club."
Charlie was looking more and more dismayed by the minute. "I am going to have to go down to Hogwarts myself, and have a little chat with my baby sister."
Bill grinned. "Good. We'll go together next Sunday. And while you're at it, you can do the honors of taking Ron out to wherever Ginny makes you go. I have a date with Hermione."
Charlie shook his head. "I'm not you. I don't give in to Ginny's every whim. Besides, I can't go any place too kinky. My girlfriend wouldn't appreciate it."
"Who's your girlfriend?" Bill asked
"None of your business."
"Can't blame me for trying."
Charlie snorted, pushed his chair away from the table, and stood up. "I can too. Now why are we going to the Wheezes again?"
"To tell them we want to come by tonight to talk. You know George. If we don't make an appointment, he'll be out with Lee or some chick."
Charlie glanced at his watch. "We'd better hurry. You only have ten minutes left."
George sighed softly to himself as he stacked more 'See-Behind-Your-Back Eyes' onto the shelf. He really missed having Fred's company. Not that Fred wasn't around. He just wasn't himself at all recently. He spent almost every waking minute in the back room of the store, developing new products. He almost never went out with Lee and George anymore. He kept on saying he just wanted to build up the business, but George knew his twin better than that. They were both ambitious when it came to developing new products, but they'd never felt the need to curb their social activities for it. After all, what was the point of making money, if you spent zero time enjoying it. But Fred wouldn't say what was on his mind. And it was getting worse and worse. If something didn't give soon, George knew he would have to take more drastic measures.
As he mulled over the possible solutions, the bell above the door of the shop tinkled, and Bill and Charlie walked in. He gave them a slightly distracted smile.
"Hi. What brings you here?" he asked in an uncharacteristically serious tone.
They both looked at him suspiciously.
"George?" asked Charlie, uncertainly.
"Is that you?" asked Bill walking around him and looking him over, as if to make sure it was really him.
George rolled his eyes.
"What do you want?" he asked shortly.
Bill looked at him for a minute, deep in thought. He seemed to be weighing something in his mind. He looked up at Charlie, and they exchanged knowing looks. George looked annoyed.
"Are you going to say something?" he snapped impatiently.
"Yes." answered Bill. "Where's Fred?"
George made a sour face. "He's in the back." he answered abruptly, turning to open a new case of Extendible Ears. He felt an arm on his shoulder, and looked up to find Bill looking at him sympathetically.
"Don't worry about Fred. I'm working on it." he said quietly.
George's mouth opened in astonishment. He gaped at Bill for a moment, the wheels in his head turning.
"You know what's wrong with him," he finally said in an accusatory tone.
Bill sighed. He had promised Hermione not to tell anyone but Charlie.
"I think so," he admitted.
"Tell me.
"I can't," said Bill softly. "I promised not to."
"He told you?" asked George, the hurt evident in his tone.
"No," answered Bill firmly.
"Then who...?"
Bill shook his head. There was a strained silence for a minute.
"I need to be at the order in a few minutes," said Bill apologetically with a sigh. "Charlie and I just wanted to make sure you'd be around this evening for a brotherly pow-wow. Tell Fred. We'll meet here if you don't mind. 6:00. Ok?"
George looked at him, clearly still disgruntled.
"Fine." he grumbled.
Bill left.
Charlie walked over to the box of Extendible Ears, and began to place them on the shelf.
"You know Bill, George" he said. "He wouldn't break anyone's confidence. That's why people talk to him."
George frowned. "Fred is my twin. I spend all day with him. It's very frustrating to know that there might be something I could do to cheer him up, but no one will tell me what's wrong."
Charlie grinned. "Me thinks you are under-estimating your eldest brother, dear George. You know damn well that if he thinks you could be of any help, he'll find a way for you to do it without your ever knowing."
"Fine," sighed George. "I give him one week, and then I take matters into my own hands."
"I'm sure you will," said Charlie with a smile. He emptied the last of the box onto the shelf, clapped George on the back, and apparated.
Fred studied the contents of his cauldron carefully, waiting for the potion to reach the right color. As soon as it looked perfect, he added the dragon blood, and stirred. His concentration was disturbed by the sound of the door opening. He looked up to find George looking at him thoughtfully from the doorway.
"What?" Fred asked defensively. He was getting a little tired of warding off questions. His own stupid mistakes were his own stupid fault, and he didn't want to get anyone else involved.
He knew he should've told Hermione he was planning on leaving Hogwarts, but he had been hoping to persuade George to postpone it a few weeks. When he'd approached George, his twin had pointed out that they had already put down a lot of money for the store rental, and couldn't afford to postpone the opening. They'd needed to start making money fast enough to be able to continue paying the rent.
So he'd left without getting a chance to talk to her, and he was sure she was furious with him. If she thought of him at all anymore. He hadn't even seen her over the summer holidays. He'd made excuses to himself that he was too busy with his new business to see her, but really he'd been afraid that she was mad. He couldn't stand the thought of her being mad at him. He liked her too much. So he avoided her. And now he regretted that too.
"A galleon for your thoughts." said George from the doorway, his eyes gazing at Fred piercingly.
Fred blinked, coming out of his oft repeated reverie, and shook his head with a forced grin.
"A galleon?"
George shrugged. "I'd pay a lot more than that to know what was going through your mind just now," he answered softly. He was smiling, but his eyes held a note of concern.
Fred turned back to his potion, stirring distractedly.
"Look, George," he answered finally. "I appreciate your concern, but I think this is something I just have to work out for myself."
George frowned. "You've had almost a year to work on it, Fred. Don't you think you could do with a little help? You know I wouldn't do anything you didn't want me to."
Fred sighed. "If I can't work this out on my own," he answered quietly, "then I don't deserve her." This was the closest he'd ever come to telling George about his problem. He hoped George would understand and give him some space. He looked up.
George's face held a look of surprise, and Fred could almost see the wheels turning.
"Who...?" He trailed off as he saw the stubborn look appear on Fred's face. "Ok, ok," he sighed. "I won't ask. But I will give you some unsolicited advice. If a girl is causing you to think this much, you'd better save us both, and go talk to her quickly."
Fred looked at him with confusion.
"Save us?"
"Sure," answered his twin with a mischievous smile. "If you talk to her, chances are you'll end up snogging her. It's hard to think when you're snogging, so it will give your poor tired brain a chance to rest, and when you're done you'll be able to think much clearer. And then you'll realize you've been a huge prat these past few months, and you'll come back begging for my forgiveness. You'll have it of course, and then I'll finally have my twin back."
George turned to go, as Fred looked after him in amused disbelief. He paused. "By the way, Bill and Charlie are coming by tonight at 6:00 for a chat. No idea what about." With that, he left to go serve a customer.
The four Weasleys sat around the coffee table in the back room of 'The Wheezes'. Bill looked around checking the place out. It was essential for his plan, to know the layout of the twins' store. There was a daybed in the corner, which was currently being sat upon by Charlie and George. Bill and Fred were sitting across from them in soft armchairs. The fireplace was just past Fred's chair, with a sign hung over it that said 'Trick Quarters'. On the other side of the fireplace were a number of cauldrons, some of them simmering softly. Potion ingredients were lined up behind them, on a long table that stood against the wall. Across from the potion station, was all sorts of odd bits of stuff, that were works in progress.
Fred and George watched Bill's eyes traveling around the room. Charlie had been there before, but Bill hadn't.
"So," Fred broke the silence. "What do you think of our little setup?"
Bill grinned as though struck by some funny thought, but all he said was, "It's perfect." His gaze lingered on the fireplace. "That your floo address?" He nodded toward the sign.
George grinned. "Yeah. But only for the back room."
Bill smiled. "Ok." he said looking around at everyone.
His brothers all looked at him expectantly.
"We are here to discuss the apparent problem of our dear youngest brother having no social life." Fred and George gazed at him in disbelief.
"You called a meeting to discuss Ron's social life?" George asked incredulously.
Bill gave him a pointed look. "Yes, well I only have a week" he paused for a second to let his hidden message sink in before continuing his sentence casually, "to get back to Ginny with an answer before the next Hogsmeade weekend."
George looked at Charlie questioningly. Charlie nodded slightly. "So," thought George with satisfaction. "Charlie told Bill about his deadline. Good. But what on earth does this have to do with Ron?"
He tuned in quickly to what Bill was saying, hoping to figure out who the girl was. After all, Bill didn't know that George knew it was a girl problem, so he might let some hint slip.
"But Ginny wants me to get his social life jumpstarted somehow, so I'm looking for other ideas."
"Other ideas?" questioned George.
Fred rolled his eyes. "Where were you? And you say I think too much. Other than taking him to a whore house, or a strip club."
George looked at them goggled eyed.
"There you are," said Charlie with a laugh. "I was wondering why we didn't get a reaction out of you before."
"Why would you-"
Ginny wants me to," interrupted Bill.
"Ginny?"
"Honestly. I feel like I'm the only one who even knows the girl. Why do you all sound so shocked? Don't you even know your own sister?"
"Maybe because you're the only one who tolerates nonsense like that from her," said Charlie in disgust.
"Well, maybe that's why I'm the only one she talks to," Bill shot back. "Would you prefer not to know what she's thinking?"
"YES!" answered three voices fervently.
Bill chuckled and steered the conversation back to the problem at hand.
"So. Any ideas?"
"Lock him in a broom closet with someone," suggested Fred
"Find a girl who likes him and give her a love potion for him," offered George.
"How about an 'untamable desire' potion?" said Fred.
"That's an idea," said George thoughtfully. "They're really bad."
"How would you know?" asked Charlie raising his eyebrows with interest.
"Lee put one in my butterbeer once while we were in this really hot bar," admitted George with a rueful grin
A roar of laughter greeted that statement.
"And it doesn't let up until you get laid, you know," he added. "No matter what you do."
"How long did it last?" gasped Bill, clutching his sides.
"Well first I ran home and had a cold shower. It didn't do anything at all. Then I tried getting rid of it myself. Didn't help. So I put on my best clubbing clothes and went back to the bar."
Fred was rolling around on the floor gasping for breath, Charlie had tears running down his face, and Bill was practically hyperventilating.
I had it taken care of in an hour," finished George smugly.
Everyone calmed down slowly, but the smiles remained lurking on everyone's faces. George didn't care. This was the first time he'd seen Fred laugh like that in months.
"Maybe Ron's gay," mused Fred thoughtfully.
Charlie snorted. "Not bloody likely. Remember how he was at the Quiddich World Cup when the Veelas came out? Just talk to the boy, and ask him what's going on."
"Get him drunk first, then ask him what's going on," suggested Fred.
Charlie looked relieved. "Now that's a good idea. I'll get him drunk. That should pacify Ginny's wild streak, without my having to annoy my girlfriend."
"You're taking him?" asked Fred and George in surprise.
"You have a girlfriend?" asked Bill innocently.
Charlie ignored him and sighed. "Yeah. I was elected. Bill's got a hot date."
George looked interested. "Oh yeah? With who?"
"Hermione Granger," answered Bill casually, watching Fred carefully out of the corner of his eye.
"Who?" asked George in shock as Fred turned pale.
"You heard me."
George gaped at him in disbelief. A sudden movement across from him brought him back to his sensed.
Fred was looking positively green. He stood abruptly.
"Excuse me for a minute," he said. He strode quickly across the room to the loo, and closed the door behind him.
George stared at the closed door for a moment, and then turned to Bill. "It's Hemione," he said flatly. "Why did you do that to him?" His eyes were flashing furiously.
He stood up and walked toward the closed door, but Bill stopped him.
"Wait George." George paused and turned to glare at him.
"What?"
"You can tell Fred that I just explained that the date was a joke on Ginny. Hermione wanted to make her think that she was involved with someone, so that Ginny wouldn't harass her to date Ron."
Relief flooded George's face. He took a deep breath. "Sorry Bill. I should've known you wouldn't..." he trailed off and looked up apologetically.
"It's ok," Bill smiled. "And now that I know he likes her, it's time to plan an end to their misery. I'll owl you with details later."
George grinned. "I get to be in on the plan?"
Bill shrugged. "As long as you know about it, and I didn't tell you, I don't see why not."
George smiled and went off to talk to Fred. He opened the bathroom door. Fred was sitting on floor, his arms wrapped tight around knees drawn up to his chest, his face leaning on his knees. He didn't look up when George came in. George closed the door behind him and leaned on it.
"Fred."
Fred didn't look up.
"It's not a real date."
Fred slowly raised his face. His eyes were red, and his face was wet. He looked awful.
"What do you mean?" he whispered.
"Bill said it was just a ploy to get Ginny to leave Hermione alone."
Fred let out a long shuddering breath. George sat down on the floor.
"You want to talk about it?"
"I miss her," whispered Fred in a pained voice.
"Why don't you go see her then?" asked George curiously.
Fred shook his head sadly. "I messed up," he said miserably.
George waited patiently.
"I didn't know she liked me until the night before we left," Fred explained tonelessly. "I kissed her, and then I left the next day without even telling her how I felt." He paused for a moment. "I needed more time," he added miserably. "She probably thinks I was just ..." He didn't finish his sentence.
George's stomach lurched with guilt as he suddenly recalled the conversation they'd had that day.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked softly.
"I didn't think it was fair to make you wait, just because I wanted to talk to someone. I figured I could owl her. But after we left I was afraid she'd be mad, or that maybe I'd misread her..."
George sighed. Where was Bill when you needed him. He didn't know what to say, and Bill always did. "It'll be ok," he said softly, hoping in his heart that it was true.
Fred looked at him gratefully. "Thanks for listening. And for putting up with my rotten moods."
George punched him lightly on the shoulder, and smiled.
"That's what I'm here for."
