Affections Of Identical Twins Chapter 2, a harry potter fanfic

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AFFECTIONS OF IDENTICAL TWINS

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Summary: You'd think Fred and George were identical to the last freckle. Well, they are not. FW/HG, GW/HG.

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Review Responses:-

Lady Emily: Sorry the update couldn't come sooner. Here's the next part to satiate your curiosity. Less dramatic than you might have imagined, I think.

NeVeRmInD2: I hope you like this part, too!

Daisy Miller: I strive towards writing "different" stories. Hopefully, you will love it till the end.

VozVampyre: Well, I am 16. Guess I'll come 2 years from now. However, I am not a big GW/HG or FW/HG shipper as you can see by my penname. This idea just came to me one night and I couldn't let it go.

LetMeBreathe: Here's the next part!

imogenhm: I know it isn't soon enough, but it's here.

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PART II

In which George takes some crucial decisions of his life

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"Fred? George? What are you guys doing here at this time of night? It's almost four o'clock," asked Hermione, rubbing her eyes and vainly trying not to yawn. "I heard something down here and even you weren't there, Fred. So I came down here."

How glad George was that they had finished exchanging the clothes!

"Nothing, love, George here… he had something he wanted to talk to me about."

George determinedly avoided looking at Hermione. Muttering something unintelligible, he went out.

As the door closed behind him, Hermione sighed. "This is what I meant, you know. He is so… it is as if he dislikes me or something. You will talk to him, won't you?"

Fred never really understood her, but smiled and nodded. "Sure, love. Let's go back to bed now. I am shivering down here."

"I do tell you to use your dressing-gown, you know."

"Are you kidding? I will never be seen in anything green ever! Really, Hermione, one would think that you were a Slytherin!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Really, Fred, just because someone wears green doesn't make them a Slytherin! Harry's eyes are green and he is one of the truest Gryffindors!"

"But the Sorting Hat did consider putting him with the snakes – strongly consider. Green means Slytherin."

Hermione rolled her eyes as she leaned into Fred's embrace. Sometimes, Fred could be so thick-headed and prejudiced. Especially when it came to Slytherins. Just like all other Gryffindors, said another voice in her head.

Well, she didn't care. She was sick of this house-rivalry even though she wasn't at Hogwarts anymore. All her friends talked in terms of houses. She's so stupid… must be a Hufflepuff… He did what? Well, only a Gryffindor could do that… He deserved it. He was a Slytherin.

Honestly! It was all so stupid!

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George did not apparate back as soon as he was out of the house. He needed some time to clear his head. It was not his way to react so strongly to things. She was Fred's girlfriend, he reminded himself. And yet… and yet it did not bother him as it should have. It did not make him suffocate with guilt. It did not make him want to scream.

She was Fred's girlfriend. So what? She wasn't his wife or anything. There was no commitment in the Magical World until one married – for love or money. Hermione could still be his.

He slid against the door, a scream dying into a groan escaping his lips. It wasn't warm or sultry for a May night, but sweat trickled down his face. He didn't know what to do. He had no idea what he wanted to do. He could feel the need for being with Hermione welling up in him, but he wasn't sure what to do about that.

Angelina's face couldn't be wiped out from the back of his mind. It was like the only thing attaching him to reality. Something that told him Hermione couldn't he his.

What was he supposed to do? Merlin! What was happening to him?

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iii

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"George? Is that you?"

He barely managed to voice a coherent reply as he heard Angelina's voice.

The drawing-room was suddenly flooded with light. He closed his eyes fell on the chair nearest to him.

"George! Where have you been? I was so worried about you! Are you all right? You are dreadfully pale."

He didn't know what to say. He was desperately unclear about anything and everything.

"George?"

"I just want to be alone for some time, Lena," he said quietly, trying to keep the anguish out of his voice.

She was startled. "What happened, George? What's wrong?"

"I just want to be alone," he repeated listlessly.

She stared at him for some time, unresolved as to what she would do. But after a few minutes, she murmured her acquisition and after switching off the light, went out. She was anxious about him because she had never seen him like this before. She had no idea what to do. So she did what he wanted. However, she was dreadfully worried.

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It was about eleven in the morning when Fred flooed in.

"Where's George, Lena? And what's the matter with you?"

"I don't know what's the matter with him, Fred," she said, rubbing her eyes which were red with the lack of sleep. "He returned at about six in the morning and said that he wanted to be alone for some time. When I went in to talk to him about three hours ago, the door was locked. And he isn't opening it. No spells are working on that, too. I am worried, Fred."

Fred's eyes widened. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I… I wasn't sure if I ought to. George has never been like this. I don't know what happened to him. I don't know where he has been all night…"

"I can explain that later," said Fred hurriedly and went towards the door. "But first we ought to get him out of there."

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"Fred? What are you doing here?"

Hermione had been going around checking the students' potions when the classroom door had burst open to admit a very worried Fred Weasley. She had been teaching Potions at Hogwarts ever since Professor Snape had resigned and gone to Merlin knows where.

"You have got to come with me, Hermione," he said in low tones as she came out after him.

"What's the matter? I just can't leave my class and…"

"It's urgent. It's about George. You have got to come!"

Hermione was startled but she nodded. "Give me just a minute."

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Angelina was faint with worry. There was not a sound from the room, but smell of something putrid. Neither she nor Fred knew what that could be. It smelt poisonous. All Fred's attempts at breaking open the door had failed. He could see no other option than to bring Hermione. He knew that whatever the problem, she could always solve it. She had always been able to. She would do so now, too.

So it was that Hermione was hurried to George and Angelina's place at noon.

Angelina was sitting on the floor against the wall, feeling very helpless. She couldn't think of any reason why George would be like this. They hadn't fought and their love-life had been going on smoothly and first-rate. What had changed?

After about fifteen minutes, Hermione was able to break through George's wards. She didn't mention that they had had a hint of Dark Magic about them. She had learnt the basics from Professor Snape during her apprenticeship. She wondered where George had learnt that.

"George?"

There was no one in the room.

The putrid smell was coming from the fireplace, which was not connected to Floo Network and was used for brewing by George to make various trick-potions.

However, the man himself was nowhere to be seen.

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George had thought over things until he felt that his head would burst with the amount of effort he was putting in his thinking. Merlin! He had never thought this much even when he had been making the best of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

And now he couldn't stop thinking. He didn't know what to do. He hadn't felt so miserably helpless and indecisive ever. What was happening to him? What was Hermione doing to him? Why was he letting Hermione do it to him?

Despondent and exhausted, he decided to take his mind off things for a while. Work. He would work on that Skunk-Potion they were planning. He would take his mind off Hermione for a while. Then think about things afresh. Maybe take advice from some quarters. But what those quarters would be, he had no idea.

So setting up the apparatus, and strong wards about the room (in the event of an explosion he did not want to startle the Muggle neighbours), he began on his work.

However diligently he tried, he could not keep his mind off her. In a month, he would have no right to think about her in that way. In a month, his whole life would change. In a month, she would be out of bounds for him. In a month, his life would become miserable.

Because in this turmoil, only one thing was clear to him – without Hermione, his existence would be miserable. The feelings that he had suppressed until now were taking a gigantic form when released. He wished he had never agreed to be Fred for that night.

Then again, he couldn't say that he regretted that night.

She had said those words to him which he would treasure till his dying day and beyond. How could he regret that night? How could he regret such a mistake? When the mistake seemed so right that everything that had been until now seemed so wrong… when all he wanted was that night to never end… for her to realize that it was he, George, to whom she had declared such passionate emotions.

Then with a wretched, breaking heart he would realize that it could never be. That it wasn't meant to be.

But there was hope. There was hope until they were both free to change. Hearts would bleed and tears would flow but he was ready to face it all if only she would be his. If only…

Feeling the need for some fresh air and some advice, he went out.

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"George?"

"It's Fred. Don't even know your best friend, Jordan?"

"George," said Lee Jordan stubbornly, grinning at George. The latter didn't find himself up to returning the grin.

"What's the matter? Angelina?"

"Sort of," said George, toying with the paper-weight on Lee's table. Lee had decided to follow Mr. Weasley's footsteps eventually.

"How long before Dad returns?"

"He has gone to Plymouth concerning Wayne Rivers. I would give him two hours."

"Good," said George absently and shut the door. "I needed to talk to you about something."

"I am all ears. Fred too busy with Hermione?"

George paled slightly. Then frowned. "Look, if you don't…"

"You know I am never going to say no to you, George. So why don't you begin? Something tells me that this is going to take more than two hours. So start off right now."

George sat silent, thinking where he ought to start.

"Let me help," said Lee, "who does this concern?"

That was easy. "Hermione," said George, running his fingers through his already dishevelled hair.

Lee frowned at him. "By your tone, I'd say… You haven't had sex with her, have you?"

George leaned back in his chair. "No."

"Then what's the problem?"

"I want to."

"What?"

"I like her. I love her. I worship the ground on which she walks. I am mad about her."

"You are to be married…"

"In a month."

Lee stared at him. "Shouldn't you have thought of this before you proposed Angelina?"

George sighed and then told him all. It felt better to get it all off his chest. He remembered someone saying that when you are sad, talk. He hadn't known until then how true it was.

Lee was a patient listener. He listened attentively without letting his frown deepen.

"And I don't know what I should do," finished George despondently.

"What do you mean you don't know what you have got to do?" said Lee. "You have got to break off the engagement – that's what you have got to do. You cannot play around with Angelina's feelings like this. She doesn't deserve this."

"I know. I am ashamed of this – of betraying Lena. I am not guilty about loving Hermione, somehow."

"Well, Hermione is a different matter. The first thing that you have got to do is not to betray Angelina like this anymore. Unless you still have feelings for her, which I highly doubt you do."

"I don't think so," said George, closing his eyes. "I so feel that I have always loved Hermione. Lena… Lena was like some mistake…"

"I'd say you were a mistake to Angelina."

"Whatever. The thing is I… I don't know how to go about it."

"Tell her the truth."

"Then Fred will kill me, too."

"Don't tell her about Hermione. Just tell her that there is someone else. Tell her to it gently…"

"I know," said George. "But I am… I am scared to hurt her… she deserves better. I feel like a git."

"Which you are. I know she deserves better than you going through this marriage just because you have to. She deserves to be loved. She deserves to be treated like a goddess."

"I know that. I think I can do it… tell her that I cannot go through with this. And what then?"

"What?"

"That's not all what I want, you know… I love Hermione."

Lee shrugged. "I don't know, man. This is a big fix. Fred is my best friend, too. He is your identical brother."

"That's what the problem is. I cannot just walk up to Hermione after I break off with Angelina and say, 'Hey Hermione, I love you. I have loved you for so long. But I have been a coward and a fool and haven't said that before I proposed another girl.'"

"That sounds pathetic."

"Very."

They were quiet for a while.

"Well, we will think about Hermione later. Presently, you have got to do right by Angelina," said Lee.

George nodded and stood up. "You don't hate me for this, do you?"

"I don't like you better than before – but no, I don't hate you."

George smiled wanly and went out, wondering how a night could turn the world upside down.

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vii

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"George!"

He was startled to hear Hermione's voice as he entered the house. Fred was there, too. Angelina was lying on the sofa, probably half-asleep. She sat up as soon as she heard Hermione exclaim her fiancée's name.

She ran up to him, and threw her arms about him. "George! We were so worried about you! Where were you?"

He winced slightly. How was he going to tell her what he had to tell her?

"I… I had gone to meet Lee… But why are you two here?"

Fred explained the whole thing.

"Okay, so all this because I left the Skunk-Potion on the fire and forgot to remove the wards?" said George as his twin finished.

"Yes – and also because Angelina was worried as you had been missing all night," said Hermione.

The twins exchanged an uneasy look.

"Now that he's back," said Fred, "let's get back. I left the shop in that stupid Jimmy's care and you will probably have some explaining to do to Dumbledore."

"Probably," said Hermione, glancing at George who, she was somewhat disconcerted to find, was staring at her.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Two more chapters to go, the story is all typed out, only editing is left. The next post should come faster if no beyond-my-control problems arise.

Again, sorry for the delay.

Though I have finished writing it, I will be pleased to know what you are expecting from this. Just a writer's curiosity.

Hope you liked this chapter. Don't forget to review!

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