AN- Hello again to you all!

It's been a while since I last updated, even though I actually had this chapter written before I posted the last chapter. Go figure.

Once again you will find the letter between Fred and Angelina in this chapter. I'm pretty sure that the letters themselves aren't as long as the ones in chapter 8, except maybe the last one, so if you hate them, you won't have to suffer through too much of them.

To those of you who reviewed, THANKS A LOT. I really appreciate your comments. I did notice however, that a lot of people are reading the story but not reviewing. That kind of sucks.

Hope you like this chapter, because the next one might take a while. School is starting and I don't know where to go from here. There is either going to be one more chapter, or one more and an epilogue. What do you think? If you have any ideas, let me know.

Thanks a lot, and enjoy,

Tidal Waves

Where are you now I can hear footsteps I'm dreaming

"That'll be six galleons, nine sickles, and two knuts, ma'am."

"Oy! Don't play with that!"

"Yes, sir, those are fully guaranteed."

"Be careful, miss. Those bite ..."

Business was booming at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and Fred and George were fast becoming experts at dealing with the ever-increasing number of customers to the shop.

The small store was almost always packed on the weekends when parents brought their pre-Hogwarts children in for a look around. On the advice of a few consultants, the twins had taken out a full-page add in both the Daily Prophet and the Quibbler. They even had put a small advertisement on the Wizarding Wireless Network. The amount of people that were crowding the shop every day was a definite sign that those adds were working, and working very well.

The galleons were pouring in. If, after the first week, the twins had believed that the profits they were getting were unbelievable, the amount of money that was now in their bank account was out of this world. Fred and George soon hired some help so that they could spend some time developing new products. They started doing some market research, asking the customers that they would like to see in the shop.

All of this business that conducted with relative ease, but Fred still felt as though he was missing a part of himself. It was a constant ache that wouldn't go away. He knew where that part of him was, however. Fred's other half was currently in residence at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Fred and Angelina had been writing letters to one another almost every day since Fred had left the school. They wrote about everything that happened to them. Funny things that happened to people they knew, the shop, and their most private secrets. Their letter writing was allowing them to see sides of one another that they might never have seen any other way.

One day, while Fred was depositing some money at Gringotts, he turned away from a counter and walked straight into someone, knocking them over. Concerned, Fred reached out a hand to help the man up, only to find himself face to face with his oldest brother. Laughing, Bill invited Fred and George to a get-together that he was throwing that night at his flat, and Fred accepted. Perhaps a night out was just what he needed to cure him of his Angelina blues.

xoxox

A get-together would not be the way that Fred would have described the atmosphere in Bill's flat that night. No, the correct word would be all-out-party, or an almost-rave. You get the picture.

The place was alive. Loud music filled the apartment and drinks flowed freely among all attending. Fred and George were in agreement that if their mum knew about this "get together," Bill would be in serious trouble. All that aside, the twins were going to enjoy their selves.

Sometime later, Fred was sitting on a couch with a fairly buxom brunette named Ellie. He was fairly drunk, but not so much that he didn't know what was going on around him. The girl had talked him into dancing with her a few times earlier on in the evening, and now they sat together in a corner of the flat, Fred pouring out his heart to her about Angelina. For some reason, telling a complete stranger about how much he loved a girl who was many miles away helped lift the constant ache that was with him every day. That, or maybe it was the Firewhisky. Fred wasn't sure.

Any way, about an hour later, George came over and dragged Fred away. The two decided to go back to their flat before they got so drunk that they wouldn't be able to walk straight. They walked outside into the clear night. It was a short walk from Bill's flat to their own abode, where they promptly fell asleep.

xoxox

A loud scratching noise woke Fred up the next morning. He opened one eye to se a large, black owl scratching at the bedroom window. Opening the other eye and seeing that George was still fast asleep, he rolled slowly out of bed and walked over to the window, wincing with every step as his head pounded. Throwing the window open, he admitted the owl and removed the now familiar envelopes from its leg. After closing the window behind the retreating owl, Fred wandered off to find his wand so he could get rid of his hangover. Only then did he open the letter.

Dearest Fred,

Your last letter was very amusing. I loved the story about the little boy who tried to steal your shoe. Tres Ammusant.

Yeah, so in response to your questions about what kinds of new products you should make, Kates, Leesh and I put our heads together and came up with some ideas. We think that you should make a group of products for us girls. You know, things like hair creams, pimple stuff, love potions. That sort of thing. Stuff like that would sell like hot cakes.

I was sitting in the common room the other night, reading a letter from you, and the strangest thing happened. I thought that I heard your footsteps behind me, you know, that way that you drag your right heel, and I turned around and there was no one there. It was so weird.

Things like that have been happening a lot lately. I think that I mess you do much that I'm starting to go mad. I really do. On the bright side, there is only a week left 'til schools out. You had better be standing on that platform, or there will be serious hell to pay.

On a funnier note, Lee walked into a wall this morning! See, Katie had just randomly come up to him and gave him a huge kiss, and when she left, he was so dazed that he walked straight into the closest wall. How sad is that!

Now that I think about it, maybe it isn't all that sad. When I get finished with you, I doubt that you will be able to move, let alone walk. On, and I think I have the homecoming night issue all sorted out. Just let me send a few owls, and then I'll get back to you, okay?

Alicia just came down to tell me that if I didn't finish up soon she would hex me. So that means that I have to go now.

Love you lots, you sexy trouble making guy, you.

Can't wait to see you again. Wink, wink.

Love,

Angie
xoxoxo

After reading through the letter again, Fred checked his watch. Noticing that the shop was supposed to be open in then minutes, he yelped. In five minutes flat, Fred woke up George, got dressed, at breakfast, and found a bill that was over due. Well, finding the bill didn't really count because it was in the bread box and Fred found it when he made his toast. With five minutes to spare, the twins went down to the shop and tidied up a bit before opening for the day.

xoxox

That day Fred and George discussed the girls' ideas about a line of products just for girls. After talking to a few customers and jotting down a list of ideas, the Wonder Witch line was born.

Fred and George were sitting in their flat that evening, sorting through bills and listening to the Wizarding Wireless. The Wireless has kind of faded into the background, but then the new add for the shop came on. The twins both stopped to listen, nodding approvingly. They had recorded the add the morning before, and they both thought that they sounded rater professional. After the commercial, a song started playing that Fred had never heard before. He paused in his sorting to listen to it.

It was a slow, but layered song and to Fred it seemed to embody everything her felt about Angelina. When it was over, the announcer gave the name and group. The very next day Fred went out and bought the record during his lunch break.

All that evening, Fred listened to that record, finding the lead singer's voice oddly familiar. Almost every song seemed to speak directly to him, especially the one that he had heard on the radio. Inspired by the music, Fred sat down to write to Angelina.

Dear Angie,

Thanks so much for your suggestion about a special line just for you girls. I am proud to tell you that Wonder Witch products are currently in development. Maybe we'll give you guys royalties or something. Would you like that?

That thing you said in your last letter about hearing my footsteps, well, the same thing keep happening to me. Sometimes, when I'm most relaxed, I'll hear you come into the room, or call my name. At first George made fun of me for it, but he's stopped recently. I think the same thing is happening to him now. On the bright side, there is less than a week left until we can be together again.

A really strange thing happened to me last night. George and I were sorting through our bills and we heard the greatest song on the Wireless. It seemed to perfectly represent our relationship. Here's one verse that I really liked:

Can you see me standing in the pouring rain,

Arms outstretched,

Water cleansing the pain,

Your name,

Is on my lips 'til I'm with you again

It's kind of strange how it appeals to me, but it does.

Oddly enough, it was raining really hard the other night and I was outside, just walking, you know how much I love the rain. I was thinking about a lot of things, mostly you, but a bit about the shop too.

Isn't it weird how songs that are like twenty-some years old can still speak to you?

Anyways, I bought you a copy of the record; Tales of a Black Rose. It's by some band called Tidal Waves. The song that I've been talking about is called Rain, and you should listen to it. The guy at the record store said that the band was really popular when they were together, but they are all dead now.

Any who, listen to it and tell me what you think. Oh, and tell me about NEWTs. I forgot that you guys just finished those. I want to know what they were like.

That's all for now.

Love you lots,

Fred
xoxoxo

"Fred!"

The twin in question looked up from the letter enquiringly. He saw George racing toward him with a piece of paper in his hand. Wondering what was causing his brother such excitement, Fred stood up.

"What's going on, Forge?" asked Fred.

"Ah," said George. "I was hoping that you would ask. You see, my dear Gred, we just received special funding from our basic supplier for any and all Wonder Witch products that we might think of creating."

Fred was amazed. "What! How?"

"Well, it just so happens that the company is run by a very nice witch who has agreed to give us that things that we are going to need for a severely reduced price. She does want a decent discount on the new products, but I think that would be possible."

"What in Merlin's name did you say to her? You are amazing, you know," said Fred, actually dumbstruck. All the materials they needed at basically no cost. It was awesome. "This whole Wonder Witch thing is a great idea."

"Yeah, I think she wants me."

"You wish, bro, you wish."

"Hey, maybe we should hire the girls as inventors of ideas. With them on board, we would make millions!" He looked thoughtful for a few minutes. "I wonder what Alicia'll think of that. Oh. Incase you wanted to know, I'll be spending the night at Alicia's when she comes home, so you'll have the flat to yourself that night. Or maybe you won't, now that I think about it."

Fred gave his twin a knowing grin. "That is good to know, my dear twin. Just for telling me that, I'll let you know that a letter arrived from your dear Alicia this morning. Thought you should know."

George hit his brother on the arm and demanded to know where the letter was. Fred told him and he ran off to read it. Fred then went back to the letter, adding something.

PS. George will be at Alicia's the night you guys get home, so I'll be all in my lonesome. Perhaps you would like to drop by for a chat.

PPS I hope that you realize that I didn't actually mean "chat."

xoxox

It was the Friday night before the Hogwarts students were due back at Platform 9¾. After a hectic week of running the shop and developing products for the new line, the twins were glad of the down time that the upcoming weekend promised.

The twins were currently engrossed in a heated game of chess. George was winning slightly, and after a bit more hard work he had Fred boxed in. When the black king had finally, and grudgingly, thrown off his crown, it was nearing eleven o'clock.

Standing up to stretch his limbs, Fred wandered over to the nearest window. He stood there, silently looking out over the lights of Diagon Alley and London beyond. For a long while he didn't move, but he was thinking about everything and nothing at the same time.

There was one clear thought that stood out through his wandering thoughts: his Angie was coming home tomorrow. He couldn't believe it. After over a month of separation she would be back in his arms withing twenty-four hours.

Fred pulled the letter that he had received that morning from his pocket.

Dear Fred,

Wow, this letter is probably going to be a big one. I have a lot of things to say.

Firstly, can you believe that I'll be with you again Saturday? We have been apart for way too long. I actually had to get Katie to pinch me when I realized that I was almost finished Hogwarts forever.

Frederick Weasley, if you ever leave me like that again, there will be hell to pay! I do love you though, and you'll see how much Saturday night.

Us girls are very happy that you liked our ideas for a girls product line. You don't have to give us royalties, but I think that we shouldn't have to pay for your Wonder Witch products. That seems fair, doesn't it? I won't be buying any of those love potions though. You see, their creator already belongs to me, and he had better believe it.

Thank you so much for the record you sent me. I enjoyed it a lot. That song you were talking about, Rain, really does embody our relationship, doesn't it? It's almost like it was written for us, except it was written before we were born.

I was reading through the liner notes, and that particular song was actually written by the lead singer for the lead guitarist. I did some more reading, (I sound like Hermione!) and found out that the band was formed here at Hogwarts in the seventies. But you will never guess who was in the band.

You said that guy at the store said that the band members were all dead, but he neglected to tell you that those four people are some of the most famously dead people in wizarding history. The drummer and bass player were, respectively, Lily and James Potter, the guitarist was Wyn Christopher, and the singer was Sirius Black. Can you believe it!

I wonder is Harry knows that his parents are like, the coolest parents ever. It's a pity that they are all dead.

Getting away from the topic of death.

You asked me what NEWTs were like. To say it in very few words, you are so frigging lucky that you didn't have to sit them! If you thought OWLs were hard, NEWTs were about a hundred times worse.

I mean sure, it's only comprised of the things that we've been taught, but when you are sitting in that little desk for four hours, or standing in front of one of those examiners, you tend to forget everything that you've learned over the years.

I do think that I passed most things though. Lee swears that he failed every single exam. I would laugh if he did.

The fact that George isn't going to be at your flat when I come home was very helpful to my plans. Because I'm sure that you want to applaud my genius thinking skills, I'm going to share the details of the master plan with you.

Okay, so when I get off of the train, I say hi to the parents, who have been informed that I'm spending the night at Alicia's place. Even if they call her, Leesh will tell them that I'm there, but asleep. Anyways, once they leave, I get to say a very happy hello to you, and then we can go off to your flat to "chat."

Hey! That rhymes! I'm a poet!

Isn't that an amazing plan? I really think that it is.

Well, Alicia is poking me in the back of the head, telling me to tell you that it was actually her plan, not mine. But you don't believe her, do you? She also says that I have to stop writing now, so I guess I will.

See you very soon,

Angelina
xoxoxo

xoxox

"Will you hurry your arse up, George!" yelled Fred from the little kitchen in their flat. "We have to be there in fifteen minutes and you don't want to be held responsible for me being late." He started pacing the room.

"I'm coming, oh impatient one," called George. A few moments later he appeared in the doorway.

Both twins were wearing new dragon-skin jackets that they had bought the previous day. After making sure that they were completely ready, they Disapperated to Kings Cross.

The twins rushed onto the platform with five minutes to spare. Seeing their parents, they walked over to say hello. At last the Hogwarts Express pulled into the station and the students began to disembark.

Fred watched anxiously for any sign on Angelina. He watched all of the doors and occasionally scanned the platform. At long last he saw Lee and Katie leaving that train and he knew that Angelina couldn't be far behind. Then, after almost a month of waiting, she appeared.

He watched her scan the crowd on the platform, her eyes finally meeting his. She held up a finger as if to say "wait." She crossed the platform to embrace a couple who could only be her parents. After a few minutes of conversation, she hugged them goodbye and they left the platform. Only then did Fred begin to move toward her.

It seemed like an eternity, the time that it took for the two to move toward each other. Standing mere inches apart, they looked one another over, looking for any changes, and for the mere pleasure of looking.

"Nice jacket," said Angelina with a grin. Fred groaned and pulled her into a tight embrace. When their lips met, Fred thought he might fall over, but instead he kept kissing her. When they parted at last, they found the platform deserted. Angelina laughed.

It was so good to hear her laugh again, thought Fred. It felt like he was living in a dream. Smiling, the walked hand-in-hand out of the station, and back to Diagon Alley.

Back at Fred's flat, he cooked them both dinner. Angelina was wary of his culinary skills at first, but she quickly found the food quite good. The meal took a long time to eat because the two spent so much time catching up. Then at last they were finished, Angelina insisted on having a tour of the shop.

On the completion of the tour, Fred and Angelina went back upstairs. Fred was contemplating steering things toward his bedroom when Angelina spoke up.

"If I remember correctly, you mentioned something about having big plans for me." Fred nodded with a sly grin. "Well," she continued, "I was wondering if you would like to show me those plans."

"Do you even have to ask?" Fred asked. He steered her down the hall toward his room. "Let me show you."