Author's Note: Finished this chapter at 11:59 p.m. ESTon 7/15/2005. I realize that now, many of you have probably bought HBP books already, and some may even read through the night (A couple of friends of mine included). Although I luff constructive criticism for the most part, I ask that you not review with inconsistancies from the 6th book (if there are any), as I will not be reading HBP until Tuesday night. I will, however, read reviews. And as I hate spoilers...yeah.You all understand it, no doubt.

Right. Much thanks.Carry on.

Chapter 5

I've known the twins for years and years, Alicia. Anyone knowing them a fraction of the time that I have would have been cautious of any of the fireplaces that they owned. Oh, but no. Not me, Alicia. The only thing that I was thinking about was the fact that you all gathered in the back room of WWW every Monday morning without fail in order to greet the work week. Or at least to grumble about it to each other. What went through my head was 'The twins, Lee, Alicia, and Angelina will help me. No doubt. They'll have ideas for me.'

Not once did 'I had better watch my step when I floo, you never know with those Weasleys' come to mind. But it should have. I should have known better.

Off balance already from the weight of the duffle, I pitched forward out of the fireplace. But no, Alicia, it didn't stop there. I wondered why I kept falling, until I realized that in addition, I had tripped over a small box. I tried to stop myself from dropping onto the floor, that's why I let go of my broom. It wasn't planned that it would smack you over the head, honest.

As you screamed indignantly, I landed facedown on the sooty floor with a 'thump'. I think that I realized, even then, with my nose meeting the ground so intimately, that there would be no mercy. This story would be told, with no doubt, to my children, and their children, and so on. Soon, in all of their memories, I would be just the woman who flooed 'n fell. Actually, that is rather catchy. I should probably slip that one to Fred. It's better than Fireplace Flier.

Rising to my knees, I shrugged the strap of the duffle off of my shoulder and sighed loudly. "Fred. George. When was the last time you cleaned that thing? It's filthy." I noisily complained and wiped the soot off of my face for effect. I heard you say something about the ash, and sure enough. My bath was all for naught.

It didn't even take a minute for them to start in on me. "Hello, Katie!", dreadlocked Lee grinned as he helped me up. His eyes were brighter than usual. "Dropping by, I see." I snorted, and a twin pushed him aside. "Falling all over us already, Bell? It's only eight in the morning!" He patted me on the back, mischievous Weasley grin in place.

The other Weasley mumbled something into his coffee cup. He was sitting at the desk across the room. Not that the room was big, but he was still across it. I leaned forward and narrowed my eyes. "What was that, again?" The Weasley also looked up. "Ho ho ho, Katie", He grinned cheekily, before returning to lounging in the chair and nursing the outsized cup of coffee.

I should have been able to identify the twins from the moment that I flooed in, but I hadn't managed it until that moment. When we were younger, I had the hardest time telling Fred and George apart. You could only be somewhat sure once they opened their mouths. In the past few years, though, I've noticed a lot of differences about them. You just get good eventually. I'm naming them, so that you can learn the tricks of the trade, Alicia. You owe me loads of chocolate frogs for this, as you still guess. I know that you do.

For one, Fred is a morning person and George is a regular insomniac. I should have applied it to that day as soon as Fred came bounding up to meet me. He is up and ready to make mischief, sell pranks, and generally make you out-of-your-mind mad as soon as the sun comes up. Due to his high energy level all day, he is usually out of commission before midnight. George, on the other hand, would sleep until noon if you let him, and, if it is necessary for him to wake before then (Every Monday through Saturday the shop opens at nine), requires several large cups of coffee to force himself into consciousness. But George can easily manage to stay up into the early hours of the morning. I know, because I've witnessed it.

There are also many little things that set them apart. Fred's hair is always a bit on the messy side; George's hair is, more often than not, neat. Fred has a mole on the inside of his left elbow; George doesn't. And when they both grin mischievously, Fred has a funny way of tipping his head a bit to the side. Those are, sadly enough, the only physical things that I have ever been able to pick out.

Other than that, if one of them is babbling on at you, it is a safe bet that you're talking to Fred. George bites his lip when he's concentrating; Fred squints his eyes and paces around a bit. Fred's humor is more in the blowing things up category; while George is wittier. And in the rare even that they wrestle over an argument, George almost always wins.

Yes. Well. Like I said, Alicia. Loads of chocolate frogs.

I rolled my eyes at George and went to take my broom from you. As I gripped my broom, you gave me an odd look. "Moving in?", you whispered. No, Alicia. I wasn't planning on moving anywhere then. But you only let it go once I shook my head.

"Lookit!", Lee hooted, grinning. "Alicia's jealous!" He pointed at Fred. "You get the box. I'll push her over it." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively towards you. You looked exasperated. Slightly amused, though. I know you will try to deny it, but I know you Alicia.

Fred wasted no time in kicking the package in front of you. "Now remember, you have to throw the broom and then fall. Throw it to Forge, he'll catch it." George replied by waking out of a doze at the sound of his nickname, and then promptly closing his eyes again.

You shoved them off, and handed me the broom for good. "So what are you doing here? I thought you weren't for mornings". I sighed, but thankfully was interrupted. Oh, Angelina. How I owe her.

"Morning, everybody!", A cheerful voice entered the room. We looked over as Angelina slammed shut the door. Dressed in her quidditch robes, she looked the picture of a successful woman. Damn. That only made me feel worse. First you, then her, then Katie Bell, professional bum.

She stopped short when she saw me, and blinked slowly before adding with the same cheerful voice: "'Ello Katie. You've got a bit of…" She tapped her nose. I furiously scrubbed at it with the sleeve of my robe. It was nice of you to tell me that I had soot on my face still, Alicia. "What brings you around so early?". You know, I nearly rolled my eyes, Alicia. I mean, all I needed was for Lee and Fred to ask.

I sighed and, perching myself on the edge of the desk, told them exactly why I was there early. I began with the sentence, "I got a bit kicked out of my house." A mocking grin spread across Fred's face, and Lee looked disbelieving. Thank God for the bit of sympathy that I got from you and Angelina, Alicia. Or else, who knows what I would have done.

So once again, I told the story. For the second time in about twelve hours. It was becoming a bit more real to me each and every time. I was actually becoming a tiny bit nervous. I was wondering what I would do if none of you had space for me to use. Not even a closet. I ended with a hopeless sigh, and an: "So I don't have anywhere to live." There. Bait, you see. I have a tendency to be clever sometimes.

I looked down at George, expecting to see him with his head down and sleeping, but he looked up at me, eyebrow raised of course, and held out his coffee. "You need this more than I do." Was what he said, though it didn't seem as if he was too happy about it. I took it gratefully, and thanked him enormously, adding a "Ta, George", and raising the cup towards him. You can not possibly imagine how much I needed that coffee, Alicia. It made life worth living, just having it.

Fred whistled and Lee still looked at me as if I was delusional. I suppose that it may have been a bit odd. But there is no excuse to look at your friends like that, I say. Angelina gave me a little hug, and you just smiled assuredly.

"Kate, dearest, you can say with Stephanie and I. There is plenty of room. As long as the sofa is alright." I nodded fervently. You had made my day, Alicia. It was better than the coffee by a long shot. "I owe you, anyway." You added, and I grinned. Yes, you did owe me. That Christmas Holiday that I had to watch your cat was the most miserable of my life (thus far). I still have a bit of a scar on my shoulder.

It was so miserable, in fact, that you still owe me.

Lee clapped his hands and rubbed them together a little bit. "Now that that is settled, Katie, who do you put your money on to win tonight's scrimmage? It's on the WWN, I'm not announcing this one. Pride or Arrows?". Angelina protested wildly, her Pride of Portee uniform told all. "Don't you bet against me, Kate."

My answer was interrupted by a loud banging on the door of the shop. We all jumped out of our skins. I couldn't see the door or window from my seat on the desk, due to the door to the back of the shop,but I wondered who could be so rude.

Fred wondered too, apparently, because he jumped up and shouted, "Closed! Come back in an hour!". At the sound of Fred's annoyed voice, George jerked out of sleep, his head settled on the desk. " 'S time already?", He asked, surprisingly cognizant. I told him to go back to sleep, but then the pounding began again.

"Weasley! Open up!" The voice bellowed. Somehow it sounded a bit familiar, but I couldn't place it. I figured that I was right on the money in guessing that it was a "friend" of the twins. Probably someone that they pissed off, you know, Alicia. There have been so, so many. Fred narrowed his eyes, and went to the front of the shop. I don't know what he was planning on doing, but he never got the chance.

I heard the door creak open. I suppose that Fred must have been speechless, because I didn't hear him say anything at first. That had to be a first for me, hearing Fred so incapable like that.Fred was never speechless. Then, I heard the door bang shut. Fred finally growled a, "C'mon."

I watched as a disgruntled Fred pushed open the door to the office. I wondered how he could go from being so happy toupset in a few seconds, but stopped wondering as I saw the person follow him into the room.

With a stubborn glance, I drained the rest of George's coffee. I was going to need it.