Chapter Eleven

An Awkward Reunion

"This is amazing."

The shop was fully stocked with every possible item on the market; almost eighty-percent of them created by Fred and George themselves.

"Thanks." George said, leaning against the register.

Fred had gone to get the wine and something to eat. I hadn't eaten in over two days, not that it mattered. But the gesture was welcome either way.

"Potter gave us the money to get it all started," he went on. "It was the prize money he'd won at the tournament."

The very mention of it sent chills down my spine. It was a moment I'd rather not have visited.

"Sorry." George said, sensing my discomfort. "What was it like? Dying I mean."

"Like…well…dying. Not something I want to make a habit of, you know?"

I had all ready told Fred and George the basics. About my Immortality and how magic didn't effect us. I hadn't told them about the Game, or Amanda and Methos, or any of the really big stuff yet.

Fred showed up and we had a light supper in their apartment above the shop. They told me about the Ministry of Magic and the Second War between the light and dark wizards. They told me how Harry Potter raised an army of wizards and witches when the Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher wouldn't teach them any practical skills. The real kicker was when they told me of their famous exit and we roared for hours at the Twins brilliance.

The alcohol made everything seem so much funnier, yet so much darker and sadder. It was in a drunken haze that I spilled my guts. I told them about the Game and about how Immortals died. I told them about Radu and how Amanda trained me to be a better fighter. I managed to leave out the part about Methos, thinking that he wouldn't be too pleased.

"So you'll neffer die," Fred said, his speech slurred.

"Unless we be-be-chop yer head off." George summed up.

"That's the short uf it," I mumbled, resting on my elbows. "'Oy, thish is good schtuff."

Fred topped us off and held up his glass, even though he could barely hold his own head up.

"To Amanda," he said. "A fery, fery, purty girl. Who taught or friend how to ushe his sword. Hehehe."

"To Umbirch," I slurred clanging my glass against his. "Who couldna cont-contain the Weasley twins."

"I'm busting for a pee," George said, staggering to his feet.

"To pee!" Fred and I cheered.

We spent more of the night peeing and drinking than actually sleeping. But finally I fell asleep on the table and they slumped to the floor passed out.

I didn't awaken until the rays of sunlight pounded against my eyes the next morning. I groaned and rolled over, forgetting my position and stumbling onto the floor. The sound of the chair hitting the wood boards startled Fred and George awake. There was a choir of moaning, all of which made my headache worse.

Then my vision cleared and I saw someone standing in the doorway, looking down at me.

"What the hell is going on here?" The man demanded.

"Dad, please don't yell!" Fred snapped. "God, when'd you get in?"

As if Mr. Weasley's voice wasn't bad enough, the shrieking wail from the portly woman beside him tore through our brains like a knife through paper towels.

"Are you two bloody insane?"

"Get up!"

Mr. Weasley grabbed me by the lapels and yanked me to my feet.

"Dad, it's all right!"

"Please stop yelling everyone," Fred moaned. He started vomiting in the waste basket.

"Who are you!" Mr. Weasley yelled, shaking me violently. "What have you done to my boys. I swear I'll-"

"Arthur, stop." Mrs. Weasley said, gently pulling at his shoulder.

He dropped me and I stumbled against the table. My head was swirling so much that I didn't quite grasp the situation yet.

Damn you Amanda, I muttered. Why didn't you tell me we could still get drunk?

"Cedric…" Mrs. Weasley said, gasping. "I remember you from the Tri-Wizard tournament. But-but you were killed…"

The hangover must have been located somewhere in my speech and logic centers, because at that moment the most intelligent thing I could think of was,

"I got better."

"Mum, Dad, it's all right," George said, climbing to his feet and making his way for the sink. "We went through all this yesterday. It's really him."

"Cedric Diggory," Arthur said, taking me by the shoulders again, gently this time. "My God boy, it really is you."

I tried to look him straight in the eye. But the world was still spinning.

"Are we riding a broom?" I asked.

"Dear, let's let the boys get cleaned up." Mrs. Weasley suggested. With a disapproving grimace towards the twins she added, "We'll be at the Leaky Cauldron. Meet us there in an hour."

They let me use the shower first, which helped the hangover immensely. When we were clean and reasonably sober I helped to straighten up the kitchen. Then we went out to the Leaky Cauldron.

"Hangover pills," George said, wincing in the bright morning light. "There's a market for them I think."

"Good idea," Fred agreed, rubbing his temples.

"Muggles have something called chasers," I told them. "Amanda told me about them once."

Mister and Mrs. Weasley had a pot of strong black coffee waiting for us. When the first cup went down I was suddenly clear enough to check the old robes the twins loaned me. I was relieved to find the sword tucked discretely beneath them.

In a much more sober state of mind and with less slurring, I recanted my situation to the Weasleys.

"It is important," I added. "That you never tell my parents. As is I'm all ready putting myself and everyone in danger."

"But I don't understand dear," Mrs. Weasley said. "Why did you come back here if you knew it was dangerous?"

"There's another like me," I explained. "Not just another Immortal, but a wizard. He was killed in the first Tri-wizard tournament. To make matters worse he's working with Vol-You-Know-Who."

I told them about my first meeting with Radu on the platform of the Beauxbatons train and how I was captured by Vicilia Coarse. Mr. Weasley shuttered.

"You know her?" I asked.

"Vicilia Coarse is responsible for more than five hundred deaths of wizards and witches throughout Europe in the last fifty years." He explained. "She's a priority target of hit wizard squads throughout Spain, France, Belgium and Germany."

"Yeah well, she didn't come off as the motherly type," I quipped.

"What were you two doing here?" George asked. "Not that we don't mind the visit and all."

"We wanted to keep you in the loop," Mrs. Weasley explained, fixing them with her scowl. "Hogwarts has been temporarily shut down and Ron has gone off with Harry and Hermione on a mission. We also needed someone to keep an eye on Ginny for a while but I'm wondering if that's such a good idea."

"Now, now, dear," Mr. Weasley spoke up. "They were only celebrating with a friend. They took it too far but, clearly this is a time to celebrate."

Mrs. Weasley softened a bit.

"I'm sorry if I've embarrassed you Mrs. Weasley," I said, solemnly. "I've been away from this world for two years and I lost myself. Fred and George are the only friends I have at the moment."

"That's all right," Mrs. Weasley took my hand into hers. "The important thing his you're alive and safe."

"But I'm not safe," I said. "And suddenly I realize that no one will ever be safe as long as I'm alive. All it takes is for one…just one to take my head. Methos warned me about all this and I went ahead anyway. God I was so selfish."

"What do you plan to do?" Fred asked.

I had been wondering that myself. It seemed like I should have had a plan by now, but getting away from Vicilia alive was a small victory and I celebrated prematurely. I drained another cup of coffee.

"I have to fight him." I said, finally. "Radu is just as dangerous to us all."

"Wait a second," George spoke up. "You told us Amanda didn't believe in Wizards. So whose this Methos you mentioned?"

I nearly hit myself. The old guy was gonna kill me for this.

"I can't tell you too much," I said, simply. "Needless to say Methos is an older Immortal. I don't know how old, but he was older than Amanda even. I promised I wouldn't tell too many people all that he told me. You understand, don't you?"

"Of course, we do," Mrs. Weasley said. "You've all ready shown us a lot of trust by telling us what you did."

"It seemed fair enough. Fred and George told me about you guys. Congratulations on the promotion Mr. Weasley. I only wish I was there to pay my respects to Professor Dumbledore."

"You may yet get your chance." Someone said.

We all looked up to find the source of the voice. Simon, the renegade Watcher.

"You!" I hissed. I leapt from my seat and reached for my sword. George and Fred got between me as people began to stare.

"Not here mate," They said. "Who is this guy."

"Simon Racey." Mr. Weasely said with similar contempt. "It's been a while."

"Ah yes, Arthur old friend," Simon said, in mock casual tone. "Some dear friends of mine have been dying to see you suffer. But you're not my problem for now. Mr. Diggory and I have business."

"The only business you're getting is the sharp end of my sword," I said. George and Fred remained at my side.

"Oh, I very much doubt that. You see, I have one of my men waiting nearby with a camera and a Quick Quotes Quill. Make a move on me and your face will be on the front page of the Daily Prophet. You'll become more renowned than the Boy-Who-Lived himself."

"What do you want?" I demanded.

"A word, alone."

"He's not going anywhere alone," George said. He grinned menacingly and exchanged glances with Fred.

"Alone, or I call my man in." Simon pressed.

I glanced at the Weasleys.

"This will take some time." I said. "But I'll be back."

"Be careful Cedric," Mr. Weasley cautioned.

"I will."

As I left the safety of the Leaky Cauldron, I didn't notice George and Fred suddenly disappearing.