Title: Fireworks
Author: Emmylou
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all its characters and concepts, are the creation of JK Rowling.
Rating: PG
Summary: Angelina and Fred's relationship is tested when they travel to Egypt on business for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.
A/N: Thank you to dragonsrgorgeous07 and TeahWeah for your reviews. I will work on the transitions, I promise.
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Once robes had been provided and Angelina had struggled into the many veils and wraps on the outfit she had been given, she and Fred fought their way back downstairs to the hallway, where they were taken to a dining room.
Like the rest of the rooms they'd seen, there was very little actual room in it. They had to slide into the gap between the table and the dresser. Fred had to suck his stomach in to seat himself. Within minutes the table was full of people, Donkor seated himself proudly at the table while his wife and Pili dashed around with plates and jugs. They were joined by two elderly gentlemen, dressed similarly to Donkor, each wearing the same crest on their fez.
"Donkor's logo," murmured Fred.
Mrs. Donkor and Pili seemed to have gone out of their way to be properly British in honour of their guests,
"Steak and kidney pudding!" enthused Fred. "And chips!"
"We have Rice Pudding for …afters," said Mrs. Donkor, her mouth saying the strange words with an unfamiliar tongue.
"That's lovely," said Angelina, saying the first honest compliment she had said all day. "Thanks for taking the time to do this for us."
Fred was soon chatting eagerly about the work ahead of them, so Angelina settled for tucking in to her meal and ignoring anything to do with fireworks. She learned that, contrary to what she and Fred had believed, Pili was not a maid, but Mr. and Mrs. Donkor's youngest daughter. She was nineteen, and had just finished school. She remained as quiet as Angelina throughout most of the meal, but her curiosity seemed to get the better of her, and after requesting Angelina pass her the peas, she timidly asked the question that had been on every Tornado fan's mind since the ban.
"How did you get banned?"
Angelina rolled her mouthful of water around in her mouth, feeling rather off her food now, before speaking. "There was a crash," she said. "We were playing the Harpies, and they've got a nasty Chaser…the referee decided it was my fault. I hurt my leg and the chaser was unable to fly for a month – so I was banned for a year."
"I suppose that sort of thing happens all the time..." said Pili.
"No." said Angelina. "It shouldn't have happened at all."
ooo
That night, Fred was even more enthusiastic about fireworks and Angelina was very out of spirits. "A deal with Donkor – a chance to work with him! I still can't believe it- George is going to be sick with jealously when I tell him all about…"
Fred looked up from drying off his face and finally seemed to realise Angelina's mood. He backtracked at the speed of man. "I mean, are you okay? How's your leg?"
Angelina crawled into bed. "Sore," she said huffily.
"Well, you'll have a chance to rest up. And you might be able to get some sightseeing done….Bill was telling me about a fantastic shrunken-head museum not too far away…"
"I don't want to go and see any shrunken heads."
"I remember going to a fantastic restaurant when we were on holiday here as kids…"
"I'm fine, thank you."
"Oh, right."
Fred tugged off his robe and rinsed his face in the jug before climbing in next to her. They lay there staring at the ceiling.
The streets outside were lit by huge flaming lanterns, Angelina felt she could probably have read a book without even turning on a lamp and wondered how she would ever get to sleep.
It was hot inside and she felt the sweat she had rinsed off returning. She squirmed and felt Fred moving awkwardly.
"Goodnight then," he said.
It seemed hard to believe that a month ago they would have been all over each other. She probably would have loved Egypt and everything between them would have been great. Now they were lying stiffly next to one another, her mood black, his unsure.
"'Night," she said.
ooo
Their awkward night didn't seem to stop Fred awaking with his usual enthusiasm. He had already been to the lavatory, washed and dressed (eagerly donning his Egyptian robe), and was hopping up and down impatiently waiting for her by the time she had opened her first bleary eye.
She dressed in a much slower manner, choosing a simpler and cooler robe that she had bought in London and got out her make-up to try and make something of herself.
Fred was tutting and checking his watch by the time they left for breakfast, where they were treated to sausage, egg, and beans.
"Just like home this," said Fred, clapping his hands together and rubbing them. "Or like it would be if Angelina could cook."
Pili giggled and Angelina stabbed her sausage rather harshly.
"Is everything to your liking Mr. Weezley?" asked Donkor greasily. "We wanted to make sure you felt at home."
There was a sudden loud bang that rattled the room, Fred and Angelina jumped, but the two elderly wizards barely glanced up from their paper, and Pili only glanced to the clock.
"It's early for the factory to open father," she said.
Donkor grinned proudly to Fred. "I got everyone in starting up early today – I wanted you and your lady to see the factory at full work."
Angelina reached for an abandoned paper and tapped it with her wand, only translating half of it in her mood.
Once breakfast was over, Angelina has hoped to be allowed freedom to wander out into the streets, where it might be cooler and even possible to find something relaxing to enjoy. When she ventured this idea, Fred turned to her in horror.
"We can't go out Angel," he said. "Donkor's promised us a tour!"
He turned to Donkor and said in an oily voice; ""Weasley's Wizard Wheezes is a family orientated company. Every member takes the business very seriously."
Angelina gave Donkor a grim smile. "Yes – I can't believe I wasted all that time flying in a Quidditch team when they were crying out for shop-girls at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes!"
"And a fantastic one you are," said Fred, in a warning tone that was sweeter than a Chocolate Frog.
Donkor seemed to have lost interest in the conversation. Fred switched tracts and turned to the two elderly men opposite. "Another interesting fact – did you know that Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was initially financed by the Harry Potter?"
The two men dropped their spoons and began gabbling in their language – the word Potter mentioned several times. Donkor began talking over them, interested once again.
"Harry Potter? He endorse you?"
"Yeah," said Fred airily. "He nips in and samples the products whenever he's in the area." He dug back into his beans as though this colossal name-dropping hadn't occurred.
"I expect he's regretting not becoming a shop-boy too," said Angelina tartly.
"Has Potter tried a Donkor product yet?" asked Donkor greedily, his own sausages forgotten.
"Weeell…not as such," said Fred regretfully. "They're a bit of a speciality product back home. We're eager to change that obviously."
"He's have tried Zonko's though, they're similar right?" said Angelina, snatching another piece of toast.
The whole table briefly shook. One of the old men slammed his up down, the other muttering something that sounded like a curse. Pili gasped and knocked her juice over. Mrs. Donkor hissed and Donkor glared at Angelina.
"Thieves!" he spat. "We do not mention their name here! They are the worst kind of scoundrel."
"Firework stealing…I bet the Ministry are on high alert," muttered Angelina. Fred kicked her under the table.
"You're right of course. Very lacklustre product the average Zonko firework." Fred grinned at Donkor. "My brother and I are hoping that with your help we'll obliterate Zonko from the market."
Donkor raised his glass. "Then you and your brother are the very best kind of men. Now – we shall begin our tour, yes?"
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Well, I hope it was enjoyable. New chapter soon. If you have anything to say I'd love a review (anything about the story that is, I'm not too fussed about hearing about your obsession with Brad Pitt).