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: Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers! I would have updated on Monday, but the site was playing up and wouldn't let me upload.
ooo
Angelina cried. She stuffed the letter back down into her bag and wept.
In her mind, though, she was planning her next move. That was how she worked – she got the news, had her initial reaction, and then put her plan into motion without a break in between.
She remembered when Fred, George, and Harry had been banned, how she'd shouted herself hoarse and then stalked across the common room to draw up a short-list of replacements. This was exactly the same.
Evan as she wiped her tears away she was deciding what to do. They would be in Egypt for two weeks at the very least, more likely more considering the state of the factory. In those two weeks she would take the time to say goodbye to her broom. She would enjoy her last flights before she went home, maybe seeing Cairo from air would be fun. Then she would polish up her broom, trim the twigs, and sell it if Pili still refused it. They didn't have this make here so she would get a good price for sure.
There were lots of new options open to her. She could settle down with Fred, maybe get married, maybe make her mother very happy and start a family. Things were not hopeless and so crying, she told herself, was ridiculous. Just a silly emotional reaction.
She dug out some parchment, ink, and a quill and wrote a letter to her brother taking him up on his offer of work.
She was just wondering where to get an owl from when Fred came bouncing in.
"It's fantastic Angel!" he whooped, grabbing her enthusiastically by the shoulders and kissing her. "The plans Donkor's Dad's drawn up – the man's a certified genius. Donkor's dead keen about some of George and mine's ideas too. We're starting work on a Farting Firework! Basically you eat it and the next time you pass wind sparks fly out your bum! Great for slipping into someone's food…"
Angelina couldn't help but smile to herself. Tasteless and ingenious, that was how the Weasley twins worked.
"Donkor's dad drew up the plans for the firework you could eat but he couldn't think of what to do with it once it was swallowed…George and I just finished the thought. I can't wait to meet the man himself!"
Somehow, Fred's survival instinct cut in at this point and Fred finally seemed to notice Angelina's tear streaked face. His worried expression seemed to make the whole thing more unbearable, and she burst into tears again.
"The letter came," she sobbed, her strength fading.
"Oh no…" said Fred. He wrapped his arms around her. "We can appeal though, right?"
Angelina pulled away, trying to build herself back into the capable and strong woman she had convinced herself to be moments before. She looked determinedly at the bed-sheet and not at Fred.
"No, their decision is final. I officially cheated. Even though I didn't."
"What are you going to do?"
She picked up the letter. "Remember that job Frank offered me? I'm taking him up on it. I'll head home in two weeks and start then. The money will be good – we might even save a little."
"But you don't want that Angel! You want to fly! And two weeks is mad – with this setback we could be here months."
"Then I'll set my life up back home ready for you," said Angelina. "It's not like I get a choice in any of this!" Fred chuckled, and she was suddenly furious. "WHAT?"
"Sorry," he laughed. "It's just –when I got banned for life you shouted yourself hoarse at me, and now you've been banned for life and you're shouting yourself hoarse at me."
Angelina gave a week chuckle, feeling tired and lost. Fred reached and hugged her again. "Come on," said Fred, "Pili told me you didn't have lunch. Let's go and have dinner and we can see about getting that letter posted."
Angelina nodded, snuggling into his neck.
"I wish this wasn't happening," she murmured. "Farting Fireworks aside."
"I'd personally hand the recipe for them over to Zonko if it got you your ban lifted," said Fred.
For the first time in weeks Angelina thought that they might make it after all. Her knee didn't even ache during dinner.
ooo
"Tonight, we have a special treat!" said Donkor after dinner. "Tickets are expensive – but no trouble is too much for Weezley and his lady!" he had already knocked back a fair bit of wine, clearly in a celebratory mood.
Donkor's brothers cheered, also having partaken in the wine. Or perhaps they really were enthusiastic about farts that sparked.
"Tonight you and your lady attend The Granddaughter with myself, my wife, and my brothers!"
Angelina and Fred shared a puzzled glance. "Is that some kind of show?" asked Fred.
"Show?" Donkor roared with laughter. "It's the best show on earth, but it has no script! It is sport! I shall tell you no more! This you must see."
They dressed warm for the cold night. Fred reluctantly took off his cotton robe and pulled his regular ones back on, adding his lime green jacket for good measure. He kept his fez on though. Angelina grabbed jeans and the first Weasley Jumper she'd ever been given with a little angel knitted on the front. Angelina grabbed her bag, shoving her broom back into it out of habit, thankful it was smaller and lighter on the outside than it was on the inside.
They looked at each other, feeling glad to have got through such an awful day intact.
"They'll be waiting for us," said Fred, glancing to the door.
"I know," said Angelina.
She wasn't sure who moved first, but within seconds they were on the bed, Fred's fez askew and his hands writhing up under her jumper.
ooo
When Angelina and Fred finally made it downstairs, adjusting their clothes and trying to look innocent, Donkor and his family were waiting.
"- and what do you do?" said Donkor. He was talking to Pili in the manner grown-ups do when they are leaving a teenager alone against their better judgement.
"Lock the doors and let no one in," recited Pili.
"And what do you do if your Grandfather calls?" demanded Mrs. Donkor in the thick English she used in the presence of Fred and Angelina.
"Go to him straight away," sighed Pili.
"Aren't you coming too Pili?" asked Angelina.
"Tickets are expensive," said Donkor. "Besides", he chuckled heartily, "she shall no doubt enjoy time alone. She will probably eat more than she should and waste Floo Powder talking to her silly friends."
Indeed, Pili looked eager for them to go, so Angelina smiled and said; "Thank you for inviting us."
"It is no problem," said Mrs. Donkor. "You do us a great gift in coming here – we make every effort to make things comfortable. We speak only in English while you stay so that you will not feel out of your element, we eat English food, and we keep you entertained. If you bring back good fortune to our family it shall be worth it."
Crammed as everyone was in the tiny hall, it was a relief to get into the cool open air, which was well lit by the lamps. There was a steady stream of people already outside, all heading along the street in the same direction, clearly out for a night's entertainment.
People had gathered at widows to peer out into the streets, some people had set chairs up outside their homes too, while others stretched out on their roof tiles. People were laughing and singing all around them.
"Does this go on in the streets then?" Fred asked Donkor.
"It happens everywhere magical in the city – everyone gathers outside their homes to get a glimpse of The Granddaughter," said Mrs. Donkor. "If she flies over your house you are said to be lucky for the week ahead."
"Flying?" said Fred, with a worried look towards Angelina.
"Hush," said Donkor. "Like I said, you must see it."
The brothers, who had been walking ahead, trotted back to the group with a package for each person.
Angelina opened hers to find that they had stopped at a street vendor and purchased spiced dates as treats. They were wrapped in wax paper and were gooey and warm. She ate one and immediately had to wrap them back up to stop herself guzzling down the rest in one go.
The crowd thickened as they moved closer towards where this show seemed to be taking place. Kids ran around them and couples giggled, teenagers chased each other. Even the thought of it being a flying show couldn't dishearten Angelina now.
Donkor pushed his way ahead, leading them up steps that reminded Angelina of the World Cup, until they entered a little box, already jammed with people.
They crowded their way into their narrow seats and finally looked out of the box.
On the ground jugglers did intricate tricks, and fire-breathers illuminated them with brief shots of flame. They were so high up they seemed very far away indeed. But what drew the eye immediately was the fliers. There must have been two hundred of them, all circling the ring like a human swarm. In the boxes around them people waved flags and chanted the names of what must have been popular flyers.
"This is The Granddaughter!" shouted Donkor over the noise. "The biggest broom race in the world!"
ooo
Any comments you have would be great. I've got a solid plan for where I'm going, so this isn't just random events. I'd love to hear what you think.