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.
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"Hop on then," he winked.
Angelina stared at him, totally dumfounded. Fred had stolen her money, stolen her broom, entered some stupid competition to win money for his business, and was expecting her to help?
"Bug-" she began.
"Now hear me out Angel!" said Fred hastily. "You know I haven't got a hope in hell of winning. I'm not used to delicate flying. I'm used to whacking balls with a stick. I'm asking for your help. I'll do anything." He waggled his eyebrows.
Angelina made to slam the window closed, but he grabbed it before she could.
"Fine," he said, panting with the effort of remaining on the broom and keeping the window open. "If you don't help me I'll snap your broom in half the second I get to the ground."
"I'll snap something else in half the second you do!" snarled Angelina.
"I'll still do it!" shouted Fred.
Angelina offered Fred her nastiest glare and climbed out of the window in an ungracious manner. She kicked Fred hard as she scrambled on behind him and didn't feel like bothering with an apology.
"Now where to Milady?" asked Fred cheerfully. The broom spurted forward and Angelina realised with horror that she was still in her nightdress.
"She'll have thrown the lead players off by now," shouted Angelina over the rushing wind. "She'll be hiding out."
"Just a few million places to look then," Fred called jovially.
They slowed to watch the city from above. Other players, looking vaguely surprised to see two people on one broom, zoomed past.
Angelina's full mind was on the task ahead of her. She didn't want Fred to get a single Knut, but the desire to win sung through her.
She peered around Fred's shoulders desperately. There was Killistine ahead of them, his robes very familiar, he didn't seem particularly rushed, but he was making low lazy circles. It was certainly impressing the onlookers, but he would only catch The Granddaughter if she flew into him by accident.
He'd won before hadn't he? How?
…could it really be that simple?
She reached around Fred's neck and grabbed the Omnioculars he was wearing.
"Put on a show!" she bellowed into his ear. "You win because she wants you to win. The best fliers…the ones that impress the crowd! They win! I won because the chase between me and Killistine was dramatic and because I was a better flier! This time we have to really impress the onlookers!"
She put the Omnioculars to her face and, clutching the broom tightly with her legs, slid sideways so she was hanging upside down.
"Fly around slowly!" she yelled.
Fred obliged by swinging the broom around lazily and going past the houses nearby. Angelina made a show of searching for The Granddaughter, looking around theatrically and pointing dramatically every now and then.
There were roars of laughter and clapping. She heard The Grandfather mention Fred's name once or twice.
It was winning over the crowd, but it was extremely uncomfortable. Her legs ached and the blood was rushing to her head. Hanging upside down over a large drop wasn't particularly fun, and to top it off her nightdress was slipping down her thighs, showing more and more leg.
Still, Killistine could beat the broomstick speed record and still not beat a show like Frangelina. Fred was getting into it too. He kept putting his hand to his forehead and scanning around dramatically, occasionally pointing to some shadow spot and zooming off in that direction.
Angelina was beginning to think that unless The Granddaughter appeared soon she was going to faint. Her legs were clammy and she was feeling increasingly dizzy. Flying upside down might be alright for a show at Blackpool, but it wasn't practically or particularly safe.
She felt the broomstick spurt forward, and she forced her aching legs to hang on.
"I can see her!" shouted Fred. He reached down and grabbed her arm, yanking her upwards and she gratefully wrapped her arms around his waist for support.
The familiar golden witch was flying towards them, but as she got close she teasingly looped around them. The crowed 'ooh'ed. Killistine wasn't far behind her – one good push and he might be able to grab her. Fred spun the broom around to follow.
The girl had looped again and was flying towards a spot below them.
"Down!" Angelina yelled. Without thinking she dropped upside down again. The girl literally tumbled into her outstretched arms.
ooo
The Portkey gave a sickening tug and they landed hard on the platform.
She expected to be helped up by a gracious Granddaughter, but she heard a moan from underneath her and realised that not only did she have a hard grip on the girl's shoulders; she was lying halfway on top of her.
Fred sat up dozily, half laying on top of Angelina, and was pulled to his feet by the fast talking Grandfather. Angelina managed to roll of Pili, hit by her familiar wave of Portkey sickness. The girl's mask had been knocked off in the commotion of having Fred, Angelina, and their broom land on top of her.
Angelina got a good look at the girl's face and gasped.
"Pili!"
ooo