Laric had looked entirely too smug when he dropped Fred and George back at Ash's house. The twins had matching claiming studs, in the same spot and with as little to distinguish them as Fred and George themselves did. So essentially, there was still no visual clue as to which twin was which. And Harry was sure that had been the plan. But he didn't have much time to do more than get a glimpse, as they had hurried off and hid in their room. Which was quite unlike them, not even a word had been spoken on their way past.

After half an hour had gone by, and there was still no sign of either twin, Harry finally decided to go see what they were up to. He just hoped he would still look like himself afterwards. He knocked on the door, and heard sounds like people were moving around on the other side. But Fred and George remained silent, the door didn't open either. Getting a little more worried, Harry tried the knob, a little surprised when it actually twisted and the door opened. He saw the twin's faces as they looked at each other, they looked slightly ...well, he'd say horrified if it was anyone else..?

"I thought you locked the door!"

"Me?! You were the last one in! You were supposed to lock it!"

"Uh, guys? Are you two all right?" Harry had moved only a step or two into the room, the door still open behind him.

"We're fine. Just waiting for the tru-mmph!" George clapped a hand across Fred's mouth before Harry was able to hear just what they were waiting on.

"No problems here Harry! At least, no problems if you leave right now." George's grin was a bit forced, and Fred nodded vigorously, George's hand still firmly on his mouth.

Harry took a hasty step backwards, now he was standing in the doorway, but not quite out of the room. As he went to turn, he felt an arm slide around his waist and Fionn rested his chin on Harry's shoulder. Harry rested his left hand on the arm around his waist, lacing their fingers together without conscious thought.

"Ash won't like it if you blow up the bedroom again. She said she'd make you two sleep in the backyard if you did it again." Fionn's voice was amused, but the twins only looked more panicked as they realized there was another person there.

"We're not working on anything! Don't call her in here!"

"Yeah, it's all Laric's fault! He had to go and use a stupid spell Gideon taught him!" Fred clapped a hand across his own mouth this time and looked at George who now had a hand covering his eyes.

"Laric used a spell on you? What exactly does this spell do?" Harry couldn't help the laugh as he asked, and slid back into the room. Closing the door behind himself and Fionn, before leaning against it with the Fae tucked into his side.

Fred and George exchanged a look, before their shoulders drooped and they both sighed. "It's a truth spell."

"We have to answer whatever we're asked, truthfully."

"And he didn't say how long it lasted!" Fred looked aggrieved, flopping down onto the foot of the bed.

Harry's shoulders shook as he tried to muffle his snickers. It didn't work all that well. "This is what you get for pulling pranks on your Guide. I knew Laric had something in mind to get you two back, but this is going to be epic."

"But Har-ry... He's so formal and...and stiff! We were just trying to loosen him up a bit." The whiny tone in Fred's voice sounded more appropriate for a toddler.

"Yeah, and when he's not being all old-school and formal-ish, he's quiet and just gives us these looks." George chimed in.

"At least you didn't kiss him, if this is his revenge for being drenched, just think what he would have done if either of you had!" Harry's eyes gleamed with mischief.

Fred snorted. "No thank you. I doubt kissing Laric would have been half as fun as kissing you was." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Fred's face drained of color and he slapped both hands over his mouth. If Harry had thought Fred looked horrified before, it was nothing to how he looked now.

It was like they were in a cheesy horror film. Fred turned towards George who had been about to speak, but now was just staring with his mouth open at Fred. Harry turned towards Fionn, but it felt like he was trying to move through a Petrificus Totalus spell. Everything felt like it was in slow-motion. As his eyes finally met Fionn's, he saw the flash of hurt that was just as quickly hidden in the golden depths.

"You kissed Harry?! When did this happen?" George had found his voice first, and it sounded almost as hurt as what Harry had seen on Fionn's face.

"I didn't mean it George! Okay, well I did, but it wasn't like that! It was that night after the tour when we first got here. And you had been helping Fionn, so I figured it was my job to help Harry-"

"And kissing him is how you decided to help?!"

"Yes! I mean, no! He was all twisted up about not knowing if he liked guys, and not having anything to compare Fionn's kiss to. So..." Fred squirmed a bit. "I thought if he had another frame of reference, it might help. I mean, you and I both know they're perfect for each other. And it's not like I did it to cheat. I'd never cheat on you." Fred reached out a tentative hand, and when George didn't move, he pulled him down beside him on the bed. "It was totally a one-time thing. Really, never happened again. And it never will. Not unless we all decide on this mateship stuff." One side of his mouth quirked up in a half-smile, trying to get George to relax, forgive him, something.

George finally sighed and tilted forward a bit, resting his face in the crook of Fred's neck and shoulder. "Sometimes I seriously think I got all the brains in the womb."

"Hey!"

"How else can you explain your total lack of thought? You could have made things worse between them. Merlin, you still could have!" George suddenly jerked upright and looked towards where Harry and Fionn were still standing frozen beside the bedroom door.

"Fi?" Harry hadn't taken his eyes off Fionn during the entire time the twins had been yelling at each other. The shuttered expression on the Fae's face worried him. Reaching out, he lightly touched Fionn's cheek, who's eyes immediately came back into focus on him.

"You kissed Fred?" Fionn's voice was soft, with no hint of what he was feeling.

"It was more like he kissed me, really. I wasn't expecting it. And... it did help. I mean, it was before the brand came off, when I still had no clue what I was supposed to be doing..."

Fionn looked at Harry in silence for a moment, before nodding slightly.

"I think it would have taken a lot longer to realize that I liked guys if he hadn't. But, I would never have hurt you, never kiss anyone while we were Courting on purpose."

Fionn looked past Harry, towards Fred and George for a moment and then back to Harry before finally relaxing a little bit. "I know. It was just, surprising hearing that you had..."

Harry leaned forward and gently kissed Fionn. "Never again. Only you, unless we're Courting someone else. Promise."

"Harry..." George's voice was soft, but curious too.

"Hmmm?"

"Does that mean your Courtship is over? It kind of sounds that way." George was grinning at them now, and had resumed his position in Fred's arms.

Harry flushed a light pink, but nodded as he pulled Fionn closer to himself. "I-yeah. I think so." He looked at Fionn who looked back at him with shining golden eyes. "Guess we'll have to be making our own Healer's appointment before the Festival now."

AN: So, there will most likely be re-visiting of the kissing issue later in the fic. But at least they all know about it now? *laughs*

Also, any ideas you guys have about pranks that you would like to share would be welcome. I have a few more ideas, but I'm not sure how many will actually end up in the fic. And it's always better to have more than needed, yes?

And as always, review responses can be found in the forum. Which is linked on my profile.