"This is bollocks," George complained with a theatrical wave of his arm. "I refuse to believe any woman would think a monk's hair is sexy. Come on, a shaved patch? No one would look at that and think sex."

"That doesn't give you permission to stop right before she kisses that smoking hot shaved head." She popped a grape into her mouth and stretched her legs out over the couch, letting them drape over George's lap.

"If I had a bald spot would you kiss it?" He gave her puppy eyes.

She snorted. "Only if you were a sexy monk obviously. Brown robes and Gregorian chants? No woman can resist."

He lifted a hand to his heart. "Oh, so my bald spots will never be worthy then. I'm wounded."

She poked his arm with her foot. "We're almost to the end. You can't stop reading now. Get to the kiss already." They'd spent the last two weeks working their way through the book. Despite George making Fred promise Emily wasn't allowed at their place, he'd been spending most of his evenings with Lucy.

"Give my voice a quick rest. Think of it as dramatic tension leading up to the big moment." He reached for his cup of tea.

She watched him. He'd undone his tie and both ends hung around his neck like a lazy scarf. His jacket hung on the hook by the door, leaving him in his waistcoat and the sleeves of his undershirt rolled up to his forearms. The outfit gave him an air of relaxed sophistication and she was a sucker for it.

He was irresistibly handsome and she liked life with him in it from his quick wit to his quiet confidence. She wanted to keep him for as long as she could. It was easy to picture living with him. To picture relaxing evenings in reading by a fireplace together. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought and she turned her attention to the grapes to hide her alarm. After her ex she promised herself she'd never live with another man unless she was certain she was in love.

Her heart thumped against her rib cage. Her eyes jumped to George and her stomach somersaulted. She was definitely in love. Hell, she'd learned to bake scones for him and with how hit and miss her baking skills could be she tended to stay away from baking for others. Yet when it came to George she wanted nothing more than to impress and please him. Nights like these with him were just so easy and perfect.

But was it too early to tell him she loved him? And what if she told him and it scared him off? Words like love had been tossed around by her friends so easily during their school days. One of them would meet a boy and a week later already be professing their undying love for the new handsome face in their life. Lucy had never been able to toss the word around as carelessly as they had. She'd rather wait for George to take the lead on the pace of the relationship, but the emotions bubbling in her chest made her want to confess herself. She wanted him to understand how she felt. Wanted to know if he could ever feel the same or if he would smash her heart to pieces instead.

She tossed another grape in her mouth. The emotions whirling through her tightened her throat. The grape caught and she fell into a coughing fit. It took a large gulp of tea to free the grape.

George patted her back "You good?"

"Yeah." She avoided his gaze, afraid her face would give away her emotions.

A knock on the door kept her from tumbling back into her pit of worries.

"Your other boyfriend?" George waggled his eyebrows.

Lucy climbed off the couch. "Didn't mean for you to find out this way." She opened the door, revealing Oliver.

"I got the position!" Oliver tossed his arms out in celebration. Seeing her confused expression he continued. "I'm now the official keeper. I even get a raise!"

She pulled him into a bear hug. "I knew you could do it."

George piped up. "Congratulations! Don't forget about your fans, or are you too famous for us now?"

Oliver laughed. "Too famous to beg for products on the basis of sponsorship? Never."

"You'd make a great billboard for advertising. I could put the store logo right on the front of your shirt for whenever you do press events." He held up his hands, framing Oliver's chest in his sights. "Front and center where the press will get lots of pictures of it."

Lucy stepped aside to let Oliver come inside. "I feel like I'm in the way here. You sure you don't want to date Oliver instead, George?"

George ran a hand along his jaw as though considering it. "I don't know how I'd feel about dating someone better at Quidditch than me."

"Oh, is that why we're dating?" Lucy arched an eyebrow at him.

George chuckled. "You aren't so terrible anymore and it's endearing the way you try so hard."

"Whatever you say." She stuck her tongue out at him before turning to Oliver. "Do you want some tea or snacks?"

"No. Can't stay. Need to go tell my mum and I know she's going to want to plan some sort of family dinner to celebrate."

"Maybe we should have a party. An excuse to drink and get everyone together," George suggested. "You know how much Harry loves hosting."

"Yeah, maybe. If I survive the family dinner. My uncles will be begging for free tickets to games." He cringed. "And my aunts will be begging me to take the kids out on the pitch."

"All the more reason to drink at a better party!" George clapped him on the back.

Oliver smiled. "God knows I'm going to need a few drinks after dealing with my family. I'll have a chat with Harry when I get a chance, but I oughta head out." He eyed up the book sitting on the coffee table and the snacks strewn around it. "Would hate to ruin your wild night in."

"Too bad. You'll miss the blood sacrifices and tea cakes," Lucy teased.

"I'll catch them next time as long as I'm not the sacrifice." Oliver gave George one last wave on his way out. As soon as the door shut behind him George rubbed the back of his neck. He cast an anxious look at the clock. "I guess I should go too. Got work in the morning and Clara should be gone by now."

She hated the way talking about going home made his shoulders tense. It made her want to punch Clara for putting George in such a position. "You should talk with Fred about her. She can't be good for him and it's not fair for her to chase you out of your home."

"I have and he insists on giving her a chance. If not for Emily maybe they'd be a good match. They've been going to Quidditch games together and she went to his dueling club last week. Besides, it's a good excuse to visit you. Do I get a goodbye hug?" He held out his arms.

"You know you're always welcome over Clara or no. And you'd better be back this weekend to finish the book." She stepped into his arms.

"Of course, of course." He held onto her. Seconds ticked by and George made no movement to let go.

"You're stalling, aren't you?"

A sheepish look passed over his face. "It's just that things have been tense with Fred with this whole Clara issue, but no more wasting time. I need to get home and showered up. Fridays are always busier than other weekdays at the store. If I can catch a break at lunch I want to sketch out a new idea I've been working on."

"A new product?"

He held a finger to his lips and winked. "Top secret for now. Let me know if you hear anything about a party for Oliver. I might be able to come up with a firework or two for the occasion. You'll go as my date, right?"

"Of course." She tweaked his nose.

Lucy couldn't help but to gawk at the house in front of her. All the stonework screamed old English to her. The short stone wall covered in ivy added charm without making the place look rundown. A large ornament sporting the Puddlemere United logo of two crossed golden bulrushes on a navy background hung on the door. Not only had Harry come through on hosting a party for Oliver, but he'd decorated for the event.

"Like it?" George asked as he pointed at the ornament. "Ginny found it."

"It's perfect. The house is so…English."

George grabbed the doorknob and hesitated. "Just to warn you Harry tends to go all out when he hosts parties. Don't tease him about being rich though. He hates it."

"Got it. My lips are sealed on the topic of money." She made a zipping motion across her mouth.

George opened the door and ushered her inside first. She couldn't help but to gawk all over again. A large tapestry sporting the Puddlemere logo hung from the ceiling of the entryway, stopping inches above George's head. And the living room had been decorated in navy, not to mention the little bar stocked for the party. The place was no mansion but compared to her tiny flat it felt like one. She spotted a Gryffindor scarf hanging by the door. A large fireplace sported old stonework, giving the living room a cozy charm. A small Hogwarts crest hung above the mantelpiece.

"Awe, guys, no one told me we were doing face painting!" George complained. Lucy pulled herself out of her gawking and spotted Harry and Ron mixing drinks. Both of them had painted crossed golden bulrushes on their cheeks.

"It's not too late," Ron said. "We still have some paint. It's on the bathroom sink."

"Dibs!" George grabbed Lucy's hand and tugged her off toward the bathroom. Ten minutes later she found herself sporting crossed golden bulrushes on her right cheek. George sported a "Go Oli" on his forehead and golden rings around his eyes to represent goal posts. He looked ridiculous but in an endearing sort of way she decided. Her lacking art skills also made him look like he was wearing broken glasses. He'd done a much better job of the logo on her cheek.

"I should wipe it off and start over." She chewed on her bottom lip as she surveyed the disaster she'd created. "It looks awful"

"No! It's prefect as is." He ducked away from the wet washcloth as she tried to wipe the lumpy right ring off. "All that matters is Oliver enjoying it. The way it looks doesn't matter."

His words made her chest feel warm. If she'd known how much she'd like Oliver's friends she would have moved sooner. Then again maybe it was best she hadn't or things might not have worked out the way they had with George. If she'd come earlier he would have been dating someone else. And Clara was bad enough without having to deal with the disaster ending to Fred's relationship with Angela.

When Ginny caught sight of George and burst into giggles he grinned. "Well I couldn't copy Harry and Ron, could I?" he asked. "That would be such a faux pas and one of us would have to go change."

"I think all three of you look ridiculous but I'm sure Oliver will love it. I heard his mother made him sit through a three hour family dinner while his father waxed on about how he was doing the Wood family proud. Watching his friends embarrass themselves must be heaven in comparison."

Lucy grimaced. The story definitely fit Oliver's father. The Woods loved to highlight their successes, and anything deemed less than, like Lucy and her mother and their muggle blood, got swept under the rug and ignored. With the fame Oliver would get as official Keeper he'd be the shining gem of the family.

Ginny called out to Oliver and pointed at George's face. Oliver looked up from his conversation with Hemione. He grinned and gave George two thumbs up.

George gave him thumbs up back before turning to Lucy. "Do you want a drink? You haven't partied properly until you've had one."

"I wouldn't mind something fruity sans alcohol." She added a terrible French accent to the end of her sentence, earning a snicker of amusement from George.

"Your wish is my command, just remember I'm a businessman, not a bartender. I can't promise you quality in any way, shape, or form." He grabbed a glass and started a mix she couldn't keep track of.

Fred stepped into the room with Clara on his arm and Lucy's breath stuttered in her chest. She'd hoped Clara wouldn't come. By the dark look on George's face she figured he'd done the same. Unlike his brother Fred didn't wear any face paint nor did he ask for any. Clara inspected the room with a frown. Lucy looked away, hoping to fly under Clara's notice. Unfortunately Clara picked her way across the room to the bar.

"What is that supposed to be?" Clara asked as she pointed to her eyes, her gaze on George.

"Goal posts," George answered, the upbeat tone to his voice strained. He cut an orange slice off and shoved it onto the rim of the glass. He handed the concoction over to Lucy. "Drink up."

"What do you call this?" Lucy sniffed at it.

"No idea but it's fruity and tasty and that's what counts, right?"

"Right." She tasted the drink while he watched. The strong orange flavor mixed with hints of pineapple and coconut. "Absolutely tropical. I feel like I should be lounging on a beach."

"Can you make me one of those?" Clara asked as she took a seat on the stool farthest from Lucy. "And keep it light on the alcohol."

"Sure."

Lucy noticed the way his eyes darkened. He worked in quiet concentration without looking up, Clara watching him the whole time. Lucy's grip tightened on her glass.

"Game time!" Harry and Ron called out as they herded Oliver into the center of the room. They started a game where Oliver had to block toy quaffles in front of a miniature set of goalposts while blindfolded. Lucy recognized the goal posts. They came from a children's Quidditch pitch set. Oliver had one just like it when they were kids. Ginny and Luna cheered or booed depending on whether he missed or succeeded.

"Come on, Oli! You're playing like you're blind or something!" Fred heckled.

"For that you're next," Oliver yelled back as he ripped his blindfold off.

"George, I challenge you." Fred gave his brother a dramatic point.

George stepped into the center of the room and bowed. Luna clapped and hooted. They took their places, Fred blindfolded in front of the goal post. George tossed quaffles while Fred blocked, mostly to giggles and booes. Fred windmilled his arms and finally knocked a quaffle to the side.

"You're doing worse than Oliver," Ginny called out.

Lucy snuck a look sideways at Clara who sat inspecting her nails, looking completely and utterly bored. Catching her gaze Clara looked up.

"Do you want to trade twins for the weekend?"

Lucy gaped at her, unsure of whether she'd heard right. Not even so much as a 'hello' or 'how are you?' first. Her opinion of Clara hit rock bottom. "Excuse me?"

"I heard they used to switch out on their girlfriends back at Hogwarts. One girl said she could never tell which one she was shagging."

Lucy cleared her throat. "You aren't actually suggesting we fuck each other's boyfriends for a weekend, are you?" She couldn't keep the disgust out of her voice.

Clara shrugged. "It'd only be for the weekend. Think how exciting it could be. You can't possibly tell me you've never wondered if they shag the same."

"Actually no, I've never thought about it because why would I? I'm happy with George."

Clara gave her an exasperated dismissive wave. "Don't be boring. What's the use in dating a twin if you aren't going to make the best of it?"

Lucy scrunched up her face. "That's a really gross way of putting it. You should date Fred because you like him, not so you can fuck his brother."

Clara sighed. "I like him just fine. I see no harm in getting the most out of a relationship."

Lucy stood up. "George is my boyfriend and I'm not about to share him with you." She picked up her drink and downed the rest in one go before slamming the glass back onto the countertop. The warmth of the alcohol rushed straight to her head followed by a rush of anger. Her hands shook.

Across the room Fred took off his blindfold while George threw his hands up in victory.

"Let me try next!" Luna jumped up and took the blindfold from George.

A cool breeze from the open patio door hit Lucy. She started for it, wanting to get far away from Clara and all the eyes in the room. She swerved toward Fred and grabbed him by the arm.

Fred stumbled as he almost fell backward from her tugging him along. "Um, hi, Lucy. What are you doing?"

She slipped through the door, refusing to let go of him. She continued past the patio toward a wooden bench sitting beneath a tall tree. She shoved Fred onto the bench. His brow knit in frustration.

"Am I going to get an explanation here or are you going to keep pushing me around? I hope you aren't looking for another duel."

She took a deep breath and then dove right into the matter. "Clara has gone too far." She rested her hands on her hips as she glared at him. With him sitting she could see eye-to-eye with him instead of having to look up. The effect bolstered her. "She asked to switch twins for the weekend. Who the fuck does she think she is asking to fuck my boyfriend?"

Fred paled. "She really asked that? She has a way of speaking her mind but that seems a bit much even for her."

Lucy clenched her hands. "I'm not lying! I don't appreciate Clara salivating over George."

He held up his hands to placate her. "I'll tell her to leave off. Nothing will come of her stupid question. Forget she asked."

She kicked her foot against the trunk of the tree and let out a grunt. "I don't care if you don't think it's a big deal but I do. I want you to keep Clara away from me. I swear if she steals George from me—" Her breath hitched and she couldn't force the rest of the words out. "I love him." The confession poured out before she could stop it. "Don't let her take him from me." Her shoulders sagged.

Fred's mouth opened in an 'o' of surprise. Silence pressed between them. She lowered her eyes, embarrassment coloring her cheeks.

"What's going on?" George's voice carried out over the short expanse of grass between the tree and patio as he approached.

Lucy's mouth dried.

"I-I-I—" She swallowed. George stepped up beside her and rubbed her arm.

Fred nervously jingled the change in his pocket. "An issue with Clara. I'll take care of it."

George scowled. "Lucy, mind giving me a minute in private with my brother?"

"S-sure." She shot toward the door. Inside she headed straight to the bathroom where she locked the door and sat on the edge of the large tub.

The bathroom alone was the size of her kitchen in her tiny flat. The realization sent a bitter laugh bubbling out of her. Harry came from a family with money. His dead parents helped him more than Lucy's parents ever helped her. When she told her mother about her move to England, all she would do was beg Lucy to get their family to invite her over. Get them to promise to meet with her one last time.

Harry lost his family and surrounded himself with friends. Lucy's mother did nothing but dwell on what she didn't have and drink. And Lucy, well she'd rather be like Harry. But if she lost George would she lose all of Oliver's other friends too? Her chest ached and she leaned forward, resting her head in her hands. The worry was exhausting. It felt too similar to the days following the meltdown of her last relationship. If all else failed she could always go back to America, but nothing waited for her there. Her friends were long gone. As much as it hurt to admit she didn't miss her mother. Without George and her other friends England would become as lonely as America had for her.

If not for Fred everything would be perfect. She wouldn't be sitting in the bathroom too exhausted to cry. Clara wouldn't be plotting to steal George for herself or Emily. And George…if he really had shared girlfriends with Fred he might be hoping to do it again. Clara's long legs and smooth skin were far from unattractive.

A light knock of the door made her jump. Her butt slid across the slippery ceramic of the tub and she clutched at it to keep from falling off.

"Lucy?"

She let out a breath at the sound of George's voice. She stood and cracked the door open.

"You okay?" George searched her face, his eyes full of concern.

"Yeah. I just…I don't want to see Clara." And she wanted to go home before she was too tempted to wring Clara's neck

"Fred and Clara are leaving." He rubbed the back of his neck. "She won't be back tonight, I promise."

She grabbed his arm, opened the door wider, and tugged him into the bathroom. She shut the door behind him for privacy. "Is it true that you and Fred used to share girlfriends?"

His eyes fluttered shut and his lips pressed into a thin line. "There was one girl Fred dated for a bit in school until he realized she couldn't tell the two of us apart. A few girls we tried to date had that issue. I think it's why Fred started wearing his hair shorter than mine." He sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "I know there have been all kinds of crazy rumors about us but I'm probably not half as exciting as any of them. Everyone loved to gossip about the crazy twins. We're not out to steal each other's girlfriends or do anything to make them uncomfortable."

"Clara asked to swap boyfriends for the weekend. You weren't interested in her, were you?"

George's eyes bulged. "Of course not!"

She nodded, choosing to believe him. So far he'd given her no reason to believe otherwise and she didn't want her past to make her a paranoid, suspicious wreck. She'd take her frustration out on Fred, not innocent George. "Ever made out in a bathroom before?"

His eyebrows rose. "No?"

"Want to?" She stuck out her bottom lip. "I need comfort and as my boyfriend it's your duty."

The tension in his shoulders and face relaxed. "Very right." He leaned down and kissed her. She melted against him as he rubbed her back. "Any better?" he asked when they pulled away.

"Yes. But I'd feel even better if you agreed to come back to my place after the party." Her hand slipped up under his shirt, her fingertips splaying out over his toned stomach. After Clara's proposition she wanted to claim him. To feel his hands grab her ass as their bodies rocked together. Despite her anger a flame of desire licked through her.

He nuzzled her neck. "Then we should stop this here and save the rest for later."

"Fine, but know I'm going to hold you to that."

"Of course. How about another drink to calm you?"

"Hot chocolate with Irish cream this time."

"Coming right up." He kissed her nose and she cracked a smile.

Luckily no one stood in the hallway when they opened the bathroom door and slunk out together. They headed back to the bar and she glanced out the tall windows, catching sight of Fred sitting alone on the front step leading to the door. He sat with his head in his hands, as still as a mourning graveyard statue. The pitiful sight washed away the remnants of her anger. He looked so much like George that she couldn't stop the rising worry for him.

"Should you go sit with him?"

George followed her gaze to his brother. "I think I'm one of the last people he wants to see right now. Leave him be. He'll come back when he's ready."

She peered up at him, unable to read his blank expression.

"Let's get you your drink."

"Yeah." She glanced back at the window before following after George. She'd need to find a way to connect to Fred better. Clara was a disaster, but Fred was still George's brother. No way could she handle the stress of drama constantly trying to weasel into her relationship. She needed a plan.

There had to be some secret to befriending Fred Weasley and whatever it was she was determined to figure it out before the next Clara came along.