"Bill, how did you know Fleur was meant for you?" George said. "That you wanted to marry her?"

George hadn't meant to ask the question so out of the blew. His brother was the only person he could ask without judgement.

Bill did raise a questioning eyebrow. "Why?"

"Mum hasn't put me up to this, you can relax," George explained. Their mother still hadn't let the matter that Bill and Fleur and only known each other for what she deemed as not long enough to marry each other drop.

Bill shrugged and thoughtfully said, "couldn't envision a life without her. Whenever I thought about the future I thought about one with Fleur in it."

"What's this really about George," Bill said, "because if you're thinking of asking Harr-"

"No, not yet," George said, rather quickly, "but all the future stuff, you mentioned - yeah, that's how I feel- you know and I just want what's best for her. Is it weird that I'm saying that? So in the future - possibly - most definitely."

"Not weird, just a little surprising, but I suppose love does that to you," Bill chortled, "has a way of sneaking up and surprising you."

"I never thought I'd have what mum and dad have got, you know-"

"I know what you mean."

"But with Harriet, I feel like - I've got a real shot at it."

"Just do yourself a favour, if you do intend to ask," Bill said seriously, "Ask Harry after she graduates Hogwarts. You'll never hear the end of it otherwise."


"So, all in all, not one of Ron's better birthdays," Fred said, gloomily, looking at the hospital bed Ron was in. It was now evening. Harry, Hermione, and Ginny had spent the day waiting outside the doors, trying to find out what was going on. Madam Pomfrey had let them enter at eight o'clock. Fred and George had arrived at ten past eight.

"'This isn't how we imagined handing over our present," George said grimly, putting down a large wrapped gift on Ron's bedside cabinet, sitting down beside Harry.

"Yeah, when we pictured the scene, he was conscious," Fred said.

"There we were in Hogsmeade - waiting for you lot to arrive -" George said.

"We were thinking of buying Zonko's," Fred said. "A Hogsmeade branch, you know, but not a lot of good it'll do us if you lot aren't allowed out at weekends to buy our stuff anymore ..."

Fred drew a chair up beside Ginny. 'So how did it happen exactly?'

Harry retold the story, she had already recounted to Dumbledore, McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey, Hermione, and Ginny.

"... and then I shoved the bezoar down his throat and his breathing eased up a bit, Slughorn ran for help, McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey turned up, and they brought Ron up here. They reckon he'll be all right. Madam Pomfrey says he'll have to stay here a week or so ..."

"Blimey it was lucky you thought of a bezoar," George said.

"Lucky that there was one in the room," Harry sniffed, fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Hey," George whispered, squeezing her hand in reassurance, "it's OK, don't cry. There was one, and that's all that matters. Don't think on the what-ifs, alright."

"Do mum and dad know?" Fred asked Ginny.

She nodded, "They've already been to see him, they arrived an hour ago - they're in Dumbledore's office now, but they'll be back soon ..."

"So, the poison was in the drink?" said Fred quietly.

"Yeah," Harry said. "Slughorn poured it out -"

"Would he have been able to slip something into Ron's glass without you seeing?"

"Probably," Harry mumbled, "but that makes no sense, why poison Ron?"

"Could have mixed up the glasses," Fred shrugged. "Meaning to get to you instead."

"Slughorn likes Harry, why would he want to poison her?" Ginny said.

"OK, OK," Fred conceded. "So, going after the "Chosen One" wasn't the idea."

Harry thought the events over. "I think the poison was in the bottle - Slughorn said he was meant to give Dumbledore the bottle of mead for Christmas."

"Which means, the poisoner didn't know Slughorn very well," Hermione said. "Anyone who knew Slughorn would have known there was a good chance he'd keep something that tasty for himself."


"I think we need to talk about what we're going to do next."

George looked around, it had been his turn to do the cooking.

"I don't understand what you mean. I thought the plan for Hogsmeade was a bust."

"I'm not talking about that, I'm talking about Harry. What are our plans if say a certain someone does visit our streets and you two are still together- he's going to -"

"I know," George said softly, turning his attention back to their dinner. "I've got some money saved up -"

"What makes you think you're doing anything alone?"

George faced his twin once more, it was true they had never separated before.

"We're twins, only the girls can tell us apart from a first glance, if you go. I go."

"I suppose Ange will have to come with us too then," George muttered.

"Yeah, I suppose she better." Fred said, "or I will be a dead man."

"Best get together and figure out a plan then." George found himself saying, turning his attention back to cooking. "What brought this on anyway?"

"Ron being poisoned," Fred said in a serious tone. "I know Harriet doesn't think she was the one it was meant for - but that girl has been in all sorts of - for lack of a better word - trouble."

George chuckled. "Yeah, I suppose that's one word for Harriet's daring adventures."