**Disclaimer** I do not claim to own anything that's not mine (J.K. Rowling wrote these amazing things before I could even dream of them). I do claim my main character
I popped into the joke shop, 30 minutes after close. Fred was busy counting money at the counter while the shop girl, Verity, was restocking the shelves. I sensed the tension between them as I walked towards Fred. He looked up, hearing my footsteps. I stopped in front of the counter and whispered softly, without becoming visible.
"Hey Fred. It's me, Dee. Is George around?" He smiled.
"Did you say something Mr. Weasley?" Verity said tartly from where she was stocking decoy detonators. She kept having to put them back on the shelf since they tended to start wandering off every time she turned her back to grab another from the box.
"No Verity." Fred replied, sounding quite cross. He then looked across the counter at where he believed me to be and gestured upwards. I skipped off happily, headed upstairs.
As I opened the door to their apartment, I smelt gun powder, sugar and soap. Looking around, I didn't see George. Finally I heard noise from the bathroom.
"George?" I called out, but there was no answer. As I neared the bathroom, I heard George's voice distinctively.
"I'm singing in the gold. Just singing in the gold! What a wonderful feeling, you'll be happy to know. I'm laughing at jokes, so brilliantly thought up. The fun's in my heart and I'm ready for love…" I clutched my stomach as I held in my laughter. He was singing his own version of Singing in the Rain. I never knew George sang in the shower. I opened the door and quietly slipped in as he continued to sing. "Don't let Vold-e-mort chase, everyone from the place. Come on with the gold. I've a smile on my face. I walk down the aisle, with a happy chuckle. Just singing in, just singing in the gold!" I yanked open the shower curtain and he screamed like a little girl as he covered himself with his hands. I laughed my butt off as I became visible.
"Dee!" He shouted, smiling and laughing some too. "I'll get you…" He said and grabbed me, pulling me into the shower. I got soaked as I screeched. George just laughed. "You don't need clothes anyways." He said with a grin as I scrambled out of the shower, my clothes dripping water all over the floor. I scowled at him but it wasn't very effective since I could barely keep a smile off my face. I used my wand to dry myself off. "Aww! But I like it when you're all wet." George complained ornerily. I stuck out my tongue at him as I blushed. "Oh well, it's not like I can't get you wet again." He said with a wink. I blushed harder, glaring at him.
"A bit chilly though, isn't it?" I shot back with a smirk and obviously glance at his… He glanced down quickly and covered himself again. I laughed.
"A bit drafty in here, but I'm sure it's nice and warm in my bedroom." He said with a wink. I rolled my eyes at him. "Aww! I'm just teasing. Can you blame me? I've missed you, love." He said pouting. I laughed at his pout. He was so cute when he pouted.
"I'll meet you in your bedroom then, where it's warm." I said with laughter in my voice as I left the bathroom.
I sat on George's bed, waiting for him. I didn't have to wait long.
"Hello Love!" He greeted as he apparated into the room, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. I was startled by his sudden appearance and fell backwards on the bed. "Well, well… Someone is anxious to get under my sheets." He teased as he whipped off his towel. I blushed as I sat back up quickly and averted my eyes so as not to look at his naked body. George laughed as he watched me be uncomfortable. "It's not like you haven't seen me naked before." He said with a smile as he started to dress.
"I know, but I don't want us to get distracted. We have things to discuss." I replied.
George dressed in a black and red striped polo and faded jeans. I laughed. He had coordinated his outfit with mine. I had on a red and black plaid blouse and faded jeans.
"What? I figured if it looked good on you, it'd look good on me too since you always look good on me." He said with a wink. I rolled my eyes and got down to business. We discussed the party first. It was decided that Fred and him would handle the entertainment of the party. I would be in charge of the food. I decided quickly that we'd do simple cold foods such as sandwiches and the works and simple desserts too. George hated the fact that they would be 'simple' but didn't complain much because he knew he'd lose me as his 'chef' if he did. After all that was settled, I brought up Hogwarts.
"So, I put this to Cedric already, since it effects our tutor sessions." I started. George wasn't paying attention to me though. He was riffling through a magazine of muggle 'magic' products. He nodded absently at me. "Thought maybe he'd move in with me at Da's…" I continued on, watching George's absent nod again. I smiled mischievously. "But of course, there isn't a third bedroom, so he'd have to share with me." George still only replied with an absent nod. "You do trust Cedric to sleep in the same room as me, right?" I asked. George's head shot up as he looked at me.
"What?" He asked. I laughed.
"About time you started paying attention. You just agreed to buy me a new broomstick, give me back massages every day for a month and to allow Cedric and me to move in with you and Fred." I said with an ornery glint in my eye. He gaped at me for a moment before rolling his eyes.
"What were you really saying?" He asked and kissed me on the cheek as an apology.
"Well, I was trying to ask you about your feelings about me going back to Hogwarts to help my Da. He says he needs me to spy on Draco Malfoy." I explained. George was silent for a long moment. It made me nervous.
"Didn't you get hurt last time you helped your Da out with something dangerous?" He asked, even though he knew the answer already. His soft tone worried me. It was like the calm before the storm…
"George…" I started, but he interrupted me.
"No. And why does he need to you spy on Draco Malfoy, of all people?" He asked in quiet anger.
"He suspects he's up to something. I think he's gone up on the radar since his father got caught at the Ministry break in last year." I answered. George's jaw worked angrily.
"NO." He said stubbornly.
"No, What?" I asked, unsure.
"NO! You can't go back to Hogwarts to spy on Draco Malfoy! You can't go to do more "missions" for your Da! I don't want to see you hurt again!" He said vehemently and pulled me into his arms roughly. He held me tight to him, protectively. I felt tears prickle behind my eyes touched, by his protectiveness.
"George?" I said, muffled against his chest. He released me enough for me to look up at his face. He had tear streaks down his cheeks and my heart stuttered in response. I reached up and wiped them away for him. "George." I said, commanding but gentle. "I need to do this for my Da. What kind of danger could I possibly face within Hogwarts? Especially with my Da there. He's the one that Voldemort fears most." I said. George's face was still stubborn but he finally replied.
"Fine." Then he captured my mouth fiercely. His aggressive love startled me at first but then I melted into his embrace. I ended up staying the night, warm in his protective and loving arms.
B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~B
I prowled the hallways of Hogwarts. It was nice to be back. Halloween was approaching and this elevated the students' excitement. There would be parties in each of the houses. A few of the students though didn't seem worried about it. Instead, their minds were on other things.
I noticed Harry with his nose always in his potions book and bugging Professor Slughorn. It was slightly unusual. I don't remember him showing that much interest when Professor Snape taught potions… I laughed out loud as I realized how silly that thought was. Of course he didn't like potions when Professor Snape taught it. Those two get along as well as milk and vinegar.
Professor Slughorn was a cheerful addition to the staff. I bet George and Fred could have learned a lot from him. Harry, Hermione and Ginny had made it into his "Slug Club". I had a feeling that George and Fred would have been invited too if they had been students of his. George and Fred were quite brilliant though they tried to mask it with their schemes and tricks. I had written Con back to tell her everything that was going on. When she'd replied, her letter was full of humorous tales of her abysmal potions skills when she'd been in Slughorn's class. Luckily she had gotten better over the years since she needed the skill for her job.
Though Professor Slughorn and his potions class were interesting, I had other important things to focus on. Da's sources assured him that Draco Malfoy was trying to find a way to let Death Eaters into Hogwarts. So, my main focus was to tail him, as Da had originally asked of me. Unfortunately, he was very sneaky. What is it with Slytherins being so sneaky? I wasn't able to catch him at anything yet. So, so far, it was unexciting. I'd been able to meet with Cedric quite often for our tutor sessions still. They were going well. Cedric was finally getting the hang of silent casting.
"Expelliarmus!" He shouted but I easily countered it. I rolled my eyes at him dramatically. Then suddenly my wand flew out of my hand. I gasped in shock before grinning.
"Yeah! Cedric!" I cheered in delight. He grinned too.
"I knew you could get the hang of silent casting." I said cheerfully. We hugged excitedly and before I could stop it, Cedric kissed me. I pushed him away immediately and stared at him, shocked. He stared right back, a look of horror on his face.
"I'm so sorry Deirdra. I, I, I don't know what came over me. I'm so sorry." Cedric stuttered as he ran his fingers through his hair. It's alright. He just got overly excited. I calmed myself as an awkward moment of silence passed.
We continued the lesson, trying to forget and pretend that the kiss didn't happen. I decided by the end, that I didn't need to tell George about it.
B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~B
Guilt gnawed at me. I hadn't done anything wrong but I felt guilty about not telling George about the kiss. It distracted me from my tasks. I was still supposed to be watching Draco. He kept disappearing into the room of requirement and I couldn't get in behind him. I was so frustrated.
Christmas was approaching fast. All the students seemed tenser than they used to. Not so much Christmas cheer this year. I could understand why; with Voldemort and Death Eaters at large. I tried to enjoy the beauty that the Christmas season brought though. The grounds were magically beautiful with the first fall of snow. I missed spending time with George. Him and Fred's house warming party had gone well, but not for what George had intended it. Verity had showed up, but she and Fred had gotten into a fight over how delicious the food was. It was ridiculous. Verity had said the food was good. Fred heard her and burst out in anger that the food was more than good, it was delicious. Shouts ensued and the whole thing ended with Verity running out, crying and Fred stomping off.
I trudged through the snow, my cloak pulled tight around me as the icy air blew hard. I looked around at the empty snowy courtyard and imagined George and Fred organizing a snow ball fight. I could see the bricked up snow, creating a fortress wall to hide behind as George and Fred pelted other students with balls of wet snow. I laughed and ducked, pretending they had just thrown one in my direction. When I realized how silly I was being, I sighed, wishing I wasn't standing here just pretending. Where had the years gone? I could remember, as if it were just yesterday, George and Fred getting sorted into Gryffindor as I had watched with a smile and glowing eyes, invisible at the back of the great hall. I cheered for every Gryffindor, quietly in my head of course, since that was the house I'd found out I would have been in. I remember that night, so clearly, as I sat in the big red chair and Da had placed the hat on my head. It hadn't hesitated or stuttered over the choice. "GRYFFINDOR!" it had pronounced so clear, and much to my delight. I could remember the night George had tried to track me down using the Marauder's Map. I smiled as I remembered Fred blowing a kiss to George's "ghost". I remembered when George had chased me down to the Black Lake, just two years ago… I smiled at the memory. I pulled my mind out of the quick sand of my memories before I got lost and found myself somewhere sad.
I stopped my lulling outside of the room of requirement. I hoped I hadn't missed Draco again. A Christmas wreath glittered nearby and I was distracted again. I found myself thinking about spending Christmas with George and his family. I was very excited for it. I sighed and set myself down as I knew I'd have to wait for Draco. I started to list off what I was going to get everyone for Christmas. My cheery mood just expanded in my heart and I started to hum Christmas carols.
"Who's there?" Demanded Filch's voice from around the corner and I instantly went quiet. "I'll be it's that Malfoy boy sneaking around again." He muttered to himself as he walked by me. I almost laughed at how close he was to being right. Instead, I opted to stick my tongue out at Mrs. Norris as she sniffed in my general direction. I hoped I was the one to catch him and not Filch. I would wring his neck til he gave up what he was up too… Well, I'd wish I could do that…
*** I'm glad you guys enjoyed the last chapters. Sorry if anyone got confused with the alt end and bonus deleted chapter. I really hope you like this one too. I am not even finished with the chapter after this one. I'm catching up to myself due to some writer's block. 1/5 of this chapter didn't even exist until I just typed it up and added more to it. I hope everyone likes it. Thank you for all the reviews and a special thanks to User: 340997394, who gave me a shout out from her last chapter update on her story, Voldemort. If you guys are fans of Voldemort's at all, you should go check it out. It's quite good, told in the perspective of Voldemort from when he's a child and growing up. Anyways, Thanks for Reading, PLEASE REVIEW! I love you all!