.:Chapter Two- The Piggy Back Ride:.
I spent a little over two months with the Weasley's. The best two months of my life! The twins and I spent all the time we could together. Making things for the Joke Shop, planed pranks for the up-coming school year, the normal things. The last week of July, we got our letters, mine included. I was to be in my sixth year. George had started calling me pet names, mostly food items. Mrs. Weasley thought more of the names, taking away most of the fun. She had threatened to move me out of the room, but we convinced her to let me stay. It was August fifth, and we had planed to take a trip to Diagon Alley. We were meeting Hermione there. Harry would come later that month.
We ate lunch fast so we could get to Diagon Alley. I was ecstatic about going to the Wizard shops. I always wanted to go! I got butterflies for some reason, thought I didn't know why. I was the first one to finish, so I went into the sitting room. Just then Fred came in , and I instantly turned pink. The only downside to being a red head. Everyone knew when we're embarrassed. But did Fred notice this?
Mrs. Weasley, who just walked in, must have noticed me turning those many shades of red because she asked if anything was wrong. I didn't want her to know, so I told her I was just a little cold. George had overheard so he handed me his jacket. I went to thank him, but Mrs. Weasley had started to talk.
"We'll be using Floo Powder to get to the Leaky Caldron, Fred would you go first to show Marie how to—"
"Could I go first?" I asked, wanting to show I wasn't a dolt. She nodded, so I walked over to the fireplace. I took a small handful of the sparkling powder, trying not to waste any. I stepped into the large fireplace, the flames turned greenish. I dropped the dust, and said "Diagon Alley" as clear as I could.
The flames surrounded me, and I began to spin. Fires of other wizarding families soared past me. The experience was just like Harry described it, which wasn't a good thing. I started to feel queasy. I felt faint, and right as I was to vomit, I landed on the floor. I was getting steady, and about ready to stand up, when a body landed on top of me.
"Sorry, Marie." Fred said, as he looked into my eyes. He had one leg one each side of me, his face inches from mine. My face was getting warmer, and Fred's face got closer to mine. I felt his warm breath on my cheek, and he gave me goose bumps.
"I could get used to this." He said, smirking at me. My face grew hotter.
"I didn't think it was possible for you to turn any redder! But, I guess having a charming bloke, like Fred, on top of you would do it." George said, doubling over from laugher. Fred quickly got up, turning red himself. He walked over to his brother. George whispered to his twin, "Wow, this has to be the fastest I've ever seen you with a girl! Pinning her down in a crowded store!" he winked, then added, "but nice choice though, very good looking, that one!"
"You completely misunderstood this situation," Fred said, giving his brother an odd look, "She pinned me down, and I was fighting to have control back. She's a feisty one."
"Yes. I don't take it well when I'm on the bottom." I said winking. I went to tackle Fred, but Mrs. Weasley was coming though the fire place. I quickly changed the subject. "Where are we?" I asked, brushing soot off my cloak.
"Flourish and Blotts." George said, moving out of a customer's way. I looked around and I realized it was, in fact, a bookstore. The events that just took place had taken my mind off of where we were. Not knowing were I was, was one of the last things I wanted to do. What if we ended up in Knockturn Ally? I don't think I could deal with the dark arts just yet, or any time for that matter.
The three of us were walking around the store, when we realized that we had left the book list with Mrs. Weasley. And, as if on cue, Mrs. Weasley walked over to us, money in her hands.
"Here, dear, this is the money that we exchanged," she said handing me the money in her right hand. Then she handed me the money in her left hand, and she added, "and this is the money Dumbledore is giving you for your books, and other school things." Mrs. Weasley left and the twin and I walked about the store to find the books the three of us needed. I had no idea why I was going into my sixth year, I didn't know any of the basic magic that the others knew, but Dumbledore knows what he's doing. I have total faith in him.
"I really hope you're in Gryffindor, Cupcake!" George said.
"Where else would I be?" I said, as the twins took the books from my arms and carried them for me. I thought it was sweet, until I realized who was holding my books. Would they really prank a girl that knew no magic? Absolutely. I had no doubt in my mind.
"Ravenclaw is always a possibility. But, how knows, maybe you have a mischievous streak in you." Fred said, smirking. I turned a bright shade of red, I never once thought myself as mischievous. Maybe spending the last two months with the twins changed me..
I felt something touch the back of my shirt but before I could turn around, the twins high-fived each other, then I heard some one to my left say something.
"I, on the other hand, think she'll be in Slytherin." Draco Malfoy was just walking in the store as we were leaving. Just my luck. I turned to the twins and walked out, he wasn't worth my time.
"You defiantly wont be in Slytherin, no doubt about it." Fred said, winking. But Draco wasn't giving up that easy.
"How about you ditch these Blood-Traitors and come with me?" He said, putting an arm around me.
I pushed his arm off me. "Sorry, she can't. She's already on a date." Fred said, placing his arm where Malfoy's just was. His arm was warm; I didn't want him to move it. I figured I might as well make the most of the situation, so I leaned into Fred, smiling at Malfoy.
His mouth dropped to the ground, and instead of coming back with some snide remark, he turned and walked the other way. Right into Knockturn Alley, once he was around the corner, I turned to Fred and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"He was always my least favorite character. I hated him from the moment Harry met him in Madams Malkins." For once in my life, I wasn't the one to blush, Fred was.
"Where's mine?" George said, giving me the puppy pout. I leaned in and kissed him too. As I looked away I saw George wink at Fred.
"What did—" But before I could finish my sentence I saw a huge spider on my arm. I screamed, and ran as fast as I could into the nearest store. It was Florean Fortoscue's Icecream Parlor. The twins fallowed me into the shop, laughing at their prank. Once the shock of it not being a real spider wore off, I laughed too.
"So Fred, I got a kiss from Sugarplum, over there."
"Yeah, well, I got one first!" Fred said, lightly slapping his twin. George hit him back. And soon enough they were slapping each other like two little girls. The whole shop was laughing, including Florean himself.
"I love you guys!" I said, holding onto a chair to keep my balance. They fought even harder.
"She loves us!" Fred said, smirking.
"No, Fred, she really meant me!"
"Definitely not, my not-as-cute twin."
"Ah, I must disagree with you, I think George is cuter." I said. This was too funny. The people in the shop started cheering the twins on. They loved it, so they fought harder.
"I knew it!" George said, smirking at Fred. "I knew you loved me more, Honeybun!" Fred argued back. The fight lasted until Mrs. Weasley walked into the Icecream Parlor.
"What have you been doing?" She asked, her hands on her hips, looking around the shop. All the patrons returned to their icecream like nothing ever happened.
"Entertaining my costumers." Florean said, handing the three of us Icecream Sundays. "On the house. I don't think I have ever laughed this hard in my life." He said, tears started falling down his face. We began to enjoy our icecream, when we realized Mrs. Weasley might not like the fact that we were 'performing' in public. The three of us looked up at her, waiting for her to explode, but it never came, she just smiled. That smile turned into a stern look as she saw they reach for my hands, and dragged me out of the store.
"Why did you do that?" I asked, no understanding why we had to leave. They glanced at each other. Trying to find the right words.
"Mum told us not to get too close this soon. Just in case you chose to go home." George said,
"And go back to a world that doesn't want me? Don't think so. I'm here to stay!" I said, smiling. The only thing I would go back for is my parents. If I could find a way to talk to them, or visit, that would be perfect. I really didn't want to go back.
We didn't linger on the thought of me maybe leaving, instead we joked around as we finished our school shopping. I bought a few articles of clothing to last me until we could go to Ottery St. Catchpole. The twins didn't want to go at all. "Do we have to go shopping for your clothes, make-up, and girly things?" George asked, slouching down into the couch of some clothes shop.
"Yes, your mother told you that I cant be left alone until I know the wizarding world better," I said, "And she said that you're out of tampons. I promised I would make sure we got you some." Fred fell on the floor, laughing.
"She got you there, mate!" He said, in between fits of giggles. He had a laugh that made you laugh harder. George wanted to go for a drink. We decided to go to the Leaky Cauldron. Fred walked in first, followed by George. Lingered in the door way. It was still hard to believe that I was really here. When I got into the Pub, the twins were talking to a girl with frizzy brown hair, and with large front teeth.
"Hello! You must be Marie!" Hermione said, hugging me. "Ron's told me everything ,of course."
"Hey, Hermione! It's lovely to meet you!"
"The same to you. These are my parents. They're dropping me off here. I'm going to stay at the Burrow for the rest of the summer." She said, smiling. I turned to her parents, and it made me think of my own. Hermione must have noticed this, because she hurried to get us Butterbeers. We sat and talked for a bit, waiting for Ron to come.
"We should go to Quality Quidditch Supply." George said, taking my hand and pulling me to the yard of the Pub.
"Get on my back." Fred said bending down. I did as I was told, with a little of George's help.
"Thanks, Sweet Pea." I said to George, as I finally got onto Fred's back. He slid his hands under my leg, taking advantage of the Muggle shorts I have on. His hands are so soft.
"You have nice legs." Fred said, smiling.
"Let me feel!" George said, reaching for my leg. His fingers weren't as soft as Fred's. I pulled away from George, and relaxed on Fred's back. I intertwined my fingers, with my arms relazed, and I rested my head on his shoulder.
"Comfy?" Fred asked.
"Very." I said, closing my eyes. George tapped the brick with his wand, and the archway into Diagon Alley opened up. As they were walking down the street, Fred was whispering to me.
"So there's this girl, I just met her, but I think I'm falling for her." He said, making me blush a bit.
"Who?" I whispered back, smiling into his ear.
"Well, I gave her a piggy back ride down Diagon Alley." He answered. His voice gave me butterflies. "The second she was that close to me, I realized I never wanted her to leave." I smiled into his neck, but something popped into my mine, and Fred seemed to know. "But I don't want to move fast, like I did with so many other girls. I feel I could love this girl. For the rest of my life." I kissed his cheek; I could feel his cheeks burn under my lips. "I didn't mean you!"
"I'm sure." I said, laughing. Again, I need to keep reminding myself to be careful.
"I'm leaving. I can't stand all this wishy-washy nonsense!" George said, pretending to puke in one of the barrels of owl feed in front of the Owl Emporium. Fred and I laughed.
"See you in a bit. Meet us in the Leaky Cauldron in an hour." Fred said, watching George walk into another store. I rested my head on his shoulder again..
"Fred, you're so warm." I said.
"Why, Miss Klem, what are you suggesting?"
"Get your bloody mind out of the gutter Mr. Weasley." I said, breathing on his neck. I felt goose bumps on his arms. The Quidditch Store was just in eye site, but Fred seemed to be going slower and slower. I didn't mind, I didn't want this moment to end. "Wait. I thought George wanted to come along as well?"