A/N:Whoo! I'm on a roll with these longer chapters. Now, let's see if I can keep it up. Whoops. I just realized I never stuck one of these in any of my chapters.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, places, yada, yada, yada. The almighty J.K. Rowling does. I just like playing with them. Of course this isn't a library so I can't promise they will come back in good condition. Sadly I also make no profit off this. I do it for fun.
Fred's POV:
Whatever snit George had worked himself into worked itself out after our little 'conversation'. It was just in time too. I'd been working on a surprise the last couple weeks and had finally received the owl I'd been waiting for. I read over the letter again to make sure everything is in order before I go to find George and tell him the news. Walking down the hallway I spot Harry lounging on his bed in Ron's room so I stop to grab him too. After all he was the one that gave us the money to start our business so it only felt right that he got to hear the news too.
"Hey, Harry! Come with me," I call and he hops up off the bed to talk to me.
"What'd you need?" he asks me. I just motion for him to follow me and continue my path to our room.
"What is it?" he asks again.
"You'll see," I tell him. He frowns at my response while jogging to catch up. I walk into my room and tell my brother to get up.
"What's up, Fred?" he asks on his way over to us. I dig the letter out of my pocket with flourish and begin to read from it while watching their faces from the corner of my eye. I don't have to read for very long before getting a reaction.
"Dear Mr. Weasley, We are happy to inform you that the property you inquired about Diagon Alley is indeed available. If you wish to become the proprietor of this store you'll need to fill out the necessary paperwork below and send in the first month's rent. . ." I read sternly. Harry's eyes widen to the size of tea saucers and George's face transforms into a huge grin.
"This is brilliant! This means we can open our own joke shop!" he yells grabbing the letter from me to finish reading. Laughing at his reaction I tell him that was kind of the point.
"Yep and it's all thanks to our Harry here," I remind him while clapping Harry on the back.
"That's right! Harry, this is fabulous. We wouldn't be able to do this without you," George tells him seriously. Harry just blushes and mutters something about remembering our promise not to tell our mother where the galleons came from. We laugh and let Harry leave to find Ron. George smiles and flops down onto his bed. Stretching he turns on his side to face me.
"You really want to open this shop?" he asks me grinning.
"Of course I do! I even picked my favorite twin to co-own the shop with," I tell him casually. He rolls his eyes and pops me upside the head playfully.
"I'm your only twin," he reminds me laughing. I wave his comment off in a business-like manner.
"Details, details," I tell him grabbing the papers from his hand. Reading them over once more I add my signature to the bottom of one of the pages.
"Would you like to sign?" I ask George offering him the paper and a quill. Taking them he adds his signature next to me. I dash into to Ron's room to borrow Pig. The silly thing twitters around my head before settling down enough so that I can tie the papers to its leg.
"Take these to Gringotts, Pig," I order the bird as it buzzes out the window.
"Well I guess there's only one thing left to do," George tells me smirking.
"What's that," I ask.
"Tell mum," he responds and laughs as he watches the blood drain from my face.
George's POV:
"YOU DID WHAT!?" mum screams. I feel Fred flinch back the same time I do. Looking over at him I gather my resolve.
"I said that Fred and I-" I begin.
"-have started our own business in Diagon Alley," Fred finishes for me. Mum spends another 15 minutes yelling at us for being so utterly irresponsible before giving up. She sighs in defeat. She's gotten used to this over the years and is probably just waiting for the day for us to tell her that we've become nudists or something equally as horrifying.
"Will you two be staying here anymore then?" she asks wearily.
"No, there's a flat above the shop-" I explain.
"-that George and I will be staying in, mum." Fred concludes. She nods her head and tells us that we should probably start with the boxes in Percy's room. On our way out she tells us to remind Ginny to set up the spare bed in her room for Hermione as she'll be arriving this afternoon. We promise to do so and thank her before heading off to the attic.
When we get there we start sorting through boxes. Several are full of failed products and are tossed in the garbage. Fred pulls a Headless Hat out of one of the boxes and stuffs it on my head. He laughs until I stuff a Canary Cream into his mouth. He squawks indignantly until he turns back to his normal ginger-haired self. After that he decides to quietly help me sort through the rest of the stuff.
"Hey, Fred?" I ask
"Mmmmm," he responds.
"You have a better eye for design than I do. Wouldn't you agree?" I ask him.
"I suppose," he murmurs distractedly.
"So, why don't you handle the store front? I'll work on setting up the flat upstairs," I offer.
"Sure," he smiles. We spend the rest of the afternoon sorting the remaining products and discussing some new ideas and a layout for our shop. We hear the commotion when Hermione arrives and go down briefly to greet her. After that it's a couple hours before were interrupted again. We hear footsteps in the hallway before someone opens the door.
"Hey guys?" Harry asks peering around the door.
"Hi, Harry! What did you need?" I ask.
"How about a Canary Cream?" Fred offers.
"I'll pass," Harry tells us. He informs us that dinner's done before heading back out. We get off the floor and brush the dust of ourselves before following him out the door.
Fred's POV:
Dinner is noisy as usual but even more so tonight with the news of our impending shop.
"You can't be serious?" Hermione asks with a look of disbelief on her face.
"Well, we can be-"
"-but usually we choose not to," George and I tell her wisely. She rolls her eyes and turns to talk to Ginny about some book she's been reading.
"Shoo ooo guys are eelly oooving out ten?" Ron asks around a mouthful of food. Hermione gives him a distasteful look which causes him to blush and swallow so he can repeat his question. George and I chuckle which only causes Hermione to glare at us.
"I mean, you guys are really moving out then?" he repeats.
"Yup. There's a flat above the shop," I inform him.
"Yeah, Fred is taking care of the lower level and I'll be organizing the flat above," George adds. I nod in agreement and reach across the table for the mashed potatoes. Ginny hands them to me and asks when we plan on leaving.
"Next few days actually," I respond and the noise at the table suddenly hushes.
"That soon?" mum asks looking slightly teary-eyed.
"Uh, yeah. We're setting up the shop tomorrow and throwing a party to celebrate. The flat should be ready in the next couple days," George explains. Mum smiles and pats him on the cheek.
"I guess you two really are growing up," she smiles fondly. George and I give her matching horrified looks.
"Us?" I clarify.
"Grow up?" he asks.
"George, that would be terribly tragic wouldn't it?" I ask him.
"Indeed," he nods sagely. The table bursts into laughter and the rest of dinner is spent planning our party.
George's POV:
Everything manages to get set up in the shop front in time for the party. This being a miracle really considering how many crates had to be unpacked. Fred sets up large punch bowl which he spikes heavily of course. There are a few tables of snacks and enough room to dance. Lights from the party globes we set up twinkle across the walls and floor. We set up the sound system just before 8 when everyone is due to arrive. Music floats through the air as Mum and Dad step through the door. It's about an hour into the party when everyone is chatting happily and dancing. Hermione tells us she's actually quite impressed with how everything turned out.
"It looks great!" she shouts over the music.
"Thanks!" I shout back.
"We try!" Fred tells her a bit too close too her ear. She flinches but thankfully doesn't say anything.
In another hour everyone is somewhat drunk including Fred and I. We wander around and watch the people who have coupled off to dance. Ron and Hermione are moving together in one corner and Harry and Ginny in another. We laugh as we watch Hermione try to put Ron's hands on her waist. He looks around panicked before settling into the new situation. After that it isn't long before mostly everyone is partied out and getting ready to leave.
"Great party guys," Harry tells us before walking out with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. Our mother comes by to tell us that if we need anything we're to owl her immediately and hugs us both within an inch of lives. Promising we will, we usher her out with dad not far behind. After everyone finally wanders out I go find Fred.
"Hey, Fred?" I ask, my words only slightly slurred.
"Yeah?"
"How about a little extra celebration?" I offer holding up a bottle of Ogden's Firewhiskey. Fred grins broadly before snatching the bottle from my hands.
"Definitely," he smirks before taking a swig.
Fred's POV:
30 minutes later George and I are plastered. Blinking I locate George off to my left and crawl over to him.
"George," I mumble trying to pull him up.
"Come on, get up, lets go to bed," I coax. I don't even care there aren't any beds upsatirs yet. We're far to drunk to be apparating anywhere.
He groans and reluctantly follows as we to try make it over to the staircase without falling on our faces. He leans on me until we make it to the bottom of the staircase where I tell him he's on his own. He flips me the finger and starts climbing. Several miserable, unbalanced moments later we finally reach the top of the stairs. As I climb the last of the stairs I stumble and crash into George sending us to the floor in an undignified heap. I end up smashed against George, my face inches from his. I can make out every one of his features and all I want do is ravage him. George turns to look at me and our eyes lock. That's when I lean down and kiss him. His mouth is warm and soft when I press against it with my own. His eyes widen for only a moment before he groans and kisses back. I press against him licking across his lips and he gasps letting me in. When our tongues swirl together I taste the Firewhiskey we've been drinking and something else that reminds me of Sugar Quills. I mentally smile at the thought. Threading my fingers through his hair I pull myself even closer and rock my hips against his. I moan into his mouth when they connect.
"Fred," he gasps.
When he says my name it's like hang over potion to my senses. I stumble backwards and give him a terrified look before apologizing and apparating back to the burrow. When I reach our bedroom back at home I slide down the wall and start hoping George won't remember this in the morning.
George's POV:
30 minutes later I'm almost passed out on the floor. Fred manages to pull me off the floor and force me to stumble over to the staircase. He tells me I'm on my own as I start to climb and I flip him off before staggering up. When I reach the top I turn to see if Fred has made it up when he collides forcefully with me and we end up in a heap on the floor. Turning my face to look at Fred I see he's only inches from my face. We lock eyes before he presses his lips to mine. I panic momentarily before he starts kissing me and when he does I groan and kiss him back. I feel him press into me and lick across my lips. I gasp and let him in. Our tongues swirl together and I can taste the Firewhiskey we've been drinking and the undercurrent of something else that is uniquely Fred. Funnily enough it reminds me of Licorice Wands and mentally I smile at the idea. He threads his fingers into my hair and rocks his hips against mine. I moan into his mouth when they connect.
"Fred," I gasp.
When I do though he pulls back from me panicked. I can see the alarm in his eyes before he whispers an apology and disapparates before my eyes. I lean back against the wall and slide down to sit there. I curl up and start hoping Fred doesn't remember this in the morning.
A/N:Finally! Some F/G action. God, what took so long? Jk. Reviews, please? You know you want too and I'm too nice to hold the next chapter hostage. Well, on second thought. . .