My Blood
(Fred's point of view)
Charlie's flat was small but he had land that went for miles. I always loved visiting him and realized I needed to make more of an effort to stop by. I knock on his door and wait. My hands started to sweat and I wiped them on my jumper. I hear a door unlock.
"Fred? What a lovely surprise, come to clean the mess you've made?" Charlie said opening the door, waving me into his home.
"Where is he?" I said looking around the house.
"The spare room. Actually, wait here. I probably should take his wand…" he said quickly, rushing off. I thought he was being a bit dramatic. I followed him into the kitchen and sat down at his table. Charlie walked back into the kitchen and sat down across from me with George's wand.
"How is he?" I said concerned.
"How is he? Is that a serious question? How thick!" Charlie snapped.
"Charlie you don't understand" I started to say.
"I DO UNDERSTAND, what I don't understand is why you waited to come talk to him. A girl should not get in the way of brothers. He is a bloody mess, I wish you had visited right away" Charlie said shaking his head.
"You sound like mum, where's your apron?" I joked trying to lighten the mood.
"Fred, that mouth of yours was always trouble. No wonder all of this happened. I was here for him when Hermione left but, I can't be here 24-7. Even one day alone can be beyond damaging speaking from experience. He seemed okay at first after I had a talk with him but, I think he just was lying to me so I'd leave him alone. He's really trying to be okay with you and Hermione. Ginny tries to help but he just gets pissy and makes her leave. He needs his twin brother. You are his other half and a talk from you might do him some good. He's passed out right now but only because he's been drinking non-stop. Go wake him up," Charlie demanded standing up. I walk over to the room and open the door.
"It smells like dead troll in here. Why have you been letting him drink?" I exclaimed.
"Don't you dare try to make this is my fault. He is grown, I can't control what he does. It numbs the pain and when he starts to sober up, the pain seems to have multiplied. Imagine if Hermione chose George how you would feel aye? Do you honestly have any idea? Don't you dare, you're lucky I took his wand!" He shouted, pointing George's wand at me. He glared at me for a moment and then sighed. He put his hand on my shoulder.
"He's in bad shape, be kind, will you?" He sighed and then walked out his back door. I walk into the room and shut the door. George was sprawled out on the bed and his feet and hands were hanging off both ends of it. I walk to the side of his bed and see empty bottles everywhere. I pick up a half empty bottle and wave my wand making a chair. I sit and take a swig of the bottle.
"George.." I sighed, sitting the bottle on the end table. I heard him shuffle a little. I stood up and knocked over some bottles I didn't notice.
"Charlie, piss off. I told you I just need to sleep," he mumbled, putting a pillow over his head.
"It's not Charlie," I said sitting back down. Silence filled the room. He removed the pillow and lifted his head squinting at me.
"You've got to be joking" he said laughing putting his head back into the pillow.
"How are you?" I regretted saying as soon as the words left my mouth. He shot up and starting looking for something.
"Where's my wand?" He yelled glaring at me. Good call Charlie.
"Why?"
"Because I'm going to shoot at you with it," he said casually looking under the bed.
"Stop being mental"
"Do you really want to test me?"
"Charlie has it."
"Piss off will you?" He yelled laying back down.
"Can we just talk without you going mad?" I snapped.
"Go ahead," he said sitting up from his bed. His eyes were those of insanity, the dark circles around his eyes were enormous and he looked bloody awful.
"First off, I must say, you're positively radiant! Glowing actually," I smiled weakly, looking at his mad-scientist hair.
"Get on with it," he snapped looking through the empty bottles.
"I miss you brother," I said solemnly. He looked up and met my eyes. I've never seen him like this before. He looked so dreadful and lost. His eyes were puffy and swollen and I felt a sharp pain in my chest from seeing him this way. It's breaking me down looking at him. "I didn't want this to happen the way it did," I said honestly, looking away from him.
"Could you just tell Hermione that I would like my heart back, anytime soon would be brilliant. I'm sure you can manage that," he said sarcastically.
"Come off it George. You can't help who people fall in love with. I'm sorry it turned out this way. I never meant to hurt you, honest. I love you, you're my blood, my brother, always! You and I against the world, no matter what. You have to understand, she's the one. I love and care about her more than I do myself," I admitted walking over to him.
"Yeah well, love is for moronic assholes. Bravo brother, will you just go!" He snapped, getting off the bed and walking towards the door. I ran over and held the door shut.
"Can you just stop! Stop being a git and talk to me. Let's fix this rubbish and move on," I snapped. He stared at me with fire in his eyes and with a blink they went out. He walked back to his bed sitting down putting his head down. I realized that moving on was probably harder to do then it was to say. We sat in tense silence for a moment.
"You know what pisses me off the most? Not the fact that you just didn't flat out tell me. Not the fact that she didn't tell me. That I sort of had a feeling that it was there between you two all along. I've seen the way she looks at you, I've never seen her look at me that way before" he admitted sadly. "This is just as much as my fault as it is yours. I ignored the truth and I wanted her to want me but in the end it was always you she wanted. I lost a fight that was over before it even started," he said defeated, falling down on the bed. I didn't know what to say at first. He was right, what if Hermione had picked him? What would I have done? I can't imagine what he's going through because in the end she chose me and from the looks of it it's killing him. A fate I would have had to endure if she stayed with George.
"We're the saddest people we know. When did that happen? When did we get so serious?" I sighed, laying down next to him.
"Hermione," he answered softly staring at the ceiling.
"That clever witch, bringing US down? She deserves a prank or two," I joked, uncomfortably. I look over at him and I see that sorrow in his eyes again causing me to look away. "It would kill her to see you like this you know?"
"Yes, I know. That's why you will not tell her," he said sternly.
"I do care for Hermione but everything falls apart without you too George. Not to sound like a batty lass but, I miss ya" I admitted.
"Of course you do, I'm the superior twin," he smirked the smallest grin possible. "Things aren't the same without you either Freddie. I just need some time you know?" He said softly seeming to of calm down a little which I was thankful for.
"Not to change the subject but, you're in dire need of a shower. You've been in this room for too long, I insist we get out and do something. You smell like dragon piss," I said stepping away from him.
"There's nothing of interest out there for me, at all. I still smell better than yourself but, I guess I've let myself go a bit," he said sniffing himself.
"Hermione is worried about you," I said anxiously, standing up from the bed.
"Just tell her I'm doing splendid, okay? I'm not going to be bloody thrilled, shouting from the rooftops about you guys being together but, I know you two love each other. Even though it makes me sick and looking at your face kind of makes me want to bash it in. I can't bash in a face that handsome would be like punching myself. You should thank Merlin you look like me!" He exclaimed jokingly. "After some time I'll learn to except it. Or maybe I'll just die of a misplaced heart. Whichever comes first, fingers crossed!" He smiled weakly, standing up and stumbling to the bathroom.
"You alright mate?"
"Wee drunk still I think, give me a minute," he said closing the door. He came out the bathroom a few minutes later with a fresh set of clothes. His hair was still a wreck but hey, we can pull the look off.
"Want to grab a drink then?" He said walking to the dresser, spraying some cologne on himself.
"Don't you think you've had enough drinks the last couple days?"
"Look, do you want to join me or not? You wanted to go out so, let's go. Your choice and I will deal with myself my own way. I don't need you babying me," he said sharply walking towards the door.
"Let's go," I said giving in.
"Brilliant, there's this pub not too far from here," he walked out and I followed close behind. I see Charlie walk back in from outside.
"Where you off to?" He questioned George.
"Freddie offered to buy a pint. Would you like to join?" I see Charlie shoot me quick uneasy glance. I just shrugged and flashed a weak smile.
"No, I have research to do. Thanks," Charlie said looking away from me to George.
"Your loss, come on Fred," George said walking out the door. He quickly runs back in. "My wand?" Charlie hands it over and then George walks back out.
"Brilliant idea, I suggest you be very cautious around him, watch your mouth," Charlie warned.
"This was not my idea," I said but he ignored me and had already walked out back to his shed. Charlie is right, this is a terrible idea. I see no good coming from this plus, George has his wand back. But, he can't stay mad at me forever, blood brothers until the end. Right? I can't get rid of this feeling of trouble coming our way. I shake my head of the thought and start to walk out front. A lot of good memories have come from bad ideas George and I have had. So, what's one more bad idea, right?
Right.