The Chinese Fireball
(George's point of view)
If you can't be happy at least you can be drunk. I'm usually not a whiny prat but, I've dealt with enough shit the pass couple days. I am one who gets addicted to whatever takes away pain. How can someone have everything in their hands and then it just vanishes? That's a thick thought, we live in a magical world after all. But, this was done without any kind of wand or magic. How can you be so happy for days and then one split second changes everything? One bloody second and i'm a shattered fucking mess. How could I have been so stupid? Fred and I were walking pass some shops and I seen my reflection in the store glass window. I've definitely seen better days. Cologne couldn't hide the scent, the scent of my blood turning into alcohol.
"Here we are mate," I say to Fred. The pub was down some stony, dark stairwell in a hidden alleyway. We both walk down and I open the door. It is definitely a gloomy, dodgy place but, I like it.
"Well, this place is lovely," Fred said sarcastically.
"I suppose it is a bit of a shit-hole but the music is wicked," I said reassuring him. We walk in and go to a table in front of the stage. The band sounded promising, not that I had a doubt.
"So what can I get you two?" A waiter had come out of no where and snapped my thought away from the band. "We are having a special on our new drink. The Chinese Fireball, however, I do warn you it's not for the faint hearted," he said cautiously.
"We'll take six and two beers to wash them down," I said quickly, smiling. "If you see them empty bring the next round, thanks!" Before Fred could say anything the waiter had left.
"George, are you mental?"
"Do you think I'm mental?"
"No, I think you have pain you're not dealing with" he said solemnly. I ignore him and see the waiter walk back over. He sets the tray on the table and shoots me a weary look. I smile back and take the first shot and hand Fred another.
"Bottoms up," Fred and I said in unison. From the moment it touched my lip my whole body was boiling hot. I started to sweat instantly from the liquid fire. My cheeks felt an explosion of heat and it made me smile. I started to get an adrenaline rush that felt like a blazing inferno. I became addicted and I no longer had control on how much I was intaking. My arm hands were standing up and goosebumps popped up like daisies in spring.
"Bloody hell, how can you stand this?" Fred said sticking out his tongue, downing the beer.
"Not sure, similar to fire whiskey but times 100. I feel like fireworks are going off in my mouth right now, it's bloody brilliant," I said laying back against my seat smiling.
"Honestly, that is not a bad idea for an invention George. Firework candies or firework alcohol? We can have them in all sorts of colors and flavors."
"Wicked! Who wouldn't buy that? Combustible Candies? Firecracker Beer?" I said in excitement as the wheels turned in my head.
"Just have to make sure people don't lose their teeth," Fred said smiling.
"Unless, we make a bad batch for Draco?" I smirked and we both started laughing.
"Honestly, this Chinese Fireball is awful," he said in disgust, changing the subject.
"Since when are you such a wuss?" I said glaring at him. "Just drink and shut it."
"This rubbish is poison," he snapped. I grab another shot and take it.
"Well, there's dark things inside me that I'm trying to kill," I said finishing the shot.
"Tell me what you need George?" He said changing his tone seriously.
"To get drunk because honestly brother, I'm all out ideas. Alcohol tastes better than dealing with the rubbish that I "NEED". Let's just enjoy the music."
"Do you want to talk about Hermione?" He blurted out.
"I swear to you, if you bring her up one more time," I snapped. Now for the LOVE OF MERLIN, drink the fucking beer," I whispered back. Things were going fine and yet, he chooses to ruin it. I'm curious why he won't just let it go. I don't want to talk about anything I just want to drink and listen to music. I don't want to care about anything going on right now with him or Hermione. I actually want to forget myself as well. I want the music to be so loud and the alcohol destroying brain cells to where I can't even think. What part of that does he not understand? His face shifted to a smile and he quickly changed his tone.
"You're buying," he smiled weakly. Waving over the waiter who was refilling some glasses. I smiled back at Fred but mainly at the thought that I had no galleons. Nasty shock for him for when he finds out.
The music definitely changed my mood to a better one, with some help from the fireballs. The band had a way of making you get lost in the melody. To me you can't truly find the beat until you lose yourself in it. I actually felt like Fred and I were getting back to our old ways, back to normal. Well, not normal but to our mischievous selves. I missed the crazy git. I don't feel whole without him around and I can't imagine my life without him. It's the worse feeling when you feel a part of you is empty and not even know what is missing. I figured Hermione was the reason but maybe part of the emptiness is being filled with my brother and I putting this rubbish behind us. Putting it aside and being able to be the joking pranksters everyone has easily come to love. We sat there and talked for a while about ideas for the store and future pranks involving extreme embarrassment for Ron and Charlie. I love having a big family to test our products on. We drank together not living in the past, it was starting to put that smile back in place that had been missing from my face. The sound of our laughter empowering a room was deeply missed.
"Intoxicated with madness, I'm in love with my sadness…"
"This band is a bit depressing mate," Fred whispered then taking a sip of his beer.
"I like them," I whispered back sitting back against my chair.
"I hate to advocate alcohol and violence, but the insanity isn't working and neither is the silence."
"Ok mate, let's step outside for some fresh air, this whiskey has my face on fire," Fred said standing up from his chair. He just as quickly fell back down missing the chair, hitting the ground. I walk over laughing and pull him up moving his arm around my neck.
"You light-weighted git," I said smirking walking to the door. I helped him outside and sat him down on the stairway.
"I missed us brother," Fred said smiling, putting his head against the wall. Before I could say anything I hear voices coming from the top of the stairway.
"Oh, hey," Hermione said in surprise, standing next to Luna. I had let it slip my mind how beautiful she was. I suddenly felt like I couldn't breath, an invisible balloon was blowing up in my throat and I felt light-headed. I broke the sympathetic stare from her piercing eyes and looked down at my feet.
"I have to go," I said shooting a quick look at Fred.
"I didn't know," he mouthed. I looked away and ran up the stairway and rushed pass the girls. I've been told it's bad to run from what's inside you because you never get away. It is similar to being in an endless circle and only get out when the circle breaks after you drop dead. Romantic huh? I pull out my wand and start shooting spells at random objects. I never realized until now how destroying beautiful things changed my mood to a better one. I see an acre or so of land about half a mile ahead. There was a big willow tree taking up a good portion of it. I walked over and sat against the trunk. I rest my head against it, close my eyes and take a deep breath.
"Leave it to you to run," Fred said appearing next to me when I opened my eyes.
"Can you just go?" I snapped.
"I'm not going to baby you anymore, Hermione didn't want you and I think it is time you get over it," he said harshly. I pull a bottle from my pocket and chug the rest of it.
"I honestly don't care anymore," I said standing up to face him, missing my step a little.
"You're pathetic," he said laughing, pushing me back to the ground.
"Shove it."
"Maybe this is why she chose me in the first place? You are utterly pathetic Georgie. I mean look at you? You're destroying shit and I can smell you from a mile away. How do you think I found you? You will never be anything or have anyone. How you thought Hermione would ever want you is beyond me. You're a mental git to even think she actually cared about you. I'm sure if she ever thought about you the way you wanted she would need to be sent to St. Mungo's Hospital for a head examination. The only thing you have going for you is you look similar to me. Thank Merlin I don't have that stench of rejection and I the look of being completely worthless." He got in my face and smacking my cheeks lightly. "Poor George boy," He said heartlessly.
"What in the bloody hell is wrong with you?" I said shocked at his outburst.
"See, I guess I started to care about how pathetic you've been looking but, those eight seconds passed," he said letting go of my face.
"I know, I've been pathetic. She is making me mental."
"I don't mean lately, I mean always. This has nothing to do with Hermione, you always have been lost. Why are you even here?"
"This is my worst…I'm going to get better I swear. Just give me a chance to get through this. I will get better."
"You won't and what's funny is I did this just to see if I could. Do you actually think I care about Hermione? She's just a pawn in my games and now that I've won, time to play another," he whispered maliciously.
"How dare you," I grabbed his shirt and pulled his face to mine. "Don't you dare hurt her," I demanded.
"What are you going to do?" He demanded. I just let go and looked down at the ground. "Nothing brother?" He then started to walk away from me. I snapped and took the bottle that was in my other hand and smashed it against his head. He instantly collapsed to the floor with blood running from his forehead. He started laughing at my face.
"The balls on you! She will never love you, with or without me gone you stupid idiot," He said trying to get up.
I pull my wand out of my pocket and put it against his head.
"At least you will be gone," I said sending green light his way.
I jolt awake with my heart beating out of my chest. I look around and I was laying next to the willow tree with an empty bottle in my right hand. I must have blacked out when I first got here. I look around and notice it was nightfall and the it had started to rain. It was just a dream. What the hell is wrong with me? Why do I continuously dream of killing him?
"George get a grip on yourself, you're losing it," I said to myself, putting my head in my hands. I take a deep breath wipe the sweat from my brow.
"I'd say," said a stranger's voice. I whip my head to the tree branch above me and see a girl jump down.
"Who in the bloody hell are you?"
"My name is Violet, my friends call me V," she said sitting down next to me grabbing the empty bottle and looking inside of it.
"I'm sorry, "V" but, I'm not in the mood for company," I said standing up from the tree.
"Oh, doesn't misery loves company," she said in a sweet mocking voice. I pause for a second and then drop back down next to the tree.
"George Weasley," I introduced myself half-heartedly, laying back against the tree.
"So, I'm sure your story is an exciting one. Seeing as though you look a bloody mess and smell like a gorilla. Go ahead and start but if I get bored, I'm going to leave," she said smiling pulling a bottle from a black satchel she had. I just sat there in silence, not knowing where to start or to even say to this girl. She starts mixing a drink and hands it over to me.
"What is this?"
"Poison, I've come to murderl you," she said seriously. I stare at her for a second and she starts laughing. "It's a Chinese Fireball they're really good, it is like fireworks exploding inside your body." I smile at what she said and then take a drink.
"Well, go ahead," she said persistently.
"Well…" I started to say but then just stopped.
"Let me guess? Some sort of want to be fairytale?" She said making a fake vomiting sound afterwards. "Silly girls with silly boys, I'm sorry go on…" She laughed handing me the bottle. I look at her for a second and she seemed in her on world. She doesn't even know me I could easier be a creep like Percy, but, she is just sitting here talking to me like we're best mates. Who is this girl?
Violet, my friends call me V.