AN: Hey all! I'm back! I wanted to make sure that everyone understands that in this chpter, almost everything George says and does is a direct result of the poison continuing to take effect. As the chapter title says, he has reached the second stage. If you don't remember, you can read about what the second stage is in the eighth chapter of this story. :) Now, without further ado, the short but exciting (I hope, hehe)...Chapter 10.

Fred had noticed over five minutes ago that George was trying to lose him. He couldn't stop going though. He had finally realized that something had happened to George, someone had done something to him. That was the only explanation. He had to find a way to get his twin back.

He turned the corner into the next hall and caught the sound of a door closing towards the end. How did George expect to shake him off? They had gone through the entire school so many times together, he could easily predict where he was going to go next.

He hurried toward the furthest door on the left. Once he caught up with his brother he would just make him talk. Make him explain what was happening. He opened the heavy door and stepped inside the small and empty old classroom on the other side.

A pair of hands grabbed the front of his robes and shoved him up against the wall. Fred's head slammed onto the stones behind him, momentarily stunning him. He slowly opened his eyes and focused on the person in front of him, finding himself facing a furious George.

"Why are you following me?" George snarled through clenched teeth. "You can't just let me alone!" He roughly let go of Fred and stepped back.

"No George, I can't," Fred replied quietly, but confident. "Tell me what's gone wrong with you?" He stared evenly, demanding an answer.

"Why should I tell you anything?" George asked indignantly. "You don't give a damn about my life." He looked at Fred with obvious contempt.

Fred was already overcome with frustration. "Where'd you come up with that? Of course I bloody care!" He yelled, angrily.

George glared at him. "No, you don't. Or you would have helped me." The hurt in George's eyes was suddenly obvious.
"Helped you with what?" Fred looked earnestly at his brother.

"With…everything!" George's face creased with unreadable emotions. "No one tried to make me stop. I just…kept on…talking!" He started to breath heavily and stared down at the floor. Fred watched him, confused and nearly frightened.

George was acting completely mad and Fred had no idea how to deal with it. He stepped forward a bit. "George. George, it's okay." He started to reach a hand towards his brother.

"No!" George jumped back so far that he was pressed against the wall and shakily rubbed both hands across his face. "No, no, it's not okay! You don't even know! This all…you all just planned this!" He was yelling at the top of his voice and gesturing wildly with his hands. "This is all your fault, Fred!" He quieted slightly, "You did this to me…" He gave Fred a hopeless and angry look, tears starting to show in his eyes.

Fred stepped forward once again and carefully extended a hand.

A sudden impact to his midsection caused him to double over, and banished the air from his lungs. Panic flooded his senses when he could not get any to return. A dull blow to his jaw clouded his mind and sent him to the floor.

He opened his eyes just enough to see George's leering features above him before a sharp pain lanced through his lower back like solid lightning, forcing a small yell.

Though he had little to no instinct in fighting, he knew he had to get off the floor. He fought the pain and confusion holding him down and rolled onto his hands and knees, then pushed himself off the ground forcefully.

Immediately after Fred stood, George's tightly clenched fist swung towards his face again. This time, Fred was able to avoid the blow by inches and launched his own punch by impulse. It caught right under George's cheekbone.

Fred couldn't believe what was happening. He was scared and in pain and did not want to have to fight George, but at this point it was necessary self-defense. He let loose his reflexes and hurled himself at his twin.

George instinctively lifted his arms to shield himself but was not able to stop Fred, who grabbed the shoulders of his school robes and swung him into the wall. Once he had George pinned, Fred took the opportunity to try and reason with him.

"George, I just want to talk to you. Would you please calm down for half a mo!" Fred pleaded with his twin.

George took a few shaky breaths, then slowly relaxed. Relieved, Fred did the same, and George's knee found it's place under Fred's ribs. George then brought down a tight fist on his brother's shoulder, forcing him to his knees.

Fred berated himself momentarily for being so stupid and so hopeful. He didn't have any idea what was going on, but he needed to end this. He sent his left arm out in front of him and grabbed George's leg behind the knee, pulling him down to the floor as well.

George wasted no time in launching another attack, and pummeled his elbow into Fred's chest. Fred fell backwards and was overtaken by unrestrained terror as his vision filled with a jagged white light.

The impact of George's knuckles cracking against his cheekbone slammed the side of Fred's head onto the cold floor beneath him, splitting the skin above his eyebrow.

George brought his fist down again and again, ignoring the muted cries of his twin beneath him. Finally George froze, his arm mid-air. He let it drop to his side and stood slowly. His face melted from the twisted, hateful, expression he had been wearing, until he was staring, dazed, at his brother's shaking form.

Fred barely noticed the stop. He didn't care anymore, he had just started crying. Sobbing. Tears hit the stone floor, mingling with blood from his nose and forehead. He rolled onto his side and pulled his knees up, then wrapped both his arms around them, hugging himself close as his only comfort.

George stared down at him, shocked and scared. "Fr..Fred?" he said, his voice little more than a strained whisper.

Fred didn't even open his eyes. He had had enough of trying. "Just push off…" he muttered quietly, tasting blood in his mouth as he did.

Even more quickly than it had softened, George's face once again grew hard and cold. He pulled his mouth back in a condescending sneer and walked for the door, kicking Fred once more in the shins for good measure. Fred flinched and closed his eyes tighter, squeezing two more tears down his face. He had never missed George so much in his life.

sniffle...poor Fred. Yeah, I know I really have no right to say that. :) Anyway...Did You Know...SomedayEngland likes reviews?? Hmm...comsidering that you are reading the tenth chapter of my story, you probably do by now. But guess what...I still do! So, care to make me happy? Just leave a simple little note. :) Oh, and I wanted to say thanks to Wondering What Breakfast Is for that note that she posted about me in the end of her new story. You're so nice Julia!!