A/N: Sorry this is a bit late guys, I just got home. As always, thanks so much to everyone who reviewed: TeamGredAndForge, SlyDevil. COOKIES, Lamb, chocolateMnMs, midnightstar19, MaddyGervais, Dimcairien, and Aris1013. I've said it before and I'll say it again: you guys are so awesome, and I really appreciate you taking the time to review. Thank you :) Right so, we're back to focusing on George's ear again, which is always good fun to write. Hope you guys enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 12

George sat heavily on Fred's bed. A sleepy Fred peered up at him from beneath his blankets.

"What's up George?" he asked groggily, his eyes already closing again.

"We need to talk." George replied promptly. He had been up for several hours thinking things over, and he finally felt ready to speak his mind. Fred merely turned to face the other direction, pulling his blankets closer.

"I thought you knew about the birds and the bees, Georgie," he mumbled, already half asleep again, voice muffled against his pillow. George laughed.

"Not the talk, you idiot. Just a talk."

Grumbling, Fred turned to face him.

"What do you want to talk about at-" he peered at his clock. "-Seven in the morning? Geooorge," he whined.

George cleared his throat. "I want to apparate by myself." He said. Fred was alert instantly, sitting up, blinking.

"No way in hell," he said firmly. George frowned.

"Fred, it's my decision."

"It's too dangerous," Fred argued.

"Fred, you're not mum." George said, wincing as the words left his mouth.

"Oh well spotted George," Fred shot back sarcastically. "Bloody genius, you are." George sighed, knowing how snappy Fred got when he was frustrated.

"What I mean is that I'm not asking for your permission. I'm asking for your help." George said resolutely. Fred stared at him, his anger slowly abating.

"Why?" He finally asked quietly.

"Because I can't keep relying on you all the time, Fred. It's not healthy for me, and it's not fair on you." Fred opened his mouth to protest, but George beat him to it. "I know you don't mind, but if we're in a dangerous situation, I need to be able to disapparate on my own."

"Then we'll just stay out of dangerous situations," Fred said, slightly desperate.

George raised an eyebrow. "Look, I thought that maybe the war would be finished by now, but it's not, and we have no idea how much longer it's going to last. We need to be prepared for the worst, and part of that involves me being able to apparate by myself. You know I'm right, Fred." George finished as he leant back slightly, allowing Fred some room to think.

Fred was quiet for a long time, looking conflicted. He finally sighed and bowed his head.

"Fine," he said unhappily. "You'll try it anyway, stubborn git that you are. I might as well be there. But if you want my help, then you have to do exactly what I tell you to do." George was slightly reluctant, but agreed nonetheless. He could try apparating by himself of course, and if Fred hadn't agreed to help, he would have. But he and Fred did everything together, and if George was honest, he preferred it that way. Things just seemed to work out better when they were together. Fred threw his covers back, interrupting George's train of thought.

"Let's get started then," he said, more resolutely than enthusiastically.

After washing up and eating breakfast, Fred and George cleared their living room, pushing the couches to the side, and stood in the centre. Fred carefully drew a fiery circle on the floor with his wand. Finally appearing satisfied with his work, he stood back.

"Ok, so first off, you have to apparate into this circle," he said. George groaned.

"Are you serious?"

"No, I'm Fred."

George shot Fred a look.

"Sorry, couldn't resist." Fred grinned, holding up his hands.

"Fred, I'm not re-learning how to apparate. I think I can manage something a little harder than apparating into the circle," George said, arms folded across his chest.

"Hey. You agreed that we do it my way. And my way starts off with you apparating into that circle." Fred pointed at the fiery circle, then folded his arms and raised an eyebrow, waiting. George sighed, shooting Fred a far from happy glance before closing his eyes and focusing on the image of the circle currently a metre away. Taking a breath, he spun on the spot. A millisecond later, an overwhelming sense of nausea rose in his stomach; gasping, he opened his eyes to find that he was on his hands and knees, hair barely brushing against the floor as his head dropped further to his chest.

"George?" He heard Fred ask in alarm, rushing to his side. George swallowed, his head pounding, his vision swimming. He tried to speak but he barely felt in control of his body, focusing all his efforts on staying conscious. He could feel Fred's hands struggling to get him off the floor, and several moments and a lot of manhandling later George found himself on the couch, although he barely remember getting there.

"George? George can you hear me?" He could hear Fred asking frantically. George slowly opened his eyes and focus on the blurry image of his brother.

"Y-Yeah," he mumbled, fighting the strong urge to empty his stomach. Fred evidently noticed his slightly green tinged face, for a second later the small metal bin they owned was thrust into George's hands. And not a moment too soon; George lost the battle with his stomach, and retched into the bin. Fred patted his back comfortingly as George heaved almost violently, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the bin tightly. After several minutes George's stomach decided to stop trying to force itself out of his body and he pushed the bin to a side, wincing as the distinct aftertaste of vomit lingered at the back of his throat.

"Here," Fred offered him a glass of water, which George used to rinse out his mouth properly.

"Uuuuugh," he moaned. Fred grinned sympathetically, pointing his wand at the bin.

"Scourgify," he muttered and the contents vanished. He turned to George, who moaned again.

"Don't say it!" He exclaimed weakly, a hand held up in front of him in a vain attempt to block out Fred's next words.

"I told you so!"

"What happened?" George groaned, sitting up from his slumped position on the couch.

"Well, you did everything right. You turned, and then you disappeared. I thought you'd done it, but then you suddenly reappeared on the same spot, except on the floor. You looked like you were in a lot of pain," Fred finished, frowning.

"It feels worse than side-apparition," George told him. "So I didn't make it into the circle?"

"Not even close, George." Fred grinned slightly. George huffed and stood up somewhat shakily.

"Well, I suppose I'd better try again." He said. Fred's grin disappeared immediately.

"No way. Not after what just happened." Fred replied stubbornly, shaking his head.

"Fred, you obviously expected that I would have trouble apparating considering you wanted me to start with something so small."

"Not this much trouble!"

"Fred, relax. I'll stick to the circle, okay? Besides, I don't think I have anything left in my stomach to bring up," George reassured Fred, who still looked worried.

As it turned out, for a very good reason. George's next attempt found him in the same position as his first, only this time Fred didn't even have time to get him to the couch before his stomach rebelled. It was only through the quick use of 'accio' that Fred managed to get the bin to George in time, wincing as his twin dry heaved into the cylindrical metal container. George eventually released his death grip on the bin, looking miserable.

"Alright George, that's enough," Fred said sternly, moving the bin away after a quick cleaning spell.

"Just one more," George said determinedly, wiping his sleeve across his mouth shakily as he stood.

"George-"

"Help, not permission. Remember?" George shot at him. Fred bit his lip angrily, arms folded across his chest.

"Fine then. See if I care," he snapped, stepping away. George frowned at this but resolutely closed his eyes and focused. This time he didn't even manage to make it off the spot before he was struck by an intense dizziness. With a gasp of pain he slumped to the floor, and Fred, despite his previous comment, was by George's side in an instant.

"George?" He asked worriedly. George groaned. Fred shook his head and sighed as he half pulled George into his arms, seeing as George looked like he could barely support himself sitting up. "It's okay. You're alright, George." George let out a soft sigh as he rested his head against Fred's shoulder.

"You know, you're turning into me," Fred told George. He was rewarded with a raised eyebrow. "Don't give me that look. Since when have you been so stubborn?"

"Since… since it mattered," George mumbled, trying to blink away the dizziness unsuccessfully.

"Oh I see, so you think my stubbornness is completely inconsequential and pointless?" Fred asked.

"Well obviously." George grinned at Fred's affronted expression.

"Next time you can bloody well apparate on your own then," Fred said, although the slight hug he gave George spoke otherwise.

"So there will be a next time then?" George noted. Fred frowned, looking torn.

"Not today," he eventually responded. "Right, we have to get you into bed. Not in that way," he added as George smirked at him, winking suggestively. Fred laughed at his twin's antics.

"Mate, we need to find you a girl," Fred commented as he rose to his feet.

"Well, in my defence you are the best looking thing in this room apart from me," George informed him seriously.

"What do you mean, apart from you?" Fred asked, eyebrow raised. "I'm your twin."

"Fred, everyone knows I'm the better looking twin," George commented, grinning.

"Prat! We're identical," Fred shot back, aiming a swat at George's arm. George merely raised an eyebrow and pointed to the side of his head. Fred could feel a sinking sensation in his stomach, but he fought it off, grinning instead.

"The girls may flock around you, your holeyness, but I certainly will not." Fred said as he helped George to his feet.

George laughed, although as soon as he was upright his grin disappeared, replaced by a nauseated expression. Fred, noticing this, hurriedly hauled George to their bedroom and deposited him onto his bed. As George struggled to pull the blankets over himself, Fred went to the kitchen and grabbed a large glass of water and some food.

"Here," he said, handing George the glass. George took it eagerly, downing the water. Fred then handed him the crackers, chocolate and pastries he had grabbed from the kitchen.

"Indulge yourself," he told George. "And stay in bed."

"But Fred, its only 9am!" George protested feebly, already unwrapping a chocolate frog.

"George, you've been sick twice already, and if I'm not very much mistaken you're still feeling rather sick and your head is pounding. Which reminds me-" He placed the metal bin on the floor beside George's bed. "Now don't you go making a mess," he told George warningly. "And stay in bed!"

"What if I need to go to the bathroom?" George asked, eyes twinkling.

"What did I say about messes?" Fred asked. George grinned in response.

"Right, well I'm going to go downstairs and work on the Patented Daydream Charms," Fred said as he turned to leave.

"Wait- Fred!" George's tone was slightly desperate, and for a second Fred thought his brother was scared to be alone.

"Yeah?" He asked gently as he turned around.

"What do I do if I get bored?" George asked childishly. Fred fixed him an exasperated glance, but George was being perfectly serious. Neither twin was particularly good at staying in one spot for a long time. Fred walked to his bedside table and pulled out a battered, worn copy of Flying with the Cannons which he had… acquired (stolen) from Ron. He tossed it to George, who accepted it happily.

"Ta Fred," George called out to Fred's retreating back.

To his credit, George managed to wait several days before asking Fred about apparition practise again. To his relief Fred was easily won over, having apparently realised just how dangerous a situation George could find himself in when he couldn't even apparate a metre.

"But once you start feeling sick, we're stopping." Fred said firmly, leaving no room for negotiation. George reluctantly agreed.

Their second day of apparition didn't fare much better than their first. On the third day however, George managed to apparate into the circle on his last attempt. He promptly vomited straight after though, completely missing the bin and leaving Fred to wrinkle his nose and clean up after George. However both twins felt slightly more optimistic about George's ability and it was with some excitement (and apprehension of Fred's behalf) that George decided to try apparating from their flat to their shop on their fifth day of practise.

"Okay remember George, I'll be waiting at the far end of the Skiving Snackboxes isle. The far end," Fred repeated for the sixth time. George sighed.

"I remember, Fred!" He exclaimed. Fred gnawed the side of his cheek anxiously before he turned and headed downstairs to their shop. They had planned it so that George would apparate two minutes after Fred left. George silently counted down the two minutes, speaking aloud as he reached the last five seconds.

"Five… Four…" George mumbled to himself, unaware that downstairs, Fred was doing the exact same thing.

"Three… Two…"

"One."

George closed his eyes and focused. With a deep breath, he spun on the spot. Instantly, he felt the crushing pressure weighing down on him, the nausea beginning to creep in, but he screwed up his face and concentrated harder. A second later, he felt hard floorboards under his feet. George staggered at the sudden impact, and would have crashed into the nearest shelf if Fred hadn't grabbed him.

"George, you did it!" Fred cheered loudly. George felt elated until the full impact of the dizziness hit him and his legs gave way, sending both him and Fred to the ground. "George?" He could hear Fred asking urgently. He struggled to open his eyes and reassure his brother.

"M' fine, Fred," he said, voice slurring slightly as he blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision. Fred's face was looming close by, peering at George worriedly.

"You don't look fine, you look terrible." Fred informed him bluntly.

"Well thank you for that heartfelt compliment," George said sarcastically as his vision cleared. Fred grinned despite his concern. George shifted uncomfortably, realising he was half lying on Fred's leg. He struggled to sit up, assisted by Fred. Eventually, Fred and George were sitting side by side.

"Are you okay?" Fed asked him. George nodded. There was an annoying ringing echoing in his ear, but the nausea he had initially felt seemed to be decreasing, and on the whole he felt much better than he thought he would.

"You did it," Fred repeated, this time with less exuberance but more pride.

"I did it," George echoed, grinning. His grin faded as he realised he had only travelled from their flat to the shop, a distance no greater than thirty metres at the most.

"What?" Fred prodded, noticing George's downcast expression.

"I only travelled that short distance. I'm still going to be stuck if I have to apparate from one place to another," George said dully.

"George, that's not the point! You managed to apparate to a destination that you couldn't see. You'll be able to apparate longer distances in no time!" Fred said encouragingly, and George couldn't help but grin at his twin's catching enthusiasm.

"I suppose it's an improvement from apparating into that circle," he noted.

"You're damn right it is," Fred said, grinning widely. He got to his feet, and turned to help George. "Come on, I'm starving. Let's go grab a celebratory meal."

"Where?"

"Where do you think? Home, of course! I'm not in the mood for a burnt dinner tonight."

"Why, were you planning on cooking?" George teased.

"Very funny."

"Right, so are we apparating then? Excellent, I could use the practise-" Fred cut George off.

"No way. You're done more than enough apparating for one day." Fred scolded lightly.

The two headed outside, locking the door behind them. Fred grabbed George's hand firmly in his own, as though worried George would apparate without him. George rolled his eyes at Fred's concern but didn't protest, instead tightening his own fingers around Fred's, his own way of thanking Fred for the help and support he had provided. Fred didn't say anything, but his palm was comforting against George's own as they closed their eyes, preparing to apparate together.

Next chapter: The revelation to the Ministry that Ron is assisting Harry puts the Weasley's in grave danger, and Fred and George find themselves being forced to evacuate.

Thanks for reading, and please review! :)