Disclaimer: Any characters, places etc. that you recognise belong to J K Rowling. I'm just a humble writer who likes to play around and write love stories.
A/N: Hope you enjoy this chapter, and please review!
IIIIIII
1st July came round the corner quickly, much to my relief. I couldn't wait to get to The Burrow. It was a lovely place, it always felt welcoming, as did the people there. The long, languid days of summer had been plain and bland without my best friends (I felt a pang of guilt that Lee wouldn't be there, but hey, he was on holiday, the lucky sod).
In summers before I'd spent a week or so at The Burrow. Mr and Mrs Weasley always seemed happy to have me round, even if I caused them even more trouble than normal. In fact, they were surprisingly good-natured, even letting me sleep in Fred and George's room, knowing that it'd suit us better than me sleeping in Ginny's.
Ginny and I got on okay, even if we didn't really speak much. The twins tended to shut her out whenever she tried to join in with them. Ron, their other younger sibling, and I were friendly, but once more Fred and George appeared to find his presence annoying.
As for the older brothers, Percy and I didn't really talk - we were rather at odds, perhaps just because I was friends with the twins, whom he despaired about constantly. Charlie was extremely friendly, though I hadn't seen him for a year or two, and Bill, whom I only met twice, was just as nice. I often found myself wishing for siblings like Fred and George's. They were luckier than they knew.
Polly had, surprisingly, not told anybody about the slap. Instead it seemed she was choosing to completely ignore my presence and pretend I didn't exist, which suited me perfectly. My father had consented to me going to stay with the Weasleys and had made a special effort not to go to bed for the morning. We all sat in the living room, awaiting their arrival.
Diane looked almost excited at the prospect of magic, though tried to hide it behind a haughty façade. Poll1y, on the other hand, looked anxious, standing at the doorway, eyes darting between me and the fireplace. My father and stepmother were on the settee, perfectly at ease. I stood nervously next to the fireplace, all the possibilities of them not turning up running through my head.
"I'm going to get a drink," I murmured once the clock struck ten. They said they'd come sometime after ten, so I left my family watching out for them whilst I hurried into the kitchen. A glass of water later, I made to walk out, but Polly rushed in, blonde hair dancing behind her. I stared at her.
"Claudia, I have a favour to ask you," she said, in a whisper, clasping her hands together. I raised my eyebrows and folded my arms, though I couldn't help a spark of curiosity lighting inside.
"What sort of favour?"
"Will you - will you introduce me to your friends, properly?"
"I - you - why?"
She let out a long, heavy sigh, blue eyes rolling. "They're so good-looking. Don't you think?"
"You fancy them!" I yelled triumphantly, bursting into laughter. I clutched the sideboard, doubled over with mirth. I couldn't believe it! Perfect Polly, hater of anybody different to herself, fancied my best and very different-to-her friends! It was almost as though she were playing a prank, but I knew that far below her intelligence.
"Shut up!" she hissed, cheeks crimson. "I can't - I can't really help it - I mean -"
"I never thought you'd fancy freaks."
"Look, you shut up, alright? Will you introduce me to them or not?"
"Well." I hastily regained my composure, inspecting my fingernails and leaning against the sideboard. "What would I get in return?"
"You'd avoid a slap, that's what," she growled, still flushed.
"Oh really? And you think you'll get close enough to slap me?"
"What're you going to do, curse me?" she sneered.
"Yes."
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Try me!"
"That'd break one of your freak rules, cursing me! I am a 'Muggle', after all."
"You're not," I smirked. "You're not good enough. You're more of a freak than I am."
She let out a cry of anger and ran towards me, hand outstretched to hit me. Unfortunately for her, but very fortunately for me, two people entered the room and stared at us. Polly spun round immediately to the intruders, before going - if possible - even redder. Ha. Tomato face.
"Is there a problem?" George Weasley asked, whilst his brother Fred wore a matching expression of suspicion. Their eyes flicked between us girls, taking in my cool demeanour and Polly's red face.
"No," she said shrilly. "No problem at all. I was saying goodbye."
"Ah yes," I said brightly, slinging a patronising arm around her shoulders. "About to give me a goodbye punch, weren't you, dear Polly?"
"N-no," she stuttered, ducking from my arm. "Of c-course not…"
I beamed at her, which she returned with a filthy look. Fred and George began to snigger and I smiled at them appreciatively. It was going to be good to watch her be scorned - for once - by boys she liked.
"Well, Polly dearest, I had better be off. Have a lovely summer."
"Don't take that patronising tone with me," she snapped, folding her arms. "Have a lovely summer yourself, whoring over your friends."
I bristled instantly, and made to move towards her but George quickly took my arm to restrain me, whilst Fred whispered in my ear "let me deal with it" and walked up to her. Her expression was hopeful and somewhat smug when he reached her - I knew just what she was thinking. She was thinking my friend had abandoned me for her. I smirked.
"Goodbye Polly," Fred said solemnly, holding out a hand for her to shake. "I hope we meet again soon."
"Me too," she giggled, taking his hand. She shook it for a split second before her reactions kicked in and she jumped about a foot in the air. Her hair was standing on end, her eyes were wide and she was holding her hand with the other, whimpering. Fred grinned, coming back to George and I, who released me.
"George and I have been working on these for ages. You know those Muggle prank things, when you shake someone's hand it gives them an 'electric shock'?"
I nodded, inspecting his hand. Sure enough, a small tablet sized thing was stuck onto his palm. He carried on enthusiastically. "Well, it gave us an idea. We reckoned we could do it for wizards and witches too. It's not that 'electric' crap they use; it's magic that replicates it. I think it's still a bit strong though," he added anxiously, peering at Polly, who had tears in her eyes.
"Who cares?" I asked, before feeling a bit ruthless and cruel. "I mean - Polly, are you alright?"
I walked over to her, but she backed away, still nursing her shocked hand. "You'll pay for this," she spat, glaring at me and then at the twins. "All of you, you'll all pay."
With that she swept dramatically out of the kitchen and into the hall, off to her bedroom or wherever else. I sighed and put the back of my hand to my forehead woefully. "See what you've saved me from?"
George laughed. "Yes, we are saviours of damsels in distress."
"Her? A damsel?" Fred asked, aghast. I slapped him on the arm, scowling, and so he quickly amended his question. "I mean - er - yes. Damsel in distress, perfectly damsel-like."
"Let's just go say goodbye," I sighed, exasperated, and strolling back to the front room. My father, Catherine and Diane were all stood by the fireplace now, ready to say goodbye. Catherine frowned slightly.
"Where did Polly run off to?"
"Sulking as usual," I said airily.
"Claudia, I thought you were making a special effort to be nice to her?" my dad asked, disappointment in his every word. I flushed, feeling guiltier than ever. However, George and Fred both began explaining that she'd been taunting me and they'd pulled a prank on her so it was really all their fault.
"Very well," my father sighed, smiling at me to show that he no longer blamed me. "I see that you boys are still living for your mischief."
"As if it would be any other way, Mr Paisley," exclaimed Fred, looking mortally offended. "You shouldn't underestimate us, look how we've corrupted your daughter."
"Claudia didn't need corrupting," my father replied warmly. He had always liked the twins, and trusted their family impeccably. "She was trouble from the day she was born. She always cried as a baby."
Over the noises of the boys' 'awww!'s I let out an indignant growl. My father grinned and soon I was smiling back. I glanced at my youngest stepsister, ruffling her hair. She looked disgruntled, and my smile widened.
"See you, Diane," I said, and to my surprise she smiled a little and whispered 'goodbye'. My stepmother gave me a brisk and happy farewell, and my father followed suit. Once satisfied I'd said all the goodbyes I could (there was no way I'd say goodbye to Polly), I grabbed my luggage that was waiting patiently by the fireplace.
"I'll take that," Fred said, scooping it from my hands. George threw some Floo powder into the fire for him and in a second Fred was gone. George followed his twin, giving one last wave to my family. I took a handful of the powder next.
"See you all soon then! Have nice summers!" I beamed at the three of them, happy to be getting away. I scattered the powder onto the fire, stepped in and yelled "The Burrow!". In a second I was away, bursting out of a fireplace onto a worn rug. I straightened up and looked around, a feeling of being home running through me.
The Burrow was as it always had been. It was a cluttered, brilliant place, with all sorts of little things scattered here and there to surprise me. The familiar clock was on the wall, showing where all the Weasleys were. On the opposite wall sat a large portrait of them all; Bill and Charlie grinning and waving, Mr Weasley and Percy talking, Mrs Weasley straightening down a disgruntled Ginny's robes, Ron rubbing his nose and Fred and George whispering and smirking, pointing at Percy.
"Claudia!" came a female voice, and I glanced over at the sink. Mrs Weasley was washing the pots using waves of her wand, but she'd stopped to walk over to me. "Dear, I swear you look older every time I see you."
"That'd be because she is older, Mum," Fred grinned from where he was sweeping ash from the rug with his feet.
"You know what I meant," Mrs Weasley sighed, exasperated, before smiling at me once more. "You're looking more like a woman every day, I should say then."
"Thanks, Mrs Weasley."
"Are you hungry?"
"No, I'm alright. D'you need any help with anything?"
"No dear, but thank you. Now, I was wondering about sleeping arrangements this summer. I know you're getting older and that sharing with two boys might be uncomfortable for you, and Ginny will be more than happy to have you share with her if you like."
I smirked ever so slightly as I answered, glancing at Fred and George. "Don't worry about me, Mrs Weasley. I don't feel uncomfortable around those two, I don't mind sharing with them. Unless they feel uncomfortable around me?"
"Us? Uncomfortable around girls?" they scoffed together, looking horrified at the very thought.
"It will happen someday," said Mrs Weasley wisely, returning to the dishes. They wore matching expressions of disgust, and I laughed. They looked incredulous, and Mrs Weasley cast a glance over her shoulder at the two of them. "You two can help Claudia bring her things up to your room."
"Yes, Ma'am," smirked George, lifting my trunk with the air of one doing something immensely heroic, whilst Fred and I followed behind. We went up the first staircase, and when we reached the top, George cursed quietly and dropped the trunk onto the floor. He looked at us, sternly. "Alright, one of you two can carry this now, my back is killing."
"Weakling." Fred winked at me, lifting it. Then, he too swore, as he began on the second flight of stairs. "Honestly, Claudia, what've you packed in here? A hippogriff?"
"Weakling," I responded mockingly, pushing him in the back so he stumbled a little on his way up the stairs, and cursed once more. I laughed, pushing past him, and ran up the last few stairs to the second floor corridor. Off it were two doors, one leading, I knew, to the twins' room, and one to Percy's room.
Behind me, Fred managed to finally haul the trunk up the last few steps, and leant against it for a moment, breathing heavily and wiping his forehead dramatically. I smiled wickedly at he and his twin, who joined us a second later, picking up the handle of the trunk and pulling it behind me as I lead the way into their room.
The bedroom was second largest in the house, second only to Mr and Mrs Weasley's, and as I entered I could smell the unmistakable scent of gunpowder. The walls were decorated a violent orange, covered in several photographs and posters. There were two beds, back to back, for the twins, and a hastily set up camp bed for myself. One side of the room was filled with several drawers and chests, which I guessed to be full of the twins' mischief-assisting possessions.
"Don't mind the smell," George laughed, as the two of them entered the room and looked around it, seeming proud. "Our last experiment went really wrong and we've not been able to clear the air without getting Mum suspicious."
"Experiment?" I asked, curiously, throwing myself down on the nearest bed and looking at them questioningly. They shared a secretive look, both looking thoughtful and somewhat mistrusting. I rolled my eyes, too used to their mysterious behaviour and their silent communications to be concerned.
"George, do you think we can trust her?"
"I'm not sure. She might sell us out to our mother."
"Ah, yes. That would be a terrible risk to take. I'm not sure it's worth it."
"I'm afraid I agree. Sorry, Claudia, but that's top secret information."
I sighed heavily at their jokes and got off the bed, noticing that when they had been speaking their eyes had flicked towards a rather plain looking, large box at the other side of the room. I went across to it, extremely interested at what it was they were so protective over, and opened the box. I heard both of their mocking gasps of horror and they made their way over too, standing behind me.
In the box was a large stack of what appeared to be order forms, and many strange looking sweets, fireworks and other assorted, strange items. In one corner, a banner was folded up, which I picked up cautiously to see it read 'Weasleys; Wizards Wheezes'. I pushed it back in the box and stared up at the twins with raised eyebrows. "What the hell is all this?"
"Well, Miss Paisley," Fred said, with the air of one being extremely professional, and, oddly enough, resembling his brother Percy. "That is our new business venture. George and I have decided on our paths in life."
"And that involves…?" I prompted, nonplussed.
"That involves jokes, pranks and competing with Zonko's," George finished, looking proud. I stood, slowly, staring at the two of them to see if they were being sincere. When I decided that they actually were, I couldn't help but laugh incredulously. They both looked a little hurt, so I elaborated.
"I'm sorry but you actually plan to live your lives selling pranks?" I giggled, but my laughter soon faded away when they both simply looked back at me. "What - you actually are?"
"It's as noble a profession as any!" Fred sniffed, seeming stung. "We've got big plans. All we need is some real gold and we're away."
When I still look sceptical, they proceed to empty the contents of the box on the floor and show me their plans and ideas. Though I was loathe to admit it, I had to say most of them were rather ingenious. In fact, it seemed so much more than a little dream and aspiration, but it actually seemed possible.
"You know, though I hate to say it," I said, finally, once all of it was packed away and we were all standing once more, the twins looking proud, "I reckon you two might just pull it off. You're both mad, evidently, but it might actually work."
"We knew you'd come round!" Fred beamed, sharing a thrilled look with George.
"We were thinking you might want to be involved yourself," George said lightly, and I raised an eyebrow. "Well, we're going to need all the help we can get - we don't expect you to help financially, so you can stop looking like that - and well, we trust you and Lee more than anyone, so yeah, if you're up for it…"
"I appreciate the offer, but I'm hardly the best at magic in the world, am I?" I wrinkled my nose. Though not appalling, I got average grades only with hard work, whilst if the twins actually tried they were brilliant.
"No, you're not," smirked Fred, ruffling my hair, at which I scowled and crossed my arms over my chest. "But you can charm customers into buying our goods! Well, once they're fully developed and tested, that is."
"I'm sure you can find someone more charming then me," I snickered, though at the same time I felt inordinately pleased, at which they both agreed pleasantly and I had to kick both of them hard in the shins before feeling justice had been served.
IIIIIII
Dinner at The Burrow was always absolutely delicious, and that evening's meal was no different. We sat around the kitchen table, all eight of us - Mr and Mrs Weasley, Fred and George, Ron, Ginny, Percy and I - eating the gorgeous food cooked by Mrs Weasley, who simply smiled modestly at our compliments.
Ginny was quite sweet at twelve, with very long red hair and large brown eyes. Ron's bright hair reached around his ears, and at fourteen he was already taller than me. Percy sat straight backed and was only marginally conversational when the topic of work was bought up, staring sternly over his glasses whenever Fred and George seemed to be rather suspiciously laughing (which was, I admit, rather often).
"Claudia," Percy asked, pointedly ignoring the twins, who were muttering to each other, smirking, and looking at him. "What do you intend to do once you've finished Hogwarts, out of interest?"
"Er -" I paused, fork halfway up to my mouth, a little wrong footed. If truth be told, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do for a job, I hadn't even thought of it. "Um, I guess I might go into the -" Fred kicked me sharply under the table, and out of the corner of my eye I saw him looking at me significantly. Resisting rolling my eyes, I went on. "I guess I might go into the joke shop business."
Fred beamed from my side, and Percy's eyebrows rose, whilst Mrs Weasley spluttered on the roast potatoes she'd been eating. She looked between me and the twins, her face rather stunned. "Really? You want to - to go into the joke shop business? Why?"
"I - er -" I looked at the twins for assistance, seeing as Fred was the one who silently made me lie like this, but they were busy snorting into their dinners. "Well, I thought I might use my - er - talents to - er - make the world a - um - funnier place."
"I think you've been spending too much time with my brothers," sniffed Percy haughtily, and I let out a laugh. It was true, after all. I had no inclination to go into a joke shop after school and I think most of the table knew it. Ron, however, looked rather interested
"You want to make a joke shop?" he asked, seeming deeply impressed. "That'd be wicked."
I assumed from this comment that even the twins' siblings knew nothing of their ideas. Now completely in over my head, I replied wildly. "Yeah, I - um - always thought it would, myself. I think I'll make a - er - chain of stores around England."
"Business property costs an awful lot these days," smiled Mr Weasley, with a glance at the laughing twins. "Where would you get your start-up funds?"
I tapped my nose secretively, and most of the Weasley's laughed, soon in conversation about their days and such. Fred and George, however, didn't join in, whispering about something or other. I poked the nearest, Fred, on the shoulder, and the two of them turned to me, beaming.
"You know," George began, enthusiastically, "if you actually are interested at all, you could always work with Fred and I. For real."
"We've been through this," I smiled, a little sadly. "I'm no good at helping you create things, I'd just be useless."
"If we do get premises," Fred said, quietly to ensure his family didn't hear, "you could work there with us. You don't need to be good at inventing to help run a shop, do you?"
"I guess not," I admitted, mulling the thought over in my mind. Perhaps it would be a good idea. I could work in their shop, if it really happened, and it could just be a filler job before I found my real calling in life. I smiled, cheerily. "Well, maybe. Anyway, we have two years before we finish school."
"Yeah, and it'll take us more than two years to raise all the money," George laughed, though there was some sincerity in his statement. Whilst my family was hardly rich, the Weasleys were relatively poor, and I felt a pang of guilt whenever money was mentioned. If anybody deserved heaps of gold, it was them.
Mrs Weasley stood then, and began clearing the plates, and Ginny jumped up to help her. In a matter of minutes, a thick gateau was laid in front of us for pudding, and we tucked in eagerly. Mrs Weasley was the best cook I knew, and that was saying something - after all, I'd attended countless Hogwarts' feasts.
IIIIIII
That night, after bidding goodbye to everybody, the twins and I retired to their bedroom. I lay in the small, set-up bed, nestled comfortably under the covers, and having a whispered conversation with them both about what we could do that summer.
It felt wonderful, being here, being in this room with my best friends. It was second only to Hogwarts in my favourite places of the world. I couldn't describe it, it was just the sort of place I wish I'd grown up in. It was cheery and cosy and quite simply lovely.
It felt like home.
"You had better not snore, Claudia," came Fred's stern voice, breaking through my happy thoughts. "Last time I woke up thinking that the sky was falling, all the noise you were making."
IIIIIIII
A/N: Once again, hope you enjoyed it - and I'll enjoy it if you review. xD