I looked at the clock as I stumbled out of the dining room fireplace. It was nearly two in the morning. I sighed tiredly as I made my way up to my bedroom, slipping off my heels before I started to climb the stairs. As I reached my room I didn't bother turning on the light as sat down on my bed and began unbuttoning my blouse. When I was in nothing but my undergarments I lay down and had my first peaceful sleep in a week. The next morning, however, I was rudely awakened by a loud thumping at my door. I groaned into my pillow before throwing a sham over my ears, effectively sandwiching my head. I heard my door band open through my pillow and looked up in time to see Edwyna striding towards my bed dragging one of my chairs. She set the chair in front of my bed and sat down in it staring intently at me. I ignored her and tried to fall back asleep but her high voice pricked my ears before I had the opportunity.

"So . . . you got in late, I hear." I grumbled my affirmation from under the covers.

"Well?" Her voice pierced my very soul. I flipped my covers back so she could see my irritated scowl.

"Well what?" I snapped.

"Why were you out so late?" She scowled back at me.

"I met . . . people." I finished lamely.

"What people?" Edwyna flared.

"Dean Thomas . . . Lee Jordan . . .Ron Weasley . . . Hermione Granger . . . Percy . . . Fred . . . people . . ." I drawled lazily. Edwyna's eyes lit up at the mention of the Weasley boys.

"Oh, so you managed to get acquainted?" Edwyna looked too surprised. I glared at her. "I'm impressed. I assumed you'd have a quick peek at them during the service, choose the most handsome, and slither back her to leave us with the task of getting you into their social circle." I stared at her. "Oh, yes, Edwyna. You're such a martyr." I snarled.

"hmpf." She stuck her nose in the air at my sarcasm. "Well, mom and dad are downstairs with uncle Lucius, I'm sure they'd love to hear all about your night." I scowled as I threw my covers aside and began getting dressed. I came downstairs to find my parents and Lucius chatting quietly in the living room. I glance at the clock, it was one. I tried to slipped into the kitchen unnoticed but I felt Edwyna's claws on my shoulders steering me towards the living room before I could get past.

"Look who finally woke!" My sister chirped brightly. I wanted to punch her.

"Ah, Roisin. I trust you slept well." That was Lucius. I nodded slowly. "Edwyna tells us you've met the Weasleys?" I continued nodding. "Which will it be then?" He asked nonchalantly. My head spun. Which will it be? I hadn't really thought about it too much. I hadnt even met the other two. Maybe I should just name one of them, I thought. I then realized I didn't know their names. Damn. I sucked in a breath.

"Fred . . . Weasley." I said quietly. I liked Fred. I honestly wasn't interested in him romantically but seeing as I had no choice . . . I stopped my musing as I saw the look on Lucius' face. Shock and horror.

"Well you certainly know how to pick the worst of the worst don't you?" He asked when he came to. I looked at him and then walked into to the kitchen without another comment. My parents didn't say anything. What room did he have to talk? I thought as I angrily buttered some toast. He's the one who go us into this mess. Who is he to criticize me on my choice of friends . . . well, what had to be more than friends. Because of him! That train of thought brought me around to thinking about when I would pop around Diagon Ally. I was genuinely excited to go out with the boys. I didn't have any friends in London and I would have done anything to get out of the house at that point. I figured next Friday would do. I didn't want to come around too soon. Don't want to look too eager . . .

George

I stumbled into the storeroom. Looking around for something. Something . . .

What was I looking for?

Skiving Snackboxes? . . .Yes! I made towards them.

Wait no, I already restocked those. What had I come in here for? Oh. Yeah. Peruvian Darkness Powder. That stuff.

I made to grab a box on the shelf but my hand began levitating towards a box of doughnuts that Fred had left laying on top of a large box marked Judgement Journals. After I had sufficiently crammed my mouth full of doughnut I grabbed the box marked PDP and rolled my eyes at Fred's abbreviated labeling. Seriously, Fred? I thought to myself. Lazy git . . .

Jars of powder clanked merrily against each other as I made my way to the aisle marked "Deceptions, Decoys, and Distractions." I began filling the rows with the small jars when a loud knock from the front of the store made me jump. Who the hell? "We're cloooooooooosed!" I shouted in the direction of the door. The knocking didn't stop. I sighed as I made my way to the door, carelessly flicking the empty PDP box over the ring up counter. I opened the door irritably, "We're cl-" I meant to say closed but quickly changed it to a sultry "Helloooooo." Because, standing outside of MY shop . . . and Fred's . . . was a striking girl. She was about the height of my shoulders with quite a pair of legs that I couldn't help but eyeing beneath her waist hugging skirt. Her maple hair was braided into an intricate bun atop her head. A full mouth and pointed nose were paired with dazzling grey eyes that stared happily up at me. I felt like I'd seen those eyes before. "Fred!" Her smile broadened and she wrapped her pretty arms around me in a friendly embrace. Fred!? Oh. Sure. That's cool. I LIKE being Fred. Whatever. I hugged her back awkwardly. I didn't want to embarrass her so I didn't enlighten her to the fact that I was not, in fact, Fred. I'm such a bloody gentleman. She let me go oh too soon and looked around my waist into the shop. "So this is your shop?" she asked. "Yeah, well, it's mostly my brother actually. He does all the work." I felt it my duty to give her my most accurate impression of Fred. "I'm not surprised." She laughed. I was just beginning to feel stupid standing in the doorway when I realized she probably felt the same standing out on the steps so I invited her in. "Come in. Have a look around." I ushered her in and closed the door behind her. She looked around at my . . . our . . . products appreciatively before she turned those striking eyes on me. "So, I thought I might take you up on that drink if you're not too busy tonight?" I narrowed my eyes. Why had Fred not told me he had asked a pretty lady out and that she might be stopping by anytime? Stupid git . . . "Is Lee coming? And your brother?" Oh, well. If they . . .we . . .were invited I guess it wasnt really a date. I don't know why that thought made me grin so much but I guess she took it as an encouraging sign because she said, "I'll take that as a yes?"

"Yeah," I said quickly. "Lemme just go and fetch Lee then we can go wherever you want, drinks on me!" I said brightly. "Feel free to steal anything while you wait!" I winked at her and she rolled her eyes as I made my way to the break room.

Roisin

I watched Fred walk away towards the back of the store as he went to fetch Lee. Damn. He looked good today. This whole seducing a Weasley thing was starting to actually appeal to me. I don't know why the sudden rush of hormones but when he opened that door and leaned against the frame I had wanted to jump him right then and there. I also harbored a suspicion that he had been mentally undressing me the whole time but maybe that was just me being hopeful. I didn't have to wait long before Fred came back from the break room looking quite annoyed, Lee in tow smiling like he'd just heard the funniest thing in the world. I stared at Fred wondering why I had just been thinking about jumping him a minute ago. I mean he was ok . . . must be hormones, I thought. Fred smiled when he approached me. "Ready to go, Rose?"

"Yeah, didn't you say your brother was coming?" Fred rolled his eyes. "That git. Nah, he's staying. He has to finish restocking the store." Fred looked smug. I laughed. "You weren't joking when you said he did all the work, were you?" Fred smug look disappeared instantly. "Yeah, well the git has no life so it's not such a burden on him." Lee looked like he was about to burst with laughter. Fred glared at him. "Thanks mate." Lee clapped him on the back. "For what?" Fred looked bewildered. "For taking us out! I heard you tell Rose, here that all the drinks were on you when you came to fetch me." And with that Lee swept out the door.

The rest of the night was full of laughing, drinking, and a bit of dancing (Fred's initial bad mood dissipated quickly) and I had far too much fun. My strange feeling of attraction to Fred did not return. As Fred and I waved Lee goodbye, I turned to Fred. "Well, I should really get going." Fred smiled at me as he steadier himself by leaning on a nearby table.

"You're too floo to drunk." I rolled my eyes at Fred. It really wasnt a good idea to floo under the influence as one tended to slur their words and people tended to end up in the wrong place. Apparating was an even worse idea as most splinchings happened in a state of intoxication. However, I was more concerned about Fred. I was drunk but not nearly as drunk as he was.

"You could sleep over at my place." He offered. "I have a surprisingly comfy futon in the living room." I smiled at him.

"Very well, but only because you're too trashed to get back there on your own." Saying this I took a protesting Fred's arm and we stumbled down the street laughing the whole way back like a pair of middle schoolers. As we tottered into the living room we both collapsed onto the couch ". . . and then Ron came in just as the cauldron exploded. He was shedding feathers for weeks. Mum nearly killed us."

"That's classic." I laughed and he chuckled appreciatively at the memory. "D'you have any siblings?" he asked suddenly. I snorted "I have a sister but we don't get on well." Fred looked at me sympathetically. "Friends, then?"

"Yeah, but none of them live in England." I mourned. Fred raised his eyebrow suggestively, "I bet you've got some hunky slavic boyfriend up in Russia. Probably a Vladmir." I laughed and shook my head.

"No. I focused on my studies like a good girl." I grinned.

"Ahhhhhh. You liar. I know that look." Fred mocked accusingly.

"Okay, okay. So I had this thing with this Polish guy. He was the captain's son of this Salmon fishing ship." I shook my head with a small smile on my face. Fred raised his eyebrow,

"Muggle?" I nodded.

"Which is why it would have never worked." I said sadly. "My parents don't exactly approve." Fred's eyebrows furrowed.

"That sucks." He mumbled. "Strict parents?"

I rolled my eyes, "You have no idea." I looked down at my hands. "They expect a lot out of me and when I came back after war a lot of things had changed. Not in a good way." I lamented.

"Yeah, I the war was harsh on a lot of families." Fred looked sad.

"Well, I'm knackered." I said suddenly, wanting the conversation to end before Fred asked exactly why the war had been hard on my family.

"Oh, yeah." Fred jumped up. "Here. Let me set up the futon for you." He suggested.

"Thats alright, I'll just sleep on the couch. D'you have maybe a T shirt I can wear to bed?" Fred strode over to a room.

"Yeah, and I'll get you a cover and some pillows." He disappeared into the dark room. Fred came back towing a couple of pillows and a thick orange blanket. He promptly dumped them on the couch then tossed me a large emerald shirt.

"So there's the bathroom," He pointed at a door to his left. "and there's water in the kitchen, cups in the cabinet and I think that's about it . . ." he trailed off. I smiled at him softly. "Thanks, Fred. Goodnight."

"Night." He grinned as he left the living room. I silently changed in the living room, carefully folding my clothes and placing them on a crimson armchair. I wrapped myself in the golden blanket, fluffed my pillow, and promptly fell asleep.