Disclaimer: All canon characters, scenery and plot references are the property of J.K. Rowling. I do not own or profit from this story in any way. (Though really, if anyone wants to pay me to write full time….I'd be able to produce more chapters)
Rating: M for language and eventual sexual content
Summary: Dani and Bill have been best friends for as long as anyone can remember. They've also butted heads for as long as anyone can remember. Throw in a lost king, a team of curse breakers and a good mystery, and you've got yourself a story.
Author's Note: I've come to realize that there are like….4 people reading this. But I love you all, so thank you!
I'm writing ahead with both Snake in the Grass and This story at the same time, so it's kind of funny topic jumping like I've been doing. You'd be amazed at how many times I've written "Cass" and "Dani" interchangeably – Apparently I have a thing for four letter girl's names for main characters. (Ex: Kate- DDN)
This story won't be mystery in the tradition "who done it" sense, so I guess it might be labeled as 'adventure with a dash of mystery" and that facet wont come in til closer to the end when Dani goes after the lost king (I wrote riddles and puzzles!)—for now there's a lot of relationship drama and angst that will get worse before it gets better. Sorry.
…
Under the Desert Sun
Chapter Five: Gaggle of Gangly Gingers
Gold teeth and a curse for this town, were all in my mouth.
Only I don't know how they got out dear.
Turn me back, into the pet I was when we met
I was happier then with no mind set.
New Slang – The shins
When Dani woke up, Bill was still in her bed. It wasn't all that surprising, they'd shared beds a time or two before (and more when they'd been together), but still, it was disconcerting to wake up with his arms around her. They'd fallen asleep talking the night before, and though Bill's room was only meter's away, he always used to tease her that her bed was far more comfortable. He'd always been a bit of a cuddler anyway.
She slipped out of bed without waking him, reluctant to make things more awkward, and set about making coffee. Bill joined her 20 minutes later, snatching up the sections of the Daily prophet that she'd finished, (she'd moved on to the local Arabic paper the Desert Sun), and neither of them commented on their sleeping arrangements the night before.
As promised, they did spend the day together. After a bit of a lazy morning, spent cooking a large brunch together, talking about the dig site, doing a little translation work, and reading, they ran into Diagon Alley. They separated only for a brief time so that Dani could meet with the twins. Dani was an investor in the boy's shop, and when she and Bill entered the brightly coloured store, she was immediately swept into hugs by the twins, who pretended to ignore their brother.
"Dani!" Fred spun picked her up, spinning her in a circle, and nearly knocking over a display of Wonder Witch products.
"Good to see you love!" George picked her up the second that Fred had set her down, spinning her in the opposite direction, and nearly knocking down the same display. Dani laughed, and leaned against him once he'd released hers, steading herself.
"Hi boys," She kissed them both on the cheeks, grinning warmly at them.
"I see how it is," Bill rolled his eyes, pushing his hand through his hair and scanning the shop. He didn't come in as often as Dani did, and it always looked completely different every time he did. Dani had been more of a trouble-maker than Bill had at school, and he was always keeping her out of trouble. Either way, she had always encouraged the twins in their trouble-making, and Bill recognized a dangerous combination when he saw one. They conspired together often, especially at family functions, or closed door meetings at the shop.
"Oh William," Fred did his best to look surprised at his brother's presence.
"Didn't see you there," George grinned, arm still wrapped around Dani's shoulders.
"Wouldn't recognize you if we had—" Fred added with a smirk.
"You never come around anymore—" George complained.
"We're starting to take it personally—"Fred added thoughtfully.
"Oi," Bill rolled his eyes, shaking his head at his brothers. "I've been busy."
"Too busy for your own family?" Fred asked his head cocked to the side.
"What would mum say?" George cocked his head in the opposite direction.
"She'd probably comment on what a horrible son she has, and give him a good talking to," Dani smirked, ducking out from under George's arm and ruffling the taller man's hair playfully.
"Oh no," Bill groaned, scrunching up his nose at his best friend, "Not you too Dani."
"You see, Dani gets us," Fred took the opportunity to wrap his arm around Dani's bare shoulders, pulling her into his side.
"She comes around at least once a week," George nodded enthusiastically.
"Because she loves us," Fred agreed.
"And because I can't rest a pretty face," Dani laughed, ducking out from under Fred's arm too.
"You see, that's funny, because we're identical," George explained with a laugh. Fred and Dani exchanged a look before joining in, and even Bill hid a grin behind a well-schooled expression.
"Traitor," His lips twitched.
"Well, sad to say, William darling," George told his brother, leading Dani to the back of the shop, "But we've got a closed door meeting with this lovely roommate of yours."
"So that means you need to stay here, or stay elsewhere, or just make yourself scarce." Fred added.
"Really?" Bill looked between Dani and his brothers. "I thought you were joking about that Dani," His eyes narrowed.
"Well never Joke," Fred said seriously, earning a snort from Dani.
"Well we say we never joke…" George was grinning.
"But we actually make a living on joking," Fred added, "We just don't joke about serious things,"
"Or you'd need to call up Sirius, to make that joke," Dani smirked. The twins both laughed.
"Verity, we've got our meeting, but if you need us…" George turned to the girl at the counter.
"I'll barge in in a tiff," The girl shot back, waving her hand amiably to her brothers.
"See you in a half hour or so Bill," Dani shooed her friend away, entering the work room easily, and shooting a smile to her friend.
"One of these days, the three of you are going to tell me exactly what you do in there," Bill shook his head, muttering after his roommate as she stood in the doorway.
"Keep dreaming Weasley," Dani shot back, closing the door behind her.
What they were doing 'in there', was developing products. Dani was quite skilled in transfiguration and potions, and had helped the boys one Christmas with a work around for an issue that they'd been having with a new product, and from then, they'd recruited her to help solve a few dozen other issues. When she'd actually suggested a new product, and included the specific spells and enchantments that would be needed to accomplish said product (in detail, in a notebook, broken down into steps), they'd hired her on as an official consultant to their business.
She even got a consulter's fee, though she usually donated that, and some extra to the shop as a backer every month, much to the annoyance of the twins, who told her that she had earned that money, and that she should take her cut of the proceeds and buy herself something nice, like a new broom, or a new flatmate.
Regardless, she spent about an hour with the twins, laughing and joking and helping solve issues, and laying out a new product she had the other day for a prank floo powder that sent you to a hedge maze, instead of directly to the point of intent.
When the unlikely trio emerged back in the shop nearly an hour later, all grinning at the progress that they'd made, Bill met them with a furrowed brow.
"You're done then?" He asked pointedly, eyes on Dani, who met him with a grin.
"Don't be jealous, dear William, that I tend to get along with your brothers quite well," She smirked. It was hard not to sound like the twins after spending so much time with them. And even before that, she'd known them since they were very young. They'd always been a facet in her life, and she wasn't planning on changing it anytime soon.
"That's not what I meant…" Bill shook his head. "What are you doing back there anyway?"
"Now Billy," Fred took a step towards his brother, grinning mischievously
"Dearest William," George did too.
"Brother Dearest," Fred continued his slow advance towards his brother, Bill took a cautious step back, eying his brother's suspiciously "I dare say, that you and I—" Fred took another step forward.
"That we and you—" George did too, and Bill stood still, quirking an eyebrow at the strange standoff with his brothers.
"That the accumulation—"
"Congregation—"
"Conglomeration of us, as a collection," Fred grinned.
"Should perhaps, not discuss such matters-" George continued.
"In respectable company, as it were," They finished together, in the unnerving way that they always seemed to be of the same mind. Dani hid a giggle behind her hand.
Bill blinked, looking between his brothers with a raised brow. "I don't know why I bother," He shook his head "Are you ready Dani?" He settled on finally.
"He can't handle our brilliance," George sighed, pouting as he hugged Dani tightly goodbye.
"That's alright Georgie, few people can." Dani squeezed him tightly, and turned to Fred. "See you at dinner tomorrow?"
"Absolutely," Fred hugged her tightly as well. "And remember, if you ever realize how much better you can do than Billy here, let us know." He smirked, nodding to Bill, who rolled his eyes, opening the front door for Dani.
"Honestly, I don't know how those two don't drive you up the wall," He shook his head, as soon as they were out of the shop. "I get whiplash just from listening to them."
"It's probably because I think like them," Dani combatted with a grin. "The more time you spend with them, the more you start to sound like them."
"Dangerous." Bill grinned, "And I say this as someone who willingly combats curses and traps on a daily bases."
"So you have a lot of practice then?"
The rest of the afternoon was spent shopping, wandering around Diagon, and eating dinner out at a pub they both loved. They returned home after to watch muggle movies on the telly and to drink a little too much, but enjoying the easy camaraderie between them. Their shared sense of humor, and capability to talk about everything and nothing in one sitting just reaffirmed in Dani's mind of how much Bill was her best friend, and how lucky she was to have him.
Their conversation was diverse, they spoke easily on everything from the war and it's relief efforts, to the next meeting of the Order of the Phoenix and rounding up remaining Death Eaters. They made bets on Ted's next relationship, or the twin's business ventures, and which teams would make it to next year's Quidditch World Cup.
And by the time that they both went to bed in their perspective rooms, it was late.
Dinner at the Weasley's was always a chaotic affair. There were people everywhere, yelling, laughter, and always delicious food. Bill and Dani appeared at the same time as the recently reconnected Percy, and the three walked up to the house together.
"How have you been Perce?" Bill asked his brother, slinging his arm over the skinny boy's shoulder and ruffling his hair; Percy rolled his eyes and ducked away from his brother, smoothing down his hair.
"I've been alright," Percy smiled good naturedly all the same, "We've been extremely busy at the ministry with all the changes that Kingsley has been making," He turned to the curly haired witch on his right, "It's good to see you Danielle."
"You too Percy," Dani smiled, "It's been what since last Beltane?" She smiled warmly at one of the boys that she considered to be her brothers. She'd been spending most holidays with the Weasley's since early in her Hogwarts career, Most of Bill's younger siblings had been children when she'd first met them, and Ginny had always claimed that Dani was as much a part of the family as any of them.
Percy flushed, in the way that he used to when Dani focused attention on him. "Er, yes, I believe so, as I've said, I've been busy at the ministry."
"You'll have to tell me about what you've been doing later," Dani smiled, sending a pointed glare and the smirk on Bill's face.
"So Percy's still half in love with you," Bill teased her after they'd returned to their flat at the end of the evening. They hadn't stayed long, only enough to talk to everyone, eat some good food, and thank Molly Weasley profusely for having them.
"Come again soon love, we miss you around here," Molly had hugged her tightly, sending them with packages of food and going on about how they were both too skinny.
"He is not," Dani rolled her eyes, stuffing their food in the icebox. "I think he just gets flustered around me because…"
"Because widdle Percy's in love with you," He teased, "Merlin can you imagine the pillow talk, "Ahem, I read an interesting statistic the other day…"
Dani snorted, but smacked him in the shoulder "You should be nicer."
"Hypocrite," He grinned in response.
At work the next day, they gathered around one of the conference tables in the canteen for a meeting. They were scheduled to explore one of the pathways leading off of antechamber K this morning, and wanted to make sure that all of their ducks were in a row before they started.
"So Dani will take the go ahead spot," Jake looked down at his notes after idle conversations about their weekends. Ted had been teasing her about her date with Shawn Alastair all morning, until she very politely told him to shove off. This earned even more teasing from her co-worker until Jake called them off, diverting their attention back on the task at hand.
"That's fine," Dani nodded, with a glance to Bill. Quite often, when clearing a chamber, they would send a team of two down the hall, to test and spring traps, and to disarm the curses and traps from both sides. It was an efficient and regimented process, that had always worked well for them in the past. Especially considering the go ahead team was usually Dani and Bill, who worked well together.
"And Bill will take the second spot?" Jake glanced to the man, who nodded immediately.
"Actually," Ted, for once in his life looked surprisingly nervous. "I was wondering…if maybe I could give it a go?" He asked. "I've been practicing, and I think…" He pushed his hand into his hair. "I would like to get better."
Jake glanced to Dani and then Bill. "Up to you Dani, you feel comfortable with it?"
"Sure, Dani grinned, just don't get us killed."