Muggle Magic – 4

A/N – Thanks for all the reviews guys. Just to answer a question raised by more that one person. I do plan on including some of the events of HBP and DH. Fred is involved in those events so they have to be included. Peter will also have a further part in this.

Anyway, I don't own anything!

Chapter 4 – Fred

It was Christmas.

The Burrow was a foot deep in snow, but inside was full of laughter and warmth. Fred, along with George, had returned home for a week over the holiday period, and so far he had spent almost every waking moment helping to decorate the house.

Twice he tried to sneak out of the house to go down to the village, and twice Molly had grabbed him before he could get away.

He hadn't been to see Ally since the day her friend had shown up in the shop. Peter. Fred yanked a little too hard on the paper chain he was holding at the thought and it broke. He repaired it with a quick tap of his wand, and went back to his moody thoughts.

He'd seen the way Peter was looking at Ally, and he knew all to well that the guy could cause serious trouble if he decided to. Especially if he started asking awkward questions.

Maybe I should back off though, he thought with a frown. Was he doing the wrong thing by getting involved with her? His life was complicated, and dangerous, enough, was dragging a muggle into it a little unfair on her.

"You alright, Fred?"

He looked round with a start. Ginny was stood in the doorway, a fresh bundle of paper chains in her arms.

"Yeah, course, why wouldn't I be?"

She lifted one shoulder in a shrug as she dumped her load on the threadbare sofa. "You've been a million miles away ever since me, Harry and Ron got back from Hogwarts. And I've never seen you frown so much in my life."

Fred laughed. "I never realised you cared so much, little sis." He shifted a little uncomfortably under her serious gaze. "Seriously, Gin. I'm fine. Just…got a few things on my mind."

"Like?"

Fred narrowed his eyes. "Since when were you so nosy?"

"I've always been nosy. Now spill."

They stood staring each other down for a moment and then Fred sighed. "Ok, but you have to keep your mouth shut. I don't need any of the rest of the family on my case…"

Ginny made a zipping motion across her lips. "I swear."

They both flopped down onto the sofa and for a moment Fred stared into the fire. "There's this girl…"

"I knew it!" Ginny spun to face him, tucking her feet up under her. "Is it Angelina? Or is it that girl you have working in the shop? She's quite pretty."

"No…no, it's neither of them…" He chewed his lip. "Actually, see, the problem is that she's a muggle…"

Fred couldn't help it. He started laughing. The look on Ginny's face was priceless.

"A muggle? Seriously?" She shook her head in disbelief. "How did you even meet a muggle?"

"She lives down in the village. She so pretty, Gin. And it's kind of nice that she doesn't know about magic. She seems almost innocent because of it. But…oh I don't know. I don't know if I'm being stupid getting myself involved with a muggle right now."

"Are you actually 'involved'?"

"Well, not yet. But I think about her all the time…"

Ginny pursed her lips. "Fred…normally I would say you need to do whatever your heart tells you to, but right now…you have to think about the danger you would be putting her in. Any muggle involved with a wizard is going to be a target for the death eaters. Especially one involved with our family…"

Fred sighed. "When did you get so wise, little sis?"

***

He had made up his mind. Ginny was right. The risks of getting involved with Ally far outweighed any benefits. Right?

"Alright, Gred," George thumped him round the back of the head, and he looked up with a start. He had been staring into the fire for most of the morning, and he hadn't even heard his brother approach.

"Ok, enough of this moping around." George gave him a long look. "I'm bored, and it's your job, as my twin brother, to entertain me."

Fred cocked one eyebrow. "Oh really? And what would you like me to do?"

George shrugged, "That, brother dearest, is entirely up to you." He pursed his lips, pretending to look thoughtful. "Of course, we could always head on down to the village…"

"No," Fred replied quickly. "I don't want…"

"What do you mean 'you don't want'? I thought you were in looorve."

Fred smacked him round the head at the exaggerated tone of his voice. "I'm not in love. And anyway, I've decided that I don't want to get myself involved with Ally…it's just not sensible at the moment."

George snorted, "Sensible? Fred! When the hell have you and I ever been 'sensible'? Come on, grab your coat, we need to go and see your lady love."

"She's not my 'lady love'," Fred muttered even as he scrambled out of the sofa and followed George through to the kitchen.

A/N – Ok, I'm really not sure if I like this or not! Lol. Just doesn't seem to be flowing the way my other one did. Hmmm. Well, let me know what you think!