Before I knew it, it was the Christmas holidays and I was faced with the prospect of being George-less for two weeks. It may sound needy and pathetic but personally I was dreading it. We boarded the train and shared a compartment together and I sat on his lap. With us it wasn't just a nice romantic thing to do, it was also a bit of an in-joke with our group after being forced to sit on him every morning between the start of term and Halloween. Not that it wasn't nice and not that we didn't make the most of it. Let's just say Fred especially didn't often look our way over the journey. Finally the train stopped and we all got off.
"Fred," I said.
"Yeah Lis?" he replied.
"Piss off." I said and put my arms around George's neck, saying a thoroughly non-verbal goodbye.
"Thanks!" said Fred sincerely with his back to us, genuinely glad of the notice.
I was called back to the real world by Angelina who was poking my shoulder repeatedly, an annoying speciality of hers. "Come on Alicia, we have to go, everyone else is already gone!" I broke away and looked around. As Angie had said, we were the only four left on the platform. Angelina and Fred had had to stay because they were going home with us, my parents were friends with Angie's and they did lift shares.
Reluctantly I went with Angelina through to King's Cross Station where her mother wrapped her in a tight hug. I turned round to look at George whose mother was doing the same. We smiled at each other than I spotted the danger. I mimed whipping lipstick from around my mouth and he quickly wiped off the smear of "Pink Blush" off his face.
I smiled mouthing the word "goodbye" at him before turning to see Angelina's parents who had just released her. "Hey Mrs Johnson! How've you been?"
A few days before Christmas I was sat up in my room alone at night. I was just wrapping up George's Christmas present when I heard a tap at the window. Finding the right thing to get him had been almost impossible. I wanted to get him something with a sentimental value but anything like that was just too wet, and it's hard to buy anything for the twins without falling into the trap.
Your first thought for Fred and George is a joke item, but what could you get them that they don't have already or couldn't make themselves? I went to the window and opened it, letting in an old brown owl I recognised as Errol, the Weasley's owl. Excited I untied the parcel and letter from his leg and ripped the letter open.
Dear Lis,
Happy Christmas! Been missing you a lot, no seriously! Especially since Ron went and told the rest of the family about you, they won't shut up teasing me! I don't think they'd tease me quite so much if they knew how gorgeous you are! Thought I'd get your present here in plenty of time for Christmas, at least I hope so; Errol can be a little unreliable at times. Need to see you soon, need to have a long talk when we get back. Anyway, I'll see you soon. Happy Christmas again!
From your lovely George xx
P.S. hope you didn't really think I meant "talk"
P.P.S. little hint: don't open your present in front of your family
I picked up the present and put it under the miniature tree I have in my room, right at the back so it was out of sight in case my parents asked about it later as I was taking George's hint seriously. I tied George's present to the owl's leg and it took off again, soaring back to George with my reply.
Dear George,
Happy Christmas to you too! I hope Percy's not teasing you; he seemed pretty impressed the morning after Halloween! Don't worry; I get what you mean about our talk and I think we need to talk sooner rather than later, I'll arrange something. Anyway, my present arrived plenty of time before Christmas and unless Errol gets lost yours should too. Fortunately I don't have any sibling to spill the beans on me so the only (but quite extensive) teasing I get is from Angie who comes round most days. Anyway, enjoy the rest of the holiday and try not to forget about me!
With love from Alicia xxx
On Christmas eve mum threw one of her famous (or infamous) parties and I had to spend the entire day sucking up to various friends and relatives, saved from one only by mum grabbing my arm and dragging me along to the next one. I managed to spend some time with Angie and a few of my other friends from the village but spent most of my time bored out of my mind by people we didn't know or care enough about to see at any other time.
Just after midnight (yes this party went on until well after midnight) I snuck up to my room to open George's present. It was wrapped in an outer layer of brown paper but on the inside it had a lovely pink and black rococo pattern on the wrapping paper. Not wanting to rip it I carefully teased the spello-tape from it until only the ribbon remained to be removed.
I stared at my present for a while, wondering if he was actually serious. I finally found the courage to pick it up. George had gone out and purchased me a black lace bra and knickers. And when I say lace I mean there was nothing to them except a bit of lace. Fortunately when I picked it up a note fell out.
"Dear Lis,
Knowing you you're probably staring at it wondering if I'm serious. Yes I am, you see on Halloween I couldn't help noticing the only three things your outfit was missing, so I thought I'd get them for you being the nice considerate boyfriend that I am. Try not to enjoy them too much until you get back to me!
From your darling George xxxx
P.S. Merry Christmas!"
He was serious. Dear god. What was this third thing he'd mentioned, the three things my outfit was missing. I moved the bits of lace and found a small pile of black. I picked it up and it unfolded, revealing itself to be a necklace. I gasped as I examined it. It was utterly gorgeous. There were two thick black silken ribbons plaited together with silver chains hanging off them. The chains looped and connected with the necklace again, and from each chain hung a little silver charm. One of them was a black widow spider, another, a skull with black sapphire eyes and another a heart with a dagger stuck through it, dripping with tiny rubies. I just sat there, staring at it. It was beautiful and George had been exactly right. It would go perfectly with my outfit.
A few minutes later Angelina came up to my room. She had noticed my absence and Mum was undoubtedly making her talk to all the people that I would've had to talk to. "Alicia your mum's wondering, oh my god!" she had caught sight of the other part if my present from George. "Did he seriously get you…?"
"Oh yes. He's serious with the lingerie. But look what else he got me!" I cried excitedly.
"Oh my god." Said Angelina again. "Sweetie that's gorgeous! My god, how much did he spend on you?" I hadn't thought of this before, but it suddenly occurred to me that George's family were not particularly well off. This would've cost him a fortune. I love my boyfriend.
********** George
A quarter to one in the morning on Christmas day, and I was lying in my room, on my own. It's not that I don't like my family (except Auntie Muriel) but it didn't feel right. I know this sounds horribly girly and pathetic but I missed Alicia.
"Hey George. How you doing?" Fred walked into the room looking exhausted. I was good at hiding my more pathetic side, as was my twin who does have one too, so this question surprised me slightly. As my identical twin, didn't he know?
"I'm fine, why?"
"Muriel just asked mum if either of us had a life threatening illness." We both laughed, although we knew Muriel was sincere in her hope. I looked over again to Alicia's presents for me. One was a tub of hair jell with a little note:
"Not sure which hair jell you use but I went round the entire shop smelling every one till I found the one that smelled like amourtentia. Think you use this one, if not then ah well! Lis xx"
I love Alicia. The other present was a picture frame where the pictures kept changing. One was all of us at Halloween, the next Alicia sat on my lap by the fire, then the two of us together surrounded by Fred and the other girls after a particularly awful quidditch practice where it tipped it down with rain and actually blew Harry off his broom. We were so cold we were blue, soaking wet and very much windswept but laughing into the camera.
There were others but those were three of my favourites. There was a tap at the window and I opened it to reveal a tiny little black and white pigmy owl which I recognised as Alicia's, with a letter around its leg. I pulled the bird inside and ripped the envelope off its leg, ignoring it's and Fred's protests, "Merlin George, are you trying to kill that owl?"
Inside the envelope was not a letter but a picture. I turned away from Fred quickly, aware that I was probably going red. The picture was a photograph. A photograph of Alicia standing against her window wearing her Christmas presents and looking gorgeous. She is truly stunning, with a perfect hourglass figure, a slight tan, amazing chocolate hair and eyes, and great- well. You get it. I was just putting the picture behind the other one that kept changing in its frame when I saw the note on the back.
"Dear George,
I thought I'd thank you for my lovely necklace with this little picture. Try not to show it to anyone else, I might be okay doing this for my camera and my boyfriend but I think anyone else (including said boyfriend's identical twin) then I'm not quite so sure. I agree with you fully, we need to have a talk. Badly. If you can get rid of Fred for a while when we go back then I have a little solution. Meet me in compartment 13 on the train as soon as the platform opens. Then we can talk.
Love from your gorgeous girlfriend Alicia xxxx"
I'd have to work hard to keep this from Fred but I was sure I'd cope. I may have to sleep with that picture frame under my pillow for a while to stop Fred from nicking it but I'd manage it. Showing that kind of thing to your identical twin can get a bit weird.
My god, I've just disgraced the Weasley name. I'd just realised, and I can't believe even now that I've ever even thought this in my entire life, I can't wait to go back to school. My god Alicia what have you done to me?