Expectations of Approval
Chapter Thirty-one: Letters
Fred, mom and dad are livid. What were you thinking? No- What are you still thinking? I know they would have sent a howler by now if they could, but the only way to send a message over to that part of the world is the muggle way, that's the only way to get there also, your damn lucky because mom and dad can't do anything to you just yet. Though the moment you come back will be a completely different story. And you have to come back sooner or later.
What are you even doing over there? I thought you couldn't stand Percy.
Either way, how's Bill? And I heard from mom that you said Percy found a girl over there, is that true? seems unlikely.
-George
--
Well, my brother I'm not sure what I'm doing. Mostly cleaning, I've turned into Percy's "Go-for," It's annoying but I had to try to do something. I got Percy really pissed, I mean honestly fuming, not like we've ever seen him before. Don't tell mom that though. And your right I really couldn't stand him, I'm still getting used to talking to him normally. But now I know that it's really not that bad, I know there is no reason to hate him.
I know your wondering why things changed but I can't tell you just yet. What happened did knock some sense into me though. All I can say is that I really screwed up. I mean I really messed up this time. Anne and Bill tell me it's not my fault, but if I think about it too much, I don't know how any of them can still look at me, let alone talk to me. Merlin even Oliver can.
Bill's doing fine. He looks more like a fish everyday. A real live fish boy. ha-ha, his glaring at me right now.
Well in other news I've made the medical staff dislike me already. I've made it so that Percy doesn't need to take days off anymore, as his cleaning lady you know. His pretty happy about it, he really is a workaholic, but his coworker aren't, they're worried. Though they are glad to see that his actually eating a regular breakfast and dinner not just rushed snacks. I'm learning how to cook, since I have a lot of time. But still you know my cooking skills aren't very good, so we mostly eat cafeteria food and take out mostly.
The other day I was looking through some of the his papers at home, he left them there when he brought them home on his 'days off' and needed me to pick them up for him. I read and understood them, somewhat. They've already stopped working on this project, there were some complications, but Percy says that he thinks it's their best shot. I think it's doable, but I need somethings. I'm sending a list of things I need, can you send them over? Our notes on their development too. I'm limited in what I can do here so you need to make the samples. Every time I use magic I have to check before hand for magic residue, and every time I use it I have a chance of getting infected, you can see my reason for hesitation. Send them as soon as you can, and don't let mom find out. I'm sending over some money that you can use to buy the stuff you'll need and be able to send it the muggle way.
-Fred
PS. send some Day Dream Charms, Bill gets pretty bored.
--
"What are you reading?" Bill asks Fred.
The younger Weasley looks up from the pill of papers he has set up on the table. "Their just notes George sent, for our product line. I thought they might be useful"
"Useful?"
Fred shrugs. "It's just that when Percy was going over the notes they sounded familiar like we had done something similar"
"You pay him attention when he does that? I can't understand half of what he says"
"He goes over them a lot, . . . I ask now and then"
Bill nods, "And if would explain, that's Percy. Still it's surprising how well you too are getting along,"
Fred nods.
"Do you know why Percy hasn't come by in a couple of days?" Bill ask Fred as he looks at his fins, moving them to test his mobility.
Fred, shakes his head, he still finds Bill's appearance more than just a little disturbing.
"I told him to spend his time with Oliver"
Bill looks at his brother suspiciously then, "You don't think Oliver will make it?"
Fred looks away. "It's just that Percy doesn't have much time with him either away. Anne told me that in a matter of hours, days or next week Percy might not even be able to walk into his room"
Bill nods slowly. "The dangerous patients"
"Like Anne said, He didn't want to but I told him I'd keep you company and not to worry," Fred tells Bill, as he reads over their notes on the 'Guaranteed Ten-Second Pimple Vanisher'
"Fred, I've been meaning to ask but did I detect anything between you and Anne?" Bill asks.
Fred jumps a little at the question but continues to look at his notes. "No, it's not. I could never think of Anne like that"
"Right" Bill asks in a voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because believe me Fred I not want to hear another rant of denial from one of my other brothers too"
Fred frowns in confusion but responds "Don't worry it's not denial"
"Well that's good then"
Fred looks at Bill then, questioningly.
Bill raises one scaly dark blue eyebrow. "But if it does turn out that you have something for Anne, and I'm not saying you do. I have a bit of advise for you. It's not going to be easy, her father has really high standers for his daughter and Anne would never disobey him."
"Standards? You mean he needs to be a rich pure blood"
"Rich, mostly yes, but he doesn't care about pure bloods, he doesn't even need him to be a wizard, though he does prefer wizards, less of a cultural barrier she says" Bill tells his brother as he ties to stretch in the small tube. "I wish they'd get me a bigger tub, i think I'm growing . . . "
"But she was dating Oliver, and his family isn't too well off. And I heard that he-" Fred states ignoring the rest of Bills words.
Bill sighs and settles down in his tub "Oliver? You mean Oliver Wood, the son of Mr. Hunter's long time family friend and savior? Anne's Childhood friend? and this year's Rookie Quidditch Pick? That Oliver Wood?"
"I didn't know that but still-"
"He is the only exception Fred, because he is a stand up guy and very close to Anne's family. Anne has told me about the other candidates her fathers picked out. There are only bright men of very wealthy families, gifted, renown artist, prosperous entrepreneurs and one very brilliant healer that seems to be the best bet of curing this radical new virus, and supposedly her close personal friend."
"You mean Percy?" Fred asks in surprise.
"Yes, Percy. I know you don't think much of him but he has really made a name for himself, unintentionally but he has. You see that's one of the reasons she brought Oliver here. She isn't worried about Oliver saying no to her fathers request, but Percy he depends on her dad for his chance at curing me. Over all of the candidates Percy and Oliver are the top picks because they are "somebody" and they are already close to Anne. He cares about her so if possible he wants her to care about her future husband before they are married."
"Your saying I have no chance"
"I thought you didn't care"
Fred passes and hand through his hair. "I-I might care a little"
Sakes head his head at Fred "It's no that you have no chance . . . but soon Anne's father is going to find out his top choices are no longer available and he is going to match her up with someone else's"
--
Fred.
I've set things up so you can travel from Hokkaido to Hogwarts during the year. Since your 17 you don't need to have parental consent but you still need to talk to Dumbledor. Don't forget that if you should get infected, and it's very possible, you will not be able to leave Japan by any means.
I'll be coming back soon, my school year will be starting soon. I'll be dorming at the University so you wont see me around but I'm letting you know in advance so you wont be surprised.
-Anne
--
Dear Mum and Dad,
Don't worry, everything is going just fine. Fred is not causing any trouble at all. in-fact he has been a lot of help around the house. Bill's health is doing great, he is even in a better mood now a days since Fred is around he isn't as bored as before. He misses you all. I do too but as much as i'd like to go home I can't take away any time I could be using to find a cure for Bill.
I'll try to make it home for the holidays this year but it's around that time that we are most understaffed.
-Percy
--
Hey George, I'm a healer's assistant now. Can you believe that? I can't. It's pretty crazy over here. It's pretty boring work, all I do is make coffee, do laundry and get them things like files on patients, but I'm getting paid so I can send over more money for materials.
They cant let me work with a lot of the patients. I might get infected. Know Percy works with almost every one? The really dangerous are the only ones he doesn't work with and only because isn't allowed to be in the same room as them. We are pure bloods after. We would die. A lot of the other pure blood healers even see patients, too scared, they refuse to.
You know, the research center found out about the Day Dream Charms. They were pretty angry at first but then they checked them out. They tested it and it's safe for the use on patients, they want to buy some. It turns out that they can block out the pain for Magic poisoning. Did you know normal pain killers don't work? Not even a little, they couldn't figure it out without infection. Every one is too scared to do anything.
Percy was pretty happy about the Day Dream Charms. At first her was angry that I brought it in without telling him, but after they checked it out and he saw it could help the sicker patients, he was happy they might be able to at least do something for them. The sicker patients don't do very well, the pain looks unbearable. Even if it's for only half an hour their happy again. Their asking me to develop it into a normal pain killer that can be used for magic poisoning. They want the patient to be lucid, so they can say good bye.
we should make them last longer.
-Fred
A/n: I don't know if I got this through but in the last letter i wanted to convey that Fred a freaking out. That working at the center is harder than he thought it would be, and that he is starting to appreciate Percy more. Did that get through?