Chapter 17
Thaks for everyone who reviewed...I wish more would, gumble gumble.
Fred was sitting on his bed watching the television in boredom. George was lying on his back and staring at the cracks in the ceiling and glanced secretly at Fred every so often before looking back up again. Fred flipped though the channels and finding a lack of good shows he turned off the television and slammed the controller on the desk.
"There's nothing to watch." Fred said and George rolled his eyes making his brother shake his head.
"Try being stuck at home twenty-four hours with nothing to do but listen to one of mom's old stories about how she met Arthur and fell in love and how she knew she was pregnant with Bill before the healers told her and on and on…she is driving me so insane that sometimes I cant help but wonder if I am in the psych ward in St. Mugals and all you guys are just in my mind." George said darkly and Fred frowned.
"It can't be all that bad?"
"She won't let me out of her sight for a single second." George replied rudely.
"Can you blame her?" Fred asked his voice deep with emotions.
"What does that mean?" George hissed at his brother.
"You were kidnapped George, no one thought we would ever see you again. I don't even want you out of my sight." Fred said sadly.
"I'm sorry I ruined everyone's' life. Maybe it would be better if I just kill myself." George yelled standing up and facing his twin with anger and frustration.
"Never saw that again." Fred growled too, standing up and walking over to his brother so they were neck and neck. George backed away intimidated by how mad Fred looked, flashbacks of when he pronounced his love flashing though his mind, he doesn't want another broken nose.
"I'm sorry, what did I saw?" George said timidly, his anger dying like a rose covered in snow. Fred snorted his anger raising.
"Think then idiot. After everything we went though to drag your smelly ass out of the factory, of everything we sacrificed to ensure that you survive, you think you deserve the right to kill yourself?" Fred asked menacingly not missing the hurt sigh that escaped from George.
"Well…you didn't have to save me. You could have left me there to die." George yelled back, hating how weak his statement was. Fred glared at George with deep loathing as he pushed George against the wall painfully.
"You didn't want to be saved? You wanted to fucking die in that factory, is that what I am hearing?" Fred growled in anger and George twitched, trying to push the heavy arms away from him. The arms wouldn't bulge.
"George, answer me, is that what you fucking want? I could drag you back to that factory if you truly want." Fred yelled and George paled.
"Get off me."
"Say it George." Fred yelled and suddenly they heard a scream from the doorway.
"Frederick Weasley, release your hands from your brother right now." Molly yelled and suddenly Fred jumped away from George who just slid to the floor.
"I'm sorry okay. I'm sorry for messing everything up." George said in between sobs and suddenly Fred couldn't help but feel guilty. Molly glared at Fred before wrapping an arm around George and lifting him up.
"It's okay George. It's okay." Molly whispered as she rubbed her son's back while still glaring at Fred. She shook her head at him before she let go of George who was still shaking slightly.
"Frederick, never let me see you doing that to your brother again." Molly yelled at Fred who just stared at his brother who climbed onto a bed and curled up in a pitiable state. Fred looked down at his feet moodily.
"Yes mum."
"Okay then," Molly said as she rubbed her eyes tiredly, "food is on the table. I believe you both should eat."
"I'm not hungry." George said and Molly bit her lip as tears filled her eyes.
"Okay then Fred, lunch is on the table."
"I think I'm going to pass too." Fred replied and Molly hiccupped to cover a sob.
"Okay fine, I will just throw both of your plates away then." Molly replied in a broken voice before walking away from the room. The room was silent again; the only sounds were the annoying humming of flies. The twins stared at each other each daring each other to talk first. It was Fred who broke the silence first.
"Sorry about how I was acting, I was being a jerk." Fred said as he tried to catch the fly that had been circling his head for the last twenty minutes.
"No, you weren't being a jerk," George said and Fred smiled, "you were being an ass." George finished and Fred felt the smile die before coming back to life.
"At least I didn't get myself kidnapped." Fred said playfully making George smile weakly.
"It's only a matter of time." George joked back and both twins found themselves smiling and frowning at each other again.
"I better not; I would have hoped that I was a little smarter than that."
"So did I."
"Sometimes I worry that you are going to try and kill yourself." Fred said with an embarrassing blush and George sighed again.
"I wanted to. I really wanted to."
"I'm happy you are smart enough not to do that." Fred said nudging George playfully in the arm.
"Just because you commit suicide doesn't make them dumb." George added and Fred rolled his eyes.
"Sure, they are smart enough to realize how much pain they are going to put everyone though just because they were sick of life."
"They don't have to be sick of life; they just don't have to think. Suicide is like breathing, its subconscious for some people. It's like one minute your sitting down eating ice cream and the next minute you are picking up a knife and slicing your arm open."
"Its not subconscious, how do you describe suicide notes and all that shit?"
"I said its subconscious for some people, not everyone. Anyways you wouldn't understand, your life as been butterflies and roses."
"You had the same life I did." Fred yelled looking at his brother like he was nuts.
"My life is more of cockroaches and mold." George replied looking pitiful.
"George, your life will be good again, I promise you." Fred whispered warmly and George laughed bitterly.
"You are a fool if you think that my life is going to get better Fred. I'm going to be stuck as a fucking freak show who is owned by a asshole who used to be one of my best friends. My life is going to be so rad."
"With that attitude your life isn't going to improve. But I promise you your life is going to be perfect one day." Fred said gently as he wrapped his arms around his brother and held him close. Fred took in the scent of a Weasley, of a brave man who been though way too much, and is struggling to pick up the lost pieces of his life. Fred swore he would do anything to put George back together again.
"I promise you one day your life will be perfect." Lee whispered to his friend as he wrapped his skinny, dried arm around George and held him close. George held him back clumsily, as George tried to take in a deep breath. It's been exactly one week, four hours, and thirty minutes since George was sent to hell. It had been one week, five hours, and forty minutes that Hermione blurted his secret to Fred. It's been exactly one week, four hours, and forty minutes since Fred refused to talk to him anymore unless it was for a trick.
It had been two days, five hours, and fifteen minutes since George decided that he had to break away from Fred in order to keep them both sane. It's been too tough for George though, his whole life had been centered around Fred, what was he going to do without him? It's been one day, two hours, and ten minutes since Lee asked George out again. Lee was still waiting for the answer; George was still trying to decide. Lee was getting impatient, George was torn by agony.
George looked at Lee and weakly smiled before pushing himself out of Lee's arms which seemed to not want to let go. George looked at Lee carefully as Lee smiled.
"Well?" Lee asked, butterflies dancing in his stomach.
"I…I don't know." George responded with a small blush. The butterflies died and were replaced by poisonous snakes.
"You don't want to go out with me?" Lee asked, forcing his anger down.
"You are a nice guy but honestly…I just can't see us together." George replied honestly and then jerked at the look on Lee's face.
"Try it George, just for a couple of days." Lee ordered making George frown a little.
"Lee?"
"Damn it George, try it. Agree!"
"I…no."
"If you deny me than I wont talk to you or hang out with you, tell me do you want that? Who else do you have George? Fred won't talk to you, Ron is too busy being a dick to Harry and Hermione, Alicia and Angelina just tolerate you so they could flirt with Fred. Tell me, can you afford to lose me too?" Lee asked with a twisted smile that George missed.
"I don't like you Lee." George said softy and Lee shook his head before standing up.
"Fine, have fun being a loner. When you get too lonely you know where to find me." Lee said as he started to walk slowly.
"Wait." George yelled and Lee stopped a creepy smile forming on his handsome face.
"What George?"
"I don't want to be a loner." George said and Lee turned around to face him with a big smile and the butterflies were back flying in his stomach again.
"Then you will go out with me?" Lee asked in excitement.
"Let me finish. But I'm not a whore either." George snapped and Lee smirked.
"We will see."
"Yes, Fred, Angelina, and Alicia will still talk to me. Just you watch." George snapped and Lee laughed.
"Fine, but when your fantasy fails, you know how to get me to talk to you." Lee said before hugging George tightly, "by the way, you look smoking hot today."
"Shut up Lee."
"No one will talk to you; no one cares for you but me."
"Your wrong, Fred loves me. He will always be there for me."
"George I love your denial."
"He will never abandon me." George whispered looking hurt. Lee laughed before walking out the door and George stood there feeling sick to his stomach. Is Lee right? Does nobody like me?
"Shit, sorry I have to abandon you like this but I have to go to work." Fred yelled out looking at the clock on the wall nervously. George bit his lip to stop from speaking, but he couldn't help but think please don't leave me. I need you so much, please stay with me.
"I'm going to make us rich." Fred joked as he started out the door but paused and looked over at his twin. Their eyes met for a few seconds as both wondered if they should really part like this.
"Fred, I think I should go back to work now" George spoke slowly choosing his words carefully. Fred blinked and frowned at George feeling a gutting sensation in his stomach.
"George, I don't know if it is…"
"Please. It's half my shop." George said with a smile trying to be cute, hoping that his brother would give in.
"I don't know George, I mean without an arm and everything…" Fred started but stopped at the hurt expression that laced though George's face. Fred but his lip nervously, George lowered his head, and between them their depression were so great that it was like a twister.
"Hey…I understand I'm pretty useless now anyways." George whispered pathetically looking at his disfigured self in the mirror. His brother stood like a shadow in the mirror, the expressions parallel to each other. Their expressions were the same, emotionless. Then as George touched the mirror, Fred looked down guilty hearing his brother tapping against the glass in need. Fred knew what George was thinking, he knew because he had thought the same thing over and over again since the end of the world. George's ear. Now it's more like George's lost ear, lost arm, lost fingers, lost teeth, and George's lost confidence made them different. Nothing Fred could do can make them the same again; well not that Fred was willing to do anyways.
"You are not useless…okay, come to the shop today. I'm sure everyone will love to both of us again." Fred said kindly as he wrapped his arms around his brother as his brother still looked in the mirror. It was a bittersweet victory for George; it barely felt like he won anything, it felt more like he ultimately lost. George watched the twins in the mirror, one standing strong and healthy, and one weak and broken. The differences were haunting him; the similarities were even scarier. It was the expressions that was the same, it was the stare of hopelessness and the plead to have permission to just give up. It was the same hollowness in the eyes and the way their lips continued to tremble even when their eyes were dried from all traces of tears. It was the way their shoulders were slumped or the way their backs hunched slightly. It was the way that they no longer walk with their heads held high, now it was held low, with their long hair covering their face from all the cruel things lurking in the world. It was the way that Fred stopped using his left arm around George and the way that George would try and act happy around Fred. It was the way that Fred would comfort George when George had a breakdown and the way that George would calm Fred down when Fred vowed revenge on Lee again.
"Come on George, let's go to our shop." Fred whispered as he pulled George away from the standing mirror. George watched the figures in the mirror walking away noticing the limp on one of them and the unmistakable grimace of the other. George hugged Fred tighter as he shut his eyes waiting for whatever will come in the shop today. George noticed with a sad smile that Fred had the same expression on his face. It was a clear sign that both knew this was going to end in a disaster. Oh how right they were.
It started badly. Fred and George made the way down to their shop during the shop's lunch hour which was planned skillfully by the way. Fred asked both Draco and Verity to be waiting for them yet when they walked into the shop it was empty. Fred cursed at the fact that his employees where missing while George frowned at the layout of the store.
"Something wrong George?" Fred asked after seeing the confusion on George's face.
"Everything is in different spots." George mumbled.
"Yeah, Draco rearranged everything." Fred said with a proud smile that wasn't matched by George.
"Why?"
"He said that the layout from before was crap and we should organize the shop differently. The big sellers are in the middle of the shop while our smaller sells are on the sides. I thought at first that it was crap but it had so far been a big success." Fred said proudly again.
"You liked the old layout too right?" George asked hesitantly.
"Compared to this new layout the old one was rather pitiful." Fred replied honestly and George felt like a cat that had just been thrown into a fast river.
"I did the layout." George screamed at Fred who immediately froze and looked at George wearily.
"It was a good layout for a beginner business George but the shop had changed." Fred replied with a nervous smile. George closed his eyes taking everything as an insult.
"Come on, let's do some quick stocking." Fred said looking at the shelves which many were too empty. George looked around too, the shop looked alien to him, nothing in the shop reminded George that he once worked here. He wonders briefly if Fred had noticed that as well.
It was Fred who brought the boxes from the back and sat it down on the floor next to the shelves which was completely bare. Fred smiled at George as he opened the box. George looked at the box filled with objects that George never saw before and George felt like a needle stabbed his heart.
"They are called witching hour. I know the name sucks." Fred said sheepishly as he watched his brother inhale the information.
"What does it do?" George asked gloomily.
"Let's say you are looking for a love spell but you don't want to find it in books, it finds the spell for you." Fred said with a pleased smile as he put the little charm on the shelf. George forced a smile; Fred tried to stop the grin that spread though out his face.
"You made it by yourself?" George asked weakly and Fred smiled again.
"Nope, I had help." Fred replied. George closed his eyes again as he leaned against the shelf heavily trying to calm himself down.
"Who Fred?"
"Draco." Fred replied looking away from George and George nearly collapsed to the ground in disbelief. What the fuck? Is Draco slowly replacing me?
"He's been a good help. Much better than I thought he would be. You will be surprised by how good of a worker he is. He is brilliant in selling our more pathetic inventions. I can't tell you how many people he suckered into buying our fake wands and our memory charm that was not above the standards."
"Those were my inventions." George replied feeling a twinge of hurt again. Fred's eyes widened as he blushed feverishly.
"I know and it was great inventions and I can't wait to see what other inventions you come up with." Fred said without breathing his face a scarlet rose as his brother was a sunburn mad.
"Don't lie Fred."
"Okay you could use some help in inventing spells but that is why I am usually the one inventing." Fred said again and George growled.
"You really think my inventions are shit Fred?" George replied feeling deep despair and anger rising within him.
"Well…they just aren't selling as fast as some others and its time to invent more stuff." Fred said, somewhere in the back of his mind someone was yelling at him to shut up, but he didn't listen to that voice.
"So you invented shit with Draco? What about me Fred?" George screamed and Fred sighed.
"You are pretty useless without a wand." Fred replied and George looked at him in shock as he felt his knees gave up on him again as the sorrow hit him.
"What?" George hissed and Fred sighed before leaning against a shelf.
"You can't help make new spells George nor can you really help testing the inventions. Not to say that you are useless everywhere, just at making inventions." Fred replied as he helped his brother up to his feet again.
"But I thought you said that only you and I will make new spells and charms." George replied in a dry whisper.
"That was before the costumers started to ask for new stuff." Fred replied with a sigh as George looked around again, tears ripe in his eyes.
"Then if I'm helping you invent things that what do I do?" George asked in a whisper and Fred shut his eyes and held back the tears.
"I don't know George. You can't stock with only three fingers; you can't run the cash register. You can't clean…I don't George, but we will find something for you. This is just as much your store as it is mine so we will find something." Fred whispered as he started to stock the new item on the shelves as George held back self-loathing whispers.
"Oh great, Draco and Verity is back. Cheer up George, its not nearly as bad as you think it is." Fred replied in a kind voice as he smiled at his brother, "hey, once you get your wand back I promise everything is going be normal again." George nodded, not really believing Fred but went in for a hug anyways. Fred looking at the appearing figures of his workers just patted George on the back. George frowned, Fred blinked, Verity had happy tears in her eyes, and Draco stared at George with a short smile.
"Welcome back George." Verity said in a small voice as she hesitantly wrapped her arms around him, he allowed it, but didn't hug back.
"Finally, you lazy ass, I thought you would never come." Draco said jokingly, but George took him seriously.
"Do you like the new layout?" Verity asked again after releasing George and looking around the shop with a happy gleam.
"No, not really." George answered darkly making all three of the workers frown. Fred and Verity stayed silent but Draco couldn't keep his mouth shut for all the money in the world.
"Why don't you like it? What is wrong with the layout?" Draco asked feeling personally insulted. He spent a good week on organizing the shop.
"It's not my shop anymore." George answered and everyone became silent and grim as they looked at each other nervously.
"It's still our shop George." Fred tried with a weak smile. George shook his head miserably.
"No, its not. I don't even recognize anything. It's all foreign to me." George replied looking at the new product with anger. They just moved on in their lives. There is nothing here that would remind anyone of me. It's like they were personally trying to get rid of anything that people would relate with me.
"We still have our old products George, just the ones that everyone enjoyed. All the ones which weren't selling enough got the boot two months ago." Fred explained and George looked at him in betrayal.
"We had to make room for the new products." Draco added.
"Really, they only threw out the crap that no one was really buying." Verity added and George glared at her and then at his brother.
"When are the costumers coming in?" George asked in frustration.
"We are opening the shop again in five." Verity answered giving a puzzling worried look at Fred. Fred bit his lip as he watched his brother look around at the new products, George wasn't saying anything, or even looked interested in the objects. It was like all the happiness that he thought he would get from working in the shop again has been reduced to anger.
Of course when the costumers showed up the shit really hit the fan. Once people noticed that George was back the whole store was packed with screaming females and whispering men. The store did great though, sold more than they had ever sold before, but for George it wasn't all butterflies and rainbows. The costumers wouldn't leave George alone for a minute asking him questions that he was too stressed to answer or even to think about. Some of the questions was creeping him out, made him feel sick to his stomach, and made him wish he had wings so he could fly far away from here and never look back. Still even if he didn't vocalized answers he still thought them.
"Were you scared?" Of course, wouldn't you be? "Did it hurt when he chopped your arm off?" It was only my hand but yes, it hurt like a bitch. "How did you feel when you found out that it was Lee?" No comment. "Could you forgive him?" Never. "Is it weird being back home?" It feels like I'm in an alternate universe. I want to go back to the way things were before. "Are you going to be working here everyday?" It's not my shop, enough said.
The pity was worse for George though. The questions he could ignore easily, but the pity in their voices was stick badly to his badly glued back together heart. "I can't believe Lee would do that to you?" You too? Join the party. "He must have been severely messed up." Was he? Aren't I technically messed up too? Aren't you? "I can't believe he chopped your hand off, what dick does that?" I would prefer getting my limbs chopped off anytime over being raped.
Honestly though the day would have been almost tolerable if it wasn't for the reporters. Yes, those nosey insulting reporters who make lives pitiful just to get some quick cash. Yet here they were, harassing George with dreadful questions that made him freeze in complete terror. It was one question that got him freaked one small question that shook his whole completion. It was funny that the question would get to him like it did; it was a general question, but still he felt ill. "…What happened?" George looked in shock at the army of reporters as the reporters waited impatiently for an answer. When they didn't receive one Rita tried again.
"The officers had deemed your case the worst case in the last twenty years. I want to know why. What happened in that factory that made this case so gruesome?" Rita said with a smile, the scroll writing down feverishly all the wide eyed and shaking George was doing. George couldn't find his voice as her question spun around his head like a hawk. Worst case in twenty years…really, my case? Really...oh reporter you don't really want to know. Flashes ran though George's mind. Tape, grinder, the sound of flesh slopping to the ground, the wails of screams, the embarrassment, the handcuffs, the stings of cuts deep and infected. The home movies, the stories, the branding, the sounds of saws cutting though muscle and bone, the clawing of Inferi. Mother, no not mum, but instead Lee. Fred, a fake Fred, lay dead on the ground, its guts hanging out. The little girl, the slicing board, the laughter, rich laughter, the girl dead, no not dead paralyzed. The wet mushy sound of flesh melting together, the feel of blood irritating the soft skin of his inner legs, the heated moans and terrified sobs. The failed pitiful attempts of escaping and the shock of being caught. The bodies, the graves, the torture, the abuse, the countless of hours in which he begged for freedom. The threats, the orders, the punishments, why does she want to know?
George turned to his brother for help and their eyes meet before Fred looked away and helped the next costumer. Rita repeated her question again for the third time. George looked from Fred to Rita as his bottom lip shivered.
"There's nothing to say." George found himself saying in a voice that lacked emotion.
"You don't have to be afraid of me you know, I just want to talk." Rita said smiling encouraging at George.
"I just want to talk." George told Angelina with a sly smile. Angelina laughed, as she pulled her hair away from her face as she smiled at her friend.
"I would love to stay and chat but I am meeting Fred and Alicia to do some last minute studying." Angelina said playfully not missing the frown on George's face.
"George is everything alright?" Angelina asked making George smile again.
"Yeah, everything is going to be fine."
"Are you sure?" Angelina asked again and George sighed.
"Just tired." George answered looking down at the ground.
"Well…maybe we can talk some other time." Angelina said trying not to be rude, she promised Alicia that she will show up at seven and it was eight now.
"Of course, have fun." George replied waving to his friend as she walked past him. As soon as she was out of sight, George slumped on a bench and looked up at the stars. The sky always fascinated him maybe that was because the sky was always so pretty, definitely at night where the stars are shining. George wondered how many people are looking at the sky right now and looking at the breathtaking beauty of the sparkling diamonds.
"Hey George," Lee said making George jump from surprise, "where are your friends?"
"They are going to meet me in thirty." George lied, making Lee smile again.
"You lie." Lee lazily said and George could do nothing else but glare at his dark skinned friend with annoyance.
"So who cares? Anyway I thought you weren't going to talk to me." George said in an annoyed voice making Lee smile.
"Nah, just going to harass you until you agree to go out with me." Lee said with a sly smile making George roll his eyes.
"You would have a better chance of defeating you-know-who." George answered spicily which made Lee's smile fall.
"We will see George, just you wait. You will be on your knees begging me to go out with you before the week is out." Lee said with jokiness in his voice making George smile. Of course George didn't know that Lee was being completely serious.
"We'll see Lee but you are going to be very disappointed at the end of the week." George said in all seriousness. He didn't like Lee, and he can't help but think that Lee was acting so childish, but at the same token he liked the attention.
"I hope not."
"…I hope not. Anyways I find annoying reporters who can't seem to take the hint to leave absolutely dreadful. So, Ms., please leave my store and leave my brother alone. You are scaring him." Fred replied nastily at Rita as he hugged George close to him. Fred and Rita caught eyes and for a minute Fred would have sworn he saw a sparkle light in her eyes before she smiled slyly.
"Okay, twins, I will leave. I got my story anyways." Rita replied with a bubbly smile before she turned and walked out of the store leaving both twins watching her with a worried glance.
"Fred?" George asked weakly and Fred hugged his brother tighter against him as he whispered in his ear.
"What?"
"What do you think she meant when she said she got her story?" George whispered again, sweating in his brother's tight hold, too afraid to tell Fred that he was felt dizzy,
"I don't know George, but I bet its nothing good." Fred whispered in the ear again before separating them. George looked around the shop; empty shelves were becoming very popular again.
"I should stock the shelves." George mumbled and Fred sighed.
"You can't George; you will just end up breaking everything."
"Then what use am I?" George hissed and Fred started to look uncomfortable again.
"You…right now you are pretty…there is not much you can do right now. But once you get your wand then we can go back into our partnership of inventing new creations again." Fred said slowly and carefully looking at George's emotions carefully. George looked broken but yet there was still a pitch of hope.
"Can we go home yet?" George asked looking wearily at all the costumers, they were too many of them, and he can't stand to be in such a large crowd anymore.
"George we have two more hours until closing, can you wait until then?" Fred whispered so a costumer who became near them couldn't hear their conversation.
George was completely silent until the costumer disappeared into the more busy parts of the shop. He sighed as he looked at Fred, knowing he had a pleading look on his face.
"I just want to go home." George whispered before lowering his head on his brother's shoulder.
"Okay, then. I'll take you home. Let me tell Draco and Verity." Fred whispered back as he patted his brother's back comfortably. Fred then excused himself as he went to tell his coworkers that he was leaving. When Fred came back he was smiling yet looked exhausted.
"Can we go home yet?" George asked feeling as exhausted as Fred looked/
"Yes and once we do I think we should take a nap." Fred said quietly and George smiled lightly.
"It's the end of the month, what's your answer?" Lee said with a sexy growl as he wrapped his arms around the surprised George.
"What makes you think that you deserve an answer?" George said quickly as he shook Lee's hands away and started to walk again.
"Come on, I waited a whole month, at least give me something." Le whined jumping on top of George playfully making George trip and both of them to land on the ground harshly. Lee laughed, George cursed, and people around them give them funny looks.
"What are you losers looking at?" Lee yelled to the strangers laughing when they winced in fear. George couldn't hide his smile this time, shaking his head in amusement.
"You're crazy! Lee Jordan, I swear." George laughed and Lee smiled
"Good to see you are in a good mood again. So your answer?" Lee whispered seductively, grabbing onto George and bringing him close.
"I don't know Lee. I can't see this relationship happening." George replied honestly making Lee frown.
"If you pass this relationship up you will regret it." Lee said again whispering in George's ear.
"Tell me why I would regret it." George ordered as he watched the last of the students leave the hallway leaving Lee and him totally alone.
"It will blow your mind George; it will rock your world and make you see how inferior your life is without my relationship." Lee said seductively again and George smirked.
"Then to protect how I view my life, I think I will pass." George answered before blinking at Lee, "anyways I already told you that I love somebody else, and regardless what happens in the future my heart belongs to him."
"Then tell me George, who is the amazing person who had captured your heart and made you so untouchable?" Lee asked sadly and waited patiently for the answer. George was silent for the longest time before he spoke, his words twisted and disoriented.
"I will take the name to my grave." George replied before smiling again.
"That suits you in a way." Lee replied with a sad smile. Oh George, what did you just do? You condemned yourself.
"Someday he will come around though and realize that he loved me too. It will take some time, but someday he will love me." George added in a confident voice. Lee stood behind him trying not to look at his friend's ass as he felt something evil stir in his mind.
"You think so?" Lee asked carefully and George smiled.
"I can't see the end without us together." George replied and Lee frowned.
"Cant see the end? You aren't thinking around suicide right?"
"No, it's just that with the war and everything going on, no one can know how long they will stay alive. We could die at any time, at any second, and from anything. I just can't see me dying without us being together. It wouldn't be fair, that the thing I want most in the world I could never have. If I was going to die then I hope that he tells me he loves me just so I could die a happy man."
"He means that much to you?"
"He is my stars and my sun; I would do anything for him, and at any cost." George said looking up at the stars again.
"He is lucky to have your heart." Lee added in a sad voice. George smiled again.
"Lee if you were to die, what would be your ideal death?" George asked again still looking at the stars so overhead. Lee frowned at the conversation, he hated conversations about death, they were always depressing.
"I would want to die young; I don't want to be some old winkled fart that has more chins than anyone could count. I want to die in my youth. I want to do something really stupid like robbing a bank and then have the most intense shootout with a muggle police crew that anyone had ever seen. I want it to be so bloody and dreadful that I become famous for what I did." Lee said with a sad smile and then catching the worry in George's eyes started to laugh nervously, "just joking, I will want to die…old."
"I wouldn't care if I died young or old, it will suck dying young but if that happens I think I could deal with it. I just want to die at sunrise, where the scary darkness of night is withdrawn and is replaced by an aura of purple and pink hues. I want to be outside too, I don't want to die inside; I want to be in the middle of the sunrise surrounded by nature. I want him to be holding me too, holding me tightly, whispering comforting words to me or just holding onto me for dear life. I want the last thing I see to be him." George said with a smile again and Lee found himself biting his lip.
"You wont die young George, I wont let you." Lee said again, his eyes bright with depression, and George shrugged.
"That's just talk, when it really comes down to it; there is no way to know when someone will die and why. Hell, for all you know a deatheater could kill me tomorrow."
"No one will ever murder you George; you are to good of a person to be killed." Lee replied as he wrapped his arms around his friend. It wasn't the lusty hug either, for right now the last thing on Lee's mind was anything related to sex.
"But they can hurt me."
"If anyone tries to hurt you I will kill them." Lee replied as he released his friend, wiping tears from his eyes that he didn't know was there.
"Mom?" George asked hesitantly at dinner. Molly dropped her fork as she stared at her son nervously.
"Yes George?" Molly asked, trying not to notice the missing arm again.
"Do you think I can still use a wand?" George asked and suddenly there were the sounds of utensils falling onto plates from all over the table.
"O…of course dear." Molly replied sadly as she started to bring her fork back to her mouth.
"Do you think maybe if it isn't that much trouble if I can get a wand?" George asked politely and Ron suddenly choking on some food. Molly and Arthur crossed eyes with each other before nodding weakly.
"Of course George. We can go first thing tomorrow." Molly replied and George smiled.
"Thanks." George said with smile. Suddenly Arthur threw his fork on the table and cursed.
"Damn it I can't lie to you. The ministry had decided that it would be better for yourself and others if you do not get a wand." Arthur said and George just sat there like a zombie, staring at his father with saddened eyes. Molly and Arthur look at each other before going back to eating their food.
"Why?" George asked and Molly chewed her food solemnly glaring at her husband.
"Not now George, just eat." Arthur ordered as he went to take another bite.
"No, tell me why it will be so dangerous for me to hold a wand." George ordered nastily.
"Young man, I told you to eat your dinner." Arthur said strictly.
"Tell me why?" George whined and Arthur shook his head.
"George dear, eat your food." Molly ordered in a kind voice.
"Mom, I'm not really hungry." George replied and everybody dropped their forks again.
"George you need to eat. You have been home for two months now and you have barely eaten anything. Now please, eat your dinner." Molly ordered again and George sighed before picking up a piece of steak, all his food had been precut for him since it was so freaking hard to cut now.
He took a small bite out of the small amount of meat. He immediately felt sick from the soggy piece of meat and he pushed the rest of his plate away from him. He could hear his mom sighing out of stress again and Fred whispering something in his ear. He couldn't hear what Fred was actually saying, didn't really care that much what Fred was saying anyways.
"Mom, I'm taking George up to our room now." Fred yelled at Molly, it still sounded like whispers to George, who still had the soggy piece of meat in his mouth. The taste nauseated him, the smell made him cringe, even the fact that he had something that smelt like flesh was in his mouth was enough to make him sick. He began to feel dizzy and he grabbed his twin in a death grip as he tried to clear his mind up.
"George you are hurting me. George let go of me." Fred hissed as George only tightened the grip on his arm.
"George, George? That's it; I am taking you to lie down." Fred screamed again as he picked his brother up and carried up to his bedroom, not listening to his family's protest. Sighing he dropped George on the bed and sat beside him, brushing the hair out of his face.
"George, come on. It's not all that bad. I'm sorry about the wand. It's not all that bad though, you can still help design new products. It's not like the world is ending because you can't have a wand." Fred whispered again as he combed though his brother's hair with his hands.
"What am I going to do with myself Fred? I'm not me anymore; I will never be George Weasley again." George whispered in a scared voice and Fred collapsed against him feeling at a lost in what to say.
"You will always be George Weasley; you are just exploring a new way of living." Fred said again and George scooted back into Fred more.
"I don't want a new life, Fred. I want my-our perfect life again." George whispered as he shakily wrapped his deformed hand over his brother's perfect hand.
"It will be okay Georgie." Fred whispered and George jerked at the nickname before relaxing a bit. Fred kissed George on the forehead as he threw covers around them.
"You are not going to leave me right?" George asked and Fred laughed.
"Not even death can keep us apart. We are just going to be with each other always as friend, brothers, and pranksters that the world had ever known." Fred replied happily but George couldn't help but frown, I wish we could be more than what we are. Don't you ever wonder how it would be like if we were together. Oh, I'm being retarded, you would never like me.
"I love you Fred." George whispered and Fred whispered back, "I love you too." George couldn't help but frown, not in the same though.
"Go to sleep George." Fred whispered again and George shook his head.
"I don't want to."
"I promise I will be right here." Fred whispered again as he rubbed George's back. George frowned to himself and acted like he asleep knew that Fred wouldn't drop the matter until he was asleep.
Fred sighed as he felt his brother relax. He waited for a while, rubbing his younger brother's back just to make sure he was asleep. He soon got up and walked over to the next room and knocked on the door nervously. It took Draco three minutes to answer the door.
"Jesus, what do you want?" Draco asked out of annoyance.
"Can we talk?" Fred asked and Draco nodded nervously.
"What's up?"
"What am I going to do?" Fred asked and Draco frowned in confusion.
"Do about what?"
"George. He can't work, he won't eat, he barely drinks, and he can't even take a shower by himself or get dressed by himself." Fred ranted and Draco let him knowing that this was normal for Fred to do when Fred was severely stressed out.
"It will take time."
"Everything is wrong. George is happy one minute and in the next he is depressed. One moment George can stand being near big crowds the next moment he will have a panic attack. He is so clingy too, I mean I just feel like he is becoming clingy and needy on me. He hates it when I leave him for only five minutes. He wants to stay by my side almost all the time. I hate to admit it but he is smothering me and don't know how much more I can take. He is driving me crazy, wait that sounded wrong. His mood swings and his irrational fears are driving me crazy. I haven't slept without a nightlight in two months; do you know how hard it is to sleep with a nightlight?" Fred said and then blushed in embarrassment at the words he was speaking.
"Everything will be fine Fred." Draco tried again, putting down his book slowly.
"I know its just I fear he feels that he is useless and I don't want him to feel like that because he is not useless." Fred replied in a hurt voice and Draco sighed.
"Fred, wait and see what happens. Okay, that is all you can do." Draco added and Fred smiled.
"You think he will be okay?"
"With you as a brother, hell no." Draco joked and Fred smacked him playfully across his head.
"You know what? I'm happy you are living here. Everything would be too damn depressing without you here." Fred said and Draco rolled his eyes.
"I know, your family is more depressing than mine and my family is really depressing." Draco added and Fred rolled his eyes.
"Your brother needs a cheer up though; he walks around acting like he has a raincloud that is following him."
"If I had been though what he went though I probably would be acting the same way." Fred said and Draco smiled.
"What are we going to do about him and the shop?" Draco asked and Fred was silent for too long. Finally when Fred spoke, his words were shaky.
"I don't know. He can't run the register, make objects, and I don't think with his anxiety and paranoia that he would be a good salesman so I just don't know."
"Maybe he shouldn't be working." Draco tried again and Fred was silent again.
"I mean, if he can't do anything than he shouldn't be working."
"What are we supposed to do with him then?" Fred asked moodily and Draco was silent for awhile.
"There isn't a job he can do right? I mean without being able to pick something up and being so disfigured, what can he be?" Draco asked Fred and Fred looked back at Draco with hurt.
"Draco…I can understand that he wouldn't be right for our work but he can't just stay home. There must be something that he could do." Fred tried again and Draco looked down at his face.
"There isn't, at least none that I could think of." Draco said again and Fred looked down feeling hopeless.
"What am I going to do with him then?" Fred asked and Draco sighed.
"I don't know." Draco answered and Fred frowned in defeat.
"How do I break it to George that he can't return to work tomorrow?" Fred asked and Draco sighed.
"Just tell him." Draco said and Fred sighed.
"I can't. It would break his heart."
"You have to tell him though and you know it." Draco said and Fred sighed tiredly.
"I know Draco. I know. I will tell him tomorrow before work begins." Fred said and Draco nodded.
"You are doing the right thing Fred." Draco said again and Fred just frowned again.
"Am I?"
"It's for the best."
"I hope so."
"Fred, I promise you he probably understands. I mean come on, its George after all."
"Your right."
"Your right Fred, Hermione got way too carried away." George replied looking around at the common room where little socks and clothes were everywhere.
"The elves are pissed. They don't even want to clean the common room anymore." Fred replied with a wink as he took out his wand, George copied his actions.
"I was thinking since the house elves aren't cleaning the common room…" Fred begun but George stopped him
"That we should dirty it up a little." George finished as he spun his wand lazily in his hands.
"No, not a little." Fred added looking down at a little sock.
"A lot." George added again already planning what to do.
"Then we should blame everything on Hermione." Fred added once again as he picked up a sock and put it on the end of his wand.
"Make her feel guilty for everything." George added and then smiled as the wand puppet poked him gently in the arm.
"And make her clean the whole common room." Fred added smiling again as George took the sock off of Fred's wand and threw it lazily on the ground.
"Without any magic." George concluded with a smirk that was shared by his brother.
"Lets do it!" Fred yelled and George laughed as Fred lazily conjured up a spell. George added in and by the time they were done the common room was a complete mess. Trash was scattered all over the floor, soot from the fireplace was spread across the walls, and Hermione's little clothes cut into a hundred different pieces. The twins smiled at their work before breaking out in laughter again.
"Good job Forge."
"Good job Gred."
"What will I ever do without you?" Fred asked as he wrapped his arms around George and George couldn't stop the laughter.
"You're tricks and charms would suck." George answered and suddenly he was on the floor being tickled to death from his brother.
"You are right George. I will be lost without you." Fred said in a dramatized voice.
"That is why I will never work without you." Fred said again and George smiled warmly.
"You better not. We work together or neither of us work, right?" George asked again and Fred nodded.
"Of course, that is why when we have our joke shop that it will only stay open if both of us are able to work. We will never have a joke shop when only one of us can work. Deal?" Fred asked raising his hand for a deal handshake.
"Deal." George concluded shaking his brother's hand. They smile at each other before looking at the damage they did to the common room.
"Come on we should probably head back to our room." Fred replied as he looked at the window, the beginning of dawn was approaching.
"Yeah, before someone wakes us and sees us here." George added, not wanting to be caught and be stuck cleaning this mess up.
"Tomorrow is going to be heaven." Fred said with a sly smile already excited about seeing Hermione's face when she sees the damage.
"Poor Hermione though." George added with a shake of his head and Fred laughed.
"That is what she gets though." Fred said with a small smile hitting George gently on the arm with his elbow.
"For spilling my secret." George said quietly and Fred sighed as he wrapped his arms around George.
"Amen brother, amen." Fred concluded as he slapped George playfully across his face before starting to run up to his room. Laughing, George ran after him. The twins hit their door at the same time as they rushed to see who would open the door first. Before either of them could open the door the door was opened on the inside and the twins collapsed on the ground in a fit of laughter.
"Fred, George?" Lee asked staring at his friends as if they are crazy.
"Don't go in the common room Lee." The twins said at the same time still trying to control their laughter.
"Why?" Lee asked and the twins smiled suspiciously.
"Let's just say a certain female friend of ours is in for a big surprise." Fred said with a smile as he jumped onto his feet and headed toward his bed, "Now, excuse me but I am tired."
"Yeah, me too." George said still smiling. Not more than a couple of minutes later they heard Hermione screaming.
"Fred, George, get your asses down here now." George and Fred couldn't stop their laughter as they smiled at each other. This was heaven.
Okay, the end of chapter 17, so this story is progressing faster than I expected and I am only looking at three to four more chapters and then I am done.
Its going to pick up pretty quick and the next chapter will be more of my comfort zone than the last three chapters was. I'm better at horror and suspense than hurt/comfort type thing. I have no idea when I will have my next chapter out, its getting serious in school and with a new job and my cat isnt very healthy at the moment and the fact that my life is such a mess right now…
I will try and post it by Halloween at least.