EviColt: Thank you! And as this chapter posting goes to show, Sundays may not always be the day XD I'm so glad that this story makes you happy. My goal is to make people happy with my writing :) I'm forever thankful for you support. Hope you enjoy!

Haunted Veela: Thank you! I'm hoping this fic lives up to the hype it's starting to generate :) Looking forward to hearing from you on future chapters ^_^


My apologies for the late chapter :P It's a little shorter, but I'm pretty sure next chapter might be a long one. We start to dive into the backstory soon :)

With Love,
sparrowlina


Tori followed George nervously back into the living area. From the kitchen, the sound of mugs clinking in the kitchen were a familiar chorus to her ears. It reminded her of Ren's mother puttering around before dinner - her children and Tori all sitting around the dinner table waiting in anticipation of their meal.

George had tossed himself into a nearby seat and exhaled after a long day's work. He let out a large groan and shut his eyes momentarily as he and Tori waited for his brother to rejoin them.

She glanced around and took more of an inventory of the space that she was standing in. Just like in her own "home", a pot of floo powder sat on the mantle of the fireplace next to various photographs. There were several little knick knacks that joined the photos. Some were first attempts at Weasley products, others were small trinkets that probably held great stories.

Many faces smiled up at her as Tori walked closer to the photos. She recognized some of the people in the photos, remembering the other Weasleys from her time in school. Ginny in particular had been such a sweetheart. Sometimes she'd tutor Ginny if Hermione wasn't around to help her.

Further down the mantle Tori spotted a picture of the twins on what looked to be their opening day of the shop. There were many other people in the photo as Fred and George stood proudly behind the ribbon that blocked the front entrance. Standing in their three-piece suits and grins plastered on their faces, Tori thought that this was definitely the best fit for them in terms of their careers. They were once again surrounded by their family as their photo-selves waved to the crowd.

"One of the greatest days of our lives."

Tori looked up in slight surprise to see Fred standing next to her. She hadn't even heard him walk over. His gaze was fixed on the photo as his mouth curved into a small, but appreciative, smile.

"I dunno what we would have done if we didn't open this shop," he stated as he offered Tori an orange mug, "but I'm glad everything worked out for the better."

She looked at the cup with a small nod and smirk of thanks.

Fred smirked back at her as he turned and put the other mug in his hand on the coffee table in front of George. He then disappeared back into the kitchen to grab his own.

Tori held the mug and allowed her eyes to scan the room again. It was homey here. She appreciated the comfort and happiness that this place exuded. It matched the twins well. Although, there was a part of Tori that felt as if there was a looming cloud over her head. After everything she had struggled through, this safe feeling that was starting to grow inside her felt foreign and unwelcome. Part of her still felt like she needed to keep an eye out over herself - to keep watching over her shoulder in case something happened.

George sat up and took a sip of his tea as Fred reentered the room and sat on the couch that was opposite of the fireplace. "So…"

Tori tensely glanced from twin to twin.

"So…" Fred echoed.

"So…" George repeated.

"So…"

"You two are absolutely ridiculous," Tori interjected as she leaned her shoulder against the mantle, trying to collect herself.

"Well then interject whenever you so please with something more entertaining," George invited, sipping his tea once more.

Tori rolled her eyes as she stared into the brew she was holding in her hands.

Fred watched her carefully. He could sense her sadness, fear, and worry. After his encounter with her at Ollivander's, he had gone back to his shop and told George what had happened. Immediately they knew they had to help, especially during this dark time.

"You know," Fred started, leaning forward towards Tori, "if you don't want to tell us anything - if you don't want any help - you're free to go."

She paused momentarily. It was a large load to have to put onto Fred and George's shoulders. It was supposed to be for her and her only. No one else should have to deal with her family's struggles and pains. She had managed to do it all by herself up until now. Why did she suddenly feel the need to seek comfort in these two people she hadn't spoken to since they left Hogwarts.

"I…" Hesitating again, she placed her mug on the mantle and shoved her hands in her pockets. She averted eye contact with either twin as she took a deep breath. "I really do want your help…" It was almost a whisper that left her lips. "…but this isn't going to be a fun tale."

"Well we weren't expecting a Babbity Rabbity to make a feature," George joked.

A small giggle passed through her lips as she looked up briefly. The expression that was on her face made it seem like that noise was a completely new one to her after not hearing it for so long.

"We're all ears, Love," Fred encouraged.

Tori's eyes locked with Fred's at the sound of her old nickname.

She couldn't remember when it had happened, but Fred had called her that during school for the sole reason that when he did it, her cheeks would turn a violent shade of pink. She remembered Ren never liked it and would get extremely jealous whenever Fred would come around. Even more so after Fred learned that, he kept saying it. At first, it had been when everyone was around. Then it happened when it was just George. Eventually, on certain nights when Tori would be helping him with Charms homework, he'd say it to her. She had always thought that when it was just them, there was more to the nickname than he'd let on. Nothing had ever been said about it, but she had always wondered…

She sighed and played with her wand that she had stashed away in her cloak. "I don't know what happened exactly. I had heard through some neighbors that Grandad had been kidnapped. At the time I was staying with Ren and his family. You remember Ren from school, right? Ren Taylor?"

The twins both nodded.

"Right…well, as soon as I heard the news, I left. Never left a note or really said any final goodbyes. I couldn't put Ren and his family in danger because of who I was."

"How did you know you'd be in danger?" Fred asked softly.

Tori's brows furrowed. "Whatever the Dark Lord wants with my Grandad, I'm sure my Grandad won't easily give in to. I'm the last Ollivander. They'd use me against him if they ever got me. And they'd most likely kill whoever would hide me.

"So I traveled wherever I could. I wanted to help Grandad but had no idea where to start. I've just been hitting dead ends everywhere I go. No one seems to know where he might be or what they're doing to him. And once the Snatchers got involved…it just got really messy. I can't remember how many times I nearly got caught or how many times I had been apparating from place to place just to lose them. The first time I had been back at the shop was yesterday…" Tori walked slowly around the coffee table sat herself down on the couch next to Fred, her head hanging slightly. "I've practically been living the last eight months always looking over my shoulder thinking that they're gonna get me. I almost didn't come here because of that."

Fred and George looked at one another, telepathically communicating as all twins do, before bringing their attention back to Tori.

"It's terrible that all of this is happening, Tori," Fred started.

"Really, it is," George added.

"And, as your friends, we want to help you as much as we can -"

"- so why don't you stay with us for a while?"

Tori looked at the twins as if they had each sprouted a second head. "Are you both mad? If they find me here, do you know what they'll do to the shop? What they'll do to you?"

"And if we didn't know, would we have made the offer?" George asked quietly, his eyes pleading for Tori to calm down and consider their offer.

She shook her head. "It's too dangerous. The last thing I want is for you two to get hurt."

"And we don't want to see you get hurt either, Tori," Fred announced, rather sternly for George's taste. "This is a time where we have to stick together, not force help away."

Tori was slightly taken aback by Fred's tone. She had never heard him so forceful towards anyone in her life. She supposed, though, that he had good reason to bring this side of him out now. Deep down, she could feel that he was the little voice of reason that she should be listening to. What choice did she have, anyway? She could only stay in her little hiding place in Diagon Alley for so long before she'd leave again. When else would she be able to find somewhere that she could really call safe? Maybe even a new place to call "home"?

George set his mug down. "How about this: you can work for us in exchange for staying here if you really feel bad. You can disguise yourself as you wish, or we can do it for you. Mind you if we disguise you, I can't promise that you'll like what we might turn you into."

Fred rolled his eyes with a smirk as his brother chuckled.

Tori cracked a small smile at George.

He stood up and grabbed Tori's mug from the mantle and brought it back to her. Tori had forgotten that it was even there, so she was grateful for his gesture. Sipping the tea in her hands, she could feel the hot liquid warm her insides and relax her slightly. She looked briefly from twin to twin and noted the eagerness in their expressions. Even in all their years of going to school together, she had to admit that they had been helpful to her on more than one occasion. After being picked on so many times by Slytherins and the twins coming in to rescue her, this situation just felt like old times.

"So what'll it be, Princess?" George asked.

Tori looked from Fred to George, her eyes lingering in Fred's a moment longer.

"We're here for you, Love, whether you like it or not," he reminded.

Taking a deep breath, Tori bit her lip as her mind raced in a million different directions. She kept thinking about what would happen if she didn't stay or what would happen if she did stay. The former was definitely the scarier option.

"I'll think about it." She set her cup down on the table and stood up quickly. "Thank you for the tea, Fred." She started for the staircase.

Fred and George exchanged confused glances before hearing Tori's quick footsteps down the wooden stairs.

"Oi! Where are you off to?" Fred called out, both him and his brother racing to and now leaning over the rail to watch Tori leave.

"Home," she replied. "I'll have an answer for you by dawn."

Faster than they could say, "Babbity Rabbit," Tori was gone.