Title: Beware of Potions

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Summary: Fred and George create a new product in the summer before their 6th year, but when one of them samples it, they find that it has far different effects than they'd hoped for.

THANK YOU Lucy and "teamgredandforge" – your reviews are amazing! Thank you sooo much!

Anonymous reviewer who's reading my story in lieu of the 6th book… I'm glad you like my story so much! I hope you also enjoy the 6th book – don't read ahead like I did. I got the book at midnight the day it came out and was sooo tired that I thought I'd just flip to the back to see who died and who lived… it was another month until I actually brought up the will-power to finish reading… I did NOT make that mistake again! : )

Chapter Seven

Arthur left George's room at a fast pace as he followed Kingsley, wanting to find Malfoy and beat him to a pulp for endangering one of his children. He hadn't made it five feet before he was stopped by his third eldest.

"Dad, what's going on? Do you know where Fred is?" Percy asked, standing and making as if to follow the two adults.

Arthur sighed and ran a hand through his hair, the gesture helping to convey his stress over the situation. "We don't know where he is, but we're pretty certain Lucius Malfoy might." The five teens before him exchanged knowing glances before turning their attention back to him. "I want you kids to stay here and make sure your mother doesn't get too worked up. I'll try to be back soon." He tried to give them an encouraging smile, but it came out as a painful looking grimace due to his worry over Fred.

He'd hardly started to turn around when Percy stepped forward again and said boldly, "I want to come with you. I'm of age and I can help–"

"Percy, just stay here and make sure–"

"What use am I going to be here? Just let me come and help find my brother," Percy demanded, holding his ground. Arthur was slightly surprised to see how intent Percy was on helping to find Fred. Anyone outside the family – and even some in the family – would have a hard time understanding why Percy would, after all the twins put him through, want to help them.

Arthur sighed and considered what Percy was asking. Both Arthur and Molly had realized that Percy was growing more and more distant from their family every day. His attachment to the Ministry, as well as his penchant to look down his nose at his family, only spelled trouble from his parent's perspective. It was a fluke that the boy was even home during this whole debacle, for they all knew he'd been trying to get as far ahead at the Ministry as he could.

Arthur knew, even before Kingsley turned around to have his say, that Percy should come and help. He didn't want any more children to be in danger, but the expression on Percy's face spoke volumes about his desire to help. Arthur knew that if he shut Percy out now and told him he couldn't help, then he could be risking the very tenuous relationship that they currently shared.

Kingsley stopped next to where Arthur was stood in front of Percy and said, "As long as you're agreeable, Arthur, I'd be fine with him helping to search through the Alley, as long as he has an auror or two with him. The more help we have, the better." He then addressed Percy directly, "But you won't be coming to the Malfoy estate, no matter how much you argue."

Arthur nodded and then said, "You will do exactly as you're told and no more. The rest of you will stay here, like it or not." At that last comment, the other teens groaned lightly but otherwise put up no further argument, knowing that it would be in vain.

Percy thanked Kingsley and followed him and his father down the hallway while the rest of the group lingered around George's door. Ron took to pacing while Hermione sat on a bench next to Ginny. Harry looked as if he felt completely out of place and stood next to the wall, watching his best friend pace back and forth.

"Why would they be going to bloody Malfoy's place?" Ron asked, sneering in disdain at the other family's name.

"Perhaps he has something to do with Fred's disappearance," Hermione suggested. None of them had any real evidence to go by, since they hadn't heard George's testimony of the events that occurred in Knockturn Alley earlier.

Ginny was fuming in her seat, although she was careful not to show it. How on earth could her twin brothers have done something so stupid? Why would they end up in Knockturn Alley in the first place? She shot up and pushed open the door to George's room. Inside, she saw her mother holding George, whose eyes moved to meet her angry ones. He looked spent, as if he didn't have the energy to figure out how to feel about what had happened.

The youngest Weasley didn't care to consider it though. She marched towards the bed while starting in on her brother, "How could you two be so stupid to do this?" She hissed at him, glaring despite the reproving look her mother was giving her and continued, "You both could have been killed going in there and… and–" she had been about to name the possibility that Fred might not come back, but her throat closed up on her. George had clenched his eyes shut and looked pained at the near-mention of such a possibility.

Ginny froze and then immediately regretted speaking her mind – damn her temper! – and then dashed over to George's side, apologizing over and over for what she said. He looked like he could cry if he would let himself, and the look he now bore was one that she was never prepared to see on one of the twin's faces.

Molly didn't have the heart to reprimand Ginny's outburst, knowing that the girl was upset by what had happened. She did her best to be there for her children as the other three came in, looking just as upset as George did. When Percy failed to come in, she questioned them on his whereabouts, hating the fear that was seeping into her so easily since the twins had taken off from the Burrow earlier that day.

Hermione answered her, explaining that Percy had gone with Kingsley and his father to help look for Fred. Molly nodded in approval despite her worry that another child had gone out to face potential danger. She would never get used to the fact that her kids were growing up and could now make their own decisions.

She didn't notice Harry, Hermione, and Ron share a meaningful look, and over Ginny's crying, she was only vaguely aware that she had nodded her permission for them to leave the room.


Harry shut the door quietly behind him as he followed Ron and Hermione into the hallway. He wasn't entirely sure what to make of all that had happened. He'd been shocked when the twins had started fighting at the Burrow, and when they took off through the floo, no one had seemed to know what to do. They had all assumed that Mr. Weasley would return with the two boys at some point, but to hear that one was injured and that the other was missing... Harry wasn't sure how he felt.

He shook his head. He knew how he felt; he felt upset, angry, and distraught just like the rest of the group. What he wasn't sure about was how he was supposed to feel. After all, this was Ron's family, not his own.

Almost as if she'd sensed his thoughts, Hermione leaned over and asked, "Harry, are you okay?"

His head snapped up and he nodded while saying quietly, "Yeah, of course I am." To himself, he thought that she should be asking Ron the same question.

Ron had been pacing back and forth along the hallway, appearing to be deep in thought. He stopped suddenly and looked up at them with a very determined expression on his face. "We need to make a plan," he stated.

Hermione's brows scrunched together for a moment before she replied, "A plan for what? What can we possibly do?"

"We need paper," Ron said.

"I don't have –" Hermione started to say.

"The nurses probably have paper," Ron said, waving his hand towards the nursing station. He looked like he was getting frustrated with Hermione, and she huffed loudly and walked off to get paper.

Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair before saying, "Ron, she's right. We can't really do much right –"

"Well we have to do something!" Ron half-shouted back at him. It was the desperate sound to Ron's voice that made Harry realize that his friend needed to do this, whether it would be useful or not.

Harry nodded and held his hands up in a way that resembled a peaceful gesture, and he quietly responded, "Okay, we'll make a plan and figure out something that we can do to help." Harry watched as Ron nodded, staring intently at the floor. He thought of Hermione and added, "You may want to apologize to Hermione or at least be nicer to her. She looked a bit upset when you snapped at her."

Ron grimaced and mumbled something that Harry couldn't make out. Harry leaned forward and asked what he said, but he didn't get time for a response as Hermione came back with paper, a quill, and a small bottle of ink.

She didn't say a word as she sat on the floor and set up the quill so she could write. Ron sat down next to her and mumbled something that sounded an awful lot like "sorry" and "didn't mean to." Hermione smiled at him briefly and then straightened up and motioned for Harry to join them on the floor.

As he sat down, she asked, "Well, what kind of ideas can we think of that don't involve the use of magic, travel, or anything illegal?"

Ron leaned forward and said, "Do you remember when we overheard Mum talking with Fred and George in the kitchen?" They had spied on the twins and Mrs. Weasley after hearing that the twins were arguing again, and they also heard what the three had talked about. Harry and Hermione nodded to Ron, so he continued, "They kept talking about that potion and how it might be affecting Fred – what if it is?"

Hermione nodded and brushed the feather of the quill against her chin. "I think it is. There's no way he would act like that without something else influencing him. The question is what exactly was put in the potion that would cause something like this to happen."

"Maybe George has it written down or just remembers?" Harry suggested. "We could always ask him about it and then help Hermione research it." He knew it was serious when Ron didn't even flinch at the word "research."

Ron pointed at the paper and directed, "Mum'll be pretty upset about this, so she'll need one of her kids to be around her."

"Okay," Harry said, "Ginny can be around her to –"

Hermione shook her head, "Ginny's too upset about this to be much comfort, I would think…"

Ron looked at Harry and stated, "You'll stay with her and Hermione and I can go talk to George."

Harry looked a bit confused and responded, "But I'm not one of her kids – it'd be better if –"

"Yes you are," Ron countered, looking at his friend. "She adopted you the second she saw you, so therefore, you're her kid too."

Harry smiled slightly and looked down to watch Hermione write down what Ron had said. Harry wasn't sure if Ron knew how much that meant to him, but he appreciated it nonetheless. He shook his head lightly at the thought that Ron, who could be so oblivious sometimes, often had the ability to say just the right things from time to time, whether he was aware of it or not.

The three teens discussed a few more ideas, such as how they would research the potion, what they would do with the information, and when they would do all of it. Harry had offered that they owl Sirius for help with research and general advice. Hermione had suggested, much to the disgust of Harry and Ron, that they owl Professor Snape as well. None of them wanted to go that far, but none of them needed to voice the fact that they'd do anything to help get Fred back.


Arthur, Kingsley, and three other aurors left after dropping Percy off with an unusual-looking auror named Tonks, apparating to the main gate of Malfoy Manor. The five looked around to make sure that no one else was hiding nearby (one could never be too careful) before walking closer to the gate so that it could sense them. Arthur felt his blood boil at the sight of the majestic house and its expansive gardens and lawns that spanned the property. He wished, if only for a moment, to destroy all of the vain things that made Lucius think he was entitled to sneer upon Arthur's family.

The gate, which was tall and imposing while still looking as regal as ever, was set up to inform the residents of the manor of the identities of anyone who wished to visit them. Anyone that was not welcome would be told so through the disembodied voice of one of the Malfoys or possibly one of their house elves. It appeared that one of the Malfoy house elves had taken to responding during their visit, as the high-pitched voice didn't resemble that of any of the Malfoys. Several of the aurors outside looked like they had heard that particular disembodied voice a number of times before.

Instead of dismissing them, however, the gate opened in an invitation for them to come to the doors of the manor. The walk up would have been pleasant, due to the beautifully done landscaping, had not Arthur been racking his brains with a number of curses he would like to use upon Lucius. Kingsley seemed to sense the other man's anger and put a hand on his arm to warn him not to act on his emotions. Arthur tried and slightly succeeded at calming himself before they arrived in front of the massive door leading into Malfoy Manor.

Kingsley stepped forward and knocked three times on the door and stepped back, waiting patiently. Arthur held his wand in a clenched fist and had to physically restrain from blasting the door open. He had never gotten on well with Lucius and, though he didn't normally feel the need to hurt the other man, the idea that he had possibly harmed one of Arthur's children more than motivated the angry Weasley to get some form of revenge.

After a long moment's wait, the door opened to reveal Narcissa Malfoy, dressed in an impressively elegant gown of green and silver. The appearance of her outfit, both beautiful and radiant, was negated by the look on her face. She truly looked as if a filthy alley cat had crept upon her property with a dead mouse in its mouth as a door gift.

"Good afternoon, Auror Shacklebolt and, well, if it isn't Arthur Weasley. We certainly weren't expecting you. What is the meaning of your visit?" She asked, not even trying to hide what she thought of them from the tone of her voice. Her head even tilted further back so that she could more effectively look down her nose at them, and Arthur in particular.

Arthur moved to make a remark, but Kingsley put a well-meaning hand on his arm once again. The auror stepped a bit closer to Narcissa and asked, "Mrs. Malfoy, we were wondering if we might speak with your husband. There has been a situation near Diagon Alley today, and his name was brought up by several people. We wish to hear what he has to say on the matter rather than hearing it from everyone but him." Arthur had to hand it to the auror – he certainly made it sound like they weren't here to question Lucius like a suspect.

She regarded them for a moment before inclining her head slightly and saying, "If you'll follow me to the sitting room, my husband will join you momentarily."

The small group followed the haughty woman through the entranceway to a large and well-decorated area complete with a fireplace and picture window facing the grounds around the manor. As they took their seats, Narcissa called for a house elf to bring tea and then left to retrieve her husband.

While she was gone, Kingsley leaned towards Arthur and quietly advised, "Arthur, I know how badly you want to find out about Malfoy's involvement, but let us do the talking at first. If we set him off too soon than he may not give us any useful information."

Arthur nodded and tried to soften his glare that he'd been sending in the direction that Narcissa had left. A few minutes later, she returned with her husband and the small party stood to meet them. Lucius greeted the group politely and then sat down with his wife by his side.

"Narcissa tells me that you've heard my name being mentioned over some dispute in Diagon Alley. I'll thank you for coming to me before going behind my back, as many before you seem inclined to do," Lucius said, calmly picking up a cup of tea and bringing it to his lips. "How can I assist you in your search for information?"

"Have you heard about the skirmish that occurred in front of Borgin and Burkes today?" Kingsley questioned him.

Lucius nodded his head and said, "Yes, I was there for part of it, indeed."

Arthur felt his muscles tense with the desire to hex the man but reluctantly forced himself to wait for Kingsley to lead the conversation further.

"Can you describe to us what happened while you were there, please?" Kingsley asked. One of the other aurors took out a pad and paper and leaned forward in interest.

Lucius set his tea down and leaned back a bit before explaining, "I was actually about to enter Borgin and Burkes myself before the event you asked about occurred. I have been selling him a few antique items that my wife no longer desires to be laying around the house, you see."

It took everything Arthur had not to snort in derision at Lucius' fabrication. Everyone in the room knew why he'd really gone to Borgin and Burkes, but no one wanted to comment on it so that they could get to the more important issue concerning the twins.

Kingsley had already nodded and then motioned for the man to continue. Arthur was already itching to leap up and rage at the man to explain where his son was. Though he tried not to let his anger show on his face, he knew that it probably was. The warning looks from Kingsley were enough to tell him that.

Lucius was either oblivious to Arthur's thoughts or chose to ignore the hateful glare on the man's face. "Yes, well, just before I entered the establishment, a blasting curse erupted from inside and out came two young boys. They looked like they might have been yours, Arthur. Were they?"

Before Arthur could respond to the question, Kingsley cut in and explained, "Yes, in fact, those boys were his twin sons. Can you tell us what happened next?"

The look on Lucius' face clearly stated that he was enjoying the battle that Arthur was fighting with himself. He took his time in responding and, after having another sip of tea, he went on to say, "Well, the two boys had obviously upset Mr. Borgin, most likely with some of their little pranks. I've heard that they're quite the trouble-makers at school."

"That may be so," Kingsley responded tersely, no longer caring to appear altogether accepting of what Malfoy had to say. "But I would ask that you please stick to telling us what happened and not what you think occurred."

Narcissa chose this moment to speak up for her husband by saying, "You are graciously invited into our home and you feel that you should tell my husband what he should be speaking about?" She stared down her nose at Kingsley and the rest of his group but Lucius held a hand up to dispel the mood that had since arisen.

"Now, Narcissa, they are only trying to gain information concerning what happened earlier. I have no doubt that they are only speaking and acting out of worry for Arthur's boys. I do hope they are alright after their experience in the Alley," he implored innocently of the group.

At this point, Arthur could no longer hold back from snapping at the pompous idiot in front of him. "You dare ask about their welfare, you slimy snake?" His words flew out violently and before he knew it, more followed. "One of my sons is in the hospital with injuries and the other is missing and was said to have been abducted by YOU!" By this point, Arthur had stood to his full height and drawn his wand at the other man with anger so intense that sparks were starting to fly from the end of his wand.

Not willing to be talked to in such a manner in his own home, Lucius had risen to the challenge and drawn his wand as well. "It seems that you still fall for the same folly as ever – putting your faith in second-rate witnesses just so you can pin the blame on me. Tell me, Arthur, were you there to see what happened? Or better yet, can you explain why your underage sons were unattended in Knockturn Alley of all places?" Lucius spoke quietly but sounded just as dangerous as a dragon circling in wait to swoop down and kill his prey at just the right moment.

Arthur's face had long since taken on the familiar Weasley shade of red that his family was famous for and shouted back, "Don't you turn this around on me you bloody liar and who the hell do you think you are, calling my son a second-rate witness? My boy saw you apparate away with his twin and you will tell me where the hell he is right now!" By the time he finished, he was only inches away from the blond wizard, who had also stepped up to meet the slightly shorter man.

Lucius growled out dangerously while still maintaining eye contact with Arthur, "Auror Shacklebolt, I will kindly request just once that you remove this disgraceful excuse for a wizard from my estate immediately. He is being quite rude and accusative and is giving my wife a fright. I'll not allow it."

Kingsley boldly stepped forward and spoke, "Not until you tell us what you know concerning Arthur's son's disappearance."

Lucius, who continued to glare disdainfully at Arthur, calmly responded by saying, "I did see one of your boys being apparated away, although I was not the one to do it, and no, I cannot identify the one that did. Now, kindly remove yourselves from my estate."

The rest of the group joined Kingsley and Arthur to stand and leave. They proceeded to walk back to the main entranceway but, as the group emerged, Arthur turned to Lucius and threateningly shoved his wand in the other man's face.

"So help me, Merlin, if I find out that you had anything to do with Fred's disappearance, I will kill you myself! Am I clear, Malfoy?" Arthur growled, standing as tall and looking as intimidating as he could.

Lucius merely smirked at the other man and replied, "Oh, was that the name of the one that went missing? I never would have known the difference between the two. In fact, you should count yourselves lucky – at least you still have half the set left and now, more of your measly funds to spend on the rest of your brood."

Arthur snarled in rage and started to shout out a curse before Kingsley disarmed him and forced him to follow the other aurors back down the path to the gate, all the while telling Arthur that it would do no good to further enrage the Malfoy family.

The last thing Arthur saw of Malfoy before they reached the gate was a smug smile on the man's face. It was that look which confirmed more than anything else he'd seen and heard that day that told Arthur exactly who was responsible for his son's disappearance.

He grudgingly allowed Kingsley to side-along apparate him back to Diagon Alley where they would meet up with Percy before going back to the hospital. Once his feet hit the ground, however, the majority of his anger left him and was replaced with a terrible feeling of despair. They knew exactly who to go after, but they had nothing concrete to use against the man. A look at Kingsley reflected the same thoughts on the other man's face.

Arthur leaned against a wall of some establishment or another and sank down to the ground, resting his head in his hands. It was at that moment that Percy and Auror Tonks came around the corner to meet them and Percy knew in an instant that their search had also yielded no good responses. Without saying a word, the teen sat on the ground beside his father and stared out at the Alley, wondering where on earth his younger brother could be.

Okay, you know the drill – please please please review! It takes me six hours to make a chapter and two minutes for you to review it… come on… do it… you know you want to!

What do you think about Percy, the Malfoys, and the Golden Trio? I wasn't planning to include all of them, but they may come in handy… Any ideas?