I raced towards the nearest fireplace I could find, knowing I would be late for my appointment at The Burrows. I had corresponded with Arthur over owl, and I would to be at The Burrows by 7PM for dinner. After dinner I'd go over Arthur's new employment contract with him and then someone would apparate me home.
Percy had sent me an owl on his lunch break saying he wasn't sure whether he would be able to make it, his writing was sprawled and he said he would speak to me later about it. In the news there was a report on somebody using the Floo Network to horrifically murder his ex wife and children, so I automatically assumed it had something to do with that. He would be preoccupied with that for a while.
Speaking of the Floo Network, I had my gym back over my shoulder as I found a fireplace that was just downstairs from my gym, strategically put there as an open port for the Floo Network for those who needed to use it.
I grabbed some Floo Powder from my stash in my bag, screamed "The Burrows" and after the whirlwind transportation and covering my face with my hands, I went shooting through the Weasley fireplace.
As I had yet to receive my apparition license, I used the Floo Network quite often. As a result of this I knew how to use it perfectly. I knew how to not come spitting out of your destination and I knew how to avoid having too much ash over you. So when I jumped out of the Weasley fireplace, I jumped into the lounge room, landing on one foot like a ballerina, with next to no ash on me.
"Ta da!" I joked, watching as Ginny, Harry and Ron were in the lounge room and had their eyes glued to me.
"Bloody hell! You gave me a bit of a freight!" Ron exclaimed.
"Oops, sorry. Who's home tonight, anyway?" I curiously asked Ron.
"It's just Mum, Dad, Ginny, Harry and myself. I think Fred and George might be coming around for tea though; they come here often looking for food. Other than that, everyone else has moved out." Ron informed me.
"Really? That must be so depressing for your parents. To go from a household full of hell, to this. Where's Hermione?" I asked Ron.
"She lives with her parents still. We're both saving up for a house together, but Auror training pay is rubbish, so she's the breadwinner in the relationship right now." Ron remarked, and I could tell this was a sensitive topic for him, I decided to brush it under the rug.
I was going to ask Ginny and Harry how they were, but Molly came into the room and rushed over me to give me a hug.
"Carly dear, how are you? Percy sent me an owl to say not to cook dinner for him, as he would be unable to make it but might pop by later. Come on everyone, let's sit down as dinner is now ready." Molly said to me, ushering everyone to the table.
As she dished up the food and everyone sat down, there were two large cracks that were heard. We all looked over, and saw Fred and George standing over the table.
"Oi! You were going to start without us?" George asked, feigning hurt.
"Boys! You didn't say you were coming around for dinner. Of course we were going to start without you!" Molly stated, sounding very frustrated.
"We'll help ourselves to what's on the stove then, and take a seat." Fed said, and both the twins walked into the kitchen.
"Well, alright then," She replied, but then turned to me "I always make extras, because the twins always pop around with no warning. I also give them food to take home every time I see them. If not, I don't think they would eat, running their joke shop and all."
"You both run a joke shop?" I asked, sounding quite surprised as the two red headed twins came walking in from the kitchen, plates in hand.
"We do. If you're ever down Diagon Alley, you should come check it out." Fred winked at me.
"I live within walking distance. I sometimes go to Diagon Alley to stock up on the little magic supplies I have. I'll definitely take you up on that offer." I replied.
Surprisingly, going through Arthur's new employment contract with him didn't take that long at all. I'd studied employment law at a tertiary level, and they used the standard Ministry contract, which they used for every Ministry employee. Only one page had changed, which was different for everyone and included remuneration, hours etc. Everything was all set for him to sign.
I was surprisingly outside with George, Fred, Harry, Ron and Ginny. The boys were having a miniature Quiddich game; of course as it was two on two the only roles played were Chasers, and the hoops were makeshift. It was Fred and George vs. Harry and Ron, which was fair because during Hogwarts apparently Fred and George were beaters, Harry was a seeker and Ron was a keeper, meaning they were all outside of their natural habitats. Ginny and I were sitting down, watching.
"You can go home if you want, you don't have to stay if you don't want to." Ginny stated to me.
"What do you mean?" I asked, shifting my weight from my arms as I was sitting with my legs outstretched.
"I don't know. I don't mean to offend you – but you're not the kind of girl we'd expect Percy to be with. Percy always considered Fred, George, Ron and myself the younger of the Weasley siblings and tried to be a role model, rather than an equal. So it feels strange you, his girlfriend would want to hang out with us." Ginny said to me, but smiled to show she wasn't being harsh and dare I say, enjoyed my company?
"How old are you guys, anyway?" I asked curiously.
"Fred and George are twenty one. Ron is nineteen and I'm eighteen." Ginny answered.
"Well, there we go. I'm twenty-one too, Percy is two years older than me. Therefore I'm in your age range to hang out." I shrugged, smiling at Ginny who sent me a smile back.
Fred landing in front of us with no warning caught us off guard.
"I'm over it! I am over it. Ron keeps trying to dispute every goal. You go play on your boyfriend's team and see how difficult he is! I will keep our visitor entertained!" Fred whined.
Ginny sighed, shaking her head as she took the broom off her older brother and flew into the air to pick up the game, not bothering to utter a word.
"Fred, you didn't have to. You can go inside, or whatever you'd find more appealing." I shrugged, finding my shyness again. After spending time with the Weasley family I had grown comfortable around them, but this situation was definitely out of my comfort zone.
"Wait, how can you tell the difference between George and I? Come to think of it, it seems you've been able to for a while." Fred remarked.
"Unlike you it seems, I have a great attention to detail." I joked, poking my tongue out to emphasise my joke, to which Fred only smiled.
"So why didn't you want to play anyway? We could have done three against three." Fred asked me.
"Er, well. I've been living a very wizard sheltered life, and to be honest I've never flown on a broomstick before." I admitted, my awkward feeling only getting stronger as my face heated up.
"Get outta here! No way! We'll have to change that, won't we?" Fred offered in complete disbelief.
"No! Not tonight. I'm cold enough down here, let alone to go in the air with the wind and stuff. Freezing!" I remarked.
"Not that I'm complaining, but you're the one wearing a low cut tank top, and short shorts." Fred stated, and I looked down at the grass, needing to think my answer through carefully. This could end badly.
"I came straight from the gym, if I changed back into my work clothes I would have been late." I informed him.
"What are you doing tomorrow night? Come back here, we'll get you up on a broom." Fred offered to me.
"I can't. Working late, Colin Griffiths, the guy I'm doing the internship with wants me to work back to comb through evidence with him. By the time I get here, your whole family would be sleeping. Not to mention Percy and his ways of going to bed early, if he would even come at all!" I explained.
"So? I'll still be up. We'll go then." Fred shrugged, as if this was no big deal.
"How do you think Percy would react if I came here late at night, to go on a late night flight with you? I've pretty much only just met you. He'd think it's highly inappropriate, and he wouldn't be scared to voice such opinions either." I asked Fred.
He opened his mouth to argue, but then quickly closed it, deep in thought. He then hung his head down, knowing I was right. No one would feel comfortable if his or her significant other did that, right?
"Which is why you should come meet me at my work. I finish at ten. I work down Cauldron Lane; it's around the corner from Diagon Alley, actually. You happened to be walking past, and feeling it was dangerous for me to go home at that time you er, gave me transportation home." I said to Fred, deciding on a whim to roll with it and conjured up a perfect cover story.
"Hey, I'm all for it. But if we have to lie about what we're doing, isn't that pretty bad? Aren't you scared of any consequences hiding this from Percy will bring?" Fred asked me.
"It's technically not a lie. And we're not hiding anything; I'll be sure to tell Percy we met up. Look, I need excitement in my life. I work full time and study part time. I never really get to do anything anymore, besides the monotonous lifestyle I now lead." I begged Fred.
"As I said, I'm game. I just wanted to make sure you really wanted to do something like this. But I guess this method, as well as the act of flying on the broomstick doubles the fun, right?" Fred asked me.
"Thanks heaps, I really do appreciate you taking the time for this. And for going along with this little white lie. It's only a one time thing, it's not going to hurt anyone anyway." I stated.
Fred then studied my face and sent me a smile. As he was out of focus I wasn't sure what he was doing, but seconds later he was throwing grass at me.
"You're SO going to pay for that!" I screeched, picking up the same grass he used as well as more clumps to throw at him.
After a small grass war, where we had dirt down our shirts and his trousers, and grass strains all over our clothes we called a truce. The Quiddich players were also packing up, ready to call it a night and head back in – I think it had something to do with the tantrums Ron was throwing.
"Oh Fred, by the way." I began.
"Hmm?" He asked, ceasing the dusting of his clothes to look up at me to give me all of his attention.
"The reason I can tell George and yourself apart is because your eyes are brighter than George's." I stated to Fred, offering my hand to help him to get up, which he took as we both headed inside together.