After the night I kissed Fred, I began to avoid him. I should have heeded my sister's advice of 'be careful' instead of laughing it off. The kiss itself didn't mean anything; I just wanted to show Fred my appreciation that he listened to what I had to say. Not the most appropriate way, but I don't hold any romantic feelings towards him.
Either way I crossed a line I shouldn't have. Many people have different ideals on what actually is cheating, whether it's kissing or more than that. But I'm sure most people wouldn't be too happy their significant other kissed their sibling. That was something I would keep from Percy. I had also decided not to tell him about the time I spent with Fred after all, in case I slipped up any unnecessary information. I felt guilty but I was pushing it to the back of my mind. It wouldn't happen again, so I'd eventually get over it.
I sighed and threw my quill off my bed, and into the lower area of my apartment. Exams were coming up, and I was completely frustrated. Not only did I have to study the content of my subject, I had to get used to using quills again too. Some quills were amazing – especially for essay use. But when I'm just doing regular study, plain old pens are the easiest option.
However in the Wizarding world quills are mandatory for assessment use, and it was that time of semester where I would have to get used to using them again.
I was also frustrated, as I get cranky after hours of studying. I wanted to keep going but I knew I couldn't, as I wasn't retaining any information. It was time for a study break.
I did need to stock up on some supplies from Diagon Alley. I only went every now and again and got everything I needed at once, so I was currently really low or completely out on some of my magical products.
I bit my lip as I looked at the clock. It was two o' clock. I'd be at least two hours at Diagon Alley, so I'd schedule in returning at five for all intents and purposes. Ellen would be over by eight, we had planned a night out on the town, so I'd have to start getting ready as soon as I got home.
Oh, what the hell. I thought as I jumped off my bed, bounded into the stairs and raced into the bathroom, to make myself look presentable.
"Can I help you?" one of the sales assistants asked as I stepped into Madam Primpernelle's Beautifying Potions.
"Just looking thanks." I mumbled, scurrying away from her. Sales assistants were just as persistent in the Wizarding world as they were in the muggle world, if not more, as a lot of wizards and witches lacked even less common sense than a muggle.
I however loved this store. It took me a while, but muggle beauty products were one of the things I moved away from, accepting that magic made the products a lot more effective. Make-up stuck to the skin so you never had to worry about smudging, reapplying on a night out or nasty unwelcome lines. Perfume stayed strong until your next wash. Toothpaste actually was whitening. You get the drift.
I browsed for a little bit, but then grabbed one of their baskets that had a charm on it to follow the customer around and levitate. I grabbed my usual products, and then went over to the place they advertise all the new products.
They had a stand of 'new' products, and I was looking over to see if anything was worth adding to my collection. I found a lip-gloss tube that had said the scent and flavour was 'snog' and finding this amusing, I picked it up and read the description.
Allure Witch's new product, Love Lips is bound to spice your life up beyond belief. Snog's scent is whatever scent will bring the sniffer to his knees, helping you with what you've already got.
I rolled my eyes, awful marketing and product design. The blurb was written as if they didn't know whether to have their niche market as teenagers, or young adults. Either way I was intrigued enough to throw the product into my basket, wanting to know if it actually worked.
Before I could even go onto the other products, a witch approached me. She looked middle aged, but she was a pretty middle aged. She had blonde hair which I assumed was dyed, but didn't look like a dye job, bright green eyes and the only thing that showed aging were crows feet around her eyes, which in a weird way suited her. Her clothes were traditional witch clothes, which included lovely robes, a fashion I'd never understood, but once again they suited her.
"If you take my advice, I'd suggest not bothering with most of this new stuff. Some of these products are amazing, but lately they're so expensive and mediocre compared to what other shops are offering." She said to me.
I turned to her; curious about what advice she had to give. She looked great, and I was still a novice when it came to wizarding products.
"What do you suggest then?" I asked curiously, but added a smile onto the end of my sentence to show I was not being rude, I did not think she was interrupting me at all.
"If you go down the alley there's a joke shop called Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. I know it's peculiar to buy high quality beauty products from something as ridiculous as a joke shop, but I swear by their products. They're the most inexpensive yet effective beauty products I've ever used. I highly recommend their ten second pimple vanishers and bruise removal paste." She said to me.
Fred and George's shop. I had wanted to check it out for a while, and I'm sure I could still get by with avoiding Fred. Fred had informed me they had shop assistants, and I'm sure he and his twin brother don't spend every waking hour in the shop. It's also a Saturday afternoon; it would be very busy there.
The woman took my silence as me being shocked, and just pat my shoulder and told me to try it before moving on, and leaving the shop. I quickly went to the counter, purchased my items, turning down the five upsells the cashier tried to sell me and hurried out the store and down the alley, until I stumbled upon the magnificent store.
I admired the outside, but hastily stepped into the store as I realised I was on a tight schedule if I wanted to have enough time to pretty myself up for tonight.
It was hard not to be distracted by the inside, however. The store was massive, much bigger on the inside than it appeared on the outside. There were hundreds of products scattered around, each of them having a proud display, all coming together to make lots of noises, and colourful displays. Everywhere you stepped you would get distracted to look at something else.
"Well, well, well…if it isn't the sister in law. Finally coming to see the shop?" I heard a voice say, and I was able to focus my attention to see George standing in front of me smirking.
"See, George you have an unfair advantage. If I made jokes about you being my brother in law it would considered creepy." I said to George, putting my hands on my hips.
"Don't worry love, Percy would marry you today if you asked him. You're all he ever talks about. I think you actually broke up him and the ministry, considering he barely talks about work anymore." George joked, and I blushed red at the positive remark.
"Pfft, don't mind him Carly. George hasn't had relations with a girl in a while, that's why he's having a joke about poor old Percy." Fred laughed, appearing out of nowhere.
"Like you're doing any better with the ladies Fred!" George argued, and I cast an uncomfortable sidewards look to Fred, who only sent a wink back. I felt my face heat up again.
"I'd invite you guys out tonight, but I'm going to a muggle club with my best friend Ellen." I stated.
"Is she hot?" George blurted out.
I could see Fred open his mouth to reply, but quickly shut it when he realised the situation in which he met Ellen was secret, or at least was meant to be. I didn't know how much he had told George about us, or if he had told him anything at all but I didn't care. As long as it never got back to Percy, I was all set.
"Um, I don't know. I've never really looked at her in that way. But she's definitely not ugly. You're more than welcome to come tonight, both of you. But just be wary this is a muggle nightclub. You'll need muggle money, muggle attire and most of all, act like a muggle. Reckon you boys can do it?" I smirked, unsure how this information would settle with the twins.
"George, she doesn't think we can act like muggles. Shall we prove her wrong?" Fred asked his twin brother, a coy look on his face.
"Fred, of course we will. We'll be so convincing you'll be convinced we are muggles!" George replied.
"Alright. Ellen and I are having pre-pre drinks at my house, then we're heading off to a pub called The Lion at about nine for pre-drinks. Then we're heading out to the club." I explained.
"Pre drinks?" Fred asked.
"Pre pre drinks?" George added on.
I sighed, and shook my head.
"Alcohol is expensive. So you need to drink as much as you can stand before you head out, in order to buy less. Hence why you have pre drinks. However Ellen and I always like going to the pub before we go clubbing, you meet interesting people. So the first pre drinks is considered 'pre pre drinks' as it comes before pre drinks. With me now?" I asked.
Fred and George looked at each other, and then sent me a look of disbelief.
"I will never, ever understand muggle customs." George replied, and I poked my tongue out at him.
"Great, so it's settled. We'll meet you guys at The Lion at around nine. If you need to contact me and you decide to owl me, please be discreet. Ellen knows nothing about the magic world; she doesn't even know it exists. I'll give her a call when I get home and let her know I have a guy to set her up with, and then when we meet up this date can go under way." I beamed, but inside I was nervous. The reason why I was so nervous was so ridiculous, even if history were to repeat itself – well it couldn't. It was impossible.
"I think Lee wanted to hang out tonight, you know what, I'll invite him too. If you and Carly's friend are going to snog all night, might as well have someone else to hang out with too to replace you." Fred sneered at George, but then smiled to show he was joking…well, half joking.
I had to smile at this, but there was no way I would verbalise the relief that Fred had just given me. Not only would it be awkward to just be one on one after our incident, the pressures of his twin being on a date with my best friend would be awkward. It would feel like a double date, which could end badly. If it was a group outing, I could actually have a fun night, and not worry about what Percy may think, or Percy even finding out at all.