Chapter 11: Let The Games Begin
His heart was racing, he was nervous yet excited. He knew what he was saying meant things between him and his best mate, the person he trusted more than anyone would change forever. But somehow it didn't matter somehow right now this was the most important thing. He wasn't going to hold back anymore.
"Your. Taking. It. Back?" George could barely believe what he was hearing. "Fred if this is a joke it's beyond not funny. In fact it's pretty much as funny as the last joke you told me. You know that one where you're in love with my girlfriend."
"Mate you should of seen this coming." Fred grinned
George's eyes grew wide. "What?"
"You know who I am, what kind of person I am. When I want something I have to go for it. I'll die if I don't give it my all and risk everything for it. For that one chance to do whatever it is I want."
George remained silent. Fred knew his brother understood him, even if no one else in the world did, George always did.
"You get me don't you? If I don't let her know how I feel I'll regret it for the rest of my life. I would never forgive myself."
"What about me?" George finally spoke. "You don't care that this is the only girl I've ever cared about and that you're going to ruin things between us? Not just me and her but you and I also" George's eyes narrowed onto Fred's.
To his surprise Fred did not look sad or guilty. "George, don't act so defenseless" Fred grinned slapping both hands on either side of his brother's face. "I don't expect you to make this easy for me. In fact…I'll never forgive you if you do." George was taken back. "You fight for the girl you love Georgey. And I'll do the same. Whatever you feel you have to do…I wouldn't have it any other way." Fred removed his hands from his face, taking a step back and holding his hand out now for his brother to shake. "May the best man win."
George stared at Fred then down at his out reached hand. "You're serious?"
"When have I ever not been serious?"
George continued to look down at Fred's hand. Slowly he brought his right hand up level with Fred's. "Well…If we're going to do this, I'm not going to go easy on you."
Fred smiled "Good."
"So for starters…" Before Fred could react George brought his right hand up in a fist and struck Fred square in the eye knocking him back on the ground groaning in pain.
"Can't have you confessing your love looking better than me now, can I?" George said leaning over Fred. His eye was now pulsing and shining bright red.
George took out a piece of candy from his pocket and shoved it in his twin's mouth "It instantly dissolves in your mouth so don't bother trying not to swallow it." It was Fred's turn to look surprised. George patted him on the shoulder, whispering before walking off leaving him on the ground. "So good luck with that mate."
Fred turned on his side and started coughing trying to spit it out but it was too late. It had seeped through his tongue. "George!" He coughed. "You're bloody brilliant." He laughed in pain.
George had taken the element of surprise before Fred had even started the challenge. The suspicious candy was a nice touch. Fred had taste tested every one of their joke candies but it had been such a shock he hadn't had time to study it while it was in his mouth. As he got up off the floor he took deep breathes, checked his face, arms, chest and legs for warts or discoloring but there were none. That leaves spell candy that messed with your thoughts, speech, way of walking, thinking or feeling. But which one did George use? They had produced over 2 dozen by now. Fred knew he would just have to wait it out.
His best bet was not trying anything and calling it quits today. He knew George would be standing guard over Hermione now. She would get out tomorrow, so he'd find her then.
It was so late in the day however, there was no guarantee he'd be back to normal by morning. Some of their candy lasted as long as one week. And what about his eye? Looking at himself in the boy's dorm room mirror, he knew it would be purple by the next day. George had been smart, if he had used magic to turn his eye purple Fred could have fixed it with a spell but no it was a clean hard punch. Fred would have to let it heal the muggle way. Fred couldn't help smiling at himself. George had done well. Without a second of planning he had already weakened his twin. Tomorrow would be worse, now that George had some time to think. Maybe Fred shouldn't have told him. Playing fair didn't seem to be working in his favor.
Fred had woken up early to start plan one beat George down stairs and wake Hermione up and confess to her, but it was a pointless plan as he found George's bed had not been slept in. He must have convinced Madam Pomfrey to let him stay in the hospital wing. Fred really wasn't surprised nor was he discouraged. He didn't have high hopes for that plan anyway. Now onto plan two.
Fred was surprised he had not seen any side effects from the mystery candy. He was starting to believe George just wanted him to think it was something to drive him crazy. Well that candy was the least of his worries as he searched the hallways but he couldn't find that person. The library was his next best bet. Nothing there either. Where the devil was he? Hermione was going to be leaving the hospital any minute now. That's when it hit him. The hospital wing. Sure enough he found him there standing at the Doorway. Got ya, Fred thought.
"Sean!" He yelled from behind a pillar. Making the little first year jump. He motioned for him to come with him. Sean suspiciously walked towards him. He knew exactly what he needed to do to get George away from Hermione. He would have Sean tell a Professor that George took something from him. Sean's house being Slytherin he knew Snape would be the one answering the call and George would at least get detention for a week. Allowing Fred some alone time with Hermione. He knew Sean kind of liked him more than George anyway so he wouldn't need that much convincing to go along with it.
"Oh. It's you. I hardly recognized you. Nice shiner" Sean said with a small grin.
"Never mind that, I have a job for you." Fred whispered.
"What is it?"
"I need you to…" Fred suddenly couldn't talk. His tongue moved but nothing came out. He tried again. "I need you to…go away I don't need your help" Fred was taken back. That's not what he wanted to say.
Sean looked questioning at him. "Ok…Well I'm waiting for Hermione."
"Yes!" Fred said. No Fred thought.
"I don't need your help with anything" He said. I need your help with something he thought.
Sean shrugged and walked away.
Wait! Fred thought. "Go!" He shouted.
What was going on? He was saying the opposite of what he wanted to say. Then it hit him exactly what candy George had given him. It was the opposite of Veritaserum in that it made you lie. It was made to be used on say witnesses to any small prank or crime you may have committed. So that even if they wanted to rat you out. They couldn't. and it started working as soon as someone asked you a question. For 48 hours at least. Even at the use of Veritaserum. Damn Fred thought. Didn't see that coming.
The Hospital doors opened up and out came Hermione with George by her side. Oh, good ol' reliable George. Fred decided to come out of hiding and greet them with Sean. As soon as he started walking in their direction Hermione's and George's eyes caught his.
"Fred!" Hermione said with a surprised look.
"Oh yay Fred..." George said through gritting teeth.
"What happened to your eye?" Hermione looked concerned at him.
Fred looked at George who only smiled back. George did it! It was George! George George George! He shouted in his head.
"It was my fault. Me, me me." He said still looking at George. Hermione noticed and looked at him too.
"Did you have something to do with this George?"
"Why would I do such a thing?" he said in a mock surprised tone. Hermione just glared at him.
"Well Hermione you're looking…disgusting as ever." Fred was able to pull this line off as being a joke.
Hermione's head turned back to him and she gave an airy laugh. "Wow, Fred thanks."
George grinned knowing full well why he said it and couldn't say she looked lovely.
"Well shall we walk you to the dorm?" Fred smiled holding out his arm for Hermione to take. But as she reached for it, George grabbed her other arm and pulled her to him. No longer a grin on his face. Hermione looked surprised at him.
"George you really are a lot of fun" Fred again was able to sound this out sarcastically.
Hermione was still staring at George. "What's gotten into –"
"There he is!" A sudden shout caught all their attention as a small first year Fred had never seen came stomping through the crowd of people in the Hall way with Professor McGonagall. And surprisingly the little guy was looking directly at Fred.
"There's the boy who attacked me!" The little first year shouted.
Fred's eyes grew wide. His head quickly turned to George who gave a small smile back.
"Fred what did you do?" Hermione looked distressingly at him. It hurt Fred to see her look at him this way. How could she believe he would do something like hit a first year?
"Alright, calm down Nicholas. Fred, a word, please." Professor McGonagall said seriously and Fred obediently walked away with her.
After having the little first year hysterically retell the story of Fred coming up behind him like a villain in a comic book, saying he was in his way. Pushing him to the wall and breaking the project the boy was about to turn in for class. He swore he had a purple eye, like Fred did now. Meaning there was no way it could have been George. With this evidence and Fred unable to defend himself he was given two week's detention starting that day.
Another point awarded to George.
After a couple days of serving a detention he did not deserve Fred was getting despite. He didn't care if George was around, if anyone was around. He was going to tell Hermione. And he was going to tell her today. He stormed into the library eyes searching for Hermione. She wasn't hard to miss as she was sitting with a red flag next to her. Aka George Weasley. But it didn't matter he would tell her even if the whole library had to hear.
Fred put either hands on the sides of his mouth took a deep breath and was about to shout when he opened his mouth and nothing came out. The candy should have worn off by now…What was going on? Suddenly his arm was grabbed and he was being dragged out of the Library doors. As the doors were about to close shut he distinctly saw Hermione raise her head and look at him with much confusion and surprise.
"I was told about you! Thank goodness your brothers nothing like you." Madam Pince the librarian said shoving Fred further out into the hall. "He told me you were looking for a fun time and thought you might come in and make a disturbance in my library! Well not today, son. And not any other day!"
Fred tried to plead his case but only air came out from his lips.
" If I see you here again I'll be telling your Head of House!" She pointed her wand to Fred and he knew he could speak again but before he could even voice his reason she was back in the library. The doors shut on his face.
Fred could only stare in disbelief. He was banned from the one place he knew he would always find Hermione. Which it didn't matter because George was always with her anyway. And even if he wasn't for the next two weeks he would have to report to McGonagall's office for detention after all his classes leaving him no time to find her.
Plan three fail. Point…to George.
That night Fred dreamt he finally was able to tell Hermione and she returned his feelings they decided to run away together and George give them his blessing. When he woke up he realizes how pathetic he was.
That night after detention Fred realized there was still one place George couldn't stay with Hermione. The girl's dorm. He would wait till midnight, knock on the girl's door pretend to be George if someone else answered and ask to speak with her. It had to work. It just had to.
Fred was unable to sleep that night. He waited till he could hear George snoring a good long 20 minutes before getting up and heading to the girl's dorm. As he knocked on the door he looked around to make sure George wasn't coming up behind him. No one answered. He knocked again this time a little harder again checking behind him. After a few minutes someone opened the door a crack. It was too dark to tell who it was but Fred knew this girl was too tall to be Hermione.
"Who's there?" the girl asked.
"It's me George. Can I speak with Hermione? Please?" He whispered.
The girl was silent for a moment. Then sighed "Hold on." As she left the doorway.
Finally Fred thought. Some good luck. A moment later the girl came back.
"She isn't here." The girl said with not an ounce of caring.
"What do you mean she's not here?" Fred said in louder whisper.
"Exactly what I said. I don't know where she is. But she's not here. Good night." She shut the door as her last words lingered.
"Wait" Fred protested but he knew she wouldn't be coming back.
He slowly walked back to the boy's dorm. Distressed and annoyed. How could she not be there? How could every attempt he made to come close to her fail miserably.
"That's rotten luck." A familiar voice came from the shadows of the stair case.
"You knew she wasn't in there didn't you?" Fred glared at the figure.
"Of course I knew." George came out into the light. "What boyfriend doesn't know what his girlfriend's doing at midnight out of bed?"
"Where is she then?"
"Doing her patrols of course. Hermione always stays out an hour later then everyone else because she figures that's when the real trouble makers come out." George laughed. "You know, she's right. You and me never left our dorms till well after midnight when we'd sneak to the kitchen."
"Well she's a cleaver one." Fred said with no enthusiasm in his voice.
"Yeah." George eyed him. It must be the trick of the moonlight because Fred could swear George had a look of pity on his face. Pity for him?
"You ready to give up yet?" George said more hopeful then threating.
"What do you mean? I've got this game in the bag."
George laughed and the sound made Fred angrier then he'd been all week. He really thought Fred had no chance.
"I know where Hermione is now. All I need to do is wait for her to come back." Fred said making his way down to the common room but George got in his way.
"Move George."
"Don't think I will mate."
"George I have to talk with Hermione."
"Fred being straight forward ? That's a strange strategy for you." George laughed.
"I'm not playing." Fred said more serious then he'd ever been.
"Who said I was playing?" George said back just as serious. "When is it going to get through, Fred? Hermione's my girlfriend not yours."
"So what? She's your girlfriend, not the Queen. She can talk to whomever she wants."
"She doesn't want to talk to you."
"I'd like to hear that from her thanks." Fred shoved George out the way but his twin took hold of his arm before he could go any further down.
"Knock it off, Freddie!"
"Don't tell me what to do Georgey!" Fred yacked his arm from his brother and pushed him down on the ground. George was stunned only for a minute before jumping up and grabbing Fred around the waist hurling him down all the stairs hiting his back finally on the floor of the common room with George sitting on top of him.
"Hermione's my girl!" George tried to get hold of Fred's hand.
"Only because I let you have her!" Fred punched him in the lip and used his legs to kick him in the stomach knocking his once best mate off him on to the floor.
Fred sat up quickly breathing fast. George was sitting up too, "Oh, really! You wouldn't even have noticed her if I hadn't pointed her out to you!" he shouted wiping some blood from his lip.
"I might have!" Was Fred's only retort.
"Yeah, right. Admit it Fred, you only want what I want. You've always been that way!"
"What? Why would I want your things? You never know how to take care of anything. Including Hermione! "
"I'm taking care of her now. I'll make sure you never get anywhere near her for the rest of your life!"
"The only reason you don't want her to see me is because deep down you know I'm the one she really wants! She wouldn't even have fallen for you if she hadn't fallen for me first!"
There was only silence as Fred and George sat staring at each other. Hate seeping from their eyes. Their once close bond seems so far away. Never to return.
"Your right Fred." George said calmly getting up and Fred followed thinking he might attack him any moment.
"I do know it…But I don't care." George glared straight through him. "I don't care that she loves me second. That in the five years we've know her she was always looking at you and never once noticed me."
Fred was taken aback as a thought hit him. George had heard Hermione as she confessed to Fred feelings for him that one night she was completely out of it. He had seen Fred cradle her and… Fred stared at him. George had seen and heard all of it. He just chose to ignore it.
"So long as she stays by me. I'll make her fall more in love with me every day until you're a mere memory. To the both of us."
Again there was silence. It was Fred's turn to speak.
"I got you George." Fred turned to go back up the stair case. "Don't forget to not invite me to your wedding." He said before heading up and collapsing on his bed.
He had had enough. His whole body was sore and his bond between him and his brother was broken and most importantly he now hated himself. More than he ever had.
For the next week Fred avoided everyone. In class he talked to no one and George sat as far away from him as possible. He didn't eat with everyone and just snuck food from the kitchen and after detentions he would head up to the dorm without a word to anyone. It wasn't long before people noticed and asked what was going on between him and George. He wasn't sure what George was telling them but he would just tell them they're as close as they have ever been. One day someone even said that's exactly what George said.
George. Fred hated how much he missed him. This loneliness was different then the time George was spending all his time with Hermione, because even then he knew if he wanted to talk to George he could. But not now, not ever again.
He actually looked forward to detentions. Polishing trophies, mopping floors or washing dishes any punishment took his mind off George and Hermione and he could focus on the task at hand. So when McGonagall asked him to organize her thousands of spell books by alphabetical order he graciously took on the challenge even giving her a hug.
Being alone wasn't so bad when you had stuff to do. He thought as he sat with mountains of books around him in the Transfiguration class.
There was a sudden knock on the door. And footsteps could be heard. Who was coming in? Interrupting his peace time. He couldn't see over the books around him. A student hoping for help with some homework no doubt.
"Professor McGonagall's not here." He shouted over the pile of books not stopping his work.
"That's ok." Came a voice that made his heart race and his cheeks go red. Two hands came in between two piles of books and pushed them aside opening the cave Fred had made around him.
"Found u!" Hermione laughed taking a seat on the floor facing him.
Fred stared at her. He wanted so much to hate her for what she had done to George and him. How she had driven them apart without even trying. But he couldn't. he knew it was hopeless trying to feel anything but what his heart told him he felt. He continued to organize the books.
"Oh joy you found me. Now you go hid and I'll find you." He said with an air of sarcasm.
"Yes, I'm sure" She laughed "Having too much fun to stop are you?" She grabbed a book from one of the piles and opened it to the first page.
"I was." Fred grabbed the book from her hand and put it in the right pile.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Need some help?" She smiled.
"No thanks. I'm almost done." Fred didn't even bother looking at her.
"Well after your done maybe you, George and I can go walking by the lake. I'm trying to overcome my fear of it." She gave a small chuckle.
"Sorry, can't."
"Maybe tomorrow then?"
"Nope." Fred said a little agitated.
"Maybe this weekend then, we'll have a picnic. The three of us."
"Don't want to."
"Why not?" Hermione pleaded.
"What's your deal?" Fred snapped finally looking up at her.
"What's yours?" Hermione glared back.
Fred stared at her only for a second before sighing. "I'm busy and your bothering me."
"I must bother you a lot for you to stop wanting to be around George." Hermione continued to glare at him.
"Not really." Was all Fred could say. So that was it. She wanted to amend things between him and George. Good luck.
"If you only knew how much George misses you. How lonely he is."
"How can he be lonely when he has you." Fred continued not looking at her.
"You know that's not the same. He needs his brother."
"He has four others."
"You, Fred!" Hermione's tone made Fred's eyes glance at her long enough to see she had tears in her eyes. Damn. Her ultimate defense.
"He needs you, and I know you need him. I'm sorry I've taken him away from you. I'm sorry I've come between you two having alone time. I didn't know. I didn't want to do that. You can have your time just the two of you. Please talk to him again. He's not the same without you." Hermione's lip quivered and a tear finally left her eyes that were struggling desperately to keep them in.
Fred chuckled softly. "You really think I'm that low?"
Hermione's eyes got big, making her remaining tears fall down her cheek. "What?"
"That I would get soo jealous of my brother's girlfriend I would want him to choose between me or the girl he loves? Or never talk to him again?"
Hermione could only blink in disbelief. "Well…no. But I mean…isn't that what happened?"
Fred leaned forward and wiped a tear from her cheek. As he caressed her cheek he could feel that she was trembling. She must be so upset to be shiving so much. She cared so much for him and George.
He touched his finger to her lip "You really are too much, you know that?" Hermione's eyes grew wide as he pressed his lips tight against hers. He even went as far as to cup the back of her head in his hand forcing her to stay still and let his kiss her deeply. He pulled away slowly staring deeply in her eyes. "You know I really wish you were right."
Hermione could only look back at him her face completely red. Fred placed one last book on the pile next to him. "Well I'm done. Let McGonagall put them back in their case." He said getting up and heading to the door.
"It was you." Hermione breathed finally on her feet facing him. "You…that time...you kissed.." And her hands clapped over her mouth.
"That time. And every time before that." He said still not staring at her.
"And George let you -?"
"George, had nothing to do with it." Fred finally turned to face her. "I'm the one who wanted to do it.
Hermione still had her hands to her lips
"George didn't even know you were his tutor until the day you poured pumpkin juice on him. I didn't want him to know. I wanted you all to my self." Fred looked down at the ground no long able to look at her. "I didn't realize it at first either. I didn't know why I wanted to be around you. Why you made me feel funny. It took me a while to realize how much I'd fallen in love with you."
Hermione could only stare with a look of sadness and surprise.
"I'll never forgive myself for it." Fred finally looked up. "But it doesn't matter. Because you love George, and you should. Don't take this out on him, it was my doing all of it, and I'm done with that now. I'm sorry Hermione. Really I am." Fred turned to walk out.
"Fred wait -!"
"Hermione!" loud footsteps came crushing down the hallway. "Hermione!" George finally came bursting through the doorway. Sweating and breathing hard. Hermione looked shocked while Fred's face was impassive.
George's eyes quickly shot to Fred. "Get away from her."
"George!" Hermione shouted but Fred merely shrugged.
"See ya later Granger." Fred waved. As he walked by George he patted him on the shoulder, making his twin flinch for a second. "Congrates mate. You win." And with that he walked away closing the door on them. On that fight. On everything. He had had enough. And somehow felt a little relieved. He had told Hermione what he wanted to tell her. He had gotten his chance. That was all he could ask for, that was all he could want.