Just giving a small peek into the mind of the twins. I could have spent hours when I got started but I hope these two chapters are satisfactory. Let me know!

Interlude of a Carrot: Honey

What had just happen? How had what had just happen?

Stretched out across the Hogwarts provided four-poster bed, George Weasley stared at the canopy above him, his fingers stroking the watch/compass Lyra had given him for Christmas. Or more the stone embedded in the case.

He had no idea what to think. And for George Weasley, that wasn't exactly easy. Not to say he took a whole day out of his albeit busy pranking schedule to take the day to hide out in his brain (That was more Percy's thing anyways). But he could exercise it like another muscle on occasion, so he didn't grow cobwebs up there or whatever else his mother thought was hiding out between his ears.

Sitting up, drawing a knee to his chest he pursed his lips thinking to himself. Merlin…she'd completely shocked him. Staring down at his marked finger he traced over the silvery symbols on his skin. He hadn't needed to look them up, or research what they meant in some dusty tomb; George read it as easily as he read English: Time. It made both perfect sense and yet no sense at all, just likes the soft-spoken bird who'd given it to him.

It still took him a mo' to wrap his head around the fact Lyra, shy, pretty, hesitant Lyra had…staked a claim on him. He chuckled softly shaking his head as he dragged his other pointer finger up along his mark.

It amazed him how strong her feelings were for them that she could create two marks. From what he grasped there was only one mark, and usually it was given to a single person that being said he wondered how powerful she felt for them that both he and Fred had different ancient symbols engraved on their skin. It was powerful too, he acknowledged, because it made them equal. Though it seemed like all the compromises had been made on her half to keep them safe.

As much as it made him sound like a pansy, it was a beautiful thing. Not that he'd repeat that out loud where his twin would take the Mickey out of him for it. His lips twitched before he curled his hand into a loose fist tucking it behind his head as he stretched out again, his unmarked hand resting against his stomach.

Back to staring at the canopy above him he blinked owlishly. It was humbling in a way, for a girl to feel for them so strongly. It was completely unconditional, an that was what was throwing him for a loop. But George could also say this crush/love had been brewing for years. It was obvious in the way she spoke sometimes, when her eyes lingered or glazed over slightly when one, or both, of them got to close to her a thoughtfulness about her when it concerned them, a will to see them stay healthy and normal. He vaguely wondered what caught her attention about them whenever this crush had started. George smiled lazily, if it had been any other bird that the boys knew they were just a passing fancy for maybe they would have stepped up their flirting just a bit. But to do that to Lyra would be both cruel and leading her on. And though he and Fred used their looks to torment the female population (more Fred's doing than himself) he and his twin were always sure to make their intent and what they did not intend perfectly clear. Anything less just let to some messy situations..

Not that it helped in the least She was just so…innocent. Even the most basic of social skills, like making friends, was completely lost on the girl. She didn't seem to know how she should act, or if there was a certain way to act. And beyond her massive crush on them, George could see she was very reliant on them for their courage and ease of social situations. But she didn't make it obvious, didn't whine or plead for their attention. In fact she seemed afraid to accept it, to allow it to become the norm…

Merlin, he could already see himself becoming a hopeless case if he didn't squash these (George really hesitated to use the term 'budding' there was something about the phrase that was bird-worthy) new feelings of his.

But how could he not be overly fond of her? Smitten more like, fancied her a bit, whatever the label, how could he not be? Lyra made him feel both invincible and humbled, a treasured friend and protector, like he was something beyond just the second half of the Weasley twins. The way she'd described him had been similar and yet so different from Fred. She'd given him his own identity in the end and how could he not be smitten with that?

Maybe it was those dangerous Minstrel eyes of hers that allowed her to see him as he truly was. More than just a laid back prankster that let his twin steals the show. Because despite his slightly calmer personality George knew he was no angel. Though he was never cruel, as he had far too much self-control to even toe the line, George knew if he ever let go he could be his twins equal in cruelty. And Lyra had seen that, gazed at him in awe to notice the intensity he'd rather smirk away as if he knew something no one but he and his twin knew.

Like the fact the sorting hat had almost placed him in Slytherin. But luckily even Salazar Slytherin couldn't deny he had the Gryffindor Courage, Godric had specifically chosen in spades. Which was relief so he blatantly ignored and denied that the exchange had ever occurred.

You give them a taste of what Fred can do because you know in the back of their mind they know you're just as dangerous, a silent subtle you wear it so well with that sweet smile and then your eyes shift and their not that gorgeous dodger blue anymore but a soft baby blue and I like that. How that sweetness hides that intensity you throw off.

George groaned softly and pulled his arm out from behind his head, laying it across his eyes instead. He couldn't even find it in himself to resent that statement. To disprove it. He actually liked knowing she liked his intensity as much as his gentle side. Because as much as Freddie teased him, George knew he didn't want to let go to equal his twins cruelty. It wasn't in his self-control to let go, yes. But the decision to support that self-control was all George.

Pursing his lips he sat up, staring absently at the bathroom door where his twin had hidden to think clearly. George could respect that. Despite what everyone thought they weren't joined at the hip. They needed space at times to think and each had their own space, his being the Astronomy tower and Fred's was one of the secret passage ways. It was only tonight they stayed close because George was certain he and his darling twin would be having words before the night was through so he remained on his bed.

The question was…what to do about it all. Lyra, the mark, his twins own fond feelings for the bird.

Because the decision was theirs. Whatever the outcome of tonight's chat was, Lyra had made it clear it was their decision.

He'd seen the agony in her eyes as she believed she'd ruined her chance at friendship, so that was one option. Continue on as if neither he nor his brother were starting to like the way to innocent rabbit. He tugged on his watch absently, it was a thought, he mused. He knew it would be easy to just continue with the way things were going. George immediately discarded that thought. It wasn't in either he or Fred's personality to simple ignore their feelings.

There was the next option, which he hesitated over. One of them could step aside for the other to pursue Lyra. Lyra wouldn't be happy with it, and if he were honest with himself (which he always tried to do) neither would the twins because of all the unknown variables. It had the potential of ruining a friendship between one of the twins and Lyra. Not to mention their might be some bitterness between brothers when they decide who should pursue the bird. Fred and George would never risk their sibling bond. They would do it, but there were so many factors involved.

What was not an option (which he really didn't think this was possible) was to force Lyra to choose between them. None of the three would be happy with that, one because Lyra expressed her frustration over not choosing between them and two because, again, Fred and George wouldn't risk one twin resenting the other. And if Lyra loved them as much as George suspected, he could safely say she would rather pretend she never confessed than have them resenting each other. So George immediately banished it to the back of his mind.

Sighing heavily he rubbed his forehead before pushing his hand up through his hair and down to rub the back of his neck. This was beyond difficult...

Obviously he would need to wait until Fred was here to help think this through. George grinned; it was like planning a dangerous prank or testing a new product. They always spoke of it at length before even setting up a game plan.