I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.

Hello everyone. I was out of town the last few days so that's why I didn't update on Monday. However, if things go well this week, then there might be something special coming next week. Hope all are doing well and as always, thank you for reading and commenting. It means more than you know. My best to you and have a wonderful day and week.

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Extended Family

Chapter 102 – A Wheeze of an Idea

Starts during the twins' fifth year.

"I thought career counseling was done with individual students without family members present," George remarked.

"Something about a safe place and without outside influences," Fred remarked.

McGonagall sighed wearily and closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. She missed the look of childish glee on the faces of George and Fred and it was just as well that she did. "Typically, yes," she said softly, "but you two are anything but typical."

"Awww thanks Professor!" they chorused.

She pinched harder. "So I thought let us get this out of the way with the shortest amount of headache and discomfort. Besides, when I asked either of you earlier this week, both of you expressed a preference to have the other present."

"Didn't think you'd listen," Fred said, surprised.

"It has been known to happen," she said dryly. She put her glasses back on and stared at the two Weasleys. "So, out with it then. What are your aspirations?"

"To win the Quidditch Championship," they said together.

"To find a new way to annoy Ron," George said.

"To find a new way to annoy Ginny," Fred said.

McGonagall sighed. "What are your career aspirations," she said through clenched teeth.

"Oh uh, we haven't thought about it," they chorused.

"Balderdash."

"Professor! Such language!" George gasped.

She fought a smile. "We all know that you two think about everything. You are far too clever to go about mindlessly and I know that you two have in fact thought about your careers."

They sat there silently, looking at anything but her.

"Fine. If we must do this the hard way, we will do this the hard way. Given your gregarious natures, I think working for the Ministry would be an option."

"Do we look like Dad and Percy?" they asked indignantly.

"Yes, you are from the same family," she retorted. "They do quite well there. Hard workers, dressed professionally, plenty of paperwork and bureaucracy to adhere to. The perfect place for those that enjoy rules and order."

Fred turned green and began to sweat.

George fanned him with a Ministry pamphlet. "Fred gets sick when he thinks about paperwork and rules," George said.

"Would there be too little? Perhaps a career in the Healing field? I know you two are fond of fighting and get injured in games therefore have a healthy respect for healing."

"Life and death situations and even more schooling?!" The twins stared at her, as if she had just insulted their mother and every generation of their family.

"Why not? You two make the grades for it, barely minimum but they are there," McGonagall said, pushing on. "Another solid career with ample paperwork and plenty of responsibility."

"I think I'm going to vomit," Fred gasped, breathing heavily.

"The solicitors path then? You two toe the rules so much, you must enjoy learning about the laws and want to abide by them?"

"I think I'm going to faint," George groaned. "I'm seeing spots."

McGonagall stared at them for a long moment before she rose from the desk and strode to her fire. She tossed a handful of Floo powder in. "Infirmary!"

"Yes? What's wrong, Minnie? I thought you were doing career counseling today," Pomfrey asked, her head appearing in the flames.

"I am," McGonagall said through gritted teeth. "And my first two are on the verge of a panic attack apparently."

Pomfrey's eyes widened as she peered past McGonagall. "That does look convincing. Two Calming Draughts?"

"Better make it three and a headache relief," McGonagall said. She gratefully took the four vials that came zooming through the inter-school Floo. "Thank you, Poppy." She stalked back to her desk, ignoring Pomfrey's chuckling. "Here, drink, now," she said shortly, thrusting two vials at the twins.

She sat heavily and drained her own Calming Draught and counted to ten. "Now, how do you two feel?"

"Calmer I guess," Fred muttered.

"Really now. They thought of rules and responsibility and paperwork makes you react that violently?" McGonagall asked.

"Well all that and our futures," George retorted. "It got really real and that was really mean of you to make us panic like that!"

"You both realize that my goal is not to panic you, yes?" She growled at their shocked looks. "Believe it or not, I am here to help you two."

"We believe it," they said meekly.

"Most of the time," George added.

"Then be honest and tell me your career thoughts."

They looked at each other. "Not sure you'd approve," Fred mumbled.

"Are you planning on becoming professional conmen? Criminals?" She ignored their offended looks. "Are you planning on doing illegal things?"

"No!" they almost shouted.

"Then there is a slight chance I would approve. Now out with it."

"We want to open a joke shop," George said at last.

"Create things for fun and sell them," Fred continued.

"Make people laugh and smile."

"Make them want to have fun."

"And why would you think that I would disapprove?"

"Because you're Professor McGonagall," they said as if it was obvious.

"You're the first to come after us if something happens," Fred said.

"In my defense, it is because you two are the cause of something happening the vast majority of the time," McGonagall said shortly. "I am going to tell you both something and if you ever tell anyone else I said it, I will deny it vehemently. The reason I punish you is for breaking the rules. It is not because I do not enjoy the magic that you do, in fact, it is clever most of the time."

"Thank you," they said, eyes wide.

"Starting a business and keeping it running is a laudable and difficult thing. And the fact you want to craft and create will make it more so. But the reasoning is that you want to make people laugh and smile, well, that's a very good thing."

George looked at the vial in his hand. "Is this just a Calming Draught?"

"I certainly hope so," McGonagall said. "I think being business owners and inventors are fine career choices."

"Mum doesn't think so," Fred grunted.

"She thinks the Ministry is a safer bet and is better than a joke shop," George grunted.

"Your mother means well and wants to see you succeed and lead comfortable lives," McGonagall said. "That said, you need to prove to her that you can adhere to your decisions."

"She's seen us make plenty of things though," Fred said.

"That is only a portion of it. Do well on O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s. Stick to your studies and show that you have the discipline to stay committed. Try and refrain from getting into too much trouble your remaining years. Show her your dedication."

The twins looked at her frankly. "We can do that," George said solemnly.

"I should hope so," McGonagall sighed. "I will put you in touch with a few business owners that I know to give you an idea of things. Things you may not have thought about."

"Thanks, Professor," Fred said sincerely.

"Do you have any other questions?" she asked.

"Well, aside from the rising bile and panic, thinking about the other career options opened to us was enlightening," Fred said with a devilish smile.

"Might be fun to explore the other options with you, you know, with you here to help us and all," George said with an angelic smile.

McGonagall sighed deeply. "I knew I should have saved you two for last," she groaned.

-0-

"Oh dear, I think Minerva won," Flitwick said later.

"Or lost," Sprout snickered. "Started without us, did you?"

McGonagall waved a hand drunkenly. "I needed this," she said, holding up a glass of scotch.

"How much have you had to drink?" Flitwick asked, looking at the bottle on the table.

"It was unopened earlier," McGonagall said. "Bloody twins. They made me go over every possible career option with them!"

Sprout shook the bottle a little. "I think this is more than two-thirds empty. Was it really that bad, Minnie?"

"Every. Possible. Option. From troll trainers to underground mushroom farmers to bloody ballerinas," McGonagall groaned and Flitwick and Sprout dissolved into laughter.

Snape smiled, chuckling softly. "I do believe you are the clear winner this year, my condolences."

"I got my revenge though," McGonagall said with poorly disguised satisfaction. "I made them consider being a barrister and a judge and the sheer idea of being responsible for upholding the law and maintaining a strict guideline of rules made them have a panic attack."

"Ah, so that is why Pomfrey asked me to make a new batch of Calming Draughts," Snape said while Flitwick and Sprout laughed even harder. "She also suggested I bring Sobriety potions tonight."

-0-

Two years later, after the twins graduated.

"Oh goodness me." Molly rested her hands on her hips and looked at the twins. "A bit dramatic, don't you think?"

Fred adjusted his tie. "We're treating this like a business pitch meeting."

"And we want to treat this seriously," George said, adjusting his tie.

Molly snorted softly. "Well alright then." She dried her hands on a dish towel and sat at the table. Arthur came in a few moments later and sat down at the table beside his wife.

Fred cleared his throat. "So here is our basic business plan. This is a rough outline on what sort of things we want to sell and grouped in categories with recommended prices as well as rough ideas of production costs."

"Here is a list we've compiled of ingredient and product vendors as well as prices we've managed to negotiate on wholesale," George said. "Here is an outline on our budget and what we hope to have done with these time frames."

He and Fred sat quietly, trying not to fidget, while Molly and Arthur read through the papers.

"This is…quite reasonable actually," Arthur said as he read. "Your projections are conservative and somewhat realistic given what I know about running a business."

"Mr. Tonks gave the business plan a look over for us. He works with a lot of business owners so he has a rough idea of what a decent plan looks like. He made good suggestions," George said.

"That was nice of him. Did he charge?" Molly asked.

"We gave him a box of products to use on Sirius and Tonks," Fred said. "He was quite happy with it."

"You two will be overworked for some time," Molly said as she finished reading.

"Well we hope to hire as we get the funds. At least for operating the store proper. Fred and I will be doing main management and product development solely," George said.

"How did you even get the funds to start up?" Arthur asked. "You have to have a good amount set aside for initial operating costs. Just how much did you sell of your ideas while at school?"

"Not as much as you think we did," Fred said and grinned at his parents' snorts. "But we've saved a lot of our money and we did sell some stuff." He pulled on his collar a little. "We also have an investor."

"You borrowed money?! From whom?" Molly asked, concerned.

"Not borrowed, invested money," George said. "As in someone invested in us and we already have their returns accounted for in profit percentages."

"Who invested money in you without you selling things publicly yet?" Arthur asked. "I am worried that you might be taken advantage of."

"We trust them," the twins said indignantly, severely even. "They would never."

Molly stared at them before she huffed. "That boy, he is too sweet for his own good."

Fred and George looked at each other. "We never said it was a boy," they said, their tones guarded.

"Not verbally but you two get very defensive only over a few people." Molly sat back. "How does he even have that much money to invest?"

"If it makes you feel better, he got it from a debacle with the Ministry," George said weakly.

Arthur laughed. "Now I know who you're talking about. And I do feel better now, knowing it was Harry. He's being taken care of so he doesn't have to worry about the money right now."

"It's so much," Molly fretted. "On all of you."

"We've proven we can handle it," Fred argued. "We said we'd do well on O.W.L.s and we did. We said we'd do well on N.E.W.T.s and we did."

"Everything you two have asked us to do, we've done. We proved we can do it," George said hotly.

"You have," Arthur said. "And we are very proud of the both of you."

"We've never thought you couldn't handle it," Molly said. "Have we ever told you that you couldn't do things?"

"Yes," they said pointedly. "You tell us we can't do things all the time."

Arthur laughed and Molly sighed. "Okay, let me rephrase it. Have we, or I, ever told you that we never thought you weren't capable of doing things?"

"No?" they said after some thought.

"The reason I have my reservations isn't because I don't think you can do it," Molly said softly. "It was that there's nothing your father and I can do to help if you need it. Businesses need money to stay afloat and while we have been doing a bit better, it's still not quite enough to provide you any form of safety."

"Bill and Charlie got this kind of talk too," Arthur said to the silent twins. "We know nothing about curse breaking or dragons. But when they ask about any ideas of a spell we try. Or they ask your mother for potions help and I offer help when it comes with interpersonal interactions. I've been grateful that I can help Percy when he needs it even though he's in a completely different department."

"I'm not saying you will fail or will need help from us," Molly continued. "But I always want to be able to help my children and I always worry when I can't help them."

"That makes sense," George said quietly.

"And we really appreciate it," Fred said softly.

"But you'll always be there for when we need you."

"We'll still need you for dinners and advice and stuff like that."

Molly smiled and patted their hands. "At the least. All that said, you have written a thorough plan and we do trust you two."

"We'll do it," George said confidently. "We'll prove it."

"You have nothing to prove," Arthur said. "Neither of you do."

"Thank you," they said. A companionable silence fell over them before Fred clapped and the others jumped at the sudden noise. "Wait! I just remembered! There was something you said we weren't capable of."

"There was?" Molly asked, worried.

"You said we weren't capable of behaving!" Fred pointed a finger accusingly and dramatically at Molly.

"I remember that too!" George shouted.

Arthur laughed once more and Molly sighed before glaring at them. "Okay yes, I do remember that now. But you two had three owls sent about you in three weeks!"

"Only one per week on average!" Fred said gleefully.

"Each! That's six so two per week! Which is less than any of your three older brothers got in three years!"

"Only because they weren't caught," George scoffed.

"To be fair, that was during their first two years at Hogwarts," Arthur chuckled, smiling fondly and exasperatedly at the twins. "They mellowed out a bit as they got older.

"Mellowed out or got better at hiding their deeds?" Molly asked with a wry smile.

"Awww, you really get us," the twins said, batting their eyes.

"I'll get you all right," Molly said, waving a wooden spoon at them. "I'm still your mother and I'm fully capable of doing so."

"You won't have to try as hard with Georgie," Fred said with faux disgust. "He's half under control half the time."

"Piss off Freddie," George hissed with red cheeks.

"Good," Molly said and smiled at George's look. "Angelina is a wonderful girl and I feel better that she's on the watch too."

"I hope that isn't some roundabout way of saying something about me," Fred said, looking at his mother.

"Not at all. When it happens to you, I'm sure it will be just as good," Molly said. "I do trust your judgement in some things after all."

"I thought you'd be more mummish and pressure things a bit," Fred said weakly.

Molly got up from the table and started assembling things to make dinner. "I suppose I could but I got tired after trying to poke and prod William and Charles a bit. Now I will let you lot decide that and be happy when it happens. Just like your father, the lot of you anyways. He had a fair amount of girls on the line before he settled for me."

"Dad?! You did?! And settled?!" the twins gasped, staring at their father.

Arthur flushed. "No! I did not have any girls on the line and I did not settle for your mother! If anything, she settled for me!"

"He sure was heartless," Molly sighed, a hand to her heart. "Kept me pining away for him while going on a date with that one girl."

A loud crash could be heard and everyone turned to see Ron sprawled on the ground with Ginny on top of him. Ron swore softly, wincing in pain as Ginny scrambled up off of him.

"Oi, were you two eavesdropping?" Fred asked, glaring at them,

"Yes and not now Fred," Ginny said. She glared at Arthur. "Daddy! How could you?!"

"It wasn't a date! It was a misunderstanding! I was helping her pick out things for her boyfriend at the time! And your mother knows this!" He shook his head and sighed as Molly stuck her tongue at him playfully. "The whole starting trouble trait isn't a Weasley thing, it's a Prewett thing!"

"I love you too," Molly said brightly.

-0-

"No wonder the premises was cheap," Fred said, looking up at the building.

"Yeah, it's a bit of a fixer-upper," George said sheepishly.

The building they had gotten to establish their store in was in shambles. The interior was a mess, debris and things strewn about. Paint and wallpaper peeled from the walls, adding to the shabby feeling.

"What happened here?" Fred asked.

"Combination neglect, exploding merchandise, and a fight, so the realtor told me," George said.

"Well, we got our work cut out for us," Fred said. He rolled his sleeves up. "Better get to it."

They spent the next few hours working steadily. Broken things and trash were bound neatly and pushed to one side. They tore out the old shelving and fixtures, making a large pile of it. As they wrestled something down the stairs, they stopped and looked to the door, hearing it open.

"What a mess," Bill whistled, looking around. "This looks worse than some tombs I've opened."

"Hey Bill!" the twins said together. They threw the cabinet they were carrying together onto the pile and walked over.

"What're you doing here?" Fred asked.

"I'm helping of course," Bill said, hanging his jacket up. "I'm on holiday for a few weeks and Mum told me where you two are setting up."

"You want to spend the holiday helping us clean and stuff?" George asked.

"Well not the whole holiday but I get to spend time with you two and help out some. You can buy me food in return."

"I think we'd lose money on that deal," Fred snorted.

"Be cheaper to just pay you directly," George snorted.

"Mother sent ample provisions." Percy walked in with a basket. "Though it still might not be enough."

"Hey lay off," Bill said, glaring at his three younger brothers. "I still eat less than Charlie."

"Don't tell me you're spending your lunch break here," George said to Percy.

"Not at all. I have some successive half days coming up. They are restructuring the department and they have us working in shifts. So I'll be here most afternoons."

"Thanks, we really appreciate it," the twins said softly, looking at their older brothers.

"Don't get all teary now," Bill teased and punched Fred. That started a punch fight between Bill and the twins before they stopped when Percy cleared his throat. "Why aren't you guys using magic to clean?"

"We thought it'd be nice to start off with our hands first, to do the initial stuff," George said. "When we start decorating and setting up we'll use magic but sometimes using your hands is a bit more satisfying."

"Mother's influence," Percy smiled.

"Don't tell her," Fred laughed.

"Oh she knows," Bill snorted. "She gave me the smuggest look when I tell her I wash some things by hand sometimes."

-0-

George tried to lean against the counter but misjudged the distance and toppled over it.

"You alright?" Fred asked, exhausted.

"I'm alright, I think," George said, clambering onto the counter. "I'm tired as all hell though. Think we bit off more than we can chew?"

"Maybe a little," Fred yawned. After a week of hard work, the twins had finished gutting the entire building and had painted the walls. They assembled and set up shelving and counters and tables and started putting things up. Every day they thought they did plenty the day before, but then felt overwhelmed by all they still had to do.

"We should've set up the flat upstairs first," George groaned. "I don't think I have the energy to get the beds ready."

"I don't think I have the energy to walk down the street to buy food and eat it," Fred said tiredly. "Hear that? Even my stomach growling sounds sleepy."

"I hear something else." George looked at the door as it thumped again. "Who could that be?"

"We're not open yet!" Fred called out.

"We know," a familiar voice said. "We can read a sign. Now hurry up and open the door."

"Hey, I know that voice." George stumbled to the door and opened it. "Hey guys!"

"House warming party!" Katie smiled. She, Alicia, Angelina, Oliver, and Harry came into the store, carrying bags and things with them.

"We don't have much of a house to warm right now," Fred said with a tired smile.

"Just as well we came then," Alicia said. "We'll help start setting up your flat and make it livable."

"Aww, for us?" the twins asked.

"No, for Angelina," Alicia smiled. "I want her to be comfortable when she stays over."

"Works for me," George laughed.

"Place looks great so far," Oliver said, looking around the shop space. "It's nice and open."

"Thanks! Yeah it's getting there," Fred said proudly. "Still needs some work of course but it's getting there."

"Let me help you finish putting these together," Oliver said. "We can knock out these shelves and pull them up. Then you'll be done down here, right?"

"Was going to leave them till tomorrow but if you're offering," George yawned. In a short time the twins and Oliver finished putting together the last of the shelving and set them up to how Fred and George wanted them. They climbed the steps slowly but stopped at the entry way into the shared flat built over the store.

The sitting room and the kitchen were clean and gleaming. Flowers sat on the coffee table and a small cauldron simmered, releasing a sweet fresh scent into the air. Katie put wrapping and litter into a large bag while Alicia finished cleaning the walls with a spell. Angelina rubbed her hands together, making sure the curtains hung straight over the windows.

"Wow, thanks girls!" the twins said together, eyes wide.

"It looks so good," Fred said with sincere appreciation.

"You're welcome," Alicia smiled. "I did an air freshening charm in your room but didn't do anything else. Not sure what is throwable and what isn't so there's that. Your bed is clear though."

"I tidied up your room," Angelina said to George.

"You're the best," he said and kissed her.

"Don't you forget it," she said, kissing him back.

Fred's stomach growled louder as he took a deep breath. "Oh that smells good too."

"I figured you two would like breakfast for dinner," Harry said, carrying plates over. "So I made a fry-up. Lots of your favorites. Extra beans for Fred and lots of hashbrowns for George. And butter fry bread."

"You guys are seriously the best," Fred said, rubbing his eyes.

"How can we ever repay you?" George asked.

"We're a team," Oliver said, waving a hand.

"I want chocolate," Alicia said.

"Me too," Angelina said.

"I'll take chocolate too," Katie grinned.

"I'm already getting a return on my investment from you two," Harry chuckled. "I'm good with that."

"I'll take Harry's chocolate," Alicia said.

"Hey! I have dibs!" Katie protested.

"Fine, I'll take Oliver's chocolate," Alicia amended.

"Not if it's hot chocolate," Oliver snorted.

"No fair! I don't get someone's extra chocolate," Angelina complained.

"We love you guys," George and Fred laughed.

-0-

"Huh, I'm actually nervous," Fred said nervously.

"Me too," George said, just as nervous. He smoothed out his new jacket. "I mean, it's normal right? Something we've worked on for almost a decade and it's about to happen?"

"What if we suck?" Fred whispered.

"Then we suck until we get better," George said with some confidence.

"Fair enough." Fred took a deep breath and let it out slowly. After a few weeks of hard work, finalizing the deed on the store, renovating it, making all the products they could to get ready to sell, putting out advertisements, it was finally opening day. They had been counting down the days, crossing them out on a calendar, and it was finally here. They had purposely drawn the curtains over the shop windows to prevent themselves from being overwhelmed, from disappointment or anticipation.

He checked his watch. "I think it's time. Ready Gred?"

"Ready Forge." George took a deep breath and flung the door opened and stopped, eyes opening wide. The street was packed with people and the ones up front were the Team, the Weasleys, their friends. Others were behind them and a loud cheer arose when the door opened.

"Sweet Merlin," Fred gasped.

"Welcome!" George shouted, his smile from ear to ear. "Come in! Weasley Wizarding Wheezes is officially open!"

The day passed in a blur for them. One of them was constantly behind the counter running the till while the other ran about answering questions and refilling the shelves. To them, it seemed like the store was never empty. There were always people inside and the sound of laughter was constant, highlighting exclamations of wonder and delight.

It was the sweetest of music to them.

When they finally closed the doors that night, even more exhausted than any night prior, Fred took stock of things while George balanced the day's finances.

"We sold practically a bit more than a third of everything we had made!" Fred said, looking down at his notes. "Holy carp, this is amazing! Way better than we thought and we didn't lose a thing to shoplifting thanks to those charms from the book Harry gave me. I'm going to have to increase production, might need to start doing stuff during the day."

He looked at George and his good cheer dissolved seeing George's expression. "George? What's wrong?"

George handed a sheet of parchment over mutely.

Fred looked at it and dropped his notebook. "Is…is this right?"

George nodded, still silent.

"We made this much money?!" Fred gasped.

George nodded, looking shell-shocked. After some more mutual silent staring, they embraced and laughed and danced in a circle, exhaustion forgotten.

-0-

"Harry!"

Harry laughed as he was exuberantly hugged by George. "Hey George! Wow! This place is still busy and it's been weeks!"

"Yeah! It's died down a smidge so it's way more manageable but we are still really busy and it's great!"

"You already have staff too," Harry observed, seeing a couple of people wearing the magenta and orange robes that were the Wheeze colors.

"We needed it and our first profits allowed it. Plus Ron and Ginny have been working for us and they've been a huge help."

Harry grunted, tackled from behind. "Ooof! Hey Fred!"

"Harry!" Fred hugged him hard. "Always good to see you mate."

"Now I'm getting worried. Did you two do something to me or about to and are feeling guilty?" Harry teased.

"Nah, we still remember the vow that you will never be tested on without prior knowledge," Fred said airily. "This is our usual affection combined with massive appreciation."

"You made all this possible," George said, gesturing to the store and the people within it. "We wouldn't be here without you."

Harry put an arm around their shoulders. "I wouldn't be here without you," he said softly.

The twins gave him identical soft looks. "Yeah well, just looking out for our brother," they said.

"Me too," Harry replied. "So do you need a lot of training to be a stock boy? I'm free for a bit and I can help. Need to watch over my investment after all."

George laughed. "I think we can find some things for you to move about."

"We'll add your pay to your investment returns," Fred chortled.

"You can just get me some chocolate." Harry sighed with mock weariness. "Katie stole all mine."

-0-0-0-

Ghostwriter - It's fun trying to show the girls as their parents' children. Trying to do fun little blends of the personalities from their mothers and fathers while making them their own people too. Glad you enjoyed.

odonnellzoo99 - They better watch out when/if their mischief becomes more nefarious. That little bit where she, correctly, reasoned that Andromeda was able to give her permission really made me laugh.

Arnie1701 - They know better than to do that.

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Hope your day and week improved.

poka - Glad you still enjoy. See if you can look up the story of Stone Soup, it's a fun little folktale with some ways of looking at it as Luna and Hadley show.

Flyer101999 - What a sweet memory! I remember first reading/being read to the story in elementary school and my teacher made the soup in class as well. I was happy to bring back the 'omission is not permission' joke. It felt right to have it here.

That may be a chapter. There was a period of time where I felt people were more interested in telling me what to write instead of reading what I actually wrote and ignored my request that if I wanted an idea, I'd ask a specific person. It got so abused, I said I didn't want to see any more ideas pitched. Thankfully it has gotten a bit better since.

I've said it before, but I am genuinely surprised at how the OCs grew into the story. I didn't think any of them would become such gigantic characters and so integral, not to mention fun to write for, but Lyla and Mirabelle and Aimee and Colette and Samantha and the others really did grow on me. I'm always happy to see people say that they like the OCs because it's always tough to insert an OC into an established setting and make them feel like they belong as well as be integral to the story.

alix33 - Hedwig knows what battles to fight and which ones to let slide by.