Head of House, Ravenclaw, Round 9, Drabble, Prompt: "Couldn't you accept a compliment just this once?", WC: 388

AU. Ron just doesn't appear here, sorry. Imagine that he's off doing Auror training.

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"Morning boys," I call into the near-empty shop, hanging my scarf on the hatstand along with my pea coat.

No reply. Strange, but I suppose fair enough. Sometimes, if they know I'm opening the store, they don't bother to get up until around ten o'clock. Instead of worrying, I begin the long process of opening the store. I start with lamps, the cash register, moving around stock that was out of place last night. Each day is different when working with the enigmatic Weasley twins in Weasley Wizard Wheezes.

I started work here five months ago as a favour to Fred and George. Verity - their sales assistant - had just quit for a tour in Thailand, and I was looking for some extra cash. Things worked out. They never started looking for a serious candidate to work there, and I never asked to leave. The work is entertaining, the company is pretty good, and it is always extremely interesting to see new products being created. When they put their minds to it, the twins really do work insanely hard and come out with incredible ideas.

One downside to the job, however, is that I have a horrible crush on one of the bosses.

Speaking of the devil, Fred stumbles downstairs at around 8:45, just fifteen minutes before the store would be scheduled to open. He's wearing pyjamas still, obviously confused. My heart hurts just looking at him. Hair mussed from a restless night. T-shirt crumpled, muscles visible.

"Looking good, Weasley," I comment, only half joking. He doesn't need to know that, though.

"Piss off, Hermione," he grins. "I look and feel like shite."

"Nah," I parry, walking closer to him as he moves further down the stairs.

Fred raises an eyebrow in derision. "I know what I look like. Don't patronise me."

"Couldn't you accept a compliment just this once?" I ask. "Not everything is a joke."

He looks at me curiously for a second. Then his face breaks out into an enormous grin. As if on cue, the lights in one corner of the store flicker to life. Some sort of Fred Weasley magic going on there.

"Ah, I see. You're madly in love with me."

I throw a hex in his direction and roll my eyes. But I also don't respond.

He doesn't need to know.

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Thanks for reading!