I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Extended Family
Chapter 128 – Pressure Unwarranted
Takes place around Chapter 37.
Fred lowered his glass and looked quizzical. "I'm sorry, what?"
Great-great aunt Muriel Prewett sniffed, looking up at Fred with undisguised disapproval. "I'm the one that should have hearing problems, not you."
"Right, sorry." Fred cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, what?" he repeated, much more loudly and slowly.
Muriel glowered at him. "You're not funny, you know." She sniffed at Fred's bristling. "I said, when are you going to do something with your life? You're falling behind your siblings, you know."
"And how do you figure that?" Fred asked, incensed. "George and I are running one of the rising star stores in the United Kingdom! We're one of the busiest stores on Diagon Alley proper!"
"Sure, as if being a businessman is anything to be proud of," Muriel said sarcastically. "Bowing down before any Tom, Dick, and Harry and depending on them for your livelihood. Where's your pride?"
"I have plenty, thank you, and I'll thank you for not speaking bad of Harry's," Fred said, holding his glass in a tight grip.
"Whatever. And need I remind you that you and your brother are running the business? You can't claim it all on your own."
"I didn't and won't!"
"And not to mention that George owns a home and has a family too," Muriel continued, ignoring Fred's outburst. "He already has a child and more on the way. What's keeping you from doing your familial duty?" She drained her glass of strong liquor. "At least Ronald and Ginerva have significant others."
"Yeah? And what's Bill and Charlie's and Percy's excuses?" Fred said, voice rising.
"William and Charles have proper professions at least," Muriel said. "Percy, well, at least he will have a stable career. In my day, even the sly had families and children to do their duty."
"And that is quite enough of alcohol," Molly said, bustling over and removing the bottle from Muriel's grip. "I warned you the last time, great aunt, that if you can't be civil, then you can't be drunk."
"I am being civil," Muriel retorted angrily. "I haven't raised my voice at all and mind my language. I'm only saying what everyone is thinking and no one has the balls to bring up to spare sensitivities."
"I thought you were minding your language," Molly sniffed. "Go on, Uncle Ralph and Aunt Belinda are outside." She gently but firmly shooed Muriel away, resting her hands on her hips and shaking her head. "I'm sorry dove," she said to Fred, smiling at him. "You know how she gets."
"Boy do I," Fred muttered. He looked surprised when Molly topped off his glass with firewhiskey and poured herself a measure.
"We need it," Molly said and drained hers in one easy swallow. "And we're going to need more of it. Come on, help me bring it out and we can open the first one together."
"I'll be out in a bit," Fred said, plastering a smile on his lips. "Going to wait for her to forget about me for a sec."
"Let's hope she finds something else out to irritate her then, otherwise she'll gnaw that thought through the bone to the marrow," Molly sighed. She hugged Fred and walked out of the house.
The extended families of the Prewett and Weasley clans had gathered at the Burrow for a party and reunion of sorts, ones that happened every year. Normally they went to one of the other homes that were larger and what some called 'more appropriate'. This time however, they were at the Burrow due to Angelina being very pregnant and not up to traveling to one of the other places. She had tried to encourage them to go without her but Molly would not entertain the idea and everyone came to the Burrow instead.
The Weasley kids usually had no real problems at these gatherings. Sure, they fought with their cousins from time to time, getting along most of the time. Generations of the families were there and like any, some things were lost in translation from generation to generation with different values held by different members.
George and Fred had successfully gotten themselves banned from Muriel's home many years ago by creating a rather large incident involving non-lethal explosives, pixie powder, and a surprising amount of nifflers. Unfortunately, that meant that Muriel regularly chased them down to harangue them when she did encounter them elsewhere.
This time, she caught Fred on his own when he went into the house to get something. He was still standing there seething when George poked his head in. "Hey Freddie, there you are."
"Hey Georgie," Fred said, trying to swallow his ire alongside his alcohol. "What's up?"
"Oh just looking for you. The sprogling wanted her uncle." George smiled when Hailey jumped off his back and scurried up to Fred with her arms open and up.
"She did? Well isn't that nice," Fred said, smiling easily. He scooped her up and sighed softly when she wrapped her legs around his chest and her arms around his shoulders, resting her head against his. "You're feeling a little light. Grandmum didn't stuff you full?"
"I Bludgered around a lot," Hailey said proudly.
"Yeah she did, almost knocked over great uncle Daniel," George grinned. "His fault though. Said she couldn't get past him." His grin faded slightly. "You alright?"
"Me? Yeah, I'm okay," Fred hedged. He coughed when Hailey wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him hard. "Wow, she's got a grip!"
"Totally. Good for a Beater or a Chaser," George said proudly. He sighed. "Muriel?"
"Yeah," Fred said shortly.
"You know she's a crazy old bat, don't repeat that Hailey, and she spews nonsense. Don't repeat that either, Hailey."
Fred smiled slightly. "Yeah, I know." He and George left the home to rejoin the party outdoors, still carrying Hailey, and while he felt a little better and avoided Muriel for the rest of the time, his smile was still a little too fixed and his mood still a bit tenuous.
-0-
"Hey Lee," George said, smiling at his friend.
"Hey George," Lee replied, smiling back. They bumped fists. "How's Angie doing?"
"She's great! Well, I think she's great. She says she feels like there's two Bludgers in her stomach and says I'm a monster, but she still chases after me when saying it so she's still fine in my book," George said and Lee laughed appreciatively.
"Not even pregnancy can keep her down," Lee grinned. "How's Hailey?"
"Adorable as ever." George fished out a picture from his pocket. Photo Hailey was floating on a small practice broom and her smile was from ear to ear.
"Poor thing, doomed to be a Quidditch fanatic," Lee sighed gustily.
"We're better than Ollie," George protested.
"That's not saying much. Low bar there."
"Fair enough."
Lee's smile diminished slightly. "Say, everything okay with Fred?"
"I think so, why?" George asked, concerned.
"He called it early the other night. Said he had a lot of work to do still," Lee said.
"Really? I thought we were pretty caught up," George frowned.
"He's been doing it a lot actually," Lee said softly. "So I wanted to make sure everything was good here."
"I mean, I thought things were," George said worriedly. "Thanks for bringing it up. I'll talk to him about it."
"Cool. Don't say it's me asking though."
"I totally will. Say you've been really worried about his fragility."
Lee snorted. "Don't throw me under the Knight Bus."
"Knowing the Knight Bus, it'd probably miss you," George laughed.
-0-
"Oi Fred! You decent?" George called as he opened the door to the flat above the Wheeze.
"Never," Fred said absent-mindedly. He looked up from the work that covered the desk. "What's up?"
"Nothing really and-hey is that our budget sheets?" George asked, noticing the paperwork.
"Yeah, just going over things. Not that I don't trust you but I've been meaning to get a better handle on things too," Fred said, going back to it.
"Right," George said slowly. "Not a bad thing. Are those the inventory pages and the order forms?"
"Yup."
"And I noticed that you organized the workspaces and you already have the next few batches already done for product creation," George said, peering at Fred closely.
"Been on a working kick lately," Fred said, continuing to read.
"You look tired," George said flatly. "You been losing sleep over it?"
"Not really. We run a good business," Fred frowned.
"Not what I meant. I mean, you been staying up late doing more?" George asked.
"Not that much later," Fred said.
"This isn't about what the old bat said, is it?" George asked.
"Not everything is about her," Fred said shortly. He got up and flicked his wand, organizing all the paperwork into neat piles.
"Where're you going?" George called when Fred walked away.
"To powder my nose so I don't look tired," Fred called back. "Don't want the customers to think otherwise."
"Dammit," George swore softly to himself and the paperwork in the empty room.
-0-
"I'm worried," George said that night.
Angelina shifted on the couch, trying to find a more comfortable position. "That bad?" she asked, looking worried as well.
"I think so. I think he got rattled with whatever crazy old bat said," George grumbled.
"Oh her," Angelina snorted. "She really is crazy. Don't repeat that, Bun."
"Daddy already told me," Hailey said, looking up from where she was lying on the carpet and playing with her stuffed animals and blocks.
"That's good," Angelina smiled. She turned back to George. "What's he been doing?"
"Working, and hard," George said. He took Angelina's feet into his lap and began to rub them. "Not even going out and being crazy or making anything more fun or weird. Just working. And I already feel bad because he's been sending me home early all the time to help out here and stuff."
Angelina groaned with pleasure from the foot rub. "Now that you mention it, you really have been coming home early for a while now. I really appreciate it though. We haven't been taking advantage of Fred, have we?"
"I didn't think so. He always insisted and stuff and I'm always happy to let him take some time off during the day. Maybe we can work something else out," George mused.
"I think you can stay at work a little later for now," Angelina said. "Since we moved here, Alicia and Katie are literally within sight. Oliver helps too and Rabbit runs over all the time. Daphne and Tracy moved in too and Hermione and Luna will be here within a couple weeks."
"It is pretty awesome isn't it," George smiled.
Angelina's smile matched his. "It sure has. The bunnies hang out all day and keep each other entertained and they help out. It's good to have the girls close by."
"I'm still a bit worried," George sighed. "I'll have to see what I can do."
"Let me know what I can do to help."
"You're pregnant."
"And? I can kick your arse still while carrying two more," Angelina said, nudging him in the stomach with her foot.
"Yeah you can," George said admiringly. They sat in comfortable silence, watching Hailey playing. "So what did the bat say to you to make you so bristly?"
"Oh her." Angelina rolled her eyes. "First time I met her, she referred to me as 'the help'."
"She did not," George said indignantly, his voice rising.
"She did," Angelina sighed. "She also made a comment about how the color of my dress didn't match my 'skin' and I told her that I can help her find a seat permanently, one that would match her skin and we never quite got along after that."
"I might break my oath and go visit her home again," George growled.
"I can handle her," Angelina sniffed. "I was more worried that your mum wouldn't be as nice to me after."
"Nah, Mum loves Muriel, somehow, but it's a tolerating kind of love. She genuinely loves you though."
Angelina smiled. "I know. She's great."
-0-
"Oh hey Dad," Fred said, surprised to see Arthur walk into the Wheeze. "Everything okay?"
"Everything's fine," Arthur said with a broad smile. "I took a half-day from work. Thought to come over and see my boys and then hope you had time for lunch with me."
"I got things," George said, appearing at Fred's side. "You've been working more lately. Go have lunch with dad."
"You sure?" Fred asked.
"Positive! I can handle it. Go on, shoo, your ugly mug is scaring the customers away."
"We have the same mug! We're twins!"
"Nah, I'm more muggishly handsome. You're just a muggish mug. Git."
Arthur chuckled and put an arm around Fred's shoulder steering him out of the Wheeze while the twins glared at each other. "Some things never change, do they?"
"I guess," Fred grumbled, throwing a hand gesture over his shoulder and growling when a Pinging Pelting Pellet bounced off the back of his head with a musical ping. He followed Arthur down the Alley and was not surprised to find themselves at the Leaky Cauldron. A smiling waitress took them to a back booth and Hannah showed up as they sat.
"Hi there!" she greeted cheerily, hugging Arthur warmly. "Ron's out running errands."
"That's fine," Arthur smiled. "I'm here with Fred today."
"Family's always welcome," Hannah said. "I'm about to pop a fish pie into the oven."
"Ooh, that's for me please," Arthur said eagerly.
"Make it for me too," Fred said, his stomach growling.
"Be back when it's done," Hannah said. She flicked her wand and bottles of butterbeer and glasses of water came soaring over and after another hug for Arhtur and a pat for Fred, walked off briskly.
"You're looking a little overworked," Arthur said without preamble. "And I should know how that looks."
"Not you too," Fred groaned.
"Of course me too. Your mother would be here as well right now if she wasn't busy with something she couldn't delay," Arthur said comfortably.
"I'm fine, really," Fred protested.
"I know you are, and you've been doing well," Arthur said without a trace of condescension or patronization. "Very well. I'm proud of you, you know." He smiled when Fred preened a little. "It isn't easy running a very busy and successful business. Especially on Diagon Alley."
He leaned back and sipped his butterbeer. "One of the blokes from the Finance department came over to ask me something and I very proudly said that your business acumen is wholly your own. Didn't come from me at all."
Fred's smile faded a little. "Not just my own," he said softly.
Arthur snorted richly. "Don't listen to Muriel. Yes, you and George started and run the Wheeze but you both bring different parts to the table. I can easily say that the Wheeze is successful because of both of you. You're twins, but not the same."
"Thanks Dad," Fred murmured.
"You two haven't been fighting, have you?" Arthur asked.
"No," Fred said indignantly. "I mean, not really," he added sheepishly. "He's got a lot on his plate, with Hailey and Angelina being pregnant and about to pop with two more kids."
"Doesn't mean you don't have a lot going on either," Arthur said.
"But I don't, I don't have a family," Fred protested.
"And? Nothing wrong with that," Arthur said.
"Isn't there? Half of the extendeds think it's a waste that I don't have sprogs of my own or a wife," Fred said, his pent-up emotions leaking out. "Ron's married and Ginny has a serious boyfriend. They've got a lot going on professionally too."
"All my children are doing wonderfully professionally," Arthur said. "All of them. No one is doing any better or worse than the others because it cannot be compared, despite all the ones doing the comparing."
"You don't mean that," Fred said, nettled.
"Of course I do. And your mother thinks that too. She just likes to meddle and be nosy because that's how she is. She means well however."
"Well yeah, but, I don't know," Fred sighed.
"You have to realize that for my generation and before, we lost a lot of family here and there," Arhtur said kindly. "With the World War and then our War. The population of Wizards and Witches back then were smaller. We didn't have the peace we have now. It's a different mindset. It's not a better one. Yours isn't inherently better either. It's just different. And there's nothing wrong with that."
He sipped more butterbeer. "People married younger then and had children faster then. That was the old normal. And that's only part of our society. Society does things on a different scale and timeframe."
Arthur looked at Fred directly. "Are you happy?"
"I think so," Fred said quietly. "I like living in my flat on the Alley. I like going out with friends and having fun without-" he blushed a little.
Arthur smiled. "I get what you're saying. Do spare me the details however."
Fred chuckled, slightly embarrassed. "But I also get to hang out with George and Angelina and take care of and play with Hailey and the other teamlings. I like being cool uncle Freddie. I want a family of my own one day, just, not yet."
"Do things at your pace. Ignore what others say," Arthur said kindly, tapping his bottle against Fred's. "And remember that your mother means well." He smiled at Fred's laugh. "Muriel didn't like me either when we first met. Called me 'Weasel' until Bill was born."
"She's such a crazy old bat," Fred muttered.
Arthur laughed. "Yes, but she is the family crazy old bat and sometimes, you just have to tolerate them from time to time." He smiled when Hannah walked to them carrying a tray of food. "All of this is for us?"
"Sure is," she smiled. "And none for afters. I already have extras for you to take when you finish. Big slices of fish pie for you two, a plate of meat and pickles and bread to share."
"Thanks Hannah," Fred said, feeling light and hungry. "Looks great."
"Should taste great too," Hannah said brightly. "Take your time and there's seconds too."
Fred smiled as she left, already eating. "She's too good for Ron."
Arthur chuckled, eating as well. "All women who tolerate a Weasley are too good for said Weasley. It's a family thing."
-0-
"I can stay later," George protested.
"Nah, I got it," Fred said comfortably. "And I'll get some Cauldron food to bring over for dinner."
"Aren't you going out tonight?" George asked.
"Eh, feel like hanging out with family tonight. Think we can get Harry and Katie and Ollie and Alicia over too?"
"Won't be hard at all. Open a window and shout really," George laughed. "Best part of the Barony honestly."
"Excellent, I'll get lots of grub then," Fred smiled.
"Oh, forgot to mention. Technically Hailey's in trouble," George said. His face was stern but his eyes sparkled with merry mischief.
"What? Why?" Fred asked.
"So it turns out she's at the age where she's paying attention to what we adults say. She's heard how the crazy old bat has said some unkind things about all of us."
"Oh no," Fred said, looking equal parts horrified and eager. "What did she do?"
"First she daubed herself in mud and launched herself at the bat and mucked up her favorite dress," George said and Fred howled with laughter. "Then, when Muriel was screeching about being dirty, Hailey fetched her a Quidditch gear kit to clean up because she's an old bat and needed polish to get the wrinkles out, like you and I do for our Beater Bats."
"I love her so much," Fred said, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.
"So she and Angie are banned from the crazy old bat house and I'm double banned," George said, coughing from laughing so much.
"What was Hailey's punishment?" Fred asked.
"Mum made her a cake that she has to eat and Angie said she could pick out a new stuffed bunny," George said proudly.
"I better go to Fortescue's and get her some of her favorite ice cream," Fred said proudly.
-0-0-0-
Paradox25 - That was a typo on my part, good catch.
Ghostwriter - I never imagined I would ever enjoy writing for her as much as I do and I truly love writing for her.
odonnellzoo99 - That's a great slogan. Her dragging Hermione back into her room made me laugh out loud but I think my favorite in this chapter was her feeding Dally bacon and then doing her I told you so dance at Harry with dialogue.
TheSphynx - They are so much fun.
poka - It's fun to revisit them and do a small twist to make them that much more better. A little extra dialogue makes them that much funnier and sometimes I get to add to the scene a little like Hedwig lambasting Hermione or when Katie and Harry learned that Hedwig was feeding Dally.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - That will take a while to reorganize them lol. Maybe one day.
Rianne Black - She really is.
alix33 - Thinking of the titles and the insults and the expressions was a lot of fun. That and the 'perfectly sane' remark was my favorite.