For A Candy Cane A Day on the Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry Forum.

H.M.S. Subtlety
— George and Lee —

Fred stared at this twin, wide-eyed, before high-tailing it out of the dormitory and chasing after Lee. But no matter how loudly he called out to his friend, Lee didn't turn around. By the time Fred caught up to them, the Lee had lead them all the way through the castle and to the empty Quidditch pitch. The two of them collapsed on the grass, sweaty-browed and gasping for air. After a few moments, their heavy breaths slowed and the two were left in silence.

"This feels…" Fred trailed off, peered up at the sun beating down on them. When Lee didn't respond, he finished, "…uncomfortable."

Lee rolled his eyes. "You didn't have to follow me out here."

"Right." Fred paused. "I suppose that's true."

The two sat next to each other quietly. He'd chased Lee all the way here, but now he couldn't find any words to say. Fred fiddled with the frayed edge of his jumper. He watched as he rolled the loose thread through his fingers, tugging mindlessly at it. Then, catching sight of the initials scrawled on the inside of his wrist, he sighed. He pulled his sleeve down to cover his hands.

"Georgie's a bit of an idiot," he said finally. "He's not—ugh—he's never been very happy with the idea of soulmates."

Lee frowned. "Because of me?"

"No," Fred said forcefully. He turned to look his friend in the eye. "Because he's not very good at being told what to do. But he'll come 'round in the end."

"And until then, he's just going to shag his way through all of Hogwarts, is he?"

Fred winced. Strictly speaking, Fred was always on George's side. It was part and parcel of being a Weasley twin. Even so, Fred couldn't bring himself to condone George's recent behaviour. It was one thing to reject your soulmate. It was an ancient magic, after all. Some people called it outdated. Old-fashioned, perhaps. Even so, it seemed like an entirely other thing entirely to fuck someone else in their bed. Fred winced at the too-recent memory.

"I'll have a chat to him."

"Don't." Lee's tone was uncharacteristically sharp. He softened at Fred's look of surprise. "I mean, thank you. But don't. He's not interested. I don't want to force it."

"I can at least tell him to lock the door next time," Fred suggested, trying to keep his tone light-hearted. "I don't know about you, but I don't want to walk in on that speckly arse again."

Fred was secretly pleased when the corners of Lee's lips began to tug upwards.

"Fine. But just that, all right?"

Fred nodded. And as the two sat, once again in silence, Fred's thumb went to back to tracing the letters on his own skin. With every movement, his heart warmed. He supposed he and George finally had something that set them apart. George didn't believe in soulmates. Fred did.