Twin Dilemma

These boys are not mine and I promise to return them to their rightful owner when play time is over.

This chapter has been beta\'d by the wonderful Badstarfalling00.Thank you!


Chapter Two: Waiting for Saturday??
Fred sighed. He fiddled with the card in his hand for the umpteenth time, lost in his thoughts he failed to notice his twin creeping up on him carrying a cup of tea.?
“What goes, bro?” George queried. “You’ve been sighing and playing with that card all week.”?
Fred turned around just as George faked a stumble and spilt his tea all over the front of Fred’s dragon leather coat, instantly staining it.?
“Watch it George! You clumsy git!” Fred stared in horror as the dark stain grew and then became a gleaming crimson, then turned florescent blue, and finally became a shiny green that spelled out the words “Sod Off!” before bursting into flames and vanishing. Fred’s face changed from annoyed to stunned and then he let out a huge guffaw of approval. He patted his brother on the back. ?
George snickered. “I’ve been working on this all week in the back when you weren’t around. I thought it would liven up teatime at Mum’s.” ?
They both laughed, imagining the look on Molly’s face when they premiered it at the next Weasley gathering. “Seriously,” George spoke up. “What’s with the pensive mood these days and what’s with that card in your hand?” He made a dash and snagged the card from Fred who promptly chased him around the empty store trying to get it back.?
“Hey, give it back you prat!” Fred snarled. George gleefully dodged his brother and knocked into a stack of Insulting Rememberalls that promptly spilled onto the floor. The store was instantly filled with varying insults in loud and brash tones.?
“You moron, you forgot to clean out the owl’s cage!” ?
“I can’t believe you didn’t get any new quills!” ?
“Why must you always misplace the rent check? ” ?
“Please tell me you’re not going out wearing THAT?”?
Suddenly, the door opened to the sound of ripping clothes and several kids walked in interrupting the twins’ game of tag. George smirked as his brother went to help them and he read the mysterious card.??Chloe Brown?Illusionist Painter Extraordinaire?129 b Knockturn Alley?Floo stop Paint Smear??
When the shop finally quieted down, it was closing time. Fred and George locked up and headed up the street to the Leaky Cauldron for a couple of Fire Whiskeys. It wasn’t until the second drink that George remembered about the mysterious card in his pocket.?
“So dear brother, who is Chloe?” inquired George trying not to smile.?
For a moment Fred looked puzzled then blushed and mumbled, “No one. But give me the card back if you want that ugly mug of yours to remain whole.”?
“Tut, tut, Fred. My ugly face is your ugly face. Tell me who Chloe is and I’ll return your card,” he replied smugly.?
“Just some girl who came into the shop last week. A painter. I took her card because I thought of hiring her to do a picture, for the shop, er, for an advertisement or something,” hedged Fred.?
“That sounds like a great idea. We could use exposure. Especially going into the pre-Christmas season,” agreed George.?
“Right. I’ll set up an appointment and get the particulars,” said Fred trying to ignore the grin creeping up his face. ??
Saturday finally arrived. Fred and George were closing up shop. As Fred restocked the Vanishing Hats, George asked him if he was going to join the gang for?the usual Saturday night get together. The gang consisted of Angelina, Lee, Katie and Alicia, Oliver Wood, Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron. Although they had finished school a few years back, the group had remained close knit due to surviving the war against Voldemort together.?
“Not tonight,” answered Fred. “ I have a date, er, of sorts.”?
“Who’d go out with you?” George asked curiously.?
“No one you know, so bugger off!” Fred retorted.?
“Ok, ok. Keep it to yourself. I won’t pry… much!” George muttered as he headed out to meet the gang.??
Fred quickly apparated home where he drank a butterbeer, ate a quick bite, and showered. Then he went through his closet trying to figure out what to wear to a painter’s party. He didn’t want to look too dull nor did he want to stick out. He wanted something that would blend in with everyone else. ?
“Arrrgh!” Fred threw up his hands in frustration. “ I have no idea what that lot wears.”?
He settled for a worn pair of jeans, ripped at the knee and a Muggle t-shirt of a wrench his dad gave him for his birthday. He threw a Muggle style suit jacket over it and ran his hands through his longish hair. It wasn’t as long as Bill’s, but it did touch his shoulders. He put on his dragon boots then checked the time. It was 9:30. Good. He could leave now without arriving too early. He decided to walk.??
As he approached the beginning of Knockturn Alley, he tucked his wand into his jeans. Knockturn Alley was rather dodgy and notorious for gangs of wand rippers. It didn’t hurt to be cautious. Fred continued down the alley glancing at shop windows, noting some interesting ingredients that he would come back and check out another day. He tried hard not to stare at all the questionable dark wizards, witches, goblins, and 1/2 trolls who in turn were staring at him. No doubt wondering what a Weasley, son of the assistant Minister, was doing in Knockturn Alley. At night. All alone. Fred affected a nonchalant air and continued on his way until he came to a grubby building leaning in on itself with a faintly legible sign proclaiming that 129b was down a narrow side alley. He took a deep breath and willed the fluttering in his stomach to still. He walked down the alley and came to a battered door. He pushed it open and was immediately assaulted by loud music blaring. It sounded like Boney Jones and the Wailers. He grinned and followed the arrows that hovered up a flight of steps, flashing “Party” as they rose.?
At the top of the steps Fred stopped and gave himself a little pep talk. “Fred old boy, you faced some deadly foes in your time so this will be a walk in the park. You can do this. Go charm the dear girl with your Infamous Weasley charm.”?
He stepped into the large open studio and glanced up at the obviously charmed ceiling. It looked like a copy of that Muggle church by the famous Muggle artist but all the figures moved and spoke. Fred thought it was pretty cool. Then he looked around and saw Chloe through the crowded dance floor. She was speaking to a tall man with long blonde hair who bent over and kissed her hand.?
“Malfoy? What is he doing here?” Fred wondered, feeling slightly put out.