Magical Mugwort

*Same song: only the OC belongs to me.*


There was a knock on my door. I got up from the couch, glancing at the clock. Straight up six o'clock.

Opening the door, I found myself looking up at a tall young man with chocolate-colored skin, and dark dreadlocks swinging around his face. He wore an impish grin that reminded me so much of a couple of redheads I knew, and his casual jeans and shirt under a dark peacoat looked very disarming.

“'Evening, luv,” he grinned. “You wouldn't happen to be Miss Maggie, would you?”

I smiled. “Only if you happen to be the infamous Lee Jordan.”

“The one and only.” He extended a hand, and I took it, shaking it enthusiastically.

“Wonderful to meet you, Lee. Come on in.”

“Thanks.”

Lee stepped through the door, and I shut it behind him. “Come, make yourself at home. Can I get you something to drink?”

“Anything that's cold is fine.”

I grabbed a couple of drinks from the fridge, and handed one to Lee. He made a show of looking me over from head to toe.

“So you're the one who's got Fred and George all in a twist,” he said at last, smile still on his face. “Can't say as I blame them, ducks.”

I gave him a winning smile. “Lee, your flattery will get you everywhere. Have they been telling you about me?”

“Not exactly. Haven't actually spoken with them in awhile, although they did hint that there was something new in their lives worth some excitement. I'm assuming that something is you.”

“Hmm. I like it. This works out very well, if you haven't spoken to them for awhile.” I curled up on the couch, tucking my legs beneath me.

Lee took a seat on the opposite side, shedding his coat in the process. “Ginny was very cryptic, said that you'd explain the whole thing when I came to see you.” Lee narrowed his eyes, that smile still on his lips as we both sat down. “And your letter said that there is some sort of revenge afoot. I must say, you better have a pretty convincing argument to get me to pull revenge on my best mates.”

I gave him a look. “It's not revenge, really. The whole thing is all about pulling a prank on Fred and George. Apparently, it's never been done before. Ginny and I decided that we want to take them on.”

“You've got some nerve, I'll say that. I've known Fred and George since year one at Hogwarts. I've never seen anything like them before.” Leaning forward, Lee studied me. “So why are you so determined to pull one over on them?”

Smiling serenely, I replied, “They pulled a bait and switch on me, had me kissing one instead of the other.”

Laughing loudly, Lee clapped his hands. “That's not the first time they've done something like that. I remember a time when there was hardly a girl in school who was able to snog one of them without checking which one was which.”

“Really?”

“Oh, yeah. They love to have a laugh in nearly everything. They can find the fun in anything, including relationships. That was what made so many of the young ladies throw themselves at them.”

My attention was captured. I knew that Lee could be a veritable fountain of information, and he would have to be, if he agreed to our plan.

“So they're rather accustomed to the ladies coming to them.”

Lee paused, giving me a slightly wide berth. “I don't know if I should say any more, with the way you're looking at me.”

“No, no. Feel free to talk all you want. It's essential to what we have planned. As a matter of fact, you and I will have to get to know each other quite a bit better before it's all said and done.”

“Oh, really.” Lee grinned widely. “Now that doesn't sound too bad at all. I'm assuming you're interested in more than just this beautiful face?”

I smiled. “I'll need to know everything about you, Lee, and everything that you and Fred and George have gotten yourselves into. We'll be very... very... intimate.”

“Now I'm intrigued.” Lee leaned forward. “So what's your plan?”

With a wicked grin, I explained everything Ginny had come up with. When I finished, Lee looked flabbergasted.

At last he roared with laughter. “Bloody hell! Who would have thought little Ginny had such a devious mind? What Fred and George would say if they knew their sister was aiming to beat them as pranksters!”

“I know, it's a little mind-boggling. So... what do you say? Will you help us? Because if you don't, I'm going to have to find some way to make you keep your mouth shut.”

Lee raised an eyebrow, giving me a considering look. “I'm a little curious on how you'd plan on doing that.”

I met his look coolly. Twisting a loose piece of hair around my fingers, I replied, “Lee, I have all manner of weapons in my armory. But I find the very simplest ones work the best.”

The male mind is a very easy thing to read sometimes. Lee looked intrigued more than flirtatious. I leaned forward so that my shirt strained open, the tops of my breasts just visible. I gave Lee a long, searching look with innocent eyes, a bit of sauciness thrown in there. I'd worked long and hard at the innocent seductress route.

“Please, Lee?” I asked quietly. “This whole plan won't work unless you help. And I would be so grateful if you would. I'd love the chance to get to know you a little better, and you can have a very braggable credit to your name as well.”

I leaned in a little closer, not too close, and met his eyes without blinking. “Please?” I breathed.

For a moment, Lee just held my gaze, and looked like he was holding his breath. At last, he exhaled, and laughed loudly. “Sweet Merlin! Do you practice that in the mirror?”

Smiling naughtily, I shrugged gracefully. “Don't really have to.”

“I can believe that. You must have blokes hanging onto your every syllable, am I right?”

“Not all of them.”

Tossing his dreadlocks back, Lee just looked at me with a much more appreciative look. “I feel sorry for Fred and George now.”

“Why's that?”

He pinned me with a semi-serious look. “I have no doubt you've unleashed your full talents on them, and as brilliant as they are, they are bloody gobsmacked, aren't they.”

“Hey. It's not as if I control them.”

He jabbed a finger in my direction. “But you could if you wanted, couldn't you.”

“Lee. I don't use my talents for evil. I am strictly in the business of having a good time, nothing more. I don't lead on hapless lads to ruin and misfortune. My trap usually entails the silken sheet kind, if you know what I mean.”

“Ah, there's the rub.” Lee nodded sagely. “So if I'm to understand, you've seduced my two best mates, they pulled a switch on you, and now you want to prank them back. That about right?”

I considered it. “Mostly. Except they were the ones who came to me. But everything else, yes.” I paused, searching his face. “So what do you say, Lee? Will you help?”

Chuckling, Lee shook his head. “I'd be barmy not to. Trust me, ducks, I think this will be my pleasure.”

Satisfied, I raised my glass. Lee did the same. “To the pursuit of entertainment.”