Twin Dilemma

C26: The Flaming Deception part three

The usual Disclaimer here

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George Weasley arrived in front of his Weasley Wizarding Wheezes shop only to find the front door locked. Where was Lee? He had been left in charge when George had gone out for lunch. Had Fred dismissed Lee and all their customers just so he could dally with Chloe behind George's back? George's face contorted in anger as he imagined what his brother had got up to!
He quietly opened the door with an unlocking charm and a Muggle key - security designed to baffle most Wizards. What he saw stopped him in his tracks. The store was ransacked! Displays were toppled, merchandise trampled, packages strewn about, posters slashed...then he saw it. The Dark Mark burned into the door leading into the back room!
His heart leapt into his throat. He knew there were still Dark Wizards who had eluded capture and no doubt some of these held grudges against he and his brother for their activities in the war against Voldemort and the Death Eaters.
"Where was his brother? Please let him be ok," he thought as he sprinted towards the back room. Then he smelled something. Smoke! It was coming from under the closed door.
He held his wand out and he cautiously went to the door and felt the wood to determine the temperature. It was hot. He hurried back to the counter and rummaged underneath in a cupboard. He pulled out what looked like a spray can of paint and sprayed himself. For a moment he turned bright orange then the color winked out. It was essence of fire salamander. He and Fred discovered in their youth that it made you impervious to fire. Armed with his fire protection and his wand, George raced into the smoke filled back room.
Flames licked the shelves along the walls. The smoke was so thick he could hardly see a thing. He crept low, wand at the ready, and warily made his way through the room.
"Fred! Fred! Are you there? I'm coming Fred! Hold on and I'll find you." George coughed out. The air was heavy and George gasped for breath. He tried calling out one more time but all he could do was choke. The room got darker and George staggered then sank to the floor, his senses blacking out.

Fred Weasley apparated in front of his shop. His face was grim. He steeled himself for the intense confrontation he was about to have with his brother and Chloe. As he reached for the door handle he noticed that the door was slightly ajar. He paused, reached into his pocket and pulled out a fleshy, stringy device and set it on the ground, whispering go. The extendable ear unrolled itself into the shop. Fred listened intently but heard absolute silence. He yanked back the ear and pushed open the door stealthily.
His eyes widened in disbelief. The shop had been ransacked! Where was Lee? Or any of the other employees? More importantly where was George!
He walked cautiously into the shop, wand out and crouched in a defensive stance.
"George!" He whispered. "Are you there? Lee?"
Only silence answered his query. He deftly examined the store front but found no bodies in the debris. When he reached the door leading into the storeroom, he froze. He smelled smoke. He noticed it filtering through the cracks in the door.
The storeroom was on fire! George could be in there!
Fred ran to the sales counter and opened the cupboard doors underneath. He rummaged around muttering to himself, "Where was it?" He glanced up and spied what he sought sitting out on the counter. It was a can. He picked it up and sprayed the fire salamander protective spray on himself. Quickly he headed back towards the storeroom door. He felt the door for heat intensity and slowly opened it. Thick smoke obscured his view. Further back he could see the flames licking the stacked boxes along the back wall.
"George! Lee!" Fred called out. Still no answer.
He braced himself for what he might find as he walked into the smoke towards the direction of the flames. He stumbled over some boxes and overturned packages. He crouched low to avoid much of the smoke as he made his way further back. A rustling from behind him caused Fred to whirl about and take a few steps backward. His foot tripped over something and he fell down in a heap. He disentangled himself from the lumpy mass. A lumpy mass that groaned when he fell on it. A lumpy mass sporting bright red hair that laid in a dark, red, sticky substance. A lumpy mass that was George and laid in his own blood!
Bang! There was an explosion and more flames leapt forward towards George's feet. Fred heaved his brother's body up and onto his shoulder where he held it tightly and carried into the shop's main room. Fred carefully laid George down on the floor, conjuring up some cushions. George's face was pale and his lips looked bluish. Fred's heart felt like it was going to burst.
"Please be o.k. Georgie! Please!" Fred cried out. He groped for his brother's hand and felt for his pulse. There it was! Feeble but he could feel it.
Fred pointed his wand at George and cried, "Rennevate!"


TBC