Bumblebee (A Fred Weasley Fanfiction)

- CHAPTER FOURTY-TWO -

The Lover

"Emmie!" She could hear Fred calling as he ran down the hallway towards their bedroom. "An owl just came from Hogwarts. I think it's your N.E.W.T results."
He entered the room and handed her the letter, she tore it open and read what it said, "in Defence Against The Dark Arts I got... Exceeds Expectations. History of Magic... Poor. Herbology... Outstanding and... Care of Magical Creatures I got Acceptable,"
"Woah, well done," Fred said kissing her cheek, Emmie smiled and nodded, "yeah, I'm happy with that."
"Oh, did you hear?" He asked, "Bill and Phlegm are engaged,"
She snorted at the nickname, "congratulations to them,"
"I don't know what he sees in her to be honest," he said shrugging,
Emmie frowned, "well, she's pretty, she did fairly well in the Triwizard Tournament -"
"Not really," he scoffed, "mum reckons he's only with her because she used some of her Veela charm on him or something,"
"I don't know," she shrugged, "don't you think you're all being a bit harsh, I mean I'm not a massive fan of her but if Bill likes loves her then you should be happy for him"
Fred just snorted and said, "Phlegm," making Emmie laugh, "whatever."

*

Weeks passed and Emmie was serving customers in the shop. It wasn't as busy now that the new year at Hogwarts had started but business was still good. She had just sold a woman two Pygmy Puffs when the door opened and someone familiar walked in, a girl with dark skin, brown eyes and long braids that cascaded down her back,
"Angelina!" Emmie called waving at her, "Emmie!" She called back before running over to her and hugging her. Despite the awkwardness between them in the past, Emmie had grown to like Angelina and she hoped she felt the same. "This is brilliant," Angelina said looking around, "the shop looks great."
"Yeah, well I can't take all the credit." Emmie replied, "the boys have really made this place look good,"
Angelina nodded, "so what have you been up to?"
"Just this really. What about you?"
"Actually, my dad died recently," Angelina replied,
"Oh, I'm so sorry," said Emmie, "I remember you saying he was quite sick last year,"
"Yeah," Angelina spoke, "I was looking after him for ages but dragon pox is really unforgiving especially for someone older."
Emmie just nodded and looked at her feet.
"Anyway," Angelina said loudly, "I'm actually here to see George,"
"I'll go get him for you."

Emmie walked upstairs to the apartment to see the twins playing Exploding Snap in the living room, "hey George," they both looked up, "Angelina's here to see you,"
"Really?" George asked,
"Yeah,"
They both stood up and followed Emmie back down to the shop.
Angelina hugged them both and told them how much she loved the shop before turning to just George.
"I've been meaning to tell you this for a while," she took a deep breath, "I've always kind of felt this way about you," Emmie had never seen her look this nervous before, even when Harry couldn't make it to a Quidditch practice, "well, I... I think I'm in love with you."
"Really?" George asked almost stunned,
"Yeah," she replied, "I mean I understand if you don't -"
"I do," he interrupted quickly,
"You do?"
"Yeah. I was always so jealous when you were with Fred and yeah... I think I love you too,"
"Is there any where we can talk about -"
"Yeah we can go upstairs."
Emmie stared at the door that they had just gone through, up to the apartment, in awe.
"What just happened?" She asked Fred,
"That was so cute," Fred replied,
"What?"
"It was adorable, did you not see that. She just confessed her love to him,"
"I... Yeah I guess but-"
Fred interrupted, "I think they're gonna be really good together."
"Fred!" Emmie grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him to face her, "don't you think it's a bit - I don't know - it just doesn't sit right with me - I mean, she used to like you right? And now she's going after someone who looks and acts exactly like you. Your literal twin. D'you know what I mean?"
Fred shook his head, "she just has a type I guess,"
"What no!" Emmie exclaimed, "I don't know. It's just weird."
"I don't see it," he shrugged,
"Come on," she stared at him, "that little 'confession' was riddled with clichés and have you even once heard George speak about her, since when has he liked her?"
"He must have just been embarrassed or something," he replied,
"Embarrassed?" She asked, "when has George ever been embarrassed?"
He shrugged, "it's the same with Phlegm,"
"No but-"
"Nah ah," he waggled his finger in front of her face, "you can't argue that."
She sighed, "whatever. Should we go up there?"
"No," he replied, "what if they're..."
"They wouldn't be. They're talking," Emmie said, but as she said that a crashing noise was heard from upstairs followed by some giggling and squeaking,
"Wow I'm traumatized now. Great."

A short man with a large moustache which curled at the ends entered the shop, "Daily Prophet love?" He asked with a thick cockney accent, holding up the newspaper, "yes please," Emmie replied pulling a sickle out of her pocket and handing it to him in exchange.
When he had left the shop, Emmie unfolded the newspaper and scanned the front page.
"Anyone we know dead?" Asked Fred in a determinedly casual voice,
"No, but there have been more Dementor attacks," Emmie replied, "and an arrest,"
"Excellent, who?" He asked,
"Stan Shunpike," she replied,
"What?" He asked, startled,
"Yeah," she looked down at the paper, "Stanley Shunpike, conductor on the popular wizarding conveyance the Knight Bus, has been arrested on suspicion of death eater activity. Mr Shunpike, 21, was taken into custody late last night after a raid on his Clapham home."
"That's a shame," Fred said, "I always thought he was quite nice,"
"Yeah," Emmie replied, "I wonder who's next,"
"To be arrested?"
"Yeah,"
"Dunno. You know what they're saying," he spoke, "it's the beginning of the end,"
"It's not the beginning of the end, it's the end of the beginning," she replied beaming,
"What?"
"You know. It's a Churchill quote,"
"What?" He asked again,
"Oh forget it."
She opened the paper a couple of pages before stopping, "your dad's in here,"
"What?" He asked, "is he okay?"
"Yeah," she replied, "it just says he's been to visit the Malfoy's house. This second search of the death eater's residence does not seem to have yielded any results. Arthur Weasley of the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects said that his team had been acting upon a confidential tip-off."
Before Fred could reply, Angelina and George came back into the shop.
"Well we spoke," Angelina started,
Fred scoffed, "is that what you did?"
"Yes," George replied angrily, "we're gonna give this a shot,"
"Brilliant," Fred replied, "Emmie, isn't that brilliant?"
"Yeah!" Emmie said, pretending to be enthusiastic, "brilliant."
"But we're not official or anything, you know," said Angelina,
"Yeah, so don't tell mum," George added to his brother.

- Princexiero xx