Cast Aside

Twins and Silencing Charms

A/N Sorry this is just now going up. I didn't realize how soon after my morning route (I drive a school bus) I had to leave for the fieldtrip I was taking my kids on with our homeschool group. Then the day got away from me and now I'm dead tired but wanted to put this up before I went to bed!

Chapter 5

It was probably a mistake to have agreed so easily. Hermione hadn't said anything, merely given him a questioning, concerned look and gone along. He knew Dumbledore was definitely still suspicious—how could he not have been—and had likely wanted to stash them somewhere he could keep tabs on them.

Gideon and Fabian had been the obvious choice. After George's outburst and subsequent obvious care for family, who better than the definitely loyal to the Order Prewett twins? In Dumbledore's mind, the powerful duo would have no problem taking in the supposed family and reporting back to him anything they might overhear.

They had too much to hide. Hardly having been in the past a few hours, there had been no time to discuss what they should do. Going back six months and saving one person had been risky enough. Hermione had been afraid of the effects it would have, neither of them truly understanding how the device worked. George realized, perhaps even more than she did having grown up in the decade of peace between the wars, how much damage they could cause now.

It was definitely a mistake.

But the temptation had been too great. He had just lost Fred for the second time and he was too emotional to make a better reasoned decision. His uncles had been killed by Death Eaters when he was three but he and his brother had grown up hearing stories of the men for whom they had been named. Having been so young, neither had any clear memories of them.

Dumbledore had unknowingly offered George something he'd wanted for most of his life: the chance to know his uncles. It had been too much to pass up.

Now they sat in the overstuffed chintz chairs waiting. With Dumbledore's head in his floo, Hermione took the opportunity to attempt a silent conversation. They really did need to talk.

Her eyebrows were practically in her hair as she mouthed something too fast to make out. All he could do was shrug and mouth an apology. Seeing Dumbledore was still busy but keenly aware of the many other eyes and ears in the office, George reached up to tuck a loose curl behind her ear and murmured that he'd explain later. When she blushed slightly at his touch again, he realized he'd have to apologize for their new pretend relationship later as well.

"Just a moment, they're coming through."

Running his tongue along his teeth and brushing down his hair as he focused intently on the floo, he missed the amused look Hermione was giving him. When they stepped through, her hand holding his was all that kept him from leaping to his feet. Her unspoken warning was clear.

Calm down.

Letting out a short breath, he flashed her a small smile of thanks and stood at a much more dignified pace. The two men—as identical as he and Fred had been—moved together into the room with what to anyone else might have seemed a practiced choreography of confident amusement. To George, their obvious ease he thought only magical twins could ever know was almost painful to witness.

With matching skeptical smirks and arched copper coloured brows, they looked him up and down.

"So, this is our long lost, homeschooled cousin?"

"Hmm, well he certainly looks like one of ours. Has a bit of, dear Aunt Muriel about the eyes."

George couldn't hold in the offended scoff. "Oh now that's just unkind."