the gentle moon / george weasley

just don't be the hero this time

It was daybreak and against August's wishes, mostly because she was starving and exhausted because the twins wanted to be up so early that morning, George had her hand in his grasp as both he and Fred went to the owlery to send another letter to Bagman about their winnings from the Quidditch championship.

"Why should I let you use Canis for this? It's blackmail, that is, you two could get into a lot of trouble for this —" August warned them

"— we've tried being polite; it's time to play dirty, like him. He wouldn't like the Ministry of Magic knowing what he did —"

"I'm telling you both if you put that in writing, it's blackmail!" August scolded the boys

"Yeah, and you won't be complaining if we get a nice fat payoff, will you? Did you think we would keep it all to ourselves!" Fred snapped "Why do you think we've been asking to use Canis so much?"

George pushed the door opened, and the three of them froze at the sight of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"What're you doing here?" Ron and Fred said at the same time.

"Sending a letter," said Harry and George in unison.

"What, at this time?" said Hermione and August.

George grinned.

"Fine — we won't ask you what you're doing if you don't ask us," he said, pulling August and Fred over to the owls. August grabbed the letter out of Fred's hand and gave it to her owl, Canis. Harry glanced at it, but Fred, shifted his hand over hers so that the name on it was covered.

"Well, don't let us hold you up," Fred said, making a mock bow and pointing at the door.

Ron didn't move. "Who're you blackmailing?" he said.

The grin vanished from Fred's face. Harry saw George half glance at Fred, before smiling at Ron.

"Don't be stupid, we were only joking," he said easily.

"Didn't sound like that," said Ron, "Moon seemed mad at the idea." He lifted his brow at her.

Fred and George looked at each other. August just stood there, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. Then Fred said abruptly, "I've told you before, Ron, keep your nose out if you like it the shape it is. Can't see why you would, but —"

"It's my business if you're blackmailing someone," said Ron. "August's right, you could end up in serious trouble for that."

"Told you, we were joking," said George. He walked over to Fred and August as they watched her tie the letter to Canis' leg.

"You're starting to sound a bit like our dear older brother, you are, Ron. Carry on like this and you'll be made a prefect."

"No, I won't!" said Ron hotly.

August walked over to the window with Canis and let him go. August turned around to the Trio and winked at Harry and grabbed the twin's hands, pulling them out of the door.

"Well, stop telling people what to do then. See you later." George waved at them and wrapped his arm around August.

The boys went back to their dorm to sleep some more, but August was fully awake and would rather eat than sleep. Harry eventually joined her later in the Great Hall

"Did you write to him?" August asked Harry

"Yeah. I really hope he doesn't show Jade..." Harry sighed, "Crouch said he's getting stronger."

There was a pause.

"But he was out of his mind, like you said, so half of it was probably just raving. . . ."