The Space Boy and The Red Head

29 - Fred Weasley, Man of the People

Friday - 5th April 1996

George had been restless in all of his classes. Scolded by most of his teachers for his inability to sit still. Even landed himself a detention from his muggle studies professor. He all but ran out of his last class, Fred hot on his heels, meeting Lee on the way. Voices yelling at them to slow down as they clambered through the crowds.

"You better be getting me out of here!" Apollo was already hobbling towards them. George rushed forward, grabbing Apollo around the waist, helping support his weight, trying to direct him back to the bed.

"She'll be back soon!" Apollo cried trying to scuffle forwards again, "I'm going mad in here"

Fred smirked, looking around at the boys in the room. "Ok, operation bust Cosmo out of the infirmary starts now, Scamper - your on look out, Mopsy - carry Cosmo, I'll keep the doors open and paths clear. Let's roll out!" Fred barked the orders whilst moving to hold the large door open. Lee shot out of it first, checking for that the coast was clear. George crouched in-front of Apollo, letting the Scottish boy hop on his back.

"Ready?" He asked, checking Apollo was secure. "Absolutely. Get me out of here!" He cheered. The two boys sporting matching grins as they raced out of the infirmary. Meeting up with the rest of the Mischief Makers.

Upon Apollo's request they made a detour to the kitchens. Apollo had missed breakfast due to being too loopy from his medication, then managed to sleep through lunch. He was starving. The group slipped through the narrow doorway into the kitchen and George walked over to gently lower Apollo into one of the chairs. The group were mostly ignored by the House-elves.

"So our little Cosmonaut. What is it you are craving?" Fred asked.

"Something Warm? Something Cold? Something Savoury?" Lee said, "or how about something sweet? Aye George. Sure you could manage that for Apollo, couldn't you?" He teased. George blushed furiously, like he had that morning.

"Id eat just about anything right now." Apollo was doing his best to avoid eye contact with George. He was embarrassed by his earlier actions, even if they had been drug induced.

Eventually, through combined efforts, the three managed to put together a plate of food for their friend. An array of fruits and pastries. Lee has been the only decent cook so had done the difficult tasks instructing the twins to mainly chop or clean as they went. The group made small talk as Apollo ate. No one really brave enough to ask how he'd hurt himself or why he was heading to the dungeons yesterday.

"So heard anything from your parents yet?" Lee asked.

"No. Nothing yet. Must still be busy with the Order. They've not wrote back to Cormac either" Apollo said. Truth is it had been over a month since either brother had heard from their parents.

"Weird. Mum and dad write all the time. Too much if you ask me" Fred said as he pinched a blackberry from Apollos plate.

"Mate! Shut up!" George elbowed his twin, sending him a death glare. Apollo felt his heart sink. He was really growing worried for his parents now. He needed them to be ok. Not just for him but for Cormac too.

Apollo cleared his plate of food, stood up and carried it over to the sink. His steps a little shaky as the healing process hadn't quite finished yet but George was soon by his side, steadying him ass he went.

"Alright, back to the tower then?" They turned to start walking again but had to go slowly for the injured boy. Eventually George just picked him up once more, ignoring the other man's complaints.

The walk back up to the tower was going much smoother than the initial task of breaking out of the infirmary. They hadn't ran into any staff and none of the students around seemed to bat an eye at the boys. They had almost made it when a quiet noise halted their proceedings.

Fred went first to investigate, peeking round the corner to assess the situation. He waved the boys over and they moved to join him. Round the corner sat slightly further down the corridor was one of the younger members of Dumbledore's army.

"Hey buddy, what's your name?" Fred was crouched now beside the small boy.

"Nigel" he sniffed. He was absentmindedly rubbing the scars on the back of his hands from Umbridges detentions.

"Nigel. That's a good name. I'm Fred. That ugly one over there is my brother, George. And our friends Lee and Apollo. Now Nigel, what can we do to help?" He said using his sleeve to wipe away a tear that rolled down the young boys cheek.

"It's ok. You don't have to help me." The boy sniffled again. George carefully sat Apollo back down then moved to sit the other side of the young boy. Joining his brother's efforts to cheer him up.

"Well as Hogwarts very own pranksters and top jokers. We'd kinda be rubbish at our job if we let anyone be sad when we could help" George lightly took the boys wrist, stopping him from picking at the scabs.

"I'm just nervous that my mum will be mad that I got into trouble at school. I don't want her to see the scar" he confessed.

"Well then, a few detentions with that old frog is nothing. We hold the school record for most detentions given to any pupil ever." Lee said almost proudly. "And there's nothing wrong with having a few scars. Shows you put up a good fight"

"Yeah I mean look, this scar here is from when I accidentally knocked over a trophy case trying to hide from Filch." George said, pointing to a small line above his eyebrow.

"And this is when I set the Potions textbook on fire" Fred showed his healed burn scar on his left hand.

"And I got this" Lee lifted his trouser leg to reveal a jagged scar, "running away from McGonagall's class in first year when I called her mum accidentally"

Nigel was giggling now. His tears slowly stopping and the boys were pleased with their work.

"What about you? How did you get that one?" Nigel pointed at the biggest scar on Apollos face. The one he'd given himself over the Christmas holidays, when he'd transformed into the beast. Everyone saw how the colour quickly drained from his face.

"Oh god I'm sorry. That was so rude I didn't mean to... I don't know why I said that" Nigel quickly apologised as Apollo reached a shaky hand to brush over the rough scar. It was only know he realised that having been in the hospital wing he hadn't covered them properly.

His breath was shaky and his vision swirled. The others seemed to sense something was wrong and Fred stood up, quickly grabbing onto Apollo who was unsteady on his feet.

"Let's get you back to the tower" he said picking up the tall boy. Lee kept glancing between the two twins. Trying to see if they were putting the pieces together. But all he saw was the genuine concern on their faces. And the panic in George's eyes.

They sprinted along the corridors once more almost at the tower when a bright flash filled the darkness. Followed by a deep rumbling.

"Finally! We can complete the spell now!"