[1] Lemons into Lemonade ✓ | FRED WEASLEY

Chapter Fifty Two

The last few weeks had been incredibly turbulent for Fred, making him feel a wide range of feelings he didn't even know existed. For the last few days though, he'd been riding on a wave of mild euphoria, simply from a hand brushing with Aubrey. Whilst some would have scorned that it was tame, judging from the girl's track record with love, he could tell that for her to make the first 'move' was a big deal - and he couldn't have been more thrilled. Even the realisation that Mad-Eye, a man known for his wild superstitions and incredible skill, could be against them hadn't phased as much as the others but this? This was enough to override the happiness.

Although he may not look it, Fred Weasley was freaking out.

"So we come in here and there are all these disgusting cages that need cleaning - " George began explaining.

"You could tell he was pissed, did not want to be here at all. Looked a bit like Ron and Ginny when Mum makes them de-gnome the garden," Fred chimed in.

" Nice one, Fred. So we start cleaning them whilst Fred attempts to distract him - "

"I asked him what the homework was," Fred continued, "The only problem was I had no idea what we'd been doing in the past lessons - "

Aubrey abruptly cut in here, her head cocked to one side out of doubt, "Really?" She did a sweeping gesture to the unconscious man lying at her feet, "The only problem?"

 "At the time ... yes," Fred grinned sheepishly, in a vague attempt to lighten the mood. It didn't work, "So when he asked me a question, I just sort of stood there - "

"It was quite awkward," George admitted, "But it did distract him which was the plan. Anyway, from above I tried to subtle summon the flask but he noticed - "

"Mainly 'cos you weren't very subtle," Fred sniggered.

"More subtle than you," George retorted before imitating his brother in a crude, high pitched version of Aubrey's voice, "Oh ... yes, we were looking at Sirens, weren't we? I must have had a brain lapse, tee hee."

"Tee hee? Fred, I would never say tee hee!" Aubrey replied, suddenly utterly outraged before she clearly realised that the mild offence wasn't really the biggest problem at the moment, "Sorry, not important right now."

"Anyway, Mad-Eye noticed and I kind of got struck with panic with the emotional force of Hagrid on a racing broom. I meant to just sort of hide but as I did that well ... I stumbled into one of the cages on the precarious pile and ..." He didn't need to say anymore, simply nudging his head in the direction of Mad-Eye and the clutter. 

Aubrey hesitantly inched forward towards the body, "This is bad ... really bad - "

"Not necessarily," Fred replied with a hesitant laugh, "Just cover him with a blanket, problem solved ... or Harry's invisibility cloak!"

George began to slowly plod down the stairs, "I mean, that could work ... Harry owes us for the map."

As the twins discussed this, Aubrey's head snapped between the two, aghast, "Are you two serious?"

"No, that's Harry's Godfather," Fred grinned.

"And notorious mass murderer," George added with a wink; sadly the nuances of the joke were somewhat lost on Aubrey.

"No! We can't just hide Mad-Eye under a blanket and - "

"OH MY GOD!"

All three of them swivelled on the spot to see Lexy stood in the door, the crimson tint ebbing out of her cheeks so quickly you could literally see it. In their heated discussion, none of them had noticed her enter but now that she was here, bigger problems had been raised: the door was wide open and Lexy's voice was very shrill.