moonlight (f.w.)

sixteen

     After their conversation, Fred and George bundled up and joined the rest of the family outside. Even Bill joined them after cleaning the whole main floor. They had fun skating and falling on the lake. Fred let himself lay back and have fun, but he got tense every time he looked at Harry. Charlie and Genevieve got to talking while skating. She learned that he played guitar. Mr. Weasley brought it home from work one night with the assigned job of categorizing it and describing its appearance, function, and importance to society. Charlie stumbled upon it one day and just started to play. He said he had only learned Muggle music, as the sheet music his father had brought along with it was all by Muggle bands such as Fleetwood Mac and Kansas. Genevieve smiled. "You know Dust in the Wind?" she asked with a grin and Charlie nodded excitedly. "You know how to play?" he asked in response. "I mean, I'd love to learn, but the only instrument I've ever actually succeeded in learning was piano. And voice, if you count it," she told him. He laughed happily. "Love, you just made my day. I live in the most unmusical family. We don't have a piano, but if you want to jam later, I'll play and you sing?" he suggested. She smiled. "I'd love to! And hey, maybe you can teach me a thing or two about guitar? I've always wanted to learn," she replied. He nodded. "Of course! I can give you your first lesson after dinner if you'd like," he offered. "Sounds great to me. Speaking of which, who's making dinner tonight?" she asked to everyone, raising her voice so they can hear the question. "Not it!" George called, skating by in a zoom. "I was planning on it, Genevieve. Maybe you'd want to help me?" Bill asked. "Sure! What do you have in mind?" she replied. Bill smiled at her willingness to participate. He had liked her upon meeting her, but her helpful tendencies and family-oriented qualities made him believe she truly was good for his brother. "I didn't exactly. Fred tells us you're Greek? Maybe you have a dish or two up your sleeve?" he suggested. She thought for a minute. "Um... I've got a couple. Most of them involve a spit," she said. Bill shook his head. "We don't have one," he told her and she nodded. "There's this one pasta dish we can make. With greek salad, homemade bread and coke, it would be an authentic Greek meal," she suggested. "I might have to go do some grocery shopping, if you want to talk ingredients?" Bill asked. "Well, I can go with you. Help you carry bags and such," she offered. 

     "Or I could go with her. Go to a muggle shop and try and find a good Greek dessert," Harry suggested. Fred's head hurt at the mere suggestion of the two of them, the two objects of Voldemort's desire, going out alone. "No!" he called irrationally. Genevieve furrowed her eyebrows. "Fred?" she asked quizzically. "Well... I just mean... neither of you can legally do magic outside of school. What if you run into trouble?" he told her, trying to recover from his outburst. "Nobody is allowed to do magic in front of a No-Maj, hon," she reasoned. He tensed his jaw. "Well, hey, why don't I come along?" Charlie suggested at the sight of his brother so stressed. "I live and breathe dragons, maybe a bit of normal would do me some good," he chuckled. Fred sighed. "I just think maybe Gen and Harry-" "Fred. Let it go. They're going to go shopping and come back with the stuff they need to make dinner. And you're going to let them," George instructed. Fred sighed again and skated away, getting off the ice and taking his skates off. He walked into the house in a hurry and didn't come back out. 

    "What was that about, George?" Bill asked. George shook his head. "Nothing. He's just still on edge about dad, probably," he played off. "That's not it and we both know it, George. Now stop lying and spit it out. You promised you'd tell me if there was anything wrong," Gen said, her eyes wide with worry. "I said I'd tell you if I thought you should know. And I don't think there's anything you need to worr-" "Why can't Harry and I go shopping together? Did Harry kill me in his dream? Is that it? And now he's paranoid? Don't think for a second I haven't noticed his glares at Harry all day," Gen cut him off. "What? What is going on?" Ron asked, defensive of his friend. George sighed. "It's nothing like that. Don't take it personal, Harry. He doesn't have anything against you," he told Harry. Harry shook his head, confused. "George, if you don't tell me, I'm just gonna go inside and get Fred to tell me. Clearly both of you are bothered. If it was really just a dream, you'd tell me," Genevieve pushed. "It's safer if you don't know. For now," he replied quietly. She sighed and skated off the ice. "Where are you going?" George asked in a panic. "To find out what's going on. And then once I know, I'm going to go grocery shopping with Harry, because like I said, you're paranoid," she said. Her voice was strong and irritated, but she didn't raise it at him. Bill and Charlie looked at each other. "Kids these days, so dramatic," Charlie joked, laughing.