We will meet again ~ Fred Weasley

- Everything Matters -

"I fell for two people who were nothing alike—one felt like calm after a storm, the other like the storm itself—and somehow my heart refused to let go of either."

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"It's finally ready, so who are you testing it on?" Kat asked, glancing between them with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

Fred and George exchanged a look. One of those identical, silent conversations that immediately set off alarm bells in her head. Then they slowly turned back to her with matching smirks.

Kat's stomach dropped.

"...No," she said flatly, already backing away. "Absolutely not. You are not getting that anywhere near me." She crossed her arms tightly, glaring between them as if that alone might keep them at a safe distance. "Find a first year. Or Percy. Preferably Percy."

"Tempting," Fred admitted, picking up a small glass vial from the table, the liquid inside shimmering an unnatural shade of gold and violet, "but we need someone... resilient."

"Someone brave," George added, stepping casually to the side—far too casually.

"Someone we trust," Fred finished.

Kat's eyes narrowed. "You trust me far too much for my liking."

"Sorry, love," Fred said lightly, already moving, "grab her, Georgie!"

Kat let out a sharp scream and bolted, darting around the table just as George lunged for her. Chairs scraped loudly against the floor as she shoved one aside, nearly tripping over the rug in her rush to get away.

"You are not using me as your guinea pig!" she shouted, barely managing to dodge George's first attempt to grab her.

Unfortunately, his second was far more successful.

His longer stride closed the distance in seconds, and before she could twist away again, he caught her cleanly, lifting her straight off her feet as she kicked wildly in protest.

"Put me down!" Kat snapped, struggling against his grip as she tried to twist her head away from Fred, who was already approaching with the vial. "I swear I will murder you both—slowly and painfully!"

"Relax," George laughed, holding her firmly despite her attempts to elbow him in the ribs. "It's only mildly dangerous."

"I know, I made it!"

Fred uncorked the vial with exaggerated care, clearly enjoying this far more than he should have. The liquid inside gave a faint fizzing sound, like it was alive.

"Now, the idea," Fred began, as though delivering a lecture, "is that this should create a temporary—but very convincing—illusion charm."

"Temporary?" Kat repeated, her voice rising.

"In theory," George added helpfully.

Kat went very still for half a second.

"George," she said slowly, "if you don't put me down right now—"

Footsteps echoed from the stairs, cutting her off.

"George, put her down, you git!"