Second Time Around

"Angie?" he mouthed, letting the girl slide out of his hands.

Angelina didn't respond, just turned around with a thought to get out. She ran smack into a hard, warm body.

"Oh, Angie," it whispered as arms held her close and Fred Weasley pushed his way through the crowd towards them.

- - -Chapter 2 - - -

Oliver held Angelina tight, wondering what the hell was going on. He shot daggers at Fred Weasley as he rushed over to them. Oliver was willing to hold on to Angie for as long as possible but Fred approached and so he loosened his hold. Angelina turned slowly towards Fred, who Oliver still believed was her boyfriend.

"Angie?" Fred asked, tentatively. Oliver glared at him. Why was he acting as if he didn't know who she was? Angelina wasn't a person you easily forgot. But apparently Fred did, judging by the tall blonde girl who was now staring curiously over at the trio.

"Hello, Fred," Angelina said coolly. No tears were present and her voice was cold as ice when she spoke.

Fred fidgeted uncomfortably, a nervous smile hanging on his face.

To everyone's surprise, Angelina continued coldly, "How's the shop?"

Oliver stared disbelievingly at her. What was going on? Before Fred could answer, Oliver demanded, "Who the hell is that girl, Fred?"

Apparently Fred hadn't notice Oliver before, and now broke into a big smile. After taking a look at the Quidditch player's hard expression though, his smile slipped off his face.

"Look guys, ...Angelina," he said glancing back at her cold expression, "Its not what you think..."

"To hell it isn't," she shouted, her cool exterior breaking at last.

Oliver was caught between laughing and hexing him into oblivion. He couldn't believe Fred had used that pitiful excuse. What was he going to say? The girl was his healer?

"We haven't even officially broken up, you oaf!" she said, punching his arm. She glared over his shoulder, "and now you're with that...that hag!" Oliver notice several people throwing them curious glances. Remembering how huge Fred and Angie's fights could be in the common room back at school, Oliver prepared for the worst.

"Now wait a minute, Angelina," he yelled back. "You haven't answered any of my owls since I left school!"

Angelina was quiet for a second and Oliver was afraid Fred had gotten to her.

"You left me remember?" she shot back. "And funny, I don't remember you're letters mentioning a blonde bimbo!" Her voice had risen considerably, but now dropped down to a low growl. "How long did it take for you to start shagging her, huh, Fred? 'Cause your letters weren't that numerous either way."

Oliver could distinctly hear sniggering now and he was sure only the children continued playing with their joke items, unaffected by the arguing.

Fred winced at her words and glared at her without saying anything. He looked over his shoulder to see the girl in question talking to George. Her words were coming out fast, though no one from the trio could hear, and George listened with a frown on his face.

Fred turned back around and the nervous smile returned to his face. "Listen Angie, lets talk about this somewhere else 'cause, uh...we're scaring away the customers. Yeah."

Oliver was sure not one person had left the store since the argument started, all choosing to form a rough circle around the arguing pair instead.

Angelina just glared at him for a second. "Fine," she said. But Oliver thought he heard her mumble, "Like I give a damn about your loss of customers." She turned towards the door with Fred close behind.

Oliver realized that this private talk would ultimately exclude him. Feeling the need to have his say, he shouted, "I'll be here when you get back, Ange," at her departing back. Angelina gave him a small smile while Fred glared openly at him.

After the couple left, the store returned to its usual bustle. Though it did seem the conversations were quite animated.

Shrugging, Oliver made his way over to George just as Blonde Bimbo huffed her way through the crowd and through the doors.

"Oli!" George said simply, smiling widely at him. Maybe a little too wide. "Want the grand tour?" he asked, gesturing around the store. Oliver supposed George didn't want to discuss the fight that was probably still going on at a more secluded location. Not one to pry for second hand information, Oliver took him up on the offer. After all, him and George had not been on the best of terms when Oliver graduated either. Come to think of it, that was not a very good year for him.

Lee Jordan eventually came from the back room to greet Oliver and to ask excitedly about the argument. George didn't really answer any questions and Oliver was happy to pretend he had no idea what was going on. Lee eventually switched over to Oliver's rising professional Quidditch career and some of the tension was lost from the group.

It seemed no time passed before Angelina was coming back through the doors, an unreadable expression on her face. When her eyes locked on his, Oliver saw her smile slightly and make her way towards him.

Oliver wondered where Fred had gone but it was Lee who voiced the question.

"Where'd Fred get to?" he asked innocently.

An angry-exasperated look came over her face and Oliver was sure Angelina had things she wanted to say. Instead she mumbled, "Dunno."

"Hey Angie..." George said finally, looking almost as nervous as his brother.

She turned softened eyes to the present twin. "Hi George. Sorry I couldn't stay to see the store." She suddenly looked tired and, yes, a bit sad Oliver concluded. "I'm still looking for a flat to move into, so I'll have to stop by another time." She gave a small smile to assure her promise.

"No problem, Ange. It was good seeing you again." He paused slightly before adding with a shrug, "my brother's a git."

She gave a bigger smile and reached up to give both George and Lee a hug. After that she turned to Oliver and he was sure he could see each and every emotion reflected in her beautifully shaped eyes. Why she even went with that git, he didn't know. She was so beautiful.

"Thanks for coming with me, Oliver," she said softly.

"No problem," he answered, finding it hard to tear his gaze away. "I want to spend time with all of you guys again," he said, talking to the group. "It could be like school again, but better of course. No classes."

They all chuckled at that and it seemed no one was willing to part. Eventually though, Oliver mentioned visiting his parents and Lee and George wished them goodbye while giving them a couple samples from their joke merchandise. Oliver made a mental note not to open any of the packages as he and Angelina stepped out into the dazzling sunlight.

If only life was this bright, they thought in unison. But somewhere down a corner street, a certain redheaded, freckled-faced jokester cursed the heavens and its ebony angel from earth.