Turn It Back

Red hair, Weasley's:

Noun

1. Weasley's famous red hair. They are extremely proud of it. Use extreme caution when messing with it.

Molly Weasley opened the door, wrapping her second-eldest son into a bone-crushing hug. "Charlie, darling, I'm so happy you came! Romania is awfully far away and I was worried you wouldn't be able to make it." She pulled back, smiling brightly at him and squeezed his biceps arms gently. "But you're here, so that's good."

Charlie laughed and smiled back at his mother. "Hello mum, I'm home."

"Bill," Molly called over her shoulder. "Bill, Charlie's here. Come and grab his baggage for him."

A few seconds later Bill appeared in the doorway, Ginny and Ron behind him.

"Charlie!" Ginny squealed, throwing herself at her brother. "I didn't know you were coming home for the holidays, why didn't anyone tell me?"

Charlie raised an eyebrow at his mum. "Yeah, mum, why didn't anyone tell her?"

"I just didn't want to get her hopes up in case you weren't able to come, but you did, so no worries. Come on, come on. Let's not make your brother spend his vacation on the doorstep."

They all shuffled into the house, Ginny shutting the door behind them.

Arthur and the twins came into the living room, grinning at Charlie. "Hullo, Charlie," Fred said, pushing through the crowd to sling a loose arm around his brother.

Charlie glanced at Fred suspiciously and checked his back for any signs. Feeling nothing, he smiled at him. "Yes, hullo. It's so great to see you!"

"How's that lady friend of yours...what was her name again, Fred?" George asked.

"I'm not quite sure...he's been spending an awful lot of time with her, though," Fred replied to George, grinning cheekily up at Charlie, who had a slightly confused look on his face.

"Oh, Charlie, why didn't you tell us?" Mrs. Weasley asked disappointedly. "When do we get to meet her?"

"But mum, there is no - "

"Oh yes! I remember, she used to date Norbert. I can't remember what you called her in your letters, but apparently she's a real beauty," George interrupted.

Charlie rolled his eyes. "Honestly, you two..." Charlie knew he was going to be made fun of for a long time, once the others caught on. "They're talking about that new Hebridean Black we've got."

Sometime during Fred and George's fun, Ron slipped into the group. "Wait, so you're telling me that Charlie stole Norbert's girlfriend?" he asked Fred and George, chuckling.

"Alright you two, that's enough. Bill, why don't you help Charlie carry his stuff up to the room?" Molly suggested, patting Bill on the back.

"Mum, I can carry my own baggage."

"Nonsense, Charlie. Why strain your back when you have a brother willing to help you carry your baggage? Go on, quickly. I need you two to set up the tables in the back yard."

Charlie rolled his eyes at Bill who grinned back at him. They each picked up a suitcase and hoisted them up the stairs banging them against the wall noisily.

They could hear Molly shout, "You boys be careful! There better not be any dents in my walls!"

They laughed and went up the stairs more carefully, finally setting the baggage down once they reached the room they would be sharing for the next week or so.

Bill hugged Charlie, clapping him on the back. "Good to see you again, Char."

Charlie rolled his eyes. "Ah, and the old nickname comes back. Well, that's alright, Beasley."

Bill laughed. "So that's it then, is it? The hair is dyed and the gloves are glued."

Charlie chuckled at the familiar phrase, and then sobered up a bit. "But seriously, Bill, I wasn't expecting this. What's with the festival?"

Bill shrugged. "We just haven't seen you in a while. We missed you."

"I missed you guys, too."

"Charlie, Bill!" Molly called from downstairs. "What on earth are you two doing up there? We're hungry, get down here and set those tables up."

The two brothers grinned at each other and trampled down the stairs, shoving each other into the wall at random. They made it to the kitchen in time to hear Molly barking orders at the other children.

"Ginny, take these plates outside. I need you to set them around the table, that is, if your brothers ever set it up. Ron, take the silverware. George, the cups. Fred, help me carry the food...no, now that I think it about it, that wouldn't be a wise idea. Fred, go get your father."

All the children simultaneously rolled their eyes and set off to do their designated tasks.

Molly looked up from the stove, noticing Bill and Charlie standing off to the side. "Well? What are you two waiting for? Hustle, hustle."

They went out into the backyard, whipping out their wands. They were tempted to have another table fight, as they did a year or two ago, but seeing their brothers and sister (excluding Fred), standing around tapping their feet impatiently, Charlie suggested that they make the tables and get on with it.

Soon the tables were filled with food, and eight out of nine Weasleys were sitting around it. Percy hadn't been able to make it that year, he told everyone he was having a stressful time at the Ministry, but they all knew he was too ashamed to show his face.

"Come on, Bill, just a little snip or two and it will all be over."

"No, Mum! Every night I'm over for dinner, you do this. Can't you pick on someone else's hair for once?"

"Like who? Everyone else has nice and neatly groomed hair," Molly asked, gesturing to the rest of the family.

Bill grinned evilly and glanced sideways at Charlie, who was unaware of the conversation taking place next to him. Bill watched as Charlie said something to Ginny, spraying mashed potatoes everywhere.

"We'll see about that, Mum."

"Bill..." she warned, "You better not do anything you'll regret."

"Don't worry Mum, I won't."

Molly eyed her son, and then turned to Ginny asking if she wanted to have her hair braided later.

Bill chuckled and joined the conversation again.

About an hour later, all the Weasleys were relaxed in their chairs sipping their drinks and conversing with each other softly. Charlie laughed at something Ginny said and turned his head up, looking at the darkening sky.

"Whatcha lookin' at, Char?"

"Just watching the sky."

All of the Weasleys heard this and looked upwards as well.

"It's so beautiful," Ginny breathed and Molly nodded her agreement.

"Well," Arthur said, "I think it's time for everyone to go to bed."

Arthur and Molly ushered everyone up to bed, ignoring Bill and Charlie's requests to help clear up. "No, no," they said, "go to bed, you two must be tired."

Bill shrugged and the two went up the stairs, quietly this time just in case the others were already asleep.

Bill and Charlie dressed down into their PJs and climbed into their separate beds.

"'Night, Beasley."

"'Night, Char."

Bill waited until he heard the soft snore coming from his brother before he climbed out of his bed and tiptoed over to him, wand in hand.

"Caeruleus temporalis adfectio." He whispered, tapping Charlie's head lightly with his wand. Bill grinned and added the final touch, "Amputatio."

Bill grinned at his handiwork. "Guess what, Char." He whispered, chuckling to himself. "Just wait 'till Mum sees you. That will get her off of my hair for a bit."

Bill smiled at his brother, patted his shoulder fondly, and climbed back into his bed, excited about the following morning.

Next Morning

Charlie woke up early; having been awoke by the relaxing screams of the chaotic Weasley household. "Oh no, what did the twins to again?"

"Oi, I resent that," Fred piped up from somewhere in front of them.

Charlie opened a bleary eye, surprised to find everyone gathered around his bed.

"What's going on?" He asked, sitting up and rubbing his eyes wearily.

Ginny had her hand over her mouth, an obvious look of horror. Molly had the same look and the twins were laughing. The other family members had twisted looks of amusement and horror.

But Bill...Bill looked suspiciously innocent.

Charlie glared at him. "What did you do?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why are you lot laughing?"

Molly tried to say something, but words failed her. Finally, she weakly pointed over to a mirror.

Charlie pulled back his covers, forgetting he was only wearing boxers. He made his way over to the mirror, pushing through the crowd.

Charlie stopped dead when he realized it was him who he was seeing in the mirror.

"I...m...my...hai..." Charlie fell to the floor in a dead faint.

Molly screeched and glared at Bill. "I told you not to do anything you'd regret, Bill! Now pick your brother up and put him back in bed. When I get my hands on you..."

"Yes, mum." Bill bent down to heave Charlie into the bed.

Arthur laid a hand on Molly's shoulder, trying to keep her calm. "Ron, why don't you and Ginny go downstairs and help your mother cook breakfast."

Ron and Ginny shrugged at each other, and followed their mother down the stairs.

Arthur glanced at Charlie and then up at Bill once again. "You might want to change his hair back, Bill. Blue doesn't look good on a Weasley. And neither does that haircut."

Bill laughed. "Yeah, well at least Mum's going to pick on someone else about their hair for a while."

"We'll see about that." Arthur left the room, leaving Bill with the twins.

"That's brilliant, Bill!" Fred said, leaning over Charlie, admiring his handiwork. "Where'd you get the spell?"

"It's something an old Egyptian friend taught me...."

"We could behead him," George suggested, "and that way no one would have to look at his hair anymore."

"Off with his head!" Fred shouted pretending to slit Charlie's throat with his wand.

"You gonna do what Mum and Dad said? Change it back?" George asked, picking at one of the baby blue strands. "Not a very good cutting job, though." He grinned up at Bill. "I like it."

"Nah, not yet. I'm going to torture Char for a while. I'll probably leave it like that until he leaves."

Fred and George shared identical evil smiles and hurried out of the room. A few seconds later Bill heard their door slam. Sometimes Bill could swear those two had their own language.

Staring down at his brother, Bill braced himself for the fireworks and enervated Charlie.

Charlie sat up slowly, rubbing his forehead. "What ha -" Charlie cut off when he saw Bill. "You!" he shouted. "I'm going to get you!"

Charlie leapt out of bed with an amazing speed and chased Bill down the stairs, only stopping when Bill locked himself in Percy's old room.

"Damnit, Beasley! Get out of Percy's room! Stop hiding like a wimp!" Charlie shouted, banging on the door.

"No!"

"Bill! I have to visit friends today! If you don't change it back, I swear I'll kick your ass!"

Molly stormed up the stairs, muttering darkly under her breath. She quickly figured out the situation and started banging on the door as well. "Bill Arthur Weasley! Get out of that room!"

"Mum, he'll kill me!"

"You deserve it after what you did!" She started banging again.

"I'm the victim here!" Bill shouted back. "He's the one who's trying to kill me!"

"Molly, please, let me handle this." Arthur had come up the stairs to stand next to his wife.

Molly sighed and glanced at Charlie's hair again. "Boy," she called through the door, "you just wait until I get my hands on you." She stormed back down the stairs, fiddling with her wand.

"Charlie," Arthur sighed, "I don't know if Bill's going to agree to change your hair -"

"Damn right I won't!" Bill yelled from the other side of the door.

"Quiet, Bill. Charlie, I don't know if Bill is going to agree to change your hair back right now or not. You may be stuck with it for a while."

"Wait," Charlie interrupted, "are you telling me you don't know how to change it back?"

"Well, if it's magic from the books Flourish and Blotts has, then yes, sure, but if it's magic he learned in Egypt, it's most likely that only he can change it back."

Charlie glared at the door. "What'd I do to you, Bill? Huh? Why this?" he shouted, kicking the door. "And why Percy's room? Doesn't it smell in there?"

Bill slowly reached for the door, unlocking it. "I'm sorry, Char."

Charlie narrowed his eyes at his brother. "I'm sure you are. And if you're not, you will be."

Charlie stormed down the stairs after his mother, trying to keep his anger at bay.

"I'm sorry, Dad. I thought it would be fun. Did I ruin Christmas?"

Arthur patted his son on the shoulder. "Not yet, son."

Charlie left the house about an hour later, returning a little bit before dinner.

"Well," Molly asked, "how did it go?"

Charlie sat down at the kitchen table and laid his face on it. "It was awful, Mum. They want to see me again tomorrow...they're going to bring cameras."

Molly tutted and laid a hand on her son's shoulder. "Bill is going to regret what he did, Charlie. That I promise."

The next day, everyone woke up, scrambling out of bed. There was lots of shouting coming from their mirrors, screaming obscenities about Charlie's hair.

Everyone immediately blamed Bill, who swore he didn't do it. Finally, Molly confronted the twins about it, and after that, they were nowhere to be seen for rest of that day. After giving up her hunt, Molly went around the house, casting silencing charms on all the mirrors.

Over the next few days, there was a lot of tension in the Weasley household; Charlie and Bill had gotten into several serious arguments. Molly was ignoring Bill completely, extremely angry at what he did. Their siblings thought it was amusing that those two were the ones fighting when they usually got along with everyone.

Soon it was Christmas Eve and Molly was going through her usual cooking frenzy.

"Arthur," she called over her shoulder, "please tell me you picked up some eggs."

"Magic, Molly."

"I don't have anything to transform."

"I'll get Ron to go get some rocks from the garden." Arthur left the kitchen, going in search of his youngest son.

"Ginny!" Molly shouted. "Come help me in the kitchen!"

Ginny appeared, carrying her diary. "What do you need help with, Mum?

"I'm trying to make everything the Muggle way, as a gift for your father, but it's getting extremely difficult. For god's sake, he couldn't even run into town to get me some eggs. He's getting Ron to get him so rocks from the garden. Anyway," she rambled, "I need you to stir that," she pointed to a pot on the stove. "Make sure that it doesn't burn." Molly tended to the cake in the stove.

Ginny set her diary on the table and headed over to the stove picking up a spoon and stirring the pot while watching her mother mutter to herself and pace about the room.

"Oh, by the way Ginny, if your father comes in, pretend like you're not doing anything to the stove."

A few minutes later Ron walked in, carrying a ton of rocks.

"Just put them on the table, Ron."

Ron dumped the rocks on the table, straining under the weight.

"Thank you, Ron," she started. "Where are your brothers?"

"Um...Fred and George are outside throwing snow balls at each other...." Molly tutted. "And Charlie's upstairs taking another shower." Charlie had been taking about three showers per day, trying to rid his hair of the blue dye.

"And Bill?"

Ron shrugged. "I don't know. In his room, probably."

"Well Ron, do you think you could check?"

"Yes, Mum." Ron sighed and headed up the stairs. He knocked on Bill's door, and went in. Bill was lying on his bed face down in the pillow.

"What's the matter, Beasley?"

Bill growled and lifted his head. "Don't call me that, Ron. I'm really not in the mood."

"What's the matter?"

"Charlie stole my earring."

Ron muffled a laugh; he didn't want to upset Bill further. "When are you two just going to make up? All you gotta do is change his hair."

Bill nodded. "I know, I'm going to."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

"Oh, well I better go back down. I don't want Mum to go into cardiac arrest."

Ron left the room and Bill planted his face into his pillow again.

About an hour or so later Bill heard quiet footsteps enter the room. He lifted his head, ready to snap at the intruder. The intruder took him by surprise, though. Ever since that night, Charlie had refused to set foot in this room, choosing instead to sleep in the attic with Ron.

"Yeah?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Mum wants you to go downstairs, dinner's ready." Charlie turned to leave.

"Hey, Char..."

"Yeah?"

"I really am sorry, ya know. It was supposed to be funny; I don't know why everyone took it so seriously. What is with you people?"

Charlie shrugged. "It would be pretty funny, I guess, if it didn't happen to me. Besides, you knew I had to meet my friends. I hadn't seen them in years and when I finally got a chance, I had blue hair! And you know how we Weasleys pride ourselves on our hair. It was just a shock...especially coming from you. I think Mum's a little frightened, you've always been so nice and polite to her."

"All I did was turn your hair blue and magically chop it off; don't you think it's a little silly the way everyone's acting? It's just hair, and not only that, I could reverse it with a wave of a wand."

"Then why don't you?"

"I don't know. Maybe to show Mum that I'm a grownup and I do what I want."

"Just change it back, please? I want to have a nice Christmas."

Bill sighed and nodded. "Yeah, okay." He pulled out his wand and tapped Charlie's hair. "Puniceus temporalis adfectio."

Charlie rushed over to the mirror gazed into it almost fainting again when he saw it. "BILL! I said back, not purple! I said change it back, not change it purple!" he screamed, poking at his hair.

All the Weasleys heard the commotion and there were thuds as all six of the other Weasleys trampled upstairs.

"Bill!" Molly shrieked, seeing Charlie's hair. "What is this? Why are you doing this to your poor brother? Change it back this instant!"

Bill laughed. "Yes, Mum." Charlie hesitantly walked over to Bill, semi-afraid of what he would do next.

Bill tapped Charlie's head again and muttered, "Archetypus temporalis adfectio."