Double Splinch

    Although it was nearly silent in the Great Hall, Fred felt that even if someone screamed in his ear, he wouldn't hear it. No, he was still staring at the raven heaired boy before him. That wasn't, couldn't be, George. He would never do anything like that! Never! The look on Fred's face was one in a million. FOr once, it was expressionless, his mouth a thin line between the mass of freckles. But his eyes were a storm of emotion, showing sadness but for a second, before anger flooded over, the rage consuming him until he bore a snarl.

    He turned and fled from teh hall, turning corners at random. Tears threatened to fall, and it hurt not to cry. But he couldn't. Big boys don't cry. It was only when he could no longer breathe, and his legs collapsed out from underneat him, did he stop. Panting heavily, he leaned against the wall, tears poring freely down his face. He didn't hear the approaching footsteps, and by the time Alicia kneeled down next to him, it was too late to tear away.

    Alicia put her hand onhis arm, as he tried desperately to wipe his cheeks dry. But it was too late to hide it know. She probably thought he was an idiot. Abig baby who couldn't take the truth. But still he cried into Alicia's shoulder, unsure of what, exactly, he was crying for.

---------

    George rolled his eyes as Fred ran from the hall, and resumed eating. Lee and Angelina shot him odd looks, now used to the flashes of anger from both he and Fred, but somewhat disturbed by George's new look. Katie sighed, shaking her head, and stood.

    "George, how could you?" Katie asked him, a repulsive look on her face.

    "How could I what?" George asked innocently, though he knew exactly what she meant.

    "Honestly!" Katie exclaimed in frustration, storming angrily out the hall. George frowned, and followed her, leaving Angelina and Lee to their startled selves.

    "Kaite, wait!" George cried, running to catch up with her. But her scowl deepened, and she hurried her pace. She rounded the corner and he followed, now running to catch her. But Katie could run too. So she did, but it wasn't long until he caught her, being much faster.

    "What do you want?" Katie snapped as George grabbed her arm, finally stopping, allowing them both to catch their breath.

    "Why are you so upset?" George asked, a confused expression on his face. This wasn't like Katie.

    "You! Why did you have to.... do that!" Katie exclaimed waving her arms at him. The question startled George, and he had to think of an answer. There were so many things he could have told her. But it probably would have sounded stupid to her, and he didn't want that to happen.

    "Because I was tired of looking like...like him," George muttered, running a hand through his new black hair. Katie winced; it was an eerie sight, not having a red-headed twin around. Well, not having two, anyway.

    "So," Katie said. "I don't get why you're so sick of it. In fact, I don't even get what this stupid arguement is about, anyway. It's never bothered you before."

    "Well, it is now, and I'm sick of doing... everything with him. It's always 'FredandGeorge'. No one even says it as three words, let alone talk to us seperately!"

    "Then why didn't you say so? Why didn't you tell us you were tired of it! Seems awfully dumb to argue over something like that!"

    "........." George honestly didn't have an answer. Why hadn't he just said something? Because there's something more here, and you know it!

    "You aren't George anymore," Katie said stiffly, backing away. "I don't know who you are." And with that she ran down the corridor, and as far away as she could from George.

-----------

    Alicia sighed softly, wondering what had gone wrong over the years. How could brothers, brothers like Fred and George, get into such a silly arguement? The two were closer than two peas in a pod, and yet somehow they were yelling their heads off at one another every chance they got. Was it simply because they were sick of being identical? She thought that might be part of it, but there had to be more to the problem they just didn't know about. There had to be.

    Fred was now peacefully asleep, his head resting in Alicia's lap. They were still in the deserted corridor, and Alicia was suprised no one had come down the hall yet. Had they somehow wound up in the room of requirement without realizing it? She doubted it, but you never know. It would certainly explain somethings. Of course, maybe if this were the room of requirement, they wouldn't be stuck in a corridor, but you never know.

    She sighed again, leaning her head on the wall behind them. So many things were going on, she wasn't sure she could take much more of it! If this had to happen, why couldn't it have been last year, or sometime before their fifth? As if N.E.W.T.s weren't hard enough without having your wish-he-was-your-boy-friend-but-is-still-only-just-a-friend fighting with his twin brother, dang it!

    Fred stirred, and looked blearily up at Alicia. "Leesh?" he croaked, rubbing his eyes and sitting up.

    "Shh," Alicia soothed, putting her hand comfortingly on his arm.

    "So it did happen...," he muttered, coming to a stand with a sigh. "And here I was hoping it was a dream...."

    "You miss him, don't you?" Alicia asked, standing up beside him.

    "I.... yeah, I guess I do...," Fred said. "But it's hard to explain...I-"

    "Then don't," Alicia said. "I just hope you two will get over this whole silly thing before it gets too out of hand. We're 7th years now, Fred, and next year there won't be Hogwarts, or your mum and dad to go crawling to when things get rough. We'll be on our own." Looking as if he was about to cry, she slipped off suddenly into the girls bathroom.