Being a Weasley

Fred&George

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I could be Fred, I could be George, but you know what the comedic thing is? No one can tell the difference. I can go up to anyone of my family members, tell them that I'm George and they'll believe me. I can tell them that I'm Fred, and they'll believe me.

Our joke shop is run by two people, and it's as if people say it all in one word, Fredandgeorge. We are essentially one person. I guess that can legally either give us an advantage or screw one of us completely over.

"Fred," someone says, and we both turn to see who's speaking.

"George come help me with this." We both go to help.

I guess I've grown used to it by now...No you know what, here's a bit of a twist on things. It's never bothered me until today. I've lived with my brother for many many glorious years, and until today I've never had a problem with our strange twin connection.

What's so different about today is, that my brother got us into a lot of trouble yesterday, and he told me about it this morning.

Now trouble with Fred and George, that's never such a big thing. We cause havoc, we LOVE to cause havoc, actually.

But what makes this particular trouble so troubling is that he was charged by the Ministry of Magic for attempted murder. Now, is this accusation true, I ask myself. And the truth is, I have no idea. My brother won't tell me if he's guilty or not, which for most people would mean he is by far guilty, but the thing is, he wouldn't tell me even if he wasn't guilty.

So, I'm in a dilemma. Not just because my brother potentially killed someone, but because my name is going to be on the line as well. When we are seen as one person, no matter what we do, it is as if we both did it.

"I'll get us off the hook," my brother says to me, packing the shelf full of more candy tricks.

I want to believe him, but we've never been in this kind of trouble before. What happens when they find him guilty? We both end up in Azkaban, that's what.

I ask him who he has being accused of murdering, and he says he doesn't even know.

Does this mean that he didn't do it? Or maybe he was drunk...How can I think these things about my brother?

I hear the door to our shop open, and since the shop is closed, I know it has to be our girlfriends. Old Chasers from the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Angelina and Alicia.

"Hey Double-A," my brother greets them. He hops off the ladder and gives his girlfriend a kiss.

"Hey." My girls smiles and then falters at my expression. "What's the matter? I've never seen you frowning before - well, except when we lost matches against Slytherin. What happened?"

"He's upset at me," my brother says in a jestering manner.

"What?" his girlfriend cries. "You two are fighting?"

"Not fighting," I say. "Don't worry about it ladies, it's no big deal. We've got it all handled. Now would either of you care for a lemon drop?"

I joke, but I'm still really worried; my brother catches my glance and nods. He knows we still have more to talk about.

When our girls leave for home and we pack up for the night, I ask him again what he thinks will happen.

"I think they'll uncover new evidence in a few days that will prove me innocent and the charges will be dropped," he says.

"And if they don't get new evidence?"

"Then we're screwed." He laughs.

His laugh that has an underlining tone of fear and worry that he can't escape. He's afraid for himself, he's afraid for me.

"It has something to do with Ginny," he tells me.

My sister, our sister. The one who either ran away or was kidnapped by Draco Malfoy. We've been searching for her for ages, and so far have turned up absolutely nothing. Not even a trace. Whoever wants her to be hidden is doing a very good job of keeping her so.

We reckon she ran away. Mum and Da reckon she was kidnapped, that's the only reason they could see why she'd abandon them so.

What could a murder have anything to do with our sister?

"I've been accused of killing someone involved with her," he says. "Ten bucks says it's that blonde prick that was hanging around before she coincidentally disappeared."

"Malfoy?"

"That's the one."

"We're never going to get off! The Malfoy's have more money then they know what to do with, if they think their son is dead because of you..."

"I know..." he says. "Well, let's just look at it this way. We might be dead before then anyway."

Now isn't that something to be excited about?

We're going to war soon, into battle against Him. The great Lord that everyone fears, I never thought we'd be going into battle. But I guess we have to grow up some time. Well, if we survive we're still not likely to grow up, but for a few moments we can embrace our proper ages.

But now there's nothing left to do but face the fact that we must accept our fates and let time pass us until the time comes.

A week, two weeks. Two months.

And still we've heard nothing from the Ministry except there will be a hearing soon. Then we hear from Remus Lupin, the war is starting, and it's starting immediately. Too bad the letter we got from the guards of Azkaban told us not to disappear. But there's nothing we can do but go to war.

Guess we might just both end up in Azkaban when this is all done anyway.

We take our wands, and we leave our shop locked. We head into battle, and really, we don't expect to come back alive.

The battle has already begun when we arrive. The land is dark, on a wide-open field of grass. And the air is thick of magic and death.

As soon as we step onto the field a Death Eater attacks us. And that's when the real fighting begins.

My brother and I have never been renowned for our hand-to-hand combat skills, but when it comes to our jinxes and spells, we're pros. We have the Death Eater down in a few moments, frozen green and growing hair out of every imaginable place.

"Bravo," my brother congratulates our efforts.

We continue to fight, giving dismal endings to all those who attack us. And I only get hit once by a tickling charm - someone was picking up on our dirty fighting. But we got them back with a teeth enlarging and binding charm.

The battle is edging dangerously close to the end, we can feel it. And from behind us, there are two wizards in dark robes and they are shaking in fear, shaking at the mess laid out in front of them and they are definitely not Death Eaters or Order members, no these men are from the Ministry of Magic.

"Fred and George Weasley?" they ask us. "You're being put into containment for clear violation of law 321 of the Wizarding Conduct."

My brother and I exchange a nervous glance, wondering what to do. And when my brother complies without a word, I'm forced to comply as well.

I reach out my hands for them to lock on invisible ropes, and I mutter, "We're innocent. He's innocent."

They don't listen as they take us away from the battle field as quickly as possible. I bet they had no idea what they were walking into. And now, neither do we.

When we are inside the safety walls of the Ministry of Magic, the men turn to us.

"Which one of you is Mr. George Weasley?" they ask.

We turn to each other, a silent brother communication.

We both open our mouths. "I am."

I am my brother. I am both George and Fred Weasley. What one of us does the other does. I would never abandon my brother in this, and he will not go down without me, for we are technically the same person. We are one Weasley, and if he dies then I die.

I guess family is just one of those things that we can never escape.