Passing the Torch

"George? Can you bring up some more Dungbombs while you're down there?" called Fred to his twin brother down in the basement.

"I just brought a whole case up not five minutes ago! What happened to them?"

"We've been sold them. They're selling like ...well, Dungbombs."

"Alright, I'll be up in a minute." Fred turned from the basement door to the crowd of kids at the cash desk.

"OK! OK! One at a time!" It was coming up to the end of the summer holidays and Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes was packed with Hogwarts students buying their 'school supplies'. George was constantly going back and forth from the basement for more Dungbombs, Skiving Snackboxes and who knows what else. The kids were buying faster than Fred could sell it.

Before long it was closing time. George locked the shop up, ignoring the kids standing outside who didn't seem to understand the meaning of 'Bugger off!' After a while they finally left, allowing Fred to start cleaning up the mess they left behind. There was a loud knock at the door.

"Some kids just don't know what's good for them!" he exclaimed. He strode over to the door and jerked it open. He came face to face with his brother Ron and his twin sons, Henry and Jonathan. "Oh, sorry Ron. I thought you were one of those little pests."

"No, but I brought two of them with me," joked Ron. Fred laughed as he leant towards the basement entrance.

"Whoever it is tell them we're bloody closed and they can get stuffed!" came a frustrated voice from the basement.

"It's Ron and the boys!" Fred looked at his two four year old nephews. The way they both held onto Ron's hands was cute but mostly funny. George emerged from the basement severely worn out after the long day.

"Hey Ron!" he offered his hand but Ron couldn't take it. Henry and Jonathan refused to let go of their father's hands. The thing with four year olds is they take ages to recognise someone they've only seen a handful of times, even if it is their own uncles. However, considering the number of uncles they had, it was often hard to tell them apart.

"You'll have to let go of Daddy at some point," laughed Ron.

"They're just shy," cooed George in the voice that had always annoyed Ron as a kid, "you remember your Uncle Fred and George don't you?" He gave them a cheeky smile but his nephews just shook their heads.

"Are you sure you don't mind looking after them for a while? It's just that Hermione is with Donald at Hogwarts and the last time I left them there they nearly got her sacked. Harry and Ginny are on holiday so ..."

"Ron, relax! We'll be fine!"

"You're sure? They can be quite a handful."

"Trust me, after the day we've had I think we can handle two four year olds. You just make sure you keep to your end of this little bargain."

"Yes, I've got an appointment to see the Head Goblin at Gringotts. I'm going to try and sort out our joint account for the business." Nine years married to Hermione had made Ron a little better at figures than his twin brothers. "I just thought it would be better to leave these guys here, you know how much goblins hate kids."

"I want to see goblins!" stated Jonathan.

"Oh believe me, you don't want to see goblins," said George in a scary voice, "goblins love to eat up little boys!" Henry gave a frightened little squeak and hid slightly behind Ron's legs. It took some persuasion but Ron finally managed to get his sons to let him go. He promised to be back in a few hours and left.

Henry and Jonathan stood staring at their uncles and Fred and George stood staring at their nephews. For them it was like looking into the past and seeing themselves at that age.

"So, uh, what do you little guys want to do?" asked George. A big smile appeared on Jonathan's face as he suddenly kicked George in the shin. As George cried out in pain, the two troublesome tykes started giggling and running around the shop. "Yep," muttered George through gritted teeth, "definitely like uncle like nephew!"