After Hogwarts

Chapter Six:

Weasley Wizard's Whirlwind:

Fred and George excitedly waited for the droves of people that they expected. They were certain that the Exploder that they sent Percy during the meeting at the Ministry would at least peak people's interest. They had taken a lot of time to decorate their shop festively with bright streamers and balloons and they also had lively music playing in the background.

"I bet Percy is really mad," George laughed. He then straightened some of their sweets that they had on display. Two of George's favorite sweet items were Jaw Lockers, which were jawbreakers that actually locked the jaws shut of the person who ate it for ten whole minutes and Bubbles Gum, which caused blue bubbles to come out of the user's mouth when ever the person chewing the gum tried to speak. But his absolute favorite was Spotted Snacks, which looked like trail mix but would cause spots that looked like the measles to appear on the face of whoever ate the snack.

"I wish we could have seen his face!" Fred hooted, glancing over to the rows and rows of nifty tricks that they had created.

"You know he had to be embarrassed, George added as Fred started to straighten the first row of tricks. He decided to move the Crawly Critters, which would move and crawl around like they were alive when sprayed with water from the bottom shelf to the top shelf. He then moved the Invisibility Powder, which would make anyone invisible for three minutes when it was sprinkled over his or her head from the top shelf to an end display. He then took the Jelly Legs, which were leg warmers that made the wearer's legs have the constancy of jelly and moved them to s special display closer to the register at the front of the shop.

"Fred, you've got to stop moving things or I won't be able to find anything," George reprimanded his brother mockingly; after all, he knew that Fred was just anxious, as was he.

"Sorry..." Fred apologized. Luckily Fred didn't have time to rearrange anything else, because wizards who had been at the meeting at the Ministry started piling in the shop. Fred and George were both delighted.

People were buying all sorts of tricks and sweets. The cash drawer up front was ringing non-stop! The twins were playing with their own creations as much as they were selling them.

"Fred," George mockingly scolded. "Get back to work!"

"There's only one way to show people how they work and that's to use what we have created!" Fred laughed, grabbing a red Color Wand, which sprayed red paint, pointed it at his brother and proceeded to spray red paint all over George.

George was quick to return the favor by grabbing a blue Color Wand and spraying Fred bright blue, sarcastically replying, "You don't say!"

Then men sprayed each other and chased each other like children, ducking and weaving behind sales items and customers as they shot paint at each other. Luckily they were both expert shots and very careful not to spray any of their customers and they didn't hit too much of their inventory. Most of the people who were shopping in the store were amused by the twin's antics.

One customer even commented to another customer, "The marketing strategy these fellows use is quite ingenious!"

"This is nothing," a third customer joined in, quickly dodging a splattering of red paint. "Did you hear about the Exploder that they sent some poor chap, Percy somebody, at the Ministry of Magic earlier? A snowy owl delivered it in a golden envelope! I nearly cried!"

"Nooo..." the first customer responded in disbelief.

"At the Ministry?" the second customer asked.

"Truly! It turned the poor man's face green and gold as it played marching music and announced the grand opening," the third customer assured them.

"Who was there?" the second customer asked.

"Everyone..." the third customer answered.

"Even Dumbledore?" the first customer asked.

"Even Dumbledore!" the third man confirmed.

"You're making this up!" the first man couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"I'm telling you, it happened, I saw it!" the third man reiterated.

"Like I said before," the first customer said, turning the to second customer feeling very validated in his opinion "These men are brilliant!"

As Fred and George carried on with their horseplay, the twins heard the front door open and looked up and saw Ginny and Colin enter. Instantly Fred and George stopped battling each other, impishly smiled at each other and in perfect unison they pointed their wands at Ginny.

"I don't think so," Ginny pushed Colin out of the way and then ducked herself, recognizing the mischievous expressions on her brother's faces. Loads of red and blue paint flew towards Ginny's direction, but missed her and Colin due to her quick wit.

When Ginny looked up, she saw their expressions had changed to a mix horror and regret.

"Oh dear, I am so sorry," Fred profusely apologized as he sheepishly lowered his wand.

" We didn't mean to..." George was at a loss for words. Ginny slowly looked behind her and saw what they did. Her boss, Miranda was covered head to toe in blue and red paint. Colin immediately began taking photos.

The whole store became quietly still except for clicking of Colin's camera. Ginny eventually elbowed him, gesturing him to stop. Everyone in the store just stared at Miranda not quite knowing what to expect. She was quite a sight with both her tightly spun bun and her face covered in red and blue paint. Her robe was ruined, as was her cloak. She stood very still with her nose scrunched up for what felt like hours, but was actually only several seconds.

She finally put her hands to her face, rubbing some of the paint off her face and then looked at her hands that were now also covered in paint. Her eyes slowly warmed and she began laughing, which started out softly and quietly, quickly turning into a loud and hardy roar. Soon enough all the horrified on lookers were also hysterically howling as well. But eventually everyone in the shop went back to shopping leaving Fred and George to face the music.

After the initial shock of what they had done wore off, they fell over each other apologizing over and over again.

"So Ginny?" Miranda continued to laugh. "Is this how the infamous Weasley brothers greet all the ladies?" Both Fred and George looked uncomfortable; they weren't sure how to take this woman covered in paint.

"Relax lads, I'm guessing this was meant for your sister and not me?" Miranda eventually said.

"Yes, it was meant for Ginny," George confirmed. Ginny shot him a disapproving look.

"We didn't know anyone was with her," Fred went on. "We really are sorry."

"This is a shop right? People are supposed to come in frequently to check out your goods, yeah?" Miranda asked.

"We said we are sorry," George looked sincere.

"If your not now, you will be later," Ginny whispered to her brothers so that only they could hear.

"Really it's fine, but I am feeling a bit sticky. Is there anywhere I can wash up?" Miranda asked Ginny.

"As a matter of fact, our apartment is upstairs," answered Ginny. "I have some clean robes that you can borrow if you'd like. I'm sure Fred and George won't mind." Ginny glared at both her brothers. It's one thing to play jokes on her, but this was her boss that they covered in paint.

"I think I'll head back to the paper and start developing my film. I think I'll have some great ones of you Miranda," Colin excitedly informed Miranda before he left.

"Great," she muttered. "I get to look like an Easter egg." She then followed Ginny so she could wash up.

Once they left, George loudly announced to the customers, "And today's free show at the Weasley Wizard's Whirlpool has concluded, but please join us tomorrow...!"

"When I turn my twin brother into a small, hairy spider..." Fred improvised. Both men walked over to the cash drawer and leaned against the counter before they burst out in laughter.

"A small hairy spider?" George raised his eyebrows.

"It was off the cuff," Fred shrugged.

"That's a shame about Ginny's friend, but I've got to admit...that was so funny!" George cried.

"I nearly wet myself!" Fred replied. "Well, now Ginny and Percy can both be cross with us,"

"Did you Ginny's friend's face?" George asked.

"Oh yeah, it was priceless, absolutely priceless!" Fred chuckled.

"To be honest, I didn't particularly like Ginny's friend anyway and if that super tight bun is any indication, she probably needed the laugh," George was trying to validate their actions.

"You're right," Fred agreed, feeling much more righteous in what they had done to Miranda. "We were doing that uptight creature a favor!"

George then wrapped black rope on his head and raised his voice, impersonating Miranda, "Okay lads, this is a shop, right? Anyway, I am an uptight beast who needed a good laugh, so thanks for the favor!" Both men started roaring uncontrollably, until one of their customers interrupted them, needing to be rung up.

Many nameless, faceless customers came and left the shop that morning, but about an hour after Ginny had left, both Fred and George took notice of a beautiful young woman dressed in a soft green velvet robe that had just entered the store. She had long raven hair with soft curls that framed her face. She had rosy cheeks and her lips were berry colored. Her eyes were very pale blue, almost translucent, and the contrast with her dark hair was quite distinctive.

The twins bumbled and stumbled to get to this woman first.

"Well hello," Fred proudly bowed. "Welcome to the Weasley Wizard's Whirlwind. I am the creator and owner, Fred Weasley."

George coughed as he nudged his twin out of his way. "Half owner," he corrected Fred, then taking the woman's soft hand and kissing it lightly. "How do you do my dear? Please let me introduce myself, I am my brother's partner, George Weasley."

The woman looked at the Weasley brothers as if they had completely lost their minds.

"Would you like a tour of the premises?" Fred asked, pushing George out of his way and offering the young woman his arm.

"Or perhaps you'd like something to drink?" George asked, shoving Fred to the side and then offered the young woman his arm.

"I think I can take care of this customer George, why don't you go do something else," Fred sternly said to George.

"No, no, no, I've got this, but I think there are a few people over there that could use your help," George pointed to several very fat and very old women who were in the back of the shop.

Ginny had walked in right behind the young woman, yet neither brother noticed. Ginny stood there with her hands on her hips and had a perplexed look on her face as she listened to Fred and George fall over each other trying to impress this young woman.

After listening to them babble on for several minutes she finally interrupted her brothers, "What in heaven's name is wrong with you two?" She shook her head disapprovingly at them as they both finally noticed that she was in the room and looked over to her, both of them with a dumbfounded expression on their face.

"Ginny, there is no reason to be rude to our customer," Fred defensively said.

"Yeah," George agreed. "Don't you have a job or something to get to?"

"Are you both really that daft?" Ginny asked as she and the young woman looked at each other in disbelief.

"I suppose I look quite different without blue and red paint all over me," the young woman finally spoke.

Fred and George both looked confused at first. Slowly their expressions changed to recognition and then to horror because they realized that they did indeed know this young woman. She was Ginny's friend, the one that just an hour ago they had called the beast who needed a good laugh.

"YOU!" They both pointed in shock.

"But, you look..." George stammered.

"The hair is diff, diff, different..." Fred stuttered.

Both Miranda and Ginny exploded with laughter.

"It's amazing what a shower and letting your hair down can do!" Miranda finally blurted out between laughs.

Ginny looked at her pathetic brothers with a smug face, "I'd like you to meet my boss, Miranda Mason." She then gestured to Miranda.

"Nice to meet you lads," Miranda flashed a brilliant, yet professional smile. Miranda was all about business. She usually kept herself very tidy and professional, almost plain. A more relaxed style of dress was unusual for Miranda and she wasn't accustomed to getting such attention as Fred and George had just given her and wasn't sure how to respond, so she decided to ignore it.

"Ginny, let's grab a bite to eat and head back to the paper." Miranda turned to leave. "Nice meeting you George and Fred, but next time you can leave out the paint."

Both men stood there awestruck. Ginny rolled her eyes at her brothers before she left with Miranda.

After the women left, Fred turned to George and inflated his chest as he said, "Did you see the way Miranda looked at me?"

"Are you crazy?" George replied. "She said my name first name when she said goodbye."

"Well, she may have said your name first, but I'm the one who's going to get that woman," Fred spat.

"Oh, you think so?" George spat back. "Not only will I be the one to win her heart, but next time I'm going to kiss more than her hand."

"Yeah, well even if she kisses you, it's my face she'll be seeing," Fred retorted.

"Really? Your face, are you sure about that?" George sarcastically questioned, picking up a Magic Mirror and holding it up so that Fred could see his reflection while George stood right next to the mirror. Unfortunately for Fred, after a few seconds of looking in the Magic Mirror, the mirror flashed at him, temporarily blinding him. After all, that's what Magic Mirrors do!

"Your face? I believe we have the same face!" George retorted as Fred angrily stumbled away. George left him to fall over things and walked the other direction. Both brothers were very mad at the other and were determined to win the lovely Miranda.

Miranda and Ginny stopped at a little café and got two tuna and sweet corn sandwiches on baguettes and two fizzy drinks to go. They decided that to eat in the park and enjoy yet another perfect sunny day.

Miranda gave Ginny details on how to write a good story. It was important to cover the 5 Ws - where, what when why, who, but the crux of the story relied on how the events came together. Every good story had to be based on facts. The trick of writing a feature story as opposed to a news article was gaining the human element. She gave lots of advice and several different suggestions as to what techniques work for different types of stories. When it came to writing a good story, it seemed to Ginny that Miranda knew what she was talking about. Ginny took lots of notes as she munched on her sandwich.

Miranda informed Ginny that her office would be ready by the time they got back to the paper. Miranda suggested that while she puts together the article about the Ministry that Ginny should try to apply the same principles to together a small article on the Weasley Wizard's Whirlwind. Miranda even hinted that it might even get published. Ginny was delighted!

As Miranda was gathering her things to leave, Ginny kneeled down on the ground to feed a bit of baguette to a gentle gray bunny, while several young wizards glanced over at the two women as they prepared to leave. Ginny was unaware of their interest, but Miranda noticed and it made her feel uncomfortable.

Miranda asked a question with apprehension in her voice, "Would you give me an honest answer if I asked you a personal question."

"Sure," Ginny got up.

"You don't have to..." Miranda paused. She didn't have a lot of female confidants. But, she genuinely liked Ginny and she seemed trustworthy. "Do I really look that different?"

"Well..." Ginny wanted to be careful in her response. She didn't want to offend her new friend who also happened to be her boss. "Yes and no. I mean, you still look like you, but you just are put together differently.

"Put together?" Miranda questioned.

"From what I have seen, you dress down for work. Basic robes, hair pulled back, all business."

"And that's bad, why?" Miranda said defensively.

"It's not bad," Ginny assured her. "This is just different. This robe has more color and your hair makes you look softer when it's down. It's just a different look. Why?"

"People's reactions are strange," Miranda confessed. "I thought your brothers were teasing me at first, but people have been looking at me strangely all afternoon."

"It's because you look pretty," Ginny told her.

"I don't know," Miranda dropped a piece of parchment to the ground. "I think I prefer to be behind my quill and parchment writing about things or impersonating a muggle!" Miranda joked to hide her insecurity.

"Well, rumor has it that as women, we can have the best of both!" Ginny joked back as she bent down to get the piece of parchment Miranda had dropped. Ginny was glad the conversation was over. She hardly felt qualified in giving advice about confidence when she was still trying to gain her own.

In that moment, the women bonded with each other. They were no longer just employer and employee. They were becoming friends.