LIONHEART ❃ george weasley

013 | make a choice

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SITTING WITH HER FRIENDS IN THE Hospital Wing, Albany felt lighter than she had in a while. Between the pressure that Merlin and Arthur were putting on her, the distance growing between herself and Faith, and the unsettling encounter with Moody, she'd been feeling the effects of stress earlier in the year than she normally expected to. However, watching Fred and George have their beards removed as Lee snickered and she herself had to cough to hide her chuckles, she couldn't help the smile that creased her cheeks.

"Georgie, I must say, we look splendid as old men," Fred remarked pleasantly. "I look forward to growing up with you."

George snorted. "I don't," he retorted with a grin, and glanced to Lee and Albany, shaking his head. "The rest of my life with this git? I want a refund."

The two redheads were seated side by side on a hospital bed, rubbing a solution Madam Pomfrey had prepared into their faces. The white lather made an odd sizzling sound as it gradually dissolved their lengthy facial hair; two other students at the other side of the room were just finishing the removal of their own beards. Fred flicked a wad of the gel from his face onto George's for his twin's sarcastic comment.

"Oh please," Albany laughed, "you two would be lost without each other."

Lee chortled as he pulled his chair closer to the bed. "Gosh, I sure am enjoying being older without any consequences," he stated conversationally, and had to avoid another chunk of gel that was sent in his direction this time. He raised his eyebrows at Fred in the way a parent would at a misbehaving child. "That wasn't very mature of you, Fred Weasley."

"Piss off," Fred retorted with a good-natured laugh. "Like you'll ever mature."

"It is a pity it didn't work," George sighed, and had to rest his arms for a moment as he paused the massaging on his cheeks. "A thousand galleons." He sounded wistful.

"Yeah," Lee agreed, somewhat regretfully. "Waste of a good potion. We could have spent a productive morning actually making money."

Fred also put a halt on the rubbing of his beard, shaking out his wrists with a thoughtful expression. "I don't suppose anyone has any other suggestions on getting in?" he asked ruefully, glancing around at the other three. "We've still got a few hours."

"Don't look at me," laughed Lee, raising his hands in surrender. "I couldn't even come up with the idea of the Ageing Potion."

George had turned his gaze on Albany, arching an eyebrow in questioning at the girl. In silent response, she met his gaze with a threatening glare, though Fred had picked up on the interactions between them.

"You two are awful quiet," he noted smugly, and resumed dissolving his beard. "Anything you'd like to share?"

"No," Albany said, far too quickly.