20.
"Why don't you go stock the shelves or something?" Verity seethed at me as I glared at her. This was probably the twelfth time in the past hour she had tried to get me to do something other than work the cash register. The minute I came in the shop she seemed to have her icy stare set on me; Fred, George and Lee informed me it was probably cause she thought I was a boy and didn't do well with new people. Either way I was getting pretty fed up with her 'tude. This was my first day working full time at the shop and she was ruining my dream. "Are you even listening? We're slow, we don't need both of us on the register."
My eyebrow twitched, wanting to scream at her. If anyone should leave the register it should be her and not because she's just being a brat right now, but because she honestly was rather slow ringing people up. I would ring up four people in the time she would begrudgingly ring up one and it's not like she was even chatting the people up, she was just slow. It may have also helped that I use to work in a retail store when I was high school. "You know Verity..." I bite my tongue as I noticed the twins chatting with one of the older clients that came in, "Fine. I will go stock the shelves." I complied, I just needed to get away from this girl and her 'tude. She has won this battle, but she has not won the war!
I walked over to the twins as I smiled noticing Fred's smile grow just a tad wider once I walked over, however, I could have been imagining it. "Mouse! How's working with Verity going?" Fred asked after the twins said goodbye to the gentleman holding his merchandise of Weasley products.
I let out quite the exaggerated groan as I looked at them, George snickered, "that well eh? Don't worry I'm sure she'll grow on you."
"Look I don't know if you two realize this, but the girl despises me. For whatever reason, I am unsure, maybe this wasn't the best idea for me to come work here." I groaned, obviously I did not mean it, but man I really also hated the constant icy looks I would get from this girl. I thought she would be funny like the twins, but she's quite the opposite.
"Tut tut tut, already thinking about quitting already Holmes?" Fred asked with a disapproving look, I rolled my eyes at his "stern" expression.
"No. I am not a quitter, lazy yes, but not a quitter. At least not most days, Tuesday and Thursday are entirely different, however." I replied with a smirk as Fred and smiled at each other.
"Well we may have something to show you—"
"that will make you proud to be part of the WWW clan!" Fred finished with a grin as I raised an eyebrow at the two of them.
"Oh? Is it a troll riding on a unicycle or a cat that changes the colors of its fur? Ooooh! Or is it a tap dancing naked mole rat who's name is Oscar?" I replied with wide eyes and a grin plastered on my face. Fred and George gave each other a comical and quizzical look before they just linked arms with me.
"Maybe it's best we just show you instead of your guesses, Ro." George replied as I glared at them before they lead me to a small little shelf next to the Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder and by the Skiving Snackboxes. I immediately noticed the small little display that held an enchanted floating bowl of a different variety of what looked like salt water taffy. As well as little boxes of the candy ranging from a pack of 10 to 200, however, there was no name on the display or the boxes it was left blank. "Hey! I know that taffy!" I remarked noticing the familiar orange one, I had a supply of those under my/Percy's bed back at the burrow.
"Yes well love we've finally finished the product, worked out all the kinks—" George began as Fred continued for him. "And tweeked some of the flavors, no thanks to you and your countless input."
My face turned a slight shade of red, remembering one night I couldn't sleep and just kept telling Fred ideas and some improvements it needed. "I mean you did ask for my opinion."
George and Fred smiled, "We know."
"Anyways, we've finished it and now all there's left is the reveal of the name." George replied as he looked towards Fred, "ready Fred?"
"Ready George" they both lifted up their wands and with a little swish the name appeared on top of the display and on top of all the blank places on the boxes, my smile grew as I read the name of their new product.
"Metamorphmamouse" I instantly knew it was a play on my nickname the twins (mostly Fred) had for me and the fact that the taffy let you change your appearance like a Metamorphmagus. "Guys—"
"We know what you're thinking," Fred started as he grabbed a taffy from the floating bowl.
"It looks nothing like a mouse," George pretended to mimic my voice as I glared at his poorly done imitation, "but if you look closely in the middle of the taffy we've added—"
"A tiny little mouse," I awed at the simplicity of the mouse and how brilliant the twins really were.
"Different colors mean different things, so we have solid colors which will just change your hair color," Fred picked up the same orange one that I've eaten countless times.
"However," George interjected as he showed a fuzzy looking black one, "the fuzzy ones will change the person's face temporarily like the black one with the long whiskers will give you cat ears and nose, the short whiskers will give you dog ears."
"We also have bird ones, tiger ones, and lions. The taffy's only last for a short amount of time—"
"We've averaged about 5 hours." George interjected as Fred handed me one of the taffy's, this one was purple, my favorite color.
"That one will change you into a mouse, facial features that is." Fred grinned as I smiled at the thought of having a mousy face, literally.
"You guys..." I trailed off, "You're more clever than I give you credit for."
"We'll take that as a compliment," George grinned, as Fred smirked, "However, side effects include roaring,"
"The urge of licking yourself,"
"Hairballs"
"And an urge to eat raw meat," Fred concluded, "but hardly anything to worry about." I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't hide my smile at the amazing product the twins created. They were absolutely brilliant.
"So Metamorphmamouse, is that name inspired by anybody you know?" I asked with a smirk looking at the twins as they looked at each other looking confused.
"Inspired by anyone?" George repeated my question, "I mean our own brilliance."
"Please, mouse, we would never name a product after someone we know." Fred replied as George went on, "especially not someone with black hair or a wicked personality."
"Never." Fred nodded as I smiled at the two of them before I ran over to them and gave them both a kiss on the cheek.
"Well either way, if you guys ever did name it after someone I'm sure that someone would be the happiest person in the world and would not know how to thank you both enough." Fred and George smiled down at me before rubbing the back of their heads.
"Oh I can think of something." Fred winked as I rolled my eyes.
"Moment ruined." I argued as I stuck my tongue out at the cheeky bastard.
"Hey!" I heard someone call behind us; I had completely forgotten that the twins and I were not alone in the shop. Verity had just finished checking out the last customer in our shop. "You going to restock the shelves or what?" she asked looking at me as I sighed.
"The ice witch calls for my service," I groaned as Fred and George smirk.
"If Verity gives you any trouble Ro—" George began as I placed my hand up, "I'm going to stop you there. I can handle my battles Mr. Holey. And I'm not about to let you guys get on her just cause she's not too fond of me, some people like you and some people don't. Its just life." I performed a little curtsy in front of the twins instantly smacking my forehead afterwards, "why the bloody hell did I just curtsy to the two of you?"
"Seemed appropriate at the time," Fred grinned as George bowed next to him as he followed, "M'lady" they replied in unison as I rolled my eyes once more before turning to leave to start restocking the shelves with the ice queen staring icy daggers at me as I did so. However, I did not care because I freaking had a Weasley Wizard Wheeze's product named after me. Best day ever.
~~~
"And there we go!" I exclaimed with a smile as I finished stocking one of the top shelves and was coming down the ladder.
"Yeah now you have to go stock the back room." Verity appeared at my side, I yelped in surprise and fell back on my butt. Damn, that girl popped out of nowhere. "And quit slacking."
"Slacking?!" I yelled as I shot back up, "I have restocked all the shelves, by hand no less! I am not going to the back room to stock more, I am going to go work the cash register."
"Typical, you think you can just shrug off your work responsibilities just cause you're a squib and you slept your way to this job." Verity said under her breath, but I have super hearing so nothing went past me. I swiftly turned around on my heels and glared at the ice queen (a name that I thought fit her perfectly). The twins were out getting some lunch so it was just Verity and I manning down the shop.
"Excuse me?!" I yelled as Verity glared at me, "You heard me. You slept your way here! I don't know with whom, Lee probably. And Lee despises me so he probably forced the twins hands to take you in!"
"Alright Verity I've had enough of you." I said calmly trying to regain my temper, "You think you can scare me into leaving this place? I've been thrown around worlds; I think I can handle another's girls' jealousy. So you can either be my friend or my enemy, but trust me Verity I've had to take care of myself at a young age and I may not look like much but I'm crazier than most girls."
Verity huffed, glared at me and then stormed off to the back room. I groaned. Great, now I have an enemy at work. I placed my face in my hands and groaned, loudly.
"Well that's a new way to greet our customers, eh Georgie?" my head shot over to see Fred and George walking in the shop.
"I do believe it is Fred, having a mid life crisis there Ro?"
"No I just... had a issue, but it's fine." I sighed as Fred raised an eyebrow at me.
"Everything okay mouse?" Fred asked as George clapped his hands, "Oh I know. Something happened with Verity!"
"Maybe, maybe not. Either way I think it's my turn to get lunch." I replied as I started to make my way towards the door and just as I was about to open it when the door opened on it's own and there stood a tall man with a eerie smile on his scarred face.
"Hello there beautiful, mind telling me your blood status?" I stumbled backwards as I felt a pair of hands steady my back.
"Sorry but we don't serve your kind here." Fred seethed behind me.
"Now is that anyway to treat an interested customer?" The man replied as him and the other two behind him pushed their way into the shop, I was instantly shoved behind the protective barrier that is George and Fred. "This place even smells of blood traitor."
"Yaxley, get out." George seethed, this time stepping up. I tilted my head to the side, oh that's why he looked familiar.
"No I think I'll stay, did you know Harry Potter was spotted at the Ministry? I even followed him back to his hiding spot." Yaxley grinned as the other two started to roam around the shop.
"As much as we enjoy your company, which we don't, we want you out." Fred practically growled as he stepped closer to Yaxley, I had to stifle a laugh because Yaxley was shorter than Fred and it amused me. However, I must not have stifled much of my laugh because then Yaxley averted his glare to me.
"You look familiar lovely, where have I seen you?" Yaxley grinned eerily as I glared at him.
"What's your blood status?" I heard a voice next to me as I quickly whipped around at the man standing next to me. My knees wobbled at his sight. It was the same one that was in the cornfield that day.
"You." I seethed out as he smirked down at me, his nose looked a little lopsided I couldn't help but think that was from me.
"What happened to your hair? Your hair was orange last time I saw you. Aren't you a Weasley?" He questioned as Yaxley clapped his hands.
"That's who you are! The girl from the wedding."
"She's been trying out one of our new products that changed the color of your hair." George interjected as he stepped next to me, putting space between the man who assaulted me. "Now again, why are you here?"
Yaxley sighed but smiled as he walked around the shop while the other "ministry worker" went upstairs to further look around. "Just looking around, browsing if you will. Now I don't believe you answered my colleague. What's your blood status?"
"She answered that at the wedding, she doesn't need to answer that again." Fred stepped in front of me protectively. "Now get out Yaxley and take your dogs with you."
My skin crawled at the intensity in the room; I'd never seen Fred so intense.
"I'd just like to know the girl's blood status first, I seem to have forgotten from the wedding." Yaxley smiled towards me as I glared.
"She's a pureblood obviously. Can't you tell by the air of sophistication?" I heard a voice come from behind Yaxley, I raised an eyebrow and saw Verity step out.
"Ah Verity, it's a shame to see the place you work. So much potential." Yaxley shook his head as he looked back over at me.
"Fine, for now I'll take it, but trust me this isn't the last. Let's go, there's nothing here." Yaxley looked towards the others as one of them just came from upstairs. The man I knew looked down at me while George still stood between us.
"It was nice to see you again, some parts are still hazy from our last meet maybe next time you can fill in those gaps." He reached for my face with his hand but he was immediately out of my sight and hoisted up to the air by a fiery red head.
"You touch her again and you won't have hands." Fred seethed as the guy stared down at him wide eyes.
"Well would you look at that, this blood traitor has some bite, but if you don't unhand that Ministry member you boy will be the one without hands." Yaxley sneered as he stood by the door, George walked over to Fred as he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Fred, he's bloody well is not worth it and you know it."
Fred glared at the guy he held up in the air and I couldn't help but feel the anger he had, I wanted Fred to punch the living daylights out of that bloke, but I knew it wasn't worth Fred going to Azkaban for. "If I ever see you again, I'll—"
"Now Weasley, are you making a threat at a ministry worker?" Another one of the men asked as he glared at Fred, slowly inching his way to his pocket. I immediately stepped up, this bloke was not worth Azkaban and he was definitely not worth being killed over.
"No, no, no, no. Fred was simply saying how he'd take him out for a cup of tea or he'll give him a skiving snackbox. Nothing more." I hurriedly assured the ministry/death members. "Yes, you misunderstood him Fred is just very enthusiastic about." Verity came in with the save as well, trying to save me from my horrid excuses.
Fred slowly set down the guy as he put on one of the fakest smiles I've ever seen Fred have, "Right just letting him know what kindness I'd show the lass." He forcefully was patting down "dust" from his shoulders.
"Well it's time to go, enough. Their time will come." Yaxley replied as he left out the door, the guy gave us one last glared before he followed his comrades out the shop. It seemed like a huge air of tension was lifted out of the shop once the dreadful people were out of the shop.
"Well they were horrid customers," I sighed as I turned to face the twins and Verity, they instantly busted out laughing.
"I'm just glad none of us were sent to Azkaban, that would be a hard one to explain to mum." George replied with a sigh as he looked over at Fred. "You okay Freddie?"
"Yeah Georgie, just I really wanted to ring that little prick's neck." Fred said with a huge smile on his face as I grinned, "it's okay I did too."
"I'm assuming there's a back story to that guy?" Verity asked, as I looked over at her a small smile made it's way on my face as I looked at her. "Thanks for sticking up for me Verity."
Verity rolled her eyes, "well I may be a bitch, but I damn well am not gonna let some bloody death eaters torment you. You're part of the WWW family now."
I immediately glomped her in a hug, "Yay! We're friends."
Verity immediately pushed me off, "Oh no no no. I am definitely not your friend, nemesis yes, but not friend. Just because you're part of the WWW family doesn't mean I have to like you." Verity instructed as she smiled down at me and then up at the twins, "Anyways looks like it's time for me to go so I'll see you boys tomorrow."
And with that she was gone, my mouth still agape from the shade I just received from her, "soooo Verity seemed to take a liking to you Ro!" George grinned as he placed an arm around me. I perked up at eyebrow at him, completely baffled.
"She does?"
"Oh yes, she doesn't even pay any mind to Lee besides dirty remarks. She likes you!" Fred exclaimed with a grin, "It just takes a while to make your way under her skin as more than just a nuisance."
"Right... So how does she know Yaxley?"
"She use to be in Slytherin, so her family used to be involved with some of the other Slytherin parents but then things started getting dark and well now she's here." George replied with a grin, "We brought her to the less dark side!"
"Yeah! The red side!" Fred cheered as I rolled my eyes at the two.
"Well... I don't know about you guys but I think I've had enough excitement for today."
"What? No Ro we still have quidditch to go play!" George whined as I crossed my arms across my body.
"I'm sure Fred has told you I cannot and I mean literally cannot play quidditch." I puffed out my cheeks as Fred poked one of my cheeks with a grin, "Well then you can ref for us. Or be on my team!"
"Hey no fair, I want Ro on my team!" George argued as I rolled my eyes at the bickering twins. I was falling more in love with the people in this world than I should be.
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Hello there lovelies!
I hope you are enjoying the story thus far! I know it's been a little slow, but trust me it'll start building up here shortly! Please make sure to vote, comment and message me on anything I need to work on or stuff you really like so I know for next time! I've been on a binge of Friends, it's making it really hard not to write Fred as Joey or Chandler sometimes lol.
Love,
CharlieA