𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗲, george weasley

˗ˋ 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
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-: the beginnings :-

── IN WHICH GEORGE AND
RHEA MAKE THEIR WAY
AROUND

. . .

As usual, Diagon Alley was so friendly and appealing, the number of painted shop fronts brightening the place up even further, not to mention the owners of said shops who waved and greeted both Rhea and George after they exited out of the purple and orange Weasley Wizard Wheezes shop. 

One half of the Weasley twins couldn't help but feel a little nervous as Rhea handed him half the stack of posters she had made. That was his problem, and the one true difference between Fred and George; Fred had a lot more confidence than his twin, whether that be a curse or a blessing in disguise.

So it was fair to say, even now, he felt nervous around pretty girls, especially ones who were easily in the top five nicest people he had ever met. Not many people could beat Rhea in that area. 

George couldn't quite believe that she had gone out of her way to make the posters when she already did so much to help them. And she had drawn them herself, and struggled with a Muggle company to get each of them duplicated when she really could've used a charm - but Gemino was a complex spell and could easily go wrong, so if the caster wasn't confident, it probably wasn't a good idea.

That was how her and Fred had somehow managed to cause their hoard if multi-coloured ties for their more... elaborate pranks to multiply rapidly upon being touched, instantly overflowing the old supply cupboard they used as a base to keep their things in. They had only been able ro fix it by convincing Percy they had found some second year attempting the charm and they had promised to help them clean it up.

That memory made George grin almost madly, an expression which fled his features quickly as Rhea glanced over; he didn't want her to think of him as strange.

Merlin, she really made him nervous when she looked at him like that, blue eyes made only more vibrant against pale skin and surrounded colourful buildings. 

"So." George cleared his throat, needing something to do as he held up one of the posters, his wand pointing towards the top. "Astrictus." He performed the Sticking charm and placed the poster up against the lampost, Rhea doing the same onto a fence. "You said you illustrated these yourself?"

"Yes." Rhea nodded, tucking her wand into the top of the uneven socks she was wearing - the white ribbed one was only knee-heigh, and the thigh-high one was a pale green and had pretty little cats, clovers and mushrooms embroidered on. "Have you heard of the Quibbler?"

George had. He had also laughed at it several times. He knew the content in it was garbage, but he couldn't help but allow a wave of guilt to hit him as he nodded in Rhea's direction.

"That's my father's newspaper. It was my mother's idea for him to create it, so that he could write and let other know about the creatures he discovered, and help others as well - at the beginning of last year he and Luna managed to find out how to see Wrackspurts, and included a pair of Spectrespecs in it as well." Rhea informed him. George remembered those glasses, they had made Luna look like a rather demented owl. 

"And you illustrated for it?" George continued. "Just how did you manage that whilst you were in France?"

"I didn't." The Lovegood girl dhrugged as she pinned up another poster. "My mother took over, but passed away not so long after. Then, when possible, Luna and I do it, but otherwise it is my father."

"I see... you could've done some of the drawing for our packaging." George suggested, although it was more to himself than her, and after realising he had spoken it instead of just thought, he met Rhea's eyes. "Sorry... Not that it was a necessity - you do so much for us already I'm just glad we can pay you for it now."

"That's quite alright." As usual, Rhea's voice held that slightly mystical quality, soft-spoken and gently beyond belief. It made his knees feel a little weak if he was honest, but he had no idea what was going on and why he suddenly felt like that. "I think I'll go and ask Ms. Pottage if we may put a poster in the window."

And with slightly wide eyes, George watched as Rhea disappeared inside of the shop, an owl hooting outside the nearby shop.

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