It's Better If You Do

"I've done it. Rose hates me, George," Fred said looking thoroughly upset. George's eyebrows immediately furrowed in confusion.

"But she was just all blushing and smiles at you, Fred," George protested, looking over at the two sisters, were Rose was biting her lip, looking extremely down.

Fred shook his head back and forth, utterly disgusted with himself. He looked his brother in the eye, and said simply, "She asked me what phrases I knew in French."

George's eyes widened, and he gave Fred a stern look reminscent of their father, though he would have died if he had known it,"You should have lied. Merlin's beard, Fred. You've got better sense than that!"

Glancing back at Rose, he just looked at his feet sadly. "I couldn't. It doesn't seem like I can lie to her. I don't want to start off and end like all the others; when it was all charm and snogging."

Exhaling slowly, he shrugged at his brother."Well, I don't know what to tell you, mate. Rose's seen a boy that seems just like us ruin her sister's entire life. Unless you can prove you're different, she's going to stay away from you like a pixie from a cat," said George, clasping his brother on the shoulder and walking away to a rambunctious group of ten year olds trying to start up the fireworks on their own.

Casting an anxious glance at Rose, he noticed she was looking over at him as well. She curtly ducked her head in a nod, and went off off toward the a small group of girls looking at the empty Pygmy Puff cage. They looked very distraught, and she smiled kindly at them.

"We'll have Pygmy Puffs in a few weeks, ma chéries. If you pay now, we'll be sure to hold some for you." Rose said softly, her warmth drawing the children to her side. Three of them eagerly agreed, while one frowned, her soft pink lips puckering into a frown.

"I'll have to speak to my Mum first," said one brunette headed girl sadly, glancing back at a similar looking woman near the door, who wore a disaproving look on her face.

Seeing how much the little girl wanted to have a Pygmy Puff, Rose winked at the girl and said, "I'll be right back."

"Is she joking, Brenna?" one whispered as the slender blonde woman casually walked up to the woman and struck up a conversation, smiling shyly, nodding and speaking quietly and politely whenever the sharp tongued woman would ask a question.

"No idea," murmured Brenna, watching with wide eyes and a thumping heart, as the hope of having one of the little animals swelled within her heart. The other girls eventually went to go get their own mothers, and Brenna waited patiently, with only the occasional sigh.

Rose's kindness eventually wore the woman down, and she handed over the galleon and five knuts with a small smile. Rose thanked her, and felt a surge of happiness at helping the little girl. She strode back over, a grin stretching across her face, brightening up her entire countenence.

Brenna grinned back, and jumped up and down, for she was only 7 years old. "Thank you, ma'am!"

Leaning over to get on and eye to eye level with the little girl, she said, "No trouble at all. Which color would you like? Pink or purple?"

"Pink!" squealed Brenna delightedly.

Rose nodded professionally, "Pink it will be. Your mother already paid the money, and given me the address to your home, so your Pygmy Puff will be with you within a matter of weeks," she paused, and asked the girl curiously, "What are you going to call your Pygmy Puff?"

Brenna obviously had put a lot of thought into this, "Babbitty!"

"That was actually one of my favorite stories when I was little, too." Rose said, smiling.

"Brenna! I've got some other shopping to do!" called the mother.

Rose urged the girl forward, and Brenna called loudly behind her shoulder, "Thank you!"

Crossing her arms across her chest, she leaned against the shelf she was next to, and couldn't help but think that that little girl had made her day.

"You're brilliant with children," came the quiet compliment from behind her. She turned and George stood off to the side, a half smile on his face.

She looked back after them, her expression becoming slightly serious as she looked over and analyzed the gingery headed boy. Rose finally said, "The impact you make on children may change their entire lives. A kind word, or a Pygmy Puff, for example, can make them very happy, and they'll cherish the memory for the rest of their days."

George nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. It's why we came into the joke business, Fred and I. The world could use a few more smiling faces."

"It definitely could," she said simply, and began to turn to walk away, when George called quietly, "Rose. Wait."

She sighed, turning reluctantly, her lips pursed in an uncharacteristic frown that gave her a distinct resemblence to Bellamy. "What, George? I'm about to go help more customers."

He softly said, "We're not that bad, you know. We've been a bit careless about girls in the past, but..." He sighed. "Just give him a second chance."

Raising her eyebrow, she murmured, "Who said I liked him? Who said I was going to give him even a chance at all? One day around me does not mean you know me, George."

"You're right again," he said gently, nodding. "But I do know that he likes you." Her heart gave an extra loud thud, and her eyes changed ever so slightly. He liked her? She blushed as her thoughts betrayed her, and stared at her feet. George took this as a sign to continue.

"A few phrases in french doesn't make the person, Rosie. Just give it some time to think over." He said sincerely, lightly touching her shoulder before he turned and walked away.

Left with some puzzling thoughts, she wandered around the store, occasionally helping a customer or two by pointing them in the twins' directions, when she didn't know the answer to a question. She even sold some things- a Basic Blaze Box, some belching powder, Edible Dark Marks, Canary Creams, and a screaming yo-yo- though it was spaced out between a few hours.

When she saw the boys were doing just fine on their own, she took a seat by the railing on the second floor, watching the people and how the twins had such a flair for business. I hope George is right... and I do like Fred, she thought grudgingly, but I just can't turn out like Bellamy. I won't allow it, she decided firmly.

She shook her head, her head leaning against the siderail, and simply let her mind wander to her home in France, of all the good times with Bellamy before Julian came along. Yawning suddenly, she realized she could hardly keep her eyes open. Just a few minutes, she thought, curling up on the wooden floor.

The hours passed quickly to the boys, as they were used to working all day and dealing with customers. It wasn't really strenuous, unless there were some bratty children.

At the end of the day, Fred grinned at George and crowed, "Cheers, mate! Closing time. Now, let's go see what the girls are up to."

George had been looking around the shop, making sure all the customers were gone, when he noticed something particularly odd. Some light colored string was hanging off the siderail on the second floor. On further inspection, he noticed that it was Rose, slumped over on her side, sleeping soundly.

Smirking, he pointed. "Well, that's what one of them is up to."

"One of us has to wake her up," murmured Fred as he watched the girl sleep, before turning to George.

"Or, we could let Bellamy do it, and neither of us get in trouble. I don't trust french women when they're sleeping." he said darkly, shaking his head.

"True that, Georgie." Fred said, nodding, and they walked with curiousity to the backroom to see what Bellamy had been up to for the rest of the day.