It's Better If You Do

When Rose and Fred finally caught their breath from laughing, Bellamy had her nose buried in a book, and she was tucked under the covers. Rose recognized the worn hardback, and smiled at how many times her sister had read it. Rose smiled, asking warmly, "Isn't that your fiftieth time reading that?"

Bellamy glanced up, smiling wryly. "Probably," she admitted softly.

"You like to read?" Fred asked incredilously.

Rose turned to look at him him with a frown on her lips. "We both do. Don't you?"

Fred hesistated, though it was clear his answer was going to be a flat out no. "I've never been an academic myself..."

Rose shrugged. "Neither were we. We just liked the stories."

It was his turn to shrug. "I've always liked making my own stories."

"That seems like a good philosophy." Rose said, smiling brightly.

"It's always been mine. Don't go through life barely living; do things that you'd want to hear about, or, in you twos' instance, read about." Fred said, his brown eyes full of mischief.

She nodded. "I like it. France, and Beauxbatons, were always so... proper. I wanted to do what I liked, when I liked, and everyone was always telling me no. That's one of the reasons we came here, or atleast that's why I did."

"I've had enough adventure, honestly," came the quiet reply from Bellamy, and it immediately became silent in the room, while Fred and Rose exchanged furtive looks, both knowing what 'adventure' she had been referring to.

"But it's better if you do," another voice said, and the girls glanced up in surprise as George rumpled his wet hair. He wore sleep pants almost identical to Rose's with a plain white t-shirt.

"Maybe, maybe not," Bellamy said slowly. "Why are you out of the shower so quick?"

He shrugged and sat down on the foot of his bed. "I don't fuss much about bathing."

Fred smirked, and nudged Rose, before asking his brother, "Have a nice shower, Georgie?"

His twin glared at him darkly at the reference to Bellamy's comment. Rose and Bellamy shared a grin, before stifling their laughter.

He continued on, undaunted, "Atleast they'll be plenty of hot water for me, eh?"

This time Rose couldn't help but to laugh, and it started Bellamy and Fred laughing too, and soon the room was echoing with sounds of merriment; tears were streaming down cheeks, stomachs were hurting, and gasps for breath were very audible, while George glared at all three of them.

"What do you expect me to do with her coming out in some kind of-" he stopped very quickly as Bellamy stopped laughing, and cut her eyes at him dangerously. He wanted to apparate to another country when she looked at him, and he swallowed hard, his adam's apple bobbing nervously.

"Some kind of what?" she asked loudly and defensively, her light brown eyes flashing.

"S- sleepwear, of course," he muttered weakly, his eyes wide.

She stared at him for a moment, her now pink lips pursed tightly, then picked up her book again, murmuring, "That's what I thought."

"And, Georgie," Fred began lightly, the smirk still present on his freckled face. "You didn't see me staring at her sleepwear."

"That's because you're too busy exchanging blushes with this one over here, Freddie." pointed out George, with a smirk of his own.

This shut him up immediately. Fred stood, and glowered at his brother, before gathering his pajamas up quickly, and shutting the door to the bathroom with a bit more force than he would have done on any other day.

George chuckled. "He forgets that I have more on him than he does me."

Rose, with her cheeks very pink, thought carefully, Well, that sure does appear that he likes me. And, I really doubt he would do anything to face the wrath of Bellamy... I might give him a try.

She stared off into space, debating whether or not to, not noticing the looks Bellamy and George were exchanging in regards to her silence. After a moment, she shrugged, and crawled into Fred's bed, staring at the ceiling.

Bellamy decided to let Rose think things through on her own, though she could easily give advice to her and french and neither twin know a thing. She turned to George, commenting quietly, "I know you said we'd work something about the sleeping arrangements out after tomorrow, but I don't see how that's going to work."

George smiled reassuringly. "Fred and I have no qualms with sleeping on the floor."

She bit her lip, and shook her head slowly. "But that's not right. You don't have any extra blankets to sleep on. We should atleast take turns-"

"My mum would slaughter the both of us if she knew we were making guests, and lady guests at that, sleep on the wooden floor while we slept in our warm toasty beds," he said, raising his eyebrows. "No. We will sleep on the floor."

"Why not get some cots?" came the suggestion from Rose, as she looked over at them. "They aren't expensive, and they'd fit easily in this room."

"That's an excellent idea, Rosie. My, my. What would we do without you?" George asked, winking at her. Bellamy shook her head, and exhaled deeply through her nose.

Turning to her sister, Bellamy asked, "How about I get some tomorrow while you and Fred are out sight-seeing? I can get some soft blankets, too, and that will make it more comfortable for us."

"That sounds fine to me." Rose said, smiling at her. Butterflies filled her stomach every time she thought about the next day, though she would rather die than admit it.

Bellamy nodded, giving her sister a reassuring smile, and went back to her book, but not paying attention to any words on the page. Rose was going to be alone all day with Fred. Though she wasn't worried about Rose being able to take care of herself, she was slightly worried about how her sister's lack of dealing with boys would turn out. She knew this day would have come eventually anyway, but she still didn't have to like it. Pursing her lips, she thought of all the things that could go wrong, and if anything did, she would be responsible. Not by any one else, but by herself.

As the elder and wiser sister, she looked after Rose like she was her own child. She had done so since Rose had been born, even. And for her to take off, unprepared, from the nest unsettled her.

Fred came out of the bathroom then, a calmer and steadier expression on his face. Rose glanced up then, and smiled. He returned it gently, and Bellamy's fears quieted. Her sister could take care of herself, she thought with a tiny smile, and she returned to reading.