It's Better If You Do

“Oh, I’m so sorry about that. I told her she was to keep the Drooble’s in her mouth,” a mother said frantically as she juggled balancing a toddler on her hip and trying to magic the wad of bright pink gum out of the roots of Bellamy’s hair. The toddler was wearing a wide grin as she chomped away on another piece of gum, since the other had been spit into the brunette’s hair. Fighting the inclination to yell at the child, Bellamy merely forced a tight-lipped smile as she used her limited knowledge of charms that worked to try to magic the gum out of her hair.

“It’s fine,” she hissed through gritted teeth and her forced smile as she stood in front of the mirror, fighting with the gum and it turn just tangling it more into her hair. As vain as she was, to have to lop off all her hair because some stupid child spat gum in it would be like cutting off an appendage. She loved her long brown hair and saw it as one of her best attributes.

“No, no, no,” the mother said, prodding her wand into the mess between Bellamy’s wand and fingertips, “let me help with it. I know the perfect spell.” Bellamy merely shook her head, managing to get her wand stuck in the bubble gum and mess of hair.

“I’ve got it. Just continue looking around the store and I’ll fix it,” she said, trying to sound as sweet as she could(and failing) before shooing off the mom and the toddler, just wanting be able to get the gum out of her hair without some toddler waiting to just spit gum in it again. The mother gave her a look before scurrying away, as if trying to avoid the petite brunette’s wrath. The moment the woman left, Rose walked over to Bellamy, opening her mouth to say something, but stopping once she saw the look of annoyance on her sister’s face then looked up to the mess of gum, hair, and Bellamy’s wand, which was stuck in the middle of it. She gave a heavy sigh and dropped her arms to her sides, staring helplessly at Rose.

“What happened?” She asked, managing to keep her laughter under control as she pulled out her wand and with a flick of her wrist the bubble gum had dislodged itself from her hair and her wand clattered to the floor. Bellamy grumbled a bit as she leaned down and picked up her wand, pocketing it as she took the time to glower at the piece of gum on the floor before picking it up.

“I never want children,” she said grumpily as she chucked the piece of gum in a nearby rubbish bin before flattening out her hair, “at least not ones that like to spit gum.” Rose curled her lips in a bit, trying to keep from laughing at the situation. She took a few moments before she felt like she could keep her laugher under control before speaking again.

“So…Bellamy,” she began with a grin and how brilliant she thought the idea was, “I had this young man come up to me today and he asked me the strangest thing. He said that he wanted to know who you were and what your name was.” Bellamy merely stared at her emotionlessly, but made no inclination to walk away. “So…I decided to set the two of you on a blind date.” All the color quickly left Bellamy’s face as she stared, wide-eyed, at Rose.

“You didn’t?” She asked in a low voice, suddenly looking very scared.

“I did,” Rose said with a smile and a nod. Bellamy pursed her lips together as she expression changed to a mixture of scared and discontent. “I just thought since you helped me and Fred out that you deserved a date as well.” Bellamy closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, letting out a heavy sigh as she thought it all over. There was no way she was ready for any sort of serious relationship. “Listen, you just have to go out with him this once. He didn’t seem that bad, and he’s paying for it so the only thing you’ll be wasting is time.” Bellamy opened her eyes and let her hand drop back to her side.

“Fine, I’ll go on this one blind date,” she said with a roll of her eyes, “besides, it’ll give you and Fred time alone to snog without interruptions…well, as much as George will allow.” Rose blushed suddenly, unable to hide the grin from her lips. “What’s his name, then?” She asked, placing her hands on her hips and giving Rose an expectant stare.

“Uhm…I can’t really remember. I think he said it was Gregory or Geoffrey or something like that,” she said with a slight shrug. “And he wants you to meet him at the Leaky Cauldron-” Bellamy gave another exaggerated eye roll. “-tonight at seven o’clock. Fred, George, and I will just have to go out for dinner.”

“Or you could try cooking for them,” Bellamy said with a shrug. Rose blanched and quickly shook her head.

“No, I couldn’t. I’d probably end up making them sick or something,” she said, staring at her sister with wide eyes. Bellamy almost nodded in agreement before a sly smirk curled her lips.

“They don’t have to know you didn’t make it all, just let them think that you did. I could just happen to leave a pot of marinara sauce on a low simmer and all you’d have to do would be to cook the pasta,” she said with a shrug. Rose suddenly grinned widely.

“You’re brilliant, did you know that?” She said before giving her a warm hug, one that the older sister returned. “Just make sure you still have time to get ready after making the sauce and try to make it so neither of the twins see it,” Rose said as she pulled away from the hug. Bellamy merely gave her a smile and a nod.

“Well…I best get back upstairs before the children uproot the entire Shield Ha-” That was all Bellamy got out before a loud noise that sounded like a great deal of fabric falling to the ground cut in accompanied by a child’s excited voice saying, “Cool! Hats!” Without another word, Bellamy was bounding up the stairs as fast as she could in her heels, wearing a steely sort of expression.

Rose gave a small chuckle as she watched her sister before scouring the store for Fred. Half of setting up George and Bellamy was set up, and Rose figured that the worst was over with. Now all there would be left was to bring George on board to meet up with Bellamy at the Leaky Cauldron. She only hoped that Bellamy didn’t turn around and march directly out of there. It was a likelihood, but Bellamy would have second thoughts about interrupting her and Fred’s dinner. When she finally spotted the ginger twin in question, she noticed he was standing next to his other twin.

She walked over to the two of them and looped her arm through his just as he set off a firework. Rose watched it until it faded with a wide smile before looking up at him.

“Fred, I’d like to have a quick word with you in the back room,” she said with a small smile.

“A quick snog is more like it,” George murmured from the corner of his mouth, to which Fred quickly punched him in the arm. Rose blushed quickly as Fred began to lead them to the back room. She took a quick glance behind her to make sure that George was preoccupied with setting off more fireworks. As the curtain closed behind them, she turned to Fred.

“Look, you’ve got to find a way to get George to the Leaky Cauldron at seven,” Rose said quickly and in a quiet voice in case someone was listening in, namely George or Bellamy. “Bellamy’s agreed to be there so we best take the opportunity while it’s there.”

“I still don’t know if this is a good idea, Rose,” Fred said, shaking his head hesitantly, “ what if Bellamy ends up getting mad and thinks George is behind it all?” Rose gave him a look that had Fred seeing a slight resemblance between the sisters.

“If she goes to the Leaky Cauldron tonight, expecting to meet someone and they end up not showing,” Rose said, placing her hands on her hips, “she will be devastated and be in a sour mood with all of us for two or more weeks.” Fred gave a heavy sigh, watching Rose closely before giving her a nod.

“I’ll see what kind of story I can weave to get George there,” he said, which earned him a quick peck on the lips. He smiled slightly against the kiss before pulling away, otherwise they may just start snogging.

“Just make sure it’s not obvious. It should be a surprise to both of them that way the only person Bellamy could get mad at is me...instead of you or George,” she said. Fred let out another sigh and shook his head as he took her hand and began to lead her out of the backroom, lest George get suspicious and listen in.

“This should get interesting,” he murmured under his breath as they stepped back into the shop.