It's Better If You Do

Rose watched her sister steal away, and shook her head, smirking to herself. Bellamy didn't fool her. The only thing left in her trunk was shoes and clothes, and as vain as her sister was, she wasn't one to change outfits multiple times a day. Sleep would do her good, and it gave her some time to mull over the conversation with her sister.

Even she had noticed Fred 'seemed' to like her. Maybe it was obvious. Rose was glad she wasn't imagining things. She quickly glanced down to the twins and saw that they were staring up at her. Smiling embaressedly, she gave a wave, and ducked her head closer to the mirror.

Looking up from the floor, she saw that her hair was absolutely fussed. Frowning slightly, she pulled her hair back into a halfhearted bun, her fringe falling into her eyes. It would have to do, she decided, sighing. She would ask Bellamy to brush it out later, after her nap. Right now, it would just stay the way it was.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw an interesting looking hat. It was a purple, yellow, and green top hat. Smiling slightly, she picked it up, and watched in the mirror to make sure she put it on right. The instant she placed it on her head, she dissapeared. Gasping, she pulled it off, and she reappeared. A uncommonly sly idea caught her attention, and she bit her lip, trying not to laugh.

Placing it back onto her head, she walked quickly over to the side rail, watching the twins clean up the Skiving Snackboxes table. Grinning, she listened to their conversation.

"A bleeder, that one was," George complained, as he siphoned off the handkerchief with his wand.

Fred shrugged. "Better a bleeder than a puker. Evanesco."

"True." George sighed and looked around the shop. "Lunchtime, mate."

"Do you think Bellamy will cook?" Fred asked, skeptically raising his eyebrow.

"She said she would. So, I guess so. Can't beat Mum's cooking though." George added wistfully.

Fred's eyes glazed over with longing, "I think we need to visit her soon."

Biting her lip, she looked around the shop for straggling customers, but saw none. Rose giggled, and placed Ryussi down in a box, where he simple squeaked and began rolling around. Rose made sure the hat was on tight, before walking down the stairs quietly, making sure not to be abrupt in any way. They continued on in their chatter, while she made her way swiftly toward them. This would be fun, she thought with suppressed laughter.

"...Wonder if she's still mad at me," George pondered, with a smirk.

"For my sake, I hope not." Fred said darkly.

Rose nodded when she realized they were talking of Bellamy. She would talk her sister down; it was the least she could do. Shaking her head to get refocused, she ghosted herself right in between the twins, and called out in a high pitched voice, "Marco?"

The twins jumped about a foot in the air, and glanced around the empty space. Fred's eyebrows jumped together, as he looked at George, "What the bloody hell?"

"I dunno." George said, equally disturbed.

Rose doubled over, her eyes almost watering for trying to keep her laughter silent. Raising up, she called in a dulcet tone, "Marco?"

Fred and George both looked around again, before narrowing on the small space that was Rose. She quickly scurried away quietly, an eager smile on her face.

"Polo!" yelled George casually.

Delighted that they decided to play along, Rose shrieked, "MARCO!"

Laughing now, the twins began to feel around with their arms, searching for the tiny blonde girl. She ducked under a table, and noticed how dusty it was. She gave a shrug, and stayed there, watching their feet.

"POLO!" Fred bellowed, grinning.

"Marco!" she yelped. Seeing them both eye the table, she dove away, seconds before they lunged for her.

Colliding, Fred and George let out a stream of profanities. Openly laughing now, Rose raced around them, saying in a sing song voice, "Ring around the ROSIES; Pockets full of Posies; A-Tishoo! A-Tishoo!-"

"We all fall down!" cried George as he threw himself at her.

She quickly side stepped him, grinning to herself. "Every night when I get home; the monkey's on the table! Take a stick and knock it off; POP GOES THE WEASEL...!"

Fred got to his feet, and she ran at full speed, laughing hysterically. He chased after her, having the most fun he had had in days. She paused at the WonderWitch products, and he stopped, listening for her.

She cheekily sang, "Freddie can't catch Roooossiiiieeeeeee!"

Smiling wryly, he feigned to walk forward, but lurched towards her, yelling, "GOTCHA!'

But she ducked down, he hit the floor. She leaned over him, and whispered, "Can't catch me," before taking off again.

Fred lay there laughing, until George caught up with him, and said, panting, "Let's corner her, eh? It'd make this easier."

Fred nodded. "Right. So, where do you think we should?"

"Maybe the back room; we'd catch her there." George said, his eyes glinting with mischief.

"Brilliant. Let's do it." Fred said, smiling grimly, getting to his feet. "Which way did she go?"

They listened for her, and heard her singing in a merry voice, "Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of waaatttterrrrrrrrrrrrr....!"

"She's by the front window then. I'll go round back, and you head her off." George told his brother, a wicked smile on his face.

"Excellent." Fred said, echoing his brother's smile.

Rose was having an absolute blast. This was the most spontaenous thing she had done in years. And they were playing along! She felt like a small child again, playing tag. Except, this was much more fun. She saw Fred come up to where she was, and him look around, scanning for her.

She felt extremely bold, and walked right up behind him and whispered, "Boo."

He turned quickly, and smiling brightly as he went to grab her, but she took off, laughing. Then she tried her best at a British accent, singing, "London Bridge is falling down; Falling down, falling down! London Bridge is falling down, my fair gingers!"

George listened from his crouched down position, and heard her come right by him, and he began running in hot pursuit of her. Gasping, she began running faster, no longer singing, but it didn't matter, because he could hear her footsteps.

Fred quickly caught up, and came opposite side of George. "Who can't catch who now, Rosie?"

"Damnit," she grumbled, realizing they had planned this. She ducked into the curtained room, sat on the stairs, and waited. Fred and George immediately rushed in to the room, making sure to block the entrance.

"Come out, come out!" Fred called, grinning.

"We'll find you one way or the other," George assured ominously.

Rose crawled onto the floor, and sat by the entrance, looking up at them. They'd never find her now, she thought smugly.

A slight bit slower than his usual walk, Fred paced himself as he made his way toward the stairs, preparing to run at the slightest sound. He felt every step, and was dissapointed not to find her. He turned and shrugged at George, who, in turn, pulled out his wand.

"Atleast be found with some dignity," George chided. "Otherwise I'm just going to summon the hat, and that isn't any fun."

Rose sighed loudly, and they turned to where she sat. George swooped down and grabbed the hat off of her, and bowed to her.

"That was the most fun I have had in quite some time. Props, my dear." George said lightly, winking at her.

She grinned at him, and they both realized she wasn't blushing for once. "Same here. I felt like a small child again."

"Then our goal is accomplished, Georgie! That is the entire purpose of Weasleys' Wizard's Wheezes. We've done it!" Fred beamed proudly at his brother.

"And so we have, Freddie. Now, how about some lunch?" George suggested.

Rose nodded, letting her hair down, "I'm starving. Let me just go wake up Bellamy-"

"Wake her up?" The twins spoke with equal interest, a devious twinkle coming into each of their eyes.

Rose stood quickly, her eyes wide. "NO. Don't. You've never woken Bellamy up before! You have to do it gently, slowly, with kindness, and even then she might snap your head off."

Dissapointment stole the smiles right off their faces, and they looked down, like small children being scolded. "But-" Fred protested.

"-that's not any fun." George pouted.

"It also wouldn't be any fun if she gave you a black eye," said Rose severely. "She's especially not happy with you, George."

He sighed, and scowled slightly. "Not my fault," he grumbled. "I told her not to..."

"All the same," Fred chimed in, giving George a look. "You should go wake her nicely. That would set her straight with you, wouldn't it?"

George sent his twin a withering glance. "You're sending me into the dragon's lair. I hope you know this will be paid back in full."

"Course," said Fred bracingly. Rose looked back and forth between the two, perplexed beyond all measure.

Her eyesbrows were pulled together, and she frowned smally, before deciding to shrug it off. As George turned for the stairs, she said, "Don't tell her she has to cook. I'll cook, if it keeps her in an even temper."

"Fine," he said curtly. Sighing heavily and quite dramatically, George began marching up the stairs, as a soldier would to meet his death.