It's Better If You Do

"So, where is George?" Rose asked, looking about the shop. She saw Bellamy near the WonderWitch table helping teenagers, and even a few adults, pick the right potion for their desired victim, but she didn't hear the loud booming fireworks, nor did she see him near the Skiving Snackbox table, which was being overrun with customers who were bleeding, puking, or fainting out cold. When she looked up at Fred she saw he was combing the shop as she was and he gave a slight nod towards the second floor near the Punching Telescope where he was helping out a pretty girl around their age with a fake wand. He seemed to have turned on the charm, for the girl was all smiles and laughing loudly while she tossed her hair back. Fred shook his head, a dissaproving look on his face.

"That's George for you," he murmured. "Get rejected and he bounces right back, pretending he isn't hurt. Of course, that'll change when that girl leaves, but for now he's probably just trying to get Bellamy's attention, and from the looks of it, it isn't working."

Rose gave a slight hum of sympathy, and said sorrowfully, "Poor George. I wish he wouldn't have heard... Do you think we should tell him?"

But Fred shook his head, "As good of actors we are, I bet Bellamy would see right through him if he knew." Rose nodded reluctantly in agreement.

"You're right," she said softly before raising an eyebrow as the girl lightly touched George's arm. "I think I'll go and help her out myself. He seems to be having a bit too much fun up there." Fred suddenly grinned at her, a mischevious look in his eyes.

"We could be having fun, if you wanted. No one would miss us," he said smoothly, though obviously refraining from laughter as the blush crept across her cheeks. Sighing huffily, she shook her head.

"Now you're just trying to embarass me." she said, a wry smile turning up the corners of her lips and her eyebrows raised as she watched Fred give a small, wicked laugh.

He then shrugged nonchalantly, and began to walk away, before calling over to her over his shoulder, catching the attention of almost every customer in the store, "It's cute when you blush!"

Of course, Rose blushed even more earning laughs from many people around her, and she quickly ducked her head and made her way up the stairs hurriedly, wanting to be out of sight from the curious onlookers. As she casually made her way over to George and the girl, she caught what seemed to be a very flirtacious conversation. She snorted quietly when she heard the teenager's vapid voice.

"So, you own this store? Really? And you made ALL these products? That's impressive!" the strawberry blonde giggled, as she tilted her head at George, who was grinning back.

"You haven't seen impressive yet," he promised with a wink, which sent the girl into another titter of giggles. Rose rolled her eyes and laughed quietly under her breath, before approaching briskly, a smirk on her face.

"Mr. Weasley, I do believe that you're overdo for your potion. You know, the one your mother sent you? Remember, she said to take it three times a day that way you don't erupt in those ugly, nasty boils. Last time you didn't, they were just popping all over the place-" Rose said enthusiastically, before George cut her off, looking at her menacingly.

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about, Rosie," he said quickly, but the damage was done. The girl's eyes were wide and she began making excuses over George's protests.

"I just forgot- I have an appointment soon. I need to be going..." she trailed off and nodded toward Rose before almost running down the stairs. George rounded on Rose who was smirking even wider than before as she watched the girl leave the shop.

"Why did you do that? You made all that up to scare Careena off!" he said heatedly, his lips pursed together in a scowl. The blonde raised her eyebrows coolly.

"Like you were actually going to have anything to do with her. Careena was worse than those two who come in the shop everyday with their mental behaviors and you know it," she said pointedly, and George scowled at her.

"So what?" he asked childishly, scuffing his shoe on the floor angrily. "I'm allowed to do what I want, or am I not allowed?" Rose sighed, and bit her lip, weighing the pros and cons of telling George it was him that had the date with Bellamy. After a moment, her heart and conscience won out and she quickly pushed Fred's advice from her mind.

"Look, George. Bellamy's blind date is with you." she said in a hushed whisper, glancing around her warily to make sure no one had overheard. George's eyes widened and a slow, dumbfound smile spread across his face.

"How?" he demanded, looking as if Christmas and his birthday had come early. Rose smiled widely in response, her blue eyes twinkling.

"Well... I told her that a man came in and asked about her, and that I set up a blind date at the Leaky Cauldron at 7:30. Yes- I know that's when you were supposed to be there-" she said quickly, cutting George off. "I told Fred to tell you to be there, and for you not to know, but... kneazle's out of the bag now. Fred told me not to tell you... but I just couldn't help it."

George's smile was turning more and more gleeful as the seconds past, and he quickly engulfed Rose in a tight hug, "Merlin, what would I do without you? Saving me from those girls, fixing my injuries and now you've set me up with Bellamy? You're the best girl Fred's ever dated, and that's saying something!"

Rose blushed and smiled proudly as she hugged George back, but quickly said, "You must NOT let Bellamy know that you know it was a set up. Act like it was a business deal, like you did earlier. She will absolutely murder you if she finds out." George let go of her and zipped his finger across his lips, and smiled broadly at her before skipping off to the stairs, whistling. "I mean it, George!" she called, and he merely laughed tauntingly.

Chewing on her lip, she wondered just how much trouble this whole ordeal was going to cost her at the end of the night. Rose didn't know why she even tried to make secret plans, or even keep secrets, for that matter. People would always bribe and manipulate her if they even thought she knew, and she always ended up confessing, no matter what it was. Well, she thought with a raised eyebrow, not everything. She managed to keep Lucius Malfoy's visit a secret from Bellamy for a year now, though it had been extremely difficult at times. But that was the record, she was sure.

Straightening up the fake wands, she wondered why that was. Why she was so open about everything, when her sister was as private as you could get. Even before Julian had broken her heart, she had never let Rose in on the details of their love life, save a few small hints and details. Rose had never seen them kiss, or be intimate in any sort of way, and she didn't understand. Why would it be so wrong to show affection in public, or even in front of family? She had almost no problem kissing Fred in front of her sister or George, except for all the teasings she received. So was it the product of Bellamy's insecurities or something deeper? The blonde shook her head slowly, knowing she would more than likely never find out and that some things were just better left unknown.