Waiting for Yesterday (Tallia)

[Fred Weasley]

*Quite a few things had happened lately for Fred, moving so quickly that he felt as if he blinked at the wrong moment and it all flew past. Things, what things? Well, Fred himself didn't even know what they were, it was just a feeling. Typically, when the wizard's thoughts become too much to handle, he'd dive head first into managing the shop, where all the chaos and flashing colours would distract him from everything...but no, this time, his usual routine didn't work out as planned. If anything, it only made him feel like he'd missed even more of whatever it was rushing by, and his restlessness grew.*

*His twin, George, was mindful enough of the wizard's feelings to let him leave early, which is how Fred finds strolling through the small village of Hogsmeade. He waves to passer-bys, smiling at the ones who frequently visit his and George's shop back in Diagon.*

*Tired of watching the ground as he walks on, Fred lifts his eyes into the sky, foolishly looking up at the blindingly bright sun. He squints, grinning to himself because he knows he should look away, but he doesn't.*

Merlin, I'm just all sorts of brilliant today, aren't I?

*Fred asks himself in a light tone, shaking his head as he finally tears his eyes away from the sun. Unfortunately, now, wherever he looks, there's this bothersome blob of colour floating about. He blinks, pausing in the middle of the walkway as he waits for his vision to return. The last thing he wants to do is run into anyone, because he already has enough bruises from the kids at the shop who, in his opinion, must've had far too many sweets since their energy levels were completely off the walls.*

[Tallia Gauthier]

. outfit .

Tallia pushed open the door of the publishing office, a smile on her face for once. Sales were up for the first time in months. She didn't know what she was doing differently, perhaps the public were just wanting an enjoyable magazine instead of the hard hitting Prophet, but whatever it was, it was good for business.

A spring in her step, she began down the street, the warm air fragrant with the smells of spring. The Three Broomsticks had a lovely little courtyard out the back which backed onto open meadows. It would be the perfect place to sit for an afternoon drink.

Tallia was about to cross the street when she saw a familiar, red-haired figure up ahead. Her face lit up. "Fred... or George...." She laughed, making her best effort to run towards the Weasley twin, even though her high heels didn't make the feat easy. "How are you?"

[Fred Weasley]

*Chuckles at the sound of the witch's voice, blinking rapidly to get rid of the blasted spots before his eyes. At first, he couldn't see exactly who the witch was, but after a few seconds he smiled at the sight of the Editor. Bowing dramatically, he speaks up.*

I'm Fred, darling, you were right the first time. Fancy seeing you he-

*His eyes land on her heels as the sound of something clicking on the ground reaches his ears. The first mental image he gets is the witch toppling over, and he inwardly winces.*

-careful! Merlin, I'll never understand how you witches function in those blasted things! But, you look brilliant in them.

*He nods, finally remembering her first question. Looking away from her clothes to her eyes, he shrugs.*

Why, I'm wonderful, of course! Yourself?

[Tallia Gauthier]

Tallia laughed again, managing to slow herself down just as she approached Fred. "I knew I was right," she said, pulling him into a hug. It wasn't exactly easy to tell the twins apart, but Tallia felt sure she was getting better at it.

"I'm used to it," Tallia said after a moment, pulling back from the hug and turning slightly, modelling her heels. "Anyway, I'm a Witches' Magazine editor. I have to look the part at all times." She grinned, biting her lip as she looked back up at it. "Don't pretend you don't love it."

She sensed something slightly off about his answer, or maybe it was the tone of his voice, but she wasn't going to go into it now. The last thing someone wanted when something was wrong was to have a nosey journalist getting involved. Anyway, Tallia wasn't working right now.

"I was just going for a drink in the garden," she said, motioning across the street towards the Three Broomsticks. "Want to come?"

[Fred Weasley]

Fred's eyes widened just the slightest bit as he was pulled into the hug, but his arms wrapped around Tallia nonetheless. "Of course, of course." said the wizard, in response to her first comment. It was bound to happen; after one spends time with the twins, they're going to start to catch onto the little things that help tell the two apart. Either that, or they're just terribly good at guessing.

Tallia pulled back from the hug and he let the witch slip out of his arms. She turned, and he nodded, eyeing the witch from her heels and up. "You look spiffing Tallia, I'll agree. It's hard not to love such a good looking witch, y'know." he chuckled; of course she knows that already, and he doubted that her clothing style would drastically change even if she wasn't a magazine editor.

"The garden, eh?" asked Fred, turning to look across the street. The suggestion didn't sound too bad, honestly, and he nodded once again. "I'd be delighted." his tone was cheeky, and so was his crooked smile. He wasn't mocking her however, and he quickly added, "Then you can tell me all about this 'editor' business of yours, and how those heels might just be the hardest part of the job."

[Tallia Gauthier]

Tallia giggled, shrugging slightly. "I like looking good," she said by means of an explanation, linking her arms with his as she began leading him off towards the Three Broomsticks.

"You're looking well," Tallia said with a charming smile, looking up at him as they walked, her little gold clutch bag in her free hand, resting on the arm linked with hers. "It's been far too long."

[Fred Weasley]

"And I like walking in a straight line." said Fred, grinning. He wasn't sure why, but something just kept poking at the fact that Tallia was wearing heels. The wicked things showed off the witch's legs- which, he wasn't staring at, of course not- so it balanced out in the end. He was led towards the pub, subconsciously tightening his hold on her arm in case she did indeed stumble. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that it's been quite some time since he's seen the Three Broomsticks, whether he was inside or in the garden.

"It's a gift," said the wizard, sighing theatrically, "I can't help but look this bloody handsome on a daily basis." He looked down to Tallia, winking. Hell, he couldn't even remember the last time he's seen the witch! But then again, he hasn't seen a number of his old mates for a while either. "Yes, yes it has. I don't know how you managed- all this time without seeing my dashing face!" His other hand, the one that wasn't waiting for the witch to stumble, reached up, running through his ginger hair.

"But was it my face you've missed, or my hair?" Fred eyed Tallia with mock suspicion before shaking his head. "Nah, yours is just as good. If anything, I should be jealous of your hair, love." He pouted as they reached the other side of the street, before snorting with laughter at the random thought of Tallia as a ginger.

[Tallia Gauthier]

Tallia looked up at him, a cheeky smile on her face. "You know, when I walk in high heels, it makes my hips swing." She winked. Many a man enjoyed walking behind her when she was wearing heels. Besides, she could walk easily in heels higher than these gold ones.

Laughing, Tallia reached up and ruffled Fred's bright red hair. She'd never really beed one to go for gingers, or good people for that matter. Her last serious relationship was with a Most Wanted Death Eater, after all. And hadn't she published an issue of Witch Weekly on the express orders of You Know Who himself? But that wasn't really what she stood for. She just wanted to live her life. And she liked Fred. There was no reason she couldn't be friends with Fred just because he was a good person and she had a slightly merky past.

Approaching the front door of the Three Broomsticks, Tallia pushed it open and made her way inside. "Shall we get drinks and take them outside?"

[Fred Weasley]

She ruffled his hair and he swatted at her hand, purposely missing hitting the witch. He was still smirking from her comment towards her hips, and from that second on he made sure his own hips swayed with each step. His were pointedly obvious however, but that didn't bother the wizard.

"Sounds brilliant." said Fred, reaching back to make sure the door didn't slam on them unexpectedly. He glanced around the pub, idly wondering if he'd be running into more of his old mates while debating on what he should get to drink. Sure, he was off for the rest of the day, but it seemed just a bit early too get Firewhiskey in his opinion. However, gillywater and Butter Beers weren't really at the top of his list at the moment.

A few of the others' reactions to the ginger wizard entering the pub brought a small smirk to his face. It's as if they were waiting for something to explode, or for the person sitting next to them to suddenly Transfigure into a teapot. If only they knew that he hadn't actually planned on stopping by, and he didn't have any tricks up his sleeve. Not yet of course, but Merlin knows how quickly he's able to change his mind.

"So," said Fred in a low voice, leaning down to whisper into Tallia's ear, "Is there any bloke I need to be lookin' for?" After all, for all he knew, she had some wizard waiting for her back home, wherever her home was. The last thing he wanted was to steal her attention, then have it come back and kick him in the ar$e later.

[Tallia Gauthier]

Tallia laughed at the way he was walking, rolling her eyes as she crossed towards the bar. It was a relatively warm day and she wanted something refreshing to drink. There was nothing worse than drinking something that made you even more thirsty. "Gillywater, please," she said sweetly to the barmaid, leaning sidewards on the wooden bar to look at Fred.

"Is that a subtle hint?" Tallia giggled, a cheeky smile playing on her lips. She's always had a little crush on Fred (and, by definition, George) ever since school and she was glad that he still seemed to want to flirt with her. Spending time with either of the twins was a refreshing change from the sort of wizard she usually spent time with. People like Theodore and Caius were so sure of themselves in an arrogant kind of way. Fred was just pleasant to be with.

"No, no one in particular," Tallia said casually, digging in her purse for a few coins to pay for the drink.

[Fred Weasley]

[OOC: sorry for the long delay! ]

---

"That's probably the first time I've heard anyone use the word 'subtle' in a sentence referring to me." said Fred, leaning up against the bar sideways as Tallia was. He sighed dreamily, batting his eyelashes as he looked up at the ceiling. "Honestly, I'm flattered." his tone was playful and a tad insincere- he's heard 'subtle' used to describe himself, but it was generally used as a "Why can't you be a bit more subtle, Fred?" sort of thing.

She told him that he shouldn't worry about anyone in particular, which made him curious. "I'm surprised," the wizard started, now eyeing her with mock suspicion, "A witch such as yourself would be surrounded by all sorts of wizards, I'd reckon." He grinned, gently tilting his head to the side. "What'd you do, threaten to hex the whole lot of 'em?"

It wasn't until a few seconds later that Fred finally realized he'd never ordered a drink, which meant he had to wait until the barmaid came back with Tallia's gillywater.