âFull of myself this morning she says,â Fred replied, tone full of amusement. âClearly you donât know me, Cho, if you think it is just this morning. Anyway, I like to think of it as confidence because, well, you know, confidence is sexy and all. And why shouldnât I have confidence? I am gorgeous, successful, smart, and funny! Iâm the full package, arenât I?â Fred wiggled in his seat and gave her an exaggerated wink. âWell, you see, Iâd tell you what it was weâd been working on, but then I would have to kill you. Itâs top secret. Classified. And while Iâd love to divulge, believe me, I simply cannot. But rest assured, it was most significant and the need to test on ourselves was of utmost importance, my dear! Sâgood thing we have people like you willing to aid in our recovery.â
   Fred listened carefully as Cho expressed herself. It was often, these days, he heard the concerns of his friends, of his family. It was never ending, this worry of the what if and the possibility of disaster; but he never found it useful to let these things consume him. If it was going to happen, no amount of worry would prevent it. Worry would just create unnecessary tension and consumption. Itâd eat at him, make his life miserable, and that was something heâd never stand for.Â
   He twisted his lips, brows raised, his eyes bulging in genuine concern as he nodded. Though Fred was not the type to suffer through anxiety, he understood where it originated for others, and as much of an insensitive git that he could be, there was a time and place for his immaturity. This was a point he was only just beginning to understand and one that he actively struggled with.
   âItâs complicated. Parenting,â he commented. âAnd I imagine that they struggle knowing what to do. This isnât the first war our parents have seen, either, and that probably makes it all that much worse, right? They know what the other side is capable of. But to me, worrying just makes it worse. Try explaining that to Molly-dearest, though.â He released a strangled laugh and shook his head. âIâve found itâs best to act naive. Donât let them know much. Donât let them know I know much. If something happens to me, then it happens, and whether they are âpreparedâ or not is beside the point. Itâs not going to impact them any less if they know Iâm out there doing shit or if they donât âcause hell, I know they love me. Would sacrifice themselves for me. But Iâm not going to stop and if I make the ultimate sacrifice in the end, itâs just how it is. I choose to keep them mostly in the dark. Avoid bringing it up in their presence. If it comes up, it comes up. Donât know why sheâs such a worry-wart, though. Ainât no one got a meaner hexing arm than Molly Weasley.âÂ
    Fred sunk his teeth into the remainder of his own pastry, laughing with a full mouth as she asked if it would explode. As if heâd waste precious exploding material on a delicious pastry! Though, he thought, that was a good idea. He made a mental note to tell George about the ideas popping into his mind in rapid fire before he washed his food down with a sip of his coffee.
    âOh please. George is good at what he does,â Fred responded. âWe split it even, anyway. Think we jusâ kindâve naturally fell into roles weâre good at, too. Playing to our strengths, so to speak. It works well. But was there ever any doubt when it came to he and I? Think we were born for this kindâve work.â Fred chewed his lower lip and smiled around it, watching as Cho enjoyed the pastry he insisted she have. Gods, she was adorable.
     Fred blinked slowly, his mind wandering away with itself as he stared at the discolored brick. Strange as it was, his stomach felt unsettled. Part of him wondered if it was simply the early morning hours. She brought him back to reality and he shook out his head, nodding vaguely.Â
     âMmm, yeah,â he replied quietly, wrapping an arm around his bent leg and resting his chin upon his knee. âJust thinking. World is fucking nuts, isnât it? Anyway.â He paused for a moment, running a hand through his messy hair. âThatâs all youâre doing out at this hour? Traveling home? You got work or anything today?â
   âNo, youâre right, it isnât only something you are doing now, it is a constant thing. Though Iâm not sure if itâs confidence or if you are full of yourself. Thereâs such a fine line, you see. It makes it hard to be able to decipher the difference,â Cho quipped back, tucking strands of dark hair behind her ear as she focused on Fredâs expression. She took in the smattering of freckles across his nose, the cheeky smile across his lips, the way he looked so utterly youthful --- it was so strange to think that he owned a shop, that they were fighting in a war. It still felt like they should be back in the Great Hall at Hogwarts, devouring pasties and calling one another out on the Quidditch pitch. âWell, I would hate to die for such a minor reason. I think Iâm far more useful alive.... but uh, who said Iâm willing to help you? Thatâs not a reoccurring thing. I hope youâre not getting it into your head that it is. If anything, youâre the one that is going to have to help me at some point. Donât go thinking I wonât remember you owe me.â
   Scratching her fingernail against the handle of her mug, Cho pursed her lips as she listened to Fredâs words. She imagined to some degree he was right, their parents had lived through more than one war. It made her feel bad for disregarding their concerns, but she also knew that if she was to listen to them, she would be sitting at home, wondering if she could have somehow helped to change the tide. She didnât think she was that important in the scheme of things, but she knew every little bit of help made it that much easier for those who could genuinely change the world. All she wanted was to make sure they went into every situation as prepared as possible.Â
   âMy parents would never listen to that advice either,â she commented, tilting her head to the side as she snuck a glace at Fred. Shrugging a shoulder lightly, she released a sigh, her nose wrinkling as she remembered what it was like even telling them that she was joining the DA. âMy parents are pacifists, it seems. They donât want to get involved, really donât want me to get involved, but I couldnât just ignore what was going on around me. I believe they think Iâm more fragile than I truly am. I mean, yes, things affect me, but shouldnât they? If death and pain of others didnât affect me, I feel like I wouldnât be a very good person.â Taking a sip from her mug, she smiled against the rim at the mention of Mollyâs ability to hex, both brows raising. âOh, so thatâs where Ginny gets it then? I remember her hexes from the DA, they were really something. Guess she is a chip off the old block,â Cho murmured with a small laugh, recalling just how impressive they were. She had never really been one for hexes, she was far better at charms, but Cho supposed they all had their strengths and weaknesses and thatâs why it was better to work as a team than as individuals. âI should probably keep my parents in the dark more than I do. Not that I tell them much, but apparently itâs enough for them to worry about me constantly. I think they would do that no matter what though, like you said, they love me like your mother loves you. It would be weirder if they didnât care.âÂ
   Picking up her pastry, she decided to trust Fred --- at least for that moment. Thatâs how it always seemed to be with the twins though, it was always a game of picking battles, of trying to determine when they were genuine, versus when something was a prank. Despite having gone to school with them for so many years, sheâd never quite managed to find a trend in their behavior that gave them away. It was actually fairly impressive, if she was going to be honest with herself, as most people had a tell.Â
   Taking another bite of the sweet pastry, Cho covered her mouth as she attempted not to laugh with her mouth full. âSo the roles that work best for you is that he does all the work while you run off and get coffee and pastry?â Cho teased, trying to hide her smile behind her fingers. âIâm going to make sure your brother is getting the majority of the pay then, because really...,â she trailed off, tugging her scarf looser, her gaze focusing on Fredâs. âBut, if youâd actually like to know, no. There was never a doubt that this is what you should be doing. I actually think itâs rather brave of you two. Leaving school like you did, starting your own business, especially now. So much is going on, a lot of it bad, yet youâre managing to make something good despite it. Not sure I would have had the guts if I was in your position.âÂ
   Glancing back over her shoulder at the empty alley, she furrowed her brows, fingers drumming against the porcelain mug cupped between her hands. âThe world is mad,â she agreed, looking back towards her companion, almost unsettled by his lapse into thought. Fred and George always felt like bright lights in the darkest hours, even though she didnât know them as well as perhaps she should. It was rare to see either of them without smiles on their faces, laughter trapped behind their eyes.
   âI have work a little later. Usually Iâd be going in now, but I requested a late start since I knew Iâd be traveling,â Cho replied, glancing towards the door as it opened and other witches and wizards came in to pick up a morning treat. âI get to have the delight today of yelling at people who are trying to traffic through the Floo Network. I donât know why people still think they are going to be able to get away with that when they know we have heavy security right now, but it is what it is. How about you? Not trying any other new inventions, are you?â
