RP: "Where there's no education for the miserable ways of man..."
Date: July 7, 2005
Characters: Fred Weasley, Hired Goons (NPC), Neville Longbottom- then later NPC Healer, Weasley family, Katie Bell, Parvati Patil
Location: Fred's office at 2 High Street, Shrieking Shack
Private/Public: Private
Rating: R
Warnings: Violence, language, description of blood & injury
Summary: Creditors come looking for George, and find someone similar instead
Completion: InComplete

Fred had been working steadily in the office above the refuge, planning out delivery schedules, volunteer itineraries and such various tedious tasks that the refuge needed. He was happy in it all though, to be doing something for the greater good.

He'd just finished a particularly difficult bit of accounting when three, admittedly very large, men strolled into the office without even knocking. At once he wondered how they could've gotten in and up to his office, but he remembered he'd taken the wards down because he was expecting Neville for a meeting just before closing. Ah, you are a stupid git, aren't you Fred? Fred's eyes scanned them skeptically and resolved to try something. "If you're looking to deliver something, all goods and supplies come in the back. Unless you need payment for said goods? In which case it will come in the mail and you've made a journey for nothing." He stood from his chair and walked over from behind the desk, his arms crossed and very aware that his wand was lost in a pile of parchment. What's all this then? He knew full well, they weren't delivery men, but he'd addressed them as such anyway.

"You could say that...that we're here collecting on a service. You're George Weasley I take it?" The largest of the men stepped a little closer, his eyes darting about the room and one of his colleagues shut the door quietly. Fred tried very hard to control his facial expressions so as not to give anything away, least of all that he was George's twin. What would these men want from George? Then it dawned on him...they didn't look like accountants and Fred was not going to let George be beaten again. Not again.

"Yes, I'm George Weasley." Fred crossed his arms and waited, leaning on the back of his desk. "Is there something I could help you with?" This isn't right. Fred's mind raced as he watched the two men behind the hulking beast that approached him flank him on either side.

"Again, Mr. Weasley, you could say that. We're looking to collect on the debt that you owe to our employer. A rather...substantial and overdue amount." The still unidentified man cracked his knuckles menacingly. Oh Shite! Fred thought he could try to get out of this by paying, but of course, he didn't keep any money at the refuge and it wouldn't do any good to these men, or him, to offer an I.O.U. on an outstanding debt?!

"I assure you gentlemen, that the payment will be made, just not today I'm afraid." Fred stood his ground and braced himself, he felt he may need to come to blows with these obviously hired men and he was vastly outnumbered and ...outweighed.

"See Mr. Weasley, that's going to be a problem because our employer wanted us to collect the interest today and if there's no money to do that..." The mammoth man sighed and looked at his brethren before looking back at Fred, who was busily rolling up the sleeves on his muggle shirt. "...I think you can understand where I'm going with this." The two other men advanced on Fred rapidly and he started swinging.

Fists flew and Fred had managed to land a couple of hits, but as his mind was telling him, he was outmanned and the two smaller men grabbed and held him at each arm. Fred still stood his ground but tried to loosen the hold that was upon him. "Just let us have a meeting right now and the interest will be taken care of. All you need to worry about, is the residual debt. Then...we'll be clear. Alright?"

He had no choice but to accept. This had better be worth it George. The man's fist felt like it sunk directly into Fred's stomach as the first punch landed, followed of course by smaller but equally as painful jabs to his ribs. Fred heaved his breath as another fist came and rocked his jaw this time, followed closely by a painful shot to the nose, breaking it. He could feel the hot trails of blood coursing down his face and he groaned when he was kneed in the abdomen. Fred had almost fallen to the floor, but his 'supports' held him up for an expected further beating.

For some reason his attacker walked about for a moment, letting Fred regain his stance, well, what was left of it. In a flash, Fred faintly saw what looked like a muggle's cricket bat coming at him at alarming speed...and then all there was was stars and the faint taste of blood in his mouth once more. Fred's head swam as he spat quickly and noted the pinging sound that could only be one of his teeth bouncing off the hardwood. Brilliant...and I was having such a good day...ooff. Then came the kicking when he was let go to fall to the ground; all three of them kicked with heavy boots, and the cricket bat had one more shot left in it, straight to his knee.

Fred would've liked to have the strength to defend himself a little more, but he wasn't in such a position to carry forth his wishes, and really...he didn't want this happening to George. The pain that he'd feel seeing George in the shack again far outweighed the pain he was feeling at that moment....and it was painful.

After what seemed like hours, but was only mere minutes, the men stopped, leaving Fred bloodied and raw on the floor of his office...coughing and rasping on his own blood and yes, yet another tooth stared him in the eye, boots nearly inches away from his eyes. Through all of this, Fred had tried to keep his pained groanings to a minimum, he didn't want to frighten anyone who was at the shelter, and this little posse that bombarded him thankfully didn't seem eager to make their appearance known to anyone but 'George'.

"I think that about covers it for the interest Mr. Weasley. Hopefully we won't have to have this kind of meeting again, it was most unpleasant for us all, I'm sure you'll agree." Fred had rolled onto his back, feeling a pang in his obviously broken knee and choked slightly on a cough. As he tried to open his swollen eyes, his head pounded with his broken nose, and possibly his jaw as well. Faintly, he felt a bit of parchment hit his chest and the man saying something about a payment schedule. "There's only one amount on there chum, better remember it."

Finally they had left, leaving the door ajar somewhat and Fred just tried to breathe. Ugh...George...dammit George...bloody fool.... He didn't mean what he thought however, he loved his brother, his twin, enough to take a beating. He was only hurt more by the fact that George hadn't come to him for help.

By and by, a few minutes later, Fred managed to prop himself up and lean his back against the bottom of the desk, using his hand lightly to trail through the spatters of blood left on the floor to neatly arrange his teeth in a little pile.

His eyes were closed, and could hardly open them anyway when he heard footsteps coming toward the office and a small mumbling, followed by a startled gasp.