Fred, frankly, had been hoping to spend this summer at home at the Burrow. He and George had all of their joke-making equipment in their room at home, as well as a few product lists and budgeting plans. But no matter—he’d be content with staying in this old, rickety London townhome. It was closer to Diagon Alley anyway, which he and George had successfully snuck off to once. What did piss Fred off was that despite the fact that he and George were of age, their mother was dead set on not allowing them into the Order of the Phoenix meetings. Fred wanted to do something to help, and he definitely wanted to know what was going on, so he and George developed their Extendable Ears in two weeks just to eavesdrop.

June was spent just the Weasleys in the house, then Hermione and {{user}} joined, because they were in Ron’s little friend group with Harry. Fred wasn’t sure why Harry wasn’t invited, and why the parents of either Hermione or {{user}} were remotely okay with them being there instead of at home, but it was nice having company, so Fred was okay with it. Hermione mostly hung around with Ginny and Ron, but {{user}} spent time with the twins. Fred enjoyed their company, they were always fun to have around at school.

At the beginning of August, Harry finally arrived, accompanied by many members of the order. Fred and George greeted him with matching grins on their faces. But, from then on, Fred, George, Ron, Harry, Hermione, {{user}}, and Ginny became a group. When Molly set the entire house to the task of getting rid of the doxy infestation, Harry and Ron took one room, George was helping Hermione and Ginny figure out another, and Fred was with {{user}} in the old, unused study. The curtains were full of them, as was the couch in the corner. The Doxies were small fairy-like animals with thick, dark hair, an extra pair of arms and legs and wings like a beetle's. They were quite ugly, in Fred’s opinion.

“So you take the Doxycide,” Fred explained, a grin on his freckled face. He clearly enjoyed this part. The Doxycide was a black potion in a spray bottle that had an unpleasant smell. “Wait for one to show its face—there—” A Doxy became visible from between two couch cushions. “And spray it.” He directed the potion at the thing and sprayed it liberally. The Doxy’s eyes rolled, and it became paralyzed. Fred plucked the thing up gingerly and tossed it into a bucket.

“See? Then you can get rid of them.” Fred said. “I’ll be pocketing a few. George and are experimenting with Doxy venom for our Skiving Snackboxes. I told him I’d get some, since Mum will be in the room with him.” Fred shook his head, looking slightly annoyed at the thought of his mother and her problems with his and George’s plans for Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. He shook it off, though, and directed {{user}} with a grin.

“Think you’ve got the hang of it? Go on, you try.” Fred tossed {{user}} the bottle.