George's Point of View

"Aren't you guys getting a little tired of the girls here?" Oliver sighed as we watched Katie, Angelina, and Alicia pass the quaffle back and forth across the field. I eyed him suspiciously, a half-grin playing on my lips.

"This wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that Katie pointedly refuses to go out with you, would it, even though you're currently a celebrated member of Puddlemere United?" I asked him.

"No!"

Fred and I laughed, shaking our heads in disparagement of Oliver's desperation. Ron spoke up from the other side of Oliver.

"He's got a point, though, George—you have to admit that."

"What? Has ickle Ronnykins been having quarrels with his little girlfriend?" Fred demanded, tossing his ink-filled quill at our little brother. Ron scowled after ducking the quill.

"You know as well as I do that I have no girlfriend."

"Aw…poor ickle Ronnykins! No one will have him!" Fred sang. I grinned.

"Fred, stop acting like you have any advantage over him—your bachelorhood is practically sealed for good."

Fred wiped an imaginary tear away from his eye.

"Too true, dear Georgie—it cuts me to say so!"

"Said the ardent sixteen-year-old," Oliver said wryly, not taking his eyes off of Katie as she flew across the pitch.

"So, did you have anything in mind when you suggested that we might be tired of the girls here? I'm pretty sure that importing new ones is just a tiny bit illegal," I commented with a smile. Oliver shot me a dark look.

"Very funny, George. I just thought that maybe we could…I dunno. Ask the Headmaster to increase the number of transfer students we get from other schools?"

"If you mean more Beauxbatons students, please count me out!" Harry groaned from his position in front of us.

"What—still not healed from your past experiences?"

"Yeah, Harry—can't you forget that wicked party animal you hung out with for four months?"

"She was cute—I'll give him that!"

"Oi, all of you just shut up," Harry sighed.

We did, for a few minutes—mostly because the girls were beginning to wrap up their practice time, and none of us fancied them hearing this conversation.

Alicia landed first, flashing a brilliant smile at me.

"How did I do?" she laughed brightly, tossing her hair over her shoulder. Fred gave me The Eye, which let me know that tonight would be full of teasing in the dorm about how a certain female Gryffindor chaser was falling for the irreplaceable Gryffindor beater. Luckily, Oliver saved me from answering.

"Pretty good. I think you guys have a fair chance against Slytherin this year if you girls keep up this style of play. Katie—you were especially good tonight."

"Shove it, Olly. I don't like you that way," Katie replied tersely. Oliver held up his hands in defense, and practice ended soon after that.

"Are you guys going to dinner?" Angelina asked, taking Fred's arm and putting her head on his shoulder. Oh, you better believe that I gave him The Eye—with an intensity that would be equal to ten of his Eyes.

"Uh, actually…no…Sorry."

"Aw, Freddie, you promised you'd teach me how to cause explosions that everyone would think were caused by Seamus!"

"Oh, c'mon, Ange. He can teach you that later," Katie said coaxingly, sending a shy smile to Fred, who smiled at her under knitted eyebrows. Phew! Fred had two ladies after him. It was a Weasley record.

"What about you, George?" Alicia asked. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye and saw that she was rather worried.

"I would love to, but I have no idea what Fred's planning to do, so I think it would probably be wiser to stick close to him—just in case the joke would have been on me."

"That's a good plan—mind if I copy it?" Ron asked with true anxiety. Fred sniffed.

"I cannot believe that my own family holds me in such contempt! As if I was in the habit of causing trouble!"

We all laughed at that, and the two groups parted ways at the doors of the Great Hall. Fred, Ron, and I would catch some chow in the kitchens, courtesy of the house elves. Dealing with their obsequious manners was a small price to pay for escaping the advances of Alicia and Angelina. Katie was harmless enough, but it was awkward knowing that Oliver liked the girl who was hitting on your twin.