Title: Troubled Waters: Shadow of Doubt (1 of ?)
Author name: Darkforest214
Category: Romance, Drama, Angst
Spoilers: Books 1 through 5
Rating: PG-13
Summary: This story was the inspiration for "Diary of a Hufflepuff." Follow several characters through their adventures in love. The main characters are Fred and George and Olivia James, (one of) my original character(s).
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Aka… I own nothing (except for the few characters I came up with…)
A/NThis is a part of my DoaH series. It basically takes place during Harry's sixth year, but without any of the upcoming HBP stuff or the left over drama from OotP. This story actually started out as a role play. I was really bored one day and there was nobody else on the board, I play Fred and George so I decided to have a little fun. It just grew from there…

Unfortunately for Fred and George they found themselves back at Hogwarts after their disappearing act in their 7th year. Their mother was furious with them and threatened to disown them like their father had disowned Percy unless they went back to school to finish out their 7th year. So the twins left Lee Jordan in charge of their store (sometimes sneaking out of school on the weekends to visit) and returned to Hogwarts. Their mother was the only person they feared and quiet frankly they didn't want to be on the wrong side and feel her wrath. After making the arrangements with Dumbledore they found themselves back in the Gryffindor common room (to Hermione's dismay) and decided to make their second time around even better than the first. They even got to keep their Quidditch positions!
Fred looked out a window in the Gryffindor common room one crisp November evening. He recognized his twin's bright red head down by the lake, but he couldn't tell who he was with. Probably some girl he thought jokingly to himself.

Trying to get a better view, Fred went upstairs to the Boys' Dormitories when the two moved out of his sight, but he realized that going higher up wouldn't help. He'd have to go outside to find out exactly who the girl was.

He had just left the common room when he ran into George. "Where are you going?" asked George.

"I...uh...I was coming to find you," said Fred, after all it was partially the truth.

"Really? Why?"

"I...uh... I don't really remember" Fred lied.

"I'll be in the common room if you need me," said George, giving Fred an odd look before he entered the room through the portrait hole.

"Wait, George, where were you just now? I thought I saw you down by the Lake with some girl." Fred asked following him into the common room.

"What does it matter where I was, Fred? It's a big school, I could have been anywhere," answered George.

"Exactly!" said Fred sarcastically as he followed George into the common room.

George let out a sigh, "Can you keep a secret?" he asked.

"Can I keep a secret? I think you forget who you're dealing with…" said Fred.

"Fine…" said George before telling him all about 'Her.'

"Now if you don't mind, I have to go meet her…" said George, once he finished telling Fred.

"You were just talking to her… Wait, two months already and you never told me! You sneaky little git!" Fred laughed.

"I'm surprised you didn't notice anything," said George.

"I was starting to get suspicious…"

"Right," said George, rolling his eyes.

"What! I was…" said Fred indignantly.

"I believe you," said George sarcastically.

"Fine…"

"If you don't mind, I'm late," said George as he turned to go.

"I'll follow and keep a look out…" Fred suggested.

"You want to meet her, don't you?" said George.

"Please?"

"Fine…"

"Thanks," Fred smiled triumphantly.

"Just stay out of sight at first," said George. "There's something I have to give to her ."

"Oh? A present? How sweet…" Fred teased.

"Do you want to come or not?"

"Right…Sorry," mumbled Fred.

George led the way to the Entrance Hall, he then looked out the main entrance to make sure the coast was clear before stepping outside. Fred stayed behind in the door way and watched as George headed out towards the lake again. He could see the girl and for a brief second he thought he recognized her.

As Fred was too busy watching George and the girl to keep a sharp look out, so he didn't notice Filch was behind him until he grabbed Fred by the shoulder.

"What are you up to?" snarled Filch.

"I was just—"

"Pulling some prank no doubt, or causing trouble of some sort. Come on, you won't be stinking up my halls today," said Filch as he started to lead Fred away, but then he stopped. "Wait a minute. Where's the other one?"

"He's—"

"Never mind boy, I see him, can't miss that red head," snarled Filch. As he stood there watching George he saw him reach into his pocket and hand something to the girl. "So, you're keeping a look out while he gives out your grubby products," Filch accused him.

"I'm not up to anything," Fred insisted.

"Come on boy, I'll deal with your twin later," said Filch as he led Fred inside.

Down by the edge of the lake, George looked up in time to see Fred's red head disappear inside, closely followed by Filch, he then turned to the girl and said. "I think Fred just got caught."

"What?" she asked, looking a bit confused.

"He saw me with you and started asking questions, so I told him. Don't worry though, he can be trusted…" said George. "I told him he could meet you if he stayed behind for a while, but he just got dragged off by Filch."

"I better go, and so should you," the girl said to George, "before Filch comes back."

"Good thinking, I'll see you later, right?" asked George.

"Of course you will," she said with a sweet yet sly smile.

"Wait, where will we meet up again?" George asked as she turned to go.

"I'll come to you," she said with a mischievous grin.

George waited ten minutes before heading back inside. But no sooner had he stepped in the doorway Filch was standing there, one hand was on the shoulder of his "lady friend."

"I already caught your brother, now I've got you and an extra as well," said Filch with that scary grin of his.

"But we weren't doing anything," George said to Filch.

"That's what your brother said. I didn't believe him so what makes you think I'll believe you," snarled Filch.

"He and his twin are innocent, honest, sir," she said in his defense.

"Olivia—"

"No, really George, you didn't do anything, and you shouldn't be punished," she said.

"Liv—"

"I mean it George, if he's going to punish us, he's going to need a reason."

"I'm telling you, Liv, he's not going to need a reason…" said George earnestly.

"You can't hide it from me, I saw you," Filch said, pointing to George, "Give something to her," he pointed at Liv.

"It was just a gift," said Liv, looking down at her feet. "Please don't take it away from me." She looked up first at George, then at Filch, a hint of fear in her eyes.

Filch, not taking notice of the fear stared strictly at Liv and held out his hand. "Give it here."

George saw the anxious look she had given him and decided to take the full blame for everything, even though there was nothing to be blamed for. He was just about to tell Filch to punish him only when Snape came upon the group in the entryway.

"Are they giving you," he paused, "trouble, Mr. Filch?" snarled Snape.

"Yes, Professor, they are. This one," he pointed to George, "gave her," he pointed to Liv, "something. And she refuses to show me what it is. I just know it's one of his products, he wants her to use. Probably a dung bomb…" snarled Filch, so angry he was shaking slightly.

"Perhaps he was just giving her a slight token, however, giving his history as a troublemaker. The circumstances are suspicious," said Snape said.

Filch grunted and turned to George. "I caught that twin of yours keeping watch. Why would you have posted a guard if you aren't doing anything?"

"Fred followed me?" said George, although he lied he was so convincing Filch almost believed him; almost.

"Don't play innocent with me boy," spat Filch

"If you don't mind Mr. Filch, I have the perfect task for them to do when the serve their detentions," said Snape, an evil grin upon his face.

Liv, who had kept quiet ever since Snape had shown up, finally spoke up in their defense, even though she was terrified of Professor Snape. "Why are you picking on him? All he did was give me this," she said as she pulled out the gift from an inner pocket of her robes. "It's not for a prank, or to cause trouble, it's just a necklace," she said opening the little box. "You should be more trusting," she said to Filch, rasing her voice slightly. "Sure, Fred and George joke around a lot, but they can be serious when they want need to. Maybe next time you'll believe us when we say we weren't doing anything," she paused to take a breath when she realized she just yelled at her evil Potions professor and the cruelty loving Caretaker.

Snape gave her an evil grin, "Well if you would have only showed this thing before we might have let you slip. However because of that little outburst, I'll be seeing you in detention."

"But she told you the truth," George blurt out.

"Not to worry, I'll be seeing you in detention too Weasley," Snape grinned, he enjoyed making the non-Slytherin students' lives miserable. "I'll see you at 7 o'clock sharp." Snape said before turning on his heals and walking away with Filch, leaving the two standing slightly confused in the entrance hall.

"That honestly, was the worst thing that happened to me all week," said George angrily as he watched Snape and Filch head toward the stairs leading to the dungeons.

"Same here," said Liv, slightly flustered.

"But you know what?" said George, a mischievous grin upon his face.

"What?" said Liv distractedly.

"That may have been bad…but you're the best thing to happen to me all year," said George as he grabbed her hand.

Liv was taken by surprise and left somewhat speechless. "I…er…Geo—"

"Shhh," George cut her off by putting a finger to her lips. "Hear that?" he said in a barely audible whisper.

Liv shook her head no and George motioned for her to follow him. "Where are we–?"

"Shh, you'll see," he interrupted her again. He continued to lead her through the hallways until they reached a certain one.

"George, we've passed this painting twice, we're just walking back and forth along the hallway," said Liv puzzled.

"Three times," corrected George.

"What?"

"We've passed the painting three times now. Come on," he led her to a door that hadn't been there before then drew her into the room and closed the door behind her.

"Will you just tell me what's going on, please!" Liv begged.

"I heard footsteps and voices, I thought it best if we were alone," George explained.

"But why did you bring me here?" she said, looking around the empty room. "Wherever 'here' is," she muttered. "There's nothing here."

"Yes there is, you just need to know how to make it appear," George said smiling.

"And I do that…how?" she said as she once more took a sweeping glance of the somewhat dark and empty room.

"Close your eyes," said George as he moved to stand in front of her. When she closed her eyes he took up her hands in his. "Just think of something we need. Like furniture for example."

Liv thought of something to sit on: a couch. When it appeared George squeezed her hands. "Did it work?" she asked. But George didn't answer. "George?"

"Sorry, I just couldn't help but notice how beautiful you are," he said to her. He saw her cheeks redden and smiled. "Think about something else, anything you need will show up for you."

Liv opened her eyes. "What more do I need? I've already got you…"

It was George's turn to blush and Liv couldn't help but comment. "You're so cute when you're embarrassed, especially with those red ears."

His ears reddened but then George suddenly became serious. "Liv, I lied,"

"What?"

"I told you I brought you here because I heard footsteps. Really I just wanted to talk to you alone. Somewhere where nobody would find us," he added as an after thought.

"George, you don't need to lie to be alone with me. I'll talk with you whenever you want," she said with a reassuring smile.

"People know about us," said George.

"'People,' meaning more than just Fred, know?" asked Liv.

"Yeah," said George, looking down at his feet, but he couldn't avoid Liv's gaze seeing as how she was 6 inches shorter than him.

"It couldn't last forever I guess… Who all knows?" asked Liv. She wasn't too surprised. It was starting to get harder to lie to her friends about where she disappears off too so often.

"I know how you didn't want anyone to find out until the Yule Ball—"

"Just as long as Cousin and Tyler don't find out…" Liv mumbled.

"Fred sort of figured it out," said George, not hearing what she had said that. "It is pretty hard to hide something like that from your twin. Hermione, Lillian, Harry, and Ron know too, except that they just know that I have a girlfriend, they don't know who exactly."

"Lillian?"

"Harry's girlfriend," said George. "Hermione and Lil managed to pry the information out of me with a bit of help from Fred," he looked into her eyes. "I guess this ruins the whole mystery date thing then, huh?"

"That's ok, George, I don't mind really. It's my friend's reactions I'm looking forward to. It'll be great when they find out I have a boyfriend, they'll never expect it, let alone you," said Liv with a smile.

"I'm glad you understand, Liv, you're the best," George leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Wait, what do you mean, by 'let alone you?'"

"Nothing," she smirked.

"I've really been a bad influence on you," said George as he pulled her into his arms and held her.

"George?"

"Yeah?"

"How many people know about this room?" she said, pulling her head back far enough so she could look up at his face.

"Why?" he said not seeming to care.

"Because it sounds like there are people out in the hall. And it sounds like a rather large group too."

"Oh no!" said George, suddenly remembering. "There's a D.A. meeting tonight, I completely forgot. We need to hide you… We need an invisibility cloak," as soon as he said it an invisibility cloak appeared on the arm of the couch and he grabbed it. "Quick, under here," he said as he unceremoniously threw it over her head.

Liv rearranged it to cover herself completely and went to a corner for extra caution. George stood in the middle of the room and 'thought' the couch away just before Harry came in followed by a group of people.

"George! You're here early!" said Harry when he walked in and saw him. Already the stuff for the D.A. meeting was starting to appear.

"Yeah, I got the times confused," George answered. Only Liv and Fred knew he was lying. When Fred's head came through the door George looked at him as if to tell him not to mention Liv and Fred understandingly nodded, and returned it with a 'I'll tell you about my detention later' look.

"Well, um…we'll get started as soon as the last group comes in," said Harry as George moved slowly towards the door. He looked to the corner where Liv stood under the cloak and nodded. She came up behind him and set her hand on his shoulder to let him know she was there. When the last group came in he held the door open as he explained to Harry why he couldn't stay. Liv slipped out and waited in the hall under the cloak, but the cloak started to fade away. "Sorry I can't stay, I've got a detention to serve," he explained then left.

"What did George do to get a detention?" asked Harry.

"And why don't you have one too?" asked Lillian.

"I'm tired of everyone thinking we do everything together," said Fred sounding really upset.

"I'm sorry Fred, I didn't mean anything by it," said Lillian, surprised by his sudden outburst.

"No problem, I'm just joking," Fred laughed. "I don't have a clue what he did, but Filch did catch me spying on George and some girl, no doubt, that's who gave him the detention," Fred whispered so only Harry, Ron, Hermione and Lil could hear. He wouldn't tell them who the girl was because of his promise to George, but he could tease their friends with information about her.

"Did you get a good look at her?" asked Ron.

"Don't be rude," said Hermione.

"I was only wondering if he saw who she was," said Ron, sounding undignified.

Hermione glared at him before turning her attention to Fred. "Don't you have a detention too?" asked Hermione.

"Yeah, but it isn't until 8, I've got time for one quick D.A. meeting but then I've got to split," said Fred.

"All right, let's get started then," said Harry, starting the meeting.

"You're late," Snape snapped when the two entered his dungeon.

"No, we're right on time," Liv argued. She couldn't stand Snape, and she had kept quiet about her hatred for too long.

"Do not argue with me," snarled Snape.

George tried to break the tension, "Sir, our detention?"

Snape glared at Liv one last time before turning on George, "Since you're so eager to get started," he snarled "you can start by cleaning out those cauldrons." He pointed to a pile of old, rusty cauldrons caked with dried potions. They looked like they had been used in years.

George bit his tongue and tried not to answer, but Liv was just finding her voice and revealing how she really felt. "Why do you want those old things cleaned? The bottoms are rusted out on at least half of them—"

"Liv, stop," George warned, "please." He put his hand on her shoulder, but she turned on him, throwing his hand off of her shoulder.

"Or what, George? I'm tired of keeping things inside; holding my tongue, keeping what I feel inside, hiding things," she lowered her voice. "keeping secrets…" her voice trailed off and she looked up into George's eyes. He noticed her usually sparkly golden-green eyes where darker than normal. "I'm just can't…" she whispered.

"Oh this is all very lovely," said Snape sarcastically. "But why don't you put your energy toward cleaning my cauldrons," he shouted

Liv turned her head toward Snape and saw that he was glaring at her, she then looked back at George before walking out of the dungeon. Snape roared for her to come back but she kept walking. He then turned on George. "Start cleaning those cauldrons," he snapped. He then went and sat down at his desk grading essays, grunting and complaining about the Gryffindors' bad grades.

After his hour was up George got up to leave, but Snape looked up at him and stopped him. "Where do you think you're going?" he hissed.

"Back to my common room, my hour is over," said George as he crossed Snape's office to stand by the door

"Not all of the cauldrons are clean," said Snape.

"Your problem, not mine," said George, he left Snape sitting at his desk glaring at the doorway.

"Ungrateful little brats," he muttered to himself, he then turned back to the essays and continued to give Gryffindor papers poor grades.

George ran down the hall and up the stairs. He stood in the entrance of the castle wondering where he could find Liv. 'She might have gone back to her common room,' He thought. Convinced he wouldn't find her, he started to head back towards the Gryffindor common room.

"George? George?" George turned and saw Fred running to catch up. "How was detention?" asked Fred.

"I had to clean old, rusty cauldrons that hadn't been used in years," said George, rolling his eyes.

"Oh, well, wish me luck,' said Fred as he turned to go.

"What for?" George called after him.

"I've got a detention with Filch," Fred replied over his shoulder. "Hopefully it'll be more interesting then rusty old cauldrons."

"I wouldn't bet on it," George said, Fred just waved a hand over his shoulder to indicate that he had heard him.

An hour later, George and Harry were sitting in the common room playing exploding snap when Fred returned from his detention. "Harry, tell me. What is worse, cleaning rusty, old, unused cauldrons, or scrubbing the slime and mold off of the walls of some unused rooms down in the dungeon?"

"Er…"

"You were stuck cleaning out unused rooms? So we both did something completely pointless," George mumbled as he played a card. Harry played a card and then the pack exploded. "Thanks Harry, that was fun, but I'm too tired for another round. I'm going to bed," George said as he stood up and stretched. "I bet my arms will be sore in the morning…"

"Same here…good night, Harry," said Fred. The two then disappeared up the stairs to their dorm.

A/N: R&R and I'll get more posted later...