Author's notes: I pretty much slept with the original Harry Potter story and then broke up with it in a text message, so suffice to say I've really screwed it over. I kept bits I liked and discarded that which was inconvenient, so keep your wig on when I decide that certain people aren't dead etc. Or for a blanket term: AU.
Set in seventh year… I'm going to try and make my original characters more character centric and make the story less of an "AND THEY ALL FELL IN LOVE AND EVERYONE LIKED THEM BECAUSE THEY HAD CURVES IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES!" Mary-Sue fic. Ps. I really hate that phrase 'curves in the right places'. Email me if you want to know more! But in saying all of that, I am a romantic at heart. A very deranged romantic.
And I know the start might be a bit wordy (cough-pretentious), but I promise once the dialogue kicks in and I get used to writing again it won't sound like something out of a Jane Austin novel.
Disclaimer: This is the only one I'm going to write. I don't own Harry Potter but I do own my characters and plot, however over-used you may think it is. Big love.
Chapter one: This is Stupid.
They were a despicable pair of twins.
Only matched in deviousness by the very wicked, and out-quarreled by the very clever, they were, in short, the silliest girls ever to be born seven minutes apart by the same mother. While one could be remarked upon to say less than the other, and one could be mistaken for the other unless a smirk marked her lips, they were without a doubt equally as horrid as each other and with parents who in general had a great amount of tolerance, and even more naivety. However, let it be said of the two unpromising heroines that behind one's often wordless countenance lay an even temper and a thoughtful mind, and behind one's self-serving smile bubbled impertinent joy and a general liking of most things, unless she didn't like them very much.
How these girls on the cusp of seventeen years of age came to impose upon their ginger-haired cousins for the duration of the summer holidays can easily be explained thus. Their parents' positions at work, a lack of familial grounding and the current political climate in the wizarding world would all suggest that for their own safety, the sisters should be situated in an environment conducive to their protection and general comfort. They stood before the front door of the Weasley's.
"This is stupid," stated one. Her features were vaguely darker than the other's, though the only real discernable features that would distinguish them apart to a stranger would be the colour of their hair and eyes. While both had hazel coloured irises and brown hair, the darker of the two had one mismatched blue eye, and the fairer of the two tended to have a reddish wash about her hair.
"It really is. Though I suppose standing out here discussing how stupid the situation is isn't very helpful either, Cat." The fairer sister smirked while leaning on the other, her arm dangling casually above her shoulder.
"No. But I don't understand why we've come here, of all places, for our safety. Voldermort wants to kill Harry Potter. Harry Potter is Ronald's best friend and will be staying here. Honestly Lizzy, where is the logic in moving to the most dangerous place we could be situated for our own protection?" Catherine, known as Cat only to her sister, frowned.
"Maybe it's some sort of backwards logic that mum and dad came up with, like reverse reality. Or maybe they were tired of us and wanted to pawn us off to our poor relatives. Or maybe it really was mum and dad's jobs that were putting us in danger and we will be safer here. Cheer up; at least our worthy opponents will keep us amused. Remember Christmas the other year?" Elizabeth, who was more lax about who got to call her by her nick-name, affectionately tugged on Cat's shorter hair in the same way she did as a child.
"Yes, I don't suppose I'll ever forget those shades of orange intermingling in their hair when we got them with the inflammable flame."
"Right, so we may as well go in and get those awful pleasantries over with."
In response, Catherine knocked soundly against the hard-wood door, retracting her hand as if burnt as it immediately swung open, their aunt beaming manically (or so it was in their opinion).
"Auntie M!" Lizzy pasted on a smile, nudging her sister very covertly to do the same. Unnoticed to their aunt she did not comply.
"Oh you poor things, look at you! Oh you look so worn, it must have been such an unpleasant journey. Your mother can be so… well. Give your old aunt a hug; I haven't seen you in so long! How you've grown…" She continued to rattle off that list of things relatives are obliged to say before turning and inviting the girls inside.
"Ron Weasley! Perhaps instead of lounging about the couch all day like the lay about son you are, you could go and get your cousins' things. Don't give me that look, hurry along."
Ron cast his mother a cursory glare before trudging out to the porch, mumbling a disgruntled "hello" as he passed the new-comers.
"Never mind him girls, he's been like that ever since that Daisy girl broke up with him."
"I believe it was Lavender actually, Mrs. Weasley." The other youth on the couch adjusted his glasses and sat up a little.
"Oh, yes… Oh girls, you haven't been introduced yet. This is Harry."
Fighting the urge to make a sarcastic retort to her aunt, Lizzy diplomatically stepped forward and outstretched her hand.
"Pleasure. I'm Elizabeth Hardgrave and the sourpuss over there is my twin sister Catherine. You can call me Lizzy if you like."
"It's nice to meet you both." Harry shook Lizzy's hand before reaching out to Catherine. She looked down at his hand and then back at his face. Only after receiving an exasperated look from Lizzy did she take his hand, shake it slowly and drop it.
"Right…" Harry smiled a little too animatedly before going out to see Ron.
"Well now, I'll let you get settled in. We put an extension on Percy's room so the two of you can stay there instead of sharing with Ginny."
"Thanks Auntie M." Lizzy grabbed Cat by the hand, dragging her out of her observational reverie and up the creaking stairs.
"The house smells different. Did you notice?" Cat lay on her bed, stretched out on her side as she picked at a loose thread on the duvet.
"Not really. I wonder when the twins will attack?" Elizabeth lazily picked up and glanced at the books on the shelf.
"Today I think. They'll hope to put us into a false state of ease for the next few hours, and then get us before midnight when we're in bed. They're so predictable."
"What do you suggest?" Lizzy flopped onto her own bed, facing her sister.
"I say we let them believe we're completely naïve to their plot, and when they go to attack us we'll be waiting for them."
"Such a harsh mistress under that solemn face. You really want to crush their egos."
"Isn't it how these things are meant to start?"
"I suppose. Hm, I heard there was going to be another girl coming later this month. Friend of Ron's," Lizzy spoke, seeming only half-interested in what she was saying.
"Hermione Granger. Smart, muggle-born witch. Beloved friend of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, also known as The Golden Trio," Cat stated with equal disinterest.
"How the fuck do you know that?"
"I listen to people when they talk." Cat's tone was serious, but a half-smile pulling at her lips belied the nature of her words.
"I see. Well, The Golden Trio sounds really poncy."
Cat nodded before pushing herself off the bed. "I'm going to get us some snacks, want anything?"
"See if you can pilfer me some goods of the baked variety. Oh, and see if you can find the twin's stash. I'd help you, but my legs are tired."
"Liar," Cat remarked as she left the room. Even so, she would do what Lizzy asked. She always did.
As she was about to descend the steps to the kitchen, a wiry form made eye-contact with her and tripped as he made his way up the stairs. Cat quietly offered him her hand.
"You tripped up the stairs."
"So it would seem." Harry smiled, looking a little unnerved.
"You're really awkward, aren't you." Cat stated rather than asked.
Harry stared at her.
"Well… I…" He seemed at a loss for words.
"Exactly." Cat continued to walk down the stairs.
After abducting some Cornish pasties, two apples, half a loaf of bread and a side of moldy cheese, as well as the former property of the twins, Cat re-entered the bedroom to find her sister casually talking to Ginny.
"I forgot how much you two eat," Ginny stated, eyeing the load in Cat's arms.
Lizzy bounded up to inspect the goods.
"I wasn't sure what you meant by 'stash' exactly so I brought both magical explosives and some fire whiskey."
"How very industrious of you." Lizzy smiled, snatching a pasty.
"I thought they might be useful at some point," Cat remarked.
"Indeed!" Lizzy spoke through a mouthful of pastry.
"You two are up to something again. You two and my two brothers. Well I want in." Ginny crossed her arms.
"Such a saddening loss of innocence." Lizzy poked her cousin before grabbing an apple.
"Once you're in you stay in, we don't suffer cowards," Cat spoke as she cut some bread.
"Right. Blood pact?" Lizzy's grin widened.
"I think on the basis of our familial ties we can forgo that one," Cat replied.
"Okay, so what's the plan?"
A/N: YES, that is the end of chapter one.
If you want me to update or have any questions/ideas for the story, review. And I shall lead you on with false promises of glory and chocolate things.
Basically this story will end up in Hogwarts, and the beguiling love dance probably won't start until there (or maybe not), but I won't make the holidays drag out. It's basically just a way to introduce my characters before they are roughly thrown into the ravaging throngs of Hogwarts.