Chapter One

- Pranks and Night Conversations -

August 1994

"That wasn't funny Fred!" The voice of Arthur Weasley erupted from the kitchen, startling Chantal awake from where she had been dozing in one of the armchairs in the living room, an open book in her lap. "What on earth did you give that muggle boy?"

She struggled into a sitting position, marking her page and placing the book on one of the side tables; with a sleepy yawn she trudged into the kitchen to see what all the commotion was about; seconds later, really wishing she hadn't. Mr. Weasley stood, staring at one of his twin sons with such an enraged look, she felt like he was about to blow the Burrow over.

The other twin, George stood a few feet away, not wanting to be the one getting yelled at. Their younger brother Ron stood back too, with his best friend Harry Potter at his side, both trying to hide their laughter. Chantal gave Harry a small wave, which he returned. She really wanted to know what was going on.

"I didn't give him anything," Fred Weasley said thickly, though his face was bright with a wicked grin, which only made his fathers look more clouded. "I just dropped it … it was his fault he went and ate it. I never told him to." Fred noticed Chantal in the doorway and gave her a small wink.

"You dropped it on purpose!" Mr. Weasley's face was rather red with exasperated anger. "You knew he'd eat it, you knew he was on a diet - "

"How big did his tongue get?" George Weasley cut in excitedly.

Chantal looked at Mr. Weasley curiously. The twins had told her that they had planned to use one of their new inventions on the muggle boy. One, because from what Harry always said, the boy sounded like a glutinous wreck, and two, because it was payback for all the horrible things he had done to Harry over the years.

"It was four feet long before his parents would let me shrink it!" Despite his rather loud and angered tone, Mr. Weasley almost had a slight smile to his face as he remembered the scene.

At that, Chantal, Harry, and the Weasley boys began to roar with laughter, filling the kitchen with the sweet sound of harmonious joy. Ron seemed like he was almost on the verge of tears, and both the twins were clutching each other.

"It isn't funny!" Mr. Weasley shouted, looking more desperate at trying to prove his point. "That sort of behaviour seriously undermines Wizard-Muggle relations! I spend half my life campaigning against the mistreatment of muggles, and my own sons - "

"We didn't give it to him because he's a muggle!" Fred interrupted, full of protest.

"No," George agreed, standing up straighter, "we gave it to him because he's a great. Bullying. Git! Isn't he Harry?"

"Yeah," Harry nodded earnestly, trying to calm Mr. Weasley down. "He is, Mr. Weasley."

"That's not the point! You wait until I tell your mother - "

"Tell me what?"

Everyone turned as Mrs. Weasley entered the kitchen, her eyes narrowed, her hands on her hips. Like her husband and children, Molly Weasley had the defining look of flaming red hair, which seemed almost brighter as her face grew more suspicious. She saw Harry standing there and smiled, "oh hello, Harry dear," before turning back shrewdly to her husband. "Tell me what, Arthur?"

Mr. Weasley began to hesitate, eyeing his sons and his wife. Chantal, held her breath, waiting for him to break. Mrs. Weasley's anger was something that everyone tried to avoid. At that moment, the youngest Weasley, Ginny, and Hermione Granger came sauntering into the kitchen as well, stopping to watch the scene warily.

Mrs. Weasley seemed to be losing her patients fast. "Tell me what, Arthur?"

"It's nothing, Molly," Mr. Weasley fumbled over his words, trying to tread his ground carefully. "Fred and George just – but I've had words with them - "

Mrs. Weasley's eyes narrowed to thin little slits. Chantal had never thought eyes could narrow so much, but Molly Weasley was a champion at suspicious looks. Her voice was slow, dangerous. "What have they done this time? If it's got anything to do with 'Weasley's Wizard Wheezes' - "

"Why don't you show Harry where he's sleeping, Ron?" Hermione piped up suddenly.

Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron, left the room almost hastily, trying to avoid the rest of the confrontation. Chantal knew that they probably would have invited her along, but knowing that she was the twins' best friend, knew that she would want to stay and wait for them.

Arthur began to pick his words carefully, and explain, and the uproar started again. Chantal made eye contact with Fred, and nodded in the direction of the garden, where she would start setting up for dinner. She made her way out of the kitchen scene as fast as she could.

-W-

Chantal sat under a tree in the Burrow's yard, looking up at the dark sky full of stars and wondering what her family was doing at the exact same moment. She had been so excited when the twins wrote to her and asked if she'd like to come see the Quidditch World Cup with them and the others, since their dad managed to get extra tickets. Chantal loved Quidditch and was more than happy to go. Her older brother, Tobias was also going, with his old school friend, Oliver Wood, since both were Quidditch fanatics. Her younger sister Aileen had been heartbroken, since she had wanted to go so badly, but their grandmother had insisted on seeing her youngest grandchild the night of the match.

She let out a sigh, sitting back against the trunk; about to close her eyes when she heard a rustle and someone cough, causing her to start-up and turn in surprise. One of the twins made their way towards her in the coming darkness, a Lumos charm giving them a small amount of light as they came up beside her and plopped down, settling against the tree, and looking up at the sky with a resigned and relaxed sigh.

She leaned back as well, smiling smugly. "Hullo, Fred. Got quite the earful tonight, didn't you?"

The twin sat forward a little bit, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "How did you – no one ever knows which one we are. Not even our mother."

Chantal shrugged. "I guess, spending almost everyday for six years together makes me see differences. Like you, you have rounder eyes than George."

Fred made a small impressed noise, "well done, Channy. I wouldn't think that being best friends for so long could help someone see our minor differences. Like I said, our mother can't even tell the difference."

She laughed slightly. "Then again, after pulling so many pranks with you two, I started keeping a wary eye out, in case I was the next target."

"Not you, Chantal! You're our partner in crime."

They both laughed, high-fiving and reminiscing about all the heinous acts that the three troublemakers had done over their years, both in school and out.

-W-

"Never, in all my years."

Chantal stood, her head bowed and her hands folded in front of her. Beside her stood two rather lanky, and equally red-haired twin boys, and another boy with dark dreadlocks. The four of them stood in front a rather severe looking witch, who was giving them all the most disapproving look. She had been the woman who had sorted them just the night before.

"You have been in the school for less than twenty-four hours, and you've already broken several school rules, and half of a classroom."

"It wasn't exactly a classroom, professor," one of the twins said honestly. "It was actually a hallway."

Professor Minerva McGonagall looked anything but amused. "I sorted all four of you into my own house, the most loyal and brave, yet you go off and pull something like this!"

Chantal made a noise, which did not go un-detected.

Professor McGonagall's eyes flashed. "Do you have something to say, Miss. Devin?"

"No ma'am. I was just - "

"Well, speak up."

"I was just saying … that you have to admit … what we did was rather … brave."

Everyone was silent. The only noise being some explosions of spells coming from the opposite classroom. Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, her eyes narrowed.

"Do you think that this is funny, Miss. Devin?"

"No ma'am."

"Good. Because it isn't. Let this be a lessen to all four of you. Detention, for you, Miss. Devin. And yes, you too, Mr. Jordan. And the two Mister Weasley's."

"But - " Lee Jordan went to protest.

"Be that as it is. You're lucky I'm not taking any points from you. Despite the fact that you did destroy several suits of armour which will have to be repaired, and broke several rules; Miss. Devin was right. It was brave. Now … go to lunch, before I change my mind and take two-hundred points before the year has even started."

Out in the hallway, the three boys burst out laughing. Chantal, however, was not in the mood to be celebrating detention. Her older brother would definitely be hearing about this, and if he told their parents, they'd be anything be pleased.

"Wow!" One of the twins grinned, Chantal couldn't see a difference between the two. "We actually got out of losing house points. That's got to be a first!"

"You think this is funny?"

The boys all turned to her, looks of surprise on their faces.

"You just got me detention! We haven't even been here for a day!"

"Hey," one of the twins held up his hands. "We might as well laugh about it. We're all in the same boat."

"Or, same detention cell." Lee said, earning a snigger and high-five from the other brother.

Chantal scowled, "you guys are horrible."

"Don't be mean Firstie." The closest twin said, narrowing his eyes slightly. "You were laughing when it happened. Heck, you helped us."

"Whatever." She turned away from them; also pretending she hadn't heard the new nickname. "I'm going to the common room." She stopped, and turned back. The boys were looking at her expectantly. "Um … where exactly is the common room?"

The one who called her Firstie shook his head. "Nope. Not telling."

"What?" She looked affronted. "Why not?"

"You called us horrible."

"So?"

"I didn't like it."

Though, to Chantal's bemusement, he was smirking. "Oh, just tell me!"

"Nope."

"Fred," the second twin said, shaking his head. "Come on. Just tell her."

"Not until she gives good payment back. After all, she did call us a nasty name." Fred, however, looked anything but insulted. Chantal was sure that they had been called much worse before.

The second twin rolled his eyes in annoyance at his brother. "Of course."

Lee just shrugged when Chantal turned her blazing gaze to him. "I really have no idea what's going on myself."

"A kiss will do."

"What?!" Chantal practically shrieked, looking at him in horror. "No way!"

Fred grinned, crossing his arms. "Yup. That seems good enough. A kiss for the directions."

"That's hardly fair!"

"Well, do you want to know where the common room is?"

Chantal was too strong to cry at the situation, but she was getting more and more angry. "No. I'll stay lost."

"Suit yourself."

That one word, suit, gave her an idea. Chantal pulled out her wand and pointed it at a nearby suit of armour. She really didn't know any spells yet, but she decided she could try something she had heard her brother talking about. She swiped her wand through the air, and gave it a little flick. "Wingardium Leviosa!"

The left leg of the metal knight broke free and began to hover in the air. She moved the levitated leg from the knight, and went to aim a kick at Fred. However, much to her dismay, the short Charms professor, Flitwick, was making his way down the hall. It all happened too fast. One second, she was trying to kick Fred with the armour, and the next, Flitwick lay on his back with the metal leg clattering to the ground beside him.

The three boys burst into laughter, Chantal rushed forward to help the teacher with a look of horror. "Oh my goodness! Professor! I'm so sorry!"

The little dwarf man waved his hand as she pulled him to his feet. "I'm alright, I'm alright. Not to worry."

Chantal gave him a pitiful look. "I really didn't mean - "

However, the look Flitwick was giving her was one of pure joy. "You haven't started charms lessons yet have you? First years? Yes? Gryffindor? Ah! So you have it after the next class! Brilliant! That was a wonderfully performed levitation charm, especially for someone who has never cast one! I am very pleased! Yes indeed. Fifty points to Gryffindor!"

The boys, who had been waiting for punishment, stared dumbfounded. "What?!"

"Yes, yes. I am indeed, most impressed. Most impressed indeed! Though, you may want to tidy this up beforehand. I shall see you all in charms!" He waddled off.

Chantal looked back at the boys, a look of awestruck shock on her face. "What the bloody hell just happened …"

"You just … won us … fifty … " Fred seemed lost for words.

"I didn't even ... " Chantal was mystified.

"Welcome back to the dark side." Fred grinned, suddenly at her side and taking one of her arms.

George took the other. "The fourth member of our troubled group. Chantal Devin. The Queen of our company."

Lee took both her legs. "The four havoc-wrecking Gryffindors!"

Despite being previously mad at the three of them, Chantal couldn't help but grin, happy to have made three new friends.

"To the common room?" George asked.

"To the common room!" Fred cried as if he were going to battle.

And with that, the three boys carried, and staggered, up stairs to the common room. A new friendship forming between the four of them, on their first day of school.

-W-

Fred howled with laughter, remembering the situation. "Oh bloody hell, I do remember that! It was so funny. Poor Flitwick!"

Clutching her stomach and gasping for breath, Chantal sat back, waving her hand to get his attention. "Can you believe this is going to be our sixth year? Next year we'll be graduating. We'll be done Hogwarts! Adults! Able to do magic outside of school without the precautions."

Fred nodded, clearing his throat and looking a little forlorn. "Seven years, huh? Wow. They went by so fast. I'm not even sure I'm ready to leave Hogwarts. Six years ago, George and me met you and Lee on the train to school. Today, we're still friends."

Chantal punched his arm lightly, making an evil face. "The best of friends. Partners in crime and pranking. Rulers of the world!"

"Well, maybe not that great," Fred joked. "I mean, me and George, sure. But, you? Not so much."

"Oh shush," Chantal shook her head, and pulled a strand of his shaggy red hair. "You, George, Ron, and Harry have let your hair grow out," she laughed wickedly. "I'll have to ask Hermione for some spells that will chop it all to odd lengths."

"You will do no such thing!" Fred laughed, beaming. "Me and George will get you back tenfold."

Chantal chuckled, nodding. "True, true. Maybe not such a good idea." She sighed and looked up at the deepening sky. "We should probably head in and get some sleep. Gracious knows, your mother will be on top of making sure we're all awake super early so we can leave."

"Yeah, probably a good idea. Tomorrow we need to get our precious Irish pride on." He helped her to her feet and they walked in silence back into the house, giddy with excitement for the game.

They climbed the stairs together, trying not to laugh too loudly; in fear of waking the others up, as they both tried to knock the other back down the steps. When they stopped outside of Ginny's bedroom, where Chantal was bunking with the other two girls, Fred turned and smiled at her mischievously.

"I'll see you bright and early then, Channy."

She smiled, nodding. "Sure thing. And please, at least for tonight, can you and George not start blowing things up? It kept us awake last night."

Fred winked, already heading up the steps to his and George's room. "Night, Chantal."

"Goodnight. Lunk-head." She muttered to herself.

Hope you guy's are enjoying the story so far! It actually has taken me around four months to plan/map-out, because I want it to be as perfect/accurate as possible. I know the Harry Potter series inside and out, but I had a lot of extra research to do, like birthdays, wand woods, etc. It's been one hell of a ride, lol. So hopefully, my story/writing, is living up to it! :) Xo - Jane

P.S. Don't forget to F/F/R :D