Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. No matter how much I wish I did, I do not.
Author's Note: This first part is my character's POV.
Chapter One: Explosive
"FRED!!!!!!"
Good old Mrs. Weasley, or Aunt Molly, as she wants me to call her.
Good old Fred. He probably burned a hole in Charlie's sweater again. Or something like that. How did she know it was Fred? It could have been George. But George doesn't operate with explosive pranks. That much I know. Because it had been Fred who'd meant to blow up Ginny's scrambled eggs when I was eight, but instead had accidentally placed the Exploding Snap card on my plate, where no one saw it until after my toast had blown up in my face. I smelt like butter for three days.
I better go downstairs and see what he exploded this time. I smell burnt rubber. Oh Lord, that better not be the old Wellies.
I sign the entry in my diary, Brielle Aurora Lovegood.
(End POV)
Brielle shut the door to Ginny's room quietly. She walked down the stairs and saw Fred on his hands and knees, sleeves rolled up, washing the ashes off the floor. He grinned up at her, and she saw that there were a few ash marks on his face, and some ash in his hair. She sat in a chair and watched him for a few moments.
"Well," he said, sitting on his heels. "How is my favorite godsister and neighbor?"
"Frederick Aaron Weasley…." she trailed off. "What on Earth did you blow up this time? And where is George?"
"George? Oh, he's retrieving his Fanged Frisbee from your uncle's house. He left it in Luna's room." he got back on his knees and started scrubbing again. "I blew up a Wet-start Firework, but it didn't go right, and the water fell into the fireplace, causing all the smoke and that is why the windows and door are open and I am on the floor scrubbing."
"And why you have ashes all over your face and hair." She leaned over, brushing a few off the top of his head.
"You know, since you're eleven now, I'll have to teach you and Ron the ways of Hogwarts." he said, dipping his sponge in the bucket of soapy water next to him.
"Just because your mother is my godmother doesn't mean you have to watch over me like a hawk!" she protested. Her dirty blonde hair fell in her face slightly, obscuring one of her blue-green-grey eyes. She brushed it away impatiently.
"Alright, alright, don't eat me." he held up his hands in surrender. "But how else are you going to be our accomplice if you don't know the secret passageways of Hogwarts?"
"Secret passageways?" she asked, intrigued.
He nodded. "But, I guess you don't want to know. You said you could take care of yourself." he looked up at her. She was bursting from wanting to know, but to proud to say that she needed his help. She did and he knew, but she wouldn't say it until she really needed him.
He relented. "Alright, I'll tell you. But after I'm done, okay? I have something I want to show you."
She nodded. She'd only sat there for a few minutes when Mrs. Weasley came in. She surveyed Fred's work. "Use a little more elbow grease, I want as much of that stain off as humanly possible. Brielle, dear, Ron's out in the back yard, would you like to join him? He's picking apples."
She shook her head. "No, Aunt Molly. I'll stay here and keep Fred company."
She raised her eyebrows a bit, then gave Fred a look, and she bustled out again.
"She thinks we're bad influences on you." he said, shaking his head.
"Of course not, we all know you're going to get those top-notch jobs at the Ministry." she said sarcastically.
He grinned. "Is my sarcasm finally beginning to rub off on you? Good girl."
George entered the room with a snarling Frisbee. "The bloody hell'd you do in here?" he asked.
"Let's say I had a problem with a Wet-Start Firecracker."
George shook his head. "I can only imagine."
Fred stood up and bent his head in with George. " I think we should show Brielle the Map," he muttered.
"The one we nicked from Filch?" George asked with raised eyebrows
Fred nodded. "That one." he glanced at Brielle, who was playing with her fingers. "I think she deserves to know."
George nodded slowly. "Alright, but if she tells-"
"She won't." He saw his brother's disbelieving look. "Really. She's better than that. It's not like she's seven! And even back then, did she tell about the time we slipped a firecracker into the pond where Percy was swimming? No, she didn't. Personally, I think- "
"Fred, shut up." George looked amused. "I get it. You trust her. Now shut up before I start thinking you fancy her."
"I do not!"
"Exactly."
Fred rolled his eyes and got back on the floor.
Later that day, after dinner, after the family (and Brielle) had dispersed from the table, Brielle sat on a bench outside in the garden. She didn't hear Fred and George behind her, until they each grabbed one arm and hoisted her into the air.
"Hey! What're you-" she was cut off by George clapping a hand over her mouth and whispering, "Shh!"
They brought her to a secluded corner of the garden. George fumbled with a lamp for a few seconds, then it lit, showing three chairs. She sat in one, the boys sitting across from her. Fred put the map in her hands.
"…and what is this supposed to be?" she asked, turning it over and examining it. "If this is some stupid prank you're going to pull on me, then just remember- I know what you're afraid of, where you live, and your middle names."
"But this is not stupid." George said.
"Nor is it a prank, really. More of a prankster's helper." Fred added.
She raised an eyebrow, and Fred tapped it with his wand. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
"'Misters Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs are proud to present the Marauder's Map.'" she murmured. She unfolded it. "Is this…?"
"Hogwarts." George nodded.
"And that's…"
"Professor Snape, the Potions Master, sitting in his office." Fred finished.
"Wow….I…wow…" she shook her head. "What possessed you two to show me your biggest secret? This is amazing! You can get around Hogwarts with no one knowing."
"Fred wanted to," George shrugged. "I wondered what was wrong with him too."
"But remember, if you tell, we know what you're afraid of, where you live, and-" Fred's lips twitched as he said, "and your middle name."
Se smiled at the usage of her line, and said, "Thanks, guys. This thing is…brilliant. Thank you for letting me know." she looked down at the map. "But how do you clear it?"
George tapped it with is wand, saying, "Mischief managed."
She smiled at them "I'm sure you guys will have fun with this." she said, handing it back to Fred.
"Oh, but we wouldn't do anything without you!" George said. "Think about it- who will suspect a first year to know the passages right off the bat? Who will expect a first year to be pulling off the pranks that you will? Our sign of work is a wand crossed with a firecracker, but you can do something different."
She grinned. "Yeah, I know exactly what I'll use as a sign." she stood. "But now, we should go back. Your mum will be worried about us."
And with that, she led them back to the house, where they said goodnight and went to bed.
