AN: This is a side one-shot to "Standing By." I highly recommend reading at least Chapters 5 and 6 for some background information.

AN 2: George = underlined, Fred = bold, and Ari = italics.


31 August 1993

Dear Ari,

Shocking to see more well-crafted and well-structured letters from the Weasley twins, isn't it? This'll be the last of them for summer as it's the last day and we'll be going back to school tomorrow.

We know you've read tons of apologies from us and are probably sick of them by now, but they're still going to keep coming. You're most likely confused as to why we keep apologizing for "failing you" as we put it, but we'll be explaining it to you. Like now.

Remember meeting us that first day in first year? We totally hit it off, and we were so sure you would be our new partner-in-crime. But then you got Sorted into Slytherin. And things from there started going south.

We swear that we didn't intend to freeze you out because you were a slimy Slytherin. No, we would have never thought that of you. Not even when we learned that Sirius Black was your dad.

It was never because we thought bad of you. We were worried…for your reputation. We could see that your housemates were going to hate you like everyone else would. To be friends with a couple Gryffindors would've made the Slytherins hate you even more, and we didn't want to risk it.

Though, to be honest, it was also so we wouldn't get grief for being friends with a Slytherin.

Sadly, George is right. It was kind of selfish on our parts, and that's one of the biggest reasons we feel so guilty. Do you remember when your cousin Dora got detention a week after school started? She hexed us during break and didn't notice Snape saw what she was doing. She was so pissed, Ari. She was so angry that we left you to the wolves (well, actually snakes) on your own. We wound up having to tell her what was really going on. She then made us promise something.

We promised Dora that we would always watch you from afar, no matter what.

And that's why we keep apologizing. We failed you, Ari. If we had been watching more closely, we would've known sooner and would've told someone sooner. I was the biggest idiot in the world by letting you convince me to not say a word. What kind of a person am I for doing something like that?

Harry being framed as the Heir of Slytherin didn't help matters, of course, but we never should've taken our eyes off of you. You're hurting so much, Ari. We can't stand to see you like this, or even think of you like this.

We won't make the same mistakes again, though. Tomorrow at the platform, you are going to meet with us and you are going to come with us. Houses shouldn't separate us, and they won't again. From now on, you'll be our friend and we'll be yours.

And we won't take no for an answer.

Exactly. What do you say, Ari?

Your new best friends,

Gred and Forge Weasley

P.S. Fred says he's in love with you!

P.P.S. Shut up, George!


31 August 1993

Dear Fred and George,

Your letter really means a lot to me. Thank you so much. And you don't have to worry; I don't blame you guys one bit for not doing it anything about it sooner. It's really my fault, after all.

I say yes.

Love,

Ari

P.S. I'm flattered, Fred. Really.


AN 3: Reviews are greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance to those who do! Look out for my first major story on Ari on my user page if it comes out!