Before we left for the Hogwarts Express our first year, Charlie cornered me and Georgie boy in our room.
"Now boys, I know you're only first years," Charlie started.
We shared a look, as all twins should, and George started: "Charlie, I never knew you-"
"-noticed us with all the-"
"-quidditch plans-"
"-you were making this year!" We finished in unison.
Charlie sighed, hand reflexively going towards his badges pinned to his grey shirt. He had two pinned there, the red and gold colors of Gryffiindor peering at us from the Prefect badge, but he was reaching toward the one he took far more pride in: Quidditch Captain. He looked at us again, pinning me and George with a serious look.
This time I started "But Charlie, we can't-"
"-be on the quidditch team this year!"
"I'm not trying to talk about quidditch. I'm trying to give you two dunderheads some advice." Poor Charlie seemed frustrated. He did that thing that he and Bill both do when they're frustrated, running both hands through his hair at the same time. Mum had gotten to us all two days ago, it was shorter than he liked it. For that matter, so was mine and George's. George's and mine? Oh well. Whoops, Charlie was trying to talk to us. He took a deep breath and started again. "I wanted to tell you two a few things. First: don't worry if you're not in Gryffindor." Georgie and I started and stared at each other with disgust before turning back to Charlie. He tended to give good advice, but how dare he insinuate that we weren't brave!
Charlie started to talk again before we could cut him off again. "Second: beware of McGonagall and Snape. They're both hardasses. McGonagall will always be fair, but she is strict and takes pride in producing lions. Snape just enjoys our suffering, and will be quick to take away house points. It's not worth it." George and I did not need to look at each other this time, I knew he was quirking his eyebrow and smirking at Charlie the same way I was. Charlie smirked back at us; after all, he had been the one to teach us that expression years ago. He had to know that that advice would be promptly ignored once we set foot in Hogwarts. Nobody was safe from Fred and George Weasley. "Last but definitely not least: always compliment the girl." George and I gagged. "I know, I know. But let me tell you now. It will happen at some point. But first, remember that any girl can be pretty. Pretty is what happens when a girl makes an effort to look good. But not any girl can be beautiful. That happens when the girl is right, mum will try to tell you that beauty comes from within and all that nonsense, but it is when she is smiling at you and it takes your breath away. It is when you think about her all the time, it is when the brains, yes, you two could only be interested in girls as smart as you, come out to play and challenge you." With that, Charlie walked away.
Now, think what you might, but Charlie only gives advice when he knows it needs given. On many occasions, Charlie's advice has saved us from trouble, but mostly, we know to think about it because whenever we don't listen to him, we regret it. Mum says something about the Prewetts being seers, and we would normally think it bollocks, but Charlie says some weird stuff sometimes. But it is Charlie. Who knows?
George and I look at each other, before going and sitting on our beds for a few minutes, silently letting his advice sink in. We pick our heads up as we hear mum shouting downstairs, trying to get the munchkins ready, trying to make sure that we are gathering our stuff for Hogwarts. We grab our trunk together, dragging it down the stairs (quite loudly), laughing as we think about Charlie giving advice about girls. Eww.