Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters used in this story, except for Haley, and she is. The sister of a Harry Potter character. All credit for the creation of. Harry Potter goes to J.K. Rowling, though I disagree with Fred dying.
AN: Hi guys! This is my first fanfic, so please tell me any suggestions, corrections, or ideas you have. Other than that, enjoy!
Every business person needs a sponsor and support to get started. For Fred and George Weasley, that sponsor was Harry Potter, who gave them his Triwizard tournament winnings after certain... events had occurred. However, the support, before and after the sponsorship, fell to Haley Clearwater, their first friend besides each other. It all started where most Hogwarts friendships do, on that very first train ride.
xxx
Fred and George Weasley were on the Hogwarts train, excited for their first year, when a very nervous-looking blonde girl walked in. "Hey, do you mind if I sit here? Everywhere else is full." Her blue eyes seemed to be pleading then to say yes.
"Not at all," said the twin on the right, "I'm Fred, by the way, and this is my brother-"
"George." finished the other.
"We're Weasleys." they said together.
"I'm Haley Clearwater." replied the girl, now struggling to reach the rack to put her trunk up.
"Here let me help you with that," said the twin she THOUGHT was George. Haley sat down while Fred, wide-eyed, watched George stood on a seat put her trunk up.
"Thanks," Haley sighed "That would have taken me ages to get up by myself."
"No problem," replied George, unusually polite.
"So," said Haley, who didn't notice the change, "What house do you think you'll be in?"
"Well," started George, "Seeing as our three older brothers have all been in the same house-"
"We'll be in Gryffindor." finished Fred. "What about you?"
"Well my sister Penelope is in Ravenclaw," Haley explained, "but I want to be in Gryffindor, myself."
"Good" replied a satisfied Fred. "That means we should see a lot of you around school."
"If I don't get put in Ravenclaw, that is." sighed Haley.
"True," agreed George. "But if you were meant to be in Ravenclaw, you'd probably want to be in Ravenclaw, not Gryffindor."
"Gee, George," said a surprised Fred. "That was deep. I didn't know you had it in you."
"Trust me," replied George. "Neither did I."
"Oh!" exclaimed Haley. "We're almost there! We'd better change into our robes!"
So the trio went to change. And just in time, because a soon as they got back to their compartment, the train began to slow to a stop. They all boarded the same boat, talking excitedly for the whole ride. Before they knew it, they were there.
xxx
The first years sat impatiently waited for their turn to be sorted. Eventually, a the call came for "Clearwater, Haley!" and she walked up, ghostly white (slightly lighter than her usual pale complexion), trying to look as confident as possible. The sorting hat had barely touched her head before "GRYFFINDOR!" was called out. She hurried off to the table, with a huge grin on her face. More names were called, more roars of applause. Finally, "Weasley, Fred!" A moment of silence followed. Then, "GRYFFINDOR!" Next, "Weasley, George!" with another shout of "GRYFFINDOR!" Haley cheered as both twins came and sat next to her. They talked as the sorting finished, cheering whenever they heard the sorting hat call out the name of their new house.
"So," began George. "Looks like you ended up in Gryffindor after all."
"Yeah." said Haley, with another grin. "Looks like you did,too."
xxx
After the feast, the firsts years headed up to their respective common rooms. For the trio, newly sorted, it was Gryffindor. When they got to the common room, they found out that their trunks had already been taken up to their dormitories. So Fred and George bid Haley goodnight, and the three went up to unpack.
When Haley arrived to the girls dormitories, she discovered her bed was the one nearest the window. She met the girls she would be sharing her dormitory with and introduced herself several times, then finally went to her trunk to unpack. As soon as her trunk was opened, an awful smell began to fill the room. A moment later, fireworks began to explode out of her trunk. This show lasted for several minutes, lasting longer than the awful smell. Finally the explosions subsided, and it was a long moment before Haley dared approached her trunk. When she did, she looked inside to find several dungbombs and tubes that must have been the source of the spectacular fireworks show. "How could this have happened?" Haley mumbled to herself. "I was only one who touched my trunk, besides, GEORGE!" she finished the sentence with a furious yell, and rushed down to the common room to confront the soon as she stepped down the last stair, she looked to see a pair of red-headed twins with huge grins on their faces, as if they had just won a fabulous prize.
Furiously Haley stormed in, knowing it was George who put the explosives in her trunk. She was extremely angry, because the dungbombs released noxious fumes into the dormitory, and now the girls would have to sleep in the common room. While Haley lectured them, Fred gave George a meaningful look. Suddenly Fred and George left the room. Haley called for them to come back, but to no success. She realized that the twins would be worthwhile friends, and she decided to forgive them.