For the Love of The Game

By Rikky*

Chapter 1:

ermione Granger walked through The Weasley's Wizard Wheezes as swiftly as she could manage, and still remain upright. The store was a joke shop owned by one of her best friends, elder twin brothers, George and Fred. The idea to magically elongated came to George, in a dream he claimed.

Hermione had previously thought it a clever idea, but know was wishing it was of normal size range. On a normal day, hurrying through the store would take at least five minutes. Today, Hermione was weighted down by at least half her mass in packages and parcels. All of her concentration not spent on remaining upright was devoted to holding her packages, and keeping her hair and clothing out of her way. It was all she could do to silently pray that she could avoid a collision that day.

She was not as lucky as one could have hoped.

Sighing she bent to retrieve her packages, but thinking better she first rose to see her casualty. Seeing it was, her good friend's, aforementioned older brother, George. Seeing the wide grin on her face, she felt a similar one spread a cross her own. Tucking her hair behind her ears in one expeditious motion, she began her greeting.

"Hi! Who would have thought. I don't suppose you could conjure me a pram? They don't even let the head girl use her wand on vacations!"

"Of course," Fred said already waving his wand. "Jeez, had to throw in that your head girl this year huh? You and Percy should get together!"

"Ha, Ha. You know Draco Malfoy will be head boy this year. Barely beat out Harry and Ron."

"I take it back, head boy and girl titles mean nothing if that git can get it! So, I never thought you'd set foot in my store, let alone actually buy something. I suppose they're not for you, as they're all gift wrapped, holiday style, " He said gesturing to her packages, grin re-plastered on his face, after its moment of mock-seriousness.

"Ooh, I always knew you were a smart one!" Hermione said, only a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Though it was true she suspected Fred of being smarter than he let on. It was a well kept secret that he got almost as many NEWTS as Percy. George broke the Weasley family record for the lowest number of NEWTS.

"I suppose their Christmas presents," Fred said, ginning even broader. "But isn't it a little late to be starting, especially for you? I mean it is Christmas is only two months and 24 days away!"

"Oh I'm not starting. I've had my list three months. Would you like to see it. It's detailed."

"I'll take your word for it. Heading to the Burrow now? I am."

"Yes, my parents are so happy your family has put me on the train every year, since I was thirteen now. It's really a hassle for them, they're not used to magical things." The two of them, had unconsciously made it to the leaky cauldron, and Fred was already stepping into the grate. Soon Hermione followed, and with a quick, "The Burrow" She was on the floor of the Weasley's kitchen picking herself up.

*

As usual the morning of September 1st, was hectic, for four half asleep adolescents. The rest of the household's occupants were sound asleep in their beds, like normal people would be at 5:30 on Saturday morning. Finally one borrowed ministry car was packed, and contained four not so sleepy, but certainly grumpy teenagers, on their way to school. For the first time, they were allowed to go alone.

They arrived late to the platform, and it's good they went alone, for if they had had good-byes to say, they wouldn't have made the train on time. They were lucky enough to claim an empty compartment, as they were all prefects, and Hermione was head girl, they had reserved a compartment.

The trip was uneventful, they didn't even get a visit from Draco Malfoy. Instead they played games of Wizarding chess, and exploding snap, lazing around drinking pumpkin juice while the sun flowed through the glass.

They sat through the carriage ride, and the sorting anticipating a wonderful feast, but not expecting any surprises. They got on however, when Dumbledor stood up, to make his annual welcome announcement, and attention was turned to the the head table. There they were greeted with a surprise. Fred Weasley sat up in the place that used to belong to Madame Hooch.

"Welcome, first years, and returning students. I'm glad you all chose to join us today! We have a new flying teacher, as some of you have probably noticed, George Weasley!" As George stood up and took a bow, in his usual joking manor most laughed having remember, or heard of the famous Weasley twins, who know owned the joke shop that beat even Zonkos. Hermione stopped listening, her mind reeling.

'So George is the one with the longer hair! But yesterday, he let me believe he was Fred...' But then when Hermione thought back, she'd his name had never been mentioned. Then which one was the smarter Weasley, Fred or George.

Hermione leaned over to Ginny, "Which one got more Newts?"

"George," Ginny answered and turned back to Dumbledor, laughing at a joke he made, along with the rest of the school.

Hermione turned her attention back to Dumbledor, and just on time.

"We have a new head girl this year, as always. Hermione Granger, please stand up so the students know you," Hermione stood and gave a wave. "and Draco Malfoy, our head boy." Enjoy the feast.

*