Chapter 2: Books and Bizarreness

"Oh the places you'll go!

There is fun to be done!

There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.

And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all."

Dr Seuss (Oh, The Places You'll Go!)

One Week Later…

Despite her eager nature and passion for discovering new places, AJ Xavier-Walsh was still a creature of habit. Today, she sat at her spot on the hill opposite the orchard; a Dr. Seuss book in hand, with a box of crackers on the side. In the peacefulness of the day, there was no one to disturb her, so AJ began to read her story aloud:
'"So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you'll move mountains."' she recited with enthusiasm. "Oh, The Places You'll Go" was one of her favourite Dr. Seuss books. Completely silly of course, but AJ couldn't help but love all that whimsical nonsense.

'Talking to yourself about moving mountains? Quite a mad sign, wouldn't you agree George?' teased a cheeky voice from behind her. AJ's smile widened; she recognised that voice. She rolled herself over as a second voice continued.

'I do indeed Fred. The girl must be delirious!' was the identical reply. Those voices could only belong to two people, exactly alike, AJ thought. She turned to see the gangly frames of the Weasley twins standing a few metres away with corresponding smirks on their freckled faces. This time, the only difference between them was the colour of their stripy t-shirts; one was red and white, the other blue and white. AJ leaned on her elbows and looked up at them defiantly.

'I'm not mad you know. I just like reading nonsense books. Hello to you too by the way.' she added.

'Hello AJ!' they chorused. AJ laughed.

'I don't think I'm ever going to get used to that,' she sighed dramatically.

'You will.' they said together.

AJ's eyes went from one twin to the other, her mind bursting with the obvious, painstakingly embarrassing question. 'Sorry, which one of you is which again?' she blurted out. The twins grinned ecstatically at each other in triumph, causing AJ's face to turn pink.

'It's alright AJ. I'm George.' confirmed the one in blue, raising his hand.

'Okay, George in blue.' said AJ uncertainly.

The other twin waved his hand too. 'And I'm Fred.' he stated.

'Fred in red.' AJ replied. 'Hey, that rhymes!' she remarked excitedly.

'And you're AJ.' Fred continued.

'AJ in yellow.' George announced, playing along too. AJ meekly fiddled with a loose thread on her yellow floral shirt.

'Oh, okay, okay. Sorry.' AJ apologised. 'It is confusing you know.'

Fred and George laughed. 'We know!' they exclaimed gleefully. AJ just poked her tongue out in response. She noticed that this time, the brothers carried no unusual objects with them.

'So, no brooms and balls today then?'

The twins grinned. 'Nope. We're done from chores for now.' Fred-in-red explained.

'It helps to get as far away as possible, so we don't have to do any more.' George-in-blue added on. AJ shook her head in slight disbelief. She'd gone to school with a pair of twins in Spain; the girls' personalities were practically polar opposites, but they still managed to know what the other was thinking. AJ also recalled her fraternal twin and triplet cousins. They all had their own personality traits too, but being so close, you'd think the siblings shared one mind as well. This seemed to be the case with the Weasleys. Just another rare thing she wouldn't understand. She sat down, indicating for the twins to do the same.

'So that's what you're doing here. Escaping duties?' she teased. The boys simultaneously shrugged as they plonked themselves onto the grass.

'Not that it matters, our brothers are all back at home, so no harm done.'

'How many brothers do you have?' AJ inquired.

'Five,' they answered. 'including him.' both said, pointing to each other.

'Whoa!' AJ shouted in surprise. 'Five brothers? Don't you have any sisters?' she asked.

'Only one- Ginny. But she's the youngest. We're the fourth-'

'-and fifth in the family.'

'So you have six siblings? That's insane!' AJ exclaimed.' And I thought my family was big.'

'How many siblings have you got?' asked Fred.

AJ looked down shyly. 'Well, one brother; half-brother really.' she replied sheepishly. The twins snorted.

'What? That's it?'

'I didn't mean siblings! My extended family's huge!' AJ defended. Fred and George stopped laughing.

'Yeah, well, same here.'

'But we'll believe you.'

'Whatever.' AJ muttered. She fidgeted with her book, before picking up her box of biscuits.

.

'Want a cracker?' she offered.

'Yeah!'

'Sure!' the twins replied enthusiastically reaching for the box. They took two each, with AJ taking some for herself.

'Fanks.' they answered with full mouths.

Over their animal crackers, the three children began to talk; about how Fred and George had always lived in the same home, as opposed to AJ, who'd moved from Wales to Spain to Cyprus, back to Spain, around Wales again, and then to England. They exchanged facts about their families, with Fred and George naming all their siblings, how they all went to the same school, though Bill, the oldest had just graduated. The twins explained how they were the next ones in the family to start their 'new' school, but when AJ asked them what school they went to, they tried to change the subject, and asking AJ about what school was like, which they seemed to take great interest in. Their hesitation confused AJ; she remembered they'd done that once before the first time they met. While they chatted about everything they could, the twins seemed to be sharing similar thoughts, constantly glancing at each other with wary eyes. Finally, after around half an hour, they decided to go in for the plunge.

'Hey AJ?' George started.

'Yes?' AJ replied.

'Have you… ever been…?'

George looked to Fred to help him continue. His twin obliged with false confidence.

'What George means to say is, well, it might seem like a really weird question, but- um…'

'What? What is it?' she asked in anticipation. Fred and George looked at each other nervously; there was no turning back now for them now.

Fred continued. 'Have you ever been able to do things, little things that seem…I don't know- not normal?'

'Like weird little actions that you can't explain?' George added. 'When you're really angry or upset or something? We're just wondering, you know, out of standard curiosity and stuff.' he finished hastily. There was a pregnant pause as the twins waited to see if they were going to regret their words or not. To their surprise, AJ looked thoughtful.

'Actually, now that you mention it; when I'm down at the creek, I can make pebbles and sticks float, not just on water, but in the air. And I can make them move when I want...'

'You can?' the twins chorused in disbelief. They eagerly motioned for AJ to continue.

'Yeah, and the water can make patterns when I want it to. And, whenever anyone makes me mad or something, really weird stuff happens. Like windows shutting or things breaking….' she recounted, uncertain as to whether she was scared or relieved that the twins seemed to know something about her abilities. But what would they think of her? 'But my family never gets hurt or anything.' she quickly added, 'Just people from school I don't like.' It was true; one time in 3rd grade, Terry Markesan had made fun of her accent in the middle of the playground, and somehow he ended up being stuck on the roof of the school, clinging to a bench she'd levitated. She wasn't one to recount strange events like that, but now that Fred and George had prompted her, she suddenly found herself blurting out more.'…and I can go on swing-sets really high, and when I fall, I land on my feet, and I'm fine! It's weird, like I'm flying, but I can't help it! I mean…' she paused mid-sentence, giving the twins a suspicious look. 'Wait. Why did you ask me if I could do all that?'

.

Fred and George gawked as they took a moment to take everything in. What AJ had said was starting to make perfect sense! She'd basically displayed all the signs that children like them showed around their age. All their family, and themselves had done similar things, but they knew it was normal.

'We've, err, been surveying kids in the area aged eleven to see if they can all do magic tricks.' George explained.

'Yeah, just curious really.' Fred shrugged casually.

'Liars.' said AJ determinedly. 'Why did you ask me? Can you do it too?' she asked. In her hazel eyes, there was a glint of hope, hope that she wasn't just one nutcase.

Fred rubbed his neck. 'Actually it's kinda normal. For people like us you see.'

'What do you mean, people like-'

'Cause we can do it too.' George interrupted. 'All of our family, well, most of them can do those sorts of things too.' he explained. AJ's face lit up in further anticipation.

'Really?' So, I'm not a freak? Cause that's what the kids at school called me.' AJ said.

The twins looked horrified. 'Merlin no!' they shouted. AJ gave them a funny look. She'd never heard anyone say "Merlin" like that.

'No, you're not a freak.' Fred assured.

'At least not a complete freak.' George added cheekily. 'You were talking to yourself before.'

'Was not! I was reading!' AJ retorted.

'Just pulling your leg AJ.' George chuckled.

'But AJ, can anyone else in your family do what you can?' Fred asked more seriously. AJ thought, she shook her head.
.

'No. They don't know. I- I don't know how to tell them. I don't even know how I'm doing it! It's just so hard to explain!' she exclaimed angrily, twirling a strand of short hair around her finger. Fred and George gave her a somewhat pitiful look and both put a reassuring hand on AJ's shoulders. Boy, she must have had it tough, they thought. It was just her.

'You know what AJ?' Fred said excitedly.

'I think we can explain.' George whispered excitedly.

'Explain what?' AJ whispered back, desperate for an answer. Fred and George looked at each other, nodding in agreement.

'AJ, we think…'

'…that you might be…'

They both took a deep breath.

'A witch.' they finished together. AJ scrunched up her face.

'A witch.' AJ murmured uncertainly. Her expression was hard to read, but her eyes darted from boy to boy, as if she was questioning their sanity. 'A witch?' she exclaimed a little louder, 'That's not a nice thing to say!' she scolded.

Both Fred and George were unsure of what else to say. Their improvisation basin had suddenly run dry. They exchanged panicked looks.

'No, we don't mean that kind of witch!' Fred shouted.

'Not like the witches you've heard about!' reasoned George.

But AJ wasn't so easily swayed. These boys who she'd come to be friends with were now calling her a witch; just because she had a few abnormal quirks. 'What are you one about?' she demanded. 'A different kind of witch? Do I look like a witch to you?' In her exasperation, AJ stood up and looked down at the boys, somewhere between offended and just plain hurt.

Fred and George groaned; this was exactly the type of situation they had hoped to avoid.

'No! AJ listen to us! Please!' George pleaded, standing to face AJ more directly, which Fred also did.

'You said you make things happen! Things no one else can do! We can do them too! So can our family!'

'We're wizards AJ!' they shouted triumphantly.

'AJ shook her head in disbelief. 'Okay- hang on, stop. You're telling me just because I can make water and sticks move, and cups smash without touching them, I'm a witch?'

'Yeah, I know it's hard to believe, but we think you're one of us!' cried George.

'How can I believe you? How do I know this isn't some stupid prank?' questioned AJ doubtfully. That struck a chord with the twins. Fred spoke up.

'Trust me; pranks are our specialty; if we were going to prank you-'

'Which we're not.' George reassured.

'-You'd be looking pretty stupid, and we'd be laughing. But we're not, are we?' Fred reasoned.

'So, you should probably believe us.' said George.

.

AJ was still critical; she wasn't quite sure she should trust Fred and George. This wasn't something she heard every day.

By now, the twins were getting desperate; they'd well and truly gone too far, or so they thought. Suddenly, AJ's book and cracker box levitated (seemingly of its own accord), floating above their heads. AJ squealed and jumped back.

'Hey! What's going on? What are- are you doing that?' she cried, nearly jumping out of her skin. But George was as confused as her.

'I'm not doing it!' he cried innocently. They both looked to Fred, who was just staring with a vague, wide-eyed expression. His head was tilted slightly to one side and he seemed only focused on the floating objects.

'Fred!' George shouted. Fred blinked, and instantly the book and cracker box dropped to the ground. AJ gawked at the twins.

'How- how did you do that?' she whispered, awestruck. Fred looked straight at her.

'Exactly the way you can. The same way all of us can. Now do you believe us?'

'I- I think so.' she replied, sitting down on the grass again. The twins frowned, not completely satisfied with the uncertainty in AJ's voice. Suddenly, a mutual idea formed in their minds and, sitting back down opposite her, they bargained for a new approach.

'Listen, its July isn't it?' George said knowingly.

'Yeah, so what?' AJ answered, not quite sure what he was getting at.

'Well, in about a week or so, you might get a letter.'

AJ scrunched up her face in surprise. 'A letter? But I never get mail; just on birthdays and Christmas and stuff.'

Fred grinned. 'Well, if you really are a witch, you'll get a letter. Cause, we're waiting for ours any day now. All our brothers get theirs as well.'

This got AJ's curiosity sparked again, the idea of a special letter for wizards intrigued her. 'So, what's in the letter?' asked. Fred and George just exchanged a hopeless glance.

'Look, it's really hard to explain.' George sighed. 'But, if you do get the letter, meet us next Friday, same time same place.'

'And we promise we'll tell you everything.' Fred continued. 'Sound good?' they looked hopefully at AJ. She still wasn't sure, but deep down; she knew there was a reason for why she could do things out of the ordinary. And she'd already found a lot of common ground with Fred and George, so why what did she have to lose? Slowly, she nodded her head, and set her eyes straight on the twins.

'Okay' agreed. 'Weird, but okay. I'm still confused though.'

'Trust us AJ.'

'After next week.'

'You'll understand.' they finished together, standing up. AJ nodded stupidly. She hoped she wasn't being had by the twins, but they sounded pretty serious about it all for 11-year-olds. Fred and George looked behind them.

.

'Well, I think we have to go.'

'Sorry to leave you like this, but we really don't want our brothers coming after us again.'

'Alright.' AJ replied, trying to hide her disappointment. The twins started walking down the hill. As they did, AJ suddenly ran after them.

'Hey! Fred? George?'

They both turned around. 'Yeah?'

'What if I don't get the letter?'

Fred and George looked to each other in thought, before they both shrugged.

'Come anyway.' they replied cheerfully. 'Bye now!' and with that, they continued down the hill.
.

AJ sighed, and then turned back to gather her things. She picked up her book carefully, afraid it might move of its own accord, but it didn't. It was odd; she'd wondered about her hidden abilities for years, and then suddenly, she meets two people her age that can do exactly what she can. Surely it was just coincidence? But what if they were right? What if she did get the letter? Whatever letter that was… But the notion that she might be some sort of witch, sounded sort of frightening; despite all of Fred and George's assurances it was brilliant. AJ just wasn't sure. Her, a witch? She looked nothing like the witches she'd seen in movies, and she couldn't ride a broomstick, or wear black all the time. She was just AJ, happy, healthy, relatively average AJ. She wasn't bizarre or deformed or a genius or anything. So how could it be possible?

But thinking back to her meetings with the Fred and George, there were certain peculiarities about them; George had been carried a broomstick, Fred had that strange red ball, and neither seemed to know what basketball was. They seemed a little different….but nothing truly unusual. But what would she know? AJ thought. All she could do now was wait for that letter to come. But what if she didn't get it and it was all just a dumb joke? But what if she did, what then? The only answer she had was to go see Fred and George again, so they could tell her what all the fuss was about. AJ pondered all this over the next few days, now having further purpose to check the mail box every day, waiting hopefully for the letter Fred and George had mentioned. So for one long week, she waited.

...