Disclaimer:See previous chapter

Chapter 2

Gwen Beaumont stared at the running figure heading for her and shook her head. "What did you do this time, Van?" she asked her best friend, even as aforementioned friend grabbed her by the arm. Gwen laughed as she felt herself being dragged along.

Vanessa Young flashed her a brilliant smile. "Who, me? Do something?" she answered, feigning innocence, "You have lost your mind if you think I would do anything to break the precious rules of Hogwarts!" Her steps faltered when a sudden angry shout drifted along the corridor. "In any case, we should 'am-scray' before we, innocent bystanders that we are, get blamed!" she added, good-naturedly.

Gwen just laughed again, not bothering to glance over her shoulder to inspect whatever damage Van had done this time, for her friend loved to play gags on the unsuspecting school staff. Another angry shout sounded and Gwen guessed it to be Filch, the school caretaker, who was making all the noise. It was Filch that was usually the brunt of the gags, for Vanessa loved to torment the grumpy old man.

Only when they were safely on the main floor did she turn to her friend. "Don't even tell me what you did to Filch this time!" she exclaimed, "I don't want to be labeled an accessory!"

At this, Vanessa burst into laughter. "It was even more brilliant than the last time, Gwen!" she exclaimed, beaming with pride, "You should've seen it! I took this rope and bucket and-"

Gwen immediately clapped her hands over her ears. "La-la-la!" she said loudly, earning her strange looks from several students roaming the halls, "I'm not listening! I'm not listening!" She looked pointedly at her friend.

Vanessa rolled her eyes. "You are so boring sometimes, Gwen!" she complained, but not unkindly. She firmly tugged her hands away from her ears. "Now, come on!" she added, tugging this time on her arm, "Let's go outside while the sun's still shining. I've got to read the letter Mum sent me this morning."

As she followed her, Gwen asked, "You haven't read it yet?"

To which, Vanessa stuck her tongue out in answer.

Watching the two girls hurrying down the hall wouldn't be something unusual in a school such as Hogwarts. Students were always hurrying down the halls, scurrying to classes, racing to meals in the Great Hall. It wasn't very uncommon. What was uncommon about these girls, these best friends, was the unlikeness they displayed.

Vanessa Young was tall, lithe and very attractive. Though she was only a fifth-year student, she easily had the attention of every boy in the school, regardless of their age or level. Some thought she was part vela, a beautiful magical creature that made men fall in love instantly. Vanessa laughed at such a notion, but never explained that she was merely the daughter of a very successful Muggle-lawyer who happened to marry a witch. From it, she had been bestowed with silky, shiny blonde hair that softly fell around her shoulders and enchanting hazel eyes that never failed to make the boys stutter. She had the looks and grace of a model, but the mesmerizing laugh of a fairy. She was smart, too, which only added to the long list of things for the other girls to be envious of.

As Vanessa was blonde, Gwen was almost the very definition of dark. Her hair was the color of the night at midnight and fell in a black sheet down to her back. Her eyes were of the deepest brown, which at glance, was often mistook for black, and her skin took on the hue of her half-Japanese, half-English heritage: not too white, but just the right amount of brown mixed in. She stood almost head-to-head with Vanessa, but lacked about two inches less than her well-endowed friend. But that didn't deter her personality of being a very well-adjusted, happy and friendly person.

She knew everyone considered Vanessa to be one of the prettiest girls in school; heck, she freely admitted, too. It didn't bother her as some might think, for she and Vanessa had been best friends since they were babies. They knew each other inside and out and what one lacked, the other made up for it. They were two halves of a circle as friends went and Gwen was grateful that she was blessed to have Vanessa.

They soon found themselves out on the school grounds where Vanessa led them to a nearby tree. It was the usual tree they went to when weather permitted, to sit under and study or just goof around. It was their tree, something they had decided way back during their first year.

As they approached the tree, they were suddenly aware of someone following them. Almost instantly, they both slowed their steps, their ears tuned into the very soft footsteps behind them.

Gwen turned first. "George! Fred!" she exclaimed, startling the two redheads a few feet behind, "Just what are you two doing?" She stared at them, her eyebrow arched and her hands on her hips.

Vanessa came to stand beside her. "Up to mischief, no doubt!" she added, wryly. She crossed her arms over her chest. "So, tell me, boys," she added, "What made you venture outdoors today? You two are usually holed up in your dormitory concocting some strange gag or another." They were notorious for their practical jokes, but preferred to execute them against their fellow classmates.

The Weasley twins glanced at one another. They seemed speechless for a moment, then began to grin. "We heard about the little…commotion in Filch's office," Fred explained, "And since we didn't have anything to do with it…" He trailed off.

"We knew it had to have been you, Vanessa," George finished. Fred nodded in agreement. "So what was it this time?" He looked eagerly at her, the mischief positively making his eyes glow.

Vanessa shook her head at him. "You two have your secrets and I have mine," she declared, turning on her heel and beginning to walk once more, hoping they would leave. Since school had started and their workloads doubled, Vanessa really valued her time with Gwen.

Instead, Fred and George followed them to their tree. "So, do you guys come here often?" Fred asked with a playful wink.

The girls looked at one another, unsure if he was joking or using a pick-up line. "Well, yeah," Gwen answered slowly. She looked questioningly at her best friend, who only shrugged.

"What happens when it snows or rains?" George wanted to know.

Gwen stared at him for a minute. Was he genuinely interested in knowing? "Well, there's always the common room or our dormitory," she answered, suddenly getting suspicious, "Why?"

George put up his hands. "Whoa! Just curious, Gwen!" he answered, backing up a bit, "Down, girl!" He just laughed when she lightly punched him on the arm.

"Well, if you'll excuse us," Vanessa interrupted, "I have a letter to read…in private!" She added quickly, when she saw the twins' mouths open to protest.

"But, Gwen is here, so it won't be private!" Fred argued.

Vanessa rolled her eyes. "Private from you!" she answered, shooing them away.

After much bellyaching and mock protests, the twins finally went on their way. Gwen watched them for awhile and waited until they had disappeared back into the castle before saying, "They're up to something, Van. I know it!"

Oliver was eagerly waiting in the Gryffindor common room when the twins finally arrived. Almost immediately, he swooped down on them, demanding, "Well, did you ask her?"

George backed up. "Whoa! What is this?" he exclaimed, "Attack the Weasley Twins Day?"

Oliver snickered. "There are plenty of reasons and people to start that tradition!" he joked.

Fred nodded. "He does have a point," he agreed, thinking back to all the jokes and gags they'd played on people. George groaned and rolled his eyes.

"So?" Oliver prompted, "Did you ask her about me?"

"These things take time, Oliver!" Fred answered, leading him over to a vacated chair, "We had a hard enough time finding out where she hangs out most of the time!"

Oliver opened his mouth to protest, but was stopped when someone asked, "Find out where 'who' hangs out?"

All three turned and immediately clammed up when they saw the team's three Chasers standing there.

Katie Bell, who had asked the question, looked curiously at the three of them. "What's going on?" she asked.

All three shook their heads. "Nothing," they answered in unison, which only furthered their appearance of guilt.

Angelina Johnson grinned. "It looks to me like you three are up to something," she teased.

Oliver glanced at the twins, who only glanced back. Finally, he cleared his throat and asked, "Was there something you wanted?"

Alicia Spinnet grinned. "Yeah," she replied, "We want to know who you are talking about and which one of you likes her!" The three girls all interestedly leaned in towards them.

Oliver suddenly felt the room grow warm. "What makes you say that?" he croaked.

Angelina giggled. "Ah, so it's you, Oliver!" she said, triumphantly. Sometimes boys were so easy to read. "Come on, tell us!" she urged, "Who's captured the heart of our very own heartthrob?" She giggled again, while the other two grinned.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" Oliver said, getting to his feet, "I have to go now." And with that, he all but ran up to his dormitory, watched closely by his friends.

The three girls turned on the twins. "Talk!" they demanded.

Fred and George swallowed hard. They glanced nervously at one another, then was further saved when someone entered the common room, thus distracting the Chasers. They used the opportunity to also make a run for the safety of their room.

"We'll make you all talk sooner or later!" Katie called up after them, smiling.

They broke into fits of laughter.