A/N: Hey everyone! Here is chapter two! Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters created by JK Rowling, I am simply borrowing their essence for my creative writing. Thank you JK Rowling for creating such and awe inspiring world. Also, thank you readers for loving and supporting!
Much Love, S.
The Great Hall was full of people. As people entered they could feel the sense of home. Shadow, Grace, Fred and George, walked through the double doors together, the night sky opening above them. The candles floated overhead casting a glow on everything the light touched.
"Well this is where I leave." Shadow piped as they walked between two of the four giant tables. The other three wave their goodbye's and head toward their seats at the Gryffindor table. Shadow made her way to the Hufflepuff table. She placed herself as close to Grace as she could. She said hello to some of her fellow classmates but mostly she just sat at her seat quietly.
Fred, George, and Grace all found their seats quickly and began chatting amongst themselves. Grace glanced over to Shadow frowning. It was always strange to her that Shadow didn't have many friends. Grace knew that she was likeable. She knew that Shadow held all of the qualities of a good friend. For some reason though, Shadow was always alone if she wasn't with Grace.
"Why the long face Gigi?" Fred questioned as he eyed her curiously.
"Shadow is sitting alone again. I wish she could just sit with us." Grace mumbled in reply.
"Well during breakfast and lunch she can sit with us. Its only at dinner that we have to be sorted." George piped in optimistically.
"I know. I just hate seeing her alone all the time. I mean not that I have many friends either. What a pair we make." Grace let out a long sigh and shrugged.
By this time the Great Hall was full of chattering students. The professors sat at their table whispering among themselves. One of the chairs aside from Professor McGonagall's was empty. Of course it was the chair that the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was supposed to sit. No one ever seemed to be able to keep that job.
Shadow gazed at the teachers table and frowned. She missed Professor Lupin. He had been very kind to her the year before. The Professor was one of the kindest men she had ever met and she found it rather angering that he had been forced to resign. Rumors had spread of him being a werewolf. But as far as Shadow was concerned, if the rumors were true, he was the best tempered werewolf in existence. She had had a small crush on him. What girl wouldn't love him if they took the time to speak with him. He had a great deal of knowledge and experiences to share. It really was a pity that wizard kind are so petty. It was probably that stupid Draco Malfoy's father who complained and got Lupin as good as sacked. So now once again, Shadow and the rest of the students at Hogwarts were forced to acclimate themselves to yet another Professor.
As Shadow was brooding the doors to the Great Hall swung open and Professor McGonagall led the first year students to the front of the hall. Once all of the children had settled, the sorting hat began with a song. The song was long, and much different from songs previous. Grace found it strange, and quite fun to listen to. The hat sang of how Hogwarts came to be which wasn't unknown but the Sorting Hat's song was one of her favorite things to hear.
The students were sorted one by one and their houses cheered loudly as each student found their seat in with their new family. Shadow cheered loudly for each new Hufflepuff that joined her table. Grace and the twins whooped and clapped loudly for each new Gryffindor.
Once all of the children were seated Dumbledore does his thing and food appears at all of the tables. Everyone quickly busied themselves with their food and chatter arose throughout the Great Hall once again. Shadow filled her plate and ate quietly. At the Gryffindor table however, Fred was busy filling Grace's plate and his own simultaneously. Grace sat there red faced and sputtering about being able to do it herself but Fred was having none of it.
"Just let him do it GiGi. There is no changing his mind." George chuckled and filled his own plate. He stole a glance behind him at Shadow. He wished she was with them just like Grace had mentioned earlier. He wanted to make her laugh again. Shadow took a bite of her food and glanced behind her toward Grace. She was surprised when she saw that George was looking at her. Well, he was looking in her direction. It might not be at her. She scolded herself for assuming such a selfish notion. But then George locked eyes with her and smiled. Her face flushed and she smiled back. He then did a fairly good job at pantomiming to her. Shadow guessed that he wanted to know if the food was good. She nodded and gave him a thumbs up. George grinned wider and then with a wink, he turned back around. Shadow's heart thudded in her chest and she turned her cherry red face back toward her table. The twins were definitely forces to be reckoned with. Shadow hastily moved some hair, that had fallen, out of her face and continued eating.
After all of the plates were sparkling again, Dumbledore gave his speech about all the things we can't do and how Filch found even more ways to suck the fun out of Hogwarts.
Dumbledore also mentioned that there would be no quidditch cup. Every quidditch player in the hall looked appalled. Fred and George looked as if you had kicked their dog. If they had a dog. Grace wasn't sure on that matter. Dumbledore was about to explain his reason for canceling quidditch but he was quite rudely interrupted by the ceiling. It let out an enormous clap of thunder causing the majority of the student body to jump in surprise.
The doors to the Great Hall opened to the crudest looking man Shadow had ever seen. He was covered in scars and was crazy eyed and she was pretty sure he had a false leg. He looked very grouchy. After he had hobbled his way up to the front of the hall, Dumbledore introduced the man as Professor Moody, the schools new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He took his seat and Dumbledore continued his news.
Hogwarts was going to be hosting the TriWizard Tournament. Grace and Shadow instantly perked up in interest. Fred and George nearly fell from their seats in excitement. Unfortunately, it was short lived once they were informed that no one under the age of 17 was allowed to submit their names.
"That's rubbish!" The twins chorused loud above the rest of the disgruntled chatter. Shadow and Grace chimed in after them with angered calls of their own. The crowd was quickly hushed and Dumbledore continued his announcements.
The houses were dismissed to their dormitories and the hall was filled with noise once again. Fred looked to Grace as they both stood from the table to leave.
"Ok Grace. It's time to get you to the hospital wing."
"Really, Fred, my hand is fine. It doesn't even hurt anymore." She retorted sticking her hand behind her back.
"Don't even play that game with me, Grace. You had to eat with the wrong hand during dinner. It was quite funny to watch actually." Fred snickered.
"I really don't think Pomphrey will take too kindly to being disturbed on the first night back."
"Honestly woman, I think she would rather you come to her now then come back with a mangled hand because your broken hand healed wrong."
"Nothing is broken! And what am I supposed to say when she asks what happened?" Grace shoots back at the ginger.
"Tell her that your hand accidentally got smashed in a compartment door." Fred states with a shrug as if he had been thinking of an answer to that question all night. Which he had, but of course he wasn't about to tell Grace that. She thought about his answer for a second before sighing.
"Fred I really don't like doctors. Of any variety. So I hope you know that I am only going because you want me to and Shadow will kill me in my sleep if she finds out I didn't." Grace pouted.
"That's a good enough reason for me. Let's go!" He then pushed her out of the Great Hall and up the first flight of stairs. George stared after them chuckling. His eyes then moved on to search for another, more interesting subject.
Shadow stood up from her seat at the Hufflepuff table and made her way toward the exit. A strong arm caught her wrist just as she reached the doors, causing her to spin around, wand raised in the air.
"Woah! Shadow, it's just me. Merlin, what were you going to do? Hex me?" George said, his hands now poised in the air. Shadow flushed a bright shade of magenta and lowered her wand.
"Sorry, George. I'm a little on edge tonight." She mumbled apologetically. George grinned at her.
"No big deal, really. I shouldn't have grabbed you without sending an owl first to warn you." He chuckled and winked playfully at her, making Shadow's stomach flood with butterflies.
"Saying my name first would have sufficed." Shadow state blushing.
"Well I will remember that for next time." George said with a toothy smile. "Why so jumpy tonight anyway?"
"I don't know. Something just feels off. With the new professor and the tri-wizard thing. It just all seems very strange." She shook her head trying to simultaneously shake the feeling.
"Yeah that Moody guy is all sorts of weird, isn't he? And how bogus is it that we can't compete in the tournament? Fred and I will figure out how to get our names in the cup. I know it." George rambled off which made Shadow smile.
"It is dumb that we can't compete but at the same time, I kind of understand why the precaution is there. I mean, people have died in the Tournament. Imagine if it were Ginny?" George scowled at her words.
"It's different though isn't it? We will be seventeen in months. It isn't my fault that our birthday falls after October." George ranted. Shadow shook her head.
"If you can figure out a way, I commend you." Shadow smiled at him.
"We will figure out a way." George was smug. Shadow chuckled and they left the Great Hall chatting about his master plan.
Meanwhile Grace and Fred had made it to the hospital wing. Grace was growing more and more anxious the closer they got to the door. Her stomach was in knots by the time Fred opened the door for her. She stopped at the door giving him a pleading look.
"Grace you need to see her. It really is necessary. It will be over before you know it, I promise." Fred muttered equally pleading. With a sigh she caved and entered the room. "Madame Pomphrey!" Fred hollered. She quickly bustled out of her office.
"Merlin's beard Weasley! There is no need to shout!" Pomphrey scolded, rather miffed.
"Sorry Madame, I just wanted to make sure that you heard me." He said sheepishly.
"Trust me Weasley. You don't need help being heard." Pomphrey said with a huff. "What do you need?"
"Actually, we are here for me." Grace piped in looking down to the floor.
"Ok dear. What did you need?" She said with a smile. Grace held out her bruised hand. Pomphrey's eyes widened in shock. "Good heavens child, what happened?" Grace flushed red in embarrassment.
"My hand accidentally got slammed in a compartment door on the train." She said looking at her feet.
"Oh dear. Well lets get that looked at shall we. I am almost positive its at least one broken finger." Grace shuddered at her words worriedly.
"I actually broke something?" She had never broken a bone before. "I thought it would hurt more."
"Ah dear, trust me the healing process will be a little painful but it is much quicker and more efficient than what those muggle doctors do. Binding limbs in plaster." Pomphrey rambled shaking her head. She then drew out her wand. "Now Fred, fetch me a rag out of the cupboard dear." Fred did what he was told and brought it back seconds later.
"What's that for?" Grace said worriedly. Fred handed the towel to Pomphrey and she in turn handed it to Grace.
"For you dear. Its best to bite down. The pain is gone fairly quickly but it right smarts to start out." Grace's eyes grew wide and she looked to Fred with wild eyes. He moved over to her and took the towel from her twisting it and holding it up to her mouth. She looked up at him.
"I'm scared. I don't like this." She whined.
"I know Dove. But it will be over before you know it." Fred smiled reassuringly. "Now open up and bite down. You can squeeze my hand too." She pouted and then opened her mouth, biting down on the towel. Fred slipped his hand into hers and nodded reassuringly to her. "It will be ok Grace."
"All right dear. Here we go." Then Pomphrey muttered an incantation and a faint snap was heard. Grace groaned biting down hard against the towel and Fred was fairly certain he could no longer feel his own fingers. Madame Pomphrey gave her a pitying look and then muttered another incantation. The black and blue of Graces hand was now faded to an angry red. "Ship shape. That was quicker then a snitch wasn't it." Pomphrey bustles over to her medicine cabinet and pulls out a small vial. She brings it to Grace. "Now dear, put a drop of this on your tongue four times a day for three days. That will help with pain and strengthen your bones." Grace nodded.
"Thank you Madame Pomphrey." She said looking down at her feet.
"Not a problem dear. That is what I am here for, but do try to be more careful next time. Off to bed with you both." She then handed both of the students a pass so that they wouldn't get in trouble for being outside of their common room so long after dinner. The two of them said their goodbyes and headed back out the door.
"Are you ok?" Fred asked still holding your hand.
"Yeah. There is no pain now." Grace said looking at her feet while they walked.
"Good. I am sorry you had to go through that." Fred looked down sadly.
"It isn't your fault. Don't be sorry Fred." Grace looked up at him smiling. "I'm glad I went. You were right about something being broken. I should be less stubborn about these things." She sighed. That was one of the things she wanted most to work on. To trust people and not be so stubborn. The only person she trusted wholeheartedly were her parents and Shadow. But the boy walking beside her was already beginning to chip away at the wall. And it was already very apparent that she was letting him.
A little bit later the two of them crawled though the portrait of the Fat Lady and into the Gryffindor common room. Grace stopped and looked up at Fred.
"So. Thank you. For going with me." She muttered.
"Don't mention it Gigi." He smiled wide at her. "I'm always here if you need me." Grace's face flushed red and she smiled a little.
"I will keep that in mind." She looked down at their hands. "Well, goodnight Freddie." He smiled again at the nickname.
"Goodnight Grace." With a wink, her hand was empty and the tall red head was walking up the stairs to the sixth year boys dormitories. With a sigh Grace made her way to her own dormitory.
Shadow and George had split ways at the main staircase, George going up the stairs towards the Gryffindor Common Room and Shadow going down stairs to the basement and the Hufflepuff Common Room.
"Have a good evening Shadow." George smiled before they parted.
"You as well George. Please try to stay out of trouble while I'm not around." Shadow said with a smirk. "It's no fun if I can't play too."
"Ah well, in that case, I will definitely try to keep my shenanigans to a minimum until breakfast." He winked. Shadows face flushed again.
"Deal! Goodnight!" George nodded in farewell and Shadow left down the opposite staircase. George shook his head smiling. That girl was gonna give him a run for his money. She had this way of making him want to know more about her. She had caught his attention the year before. She was always alone when she wasn't with Grace. He was intrigued. And she was so pretty. There was something about the way she carried herself that made him want to show her all of his tricks if only to make her smile. She was almost catlike in her movements. Light on her feet and quick to react. She was probably great at tricks. George wanted to show her everything he knew about the school and show her all the tricks he knew. For some reason he wanted to see how fast she could scale the walls on the fourth floor to trick Filch with the chandelier. He just wanted to get to know her. George went to bed that night with Shadow being the last thing on his mind.
Shadow had her mind on George as she went to her dormitory as well. She couldn't wrap her head on why he suddenly seemed so interested with her. He never so much as seemed to look her way until the train ride. She didn't mind. On the contrary it was nice to have someone other than Grace to talk to. Shadow loved Grace and always wanted to share everything with her but it was nice to have someone else to talk to as well. Shadow went quietly to her room and went to bed. No one said a word to her. No one bothered her. Which was more than normal. She went to bed easily, her head still swimming with thoughts of George.