DISCLAIMER: I don't have any rights to the characters other than the ones that are quite obviously not canon.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Chapter two: French Fever

"So you're French?"

Verity looked up at Fred from where she lay on the bench and shook her head, or at least tried to, it was a slightly difficult thing to do when one was lying down with their head in the lap of another.

"No, just lived there I'm afraid. My parents were British, thus the accent."

"Yeah, had noticed that. Definitely not French, I'd say it was more Scottish."

George was lounging on the opposite bench, popping Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans into his mouth like some teenage version of a Roman lord, cocky grin included. Fred, on the other hand, was making quite a comfortable pillow for the newcomer, his long legs propped up on George's bench as Verity was taking up the rest of their seat with her own legs. After sealing the compartment door against the victorious yet pungent odour of Dungbombs, the twins had sat the new girl down and proceeded to give her the Spanish Inquisition. Not that Verity minded much, she found it quite refreshing to talk about something other than the society balls and hair charms which her former classmates had found so enthralling.

"Mhm, Mum was from a small place on the North Coast, but Dad was English, London I think. She never really spoke about him to be honest."

"Must have been hard, you know, being transferred here without your family. You got anyone else over here?"

"Nope...just me, and Milkbottle of course."

George raised an eyebrow at her, a bean frozen in it's journey halfway towards his mouth.

"Who the bloody hell is Milkbottle?"

"My owl."

Fred blinked and looked down at the girl in his lap, his face whirring through a myriad of expressions before settling on one that currently mirrored his twin, curiosity.

"You named your owl Milkbottle? Stone, I'm beginning to think you are just a tad loopy..."

"Being normal is overrated."

"So true."

"Indeed George."

Verity grinned, her eyes closed as she relaxed in Fred's lap, the swaying motion of the train lulling her into gentle doze. It didn't help that the twins were doing the same, George had his eyes shut and was snoring softly across from her, meanwhile Fred was staring out of the window in a lethargic fashion. She was just drifting into the Land of Nod when Fred spoke up again, making her jump slightly as her eyes flickered open.

"Verity, you're hot."

She blinked up at Fred, her brown eyes narrowed in confusion at his comment while trying to sit up only to be pushed back down again.

"Uh, thanks? Hey, easy there."

"I meant you have a temperature, your skin is burning. You feeling alright?"

George opened one eye and rolled onto his side to face them, his wand already out and flicking at the compartment windows. Without a word, the blind rolled down and hid the trio from view as Fred laid a hand on her forehead with a frown.

"I'm fine, honest. Just a bit of a headache is all, probably from all those Dungbombs earlier. You guys don't seem like the kind to fuss over something that trivial."

"Yeah, but it's not everyday we come across someone worthy of our time. You're a prankster like us, and we outcasts have to stick together, right Fred?"

"Indubitably George. Though this has given me an idea..."

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Does it involve a sweet with two ends?"

"You read my mind old boy."

"I'm obviously missing something here."

The twins looked over at the new girl with startled expressions, for a moment they had forgotten about her seeing as she was being so quiet. Most girls talking non-stop about rubbish, this one seemed to be a different breed.

"Uh, it's nothing, just shop talk."

"Yup, general twin banter, you know what we freaks of nature are like."

"Perfectly worded George. Hey Verity, is there a reason why you don't look like other Beauxbatons girls?"

The girl in question blinked again, this comment was even more confusing than the last. She pushed his hand away and sat up straight, her curls looking rather mussed from dozing in Fred's lap for so long. She looked different? Well that was obvious, she wasn't like the fashion plates that attended that school, spending hours pouring over curling techniques drove her up the wall.

"Not sure if that's an honest question or a thinly disguised insult there."

"What he means is that you look more like a real girl. The others seem kind of-"

"Fake." Fred yawned, stretching out his aching legs.

"I was going to say polished but fake works well."

Verity stared at them for a moment before looking down at herself, now clad in the Hogwart's uniform of a grey skirt, white shirt and black robes. True, it was nowhere near as fashionable as the blue silk dresses of Beauxbatons but she found it much comfier, and warmer, something that was needed in this colder climate.

"Is that a good thing then? That I'm not...polished?"

Fred grinned and wrapped an arm around her shoulders with a friendly sigh as George returned his own grin from across the compartment. The train chose to come to a juddering halt at that moment, the whistle blowing loudly to signal their arrival in case anyone had missed it.

"It's a brilliant thing. Come on, let's get you into Gryffindor."

"You do realise that I might not get into your house?"

"Bollocks, all pranksters are put into Gryffindor. Because only McGonagall can deal with us."

She was still laughing as they grabbed their bags and left train to catch the carriages up to the castle. Perhaps they were right, maybe she would be put in the same house as them. She certainly wouldn't mind it, having friends who you could actually have an intellectual conversation with would be novel. A bright grin spread across her face at the very idea, this was going to be fun.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

A/N: Hi there, I know this is only a short version of what I first intended but fate seems to have it in for me and I was in bed all day feeling quite sorry for myself. Apologies. With any luck, the next chapter will be longer!

Coming up: Verity gets sorted, Umbridge rears her ugly head, and a certain cat is locked in a suit of armour...can you guess which?

Please review!