Chapter Seven - First Time
Gabrielle woke the next morning not feeling particularly refreshed even with going to bed early. She didn't have many nightmares, but last night her worst nightmare came back. She remembered waking twice from the horror of being in hospital, surrounded by menacing strangers, while her horrible injuries kept her from reaching her family. Gabrielle knew the origin of the nightmare, and she knew the stress over Ginny's plan probably brought it forth. This knowledge did not bring back the lost sleep.
Thinking of Ginny, Gabrielle rolled over to see if the older girl had made it back. At first Gabrielle thought that Ginny had not returned, but when Gabrielle rubbed the sleep from her eyes she could see at least pieces of Ginny had come back. Laying on the bed across the room was Ginny's head, and one foot. It took a second look, but Gabrielle quickly realized that Ginny must have fallen asleep under the cloak. It's like she wants to be caught, thought Gabrielle.
Gabrielle padded across the room and pulled the cloak from Ginny, who was still nude. Gabrielle shook her head at this, and folded the cloak. Her first thought was to hide the cloak under the mattress like Harry had, but with Ginny on it the mattress was too heavy to lift. Gabrielle turned to put it under her mattress, then stopped as the instinct for self-preservation kicked in. Ginny's trunk was locked, and Gabrielle knew Mrs. Weasley would put clothes into the wardrobe. There weren't many hiding spots in the crowded room. Finally, Gabrielle pulled the pillow from under Ginny's head and stuffed the cloak inside. The pillow was definitely lumpier, but it would have to do. Anyway, thought Gabrielle, Ginny should have taken care of it.
Ginny had not stirred on the bed, even when Gabrielle had pulled the pillow away. It was earlier than normal and Gabrielle knew Ginny liked to sleep in, but this didn't seem ordinary. Gabrielle stared at Ginny - she definitely was breathing. Gabrielle tried to pull the blanket from beneath Ginny to cover her up, but it was too difficult. Instead she put Ginny's housecoat over the girl's naked form, and the pile of laundry over Ginny's legs and feet to keep them warm. Gabrielle came across the socks Ginny had thrown at her yesterday. She now suspected they were from Harry, and she draped them over Ginny's face. Ginny mumbled something and limply waved her hand, but the socks stayed and her movements subsided.
Gabrielle cheered herself by imagining Harry's face when he went to kiss his girlfriend and found she smelled like feet. That would be something to see, and with the cloak she just might be able to. Maybe that was an idea for George and Fred too - make-up that smelled nice to the person wearing it, but smelled of feet to everyone else.
Gabrielle was so distracted by these thoughts that she forgot herself and started to slide down the banister to the entry hall. The sight of her bare legs sticking out surprised her, and she realized that she was walking around with only the quidditch shirt on. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she jumped off and went back up.
Back in the shared room, Gabrielle discovered that Ginny was very clearly alive as the sleeping girl was now snoring loudly. The socks were still on Ginny's face - the tip of one moved up and down as Ginny breathed. Gabrielle considered moving it slightly so that it would actually dip in and out of Ginny's mouth, but she knew that would not be a good idea as long as they were roommates. Instead, she lifted up her housecoat and found the bottle of hair-color prank from Fred. Gabrielle decided that, since she wouldn't be expected at breakfast yet, now was the time to experiment.
Sitting in front of Ginny's mirror, Gabrielle tried to decide how to arrange her hair. She wanted to see if she could get two colors at once, but not all over her head. A braid would do fine, but Gabrielle usually needed help if it were to be even and she didn't want to wait for Ginny. Ponytails were easy. They also made her look eight years-old - definitely out, thought Gabrielle. Finally, she determined to wear most of her hair pulled back, with four locks of hair saved to be colored and pulled back separately. If she twisted the colors together, Gabrielle mused, it would be like wearing a hair band. She set to work.
Little more than a quarter of an hour later, Gabrielle was again making her way to the breakfast table. She had two colors in her hair. The effect was subtle, at least to Gabrielle, but interesting. Gabrielle wondered if it was possible to have the colors change more often. Her thoughts were interrupted by Fleur when she reached the entry hall. Fleur held a steaming mug Gabrielle knew was intended for Bill.
"(What are you wearing? I hope you dress better than that in public today,)" nagged Fleur.
Gabrielle looked down at herself. She had forgotten the housecoat again while fixing her hair, "(Eh, I was cold last night. I forgot my housecoat in the room.)"
"(You should not be walking around like that. Maman has taught you better manners!)" scolded Fleur. Her eyes narrowed, "(What is in your hair?)"
"(Nothing!)" Gabrielle tossed back as she turned and started back up the stairs. It was not a lie as the coloring was on her hair, not in it. Anyway, it was too early to deal with Fleur, thought Gabrielle.
Once more in the bedroom, Gabrielle found Ginny sleeping more quietly. Ginny had rolled onto her side and in the process dislodged the socks. Gabrielle picked the socks up from the floor and arranged them to cover Ginny's eyes, nose, and cheek. Then Gabrielle put on her housecoat, knotted it securely, and went back down the stairs.
In the kitchen, Gabrielle found Mrs. Weasley, Tonks, and Hermione. Mrs. Weasley was sniffing Bill's cup suspiciously while talking to Tonks in a low voice. Hermione was paging through a large spellbook. George and Fred were not there, which was a disappointment.
Mrs. Weasley looked up and set the mug down, "Good morning, Gabrielle, dear, Can I get some coffee and toast for you?"
"Good morning. Please, I would like ze English saute. If it is not much trouble," smiled Gabrielle. She tried to guess the seating arrangements. The seats on either side of Hermione were likely to have been used by Ron and Harry. They probably left an hour ago, but Gabrielle was not supposed to know that. Bill's mug defined where he and Fleur would sit. She always sat to the left of him. The seat next to Fleur was reserved for stragglers. Tonks would sit anywhere, but she usually ended up near Harry or Ron. The twins would sit near Tonks.
Mrs. Weasley interrupted her calculations, "Come again?"
"Eh, zee English saute, with ze eggs and ze, eh, rashes of bacon..."
"The English fry-up, perhaps?" corrected Hermione.
"Oui. And ze little cooked tomato," nodded Gabrielle. "I can help." She felt a little bad making extra work for Mrs. Weasley.
"Oh pish, it's no trouble at all," smiled Mrs. Weasley. "Is Ginny up?"
"Non. She is still sleeping," replied Gabrielle.
"Well she can't sleep all morning. We're off to Diagon Alley for the dress-fittings today." The cheer in Mrs. Weasley's voice was quite artificial. "Would you mind popping upstairs to remind her?"
"I will," agreed Gabrielle. Mrs. Weasley left for the kitchen proper. Gabrielle turned to go.
"I like the hair," called Tonks, giving her a thumbs-up.
"Zank you," waved Gabrielle on her way out the door. She started up the stairs for the third time.
v - v - v - v - v
"Ginny, it is time for waking up," said Gabrielle as she gently shook Ginny's shoulder. "Ginny!" The red-haired girl shifted, but did not open her eyes.
"Ginny! Wake up!" Gabrielle poked Ginny's shoulder.
"Go 'way Luna," mumbled Ginny. She raised a hand to her face, discovered the socks, and opened one eye to squint at them before falling back to the pillow.
"Ginny, your mozzer says come to breakfast," prodded Gabrielle. She ducked when Ginny flung an arm out to grope at the bedside table. Gabrielle grabbed the wand before Ginny's fumbling hand found it.
"Petrifris... tot'liss," garbled Ginny, with a quill dangling from her hand.
Gabrielle looked at the wand in her hand. She really had not held one since breaking her father's wand while trying to transfigure a shed into a castle. She had just been a dumb kid at the time; now, after reading the charms book, Gabrielle knew more. However, as much as she wanted to try the bluebell flames from the textbook, she really couldn't justify setting Ginny on fire. There had been a section on ringing charms, but she skipped it when she had been angry with Fleur in favor of the lizard-skin charm. Perhaps, thought Gabrielle, I should just hit her with the wand to wake her. Then she remembered what Hermione had done to her, when she was hiding behind the sofa. Gabrielle was sure she remembered the incantation. While she hadn't seen the wand movements Hermione used, Gabrielle assumed it couldn't be too important as Hermione had cast it between the sofa and table.
Gabrielle took a step back and a deep breath. She swished the wand a few times - it didn't feel quite right, like it was too heavy at one end. She pulled it toward her, then thrust it forward toward Ginny. "Compuctio!"
There was a flash of light and a deafening bang. Gabrielle shrieked and was blown backward onto the floor where she curled up cradling her hand. The wand shot forward and clattered against the wall on the other side of Ginny's bed. Ginny matched Gabrielle's shriek and rolled up bracing against the wall. She brandished her quill before her, and used her other arm to cover herself.
"Bloody hell! Gabrielle!" shouted Ginny. "Are you trying to frighten me to death?" Gabrielle just whimpered on the floor.
"Are you hurt?" asked Ginny, getting down from the bed on quaking legs. She pulled on her housecoat, and kneeled at Gabrielle's side. "Let me see."
Gabrielle let the older girl take her hand and gently open it. Tears flowed from Gabrielle's eyes from the pain, and she wiped them away so she could see the damage. In the center of her palm was a red blister the size of a galleon, pulsing with the beat of Gabrielle's heart. It looked like a burn blister, and might not have been so bad if the rest of her palm and fingers weren't covered with weird white scales. Ginny prodded the blister experimentally and Gabrielle went white, hissing in pain.
"What were you trying to do?" asked Ginny.
"(I tried to do a spell that Hermione used on me but I must have made a mistake,)" said Gabrielle in one breath.
"Er, right. Well, I haven't seen anything like this before. I'll get Mum."
"No. No, not Mmm..." started Gabrielle. She didn't want Mrs. Weasley to know, because Mrs. Weasley would call Madame Pomfrey, who would then contact her Maman. "Get, eh... get Hermione. Please."
Ginny rubbed some of the scales. They sloughed off leaving deep pock marks. "No, sorry Gabrielle, but it had better be Mum. Or both." Ginny hurried out the door.
Gabrielle sat on the floor against Ginny's bed. At least, thought Gabrielle looking at her hand, it is still attached. Not that that would make much difference to Fleur or Maman. Gabrielle knew she was in big trouble now. Her Maman was very clear about her trying to use a wand, saying that the accidents were bad enough but that magical accidents would be far worse. And now Gabrielle sat here having magically mangled herself. What was worse was that she could see Fleur's charms textbook from where she now sat, laying under the piled clothes. She could have looked up a proper spell. At least Aunt Laurel was wrong - she was not a squib. Gabrielle may not have gotten the wand to do what she wanted, but it definitely did something.
It wasn't long before Ginny returned with Mrs. Weasley. Hermione came in shortly after, hefting the big medical book. Gabrielle was made to get on her bed, but was allowed to sit up. She was relieved when Hermione spelled the door.
"Let's see it then, dear," said Mrs. Weasley. She took the hand Gabrielle held clutched to her chest and turned it palm up. "Oh you poor thing," soothed Mrs. Weasley.
"The blister looks like a bad burn, but they don't describe any that have scales," said Hermione, flipping through the book. "I believe Harry has some essence of murtlap - that should help the swelling and redness."
"Mmm," said Mrs. Weasley noncommittally. She was gently probing the scales. "Well, if she's going to avoid scarring we'll be needing Madame Pomfrey." A circling motion of her wand eased the pain in Gabrielle's hand, after a brief sting.
"Is zere nozzing you can do?" winced Gabrielle.
"I think having the Hogwarts healer tend you personally is quite a bit," scolded Mrs. Weasley.
Gabrielle looked down. "I am sorry. I... my mozzer will be angry, very much." Gabrielle sniffled.
"She'll be quite a bit angrier if you return home with scars all over your hand. The longer you wait to tell her, the angrier she will be. Trust me." Mrs. Weasley sighed when tears started dripping onto Gabrielle's housecoat. "Look, Poppy's used to this sort of thing from her students. If she can get your hand fixed up I promise she won't call your mother."
"Zank you," Gabrielle said wetly. She wiped her eyes and attempted to smile.
"I can't say what your sister will do," added Mrs. Weasley. Gabrielle dropped her head.
"What happened anyway?" asked Hermione after allowing Mrs. Weasley to leave.
"I was waking up Ginny with ze spell. It, eh, did not work."
Hermione looked over at Ginny, who had fallen back asleep slumped over the vanity. "In more than one way it seems. What spell were you trying?"
"Ze one you did to me ze first morning."
"The compunctio spell? Then we'll definitely need Madame Pomfrey. Back-fired curses are bad."
Gabrielle furrowed her brow and thought, com-punc-tio? Was that what I said? Gabrielle had thought she had said it correctly, but this didn't feel right when she mouthed it.
Another thought crossed Gabrielle's mind. "Curse? You did ze curse on me?"
"Ah... it, er, is not much of a curse, really. Really more of a charm, but technically a curse," admitted Hermione. "What is up with Ginny?"
"She is tired." Gabrielle tried to glare at Hermione, "You curse many people?" This revelation could come in handy.
"What? No! It's... it's a spell I learned of from Viktor. They use it at Durmstrang to keep the students moving in the halls," explained Hermione. "It's modified from a livestock spell."
"I am ze livestock to you?" said Gabrielle with a pout. Hermione was easy to wind up.
"No, of course not! I'm very sorry Gabrielle. I should not have used it. I was just a little, er, over-excited."
"By Ron?" asked Gabrielle. She could not keep a note of incredulousness from her voice. Hermione crossed her arms and glared at Gabrielle.
v - v - v - v - v
Madame Pomfrey came and went in a flurry of painful pokes, smelly ointments, and bandages - lots of bandages. The healer recognized the wound right off as the result of a misfired curse, and tutted at Gabrielle the rest of the session. Madame Pomfrey assured Gabrielle and Mrs. Weasley that her hand would return to normal by the next day, if Gabrielle did not use the hand. To that end, Madame Pomfrey carefully wrapped Gabrielle's right hand in bandages. Gabrielle, staring at the mass of cloth almost the size of her head that engulfed her hand and tapered to her elbow, wondered if Madame Pomfrey did it as a prank, or a punishment, or because she did not know you could cut the roll. How, Gabrielle thought, am I going to explain this to Fleur?
Madame Pomfrey also tutted over the semi-conscious Ginny, and gave her a dose of Pepper-Up potion. This got Ginny into the shower and dressed before she began to flag again. Gabrielle figured Ginny would make it to the table and tea before she drifted off though.
Which meant going downstairs to the kitchen. Gabrielle was perfectly fine with eating in the bedroom yet again. That would give her some time to come up with a way of dealing with Fleur, or at least delay the explosion. Mrs. Weasley, on the other hand, wanted to get it over with as soon as possible so Fleur could calm down before the fitting. Ginny mumbled something, and was generally useless. Hermione got her own back by pointing out that the twins were downstairs right before Gabrielle grudgingly agreed to go down now, making that look like the winning argument.
Mrs. Weasley left to warm up the food, and Hermione tugged Ginny along down the stairs. Gabrielle dithered as long as she could and reached for her housecoat, only to realize the ball of bandage at the end of her arm was useless for that task. It was also useless when it came to fitting through the sleeve of the housecoat. Madame Pomfrey had made her take it off, but only made Gabrielle push up the baggy sleeves of the quidditch shirt. Now, without help, Gabrielle was trapped inside one and outside the other. The jersey was long on her, but it barely made it to mid-thigh. She was not going to sit at the breakfast table like that. Gabrielle wrapped the housecoat around her waist and headed for the door, which she discovered she could not open without letting go of the housecoat.
It took Gabrielle a few minutes of struggle to get into a pair of slacks Ginny had brought down, only to find the legs were several inches too long. Gabrielle gave up any hope of dressing satisfactorily and shuffled off to the breakfast table. She had to stop each flight of stairs to adjust the slacks. Gabrielle sighed: it was going to be another bad day.
v - v - v - v - v
Gabrielle pushed open the door of the kitchen slowly. She could see Hermione sitting next to Ginny, pouring tea. Bill and Fleur sat on the far side of the table. Tonks sat near the twins. Gabrielle entered quietly. It did not matter.
"(Oh good lord!)" exclaimed Fleur. "(Can you not dress yourself anymore? What have you done to yourself now?)"
"(I am sorry! There was an accident...)" started Gabrielle. She stood at the door, trying to decide whether to run.
"(It is always an accident with you! You look like a muggle who lives on the street!)" raged Fleur, her face flushed with anger. "(This, this is too much. You ruin the Delacour name. It is an outrage. It, it, it... percussum!)"
Fleur's slapping charm sailed over Gabrielle's head. Bill had knocked Fleur's wand up and away, and he now gripped her tightly while whispering into her ear. Fleur struggled in his grip and broke free, spinning away to face the wall. No one at the table spoke or even moved. Gabrielle didn't breath. Fleur's shoulders shook slightly and her silvery hair hung like a curtain around her bent head. She stood silent and alone for what seemed to Gabrielle to be several minutes. Finally, sweeping her wand in front of her face, Fleur flipped her hair back behind her and stepped back to Bill. Her eyes were no longer angry but downcast, and she did not look to Bill's face. Fleur simply stood close to him, arms at her side. Bill said nothing, and did nothing at first but watch her. Gabrielle could not see what he saw, but he suddenly opened his arms for an embrace and Fleur crashed against him. And cried. Gabrielle had only rarely seen Fleur lose control of herself; it was a shock to see her blubbering and snuffling like that. Mrs. Weasley burst into the eating area at this point and herded Bill and Fleur, with her face buried against Bill's broad chest, into the kitchen proper.
The mother Weasley reappeared bearing a large plate. "Gabrielle, dear, why don't you have a seat?"
Gabrielle stared at the door Fleur had disappeared behind, wondering if she should check on her. Gabrielle recalled the bruises on Fleur yesterday. Hopefully it was only the stress of the wedding getting to her sister. Fleur might not be the nicest sister, but the Fleur from the time before the trip was a lot better than this strange and explosive Fleur.
"Beebee!" shouted Fred. "Sit over here!" He waved his arms as if she wasn't standing less than ten feet from him.
"Yeah Gabrielle. Fred's been warming up your chair all morning." called George. He gave Fred a rough shove.
"Bollocks. I'm sure your little fan would rather have your seat. Now 'booj' up!" Fred lowered his shoulder and charged George. The two toppled to the floor, along with the chair. Mrs. Weasley waved her wand to right it and began shouting at them as they rolled and tumbled. Gabrielle ignored the silly play of the twins, hitched up the over-sized slacks, and moved over to the twins' seats. Gabrielle did want to sit with George and Fred; she had the make-up idea and the hair-coloring to talking about. But she didn't want Fred, who seemed less reticent this morning, to be annoyed if she took his seat. Gabrielle also didn't want to be laughed at if she took George's seat. The obvious solution was to get her own chair, but she really had only one hand free and that was really being used to keep the drooping slacks in place. Gabrielle pushed the chairs together and sat on both chairs. The perfect solution for twins, Gabrielle thought. No one can complain. She slid their place settings over.
Mrs. Weasley hovered the plate over to Gabrielle. It looked like enough food for a week. Three fried eggs sat next to eight slices of bacon and four bangers, all bordered by what had to be an entire loaf of bread toasted and buttered. In the middle was a single tomato half, broiled. Once her fork had floated over, Gabrielle considered where to start, She was getting full just looking at the over-flowing plate. Well, thought Gabrielle, I did ask for it.
"Eh, zank you," smiled Gabrielle. Mrs. Weasley smiled back and looked about to say something, but then turned and went back to the kitchen proper.
"Now what do you make of this one, brother?" asked George. He slid onto the remaining half of his seat.
"Give her a knut and she'll take a galleon," said Fred, who squeezed Gabrielle from the other side. His jostling dislodged the piece of fried egg Gabrielle was maneuvering on her fork with her left hand. "She's trouble."
"Yes, yes," dismissed George. "I was thinking of the costume, actually."
"Ah. Right team, but missed the star player that year," noted Fred. Gabrielle had managed to recapture the egg and raise it up before Fred elbowed her again. The morsel fell, and Gabrielle wished for the meat forks.
"Looks bang on to me, but it is missing something..." considered George. "Let's see." He produced his wand and tapped Gabrielle's bandaged hand. It transformed into a scaled-down bludger. Gabrielle stared at it in surprise.
"Ooh, that's very nice," complimented Hermione.
"That's nothing. How 'bout this?" asked Fred. "Bombardus minimus." With a flick of his wand the bludger encasing her hand began to bob around, jerking a few inches this way and that.
This was too much for Gabrielle. The way things were going breakfast would last until lunch as she had not managed a single bite. "Stop zis. I would like to eat zee eggs, please. Zey are getting - oh!" The mini-bludger had apparently taken offense to her request, and bounced off her head. The twins and Tonks burst out laughing. Hermione stifled her amusement with her hand. Ginny's head was propped up on one arm, and she had no reaction as she was dozing once again. Gabrielle reddened in embarrassment.
"I know what you need to keep these bludgers in line," laughed Tonks. She transfigured her spoon into a wooden club. "You need a beater's bat. Oops." The auror slid it across the table to Gabrielle, then repaired the salt shaker it had cracked along the way.
Gabrielle picked up the bat. The transfigured bandages had felt hard when they hit her head, but she was very sure batting the little bludger would hurt her. Batting Fred, on the other hand, was probably okay. She looked over at him.
"Is that the time? Best we finish breakfast and get to the shop," declared Fred. "Oy, can I have the sausages?"
"No. I need to eat zem," replied Gabrielle. How she could do that with the bat and bludger occupying her hands was a problem.
"Just a bit heartier than normal for you, though," observed George.
"I am trying to, eh, grow," replied Gabrielle. He remembers, thought Gabrielle, what I eat?
"That would explain the trousers then," laughed Fred.
"Let me give you a hand with that," offered George. He made slicing motions with his wand and Gabrielle's food fell into bite-size pieces. Then, with a complicated series of wand waves, George pronounced, "Invalidus conveyatum." Gabrielle's fork jumped from the table, stabbed a piece of banger, and presented it to her mouth. When Gabrielle tentatively ate the sausage from the fork, it dipped back down for some egg.
"Now how do you know that?" asked Tonks.
"Well, funny story, back about a month ago..." started George.
"He doesn't want to talk about it," interrupted a glaring Fred.
"I, er, don't want to talk about it," repeated George with a smirk.
"Ennervate," incanted Hermione. "What is going on with you this morning Ginny? At least finish chewing before taking a nap."
"Uhnn... I'm just completely knackered right now," groaned Ginny. She squinted at Gabrielle through half-closed eyes. "Are there try-outs or something?"
"Too late, dear sister. Beebee grabbed the open beater spot," answered Fred.
Gabrielle would have said something to Fred about calling her 'Beebee', or explained herself to Ginny, or mentioned her idea to George, but found she could not. The enchanted fork was very diligent - every time she opened her mouth to speak it was filled with food. The fork eluded her grasp and it was hard to dodge both it and the bludger stuck on her arm in the tight quarters. George did not seem inclined to halt the utensil, and Fred definitely enjoyed the bludger. Gabrielle hoped Fleur would not come out now. Even though George and Fred appeared to be finished eating, they still pressed in on her from both sides. Gabrielle found the seating arrangements to be somewhat uncomfortable. At the same time it was very comfortable in ways Maman and Papa would likely disapprove of.
v - v - v - v - v
Gabrielle had never eaten so much at one time in her life. The fork did not stop, and it became aggressive when she swung at it with the beater's bat from Tonks. Fortunately, George and Fred were able to snatch things from her plate if they timed it right. Otherwise Gabrielle felt sure she would have exploded. Fred suffered another stab wound when he tried to scoop up some tomato. George was able to make six very small bacon sandwiches without incident, but did not eat them.
When the plate was empty, the fork fell with a clatter down onto the plate. Gabrielle used her free arm to support her now swollen stomach. "(It may be days before I am hungry again,)" she groaned quietly.
"How'd you do that?" asked Tonks suddenly.
"Mounds of natural talent and years of practice, of course," answered Fred.
"Loads of charisma and bold marketing, I suspect," added George.
"I was asking Gabrielle."
"It was, eh, un accident. Madame Pomfrey says it will heal without ze scars," said Gabrielle. She really didn't want to explain about the wand and curse.
"I meant your hair. It just changed color," clarified Tonks.
"Oh! It is ze new Wheeze from George and Fred. I did ze, eh, eh... pieces of hair - first one, zen wait, zen the second. It gives two colors like zat," explained Gabrielle. "It changes every fifteen minutes."
"It's brilliant. Can you pick the colors?" asked Tonks to Fred and George.
"I would like zem to change more often," added Gabrielle.
George and Fred seemed resistant to the suggestions and opinions from Gabrielle, Tonks, and even Hermione. Fred, in particular, felt the very point of the prank was being lost. Gabrielle, still squashed between the two wizards, almost received an elbow to her face when Fred became outraged by Hermione's suggestion of a companion de-activator. George argued very thoughtfully, Gabrielle thought, that a prank required a certain lack of control. It was only when Ginny's eyes cleared, after a fourth cup of tea, and she pointed out that by using school colors and team colors, and by selling in Quality Quidditch supplies to get more customers, that Fred and George began to listen. "You're leaving galleons in the cauldron," Ginny pronounced. "Imagine a whole stadium of supporters using it," she added before sagging again. That shut the twins up. They just looked at each other over the top of Gabrielle's head while the older witches discussed other uses. Gabrielle was occupied with examining the small bludger. It still jerked around and looked like a bludger, but she was beginning to see faint ridges on it which she supposed were the cloth wrapping coming through.
The twins suddenly got to their feet. Gabrielle, who had been surreptitiously leaning more and more against George, nearly toppled. Fred and George swooped down on Ginny and planted a kiss each on the sides of her face. Ginny was several seconds behind current events and swatted where the boys had been. The twins faked heading back to their seats before doubling back to give a squealing Hermione wet-sounding kisses.
Tonks faced the boys, "Come on then, and make 'em nice." Fred and George closed around her, each taking an ear to nuzzle, until a loud bang made Fred jump back shaking his hand. "Little too fresh there," scolded Tonks.
Gabrielle watched this and barely breathed. Would they, Gabrielle wondered, kiss her too? She could feel her heart pounding, and tried to calm down. She was, thought Gabrielle, being silly. If they did kiss her it wouldn't really mean anything. They were just glad for the ideas. Still, it would be a kiss from a boy. Gabrielle couldn't help but wonder if it would be the same as Ginny's, Hermione's, or Tonks'. Would George be different from Fred? These thoughts swirled in her head so that she almost didn't notice the twins - walking past her! They were going to leave, panicked Gabrielle. Maybe I am just a silly little girl expecting too much, thought Gabrielle, but she had helped too. And she did not complain about the bludger on her arm. Or that she had been stuffed like a goose by George's fork. Would they just leave? Gabrielle had been anxious with anticipation, and now that nervous energy was added to by anger and disappointment. She could not contain herself and blurted, "What about me?"
Oh no, thought Gabrielle squeezing her eyes shut, that wasn't really out loud, was it? Tonks' laugh and a snort from Hermione confirmed that it had been. Gabrielle immediately buried her face in her hands, which meant she hit herself in the face with the bludger. She jerked her head back in shock and the twins roared with laughter. The cloak, thought Gabrielle. I will use the cloak and hide until the wedding.
"How could we forget Beebee?" laughed Fred. He dropped back into his seat.
"Our favorite Delacour and newest beater," proclaimed George. "A bit forward, but she knows what she wants."
"Pretty clear what she wants," smirked Fred. He puckered his lips and continued to speak, "'Ur luddle 'an."
"Just shut it," shushed George uneasily as he dropped into his seat. He looked down on Gabrielle who only came up to his shoulders. "Er, I don't suppose you could stretch up a bit?"
Gabrielle couldn't find her voice. Her face was still hot from the humiliation of just before, and now she was nervous about what was to come again. She shook her head.
"'Ut shoo' 'ee 'oo?" asked Fred, still puckering.
"Be careful your face doesn't freeze like that," warned Tonks.
"Could try the neck-stretching spell - she's bound to be stronger than that chicken," considered George.
"Windgardium Leviosa," said Hermione. Gabrielle yelped in surprise as she suddenly bobbed into the air. Why, thought Gabrielle as the others laughed again, do people think they are allowed to cast spells on me? The embarrassment she had caused herself was bad enough, and now Hermione floating her magically just added to it. They are ruining things, Gabrielle thought. She knew she would probably never be George's girlfriend, and that she was being stupid to even daydream about that. That was no reason for having her one chance at a kiss ruined by Hermione, who could get Ron to kiss her anytime. Gabrielle decided that if George and Fred ever did get around to kissing, even in play, she would make the most of it.
"Up a bit, that's right... now down a bit," said George as he and Fred waved their hands at Hermione, guiding her attempt to adjust Gabrielle's height. This, of course, resulted in Gabrielle pitching up and down as the twins worked at cross-purposes.
"Please. I am feeling sick," said Gabrielle clutching her over-full stomach. Fred froze and put his hands behind his back.
"Enough teasing her," called Tonks. "I can't wait around all day to watch. Oh, hang on, I guess I can."
"We are fashionably late for the shop," noted Fred.
"Still need to review the troops too," added George. "Vast empires are so tiresome at times. Boost her up a bit, Hermione."
With the moment suddenly upon her, Gabrielle had no time for second thoughts. She could see the twins begin to lean toward her. She waited for just the right moment - just a little more - then made her move. Right before George could kiss her cheek, she turned and took his kiss on the lips, more or less. Gabrielle threw her left arm around his neck to delay his escape and kissed him back. Gabrielle could hear the catcalls from Tonks and Hermione's exclamation. George pulled back in surprise, but as Gabrielle was hovering, he pulled her along. He stood and Gabrielle dropped awkwardly to the floor as Hermione ended the spell.
"Gabrielle!" cried Hermione in shock.
Gabrielle clambered to her feet and faced George with a beatific smile. Now that she had done it, though, she wasn't sure what his reaction would be. "I am not sorry," she announced. George was red in the face, and said nothing. Gabrielle hoped he wasn't too angry with her. It was worth it for a first kiss though.
"You don't have a mouthful of hair, then," groused Fred.
"Oh my, they do grow up so fast these days," snickered Tonks.
"Oy!" said Fred waving his hand in front of George's face. "You all right mate?" When George only blinked at him, Fred stepped between Gabrielle and his brother and head-butted George.
"Gaa! What in Merlin's name did you do that for?" shouted George. He rubbed the area swelling between his eyes. Gabrielle kicked at Fred's shin, but he side-stepped it easily.
"Had to save your immortal soul," replied Fred.
George stared at his twin. "You've gone round the bend. Where's that beater's bat?"
"She's a damn succubus. I've saved your life, I have."
"I am not," piped Gabrielle crossly.
"You've given me a concussion is what you mean. Anyway, if you weren't so ugly she wouldn't have turned away," accused George.
"Ugly am I? And for who is Mum arranging dates, again?" smirked Fred.
"Whom. And for whom is Mum arranging dates," corrected Hermione, though no one acknowledged it.
"What this about then? What happened to loads of charisma?" asked Tonks.
"That's a low blow, brother. Someone has to humor Mum, and I drew the short straw. And Matty's not too bad," muttered George. "It'll be your go next time."
"I'll move to Egypt first," said Fred. "If Matty's her idea of a good choice..." He shuddered.
Gabrielle's smile started to fade, and she tried to freeze it in place. She knew she should have expected that someone as interesting as George would have a girlfriend. And even if he didn't sound enthusiastic about this Matty person, Gabrielle knew he would have no problem finding another. If only, Gabrielle thought, I was older.
"Don't you know it's not polite to talk about one girlfriend in front of another?" joked Tonks. "Especially since she's stabbed you once already?"
"I believe I am in a no-win situation here," said George. "I'll be outside, rounding up the Second Corps." he gathered up the little sandwiches.
"Would that be your 'guarding gnomes'? I've been meaning to ask you two about that," said Hermione sharply.
"More of your cultural hegemony, is it? Well the Second Corps are brave, proud, and paid," noted George.
"They already have hats too," added Fred. Hermione's lips thinned at that. "Though, they had better be wearing them only indoors."
"How many Corps are there?" asked Hermione.
"Just the one," replied George. Gabrielle noticed that he would not meet her eyes. He is angry with me, thought Gabrielle.
"Why is it the Second Corps then?" queried Hermione.
"Easy. The First Corps was prouder and braver, and decided to wear their caps outside as well," replied Fred.
"And?"
"Hawks can see red from a mile off," grimaced George. "Never saw a flock of them before, or since."
