Avery trotted behind Danny and Alle as the trio made their way through King's Cross Station to the Hogwarts Express. Avery happily swung her arm, now out of its cast, around about her, relishing the feeling of her freed limb slicing through the air. Now she could get back to playing Quidditch, although for some reason her stomach tied itself in knots at the mere thought of flying. It was probably since she was so out of practice.
"Someone seems happy," Danny said over his shoulder, smiling at his twirling ballerina of a sister. "I pity that Weasley boy; he'll never be able to get you to settle down now."
Alle scoffed, "Like those Weasleys ever settle down themselves."
"I'm finally free!" Avery exclaimed joyfully, garnering the attention of a few nearby Muggles. "Oh, free at last, free at last, thank Merlin I'm free at last!"
"Alright, Squirt, let's settle down now, shall we? Wouldn't want anyone suspicious to be watching when we go to the platform, now would we?"
She scrunched up her nose but nevertheless fell into step between the other two, swinging her arms cheerfully instead of spinning about carelessly. There was a certain bounce to her step as they approached the pillar between platforms 9 and 10; she would finally be back at Hogwarts with Cedric and Fred, wreaking havoc upon her wretched Potions partner, Harold, and finally winning the House Cup for Hufflepuff. She could already tell; it was going to be a great year.
Avery collapsed on the seat beside Fred across from Cedric, wriggling around to get into a more comfortable position. Fred looked down at the little worm twisting about beside him, limbs smacking him in the stomach and face as the awkward child settled in. She finally curled up into her favorite Weasley, her head resting on his arm. George glowered at the minx; how dare she go around draping herself over every male in sight. It's embarrassing really.
"So are you ready to get on the Quidditch pitch again?" Cedric asked her eagerly. "We need you in prime condition if we're to win the House Cup this year."
"Pfft, as if you guys could actually win," George scoffed. "Not when we have the greatest Seeker on our team."
Cedric gave George a very unamused look, not pleased with the other boy's words. He was a Seeker too and had been for a year longer than Harry Potter. He deserved some recognition too, didn't he?
"Well Gryffindor could do with better Beaters," Avery muttered.
"Shut up!" George snapped at the girl, fixing her with a fiery glare. "We're much better than yours."
"We'll just have to see about that, now won't we?" she shot back, leaning forward to meet his gaze. "Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff; we'll see who wins!"
"Harry always catches the Snitch."
"Well there's a first for everything."
"Fred, why do you even invite her to ride with us? She ruins the whole mood."
"I ruin the mood? If anything you ruin the mood! We were having a pleasant conversation until you decided to insult Cedric over here!" Avery leapt to her feet, glowering down at George. "It's never me who ruins the mood; it's always you, you… you… you Weasel!"
He abruptly stood up as well, towering over her with his intimidating height. "That's it, you're out of here."
He grabbed her by the arm and started dragging her forcefully out of the compartment. Cedric and Fred looked on in amusement as the two struggled.
"Let me go!"
"No, I've had it up to here with you! I am not putting up with you any longer!" he shouted, pulling harder as she dug her heels in.
"Let me go right now or I swear you'll live to regret it!"
He tugged one final time, and she flew forward right into his chest, his arms wrapping around her as he was slammed into the door that he had neglected to open just yet. The pair froze, trying to grasp the situation they were suddenly thrown into, and the other two tried desperately to hold their laughter in. Finally, using her sharp puppy teeth to her advantage, Avery bit the Weasley twin, causing him to yelp and let her go.
"You bit me! You actually bit me!"
"I told you so! I told you that you'd live to regret it! Didn't I? Cedric, didn't I?"
"Yes, Doggie, you most definitely did," he replied, trying to keep a straight face at witnessing such a situation. "Now sit over here, away from George so you don't bite him again."
"I won't… if he behaves." She shot the ginger a warning look, sinking her teeth into her own lip to try and intimidate him.
"Oh, shove off, pup."
"What did you just call me, weasel?"
Cedric held his friend back as Fred grabbed his brother. It was starting to get ridiculous, having these two always at each other's throats like this. It was tiring, really. If it continued on like this, they'd have to start separating them completely, and then they wouldn't be able to hang out together. Why couldn't they just behave themselves?
"Can we all just take a deep breath and relax?" Fred asked pleadingly. "I'd really like us all to arrive at school in one piece and alive."
"Fine, sure, whatever," Avery scoffed as she shrugged Cedric off of her.
"Not a problem," George agreed, taking his seat once more. "Just keep it away from me."
"Classy, real classy."
"I'm all about class, honey."
"Right. Sure."
He wrinkled his nose at her and stuck out his tongue, prompting her to quickly do the same, but they didn't attack each other at least. It was progress. Maybe this school year wouldn't be too bad after all.