"What's that?" Liesel asked, eyeing the red envelope that was in Ron's hand as she seated herself beside him at the Gryffindor table.
"It's-It's—"
"It's a Howler," Neville Longbottom said, eyeing the red envelope warily. "Just open it," he said to Ron. "Just do it now."
Liesel gave Harry a look of curiosity, but he simply shrugged. She ignored Hermione all together, who had taken it upon herself to bury her nose in Voyages with Vampires as an excuse to ignore Liesel. She and Harry also shared a look of confusion when Neville Longbottom placed his fingers in his ears.
"Open it, Ron," Liesel said unsurely. "What's the worst that could happen? It's just a letter..."
Ron's hands were shaking. He barely reached for the wax seal when the roar of Mrs. Weasley's voice boomed through the Great Hall, causing the floor to shake. Liesel covered her ears with the palms of her hands the best she could, blocking out Mrs. Weasley's thunderous voice.
Finally, Mrs. Weasley's voice stopped abruptly, and Ron dropped the letter on the table. Liesel took her hands from her ears and glanced at Harry and Ron, who both had guilt-stricken faces.
Hermione was about to make a smart remark, but Ron cut her off.
"It'll be all right," Liesel said in an attempt to reassure the two. "Mr. Weasley's got a grand fortune in his future," she said. "He'll pull through."
"And how do you know that?" Ron asked.
"I just do," Liesel sighed.
After having Herbology and Transfiguration, Liesel was a bit tired. She, along with Ron and Harry, was dreading Defense Against the Dark Arts. She rolled her eyes when Ron pointed out that Hermione had outlined her schedule for all of Professor Lockhart's classes with little hearts.
At lunch, Liesel, Ron, Harry, and Hermione were seated together. Liesel and Hermione were still not speaking to each other and it didn't go unnoticed by Harry and Ron.
Liesel was having a hard time enjoying her ham sandwich with a mousy-haired boy seated at the end of the Gryffindor table, staring at the four of them as they ate. Liesel cautiously continued eating her food, making sure to avoid looking in the boys' direction.
After lunch, the four spent some time in the courtyard. "So," Liesel said to Harry and Ron. "You might want to listen, too," she added, addressing Hermione, who was seated on a stone step, still reading Voyages with Vampires. "There was this strange first year staring at the four of us at lunch..."
"What?" Ron asked.
"Don't be ridiculous," Hermione said passively as she returned her attention to her book.
"Fine then, don't listen to me then," Liesel said to Hermione. "Speak of the devil," she said, looking past Harry's shoulder. "Don't look now, but he's watching us from across the courtyard," Liesel said in a hushed voice.
Ron quickly turned around and looked at the boy. "Or," he said. "He's looking at you and Harry. Or both. I can't tell," he said unsurely. "What do you think, Hermione?"
Hermione sighed loudly and snapped her book shut and let her eyes scan over the courtyard. "It's hard to tell," she said. "It could be the both of you," she shrugged.
Liesel and Harry both looked at the boy, who almost appeared to be spellbound as he watched the two of them.
"Oh look," Liesel said. "He's got a muggle camera."
"He's coming over here," Harry said in a hushed voice.
"Quick, act normal!" Ron said.
Hermione quickly reopened her book. Harry and Ron conjured up a conversation about Quidditch and Liesel suddenly became a bird watcher, glancing up at the sky.
"Hello, there, Harry!"
Liesel practically jumped out of her skin. The boy made his way over to the four much, much faster than she had expected.
"You, too, Liesel," he said in the same tone with the exception of his face turning a shade of red. He stepped closer to the two, looking up at them. "I'm in Gryffindor, too."
"Yes, I remember you being sorted," Liesel said, taking a subtle step away. The boy smiled brightly. "Isn't your name-"
"Colin Creevey," he said, grasping both Harry and Liesel's hands and shaking them eagerly. "I've heard about how you like to take pictures," Colin said to Liesel.
"Oh, yes, I do," Liesel said, attempting to get her hand out of Colin's surprisingly tight grasp.
"We have a lot in common," he said eagerly. "Maybe you and I should talk about our photography together sometime, just the two of us."
"Er, I'll think about it?" Liesel said unsurely.
Collin blushed even more. "Great! It's a date!"
Liesel's eyebrows rose. "Er-"
He then turned his attention to Harry. "You-you wouldn't mind, would you, Harry?" He asked, gesturing towards his camera.
"Would I mind what?" Harry asked.
"If I got a picture picture with you?" he asked with his eyes widening. He went on this whole rant about how much he had heard about Harry; it was safe to say that he was mesmerized. "But, I haven't just heard about Harry either," he said with his eyes, wandering to Liesel.
"I've heard a lot about Liesel, too. I heard all about your first night at Hogwarts and how you ended up in the first year boys' dormitory and got a concussion and then you broke Fred Weasley's nose! On top of it all, I heard that you keep a photo album full of pictures that document all of your Hogwarts experiences. Not only that, but that you were one of the smartest girls in your grade!" Hermione's eyes darted up to Colin.
"That's a lie..." Liesel muttered.
He drew another breath. "I knew that you were smart and talented," he said with drool practically seeping from the corners of his mouth as he continued to speak, "but I didn't realize that you were so...so..." Colin took another deep breath, "Pretty." He leaned in to Liesel's face. "And your eyes...they're so...so...green."
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Liesel's jaws had practically touched the ground.
"So, I was thinking that I could have a picture with the both of you and maybe you could sign one, Harry. I want to send them to my father to show him that I met Harry Potter and that I have a new girlfriend!"
Liesel practically choked on air. "Excuse me?"
"What's this I hear about signed photos and girlfriends?" Draco Malfoy said loud enough for the entire courtyard to hear. "Hear that, everyone? Potter's having a signed photo giveaway!"
"Shove off, Malfoy," Liesel said.
"And what's this I hear about you being someone's girlfriend, Greenwood?" Malfoy asked, a smirk appearing on his face.
"Malfoy, shut up," Harry said through gritted teeth.
"That's right, she's my girlfriend!" Colin piped up. "And you're just jealous!"
"Ooh," Malfoy said in mock intimidation, turning to look at Crabbe and Goyle, who laughed along with him. "I don't know," Malfoy said, "if Greenwood was my girlfriend, I don't think I'd be so proud to show her off. As a matter of fact, I don't know anyone that would."
Liesel felt embarrassment rush over her and her cheeks obtained a pink tint. "Colin!" Liesel shrieked, becoming flustered. "I am not your girlfriend!"
"But—"
"No!" Liesel said firmly, before shoving her way past Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.
"Where are you going, Greenwood?" Malfoy called. "The fun has only just begun!" he teased.
While Harry was busy doing everything in his power to avoid Lockhart, Liesel was doing everything in her right mind to keep as far away from Colin Creevey as she could. They bonded over this, making sure to keep watch for each other. Though, when Liesel wasn't around, Colin would attach himself to Harry.
But, of course, there were those days when luck wasn't on Liesel's side.
Colin popped before her after Liesel attempted to rush from Transfiguration. "Hi, Liesel!"
"Hello, Colin," she mumbled, attempting to walk away as quickly as she could, but he simply followed behind her.
"I had a free period and I knew that you would be in Transfiguration, so I decided to wait for you," he said.
"How thoughtful of you," Liesel muttered.
"Where are you headed?" He asked eagerly.
"To see if Fred and George are in the common room," Liesel said flatly.
"Why?"
"They're my best friends, you see," she explained.
Colin came to an abrupt stop. "Are they your boyfriends?"
"What—no!" Liesel shrieked, turning to look at him.
"So, I'm your boyfriend?" Colin asked excitedly.
"No, Colin," Liesel said, turning on her heel, continuing to walk. She noticed a group of Slytherins not too far down the corridor and spotted Draco Malfoy among them. She rolled her eyes and hoped that they wouldn't notice her as she walked by.
Liesel tried brushing past them with her head down. Coincidentally, Colin tried taking a hold of her hand as she did so. She stopped in her tracks, which unfortunately happened to be right before the group of Slytherins. "What do you think you're doing, Colin?" She hissed, obviously roused.
"Trying to hold your hand," he said, oblivious that what he had done had upset her.
"Colin, I am not your girlfriend!"
"Having a fight, are you?" Malfoy called. "It's all right, Greenwood, you two can work it out," he said. "Just kiss and makeup." The crowd of Slytherins surrounding him roared with laughter as Liesel's face turned pink.
"Shut up, Malfoy!" Liesel snapped.
"Really, Creevey," he continued. "I mean, if you're going to have a girlfriend, at least make sure she's pretty," he drawled.
Liesel's face went from pink to red in a matter of seconds. She felt tears prickling in the corners of her eyes as she balled her fists. "Shut it, Malfoy! Or I swear I'll—"
"Or you'll what?" he challenged.
"Oy, Liz!" George called from further down the corridor.
"Where have you been?" Fred asked. "We've been waiting for you for ages!"
Liesel sent one last glare at Malfoy and quickly attempted to wipe the tears away from the corners of her eyes, before bumping his shoulder in the process catching up with the twins. "Sorry, there were a few distractions along the way."
George saw Liesel's face and knitted his eyebrows. "You alright?"
"I'm fine," she said shortly as the three headed down the corridor.
"Right, so," Fred said, beginning to explain the layout for yet another prank that he and George had planned.
As the three turned the corner, Liesel could see a smug Draco Malfoy and a rather confused Colin Creevey.
"Liz," someone shook her shoulder. "Liz, wake up!"
Liesel rolled over on the couch, burying herself under the blanket.
"Don't worry."
"We can handle this."
The twins stood behind the couch and looked down at Liesel with wide grins on their faces. "Morning, Liz!" they said in unison.
Liesel jumped up with a squeal and fell off the couch.
"See?" Fred said to Katie.
"Works every time," George added.
"What do you want?" Liesel grumbled as she got to her feet.
"Quidditch practice," Oliver said. "Go on up and get your uniform on."
"But, Oliver, I'm a reserve," Liesel groaned.
"Doesn't matter," Oliver said. "Go," he said, pointing to the staircase.
"Fine," Liesel mumbled as she headed for the staircase, grumbling to herself. She threw on her pants, followed by her shirt. She grabbed her shoes and made her way down the stairs, still grumbling to herself.
"Morning, Liesel!" Colin Creevey said.
"Morning Colin," she said as she feigned a smile. "Why are you up so early?"
"Well, I heard someone saying Harry's name on the stairs, and—"
"No need to explain, I understand." Liesel said with a yawn. She spotted Harry standing near the portrait hole. "Morning, Harry," Liesel yawned.
"Morning," Harry muttered. "Let's get out of here before—"
"Where are you two going?" Colin asked.
"Er, we're going to Quidditch Practice," Liesel said as she and Harry rushed out of the portrait hole. Colin rushed behind them.
"Slow down!" Colin called as he tried keeping up with Harry and Liesel's pace. "I want to come, too! I've never seen a Quidditch match before!"
"It's only practice," Liesel muttered. "Nothing fun."
"What's it like to fly? Is it scary?" Colin asked eagerly.
"It depends," Harry muttered.
"That's a nice broom you've got," Colin said as he eyed Harry's broom. "Where's your broom, Liesel?"
"I haven't got a broom, yet, Colin," Liesel replied. "I'm only a reserve—I hardly play."
"But, you played last year didn't you?" Colin asked.
"Well, yes, but—"
"That's brilliant," Colin said. "You're both brilliant," he breathed.
"Thank you," Harry yawned.
Colin began asking all sorts of questions about Quidditch that Liesel and Harry had no choice but to answer.
They finally made it to the pitch and Harry and Liesel made their way into the changing rooms.
"Finally," Oliver said. "What took you so long?" Liesel shrugged as she seated herself beside Fred and George.
Eventually, Oliver took out a diagram and began explaining his new 'trianing program'. Liesel began nodding off, and eventually found herself half-asleep on George's shoulder.
Eventually, Oliver let the team exit the changing room and enter the field. Liesel was practically blinded by the sunlight; she hadn't realized they'd been in there for so long. Liesel spotted Hermione and Ron in the stands with a bit of breakfast for her and Harry.
"Morning!" Liesel called. They both waved.
"How's practice?" Hermione asked.
"It hasn't started yet," Harry said sourly, standing beside Liesel.
"What've you been doing all this time, then?" Ron called.
"Oliver was giving us new techniques and strategies," Liesel yawned.
She watched as Harry went and talked to Fred and George before looking into the stands, there, she saw Colin Creevey, who was clicking away with his camera.
"Oh, no," she groaned. "Why is he still here?"
Hermione seemed to have heard Liesel and giggled.
"Not funny, Hermione," she called.
"Look!" Hermione said, pointing down at the field. "The Slytherin Quidditch team is here!"
Liesel whipped her head around to see the Slytherin Quidditch team making their way onto the field.
"What could they possibly want?" Ron groaned.
Liesel joined the rest of the team to see what the Slytherins wanted. She spotted Draco Malfoy among the Slytherins and immediately noticed his uniform.
"You?" Liesel said to Draco Malfoy. "You're the new seeker?" she turned to Flint. "You're joking, right? He's got to be a reserve or something..."
"Yes, Greenwood, believe it or not," he replied. "I, unlike others, don't choke once a match begins."
"At least I played a game in my first year," Liesel retorted. "You weren't even allowed near a broom."
"Speaking of brooms," Marcus Flint, the Slytherin Captain, cut in, showing of his Nimbus Two-Thousand and One.
"Like them, Greenwood?" Malfoy said smugly. "My father paid for them as a welcoming gift."
"Gee, Malfoy," Liesel drawled, "if I knew that I could buy my way on to the Quidditch team, I would've bought Oliver a new broom months ago."
"I agree," Hermione chimed in as she and Ron joined the group, sending a glare in Malfoy's direction. "At least being on the Gryffindor team is based on the players having skill—not how much money they've got in their pockets."
"Oh, we've noticed," Flint replied, looking pointedly at Fred and George.
"And who asked you?" Malfoy snapped at Hermione. "The last time I checked, nobody was talking to the filthy Mudblood."
Fred and George had almost attacked Malfoy, had it not been for Flint jumping in front of him. Liesel gasped as Ron reached for his wand. Hermione and Harry, however, appeared to be confused at the uproar of shouts.
There was a loud bang and Ron flew back a good five feet, landing on his back. Liesel, Harry, and Hermione rushed over to him. "Merlin's beard! Ron, are you all right?" Liesel asked.
"Ron?" Hermione asked unsurely.
He let out a loud, foul belch, and slugs fell from his mouth. The Slytherin team roared with laughter.
"Ugh," Liesel said, feeling bad for her friend. She turned to glare at the Slytherins, who were howling with laughter, holding their sides. "We need to get him to the Hospital Wing." More slugs fell from Ron's mouth. "As soon as possible," she added as the three helped him to his feet.
"That's too far," Harry said. "We have to take him to Hagrid."
Soon, Colin appeared, clicking away with his camera, taking pictures of the slugs. He let his camera roam onto Liesel and took a few. "Hey, Liesel," he said dreamily.
The Slytherin team, once again roared with laughter, holding their sides. Malfoy was laughing the hardest of them all, pointing and laughing as Colin continued to take pictures of Liesel.
"Colin!" she shrieked, burying her face in her hands.
"Liz can stay with us, Harry," George said, placing his hands on Liesel's shoulders.
"Right, Liz?" Fred asked.
"Er, sure," she muttered, looking at Ron. She really wanted to go with them to make sure he was all right, but it seemed that it was too late.
"Alright," Harry grumbled as he and Hermione continued to help Ron.
"Ugh, that Draco Malfoy," Liesel hissed, glaring at him from across the pitch. "The hexes I'd like to use on him!"
"Come on, let's head back to the common room," George said.
"All right," Liesel said. "I need to catch up on my photographs," she said aloud. "D'you think Ginny might want to come with me? I just really need to talk to Ginny today."
"Probably," Fred shrugged.
"I think she's in the Common Room," George added.
The three made it into the common room, and saw that there were a few students here and there. Liesel walked over to a group of first years and asked if any of them had seen Ginny. They told her that she was upstairs in her dormitory. So, she hurried up the stairs and found her dormitory.
"Hey, Gin, I—" she had began to say. But, Ginny had jumped up from her bed, closed the leather bound book, and hid it beneath her pillow. Liesel eyed her suspiciously, but immediately went back to normal. "What were you doing?" she asked casually, hopping onto Ginny's bed.
"N-nothing," Ginny said quickly. "Just writing in my diary."
"Oh, yeah," Liesel said. "What store did you get it from again? I can't remember."
"N-neither do I," Ginny replied.
"Oh, well, can I see it, then?"
"No—"
"Accio!" Liesel said with a wave of her wand. The diary flew into her hand. "Oh—would you look at that?" Liesel said in mock surprise. "Since it's already in my hand, I might as well take a quick look at it," she shrugged. "Don't worry. I won't read it or anything.
Liesel took the book and flipped through the pages, but saw that there wasn't anything written on a single page. "Either, you're using invisible ink, or this diary is charmed so that no one can use it," Liesel said suspiciously.
"It's-It's charmed," Ginny said with a nod. "That's right, it's charmed," she said as she took the diary back.
"You're not lying, are you?" Liesel asked suspiciously. "You're going to be lost soon," she said suddenly. "Because of that diary," she said as she nodded toward the leather-bound book. "And your destiny will find you."
"What?" Ginny asked in confusion.
"Don't worry," Liesel shrugged. "I don't know what it means, either," she shrugged. "I think I might be one of those on-the-spot poets or something," she shrugged. "But, I'd stay wary of leather, if I were you," she said, before walking out of Ginny's dormitory. "And cats. Stay far, far away from cats."
Later that evening, Liesel was enjoying her dinner, and was talking to Harry about how that year's Quidditch season was destined to be when their conversation was cut short.
"Hello there," George said as he squeezed himself between Liesel and Harry.
"Hi," Liesel said as she made room for him.
"What have you got there?" He asked, peering at her plate.
"Mashed potatoes."
"Don't mind if I do," he said before taking his spoon and scooping up half of her potatoes and placing them on his own plate.
"I was planning on eating those," Liesel scoffed.
"Everything tastes better when it's shared, cutie," he muttered.
"Er, what did you just call me?"
"Cutie," George said. "Like I always do."
"Except you don't call me that," Liesel said as she knitted her brow. "Fred does."
George raised his eyebrows. "But, how can you tell the difference?"
"I just can."
"But how?"
"It's something that only I would pick up on," Liesel shrugged.
"How can you pick up on something that Fred and I can't even notice ourselves?" He inquired. "Our mum can barely tell us apart."
"What if you're actually Fred, and your brother is George, because your mother got you two confused when you two were younger?"
"That's quite frightening."
"It is, indeed," Liesel said thoughtfully.
Liesel sneezed right in Fred's face and then lousily blew her nose into a tissue. "Sorry, Fred," she said in a nasally voice.
The twins had just made it back from another Quidditch practice that Oliver had set up, despite the rain. It was a surprise to Liesel that Fred and George weren't sick, themselves. They were soaked from head to toe, though it didn't seem to hardly them.
"It's fine," he muttered, wiping off his face and seating himself on the floor.
Liesel was seated on the couch that rested in front of the fire. She'd been sick for days and her cold wasn't getting any better. George, who was seated beside her, looked slightly worried.
"Maybe you should go see Madame Pomfrey for a Peppperup Potion, Sleepyhead," he suggested. "It'll help you feel better," he said.
"I don' d'know abou' 'dat, George," she said before blowing her nose in another tissue.
"No, really," Fred said. "It's no fun when you're sick," he complained.
"It's d'not like 'dere's anything to do when'd it's raining outside," she said, pointing towards the window, where raindrops were pelting the glass as though they were made of stone.
"I was hoping we'd be able to spy on the Slytherins again," George muttered. "But we can't when you're...well, like this."
"Gee, thanks," Liesel drawled.
"Really, a Pepperup Potion is just what you need," Fred reassured her. "Honestly, cutie, you're not the same when you're sick."
"I d'know!" Liesel shrieked. "And Halloween is only a few days away!"
"Just go to Madam Pomfrey!" both twins said.
"But, that means I have to walk all the way to the Hospital Wing!" Liesel complained. "Besides, I'm tired," she yawned.
"Oh, there you are," Hermione said as she and Ron joined Liesel, Fred, and George in the common room.
"Still sick, are you?" Ron asked.
"Yes," Liesel replied. "It's d'not getting any better," she muttered.
"Why don't you go to Madame Pomfrey?" Hermione suggested.
"All right, all right!" Liesel said. "Fine'd. I'll go."
"We'll take you!" Fred and George said. The grabbed her by the arms and helped her to her feet.
"I'll see you two later," Liesel said to Ron and Hermione as Fred and George dragged her through the portrait hole. On their way out, Harry was making his way into the common room.
"Hey, Harry," Fred and George said as the three hopped out of the portrait hole.
"Hullo, Harry," Liesel said.
"Er, hi," Harry said.
"Wait," Liesel said to the twins, pulling her arms free. She walked back over to Harry, just as he was about ot enter the common room. "Hey, Harry," she said.
"Yeah?"
"You're going to come across something you can't see, but you can'd hear," she said in her nasally voice. "Don't follow it. Okay?"
"Er, okay?" He said. "Are you alright?"
"No, I'm sick," Liesel explained. "Fred and George were just taking me to Madame Pomfrey. See you later," she said.
"All right," Harry said. "Feel better," he muttered as he walked through the portrait hole.
Author's Note:
Yay, another chapter! Hope you all enjoyed it.