AN:
Sorry again for the inconvenience that came with my posting last night, but here's the rest of the chapter, as promised.
The seventh in an unidentified number of extras. I've got, at least six more extras planned, and I'll most definitely try to double update on some of these so that we can get to PoA faster! :)
warning: didn't edit.
Sidenote: Those who reviewed to Part 1, I responded below extra 7's responses. :)
To my plethora of followers and favoriters, new and old, thank you! Getting those emails seriously makes me smile.
To my reviewers, big thank you to you (all beautifully wonderful spec-freaking-tacular all of you)! Ya'll know you make me smile too, (sometimes I even do a stupid little happy dance) and your responses are at the bottom! :D
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Focus: Some of Devon's christmas vacation at the castle.
"Peeves," Devon scowled over her oatmeal, the trickster ghost had been her ever-present shadow ever since he had woken her up; woken her up far sooner than she would have ever gotten up willingly on a school break. And though she had yelled, scowled, and continuously grumbled through Peeves' shenanigans, Devon appreciated it because the stark loneliness that came with Lillian's absence was truly depressing.
Currently Peeves was gleefully tugging on Devon's ponytail, the soft jerks causing every other spoonful of her breakfast to plop into her bowl with a muted splash. She had just admitted an exasperated sigh, resigned to starving the rest of vacation when Peeves was suddenly gone.
She vaguely recalled hearing at one point to never question a miracle, thus she didn't turn in question or call the ghosts name, merely prepared to take another bite of her cooling breakfast with a soft 'Thank Merlin' only to lose the entire scoop of oatmeal as two voices rang out in clear unison behind her.
"We only answer to that name on Mondays, Tuesdays, and every other Thursday. Fred and George are our mundane names."
Predictably, Devon jumped at the sudden intrusion, head whipping to either side as two familiar-faced redheads clamored onto the empty space on either side of her.
The boy on her left leaned forward to eye her oatmeal with distaste. The boy on her right eyed the boy on her left before turning pretty blue eyes on her, "Peeves favors you."
Deciding to just roll with whatever strange event was conspiring, Devon quirked a brow, "I'm a favorable person."
The boy on her left laughed, the boy she was facing smirked. "Peeves doesn't favor." He reiterated.
Both brows quirked this time, "He favors the infamous Weasley Twins just fine." She challenged, the boy's smirk grew, the color of his eyes shifting minutely with a shift in emotion, that emotion being mischief if she knew anything at all about the Weasley twins.
"But that's because," The boy she faced didn't even pause as the boy on her left spoke in harmony with him, "We're always up to no good."
Devon laughed at that, "Am I safe, sitting next to two managers of mischief?" She inquired curiously as she looked between the two boys, cataloging their blatant similarities and their very few, very slight differences.
Their sudden silence concerned her, wondering what she had said that inspired a silent twin conversation had with her caught in the middle.
"Fred," The boy on her left - George - said after their telepathic conversation must have come to an end. "Take a look at the lass's breakfast." Dutifully, Fred leant over Devon's shoulder to peer into her hopeless breakfast.
"Oh I see what you mean George." Fred responded gravely before knicking Devon's spoon and taking a large bite of the thick, plain substance. "Cold too."
"This is an unacceptable breakfast for our mutual co conspirator." George exclaimed with flourish; and their behavior reminded Devon of the times in the past week that she had witnessed the twins escort Harry around the castle, exclaiming that Harry potter was the heir of slithering and how other students needed to make way for his terrifying greatness.
"You said it Gred."
"Lead the way Forge." George instructed and before Devon was even aware of moving, she was being herded surprisingly carefully away from her table and towards the exit.
"Should I have written my will before breakfast?" She inquired somewhat cheekily.
Fred and George both froze just a few yards outside of the great hall, and they shared a look before turning to face her with equal expressions of surprised pleasure. "Cheeky." George noted.
"We like it," They said in unison, much to Devon's increasing delight.
There had been a set of twins or two coming through the orphanage every few years, and each time, the double duos had always managed to win over Devon remarkably fast; Ben and Abigail were still in the orphanage in which Devon was raised, and she both fears and anticipated returning to find them absent.
A lanky arm strewn around her shoulders pulled her out of her solemn thoughts, "You alright there, Mismatch?" Fred inquired curiously, and rather quietly as though maybe he were concerned.
"You sort of just left us behind for a moment." George announced from a few feet ahead.
Devon smiled teasingly, "Maybe you lot just bored me out of consciousness."
The arm around her shoulders tightened for a second as George looked to her in mock outrage, "Bite your silk tongue two-toned!"
Devon bit her lip to quit from laughing, "It isn't my fault the Weasley twins have suddenly come upon an audience that cannot be blinded or fooled."
"Oh you'll reap the day you spoke those words." Fred warned from beside her.
"You mean today?" She smirked at George's guffaw and Fred's smirk, a smirk that almost gave her chills considering the look could mean nothing good to come for her.
"You best hope we don't leave you behind," Fred warned mockingly, but before Devon could question just what he meant George was pulling open a painting Devon didn't think could be opened before climbing up the small ledge into an unlit passageway.
It wasn't but two seconds before George was poking his head around the painting, "You coming?"
"Coming where?" And if she was a little nervous, well, it was only to be expected considering she hadn't exchanged two words with the third year boys until that morning.
"On an adventure." George announced as though that were obvious, Fred retrieved his arm and clamored into the passageway before both boys extending a hand in silent offering.
"Don't worry, Mismatch, our wands are safely tucked away."
Her eyes narrowed in speculation, "Why do I not believe that makes you lot any less dangerous."
"Cause you're a smart Slytherin." George winked and Fred wiggled his fingers in invitation.
With a big breath she reached out her hands, her fingers hovering jut above their open palms as she looked between the two with scrutinizing eyes, "I'm trusting you two, if this goes wrong, I'll sic Peeves on you." She warned, surprised when fingers curled around her hands and lifted her easily into the passageway with them; she didn't expect to be faced with two suddenly very serious pranksters.
"No worries Devon," George assured.
"No pranks, just a little light hearted fun." Fred replied seriously, and Devon figured the older boys must have been aware of just how rare a Slytherin's trust was given because as they led her through the dark corridors talking a mile a minute with words and shared sentences that made her laugh, scowl, and reply in kind with cheek; they made sure to explain which path they were taking, where they were with each twist in the passageway, as well as made sure to keep close beside her at all times.
After her third stumble over a crack, she said to hell with it and grabbed the hem of George's sweater, and took ahold of Fred's hand until he wrapped his fingers around her palm with a reassuring squeeze and not once did they let her fall or stumble.
With one final turn she was pulled to a halt, "First stop," George announced in his best announcer's impersonation. "The heart of Hogwarts."
With a weary expression, Devon skeptically watched the big reveal only to be blown away by the sight that greeted her eyes.
The room was large, open, warm; filled with pleasant aromas that made her half-fed stomach growl in protest. There were stoves, tables, and what she imagined to be coolers tucked away strategically in locations that only added to the comforting atmosphere of the Castle's kitchen.
There were little creatures with big eyes and even larger ears skittering around the room in an organized panic. Fred and George shared a grin of triumph behind her back, not that she noticed, she was too enamored by the new sight, didn't snap out of her daze until an adorable little creature appeared before her with a large grin, "Master Fred, Master George, you've returned!"
"We told you we would," Fred exclaimed with a wink for punctuation.
"We didn't," George picked up, "Tell you we'd be bringing a guest."
Devon turned to ask a question of Fred only to find George suddenly on her right, Fred on her left; she idly wondered if they had switched themselves on purpose before pushing away the thought and turning to the twin on her left. "It's not any trouble, is it Fred?"
Fred blinked in muted shock, wondering how on earth the second year girl had figured out which twin was which when most of the journey had been had in the dark and upon their arrival, Fred and George had swapped places; not on purpose, it had just sort of happened that way.
"The more the merrier," He assured after his silence had stretched on just a little too long, "Elves love company."
She grinned before she was suddenly being jerked forward by a small hand around her own, and when she faced forward she realized that the little female elf was leading her towards one of the well-worn wooden tables off to the main bustle and hustle of the kitchen.
"We're getting prepared for lunch," The little Elf informed, "But you three can eat here." She informed, "Master George has informed me that Mistress Two-Toned did not eat a full breakfast and that cannot be allowed." The Elf commanded before ushering Devon into a chair and snapping her fingers to make a wide spread of delicious smelling food appear across the four-seater table.
"You let us know if you need anything else." The Elf instructed before she was gone in a flurry of activity.
Devon waited for the Twins to the two chairs across from her before she questioned, "How did you two come by this place?"
"We have our ways," They replied in unison, and Devon didn't push for details; figured they had said all they were going to say on the matter.
They spent the duration of their meal sharing stories, George and Fred telling Devon of their family and some of the pranks the two had pulled, some of the adventures they had gone on and Devon told the two boys of some of the mischief she had gotten up to in the orphanage back at London, told them of some of the things she had done with Lillian while at Hogwarts.
It wasn't until after their early, but hefty lunch that Fred questioned, "Why were you eating alone at Hufflepuff?"
Devon shrugged, "Because Hufflepuff was the only empty house table." That wasn't to say that all Hufflepuffs had returned home for the holidays, but any Hufflepuffs who had remained had friends in other houses and sat either at the sparsely-filled Ravenclaw or Gryffindor tables for meals.
"Why not sit with Slytherin?" George prompted.
Devon sighed, "Because the few Slytherins I like aren't here." She admitted, she had even made it a point to sit with her back to her house table because she didn't want anything to do with Draco, not even to look at him.
"Is it hard?" Fred inquired with a serious tone.
"Is what hard?" Devon returned.
"Being Muggleborn in Slytherin," George explained easily.
Devon took a moment to think about their inquiries seriously, her mouth pursing before stretching into a faint smile, "I thought it was going to be," She admitted honestly, "But Lillian has made it easy." She doubted they would believe that anything about Lillian Black could be good, but if that was the case, it was their own shortsightedness that would cause them to miss out on something wonderful. "She's a terrific friend, and the few other friends I've made make my blood status a near negligible situation. No one bothers me about it, if that's what you mean…at least not usually." She amended, the twins and a good many others had been present for the moment her blood status had been targeted, even if indirectly.
"We know Lillian," George added in the ensuing silence, at Devon's questioning expression, Fred corrected, "Vaguely."
"We've met her once in passing," George said, recalling the meeting that had taken place at least a year or so ago.
"Nice lass." Fred agreed, shooting Devon a small smile that relaxed her shoulders; she hadn't realized she was anticipating a bad reaction until they had given her a good one.
"One of the nicest," George concurred.
Devon spent the rest of her day being led around dark corridors and shown secret rooms that students usually had zero access to. The twins made her forget about Lillian's absence, and Draco in general; telling her animated stories and making up foolish games for them to play as they raced through hallways and hid in spacious rooms.
It was the most fun Devon had had in a long time, fun she wasn't usually awarded because as a Slytherin student, there were certain expectations to uphold. Slytherin House was full of mostly reserved and well-poised students, they couldn't be seen chasing each other through halls and most other houses wouldn't openly welcome a student in green when it comes to a rowdy game of mixed houses. But being with two infamous Gryffindor students with no spectators, no one to judge her, permitted Devon a type of freedom that she wasn't normally afforded.
So when the day came to an end, and the boys were escorting her back from the kitchen from a comfortable dinner together, she was both sad to see the day end and happy that she got to spend a day as she had.
George and Fred walked her back towards the Great Hall, where she was surprised to find Peeves hovering there in wait for her. "Peeves?"
"Bout time!" He bellowed, "Where you been lass? I was worried the two had abandoned you in a pipe along the way."
Devon rolled her eyes, "I only wish I could get rid of you so easily."
Peeves laughed, "You'd miss me." He warned.
"I do believe Lillian would miss you more," Devon countered, "I don't quite fancy the rather obnoxious wake up calls."
Peeves gave her a particularly devilish grin, "You haven't seen obnoxious yes Miss Devon."
She paled, fearing for her sanity as her mind easily conjured up all the misdeeds Peeves could do so early in the morning when she was pulled out of her musings by an arm thrown around her shoulders.
Looking to see who was attached to that arm, heterochromatic eyes scanned freckled features for a moment before she grinned, "Yes Fred?"
He scowled, George gaped, "How are you doing that?" George demanded, because not once had she mixed the duo up the entire day, not even once they were trying to confuse her; sure, she had hesitated at some points, and those hesitations spanned from short seconds to long minutes, but still she hadn't confused them.
"Some secrets a snake must keep for herself." She teased.
George rolled his eyes and Fred smirked before the latter was waving a piece of parchment in front of her face until she snatched it out of his hand, "What's this?"
"Directions," Came George's reply.
"Directions to?" She prompted when neither boy attempted to explain further.
"To the kitchen." Fred responded as he took his arm from her shoulders; he and George stepping away and slowly heading for their common room – a common room that was in the opposite direction to her own.
"You liked it so much," George shrugged.
"We thought you'd like to return without our assistance." Fred completed.
She stared in shock at the parchment in her hands before giving them both a softly dazzling smile full of unfettered joy and slivers of affection, "Thank you, Forge, thank you Gred."
Both boys shot her identical smiles of muted laughter and she wondered if they had to perfect that look of similarity, considering she had noted throughout the day that even though they were twins, and even though they looked remarkably similar, they had very different smiles. "Our pleasure," Said in unison, but where George tacked on a teasing 'Two-Toned' at the end, Fred tacked on a playful 'Mismatch'.
AN:
Special Shout Outs:
xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: Thank you, so glad you liked the change of POV and the Zabini's relationship. This is another POV change, so I hope you enjoy this portion of it. :D
StrawberryObsession: So glad you liked it! Sorry about the delay, no worries about the PoA installment, I'll definitely post a link for it. I figure Blaise has to get his perception from somewhere. ;) They'll be concluded relatively soon. Promise. :D
Long Live Marshmallows: Thanks for the patience! I'm glad you liked how I portrayed their relationship, it's a very close foreshadowing to Blaise and Lillian in the future. You didn't, but I'm so happy that you did mention it! haha. I'm glad you really like my OCs. :D
Moon-Chan: So glad you did! I liked that Blaily too! :D
Meganshmegan: I'm sorry you're not a fan of Lillian x Blaise, but I am happy that you rather like the story and its progression nonetheless. They do, and I respect all of those opinions.
Guest: Good! I'm glad you pictured that because Blaise's parent's relationship was supposed to be a really close foreshadowing to Blaise and Lillian in the future. ;) I really do love Lilliase. :D
TO THOSE WHO REVIEWED TO PART 1
xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: So glad you liked the first half and I hope you enjoyed the second half as well. :D
Guest: um...Sorry?... :/
Reviews are welcomed, but they aren't mandatory.
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Hope you enjoyed!
See you next time!
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