September 21st, 1995
Hogwarts
"So, Hermione," Fred and George approached her from both sides, stretching out their arms in synchronicity. "A little kitty told us that you have a thing for our brother."
Hermione paused and looked between them. "What are you talking about?"
"Not Percy," George said.
"Or Bill, or Charlie," Fred added. "Or us, of course."
"We mean Ron," George finished with a smirk.
Hermione scowled at them. "Ron and I are just close friends -" She began, starting to walk away.
"And yet you get the same look in your eye Ginny does whenever Harry talks about Cho Chang," Fred said with a shrug. "We're with you all the way if you want him. He definitely -"
"I really have to get to charms," Hermione irritably interrupted, rounding another corner. "And shouldn't you two be in class? Or at least studying?"
George started laughing. "Nah," He said, waving his hand dismissively. "We have other plans for this year and none of them involve any studying."
"And, with Ron," Fred slyly put in. "You know he was upset last year that you went to the Yule Ball with Krum instead of him."
Hermione whipped around on her heel, her ears turning slightly pink.
"That was because he thought I snubbed him!" She exclaimed, a bit flustered. "And plenty of things happened that night, forgive me if I have forgotten. Lily Potter got in a spat with Rita Skeeter, Fudge had to all but carry his wife because she was so drunk, and then you two and Cat changed the music to some….heavy metal screaming!"
Fred winked. "Well," He said, putting up his hands. "That was a damn good time and everyone seemed to enjoy it."
Hermione groaned. "Look," She said, if a bit unconvincingly. "My feelings towards Ron are simply platonic, nothing more, and I don't appreciate your….speculating about my relationship with him!"
George considered that. "Sure," He said. "But only if you stop helping Ginny try to get Harry."
Hermione stared at them in disbelief. "I haven't done anything of the sort!"
"Same protest," George noted.
"She's definitely lying," Freed replied.
"Can't believe it," George chuckled. "And here we were, assuming she was the good girl of the group."
Hermione sent them a dark look and slipped into charms just as Lexenly Fudge was leaving the room. Seeing the twins, she smirked, crossing her arms and waiting for them to say something. The twins were silent for quite a while, enjoying this staring match with her. Fred, however, eventually cracked.
"We aren't getting your sister into trouble, for once," He said, leaning against the wall. "I figured you'd approve."
Lexenly raised an eyebrow. "What does it matter?" She said, lowering her voice with a smirk. "Given what you two are planning."
George playfully smacked her on the back. "Hey!" He exclaimed. "Don't go letting that out too soon! We have a few more things we need to get done before we can pull that off!"
"Yes, I know," Lexenly teased. "Just don't tell my parents I gave you a bit more of the gold for it. You did get most of it from Harry, though, so I don't imagine anyone is going to ask too many questions…."
"Not with the operation we're running," Fred said, beginning to walk with her. "No one's going to suspect a thing, Lex. Your parents will never know. And don't worry, we're still going to give you a cut of it."
Lexenly rolled her eyes. "I would be pretty insatiable if you didn't."
"Well, we don't want you to come for blood," George joked. "I don't imagine anyone would survive that. Has anyone survived your mum?"
Lexenly swatted at him. "That's not fair!" She protested. "I'm one of your key investors, treat me like it!"
"He will," George assured her. "And if he doesn't, I'll ensure he never hears the end of it."
September 29th, 1995
Lowell, Massachusetts
There was a part of her, a small part but a part nonetheless, that was reconsidering everything. Lily was alone, in a car about a hundred feet away from the entrance to the Kessinger manor. She had been waiting here all day, and it had suddenly occurred to her, early that morning, that Delia may have sent her for the purpose of spying on her own family rather than an actual concerns of the Ministry. Lily gritted her teeth at the thought, already preparing what she was going to say when she confronted Delia upon her return. How dare she use her, after everything they had done for each other over the years? Why in the hell had she not simply asked her to do this for her? If it really were just Delia's way of avoiding her own family while keeping tabs on them, something in that felt horribly wrong.
Then again, everything felt wrong of late.
Lily startled upon hearing a bit of tapping against the window of the car. She whipped around immediately to see where a man was standing, looking a bit nervous. He had long hair, tied up in a messy bun, and looked disheveled as if he had been in a fight. She eyed him for a few seconds, checking to see if he were armed (or, by chance, had a wand) but, seeing nothing, she slowly rolled down the car window. He gave her nervous smile, looking around quickly, before he offered her his hand. Lily shook it, watching him carefully as she did so. When he finally let go of her hand, he jammed it into his back pocket like the other, looking incredibly nervous. Lily felt her stomach sink a little, finally recognising him as Delia's brother. Had he been watching her? Did he have the same suspicions she did?
"Thought you might want to know that you're really close to crossing property lines," He said, leaning against the side of the car door. "You used to live here? Or are you the new neighbour?"
Lily shook her head. "Neither," She said, her fingers drumming against the top of the steering wheel. "I'm only here for a few days."
He laughed. "I think I'd have seen your car before if you'd been sleeping in it here for a few days."
Lily sighed. "If you need me to move, I can move."
"Nah, it's fine," He said, quickly looking around again. "Just was wondering. Since the police have been milling about here for a little while now."
"So I noticed," Lily glanced down the road, where the gates to the Kessinger manor grounds could be just barely seen. "What happened?"
"Beats me," He shrugged. "I mean, they found some bodies. But other than that, I don't know what happened."
Even you can't possibly have thought that I'd be able to get anything out of your family, Delia, Lily bitterly thought. If they won't tell you anything, then why the hell would I -
"I'm Ryan, by the way," He cut into her thoughts. "I used to live in that manor, that's why I'm here. Thought you might be here for that too."
Lily rolled her eyes. "How old do you think I am?"
He looked at her for a little. "Fair enough," He chuckled. "If you were living here, you probably would have when I did."
"I'm only 36," Lily told him. "And, to be clear, I've never lived in the US."
"Well, your accent certainly suggests that," Ryan winked. "My sister's husband is British, too. The two of them are….well…."
"The Minister of Magic and his wife?" Lily finished.
Ryan's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Are you a -" He cut himself off when she showed him her wand. "So, you know my sister?" He offered her a smile. "How's Cordelia doing?"
"I suspect she may have sent me here on purpose," Lily replied. "To avoid you and the family, that is. I hope you don't take that too harshly."
Ryan shrugged. "Cordelia's always kept us at arms length since she got married. I don't mind."
Lily smiled. "Care to come with me for a drink? I'm happy to drive, if you're willing to let me pick your brain, that is."
Ryan winked. "Sounds good to me"
October 2nd, 1995
Hogwarts
"Is that paint under your eye, Catherine? Or more potion residue from your cleaning duties? You should prepare yourself for more of that, given that you're probably going to end up as useless as your mudblood mother."
Cat whipped around and pulled her wand on Draco before he had even finished speaking. He stopped stepping towards her and narrowed his eyes, pulling out his own wand. Just behind him, Crabbe and Goyle had their wands drawn too, though neither looked particularly intimidating. Cat's hands were badly shaking, and her jaw was clenched, as if she were expecting to have a hex or curse thrown at her any second. Apart from Professor Tonks, who was, per usual, a bit late, the class was looking at them. Harry and Ron both stood up, ignoring Hermione's half-hushed reprimands. They quickly moved to be behind Cat, pointing their wands at Crabbe and Goyle respectively. Crabbe looked around, and Goyle took a few steps back, neither of them seeming particularly keen on the idea of duelling either Harry or Ron. Draco was laughing, still doing so when Cat started to storm towards him.
"Go ahead, throw some jinxes at me," Draco jeered. "I'm sure you'll enjoy another few months of detention with Potter."
"You're a whore, Draco," Cat snapped.
"And the best thing anyone can say about you is that your parents are reasonably wealthy," He smugly retorted. "Not that your parents can get away without working. Pity. You don't seem like the type that would handle work well. Maybe you can -"
Cat grabbed his arm and twisted it back, yanking him harshly and pinning his arm behind his back while she continued to twist it. Draco yelped, dropping his wand and trying to pry her off of him. Crabbe and Goyle started towards her, too, though Crabbe got kicked in the balls and fell to the floor screeching in pain. Goyle moved quickly back from her, and Draco, still held back by Cat, started yelling at the other Slytherins to get her off him. The only one brave enough to move was Daphne Greengrass, who grabbed Draco's wand and set it back on the table before snapping at Cat to let him go. She did not, however, until she kicked Draco in the shin and stormed off towards where she had dropped her bag and books, scowling the whole time. Harry and Ron smirked at each other, sharing a look, though they quickly dove towards their seats upon the door opening and their professor stepping into the room, her arms crossed.
"Mister Malfoy, what on earth are you doing on the floor?"
Draco pointed to Cat, pushing himself up off the ground and indignantly brushing himself off. "She attacked me, Professor!" He held his arm, looking distressed. "She was trying to duel me! Potter and Weasley were her seconds, and -"
"Did I really kick you that hard, Draco?" Cat muttered. "Pussy."
Tonks glanced to her, an eyebrow raised. "Did you attempt to duel him, Miss Fudge?"
Cat shook her head. "Does twisting someone's arm count as duelling them?"
Tonks frowned. "And why, pray tell, were you fighting him?"
"He was being a little bitch," Cat replied.
"He called her mother a mudblood," Ron chimed in.
"Really?" Tonks shot a disdainful look towards Draco. "Is that true?"
"Well, it is true about her mother," Draco coldly replied.
Tonks narrowed her eyes, taking in a deep breath. "I think that's a week of detention for you," She said, matching his tone perfectly.
"But -" Draco exclaimed in disbelief.
"Continue arguing with me, and I'll add another week," She gave all of them a dark look. "Has anyone else something to confess before I begin today's lecture?"
The room fell completely silent.
"Good," Tonks smiled, sauntering towards the front of the room. "Open your books to page 31. We have to address introductory advanced jinxes and counter jinxes today."