In the dark, the greenhouses seem to hold monsters behind their glass walls. I hesitate at the doorway, watching George's robe disappear into the darkness. What am I doing? What will Hera say if I'm caught? What will mother do when she finds out?
George pokes his head out of the greenhouse with a small frown, "Thought the devil's snare caught you. You alright?"
"Got nervous is all," I respond with a shaky laugh.
"It'll be okay," he smiles reaching out his hand for mine, "trust me."
For a moment, my hand hesitates, but there is something so inviting, so warm that I can't help myself. When our fingers touch, it feels like the butterflies in my stomach explode. George smiles and pulls me into the greenhouse, intertwining his fingers with mine so I don't get lost.
He leads me through the greenhouse with ease and I find myself staying as close as I can. George's hand is warm and a little calloused from playing quidditch. With each step next to him, I find myself leaning closer. He smells like fireworks and worn leather - so earthy and natural I find myself inhaling it so deeply in an attempt to keep the smell in the back of my mind. Just for me.
"There you two are," Fred calls from the back of the greenhouse. "Let's get this over with." He glances momentarily at our intertwined hands and smirks, but says nothing.
"How long do we have to keep this in our mouth?" Fred asks after harvesting the three leaves from the sleeping mandrakes.
"Full moon to full moon," I respond in a whisper and Fred makes a face.
"And what's the next step?" He asks closely examining his leaf for any bugs.
"Find a small crystal phial" George says.
"Easy enough." Fred responds before popping the leaf into his mouth.
"That receives the pure rays of the moon." George continues with a nod and then pops his own leaf into his mouth.
"You're pulling my leg." Fred says before looking at me for confirmation. "Right?"
I shake my head, "And then after we have to add a silver teaspoon of dew that neither sunlight nor human feet have touched."
"And don't ask what needs to be done after that." George grins.
"I hate both of you." Fred sighs. "You said this was easy, George."
"I said it was doable," he shrugs. "Besides, we have Nora helping us now."
"I'll do my best. We just need to get through the next month," I shrug and examine my own leaf.
"Now or never." Fred says watching me carefully.
It takes a moment to convince myself to put the leaf into my mouth. My mind immediately flashes to Hera and to my mother. What would they say if they knew I was here breaking school rules and hanging out with Weasley's? What would they say if they knew I was about to try and become an animagus, one of the most difficult and dangerous transfiguration spells.
I knew what they would say, but a quick reassuring squeeze from George's hand reminds me that I don't care.
I place the leaf under my tongue and make a face. "A whole month?" I ask just to make sure I was remembering the spell right.
"Full moon to full moon," George agrees.
"Well let's get out of here before the dementor's catch us." I say, glancing at the greenhouse door uneasily. There is a sudden chill in the air.
"Or worse," Fred shivers leading us towards the exit, "Percy."
"Oh Percy's not on prefect duties tonight." I say following closely behind George. "It's Ophelia and Rodger from Ravenclaw."
In the silvery moonlight outside the greenhouse the twins pause to look at me. Delightfully wicked grins spread across their faces.
"We might just keep you around, Nora." George teases. "Know where there patrolling?"
"No, we just sorta pick where we want to go. Most of the time, we or I should say - Sebastian and I stick near the common room. I can't say the same for everyone else."
"And what nights are you two scheduled again?" George muses.
"I guess you'll have to find out." I respond, ducking into their tiny passage into the castle. I land with a thump on the hard ground, but Fred picks me up before George can land on top of me.
"I keep wanting to chew on this leaf." Fred mentions as he peeks around to make sure we have not been spotted or heard landing in the corridor.
"Maybe it will be less noticeable once it gets a little soggy." George responds as he begins to play with the leaf under his tongue.
"Please don't remind me," I say with a feigned gag. "I would hate to get it mixed up with my salad tomorrow."
"You've given me a great reason to skip the steamed broccoli," Fred responds with a stifled laugh. When he decides that we are in the clear he waves us forward.
We start down the corridor listening for any footsteps of prefects, teachers, or Mrs. Norris. Luckily for us, the castle seems to be asleep.
"I'm going to walk Nora back to her common room." George tells Fred as we reach the staircase that splits us.
"I'll see you then," Fred says. He looks at me and raises his eyebrows suggestively, "Have a good night, Nora."
I feel the blush creep into my cheeks as George shakes his head and gives his brother a playful shove. Fred hurries up the staircase, quiet laughter following him up. "Lead the way," George says turning back to me.
"Don't go telling everyone where the Slytherin common room is." I say to him as we quietly walk down the staircase.
"Even if I told them no one wants to visit the Slytherin common room Nora," George says. "Actually, Fred might. He's always wanted to go set off a dungbomb in there."
I press my hand to my mouth to keep the laugh from escaping my lips. Imagining Hera, Marcus, Draco, and Peregrine deal with a dungbomb is just too much. It might even be worth sneaking in the twins one day.
"George," I whisper as he peeks around the corner to the dungeons. "You know my name is Lenora, right?"
"Yes," he chuckles. "I know your name is Lenora."
"Then why do you always call me Nora?" I ask.
"Lenora just sounds so formal." He says with a quick glance in my direction. He pulls me forward and we continue down the corridor.
"And George doesn't?" I ask and he chuckles.
"Well," he hesitates before saying, "I thought it would bother you at first, but it didn't. You didn't even bat an eye when I called you Nora."
He pauses when we hear a small noise from behind us. Freezing George, reaches down to grab the handle of a classroom door next to us. I can feel my heartbeat pick up, but when nothing follows the sound, George continues. "And then I started to notice that your face changes when your sister calls you Lenora."
"What do you mean?" I ask, feeling a scowl begin to form between my brows.
"You get a little scrunchy, like that" he says gently poking the tense spot between my eyebrows.
I push his hand, but feel my face lighten. I can't help but let a small smile escape my lips towards him.
He had noticed me the same way I noticed him.
"If you don't like Nora, I'll stop calling you that," he says as we slow in front of the Slytherin common room.
"No," I say looking at him. I study his face and squeeze onto his hand gently, "I quite like Nora."
"Good," George smiles softy, "me too."
A few moments pass us in silence and I am fighting the sleep that dares try to push me into the common room. I don't want to leave him just yet.
"You should go inside." He whispers, "Can't have a prefect being out past curfew." Staring at each other with our hands intertwined. His free hand gently tucks a piece of hair behind my ear and I can't help but close my eyes.
"Get some rest," he whispers. "I'll see you in the morning."
I nod and let go of his hand. Slipping back into the common room, I lean against the closed door, touching the side of my face George just brushed. I can feel the warm blush creep back into my cheeks and this time, in the quiet, empty stillness of the common room - I don't hide my smile.