Winona's visions had seemed to grow in frequency with every passing year, so it was with little surprise that she slipped into a sharp reverie one Saturday morning while lazing in front of the fire. Nobody had noticed, everybody much more interested in their own conversations and getting down to breakfast before all the pancakes were gone.
She came out of it a few minutes later, judging by the time on the clock, and she glanced down at the drawing – whose attached vision had been blessedly less violent than usual – to see Harry, Hermione and Ron sketched hurriedly around a bubbling cauldron.
It hadn't been a long vision, but the detail was just enough so that she could make out a fourth figure floating in the far right corner of the sketch.
Moaning Myrtle.
What the hell were Harry, Hermione and Ron doing brewing a potion in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom? Surely there were better places to do something so time-consuming? The answer was obvious, however, and Winona was usually considered bright, if not somewhat undedicated.
They didn't want anyone to know what they were doing.
That just left when this was happening, and while usually she wasn't sure when her visions would come to fruition, she could definitely feel the difference between one that was a long time away, compared to one that was happening moments from when she saw it.
This one happened to be the latter.
Shutting her sketchbook with a huff, Winona stood to her feet and quickly stretched her cramped hands before turning and making a beeline for the portrait hole. "Winnie!" Ginny's voice called over the dull chatter of the rest of the room, and she turned to see an oddly nervous Ginny racing towards her. "Are you walking down to breakfast?" she asked hopefully.
"No, actually," she replied, and Ginny slumped in disappointment. "But I could definitely eat before I get where I need to go," she added, feeling sympathy well within her, and the youngest Weasley perked up. "Don't wanna walk alone?" she asked, but Ginny only shrugged her shoulders as she followed the fourth year out of the portrait hole. "You know, if the legends are true, then you're safe," she said conversationally, aiming for lighthearted. "You're pure-blooded, so the 'monster' isn't going to hurt you," she said, putting quotation marks over the word 'monster' to make it seem like she put no stock in it.
She hoped this would calm the girl down – if an older kid thought it was rubbish, how true could it be, right?
Thing was, Winona knew, without a shred of doubt, that the creature was real. She'd seen it, if only in her visions. And while she didn't generally like to lie to any of the Weasley's (except Percy, but he was a prat and didn't count), she knew this lie was one that was for Ginny's own good.
You didn't tell a kid the monster really was under their bed, otherwise they might never sleep again.
However, Ginny didn't seem reassured by this, instead turning an alarming shade of green and holding her hands over her stomach like she was trying to keep from throwing up. "You okay?" Winona asked warily, wondering if a trip to the hospital wing was in order.
"Winona, can I tell you something?" Ginny asked, blurting the words like it was difficult to get them past her lips.
"Of course, Ginger."
Ginny looked even more sick but had stubbornly opened her mouth to speak despite it when suddenly a figure burst out from behind the suit of armour sitting to their right. Ginny reeled back with a shriek, but Winona spun around, her wand already aimed, prepared to defend them.
Only it wasn't a glowing-eyed, fang-mouthed monster that she was met with, but instead a pair of fur-covered twins, holding themselves up as they laughed.
"You idiots!" Winona shouted at them, growing angrier as they giggled like children. "I could have stunned you!" she hissed, eyeing the fur they'd stuck all over their skin, wisely deciding not to question where they'd acquired it. They only continued to snigger like this was the most cunning prank they'd pulled, to date (it wasn't).
Ginny was shaking where she stood, rattled beyond words, and Winona slipped closer, pushing her away from the howling twins and further down the corridor. The twins were, ordinarily, quite hilarious – however occasionally their lines got blurred and they went too far; this was one of those occasions.
Ginny was still shaking as Winona led her down the main staircase towards the Great Hall. "You alright?" she asked again, growing concerned. Ginny nodded, but it wasn't particularly convincing. She didn't offer any words, and Winona got the feeling she wanted to pretend everything was fine. "Who d'you wanna sit with?" she questioned cheerfully, sweeping her hands at the bustling Hall like a salesman at an auction.
"My friend, Luna," Ginny said softly, pointing in the direction of the Ravenclaw table where a tiny little, white-haired student sat all by herself at the very end of the table. By happy coincidence, Adam was sitting a few spaces to her left, and Winona led Ginny over to the table, taking a seat beside the blonde girl and tapping her boyfriend on the shoulder.
Adam turned from his conversation, lighting up, pleasantly surprised to see her sitting there. "Hi!" he greeted her, leaning in for a quick kiss that was beginning to grow addicting.
"Hey," she said back softly, pressing closer to him and kissing him again, just because she could, before piling up on eggs, bacon and toast.
"Hungry?" Adam asked, slipping an arm around her waist and squeezing. She leant into him, smiling serenely.
"Starved," she replied, shovelling the breakfast into her mouth with little inhibition. She glanced over at Ginny, who was silent while her friend spoke to her in dreamy tones. "Hey," she said once she'd swallowed her mouthful. The blonde girl – hair nearly the same shade as Winona's – looked up and blinked at her owlishly. "I'm Winona," she introduced herself, not holding out a hand, her fingers greasy from the bacon.
"I know all about you," Luna told her breezily, smiling back, utterly tranquil.
And how was she supposed to respond to that? "Uh, you're Luna?" Winona asked, at a loss for what else to say.
"I believe I am," the girl's airily light voice said, before smiling vacantly and turning to her breakfast – chocolate chip pancakes.
Sensing that the conversation was over, Winona turned back to Adam, who had resumed his conversation with his friend. She ate quickly, mopping up the grease with a napkin before taking a deep drink of apple juice and reaching up to press a kiss to her boyfriend's cheek.
He turned, bewildered, but she only tossed him a casual smile, spinning around and standing from the Ravenclaw table. "You okay, Ginny?" she asked quickly, not wanting to leave without making sure.
Ginny didn't meet her eyes, but she nodded, and Winona figured that was probably as good as she was going to get, and ruffled her hair before turning and darting from the Great Hall, heading for the first-floor bathroom that she knew the famous 'Golden Trio' to now be occupying.
She slipped inside, making sure her footsteps were loud on the damp ground, so they knew somebody was coming.
There was a series of hissed whispers and gasps, before a door slammed and the trio came into view, their most 'innocent' expressions spread over their little faces. "Winona, what a coincidence," Harry said stiltedly, eyes darting all around the room, desperate for a distraction. Hermione looked like she was about to be sick, and Ron was frowning deeply. "Uh, you like to come here to think, too?"
"Cut the shit, Potter," the words were harsh but they were delivered lightly, an amused smirk sitting on her lips as she peered at them closely. "What potion are you brewing, and why are you brewing it in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom?"
There was a wail from the end stall as Myrtle herself heard the question, but nobody paid her any attention.
"I – it's extra credit-" Hermione stammered, downright terrified.
"Give it up, 'Mione," Ron sighed, but he didn't look nearly as frightened as his friends. "She's best friends with Fred and George," he reminded her with a snort. "She's not gonna rat us out."
Winona grinned, leaning her weight against the wall and raising her eyebrows expectantly. "I ain't no snitch," she confirmed. Hermione still looking concerned, but less so than before. "But I want in," she said casually. "What's the plan, and why all the secrecy?"
Hermione, Ron and Harry all exchanged glances that communicated a whole lot, having a silent conversation amongst themselves. Finally, Harry stepped forwards, making a decision. "We'll tell you, but you'll have to promise not to tell anyone," he bargained.
"Not even the twins," Ron added firmly.
Considering this, Winona narrowed her eyes. "Listen, I've got a deal with Dumbledore," she began. "Any sketch I do of the future, I take to him. And guess exactly what I sketched this morning? I'll give you a hint: I'm looking at it."
"So you are going to rat us out?!" Ron sounded outraged.
She rolled her eyes. "What I'm saying, is that I'm gonna need a hell of a good reason if I'm going to be lying to Dumbledore for you," she told him calmly, and he sagged from his defensive stance.
"We think Malfoy's the heir of Slytherin," Hermione blurted, and Winona's stormy eyes turned to look at her, brow furrowed as she patiently listened. "We've got a plan – we're brewing Polyjuice Potion and we're going to become Slytherins to get Malfoy to confess to everything."
Winona was silent, processing this information. She wasn't sure exactly what she'd been expecting, but she knew that hadn't been it. It wasn't a bad plan, and she knew that someone had to get to the bottom of this whole thing, and the teachers sure did seem to be taking their damned sweet time.
"Okay," she agreed, and shock appeared on their little faces.
"You're letting us do it?" Harry asked, and he'd never looked more confused. "Just like that?"
"Just like that."
"Why?" Hermione asked, suspicious.
"Because it's a good plan," she answered honestly, "and because you three got past the teacher's tests guarding the Stone last year – compared to that, this should be a walk in the park." She paused, a wicked smirk appearing on her lips. "And, Ron's right, I am Fred and George's best mate," she added cheekily. "I love myself a little mischief."
The trio looked relieved, Harry smiling at her in thanks.
"I'd offer to help with the brew, but I'm afraid I'm rubbish at Potions," she told them. "I'd probably be more of a hindrance than a help."
"It's okay," Ron said quickly. "Hermione's got it under control," he added, casting his friend confident look that made her smile.
"Well, I'll leave you guys to it," Winona said, grinning at them once more. "You need anything; alibi, scapegoat, shoulder to cry on if this all goes to shit – you tell me," she ordered them, and they nodded eagerly. She sent them a final grin before turning and leaving the girls' toilets, heading for the common room, eager to get her hands on her acrylics and spend the day lost in her art.
She wasn't sure she expected the trio to take her up on her offer of help, but a week or two later Harry came up to her in the Great Hall. She was sitting at the Gryffindor table, and Adam was perched next to her, casting wary glances at the Professors at the end of the room, nervous that he was going to get told off for sitting with the Gryffindors.
Winona told him not to worry – people did it all the time, but he remained anxious. He really didn't cope well with the possibility of getting into trouble.
"Winona?" Harry's greeting sounded more like a question, and she glanced away from where she was listening to Adam talk about his Herbology quiz. Looking up at the second year student, she noted he looked more than a little awkward.
"What's up, Harry?" she asked as Adam's (rather dull) story came to an abrupt stop. He stared at Harry with wide eyes, and Winona noted his gaze was trained solely on the scar peeking through the boy's hair. Annoyance shot through her, but she didn't feel like she should say anything about it – especially not in front of Harry himself. That would only make him feel more uncomfortable.
"Can we talk?" Harry asked, wincing as Adam only continued to stare.
"'Course," she nodded, pecking her boyfriend on the cheek before standing to her feet. "I'll see you at lunch?" she asked as he stood too, stepping in the direction of the Ravenclaw table. He nodded, and he blew her an obvious kiss, which made her flush as the people around them tittered noisily. She turned, slapping Harry on the back and urging him from the Hall. "What can I do for you?" she asked, glad to be out from under the other students' gazes.
"Remember how you said you'd help us, if we needed it?" Harry began as they came to a stop on the main staircase, the room empty since everyone was in the Hall.
"What can I do?" she asked easily.
"Could you get me one of Fred and George's Filibuster Fireworks?"
"Yes," she said immediately, then frowned, "should I ask why?"
"We need a distraction in Potions," he answered honestly, and Winona lit up.
"I would be more than happy to acquire the tools to help you take down Snape," she told him with an impish grin.
"We're just distracting him so Hermione can get what we need from his private stores," he corrected her, and she hummed.
"Not quite the mastermind prank I was hoping for, but I'll still do it."
Harry gave something of a smile. "Thanks, Winnie," he said gratefully. She grinned at him, slapping him lightly on the shoulder.
"I'll have one for you by dinner," she promised just as the bell rang overhead, signalling that they didn't have long until class started. "See you then," she said, shooting him a final grin just as students began to flood the entryway, a wave of noise coming with them.
It was a Tuesday, and first up for Winona was History of Magic with Binns. Content-wise, it was her least favourite class, but she liked it because their ghostly teacher paid them little-to-no attention, meaning she was free to sleep, write notes to friends, and sketch to her heart's content.
And yes, she was failing the class, but it was History of Magic, so what did it really matter?
"Hey," she greeted Fred as she slipped into her usual seat beside him, bag of art supplies hitting the floor with a thud.
"Think if I throw a paper plane directly through Binns' head, he'll notice?" Fred asked in lieu of a proper greeting, but Winona was hardly one to care.
"Give you a Sickle if he doesn't," she agreed, and he grinned widely, already beginning to fold a scrap of parchment into a plane. Binns had yet to arrive to class, and the students were still buzzing with chatter, very few bothering to actually pull out their quills to take notes. She made sure George wasn't paying attention, seeing him chatting with Angelina and Lee a few seats over. It would be easier to get this done without both of them there to guilt her into spilling. "If I ask you for a favour, would you do it, no questions asked?" she asked him quietly, keeping her voice light.
"Is this you asking me to join you and Adam in a threesome?" Fred deadpanned, tongue poking from his lips in concentration as he focused on folding the parchment perfectly. "Because, if so, let me just say – I'm flattered," he told her with a mischievous little grin. She was about 90% sure he was kidding, but it still made her cheeks turn red.
"No," she hissed in reply, casting a glance at the board where Binns usually entered from. The bell had yet to ring, so he'd yet to arrive. "I need you to give me one of your Filibuster's," she told him plainly. To her pleasant surprise, Fred didn't so much as bat an eyelid.
"Done," he said simply, not even looking up form his task.
Winona blinked. "That's it?" she asked, bewildered.
"'Course," he said jovially, equally as bewildered by her surprise. "Why wouldn't I? You're my best mate," he said it so matter-of-factly that she felt almost ashamed at having doubted him. "Besides, I'm sure I'll hear about what you're going to do with it sooner or later," he added. "Setting off fireworks isn't an easy thing to keep quiet in a castle like this."
Grinning, Winona leaned into his side, pressing her head to his bony shoulder and throwing her arm around him, squeezing tightly. "Thanks Fred," she said sincerely, face smushed into his wrinkled robes, voice muffled by the fabric. "You're the best."
"Feel free to give that to me in writing," he said casually, but as she pulled away she caught a hint of red to his ears that hadn't been there before.
At that moment, the bell above them rang, and Professor Binns materialised through the chalkboard, standing behind his large desk and opening his mouth, beginning his lecture in his usual, boring, monotonous voice.
Halfway through the lesson, Fred pressed something into her lap, and she looked down to see the firework resting on her legs. She glanced over to see him grinning, but said nothing as she inconspicuously slipped the contraband deep into her messenger bag. Then, a paper plane appeared in her line of sight, dipping down towards Binns and flying directly through his head.
The ghost-Professor didn't so much as flinch, continuing to stare blindly as he lectured, and Winona couldn't help but grin as she slid a Sickle across their shared desk, Fred pocketing it with a self-satisfied smirk.
Surprisingly, her biggest obstacle was Adam, who hovered around her during her double free period that afternoon, intending to remain with her until dinner. She tried to shake him by claiming to have 'lady issues', but he just offered to go fetch her some Pepper-Up Potion and a chocolate frog (seriously, how was he so crazily perfect? And why was it more annoying than it was charming?), so instead she said she needed to go up to her common room for awhile.
He seemed to understand, but pulled her to him for a large number to kisses before finally letting her go with a smile.
Thankfully Harry was there when she arrived, sitting by the window with Ron, frowning deeply at his Transfiguration textbook.
"Hey, Boy-Wonder," she greeted him, slipping into the empty seat beside him with the utmost innocence. He jumped at her sudden appearance, and she smiled at him brightly. "I've got your merchandise," she told him, and he eyed the room shiftily.
She suddenly felt like she was in an old, black and white gangster movie, and the common room was about to be swarmed by cops in a violent drugs bust.
Thankfully, that didn't happen.
Slipping him the firework, she grinned as he took it, holding it gingerly like he was afraid it would blow up in his face if he squeezed too tightly. "Don't get caught," she warned him, and he shot her a nervous sort of expression that was in no way comforting.
Two days later, Winona heard the story about what happened in the second year Potions class and smirked proudly, sending Harry a thumbs up at dinner, which he warily returned.
Having a boyfriend was tough work, Winona discovered over the course of the next week.
They wanted to be with you all the time. She started to wonder if she'd ever have five minutes to herself ever again. He was sweet though, he even conjured a flower to give to her Friday before dinner, and she blushed as he handed it to her, then kissed him sweetly under some mistletoe in somewhat of a bucket-list motivated move.
Still, she missed long hours she had to herself where she'd find some quiet corner of the castle and lose herself in her art. It had been so long since she'd used paints that the stains had completely faded from her hands for the first time in years.
Adam was lovely, he really, really was, but being with him demanded so much of her attention. She had to listen to him talk, then nod at all the right times, then think of something clever and relevant to say back.
It was exhausting, and not at all like she imagined it would be; it wasn't easy.
Also, spending time with Adam meant she wasn't spending time with her friends. There was a new inside joke going around, something about a singing pineapple, that she didn't understand. She'd never imagined it could be so frustrating.
She missed Angelina, Alicia, Lee and Katie – not to mention the twins. She was trailing after Adam one morning, their hands held together as she listened halfheartedly to him talk to his friend – Brody Winchester, a short fifth year with watery eyes and a nasally voice – about the upcoming OWLs, when she was stopped by Fred and George.
"Fancy seeing you here!" they exclaimed loudly, uncaringly cutting off Adam and Brody's conversation. She watched in amusement as Fred very obviously tucked a large, familiar slip of parchment into his pocket; The Map.
"Where're you two off to?" she asked them, taking in their impish grins and their nearly identical blue eyes, gleaming with unmistakable mischief.
"Lee's gathering the troops," George told her cheerfully.
"Combat commences in five minutes," Fred continued, tugging at the pompoms of his orange and red beanie, knitted by his mother the Christmas before.
Excitement spread through Winona's system like the effects of a potion and she perked up, squeezing Adam's hand in enthusiasm.
"What're we talking about?" her boyfriend asked, pleasantly curious.
"It's our Pre-Christmas, Battle to the Death," she told him eagerly.
"What?" this only seemed to confuse him more.
"A snowball fight," the twins said slowly, making sure the Ravenclaw could keep up.
"You're coming, right?" she asked excitedly, tugging at his hand and turning to look at him, an eager grin spread across her lips, making the flushed apples of her cheeks even pinker.
"A snowball fight?" he repeated, a frown marring his handsome face, the expression not one she'd been expecting. "You actually do that sort of thing?" he asked with disdain.
The way he said it made her feel kind of stupid, and her smile dimmed. "Well, it's tradition," Fred spoke up quickly, and she turned to look at him gratefully.
"But what if it isn't snowing yet?" Brody interjected skeptically, his nasally voice incredibly unwelcome.
"Then we use water balloons," he responded without missing a beat.
"In the middle of winter?"
"Ever heard of a Warming Charm?" Fred responded scathingly, and Brody's pale face turned red with embarrassment. "Come on, Win," he continued, ignoring the shorter Ravenclaw's not-even-slightly-intimidating glare. "We're gonna be late."
"Are you coming?" Winona asked Adam again, and the hope in her voice was unmistakable.
"I hate the snow," Adam grimaced, and Winona felt herself deflate. He hated the snow? The only reason she got through the summer was by knowing winter was around the corner, and with it, the snow.
"Oh," she murmured lamely, unsure how to respond.
"Winnie," George whined childishly, tapping his wrist, which was completely bare of a watch. But the intent was clear.
"I guess I'll see you later, then?" she asked Adam quietly.
"I thought you were going to come help me study in the library?" Adam was frowning, and she decided she definitely preferred him when he was smiling.
George laughed. "What?" he spluttered. "But Winnie's personal motto is Procrastinate, Then Cram," he chortled, and Winona felt her cheeks warm at his blithe comment. Adam suddenly looked disapproving, and she had the feeling they'd be firmly discussing her study habits in the near future – and she didn't have to be a Seer to know that. "Seriously, Win, we've gotta go!" he added quickly, glancing over his shoulder like he might suddenly be able to see through the wall to the courtyard outside.
She missed her friends too much to decline, so Winona turned to Adam apologetically. "I really wanna go," she told him, firmly telling herself that she wasn't asking for permission. "I'll see you later?" she murmured. She couldn't quite place the expression on his face. It wasn't anger, but it wasn't happiness either. Wary, she cupped his face, stepping closer to seal their lips in a chaste kiss, pulling back, shooting him a weak grin, then spinning around, grasping her best friends by the arms and yanking them down the hall after her.
"Finally!" George yelled as they turned the corner, making a beeline for the courtyard where their friends waited. "You're on an awfully short leash-" he tried to add, but Winona gave him a hard and not at all playful shove. He laughed nonetheless, regaining his footing and darting after her and his twin.
Winona didn't laugh, trying not to think too closely on what he'd just said. With a wall of unexpected light, the trio burst out into the courtyard, which was seemingly void of life.
Coming to a stop, Fred reaching out to steady Winona when she nearly slipped on a patch of ice, the twins looked around, scratching their heads. "That's odd," Fred commented. "They should have been here by now."
"Boys?" Winona murmured, making a full circle, taking in the piles of snow that looked just slightly too perfect to be natural. "I've got a bad feeling about this," she said from the corner of her mouth.
"Are you saying that as a Seer?" George asked carefully.
"I'm saying that as someone with a brain," she hissed back just as there was an roaring war cry and Lee, Katie, Alicia and Angelina all appeared from behind the mounds, arms laden with snowballs. "Shit!" she cursed just as the first balls went flying.
"Take cover!" Fred screamed, diving to the right, taking refuge behind the fountain with George. Quickly, Winona dropped to the icy ground, slipping her way to where they stood. Usually they elected captains, then teams were created from there – this time, however, the battle lines had already been drawn.
"Plan?" George asked, and Winona ducked further down as a snowball went flying by her head, so close that she felt the wind it brought with it rustle her hair.
"George, you're on ball duty," Winona said, thinking quickly. "Fred, you're on Charms."
"We're playing dirty?" Fred asked slyly.
She smirked back wickedly. "Don't we always?"
The fight the ensued was the stuff of legend. There were screamed battle cries, trash talk interspersed with uncontrollable laughter, and so much wonderful snow that Winona's face was probably going to be permanently pink from the cold.
It ended when George succeeded in stuffing a handful of snow down Lee's back, and with a feminine squeal the wimp declared defeat, the others deciding that – the twins being as skilled with Charms as they were, and Winona being so quick on her feet – they were fighting a losing battle.
Winona, George and Fred worked like a well-oiled machine, and she suddenly remembered how much she adored them. No boy was worth ditching them for, and she promised herself she was going to start spending more time with them.
"You're so good at improvising!" Alicia was saying to her, all of them huddled around the fire in the Gryffindor common room later that afternoon. "Maybe you should give that duelling club thing a go!"
Winona frowned in confusion. "What duelling club thing?"
"They posted it on the bulletin board this morning," Lee responded, taking a sip of the pumpkin juice the twins had gotten from the kitchen. "Was thinking of joining myself, but then I heard Lockhart's running it," he said with disdain.
"Ew," Winona snorted, picking up her own bottle and taking a deep sip.
"You know, maybe if any of you actually read his books-" Angelina tried to say, but the boys all gave loud, obnoxious groans and threw their heads back dramatically.
She rolled her eyes, and Winona shot her a grin. "The bloke's a fraud, Ange," she said blatantly.
"Prove it."
"He vanished the bones in Harry's arm," Winona deadpanned. Angelina huffed as though it was hardly relevant.
"People make mistakes," she said dismissively. The boys groaned again, and this time George threw a couch cushion at her, making her and Alicia broke out into giggles, disagreement forgotten.
"Hey, what're your plans for Christmas?!" Lee asked the group suddenly. Angelina began to speak up, saying something about a trip to France with her family.
Winona was distracted, however, by a tap on her shoulder. She turned, blinking at Fred, who wasn't focused on the conversation either, but instead looking at her, an oddly thoughtful look on his face. That kind of frown didn't happen often for either of the twins, so she knew it was serious.
"What was that with Adam, before?" he asked her quietly, his pensive expression deepening.
Her lighthearted mood dropped at the reminder, and she frowned, casting a glance over at the rest of their friends, none of whom were paying them any attention, caught up in discussing their plans for the upcoming holidays.
She considered how to answer, but wasn't sure how. What had it been? A fight? That didn't sound right...but, then again, it hadn't felt right either.
"We're just...really different from one another, I guess," she murmured, voice low.
"He was kinda rude about the whole thing," Fred replied, reflective. Winona lifted her shoulders in a helpless shrug. What was she supposed to say? "Are you going to tell him he was being an arsehole?" he continued as the group next to them broke out into uproarious laughter.
"I guess," she shrugged again. Would telling him he hurt her feelings make him angry? Wasn't communication the most important thing in a relationship, or something to that effect? All she knew was that she didn't feel comfortable bringing it up.
Fred was still looking at her but she couldn't put a name to the emotion in his eyes. Concern, maybe? Disapproval?
"What about you and Emma?" Winona sang hurriedly, forcing a teasing smile to her face in an effort not to get overwhelmed by Fred's uncharacteristic consternation. He groaned, throwing his head back for a moment only to sit back up and glare at her. "I could still put in that good word," she reminded him, casting a glance around the room to make sure the third year Gryffindor was nowhere in sight. "Seriously, you should ask her out," she encouraged, and Fred looked thoughtful.
"Maybe I will," he said with a hum.
"Good," she grinned, and he returned the gesture before Angelina called out for their attention, and both turned to look at her expectantly, roped into the conversation happening around them.
Despite getting quickly distracted, a seed of unease had appeared in Winona's gut, one that she could tell wouldn't be going away any time soon…
"Did you hear?" Liam Stanley from fifth year barrelled into the room, nervous energy clinging to him like a coat. He came to a stop in front of them all, and the fourth years turned from their pleasant conversation to look at him warily.
"Hear what?" Katie asked.
"Harry Potter is a Parselmouth!" he told them in a hushed voice.
The group were stunned into silence for once long moment, before Lee exclaimed, "you're joking!"
"Does that mean it's true, then?" Angelina asked nervously. "That he's Slytherin's heir?"
"Don't be stupid," Winona hissed back, hackles rising in defence of her younger friend. "Of course he's not."
"How do you know?" Alicia argued skeptically.
"Because I've met the kid," she rolled her eyes at the lot of them. "There's no way he's controlling Slytherin's monster to attack the Muggleborns of the school. His best friend is a Muggleborn."
"What if it's just a cover?" Liam countered primly, as though he'd just singlehandedly figured out Harry's grand masterplan. "To make us trust him?"
"Do you actually hear yourself when you talk? Or is it just noise?" Fred asked scathingly. Winona was beyond relieved that he was on her – or rather, Harry's – side.
"Whatever," Liam said, crossing his arms over his chest and looking properly miffed by their lack of support. "But you're halfblooded, and you were raised as a Muggle," he added, staring solely at Winona. The blonde was made uncomfortable by the snide way he pointed this out, and she shifted her weight back against the couch. It felt strangely like an attack.
"What're you saying, Stanley?" Fred asked darkly, climbing to his feet before anyone could stop him, muscles tensed like he was prepared for a fight. Winona clamoured after him, George rising as well, sensing trouble. "Was that a threat?"
"I'm not Slytherin's heir," Liam sniffed obnoxiously, as though simply reminding them of the facts.
"Neither is Harry," Winona replied tightly, and the brown-eyed fifth year shot her a frown.
"Prove it," he said as though this won him the argument.
"You prove it," Fred snapped, defending not only Winona, but his brother's best mate, as well.
Liam looked like he was considering replying, but then the portrait hole opened and Harry Potter himself walked into the common room. He came to a stop in the middle of the room, Hermione and Ron pausing beside him, all of them noticing the eyes that seemed glued to them from the moment they entered.
"Whatever," Liam said with a scowl, bringing Winona's attention back to him. "I'd watch your back, though, if I were you," he added snidely, eyes on her, and Winona felt Fred tense again from beside her. Reaching out, she pressed a hand to his forearm, squeezing gently as she watched Liam turn and storm from the room, marching up the stairs dramatically, shooting Harry a distrustful glare over his shoulder as he went.
Once he was gone, Winona turned her attention to Harry, who looked like he might be ill. She was just about to move over and see if he was okay when Ron nudged him and the two of them disappeared up into the dormitory.
"What a jerk," George was saying, pushing Fred down onto the couch and taking a seat beside him, the rest of their friends staring up at them from the floor, bewildered by the standoff they'd just witnessed. "You all right, Freddie?" he asked, patting his twin on the shoulder.
"Yeah," Fred responded, still frowning. "Bloke's just a prat."
"You can say that again," Winona agreed, taking a seat on the armrest by his side and gently laying her legs over her best friend's lap. "Thanks for defending my honour," she added, striving to keep things light, nudging his shoulder. Finally, his tense expression dropped, giving way to a grin.
"It's not over yet," he promised her. "I believe Mr Stanley is next up on our pranking list, isn't that right, George?"
"I believe so, Fred," George responded, and Winona thought that she just might have been the only person in the whole of Hogwarts who was comforted, instead of unsettled, by the twin's identical, maniacal smirks.
Unfortunately, Winona's unwavering faith in Harry's innocence was put to the ultimate test the next day. She was calmly sitting in Charms, unsuccessfully attempting a Summoning Charm, when Peeve's voice bellowed through the castle, volume enhanced by magic.
"ATTACK! ATTACK! ANOTHER ATTACK! NO MORTAL OR GHOST IS SAFE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! ATTAAAACK!"
There was no possible way for Flitwick to keep the class under control. As soon as they processed what Peeves was saying, the students stampeded from the room, the smallest of them very nearly being crushed by the wave.
Harry was there, standing horrified in the middle of the corridor, a charred, smoking Nearly-Headless Nick floating above the ground, and a frozen Justin Finch-Fletchley laying, petrified on the cold stone floor. Winona knew Harry had nothing to do with it, he just couldn't, and anyone with a brain should have known as much.
Unfortunately, the Boy-Who-Lived was looking less and less innocent by the day, and the entire school, seemed to agree.
"Hey, Harry!" Fred shouted at dinner one night, and the second year looked up from his peas and corn to blink at him. "Who're you planning on doing in next?!" he asked with around an amused cackle.
Winona rolled her eyes, but Harry didn't smile, ducking his head as Ginny cried out for her brother to stop it.
The people at nearby tables whispered conspiratorially, as though this was merely further proof of the kid's guilt. "You're a bloody riot, you are," Winona told Fred exasperatedly, though even she couldn't help the amused pull at her lips, and he grinned at her around a mouthful of mash potatoes.
"Hey," Adam appeared at her side, surprising her, as he usually didn't like to spend time at the Gryffindor table while Dumbledore was present. The Headmaster was currently sitting at the teacher's table, having what looked to be a pleasant conversation with Professor Sprout.
"Hey," she greeted him, leaning in to peck him on the cheek as he settled into the spot beside her, Neville shuffling out of the way politely.
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," her boyfriend said, confusing her.
"Why wouldn't I be?" she asked, looking down at herself like she might spot an injury she hadn't noticed.
"Well, you're sharing a common room with…him," Adam said, nodding his head in Harry's direction but keeping his eyes averted, as if afraid meeting the boy's gaze would petrify him on the spot.
"Excuse me?" Winona asked at the same time as Fred and George let out a shared 'ooh', knowing this was the worst possible thing Adam could say.
"I'm worried about you," Adam murmured, keeping his voice low in an effort to keep anyone from hearing. Well, if he wanted this to be a private affair, he should have picked a more secluded venue. "I don't like the thought of you up in Gryffindor Tower with Slytherin's heir..."
"You're kidding," Winona deadpanned, staring at him with stormy eyes. This had to be sort of joke, but then again, Adam didn't even like jokes. The Ravenclaw looked confused by her dry expression, unsure how to react. "Adam, Harry isn't the one hurting people," she said it slowly, like she were explaining something simple to an idiot.
"I know you're friends with him," he replied with a smile, reaching out to press a hand to her shoulder, squeezing firmly like he was in some way comforting her. "But you can't let yourself be blinded by affection – look at the evidence-"
"The evidence is wrong," she hissed, feeling indignation rear its head in her gut. She felt insulted on Harry's behalf, he was such a great kid – smart and kind and thoughtful – and yet everyone thought he was actually capable of this shit? She was surrounded by idiots.
"Look, I just wanted to be a good boyfriend and make sure you were alright," Adam said quietly, glancing around self-consciously at her friends, who were all suspiciously quiet but clearly making an effort to appear distracted by their meals.
"Why, because I'm Half-blood?" she asked, eyebrow cocked dangerously.
"Well…yeah."
George let out a low whistle, giving up the pretence of not listening and instead shaking his head at the Ravenclaw slowly. "Wrong answer, mate," he said with a click of his tongue. Adam looked irritated by the interjection.
"You want to go for a walk?" he asked her, clearly wanting to get some privacy.
"Not really," Winona responded. The last thing she wanted to do in that moment was go somewhere alone with him.
"Fine," he said, a disappointed frown pulling at his brow. "I'll see you later?"
"Yeah," she nodded once, but it was insincere. He hesitated, looking like he wanted to say more, only to frown even deeper and stand to his feet, heading back over to the Ravenclaw table with a glance over his shoulder.
Even once he was gone her friends still remained silent, and she looked up to see them all staring at her. She glared at them.
"Feel free to keep staring," she said grumpily, and Angelina, Katie, Lee and George all looked away. Fred, however, continued to stare. It didn't feel as intrusive as the others' had, instead he simply looked concerned, like he was worried about her.
"You okay?" he finally asked once the others had melted into a halfhearted conversation about Quidditch.
"I'm fine," she replied, not even sure whether it was the truth or not. She wasn't sure how she felt. Not heartbroken or upset, more like annoyed, and irritated, and strangely hurt. She took a breath and then a deep gulp of pumpkin juice, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand before returning to her meal.
Fred wanted to say more, she could tell, but he kept his mouth shut, merely spooning more peas into his mouth before allowing himself to be sucked into Lee and Katie's discussion about the Chudley Cannons while Winona chewed on a slice of pork, trying not to brood too much.
After getting no sleep and having a creative block with her sketching – which almost never happened – she wandered down to breakfast with the others the next morning in a foul mood.
The twins were talking, something about Snape and shampoo, but she wasn't really paying attention.
Harry was somewhere in front of them, head down as people in the corridors stared at him when he passed like he were something at the zoo.
Abruptly, the twins sped up, darting in front of the younger boy and beginning to shoo people out of the way. "Make way for the Heir of Slytherin!" George shouted loudly, and the students lining the hallway seemed to pale at the mention.
"Seriously evil wizard coming through!" Fred added enthusiastically, and a group of first year Hufflepuffs scattered away like they were afraid Harry would sprout fangs and attack them.
Winona couldn't help it, the whole thing was rather ridiculous, and despite her horrible mood, she found herself smiling at the twins' theatrics.
"What are you two doing?" Percy appeared in front of them, pulling the entire entourage to a stop, his prefect badge gleaming proudly on his chest. "It is not a laughing matter," he said coldly, looking like he was very much considering handing out a detention.
"Oh, get out of the way, Percy," said Fred with an air of great importance, waving his brother out of their path. "Harry's in a hurry."
"Yeah, he's off to the Chamber of Secrets for a cup of tea with his fanged servant," added George, chortling loudly. Although Harry blushed, there was a hint of a grin sitting on his lips, and Winona was proud to know the twins could cheer even him up even when things seemed bleakest. That was their talent, she supposed; laughter – and she loved it.
"Could you stop them?" Percy asked her loudly, sounding very much like he was on the edge of a nervous breakdown.
"I could," she allowed with a nod, and the prefect practically sagged with relief, "but I won't."
"But-" he began to argue.
"Take a breath, Percy," she told him jovially, shooting him a casual wave as she headed down the corridor after her friends, who were shouting about Harry's 'pristine' lineage in overly dramatic voices.
Adam came to find her that evening before dinner, looking grumpy, which made Winona want to talk to him even less.
"The twins wouldn't tell me where you were," he told her, coming to a stop beside her where she sat just inside the doorway to the courtyard, where she could still see the snow but it wouldn't be able to ruin her artwork.
"They're just being protective," she replied carefully, not looking up from where she was sketching a snowy white owl with nothing but a quill and some ink. She wasn't in the mood to try anything fancy, content to just freehand with her school supplies.
"Look, I'm sorry," he apologised, and with a reluctant huff she glanced up from her work to where he was standing above her. He certainly looked apologetic, and he took a seat beside her, casting her work a curious glance before speaking again. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"But you did," she replied softly, turning back to her art.
"I was only worried because..." he trailed off, suddenly nervous, and Winona's drawing hand paused as she waited for him to say what he needed to. "I was worried because I think that I love you."
Dread filled her like water pouring into a balloon. That wasn't right, surely her reaction to that sort of proclamation should have been joy or delight or reciprocated love. She felt none of these things, and that was exactly how she knew what she had to do.
She turned to Adam, who was staring at her expectantly, no doubt waiting for her to reply in kind.
"I think we should break up," she said quickly, like ripping off a bandaid.
"What?" he asked, eyes wide. Clearly this was the last thing he'd expected her to say. "Break up?"
She could have been blunt and cruel, but she saw the hurt in his warm brown eyes and knew she couldn't do that to him. "I'm only in fourth year, and we're just so different from one another," she said carefully, putting her sketchbook off to the side and turning to look at him properly. "Look, all I know is that, when you said that just then, I wasn't happy, I was upset," she said, and the hurt in his eyes multiplied. "What I'm trying to say is that I don't feel the same, and I can't lead you on like that."
He looked like he wasn't sure whether to feel devastated or angry, and he sighed, reaching up to rub at his eyes tiredly.
"We've only been dating for three months," she reminded him gently, and he looked back up at her sadly.
"Is this really what you want?" he asked her softly, still torn between emotions.
"Yes."
"Okay," he nodded stonily. He wasn't crying, and he wasn't yelling, and yet somehow this was worse. "Have a nice Christmas, Winona," he told her cordially, reaching out to squeeze her hand before climbing to his feet and walking away.
She wanted to say she felt sad at the break up, wanted to say she felt like crying to mourn the loss of the relationship – but instead the only thing she could feel was relief, and that in itself was telling. Still, she hated to hurt his feelings, and she sighed heavily as she collected her things, threading her messenger bag over her shoulder and heading for her common room with slow, measured steps.
The twins were sitting by the fire, textbooks lay open on their laps though they weren't paying them any attention, instead absorbed in quiet scheming, which made everyone around them nervous; except her.
She dropped her bag on the ground, then obnoxiously squished herself down between the two of them, cutting off their intense mutterings to peer at her in surprise. She may not have felt heartbroken, but she was rather down, and when she was down, the only people she wanted to be with were Fred and George Weasley.
"Everything alright, poppet?" George asked lightly, shutting his textbook with a thud and pushing it uncaringly off his lap.
"I just broke up with Adam," she told them without preamble. She was met with shocked silence.
"Why?" Fred finally asked, turning on the couch so he was facing her, and she pulled her legs up underneath herself for a subtle sense of comfort. "Because of the Harry thing?" he questioned, casting a glance around the common room for any hint of the troubled kid, but he was nowhere to be found.
"He told me he loved me," she replied honestly, and again was met with only stunned silence. "I wasn't ready for that – besides, I don't feel the same." She sighed deeply, tipping her head back until it bumped against the back of the couch, leaving her to stare forlornly up at the ceiling. "I think, I was more interested in the idea of a relationship than I ever actually was in him," she mused, grey eyes running over the cracks in the roof above her. "Does that make me a terrible person?" she asked them quietly, brow beginning to ache from how deeply it was furrowed.
"Nah," Fred and George assured her. "It makes you a young person."
She smiled, relieved her boys were always there to cheer her up.
"Besides, you couldn't have dated him forever," Fred added slyly. "You're going to have to marry one of us, eventually."
Sitting up straight, Winona whirled around to gape at him. "Excuse me?" she asked around an incredulous laugh, unable to help herself.
Fred was grinning wolfishly. "It's statistics, darling," he told her impishly. "You're going to end up with one of us."
"Kill me now," she replied with a roll of her eyes, laughing jovially as she leaned back against the couch.
"I'll have you know, we're great catches, and any witch would be lucky to have us," George piped up, mock-indignant.
"Never said they wouldn't," she agreed with a smile. "It's just not gonna be me."
"What makes you so sure?" Fred asked slyly. "What if we hit thirty, and we're still single – and our only option is to marry each other?"
"I'd rather die alone," she joked with a laugh.
"Seriously," he said, still grinning, but adopting a slightly more serious tone. "If we're thirty and unattached, you'll marry me? I mean, what are your other options, really?"
"What if I wanna marry George?" she asked, and Fred gasped as though she'd deeply offended him. She let out a peal of laughter. "You won't be single by then," she said once she'd calmed down, shoving Fred lightly in the shoulder. "You're a great catch and any witch would be lucky to have you," she repeated in a low, masculine voice that sounded nothing like them.
"We know that, and you know that…but they don't necessarily know that," George murmured with a huff. Winona laughed again, the sound bright and carefree despite the rough nature of her evening.
"Well, let's head down to dinner, then, and I'll start telling everyone what great catches you both are," she said, climbing to her feet and lifting her bag and turning to grin at them impishly. "Surely someone will be stupid enough to believe me."
The twins cried out indignantly, but Winona only laughed, making a beeline for the portrait hole before either one of them could retaliate. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw George packing up their things, and Fred looking back at her. She grinned, crossing her eyes at him playfully for one long moment before turning and darting out into the corridor, feeling happy warmth spread from the crown of her head to the tips of her toes.
A/N: Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed. I've had a super busy, stressful, tiring week, and it would mean so much if you guys could let me know how you're liking the story so far. Reviews are the only fuel source I have, and the mean the world. If not, that's okay, and thanks for reading. I hope you're enjoying reading as much as I am writing. See you soon!