Okay, blue for Ravenclaw and Padma, red for Gryffindor and George, black for them both.
"I can't believe it!" cried Mandy, distraught. "You spoke to George Weasley and you didn't take me with you!"
It was the first period of the day: Herbology and the fourth year Ravenclaws and Slytherins were in the greenhouse with Madam Sprout.
"I don't know what you're complaining about," grumbled Lisa, glancing over at Terrence Boot, who fancied Mandy. "But I would have thought that you'd let me be there, Padma."
"I'm sorry," smiled Padma, trying not to love the attention. "But I had to talk to him myself." She looked out of the greenhouse window where the Gryffindor Quidditch team was practising. "Besides, it was an only a one-off. He's probably forgotten all about it by now."
*
"You were getting pretty cosy with that Ravenclaw fifth year, Weasley."
Both Fred and George, (the Beaters) turned around sharply on their broomsticks. Katie and Alicia, two of the Chasers were grinning, their hair flowing back in the wind by the gentle breeze.
The remaining Chaser, Angelina zoomed across to them and took Fred's hand. "I think you'll find she's talking to George. Unless you were trying it on with a fifth year," she teased, and flew away, closely tailed by Fred.
George scowled as they left. "It was nothing. Padma's a friend of Ron's."
"What's that about Ron?" asked Harry, the Seeker nose-diving down to them.
"We were talking about Padma," George replied.
Harry frowned and adjusted his glasses. "Who?" he asked.
George rolled his eyes. "Padma Patil," he said.
"Oh right," said Harry. "Hold on-" The Golden Snitch was heading towards them. Harry glided swiftly in its direction and caught it in his hand. He turned his Firebolt back towards them. "I don't really know Padma. Just that she's Parvati's sister. Ron knows her though. They went to the Yule Ball together."
"Harry!" yelled Fred. "Alicia, Katie, George! Get over here!"
*
"Who do you reckon, it'll be?" asked Terry. Padma shrugged. In her time at Hogwarts, she had never seen a Defence against the Dark Arts teacher stay for more than a year. First Year had been Professor Quirrell. Everyone had thought he was okay, a bit nervous, but alright. However, Quirrell had turned out to be a worker for You-Know-Who.
Padma had never really found out exactly how he had been defeated, but she did know that Harry, Ron and Hermione had had something to do with it.
Second Year had seen the arrival of Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, a widely publised author who had made all the witches in the school sigh every time he walked past. Lockhart, as Ron had later told her grumpily, was a fraud. He used memory charms to rid heroes of their memoiries and then chronicled their exploits as his own.
Third Year's teacher was still most people's favourite. Remus J. Lupin, was the perfect teacher in every way – apart from being a werewolf. This did not annoy Padma or any of the other Ravenclaws, but it made a difference. He had to leave.
Only last year, Hogwarts had warily greeted Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody – except that it was not really Moody. Bartemius "Barty" Crouch Junior had really been posing as Dumbledore's friend. Padma was still not familiar with all the particulars, but she did know a few things, things that were impossible to ignore, to forget. Cedric Diggory, Triwizard Champion, captain of the Hogwarts Quidditch team and Cho Chang's devoted boyfriend had died as a result of Crouch teaching at the school.
Padma shuddered and tried to forget what Ron and Dumbledore had told her, that You-Know-Who himself had something to do with Cedric's death.
Padma shuddered and turned her thoughts to the present. It was not difficult to see why hardly anyone wanted the Defence Against The Dark Arts position. Only Severus Snape, Potions Master was after the job and as far as Padma knew, he had never managed to get it.
"Well what are you waiting for?" asked a sinister voice. "Go inside."
Padma turned to find herself looking into the chilling face of Severus Snape.
*
"You've got to be joking!" exclaimed George, utterly horrified.
"You think this is funny?" retorted Padma. She was sitting next to her twin at the Gryffindor table."But who's the new Potions Master, then?" asked Harry. Out of all of them, he was the most aghast by the news. James Potter, Harry's father, had been enemies with Snape while the two had been at school together.
"That's the worst of it," moaned Padma. "He's got both positions."
"What?" choked Fred.
"But they can't have done that," said Hermione shaking her head. Although she was shocked, she was keeping her cool.
"They have," answered Padma shortly.
"But why?" Parvati said. It was hard to see whether Parvati was more annoyed about Snape getting the position or Padma invading her Gryffindor territory.
"I think it's got something to do with You-Know-Who…" said Hermione quietly.
Everyone looked at her. There was silence for a while as they considered this statement.
"Screw Voldemort!" yelled Harry, so loudly that everyone in the Great Hall turned to look at him. "He always messes everything up."
Hermione touched Harry's hand. "Come on," she whispered. She, Harry and Ron left the table.
"I hate it when they do that," said George. "Going off to discover the secret."
"The annoying thing is," continued Fred. "They're nearly always right."
Padma got up to leave the table. "Hey," said George. "Thanks for letting us know."
"No problem," she said.
"Yeah," said Fred. "Come and see us again. Ravenclaws are supposed to be clever. You can help us figure this one out."
Padma thanked him and crossed the hall to the Ravenclaw table. She wondered if Harry, Ron and Hermione knew more than they were letting on.
"Hey," said Fred to George. "Reckon she knows something?"