1st Update: Dec. 30, 2003
Chapter 2 - Welcome to Year 5
"Did you rig it?"
"You bet."
Fred Weasley looked down at his watch and then up again at his mirror image. "Good, should go off in 15 seconds, we'd better get out of here."
George nodded and cracked an evil grin that matched Fred's perfectly.
Going slowly and quietly to avoid being discovered, Fred and George crawled past the rigged compartment as the Howarts Express chugged along. This particular compartment housed three sleeping Gryffindor girls and now, a considerable amount of Dr. Filibuster's Fabulous Wet-Start, No-Heat Fireworks.
"12 seconds... better get a good seat to enjoy the show."
The twins crawled over to an empty window seat far away enough to appear like innocent bystanders.
"8 seconds, mate."
George leaned against the window and eyed the compartment eagerly.
"You do realize Angie's not going to speak to you for a least a week, right?"
"It's worth it."
"And they'll probably give us hell at Quidditch practice."
"That's why I'm thankful good ole Wood is still with us."
Fred checked his watch again.
"2 seconds...1...showtime."
An almost deafening explosion sounded and was followed by a multitude of coloured sparks shooting from the compartment door.
This however, was no match for the shocked screams and squeals that errupted. Fred and George stared eagerly at the compartment door when it suddenly burst open. Three attractive and furious looking girls poured out into the corridor. Angelina Johnson, her hair frizzled and her school robes messy looked up and down the train corridor and spotted the flaming Weasley hair. She growled and was about to run and attack the twins, but was restrained by equally frazzled Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet. Struggling against her two friends, she shot daggers at the Weasley twins, who were rolling around on the ground laughing.
"FRED! GEORGE! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!"
George wiped a tear from his eye and tried to steady his breathing in between his laughter.
"Oh Angie, if looks could kill!" he crowed.
At that moment, Katie and Alicia's grips broke and suddenly a very menacing Angelina was stalking down the corridor toward the twins. Sensing the murderous atmosphere, Fred and George (still laughing) immediately got up and began running down the corridor, away from Angie. They could hear her pounding after them and knew that this was now a time to hide. They knew very well how fit Angelina was from all her Quidditch practice and also knew that when she meant harm, she was very dangerous. Still laughing and dodging people, the twins increased their pace to put more distance between them and the frightening girl. Screams and protests came from people who were knocked down by their pace, but this only made Fred and George laugh harder. They ran nearly halfway down the length of the train when they found the compartment where Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny were. They quickly entered, slammed the door behind them and crouched down to hide and catch their breath. The younger students shot amused looks at each other and then knowing-glances when they saw a blurred silluette of Angelina run past the compartment.
Fred and George looked at each other from their cramped positions and starting laughing again. "Welcome to Year 5, mate. It's going to be interesting."
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"Hi Angelina, Katie, Alicia."
The three girls ignored Fred as he and George sauntered towards the Gryffindor table for the start of the year dinner feast.
"What's wrong with them, Gred?"
"I don't know Forge. They do seem a little miffed at us though. Us! Of all people!"
Katie and Alicia snorted but Angelina continued staring at the Head Table, waiting for Albus Dumbledore to give his yearly start-of-the-year speech.
George sighed and gave Fred a "told-you-so" look, which his twin ignored.
"We'll win her back, mate. No problem. She won't be able to keep her hands off of me when I turn on my charms." Fred winked at George.
This time Angelina snorted.
"That's right, Forge. I'll be beating the crap outta you. Just wait till Quidditch starts."
George sent another "told-you-so" look in Fred's direction.
"Oh guys, just hush. The sorting has started!" Katie exclaimed excitedly.
"Oh bugger, more 'ickle firsties' to gaze at Harry's scar," Fred muttered. Apparently, he had caught all of George's annoying looks. Katie ignored him.
"Man, how much longer is this going to last? I'm starving!" George moaned a couple of minutes later. They were only at the letter 'S'.
"Soon, have some patience, Gred." Angelina snapped.
George fathomed his death by starvation.
This time, everyone ignored George. He sighed.
Finally the sorting was over and George shot triumphant glances at Angie, as if to say I-made-it-through-HA!
Dumbledore, however, did not seem to be about to start the feast yet.
"Before we begin our fabulous feast - yes, Mr. Weasley, I am aware you are rather famished, thank you - I have two more announcements to make."
"This year, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is happy to welcome photographers from Witch Weekly to photograph new, more..err..fashionable robes from Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. The photographers, as you may have noticed," at this, he gestured towards three chubby and short men and one tall blond woman, all sitting at the high table. "Have already arrived, and will be begin their picture-taking tomorrow and this will go on for two days. Students will be randomly chosen in the hallways, and will be excused from their classes that day. And, of course, their photos will be featured in the next issue of Witch Weekly. Let us welcome to these lovely people."
Cheers errupted from all tables, mostly from excited girls. George groaned and rubbed his shruken belly as more girly screams and cheers errupted.
"Mr. Weasley, only a few moments more of your attention, please." Dumbledore's twinkling blue eyes rested upon George.
"I am also excited to announce another guest to Hogwarts. This year, we will be the host school for an exchange student - " he raised his hand against the excited whispers that passed around...many girls had begun to fantasize of a dreamy French boy.
"Please, your attention, please."
"This young lady - " At this, there were many disapointed groans, but a few cheers from some eager boys.
"This young lady has attended numerous Magic Schools around North America and now comes to us. I expect you to show her our wonderful Hogwarts hospitality. Please give a Hogwarts welcome to Tania Jenkins!"
The cheers exploded and everyone stood up to see the new girl. But because of this, only a few Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students were able to get a glance of her because she had walked in between their tables...and they were lucky to be able to see her. She was simply gorgeous.
Tania walked slowly towards a spot on the Ravenclaw table, the house which she had been appointed to for the year. She glanced around the enormous Great Hall nervously. Everyone was craning their necks to see her. She could feel their eyes on her, judging her. Eyes everywhere, running down her 5 ft. 3 length, brushing through her long silky black hair, taking in her dark brown eyes that were fringed with inky lashes. Her small nose and her lovely pale complexion, red and full lips and rose coloured cheeks. Then down her body to her breasts, small but shapely, to her flat stomach and curvy hips and down to her sturdy legs. She smiled shyly at the people around her and as she sat down at the Ravenclaw table, all the boys from that house cheered loudly while some girls gave her excited welcomes.
"Can you see her?" Katie Bell was standing on her tiptoes, trying to get a good look at Tania.
"No, but judging by the boys' reactions, she must be awfully good-looking," Alicia replied grumpily.
"Not to worry, Alicia," George said lazily. He hadn't bothered to look, but instead was concentrating hard on his golden plate, as if he would be able to magically fill it by looking at it. "We will still love you the best."
Lee Jordan, the twins' friend turned to George and shook his head in disbelief.
"You haven't even seen her! She's hot, mate!"
"Who cares? I'm hungry."
"She's like another Cho," Lee began, but was interrupted by Fred.
"No, definitely not. She's way prettier…there's going to be line-ups for her."
Angelina suddenly looked very miffed.
"Pretty is she? Well I –"
"I mean, sure she's pretty, but oh, Angie, you're beautiful." Fred quickly stammered.
"Nice save." Lee muttered under his breath as Angelina brightened up a bit.
"Thanks."
George looked wildly around the hall and moaned more when he saw that people were still not finished trying to get a good look at Tania.
"Bloody hell! If people don't stop oogling at her now, I'll have to get my revenge!"
For some odd reason, Angelina agreed with George.
"Yeah, revenge sounds nice. Gred, whaddya say to a true Hogwarts welcome for our new celebrity?" She said nastily.
George smiled. Angelina was such a fun girl to be around…and well, when she wasn't chasing people down train corridors, George really liked being around her. Of course, he thought hastily to himself, he didn't fancy her. That was Fred's area of specialty and he dared not try anything, fearing a row with his closest friend and ally. Instead, he looked up at Katie and Alicia and smiled brightly at them. They giggled and blushed.
Down the table Oliver Wood sat with a thick book of Quidditch Tips and Tricks. His friends all around him were oohing and ahhing at Tania.
"Yo Wood, have you taken a good look at her?"
"Nah, I'm trying to see if the team will be able to try a Porskoff Ploy in practice next week."
"You're never going to get a woman."
Oliver shrugged.
"I'm serious, look at her! She's gorgeous! Sort of like Cho Chang, but much prettier!"
Oliver suddenly looked up from his book.
"Cho Chang? The Ravenclaw Seeker?"
His friend nodded and Oliver gave him a nasty look.
"Oh bloody brilliant. Just what I need, another Cho Chang. This Tania girl better not play Quidditch. That cup will be mine!" and with that, Oliver banged his fist on the table. His friend just shook his head.
"Hello Tania. I'm Roger Davies, captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team."
Tania looked up and saw a rather tall boy looking down at her. "Hello," she said.
"I think you will find Hogwarts a rather confusing castle, since it must be so much larger than your previous schools. I will be happy to give you a tour if you like."
"I attended The Salem Witches' Institute in the United States last year. The campus is around twice the size of Hogwarts, but I thank you for your offer."
A group of people who had crowded around Tania laughed a little, but Roger would not give up. "Well, all the same, Hogwarts has many secret passages and can get a little confusing. I will be happy to show you around, and say, what about spending the next Hosmeade weekend with me? I can take you around all the -"
"Sod off Davies." A couple of boys pushed the tall Quidditch captain away. Roger struggled against the crowd for a moment, but realized defeat. Before he could be jerked out of sight, he called to Tania.
"Just ask for me at any time! See you later Tania!"
Tania gave him a little wave.
"What year are you in?" A very young looking boy asked. Tania guessed he must have been entering second or third year.
"I'll be entering fifth year," she said. The boy looked very disappointed. Tania gave him a small and apologetic smile and turned around to face the Head Table, only to be bombarded by more questions.
"Tania! Tania, will you -"
"I'm Eric from Gryffin -"
"Why did they put you in Raven-"
A sudden loud crack silenced everyone. Dumbledore held out his wand which was bursting at the tip with a couple of small firecrackers to get attention.
"Thank you, I'm sure Tania feels very welcome now. Please, give the girl a chance to breathe..ah yes, and - thank you Mr. Weasley - I understand it is time to eat. Let the feast begin!"
Tania breathed a sigh of relief as the tables were all piled with food and nearly everyone's attention turned back to the food. She was impressed with the Great Hall and now finally had a chance to look around properly without a hundred pair of eyes on her. She scanned across the far table behind her - the Gryffindor table (she recognized the Eric boy sitting there) and then turned her attention forward to the Hufflepuff table and then finally, the Slytherin table. As she was taking in this last house, a flash of brilliant blond hair caught her attention. A pale boy was sitting between two large boys who looked like his bodyguards. Something about his smirk was familiar and Tania wondered why. Suddenly, the boy looked up at her with cold grey eyes. Tania's eyes widened with recognition.
"Draco...?"