AUTHOR'S NOTE I'm SO sorry about not updating for almost two months! hides This story is actually almost done…yay! And also, this chapter gets a little sappy and the entering the common room and all, well, just go with it ;)

DISCLAIMER Don't own 'em. I sound like a broken record.

Michelle followed George up towards one of the towers of the castle. She loved the fresh feeling that the air had. It was a welcome change from her Slytherin dormitory down near the dungeon.

They were heading towards a portrait of an extremely fat woman. "Password?" she asked as they stopped in front of her.

George turned to Michelle and pulled out his wand. "I hate to do this to you, love, but I have to. It'll only be for a minute, I promise." With a flick of his wand, he muttered a vaguely familiar spell.

His wand only glowed a little, but it stopped Michelle's hearing completely. George must have given the Fat Lady the right password, for the painting swung aside to reveal an opening. George led Michelle through and lifted the Deafening Charm as soon as the portrait swung back to its original place.

"Sorry about that," he said apologetically.

"No, it's fine. Wow!" she whispered, gazing at the Gryffindor common room. A huge fire roared in the stone fireplace and the overstuffed chairs looked soft and comfortable.

"Nicer than your dorm?" he asked. They had decided that no one needed to know that Michelle was a Slytherin. It would be easier that way.

"Yeah. Much nicer."

George smiled. "Come on. We'll go up to the fourth year room. My chessboard's up there."

"You sure you won't get in trouble?"

The older boy just shrugged, as if saying, "Whatever." But he just said, "Your house patch isn't on your skirt or your shirt. No one can tell you're in Slytherin. As long as we don't run into a prefect or McGonagall or your sister or Wood, we'll be fine."

"Okay," Michelle replied with a small but uneasy smile.

The common room was empty, as everyone was out enjoying the spring weather before the curfew started. The mystery attacks, while on everyone's lips, seemed to have little effect on students' attitudes and no one seemed really scared.

George led Michelle up the stone steps towards the actual dormitories. He went to open the heavy wooden door that evidently led to the boys' dorm, but it flew open first as two second years were on their way out.

"Hey Ron, Harry!" George greeted them. It was then that Michelle noticed the scar on Harry's forehead. Her shyness took hold of her in the presence of the Boy Who Lived.

"Where are you going?" George asked the two.

The red-haired boy, Ron, answered, "We're going to visit Hermione." He looked intensely sad.

George patted his shoulder. "She'll be fine, Ron."

Harry regarded Michelle curiously. "Who's your friend, George?"

"This is Michelle. I'm teaching her how to play Wizard's Chess," George answered.

"Hello Michelle," Harry said. She only smiled and blushed. Harry continued to look at her curiously. "You look familiar. Are you in second year?"

"No, " Michelle mumbled. "I'm in first."

"Oh. Are you enjoying Hogwarts so far?"

Michelle nodded, blushing. "I guess."

George turned to Ron quickly. "You'd better get going if you're planning on spending as much time in the hospital wing as you did last time. Don't want to get caught outside after curfew," he added sarcastically.

Ron nodded. "Right. Come on, Harry." Harry and Ron waved good-bye.

"Oh, Harry!" George called down. Harry turned back around. "Keep my guest a secret, will you?"

Harry and Ron just rolled their eyes with a smile. "Sure George. No problem." They left, down the stairs and out the portrait hole.

"My brother Ron," George explained as he saw Michelle watched them leave. "And you recognize Harry I assume."

Michelle nodded. "Why did Ron seem so sad?"

George glanced down the stairs and said quietly, "Their friend Hermione was attacked a few days ago. She's petrified."

Michelle glanced sadly toward where Ron had disappeared. She couldn't think of anything to say, so she just followed George silently to his room. They set up the chessboard on George's bed.

It took twenty minutes of explaining the pieces, the board, and the rules before they started playing. Michelle was playing with Fred's chessmen, who seemed more interested in goofing off than seriously playing. Simply watching the two sets of chessmen bicker sent Michelle into fits of laughter.

George beat her easily, but after the first few games, Michelle began to get the hang of controlling the players. George was a good teacher, no matter how much he teased her. It was all good-natured and Michelle realized that it was the most fun she had had since arriving at Hogwarts.

A noise interrupted their playing. "At this time, all students must be in their dormitories for the evening," the disembodied voice of Professor McGonagall said. "Thank you."

Michelle looked at George, horror written all over her face. They both jumped up from the bed, much to the dismay of the overturned chess pieces, and ran to the window. Sure enough, it was dark outside. Curfew had begun.

"George, what are we going to do?" she cried. "I'll get caught if I go back to the Slytherin dorm and I can't stay here!"

George thought for a minute. "I could get you back without us getting caught."

"How?"

George grinned. "We have ways."

Michelle's face fell. "Okay."

George studied her. "Unless you don't want to go back?"

Her face brightened. "No, I don't. I want to say here! But…" She looked around the room. "What about your roommates?"

"Fred won't care. He's usually the one getting us in trouble anyway."

"But," Michelle replied, "there are three beds. Who else…" Her voice trailed off as she heard two boys approaching the room. One of them had a very familiar Scottish accent. "Oliver!" she whispered.

"Quick!" George said. "Climb up on the window seat!" She crouched on the cushioned seat and George pulled the heavy curtains shut. There was just enough room for her to see what was going on through the opening in the middle.

Fred came in just as George shoved the chessboard and pieces into a drawer. Oliver followed close behind, seemingly lecturing Fred on something Quidditch related.

"Hey Wood," George said, sounding surprisingly nonchalant.

"Oh George, good. I needed to talk to both of you."

"Uh…sure. What's going on?"

Fred noticed the change in his twin's behavior and gave him a strange look. As soon as Oliver had his back turned, George gestured toward the window seat and put a finger to his lips. Fred nodded. He glanced casually toward the closed curtains and caught Michelle's eye. Fred's face, for a moment, looked confused, but he kept his mask of unawareness.

Oliver was walking about the room, venting his utter fury that Quidditch had been cancelled to the twins, who were absolutely not paying attention. Finally, he outlined his plan to practice in secret in order to outshine the other teams next year.

"You two understand?" he asked the twins.

"Yep."

"Got it Wood."

"All set!" The twins grinned identical grins as Oliver looked at them skeptically.

It took a lot for Michelle to keep quiet when she saw their faces. They both looked so innocent!
After much reassurance, Wood left the room apparently satisfied that his beaters understood. Fred closed the bedroom door and George heaved a sigh. Rushing over to the window, he threw open the heavy curtains. "Sorry about that!"

"It's fine," Michelle replied, climbing off the window seat. "Hello!" she said when she saw Fred staring at her curiously.

"Hi Michelle. You're still here?"

"I kinda got stuck here," she answered.

"Oh. Why aren't you staying in your sister's room?" Fred asked.

"I don't know. Should I go over there?"

George shrugged. "If you want. The girls' dorms are on the other side of the staircase."

Michelle nodded. "Okay. Where is her room?"

The twins looked at each other. "Uh…good question," Fred said. "I have no idea."

"You've never been over there?"

"We can't," George replied with a smirk. "Boys aren't allowed on the girls' side."

"But I'm allowed in here," Michelle said.

"Yeah. Apparently boys are less trustworthy than girls. It's impossible for a boy to enter the girls' side, but not vice versa."

Michelle laughed. "Oh. I guess I'm staying here then."

"Guess so. Where's Lee?" George asked. "Lee's our other roommate," he told Michelle.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about him crashing out little party," Fred replied with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Angelina and Katie are minus a roommate this lovely night and I wouldn't go anywhere near the broom closet on the fifth floor if I were you."

George gasped. "Lee and Alicia?"

Fred nodded and grinned. "I wouldn't expect him back."

"Wicked!" George laughed. "About bloody time!"

The twins laughed. Fred turned to Michelle. "How are you, Michelle? Is everything…okay again?"

Michelle studied the ground, ashamed of what she had put the twins through with her stupidity. "I'm doing a lot better now."

She felt a hand on her chin and looked up to see Fred looking back at her. "You don't have to be ashamed, Michelle. You went through more pain than George and I ever have."

"And you had the strength to get past it," George added. "You should be proud of that at least."

Michelle nodded and smiled slightly. "Thank you," she said. "I never told you, so thank you."

"You're welcome," the twins said.

And that was that. Michelle and the twins never spoke specifically of her suicide attempt again.

The three of them stayed up talking for hours. The twins were wonderful entertainment and had Michelle laughing to tears. Fred and George recounted tales of their many escapades at Hogwarts and away, although Michelle doubted that they were all entirely true.

George saw Michelle yawn. "It's late," he said. He glanced around the room. "Michelle, you can sleep in my bed."

Fred coughed suddenly and smirked at his twin. George ignored him. "I'll sleep on the floor."

"You don't have to do that!" Michelle protested. "I'll sleep on the floor!"

"Uh-uh," George replied stubbornly. "You sleep in the bed."

Michelle looked at Fred, who just shrugged. "Okay," she finally agreed.

"Good." George stole a spare blanket and pillow from his brother's bed, much to the other's dismay.

"Prat," he muttered as he used his other pillow to hit George over the head. "Why don't you just sleep in Lee's bed?"

"Is he coming back any time tonight?"

Fred thought for a moment. "I don't think so…"

George just grinned up from his spot between Fred's bed and his own. "Goodnight then, dear brother."

"Goodnight Forge."

Michelle just watched the boys. "Goodnight," she said softly.

"G'night," they chorused. She closed her eyes and was asleep almost immediately in George's huge, comfortable four-poster.

Preciousonee Thanks for reviewing again, even though there wasn't much in the chapter!