THIS IS THE SECOND STORY OF THE NIGHTSHADE SERIES
If you've come here without reading "Nightshades and Moonlight" then please return to Burning Artist's Profile to read it. There will be spoilers otherwise AND it makes the first story A LOT more interesting. It also explains future events in the third story.
THIS STORY WAS WRITTEN IN 2002 AND IS PRE-BOOK 5!
This story happens about 2 years before Harry begins school but not before the other Weasleys make their appearances. With the Twins in their 1st year, Percy in his 3rd, Charlie in his 6th and Bill in his 7th, it's bound to be a VERY Weasley Story...
DISCLAIMER: All characters and places in the Harry Potter series belong to J.K. Rowling. New characters, (sorting song) and places belong to ME.
Chapter 1
Arrival
"Go! Go! We'll never make it because of you!" said a young boy with flaming red hair as he looked at another covered in freckles.
"Excuse me Mr. Head-boy! Who took so bloody long combing his hair this morning?" he replied.
"What? I thought I had the time to when I saw you making sure your broom was so burnished it could blind other players!" he said, as they both magically passed through a solid barrier.
"Quiet both of you... We know whose fault it REALLY is..." said yet another boy like them, who looked younger then the two as he, in turn, came out of nowhere.
Suddenly two younger, identical twin boys came running along onto the platform. They snickered and laughed wildly as they shook with anticipation. The twins pushed their carts ever so slowly and made the others attack them with deadly stares. As they passed the sign marked: "Platform 9 ¾" the first boys began to load their things onto a brilliant red locomotive. These vibrant youths were all brothers by the family name of Weasley. The hair comber was Bill, the eldest. He was in his final year of school, and not just any school; he belonged to Hogwarts, the school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as did his brothers. There, a young witch or wizard, such as they were, would learn the fundamentals of magic, sorcery and their proper uses.
Charlie took his tremendously polished broom, which was carefully wrapped, and kissed it as he loaded into the train's luggage compartment. He was Quidditch captain after all and didn't want anything to happen to his lucky Cleansweep 3. Charlie, now in his 6th year, had saved for months to buy his broom and hoped it would earn Gryffindor a victory. The third boy followed the others into the train ducking his head just as Bill did. This was Percy. He was a clever 13-year-old boy with a polished look to him. He considered himself the sane one of the family and took great pride in setting the others straight. Who knows, perhaps he could try out for Prefect of the school in a few years? The twins ran behind them and ducked into the train just as the whistle sounded. They huffed and puffed yet seemed so anxious for something that it didn't matter to them whether they could breathe or not. This silly pair was Fred and George, now attending their very first year at Hogwarts... who wouldn't be excited about that?
"Over here... I found a spot!" yelled Charlie as he entered a cabin.
Percy and Bill both entered and sat comfortably in their seats just as Charlie stared outside the window to see the countryside begin to go by. Bill looked across from him into the vacant seat of the four-place cabin. He sighed as he began to calmly doze off but was harshly awoken by two very high-pitched voices.
"Well, isn't that nice of you!" shouted George as he poked his head in.
"Yeah, forget about us dear brothers?" said Fred, equally squeezing through.
"What are you talking about... we saved you a spot," said Bill with a smirk.
"It would do you all good to remember that Fred and I am not the same person," said George with a pout.
"Sorry... my mistake!" laughed Bill.
The twins kept looking at each other as if to determine who would take the seat. Percy just kept to himself and was very well used to his siblings' antics. Finally, after 5 rounds of rock-paper-scissors, George took the seat, as Fred grumpily remained standing.
"So... you think they'll let us play Quidditch Charlie? George and I will be invincible with you as the seeker!" said Fred from his lonely standing position.
"Sorry, there's a rule, first years can't play,"
"Why NOT?" shouted George
"Because it's part of the rules. Ask Bill, maybe he could bend them for you," said Charlie playfully.
"I'm only Head-boy not the Headmaster," said Bill smiling.
"I think it's my turn now George. Get up!" ordered Fred.
"Why? I'm happy here!" said George contently moving around in his seat.
Fred was ready to grab his brother and lift him up when Percy broke his silence and said something that no one really expected.
I don't think any of you should sit down," he began. "We all know for whom Bill originally saved the seat for, right Charlie?"
"That's right! A certain Ravenclaw head-girl no less," added Charlie.
"What?" said the twins in unison, as they were both standing, hands gripped onto each other's shirts.
"Come on!" sighed Bill exasperatedly.
The twins looked like they had just won the lottery. They gazed at one another and then back at Bill who decided the cabin walls seemed far more interesting then anything else. The 11-years-olds exploded with smiles as they leaned over to look at Bill, and then back at each other.
"Oh... so Bill has a girlfriend!" said Fred in a mocking tone.
"And Head-girl too!" said the other.
"Imagine the couple George? I'll be they look so perfect together! How about an imitation?"
"Good idea! I'll be B-"
"No! I'm Bill this time, I was the girl the last time remember?"
"Ok, ok... Then I'll be the girl," replied George.
They then moved away as Bill covered his face with his hand in total embarrassment. George clasped together his hands and threw them next to his face, looking like a wistful maiden. Fred took a deep breath and puffed up his chest while extending his neck as much as he could. Percy and Charlie were getting a real kick out of it as the twins began their show. Bill didn't dare watch but could hear everything crystal clearly.
"Oh, look! It's Bill! He's so handsome and I'm going out with him! I must be the luckiest girl alive!" said George in a very squeaky, girly voice.
"Yes, you are. Now tell me how marvelous I am!" answered Fred in a deep voice trying desperately not to laugh.
"Oh... well, you're smart, and cool, and funny... well, you're just so darn handsome too! I think you're too much for me to handle!" answered George, throwing a dainty arm over his head while sighing.
"Yes... well, although I know how handsome I am, I must admit, that those twins brothers of mine will be even better... but enough about anyone else except me..." said Fred.
Bill kept shaking his head from left to right in a disapproving way but still grinned. No matter how much he tried, Bill couldn't wipe off that smile. He then stood up and assaulted the twins.
"Oh! You're both dead!" he said as he stood up to grab either boy, laughing.
The twins laughed as well but knew better then to stay put. They dashed out of the cabin and began a little run along the thin walkway in the train. However, this didn't stop Bill from chasing the boys all the way to the end. As they began their route down, they bumped into a witch with black hair in a bun but didn't stop to excuse themselves. They nearly knocked off her glasses as they passed, but she didn't seem to mind at all. She even smiled slightly as her cheeks blushed a rosy pink. She entered her cabin and sat down comfortably looking at the floor. She wasn't alone however; two older girls than her were talking raptly about the up-coming year.
"Bella, are you ok?" asked the girl next to her.
"I'm... I'm ok Sandra..." said Bella timidly pushing her oval glasses back into place.
Sandra looked at Bella with a perplexed stare but the other girl just grinned. Sandra was a pretty 7th year Ravenclaw with wildly curly brown hair and sky blue eyes. She was quite thin but was pretty fit. She had a rather snobbish nose and a brilliant smile which made most people around notice her honestly and kindness. Unlike the Bella, Sandra was not yet dressed in her Ravenclaw robes and would only wait until the last moment to do so cause she was very fond of her wardrobe which was all her own style.
"I suppose you met up with "him" didn't you? That's the only thing that can make "4th year" get so shy," said the other girl. "I order you to no longer like this boy! He belongs to the head-girl!" she said royally.
"Oh stop it Winter! If you're referring to Bill Weasley he doesn't belong to me at all! I don't like him like that and will you ever stop calling Bella by her year?" Sandra then calmed down and grinned, "When will you ever get over the fact that I'm head-girl? Jealous are we?"
"Jealous? Moi? Never! I'm just having fun with "4th year","
Bella looked up disgruntled. Ever since she had known Winter Wilcox she had always called her by her year. Bella never dared to speak her mind about it cause Winter was Sandra's best friend and didn't want to get her involved in anything. Bella looked up to Sandra and didn't want to ever get her upset. Winter Wilcox was not a Ravenclaw like her and Sandra. She was a seventh year student but belonged to the Slytherin house. She had very straight and long brown hair and was also quite pretty. But if there was one thing that made her stand out, it was her eyes; with one brown eye and the other, a very cat like yellow, it wasn't easy to loose her in a crowd. Not that her personality didn't make her stick out...
"I just think you're being stupid about all this. It was all a buzz in the school last year how much he liked you and now that I got the news he's head boy, it should be a perfect match" said Winter.
"Well, I don't like him ok? Not like that. Besides, Bella has her eye on him, right Bella?" said Sandra with a smile.
Bella just looked at the floor. She hated herself for being so transparent with her feelings but what chance would she ever have against Sandra? Bill was on his last year, she knew that, and there was no doubt that he would make his move for her now. As the train raced against time, drawing nearer and nearer to Hogwarts, the girls continued to talk about the up-coming activities; namely the 7th year's secret Graduation Ball. What made this Ball such a secret was not the fact that others didn't know about it, but it's location. Unless you were invited and lead by a graduate then it was quite impossible to find. Many younger years had tried and failed, eventually walking around Hogsmeade in the dead of night. The charm that guarded the location would always make them end-up there in the end.
The train whistled and stopped right at the Hogsmeade station just as the pale moon arose to meet with the sky. The Weasleys had all stumbled out of the train and gave a nice pep talk to the twins as a large man came to collect the first years.
"Now, listen... don't do anything stupid on the walk!" scowled Percy.
"Come on Percy, have more faith in them... just don't blow anything up!" said Charlie.
"And don't hurt anyone! It's a nice walk, really... We'll meet you at the castle," added Bill.
"And I thought our brothers believed in us..." said Fred.
"Shame, shame, dear brothers!" said George while nodding his head grimly.
The twins ran off laughing as the others headed towards the horseless carriages. Before Bill entered he looked up at the sky solemnly and inhaled deeply. "My last year..." he thought. "I better make the most of it," Bella was standing a few feet away looking at him dreamily until she was urged to enter her own carriage by Sandra who didn't notice Bella's object of admiration. The ride was nice and the night fresh and cool, early sign signs of a good autumn. They all rode to the front doors of the school, entered and were greeted by a few of the Hogwarts ghosts.
"Hello Nick!" shouted the Weasleys.
"Hello!" he replied delighted.
"Nick, we've brought two more Weasleys with us this year!" said Charlie grinning.
"Two more? Heavens me, how many are you?"
"Seven actually... but it will be a bit until Ron and Ginny show up," said Percy.
"They should make a house just for your family! I don't know if Gryffindor can hold so many!" he said with a haunting laugh as he began to drift across the room.
"Well... It wouldn't surprise me if Fred and George ended up in Slytherin..." whispered Bill into Percy's ear as he laughed.
Suddenly a vivacious young girl came running up to the redheads. She was smiling brightly as she laced her arms around Charlie. She had long, straight; white-blonde hair tied in a French braid, huge hazel eyes that kind of set off her face, and tanned skin. She giggled wildly as Charlie smiled.
"Jaycee!" You surprised me!" he laughed.
"Oh I missed you so much Charlie!" said Jaycee cheerily.
"So...umm... How's our team looking this year?" he said I little nervously as the witch finally let go of him.
"Well, Oliver Wood is still staying keeper. He told me that he was training all summer to be sure he has ready for this season and even had some strategies," she then laughed musically. "I mean, the boy only came into the team last year and he's already trying to take your place as captain!"
"Might as well have it after I'm gone. A side from you, I don't think anyone else can get so excited about Quidditch,"
"No one can get more excited about Quidditch than you!" she said beaming, as Charlie looked right into her eyes.
Jaycee felt her heart suddenly skip a beat as she stared upon Charlie's freakily face. He had such a kind look to him that Jaycee had always seen, but this time felt different. His eyes shimmered in a way that Jaycee had never noticed before and felt herself become suddenly warm.
"Well..." began Charlie until there was a voice from the distance.
A woman with black hair and square glasses had called for everyone's attention. She then allowed the students to enter the Great Hall and wait patiently for the first years. Everyone began to walk into the room. Bella waved goodbye to the Grey Lady as she, as Nearly-Headless-Nick did, glided out of sight through a wall. Everyone sat down at their tables and waited for...
"Where are the ickle firsties? Don't tell me they're not here? Oh Poo!" shrieked a high pitch voice from above the students heads.
"Peeves! Now, please this is no time to-"
"McGonagall miss... Where are my new playmates?"
"Should I call the Baron on you like last year Peeves?" suddenly emanated a deep voice from the depths of the room.
Almost everyone turned around to see the headmaster, professor Dumbledore give Peeves a satisfied smile. The old, long bearded wizard lifted his want leisurely as the poltergeist looked completely horrified. Peeves then huffed and flew under the Hufflepuff's table all the while slapping their feet and causing them to jump and flinch. The rude slapping ended as Peeves vanished.
"Honestly! Always making a fuss!" said a third year Ravenclaw with curly hair.
"Don't mind it Penelope! Oh look! The first years are here!" said Belladona as the doors burst open with a good crowd of 11 year olds.
Leading the group was George and Fred who seemed to have made two new friends already. One had dreadlocks and an exited look to him and the other with strawberry blonde hair and green eyes. They were laughing all the while they moved into the Hall but the other children behind them didn't look half as relaxed. They marched to the teacher's table where, the black haired witch, Professor McGonagall awaited them. Bill, Charlie and Percy gave each other worried looks as the twins took out a small brown bag from their robes and showed it to their new friends. The first years giggled maliciously as the witch brought in an old, patched hat made of cloth.
McGonagall placed the Hat on a stool and stood back so everyone could see the folds move and form a sort of mouth, it was then when it spoke:
"Resting in my solemn stool,
In the place where minds do grow,
I reminisced over many moons
The day my power began to glow...
Remembering the days of old
When good Godric came to me
And said: "Old hat, undo your folds
For this gift I bestow thee.
We are old and warn as you
But this spell I rightly cast
And for each new student tis what you will do:
Sort them as we did in the past.
I Gryffindor, tell you to take
The bravest and the strong,
Lovely Rowena Ravenclaw
Wants the wise in her house to belong,
Dear, cheery Helga Hufflepuff
Asks for students who work to endure,
And for partner; Salazar Slytherin
Wishes for those of magic; pure..."
With their desires sown into me
I stayed here and in their name,
I will sort you all tonight, you see
For me it's just a game.
I see your virtues and your flaws.
You will be in a house of four.
Whither coils, talons, paws or claws,
Hogwarts will open every door.
So hurry and put me on your head
Hair messy, strait or curled,
For I, the Sorting Hat has lead,
The grandest Wizards of the World!"
The moment the Hat finished the song McGonagall began to call out the new students' names. They went through a long list until the boy with the dreadlocks was called.
"Lee Jordan" she said as he waved to the twins and the other boy.
"Wish me luck!" he said.
"Don't worry Lee. We'll be in the same house!" said George.
"Yeah! Gryffindors! I know it!" said Fred.
"How do you know you'll both be in Gryffindor?" asked the blonde boy.
"Well, it's easy Johnny-boy-" began Fred until he was interrupted.
"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the Sorting Hat as Lee Jordan ran to the table to the left.
"We just know," he finished as he waved to Lee.
More students passed and soon the blonde boy heard his name being called: "Jonathan Scott" He marched up to the stool and sat down as the hat was placed on his head. "GRYFFINDOR" it cried almost instantly as the twins jumped with delight. The list was nearing its end and the twins began to snicker as they exchanged something with each other. Percy tried to see what it was but with no luck for their backs were turned against him. "Fred Weasley," said the witch and they both looked up... smiles spread across their faces. One of the twins urged the other to go ahead and he proceeded to sit on the stool. The moment he sat, there was a loud FARTING noise that emanated through out the hall.
"Sorry!" belted out the boy with his hand carefully tucked into his pocket and snickering quietly. "I guess, I should have gotten that out in the forest huh?"
The whole hall then burst with laughter as the three other brothers closed their eyes shamefully. Dumbledore himself chuckled, as a man with sallow skin seemed quite annoyed with the situation. All the while the professor was trying to regain her composure; the boy's eyes were wrenched up awaiting the sorting hat. The moment it was placed on to his head, it said out loud:
"Ah! A Weasley... But wait... which one is this? Fred did you say? This isn't Fred..."
"Mr. Weasley!" said McGonagall eying him sternly.
"I just wanted to know if it could tell the difference," said George with a wide grin.
The Hat then said: "Well, it doesn't really matter does it? GRYFFINDOR!"
George got up and smiled at Fred who went right up to the bench without even being announced. He sat quietly and looked at professor McGonagall with what could only be described at an innocently evil smile. The witch took the Hat, all the while sighing, and placed it onto Fred's red head but something was wrong... it wouldn't go on! It seemed to slip upon the boy's head! She would place it in one angle; it fell. She would force in on but it would slide off the other way. It was like there was an invisible barrier preventing the teacher from placing the Hat on Fred's head. He then looked up at McGonagall and said:
"Sorry, I'm just really scared. Can you hold my hand?"
"Excuse me?" said the witch confused.
"I put some "Slip and Slide" gel in my hair cause I'm scared that I'll be the only one in my family not sorted into Gryffindor," he said as the students laughed.
Professor McGonagall was now getting quite peeved with the twins' attitudes and messed up Fred's hair and finally put the Hat on.
"GRYFFINDOR!" it repeated.
Professor McGonagall looked traumatized. She could only imagine what she would end up having to deal with. She would have to manage those boys for their entire time at Hogwarts because not only was she the Transfiguration teacher but the Gryffindor house teacher as well.
Fred joined George as they met up with their friends at the table. Jonathan was still in an uproar over the boys little performance. Lee gave Fred a high-five after praising him on wanting to hold McGonagall's hand. After Jonathan got over his laughing fit he began to tell them all about more ideas he had for pranks, when he suddenly felt an icy tingle on his shoulder. It was a hand; a transparent, weightless hand was resting right there. Bill suddenly frowned as he looked across the table.
"Peeves, I know what you're thinking! You heard Dumbledore! If he sees you..."
"What a fuss BIG-HEAD-boy! This sounds very interesting to me so -"
"I'll tell the Headmaster! Don't you try it!" he added menacingly.
"Poor, BIG-HEAD-boy needs help to deal with ickle me? Fine! But I'll be seeing you four VERY soon..." said the poltergeist as he vanished into the wall.
"What was that all about?" asked Lee.
Bill stopped frowning and looked at the curious 1st years nervously.
"Well -"
"Peeves had made it clear last year that his antics didn't seem like enough anymore! He's wanted to recruit students to help him! Yeah right! They'd be expelled in under two seconds!" said Percy.
"He's got a point! And you boys better not even think -"
"Oh please Charlie! He looks stupid! He'd only slow us down," said George smiling.
The feast was soon at hand as everyone ate well and heartily! The sallow skinned man looked at the new Weasleys with still intrigued stares until professor Kettleburn, the Care of Magical Creatures teacher, asked him to pass the rolls. Then, another pair of eyes met the man's gaze.
"Now, now, Severus. Don't tell me you've found new test subjects for your next potion?" said a woman with curly brown hair and green eyes.
"No Moonfrey. I can just usually see troublemakers once they make their appearance..." he muttered.
"They just wanted to have fun Snape but I suppose YOU wouldn't know cause you never did any childish tricks in your youth," she said smiling.
Severus Snape gave Moonfrey a hard look and said firmly: "I wasn't one of the troublemakers in those days," as he returned to his goblet. When most everyone was getting ready to leave Bella caught a glimpse of the Weasleys and their friends all heading for the Gryffindor tower, then something happened that made her tense up instantly. Bill had just turned his head and smiled. She remained perfectly still until she heard a voice echoed behind her.
"Hello!" Sandra waved as Bill waved back.
Bella closed her eyes in disappointment. She really thought he was looking her way. Bill then ran up to Charlie and Jaycee and vanished through the large doors of the Great Hall.
A/N: Okay, I got a review (that I afterwards deleted) saying that I calculated their ages wrong and let me tell you that I'm right if I stand by the statement in Book 4 about Bill not returning to Hogwarts in 5 years... meaning that the last time he came MIGHT have been when he was still attending school. There are 2 hypotheses for Bill's age and I choose the younger one for this story. Here are my calculations for everyone to see so I don't get any more contradicting reviews.
Here's my PROOF:
BOOK 4 - Bill says that he hasn't been to Hogwarts in 5 years...
BOOK 3 - Percy Graduates
BOOK 1 - Charlie AND BILL are out of school
BOOK 1 - the Twins were beaters the year before...
If Bill left Hogwarts 5 years ago then in BOOK 4 he'd be 22 (17 plus 5: 22 years old)
Charlie is at least 7 years older than Ron. Because he's NOT at school when Ron is, making him 18 MINIMUM in the 1st BOOK when Ron enters school at the age of 11. (18 plus 3: 21 in the 4th BOOK)
So Charlie is a MINIMUM of 21 in BOOK 4 BUT BILL is the eldest at 22... so, Charlie HAS to BE 21.
Percy is 18 in BOOK 4...
So far we have:
Bill 22 - Charlie 21 - Percy 18
Next...
If the twins said that they were turning 17 in GoF, in a few months... Fred and George are therefore 16... (At the beginning of Book 4 making them in their 6th year) Now, we go backwards 5 years ago when Bill was last in school. (from Book 4)
BILL: 22 - 5: 17
Charlie: 21 - 5: 16
Percy: 18 - 5: 13
Fred and George: 16 - 5: 11
This is all from the 4th BOOK perspective of course. Just add 1 year to make it Book 5 to all their age: Bill: 23, Charlie: 22, Percy: 19, F&G: 17. If anyone is unclear about all of this, I will be happy to elaborate even more thoroughly in an email. I hope most of you got it though.
REMEMBER: THIS IS THE SECOND STORY OF THE NIGHTSHADE SERIES
