Disclaimer: JK owns everything.

Chapter 10



Alicia knocked heavily on the second year boys' door.

"Come in!"

Alicia entered cautiously. George was sitting on his bed with parchment strewn all around him.

"What are you up to?" Alicia asked him curiously.

"Don't worry, it's not homework or anything. Just a little preparation for our next prank."

"In that case I don't want to know."

"Probably not. So what do you want with me?"

"I was bored. Angelina is somewhere with Cedric and Katie is playing Exploding Snap with Fred and Lee."

"And you want to spend time with me?" George asked incredulously.

"Yeah. Is that a bad thing? I mean, we never really spend time together without everyone else tagging along," Alicia said as she sat gingerly on the edge of Lee's bed.

"Yeah, I suppose. Want to go for a walk or something?"

"Sure. Around the lake?"

Alicia smiled. She'd half been expecting him to ignore her. "Sounds good."

George gathered up the parchments and shoved them under his pillow. The pair walked downstairs and into the common room. Fred, Lee and Katie looked over at them curiously.

"Where are you two off to?" Katie asked.

"For a walk," Alicia called over her shoulder as they clambered through the portrait hole.

"What is up with them lately?" Lee asked Fred.

"I don't know but it's weird. One minute it was me and George and Alicia was the tag along, now I feel like the tag along."

"Ooh. Poor Fred," Katie cooed sarcastically.

"Shut up, Bell," Fred growled as the cards exploded.

xxxxx

Outside by the lake, Angelina and Cedric were sitting down throwing stones into the smooth velvety water and watching the ripples dreamily.

"So what's Weasley's problem?" Cedric asked casually even though he'd been dying to know.

"Where should I start?" Angelina chuckled.

"Why doesn't he like me then?"

"No idea. He's probably threatened by you. I don't know really."

"I don't actually mind Fred but I don't want him coming between us either."

Us? Angelina fought the urge to giggle like a little girl. Cedric had referred to them as an 'us'! She hadn't expected anything special when he approached her in the Entrance Hall and asked her to take a walk with him. Thankfully, Fred hadn't noticed them sneak out the front doors.

"Hey, isn't that him?" Cedric pointed across the lake.

Angelina squinted. She recognised the curly haired girl but couldn't positively tell which twin was with her.

"No, I think that's Alicia and George. Alicia wouldn't be walking around with Fred."

"Alicia and George? Are they a couple?"

"No." Angelina shrugged. "At least I don't think they are."

Back on the other side of the lake, George and Alicia had just spotted Angelina and Cedric.

"Fred won't be happy."

"What do you mean?" Alicia questioned.

"Fred likes Angelina."

"Does not."

"Honestly, he does. He won't admit it to me but it's obvious," George insisted.

"But he's always so nasty to her," Alicia reasoned.

"That's his way of letting her know."

"By annoying the hell out of her? That doesn't make sense. Nothing that you boys do makes sense," Alicia stated firmly.

"Well it makes perfect sense to us."

Alicia sighed. Why did boys have to make things so difficult all the time? Wouldn't it be easier for Fred to just tell Angelina he liked her?

George shook his head. Why did girls have to make things so difficult all the time? If Angelina paid more attention she'd be able to pick up on Fred's signals and it would be easier for everyone concerned.

"What are you shaking your head at?" Alicia asked.

"Girls. They always do things the hard way. What were you sighing about just now?"

"Boys. They just find it so hard to be serious. They make things difficult, not girls."

"Girls just don't exactly act serious either. Just look at how much girls giggle. It really puts guys off," George said.

"I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree then," Alicia said eventually.

"I guess so."

Meanwhile, Angelina couldn't wait to talk to Alicia and Katie about Cedric.

"I'll see you in Herbology tomorrow," Angelina said as she brushed grass from her robes.

"Maybe we can work together."

"I'd like that. See you later."

Angelina walked around the lake and approached George and Alicia with a wide smile on her face.

"Have a nice date?" George asked acidly.

"George?" Alicia nudged him lightly.

"It wasn't a date. What's your problem?" Angelina demanded.

"Fred."

"What about Fred? He has nothing to do with this."

"You're stringing him along," George said simply.

"I am not!"

"Flirting with Fred then running off with Cedric. That's not something I expected from you."

"Come on, George, just leave it," Alicia pleaded.

"No, Leesh, I want to know what this is all about. I don't flirt with Fred, I hardly tolerate him," Angelina scoffed.

"Well, he likes you."

Angelina burst out laughing immediately at this news.

"He does not!"

"I'm sorry, Ang, but now that George has mentioned it - well, it is kind of obvious that he likes you," Alicia admitted.

"But he's always picking on me! He can't like me."

"That's his way of showing his affection," George explained.

"But that doesn't make sense."

"That's exactly what I said!" Alicia exclaimed.

"Well, the bottom line is that he likes you and you're off having romantic meetings with Cedric."

"So Fred Weasley likes me? That's…interesting," Angelina said slowly.

As the trio headed back to the castle Angelina was already thinking of ways to use this new information to her advantage. Life was certainly going to become more entertaining.

xxxxx

The next day in Herbology, Angelina was very careful to sit next to Cedric. Fred was working with George and Alicia was working with Katie. Lee was with Danny Johns.

They were learning about Mandrakes and Professor Sprout asked them to work in groups of four. The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs had the thrilling task of re-potting the Mandrakes. Fred and George joined Angelina and Cedric almost immediately.

Alicia, Katie, Lee and Danny were watching them from across the room. There was bound to be trouble when Fred and George were involved. It wouldn't surprise anyone if they had something planned.

"Do you think we should warn Angelina and Cedric?" Alicia asked quietly.

"No. They won't do anything too bad. It's not like Cedric doesn't deserve it anyway." Lee shook his head in disappointment. "How dare he try to seduce Angelina."

"Seduce Angelina? You've got to be kidding. Nobody's about to seduce Angelina," Katie said rolling her eyes.

"I doubt Cedric wants to 'seduce' Angelina," Alicia agreed.

"You think so? Well, I know I wouldn't mind seducing her," Lee said thoughtfully.

"You're slowly making your way through every girl in second year are you? What about the other years?"

"Jealous much, Katie?"

"Not of an ignorant git like you. I do pity the girls though," Katie replied as she shoved dragon dung compost into a large pot.

Alicia ignored their bickering. She was more worried about Angelina. Fred and George both seemed to hate Cedric and that wasn't a good mix.

"What do they have against Ced anyway? He's really not a bad bloke," Danny said to Alicia as Lee and Katie continued to trade insults.

"I know he isn't. Fred just seems to think he's after Angelina."

"Cedric does seem to be very taken with her," Danny admitted.

On the other side of the class Angelina was piling handfuls of compost into the last of their four pots. Fred was watching angrily as Cedric complimented Angelina on her compost 'technique'.

Fred rolled his eyes dramatically. "Oh, yeah, she has a real way with dragon dung." "Shut up, Fred. I'm only doing it because you refuse to get your hands dirty."

"Blame Professor Sprout. If she'd just let us use gloves."

"She wants us to get a feel for nature," Cedric said. He felt he had an obligation to defend the head of Hufflepuff.

"I don't see what that has to do with touching dragon crap," George replied.

"Come on, you're so slow, Angelina. Everyone else is already finished," Fred complained as Angelina continued to transfer the compost.

"Shut up, I'm going as fast as I can. My hands are only small."

"Just tip it in then," Fred grabbed the bag and tipped it up side down.

Most of the compost missed the pot completely and scattered across the bench. A large amount also ended up in Cedric's lap.

"Fred!" Angelina reproached.

Fred feigned a look of shock and innocence. "It was an honest accident."

"It looked unintentional to me," George interjected cheerfully.

"Of course you're going to think it was unintentional," Angelina growled.

"Accidents happen," Fred said, maintaining his look of innocence.

"Get that stupid look off your face. I know you did it on purpose. Now clean up the bench before Sprout sees the mess you've made," Angelina ordered.

"Fine, don't believe me then, I don't care." Fred began to sweep the compost into his hands and deposit it into the pot.

"Here, let me help you," Angelina offered to Cedric.

Cedric blushed and stammered, "Uh, that's ok, Angelina. Er, I can do it myself."

"What's wrong, Diggory? Don't want Angelina groping around your lap?"

"Yes, I mean no…I don't know what I mean actually," Cedric said, suddenly becoming very flustered as he scooped the compost off himself.

"You handled that very well. Real classy," George mocked.

"Stop it, both of you!"

"It's ok, Angie, no harm done." Cedric forced a smile and swept the last of the dragon dung compost off his robes.

"Oh, it's Angie now is it?"

"What is going on over here? Everyone else is ready to transfer the Mandrakes," Professor Sprout said wearily.

"Sorry, but its Angelina's fault. Apparently she has small hands."

"Very well. Your pot is full now so we can begin," Professor Sprout headed back to the front of the class and grabbed her fluffy pink earmuffs. "Right! Earmuffs on, everyone!"

Angelina secured her bright orange earmuffs tightly over her ears. Sprout gave the signal and George grabbed hold of the purplish-green tuft and yanked it from the dirt. The little Mandrake withered and kicked violently until it was finally shoved into the larger pot.

Angelina potted the next Mandrake then Fred did the one after. Angelina was extremely relieved when there was only one more to go. Things were proceeding without any more 'accidents'.

Cedric pulled the last Mandrake from its pot. It was a particularly aggravated one and he had to struggle with it for a while. Then it happened. The disgruntled Mandrake baby bit Cedric on the forearm with its needle-like teeth.

Cedric swore very loudly indeed. Thankfully, no one could hear what he said but Angelina did distinctly lip-read the F sound. In his moment of pain, Cedric dropped the plant/baby.

It landed on its bottom and was stunned for a second. George made a grab for it but it rolled onto all fours and crawled away. For a plant, it was a quick little bugger.

Angelina dropped to her hands and knees and watched the Mandrake scurry towards the bench next to theirs. Angelina screamed but, of course, none of her classmates actually heard her. No one had yet noticed that there was a plant on the loose.

Everyone quickly realised what was going on when the Mandrake brushed against Meredith's ankle. She looked down to see what it was then promptly jumped up onto her bench. She was squealing and throwing her arms around hysterically.

This display caught everyone's attention and she pointed frantically at the floor. The Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors all began to panic when they spotted the nomadic Mandrake. Professor Sprout called for calm but no one heard her.

The wailing Mandrake was heading right for Alicia, Katie, Lee and Danny. Alicia scrambled up onto her stool to avoid it. She wasn't fond of anything that crawled.

Lee made a dive for it but it dodged him easily. It quickly changed direction and headed back towards the Hufflepuff girls. Meenal began to stomp madly in an attempt to scare it away. George was down on his hands and knees crawling after it.

The elusive Mandrake crawled between the two of them and Meenal stomped on George's hand. He yelled and clutched his hand in pain. The class had descended into chaos. People were running around, either chasing the Mandrake or running away from it.

Professor Sprout was still calling for order. She was very worried that someone was going to hurt her precious plants. The distressed Mandrake seedling was searching for a quiet dark place and it headed back where it was first dropped.

Things reached a climax when Fred and Cedric both called 'MINE!' and ran for the plant. They didn't hear each other and ended up colliding heavily. Yet again, the crafty Mandrake escaped.

It soon became up to Katie to save the day. She used her knowledge to lure the shrieking Mandrake into her backpack. She knew it wanted a dark, tight place to hide. Once it was safely inside her bag she pulled it back out and shoved it into the pot. Everyone sighed with relief and took their earmuffs off. Meredith jumped off the bench and Alicia stepped down from her stool.

"20 points to Gryffindor for Ms. Bell's ability to keep a cool head!" Professor Sprout wiped sweat from her forehead.

Andrew Brady was standing beside Cedric and Fred who were still lying on the floor in a heap. "Uh, Professor…we have a little problem."

"What is it?"

"Cedric and Fred's earmuffs came off." Evan Jones bent down and picked up two pairs of fluffy red earmuffs.

"They're out cold," Lee reported.

A/N: Another chapter done! I hope Fred doesn't seem too mean. He just really likes Angelina and is willing to do anything for her. Yes, even throw dragon dung compost all over Cedric. It's kinda sweet in a way. The next few chapters will concentrate on them and Alicia and George will become even closer.

Please review!! I need to be cheered up because the knights aren't coming first anymore! C'mon, only 4 more to reach 100!