A Darker Shade of Red

Charming Weasels

Later: Like, two months or something...

"Over the bridge and through the woods to Gin-Gin's house we goes!" T.J. said merrily.

Ginevra herself did not feel the same way. Her best friends in the world little world were going to see her house, going to meet her family. HER FAMILY! Oh no, she was not in a good mood at all, and the churning in her stomach was not helping.

"You okay?" Laura asked, looking at her intently.

"Yeah, yeah... Fine. Hey Cole, why d'you want to go to my house, anyway?"

"'Cause I heard Carrot top, Scarhead, and Hairbush are going to and I want some dirt on 'em." Cole replied from behind her issue of The Quibbler.

"What?"

"Attention all students we will being arriving at Platform 9¾ momentarily... " Came the voice over the magical speakers.

Five Minutes Later...

"Oh, I'm so happy! My babies are coming home for Christmas with their friends!" gushed Mrs. Weasley as soon as Ginevra stepped off the train.

"Hey Mum." Gin said, forcing a smile.

"Oh my little Gin Gin!"

Needless to say, Molly Weasley had just enveloped her daughter in a large hug. Then was when Cole, T.J., and Laura decided to make themselves known.

"I guess they do that nickname thing with everyone." Cole commented, "Although, I sorely DOUBT my mother would hug me like that."

"Probably right." said a drawling voice behind them, "I wouldn't want to hug you either."

But, alas, Nicole simply ingored the ferret and followed the others toward Gin and her mother, who had finally let go of her daughter.

"These are my friends, Nicole Lupin-Keith, -" "Nice to meet you, ma'am." "- Taylor Greemhorn, -" She nodded. "- and Laura Potter."

Laura smiled as Mrs. and Mr. Weasley took in the girls with clearly disaproving glances. Of course, Weasleys are never rude. "It's so nice to see Ginevra has friends." Mr. Weasley said, "Now, where's your brother at?"

Gin shrugged. "Dunno. Probably still pigging out in his compartment."

"Or shagging that lovely Luna Lovegood girl in a closet somewhere." Nicole commented, totally catching Mr. Weasley off guard.

He actually started choking on his spit. But one good smack on the back from T.J. stopped that. "Careful, sir, that saliva' could kill you if you don't watch it."

"Erm- thank you, - Taylor, was it?"

"Yeah, call me T.J. though."

He simply nodded and turned to Nicole. Of course, her appearance was not helping his blood-pressure at all. She was wearing obscenely tight leather pants and a matching tube-top, over which she wore a leather duster, followed by leather biker boots covered in all sorts of buckles and snaps. Everything was black, as per usual, and her hair was down around her face. She smiled and extended her hand.

"Call me Cole." she said, "And yes, I do wake up in the morning like this."

After the slight incident at the train station, Gin was slightly relieved that T.J., Laura, and herself had worn clothes that were calmer than Nicole's. It seemed that Cole had no feeling in her body, because every time the wind blew she'd say it was rather hot. What an oddball.

"GINNY!"

Everyone but Gin jumped at this exclamation. She had known who it was, though.

"Hey Freddy, Georgey, how have you two been?" she said, picking her duffle bag out of all the luggage in the trunk.

"Quite fine, thanks." George said, "And you?"

"Fine." she muttered, handing Laura her purse.

She practically heard Fred's tongue drop. "And who are these lovely ladies."

And, of course, Cole was the one to answer. She stood before the grinning devils with a wicked glow about her. "I'm Nicole Lupin-Keith." she extended her hand, "You must be Fred and George. We've heard loads about you."

"All good I hope?"

"Nope, not really." chimed in T.J., "I'm T.J. and this is my hetero-life-mate, Laura Potter."

Indeed the two had gotten quite chummy over the time they knew eachother and ended up as 'adopted' sisters. Nicole snickered.

"You guys sound like Jay and Silent Bob." she commented.

Nothing.

"You know, the two perverted, bad-mouthed, American stoners?"

Zilch.

"C'mon! The guys in Clerks and Chasing Amy!"

Nada.

"Y'know! Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes!"

Cricket Cricket

"Oh you're hopeless!"

Gin rolled her eyes and looked at George. "So who all's here?" she asked.

"Perce is up in his room; Bill's in the kitchen, I think; and Charlie's on his way out here." he responded.

Just then, Cole very nearly slipped and fell on her ass had it not been for a very instinctive Ron. Gin rolled her eyes, supposing Charlie had just stepped outside into her friend's vision. She turned and nearly did the same as Cole when she noticed said friend was gaping none other than a very shirtless and slightly muscled -

"Percy?" Granger said, mouth agape.

"Hey, Hairbrush, no gaping at my brothers." Gin snapped.

The twins were quite taken aback when they heard the venomous tone their sister was using with the bushy-haired Muggleborn, but simply ignored it.

"Ginevra, so nice to see you again." Percy said, walking forward and wrapping his arms round her petite figure.

"At least he doesn't call her Ginny or Gin." Laura muttered to Cole and T.J, a smile playing on her lips.

"Yeah."

Percy smiled over Gin's shoulder at them. "Percy Weasley, and you are?" he asked.

Ginevra turned to face her friends and was surprised to see Cole blushing slightly. "I-I'm Ni-Nicole." she murmured, shaking his hand. Percy'd never, ever had that effect on anyone before. Hell, not even Penelope Clearwater! Ginevra thought.

"Pleasure to meet you."

"I'm T.J. and this is Laura." Teej said, smiling.

"Nice to meet you all." he said, grinning.

Gin had to wonder where her brother had gotten all this charm from.

End Chapter