Another day, another chapter. It seems that Fred and George's first year is going to be given a lot of attention, simply because it was an important year for them. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I have a migraine, alright, I don't feel like thinking up some "witty", pun-ridden disclaimer.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Applause erupted from the Gryffindor table. Fred grinned as he leapt from the dangerously wobbly stool and strode over to that same table.

"Well done, Fred," Percy said and Charlie clapped him encouragingly on the back. Unfortunately, it was more like a buffet, and Fred had to clutch onto Percy's hair to stop himself falling. He seated himself in a chair next to Lee and watched his twin put on the Sorting Hat.

"GRYFFINDOR!" it shouted almost instantaneously and George arrived at the Gryffindor table, receiving the same smack on the back. It was even harder than Charlie's last one and George nearly fell into Alicia Spinnet's lap. As it was, he bumped heads with her and had to catch onto the arms of her chair to stop himself.

"Er, sorry," he said and hurried to his seat, leaving behind a blushing girl.

"Excellent!" Fred and George congratulated one another with high-fives.

"Sorting's almost done," remarked Wood. "Almost time for the feast."

"Good, I haven't eaten for ages," Fred said.

Angelina looked up in amusement. "You ate enough to feed a dragon on the train. And that was about, oh, twenty minutes ago."

"Like I said, ages."

There was a sudden hush and Fred saw that Dumbledore had risen from his chair. His pointed hat made his tall figure seem even taller and he smiled welcomingly from beneath his silver moustache.

"Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts. I trust that the summer holidays did wonders in darkening your complexions and emptying your heads. I admit, even I am having trouble remembering my own sister's name...Little wonder, as I don't believe I have a sister. Well, not to worry, for our faculty will be sure to force, er, feed knowledge into your minds this school year.

"Speaking of which, we have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, being that Professor Holle elected to go off to India and study the carnivorous Occamies. He assures me that the danger among the Occamies is trivial compared to the company of certain students."

He peered over his glasses at them, as many were trying not to laugh.

"I present to you our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Greta Gooseberry." There was polite clapping as a small, bespectacled lady rose.

"Our caretaker, Mr. Filch has asked me to once again remind you that the Forbidden Forest is off-limits to students."

Fred and George perked up their ears at that.

"Also, he will be confiscating all merchandise from Zonko's Joke Shop that he comes across." His speech continued until he finally announced, "Let the feast begin!"

And so it did. There was roast chicken glistening deliciously, tureens of potatoes brimming with butter, steak and kidney pie, plump tomatoes, and so much more. Fred's eyes lit up and he set right to work.

"Pass the tomatoes, George, before you gulp down the whole plate."

Angelina had engaged in conversation with Alicia.

"Well, my mom writes for the Daily Prophet. My dad makes brooms, and he said he's coming out with a breakthrough line. He says it's gonna be called Nimbus."

"Oh, that sounds great. I love Quidditch."

"Me too! What do your parents do?"

"My mum's a Healer and my dad works for the Ministry," Angelina said.

"Really? What department?" This came from George, between gnaws at a particularly tough piece of steak.

"Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Do your parents work for the Ministry?" she asked politely.

"Our dad does. He and another chap run the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office."

"Dad's gone on Muggles," Fred added. "Reckon he'll be running off with one any day now."

"Except that all the Muggles in the village think he's absolutely loony."

"I would too. Last time we were in the village, he started following around this boy with a um..."

"Seedy player," George said. "And he tried taking the earplugs out so he could examine them. The boy ran for his life." The girls giggled.

Fred turned to Lee and Wood, who were discussing Quidditch.

"You're on the team, then?" Lee asked Wood.

"Yeah. I'm keeper. It should be a pretty good team this year with Charlie as captain. He's brilliant."

The twins couldn't help looking proud. At least that brother was accomplished in the things that count.

---

If Fred had been suffering from homesickness (no chance in hell, of course), all his sorrows would have died away upon entering the Gryffindor common room, with its gold and scarlet hues, inviting armchairs, fire dancing in the hearth, and the pretty girl bending over a book on the sofa.

Okay, Angelina wasn't exactly part of the decor, but she didn't hurt it.

"Goodnight, Johnson," George called.

Angelina looked up and smiled. "Night."

Fred looked quizzically at George as they trooped up the stairs that Charlie had directed them to.

"Why do you want to go to the dorm now? You actually want to sleep?" he asked incredulously.

George snorted. "Did you get too many whiffs of Snape's cologne or something? Of course I'm not going to sleep, and neither are you. But we might as well pretend to if we're going to explore tonight, right?"

Fred grinned. "Right."

Ah, what are our devilish duo in for now? As you probably noticed, there was a tiny bit of Alicia/George interaction there. Coincidence? I think not. Please do this authoress the one little favor of reviewing. Gracias. Until next update,

Merry