Quidditch - There Is Nothing More Important Chapter 7, a harry potter fanfic

Quidditch - There Is Nothing More Important

Contrition, Sides, The Prank War and no space for The Hufflepuff Vs Slytherin Grudge Match

Everything you recognise belongs to JKR. Unfortunately.

Not beta'd by Dorothea Greengrass yet as she's a busy person.

—Quidditch—

"We've been found out, brother." George stated as soon as his brother entered their dorm. "I told you that we should stop, I wish we hadn't started it in the first place."

Fred paused to regard his brother with a jaundiced eye then stomped over to his trunk.

"Is that why Ollie was giving me a funny look?" He withdrew his toiletries and moved onto the bathroom without another word.

"What are we going to do?" George asked, as he followed Fred to the bathroom and leaned against the door jam.

"Do we have to do anything?" Fred replied, mouth full of toothpaste foam.

George ran a hand through his hair, rubbing fondly at the centre parting of his hair. "Well our girlfriends are pissed at us, it's our fault and I don't know what to do about it. I don't want to lose Angie. Plus what about the trophy run? We need the girls onside as much as Harry and Ollie."

Fred huffed a sigh, finished brushing his teeth, rinsed his mouth and snagged a towel before he turned to face his twin.

"I've had an absolute shit time in that detention, Snape has had me scrubbing Longbottoms cauldrons even though they're scrap. I'm knackered and annoyed at you for fucking up. Can we talk about this tomorrow?"

"You're going to bed now? It's barely nine."

"Ollie wants us up early, he just told me. Five again. After what you've just told me it's going to be awkward."

"Fred?" George asked.

"Night George." Fred said as he sat on his bed and began to undress.

The door opened to admit one of their roommates and George turned away with a sigh to get ready himself.

"You two are going to bed now?" Lee asked, confused.

He didn't get a response, Fred tugged his curtains closed and George kicked the bathroom door.

—Quidditch—

"That arsehole! I can't believe they would do this to me! To us!"

Alicia had ranted and vented for the last hour, circling back onto the same few points again and again. Mainly how much of an utter traitorous arse Fred Weasley was.

"Why aren't you more upset?!" Alicia demanded.

Huh, This was a new line of attack.

"I was, I am, but I've never been able to hold onto my anger, I'm more disappointed in them now. Plus you haven't given me much room to say anything."

"Oh Merlin, Angie I'm so sorry. Listening to me rant must be horrible for you."

Their dorm mates had been sympathetic for the first hour but had soon made their excuses and retired behind bed curtains and silencing charms.

I'm exhausted, lucky witches.

"It's helped me actually, you've voiced most of what I'm feeling and helped me sort it." Angelina gave a humourless laugh. "We both know them well enough to realise that they thought that was a good idea and that they could get away with it."

"What a pair of arseholes!" Alicia shrieked.

Well that didn't go across like I thought it would.

"Listen Allie, we've got to be up for training in a few hours, I've still got a dreamless sleep potion from when I had wizarding flu, you want it?"

"I honestly don't know what I want." She sighed. "Yes please."

Angelina dug out a wooden box from her trunk and pulled out a stoppered glass vial.

Alicia accepted the potion mutely and pulled her friend into a fierce hug.

"Night," Angelina said.

"Night," Alicia replied.

Alicia looked forlorn as Angelina pulled her curtains closed.

—Quidditch—

Alicia cast enough hateful glares at Fred in the great hall the next day at breakfast that even oblivious first years noticed, she had sent death glares ever since they met up at five thirty and had not said a word for the entire duration of practice.

"Allie, what's going on? You've not said a word to me at all." Fred said as he slathered butter over his toast and the fingertips of the hand holding it. He sucked each digit clean.

"Don't talk to me Fred Weasley, I've got nothing to say to you!" Alicia declared loudly.

The chatter around their seats quietened down and several curious glances were dissuaded by firm looks from Angelina and Katie.

"Not here Fred. Keep it in the team." Angelina muttered.

"Keep what in the team?" Fred asked a fork full of beans paused in front of his smirking mouth. George elbowed him and some beans fell back to the plate, Fred gave his brother a look.

"I'm not sure if I can play on the same team as these two. We can't trust them." Alicia hissed at Angelina.

Angelina sighed, she had listened to this until well past midnight and now she was just too tired to care, she had her own issues to work through with George and she hadn't had the time or, thanks to Alicia, the headspace to work out her own feelings. She thought she still loved George, even through the hurt she could tell that much.

It did help that George had been quiet, withdrawn and seemed guilt ridden, contrite. It was in stark contrast to Alicia's iridescent anger at Fred's seeming callous indifference. He had acted as if nothing had occurred and had even tried to hug Alicia as soon as he had seen her. Alicia had shoved him away so hard that Fred had bounced off the locker room wall.

Angelina caught Katie's eye and the younger girl quirked an eyebrow from across the table. Angelina shook her head slightly and mouthed "Later," she just hoped that the public display could be minimised and redirected or all their dirty laundry would be aired here in front of the entire school.

"Is this about last night? George apologised." Fred said, eyes on the swooping owls overhead.

"Actually I didn't, not properly, I couldn't get a word in. Alicia didn't let me." George said quietly. "I want to talk about it, but do you mind if we don't do it here?"

George only had eyes for Angelina and she felt a faint warmth rekindle in her gut at the emotions swimming in his eyes. She felt her eyebrows squeeze together slightly but nodded mutely.

"I can't believe you, you don't know what you did?!" Alicia's voice rose and the hubbub in the hall dropped, her next words were the only sounds in the hall and they echoed.

"You cheated on me!"

Fred looked as serious as Angelina had ever seen him, even during the heat of a quidditch match there was always a spark of mischief and humour.

Features flat and hard he stood, roughly collected his plate and glass and stomped away to the end of the table, he growled at the group of first years who had watched him approach with mounting horror and they scattered, book bags and plates, cutlery and glasses magically moved five spots down and Fred sat, ignoring the students who watched him in mute fascination.

Katie leant towards Harry and flicked a glance at him, "You know what that was about?"

"Ollie said that he walked into the common room and found the girls throwing cups and saucers at George, something about swapping girlfriends." Harry muttered.

"Oh no, the idiots. Trust them to think that was a good idea. This is going to be a problem." Katie twisted in her seat, leant her back into his side and allowed his arm to encircle her.

"What should we do?"

"Just be there for all of them, give them space to sort their thoughts and feelings out and hope to Merlin that we can pull together before the Snakes game. We might be a good four hundred points ahead but Slytherin - Gryffindor is rarely a high scoring game, the Puff play them first, and Flint is going to do his best to batter them with fouls." Katie let out a sigh, "we can handle them, the Puffs not so much. We've not won it yet."

Oliver chose that moment to come through the great doors, he glanced down at Fred who sat on his own, up at his team watching Fred like he was a magizooligical oddity, to the head table where Professor McGonagall could be seen frowning between the Gryffindor table and the Slytherin table and back to Fred.

Angelina watched him slow to speak to Fred, a muttered scowled reply had him moving onward to their position in the centre of the table. Students shifted and slid to allow him space to sit next to Alicia.

"Hi Allie." He said as he spooned porridge into a bowl.

"I'm not apologising." she said, her voice tight.

"I'm not asking you to, just remember that the school doesn't need to know all the sordid details. You know how stubborn a Weasley can be when his back's against the wall."

"Hey!" George piped up only to stare at his plate with a look from Angelina.

Alicia sighed, "I'm so angry." She sniffed and hid her face in her hands, elbows planted either side of her breakfast. She missed it by a very small margin and that was probably more luck than judgement.

"You and me both," Angelina said, "But not here."

"I'm not hungry." Alicia said, rose abruptly and got her bag strap tangled around her legs. She paused long enough to remove the obstruction before she stormed away.

Angelina watched the pain flit across Fred's face as Alicia passed behind him and a frown appeared as he squeezed his eyes closed.

"Bugger," Oliver said in resignation.

—Quidditch—

"Where's your chaser at, Weasel?" A nasal voice called down the third floor corridor. "Think she might wanna go Green?"

Fred's eyes flicked up from the deep inspection of his shoe and met his brother's troubled gaze. Alicia had been signed off sick with stress by Madam Pomfrey and Fred had only found out in passing.

He heaved a sigh.

He might have fucked up. The hard line that he had decided on, deny and refuse to acknowledge responsibility might have been the wrong tactic.

The grief at the loss of his relationship with Alicia and the pain at the realisation he'd damaged the trust his teammates had in him really hurt. George had stopped speaking to him, angry at the aforementioned tactic.

Fred was lonely, and now the Slytherin's had added to the pain. Well, that was fine, he knew how to combat a slimy snake.

"You're being brave, Warrington. You think I'm an easy target without my team backing me up?" Fred said casually.

"Yeah I do." Warrington sneered at him.

"I'll level with you, George is the kind twin." He straightened up from the wall, "I'm not. He was the one who held me back, stopped the more dangerous pranks."

Fred stood in the middle of the corridor; he seemed larger than life and menacing. Warrington had paled slightly and taken a step back, he glanced over his shoulder to see if his classmates were still there.

They weren't.

Warrington twisted around and saw that the other Slytherins had clustered further down the corridor and warily watched the approaching disaster.

"Here catch."

Fred had timed it so that Warrington had been looking over his shoulder and snapped his head to the front. He caught the object in reflex and almost as quickly dropped it.

"Ah! What." Warrington cut himself off, he had a wide horrified look on his face and his eyes flicked from side to side.

His mouth morphed into a beak, and his head sprouted yellow feathers. Within seconds his entire head became that of a canary and black beady eyes blinked. Human hands felt the beak and ruffled his feathers.

Warrington squarked.

The corridor maintained a horrified silence for a full five seconds until Fred stepped forward to be level with the Bird Headed Slytherin.

"You'd best be careful, Birdbrain. A cornered Weasley is a dangerous opponent. Alicia Spinnet might be angry with me but you should always treat her with the respect she deserves. Or else." Fred raised his hand and Warrington flinched but Fred simply gave him a patronising pat on the shoulder.

"That will wear off in an hour or so, Professor. I'm sure his contribution will be the same as ever."

Fred sauntered into the classroom past an astonished Professor Flitwick.

Every pair of eyes went from the currently panicking Warrington to the relaxed and reclining Fred Weasley, fingers interlinked behind his head, he was the only student in the classroom.

George followed his brother in and mussed his hair as he passed and sat in the seat behind him.

Professor Flitwick pulled his wand then paused, "Mr Weasley…"

—Quidditch—

"Shhh, there he is. You know what to do!"

A whispered conversation gave Fred some indication that he wasn't going to enjoy the next few minutes anymore than he had enjoyed the last week. He had enough time to draw his wand before he was under assault.

Fred shielded the first three, ducked and weaved two more before a jelly legs jinx tagged him on the left ankle.

Fred counted himself lucky his suddenly uneven stance caused two more jinx to pass him by before a bludgeoner slammed him back into the wall five metres behind him.

Seeing stars he heard Boles braying laugh and Flints snigger. Unmistakable sounds of sliminess.

"Not very original," Fred managed to mutter.

"Effective though," Warrington countered. "You shouldn't have embarrassed me."

He fired a bone breaker and Fred's scream as his femur shattered.

"For fucks sake Cass, we said nothing to bring the Aurors!" Flint snarled.

"Stupefy."

Fred knew blackness.

—Quidditch—

Fred was found by George a few minutes later. When questioned by Professor McGonagall on how he knew where Fred was he said he just knew.

Fred remained in the hospital wing for two days, repairing a femur which had broken into more than two pieces was difficult. The other injuries, the curses and hexes reversal took just over an hour.

"Who did this Mr Weasley?" Professor McGonagall asked him for the third time.

He didn't reply.

"Freddy please tell her, they should be punished for this." Molly Weasley asked, her tone plaintive.

"I don't know mum, I don't remember anything." Fred said convincingly.

Neither his mum nor Professor looked like they believed him. No matter, he would be getting his own revenge and it would be far sweeter than any point loss or detention could be.

"Mr Weasley, the bone breaker is no jinx. If I were to call in the Aurors over this would you tell them the lie you just told us?" McGonagall said sternly.

"Of course Professor, I just don't remember. Maybe they obliviated me." Fred sighed. "Sorry mum, this Skelegro has wiped me out. I'm going back to sleep."

Fred kept still with his eyes closed until his mother sighed and both women left the Hospital Wing.

He opened to stare at the ceiling and cocked his head to one side.

"Huh, he really does have a plaque with his name on it."

—Quidditch—

Alicia cracked the door open and looked down the length of the Hospital wing. All the beds were empty except the one Fred occupied.

He was sitting up with a table in front of him scratching away on parchment. He glanced up and down again before he ceased all motion. He might have even stopped breathing although she wasn't sure.

She approached slowly and watched him for a sign. Anything really.

He kept so still, almost like a rabbit in headlights.

She reached his bedside and looked down at his neat scrawl. How identical twins could have vastly different handwriting she didn't know. She sat in the visitors chair.

"Hi."

Fred twitched as if to reach for something but second guessed himself.

"Hi Allie."

"As angry as I was, I am with you, I still care. I - I still love you. A- Are you doing okay? Does it hurt?" She glanced down at his leg.

"Not really, it just itches. Pomfrey says it's normal and will be gone by tomorrow. Allie, Alicia, I just want to say-"

"No, not yet. I'm still furious with you. Give me another week or so and we can talk. If I hear you say that I might start throwing crockery again."

Fred snorted.

"George told me about that, wish I had seen it."

Alicia tried to suppress a grin but failed within a second.

"I suppose it was funny. Until he told me." Her smile slid off her face. "That was when Ollie walked in, I almost took his head off. He just turned around and left."

Her smirk returned.

"I know we're not alright, Allie, but I still care and I would eventually want to be at least your friend. It's my fault, take your time but if you need anything let me or George know."

Alicia sighed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She started to reach for his hand, paused then pulled back.

"Get well soon Fred."

She sniffed and left him in an empty room, as the door closed his chin dropped to his chest and a shaky hand slid over his eyes.

—Quidditch—

Minerva felt her age as she leant toward Filius in order to hear the diminutive man, his squeaky voice all but drowned out by the hubbub of a raucous lunchtime.

"Does it seem louder than usual Minerva?" Septima asked from over Filius' head. "I can barely hear myself think."

"I'm contemplating silencing them all." Minerva groused.

She had had a few trying weeks, Slytherin aggression in particular caused her to hold more detention sessions than she'd prefer and the fall out of Mr Weasleys assault and subsequent memory loss had her consider Rolanda's jibes about retirement. Her cottage in a highland village and its solitude called to her.

Filius gazed up at her speculatively and patted her hand.

"I think it's the time of year Minerva, I always feel old in the spring. New life reminds me that I'm a year older."

"Filius! You're a spring chicken when compared to Albus and I. Goblins can live for hundreds of years!"

"I may live that long but my human side doesn't. I'll look like a gnome by then and I'm not looking forward to it. You've got many years left, you're barely seventy."

"I am positively geriatric if you listen to Rolanda. She's been asking Poppy and me if we're going to retire. She won't stop."

Septima and Filius descended into sniggers and exchanged a look.

"She's trying to win a bet. Sybil declared that both of you would retire on a specific date and Rolanda thinks it's poppycock." Filius laughed again.

"That witch!" Minerva scowled. "Wait until she gets back from China. I'll show her old, I'll invite her around for tea then transfigure her into a teapot."

Half the student body turned at the sudden laughter from the head table. Filius had fallen off his perch, Septima had slipped down her chair until her head was resting against the cushioned back, Bathsheba had her head resting on her crossed arms and Minerva was scowling at them all.

"It's not that funny."

Her scowl deepened as Septima passed a silver sickle to Filius and Bathsheba tried to dig into her robe pocket for something.

Their amusement was cut off by a scream from the Gryffindor table.

Silence crashed down apart from the young woman.

"My hair! What's happened to my hair?!" Lavender Brown cried.

As one every student hand felt their hair apart from three students at the Slytherin table and Minerva made a note of their names. They each had a smirk on their faces too, not exactly subtle. From the dark mutters further along the table, Severus had noticed too.

More exclamation and screams came from the Gryffindor table as hair sloughed off onto shoulders, benches, tables, plates of food and the floor.

The first and second years were looking around confused, as they pulled at their own hair, but it stayed put on their heads.

Good, Minerva thought, the house elves were protecting the younger years as she had asked.

As bald heads emerged most of the girls ran from the hall in a blind panic.

Minerva drew her wand and with a flick caused a cannon blast.

All movement ceased.

"If you would all calmly make your way to the hospital wing this can be reversed, I mean calmly miss Brown, I will be taking points for running in the corridors."

She watched Fred and George Weasley nod in appreciation, vanish the red hair that coated their plates and continue to eat.

—Quidditch—

Albus Dumbledore slowly lowered himself into his chair at the head of the staff table and observed the faces before him, there were a few empty seats but that was to be expected.

The board of governors had removed the requirement for spell crafting and warding and magical construction NEWTs. These courses were only offered as an apprenticeship now.

Albus ran his hand down his beard to wipe away the biscuit crumbs that regularly collected there and cleared his throat.

"Let us start, do we think this weekly meeting is enough or do we need to go back to twice a week?"

Albus caught a few faint groans and could see Severus surreptitiously roll his eyes. He huffed a faint laugh, his potions master was nothing if not predictable. The man had no patience for being close to other human beings. In fact he wasn't that prejudiced, he had no time for any race of beings.

"I think once a week is sufficient, Albus." Minerva said, as she flicked a glance at her colleagues, a smirk on her lips.

"Pomona let's start with you, how fares your first years, any issues?" Albus asked.

Pomona opened her mouth, closed it, opened again and glanced at Minerva.

"Albus, I think we should discuss the spate of pranks that are being played on the students, it has been years since the last prank war. I'm not looking forward to refereeing a new one." Minerva said.

"Oh? Why? They're just harmless pranks. I quite enjoy them." Albus twinkled.

"How much would you enjoy it if your beard fell out?" Filius asked.

"It's not as if it's permanent, I thought it was fun. The Weasley boys certainly appreciated it."

"What if it escalates to a full on war as Minerva said? What happens when someone gets hurt and we didn't act in time?" Septima Vector asked.

"We keep watch and step in when that happens. Minerva you remember the pranks when you were at school, the wars that happened over the years? What happened when pranks were banned?" Albus' twinkle dimmed.

"Yes I remember, most were fun even for the people who they happened to. Once all pranks were banned it continued underground and became vicious. If we allow some then the level of severity is controllable. But Albus, what happened to Mr Weasley was not a prank, it was an assault and only at his and your behest did I not call the aurors." Minerva rolled her quill in between her fingers.

Albus leant back into his chair eliciting a squeaky groan. "Students are children, children all have vivid imaginations and when you introduce magic and potions to their lives and show them how imagination can become real?

It's a joy to behold, something to nurture, and more easily controllable here at school. Rules are meant to be pushed, punishments are to teach them of consequences, but if a child is not allowed to push them then they will not find their limits. That is why I allow pranks in the school. Provided they do not endanger student safety."

"Of course Albus. Pomona, your first years?"

—Quidditch—

Oliver sat on a two seater sofa by a fire in the common room book open on his lap, he watched Harry approach Fred and George and join them at their table, all three hunched over a roll of parchment, George pointed at something and the other two nodded seriously.

Oliver sighed and heaved himself to his feet then picked his way through the crowded common room until he stood before the table.

"Ollie," Fred nodded up at him.

"Ollie," Harry and George echoed.

"Boys, I'm assuming that you're not working on homework here." Oliver tapped George's parchment with a knuckle.

"Of course we are," George said.

"Of a sort," Fred muttered.

"Getting back at them is important, I really want you to, but don't lose sight of the fact that the most painful loss for Flint and Warrington is for them to watch us lift the trophy."

The three boys exchanged a look.

"So win it for you?" Harry asked tentatively.

"So win it for me. If your need for revenge causes us to lose the last game, I won't forgive you. Any of you. Ever. Keep your priorities straight." Oliver looked at each sternly. "And sort this thing out with Angie and Allie. It's just as damaging."

"Of course Ollie," George said.

"Sorry Ollie," Fred said.

"They'll play Ollie, we have time before the match to get our mojo back." George told his captain.

"I'll tell Katie, she has Crookshanks on standby." Harry sniggered.

"That's not funny Potter, I've been having nightmares about Snape's bust and George stealing billowing robes and running away giggling."

The three boys broke into laughter loud enough to draw the attention of the common room.

"You're dreaming about me? I'm flattered and weirded out at the same time." George pretended to swoon.

Oliver stomped off.

—Quidditch—

George huffed out a sigh as he followed his teammates from the great hall, the happy couple separated with a kiss and a hug, Katie descended to the dungeons and Harry out the doors to either Care of Magical Creatures or the Herbology Greenhouses.

Oliver bumped fists with Angelina and as Oliver climbed the grand staircase Angelina turned to watch George with a cautious look and a nervous stance which more suited a baby deer than the usually confident and ebullient chaser.

They had known this conversation was coming as there was a mutual free period before Defence Against the Dark Arts class at ten, it was going to be a long morning.

"Hi G," Angelina murmured over the crowd who split around them like a stream parting for boulders.

"Our classroom is free I think." George said, his fingers twitched wanting their customary position intertwined between hers. The gulf between them felt enormous.

"Not there, at least not yet."

George felt a dicotonomy of emotions race through him and match the speed of his thoughts. She didn't want to go to their special place but she didn't say never.

"There's one up in the Dark Arts corridor we'll have more time."

"Okay," she didn't wait for him but her movements were jerky and unsure so he took the lead.

They climbed to the second floor and circled around to the Dark Arts corridor, a tense silence gathered between them and it was the most horrible part of the whole affair. Angelina and he were never short of a word, a joke, a touch or a caress.

This hurt more than the screaming and throwing of porcelain, the dark looks or the pain. Neither Fred or George thrived in a vacuum, they had always had each other and since their first year they had always had Angelina and Alicia.

The door closed behind them with a quiet foreboding click and the disquiet between them didn't dissipate.

George sat at a desk in front of the teachers desk and crossed his arms.

Not satisfied he uncrossed his arms and planted elbows on the desk then palms on his cheeks. Still not happy he dropped one arm to the desk and rested his chin on a clenched fist.

"I've never seen you like this." Angelina said.

She had kept her voice low but it still sounded too loud. She flicked her wand twice towards the door.

Silencing charm and probably a locking charm, not a bad idea.

George heaved a sigh and stood and moved to lean on the desk edge.

"I hate this, I knew it was wrong, we both did, I think on some level."

Angelina moved to the teachers desk and sat on it. Boots swinging gently as she finally met his troubled gaze.

"It's a betrayal George. It might be more than that, I don't know. Did you have sex with her?"

"No, never. Just fool around. The first time was honestly an accident, believe it or not." He gave an unamused huff, "you remember what Professor Dumbledore said about our twin bond being strong?"

She nodded fingers clamped to her lips as if to stop herself and give him time to dig a deeper hole.

"It's no excuse, I really mean that. But sometimes I actually get confused if I'm Fred or George. We joke about swapping our names or the Gred-Forge thing we did last year but there are times I genuinely have to pick at random, we've figured out that we have some of the others memories you know."

"Yeah?" She reluctantly asked.

"Yeah, he broke his leg the summer before first year, I remember the soul crushing boredom and he remembers splashing in the sea at Barnstable. He couldn't go in at all. It's weird.

"Would I give it up for the world? Not a chance. Do I wish it didn't make life so complicated? Absolutely."

George had his head in his hands again.

"I can feel him looking for me now, he's bored and he can feel that I'm upset. I'm so sorry Angie, really I'm devastated at the thought that I've ruined us due to a lack of self control. I really think we have something special, had something special." His mouth turned down and the grief on his was clear to see. "It, ah, it almost makes me wish I wasn't a twin. This wouldn't have happened."

Angelina gasped.

He grinned slightly, warmth filtered into his eyes. "Almost."

Angelina snorted despite herself and slumped from the braced posture she had adopted.

"Such a mess," she said, "I don't want to lose what we've got, had, either." She paused at the words and George felt his face drop. "I'm not making a decision now, my emotions are all over the place. I feel like I'm grieving for what we've lost then I see you and I feel hope and then the anger spikes. It's a vicious circle."

Angelina's bottom lip trembled and she angrily swiped at the tears that raced each other down her cheeks. She sniffed.

George felt too many emotions to easily name well up inside him. She was hurting and he had caused it. He would have preferred if she had ranted and raved at him like Alicia had. A tear escaped his eye and he allowed it unrestricted access to his face. He felt it tickle his neck and soak into his shirt.

Angelina watched him closely. He knew his face was far from impassive, Fred was the stoic one. Much to his detriment at times like this. He came across as unfeeling and cold.

Angelina held her arms out to him in a silent invitation. George felt his eyebrows disappear into his hairline but stepped forward into her reach. She clutched at him desperately to an extent that he thought that his shirt might rip. Slowly she put her hands to his chest and applied enough force so he voluntarily stepped backwards.

"George," her voice cracked, "I'm so confused. So lonely. I don't know what to do."

George sighed. "Me too 'Lina, me too. This is my fault and you're being punished for it, take your time, figure it out. We can't not see each other unfortunately but I'll not talk to you or approach you at all if that's what you want. Just, just don't punish Ollie, Katie or Harry for our mistakes."

Angelina nodded, George braced himself for what he knew was coming. She paused for a second, as still as a statue, then whipped her hand around in a slap to his cheek. George staggered back and held a hand over the red palm print.

Angelina slid to her feet and slowly paced forward until she was in his space again and slid her hand under his palm and caressed the flame red skin.

Her bottom lip trembled again and she tried to meet his eyes but they were downcast, her other hand raised his chin up so that he met her eyes.

"I need time to decide what I want, to see if I can still handle your brand of chaos. I'll come to you."

She kissed his pale cheek and allowed her hands to drop and she turned away and left him in the room on his own.

He leant on the desk where she had sat and absently rubbed his cheek, he puffed out on a long sigh.

"Well, it wasn't a fuck off." He said to the empty room.

—Quidditch—

"Morning girls," Oliver was sat in the girls locker room when the three chasers walked in, brooms over their shoulders.

"Hi Ollie, you're in the wrong changing rooms." Katie said.

"I'm not," as he set his broom aside and snapped his polishing kit closed.

The chasers all took seats around him without being asked.

Oliver sighed.

"I'm not sure what you want us to say Ollie," Alicia said as she slicked her damp hair back out of her face.

"I don't want you to say anything apart from it'll be sorted in the next month. It's affecting the team dynamic, even Harry and Katie are out of sorts. I've never seen him miss so many golf balls in one go and each of you missed a sitter. It's why I sent you three off for a cruise over the lake, did it help?"

The girls exchanged a look that Oliver couldn't decipher and Angelina scratched her nose before replying.

"We'll do our best, it's difficult at the moment. It was a shock, you know?"

"We'll try." Alicia agreed.

"Would you play better with different beaters in the team?" Oliver asked bluntly.

All three girls stared at him aghast.

"No! You'd replace the twins? Why?" Katie gasped.

"Because we're not an effective team anymore, it's not my first choice. It's not even my second, I'd rather not make the decision at all. There isn't a professional beater pair who have the same level of teamwork as those two do. You know how they are."

"Bloody hell," Alicia slumped in her seat, "I'll, I'll try, speaking to him. Sorry Ollie."

Oliver stood, stepped into her personal space and pulled her up into a hug.

"Don't apologise, it's not your fault they were idiots. Sort it out and try to get to a place we can function again. We love you Allie."

Oliver let her go, he gave her a reassuring smile then pulled Angelina onto a hug.

"Can I have one?" Katie asked in a cheeky voice.

"Do you have boyfriend trouble too?" Oliver asked.

"No, well he did piss me off this morning." Katie replied as a peeved look crossed her features.

Oliver laughed and hugged her too.

"I think Harry should ban couples next year." He said as he enveloped her. Katie squawked and tried to push him away and he resisted and tightened his grip and laughed.

Alicia and Angelina laughed at their friend's predicament but came to Katie's rescue.

"Gak, no! Help!"

Oliver was helpless as the girl's relentlessly tickled him, he tried to run when Katie joined in and they boxed him in between them.

"Help!"

—Quidditch—

"Have you spoken to her yet?" George asked his brother.

The pair grunted quietly as they pulled an awkward bundle along the dimly lit corridor until they reached an intersection. Fred edged forward and peeked both ways.

"All clear, come on. No, it's been two weeks since she came to see me in the Hospital Wing but every-time I see her, her friends close ranks and I can't get close enough to talk to her. I did see her last night, she just looked sad so I made myself scarce. It's bloody difficult. What did you say to Angie, you seem a bit better."

"I told her I'm sorry, told her what Dumbles said to us about the twin bond and said I was sorry again, she hugged me, slapped me then asked for me to give her time. It's so difficult, we see each other everyday."

"Yeah I know. Katie said that Ollie had talked to them yesterday after practice, maybe. Where was the entrance again? Here?" Fred cast about and pointed at a random section wall.

"A bit further, see the candle sconce down there?"

"Okay, let's set it up."

Fred opened the bag to reveal a hundred or so miniature stone blocks and a tin and brush. He pried the lid off the can, dipped the paint brush in and pulled a block out, slathered two sides with goo then placed it on the floor just to the left of the sconce.

George cocked his head and nudged it with his foot, with a wand flick and two muttered incantations the block was back to full size and stuck to the wall and floor by an over powered sticking charm. This process was repeated ten more times before George felt the need to speak.

"You might want to catch her unawares and stick her to a chair. Summon her wand and keep your distance to tell her you feel bad. You do feel bad don't you?"

Fred nodded glumly, "I feel terrible, I could tell how sorry you were the other day with Angie, I knew it wasn't right even when we kept doing it. I really like them both, this twin thing can be shit at times."

"I hear that." George grumbled.

"Although tying her to a chair might not get the reaction that I want."

The new wall was completed a few minutes later and Fred vanished the bag, brush and tin.

"Curse my brother will they." George held his fist out and Fred bumped his own onto it.

"I wonder how long it will take Snape to realise none of his Snakes are in class, or do you think they'll try blasting their way out?"

The twins sniggered as they made their way back to the Gryffindor tower.

"Come on, I want to go back to bed, we've still got a few hours."

—Quidditch—

Angelina pulled Fred and George aside as the fourth years made their way down for breakfast the next day.

"I've been thinking about Allie." She said.

"Us too, I can't even get near her." Fred said morosely.

"It wasn't just you that hurt her, Moron One," she nodded at George, "Moron Two had a hand in it as well. I think you should both try talking to her together and do some grovelling."

The twins exchanged a look and nodded. This was going to be unpleasant.

"We will, but it might have to be later on. We're going to be dealing with a Snape shaped problem soon." George smirked.

"Why what did you do?" Angelina stared at him narrow-eyed.

"You know that ridiculously hard to remove glue that Hermione told us about?" George said.

"Pooper glue?" Fred injected.

Angelina snorted, "Do you mean superglue?"

"That's the stuff, we bricked up the Slytherin common room door with that stuff and a couple of very strong sticking charms."

"So you'll talk to Allie after your mum's howler?"

"Yup." Fred grinned.

"And maybe a couple of detentions." George smirked.

—Quidditch—

"Weasley!"

The roar of outrage echoed through the castle and five heads perked up like meerkats at the Gryffindor table, not that you would have seen it as every head in the hall did the same.

Oliver could see Fred and George exchanged a smirk and hurried to clear their plates before Hurricane Snape slammed the great hall doors open from their usual position.

Oliver shook his head, Fred had warned him that there would be several detentions in their future in the fulfilment of their vendetta against all of Slytherin house. Oliver smirked, his boys seemed to be winning.

The tall greasy skinned man stalked along the rows of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students who turned in their seats to watch his menacing progression. The lanky black hair swayed as he halted by the twins and glowered down at their lowered heads.

As one they shoved the last bite of bread bun in their mouths, sloshed the remains of their juice and stood.

"Yes Professor, that's our name." They both said at the same time, "what seems to be the problem?"

"What did you?! I know it was you. No one else would be so stupid!" Snape demanded, spittle flying in his passion.

"You'll have to be more specific Professor, it's been a busy year." They replied.

"Stop it! You! Tell me what you did to the portal to the Slytherin common room."

"It's a secret isn't it? All the other entrances are. I'm pretty sure no one knows where the Gryffindor portrait is." The twin told him.

"Severus?" Oliver had been so focused on the outlandish conversation that he hadn't seen Professor Dumbledore arrive, Professor McGonagall approached at speed behind him.

"These two miscreants have bricked up the Slytherin entrance. I've spent the last half an hour trying to dispel it. My students are still stuck inside." Snape thrust a long finger into George's face, it quivered an inch from his nose but the redhead didn't even flinch.

"Why would we do such a thing, Professor?" Oliver was highly entertained by the dual speech and He had to bite his lip to keep from laughing out loud.

"It's no secret you've been in a feud with some of my Snakes but you've gone too far now!" Snape had gone a strange shade of puce. "I'll have you expelled for this!"

"Severus!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed. "Not only do you have no proof apart from your unfounded suspicions, this is hardly the venue for an investigation or an interrogation. Mr Weasley, do you have any idea how this might have been done?"

She has addressed the nearest Weasley twin and Oliver thought it might have been George.

"Yes Professor." The entire room gasped.

Professor Snape's expression lit up like his birthday had come early and he opened his mouth to speak, a quivering index finger pointed toward the ceiling but George continued before he could perform the executioner's stroke.

"I have an idea how it might have been done so that bricks couldn't be dispelled but it wasn't me, and if it had been me I would need a very good reason to go to such extremes." George replied, half way through he inspected the nails on his left hand, frowned and picked at something.

That probably means that Fred did it.

He looked up in time to deliver a reproachful look at Professor Snape who took on a confused look and Oliver was sure Professor McGonagall bit the inside of her cheek.

"I think we should adjourn to the Dungeons and see if there's a solution that you've not thought of Severus. Minerva if you would ask the elves to provide dinner to the Slytherin common room it would be appreciated."

"Of course Albus," she turned a jaundiced eye onto the twins, "once you've accompanied the Professors to the Slytherin common room please come see me in my office."

"Of course, Professor." They said together. "Lead the way Professor, we don't know the way."

"Don't insult my intelligence Weasley!" Professor Snape said, "everyone in this entire room knows you know exactly where it is."

"Of course they do Severus, they dyed all the furniture pink last year." Professor Dumbledore said Oliver squinted as he thought he could see his beard twitch.

"That was never proven it was us Professor!" George exclaimed, the picture of innocence.

"Is it truly the only way out of the common room? Will you be obliviating the knowledge Professor?" Fred asked.

The surrounding fifth year Gryffindors muffled their sniggers and Oliver couldn't suppress a smirk.

He watched the group leave the hall, laughter and chatter overcame the sudden silence in the absence of the entertaining duo. Oliver could see Professors Flitwick and Sprout exchange smirks and leave their half eaten meals to hurry after their colleagues.

"What did they do?" Anita asked as she leant into Oliver's shoulder.

"They did warn me, muggle superglue and some kind of sticking charm on bricks in front of the common room door."

Snickers greeted Oliver's quiet explanation.

"They were expecting howlers and detentions." Oliver smirked.

—Quidditch—

Minerva McGonagall had been sat behind her desk marking second year essays with a dual colour quill for ten minutes when the knock on the door heralded the arrival of Fred and George Weasley, these were her very favourite students even though she would deny it to her dying day if they were to ever find out.

She folded her hands on top of the remaining essays and gave each a level stare before she asked the burning question.

"So, did you brick the door up?"

The twins exchanged an unfathomable look before one admitted that they had.

"Yes Professor." George replied.

"Is it resolved now?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Professor Dumbledore suggested a solvent." He replied.

"Professor Snape said that he had tried a couple of common ones but that one he hadn't tried yet because the ingredients were rare and quite expensive, he would rather ask us to undo it first." Fred added.

"He said that?"

"Erm, no. Dunderheads?" He looked at his twin.

"Niffler for brains, he was quite insistent." The other smirked.

"And?"

"We don't know if it worked, Professor Dumbledore sent us away because we were damaging Professor Snape's calm and ability to see the obvious solution.'' Both twins were grinning broadly.

Minerva couldn't take it any longer, her shoulders shook and a trembling hand rose to cover her mouth, her wheezy chuckle caused Fred and George to laugh then Minerva broke down, she tipped her head back and roared with laughter.

Tears streamed down her face before she regained her composure and dignity. Her stern disciplinarian mask firmly back in place again she gestured to the two chairs in front of her desk.

"Have a seat boys, Merlin but I have been holding that in for hours. There has been some very fancy spell work this year, in fact since you arrived at Hogwarts."

"Th- tha- thank you Professor." They exchanged confused looks.

"I've got a proposition for the pair of you, or one of you it's your choice. You are both talented enough to succeed in any one of several subjects. I don't want an answer now but would you consider accepting positions as apprentices? With a view to completing a transfiguration mastery, after your NEWTs of course but I would be remiss in my role of transfiguration professor if I didn't try and cultivate the next generation."

Silence filled the room as she looked as smug as any cat with a bowl of cream and watched the gobsmacked expressions of her students.

"It will require consistent, intense work from you both but the potential is there if you have the will to match it. Now, I don't expect the pranks or behaviour to change all that much but I would ask that you don't make my position difficult if I were to offer apprenticeships. Let me know by the end of the year and I will come meet with your parents during the summer."

"Thank you Professor, I- We." One of the twins stammered but was lost for words.

"Off you go now boys, if anyone asks I gave you a week's worth of detentions. I suggest you squirrel yourselves away an hour a night and do some extra studying. In between pranks of course."

She had to apply a hearty dose of will power to keep her robes planted firmly on her padded chair as the two dumbfounded Gryffindors left. It was a struggle to keep a straight face.

Minerva huffed in amusement and stood to approach the fireplace, she summoned the floo powder jar from the mantle piece as she walked and tossed in a pinch.

"Hogwarts Quidditch Office."

She waited and chuckled slightly until the face of her friend appeared.

"Hello Minnie, am I late?"

"No Rolanda, I want to change our venue. I have a story to tell you about Severus and want to tell Poppy too."

"So the Hospital Wing?"

"I'll meet you there."

—Quidditch—

The Weasley twins decided that enough was enough and Alicia's protective dorm mates over-protection had to be circumvented. They loitered outside the girls changing rooms after quidditch practice instead of trying to catch her alone at the castle.

Katie and Angelina were the first ones out and watched in amusement as Alicia was lifted by her armpits when she exited behind them and was carried back inside.

As the twins manoeuvre her through the door Alicia called to her fellow chasers.

"I guess I'm staying here, see you later!"

As the door swung shut, they could hear the girl's laughter through the wood.

"It's about time you both thought to talk to me." Alicia addressed the two boys, arms crossed.

Fred sighed and looked at George, George licked his lips and sat down.

"I've had some time to think about that night, about what I did and why, did Angie tell you what I talked to her about?" George asked.

"Not really, only that you did and she really did think that you were sorry."

"I am, I feel terrible, we," George glanced at his brother who nodded, "feel terrible. We ah, we asked Dumbledore and Pomfrey to look at our twin bond earlier this week. They said it's so strong that our souls have almost merged."

"We feel what each other feels, see each other's memories, emotions." Fred said.

Alicia gaped at them, eyes wide in astonishment.

"I'm not sure I've ever told you before Allie," Fred continued, "but we sometimes get confused who we are. I have an intense attraction to both you and Angie, and we foolishly decided that as we are almost one it really didn't matter which girlfriend we were with.

"You needed me that night and I wasn't there so George stepped up. We didn't consider the consequences as it had happened before and there had been no downside. We're both sorry Allie, it's, it's difficult to control at times, I've got the memories of that night. Hearing Angie outside and you pushing me away."

"That's really weird." Alicia whispered.

"It is, be angry at me and George. That's your right but at least understand our side. We really didn't, don't want to hurt you."

"I, I need time to process this. I'll get back to you both later."

Alicia bolted out of the door and the boys looked at each other, they huffed out a breath simultaneously.

"Well at least she didn't scream."

"Or throw things."

—Quidditch—

"Ginny!" Romilda hissed, "we need to do something. It's been over a month since we pranked her and she's still with him."

Ginny didn't react right away to the sudden exclamation, she twitched slightly but kept writing her thoughts down on the parchment before her. She had been struggling to concentrate more and more lately and it was becoming a concern. A brain fog that grew thicker as the weeks passed.

Potions were complicated and she hated Snape.

Romilda had been a dominating force in their friendship before Harry started to go out with Katie Bell but she had been more vicious over the last few weeks if Ginny was honest she'd rather have dropped it, she knew that Harry would be hers in time, Katie would be kicked to the side eventually. Harry would tire of her and Ginny's hero would return to her.

Her White Knight.

She needed him to help her, to save her.

She stared down at her hands and watched them tremble, she had been thinking that something wasn't right. She felt shaky and small ever since Tom last year had ripped herself apart, she could feel the shreds slip through her fingers. Diminished.

Romilda wasn't helping.

"Ginny," the sibilant hiss sounded like it was about to move from impatient to rage.

"What Rommy?" Ginny asked, she was surprised how tired she sounded.

"We need to do something, something big, something dramatic!" Passion laced Romilda's voice and she began to rise.

Ginny hushed her and pulled her back into her seat. "Keep it down, we'll get caught!"

"There's no one here. Only your brother and what's he going to do."

They glanced at Ron as he muttered to himself over a chess board, he moved a piece then spun the board and scratched his head at the black pieces.

"Is he playing by himself? Weirdo." Romilda scoffed.

"He says it's the only time he gets beaten. But yes he's a weirdo. Listen Rommy, I don't know if I want to prank Katie anymore. It doesn't feel right."

Ginny was staring at her hands, her fingers were trembling again. She missed a malicious spark in Romilda's eyes.

"Don't you dare back out now Weasley, we can do this!" Romilda hissed, "we only have to do one or two more and she might even leave the castle."

"W- what were you thinking?"

Ginny picked at her nails and felt tears well up.

This was all wrong. All wrong.

She might need a hero again.

"Carmen has an idea. This will need all four of us to pull off, and with the pranks happening more and more the Slytherins will take the blame."

"A prank on Katie alone will be blamed on the Snakes?" Ginny asked, confused.

"A prank? Of course a prank, we'll make it look like the other chasers are the target." Romilda hands had balled into fists at the thought, she crumpled up the essay she had just finished.

Carmen and Isabel came down the staircase for the girls dorm tower and sat at the table without an invite.

"So are we doing it?" Carmen asked.

"Doing what?" Ginny asked. Dread pooled in her stomach.

"I was talking to my uncle Artie at Christmas about Bell, he was telling me about darts from Africa with an er, potion in them which makes people do, er silly things.." Romilda had a funny look on her face.

"That doesn't sound very legal." Isabel said a slight tremble in her voice.

"Oh, it's not illegal." Romilda said airily.

"So we get the darts and brew a potion to make them do something silly, all that research we did to make her do something silly?" Carmen asked.

"Not silly exactly. We want Bell out of the way don't we. Out of the castle would be best."

"And how won't we be caught?" Ginny asked.

"I told you with this prank war going and Slytherin trying to win the quidditch cup by any means they will be blamed." Romilda sounded very convincing.

"Lets do it." Carmen said with confidence.

"Yeah okay," Isabel was less sure.

Three heads turned toward Ginny. She gulped and felt light headed.

"O, okay."

This didn't seem right. She didn't feel right. Not at all.

Brian appeared from behind Ginny and spoke too loudly, all four girls jumped.

"Blame the Slytherins for what?"

"Brian!" All four girls shrieked and stomped off.

Brian was left alone at an empty table, utterly confused and decided that girls were weird.

—Quidditch—

Ron Weasley wasn't a complicated boy, offer him a game of chess or a quidditch magazine and his night was perfect. He was in the process of setting up his chess pieces while he waited for his next victim to arrive when he heard whispering.

The natural inclination of anyone within earshot of a whispered conversation is to get in a position to earwig the information.

From his place on the middle cushion of the largest sofa in the room, a coffee table pulled in front of him, he was in the prime location to see all the comings and goings in the common room.

He looked down at his current game, with himself. Surprised at the ease with which he was beating himself, he looked around the room again.

At eight thirty seven on a Tuesday night there was a perfect storm of clubs, panicked last minute homework, early birds heading to bed and astronomy classes meant that there was a grand total of ten people present.

Ron had seen his sister and her little group of friends clustered around a table at the back of the room, faces lit from beneath by candle light gave them a sinister look.

Dean had promised him a better game that a few weeks ago when Ron had beaten him like a drum but had gone for a shower before his impending defeat. This had left Ron bored before but now he was curious.

He considered his options, as much as he wanted to know what his sister felt so important to whisper he really didn't want to be caught. Her Bat Bogies were lethal. A long arm snaked down to his book bag behind the sofa and pulled out an extendable ear. This was still an experimental model, a prototype Fred called it, high noises and shouting caused it to hiss in the ear and you had to get really close to hear a whisper.

Ron uncoiled the flesh pink cord then tapped it with his wand. The quite realistic looking ear perked up like a funny shaped cobra rearing back to strike and turned in the direction that his wand pointed. He pushed his wand forward and with the occasional waggle he guided it around table legs and under sofas. He watched Ginny's friend Brian Chinderford approach on tiptoes and heard him say two words before the ear burst into static.

"Blame Slytherin…"

Ron sat still for five seconds, grinned, then abandoned his game and ran for the staircase and the third year dorm room where he knew Harry was getting ready for bed.

He burst through the door and scared the hell out of Neville who had been about to open it from the other side.

"Soz Nev, where's Harry?"

Neville clasped one hand to his chest and pointed the other one at the close bathroom door.

Ron grabbed the door handle but found it was locked.

He pounded his fist on the wood. "Harry!"

"Argh! Bloody hell, what you wanker? You've just made me squirt my shampoo everywhere."

Ron tried to swallow his laughter and managed to say, "I've just heard something!"

"That's great, piss off until I've finished my shower, I'll be out in a minute."

—Quidditch—

Harry sat on his bed, towel wedged in his ear in an attempt to get all the water out of it and tried to concentrate on Ron's story.

"You're telling me that you think Ginny and Romilda are the leaders of the Hogwarts Harry Potter Appreciation Society and all the pranks are masterminded by Hermione?"

"Yes! It makes perfect sense!"

"Our friend Hermione? The genius?"

"Yes!"

"Our friend Hermione who likes Katie?"

"Yes?" Ron sounded less sure of himself.

Neville held up a hand from his position leaning against his four poster bed.

"You said all you heard was, blame Slytherin?"

"Yes." Ron agreed.

"So where did Hermione come into it?" Neville asked perplexed.

"Er," Ron looked confused. "You said she was teaching Romilda a switching spell before Christmas, Harry."

"Nah!" Harry and Neville said together.

"Night Ron." Harry said as he pulled his curtains closed.

"Why are you going to bed now?"

"Ollie wants us up at five."

Harry heard muttering as he settled into his pillow.

"I take it back, I will not be trying out next year if he does that too."

Neville snorted. "You're not up early enough for breakfast. Oi!"

"Can I have my pillow back please Nev." Ron asked innocently.

"No. It's mine now."

Harry heard more curtains being drawn and more muttering from Ron.

"Bugger."

Harry listened to Ron bumble around and his mind started to churn.

Hermione eh?

—Quidditch—

The next morning, Harry is even more confused. By lunch he was almost certain.

Hermione? No, surely not.

Harry put his fork down and rested his cheek on his fist, lunch forgotten.

He missed Ron smirk aimed at the side of his head.

His eyes drifted across his classmates' faces until he reached the one on his mind.

Hermione had commandeered an empty jug as a book stand and was absently spooning soup into her mouth. Eyes relentless.

Harry squinted and tilted his head trying to see if a mastermind lurked behind the innocent mask before him.

"Hmmm," it was just a random noise that emerged as his mind mulled over the incomplete information he had.

Unfortunately for him Katie was less distracted and drawn by the noise proceeded to watch him for the next minute as he squinted his eyes to varying degrees and moved his head like he was hunting for a snitch.

"Harry?"

"Hmmm," he said again.

"Harry," she said again. Then in a much louder and angrier voice continued. "Harry, why are you staring at Hermione?"

Twenty heads turned his way including Hermione.

Harry turned his head so fast he hurt himself.

"Ahh," he gasped and clamped a hand over his neck. He alternated a panicked gaze between Katie and Hermione then bent over his plate in pain.

"Well?" Katie said imperiously.

"Herm, I was, ow, that hurts."

"I'm waiting."

Harry glanced around and felt trapped. He glanced at Ron who had gone red for some reason.

"You were staring at me?" Hermione demanded from across the table.

"You had a bug in your hair and I was wondering if it could be an animagus." Harry said lamely.

Even the first years looked unimpressed.

Katie leant in and took a good look at Harry's face. She harrumphed but went back to the beef.

"I don't have time to sit here and listen to you lie, Romilda and Brian have asked me to help." Hermione sniffed at him and left with her nose held high.

"Help them do what?" Harry asks a few seconds too late.

Harry gaped after her helplessly. He turned to look at Katie again and gasped in pain as his neck flared.

She gave him a flat unfriendly look before a fly buzzed across the table and his story was bought for about half a minute until Harry released a sigh of relief. Unfortunately Katie heard him and turned on him.

"I knew it!"

"I was breathing!"

"No one breathes that loud, you're guilty of something!"

"I breathe too loud now? I'm not sitting here." Harry collected his plate and moved down to sit five seats further down. He had just sat when he realised they were second year Gryffindor girls. The look Katie shot him was a nasty one.

His neck throbbed.

"Hi Harry." Ginny and Romilda said in stereo.

"Er, hi." He shifted his gaze to the nearest escape route and tried to judge the distance over several first years.

"How do you like the beef?" Ginny asked with a too cheery smile on her face.

Romilda tried to be subtle as she rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"I dunno, I've got the chicken today, Gin."

They both looked down at his plate at the chicken pie he had drowned in gravy.

"Oh, Erm yes I see that. Nice pie?" Her cheery grin became fixed.

"Sorry I'm not in the mood to talk, I've got to get to the Hospital Wing anyway."

He demolished his remaining pie and rose to collect his bag from where he had left it by Katie's seat. She gave him another filthy glare so he flicked his eyes to her twice and tried to ignore her as he hustled out of the great hall.

"The twins will know what to do."

—Quidditch—

Hermione mulled over Harry's strange behaviour all afternoon, it was as if he suspected her of something.

No, maybe.

The well worn path from the library to the common room was completed on auto pilot as she pondered.

The common room was packed, this time on a Friday night it always was. She spotted her target in 'his and Katie's' armchair except this time he was alone apart from a book. She watched him as she approached and felt her irritation lessen as he chewed his lip and turned a page.

Harry glanced up then back down and froze, Hermione frowned.

What the hell was going on?

"Hi Harry."

"Need a wee." He was up and across the room before she had time to say anything else.

She picked up his abandoned book and frowned again, this time at the title.

Spying charms and security jinxes by Irma Outagetyou.

Hermione sank into his now vacant chair and stared at the boy's staircase and scratched at her chin contemplatively and drummed her fingers gently on the book in her lap.

—Quidditch—

George kept what he clearly judged to be a respectful distance from Angelina, it was as difficult for her as it had been for him, they had lived in each other's pockets for most of the last two years.

For almost a month now she had noticed a gradual thawing of her feelings towards him and found herself grinning at his antics despite herself. The anger was harder to keep hold of and the bitterness was almost non-existent.

Saturday had blossomed bright and clear by the time a rather intense training session had finished and she found herself beside him as they returned to the castle.

"Angie, can we talk?" George asked, his voice strained.

She had thought he would have asked last week but he hadn't, admittedly she had said she would talk to him but each time she thought about it something stopped her. Each class they shared he had nodded respectfully, kept his distance and only spoken when she had asked him a direct question.

She chewed on her lower lip for a second and nodded. She held out her hand to him which he took and she led him to the bench under the shade of a massive oak tree, they sat at the same time, hands still clasped and Angelina worried her lip again. She let go of his hand and scooted to the far end of the bench, both to give herself space and so she could see him.

"I'm not angry anymore, I can never keep hold of it, mums the same. Just disappointed I guess. I thought we had something."

"We do, I think we do, I can tell because it feels like my heart has been ripped out. I'm so sorry that I hurt you, so sorry that we- I did it and if you give me another chance I will never do it again."

"But why George?" He had told her his thoughts weeks ago but.

"Fred's attraction to Alicia has been leaking through to me, I know it's wrong but it also feels so right. I'm so sorry." George's expression fell in waves until it was a series of sad creases lining his face. It didn't suit him and Angelina felt sympathy swell in her against her will.

Angelina sighed, shifted until she was straddling the bench and slid back along until she was flush against him, one leg behind sticking through the gap between the backrest and the seat, the other across his lap, his hands lifted to caress her leg through her robes and she sighed again. She nuzzled his cheek, his neck and pressed a kiss under his ear.

"Should we lay some ground rules?" Angelina asked softly.

"It's probably a good idea, I want you to be able to trust me again." George had recovered his composure at her touch, her kiss and she could tell that he was sitting taller.

"You and me and no one else."

"Non-negotiable." George agreed.

"I want some time for just you and me, like Lightning-Bluebell." Angelina smirked.

George snorted. "I will not be calling them that, she's touchy about her nicknames. Yes I'd like that too, I'll make the time."

"And I want a special date or two, like we used to do." Her tone became soft again.

"The princess treatment or common pub wench?" George asked, his lips quirked.

"Surprise me stud," Angelina stroked his cheek and pulled his head around into a searing kiss.

"So,"he mumbled against her lip, "am I forgiven?"

"I'll let you know." She replied as she shifted position to straddle his lap and slid her arm up to encircle his neck.

—Quidditch—

Hermione was now suspicious of Harry and it aggravated her to no end. He left when she arrived, he had stopped coming to lunch and barely ate dinner. Katie was as confused as she was when she asked.

She was currently waiting for Ron to return with the Marauders map he was stealing from Harry's trunk.

Stealing is a harsh word. It was for his own good, and her and Katie's.

Ron came down to the deserted common room and spread the map on 'Hermione's' homework table and she withdrew her wand.

"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good."

As the map drew itself Ron gave her a few surreptitious glances.

"So, you're looking for Harry?"

"Yes, I told you." Hermione replied as she leant forward.

"What do you think he's up to?"

"I think he's been told something untrue."

"Yeah like what?" Ron sounded strained, like he was trying not to laugh.

"I think he suspects me of the prank on Katie."

Ron definitely suppressed a snigger.

"Dunno, he was acting weird the other night."

"Weird how?" She turned her suspicious gaze on him and he squirmed.

"Oh you know. Muttering something about a mastermind. I could hear him in bed."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him.

"Oh look, there he is. In the library when the twins."

"Is this you getting him back for the Valentine's Day sock incident?"

Ron went bright tomato red. "No! I'll just put this back shall I? Maybe I can find Scabbers!"

He grabbed the map and darted up the stairs before she could say anything.

Hermione smirked, stood and picked up her bag, she needed to get a book anyway.

—Quidditch—

"Hi Harry," Hermione said casually.

The three boys looked up to see Hermione standing at their table gazing down at the numerous sheets of parchment.

"Er, Hi Hermione." Harry said evasively.

Fred and George began pulling parchment towards them into messy piles and shoving them into their book bags.

"Why are you avoiding me Harry?" Hermione asked him directly.

"Avoid you? Why would I avoid you? You're my best friend. I would never avoid you." Harry stammered eyes growing as large as dinner plates.

"Yes we are friends Harry, best friends. We've been friends for a long time, haven't we, Harry." Hermione sat at the table and deliberately crossed her arms, she leant forward and put some emphasis into her next words. "Do you know what I know about you, Harry?"

He shook his head.

"When you try to lie you repeat yourself." Hermione calmly told him. "You two may leave. I only need boy wonder here."

The identical looks of relief on the Weasley twins' faces were as comical as the speed of their exit.

"Brave souls, us Fred."

"We're not scared of a little third year girl, are we George."

"Definitely not Fred."

They exchange a glance and they both shudder.

"Shall we prank some Puffs to reassert our manliness?"

"Better yet. Slytherins. The fourth years are getting too big for their boots."

—Quidditch—

"Why?" Hermione asked Harry as he sat at the table the twins had evacuated.

"I'm not." Harry said while staring at a pillar just behind Hermione's head.

"This is because of what happened to Katie isn't it."

"You helped Ginny didn't you?" Harry finally blurted out.

"Oh Harry." Hermione sighed. "Why didn't you ask me before?"

"I was scared of what you might say." Harry sighed, "I'm happy with Katie. We spend a lot of time together and," he trailed off.

"You thought I might be jealous?" Hermione said her voice softened and she smiled. "Katie is the best thing to happen to you. I wouldn't get in the way of that, besides you're my little brother. I know you wouldn't leave me behind either. You're too loyal for that. You could have been in Hufflepuff."

"Hey, steady on. There's no need to be insulting!" Harry sat up in faux outrage.

Hermione laughed at him.

"Come on. I'll tell you what happened while we go find those two idiots, I think I know who you should be after and it's not me." Hermione said.

Harry took a breath and decided to throw Ron under the bus. "Ron told me that you were the mastermind."

"He mentioned that he had heard you muttering about it. This is him pranking you for the socks."

Harry's jaw dropped. "That sneaky bastard. I never thought he had it in him."

"Me too, was it a rambling explanation?"

"He'd heard two words that Brian Chinderford repeated. Blame Slytherin, then proceeded to make up this random totally out there conspiracy about you masterminding the Harry Potter Appreciation Society. Both Nev and I didn't believe him. I just couldn't shake it. Sorry."

""You should know better than to listen to him when he's gossiping."

"I didn't, I just couldn't shake the thought. Sorry."

They left the room arm in arm as Hermione told the tale of four jealous girls she had been piecing together over the last few days.

—Quidditch—

"Soppy!"

Pop.

"Hellos studency, how can Soppy be helping yous?"

"Here you go Soppy, your very own Skiving snack box, it's a prototype but everything works. Go well and prank everyone."

"Nasty Slytherinses kicked Soppy twice. I'll show them." Soppy glowered.

Fred and George looked at each other, eyebrows in their hairlines.

"Er, Soppy, we've got a proposition for you." Fred said.

"Would you like to really mess with the Slytherins? The fourth years?"

Bright hopeful eyes peered up at them.

"Can you bring the fourth year shampoo bottles? We'll do the pranking so you're not involved more than transporting." George asked.

"Now?"

"If you would."

Soppy clicked her fingers. And ten shampoo bottles appeared before them.

"Bonza."

George pulled a vial out of his pocket with a muggle liquid dropper complete with a bulbous squeezy rubber top.

Fred unscrewed each lid and held out the bottle for George to squeeze out three drops, the lid was replaced and he gave the bottle a good shake.

Ten minutes later and they were done.

"Soppy if you would."

Soppy gave them a conspiratorial nod and clicked her fingers. She disappeared with all the shampoo bottles.

"Feel your manliness come back?" Fred asked.

George smirked.

Soppy popped back.

"Done, can Soppy ask, what happens?"

"Take a seat young elf and we will astound you."

Fred waved a hand over their classroom full of tables and chairs and Soppy popped onto a desk and sat down Indian style.

It was slightly unnerving to see those massive eyes stare without blinking.

"Those bottles were the shampoo of the fourth year Slytherins. Every-time they wash their hair the girls will have red and gold makeup half an hour after their hair dries. A full face. Red and gold eyeshadow, a light dusting of red on their cheeks and gold lipstick. Very stylish." He smirked. "If they wash it off it will reappear half an hour later. If they vanish it they can't apply any makeup at all for half an hour and then the red and gold comes back."

Soppy stared wide eyed but didn't speak.

"It will only last a day then fade, but it's reapplied when they wash their hair the next time. Until the bottle is empty." George continued. "The boys' shampoo will only affect those who use hair gel. It will streak red and gold. If they shave it off or it touches the floor then the magic is satisfied and goes back to normal. Until they wash their hair again."

Soppy cheered with her arms in the air.

"Nasty wizards deserve to be red and gold."

—Quidditch—

The next morning dinner was a noisy affair. Ten students gathered around Severus Snape at the head table demanding to know why they were red and gold and why it wouldn't stop.

"I've washed my hair ten times today and it won't go away!"

"Weasley!" Warrington shrieked. I'll get you for this," his words were cut off.

Professor Snape had waved his wand and silenced all the students gathered around him.

He raised an eyebrow and waited for all their attention to be switched to him. It took a good minute for Warrington to calm down enough so that the elbow in the ribs from Smith gained his attention.

"I will be finishing my meal before I look into this." He paused and sneered at Warrington's bright hair. "I will then be walking down to my potions lab, you may finish your dinner or go wait for me outside my lab. In either event you will not be standing there staring at me."

He cast a dark look across the rest of the houses who were valiantly trying to not snigger into their goblets. He saved an especially vicious glare at the Weasley twins who were looking far too jolly.

As the fourth year Slytherins reluctantly sat at their table Severus heard Septima and Bathsheba gossiping and he rolled his eyes.

"It looks like the Weasley boys have been forgiven by their girls, and it's before the end of the year, you owe me three sickles Batty."

"I owe you no such thing. The bet was both couples are back together by the summer. There's no evidence that they're back together. And don't call me that Tima."

—Quidditch—

"It wasn't a bad fall, I'm fine!" Harry protested as he was helped along by Fred and George.

"You can't put weight on it, you can't even walk." Katie argued from behind him.

Oliver shook his head at his seekers' antics. He really didn't like the Hospital Wing. He couldn't blame him really. It was the smell that put Oliver off, that and the memory of Katie unconscious and far too still.

"Oh yes I can." He snapped back.

"Well go on then."

They all stopped and waited.

"Ow, okay I might have tweaked it. I've got some essence of murtlap in my trunk. I can just use that."

They had reached the third floor corridor, at the other end were the Hospital Wing doors. There was a flurry of motion, and a chorus of "ows," came from the girls.

"Angie? You alright." Oliver asked. He was bringing up the rear and saw her stagger.

"Something stings." She slurred as she rubbed her neck and pulled out a tiny black and green dart.

Harry, George and Fred turn to see the girl look confused, anxious and panicky.

Katie looked around blankly and she turned and gave Oliver such a vulnerable look if took his breath away.

"Ollie?"

He stepped forward and put his arm around her shoulder in comfort.

"Come on let's get you to the-"

Suddenly a shriek echoed down the corridor and everyone froze.

"Kill yourself! Jump over the balcony!"

The next few seconds were action packed.

With heart rending shrieks, all three girls broke into a run.

Oliver was on the back foot, Katie had literally given him a shove to propel herself forward.

Angelina and Alicia surged around the three boys in front of them. Fred snagged Alicia's robes but she slipped out for them and continued her head long dash toward the on-rushing balcony.

Angelina was hugged by George and as he had a more substantial grip than Fred did she dragged him along for a few steps before a swinging elbow put him down on the ground. As he fell she caught him in the nose with her heel which split and blood fountained down his robes.

George scrambled on hands and knees before he could regain his footing and managed to draw his wand. He stunned her just as she mounted the balcony and slowly toppled over, he lunged and managed to catch her foot, he dropped his wand to hold her with both hands and struggled mightily to pull her deadweight back to safety.

Fred managed to avoid several flying elbows from Alicia, grab a fistful of her shirt, apply enough force to pull her backward and slip his other arm over her shoulder and across her body. Her nail dug into his skin and the noise the pair were making could have raised the dead. She screamed and clawed at him with one hand and scrabbled at the stone railing with the other, two of her nails shattered at the effort.

Harry was a few paces behind yelling in agony as he hobbled to keep up. He couldn't see Katie but he could see George and Angelina and threw his entire being into dragging her back over.

Katie had found clean air and made best use of it, she had her foot on the balcony and was powering forward when the magic wore off and momentum took over. She shrieked in terror and pinwheeled her arms backwards as she fell.

In a blur of motion Oliver was over the balcony before his broom was under him. The magic engaged and provided lift as he wrapped an arm around Katie's waist and hugged her to his chest.

Their flight lasted two seconds and by the time he was back on the third floor she sobbed and clung to him like a distraught toddler.

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" Katie sobbed.

Oliver peered over Katie's shoulder at the drop beyond the balcony, It was a good thirty metres.

A long way down.

The magic wore off the girls at the same time.

Alicia wide eyed in panic clung onto Fred in a death grip and seeing that Fred had her in hand Oliver transferred his attention to George and Angelina they were on the floor Angelina was unconscious and George was panting, lying flat on his back.

Harry and fallen in an uncoordinated heap, face deathly pale.

"Alright there Harry?" Oliver asked.

"I think I might need to see Madam Pomfrey, also I might have pee'd myself."

Oliver huffed a laugh then his face turned sombre then drew his wand.

"Accio dart."

Three darts zoomed towards him. Two from the corridor they had run through and a third from Katie's robes.

Oliver patted Katie on the back gently then she seemed to come to herself she moved to Harry in a tear streaked blur to impact with Harry as he sat up, she wailed into his shoulder.

George pulled himself Into a sitting position, blood streaming everywhere and aimed his wand at Angelina's chest and intoned "Enervate."

Angelina went from being drowsy and out of it to climbing the balcony again before George managed to dragged her back until she came back to herself.

"What just happened?" She asked.

Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall hurried out of the hospital wing to see what the commotion was and stopped aghast.

"A prank." Fred said.

"That wasn't a prank." Harry snarled as he cradled Katie in his arms.

"No, this was attempted murder," Oliver muttered darkly.

"I say, Minerva!" Professor Flitwick hurried along the corridor, in the distance Professor Dumbledore rounded the corner and hurried over.

"Let's get you all inside." Madam Pomfrey stepped forward and took charge.

"Filius, can you help Miss Bell?"

Fred stood with Alicia in his arms and Madam Pomfrey nodded acceptance at him.

George lay still with Angelina pressed into his side, he pinched his nose to try and stem the blood.

"Did I do that?" She asked him quietly.

"Don't worry about it Angie. You weren't yourself."

"Albus, can you assist Miss Johnson while I see to Mr Weasley." Madam Pomfrey continued.

"Of course Poppy, come along dear. We'll soon get you situated."

The headmaster bent to assist Angelina to rise and madam Pomfrey cast a detection charm over George and muttered to herself.

"Concussion and a broken nose."

She cast the detection charm on Alicia and she paused before casting it again.

"Headmaster, I would appreciate it if you summoned Severus."

"Of course Poppy may I ask why?"

Madam Pomfrey didn't reply straight away, she proceeded to cast the detection charm on every student present and huffed.

Professor Dumbledore waved his wand and a patronus appeared, the goat stared into the headmaster's eyes, nodded once and trotted on silent hooves down the hall.

"The young ladies have been poisoned by something strange. Mr Potter has a broken ankle and I'm assuming that he's just made it worse, Mr Weasley has a broken nose and a severe concussion and his brother has deep lacerations to his forearm. My word."

"To your duty please Poppy," Professor McGonagall said, "Mr Wood, seen as though you have escaped serious injury would you care to explain recent events." Her Scottish brogue thick with emotion and stress.

"Harry had a bad fall, we were bringing him here when Angie, Katie and Allie were shot with these."

Oliver held up his hand and showed the darts that rested on his palm to the gathered professors.

"I was at the back and watch Angie stagger like she was drunk, as we were trying to figure out what was going on and help them, a horrible shriek said kill yourself, jump over the balcony."

"I think the whole castle heard that Mr Wood," Professor McGonagall said.

"Then it was a mad scramble to get to them before they jumped over." Oliver choked on the last word as he indicated the balcony and Professor Dumbledore placed a hand on his shoulder. "I didn't see much of the others. I was trying to get Katie, she jumped and I think came back to herself as she stood on the balcony. Her scream was horrible. I had my broom in hand and managed to catch her. George managed to stun Angelina, Harry helped him pull her back over by one foot. Did she kick you George?"

"Yeah," he groaned. "But after she elbowed me in the head."

"Sorry," she called but he had been put to sleep by Madam Pomfrey.

"I apologise, Miss Johnson but he really needs to sleep."

Angelina didn't reply but she didn't look worried.

"I'll go floo call the parents and the aurors Albus."

The headmaster opened his mouth, paused then nodded.

"Yes of course, this is worth reporting."

Severus entered the Hospital Wing and paused at Professor Dumbledore's side. An inclined head at the school nurse caused the potions master to carry on.

"Poppy."

"It's some kind of poison Severus, maybe African. I believe Mr Wood has the delivery system."

Oliver levitated the three darts across to Professor Snape who offered him a nod of appreciation.

A conjured vial later and the Potions Professor strode away, robes billowing behind him.

"Very well done Mr Wood, I'm proud of all of you."

Once his team was situated and in a bed, Oliver felt drained and out of sorts himself. Blindly he lowered himself into a chair only to miss and end up on the floor next to Fred's bed.

"Are you quite well Mr Wood?"

"I'm, I'm fine Madam Pomfrey. It's been a really weird morning. Just a shock I think."

"I'm sure you don't want to leave yet, take that bed there and stay as long as you need." Madam Pomfrey indicated the bed he was sitting underneath.

"I'm alright Madam, I'm alright." Oliver stood and let out a slow breath, "maybe five minutes."

Oliver sat on the bed and contemplated the pillow, it was calling to him.

Due to the nature of the incident and the trauma it caused, it was decided that everyone bar Oliver and should be kept in the Hospital Wing overnight, after the aurors visited.

As Oliver was escorted by the Auror who's name he didn't catch he caught a flicker of movement in the corner of his vision.

He flicked his head and saw Alicia gesture to one of the twins.

Oliver sighed. That might be good or bad, either way it was going to be resolved.

—Quidditch—

Fred Idlily scratched at his bandaged arm, it didn't really ease the itching but it was something to do. An elbow nudged his good arm and he looked at his brother.

George didn't say a word. He didn't have to, a slight nod towards Alicia caused him to rise, she was meeting his eyes for the first time in weeks.

It was time.

The verdict was in.

Fred stood and moved beside Alicia's bed, she waved vaguely at the visitors chair beside her bed and smiled at him tiredly, Fred sat slowly winced as he stretched the scar on his arm.

"Muffliato." Alicia had her wand in hand.

"We can wait until you're well Allie."

"We can but it's only dragging it out, I, er, I've been doing some thinking." Alicia sniffed and a fat tear rolled down her cheek.

"I really like you. I love you, you're so funny and kind and," another tear fell. "You sometimes annoy the hell out of me. But I still love you. Oh I'm so confused. What happened really hurt, I was so angry. But you saved me so I guess I owe you an answer."

"I don't think I'm getting what I want from us, I want what Katie has with Harry, what Angie has with George."

"What? The lovey dovey stuff? Cuddles in the corridors? We've never done that."

"That's my point Freddy, I wanted that, I want that. An occasional fumble in the broom cupboard doesn't do it for me. Do you think you can do that?"

"Oh, I didn't realise, maybe?"

Alicia's face crumpled and the tears fell. Fred sat on the bed and collected her to his chest.

"I'm sorry."

She looked up at Fred and said softly. "Fred."

"You want to split up?" He asked.

"Yes, I think so."

Fred's face crumpled in stages. The tears leaked as he nodded in acceptance, even though he knew that it was coming.

He exhaled and hugged her to him, dropped his chin onto her shoulder and held her stoically as she sobbed.

T.B.C

—