((Sorry it's been forever since I updated, I feel terrible. But it's been a ride over here, finals are this week and school has been piles after piles of essays and projects. After this week I hope it will be better. Thank you so much to all the people who have followed, even in my absence. You're all very appreciated 3 Please review if you like it, or if you don't! Criticism and compliments are much appreciated))
The air was heavy as the rest of the Quidditch team stared at them, but Josie was light as both her hands were held in theirs and as they kissed her cheeks before grinning at their friends and teammates, minus the infamous Harry Potter. "Well? Spit it out." Fred said, chuckling at the sputtering Oliver Wood, the wide eyed Alicia, the dumbfounded Katie, and the slack jawed Angelina. The room erupted with sound, everyone talking at once so their words ran together into a jumble. George yelled over them, making the room fall back into silence as he, his brother and their girlfriend melted into a fit of laughter. "When did this happen?" Angelina questioned, her face a horrifying mixture of annoyance, anger and shock. "Uhm….shortly before Christmas break I suppose is when it started." Josie said softly, tightening her grip on the twin's fingers. The brush of their thumbs across the back of her hands calmed her, rough fingers over soft skin keeping her stable. "Why didn't I know this?" Alicia asked quite loudly before turning on Marina. "Did you know this?" Marina only nodded, laughing when the other girl threw up her hands in frustration. "Now you owe me and Christine. Two galleons each." Marina laughed, slinging her arm around the other girl's shoulders.
"Why does everyone bet on me?" Josie exclaimed as she hid her face into George's shoulder, the thick knit of his sweater brushing against her bright pink cheeks. She felt them shake with a chuckle beneath her. "Wait" "Which of you" "Bet against us?" the twins asked, raising a brow as Josie looked up to glance between Marina and Alicia. "I bet that she would get with you both, Christine bet that you would get with George." "She was convinced Fred would get with someone from the team." "That's code for Angelina." Josie thought as she pushed down the green demon that jumped up to take control of her. "And Alicia bet that none of you would get together." Marina said matter of factly, ignoring Alicia's interjection. "You cheated! You knew!" "Hey, I made that bet before I became friends with Josie." "And before she knew me, so no pointing fingers here." Lee added, grinning widely. "That too." Marina said with a laugh.
In the time it took Alicia to dig in her bag to begrudgingly pay Marina, Oliver had come to his senses. "So wait, you're….both dating…her." He said slowly, the thought obviously escaping the grip of his mind like a Snitch escapes a Seeker, hands gesturing between the three of them like he was instructing a play. "That's right." Fred and George said together, smirking proudly. "How...does that work?" he asked slowly, bushy brow furrowed. Fred and George chuckled as Josie rolled her eyes at the question. "It just does, she's enough to be shared. We wouldn't have it any other way." George said, smiling. "But don't you get jealous?" Angelina asked. The condescending tone in her voice sent insecurity crawling down Josie's spine, causing her to stiffen enough for the twins to take notice. "We do, but it gets handled. " "Like just now when you yelled and made a scene." Angelina replied to Josie, the coldness to her words causing the smaller girl to recoil. "Oi! It gets handled, we're fine." George's voice was harsh as it cut through the room, his body moving between the two of them as Angelina began again. "I'm just saying-"
"You're not saying anything. Every relationship has its issues. All of ours are resolved as soon as possible. If you're not with us through it then keep it shut." All eyes were on Fred after his outburst, his voice still echoing off the walls as Angelina turned on her heel and stalked up the stairs back to her dorm. It was silent for a long time before George spoke up again, drawing the shifting student's attention. "If this could not be known by the entire school tomorrow morning, that would be fantastic."
"So when are you going to be public?" Marina asks, raising a brow. "When they figure it out." Josie said, smiling a bit and leaning into Fred as he wrapped both his arms around her waist. "We won't hide; we just won't be over-zealous about it." Oliver Wood smiled a bit, rubbing the short stubs of brown that sprouted from his head. "Just don't let this distract you from the match. We're going against Slytherin and we can't afford t-" "We got it Wood." The twins said together, cutting of their captain.
The match against Slytherin drew nearer and nearer until it finally was upon them. The team had seemed to have entirely forgotten about the odd romantic trio of Fred, George and Josie as their minds focused on winning the cup. The night before the match the team gathered in the common room to be together, and so Wood could yell at them about winning one more time and re-plan their strategy for the hundredth him. Josie was wary of going into the common room, not wanting to distract them from their work; or be near Angelina. She didn't think that Angelina hated her, but the air around the two of them had been thick since that night. It wasn't comfortable, and it wasn't what Josie or the twins needed before the match. It wasn't until Marina near dragged her down the stairs after Angelina had gone to bed that she got to be near them for the first time all week, the team sticking together most of the time and causing Josie to avoid them so there would be no confrontation to throw them off. She had kept as much to herself as possible, avoiding the team and the Slytherin house members that had taken it upon themselves to torment Gryffindor house. She had fought against the idea of being apart, but the twins had convinced them it was for her safety.
Alicia and Katie were sitting in the floor in front of the fireplace, the twins strewn across the couches talking loudly. Wood sat on the floor, slaving away over a small mockup of the Quidditch field and muttering to himself aggressively. As soon as she appeared in the staircase Alicia and Katie slowed their laughing to look at her, their expressions neither disappointed nor excited. The raise of their brows hinted towards intrigue. Fred and George followed their gaze, freckled skin breaking out into wide grins as they sat up strait and called out her name loud enough to snap Wood from his Quidditch trance. The team captain smiled gently at her as she walked towards Fred and George, easing her nerves a bit. If Oliver Wood could smile at her presence at a time like this, then should be able to get over her nerves to be with her boyfriends.
As she stood behind the couch and looked down at them she felt the nerves fade away, both boys grinning up at her cheerfully. "Hi." She said softly, eyes moving downward to watch her fingers messing with the couch cushions. "Hi." They returned in unison, Fred grabbing her arm to pull her around to the front of the couch and in between them. Alicia and Katie smiled at her, watching as both boys wrapped an arm around Josie's waist and moved in closer, just enough that their hips touched. Josie caught their exchange of giddy glances, smiling at each other as they covered their mouths and giggled. "How is everyone?" Josie asked shyly, her voice barely breaking a whisper before she cleared her throat to finish her sentence. "Good." "Fine." Came the echo of responses, Josie's hands balled in her skirt at the awkwardness of the situation. "How 're you Wood?" Fred asked playfully, leaning his head back to look at his place in the floor. All that was returned was a grunt. The five of them around the couch burst into laughter, the air turning light as it rose to the ceiling.
Soon enough candy was broken out, the five of them sharing a bag of toffee as they talked together, conversing about the match and Oliver's over stressed state until Wood ordered all of them into bed. Alicia and Katie left quickly, Josie and the twins loitering around the staircase entrance until the room became empty so they could wrap her in their arms to press their lips to hers. Fred lingered on her, kissing her shortly again before completely pulling away so she could pull George into a kiss and ruffle her fingers through his hair. "Good to see you." They said together after they had broken away, chuckling at her flushed cheeks. "Yeah, sorry about that…" she muttered, looking away shyly. "Don't worry about it, we encouraged you." "Slytherin has been starting fights with Gryffindor." "We didn't want you to get involved with it." "We need our good luck charm." Their words eased her heart's rhythm, a smile creeping up onto her lips at the title given to her. They always made her feel better, despite all other circumstances."Don't worry about Angelina, she'll get over it." "No idea why she's pissed, but she'll get over it." Josie sighed, shifting awkwardly. "Thanks boys." They each kissed both her cheeks before she did the same to theirs, smiling at them as she disappeared up the staircase to rest for tomorrow.
The next morning Josie woke up early to get ready and meet the twins before the team all filed down to the Great Hall, waiting in the common room with a book in her lap as people passed excitedly on the way to breakfast. When she heard the rambunctious laughter floating down the book was snapped shut, the boots of her heels clunking against the floor as she moved to meet them at the entryway. Oliver trailed behind them with Lee, but Josie didn't stop him when George wrapped his arms around her waist to pick her up and press his lips to hers, spinning her around to set her on her feet in front of Fred so he could do the same.
"Good luck!" she exclaimed as they let go of her, throwing her arms around their necks and kissing them each on a cheek before leaving them to gather with their team before heading down to the Great Hall. Josie made her way down the staircase, her fingers tracing the cool marble of the railing as she listened to the roar of students echoing off the walls. She soon sat down on the end of the table closest to the door and began to eat breakfast, silently watching the people around them as she ate and waited for the team to make its appearance. Minutes later the team appeared in full glory, the Gryffindor table erupting in thunderous applause as they sat, the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff table's cheers drowning out Slytherin's jeers towards the soon-to-be winning Gryffindor Quidditch team; she caught sight of Paxton standing on the Ravenclaw table to whistle loudly before Lana and another girl pulled him down. Shuddering and reaching back to smack their sides as the Twins ran their hands across the back of her shoulders as they passed, Josie cheered with the rest of her house as she shared a smile with them from down the table. As the roar died down Josie's mind soon wandered, hopefully wishing one day that she could sit down there with them and feel at home, unfazed by anyone who judged her, instead of watching from afar.
Soon. She thought, sipping at a glass of orange juice while the hall settled down, only looking up when the seat across from her became taken by a green sweater and ripped stockings. Josie raised her eyes from her plate to meet the eyes of Charlie, the girl who had helped her in the bathroom the other day, staring back at her under thick lashes heavily coated in mascara. "I come in peace, I swear it." She said lightheartedly, probably to ward of the glares coming from down the table and to calm the nerves that rolled through Josie.
"Don't trust that." Marina said as she and Lee sat down on either side of Josie, obviously ready for a fight due to their tense shoulders and grim expressions. Charlie only laughed a deep and throaty laugh of good humor. "I understand the apprehension, but I am not here to start any problems, that totally is not worth my time." Her voice reminded Josie of smoke drifting across wine glasses as it floated up from those fancy cigarette holders women held while eating brunch at the small restaurants by the Seine. Her braids fell to contrast against pale cheeks as she leaned forwards on her elbows with sudden seriousness. "I wanted to make sure you're okay, and to ask if the Wicked Witches had done anything since the other day." She said softly, green flecks in her eyes glinting in the sunlight as she stared into the blue ones across the table. "Why are you asking?" Josie asked softly, thick brows furrowed in confusion. "I don't like unfinished business, and you don't deserve that kind of treatment. You're so sweet it's unbearable, and I understand what it's like to be a new kid with few connections." She said with a smile, her gaze drifting down the table towards the team before settling on something.
Josie followed her gaze to find the twins watching from down the table with solemn expressions, eyes darting between Charlie and herself. Josie smiled reassuringly, mouthing "Its fine" to signal there was no aggression between her and the opposing house member. That seemed to calm them, the two turning back to their team as Josie turned back to her new companion. She began with a stutter. "I'm fine, I haven't seen any more than the back of their heads in class since then." Josie almost didn't say what she was wanted, but Charlie beat her to it before she could even completely get rid of the idea. "So you saw the thin spot on the back of Barbie's head?" "Excuse me?" "Seraphina." Her eyes glinted deviously at the mention, a small smirk playing at her lips. Josie was flustered for a moment before she cleared her throat to laugh lightly. "I did." She replied, picking at her food in a silent signal to be left alone. She liked Charlie well enough, but the teasing and boisterous underlying to her personality made her a bit uncomfortable. She was a Slytherin, and an obvious one, but she lacked the judgmental air that most of them held. Josie had been protected by her after all, and she was a half-blood. The other girl was obviously more relaxed and uncaring in her nature than others, a quality that was both assuring and disturbing.
Charlie seemed to ignore her awkwardness in favor of Lee's exclamation of interest. "You're the one that handed that girl a one way ticket to pubescent baldness?" his grin almost broke his face, a loud laugh ending his statement. She only nodded, smiling smugly before leaning back lazily to tug her sweater down over her hips. Upon shifting she knocked into someone in a small group passing behind her, the boy she had bumped turning to look down at her and straiten his turtleneck as she looked up from her spot. Her apology stopped as soon as it started, bright teeth peeking between stained lips as Charlie grinned.
Lee let out a very loud groan that was echoed by Marina when they looked up to see who was standing behind the dark haired Slytherin girl. One of them Josie knew to be the Slytherin seeker, the other three boys she did not know but assumed they were in the same house due to their green clothing. "Ah, well if it isn't my dear, sweet, darling cousin. Hello Blaise." Charlie smiled, turning her body to look up at the group from her spot. The tall, dark, boy that she had leaned into looked down at her with a raised eyebrow before quirking his lips in a smile and walking away with his hands shoved into his pockets as he left the other boys behind with a fleeting farewell. Josie took in the remaining Slytherin's appearances as she felt Lee dive into a plate of food next to her, glancing them over from behind a glass of juice. One boy was a very large boy with a very squished face, beady eyes glancing around the room, as the other very tall and burly boy with short hair and harsh features glared towards the Gryffindor team. The last and only face Josie recognized was staring intently at Charlie, cold grey eyes looking down a pointed nose as he sneered.
"Fraternizing with the enemy Camson?" The hairs rose on the back of Josie's neck, the nasal tones in his voice making her skin crawl. The Slytherin seeker, someone Josie only knew as Malfoy, reminded Josie very much of a snake or a bird; predatory but too small to be a threat to any of them. This was a notion she took much comfort in. "I'm talking Draco, is that a problem? Or are you that insecure about your Quidditch skill that you're afraid a mere conversation with the opposing team will throw off your game?" Charlie drawled, picking at the ends of her hair before smiling up at him sweetly. "You're talking to the opposing house right before the match." "I'm allowed." She replied, drawing out the final syllable before patting his arm gently. "Good luck." Her word was final as she turned back towards the three Gryffindors, her expression self-satisfied. The boy stormed off, trailed by the other two as the disappeared around the corner as Charlie stood up. "Better go before he cries." She was overly sarcastic as she wiggled her fingers in a wave before walking off, calling her good will to them and their team before exiting the hall.
There was a long pause of silence before the three of them descended into laughter. "What an interesting look into the lives of Slythering students." Josie commented, returning to her meal with shake of her head. The three were silent until they finished their meals, after which Lee spoke up. "I don't know who has more sexual tension, her and Malfoy…" Josie laughed quietly at the idea as she sipped her juice, glancing down the table to lock eyes with the twins before they began to get up to leave for the pitch. "Or Josie and the twins." Orange juice dribbled onto the table as she sputtered into her drink, covering her mouth and looking incredulously at him as Marina fell off the bench laughing.