The two of them look at each other, communicating with their eyes before looking back at me, confusion and distrust throughout their eyes.
"So you know - "
"Who my father is?" I shrug, folding my arms in front of my chest. "Of course I do. We're the same age boys, which means I was 3 going on 4 when he was arrested. I may not have the best memories of that time, but I still have them, foggy or not."
They glance at each other again. During this Hecate starts slithering in Fred's hand, trying to get out and get to me. Fred looks a little startled before putting his hand down on the table, letting Hecate free. She gets to me in no time and flickers her tongue at me. I smile down at her, holding my palm out for her to climb onto. I kiss the top of her head and rub her scales softly before hanging her around my shoulders.
Fred's looking at us the entire time, his head tilted in curiosity. "So, why did you come back then? Did you know he had escaped?"
I frown and shake my head, "No, I didn't know. I had only landed in England a few days before it was time for the train, and I was busy getting all my supplies and creating a bank account at Gringotts, I didn't hear what was going on."
They look at each other again, nodding, seeming to trust what I was saying. George looks at my tired form, "You didn't answer the other question."
I smile tiredly at them, pushing my hair behind my ear, "I came back to help. My mom let me know about some of the things that were happening here at school, and I have a god brother here that I wanted to reach out to again."
Nodding, the boys seem to accept it. We sit quietly together, taking sips of our hot chocolates as we listen to the silence.
All of a sudden, a palm of a hand smacks the table, making me look at the two of them with a furrowed brow. Fred is pointing at me, a question on his face. "What? What is it?"
"You kept staring at the tapestry we were hidden behind! How did you know we were there?"
George stares me down, his brow also furrowed as he tries to figure it out, "Yeah…! I forgot for a min. How did you know?"
I smile at them, trying to hide it with my mug, "I just have good senses, I suppose. Plenty of paranoia, ya know?"
George merely snorts and shakes his head, taking another swig of his hot chocolate. Fred, on the other hand, keeps looking at me curiously. He bright blue eyes hold mine for a moment, and it felt like he was digging through my very soul for a moment, and for some reason, the constant ache I held was uplifted for a moment.
The moment was interrupted by the clanging of pots and pans that Dobby held in his hands, "Messers Weasley and Missy Black must be going to bed now! Off!"
George and Fred look at each other with comically large eyes before rapidly pulling out a piece of parchment and whispering to it, keeping it hidden between themselves. I try to take a peek, but all I see from my side of the table is brown lines and moving dots. Hecate flicks her tongue against my neck, drawing my attention. In that moment, I hear footsteps outside the portrait. They're heavy and steady in their movements, crossing out the possibility of it being another student. A professor then? I kiss Hecate's head before slowly moving one of my hands to my hoodie pocket and the other to my dagger.
As the boys continue contemplating over the parchment, I hand Dobby the mug, "Thank you so much, Dobby, the chocolate was delicious. I hope to see you again soon."
Dobby looks at me surprised, but glee is clearly evident on his face, a smile stretching his tiny face wide. His ears flop as he nods, his hands clapping once, "Yes yes, Missy Black! Please come visit soon!" I rub the top of his head softly, smiling down at him before approaching the portrait door quietly.
In that very moment, Fred and George make their appearances next to me.
Fred starts off, "Hold onnnn, new girl…"
"… gotta make a sweeping check…"
"… to make sure the professors aren't nearby…"
"… otherwise we'll be in deep doo-doo on the first day back!"
"Can't have that…" I smile at them, knowing that the twins truly did not care.
Fred winks at me, pushing the portrait door open a smidge and taking a peek outside. After a moment he pushes the door open more and grabs my hand, "C'mon, we gotta make our escape now!" As we leave the kitchens, George following behind, we start walking quickly down the hall, the moon and stars shining down from the hallway windows. Fred's hand feels familiar in mine as he pulls me along, the calloused fingers, nimble and quick… My heart flutters and feels heavy at the same time.
We stop around the corners, taking checking twice before crossing. Before I know it, the twins have helped me back to the Hufflepuff commons.
"Well m'lady…" Fred starts, my hand still in his.
"… this was quite an adventure…" George says, smirking down at me.
"… we must do it again sometime soon…"
"… classes don't begin until Monday…"
"… how about you meet us tomorrow after breakfast…"
"… and we'll show you the ropes?"
I tilt my head at them, a warm feeling flowing through me. I smile at them, the weight of Hecate on my shoulders, "Yeah, okay, that sounds good to me."
"Wicked." They say together. Fred squeezes my hand briefly before the two disappear into the shadows and hidden alcoves along the hallway. I shake my head curiously and humorously before also disappearing into the commons. Yawning, I trail into the hallway and towards my bed, relaxed and ready for the dreams to welcome me. Besides the moment where I take Hecate off and place her next to my pillow, I don't wait a moment more before flopping down, falling asleep the moment my head hits the pillow.
~~~FMMF~~~
With a groan I open my eyes, sighing as I see the traces of sunlight burst through the cracks in my bed curtains. I literally roll myself out of bed, landing with a thumb on my feet. Groaning as I stretch, I'm greeted with hellos and humorous looks from my roommates.
Maria waves at me and smiles, "How'd you sleep?"
Smiling back, "It was good, took a while to get comfy, but I made it there." Thinking back to the already precious memories of hot chocolate and fiery red heads.
Something on my face must have been telling as Maria raises an eyebrow at me, the question on her face of, 'Did something happen while I was knocked out?'
I shake my head at her, a smile still on my face as I start getting ready for the day. "So what do you guys usually do on weekends? Especially before the semester starts?"
Maria brushes her hair out and takes a moment to think, but before she does, Bridgette answers, "Well, Ravenclaws usually start studying, so they socialize in their common area or the library, then you've got Gryffindor, who just socialize, maybe play some Quidditch. Slytherin doesn't do much either, or if they do, they're good at hiding it. Maybe they're plotting how to ruin the yea-"
"-come on Bridge, you know not all Slytherins are awful, stop stereotyping them." Maria interrupts , rolling her eyes at Bridgette.
"Yeah well, whatever, either way. And then us Puffs? We're a big mixed-up bunch. Some of us study, some of us socialize or whatever." She shrugs as she finishes, looking in the mirror as she combs her finger through her bangs, shaking them out. Smirking at us through the mirror, "Me? I just try and see if I can hook onto Cedric this year."
At this the rest of the girls either sigh or giggle, besides Maria and myself. I just make eye contact with her and look at her incredulously. She shrugs at me and raises her hands like 'What can you do?'
Through Bridgette speaking I managed to change into some comfier clothing, similar to what the other girls had. Jeans and a blouse, a leather jacket on over it, covering up the bulkiness of my dagger, my wand strapped to my arm with a wand holder. Once done, I fix up my bed and let Hecate slide over my shoulders again. I had let the other girls know that she was my familiar last night, so that they wouldn't get surprised by her. While some were apprehensive, and not likely to pet her, I think most agreed to simply pretend she didn't exist. Which we both preferred to her getting actively disliked.
I look towards Maria and she nods at me, answering my question silently. After saying our goodbyes, we leave the dorm together, chatting quietly and walking together comfortably towards the Great Hall. On our way there we managed to cross paths with Cedric and his friends, not even a moment into it he says goodbye to them and tags along with us on our way to breakfast.
"So, Ana, did you have a goodnight?" He asks, a smile playing across his face.
I smile back, shrugging, "It wasn't too bad, just getting used to this new place, ya know?"
He nods in agreement, "I'm sure! It must be different coming here when you're older. I was a ball of nervousness as a first year, so after the sorting I was just ready to sleep, right Maria?" He looks at her, his smile soft.
She looks back at him, the same smile tugging on her lips, "Sí, Ced, we were so nervous as kids. It seems so silly in retrospect."
I can't help but glance between them, feeling a familiar sensation, a yearning almost between the two of them. Hmm…
By the end of my thought process, we've approached the Great Hall and I can hear the clanging of utensils against dishware as conversations flow between old friends. I start to yearn too, for my family and friends as the similarities continue to flow between Hogwarts and Camp.
All of a sudden two redheads stand from the Gryffindor table, "OI!" Most conversations continue, some merely glancing in curiosity, while Cedric and Maria stare at me bewildered. Maria looks back at the twins, "When did you meet those two?"
I chuckle, watching as the two approach me, "It's a long story."
A/N: Growing friendships! What a fun thing. (...I miss my friends :( )
Please favorite, follow, and review.
signed,
oterol
