Regis watched his older siblings board the train for Hogwarts, Will proudly displaying his prefect badge without saying a word. In a year, he would be joining them—and so would Silas. This was exciting, foreboding, and sad to the ten year old, but he resolved to be just as brave as Percy—if he only knew what he actually wanted.

He had had a conversation with Percy about using his room as a hideout—prompted by his mother, of course. Regis was slightly amused that his Ravenclaw brother held the same tendencies as the others in the family, and didn't care about the demise of the posters. Percy had given him permission to hide in his room as much as he needed, and Regis was grateful.

Dora was sitting with Ronan, and both Percy and Charlie knew that Will would soon be leaving them to go see about his prefect duties. Charlie teased Will a bit, but could sense that he was nervous and changed to distracting him instead.

After a few minutes, the door opened and a voice said, "Prefect Weasley?"

Everyone in the compartment pointed at Will, and Richard appeared in the door, Will grinning at him. "Prefect Mudblood."

A girl appeared in the doorway behind him, a blue "HG" bade on her robes. "What did you just say?" the seventh year girl demanded of Will.

Will helplessly looked at her, unsure what to say. The girl drew herself up, then said, "That'll be fifty points—"

"You can't!" said Charlie and Richard together in outrage. "That's our joke," Richard told the Head Girl. "I'm know as 'The Grey Mudblood,' usually. Lighten up, Clair."

"That is not a joke," the Head Girl snapped. "Really, Weasley. I expected better of you. Grey, go on up to the prefect compartment."

"No," Richard said staunchly. "Anything you want to say to him about be or concerning me can be said to me."

"I'll take house points," the girl threatened.

"Be my guest," Richard scoffed, flashing his own blue robes.

"No!" Everyone looked at the second year Ravenclaw. "You're not going to get anywhere with these two," Percy said, looking directly at the Head Girl. "I advise you to allow them their private joke and go on to the meeting. No one else was supposed to hear that anyway."

"I don't remember seeing you in the Common Room," she frowned.

"Name's Percy," Grey said to the girl. "Second year. Top of his class last year."

"Oh!" the Head Girl said in realisation. "Percy Weasley! Of course I remember. So William and the other one are your brothers? I thought you were cousins...interesting. Well, come on, you two." She motioned to Will and Richard, who rolled his eyes behind her back.

Richard and Will followed Clair to the meeting room and entered, looking around at the others. Two other Ravenclaw prefects were already there, as well as two Slytherins he recognised.

"I knew it," Will said to Lauren Avery. "I figured they'd make you a prefect."

"But not the chipmunk?" Richard asked thoughtfully.

"You'd better shut your mouth," said Alvin Nott.

"Or what?" Richard grinned, raising an eyebrow. "Going to put me in detention? Take house points? Call me a Mudblood? Attempt to hex me?"

The sixth year Gryffindor that had just opened the door, stopped in his tracks. "What's going on?" he asked the others.

"Not much," Will shrugged. "Come on in. This is Richard Grey, who calls himself—"

"The Grey Mudblood," Richard interrupted, grinning.

"That is not acceptable, especially for a prefect," the Ravenclaw Head Girl hissed.

"This is Alvin, and Simon—" Richard grinned, and Lauren looked confused.

"Hey, leave her out of it, Grey," Will scolded. "Didn't your mother teach you any manners?"

"Oh, sorry, Weasley," Richard rolled his eyes. "Didn't realise you fancied her."

Both Slytherins frowned and Will desperately hoped he wasn't blushing. "Watch it," he warned his friend, and Richard merely shrugged.

All four Hufflepuffs entered together and the rest arrived soon after, including the Ravenclaw Head Boy. Will looked around and said, "There are too many brains in here."

"I can remove yours if you like," Richard told him, and Will just shook his head.

"The wit is strong with you today, Eagledink," said the fifth year Hufflepuff girl teasingly.

"Why, thank you," Richard said with a little bow in her direction.

"I can't stand you today," Will told his friend with a laugh and a sigh.

The Head Boy called them to attention and the two stopped joking, listening carefully.

Will didn't show up again at Charlie and Percy's compartment until they were nearly at Hogwarts. "There you are," Charlie said accusingly. "I was wondering if you'd jumped train. The trolley witch was here."

"Oh—I'm sorry," Will sighed, fishing the money bag out of his pocket. "Mum meant for us to have a snack, but we can probably wait until the feast and just save this until a Hogsmeade trip." He tossed it to Charlie. "Split it for us."

Charlie looked slightly less unhappy, but was still hungry. "How did it go?"

"A whole lot of rules and schedules," Will yawned, leaning back and closing his eyes. "I'll figure it out later."

Near the end of the feast, Dora glanced around at the Gryffindor House table, and Ronan said impatiently, "Will you stop?"

"Will's a prefect this year," Dora huffed. "I want to see him with the firsties."

"They'll order the prefects to go when it's time. Otherwise, stop turning around," Ronan told her.

"Why are you so cranky today, Lestrange?" Dora frowned at him. "Seen a Dementor or something?"

"Yesterday," Ronan answered almost inaudibly and Dora breathed a little "oh." He reached for dessert. "I'll tell you later." She nodded and didn't bother him further.

After the First Night Party, Dora and Ronan went to their special room and she turned to him in concern. "You were able to visit them?"

Ronan nodded and turned away from her. "Mum's worse...and Dad—" Ronan stopped talking.

Dora's heart started pounding. "Did something happen?" she asked, quietly going to him and putting her hand on his shoulder.

"He wouldn't talk at all," Ronan whispered. "I'm worried about him." The fourteen year old boy closed his eyes and Dora hesitated, then wrapped her arms around him.

"What did Desmond say?" she asked softly.

"He didn't go," Ronan sniffed, glad Dora was there. "When I went home for the summer, I found that Grandfather has been sick for months. He isn't strong enough to visit Azkaban, so he didn't go into the prison with me." The boy shook slightly. "He told me he doesn't think he has many years left, and I—I'm afraid I'll lose Dad too." He held on to Dora, his face in her shoulder as he was unable to keep all his emotions back.

"You'll not be alone," Dora told him firmly. "I'll be of age soon and can come stay with you."

"I'm too young to have to lead the family," Ronan whispered. "I'm just a kid."

"Well, you don't have to yet," Dora answered. "We'll deal with that if it happens. I'm sure others will help you, and of course I'll be there."

"But I can't trust anyone to put my family first," Ronan sighed. "Dora—"

"My mother would," she told him. "She would help you."

Ronan frowned. "Why would she?"

"Because you're her nephew, her family," Dora said firmly. "Besides, Mum likes to know that old pureblood families like yours are still going strong. I'm sure she'd help if something happens, Ronan."

"I…" Ronan was unsure what to say as he looked at Dora, and settled for instinct.

Dora froze in shock when he kissed her, lingering for a few seconds. She hardly had any time to react before it was over and Ronan realised what he had done. "Shit!" he said in shock, and dashed out of the room, leaving Dora to ponder his actions.

"Who's there?" Will asked, hearing footsteps and raising his wand. He was on his prefect rounds and had located someone.

"Weasley," a female smirked, walking around the corner, eyebrow raised.

"Lauren," Will sighed, seeing the Slytherin prefect. "You took over for the Head Girl?"

"Yeah, she was doing...something." Lauren rolled her eyes. "Probably studying for midterms. Aren't you glad I'm not her?"

Will grinned. "Ever since she heard Grey and I joking on the train, she thinks I'm evil."

Lauren smiled. "I know. I find it all rather amusing—especially that Grey can best you in a roast."

"Couldn't be because Weasleys are easy to poke fun at," Will joked.

Lauren giggled. "True, but why poke fun at someone who will either laugh it off, or punch you, or curse you?"

Will shrugged. "Couldn't tell you," he said. "It's taken over four years to have a more peaceful time at school, and I don't know if that's from putting down conflicts, or because I'm a prefect now."

"Maybe it's that others have learned to respect the magic," Lauren answered quietly.

He looked at her for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "There's a Hogsmeade weekend next weekend. I heard it from the Head Boy. Want to go with me?"

"Oh." Lauren was surprised. "Well, okay. But just casually."

"Sure," Will agreed, feeling very warm and shocked that he had even asked her.

"So Grey was right?" Lauren murmured. "You do fancy me?"

"I've always been curious, since I met you on the train," Will replied. "I admit nothing."

She gave him a small smile, then became serious again as they continued on their rounds.

"That was a good idea," Dora grinned as she and Ronan entered the Slytherin locker room, their brooms and bats in hand.

"It's shocking how good you two are at working together," the captain admitted as the rest of the Slytherin Quidditch Team entered the changing rooms.

"Well, Bella and Rod worked well together," Dora shrugged. "Why wouldn't we? It makes sense."

"Helps with the aggression," Ronan grinned, heading to one of the showers.

Dora laughed and went to shower herself. It had been a lot of fun to tryout, practise, and then play as a beater with Ronan. She'd never thought her cousin would want to fly with her, but she welcomed this turn of events.

It was amusing to Dora how since she and Charlie had gotten new brooms for Christmas, several other students had gotten new brooms and enjoyed flaunting them. Dora was excited to finally have the newest broom when it came out around the New Year.

Ronan was waiting for her when she got out of the shower, and the two walked up to the castle together, Slytherins celebrating their win over Ravenclaw.

"Dora!" Both she and Ronan looked up to see Will approaching.

"What?" Dora sighed, not wanting to see any of her brothers at the moment.

"You two did really good," Will told them. "I didn't know you played, Ronan. Even Charlie was impressed."

"Thanks," Dora grinned, but Ronan was not as welcoming of the opinion.

"Just because I can doesn't mean I will," Ronan said. "This year seemed like the right time. Now go on, Prefect Weasley."

Will rolled his eyes. "That was funny for a week or two, but it's an old joke now."

Dora smirked. "Well, we have a party to attend," she said. "See you around."

They continued toward the castle, Dora pulling Ronan into one of the greenhouses. Ronan gave her a wary look, and she said, "Are you just going to ignore what happened after the First Night Party?"

Ronan's ears turned red. "Now isn't the time," he began, but she moved toward him and he backed away.

"Stop!" Dora gasped, looking up, and the last thing he remembered was a pain in his shoulder before he collapsed. Dora screamed and threw a shield up around herself as the plant that had bit Ronan attacked her. "Help!"

Seconds later, someone ran up and was able to calm the plant. "What are you doing in here?" the Hufflepuff boy snapped at her. "This is the NEWT level greenhouse: it's dangerous!"

Dora was shaking. "Is he going to be okay?"

"He'll have to go to the Hospital Wing," the older boy answered, flicking his wand to move Ronan. "Come on: I can't leave you in here."

She didn't protest, walking with the Hufflepuff and ignoring the weird looks she was getting. Dora had never been so relieved to see Madam Pomphrey, even though the witch muttered something about "sneaking into greenhouses."

Dora stayed right beside Ronan as the Hufflepuff explained what had happened. The bite was dressed easily, but the medi witch told Dora, "Go to lunch, dear. And don't come back until tomorrow morning because he'll be sick for a few hours."

She wanted to protest, but couldn't speak, and left the Hospital Wing. Dora went to the Great Hall and took a seat, snapping at Lauren Avery when she asked if Dora was okay. She didn't want to talk.

"Hey," said a ginger kid with Ravenclaw robes, sitting down next to her. "I heard you and Lestrange were instrumental in winning the game today...why the white hair?"

Dora looked at her little brother, then said in guilt, "I wanted to ask him about something, so we went into a greenhouse—and one of the plants bit him. He's in the Hospital Wing."

"But he'll be okay, then," Percy told her. "Madam Pomphrey is one of the most talented Healers in Britain."

"Yes, but—" Dora's hair turned to her natural dark ginger "—it's my fault. If I hadn't gone in there—"

"Well, you'll choose a safer place for interrogation next time," Percy answered matter of factly. "I'm sure it's not the first time someone's gone into the dangerous plants greenhouse."

He put some food on her plate, even as she groaned that she wasn't hungry. "You've been playing Quidditch: don't be ridiculous," he said. "Remember Mum's rule? You have to eat something."

"You're not Mum," Dora scowled.

"No, but who else is going to make sure you're okay, especially after you yelled at Avery?" he almost smiled. "It's rare for you to have white hair; someone has to make sure you're all right."

Dora sighed and began to poke at her food. "If you start trying to boss me around," she warned.

"I wouldn't," he answered. "If Regis can't be controlled, I doubt you can be, either."

"Regis?" Dora frowned.

"Yeah," Percy grinned. "Remind me to tell you later—just don't pull me into a greenhouse."

"Ha!" Dora said, but looked slightly amused.

Dora showed up to the Hospital Wing early the next morning, hoping that Ronan would be better. She was very glad to see him sitting up—but talking to the Slytherin Quidditch Team Captain. She didn't want to talk to the captain, but Ronan caught her eye and she walked over to his bed.

"Do you know what happened to him?" the captain asked her.

"Why?" Dora scoffed, feeling nervous. "Do I need to curse someone else's ass?"

Ronan grinned, and the captain frowned. "Madam Pomphrey won't let me go until lunch, so you're on your own," Ronan told Dora.

"Okay," she nodded.

The captain looked between the two, then said, "I expect to see you two at practise."

"Of course," Ronan answered. He looked at Dora and opened his mouth to speak, but she got to it first.

"I'm sorry," Dora breathed. "I didn't think about which greenhouse—I just—"

"I know, hush," Ronan said. "I'm fine, Dora."

She gave him a pained smile. "Thanks for not telling him."

"No one needs to know," Ronan answered. "Just don't be pulling people into strange places."

"Okay," she said. "I'll bring you notes from class."

"All right," Ronan agreed. "Why don't you go to breakfast, or you won't get any."

Dora eyed him, then sighed and left her cousin alone in the Hospital Wing.

On that weekend, Will met Lauren in the Entrance Hall and waited with her as Filch checked to make sure that the students were allowed to go.

"Hey, Will!" someone shouted across the hall. "Going to Zonko's today?"

"I dunno," Will called back with a grin. "Maybe."

When Will and Lauren started walking across the grounds toward the gates, he asked, "What do you usually do in Hogsmeade?"

"I usually browse the shops, then get a snack and go back to the castle," she answered. "Nothing fancy. Sometimes I'll sit out by the lake, too."

"All right," Will said.

As they entered Hogsmeade, they saw Dora, Ronan, and Charlie pass, giving them weird looks. But Alvin Nott stopped to say something. "What are you doing with him, Lauren?" Alvin said warningly, with a touch of anger. "You're asking for trouble."

"Thanks for your concern," Lauren replied sweetly. "Let's go, Will."

Will wasn't sure what to say, so merely walked toward the sweet shop with her. "He's always like me," Lauren said quietly to Will. "Ever since I met him at a pureblood gathering. But I'm not his, and I'm hoping that he'll realise that one day."

"Oh," Will frowned, but did not comment on her statement. They entered Honeydukes together and began to chat about all the sweets.

That evening in the Common Room, Charlie raised an eyebrow as Will approached. "Got a girlfriend now?" Charlie asked.

"Um...I don't know," Will shrugged. "I just asked her if she wanted to go with me, and she agreed, so we went."

Charlie shook his head, and Will rolled his eyes. "It's a super weird experience," Will told his younger brother.

"Well, good luck," Charlie muttered.

"Thanks," Will grinned. "Want some sweets?"

At the end of the year, Charlie hardly saw Will doing much of anything besides studying for his OWLs. He didn't see much of Percy or even Dora either, until they were on the train home.

Dora smirked at Will. "You're the talk of Slytherin—at least, the girls are talking about you."

"Why?" Will laughed.

"Lauren," Dora said, seeming to grin and scowl at the same time. "I don't think you realise how much she's been ridiculed since you two went out."

"Oh," the oldest Weasley frowned. "I didn't mean for that to happen."

"What did you think would happen?" Dora scoffed. "Weasleys have a reputation—I was shocked that she agreed to go with you."

"Well, thanks," Will told his sister.

"She is right," Percy said. "I wouldn't think a Slytherin girl would agree to a date with any of us."

Will was not pleased. "You're all twisted," he said in annoyance. "I hope you weren't joining in, Dora."

"You sound like Dad," Dora scoffed. "I am quite content to let Miss Avery do whatever the hell she wants—but I'm not going to help her just because you're my brother."

Will shook his head and Percy asked, "How do you think you did on your OWLs, Will?"

"Good enough to not be worried," Will answered. "Thanks for helping me study."

"Oh, is that where you were?" Charlie said. "Up in Ravenclaw with Percy and not sneaking around with your girlfriend?"

"Why do we have to argue on the way home every single time?" Percy asked his older siblings in annoyance.

"Because Charlie doesn't like us to have friends," Dora answered. "And doesn't want to be known as our brother."

"That's not true," Charlie snapped.

"Well, I think the truth is that you're afraid you'll lose us if we actually have friends or get married and start our own lives," Percy said, making everyone look at him. "It's not a stupid fear. Will being distracted by a girl is actually quite annoying. But then, he's also the first. Dora's being constantly distracted since she's with Ronan all the time. I think it's a quite natural feeling."

"Did you ask that question just to say that?" Charlie demanded of his younger brother.

"No, I just thought of it right after," Percy answered. "I don't sit around and psycho-analyze my brothers for fun. I have better things to do."

"Just wait until next year," Dora shrugged. "Silas and Regis will be with us, and the arguing won't stop."

"Merlin," Percy said, shaking his head. "If I never show my face around you Gryffindors again, you'll know why."

"We'll see what happens," Will chuckled, and the others agreed.