25th October 1990
Fred had always hated that Alex was the only one that referred to them as George and Fred and had even managed to get into a shouting match with her regarding it. His argument was because he was the eldest, he should be first. Hers was she met George first, he was her best friend, with Fred as a strong second place, and therefor George should always go first.
George had sat between the two as the argued in first year during the Halloween feast, loving every second of it.
No one ever put him first.
In the end Alex had won out of sheer stubbornness, much to George's admiration, and even Fred had started growing fonder of her afterwards. He said that despite the fact she was a hundred percent wrong he respected her for sticking up for herself anyway.
Besides, it's not as if Fred would ever been mad at her for too long. She was an excellent distraction for their pranks. In fact, that's where she was, distracting Filch while the twins were in Filches office, George keeping an eye on the marauders map while Fred sets up their trap.
"This is never going to work" George sighs as his eyes focus on Alex's name next to Filches. "There's not a chance in hell he'll fall for it. Again."
"Oh, he will." Fred says with a grin as he finishes off the bow. "Filch is a moron. Besides, this will be our twenty seventh prank on him, and so far only eight have failed."
"You're keeping count?" He asks with bewilderment.
Fred shrugs. "Need to know the fail ratio."
George see's Alex's name dart across the map and two quickly clear up their things before exiting the office and taking their positions down the edge of the corridor. Suddenly Alex comes into view, waving at them as she runs down the passageway and skidding to a halt by their side.
"What was it this time?" George asks as he feels her press against his side so she can get a better view.
"He was telling me about how he got Mrs Norris. Actually – it was rather sweet."
"A word I never thought anyone would use about Filch." George says as he turns to her with a smirk on his face.
"I'm starting to feel a bit mean – " She starts, Fred lets out a huff.
"Oh come on. It's only Filch. Adds a bit of excitement to his day." Fred is peering round the corner down the corridor to Filches office, his grin growing wider. "Here he is. Brace yourselves."
George and Alex scramble to peer around the corner, watching Filch as he enters the office, and they hear his tone of delight.
"See, absolute idiot." Fred smirks. "Five – "
"Four – " George continues.
Alex rolls her eyes before murmuring. "Three – "
The explosion catches the three of them off guard as it echoes through the hallway and seems to make the walls shake. Thick smoke starts to roll out of the doorway to his office and Alex slaps a hand to her mouth as she tries not to laugh as Filch's cursing.
"Went off a bit too early…. Georgie. I think we have our timings wrong." Fred says with a chuckle.
"Must be something in the mix." George comments. "Definitely too much gun powder I think."
"Or not enough." Fred exclaims.
"I'll STRING THEM UP MRS NORRIS! MARK MY WORDS!"
They try not to let the belly laughs escape their throats as the smell of rotten eggs starts to seep into the hallway.
"Merlin, can we get out of here please before it starts to stink out my clothes?" Alex blurts out and George nods.
"Yeah, or before Filch does string us up."
"Wait!" Fred exclaims. "I want to see if he still has eyebrows!"
"We'll see at dinner!" George says in a low voice as he tugs at Fred's robes. "Besides, we have to go to practice so we can kick Hufflepuffs butt at quidditch next Sunday."
"I still can't believe you tried out Tonks." Fred says with a hint of bewilderment as they make their way to the courtyard. "No offense Alex but you're a danger to yourself most of the time. Let alone during a game of quidditch."
"I'm sorry, who was it knocked you off your broom during our flying lessons." She says with a smirk, winking at George while Fred pouts.
"Lucky shot." He grumbles. "Surprised you can even stay on it, considering you can barely stand half the time."
"What's that meant to mean!"
"He's only teasing." George steps in, knowing whatever Fred will say will just make it worse.
"Still though," Fred continues and George rolls his eyes. "It's probably be a good thing you didn't make it. You have the upper arm strength of Garden Gnome. And co-ordination wise…"
"Why do you just assume that!" She cries and several students look in their direction.
"Because – " Fred sighs. "The other day in Herbology you fell into the devils snare and it took three professors to get you out!"
"I only fell in because you pushed me!"
"Same difference." Fred shrugs. "It was only a little bump and you went right over. I'm just saying, you'll probably fall off and break your neck if a bludger doesn't get you first."
"How would you even know! Besides, McManus said I just need more practice. I'm good on a broom, my aim is just off." George can see the anger building in her face as her eyes flicker between the two of them.
"Well come on, just cause your speedy on a broom, doesn't mean you have what it takes to be on the team." Fred mumbles, and her face turns red with rage.
"You and George are basically built like stretched out house elves, ears included, but I'm the one that can't play quidditch?" He can't help but feel slightly guilty as he stares at her, knowing he should say something but not wanting to end up on Fred's bad side to. "I was going to ask you to help me practice but I'm just going to take Adrian up on his offer instead."
"Pucey can barely stay up on his broom half the time!" Fred cries. "Besides, he's a Slytherin – "
"So what?" She barks angrily. "At least he's not a jerk!"
Alex takes off across the courtyard while the other students stare at them. He had never seen her angry at them. Sure, there had been yelling matches in the past, but she had never been angry at them.
For a moment he's about to take off after her until Fred feels the tug on his arm.
"Come on – Or lord quidditch is going to have our necks."
As George sat on the bench in the quidditch changing rooms wearing his scarlet robes he could feel the nerves twist in his gut. It was his first match ever, Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff, and he was about to throw up.
He looks over to Fred who is happily chatting away with Charlie. George wants to be too, but he can't stop thinking about the impending game and everything that could potentially go wrong.
What if he misses? What if he hits the bludger and it hits someone on his team? He can feel the anxiety creep up his spine as he stands from his seat and slips out of the quidditch changing rooms and into the cold November air. It hits his lungs as he presses his back against the wall. He wasn't ever this nervous. He was bloody good at quidditch, but Merlin what if he cocked it all up.
As he looks over, he sees Alex across the yard, a yellow board in her hands as she stares at him. It had been five days since their tiff, and she had been avoiding them since. The overwhelming feeling of quilt seems to creep up his spine as he raises a hand and waves over to her, and she waves back gently.
He takes that as his que to walk over.
"Hey." He says in a soft voice, and she nods back in response. "What are you doing here?"
She shrugs as she looks down at the ground. "Just checking up on Cedric and I thought I'd come and see what the fuss was about. And... well…at breakfast you looked like you we're going to throw up so I thought I would come and…I don't know. You ok?"
"Fine. Fantastic." He lies through his teeth.
"Here – " Alex pulls the sherbet lemon out of her pocket and passes the wrapped sweet to him. "Suck on that if you feel like you're going to be sick. That's what I do. It'll help."
He looks down at the yellow sweet and raises an eyebrow. "How often do you have the urge to do that you just carry them around in your pocket?"
"Every time we have potions. Surprised you didn't notice." She admits.
"I did – just thought you were snacky."
"Well, I'm convinced Snape utterly despises me. Especially after I blew up that potion last week. He still smells like fudge."
George barks a laugh, instantly feeling better as he clutches the sweet in his hand and as he looks back to her she's smiling gently.
"What you got there?" He asks gesturing to the board.
"Oh, this? Well, I made it for you guys, but I don't think you deserve it." Alex flips the sign round. On the yellow card she's written Go Go George and Fred in bright bold red letters.
He can't help but smile.
"It's brilliant." He chuckles. "You didn't have to."
"Yeah, I didn't. But I did. Cause you're my friends and…well…I'm a good friend who's always supportive even when you're being giant jerk heads. It's the Hufflepuff in me. I'm pretty damn loyal."
He couldn't agree more.
"Yeah. Especially during a Hufflepuff match as well."
"Well – it's not like we're going to win." She shrugs. "So might as well cheer for my boy - boys – you know what I mean." Her cheeks glow slightly as her glasses start to fog, and she pushes them back onto her head.
"Thanks. And for what it's worth I'm sorry. I'll help you practice for next year; I promise."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Course. And Fred will too. Once he stops being so stubborn and apologises."
"I'll wait with bated breath then." She laughs. "I saw your practices; you were both great." Alex looks around then and leans in. "Don't tell Fred but I thought you were much better."
He chuckles, the confidence growing. George wasn't sure if she was just lying to try and make him feel better, but he appreciated it none the less. As he looks up at her warm face he realises how much he really valued having her as a friend and how crappy the past week of not speaking to her once.
"I don't know why I feel so nervous."
"There's a lot of pressure. It's scary. But you'll be amazing, I know you will."
He looks up at her feeling the warmth spread throughout his chest and the nerves that had haunted him before seemed to melt away.
"I better go, try not to throw up?"
"I'll try." He shrugs, sudden shock taking over him when she leans in and places a small peck on his cheek. Even Alex seems stunned by her own action.
"Sorry - for good luck. Although you won't need it. Of course."
"Course."
Alex gently waves as she walks off and George unwraps the sweet, popping it into his mouth.
