Chapter 3
It was just after the Easter holidays when George ran into Eleanor.
The holidays had consisted of training for the upcoming match against Slytherin, experimenting with some spells and studying hard for their OWLs exams. Fred had reluctantly agreed with George that they needed their OWLs and NEWTs if they wanted to run their own joke shop selling their self made magic items
The Careers Advice Meeting with McGonagall had proven George right. Before they had wanted to talk with professor McGonagall, they had asked if the meeting was confidential. They were both relieved when McGonagall had assured them that the whole conversation would be kept between them.
"Opening a joke shop?" had McGonagall frowned, after Fred had expressed the vision for their future.
"We were just playing around with the idea, nothing too serious," added Fred, while glaring at his twin brother.
"If you are really set on making your own merchandise and obtaining a license for experimenting, you need NEWTs for Transfiguration, Herbology, Potions and Charms, all on E-level. Those are required by the Regularisation of Experimental Spells and Charms. If you want to go into breeding with some magical species, a NEWT at O-level in Care of Magical Creatures can become very useful, since a permit is necessary." It became clear that McGonagall had taken great interest in the two brothers.
"George, for the moment you have an E for Herbology, Transfiguration and Charms. For those classes you're safe, granted you keep up the good work from the past months. If you're serious about going for an NEWT in Potions, you need to study very hard. Currently, you've managed to achieve an A with professor Snape. He denies every student who hasn't gotten an Outstanding for their OWL in his NEWT-class."
George had nodded and McGonagall reverted her gaze upon Fred. "Fred, for the moment you have an O for Herbology and an E for Charms, so you're good for those classes. For Transfiguration you have an Acceptable. I only accept students with Exceeds Expectations in my NEWT-class, since the material is very complex next year. And for Potions you're currently having Poor, so you need to concentrate on these exams."
"What do we need to do after we're finished with our NEWTs, professor?" had George asked, while Fred had whitened by the thought of actually trying to pass an exam.
"First, you need to find investors to help you start up your first business. I would strongly advise that if you two are willing to pursue this career, you need to network throughout the Wizardry world, make a name for yourself. You're both already known to be pranksters," had McGonagall said, while looking at them sternly, "but you also need the reputation of trusted businessmen. I am not exaggerating when I say that you both need to work on that skill."
During the Easter holidays Fred had nicked an old study timetable from Percy. They had tried to adjust it, but they had no idea how much they needed to study.
Studying was a very new concept for the twins.
It was Fred who came up with a strategy. "Listen, we will never both get an O for Potions. You have the best shot at Potions and Transfiguration, since McGonagall said you were safe for her NEWT-class. My grade for Care for Magical Creatures is much higher at the moment, so I can study for an O. I will help you with Potions, and maybe, just maybe, you will receive an O."
George nodded. "Spreading our chances. I like it, Fred. This actually could work."
"I know. That's why I am the oldest."
"By three minutes."
"Still older."
So that was the reason why on Tuesday afternoon the twins were dealing with three years of Charm notes at a desolated table in the library. Lee Jordan, their best friend, was sitting next to them and was making summaries.
Before they began to study, Fred had insisted to cast a Notice-Me-Not-Charm, so no-one would ask what they were doing.
"I have to say, this feels very weird," Lee muttered, while he grabbed a new piece of parchment.
"I feel dirty," answered Fred, while shuffling his notes. "To actually try to pass an OWL-exam. And not only pass, but aiming at high results. It feels like cheating on myself. Or as if I am turning into Percy. "
George rolled his eyes and opened his Standard Book of Spells by Miranda Goshawk to search the theory of Levitation Charms and to make a diagram.
They worked for a good hour, until Fred complained that the nerves for the upcoming game against Slytherin were getting the best of him and they decided to chuck it in. Fred and Lee went to search for Harry Potter, the Seeker of their team and the favourite target to sabotage in Quidditch. George, however, went to the Great Lake.
Oliver Wood, their Quidditch Captain and the team's Keeper, had advised every one of his players not to wander alone in the week before the game, because the atmosphere between Slytherin and Gryffindor was slowly boiling over. Just yesterday a fourth-year Gryffindor and a sixth-year Slytherin ended up in the Hospital Wing after an incident went wrong and leek was growing out of both of their ears.
But George need some alone time. He plopped down, threw his bag a few feet before him and sighted.
For a lot of people, the twins were the same person. While Fred was the undisputed ringleader of them two, George was the more introverted one.
"Was that actual studying I just witnessed the Weasley twins do in the library?" George heard an amused voice say.
He turned around, just to stare into the dark eyes of Eleanor Seymour. She sat a couple of yards away from him. In her hands she ws holding a book.
"Maybe," he answered. He leaned back and stared in front of him. Although the days began to lengthen, it was still chilly here up in to North.
"Ambitious career plans?" Eleanor sat very upright. She put the book down and looked at him with the same gaze he had noticed once before in the library during detention.
"Probably too ambitious," George admitted. "But then again, wouldn't it be the best joke to try to get into Snape's NEWT-class? Imagine the shock on his repugnant face when he realizes that he's going to have to teach another Weasley brother for two more years."
Eleanor laughed silently. George could see how her white teeth stood out against her ruby lips.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, while his fingers started tossing out some blades of grass.
"To get away from all the fuss about the upcoming game this Saturday. The obsession some of the housemates have for Gryffindor this moment is very unhealthy."
"Ey. It is the final match this season," George objected, feeling personally attacked.
Eleanor rolled her eyes. "I know, but all that talk is making me wish it would be over already."
George smirked. "So you're admitting that the Gryffindor team is the most superior Quidditch team of the school?
Eleanor blinked. "When did you hear me say that? Are all Gryffindorks this deaf? And, for the record, I still think we're going to win."
George rolled his eyes. "We have a Seeker with a Firebolt."
"Please," scoffed Eleanor. "Since when do Gryffindors possess something called patience? As soon as Potter sees the Snitch, he is going to grab it."
"So? We win."
"You only win by a lead of fifty points, since we have two hundred points more at this exact time. Catching the Snitch gives you only a hundred and fifty points and ends the game."
"I think Harry is smart enough to realise that."
Eleanor smiled. "So nice to see that you actually believe that. Cute, Weasel."
"Don't worry, duchess. At the end of the week you will see that Gryffindor is the superior team."
"If that helps you sleep at night, sure. But don't except any words of comfort from me when our team wins the Quidditch Cup."
"You mean our team."
"Do shut up, Weasel."
A silence fell between them. George looked at the mountains in the distance.
"I have to admit, you're the first Slytherin I encounter this week who doesn't try to hex me."
Eleanor smiled. "That's because I am probably the only one who sees how stupid it is to try to scare you before the game. As if we're lack the confidence we don't have what it takes to win this game on our talents. It makes us look daft, or worse, like foolish Gryffindorks."
"We're not that easily impressed, you know. Braveness of lions."
This time it was Eleanor who rolled her eyes. "Braveness equals impulsiveness and impulsiveness equals stupidity. We Slytherins like to think before we act. It's called preservation. You might want to look that up in the dictionary."
"Some people call that backstabbing."
"It is also called being a smart cookie."
George grinned and leaned back on his elbows. It was nice sitting here, at the edge of the Great Lake, laying in the grass and watching how the shadows of the mountains slowly became darker.
Even the silence was pleasant. Eleanor had picked up her book again and this time George could make out the title.
"Pride and Prejudice? For which class is that a study book?" he asked Eleanor bewildered.
Eleanor shook her head and turned a page without taking her eyes off. "It is not a study book, Weasel. It is a novel."
"A novel?"
"A book that people read for fun," explained Eleanor.
"I know what a novel is, thank you very much. I just can't believe that people actually read for fun."
"I am not even going to react to that slow-witted statement." Eleanor stood up, pulled her bag onto her shoulder and looked down on him. "Good evening, Weasel Gryffindork."
With those words, the girl turned around and left him alone. He could see her black hair bouncing against her back.
George stayed for a few minutes in the grass and realised that he just had a civil conversation with one of the last persons he thought he would ever talk with.
