September 6th, 1995. Friday.

"Mimbulus mimbletonia," Selena said clearly to the portrait concealing the Gryffindor Common Room. The Fat Lady - dressed in her usual pink silk gown - nodded, and the painting swung open. Selena crawled through the portrait hole, a passage leading to Gryffindor Tower.

Inside the common room, most of the Gryffindors had returned from dinner. Some had pulled up chairs and were doing homework, or just chatting. A fire was going, crackling and casting the scarlet-colored space in gold. Rain sounded above the din, hitting the window. It was already dark outside. However, catching Selena's attention, a small crowd was gathered in the left corner. Standing on her tiptoes, she tried to see what was going on.

"Sel!" Alisson said, motioning from the front of the group. Her blue eyes sparkled mischievously. "You have to see this!"

Selena walked over and gently pushed her way to the front, and her eyebrows rose when she saw what all the fuss was about.

Fred and George Weasley, along with Lee Jordan, had a cluster of First Years in chairs, all wide-eyed, chewing something. Fred scribbled on his clipboard when one of the students slumped back in their chair.

As soon as the rest of them had eaten whatever it was they were chewing, they either fell limp, arms dangling in the seats, or simply slid onto the floor - motionless. People around them giggled, but Selena remained stunned. What are the Weasley Twins up to this time? Fred and George were the duo known for their incredible pranks that even Merlin might've been proud of. Well... maybe. They had a tendency to wreak a little havoc with their pranks, and annoy Mr. Filch to no end. Lee Jordan was their close friend who Selena regularly saw breaking Hogwarts rules with the twins.

Hermione Granger stormed over, with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley watching from some chairs in front of the fire. Selena watched the bushy-haired Prefect walking over like she was about to jinx the three boys. What could the prank be this time? As if she heard her thoughts, Alisson answered Selena's question.

"They gave the Firsties sweets they called Fainting Fancies," Alisson whispered to Selena.

"That's enough!" Hermione said to Fred and George, who looked up at her.

"Yeah, you're right," George confirmed with a nod. "This dosage looks strong enough, doesn't it?

Hermione set her jaw. "I told you this morning you can't test your rubbish on students!"

"We're paying them!" Fred argued, his red hair shining in the firelight.

"I don't care, it could be dangerous!"

"Rubbish," Fred retorted.

"Calm down, Hermione, they're fine!" said Lee Jordan sympathetically, his dreadlocks falling into his dark eyes. He walked down the row of newly-sorted Gryffindors, putting a purple candy into each of the students' mouths, which were wide open.

"Yeah, look, they're coming round now," George said.

He was right. A few students moved slightly, a groan here, a hand twisting there. A few looked dazed, confused at why they were on the floor which left Selena under the impression Fred and George hadn't told them the type of toffee they were trying.

"Feel all right?" George asked a girl with dark hair.

"I-I think so," the girl said, her voice shaking.

As Fred, George, and Hermione continued the argument, someone materialized at Selena's side as if they'd apparated.

"The pranks are already starting this year, I guess."

Selena gasped, clutching her heart as she realized it was just Anne. The redhead smirked at Selena, glancing out of the corner of her eyes, arms folded over her Gryffindor robes. "Anne... you scared me."

"Sorry," Anne said, sounding anything but.

"No problem," Selena mumbled, waiting for her heartrate to return to normal.

Anne looked back at the commotion, Fred looking furious as he and George watched Hermione walk away. They both broke into fierce whispers with one another, Lee stepping over to join the conversation. Selena could see Anne's gaze trained on Fred, her boyfriend as of last year.

Fred looked over, brown eyes snagging on Anne. She fluttered her fingers in a hello, her arms still folded, smiling a little. Fred raised his eyebrows, shrugging a little as if to say what now? Granger is already starting her Prefect reign of rule-following. What is she thinking, enforcing rules? Anne shrugged in reply.

"I'm gonna' go see what Elizabeth is up to," Alisson said, drawing Selena's attention. Her dormmate looked between Selena and Anne, turning to walk away. "Something about Puffapods in Herbology... or something. I'll catch you later."

"So," Anne said when Alisson had drifted far enough out of earshot. "How's your sister doing so far?"

"Oh," Selena said, rocking on her toes. "Ivy's liking her classes so far. She's already sent a letter home raving about how much she loves it in Ravenclaw."

Anne tilted her head, curls spilling over her shoulder. "That's good. But, Gryffindor is better, obviously."

"Of course," Selena agreed with a grin.

"Quidditch tryouts were today," Anne said. "Did you hear? Ron is the new Gryffindor Keeper."

Selena smiled in surprise. "Oh really? That's brilliant!"

Anne nodded, glancing over at Fred. "Yeah, now the team is nearly half Weasley. I spent my summer at the Burrow with them, and Fred and George couldn't stop talking about the Quidditch season. Harry either." She smiled, but her usual confident look took on a dour quality.

Frowning, Selena lowered her voice. "Anne? Are you alright?"

Anne didn't look back at her at first, but then she glanced at Selena, grinning for effect. "Of course. I think I should talk to him. I'll see you tomorrow." She twisted her heart locket around a finger, stepping away before Selena could say a word, walking over to Fred. Selena half expected Anne to return and explain what was going on, but she didn't look back.

Her feelings smarting a little, Selena remembered that she and Anne still weren't particularly friends. It had just seemed like things might be a little different this year.

Maybe not.

September 7th, 1995. Saturday.

"I wuff ba-on!"

Wendy glared at Danny, who had his mouth stuffed with bacon. Avery laughed, handing him a napkin.

Alisson stamped her foot, looking at Wendy across the dinner table. "Wendy Rossotto! Stop this! If you're this jealous, then don't pretend you like Draco!"

Wendy looked like she could have put a fork through Alisson's neck. "Hush up. I do happen to like Draco, else I wouldn't go near him." The blonde stood up, abandoning her breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast, and proceeded to retrieve Draco Malfoy from the Slytherin table. Selena watched as they talked quickly, Draco giving quick glances to his friends, Pansy Parkinson shooting venomous looks at Wendy. In the end, Draco stood up, walking with Wendy out of the Great Hall.

"Else I wouldn't go near him. Glad she has such high standards," Alisson sighed, shaking her head as she watched the two leave.

Selena gave her friend a sympathetic look. She still wasn't quite sure how felt about Wendy and Draco being together. He wasn't the nicest person, but so far, from what she'd seen, he was different around Wendy.

Sasha shook her head, brown hair tossing. "I just don't get it."

Danny nodded. "She's been acting like a real Death Eater lately. I think that she should just get over whatever it is she's stressing about."

"What?" Tess sputtered, leaning forward over the table, eyes wide. "You don't get it? Wendy is right, you are blind. Blind as a bat."

Danny just looked at her confusedly, his fingers now entwined with Avery's on the table. The blonde girl caught Selena's eye. Selena managed a smile, not sure what to say again.

As soon as breakfast was over, Selena found Anne sulking in the hall, scuffing her steel-toed boots on the stone floor.

"What's wrong?" Selena asked, catching up with her cousin.

Anne huffed, a piece of hair in front of her eyes fluttering. "'Bout time. I've been waiting for you."

Selena smothered the smile that nearly caught on her lips. Perhaps she'd been wrong the other night. However, another look at Anne's vexed expression made her worry. "Is everything alright, Anne? Is this about last night?"

Anne sighed, running a hand through her red curls. "Well... last night, Harry had detention with Umbridge. He's... well..." she bit her lip, appearing to take a few seconds to calm down and collect her thoughts.

Selena glanced over her shoulder, a few stragglers from breakfast making their way out of the Great Hall. She had a study session with Bronwen and Tess planned, and it was a long walk to the library. However, another look at her cousin made the other concerns seem less pressing. Selena waited patiently before Anne took a breath.

"Umbridge had Harry write lines. But not with a normal quill," Anne said, looking Selena in the eyes. "He had the words scrawled on the back of his hand like he'd carved it with the quill. It used his blood to write, Selena. Not ink."

Selena frowned, her brow puckering. A quill that used the writer's blood? She'd never heard of anything like that. "Has... well has he told Dumbledore?"

Anne bit her lip. "No...I don't know... He's being stubborn."

Selena thought hard. "I haven't heard of anything like that. I... I mean, I could ask Bron-"

"No," Anne said quickly, making Selena silent. "No, this needs to stay between us. I think Harry would be upset if he found out I even told you... but I had to tell someone, I can't stand letting her go without any consequence." Her eyes were hard, the blue color vivid. But Selena could see the sensitive cracks in her angry facade, the way Anne's lip trembled just barely. It hurt Selena to see her so upset.

"Okay, I won't say anything," Selena said quietly. Not yet, at least.

Anne nodded. "Thanks, Selena. I'll let you go, I have to get to Herbology homework." She gave the smallest of smiles, fleeting but warm, before she turned and left. Selena watched the girl as she went up a few steps, and turned into another corridor.

Selena waited for a moment, silence settling in the corridor, before she left the opposite way.

Are they catching on to Umbridge's little... plan? No, I don't think so... Or am I lying? Remember, those students have a habit of busting into that DADA room for a little snooping, right? Right.

I actually have decided to list of the characters and how they relate to Selena.

Selena's closest friends:

Hazel (13- Hufflepuff)
Rolf (13- Hufflepuff)
Damon (16- Slytherin)
Tess (13- Gryffindor/Dorm Mate)
Renee (13- Gryffindor/Dorm Mate)
Elizabeth (13- Gryffindor/Dorm Mate)
Alison (13- Gryfindor/Dorm Mate)
Wendy (15- Gryffindor)
Brownen (13-Ravenclaw)

Then, she has family:

Cody- Older brother (Twenty) GRADUATED FROM HUFFLEPUFF
Ivy- Younger sister (Eleven) RAVENCLAW
Violet- Younger sister (six)
Anne- Older cousin (Fifteen) GRYFFINDOR

Friends, but not SUPER close, like the others:

Danny (15- Gryffindor)
Sasha (14- Gryffindor)

Friends, but not very close:

Neil (16- Slytherin)
Avery (15-Gryffindor)
Jojo (15- Slytherin)
Ray (15- Slytherin)

Acquaintances:

Alexanda (15- Gryffindor)
Marie-Beth (12- Ravenclaw)

Enemies:

Maryana (13- Slytherin)
Erebus (15- Hufflepuff)
Iceyeyes(15- Hufflepuff)

People I have not introduced into the story yet:

Cedric
Prongs
Amanda
Mya

Okay. Now, I hope to see your review!

Thanks for reading!

~Meghan

9/28/17: In the books, this scene with Fred and George and the Fainting Fancies actually took place - it seems - on Monday, 2 September. I had gotten the dates switched around, but it's too much to rewrite... so yep! I also forgot about a Hufflepuff named Lillian in the list of characters.