Out of the Shadow

For the next couple of weeks Harry and I kept out heads down and focused on working. There was no point in thinking to far a head of ourselves. Before we knew it, it was time for the big quidditch match, between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Rhea and I headed down to the pitch and found a couple of seats near Hermione and Ron. I kept half an eye on Harry, while following the rest of the game.

I hated how dirty Slytherins played, they seemed to really hate Gryffindor's. I watched as Fred and George cleared blunger after blunger. Just then I heard someone gasp and I looked up to see Harry's broom bucking as if trying to throw him off. "What is happening?" I yelled to no one. I stood in the stands keeping my eyes locked on Harry.

He slipped from the broom and caught himself with one hand. "HARRY!" I yelled looking around to see how I could get out there, but there was nothing I could do. Even if I stormed the pitch, I wasn't getting Harry off his broom without a broom of my own. Ron tapped me on the shoulder then and pointed to Hermione who had rushed off. He handed me binoculars and I looked to were he was pointed.

Snape seemed to be muttering to himself, his eyes locked on Harry. "No." I said breathlessly. My heart sank as the realization of how much Snape hated Harry had set in. Harry looked just like our father, and Snape was taking his anger out on him. That wasn't fair. Fred and George were there trying to help Harry get control. "Please." I begged them from the stands, not that they could hear me.

Just then everything stopped. I looked up to notice all the teachers in the stands jumping about and I heard someone say fire. "Thank God for Hermione." I said to Ron who nodded. Without much time to think Harry was back on his broom and diving towards the ground. Unable to pull his broom up quick enough Harry was thrown forward off his broom. "HARRY." I yelled again. Just as Harry started to sit up, he cupped his hands to his mouth.

"He's going to be sick!" Hagrid said from behind us. We watched as Harry coughed something up into his hands. Slowly realization dawned on him and he held up the snitch. "HE GOT IT!" I screamed and raced towards the exit of the stands. I ran out on to the pitch as the rest of the teams were landing back on the ground. The captain of the Slytherin team was complaining to Madame Hooch about Harry catching the snitch in his mouth.

I ran across the grass and threw my arms around Harry. "Oh God, are you okay?" I asked him first. He nodded smiling. "I bet dads never caught a snitch in his mouth." I laughed and rolled my eyes. "Probably not. That is disgusting." Harry laughed too as the rest of the team, and fans rushed him. I stood among the others until Fred and George approached me. I looked up at George and smiled, and he smiled down at me.

After the match I followed Harry, Ron and Hermione down to Hagrid's hut. It seemed as though Harry had a pretty good relationship with Hagrid, and I was eager to get to know him better too. The hut was small, but cozy as I sat back in a large chair. As we sat with some very large cups of tea, I patted his dog Fangs head while Hermione told us about what she saw in the stand across from us.

Hagrid didn't believe her. "Why would Snape do something like that?"

"I don't know, why was he trying to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween?"

"Who told you about Fluffy?"

"That thing has a name?" Hermione asked sounding surprised. "Of course, he does, he's mine. I lent him to Dumbledore to guard, uh never mind."

All of us looked at Hagrid. "I've said to much. That's a secret between Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel." I watched as Harry looked at each of us. We didn't mention anything else about it the rest of the time we spent with Hagrid. After a while I decided to head out. I liked Hagrid, and Harry's friends, but sometimes even here I felt like I was intruding on something that was just Harry's.

I relaxed a little more once I reached my own common room and Rhea was there. "What a night!" she said excitedly once I reached her. I nodded and found myself smiling. It was easy to feel relaxed and happy when Rhea was around, she just had that kind of aura around her. She was easily becoming my best friend. I found myself opening up to her more about my life, and even considered telling her about Sirius, but I couldn't.

The risk of knowing him, let alone that we basically were hiding a criminal, would risk so much including our own friendship. I just had to be patient. I sat down beside her and sighed. "I think Harry is digging into something that is going to get him in trouble." Rhea closed her book and placed it on her lap. "What do you mean?" I shrugged not exactly sure how to answer her.

I didn't get the chance to respond anyway, because just then we were approached by Helen and Ashley. Though the last few weeks, Helen had become my Malfoy. The other difference was she didn't try to duel me, but we were roommates. I had higher hopes for Ashley, but she was so shy she was basically controlled by Helen. Rhea and I did our best to ignore them, even has Helen tapped her foot impatiently.

Finally, I snapped, "Do you need something Helen?" I don't know where she got the audacity to huff at me, but she did, and I wanted to punch her. "You are in our seats." She said flatly. I looked at Rhea. "I didn't see her name on it, did you?" Rhea shook her head and I knew she was fighting back a giggle. "We where there first, but we needed to go to our room... why am I even explaining myself to you?" She said that like I was slime on her shoe.

"Well excuse me, princess. We wouldn't want to put you out."

I stood up so quickly Helen did have time to move and we were now face to face. I didn't say anything, just glared at her before stepping to the side and walking up to the bedroom, with Rhea coming up behind me. I slammed the door knowing everyone in the common room would hear it. I didn't care. I paced around the room trying to contain my anger but then something caught my eye in the corner of the room.

Helen had a thing with the smell of flowers. Not just the usual, she seemed nearly obsessed. She brought with her a bundle of roses and never lost their smell making our bedroom smell like roses, all the time. "Oh no." Rhea said pulling me from my thoughts. "That's a wicked smile if I've ever seen one." I turned to her and smiled again. "I have a plan." I checked the time before rushing out of the tower and over to the Gryffindor tower.

"I just need someone to be getting ready to go inside." I said as we approached. Thankfully, Lee Jordan the commentator for the Quidditch matches, and a friend of the Twins was coming by. "Lee Jordan!" I called after him. He turned and looked at me. "Oh, hello! Holly, right?" I nodded. "Could you please tell me if the Weasley twins are in there, I really need to ask them something." It sounded relaxed to me, if not slightly urgent. "Sure." Lee said simply before going though the portal. I started pacing the moment the door shut behind him.

It wasn't angry pacing anymore; it was anxious pacing. If I could get away with everything I was thinking, then dealing with Helen for the rest of the year might just be possible. "Holly?" I stopped to see Fred and George stepping out of the doorway. I rushed up to them and grabbed one of Georges arm excitedly. He looked down slightly shocked before looking at me and smiling. He could see the excitement on my face.

"Can you guys get me some dungbombs, Hiccough sweets anything like that?"

Fred and George looked at each other, the facial expression matching exactly. I couldn't decide if they were excited or shocked. This was a lot to throw at them, and I didn't exactly make it sound like I was ready to be a full-time practical joker. Fred looked at me. "We have some of that. How much do you want?"

"One of each?"

Rhea gasped. "One of each? Holly what are you planning?" I opened my mouth to respond but someone coughed, and we all jumped. Standing off to the side was Harry, Ron and Hermione all giving us skeptical and shocked looks. Harry was looking between George and I with a slight scowl on his face. Confused I glanced down and noticed we were holding hands. As if getting electrocuted George and I quickly dropped hands. That probably looked worse than it should have.

Rhea was clinging to my other arm, and she quickly dropped it too. I stared at Harry for a minute. "What are you guys doing?" he asked me. "Having a discussion." I said flatly. I did not need Harry going into full big brother mode right now. He was only two minutes older than me. "About what?"

"Don't worry about it." I said before turning back to the twins. "Whatever you can lend me is great. We'll sort out the rest later?" Thankfully, Fred and George both nodded. I waved goodbye and started walking away with Rhea. "Holly! What is going on?" Harry snapped. "Nothing. I told you." Harry was unconvinced. "I don't need you stepping in and playing hero in my life, okay? I can take care of myself."

I stomped away leaving everyone to watch me go. Rhea caught up with me quickly. "Are you okay?" she asked. I nodded. "I just let my temper get the better of me. I'll clear the air with him in the morning." Rhea nodded beside me and we walked the rest of the way back to the common room in silence.

The following morning, I got dressed and walked downstairs for breakfast, and to find Harry. I saw him sitting there with Ron, so I approached him. "Hi." I said. Harry turned around. "Hi." I hung my head, I hated apologizing. "I didn't mean what I said last night, I just lost my temper and took it out on you. I was a bad night."

"What happened?"

"I have my own Malfoy, but she is my roommate."

"Man, I couldn't imagine being roommates with Malfoy." Ron said. I nodded. Harry looked over my shoulder at Malfoy. "So, what are you planning?" I sighed again. "I think I'm going to take a page out of dads book, but instead of bullying it'll be more like self-defense." Harry looked unsure. So, I tried something else.

"Listen, Hogwarts is the first place we've led totally sperate lives. We weren't even sorted into the same house. It's a chance for me to learn how to take care of myself without you, because we won't always be together. You have to trust me, trust that I will come to you when I need help."

Harry gave me a quick hug. "Alright but be careful. We can't have you getting expelled." I gave him a wide grin as George approached us from the other side of the table. He nodded towards the door and I nodded back. "Thank you." I said to Harry before rushing off to the door where Fred was waiting for George and I. I looked over my shoulder to see Harry and Ron watching us and I shot him a wink before turning the corner.

I met up with them on the stairs and we walked towards my common room. Fred handed me the bag.

"In there you've got your ever popular dungbombs."

"For someone with a sweet tooth you have Hiccough Sweets."

"Frog Spawn Soap."

"Sugar Quills."

"and you can't forget nose-biting teacups."

I listened to them list the items I had to work with between each other as I gazed into the bag, and I could feel a grin pulling at my lips. "You guys are amazing!" I said happily. As we reached the entrance to the tower Fred and George dipped into dramatic bows and I giggled. "I'm going to hide this in my room then head down to breakfast." I turned and rushed into the common room. I ran up to the bedroom and hid the bag.

I grabbed my cardigan and went back down. I noticed Helen and Ashley in the corner of the room, and I made a silent prayer that they wouldn't figure out I was behind anything that was going to happen. I closed the door to the common room behind me and was surprised to see Fred and George still standing there in the hallway. "Did you guys wait for me?" I asked. They both shrugged. "Sure." Fred said.

"We were heading that way anyway." George added. I shoved my arms into my cardigan and followed them back down to the great room. "So, which one you going to use first?" George asked me. I knew I could trust these guys. "Not sure, I have options now." I laughed. "It really depends on her next move."

"Has this girl been pranking you? Do we have competition?"

"No, nothing like that. She's just means, to literally everyone. She is some distance relation to Helena Ravenclaw, so she basically thinks she is royalty."

Fred and George cringed, and it made me laugh again. "You know we are always here for some fun." Fred said. I nodded. "You two were the first people I thought of."

"Oh no, Fred. I think we are wearing off on her already."

I pumped George with my shoulder. "Hey! I thought of this myself, thank you. You are just my assistants this time." The twins laughed at me as we walked into the great hall. I gave them a little wave before heading to my own table. I sat down with Rhea. "Did you get everything?" she whispered to me. I nodded, smiling. "What are you going to do if she finds out it's you?" I shrugged. "I don't think she will, a least not with proof."

I thought about Harry then. How different had our lives become since coming to Hogwarts. We have different friends, excelled differently in classes and were solving our own problems. I wish I had thought to ask him about what he was looking into with Ron and Hermione, but I didn't. I found myself wondering if there was something wrong with us; we were twins, but we didn't seem to have the same connection that Fred and George had.

Fred and George were the mirror image of each other. Same looks, some opinions, same interests, same friends. They were basically joined at the hips, all the time. Harry and I were not identical, at home we had some similar interest though I was a little more of a prankster like our dad. I sighed. This must have been why I was sorted into a separate house. Maybe there was something wrong with me.

About two weeks later I finally got the chance to test my revenge on Helen. She had spent that entire day using Rhea and I as her verbal punching bags. After classes that day I stopped in the halls to get my thoughts straight. I was leaning against a column overlooking a small courtyard when I head the twins approaching me. "Hey, Holly!" I turned and gave them a small smile. "It's freezing, what are you doing just standing there?"

I shrugged. "Thinking." The twins looked at each other before back at me. I nodded towards the stairs and they followed me up. "I think I might need to use one of those treats you brought me; I'm just not sure which direction is the way to go. I have a lot to consider." Fred and George exchanged another glance. "You are taking the planning very seriously." I nodded. "I don't want to get caught." Just then a cold shiver ran though me as I heard my name being called.

"Holly!"

I glanced at George out of the corner of my eye. "Helen." I turned around; the twins stopped on the stairs with me. "I have to run to see the headmaster quickly. Can you make sure these get to Devon? Oh, and take my books too, I don't want anything wearing me down, I must not keep the headmaster waiting."

Then to my horror she reached over and pinched my cheek. "Thank you dear!" The moment she was back down the stairs I dropped her books on the ground never taking my eyes off the direction she ran too. "She touched me." I said though gritted teeth. Fred bent down and picked up the books and George turned me around by the elbow. "Come on, there's people coming." I let them guide me back in the direction of our common rooms.

I stopped outside the Ravenclaw entrance and took the books back from Fred. "Thanks." I said coldly still feeling the surge of anger from my interaction with Helen. I stormed into the Ravenclaw common room and dropped the books again on the floor, only holding on to the paper for our prefect. I handed it to him and told him it was from Helen before climbing the stairs to my bed. I laid down and sighed heavily as I started weighing out my options again.

About ten minutes before we were going down to dinner Helen slammed open the door and marched right up to me. "How dare you drop my things on the ground." This time I couldn't stop rolling my eyes at her. "I'm not your slave, Helen." I tried to step around her and she grabbed my shoulder. "Don't touch me." I snapped at her. She dropped her hand and I started to follow Rhea back out the door.

Helen followed us out and harassed me the entire time. "All I did was ask you to do me a favor." Helen started. "You were only nice to me because there were other people around, I know you Helen."

"Are you trying to say I'm never nice to you?"

"I'm not trying to say anything, it's true."

I hadn't realized that there was a small group following us. I realized Rhea was trying to get my attention, but I couldn't break my attention from Helen.

"I am being nice. I know more about this world then you might. Despite how important your parents think they are; they couldn't keep their heads down. Mummy says they are going to get themselves killed."

I snapped and shoved her into the wall beside her. She stumbled and I marched up to her but stumbled back when she slapped me. I went to lunge at her again when I felt two arms wrap around my waist and pull me back. Just then Ron and Fred were in between us and Fred was telling Helen to walk away. I noticed Hermione standing with a trembling Rhea. George released me when Helen was far enough away, but Harry had a tight grip on my arm.

"What do you think you are doing trying to fight someone?"

I ripped my arm free from his. "Okay, mister midnight duel." I snapped before storming off back down the hallway. As I passed Rhea, she caught up with me, and I knew Fred and George weren't far behind. "I'm going to cut her hair off. All of it, tonight." I said. Rhea gasped. "That isn't the real plan is it?" I deflated a little. "No, I'm just mad." But tonight, Helen was going to get what was coming to her.