"How is it possible that the two of you are still so energetic?"
Fred, George and Lee Jordan had constructed a pea catapult and a mashed potato fortress, and Fred was seeing if he could get his peas to clear George's plate and land on Lee's when Rook had arrived at the Gryffindor table for dinner. Fred looked up from this scientific endeavor to see a disheveled Rook take a seat across from them, beside Angelina, Alicia and Katie Bell. Upon closer examination, Fred noticed that there was dry mud on her robes and in her hair.
"I don't know if Professor Sprout told you, Rook, but you're supposed to put the dirt on the plants, not on yourself."
"I can see how she'd get confused," said George, reaching over to pick a bit of grass out of Rook's hair. "Rosemary is a plant, after all."
Rook laughed and Fred felt relieved. She looked like she had had a rough lesson, and he and George had spent their last lesson speculating about what the Slytherins would be like during Rook's first class with them. She seemed to be in good spirits, however, as she introduced herself to Katie Bell and caught up with Angelina, Alicia and Lee.
"So it's true you had Herbology with the Slytherins?" Alicia asked Rook as she started to serve herself.
"What happened?" asked Angelina, frowning. "Did they do something?"
Rook sighed heavily, staring at her plate. "Yeah, something. There were these particular three: I can't quite remember their names, but I think one was called Ashworth?"
"Oh, right—the pretty, blonde girl?" Fred commented. Angelina shot him a nasty look. "What? She is!" Fred tried to gauge Rook's reaction to this, but she appeared entirely unfazed.
"Yeah," Rook confirmed. "The one who looks like a Victoria's Secret model."
"A what?"
Rook shrugged. "Never mind." Rook proceeded to recount the events of her Herbology lesson, and Fred felt an unexpected anger well up inside him as he listened.
"—and the caretaker—Filch, isn't it?" Rook continued. "He started yelling at me for tracking mud inside, but it was mostly dry, and it wasn't even getting anywhere, really. He was just overreacting. I tried to wash up a little, but I know I'm still a mess. I'm just glad the day is almost over."
"Those bloody wankers!" Lee exclaimed angrily.
Fred added, "I like a good prank, but—"
"—they could've killed you," George finished, scowling.
"Nah…" said Rook, prodding her potatoes uncomfortably. "I'm not exactly used to flowers with fangs, but I'm used to bullies, and I'm sure Professor Sprout could handle them. She wouldn't let anything like that happen."
"Or this Ogden bloke, apparently," said Fred.
"Who is he, again?" asked Angelina. "I know I've heard the name…"
"He's got dark skin and hair, and he's on the skinny side," said Katie, looking around the Great Hall as she spoke. "There, at the end of the Hufflepuff table."
Ogden sat by himself, reading a paperback book as he ate slowly. He seemed engrossed in his reading, but as Fred watched, he quite suddenly looked in their direction. From a distance, however, Fred couldn't tell if he was looking at him or Rook. Fred looked down at his own plate, a strange, uneasy feeling creeping up inside him. He glanced back at Ogden briefly, who was once again immersed in his book.
"He's not bad-looking either," George noted, glancing sideways at Fred.
"Didn't think he was your type," Fred spoke airily.
"About as much as Ashworth is your type, I expect," George retorted.
Rook laughed. "What are y'all even talking about?"
"They're talking about who they fancy," Katie giggled.
"Speaking of which," said Alicia, "I talked to Cedric Diggory earlier, and he told me he's the new Hufflepuff captain this year!"
"Captain…?" Rook asked curiously.
"Wait a minute!" interjected Lee Jordan indignantly. "Doesn't anyone think I'm good-looking?"
"You might be, if you didn't always have your foot in your mouth," replied Angelina.
"I suppose all you need to do now is find a girl who's into feet," suggested Rook helpfully.
George laughed. "Well, there you go!"
Rook stood suddenly, yawning. "I think I'm going to head back to the common room. I'm really tired."
At this, George stood as well. "Me too. Fred?"
"Right… It's been a long day. Here, Rook—we'll help you find the common room again."
Once they were out of earshot of the others, Fred muttered to Rook, "Filch has been dogging us all day."
"Or catting, I suppose, between him and Mrs. Norris," said George with a smirk.
"We know he heard us last night, and he must have found the mess we made in the Astronomy Tower."
"Surely he knows it was us, but can't prove it."
"Filch has never quite liked us," Fred understated. "We can only assume he won't like you much once he realizes we're mates."
Rook smiled. "I'm all right with that. Totally worth it."
Once they had reached Gryffindor Tower and climbed through the portrait hole, Fred and George headed for a large couch in a shadowy nook of the common room and Rook made for the girls' staircase.
"You're actually going to bed already?" asked Fred, somewhat disappointed.
"I don't understand why you two aren't! Y'all slept since—well, I suppose since before eleven in the morning yesterday."
"Not true," said Fred succinctly.
"We took a nap in History of Magic!"
Rook stood in place, deliberating. Ultimately, she took a seat next to George on the couch. "You picked a lousy friend, you know," she said dejectedly. "I'm not going to get to hang out with you like this very often. I have too much work to catch up on."
"We know," Fred acknowledged.
"All the more reason we take advantage of the time we have."
"You know what the worst part is?!" Rook exclaimed, suddenly huffy.
"Er… the Slytherins?" George wagered, taken aback by Rook's sudden anger.
"The coffee, obviously."
"Oh, obviously."
"You don't understand. Coffee is… it's sacred," Rook spoke without a hint of irony.
"I've never really liked it much."
"You wouldn't, if all you've had is the stuff they serve here! It's pathetic!" Rook insisted. Fred and George exchanged a look. "What?"
"Nothing, it's just—"
"—maybe this is about something more than just coffee?"
"Of course it is! I'm homesick."
"Rook…" George spoke, laying a hand gently on her shoulder. "You'll be back home before you know it. In the meantime, you've got us."
Fred nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. Naturally, homesickness was unavoidable for anyone attending Hogwarts, even for those who considered Hogwarts home. For Fred and George, both Hogwarts and The Burrow were home,so there was always a period of adjustment when traveling from one to the other. Rook would adjust as well, but right now Fred found himself preoccupied with the coffee problem.
After a short while, the subject had changed. They told her what to expect from different teachers and speculated about Professor Lupin, and they talked about different clubs and told Rook about Hogsmeade. As they talked, however, Rook nodded off, falling onto George's shoulder as she fell asleep completely.
"Er, Rook…" murmured George. "Rook?"
She stirred, but did not wake. Fred leaned over and flicked her on the temple. "Oi, Rook!"
"Hey, what—!" Rook sat up suddenly, blushing. "Oh, uh…. Sorry, George. I-I guess I'd better head to the dormitory." She got up in a hurry and disappeared up the girl's staircase, red as a beet the whole way.
"Do you have to torture her?" asked George once Rook had gone.
"Trust me, I did her a favor. And I'm about to do her another." Fred stood.
"What are you on about?"
"Come on. We're going to make a trip to the kitchens."
George followed Fred out of the portrait hole. "Are we doing what I think we're doing?" he whispered as he followed Fred.
"It'll help her."
"That may be, but Filch is out for blood."
"It's not even ten yet, and we have this." Fred withdrew the Marauder's Map. He pulled George into an empty classroom and activated the map, scanning it quickly for Filch or Mrs. Norris. "They're nowhere near here, or the kitchens. We'll be in and out."
Fred lead the way down a staircase off the Entrance Hall where a large painting of a bowl of fruit hung at the end of the corridor. Fred tickled the pear, causing it to turn into a doorknob with a laugh.
Once inside, several house elves gathered around the twins.
"Hello, young masters!" one house elf squeaked, sinking into a low bow before them. "It is wonderful to see you in good health!"
"You as well, Ikkus," Fred greeted the elf with a grin.
"And what can I help you with this evening?"
"Nothing too difficult. We were just wondering about the coffee you served this morning…"
"Would it be possible to make it any stronger tomorrow morning?" asked George.
"Quite possible, young master. How much stronger would you like it?"
"Er… quite strong?" said Fred uncertainly. "Our friend—she's American and I suppose she prefers it rather strong."
"I'm certain we shall have no trouble accommodating her. A stronger brew shall be sent to the Gryffindor table tomorrow morning, clearly marked. Is there anything else we can do for you?"
"No, that's all we needed. Thank you, Ikkus!"
"My pleasure, as always," Ikkus spoke, bowing once more.
Fred and George hurried out of the kitchens and along the corridor. "What did I tell you?" Fred whispered as they made their way back to Gryffindor Tower. "In and—oh, bollocks"
Just then, Mrs. Norris had spotted them across a long corridor and taken off, presumably to alert Filch to their presence. Fred grabbed George and they sped off in the opposite direction. Their journey back to the Tower took considerably longer as they spent a large portion of the time dodging Filch and Mrs. Norris. At last they clamored through the portrait hole, hearts racing and somewhat winded.
"It's past curfew, you know."
Fred and George found themselves intercepted by a frowning Percy.
"Just barely," said George.
"Lighten up, Perce!"
"Be that as it may, I would be shirking my responsibilities as Head Boy if I showed the two of you favoritism."
"Ah, so we are your favorites?" Fred spoke, nudging Percy fondly.
"Enough. Five points from Gryffindor, for each of you. I promised mother I would look out for Harry this year, and I can't do that and keep you two out of trouble."
"You're quite delusional if you think you were ever able to keep us out of trouble."
Percy scowled but moved on, apparently reaching the end of his patience with the twins.
"Ten points?" George said when Percy had moved on. "Not so bad."
"Yeah… totally worth it," Fred concurred with a smirk.