Chapter 4: Parties, Post and a Proposition

'Please.'

'No.'

'Please?'

'No.'

'Pretty please?'

'No!'

'Pretty please with Bertie Botts?'

'Bethany!'

'Please Amy!' Bethany pleaded.

'Why can't you do your own homework?' Amy asked irritably.

'But you're just so good at Potions!'

'Flattery won't get you anywhere Bethany Young!'

'But Amy-'

'No Bethany!'

'Its just bloody Snape didn't give us enough time so I haven't been able to finish it and-'

'We've had more than a week!'

'Yes well…'

'Yes but you were hanging out with Rupert and forgot to do your homework.' Amy said, crossing her arms.

'No! Well- maybe…OK. Fine. Yes.' Bethany fluttered her eyelashes at Amy. 'Please pretty please?'

Amy closed her eyes and gritted her teeth.

'If I lend you my essay will you please stop using that expression?'

'Yup.' Bethany smiled happily.

'In that case,' Amy stopped, opened her bag, rummaged around and drew out her essay. 'here.'

'Thank you, thank you, thank you!!' Bethany exclaimed, throwing her arms around her friend.

Amy rolled her eyes as she shut her bag and hoisted it back on to her shoulder. The girls started walking again. Classes were over for the day and they were heading back to the common room to dump their bags before dinner.

'So have you got any closer to finding out what the Weasleys are doing with all those books?' Bethany asked curiously.

Amy had told the rest of her friends about the book errands and the mysterious use for them. She had felt a twinge of guilt after telling them, but Fred had never said anything about keeping it a secret, she told herself, and, after all, she couldn't exactly spill the beans on what they were actually doing due to the fact that she had no idea herself.

Amy shook her head.

'Nope. I keep asking him and all he does is grin at me.'

Amy grimaced as she remembered. The grin that a fortnight ago she had begun to think was quite nice was once again beginning to annoy her intensely.

'Merlin's pants!' She quickly checked her watch. 'I've just remembered I was supposed to be meeting him before dinner to hand over this weeks' book! See you at dinner Beth!' Amy started running.

'Have fun!' Bethany called with a grin as she watched her friend disappear down the hallway.

'Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry!' Amy yelled skidding to a halt beside Fred.

'I thought I was the one with the punctuality problem.' He grinned.

'You are.' Amy gasped, massaging her chest. Running had never really been her thing. 'Fre- friends fault.'

'My friend Bethany was bugging me about my Potions essay.' She explained once she had gotten her breath back.

'Why?' Fred asked interestedly.

'She's been hanging out with her boyfriend and "forgot" to finish it.' Amy said with a scowl.

'You mean she was actually trying to do her Potions homework? Why would anyone do that?' Fred was bemused.

'Anyone would do it so as to be able to pass her Potions OWL probably.' Amy retorted. 'And she wasn't trying to do her homework. She was trying to copy mine.' She said ruefully.

'Are you good at Potions?' Fred asked.

'Sort of.' Amy said, uncomfortable under his sudden interested gaze. 'Don't look at me like that!'

'Like what?' Fred asked with a grin.

'Like I'm a sort of weird witch.'

'You are.' Fred said, still grinning.

Amy glared at him.

'You can talk Mister Mysterious Get-Me-This-Book-But-I'm-Not-Telling-You-Why Guy!'

'You're really that interested?' Fred asked. He looked amused at his new nickname.

'Yes.'

'Really?'

'Yes!'

'Really really?'

'I said yes!'

'Maybe soon.' Fred grinned. For the first time in a fortnight it didn't annoy her.

Amy brightened.

'That means yes.'

'That means maybe soon.'

'Yeah, but translated that means yes.'

Fred rolled his eyes.

'Can I have my book now please?'

'Hey George, catch!'

Fred chucked Healing for Healers at his brother -who caught it deftly- and lied down on his bed.

There were five Gryffindor sixth years: Fred, George, Lee, a pale dark-haired boy named Kenneth Towler and a thin mousy haired boy called Marcus Belby. Fred, George and Lee had found it easy to have the dormitory to themselves once Kenneth started dating (he spent all his time downstairs in the common room with his girlfriend Patricia Stimpson) and Marcus was made prefect (he was a bit like a miniature Percy and spent most of his time patrolling the corridors). As soon as the two of them left the room, the twins and Lee brought out their stuff and turned their dormitory into a makeshift laboratory, testing centre and research facility.

They were all hoping to find somewhere else soon, though. The stench some of their experiments left behind was unbearable sometimes.

'Nice one, bro.' George said, flicking through the pages of the book Fred had just given them. 'No problems?' He said, looking up.

Fred shook his head.

'Nope. Books changed hands no problem, and I found out that Cassidy's a Hermione at Potions.'

'Hmm…' George said thoughtfully, looking back down at the book in his hands. 'Interesting.'

He flicked through a couple more pages and then looked up again at his brother,

'Have you thought that she might be useful when it comes to making the Potions for these?' He asked, pointing at the piles of parchment on his bed.

'Yeah.' Fred said, sitting up. 'That's exactly what I was thinking actually.'

'Does she know what the books are for?' George asked.

Fred grinned, remembering the conversation he and Amy had had.

'No. She's very curious though.'

George was thinking.

'Well we've got nearly all the research we need to start making one of the types.' He rummaged through the notes on his bed until he found the one he was looking for. 'Yeah. I think we could try starting with the vomiting ones first.'

Fred grunted his approval.

'And I think that, if we check with someone over her Potions abilities, we could mention to our little friend what we're doing.' George looked at his brother sideways. 'She might be a great help. I'm not too sure about some of these methods.' He frowned at the pages in his hands.

'OK.'

Fred slid off his bed and stretched.

'I'm about ready for dinner. How 'bout you?'

George grinned.

'When have you ever known me not to be ready for dinner?'

'So Amy, Jacob and I were wondering,' Kia said conversationally, 'what you want for your birthday this year. Because we thought we might buy someth-'

'You don't have to buy me anything.' Amy said quickly.

'Yeah, yeah.' Kia said impatiently. 'But a couple of ideas would be nice if-'

'Seriously Kia,' Amy frowned. 'I don't want anything.'

'But-'

'No presents, no cakes and no parties.'

'But why-'

'I just don't want a fuss made out of it OK?' Amy said. Then she frowned again. 'And I mean it. No parties.'

'Did someone say something about a party?' Eddie said, coming over.

'Yes.' Amy narrowed her eyes. 'I said I don't want one this year.'

'Not even one like last years?' Eddie said disappointedly.

'Especially not one like last year's.' Amy grimaced.

The year before, on Amy's birthday, her friends had thrown her a small but intense surprise party at three in the morning. The six of them had spent the night eating, drinking and laughing. Amy still remembered the hell of a hangover she had got, as well as the pain of enduring a double Transfiguration lesson with McGonagall first thing the next morning. It had been enough to put her off Firewhisky for life.

'Shame.' Eddie said sadly. 'That was one hell of a party.'

'Hell being the operative word.' Kia winced. 'I can still remember the headache I had the day after.'

'I don't.' Eddie said smugly.

'That's because you were unconscious the day after.' Amy reminded him.

'Oh… Yeah.' His grin faded. 'I'd forgotten that.'

'Hey Amy!' Jacob drew along next to her and Bethany. 'Kia says you don't want anything for your birthday this year. That true?'

'Yeah.' Amy nodded.

'But why?' He asked, bemused.

'I just don't want to make a fuss.' She shrugged.

Bethany was looking at her with a strange expression on her face.

'And Eddie said you don't want a party either.' Jacob continued.

'True.'

'What?' Bethany said, stopping in the hallway suddenly in shock. She turned to Amy. 'You don't want a party?'

'Nope.' Amy shook her head and carried on walking.

Bethany stared at her. The she turned to Jacob who shrugged and turned to go the other way. After a minute she shook her head and ran to catch her up.

'But why don't you want a par-'

'Look, Bethany.' Amy said, not looking at her friend. 'I'm just not in the mood this year OK?'

'But… are you sure?' Bethany looked at her strangely.

'Yes.' Amy narrowed her eyes at her friend as they reached the Charms classroom. 'And I mean it Beth. NO parties.'

Bethany looked at her friend carefully and then sighed, seeing the determination in Amy.

'All right, all right.' She sighed again. 'No parties.'

'We have to organise a party.'

It was gone eleven o'clock and most Ravenclaws, including Amy, had gone to bed; but Bethany and the rest of her friends were still sitting by the fire, talking.

'A party?' Jacob frowned. 'But Amy said-'

'I know what she said, Jacob.' Bethany said impatiently. 'But I think we should still do one.'

'I'm not sure Beth.' Kia looked worried. 'She seemed pretty sure she didn't want one.'

'Yeah, but we all say we don't want things when we do really, don't we?'

'I don't think now is one of those times, though.' Jacob was still frowning.

'Oh come on guys!' Bethany said exasperated. 'Amy needs cheering up, and what better way than with a party?'

'I agree!' Eddie exclaimed.

Daisy glared at him.

'I think that if Amy says she doesn't want a party, we should respect her wishes.'

'I agree,' said Jacob.

'So that's two people who want a party and two who don't,' Bethany said, she turned to the Hispanic-looking girl next to her. 'Kia?'

The others turned to her and fixed their eyes on hers.

'Oh that's not fair!' She protested, going red. 'You can't make me decide something like this on my own!'

'Come on Kia!' Bethany encouraged. 'Do you want to cheer Amy up or not?'

'Or better put,' Daisy interjected 'do you want to respect Amy's wishes or not?'

Bethany glared at her before turning back to Kia expectantly.

'I… I…' Kia looked from one pair to the other. She sighed and shut her eyes. 'I think we should do the party.'

'What!' Daisy jumped up.

'Bethany's right.' Kia said. 'I think it will cheer Amy up.'

Jacob sighed.

'Fine.'

'What!' Daisy turned to him.

'It was a fair voting, Daisy.' Jacob shrugged. 'Majority won.'

She narrowed her eyes at them.

'On your own head be it.'

'Amy! Amy! AMY!'

Amy turned round and glanced round her to see who was calling her name. She smiled when she spotted her friends chestnut curls bounding towards her.

'Hi Daisy.'

'Hey.' Her friend said distractedly. 'Can we talk?'

'Sure.' Amy said bewildered. 'I was about to go for lunch-'

'I'd prefer it if we went outside.'

Amy frowned.

'What's wrong?'

The girls walked out of the main doors and sat down under a large sprawling beech tree, next to the lake. From where they were sitting Amy could see the Durmstrang ship floating calmly on the water. She shivered involuntarily as her eyes scanned it. It freaked her out. It was so black and bare and skeletal looking…it made her think that maybe the boat was dead.

She shook her head, trying to get these thoughts out of it and turned to her friend who looked worried.

'I just thought I should warn you.' Daisy said, fidgeting with a strand of hair.

'What's wrong?' Amy repeated, getting worried. 'Are the others OK?'

'No, no.' Daisy shook her head. 'It's nothing like that. Well- they do have something to do with it. But they're fine.'

Amy was very confused now.

'Daisy what is it?'

'Look, I just thought you should know that Beth and the others are planning a surprise party for you on your birthday.' Daisy looked down, still playing with a bit of her reddish brown hair.

'What!' Amy jumped up. 'But I told them-'

'I know Amy but-'

'They knew I didn't want a party and still they-'

'Amy I know.' Daisy said. 'Look, I told them you'd said you didn't want one but they think you need cheering up so-'

'So they're planning a party for me?' Amy was annoyed. She'd specifically told her friends that she didn't want a fuss made of her birthday. No cards, no presents, no special favours and NO parties! Why couldn't they just leave it at that?

'Right.' She narrowed her eyes as she picked up her bag from where she'd left it, propped up against the trunk of the beech.

'Amy,' Daisy said worried. 'What are you going to do?'

'Nothing.' She said.

'Nothing-nothing, or I'm-Not-Telling-You-Nothing?' Daisy asked cautiously.

'Nothing.' Amy repeated. 'What day did you say they're throwing this party for me?'

'Your birthday night.' Daisy was starting to look very anxious. 'You won't tell them I told you will you? They'll be mad at me.'

'Don't worry.' Amy smiled weakly as she turned away to go back into the castle. 'I won't tell them.'

Daisy smiled in relief.

'And thanks!' Amy called back.

'Happy birthday Amy!' Bethany said beaming.

Amy controlled the urge not to yawn. She hadn't slept at all well the night before.

'Thanks Bethany.' She said in a low voice. She didn't want everyone to hear it was her birthday or she'd get non-stop congratulations all day.

'Here.' Bethany passed Amy a parcel wrapped in blue. The paper had little snitches on it.

Amy closed her eyes, opened them again and forced her face into a smile.

'Thanks Bethany.' She said.

Daisy noted the forced tone and smiled at her friend sympathetically. Amy smiled back weakly.

Taking a piece of toast from the rack, she started buttering it quickly. Just as she started to dollop pumpkin marmalade on to it, there was a screech followed by a hoot and suddenly a hundred owls flew through the windows, holding letters or packages.

Amy kept her eyes trained on her plate, determined not to look up.

A brown owl with black marks on it's back landed in front of Amy and hooted haughtily. Finally, she looked up.

'Hi Archy.' She said weakly.

The owl hooted sedately and held out his leg.

Amy started to untie the roll of parchment slowly. Archy quickly lost his patience and started pecking at her hand, so she hurried up and ripped the last bit of string off.

'Thanks Archy.' She muttered, rubbing the place where he'd pecked her.

The owl hooted one last time and took off, tipping Amy's goblet of juice on to her piece of toast. Watching it become slowly orange and soggy, Amy realised she'd lost her appetite.

'I'm not hungry guys,' She said, scrambling out of the bench. 'I'll see you in Herbology.'

'But we haven't given you the rest of our presents!' Bethany protested.

'You can give them to me later,' Amy said quickly. 'Bye.'

As she walked down the space in between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables she saw Fred Weasley wave at her (at least she presumed it was Fred seeing as she didn't actually know George yet), but she pretended not to see him and carried on walking. He'd probably heard about her birthday and wanted to congratulate her, and right now, that was the last thing she needed or wanted.

She quickly crossed the Entrance Hall and exited through the great wooden front doors, emerging into the cold, grey morning. Walking quickly, she went and found her special place under the tree, by the lake. She spread her cloak on the ground and sat down, leaving her bag next to her.

For ten minutes she sat there, leaning against the tree trunk and with her arms around her knees, just looking at the envelope in her hands. Finally she shook herself out of the trance and uncurled herself. Sitting cross-legged, she slit open the blue wax-sealed envelope. She tipped it upside down and a few sickles plinked into her lap, along with a single piece of unadorned, folded parchment.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the parchment and read:

Amy,

Happy Birthday

Dad

Sighing she folded it up again and stuffed it in her robes pocket along with the sickles and the envelope. She pulled her legs up and sat holding her knees again, leaning against the tree trunk and just watching the silver, rippling surface of the lake, until it was time to go to class.

'Hey Cho. Hi Marietta. Have either of you seen Amy?' Daisy asked.

Marietta shook her head.

'No. Sorry Daisy.' Cho said. 'Not since we finished Defense Against the Dark Arts.'

'I noticed she left the classroom very fast though.' Marietta commented.

'Is everything OK?' Cho asked, noticing Daisy's worried expression.

Daisy's smile was strained.

'Yeah, yeah. Everything's fine.'

'The party still on for tonight?'

'Yes.'

'See you there.' The two girls smiled and walked into the Great Hall for lunch.

'Where is she?' Daisy thought worriedly.

She spotted her sister Mandy through the crowd of students heading for lunch and called her over.

'Hey Mandy!' she waved. The younger girl's face lit up as she made her way over with one of her friends.

'Hey Daisy.'

'Hi Mandy. Hey Rachel.' She nodded at the other girl. 'Listen have you seen Amy anywhere?' Daisy said quickly.

Mandy shook her head but her friend nodded.

'I looked out of the window just now and saw her heading for the lake.'

'The lake?' Daisy said, surprised. 'Why would Amy go to the lake?'

The girl shrugged.

'Thanks.' Daisy said to her.

'No problem.' The girl smiled, and she and Mandy went into the Great Hall.

Daisy shook her head bemusedly as she headed towards the oak front doors.

"…-in which the offender is put to shore with a little powder and shot, and left behind on some desolate and distant island.

"Marooned three years agone," he continued, "and lived on goats since then, and berries, and oysters. Wherever a man is, says I, a man can do for himself. But, mate, my heart is sore for Christian diet. You mightn't happen to have a piece of cheese about you, now? No? Well many's the long night I've dreamed of cheese –toasted mostly- and woke up again, and here I were."

"If ever I can get aboard again," said I, "you shall have cheese by the-…"

'Oh no.' Daisy sighed, finally spotting her friend sitting under a tree, reading a book. 'This can't be good…'

She walked over to her friend and sat down next to her.

'Amy?' she said softly

She looked up and Daisy saw that the rims of her eyes were slightly pink.

'Hello Daisy.' She said just as quietly, turning back to her book.

'What's happened Amy?' Daisy asked, watching her friend for signs of a reaction. But Amy didn't move. 'Is it the party?' she asked tentatively.

Amy laughed, a short and bitter laugh.

'No Daisy.' She shook her head. 'It's not the party.'

'Then what…' Daisy trailed off, seeing the look on Amy's face.

There was a pause, where Daisy looked worriedly at her friend. After Amy had ignored her for a full two minutes, she stood up.

'See you in class Amy.' She said quietly.

She walked back to the oak front doors but stopped before going in to take a last look at Amy.

'Maybe Beth is right.' She thought, going inside. 'Maybe the party will cheer her up…'

'I'm telling you Jacob, it will not be giant snakes!' Amy said as Daisy, Jacob and herself left the Ancient Runes classroom.

'Well it's betetr then you're idea!' Jacob shook his head furiously. 'Battling the giant squid...come on!'

'Squid.'

'Snakes.'

'Squid!'

'Snakes!'

'Squid squid squid!'

'Snake snake snake!'

'Fascinating conversation.' Daisy commented. 'Remind me to hang out with you guys again.'

Jacob laughed and Amy giggled. Daisy glanced at her. Amy had joined Jacob and Daisy in the classroom after lunch for Ancient Runes, and Daisy had noticed that she no longer seemed in a strange mood. She seemed to have cheered up and all traces of the vague look in her eyes before lunch had disappeared. Daisy hoped it was gone for good.

'Hey, Amy,' Jacob pointed at the window behind Amy, 'isn't that your uncle's owl?'

Amy spun round and recognised the beautiful screech owl outside.

'Melúsine!' She opened the window and the owl flew on to her shoulder. 'What's this?' She quickly untied the package and letter from the owl's leg and stroked its beak. 'Thanks Melúsine.' The owl hooted and took off again through the window towards the owlery.

Amy quickly slit open the envelope and read the message.

Chère Amy,

Bon Anniversaire!

Happy 16th Birthday!

I trust you are well? I hope so! I am sorry if this is late. I have sent Mélusine early but I still do not entirely trust her ability to cross the Channel so fast!

Your uncle is very busy at Beauxbatons. He says his classes seem stupider than ever this term and that he is not sure how much longer he will be able to teach Astronomy to such stupid enfants, but he has been saying that ever since he began teaching so I am thinking he is OK. Edward is doing well at school, he was glad to see you at Christmas, as were we all! We are hoping you will be able to visit us again this summer. David wishes me to ask you to please send him some more of those Barty Bits Beans you gave him for Christmas.

I hope you have a good birthday!

Your tante Sylvie

P.S. Forgive me if the gift is not to your liking. David chose it and he assured me you would love it, mais je ne suis pas sure!

Amy smiled a small, sad smile, comparing the sweet informative letter from her aunt to the short message from her father. She folded the parchment, put it into her pocket and turned to the gift (which was wrapped in blue and red paper checked paper).

'Jacob!' Bethany came flying down the corridor, her blonde hair streaming behind her. 'Daisy! I've got them! I've- Oh.' She stopped, spotting Amy suddenly. 'Hi Amy.'

'Hi Beth.' Amy smiled back, resolving to open the parcel later, in the privacy of the dorm. As she slid it into her bag, Daisy glanced at her again.

She was sure Amy knew that Bethany had been about to say something about the party. So why was she not biting Beth's head off? It seemed that Amy had resigned herself to the party, deciding to just let Bethany get on with it.

'Um…Daisy?' Bethany asked hesitantly, glancing at Amy again. 'Can I talk to you for a minute?'

'Sure.' Daisy nodded, glancing at Amy too. 'See you in Transfiguration guys.'

Amy nodded, a small smile playing around on her lips.

'Yeah, see you Daisy.'

She and Jacob carried on walking, leaving Bethany and Daisy behind.

'Any idea what that was about?' Amy asked Jacob innocently as soon as they were out of sight.

'Nope.' He fibbed, shaking his head.

'Oh well.' Amy grinned, noticing his discomfort. 'I'm sure we'll find out eventually.'

They entered the classroom and sat down in their seats, taking out books, parchment, ink, quill and wand. Bethany and Daisy suddenly skidded into the room, closely followed by Professor McGonagall who went straight to her desk and started the lesson.

Amy sighed. They were still working on Vanishing, and Amy, whose best subject was definitely not Transfiguration was still having definite trouble vanishing her frog.

She sighed again as McGonagall gave the order to start practising, and pointed her wand at the poor frog, partly glad to have something to place her concentration in.

Amy, Can you meet us on the seventh floor, by that painting of the pale witch wearing a Venomous Tentacula for a hat, at half-past eight tonight?

We need to talk to you.

FW

Amy stared at the note the small brown owl had just delivered with a mixture of surprise, intrigue and excitement. It sounded like she was going to finally meet the other half of the Weasley twin set, and also, hopefully, find out what the mystery of the library books was about.

Daisy had told her that her "surprise" birthday party was set to start at nine that night, and Amy had decided that the easiest course of action would be to escape just before that and hide. Battling Bethany over the party would have been way too complicated and messy.

Now, she had a legitimate excuse to leave the common room and once she'd finished seeing what Fred wanted, she'd go and find a hiding place in a cupboard or something, somewhere. Anything was better than having to smile and act happy for a party she hadn't ever wanted in the first place. And Bethany couldn't blame her for not turning up because, supposedly, Amy had no idea it was even happening.

So after dinner that night, Amy went up to the dormitory alone, leaving her friends to organise her "surprise" party.

She sat down on her bed, pulled the blue hangings around her and plucked the package she had received from her aunt from her bag. Reaching into the pocket of her jeans she pulled out the letter and re-read it with a small smile. Then she turned her attention to the parcel.

She pulled at the paper, trying to see if she could get it off without ripping it. Once it was unwrapped she grinned. Her cousin had been right. It was perfect.

At a quarter past eight, Amy walked down the stairs to the common room.

As expected, all her friends were sitting conspicuously innocently around the fire, and Amy spotted a table in a far corner, hiding a bundle of packages under a cloth.

'I'm going to meet Weasley, guys.' She announced. Their heads turned and Amy noticed Bethany's sudden expression of panic. She smiled inwardly.

'Oh. Oh- okay.' Bethany tried to sound unbothered. 'How long are you going to be?'

'Don't know.' Amy said truthfully.

'Oh.' Bethany was starting to sound worried.

'Don't think it will be too long though.' Amy said with a small smile.

'Oh. Okay then.' Bethany said sounding relieved.

As she left the common room she caught Daisy's eye and winked.

'Fred?'

The two ginger heads turned as one and grinned. Amy noticed that both their grins were identical.

'Hey Amy.' The one on the left said. The other one was staring at her with a strange look on his face

'Er…hi.' She said, looking from one to the other. 'Erm…Which one of you is Fred?'

'I'm Fred.'

'No you're not.' The other one turned to his brother. 'I'm Fred.'

'No, I'm Fred!'

'No, I am!'

'No, me!'

'Me!'

'Me!'

'Er... guys?' Amy said still looking from one to the other. 'This is getting kind of confusing.'

If it was possible, their grins grew even broader.

'Seriously,' she was still looking from one to the other, trying to find a difference, even a tiny one, so as to be able to tell them apart, 'which one of you is Fred?'

'I am.' They said in unison.

Amy rolled her eyes.

'OK, OK.' The one on the left said, raising his hands in defeat. 'I'm George.'

'I thought I was George.' The other one looked confused.

'No. I'm George.' The first one said.

'OK, forget confusing.' Amy shook her head. 'This is just plain weird.'

'OK, fine.' The one on the left grinned again. 'I'm Fred. Promise.'

Amy narrowed her eyes.

'You sure?'

'Definitely.' He said with a nod, still grinning. 'I'm handsomer than him.'

Both Amy and the other twin rolled their eyes.

'You wish.' George scoffed.

'What?' Fred said defensively. 'I am!'

'I'm George.' The other one held out his hand and Amy shook it. 'I've seen you before. You were laughing at us in the Hall the day they announced the Champions.'

'Guilty as charged.' Amy grinned back. 'I wondered which one of you that was. I can't tell you apart.' She confessed.

'You were laughing at us Amy?' Fred pretended to be hurt.

'Instant beards.' Amy grinned again. 'What's not to laugh about?'

'Can we change the subject from that embarrassing moment,' George said, shaking his head. His brother grinned.

'To business, then. We don't want to keep you long.' He nodded at Amy.

'I'm in no rush.' Amy muttered grimly, remembering what was going on in the common room.

'Shall I start?' Fred looked to his brother, who nodded. 'Right. Well we know you've been wondering about all the books you've been getting for us and-'

'You're going to tell me what was with all the books?' Amy brightened.

They both nodded.

'George and I have set up a joke business.' Fred began.

'Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes.' George clarified.

'So far, we've managed to develop fake wands that turn into different things when you pick them up-' Fred continued.

'You know, things like rubber chickens, pairs of underpants…stuff like that.' George explained.

'We've also started making joke sweets.' Fred said. 'Have you used any of those sweets I gave you yet?' He asked Amy.

'Oh yeah.' Amy nodded with a grin, remembering Jacob the Canary and Eddie's super-sized tongue incident. 'I used them all right.'

'Excellent.' Fred grinned again.

'They work all right?' George asked.

'If they were supposed to turn people into canaries and give them huge-tongues.' Amy grinned. 'Then yeah. They worked.'

'Good.' George grinned.

'So what's this got to do with those books?' Amy asked. 'Or me, for that matter.' She added.

'We've been researching a new type of sweet.' George said.

'One to make you sick.' Fred explained.

'Sick?' Amy said slightly alarmed.

'Not really sick.' Fred assured her. 'We just thought it would be quite useful to have a sweet to give to your enemies, that would make them sick.'

'I see.' Amy nodded. 'So you've been looking up ways to cause small illnesses.'

'Like vomiting, fainting, a fever…'

'Nosebleed?' Amy suggested.

'Exactly.' George grinned. 'You're right.' He turned to his brother, still grinning. 'She's perfect.'

'Perfect for what?' Amy said suspiciously. 'If you want me to test these-'

'No.' Fred laughed. 'Don't worry, we haven't developed them yet.'

'And we wouldn't make you do that anyway.' George added. 'We agreed that as they're our products we should be the ones to test them, to make sure they're not harmful.'

'That was George's bright idea.' Fred sighed mournfully.

'So what am I perfect for?' Amy asked, still confused.

The twins looked at each other, before turning back to Amy.

'See, we each have different parts to play in making the stuff.' Fred explained.

'We both put forward joke ideas.'

'We all research.'

'Fred's good at coming up with names, slogans and publicity.'

'George usually comes up with the methods, spells, potions and stuff we need.'

'We both develop the stuff, but Lee helps as well.' George added. 'He's very good at Transfiguration and Charms, so he helps out a lot with that part.'

'But,' Fred continued. 'we sometimes have trouble with the potions.'

'Some of the methods are a bit too complicated for us.' George shook his head

'Yeah. We were always more fixated in finding ways of blowing up Snape than actually listening to him.' Fred explained.

'So we're not very good at them.'

'And I am.' Amy understood.

'You are.' Fred nodded.

'We checked with Katie Bell, who has the same Potions class as you, and she agreed that you're top of the class there.'

'So,' Fred glanced at George, who nodded, 'we'd like you to become part of our team.'

'You want me to help you make joke products?' Amy said, stunned.

'Yes.' They both nodded.

'But- but…' Amy stopped. Two different personalities had suddenly burst into the centre of her brain, battling.

"But what if your dad catches you?" the more sensible, good and studious one said.

"Like he'd even notice." scoffed the second, more adventurous, trouble-making one said

"Yeah, but he might find out, and then you'd be in deep trouble." Worried Miss Sensible.

"How is he going to find out if you don't tell him" Reasoned Miss Adventure.

"Your O.W.L.s are coming up." Argued Miss Sensible. 'You need to study. You haven't got time to-'

"You can still study. But you deserve some fun!"

"But-"

"Bethany's right. You need cheering up. Forget the party, this is the perfect way!"

"But what if-"

"Say yes!"

'If I said yes,' Amy began. They both turned to her. 'if, there'd be a condition.'

'We'd pay you, of course.' George said.

Amy shook her head.

'I wouldn't want you to pay me.'

'But-'

'No, seriously. I wouldn't want payment.' Amy said. 'If I say yes I'll do it because I need something to do in my life and I have a feeling that it would be fun, if nothing else.'

'Fair enough.' Fred said, looking at his brother. 'So what would the condition be?'

'Nobody except you two and Lee must know I'm helping you.'

'Er…Can we ask why?' Fred asked, bemused.

'Because I wouldn't want anyone knowing.' Amy replied firmly. 'Would you promise?'

The twins looked at each other and shrugged.

'If you're sure.' Fred sighed.

'I am.'

'OK. Anything else?' George asked.

'Yeah, I wouldn't be able to help too much until the end of this year.' Amy warned them. 'I've got my O.W.L.s remember?'

'No problem.' George nodded.

'Yeah, we're not completely ready to start with these yet anyway.' Fred agreed.

Amy nodded.

'If you said yes, we'd ask you to brew something for us, as well.' George said. 'Just as a precaution.'

'Though I think we can trust Katie's judgement.' Fred added.

'Thanks.' Amy said with a roll of her eyes.

'Oh!' she said, a thought striking her suddenly. 'I'd need to know where you guys make the things I suppose.'

'Good point.' George nodded again.

'But we'll tell you that if you agree to join us.' Fred said with a grin.

'Fair enough.' Amy grinned back.

'You'd also be sworn to secrecy by the way.' George put in.

'Yeah,' Fred nodded grinning still, 'we don't want rival joke-makers coming out with our products now do we?'

'Any other questions?' George said with a roll of his eyes at his brother.

'Yes.' Amy nodded. 'What exactly would I have to do as Potion-maker?'

'Well as Fred said, we're not ready to start making the sweets yet.' George said. 'So for now, you wouldn't have to do much, unless you'd like to help with research so as to know what you're dealing with once we do start making them.'

'You might have to still help us with the books from the library as well.' Fred said, grinning. 'We still aren't Madam Pince's favourite twins…'

'Wonder why.' Amy grinned. George chuckled.

'But then once we're ready it would basically be just that, make the potions.' Fred said.

'Lee, Fred and I then experiment with different spells and stuff to compress them into sweets and make them safe, time-controlled…stuff like that.' George explained.

'It does take a while.' Fred said, seeing the look on Amy's face.

'Took us a whole summer to make the toffees.'

'And then our mum threw them out.' Fred scowled.

'Your mum doesn't approve?' Amy asked interestedly.

'No.' George sighed.

'She wants us to go into the Ministry like our older brother, Perfect Prefect Percy.' Fred said with a disgusted look on his face.

'That sounds familiar…' Amy thought with a sigh.

'So.' Fred said, looking at Amy closely, serious now. 'You in?'

'Fred,' George protested. 'She might need a bit of time to-'

'Think of what your dad would do if he found out-'

'Do it!'

'I'm in.' Amy said decidedly.

Inside her head, Miss Adventure grinned smugly.

'So,' George said, as they walked down the hallway, 'we'll send you an owl with a list of books you might want to check out for some background reading.'

'OK.' Amy nodded. 'Should I take notes or anything?'

'It might be a good idea.' George nodded.

'We'll work on trying to find somewhere for you to join us in the production part, too.' Fred said.

'Oh and we'll send you some of our other products as well,' George said as they turned the corner, 'so you have an idea of more or less what-.'

They all stopped suddenly hearing a loud mew behind them. They turned and saw Mrs Norris watching them with her big yellow eyes.

Fred swore.

'Run!' George yelled.

They didn't need telling twice.

They sprinted down the length of the corridor and as they turned another corridor, Amy spotted a shiny wooden door on the left hand side.

'In here!' she motioned to the boys. She opened the door and slipped inside, followed quickly by the two twins. George closed the door and they all stood silently, praying for Filch not to find them.

Amy pressed her back against the far wall and wondered what this place was. She couldn't see a single thing. Everything was black. She took a small step to her left and felt something become dislodged. Quickly she grabbed it before it could fall to the floor and felt it.

It was a broom.

'We're in a broom cupboard.' Amy breathed.

The minutes went past and still no one opened the door to the hiding place.

'Do you think they're gone?' Fred muttered.

'I don't know.' George muttered back just as quietly. 'Better wait and make sure.'

They waited for what felt like an hour but was probably more like ten minutes.

'I think they've gone.' George muttered again.

'Amy?' Fred said. 'Where are you?'

'Here.' Amy said, holding out her hand to try and find him. It brushed warm skin and Amy felt a tingle of electricity.

'OK. And where's the door?' Fred said. Amy heard him fumbling and then there was a loud clatter as a mop fell to the floor.

Nobody breathed as they waited silently for Filch to open the door and find them.

'I think they've definitely gone.' George said, letting his breath out

'This is stupid.' Amy thought. 'Lumos.'

The cupboard was suddenly filled with the light from Amy's wand.

'Nice one.' Fred nodded approvingly.

'Yeah.' George agreed, absentmindedly rubbing the back of his hand.

'Lets get out of here.' Amy said, reaching for the door handle. She opened it a crack and peeped out. 'Coast is clear. Come on.'

She slipped out of the door silently and waited for the boys to join her outside the cupboard.

'You'd better get back to your tower.' George said to Amy.

'Yeah.' Fred agreed with another of his grins. 'We don't need you getting into trouble on your first day as our partner.'

'Listen,' George said, pointing at a tapestry further down the corridor, 'go through here and you'll find yourself on the fifth floor. You'll be at about a hundred feet away from the Ravenclaw staircase.'

'Thanks' Amy said with a grateful smile.

'No problem.' George smiled back at her.

'We'll send you an owl when we need you.' Fred said as they quickly went over to the tapestry.

'You just pull here…' George pulled at the bottom right-hand corner of the tapestry and it swung to the side, revealing a small hole, big enough for one person.

Amy nodded, crouched down, crawled through the hole and found herself at the top of a small, hidden spiralling staircase.

'Wicked.' She breathed. She put her head back through the tapestry hole and grinned. 'Thanks guys.'

'Anytime.' Fred grinned back. 'Night Amy.'

'Night.' George smiled.

'Night.' Amy smiled up at them both. 'And thanks!'

She withdrew her head and pulled the tapestry back into its original place, before hurrying down the staircase. When she reached the bottom she found a solid piece of wood blocking the exit. She pushed it cautiously and it opened slightly. She pushed it open wider and peeped out. Seeing she was indeed, as George put it, a hundred feet away from the Ravenclaw tower staircase, she clambered through the hole and turned to see it swing shut behind her. It was a portrait of a pretentious-looking, fat, old wizard stroking an owl with one finger.

'Wicked.' She breathed again. She memorised its position for future reference and then hurried silently down the corridor towards the spiral staircase that lead to Ravenclaw tower.

Amy yawned as she climbed the staircase. She hadn't noticed how tired she was. She looked at the watch on her wrist and her eyes widened, seeing it was past eleven o'clock. She hadn't realised how late it was either!

'We must have been in that cupboard longer than I thought.' Amy shook her head. She reached the top of the staircase, and groaned at the thought of having to answer a question from the bronze knocker now.

'What is the definition of magic?' The eagle asked her in its soft lilting voice.

'Energy in its purest form, that changes at the will of an outside force.' Amy said, tiredly.

'Nicely put.' The eagle said. The door swung open and Amy wearily went through it.

'Amy!' Amy looked up and stopped suddenly, seeing Bethany's angry face. 'Where have you been?'

Amy groaned as she remembered the party. She really didn't need this now. All she wanted to do was go up to her warm and comfortable four-poster and fall asleep.

She glanced around the almost deserted common room taking in the food on the floor, the cups littered all over the place, the popped balloons and half-hanging paper chains, the pile of presents in the corner and the worse for wear appearance of several of her classmates, including Eddie.

'Well?' Bethany demanded. 'Where have you been? You completely missed your party! Everyone was asking where you were!'

'I told you I didn't want a party, Bethany.' Amy said tiredly.

'Yes but-'

'And I was reading.' She fibbed, making up an excuse for her prolonged absence.

'Reading!' Bethany exclaimed. 'But it's-'

'Look, I'm tired, Bethany.' Amy said, turning to the girls' staircase. 'I'll talk to you tomorrow.'

'But-'

'Night Bethany.'

Amy slowly trudged up the stairs and into the dorm, where she saw Daisy, Kia, Cho and Marietta asleep in their beds. She changed into her blue pyjamas quickly and slipped in between the covers of her bed with a sigh.

'Happy birthday Amy.' She said to herself, and promptly fell asleep.

AUTHORS NOTE: Well here's Chapter 4 guys!! Many thanks to my reviewers! Chapter 5 will be up (hopefully) before I go back to school on the 19th (I LOVE the spanish school system...) so keep an eye open!

Interesting note: You may not find this interesting...just thought I'd mention Amy's birthday is the 12th of February. Please don't berate me if I've got the days/dates of the year wrong. I calculated it's now 1995 (I think). But I wasn't totally sure so I just made up the date. It worked for me to have Amy's birthday on a Friday. 12th of February is actually my best friend's birthday so there you go...Dedicated to you Tituu!

Disclaimer: I own nothing that isn't mine.

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