George knew something had happened between Chuck and Charlie. He was pretty sure the rest of his family had noticed as well. The two had been avoiding each other most of the morning. Fred and Ginny had told George that Charley had disappeared for a bit into the twins room. When Bill popped into Ginny's room to see if there were any clean towels, they concluded that Charley and Charlie were indeed alone.
George watched the rest of the morning as Chuck and his brother became increasingly awkward around each other. They began avoiding each other completely. George couldn't help but notice the lingering glances between the two. Whatever had happened, it wasn't good.
At platform 9 ¾ George caught them saying goodbye to each other. Charlie held her, his eyes pleading with hers. Instead Charley hid her face in his shoulder, he kissed the top of her head. They stood together, Chuck in Charlie's arms, until it was time to board the train. Charley kissed his cheek and followed George and Fred onto the Hogwarts Express. George saw Bill clasp a hand to Charlie's shoulder. They both stood with their mother until the train was out of sight.
Charley followed Fred down the train's corridor. George brought up the rear, watching his brother and Charley closely. George knew Fred had grown fond of Chuck. He had seemed a little down throughout the morning, but nothing George hadn't seen from his brother. Fred stopped at a compartment in the back and he and George lifted Charley's trunk onto the rack overhead, then went to work on their own.
"Thanks you two." Charley said flopping down on the compartment seat.
George sat down in the seat beside her, she lay down resting her head in his lap. Fred took a seat across from the two. Fred drummed his fingers against his knee impatiently. George glanced at his twin, he knew Fred was dying to know what had happened between Chuck and Charlie just as much as he did. George figured if he didn't say something soon Fred would and probably with considerably less tact. So George ran his fingers gently through Charley's hair as if with this gesture he would be able to somehow prepare her for what he was about to ask.
"So, did you and Charlie have a snogfest or something?" Fred asked. His patience had run out.
Charley sat up and looked from George to Fred with narrowed eyes.
"Well, it certainly didn't take you two long to question me." she said glaringly.
"Oi! Don't lump me in with him just because we're twins!" George shouted in protest.
"Right, because you weren't dying to know just as much as I." Fred grinned.
"Actually Freddie I don't think I was." George said meeting his brother's eyes knowingly.
Fred shut up real quick after that. George had noticed Fred slowly falling for Chuck. He had seen the lingering looks Fred gave her, the light in his eyes when she laughed, the smiles he smiled when she smiled, the jealousy etched on his face when she was with Charlie. Fred was insanely good at hiding these things from everyone, George being the only exception. Fred was an extension of George, George was an extension of Fred. They couldn't hide things from each other.
With a smirk and the smallest nod of his head, George told Fred he knew and that he would keep his secret for as long as Fred needed him too. Fred scratched his nose, his 'thank you'.
"So Chuck," George said turning his attention back to Charley. She had leaned her forehead against the window and was watching the countryside fly by.
"Yes George?" she asked turning to look at him.
"You never answered my question." Fred chimed in.
Charley sat straight up, glaring at Fred.
"Maybe I just didn't think it was any of your business." she seethed.
"Moody are we?" Fred asked raising an eyebrow.
Charley looked Fred directly in the eye, clearly not amused. Fred grinned, clearly extremely amused. He held Charley's gaze, slowly breaking her glare. Within seconds she was grinning back, shaking her head exasperated.
"Alright you twat, we kissed, that's all." said Charley.
"Should we get ready to send out engagement announcements?" George asked clasping his hands together for dramatic effect.
"Oh yes, when is the wedding?" Fred asked mimicking his brother's tone, "I do love a spring wedding."
"Shut up you two," Charley laughed, "It isn't like that."
"Well what's it like then?" Fred asked crossing his arms.
George laughed to himself. Fred was trying all too hard to get all the facts out of Charley without being too obvious while being of course painfully obvious.
"Yes Charley, what is it like?" George asked. He figured if he threw himself in the mix, Fred's eagerness would look less eager.
"It's like nothing. It's nothing. We're nothing." Charley shrugged a little to unconvincingly.
George could tell she was unhappy. He had seen them at Platform 9 ¾, they were certainly not nothing.
"That isn't what you want though, either of you." George said.
"Well George, it doesn't really matter what either of us wants. I'm sixteen and still in school, he's got his own life in Romania. I don't actually see how we can be anything other than nothing." Charley snapped.
"Alright, alright, you're nothing." George said lifting his hands in surrender.
"Plenty of other fish in the sea, eh Chuck?" Fred winked.
"Oh like you?" Charley asked with a hint of sarcasm.
That was it. George watched Fred go from head over heels for Chuck to not interested in no time flat. There was no more competition. Charley was a free agent, Fred's for the taking. Which was exactly why he didn't want her anymore.
"Oi!"
Fred, George, and Charley looked up at the twins' friend Lee Jordan stood in the doorway grinning from ear to ear.
"Hey Lee!" George said standing to greet Lee.
"Good to see you mate." Fred also stood and offered a seat to his friend.
"You two are so rude, who is this lovely lady?" Lee asked as Fred and George reclaimed their seats.
"I'm Charley Rook." Charley replied
"Lee Jordan." Lee smiled as he shook her hand.
The foursome kept themselves occupied for the remainder of the train ride by playing endless rounds of exploding snaps and discussing the Quidditch World Cup. George was thrilled at how well Charley and Lee got on, the two were becoming fast friends. With the three boys chatting and telling jokes, Charley seemed sufficiently distracted. None of them even noticed the sun fall as they slowly reached their destination. They changed quickly into their robes, still laughing, and hopped off the Hogwarts Express and into the pouring rain.
"Whoa," Charley said as she noticed Hagrid, "That is one big bloke." she whispered to Fred, George, and Lee.
"Oh that's just Hagrid, the groundskeeper turned Care of Magical Creatures professor, don't worry, he's harmless." Lee explained.
"Unless he's keeping a baby dragon hostage of course." came Ron's voice from behind them.
"He held a baby dragon hostage?" Charley asked wide eyed.
"Well, in all fairness he's an animal lover, dragons being his favorite. And he did take really good care of him." said Harry grinning.
"Like I said, harmless." Lee repeated.
"Yes, its her you've got to be on the look out for." Fred nodded to a stern looking woman.
"Professor McGonagall, headmistress and Transfigurations Professor." Hermione cut in, "Don't listen to Fred, she's a brilliant woman."
"She's a real tight arse." George said out of the corner of his mouth, as she approached the group.
"You're Miss Rookwo-" she started.
"Charley Rook, yep this is her." Fred and George cut in quickly.
Professor McGonagall eyed the two suspiciously, then turned her attention back to Charley. Charley shrunk under her gaze, feeling as if she was once again a three year old about to be reprimanded.
"You're to come with me up to the castle, we'll get you sorted before the first years. You'll be able to join the feast without having to miss a thing." Professor McGonagall explained.
"Alright." Charley nodded.
Professor McGonagall turned on her heel and Charley followed behind quickly. She turned to give one last look at the others.
"If you're in Slytherin we'll disown you!" shouted Ron.
She laughed as Fred thumped the back of his head and glared down on him. George gave her a reassuring wink and then she was gone into the darkness.
Charley sighed nervously as she hopped into a carriage behind Professor McGonagall. She kept her gaze on the sights outside her window, avoiding the eyes of her traveling companion. Professor McGonagall had other plans however.
"So, it's Miss Rook, is it?" she asked pursing her lips knowingly.
"I'd like to go by Rook, yes. My father-"
"Is in Azkaban, we know. You will not be held accountable nor will you be punished for his transgressions Miss Rookwood." said Professor McGonagall.
"Just the same, I prefer Rook. I don't want to be associated with that name." Charley replied firmly.
The corners of Professor McGonagall's lips turned upward slightly. Apparently a "show no fear" attitude was the way to go with this Professor.
"Alright Miss Rook. I'll have you name changed on all the rosters." she nodded.
They were silent the rest of the ride. Charley gasped as they reached the castle. She had never seen a school so big or so beautiful. She followed Professor McGonagall into the castle and up what felt like a thousand stairs. When they finally they reached their destination Charley was surprised to find herself in what looked like a classroom. There was a single stool in the middle of the room with an old, beat up, hat atop it.
"There are four houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Put the Sorting Hat on and it will tell you your house." Professor McGonagall instructed.
Charley took a deep breath picked up the hat, sat on the stool, and placed it on her head. A tiny voice spoke in her ear.
"Miss Rookwood is it?" said the small voice.
"Rook," Charley thought quickly.
"Ah, I see, but are why are you hiding who you truly are?" the voice asked.
"I'm not hiding," Charley thought, "I don't want people judging me based on a name."
"Smart way of thinking. Maybe Ravenclaw?" asked the voice.
Charley's heart dropped. Her mother had been a Ravenclaw, she couldn't imagine following in her mother's footsteps. All she wanted to do was break free from her family, her past, but it seemed that no matter how hard she tried they would always follow her.
"Brave enough to break away from your family, I know exactly where to put you." the Hat whispered. "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Welcome to my house." McGonagall smiled.
She took off the hat off Charley's head and lead her down to the Great Hall. Charley didn't need help finding the Gryffindor table. It was quite easy to spot Fred and George. She strutted over to them, George looked up and smiled.
"Saved you a seat." the twins said together.
"You two couldn't possibly have known if I would be taking this seat." Charley smirked sitting down next to Fred.
"We hoped." Fred winked.