Chapter 1
It was nice and warm on September first as Stefani, Phoebe and I walked towards Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Even though she was a Professor at the School, Stefani still insisted that we would travel like everyone else. But also I was meant to look after my sibling. I was so excited; this was my third year to make the trip to the station. I finally enjoyed my summer holidays; being allowed to see my friends was the greatest thing ever; as Stefani had finally brought a house in the United Kingdom, wanting to be closer to the school and for us to be closer to our friends. It still did not stop us from visiting our grandparents though; we still seemed to spend most of the summer there.
The only big fight the girls and I had over the summer, well Angie and I at any rate was during some relaxation time at Alicia's house, we discovered that both of us had a thing for Fred Weasely. We had a spent the afternoon in a local park close to Alicia's house; whilst on the walk back we had got talking about the boys at Hogwarts.
"Who do you find attractive at Hogwarts?" Alicia, who was known for her flirtatious ways around Hogwarts asked.
"Erm… there are a couple of guys in our year that are attractive, even in Slytherin." Angie answered with a glint of a faraway expression in her eyes.
"Oh yeah. Who?" I prompted.
"Let's here Alicia opinion first, seeing as she was the one who asked." Angie nudged Alicia in the arm.
"Oh ok. If you pair are wimps." Sticking her tongue out. "The twins, Diggory, Wood."
"Wood?" I asked. "Is not that Katie's crush?" The thought of Katie swooning over Wood during practices caused us all to burst out laughing.
"Come on Angie."
"Montague, Higgs, Pucey, the twins and possibly Lee and Wood. But most definitely Fred! Lie?"
"Higgs, Diggory the twins and those two other lads in our year, Dean and Darren all something."
"Which twin do you think is better?" Angie asked.
Thinking about which Twin was the most attractive was hard, for one they were both identical and both had a sense of humour; always enjoying pranking other people. But there were definitely differences: Fred was more outgoing, daring and the sarcastic twin; where as George was quieter, gentler and not as cruel. George's sense of humour was not as harsh as Fred and had more moral than his brother. Maybe it was because of Fred's nature that drawled me to him rather than George. I definitely had a thing for Fred; my feelings seemed to grow stronger every time I saw him. It was no surprise if they had detention every night including the first. They were not the type of boys that I would usually associate with, but something about them seemed to attract me to them from when I first met them at the sorting. I had a thing for pranks, I sometimes helped the plan them if they were struggling and on occasion joined in on the fun; but at the same time I was smart and I wanted to graduate school and get a good job. So I definitely did not want to get into trouble. I just wanted a lot for my life, wanting to have fun and study really hard, and I wanted to make sure that no one stood in my way.
I must have zoned out for a while as it took for Ange to push me into Alicia to get me back to reality.
"So… must of being good whoever you were thinking or dreaming about?" Alicia teased, "You zoned out for a while there"
"Yeah it was good thanks" I smirked. "It's Fred. Fred is definitely the more attractive twin."
"What?" Ange practically yelled. "No no no, you cannot choose Fred. He is mine. No one else."
"As far as I am aware Angelina! He is single and for anyone taking." I snapped.
"Why would he go for someone like you? You are not that pretty."
"Why would he go for a slut like you?"
"That's enough. Cannot you two share?"
"I am not sharing with her"
"Owl me Licia, I am going back home; at least I will not be insulted there." I gave Alicia a hug before speedily walking to her house to floo home.
Once back home, I owled Katie with the events of what had occurred so that she knew what to expect if one of us did not turn up. Nearing the end of the summer holiday, I received an owl from Katie, which shocked me.
Lie
You never guessed what I just found out. Apparently Fred has been acting weird all summer and George cannot think why. I owled him the other day to see if he was alright; but the reply in which I got was not expected. It seems like you have won this argument with Ange. It is you who Fred likes. Surprised? I was, do not worry about Ange I have owled her as well to let her know, so hopefully by the time we board the train, you be best friends again.
Katie
Xxx
Fred liked me? How, why? This information was too much, sure I liked him, but now that I knew he liked me, I just could not think straight.
Just as Katie had predicated, Ange had written to me to express her apologies and that if anything happened between Fred and I, she would back us all the way.
As we made our way through Platform Nine and Three Quarters I spotted Angie and Alicia. I said goodbye to Stefani and hurried off to meet them. I knew she did not mind, she knew I was safe with my friends, but also that she would see me in a couple of hours' time. She also had Phoebe to look after, seeing as this was her first year, and to make sure she got on the train.
"LIESAL!" I heard them scream as they both engulfed me in an enormous hug.
"Hey, you pair," I said with a smile. It felt like being in a second home. We said goodbye to their parents and quickly found a compartment on the train. Before the rest of the gang came, I quickly went in search to find my sister to make sure she was ok; I found her in a compartment with two other first years by the looks of things, so I left without disturbing her and returned back to my own compartment. Pretty soon we were joined by Katie Bell, a second year and reserve chaser, Oliver Wood, Captain and Keeper of the Gryffindor team and finally Lee, who mumbled something about Fred and George joining later. We talked about what we did over the summer and I quickly tuned out when Oliver began to talk Quidditch tactics. I knew he wanted to win but he seemed to take it over the top sometimes.
Suddenly the door slid open and there stood Fred and George Weasley. Fred looked at me and smiled and made himself at home in the empty seat next to me, with George sitting by Lee.
"Liesal," he said with his signature grin, but yet there was something not quite right about him. I couldn't just think of it. He seemed his usual self, but the way he was acting towards me was new. "You ok?"
Angie and I exchanged looks. This year was going to be a long one. I was about to reply, when the door slid open again, but only to reveal the people who we did not want to see unless on the Quidditch pitch – Slytherins. Their captain, Marcus Flint, was looking directly at me and kept looking me up and down. True I had grown over the summer and was turning out to look beautiful according to Stefani and Phoebe as they so often told me. But it seemed like something else, like he knew my secret, or knew something that I did not. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, which Fred seemed to notice.
"What you lot want?" he snapped at them. The Slytherins seemed to look at their captain for directions; he just looked at me the whole time.
"Nothing!" he sneered. "Just get ready for a beating on the pitch." With that they walked to whatever corner they had slithered from.
"What was that about?" Ollie asked. The rest of us just shrugged and carried on with what we were doing.
"By the way, you will never guess who is coming to Hogwarts this year," George said, looking smug and trying to defuse the tension the Slytherins had left behind.
"Who?" Katie asked excitedly.
"Harry Potter," Fred answered like it was no big deal. "He is on the train. George and I had to help him with his luggage."
"Really," most of us answered excitedly.
The conversation turned to excitement about Harry Potter coming to Hogwarts. Fred kept giving me weird looks and I knew something was going to happen this year. Once we finally got to Hogwarts; I saw Phoebe and gave her a reassuring smile before riding the carriages up to school, while Hagrid, the game keeper, took the first years by boat. Once we reached the castle we went into the Great Hall, sat down at our House table, and waited for the sorting ceremony to start.
The first years came filing through being led by Professor McGonagall. She sat the hat on the stool and the school became silent. After a moment a rip in the brim opened and it began to sing.
Oh you may not think I'm pretty
But don't judge on what you see
I'll eat myself if you can find a smarter hat than me
You can keep your bowlers black
Keep your top hats sleek and tall
For I'm the Hogwarts sorting Hat
And I can top them all
There nothing hidden in your head
The sorting hat can't see
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be
You might belong in Gryffindor
Where dwell the brave at heart
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart
You might belong in Hufflepuff
Where they are just and loyal
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise Ravenclaw
If you're a ready mind
Where those of wit and learning
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make real friends
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends
So put me on! Don't be afraid
And don't get in a flap
You're in safe in hands (though I have none)
For I'm a thinking cap
The hat finished his song to a roar of applause from the students and, after a moment for the hall to quiet, McGonagall called out the first name.
"Hannah Abbott!"
A girl with blonde pigtails stumbled up onto the stool, McGonagall placed the hat on her head and it fell down covering her eyes. There was a brief pause before the hat shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
The table on the far right cheered and clapped as Hannah joined them.
"Susan Bones!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted once more.
"Phoebe Dixon!"
It seemed to take as long as it took for me to get sorted I wonder what the sorting hat was telling her. It could not seem to place me in any practically house as I had qualities for each of them. Finally, it shouted:
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table burst into loud applause, as Phoebe scurried off to join us, dropping into a vacated seat. She saw me and smiled; I smiled back, happy that my sister was in the same house as me; at least this way I was able to protect and look out for her. Several older students patted her back in congratulations, in which Phoebe returned with a small nod before turning back to the sorting as Lavender Brown was called.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
We all cheered again as she came to join our house.
Millicent Bulstrode then became the second Slytherin.
"Hermione Granger!"
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted, and Hermione ran off to join the Gryffindors, sliding into a seat alongside Phoebe
"Neville Longbottom!"
The Hat sat on Neville's head for a whole two seconds, before shouting "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Draco Malfoy!"
The hat had barely brushed his hair before it shouted "SLYTHERIN!"
Draco smirked as he took a seat beside Millicent at the Slytherin table. No surprise there seeing as most of his family had been in Slytherin.
"Harry Potter!"
The whole hall fell silent as a timid looking, scrawny boy with messy black hair and glasses sat upon the stool. From where I sat, I watched closely as the Sorting of 'The-Boy-Who-Lived' seemed to take longer than anyone's, but soon the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" and Harry joined us as many students stood to shake his hand and clap him on the back. The twins were shouting: "We got Potter, We got Potter!" It took a while before the Gryffindor table finally became quiet.
With Ronald Weasley, the twins' younger brother, becoming the final Gryffindor and Blaise Zabini becoming the last Slytherin, McGonagall rolled up her parchment and took her seat at the high table, as Dumbledore stood.
The hall fell silent.
"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our feast, I have some beginning of term announcements. First of all, all students should know that the Forbidden Forest is strictly off limits to all students. Also this year, the third floor corridor on the north side of the castle is off limits to those who do not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you!"
Everyone tucked in to the amazing welcome feast, soon being joined by the ghosts. When the food was finally cleared away and everyone was relaxing with overly full stomachs. Dumbledore stood up. Then we got to do my favourite part of the beginning of the year feast, sing the Hogwarts song:
Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy warty Hogwarts
Teach us something please
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air
Dead flies and bits of fluff
So teach us things worth knowing
Bring back what we've forgot
Just do your best we'll do the rest
And learn until all our brains rot
Fred and George were the last ones to finish, singing slowly to a funeral march. I rolled my eyes but a smile graced my face. Finally everyone was dismissed and sent to bed.
Once back in the Common Room, there was nonstop talk about Harry. I just wished they left the poor boy alone. I left to go to the dorm, which I shared with Angie and Alicia, both of whom joined me not long after.
"You know, I think that something will happen between you and Fred," Angie said with a mischievous grin on her face. I shook my head and continued to get ready.
I hardly got much sleep, a certain Quidditch captain's face kept appearing in my mind. I was glad that no one saw him staring at me all through the sorting and the feast. Only time would tell what was going to happen there.
The next morning at breakfast, I saw Flint looking at me again. I could tell he was hoping I would do something. I just turned to carry on with my breakfast, talking to Phoebe about her classes, but still feeling the presence of eyes on me.
After we were done eating, we got up and headed to our first class of the day: Potions. Professor Snape had a way of making the lives of the rest of the student body miserable, those who were not in Slytherin at any rate. We were with the Hufflepuffs, but that did not matter, he really hatred us Gryffindors.
When we got there class was slowly filling up. I settled at the table with Angie, near the back of the room. The twins were behind us, Alicia and Lee in front. Everyone had already taken their seats by the time Professor Snape came in and began barking orders.
We were going to be attempting to make the shrinking potion, an extremely complicated potion for our grade level. Snape loved to start the year out as hard as we could handle. And this one would sure test us as it required a great amount of concentration.
As we were waiting for the two minutes to pass, in order to allow the potion to simmer, Angie decided to speak: "Hogsmeade trip this weekend. Going with anyone or shall Alicia, you and me go together and visit the Quidditch shop there?" I turned to look at her and could see she was being serious.
"Sure. Sounds great and no I am not going with anyone. I am surprised; no one has asked you?"
"No."
All of a sudden, smoke was engulfing us from behind. We turned and look at the twins' cauldron; obviously forgetting to follow one of the instructions or just being their usual prankster selves and messing around. There was a scream from Angie as the cauldron burst into flames.
"Aguamente," Snape said, water dousing the cauldron and putting the fire out, coming out from nowhere. "Well Mr Weasley and Mr Weasley, what is going on here?" he demanded, with a look of cold fury on his face. He was not in a good mood today and this only made it worse.
"Sorry, Professor," they replied in unison.
He gave them and those of us around the twins another look. "Thirty points each from Gryffindor. Maybe next time you will not mess up another potion for lack of concentration. You will both receive a zero for your work today."
That was not fair at all. Sixty points from Gryffindor on the first day of class? We'd be in the negatives! It was not a surprise if we lost points from the twins but only because they have pulled pranks not messed up a potion. At least we girls would hopefully be able to gain them back. After finishing the lecture over the potion and having each student bottle a sample of what they made, Professor Snape dismissed the class. At least we had the Hogsmeade visit to cheer us up, oh and not to mention the Quidditch try-outs on the Sunday.