4 A new beginning
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Angelina and Alicia sat in comfortable silence in their train compartment, once again, until Alicia finally broke the stillness.
"I still can't believe we're back already. I mean, I don't know. I just…" she trailed off, looking out the window.
"I know what you mean. It just feels so, surreal I guess." Angelina sighed with the same air of summer nostalgia in her voice. Suddenly a wicked grin flashed across her face and she turned back to Alicia.
"So Leesh, any plans on how you're going to land detention tomorrow?" she snickered. The blonde girl in question surprisingly smiled back. Angelina was taken aback by her lack of a bitter or sarcastic remark.
"Actually, this year I don't plan on being the one in detention." Alicia answered with a similar smile to Angelina's.
"And just how do you plan that one Leesh?" Angelina laughed. "You're the one always saying all that 'history repeats itself' jab, and history says that the first day of school you have a date with a Weasley scrubbing floors."
Alicia opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by their compartment doors sliding open to reveal two gangly redheaded figures. Alicia groaned audibly, but Angelina however had trouble hiding her smile.
"Why, if it isn't two of our favorite chasers!" Fred greeted jovially.
"And how are you on this fine, fine day?" George asked with a grin.
"Well we were doing just fine up to about a minute ago." Alicia said dryly. George looked at her with a sideways smile, clearly reading into the kind of year they were going to have.
"Sounds like somebody's PM-"
"You REALLY don't want to finish that sentence George Weasley." Alicia warned, wearing a forced smile the whole time. George stopped, and then looked towards the floor. The compartment sat in awkward silence for a bit until Fred had to stop it.
"Um, Angel, care to take a walk?" he asked sweetly to Angelina. She looked tentatively to Alicia, who looked utterly shocked.
"S-sure." She stammered out. Then nearly ran out the door to avoid Alicia's glare.
The door slid shut and George smiled grandly. Alicia slid back in her seat and looked uncomfortably at George, who then promptly sat across from her and stretched out his long legs. She gave him a disgusted look before asking,
"What exactly do you want Weasley?" in a bored voice. He smiled at her with his famous crooked smile that made most of the female population at Hogwarts swoon; however it only made Alicia want to hit him.
"Well while our friends are out denying their feelings, I have a proposition for you Spinnet." He said simply. She arched an eyebrow, and he continued.
"Considering our past, it is logical to presume that tomorrow one of us will land the both of us with a lovely detention."
"I have absolutely no intention of spending another night in detention with you George Weasley." Alicia sighed tiredly.
"Ah, I figured you'd say that Ali, but I also know you better than you think-" he started but she interrupted him quickly.
"Hold up. First off, DON'T call me Ali-egh I hate that name, it sounds so…so much like some stupid, superficial, preppy name. Secondly, you don't know me." She said sternly.
"Hah see that's where you're wrong ALI. I do know you. And I know that even though you say you don't want detention-and I'm sure you don't-you still have something planned to get me into trouble tomorrow. And seeing as I know myself pretty well too, I know that I will drag you down with me." He said smugly. She glared daggers at him until he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. She smiled satisfied and then looked him square in the eye.
"Alright GEORGIE" she started, knowing how much he hated that name as well. He flinched slightly at the sound, and she continued. "So tell me your little proposition."
George smiled and leaned back comfortably in his seat to begin sharing his plan.
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Alicia actually found herself laughing as she replayed the day's events in her mind. She looked at George next to her who was grinning due to her laughter, and she snorted a soft laugh.
"QUIET" rang out Snape's irritated voice. The two teens snapped their mouths shut and looked back down at their desks. Alicia made a sickened face as she returned to her task of grinding earth worms. George laughed silently at her expression and picked up a stone to follow suit.
Half an hour later the duo had nearly forgotten their moment of amiability and had already picked up an argument as they traveled back to the Gryffindor tower.
"It was NOT my fault George Weasley will you PLEASE quit accusing me?" cried out an angered Alicia.
"No I won't stop because it IS your fault so deal with it ALI!" George snapped back.
"Excuse me GEORGIE but who was it exactly who made Snape's robes pink in the first place?" she asked sarcastically.
"Well who turned his hair green and let him SEE the spell?" he replied with a matched level of sarcasm.
"He did NOT see my spell you git he saw you laughing you giant prat!" she nearly screamed.
"I wasn't laughing Fred was because YOU made a lousy spell!"
"I DID NOT! Besides whose idea was it in the first place to piss off Snape?" spat Alicia as they stepped through the portrait hole.
"Well you went along with it! Not as brilliant as you pretend are you ALI?"
"How dare you? AND STOP CALLING ME THAT!" she hollered. She spun around to see the rest of their house staring at them in shock, and the faces of their friends looking supremely unsurprised. Oliver was in the corner banging his head on a table and muttering something about 'not another season of this'. The rest of them just looked rather disappointed.
"We'd really hoped you'd stopped all this bickering by now." Lee explained. Alicia just sighed shrilly and clamored up the stairs to the girls' dorm. Angelina and Katie exchanged glances, and quickly followed her up. George sat down with a huff next to Fred and Lee and grumbled incomprehensibly about 'bloody girls' and 'stupid detention' and 'doesn't know what she's talking about'.
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The 'friendship' between George and Alicia basically followed that pattern for quite a while. They'd get along for a short bit of time, and then bite each other's heads off in a matter of moments. But with Fred, Alicia was shocked to find herself actually enjoy his company, every once in a while.
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It was two in the morning, and Alicia found it impossible to sleep. She rolled over to see the time, and then groaned inwardly at the hour. Insomnia had claimer her as a victim again-due to her stress not only from school, but more so from her hectic family, and her fear of the chamber of secrets. She didn't admit fears to many people. In fact she didn't have many fears at all, so admitting that she was scared, was something she wasn't ready to do.
She sat up and ran her fingers through her hair in annoyance. With a sigh she tiptoed to the door and padded down the stairs in her plaid pajamas and black T-shirt. She looked up when she reached the bottom and was surprised to see another figure; a red head. Alicia bit her lip in thought, but with a look back to her unforgiving bedroom, she headed towards the fireplace.
She paced quietly around the couch and saw one of the infamous Weasley twins staring into the flames. She slid onto the opposite end of the couch, causing him to nearly jump out of his skin. She laughed quietly and looked up at him.
"Sorry Fred. Didn't think anyone else would be down here at this time." She apologized.
Fred calmed down a bit and grinned back at Alicia.
"Now problem Leesh. What are you doing up at this time anyway?" he asked genuinely. She looked at him appraisingly and took a moment to realize she was actually talking to a Weasley. Talking, not arguing, not pranking anyone, and not yelling. It was different than being around George somehow. He didn't make her feel so self-conscious, he didn't bicker with her, and he didn't give her that annoying bubbly feeling in the bottom of her stomach.
"Erm, couldn't sleep." She said looking down at her lap. She pulled her legs up and sat cross legged on the couch. He smiled at her.
"Why, Angel snore or something?" he joked. Alicia laughed and looked up into his eyes. She grinned widely at the way his whole face lit when he said her name.
"You really like her don't you Fred?" she asked quietly, a small smile playing on her lips. Fred looked at her in shock. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. His ears burned crimson, and judging by the way his facial expression kept changing he seemed to be trying to think of a good excuse. Alicia just laughed and shook her head.
"Come on don't even try to deny it." she grinned. Finally Fred broke and smiled sheepishly.
"Well now that we got that over with, why are you down here?" she asked with an arched eyebrow.
"Lee snores." He said simply. Alicia looked at him skeptically.
"That's it? That's why you're down here at two in the morning?" she laughed. Fred just shrugged.
"So why couldn't you sleep Leesh?" he asked seriously. She looked down at her knees again, not wanting to say why she was awake. Admitting that her family life was less than happy, and that she was honestly scared, would make her weak. She bit her lip again and mumbled "stress" quietly.
"Ah don't let them get to you so much Ali." She glared at him.
"Oh sorry. Leesh I mean."
"And who do you mean exactly?" she asked in a protective voice.
"Your family Alicia." Her eyes rose up to his in surprise. He could see the fear in her eyes, from him knowing.
"What is that supposed to mean?" she sat fiercely; breathing heavily. He smiled softly and met her gaze.
"We notice you know. Whenever you get letters from them you get all…well you get so angry at, well everyone and…well I don't know but you're different." He said, struggling to hold eye contact with her. Alicia took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. She opened them up to see him still looking at her.
"We?" she asked a little shakily. He nodded.
"Well me and George. Actually he was the first to notice." He said, almost with a laugh. Alicia looked at him with surprise in her eyes. She then nodded solemnly and looked back down.
"Oh." Was all she could manage. "Thank you" she whispered.
"That all sucks and all, but it isn't really why I couldn't sleep." She admitted.
"I figured." He said smiling, again causing her to give him a look of shock.
"We know you're strong Leesh." Causing her to smile and even laugh a bit.
"You're scared though, aren't you?" he asked, and she looked at him with question in her eyes.
"No." she said sternly. "They don't scare me at all."
"I know they don't. That's not what I meant." He looked into her eyes.
"The chamber. You're scared." He stated for her. She breathed deeply and dropped her gaze back to her lap. With all her courage she whispered;
"Yes."
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Alicia's relationships with both twins started changing drastically that year. She discovered, through the fighting, that George had a softer side; he even cared about her. And while he gained the ability to read her mind with a single glance, and ironically calm her down with an infuriating kiss on the temple; Fred became a bigger pain in the ass than ever. They never had SERIOUS bickers, but seemed to disagree on, well everything. However she still was closer to the two of them than ever before. In fact, the entire group of friends banded together that year. Perhaps it was just a matter of growing up. Perhaps it was their mutual desire to win the cup that year. Perhaps it was simply the fighting getting old. Whatever the reason, feuds slowly melted into friendships that year. But what kind of story would this be if suddenly everyone got along swimmingly and was perfectly happy? Well an entirely boring one that's for sure. When I say that they were all getting along, I mean they no longer wanted to slit each other's throats; usually. Arguing was still quite a part of everyday life; however it more often ended with a laugh instead of a death threat like it did first year. Most of the time…
Well they got on in this fashion that is until Alicia nearly hexed them into third year. Possibly it was because of the fact that they wouldn't leave her alone. Ever. When the threat of the Chamber of Secrets became a reality, they took an oath to never let her out of their sights (which she was not consulted on). Alicia was their only close muggle born friend. Well Lee was half muggle, but seeing as he tended to be near the twins at most times anyway, no oath was necessary.
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Alicia washed her hands and looked up into the mirror of the girls' bathroom. She ran her fingers through her hair and straightened her blouse before opening the door and running hard into the back of a very tall person.
"ERRMFHH!" she shrieked as she fell backwards. The twins each spun around quickly to catch her and haul her to her feet.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE!?" Alicia hollered.
"Well you wouldn't let us come in!" Fred explained, clearly thinking this logic completely logical.
"OF COURSE I DIDN'T LET YOU IN! IT'S THE GIRL'S LOO!" she shrieked in rage. While she appreciated their intentions of keeping her safe, they had crossed the line long ago when she found then in her shower the day before.
"Now Ali, calm down, you know what Oliver said about your temper." George said calmly, but with noticeable fear. She glared death at the two, but took two deep breaths and shut her eyes tightly. She clenched bother her fists, and then whispered, "If it weren't for you two, I wouldn't HAVE a temper."
"Oh that's not true; you get mad at Oliver just as much as you get mad at us!" Fred exclaimed.
"Fine, because of the THREE of you, I will be accepted into an insane asylum before I'm 17!"
"Geeze Ali, way to overreact." George said, earning himself another glare. "You're not going insane, don't worry we'd tell you." He finished with a smile.
"But if you two don't give me three minutes peace and if Oliver doesn't stop making me bottle up my anger I'm going to lose my bloody mind!" she cried. The twin exchanged slightly nervous glances.
"Well he doesn't want you to bottle it up, just take it out the right way." Fred reasoned.
"Yeah well, I was perfectly happy taking it out on you two," she muttered while trying to push past them. They however turned around with her and each grabbed an arm. She stopped dead in her tracks and looked up at them both.
"What do you think you're doing?" she asked in the calmest voice she could muster.
"Taking you back to the common room." They answered together.
"But I was on my way to the library." She steamed.
"Not anymore!" they said happily. With that they tightened their grips and carried the struggling Alicia away.
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The rest of the year, or at least until the mystery of the chamber was solved, went just about the same. Their hearts were crushed by the loss of the Quidditch Cup once again; their friendships had all grown substantially in the year. No one doubted their victory next year, and with Harry and Ginny alive and well, everything else seemed just fine. Parting was still a difficult task as they gathered together on platform 9 ¾ again. As they hugged each other goodbye (the first public sign of affection for some), they heard an all too familiar voice.
"Don't worry guys, you'll be seeing plenty of each other all vacation!" Oliver hollered jovially. They all looked up at him in confusion.
"And what exactly does that mean, Ollie?" Alicia asked in her sugary sweet voice.
"Well you don't think I'm going to let next year be a repeat of this one do you?" he asked them.
"If that means you can stop a man-eating snake from terrorizing the school and nearly killing our seeker and the twins's sister, that would be wonderful!" Alicia responded.
"Funny Spinnet, what I meant was, we're NOT going to lose the cup my final year here."
"Well of course not Olivier, right guys?" Fred asked them all. They all cheered excitedly, making Oliver's face light up.
"Great! I'll be mailing you all the summer practice schedule!" Oliver called over his shoulder. The group's immediate silence made him turn back to face them. Alicia took a step in front of them, closely followed by Katie and Angelina. The three girls stared at their captain with a predatory fierceness.
"Now calm down ladies, I know you had plans but really this is MUCH more important right? No! What I meant was, well Quidditch comes before the rest of your lives right? Bell stop looking at me like that. Spinnet! SPINNET REMEMBER YOUR TEMPER!" Oliver sprinted through the crowd away from his angry chasers, leaving Fred and George cracking up at the scene.
"Well brotherman, a lot did change this year." Fred said turning to his brother.
"Yes they did brotherman, but thankfully, some things never will." With that they laughed together, and thanked the stars for their crazed friends.