Chapter 2
Authors Note: This is an AU Story. I've decided (for my own convenience) that Fred and George run the shop on weekends and decided to finish their schooling.
Another not so great chapter.. hoping to get this story rolling. As always, this story may be triggering so be safe. I do not own Harry Potter in any way shape or form. I only own the storyline and Ava. Please enjoy, and if you have time, review!
I finally found the compartment that Fred, George and Lee were in and entered it. I was immediately attacked with hugs.
"Ava, it's great to see you." George all but yelled.
"Hey Ava, why didn't you write me?" Lee asked hugging me.
"Sorry" I replied. "I got busy" That was a lie. My summer couldn't have been less eventful. I worked out and slept. I just wasn't in the mood to hear about everyone else's fantastic summer.
"It wasn't just you she forgot about Lee." Fred pouted, crossing his arms.
"Don't be thick Fred" I replied, throwing my arms around him. He kept his arms at his side for a good ten seconds before complying with a tight bear hug, lifting me up in the air for a few moments.
"Have you lost weight?" He asked me when he let go.
"Of course not" I replied quickly, internally smiling, thrilled Fred noticed.
"How was your summer?" I asked the guys.
"Boring " Lee groaned.
"Kind of nerve wracking actually" George replied.
"Why?" Lee and I asked simultaneously.
"All the guys from the Order are still coming over. Things seem to be betting a lot worse now that You Know Who's return is out in the open." Fred answered
"Yeah, mum kept bugging us about how dangerous running the shop is"
"YOU'LL BE KILLED IN YOUR BEDS" The twins both yelled in a Mrs. Weasley (ish) voice.
"I'm sorry guys." I said sympathetically.
"Speaking of the shop, do you need any of our products for school?" Fred asked me.
"No money" I told him.
"They are free for you idiot." George said sounding annoyed. "What kind of friends do you think we are?"
I laughed and took some puking pastils, nosebleed nugget and instant darkness powder. Knowing at least one of the products would be of use to me in the near future.
The train ride consisted mostly of us talking about the new year and preparing for this years pranks (that would be a bit less drastic now that Umbridge was gone)
When we got to the great hall we saw what appeared to be our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher right away. He was a short, fat man who looked to be in his late sixties. He was talking to Professor Sprout and from the looks of it, he wasn't too happy.
The students were slightly more hushed than they were in previous years. These were dark times and most of us only had one thing on our minds. Voldemort's return. The first years looked even more nervous than usual as they stood in front of the rest of us.
The moment Dumbledore rose from his seat with the sorting hat, the room was silent.
Both the hat and Dumbledore had speeches that were less than cheery. When the speech and the sorting were over Dumbledore smiled.
"Now, I would like to introduce the new Potions Master. Professor Slughorn." He said as the short man we noticed earlier stood up.
Abruptly the entire hall broke into conversation. Almost everyone but the Slytherins looked outraged.
"That means Snape is the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!" Harry hissed venomously.
The hall quieted down in time for the start of the feast to be announced.
Everyone dug in as I sipped at the water I poured myself.
"Aren't you going to eat Ava?" Fred asked a few minutes in, already starting his second helping.
"I'm not feeling well" I lied.
"Ahh that's too bad." Lee said sympathetically. "The feast is fantastic"
As dinner continued Fred kept looking at me when he assumed thought I wasn't paying attention. He looked almost…worried.
I picked up a piece of toast (88) and put some butter on it (74) so that I could get Fred to stop worrying. It worked.
The moment I took the first bite Fred stopped staring. I felt like I was going to gag. I spat out the partially chewed bread into a napkin and when I knew no one was looking, I put the napkin into a goblet next to me.
When the food finally disappeared the prefects lead us to the Gryffindor common room. The password this year was Oddsbodkins.
The moment everyone got in the common room conversation broke out. "He's really back" one boy who looked to be a 4th year said shaking his head.
"Harry has been telling the truth the whole time." Lavender Brown sighed.
"I believed him all along" Parviti chimed in.
"Bullshit" I said a little louder than I intended.
"Excuse me?" She asked.
"You and I fought about this last year. You said Harry was full of dung."
She was about to reply when Harry, Ron and Hermione entered the common room.
I ran to harry and gave him a hug. Grateful that I didn't have to continue the argument.
"I hope your summer was alright" I said.
He smiled and I moved on to Ron and Hermione. I had never been very close with the trio but last year the Weasleys, Hermione and I were a part of a very small minority that truly believed Harry when he told everyone about Voldemorts return.
The trio sat down with Fred, George, Ginny and I. We mostly made small talk about our summers, the weather, and up and coming quidditch teams. We tried to gain a sense of normality in our lives, a necessity in these times.
After and hour or so I started to feel tired. "I think I'm going to get some sleep" I announced, standing up.
Everyone said goodnight except Fred who got a strange look on his face before saying
"See you at Breakfast"
He knew something.
How the hell could he know? Why would it matter anyhow? Anyone who looked like me could stand to lose a few pounds. It was harmless. But still…I had to be more careful around him.
It was going to be a long term.