A/N: Reviews are better than chocolate chip cookies :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Later that evening, we said goodbye to Mum, Dad, Ginny, and Ron, and we all took off to the Leaky Cauldron. Bill and Fleur got their own table somewhere near the back of the pub, while we got as close to Tom, the bartender, as possible. The pub was much slower in business of late, but the service was all the better.
"Fancy a walk?" I asked Rian, somewhere around drink number three.
"Alright," she said, and we slipped away unnoticed, as George and Daisy were ordering another round. Diagon Alley was empty, but we could see plenty of activity coming from Knockturn, and we looked at each other in distaste because of it. The only noise came from Rian's slightly heeled shoes on the cobblestones as we walked down the street. Somehow we ended up in front of the joke shop, and Rian sat on the doorstep.
"Sad, isn't it?" she said, glancing around. "All this. Used to be you could find a party every night in the summer here. Now it's as empty as the pub."
Rian paused and I took the opportunity to sit beside her. "I think Bill was asking to include Fleur into the Order," she said. "Did you see how serious Bill was? Even Fleur shut up when he called her into the kitchen."
"Hmm," I said. This was an interesting thought, though I was too buzzed to really care. All I knew was that Bill had hoped we'd lay off him about Fleur because of the security system he'd installed. Sadly mistaken, he was, though we'd find some way to make it up to him. Possibly.
"I think I want to join," said Rian. "Soon, I mean."
That I was able to focus on. For some reason, I was basely opposed to this plan. I didn't want Rian anywhere near the Order. "What do you mean, soon? You've just gotten out of school!"
She gave me a funny look. "So? You would have too, if you'd stayed. And you want to join as well, right?"
Whoops-a-daisy. "Er...Rian, there's something I've been meaning to tell you. George and I...we already joined. A few weeks ago."
Her eyes grew instantaneously wider. "What?" she shouted, standing quickly. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"We couldn't risk it," I said calmly, despite the fact that she looked angrier than a Hungarian Horntail.
"You had the book," Rian shouted again, referring to the two journals that allowed us to communicate solely with each other. "You could have used a code! I would have understood!"
"Stop shouting," I said. "You're attracting attention."
Reflexively she glanced around, and when she realized that nobody was around, she glowered at me. "Funny. Hilarious. Why didn't you say anything?"
"I did just now..."
"Were you ever planning on telling me?"
"Sorry," I said. Rian swivelled and made as if to hit the wall. Apparently she decided that wasn't such a bright idea, because she turned back toward me.
"Right," she said. "Right, of course you couldn't tell me. I'm sorry, you're right. I just, it caught me off guard."
"I thought you were going to curse me," I said, grinning.
"My spell work gets a bit dodgy when I drink," she said, grimacing. She was constantly under the impression that because her spells were never as good as her potions, she was an awful witch.
"Your spell work is fine," I assured her. "Actually it's better than fine. Just not nearly as good as mine."
"Ah, I've missed your modesty. It's such a self-esteem booster," said Rian, smiling.
"I missed you as well," I said, stepping toward her. "Your sarcasm always makes me feel appreciated."
"I'm sure," she said, giving me a sarcastic glance, so to try and convince her, I pressed my lips against hers for quite a while.
"Missed me that much?" she asked, breathing heavily.
"I've missed you a lot more than that."
RPOV
I'd missed Fred more than I cared to admit, and I almost thought that I missed kissing him more. It was intoxicating and addicting, and the last time it had happened, he'd been about to take off with George, and that had been a surprise. At the end of last summer, when I'd gotten my Head Girl badge, Fred and George had taken great offense to it, and his sudden affection had made the intoxication even more intoxicating.
"Hogwart's letters!" I called, walking through the doorway. Hermione grabbed hers out of my hands before I could blink, and she tore it open with a gasp.
"Prefect!" she gasped, shaking the badge into her hand. "I've been made Prefect!"
"Congratulations!" I told her sincerely.
"That's great, Hermione," said Ginny enthusiastically.
"I'll bet anything that Harry got one! I'm going to go check." She flew out of the room, dropping her supplies list on the floor. I picked it up and handed Ginny her letter. Setting Hermione's letter on her bed, I noticed that my own letter seemed a bit heavier than normal. That worried me. Was the coursework that intense that I'd need so much extra information? That reminded me about the paper I needed to begin for Transfiguration. Groaning, I opened the envelope and pulled out the contents.
"Oh, no."
"What?" asked Ginny, glancing over at me. I didn't move, so she walked over and peered at the object I held. "Oh, no."
I looked at her with horror-struck eyes. "Ginny, please don't tell them. At least not right away. If I wait to tell them-"
"Tell us what?" asked Fred, further opening the already open door. I whipped the badge behind my back.
"Nothing," I said. "Nothing at all." My voice was high and I knew my face was probably bright red.
Fred gave me a derisive yet slightly amused look. "Accio!"
"No!" I shouted, as the badge zoomed into his hand. He caught it, laughing. The sound cut off abruptly when he examined it.
"Head...Girl?" he asked. I swallowed.
"Our own brother a Prefect..." said George, looking at Fred in disbelief.
"We can handle that shame," said Fred, scowling. "But our best mate?"
"We reckoned we'd trained you better," said George, tossing the badge back to me. I tossed it on the bed and crossed my arms, leaning back against the wall.
"All you have to say?" I asked them, annoyed. "Or is there some other snide comment I should anticipate?"
"Anticipate many," said Fred. "We want to know when you'll start inspecting cauldron bottoms."
He was referring to Percy's Ministry of Magic obsession. They both snickered and I threw the badge at them.
"Prats," I muttered, slamming the door behind them. "There isn't a resignation for this kind of thing, is there?" I asked Ginny.
She shook her head. "Sorry. They'll lighten up soon."
"Like hell they will. I can handle them being prats, but they'll be sure to test me this year, and I don't want to have to deal with it."
Ginny was silent, most likely trying to think of comforting words. "Good luck," she said finally, patting me on the back with a slight grimace.
That night at dinner, I morosely picked at my food. Fred and George sat at the other end of the table. I'd avoided them all day, sure I'd hear Head Girl jokes and Percy comparisons whenever they were in the room, but they seemed to be avoiding me as well. Tonks had willingly begun her impressions to cheer me up, but I wasn't in the mood.
"Everything alright, Rian?" asked Lupin curiously, noticing this. "Molly's told me you've been made Head Girl. Congratulations!"
"Thanks," I muttered. Lupin's brow creased, but then Fred and George let out identical brays of laughter and he glanced at me knowingly.
"Ah," he said. "That is a problem, isn't it?"
I grinned in spite of myself, then grimaced as they laughed again.
"Well, maybe they'll listen to you for a change," he said light heartedly.
"In all honesty, I'm just going to avoid them as much as possible." I was sure the look on my face was frighteningly sad.
"Why?" he asked, looking genuinely confused. I thought he'd understand. In any case, I leaned in closer to him, sure Mrs. Weasley would not approve of what I was going to say.
"Well, if I wasn't Head Girl, I'd most likely be doing whatever they were, including any breaking of the rules. I don't want to punish them for doing something I'd be doing."
"While I shouldn't condone your rule-breaking," he said wryly, "I think I understand. I was in the same position with James and Sirius."
"They didn't mind so much, though, did they? Fred and George...they'd never listen to me."
"You'd be surprised. Give them a chance, Sirius and James weren't very fond of my being Prefect, but they didn't give me too much trouble."
"Well, Remus, you were never as much of a stickler for the rules as Rian is," said Sirius, overhearing our conversation and kneeling between us.
"Hey," I said indignantly. "I am very, very good at breaking the rules."
"But not when you're in charge, I'll bet," said Sirius with a grin. My indignant expression faded.
"You'll figure it out," said Lupin, his mouth twitching. "When James got Head Boy, we went easy on him after a few weeks. And we could talk to the boys if you want."
"Don't even think about it," I hissed, my eyes wide in horror, and they both laughed.
Their words had given me some hope, but as pessimistically as I had anticipated, the twins mocked me incessantly once we reached school, and I gradually lessened my time around them, though they seemed to take great pleasure in flaunting their disregard of the rules in front of me. I was always pressed with an intense desire to curse them both, but something always got in the way of it, and I couldn't bring myself to use my position to punish them. It was the beginning of April, a few days after their birthday ( a late and noisy occasion), when I finally went off on them both, deciding that maybe cursing them wasn't the best option.
"Listen, I know that you two don't really respect me for this position," I burst. "But I was obviously considered to be the best person for the job, and I'm going to do my damn best to do it justice. Look, all I asked for this year was for you to not give me reason to punish you. Because, honestly, I don't fancy it. If it weren't for this damn badge, I'd probably be doing whatever it is you're doing as well. But you couldn't even do that for me. You couldn't even try to hide it from me. Why did you have to do it, taunt me? I specifically gave you room, stayed out of the way so you two could continue.
"I did everything I possibly could, but I can't just ignore you two when you break the rules right in front of me! If I did, then no one would listen to me! I know you two can't stand authority figures, but if you haven't noticed, they're a bit necessary. Just because you can take care of yourselves doesn't mean everyone else can!"
I took a few deep breaths. "I have to give you detention," I said tightly. "I don't know what else to do...I honestly thought you'd lighten up by now. But Hermione's right, you just...you just can't go around making up your own rules."
Their expressions turned from offense to anger. Both simply turned and walked away, not even bothering to answer me.
"What's wrong?" asked Daisy, for the thousandth time, the next night when Fred and George had detention. All day, they'd avoided me like the plague, only providing scathing glances when they noticed me looking at them. Detention wasn't what bothered them, it was the fact that I gave it to them. It wouldn't be nearly as bad if it wasn't with Umbridge, but she'd gotten wind of their detention, and had jumped on the opportunity like a frog on a fly.
"I gave Fred and George detention, and Umbridge made me write them into hers," I muttered. She glanced up from her bed and recognition crossed her face.
"Ah," she said slowly.
"What?"
"They wouldn't tell me who it was," she explained.
"So stupid," I muttered, burying my head in the pillow. "What was I thinking?"
"You're in control," she said firmly. "They need to respect that."
"My position's a joke to them," I said, my voice muffled by the pillow. "Nothing I did was going to help alleviate that. Now I've just made it worse."
"They tormented you all year," she said, still firm. "It isn't your fault you got this. It isn't anyone's fault, come to that. It's a privilege, one you deserve. This was excellent for you, and what did they do? They acted like a couple of gits. Let them see you mean business."
"Business?" I asked. "One night of detention isn't going to make a bit of difference to them."
"Let it go," she advised. "We'll be out of school in a few months."
"But if we end on bad terms!" I cried.
"Then fix it after school ends. You'll all be working...school drama will be finished. They're not going to care who gave who detention."
"I suppose."
"Don't dwell on it," said Daisy. "They're the immature prats, they have to grow up sometime."
She was only saying it to try and comfort me. They were her friends as well. Apparently she was better friends with them than I was of late.
"I know. But I still want them to be my friends, however immature they are."
"Rian," she said seriously. "Don't think too much on it. School is what is important. You need to study, and you can't have them distracting you like this. Worry about it later. I only say this because I know you. If you get distracted from studying, you'll hate yourself later. So just let it go. Clear your mind. Then come to terms with them after exams." Daisy sat on my bed, picking up and flipping through my magazine. She held up a picture in an attempt to distract me. "You should do your hair like this, it'd look really nice."
"Mhm." I stared up at the ceiling, trying to convince myself that it would be alright. I heard her set down the magazine.
"Alright. Ri, you obviously aren't going to be happy until you talk to them. They're in detention tonight, go and meet them."
I glanced at her.
"Just go," she said, shoving me off the bed. I landed on the floor.
"Bloody hell, girl!" I said, wincing as I sat up. "Alright, alright. I'm going..."
I waited around the corner for Fred and George, mentally trying to figure out what the hell I was going to say. I wanted to apologize, but as I watched nearly twenty people leave Umbridge's detention without them, I wondered if they somehow knew I was there, and were avoiding me. I walked closer to her room and heard a small sniffle in an out-of-the-way corridor. Then I heard voices.
"It doesn't hurt, it just makes me angry," a boy said. I poked my head around the corner to see Fred crouched next to a small first year. George had his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"What's your name?" asked Fred kindly.
"John," the boy whispered.
"You tested our products for us, didn't you?"
John nodded.
"Well, it's alright, John. Your scar will be gone before you know it," Fred told him.
"But I'm a Gryffindor," John said desperately. "I'm supposed to be brave."
"You are," George assured him. "Can I tell you a secret?"
John nodded. I saw Fred take out a small vial of a purplish liquid and, tearing off a piece of his robes, empty it onto the cloth. He then pressed it against John's hand, who winced but didn't move.
"Girls fancy it when boys cry sometimes."
"Really?" asked John.
"Really," said George, winking.
"Are you sure?" asked John worriedly, wiping away a tear.
"Of course we're sure," said Fred.
I rounded the corner, trying to be subtle, but Fred looked up, half a smile on his face. George glanced up as well, but I couldn't read his expression. John stared up at me in confusion.
"So what did you do?" George asked John, before he could say anything. I sat next to Fred, glancing at him nervously. He looked at me with a grin. I nearly toppled over.
"I...I told her that I thought it was a better idea to practice spells than just read them," John answered George. "Everyone keeps talking about the other teachers, and how cool the class used to be. I just wanted to do a bit of magic."
"Same thing we've been saying all year, mate," said George sympathetically.
"Don't let it get out that I said this, but it might have been better to have kept your mouth shut about that," whispered Fred. "How does that feel?"
"Better," said John, sniffling. "Thanks."
We heard clicking heels and we all straightened up to see Umbridge walking down the hallway. "Shouldn't you all be off to bed?"
I stood up, along with Fred. George circled around behind us. In some way we were shielding John even though he stood up as well.
"Just as soon as we cure John here's battle scars," said Fred scathingly, narrowing his eyes at Umbridge.
"Battle scars?" she asked, with a trilling laugh. "I hardly think so. That is merely the punishment he receives for speaking against an authority figure."
"So opinions are against the rules now?" I muttered. Her satisfied smirk flickered, and she gave us all a very dark look.
"Miss Collins, as Head Girl I expected more of you. You came most highly recommended. I thought when you gave me their detentions, you'd seen reason at last." My mouth dropped open. "Mr. Weasley and Mr. Weasley. You'll find that discipline is a key essential in creating a good handler of magic and-"
"Discipline, yeah," interrupted George furiously. "See McGonagall for discipline."
"But somehow I doubt torture creates a 'good handler of magic'," said Fred sarcastically.
"Bed!" said Umbridge shrilly, and turned around, stalking off. We stared after her in a fury, though the twins suddenly turned.
"So it was you that gave us detention with her!" said Fred angrily.
"Of course it wasn't! I went to give it to McGonagall and she was there. She took your detention," I said furiously in return. "Why would I ever give you detention with that hag?"
Both twins hesitated. Fred seemed to make a decision. "John, why don't you go with George? We'll meet you back in the Common Room." Fred beckoned to me and we pulled away from them, down a stairwell. As soon as they were out of earshot, I began profusely apologizing.
"Fred, I swear I didn't give you to her for detention, I swear. And I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you last night and I shouldn't have given you detention in the first place. I was just..."
"Stressed. We know. You don't have to apologize. Listen, I'm sorry. George and I both are. We were prats this year. This past week especially." He shook his head. "You were right. Being prefect or Head Girl or Boy isn't our cup of tea, but it meant a lot to you, and if we hadn't pressed you for so long, you wouldn't have had to snap. You were right to discipline us. We just...didn't want to admit it."
I'd never heard a real apology from Fred, let alone such a longwinded and thorough one. I just stared at him. "Pardon?" I asked, not quite sure I was hearing correctly.
"I think you got the gist of it," said Fred, though he grinned.
"No, really, I think I need to hear that again."
He dramatically sighed. "I really am sorry. We were gits, blah, blah, blah. Look, in all honesty, I just wish we could've spent more time together..."
"Where are we going?" I asked quickly, looking in front of us, because I was sure my face was hot pink. He, however, seemed to take great pleasure in my embarrassment, for he bounded along next to me with enthusiasm.
"To the kitchens. I'm starving and I think we butterbeer would do wonders for us all."
"Boys," I muttered. "Do you think about anything besides food?"
"Nope. We are primal beings. What else is there to think about?"
"The fact that Umbridge is hurting children! I mean, insolent teenagers that can get revenge are one thing, but children! Have you ever seen a first year in her detention? She's getting worse. This is torture," I fumed. "She's sadistic! I mean, writing in your own blood? It's beyond cruel!"
Fred put a hand on my arm and swung me around.
"What?" I demanded irately.
"Hey..." Then he winced as I tried shoving his hands off. "Ow!" he said, shaking his hand. I glanced at it to see his scar crusted over with freshly dried blood.
"Oh, Fred," I said, gasping. It looked really, really bad, especially when it began oozing murky fluid. "You used the last of your murtlap essence on John, didn't you?" I said quietly, looking at his hand.
"So?" he shrugged, trying to shake off my grip. I held tight.
"That was sweet, Fred. It really was. But you've been in detention more than anyone and you've been giving your potion to everyone else for the past few detentions, I know you have. It's going to get infected if you don't soak it," I said and took his injured hand in both of mine, smiling as he glared. "I could make you some more..."
We stared at each other silently for a moment.
"Blimey, you take the 'responsibility' part far too seriously," he said, pulling away finally.
"I was just trying to help you," I said, embarrassed. He took my own scarred hand in his, tracing the new skin. "And I'm sorry too. For giving you detention with her. I dunno what the hell was going through my mind. That was completely out of line and..."
I jerked my hand away from him as his fingers curved around my palm, but he held firm. He put a hand on my face and I hesitated. I looked up at him, and saw his brown eyes (which, for the record, were much like dark rum), and did not even fight when he pressed his lips against mine.
Trying to stop my frantically beating heart, I pulled away. It was scary to kiss Fred. I didn't have the chance to brace myself. Instead, it felt like I was freefalling. It was exhilarating and incredible, but at the same time I was terrified every second. At the moment, I could have passed out. "Let's...let's go get some butterbeer," I said breathlessly.
"Is that all you can think about?" he asked, but did start walking again. We sneaked down to the kitchens. I kept watch around the corner as Fred tickled the giant pear, and we slipped inside. After being graciously loaded down with treats, we snuck back upstairs to find the Common Room empty.
I dumped the treats on Fred, and he ran up the stairs to the boy's dormitory. He came back down moments later. "John fell asleep in the Common Room so George took him up to bed. See you in the morning?"
"I...yeah, of course. 'Night."
"G'night," said Fred, pecking me on the cheek and heading upstairs. It was several moments before I could find the ability to move, and even then my steps up the stairs were mostly a lot of staggering.
The next morning, George slid in to the seat next to me in Potions.
"Hey," he said. Lee sat next to Fred, across the classroom and Angelina found a seat next to Daisy. Different from normal, but not bad. Not bad at all.
"Hey, George. How...er...how was detention?" I immediately cursed myself. I might as well have asked him how he felt about being beaten by the Whomping Willow. Actually, that would have been preferable. George's mouth twitched.
"Uh...it was lovely. Practically a picnic. Actually, I wanted to apologize. I'm really sorry for...everything. And, I mean, detention wasn't that bad. Since we knew it was from you. And since we'd done something to actually deserve it. Forgive me?" asked George. However, I just stared again. George was more generous with apologies than Fred, but they still weren't frequent. I wondered if this was all a dream.
"Nothing to forgive," I said anyway.
"I'm glad," he said, looking at me in a sad sort of way. I stared, waiting for him to explain, but Snape began class, and there was no time for talking, at least not for people who wanted a decent grade.
"Hey Daisy..." I began, after I spotted Fred a few people ahead.
"Go on," she said, rolling her eyes. She hung back to talk with George as I caught up with Fred. For some reason, falling back into my friendship with George had been as easy as breathing and I felt fine about us now. However, with Fred I felt there were some strings that needed to be clipped. I should have known it didn't work that way with him.
"Listen, Fred, about last night..."
"We're leaving, Ri," said Fred, looking down at me. I continued walking, sure I'd just misheard what he said. But when he didn't grin, or take it back, or say anything, it sort of clicked, and I stopped dead in the middle of the hallway. A bag, six shoulders, and twelve elbows hit me in the ten seconds I stood there. Fred seemed to realize that I needed time to process the information, and didn't press me.
Leaving? Leaving Hogwarts? No, leaving Umbridge. She'd taken anything worthwhile for them, and they weren't going to waste their time here. I couldn't blame them at all. Quidditch, the D.A., Dumbledore, fun...
Though I already hated Umbridge, my fury increased. There was nothing more she could do to make me hate her more. "I shouldn't be surprised," I said, starting to walk again, but slowly.
"We figure that we don't need to be here anymore; Umbridge is taking away everything worthwhile, and it's not like we really need our N.E.W.T.s-"
"You don't have to explain," I interrupted as tears pricked the back of my eyes. "I mean, I know why you're leaving. Doesn't mean I like it any more."
"Rian," said Fred, looking sincerely sorry. "I don't like leaving you. But I'm not going to stay here wasting my time. You have advantages from completing a fulltime education; I don't."
Even in my current misery, I felt a rush of blood on my face and a drop in my stomach when he said 'I don't like leaving you'. Me. He felt bad about leaving me. "I know," I said. "I'm surprised you lasted this long, actually."
"Well, like we told Hermione, we tried to lay low while people studied for their exams." He gave me a pointed look. "But we want to go out with a bang, so to speak."
We were already late to our class, which I realized by the sudden clearing of the hallway. So I walked over to one of the benches and sat down, setting my books next to me. They were balanced unsteadily, and most fell to the ground. I left them.
"When?" I asked miserably. Hogwarts was going to be unbearable without him. I mean, without them. Right. Without them. My two best friends.
"A few days probably."
Days? I sniffled and Fred looked at me, alarmed.
"Are you crying?"
"No," I said, cursing when my voice broke.
"You're going to miss us that much?" he asked, grinning.
"I'm not crying," I said, glaring at him. His grin widened.
"'Course not," said Fred.
"Well, what do you expect?" I demanded defensively. "You two are my best mates, and without you, Hogwarts is going to be completely worthless."
"Poor Daisy," he said, shaking his head. "And Lee. Wait until I tell them you think they're worthless."
"Oh shut up," I said, elbowing him in the arm. He winced, which cheered me up a bit. "You know what I mean. I'll just really, really," I thought of the kiss last night, "really miss you. What are you going to do, anyway?"
"We've got the money from Harry that we told you about, and we think we've got a good place in Diagon Alley that we can open up. George sent out the order a few weeks ago, and we own the place now. We were going to wait...but why not get a head start, eh?"
"That's great," I said, glancing at the ground. "You never told me you got a place."
He gave me a sarcastic look. "We did-oh." His eyes widened. "Er...well, as we weren't...I mean, it was a quick...and it was a secretive sort...I'm sorry."
Trying to brush off the hurt, I shook my head and attempted a smile. "Your mum is going to be angry," I said.
"Yeah, well, hopefully we'll be successful. Then she'll approve."
It was quiet.
"Fred, there's something I've meant to tell you. And since you're leaving, it's probably better anyway..." I met his eyes as a rush of excited terror filled my stomach. "Fred, I think I-"
"Why aren't you two in class?" came Umbridge's shrill voice. "Detention!"
We turned toward her. I was wrong, there was something she could do that could make me hate her more.
"Miss Collins!" she gasped, flustered. She collected herself while I watched, annoyed beyond belief. "Lately you have been most irresponsible. I cannot idly stand by and watch your flagrant disregard for my rules and my authority. Your Head Girl status is hereby revoked."
My jaw dropped. It was a very good thing my wand was in my schoolbag, because if it had been in my pocket, I'm not sure I could've resisted cursing her. She had no right to take that away-
"Oy," said Fred warningly, glaring at Umbridge, though he also gave me a glance, guessing what I was thinking.
"Do you have something to say Mr. Weasley?" she asked, sickeningly sweet. I stepped on Fred's foot and he shut his mouth. "You and your brother have caused more than enough trouble during my position. I am not Professor Dumbledore. I will not stand for this blatant disrespect for the rules. Your next misstep will be your last, I assure you."
"Better make it a good one then, eh?" I said sarcastically, glancing at Fred, who stared at me with a mixture of pride and disbelief. Umbridge, apparently unable to find a response to this, huffed and walked away. "Make it a good one, will you?"
"Oh we will," he swore, staring fiercely after Umbridge. The strain in his voice made my heart leap, so I stepped close and pressed my lips to his. He looked so shocked when I stepped away that I couldn't help but smile.
"Just don't leave without saying good-bye, alright?" I asked, and then turned to our classroom, still smiling as I shut the door behind us. Professor McGonagall didn't even look up to glare, though she stopped by my desk as class ended and gave Fred and me an appraising look.
"I trust you will not be late to my class again?" she asked, though she didn't look angry. This was the first time Fred had sat with me in her class all year, and I sensed approval.
"Extenuating circumstances, Professor," said Fred. "Doubtful to happen again."
Her lips twitched. "Be sure it doesn't."
"Good-bye," shouted Fred, running up to me a few days later, in between classes. George followed close behind. I stared at them for a moment, confused. Then I realized that this was most likely the last time I'd see them the rest of the year.
"Ah," I said sadly. "Good-bye."
"Don't be upset," said George cheerfully. "We've got a wonderful surprise planned."
"You'll love it," Fred assured me.
"It'll be like Christmas."
"But better."
"And don't forget you're going to visit us every day," said George cheerfully.
"Once you're out of school," Fred conceded. I decided to save tears for later. It wouldn't do to have my last few moments marred with impaired vision. I threw my arms around George's neck, and pecked his cheek.
"We'll send you letters," he swore, glancing at Fred. "Long ones, we promise."
"And stuff from the store," added Fred as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He kissed me briefly on the lips.
"I love you two."
"We love you," they chorused. A ridiculous hug ensued.
"Now, as a parting gift," Fred said with a flourish, handing me a package, rectangular and thin, like a book. I crushed it to my chest.
"Thanks."
A shrill voice echoed down the hallway.
"Is that Umbridge I hear?" George asked, cocking an ear toward the hallway.
"Duty calls," they said, saluting me. I saluted back, expecting them to march off, but Fred swept me into a dramatic kiss, backbend and all. I could hardly breathe when they finally left.
That night, behind the safety of my bed curtains and with everyone else asleep, I opened the present from Fred and George. Underneath the wrapping was a folded piece of parchment. I lifted it up and unfolded it, reading the contents. It was Fred's handwriting.
Rian—
We know we've already apologized, but we wanted to do it again, to try and make up for being such prats to you this year. So here are our late congratulations on making Head Girl. If anyone deserved, it was you. We just hope you'll forgive us someday. You really did a marvellous job.
We left the address to our shop here, even though we know the old hag will never let your letters out or ours in. So, we've spent the last month or so designing your present, once we figured out we were leaving. Go on, open it if you haven't already.
I opened the box. Inside was a thick, bound book, and as I flipped through it, it was completely blank. I looked back at the letter, hoping it would explain. I could practically see Fred's grin.
Confused? We borrowed the idea from our fourth year, when Ginny had that awful journal...we know what you're thinking but we made this ourselves. Free of dark magic, we guarantee. Anyway, all you have to do is write in it, and it'll be like writing to us. We've made a second journal, and we'll get all the answers here. As a warning, close the book after every conversation, and say "mischief managed," or anyone can read the conversations. We stole that as well, but it was pretty good, so we couldn't resist. We can write back too. Hope you like it. Lots of love,
Fred Weasley
George Weasley
That was the last time I'd seen them until today. Now, I was facing George, who stared at us with a smirk. "See you two made up for lost time," he said, sidestepping us and unlocking the door to the shop. "Enjoy," he said wickedly.
"Well that's embarrassing," I said as the door closed. "I should be off anyway."
"Ah, don't let that great oaf stop you," said Fred. "He's just jealous that he doesn't have a pretty girl to kiss..."
"He only thinks I don't," shouted George from inside.
"Your great-aunt doesn't count," I yelled to George.
"That was my joke first," he called back.
"I really do have to go," I said to Fred, grinning. I stepped forward and hugged him. He held me close as well, and I smiled. "It was fantastic seeing you again."
"We'll just have to see each other some more then, eh?" said Fred, grinning as I shoved him toward the door.
"I wish I could resist, just to give you a smidgen of humility."
"Ah, but that'd ruin my character. Or is it just the snogging you like?" asked Fred. I pretended to consider.
"Well...yeah, just the snogging."
"Get out of here," said Fred, grinning and pointing toward the street. "Go tear out some other man's heart."
"Ah, tragic. My specialty," I said with a dramatic flourish. "I'll be off now. Goodnight, dear sir."
"Goodnight, my lovely lady. The moon cries for jealousy of your beauty."
"Remind me never to let you drink around me again," I said fondly, and Disapparated.