Yo, Here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it :)
Apart from the death of Barty crouch the wait until June and the third task was rather slow. Bagman didn't reply to them and after Fred sending him another letter George had pretty much given up on ever seeing their savings again. It was a shame, sure the twins had made money over the year by taking bets and the few products they had managed to manufacture and sell, but once you take out the cost of the ingredients and the winnings to those who bet on the right people they where barely making anything and with one task left they where seriously out of pocket.
It was the 23rd of June, tomorrow held the final of the triwizard tournament. Fred and George where splashing through the sea, hidden from the inhabitants of Hogsmeade by the cliffs. Although both had rolled their trousers up to their knee's to keep from getting wet it hadn't worked. Soon they'd begun kicking water at each other. Sirius, in dog form rushing around them. Sea water weighting down his long fur. They'd bought a ball but Sirius had outright refused to play fetch, glaring at them when they suggested it.
"Lets eat" George decided, wading out of the water whilst trying to ring out his top. The dog and his twin followed him back into the cave. Buckbeak was happy gulping down on of the ferret's the twins had bought. George set about pulling their food out of the bags as Sirius transformed back into human form. A bright smile on his face, George dished out the food the house elves had given them. The twins opting to skip dinner and instead come eat with Sirius, over the few months through the food harry sent and the stuff Fred and George brought the man was starting to look healthier, a bit more colour to his cheeks, weight slowly beginning to cover his ribs.
"So the third task is tomorrow" Fred said as he scoffed down a chicken leg, one hand pushing the wet hair out of his eyes.
"I know" Sirius said grimly, smile falling from his face as he picked up a cheese sandwich "I haven't had cheese in 13 years" Sirius admitted before biting into it, his face showing pure bliss as he gobbled it down before grabbing three more off the pile of sandwiches.
"Do you think some things going to happen tomorrow?" George said, picking at a ham sandwich.
"Yes." Sirius said bluntly "and I'm not the only one, Dumbledore has invited me to come wait in his office tomorrow, as snuffles of course."
"Dumbledore invited you?"
"Harry doesn't know. So don't tell him, he'll just worry. He needs all his focus on protecting himself tomorrow."
"We won't tell him" The twins replied quickly.
"Harry can handle himself" George said quietly. "I don't mean you should stop worrying or anything just, the kid's been through a lot and it ended out okay. He's got a good head and shoulders, He's got Ron and Hermione who'd protect him to the end of the world. He's got Dumbledore and the rest of us Weasley's. If there's trouble, I reckon we'll deal with it" George said confidently.
"We may have to deal with it. I don't like the way everything's been going lately, with peter free. The dark mark, Harry's dreams. A storms brewing."
"It can't be that bad though right? I mean..you-know-who's gone right. They've stopped him coming back before. How many times can the bloke try."
"I wouldn't underestimate Voldemort Fred and I definitely wouldn't think he's done yet." The twins flinched at Sirius' use of the word. "You two should get use to the name. If my feelings right you're going to be seeing it a lot more in the future." With gulps the twins nodded. Face's pale.
The rest of the meal continued without any more talking. Sirius seemed slightly giddy at the assortment of food's he was getting to try. Moaning happily when he bit into a chocolate covered doughnut. George could feel goosebumps prickling up his arms as darkness fell, his damp clothes clinging to him uncomfortably, lips chattering slightly. Noticing this Sirius drained the last of his cup, the two had bought butterbeer, something Sirius was eternally grateful for, he was getting sick of pumpkin juice.
"You two should head back."
"We can stay for a bit longer" Fred said through chattering teeth causing Sirius to bark out a laugh.
"Go back, get warm and get ready for the third task tomorrow. Make sure my godson's ready too."
Hermione was still up when they trudged back through the portrait, lips tinted blue, blankets wrapped tightly around them.
"Where on earth have you been?" Hermione asked with a sigh.
"Out" Fred grumbled. "I'm going to change" with that Fred plodded up the stairs.
"You go change to then drag yourself and get back down here" George agreed without a word. Quickly changing, he'd asked Fred to join him but his twin had just mumbled no, then started winking at him and trying to give him 'tips' so George stormed back down into the common room. Hermione had made what seemed to be a nest. Blankets and pillows sitting in front of the fire. She looked over to him and smiled.
"Sit" she ordered. George stumbling over and sitting in the nest. Suddenly it was a lot darker than it had been a few seconds ago. George looking up to see she had erected a quilt roof around them. The whole room blocked out apart from the fire, the warmth of it was seeping into their fort. Hermione's legs appearing in front of the fire before she was kneeling down and crawling towards him. You've had some dreams of her crawling towards you like that George thought quickly shaking the dirty thought's out of his head as she curled up next to him.
"I always use to do this when I was younger. It's a lot easier to do with magic though" The girl admitted smiling at him. Suddenly a loud crack sounded. Dobby appearing at the foot of the tent.
"Miss Granger I have your hot chocolate" He said happily, walking into the fort and handing them each a cup of hot chocolate.
"Thank you very much Dobby. Here, have a hat I knitted" Hermione said handing one of her awfully knitted hats to the elf who smiled despite the fact It barely resembled a hat and pulled it onto his head.
"You're too kind." Then he clicked his fingers and disappeared. George sipped at his drink admiring the fire.
"Is Harry ready for the third task tomorrow?" George asked, leaning back on one elbow.
"As ready as he can be. I've been helping him practise his spells and teaching him a few new ones."
"Well he couldn't have a better teacher" George said honestly. After about 6 months liking her George had mostly learnt how to act normal again. It was a lot easier now that he had a pretty constant song of she doesn't like you, she rejected your invitation, it's a passing crush, you've just been single for too long running through his head whenever he saw her. Of course there was the other voice whispering just take a chance, what's the worst that could happen but each time he summoned the courage something would interrupt. Which he was extremely thankful for and now each time he asks himself what's the worst that could happen. He comes back with 'you could lose the friendship' and he's back to stage one of just hoping it goes away.
"I just hope it's over and done with quickly" The girl said quietly. George giving a small smirk.
"Me and Fred could always sneak the other tributes one of our new products. It's called fever fudge. You"
"no" She said with a laugh, nose crinkling as she did. Before her face morphed into worry. "I really wish I could help him more. If we could just do the task with him." George could feel a worried rant coming on, quickly he put his mug on the floor. Before pressing a finger to her soft lips.
"There's nothing else you can do Granger. Leave the worrying till tomorrow." He ordered gently. "Lie down"
"Pardon me"
"Lie down. Come on" George flopped back, pulling her with him. Before he pulled his wand from the back of his pyjamas.
"You like fireworks?"
"Yes, why?" The girl whispered, George flicking a smile before pointing his wand up into the air and breathing a spell. As he lowered his wand small, quite fireworks begun around the top of the fort. The lay watching them Hermione slowly relaxing as they did.
"Wow" She whispered as a red and gold hue engulfed the fort. A brilliant fire work going of, first exploding the sparks curling and dancing together, weaving around one enough before those exploded too. After a while George turned his gaze to the girl who was staring at them starry eyed.
"I can do animal ones to. Chose an animal. The girl thought for a second.
"How about a lion?" she said turning her face to him George nodded. Waving his wand the fireworks tampered out, then slowly a single buzzing flame rose popping at the top, a lion revealed behind the spray of colour, roaring it begun running around the top of the tent. Soon they had a multitude of animals running round, some magical. A small, Hungarian horntail zooming around occasionally blasting out a spray of colourful fireworks. A rabbit hoped around, a ferret which would occasionally hum "my father will hear about this". A wolf prowled, a monkey swung on vines of sparks. A niffler snuffling round.
"How do you do it"
"Point your wand." Hermione held her want out. "Now think of the animal you want, and I mean really think of it, think of how it would move and what you want it to do." Hermione gave a short nod. "Now say Ignisopere Pellis, whilst twirling your want like this" George held his wand up and gave it a small twirl between his fingers. Hermione nodded before closing her eyes, taking a deep breath she whispered the spell. A few sparks popping from the end before an otter appeared in the air. Slowly opening her eyes the girl watched as the otter swam through the air.
"That's amazing" She said in awe. George smiling.
"Do another one."
"I cant think of any other animals" She said sadly before slowly turning to him. Eyes scanning his face. Then she was smiling turning back to the roof and muttering the spell. A Weasel appeared running around the top of the tent. "It's you" She said with a laugh.
"I'm very cute"
The two sat watching for a while longer, the otter and Weasel had begun running together, winding around each other and playing. Both their hot chocolate's long since cold. George felt his eyes getting heavy, a yawn escaping him.
"Where did you two go today? I know you weren't at the black lake" Hermione said, turning to face him, beautiful colours painting her skin.
"How do you know?"
"I checked on the map" the girl admitted
"Checking up on me where you Granger?"
"I was just curious where you keep disappearing off to"
"We where seeing Snuffles." George said. Using one hand to scrub at his eyes.
"We should get to bed" Hermione said, noting his tired expression.
"Lets stay up for a bit longer"
"No, you'll fall asleep and I'm not carrying you to bed."
"We could sleep in here" George suggested
"No. I need to tidy this all up before anyone sees it. Come on" George groaned but slowly got up, waving his wand to get rid of the animals. Hermione waved hers a second later the Weasel and Otter disappearing from the air. George waited outside the fort for Hermione and with a few choice words and waving her wand everything was flying back into place.
"done. Goodnight George"
"Nu-uh" George said back quickly grabbing the girls hand and dragging her towards the boys dorm ignoring her orders to let her go. When the two made it into the dorm she stopped, scared of waking Fred or Lee. George climbed into his bed trying to drag Hermione after him.
"George. Go to sleep, you're tired."
"Stay for a bit. I know a cool spell to make little galaxy's to appear. I'll even teach you how to do it" George pleaded. The girl sighing before nodding, slowly joining George on the bed. George wasted no time in dragging the covers over the pair and shooting two swirling galaxy's into the air. Hermione whipped her wand closing the curtains surrounding the bed. Then she shot out the Weasel and Otter again, George raising an eyebrow at her questioningly.
"They're cute" She mumbled causing George to let out a light laugh. The next hour was spent setting off a small army of galaxy's around the enclosed space. Everywhere you look another beautiful spiralling masses of purples, reds and blues. A thumb war period started after that, the area lit by the galaxy's as they played game after game.
It was Hermione who fell asleep first, George rubbing circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. It had started by him trying to read her palm to which she scoffed at until George started impersonating trewlany, saying things he knew not to be true such as "you're a brave and handsome boy who will unfortunately only live to the age of 12" That slowly turned into George tracing his fingers down the lines on her palm, to hand holding. To Hermione curled asleep next to him, George still absently rubbing the back of her hand.
Fred was awoke my Lee. Blearily Fred blinked peering out of sleepy eyes. Lee never woke him up unless it was Christmas or something big was going down.
"What's going on?" Fred said quietly scratching a hand over his face. Lee smirked and pointed to the bed to the right of Fred, George's. Fred followed his finger staring at the bed.
"The curtains are closed?" Fred mumbled.
"I know. Fred never closes his curtains!" Lee whispered excitedly. The two looked to each other before smirking and diving off of Fred's bed, dashing over and pulling the curtains open. Suddenly a Small firework otter and Weasel darted past Fred's head, turning to watch them the two chased each other around the room. Looking back Fred inspected to 20 or so little galaxy's before looking to his twin and smirking.
"Go get creevy's camera" Fred whispered. Lee nodding and darting silently out of the room. George was laying on his side, one arm spread out across the pillows, Hermione's head resting on it. Their face where tilted together, Hermione tucked close to George's side. His twins other hand was above the covers resting a top his leg, their hands where limp with sleep but still loosely holding together. A minute later Lee came back in the room holding a camera out to Fred. The teen took it quickly, walking back a few paces to get a full shot of the bed and the galaxy's. Before turning and getting one of the Otter and Weasel then finally walking closer again. Getting a shot spanning from their joined hands to almost touching foreheads.
Carefully putting the camera back on his own bed Fred threw an around around Lee.
"How should we wake them?" Fred cooed.
"We could tickle them"
"Lame"
"We could throw them into the lake"
"Better"
"We could-"
"You could shut up and piss off" George grumbled, popping one eye open and turning his head towards them, he quickly extracted his hand from Hermione's.
"Noo don't move. It was so cute" George shot Lee a filthy glare before rolling out from underneath the covers. Standing up and pushing Fred and Lee a few steps away from his bed.
"Honestly quite shocked you're wearing clothes bro" Fred grinned causing George to blush a bright red.
"Get dressed. Lets go for breakfast" George snapped quickly pulling some clothes from his trunk.
Hermione came down to breakfast 20 minutes later. Ron and Harry in tow, the trio sitting in the middle of the table.
"So..what the hell happened after I went to bed last night?" Fred asked, the twins and Lee had seated themselves right at the end of the table. Fred and Lee glaring at anyone who tried to sit near them until they'd got up the courage to ask.
"Nothing" George said calmly, shoving some bacon into his mouth.
"You were all cuddled up" Fred said
"Holding hands" Lee said
"And you're saying nothing happened" Fred finished with a 'get real' look.
"I was reading her palm and we fell asleep." George said honestly.
"You don't read peoples palms" Lee pointed out, George groaning.
"where you using divination to put some moves on Granger?" Fred asked with a howl of laughter.
"I wasn't putting moves on her! We where just screwing around, I was trying to keep her mind off today."
"By flirting with her"
"Shut up lee, I wasn't flirting with her."
"Why won't you just admit it to us"
"Why are you so content on trying to make me admit it"
"Because, dear brother. We both think you two would actually work quite well together. So we're hoping one of you will tell us the truth so that we can help you get over whatever stupid boundary you have that's stopping you from getting together and finally be happy rather than awkwardly pining." Fred ranted, George just rolling h is eyes.
"I was just keeping her mind off things" George replied causing the two to moan.
"Swear this test is taking longer than it ever took for us" Fred whined as the two sat outside of the charms class.
"Hope she's okay" George replied as he readjusted the way he was sitting for the umpteenth time, just then the door opened. Ginny walking out slowly with a grim expression.
"Gin!" The two yelped jumping up and making for their little sister.
"I think I did okay" The girl said, sour expression turning into a tired smile. "Have you already had you last exam?"
"Yeah we had ours yesterday" Fred said, slinging an arm around the smallest red head. "Mum and Bill are here, wanna go have lunch with them.
"As long as you promise to keep mum from talking to me about exam's" Ginny mumbled the two laughing and leading her towards the great hall. When they got there Ron had already arrived. The three seating themselves around their family members. Mrs Weasley kept fussing over harry hands trying to flatten his unruly hair. Asking if he was prepared to the final task. Eventually Fred and George managed to get her attention off of the poor. Changing the subject to more light hearted things, like the fact Fleur was busy checking Bill out.
After Hermione arrived there where a few tense moment, before Harry clarified that Hermione was not his girlfriend. George felt anger welling up inside of him at the reminder of Rita's article on Hermione., it was quelled almost instantly though when Hermione sat down next to him. Smiling up at him.
"How's your day been Granger?" George asked, as the rest of the family seemed to be starting up a new conversation.
"Fine thank you, I had my history of Magic exam. I hope I did okay. It was the goblin rebellion, there where so many goblin names to remember but it was very interesting" She said.
"Wait until you're learning about Heka, you'll love it" George said with a small laugh.
"Heka?"
"Something you don't know?" He mocked the girl just rolling her eyes, George broke out explaining the basics of Heka and ancient Egyptian magic to her.
"That sounds amazing. Did you learn anything about it whilst in Egypt? I don't remember you mentioning anything like that"
"Nah, not really. We where more just messing round" George said honestly. Lunch ended soon after, Harry leading away Mrs Weasley and Bill to take another walk around the grounds.
"Wanna head to the lake?" George asked his siblings and Hermione, the group agreeing. Ron, Ginny and Fred where locked in a conversation about quidditch on the way down, Hermione falling behind not all that interested in quidditch and George falling back with her because he was all to interested in the book worm.
"Last night was fun" The girl said suddenly, George smiling down at her.
"Yeah, it was. Thanks for stopping me from freezing to death"
"Thank you for teaching me those charms. Where did you hear about them?"
"Oh..me and Fred came up with them. Fred did the galaxy one, Gin always used to love the stars so he came up with that and would put them all around her room. The fireworks where my idea"
"You came up with those spells?" Hermione said, shock evident on her face.
"I'm not just a pretty face Granger." George said with a smirk.
"I know but still...Those spells where amazing, I'm just surprised you managed to make something like that so young"
"Did you just agree I was a pretty face?" Was the only thing George got from that Hermione laughing, head shaking gently.
"It's not awful" She said cheekily. In the distance George could see the ship durmstrang had been living on for the past months. He could also see the duck footed seeker. A small scowl came onto George's face as he unconsciously took a step away from Granger.
Krum decided to join them when they reached the lake. Ron spent his entire time glaring angrily at the seeker, making snarky comments under his breath as Fred teased him. George felt extremely satisfied every time Hermione would walk away from Krum to come talk to him, although each time Krum would slowly walk after her. One thing George noticed was that they didn't talk a lot. Krum seemed to prefer looking at Hermione to actually speaking to the witch. Still Krum's general aura had George awkwardly pulling away from Hermione every time she talked to him. It felt strange. One second Krum would be glaring at him, the next he would be looking guilty for glaring. George thought back to their conversation. George assuring the seeker that he and Hermione where friends.
"I'm a piece of dung" George mumbled to Fred as he pulled him out to wade in the water.
"Why do you say that" Fred asked curiously. His twin took out a nice smooth stone from his pocket, passing one to George before revealing another one. George skimmed his stone across the water surface, getting passed another one before answering.
"Krum and Granger. He's looking at me like I'm about to steal his girl" He mumbled, tossing the stone, another was instantly placed back in his hand.
"Well...You are aren't you?"
"no!" George snapped. Before letting out a sigh. He tried to skim the stone, this time it splashing under the water surface before it could jump. Another stone was placed in his hand.
"Forge. I can't talk to you about this if you don't tell me what the hell you're thinking about" Fred grumbled, skipping his own stone. George sighed, running a hand through his hair, musing it.
"Lets say I did like her. This is not a confession this is just hypothetically." George mumbled. Checking quickly behind him to make sure everyone was still back on the land
"Sure" Fred snorted.
"and lets say her boyfriend had already confronted me to ask my what my relationship with her was. To which I assured him it was purely platonic"
"Yep"
"And he believed me. Only then the boyfriend hypothetically caught me about to admit that I was flirting with his girlfriend. So fast forward a few months and nothings happened but now the boyfriend is looking at me as If I'm about to snatch out the girl from underneath him but then he gets this look like he's having unjust placed jealousy."
"Right"
"And then I..hypothetically feel like crap because last night I was hypothetically holding hands with his girlfriend and sleeping in the same bed as her and even though it's completely platonic for her. It's completely hypothetically not platonic for me"
"I think you should stop using the word hypothetically." Fred grumbled. George throwing yet another stone only for it to be replaced again.
"Fine so theoretically, I would feel like a piece of shit because I'm meddling."
"I'd say that the guy has good cause to be Jealous but at the same time I know you. You'd flirt, you'd admit you like her but you would never actually make a move until there was no boyfriend in the picture"
"I said this is hypothetical"
"Yes I know. I'm saying that hypothetically you're not a dick, you wouldn't make out with someone who has a boyfriend no matter how much you liked them. So although the bloke has just cause for concern you shouldn't feel bad because you haven't done anything wrong"
"I theoretically lied to him about having a crush"
"So. That's none of his business" Fred said placing yet another flat stone into George hand.
"Where the hell are these coming from?!" George finally asked, Fred just winking as an answer.
"I'd say as long as you don't try anything until he's out of the picture you're in the moral high ground so don't feel bad about some feeling you may or may not have." Fred said calmly. George just giving a small nod. He turned his head back round to look at those on the shore. Hermione was looking out to them with a puzzled expression, her face formed a smile when George spotted her. George doing a small wave.
"That was a completely hypothetical situation." George said quietly as they waded through the water back to everyone.
"Yeah..sure" Fred said with a roll of his eyes.
Whoever said the triwizard tournament would be a fun spectator spot was a dirty, rotten liar. George though sadly as it approached the half hour mark of everyone staring at the edge of a large maze. Fleur had disappeared into it 15 minutes ago.
"How long do you reckon it'll take them?" Ron asked, leaning heavily on the barrier of the stand.
"No idea" Mrs Weasley said nervously.
"I'm bored" Fred grumbled, Earning a slap from Hermione.
"Harry is risking his life in there!" Hermione scolded.
"I know that. Doesn't make sitting watching a bush very interesting though." Fred snapped back. Another half an hour later and Fred,George, Ginny and Ron had fallen into a thumb war championship with those around them. Bill was the referee for each match whilst Hermione and Mrs Weasley tutted at them. Suddenly a scream escaped the maze. The final of thumb wars. Fred vs Ginny freezing in place as everyone turned back towards the maze.
"That was Fleur" George said whilst leaning down to the non moving Hermione.
"I know"
"Harry's okay"
"I know" The girl whimpered finger nails digging into her face. 5 minutes later red sparks shot out from deep inside the maze and before long Fleur was brought on on a stretcher. The girl was rushed into the medical tent, the next 20 minutes where spent staring at the white tent before the girl walked out looking a bit shaky but no worse for wear. When the next spark of red flew up the crowd cheered. Finally something interesting was happening. Krum was bought out unconscious. George half expected Hermione to climb down and run over to him but instead the girl stayed put. Eyes glued to the hedge.
Another hour and the crowd had given up on standing, everyone sitting bored in their seats. Ginny was resting on Fred who was resting on George who's was on Hermione's shoulder. Her and Ron seemed to be the only two people in the crowd still interested. Another hour and George was getting nervous.
"You don't think something happened do you?" George whispered to his twin, not wanting to worry Hermione more.
"I dunno mate." Another 17 minutes when suddenly a crash echoed on the floor outside the maze. Harry and Cedric where back. Harry clinging onto the cup and Cedric.
"something's wrong" Hermione cried as the crowd started screaming their cheer. It wasn't long before the happy screamed turned into silence, with those closest to the front screaming in fear. Fleur was dragging Gabrielle away from the two.
George felt bile rising in his throat as he watched Dumbledore try to pull harry off of Diggorys body. Hermione and Ron moved in an instant, trying to run to their friend. Fred and George caught them easily pulling them back towards the seats.
"Let me go George!" Hermione shrieked
"There's nothing either of you can do right now. Get mum and Bill and head to the hospital wing. Dumbledore will take him there soon i'm sure" George reassured.
"Bu-" Both Hermione and Ron started.
"Guys he's already got a bunch of people smothering him, he's going to need a bit of air. Go wait for him in the hospital wing. It doesn't look like he'll notice your with him at the moment anyway" Fred said, it was true. Harry was staring blankly into space as Moody pulled him up and begun dragging him off.
The two finally agreed a minute or so later. Taking off quickly for the hospital wing. Mrs Weasley and Bill close behind them. Ginny stayed with the twins watching the scene in front of them.
"Lee mate!" Fred called. Lee was standing a few rows away. Staring at the scene of Amos diggory sobbing over his son. Mcgonagall and the other teachers had moved to start trying to shoo everyone back to their dormitories. Lee slowly walked over.
"Take Ginny back to the common room and don't let her out of your sight okay?" Fred said seriously. Lee nodding quickly and taking Ginny's arm.
"What are you two doing?" Ginny asked trying to pull away from Lee.
"Don't worry about it. Just go back with Lee we'll be there soon." Ginny slowly turned and begun walking towards the castle with Lee. Angelina joining them as they got to the ground.
"Fred, George. Go back to your common room at once!" Professor Mcgonagall snapped at the boys. The two looked around noticing that Ginny and the other's had been some of the last to leave the scene. The two started making their way down the stairs.
"What are we doing?" George asked curiously.
"Going to snuffles, he doesn't know what's happened yet." Fred said quietly, they walked past the minister of magic. Both doing their best to ignore the crying Amos.
"Harry? Where's Harry. I told him to stay here!" Dumbledore's voice suddenly boomed. "Did anyone see where Harry went?"
"Mad-eye took him" George told the headmaster.
"That's Professor Moody to you" Snape sneered looking paler than usual.
"Are you sure?" Dumbledore asked walking quickly towards them.
"Yeah."
"Saw him about 5 minutes ago" Fred said calmly. Dumbledore however didn't look so calm. Eyes blazing with a sudden rage as he stood up straight.
"Minerva, Severus come with me. Boys get back to your dormitories immediately." Dumbledore ordered. The two nodded before quickly running off towards the school. Once they had a considerable lead the two slowed slightly.
"Did you see the way Dumbledore looked?" Fred asked.
"Yeah. It couldn't have anything to do with Moody taking him though,Harry's safe with moody right?" George said nervously.
"I thought he was" Fred said grimly. "Come on. Lets hurry to Sirius" Fred prompted before the two took off running. Soon they where stood panting outside of the great eagle statue to Dumbledore's office.
"Cockroach clusters." George gasped. The statue coming to life and spiralling. The two jumped in, running up with the stair case as it moved. Bursting into the room Sirius jumped up from his seat.
"Fred, George?" He said confused before his face morphed into worry. "What happened? Where's Harry?" Sirius urged quickly closing the gap between them.
"He's okay. Something happened, we don't really know exactly what but Cedric's dead and Harry looks pretty beaten up." Fred admitted.
"Is Dumbledore bringing him here?"
"We don't know"Fred said.
"That's the other thing" George muttered. "Moody took Harry, it looked like they where coming back here but once Dumbledore heard that Moody took harry he looked all...angry?"
"Why would he mind Mad-eye taking Harry"
"Your guess is as good as ours" Fred said with a sigh.
"If Dumbledore's angry or worried he's got to have a reason." Sirius said grimly. "You two should get back. Thank you for telling me"
The next month as the school year rolled to a close where quiet. Fred, George and Lee had mostly hung up their pranking for the time being. Only doing one or two and these where just small things to cheer people up a bit rather than there normal - picking on a teacher or general mayhem pranks. One was making the great hall rain flowers, each one would burst into thin air before they reached the floor so no cleaning up was needed. Along with all the banners changing to hufflepuff ones as four firework badgers frolicked in the air. There own tribute to Cedric.
It was strange, the trio was use to making people laugh and one or two people scream with their slightly darker pranks. Watching peoples faces light up when the flowers started falling was bitter-sweet. There had been a sort of agreement to keep the smiles and laughs to a minimum across the entire school, but that morning they forced an end to that. George watched Sprout as a happy smile lit on her face despite the tears that where staining her cheeks. The same was to be said with a lot of the hufflepuffs. Some gryffindor's and Ravenclaws. Not even the Slytherin's complained. A few clapping politely at the display.
"Shame Harry missed this" Fred whispered to his twin who nodded. No one had really talked to Harry since the third and final task. Some people seemed to blame him, others just too scared to talk to him. Fred and George had tried, they'd forced everyone in the gryffindor common room to eat a canary cream just as Harry entered the room. He'd looked around bemused at the 20 something canary's standing tall in the room before he wandered up to his dormitory. All of Hermione's attention was on Harry. It seemed her and Ron where the only two people Harry could face talking to.
When the time finally rolled around for them to board the Hogwarts express and head home the two where almost thankful. Tucked away in their compartment felt safer. The door shutting them off from the rest of the student's as the three fell back into their usual banter.
"Sooo" Lee drawled an hour into the trip. "Granger?"
"Oh god don't start" George cried.
"Come on George. We've waited hours for this" It was true. When they where all saying goodbye to each other. George had spotted Krum and Hermione talking quietly to each other, Fred and Lee had pulled his eyes away by dragging him over to say goodbye to some random beauxbatons kid. A few minutes later a hand was landing on his shoulder. Spinning round George saw Krum standing there.
"Take good care of hermy-own-ninny" Krum grumbled before patting his shoulder twice and joining his school back to the ship.
"So..hypothetically, would that be the boyfriend giving you permission?" Fred said with a wink.
"I don't like Granger"
"come on dude. It's been four years. Admit it. We won't tell"
"I-"
"Tell us or we'll spend the rest of the train journey with you in a body bind" Fred ordered. George sighed flopping back in his chair and running his hands over his face.
"Even if I did...like her. It wouldn't matter. We're friends, that's all she wants to be" George said sadly.
"How do you know?" Lee asked.
"Asked her to the Yule ball. She rejected me"
"She was already coming with Krum right?" Fred asked George doing a short nod.
"Yeah. But still, she didn't have the face of someone who just had to pass up the chance of a date with the guy of her dreams."
"So you do like her?" Lee said quietly
"Course I bloody do, but we're friends and that's all we're ever going to be and I'm fine with that"
"How can you be if you like her?" Fred snapped
"Because she's happy. Now I told you about my stupid bloody crush so can we get over it now and talk about something more interesting?" George asked desperately.
"I think you should just take a chance an-"
"No Lee." George growled.
"Maybe me and Lee cou-"
"No! This is between me and Granger. It's none of your business, so just stay out of this one part in my life. It's some passing infatuation. It'll probably been gone in a few week's so don't mess up my friendship because you have some stupid romantic dreams for us." That ended that conversation, one slowly building about what their final year at Hogwarts could bring.
A while later and the twin's where alone. Lee had left to find Katie.
"Wanna play exploding snap?" Fred asked, waving the pile of cards in his twins face.
"Sure." Suddenly footsteps rumbled past their compartment. Malfoy and his twin stooges, Crabbe and Goyle stalking past.
"What do you reckon there up to?" Fred said with a smirk.
"I dunno. But I reckon we should go find out." George replied, grabbing his wand and strolling from the room. They soon found Malfoy, around 10 cabins down taunting Harry, Hermione and Ron. As they approached they could hear more of what was being said.
"Mudbloods and Muggle Lovers first!" George growled at the slytherin's words. The twins pulling their wands out and pointing them "Well – second – Diggory was the f-" It was like George was back in the fort with Hermione. The colours spraying brightly. Blinding them for a second as a loud series of bangs cracked through the train.
George blinked to refocus and saw Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle laying unconscious. The two wandered towards the doorway peering in.
"Thought we'd see what those three were up to" Fred said nonchalantly, making his way into the compartment via goyles stomach. George followed his twin stepping heavily onto Malfoy. No one insults Hermione He thought avidly.
"Interesting effect. Who used the furnuculus curse?" George said clearing his mind as he looked to Crabbe who had tentacles protruding from his face.
"Me" Harry said blankly.
"Odd. I used Jelly-Legs. Looks as though those two shouldn't be mixed. He seems to have sprouted tentacles all over his face." George said matter-of-factly poking at one of the tentacles with his shoe. "well, lets not leave them here, they don't add much to the décor" George said calmly before starting to kick Malfoy from the room. Harry and Ron came to his aid the three shoving them into the hallway.
"Exploding snap anyone?" Fred said, once they came back into the room,holding the pack of cards out. That was h ow they spent the rest of the Journey. At one point the twins came clean to Ron and Harry about Ludo. George was pleasantly shocked at how well Hermione did at pretending not to know a thing about it.
The train gave a soft jerk as it pulled in Platform 9 ¾. George helped Hermione drag her case over Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. Her and Ron making her way off the train quickly.
"Fred – George. Wait a moment" Harry said quickly behind them as they went to make their way to get their own things. The twins turned. Harry quickly grabbing a sack full of gold, the triwizard winnings, and thrusting it into George's hands with a mutter of 'take it;
"what?" Fred said blinking at the boy.
"Take it. I don't want it" Harry said bluntly.
"You're mental" George mumbled, trying to push the sack back into Harry's hands.
"No I'm not, you take it and get inventing. It's for the joke shop"
"He is mental" Fred said.
"Listen! If you don't take it, I'm throwing it down the drain. I don't need it. But I could do with a few laughs. We could all do with a few laughs. I've got a feeling we're going to need them more than usual before long." Harry admitted. George weighed the bag of Money in his hand.
"Harry. There's got to be a thousand Galleons in here" George said in awe.
"Yeah, think of how many canary creams that is" The boy said with a grin. Fred and George just continued to stare at him. "Just don't tell your mum where you got it..although, she might not be so keen for you to join the ministry any more come to think of it"
"Harry" Fred stared only to be interrupted by harry pulling out his wand.
"Look, take it, or I'll hex you. I know some good ones now. Just do me one favour okay? Buy Ron some different dress robes and say they're from you" With that Harry strode out of the compartment before they could get another word in.
"Bloody hell" Fred whispered look to George with wide eyes, slowly a grin broke out on both their faces, The sack of money weighed heavily in George's hand but he felt like he was floating. Plans for products where shooting through his head as he looked to his twin.
"Lets get home Freddie" George said happily before skipping out of the compartment, over Malfoy and his goons. He quickly stashed the money in his trunk before the two where off the train running to catch up with everyone. They caught up just in time for the hugs. George quickly pushed away the jealous that burned in him when Hermione kissed Harry on the cheek. Before clapping harry on the back.
"Harry – Thanks" He murmured quietly. Harry smiling back at whilst Fred nodded next to him. They watched Harry walk off with his large uncle. The man glaring at them as he left obviously remembering them from summer. The two made their way over to their family. Hermione standing chatting to Ginny.
"Come on then. We've got taxi's waiting." To George's surprise Hermione followed them through the station. George dropping back to walk with her, Ginny rushing forwards to talk to Fred as he did.
"You're coming with us?" George asked. The girl smiled.
"Mum and Dad are going to be at a dentist convention for the next week, so i'm staying with you until then"
"Oh right. Great" George said flinging her a smile "Want to help me and Fred make some products for Weasley's wizard wheezes?" He asked
"You're keeping the name?"
"Course" He said happily. "So how about it. You up for making some mischief?"
"I'll pass. But if you're ever up for making a fort jut let me know" George smiled, throwing his free arm round her shoulder. The two walked together until they got in the cars.
Surprisingly the cars stopped not long after they started on their journey. They watched as his mum, Ginny, Ron and Hermione stepped from the taxi in front.
"come on boys" Arthur said stepping from the car himself. The twins shot each other a quick glance before clamouring out of the vehicle and walking over to the others.
"Why are we stopping? Did Ronnie-kins forget to go to the bathroom." George asked causing Ron to glare at him.
"Go get your stuff boys. Arthur do you have the money to pay for these?" Fred and George waited a second before walking back to the taxi and grabbing their stuff from the boot. They where left standing at the side of some small public garden until the taxi's drove away. By the looks on Ron, Hermione and Ginny's faces they didn't know what was going on either.
"I think this is it. Now everyone read this and memorize it" Arthur said holding out a piece of parchment to Fred, The boy slowly read it before passing it to George.
The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve grimmauld place, London
George memorized it passing it to Hermione who read and swiftly passed to Ron.
"Twe-"
"Not out loud Ron!" Arthur ordered Ron freezing before turning back to the paper silently. Once Ginny had read it and nodded the parchment suddenly combusted, burning away all evidence of it. The ashes fluttering away in the wind.
"Now think about what you just memorized and lets go." Arthur walked forwards, everyone following as another flat seemed to grow in between the two already there.
"Holy crap" George mumbled. When everyone was stood in the hall way Arthur pressed a finger to his lips signalling for them to be quiet before they made their way through the hallway into a dining room.
"close the door Ginny" Arthur ordered. Ginny following his instruction quickly.
"What the bloody hell are we doing here?" Ron mumbled. George felt the same, the entire house had a dark feel to it. The gloomy wallpaper and everything covered in dust. Not to mention he was pretty sure he was house elf head's in jars back in the hallway.
"We're staying here for the summer. We can't tell you too much but what you just read you can never tell anyone. You're all now secret keepers for here." The next half hour was spent with Arthur answering the questions he could. What the order of the phoenix was, who it had originally belonged to. Why they had to be quiet in the hallway.
Eventually Molly stood up, patting her clothes down and whipping some of the dust away.
"I think that's enough for today. Now, who's hungry?"
"I'm starved" Everyone sans Molly and Arthur jumped at the sound of the new voice. Spinning round. Ginny was the first to react, pulling her wand out and casting a stupefy. Sirius deflected it easily as Molly rushed to her daughter.
"Ginny no!" Everyone shouted.
"It's Sirius black!"
"Come in the kitchen with me. I'll explain" Molly said calmingly. Pulling her daughter off towards the kitchen.
"No one thought it was a good idea to tell her that I'm not a mass murderer?" Sirius said sarcastically.
"Hermione, Ron" Sirius said happily walking towards the pair. He looked a lot better than he ever did in the cave. He had meat back on his bones, his face was freshly shaved apart from some well maintained facial hair. The two greeted him eagerly.
"you're staying here too?" Hermione said happily.
"Well. It is my house" Sirius said with a wink before he made his way to the twins. "Me casa es su casa. I'm afraid to say the cave was probably more welcoming than this place. But at least it has a cooker" Sirius said happily.
"You know each other?" Ron and Arthur asked. Fred and George looking to them guilty whilst Sirius laughed.
"Now, why don't I give you a quick tour of the house and show you to your rooms." Sirius said with a clap of his hands. The group of them quietly slipped through the hallway and up the stairs. Once they reached the second landing Sirius lead them through a door on the right.
"Ron, this will be your room and Harry's once he gets here of course. Just throw your stuff in you can unpack later. I think your mother bought some sheet's as well, I'm afraid to say these ones haven't been washed in a long time." Ron quickly did as he was told and then Sirius was leading them up another flight of stairs. The door on the left of the third floor held Fred and George's room. Then across the hall was Hermione and Ginny's. The three of them put their stuff in the rooms.
"I'll bring Ginny's up later" Sirius assured.
"Now. Tour of the house. Basically, don't go in any room or open any cupboard. No idea what you might find and it's most likely dangerous so not a good idea to check. " Sirius said proudly. "Do not go into that one. We'll be cleaning out some rooms but that one stays closed at all times. Understand?" Sirius pointed to a door at the end of the landing which held a small RB on the door. "Fred. George?" Sirius said seriously.
"alright" the twin's said, actually meaning it for once. Neither really wanted to risk opening something they weren't meant to in this house.
"Next floor up is my room. Ron, your parents are on your floor." Then Sirius walked them round the house pointing out the different bathrooms. "So if you need to Pee and it's busy you'll be fine,I for one take a while in there now. Still can't get over how good a hot shower feels" The man said, positively giddy. One they had finished their tour, standing in the living room, one of the few rooms they where actually allowed to enter right now.
"What are we going to be doing whilst here?" Hermione asked
"Helping us sort out the headquarters among other things" Sirius said
"What other things?" Hermione said, Sirius walked towards her throwing an arm around her shoulder and pulling her over to George before putting his other arm around the twin pulling the three of the crushingly close.
"Oh you know,Having fun. Right George?" Sirius cooed with a wink. Before now George had been liking this new side of Sirius, his happy attitude knowing he was in a house, even if it was this dive, he was back to having friendships and a family and it showed in the way he held himself. The way his face lit up easier than before, but at this moment George hated it. Gimmie a break George thought sourly as Fred burst into laughter. You just have to survive a week of Fred and Sirius making stupid jokes and then Granger will go home and you'll be fine.
Thank you for reading :)
Please review x