Another chapter. The return to Hogwarts and consequential activities. As well as the intro dusction of a sketchbook.
Katherine flopped into one of the Gryffindor couches and flung her arm over her eyes. It was Friday afternoon, they'd been back at Hogwarts for a week or so and the teachers were piling on the homework. She'd just come back from the library, though she'd actually been looking at animagus stuff, she didn't feel the need to tell anyone that. It would make people suspicious, and she saw no reason to become an animagus, she'd just been really interested in the idea since she spoke to Percy about it.
She looked up as Fred and George came down stairs, Fred slipping a very familiar piece of Parchment into his pocket. Katherine sighed, something always happened on Friday. Mostly because the twins always wanted to do something on the weekend that wasn't homework, but that was beside the point.
"What are you too planning?" she asked, sitting up and allowing them to sit on either side of her.
"Well, we've been thinking," Fred started.
"We've had the map for a while-"
"-and the map shows us all the secret passages out of Hogwarts."
"Yet we haven't used this amazing tool to visit Hogsmead-"
"-which would be lots of fun."
"And there's a Hogsmead trip this weekend," Katherine finished, fighting a smile.
"Exactly!" Fred cheered, loudly, "So we thought that we could go-"
"-and act like we're just some more Hogwarts students."
"Ok, I'm in," Katherine nodded, "But both your brothers can go as well, so you're going to have to come up with avoidance tactics."
"Done and done," the twins said together, grinning widely.
...
Fred, George and Katherine watched as people walked out on their way to Hogsmead. They quickly moved on once they'd seen everyone leave. Fred pulled out the map and quickly located Filch, Snape and McGonagall, the people they felt were the biggest threat.
"To the Humpback Witch," He informed them, as it was furthest from the dangers. When they got their Katherine raised an eyebrow.
"How do we actually get in?" she asked, glancing at the map, "Mrs Norris is coming!"
"Look there," George pointed at the little speech bubble that had appeared on the map, he pulled his wand and tapped the statue, "Dissendium."
The Witch's hump opened and they all clambered inside, right before Mrs Norris stalked past.
"Get a move on Fred."
"I'm George.
"Katherine, you need to move a little faster. I keep bumping into you."
"Oh, this is stupid, where's the exit?"
"I found it!" Fred pushed through a trap door and looked around, "Where are we?"
"Move and maybe we can figure it out," Katherine suggested, pulling herself out after him.
"Looks like we're in a basement," George said, closing the trap door.
"So logically, we go upstairs," Katherine suggested. She wandered up and caught sight of a large crowd of Hogwarts students. Excellent.
"Let's go," she hissed, "We can meld into the crowd."
The trio climbed out of the basement and quickly became one with the rest of the students. Once that was complete, and they were successfully unnoticed, they actually took the time to look around.
"We must be in Honeydukes," George mumbled, "We've heard all about this place."
"Yeah, I've heard a bit about it too," Katherine nodded, "Look at all the sweets."
The twins sniggered at Katherine's obvious weakness of sugary objects. Well, recently obvious, they hadn't had any idea before she spent the holidays at their house. She was scanning the shelves as the twins watched with matching grins, until she turned around.
"Guys look what I found!" she announced, sound excited and very much like she was holding back laughter. Fred and George moved forward to see the shelf, their faces taking on a look of extremely entertaining horror as they stared at the shelf of Cockroach Cluster. Katherine laughed openly at them, before moving through the crowd towards the door.
"Don't worry," she assured them as they stepped out into the snow, "I'm not going to buy any. I just love seeing your face's do that."
"Look Zonko's!" George announced as Fred grumbled unintelligibly. The trio headed into the joke shop, where the twins gapped, unashamedly, in awe as they browsed the shelves. Katherine, personally, felt that they could probably die happy right now. Judging from the looks they were sharing this was going to be a place they visited frequently. Katherine wandered after them, investigating the joke products on the shelf. She rarely got the opportunity to be in a shop like this, her father didn't approve. She slipped past the twins as they discussed the mayhem they could cause with some of these things and looked out the window. In time to see Charlie wandering towards the shop.
With a startled noise she turned and pulled the twins to the floor. They both opened their mouths only to find Katherine's hand clamped over them. Percy had, mercifully, stayed in the castle today but they hadn't had a chance of getting Charlie to stay. She'd completely forgotten that he was wondering around here. Other students didn't pay them much mind but if Charlie caught them there was no escape.
"Charlie's here," Katherine hissed as the door closed. Fred pushed himself up to look through a shelf, and ducked back down, looking irritatingly like he was trying not to laugh. "It's not funny," Katherine snapped, "He might be ok with a little rule breaking but I don't think he'd be thrilled to find us here!"
"Move," George hinted as Charlie came through the shop. The trio snuck around the shelves to keep out of his view. They each snuck glances though the shelves at the other redhead.
"So what are we actually going to do?" Fred asked.
"Buy some stuff and run like hell?" Katherine offered with a shrug, "You know as well as I do that you're going to sneak back here anyway. Best do it when we're not in immediate danger of getting caught." Fred and George mumbled consent and grabbed a few things they wanted before they went back to the castle through Honeydukes. They all talked animatedly as they wandered towards the Common room to store their new toys. As such they missed the arrival of Professor McGonagall, up until she spoke.
"What are you holding Weasley?" She asked in her usual stern voice. Fred immediately threw his hands behinds his back in a clearly habitual movement. Katherine had to bite back laughter at the instinct, which wasn't hard with McGonagall glaring at them. Fred eventually brought his hands back to reveal some hiccupping sweets.
"And where, dare I ask, did you acquire these?" Asked McGonagall, eyeing off the three Gryffindors, "Before you answer I want you to know that I am aware these are Zonko's products and, also, that only third years and up are allowed into Hogsmead."
"Charlie gave them to use," Katherine replied instantly, "Fred and George have been complaining, very loudly, that they want to go into Hogsmead and, more importantly, Zonko's. Charlie finally caved and bought them some stuff. He came back from Hogsmead early today and we met him just as he came back in."
"Very well," McGonagall replied though still looking suspicious, "I'll be asking Mr Weasley about these events." With that she turned and began down the hall.
"What was that?" Fred hissed, putting the lollies in his pocket.
"Improvising?" Katherine offered, looking worried, "Charlie was heading back this way and it was the first thing I could think of! I hope he covers for us."
…
"You three seriously owe me one," Charlie informed the trio as he came into the Common room.
"You covered for us!" Katherine gasped, looking up from the game of exploding snap she was playing with Fred and George.
"Yeah," Charlie replied, sitting down with them, "How did you three get into Hogsmead anyway?"
"Sorry dear brother, but professional secrets must remain only to those professionals," Fred said seriously, George nodding solemnly next to him.
"Thanks for covering, anyway," Katherine said, smiling at Charlie, "It's really appreciated."
Just then the cards scattered across the table decided to explode for some reason. They all coughed and waved smoke away, Charlie left while Katherine, Fred and George packed up the cards.
"I've told you a million times. I am not sneaking into the Forbidden Forest with you!"
"What's wrong Katty? Afraid of werewolves?"
"Don't be stupid Fred, it's not even a full moon. And when did you start calling me Katty?"
"Well, your name's too long. It's good to have a nickname."
"Oh, don't you start as well George. You and Fredrick can go running off for the forest if you want but I'm not coming! Hagrid catches you every time anyway."
The Forbidden Forest was a regular topic of argument between the friends, mostly because it was one of the few things were Katherine drew a line and refused to join in. Of course, Fred and George had made many attempts to get into the forest since the start of the year, and had been stopped every time. Mostly by Hagrid but once or twice it was a prefect, and once Katherine had dragged them away right before Snape stalked up to where they had been.
"George she knows!" Fred gasped, eyes wide, pointing a slightly shaking finger in Katherine's face.
"Yeah," Katherine replied with a smirk, "It's amazing what you can find out when you're friendly with adults. You guys left me alone with your family a lot. What did you expect us to talk about?"
"You're not supposed know!" Fred exclaimed, still pointing at her.
"Sure, sure, why don't you ask Lee to go with you?" Katherine suggested, already turning away, "I'm sure he'd be happy to come. I'm going to the library."
She turned and walked off, the twins staring after her. They'd kind of gotten used to her joining in all the fun stuff they did, they hadn't really considered what she did when they weren't watching. Evidently she was a snoop.
"Well, that's not fair," Fred said with a pout.
"We probably had it coming," George said sagely, then, "Hey, Lee!" Lee walked over and George continued. "Want to explore the forest with us?"
"Of course," Lee replied immediately, grinning widely.
Katherine heard none of this as she wandered up to the library, making good time with the use of all the short cuts she knew. A little way from the library she looked out a window to see Lee was now standing with the twins. It was actually a nice little alcove, she noted as she investigated to window and the corridor she was in. The window pushed out and formed almost a perfect seat just a (rather large) step above the level of the walkway. It looked out over the grounds; she could see the forest, Hagrid's hut and the Black lake. It was a rarely used corridor, too.
Dumping her bag into the alcove she sat down and lent against the wall. This was a good a place to study as any. Maybe better, nice and quiet, no distractions. Except everything outside. The trick would be keeping it from the twins so they didn't constantly turn up with their loud plans on how to get themselves in trouble. She grinned at that, then sighed, she wasn't getting any work done today. Leaning over her bag she pulled out her sketchbook.
Her mother had given it to her. She hadn't used it for a while though. Sure, she'd brought it to school, it'd been in her trunk all year and at the Weasleys. Like a constant reminder that she had something she was naturally good at. Despite what people thought it took great effort to achieve the grades her father expected. The languages were tricky to but she enjoyed them at least. Drawing wasn't like that. Drawing was easy and effortless and made her forget her problems, or express them if that was of more help at the time.
It was clearly magical, despite her mother's care for muggle things. A thick, leather bound pad but on the front a few pieces-the vines, as she called them-stuck out from it. They formed a shape, currently a tree, which was fairly common. The magic was in that the vines tended to move, change shape, sometimes express her mood, however that was rare. It was also impossible to open for anyone who didn't have her permission, and it never ran out of pages yet never looking thicker either.
Opening the book she flicked through a few pages until she came to a blank one. Pulling a pencil from her bag, she preferred the muggle object because she had to keep dipping quills and there was always the chance of spilling the ink well itself. Pulling her knees up Katherine lent her book against them and began to sketch out the Forbidden forest, she worked hard to make it seem as though there were things moving through the trees and also put a fair bit of effort into drawing the three figures running of as a large, hairy man chased after them, the final piece to her picture.
She sighed as she finished drawing the flushed, laughing faces of the three boys. The picture had taken a fair while to do really; they'd gotten into the fringes of the forest before Hagrid caught them. Now they'd be wandering about the castle. Tucking the pencil behind her ear she closed her sketchbook and slung her bag over her shoulder. She held on to the book though, rather than putting it in her bag.
She liked the feeling of drawing, maybe she'd do some more. She could draw Fred and George playing chess, that'd be interesting. It'd probably annoy them as well, the thought made her smile. She reached Gryffindor tower the same time as Fred, George and Lee ran up. She raised an eyebrow.
"Did you run all the way from the grounds?" she asked, watching them pant and gasp.
"Yeah, we ran into something big," Fred told her, grinning widely.
"And hairy," Lee added between gasps, he didn't seem as accustomed to long runs at full speed.
"I swear we only just got away," George finished dramatically.
"Yeah," Katherine replied with a roll of her eyes, "I saw Hagrid chase you away. Acromantula."
The Portrait hole swung open allowing Katherine to enter and dump herself into an armchair. The boys followed in behind her, breathing slowly returning to normal. Fred and George sat together on the sofa while Lee took another armchair, the common room was fairly empty.
"Were you watching us?" Fred asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes.
"Was I watching to see if my friends got themselves eaten?" Katherine asked curiously, wearing a mock thoughtful expression, "You know what? I think I was."
"What's that?" George asked, pointing to the book Katherine was still holding. Katherine watched it for a moment.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" She asked with a smirk as she looked back up at George.
"You three!" snapped McGonagall, "To the Headmasters office!"
"Of course Minnie," Fred replied, giving her a small bow.
"Not to worry!" George added, "We know the way."
"And the password!" Fred added gleefully, as both boys linked an arm with Katherine, who had been too busy looking apologetic and worried to realise what was happening. However she had been prepared for this, the twins had practiced until she realised if she didn't go along with it she'd be dragged across the stone floor, without the twins suffering any major deterrent.
"Ready?" George asked, "Let's go!" With that the trio skipped away from a tight lipped McGonagall in practice formation. Also with the twins singing, at the top of their lungs, "We're off to see the Wizard. The wonderful wizard of Oz. He clearly is a wonderful Wiz if ever a Wiz there was!"
"Acid pop," Katherine sighed as they reached the Gargoyle. As soon as the statue moved the twins stared singing again as they took their final steps and, finally let Katherine go.
"Ah, that was fun!" Fred announced, making himself comfortable in one of the chairs.
"So you say," Katherine responded, preferring to lean against the wall, "But I think you might have made McGonagall go comatose."
"Professor McGonagall," Dumbledore corrected from the seat behind his desk. Fred immediately jumped to his feet at the site of the headmaster.
"My Liege!" he and George exclaimed together, going into deep bows. Katherine rolled her eyes as Dumbledore nodded appreciatively at them, a small smile on his face and the tell-tale shine in his eyes.
"You won't mind if I don't bow, would you sir?" She asked, "It's just I've got a bit of a sore back."
"Not at all Ms Nott," Dumbledore answered with a chuckle, gesturing for each of them to take a chair, "I must say that was an impressive feet of magic.
"Thank you!" Fred and George answered, grinning widely.
"Honestly, it's the only time they ever study," Katherine huffed, "And they still didn't do it properly. You're supposed to be able to make the bubbles stop."
"Yes, I believe your owned a congratulations for that Ms Nott," Dumbledore commented, watching the trio with apparent amusement, "I'm sure the Slytherins will all be rather grateful that they're able to move about."
Yeah, grateful, Katherine thought, It would be rather hard to move with any more un-popable bubbles, but I doubt they'll actually be grateful. It's a good thing the twins didn't learn the speaking part of the charm.
"Professor Snape is not very pleased with the invasion in his Potions room," Dumbledore continued, moving away from small talk, "The bubbles are being vanished as we speak however, there is still the consequences to discuss."
The twins nodded, looking thoughtful. Probably calculating how many point they might lose for this event. The did this every time they got in trouble, then they'd compare results. It was the closest they came to actual work, really.
"So, five points from both of you, Mr and Mr Weasley," Dumbledore announced calmly, "Also I think Severus is going to want to see you both for a detention, and fifteen points, Mrs Nott, for clearing up the mess before it got too out of hand."
With that the trio were excused from the office, not looking subdued at all. In fact Fred and George looked over the moon about the events.
"So, technically he rewarded us for an excellent prank," Fred announced, George laughed and Katherine rolled her eyes.
"No," she corrected, "Technically I was rewarded for preventing the Slytherins from being crushed by bubbles."
"So what did you think Freddie?" George asked, apparently ignoring Katherine.
"I was thinking around ten points and at least two detentions," Fred answered thoughtfully.
"I went...somewhere between ten and twenty points, because Snape was involved," George answered, "With at least two detentions."
"Well done both of you for putting more thought into how you might be punished than you do in all your classes put together," Katherine said, voice flat, "But you do still have a detention."
"Detention with Snape?" Fred shrugged, nonchalantly.
"We'll just be cleaning out cauldrons minus magic or something tedious like that," George noted.
"It's not really fun though is it?" Fred asked suddenly, "If they can just Vanish them."
"Your right," George agreed seriously, "We should work on that."
Katherine sighed dejectedly, of course they had to work on it. They couldn't possibly focus on classes, or even end of year exams? A grin found its way onto her face. It had been lots of fun.
Yay! Love giving the twins spare time! In case anyone was wondering the 'speaking part of the charm' involves the bubbles saying something, probably insulting, everytime they touch someone. It would have gotten really loud. Also, yes, they did flood the dungeons with bubbles, and I managed to connect it to the amazing un-vanishable fire works they make.
Next chapter will probably be the end of first year and shouldn't be to far away. Please review!
If anyone wants me to start writting longer chapters, or write about something specific, just let me know!